Term 1 Week 7
Principal's Message
Parihaka
From this coming Saturday until the next Wednesday, I will be travelling to New Plymouth with 25 other Catholic principals. The purpose of our trip is to visit Parihaka and learn about its history. I am looking forwrad to gaining a deeper understanding that I can then share with the other staff. I'll share some photos and information with you when I return.
I will still be checking emails while I am away should you need to contact me otherwise speak to Katrina or Mr Small.
School Shoes
A reminder that school shoes and sandals must black leather or leather look and have a black sole. We have a large number of children in black fabric sports shoes which do not follow our uniform policy. Our uniform is a way to show respect for our school so please help us keep standards up. Please ensure that your child is wearing the correct footwear and when new items are bought they meet the policy requirements.
Timekeeping
We have an increasing number of children who are arriving late for school, some on a regular basis. Please can you try and ensure the children are here by 9am each day. Ideally they would be at school in time to unpack their bags and say hi to their friends so they are ready to start the day with their peers when the bell rings. Arriving late can be disctracting for the class who may be in the middle of prayers or at Mass if it is a Wednesday.
Lisa
Faith News
Wednesday Mass
Please come and join Room 2 for Mass this Wednesday morning at 9am in Room 3.
Parish Newsletter
This week’s Parish newsletter is available here
Life Education - Harold
This programme will run on Monday and Tuesday of next week. All children will visit the mobile classroom during Harold's visit. Please ask you child to tell you about what they have been learning as part of the programme.
Welcome to St Bernard's School
We are delighted to welcome Pisila and her family to St Bernard's. Pisila is in Year 6 and started last Thursday in Room 4.
Welcome to school Pisila!
Condolences
We send our condolences to the McLean family. Quin & Isabella's nana passed away over the weekend. Please keep their family in your prayers.
Missing Polar Fleeces
There are a number of children with missing polar fleeces. Could everyone please kindly check to ensure their child has not accidently brought another child’s fleece home with them.
Please ensure that all fleeces are clearly named so we can easily identify and return them, if the collar label is not useable, you are able to write on the back of the school emblem inside the fleece.
Brooklyn Library Visits
This term we will resume our termly visits to Brooklyn Library. If your child wishes to borrow a book during the visit they need to bring their personal library card with them. We will return books on the next visit if they are brought back in time. Books not brought on the day of the visit will need to be returned by yourselves. If you would like to leave your child's card in the classroom between visits then teachers will find a safe place to keep them.
Room 1: 20 March
Room 2: 27 March
Birthday Wishes
Special birthday wishes to Van Lian who turns 6 today, and to Lea who turns 9 on Thursday. We hope you both have wonderful, fun filled birthdays.
Absences
If your child is sick or unable to attend school for all or part of the day, please either send a notification via the school app (skool loop), email the school office on office@stbernards.school.nz or phone 3899377 by 9.00 a.m. so that your child's absence can be accounted for.
Children who are late need to report to the office in case they have been marked absent by the teacher who takes the roll first thing in the morning.
If an absence is planned for a special reason, a note or telephone call to the school in advance is appreciated. In cases of prolonged absence, e.g. a family trip, a written note is required.
Room 1 Learning
Last week, Room 1's learning with Mrs Harper and Mrs Williams was based around minibeast. They read stories, did some coll enlargement artwork, measured lengths and sorted by size.
Room 2 Learning
Room 2 has been doing some awesome learning on the Trinity for R.E. The class first discussed what a symbol is and what are some symbols we recognise. We then looked at different symbols used to represent the Trinity. We've learned how these symbols might help us to understand the Trinity better. For example, we looked at the three leaf clover (three distinct leaves that make the clover shape), an avocado (which has three parts to make a whole fruit: skin, flesh, and stone), and a triangle (which has three sides to make one shape). The class has also been discussing the different symbols for the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. For example, we've talked about why a dove is used as a symbol for the Holy Spirit. We've also looked at how the Bible talks about the Holy Spirit in different scriptures.
Also, well done to all the year 4's & 5's in Room 2, who participated in our cricket tournament last Tuesday.
Room 4 Learning
Year 6 Rotary Blade Designs
Last Friday, the Year 6s began rotary working on rotary blade designs. This process involved cutting out and folding a 2D template to create a rotary blade wing. The next step was to go out onto the balcony and drop their blade designs to see how effective they were, and make changes to improve their designs.
We discovered that the first rotary design did not spin very much and was blown about by the breeze. To address this issue, the children add 1 to 2 paper clips on the bottom part of the design to provide some weight. This proved quite successful, leading to many rotations when they retested.
After this we moved on to a multi rotary blade design 2D template. The children watched a step by step video showing how to construct the design. After making their multi blade design it was time for testing! The designs struggled with the wind and being made of paper made them were too light to rotate fully.
The children are going to continue rotary blade testing next week. They will test the following variables to see the impact they have on their designs:
- using thin card
- attaching different numbers of paper clips
- trying a different sized template such as A3
We look forward to seeing their results next Friday!
Central Zone Sports
Last Tuesday, our Year 4 to 6 children took part in the Central Zone Non-Stop Cricket tournament held at MacAlister Park. The children were organised into two mixed Yr 5 to 6 teams: the St Bernard's Spinners and the St Bernard's Bowlers.
Each team played four games. There were lots of big hits, runs scored and top notch bowling from our children. The other schools from our zone were Roseneath, Te Aro, Sacred Heart, Clyde Quay, Clifton Terrace and Mount Cook. Alex Bruce and Dan Stone were our wonderful parent helpers who each managed a team. Our children played well, supported each other and were fair to every team they played, showing our Mercy Values.
It was a great day and the children had lots of fun! Our Year 4 to 6 children represented St Bernard's positively and made us very proud!
A big thanks to the parents who transported children to MacAlister Park and back to school: Rutha Fekadu, Cesar Esteban, Enrino Pasullean and Helen Ewing, as well as Alex Bruce and Dan Stone.
Public Notices
Harbour City Gymnastics, Hataitai Park.
As a first choice sport gymnastics covers all the bases! It’s fun and the fundamentals of the sport provides multiple opportunities for children to develop balance, coordination, flexibility, agility, strength and spatial awareness.
Our low coach-to-gymnast ratio and thoughtfully sized classes ensure each child receives personalized attention and ample opportunity to develop their skills in a safe and stimulating environment.
Check out our April School holiday programme: https://hcg.org.nz/holprog
Contact us by emailing office@hcg.org.nz or calling 04 386 4443.
Visit our website: https://hcg.org.nz
Eastern Echoes Ensemble
Be inspired by the Eastern Echoes Ensemble's performance of a fresh, innovative kaleidoscope of Chinese classical music. The concert will feature intimate solos, dynamic trios, expansive ensembles and soulful vocals. It will be an unforgettable, joyful musical celebration.
30 April 2025, Wellington Opera House.
Two 45 minute performances at 12.15pm and 5.15pm for only $14.
The full concert at 7.30pm for $28.
The musicians are Zoe Li (Erhu), Ruoyan Zuo (Gu Zheng), Jeff Lin (Chinese Flute), Cassie Zhang (Piano), Grace Chen (Vocal) plus special guests.
Book: https://www.ticketmaster.co.nz/eastern-echoes-ensemble-tickets/artist/3469919
