I wish to share with you part of the presentation given to all students at the Welcome Back assemblies last week. In addressing students, I told them a story about the company, PIXAR.

PIXAR can be thought to be a machine that creates hit after hit; and on the surface that appears to be accurate with 17 feature films since 1995 receiving 13 Academy Awards. It has generated some of the most important cultural touchstones of our generation.

The journey of how PIXAR was established and evolved is interesting. The founder, Ed Catmull, grew up idolising Albert Einstein and Walt Disney and his ambition was to create a small studio aimed at fusing computers and film making. For many of the early years, PIXAR struggled as the movies they made had main characters that were not likeable, and story lines that fell flat. This all changed in 1995 with the breakthrough movie Toy Story. The challenge for Ed Catmull and his team was how do they maintain this success?

Ed’s response? The people that worked for PIXAR needed to understand that success is built on the right choices members of the team would make and that Resilience, Resourcefulness and Respect are essential traits that should be integral to how the team functions.

All creative puzzles are a cognitive puzzle of thousands of choices, thousands of potential ideas and the realisation that you never get it right straight away. The team (and individuals working within the team), need to build purpose within the group in order to generate new ideas and unearth the right choices. If you give people the right supports and tools to make the hard choices, they can navigate the journey towards positive outcomes. If you bring people together in safe environments with high expectations for success and positive behaviours, there is movement towards better solutions.

St Bernard’s College is like the PIXAR of Essendon. I invited students to think of their peers, family, and teachers as the creative team who will work with them this year to generate ideas towards the right choices leading to better outcomes. This is what the Japanese call Kaizen – The art of continual improvement.

On Thursday, 11 February, we held our annual House Athletics Carnival for 2022, with our 5 school houses going head to head in pursuit of being crowned House Athletics Champions for 2022!

The students competed in traditional track and field events, along with tennis, soccer and tug-o-war.

It was great to see our students enjoying the day, and everyone get involved in all of the activities on offer

Events like this are not possible without the amazing efforts our staff members put in, a particularly special thanks to Xavier Cox for his work on the House Athletics Carnival.

At the end of the day with the points tallied in what was one of the closet competitions to date, Our 2022 House Athletics Champions were

Congratulations House Nagle

Instrumental Music lesson enrolment for 2022 – There’s still time!

Please contact jstewart@sbc.vic.edu.au and mpuglisi@sbc.vic.edu.au for further information and to enrol your son in instrumental music lessons for Semester 1, 2022.

Instrumental Lessons are on offer for the following instruments in Semester 1, 2022:

• Guitar - electric/acoustic

• Drums/percussion

• Piano/Keyboard

• Vocals

• Bass Guitar

• Trumpet

• Trombone

• Tuba

• Saxophone

• Clarinet

• Flute

What are some benefits of learning to play a musical instrument?

1. Learning a musical instrument can help to increase your cognitive ability (makes you smarter!!)

2. Relieves stress

3. Makes you feel proud!

4. Builds confidence

5. Improves patience

6. Improves memory

7. Improves creative thinking skills

8. Many more…..

Music opportunities in 2022!

There are many exciting music opportunities planned for 2022 that St Bernard’s music students can become involved in, including performing at Hamer Hall, as part of the ACCent on music concert with other ACC schools.

Ensembles running in 2022 include:

- Concert/Symphonic bands

- Show band

- Big band

- Rock bands

- Choir

- Guitar ensemble and more.

Want more info?

For further information about Instrumental music lesson enrolment or the music program at the St Bernard’s College, please contact: jstewart@sbc.vic.edu.au and mpuglisi@sbc.vic.edu.au

A Glance Back

Fifteenth Annual Report 1954

"I must say that I am greatly honoured to be appointed Principal of St Bernard's in January this year. Under the guidance of its former Principals, St Bernard's has advanced rapidly in its 15 years of existence.
The present development was planned by my predecessor, Rev. Br. Killian, and I am sure you, who had experience of his attentive and capable administration would like me to record in this report, your appreciation of his great work.
The present extensions to the College and Brothers' Residence will cost over thirty thousand pounds. To this has to be added the cost of our newly acquired land for ovals at West Essendon. The cost of the land was six thousand pounds and as the ovals are already under construction our financial obligations will not fall much short of forty thousand pounds. This is a big responsibility but with your generous support we feel we are able for it.
Let me express here our gratitude to Mr K. Coghlan, the previous owner of the West Essendon property. He has been most helpful as has been Mr. J. Hanley and Mr. H. Hilbert. Also we are grateful to Miss D. Gorman and Mr. Bruce S. Keam for negotiating the sale of some of the property."

Reference: Br. P. B. MurphyAnnual Speech Night and Distribution of PrizesBrunswick Town HallTuesday 16th November 1954

Clairvaux Volume 2, Number 3 1954

One of our Year 7 students, Easton Howard who was isolating at home this week, showcased some St Bernard's Spirit and ensured to continue his learning whilst at home

As part of Food Tech, Easton was tasked with making a healthy lunch wrap, and has very clearly hit this one out of the park!

Well done Easton - It is great to see the passion for learning you display
 

Tax File Number (TFN)

Any student will need at tax file number if he/she starts work (part-time and full-time) and all students planning on a tertiary education require one when they start.
Importantly, current Year 12 students are reminded that they cannot enrol in a CSP (Commonwealth Support Place) course at university without a Tax File Number, so it is worthwhile getting an application submitted early!
Students must apply for a TFN online and have their identity verified through an interview at a participating Australia Post office.

To apply and also to find out about participating Post Offices, visit TFN Application

PEN held its first meeting of 2022 and welcomed a number of new members. Dr Davies was the guest presenter, he asked the group to provide suggestions on the use of the newly acquired Resurrection House as an additional campus for SBC.

The group also discussed 'Culture' and relevant issues impacting on students. This conversation will continue in upcoming meetings as we plan for a school wide parent forum, to be held later in the year.

Dr Davies also spoke about the College’s new implementation of the data dashboard that will assist both students and teachers to track student progress and performance. The PEN have invited Mr Francis Camenzuli Assistant Principal of Learning to speak to the group at the March meeting. All parents are welcome to attend.

The Welcoming Community Group also held their first meeting this week and are keen to reach out to other parents who may be interested in joining this group.

The WCG discussed the impact that COVID has had on events at the College and lack of opportunity to gather together. They also planned a series of events that they hope will encourage parents to come along and meet other parents within the College. More details to come.

If you would like to be a part of this friendly casual group please email David Formosa at dformosa@sbc.vic.edu.au

UNIFORM SHOP OPENING HOURS


As of Tuesday 9th February, 2022, the Uniform Shop will be operating by appointment only. This will help alleviate lengthy queues during peak periods.

Click here to make an appointment

If you know the sizes of the items you require, visit https://shop.sbc.vic.edu.au/ to order online.

New Bucket Hats!

The Uniform shop is excited to showcase its newest offering, the SBC Bucket Hat!

The wide brim of the bucket hat provides more protection from the sun, and I think we can all agree Bernie and Eddie below are looking pretty fly whilst wearing them!
 

For all other uniform enquiries, or to volunteer in the uniform shop, please email rbuhagiar@sbc.vic.edu.au or phone 9289 1176.

Through our extensive curricular and co-curricular program, we encourage each student to live out the EREA Touchstones in life by developing their God-given gifts to the best of their ability. With the understanding that every student is different, we endeavour to support high performers and provide them with every opportunity to extend themselves in their learning and development at St Bernard's College.

Through the generosity of St Bernard's College and the St Bernard's College Foundation, we are pleased to offer a range of scholarships to current and prospective students.

Applications are now open to sit the Academic Scholarship Test in 2022 for St Bernard's College Essendon.

For further information CLICK HERE