As we wrap up another successful semester, the St Bernard's College Music Department has been bustling with activity, showcasing the incredible talent and dedication of our students.

Semester 2 Music Soirée

On Tuesday 26 November, the College Music Department held our annual Music Soirée. Every student undergoing lessons was invited to perform a solo piece they have been working on this semester. The evening was a resounding success, with brilliant performances from all of the young men across many of the different school venues.

At the end of the evening, the Friends of Music Committee organised an amazing BBQ to help raise money to subsidise the cost for students attending the Australian International Music Festival in 2025. A heartfelt thank you to all of our sponsors who helped fund the evening, including Bakers Delight, Niddrie, and Centec Security.

Fundraising Music Breakfast

In addition to the soirée, we also hosted a Fundraising Music Breakfast. This event brought together students and parents involved in our music program, including ensembles, to raise funds for the Australian International Music Festival. It was a wonderful opportunity for our community to come together and support our talented musicians.

We are incredibly proud of the hard work and achievements of our students this semester. Thank you to everyone who has supported our music program. We look forward to more exciting events and performances in the new year!

After enduring some challenges post Covid the St Bernards College Foundation has embarked on a new chapter! The Foundation will be very active in 2025, with significant involvement in the College's exciting Quays Project as it helps drive our capital campaign.

They will also continue to oversee Hall of Fame inductees, including a new Rising Star category for our younger generation. If you know of an old collegian rising star, aged up to thirty-five, please reach out via development@sbc.vic.edu.au and tell us who it is! We'd love to see nominations from the community.

The Foundation, in support of the College ethos, continues to provide pathways for Catholic families via equity scholarships, but also provides merit scholarships for academic excellence, as well as funds towards general excellence, music and other scholarships. It is a forum for us as beneficiaries of the College experience to recognise in a tangible way our gratitude to the great institution that is St Bernard's.

We invite you to support these missions by making a donation to the St Bernard's College Foundation. Every donation over $2 is tax-deductible, making it a meaningful way to contribute to the future of our students and the College community. We will be holding a 'Giving Day' in June 2025 where all members of the community will be invited to donate.

Follow this link to donate on our new fundraising page: Fundraising Page | St Bernard's College Foundation 

Thank you for considering supporting the St Bernard’s College Foundation. Every contribution makes a difference!

Congratulations to Our Mr. R. Forti Italian Encouragement Award Recipients!

We are thrilled to announce the winners of the Mr. R. Forti Italian Encouragement Award, a prestigious honour that celebrates exceptional promise and dedication in Italian studies at St Bernard’s College. This year, the award recognises two outstanding students, Dante Dolceamore and Anthony Sozzi, for their remarkable achievements:

• for demonstrating remarkable progress in Italian and committing to continue their language journey into VCE.
• for their impressive achievement as finalists in the esteemed Dante Alighieri Italian Poetry Competition and their outstanding performance in oral Italian work.

Both recipients have shown exemplary passion and talent in their studies, embodying the spirit of this award. Along with this recognition, each student will receive a $75 prize as a token of encouragement for their continued success in Italian.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Forti Family for their ongoing support of our students' Italian studies. Their generosity and commitment play a significant role in fostering language excellence within our College community.

Congratulations to our awardees for their incredible achievements—your dedication inspires us all!

Throughout the Headstart period the VCE Vocational Major students and the SBC Baccalaureate students have gained micro credentials in a range of fields. 

Students have engaged with trainers at St Bernard's and William Angliss to build their transferable skills, add to their resumes and enhance their employability, hearing from industry insiders that micro-credentials often give potential employees an edge over the competition!

Students focused on food handling and preparation for community events, including a barista course, as well as a practical Financial Literacy course for Year 12 Vocational Major students. Year 11 students also prepared for the world of work and safety, gaining their First Aid and White Card qualifications.

On Friday, 29 November, St Bernard’s College celebrated our annual Year 7 Special Friends’ Day, recognising the significant role models in the lives of our young men. It was a heartwarming occasion filled with connection and community spirit.

The day commenced with a warm welcome from our Principal, Dr Michael Davies. Afterwards, our Welcoming Community Group treated our special guests to a beautiful morning tea. 

A highlight of the day was the tour of the College led by our Year 7 students. 

Thank you to all the special friends and family members who joined us in celebrating this memorable day.

On Thursday, 28 November our Year 7 Semester 2 Music Performance Evening was a fantastic celebration of talent and hard work. The Year 7 students took to the stage to showcase the skills they've developed throughout the semester.

Our 2025 Arts Captain did a wonderful job MCing the night, and we were proud to feature two incredible solo performances from students Cerano Tosone and Benjamin Borg-Cardona.

We also heard inspiring words from our Friends of Music representatives about the amazing initiatives they are working on to support our young musicians.

Principal Dr Davies presented awards to recognise the outstanding achievements of our students, highlighting their dedication and passion for music.

Well done to all our performers and everyone involved in making this concert a memorable evening! 

On Monday 25 November, we gathered to celebrate the remarkable sporting achievements of our students from the 2024 academic year. It was an inspiring evening that showcased the dedication, talent, and hard work of our athletes, from securing ACC premierships to representing our state in various sports. 

We are incredibly proud of each and every one of you for your commitment and the spirit you bring to our College! Your efforts have not only excelled on the field but have also fostered a strong sense of sportsmanship and camaraderie among peers. 

A special highlight of the evening was the presence of Jordan Boyd from the Carlton Football Club, who graciously joined us to share insights from his own career in the world of sports. His words of wisdom resonated with both our students and parents, and we are grateful for his support in presenting awards to our outstanding athletes.

Congratulations to all our talented students for your incredible achievements throughout the year! Your hard work and determination serve as an inspiration to us all, and we look forward to seeing you continue to excel in your sporting pursuits.

The 2024 Chris Lane Golf Day took place Friday, 22 November and was once again a success, with 60 players taking on the 18-hole course and keeping up good spirits despite fierce 37-degree heat. It was a close contest for the top three team prizes.

Individually, players tried their luck at the Nearest the Pin and Longest Drive competitions. A special mention to Phil, who ensured everyone was hydrated with water to handle the heat!

Congratulations to Dean, Steve, Ray, and Kevin, who took out the Chris Lane Cup for 2024, and to all our prize winners!

A heartfelt thank you to Medway Golf Club for hosting and catering, our major sponsor MNG Lawyers and hole sponsor Bendigo Bank, and Scotchman's Hill Winery, Cathedral Lodge and Numurkah Golf and Bowls Club for generously providing raffle prizes for the day.

Thanks to all the players for a great turnout and we hope to see even more people at our 2025 Golf Day, which will be held on Friday, 21 November 2025 - save the date!