At St Bernard's, we understand the importance of this day and its significance in driving action to strive toward a gender equal world. As an all-boys school, one of our missions is to instil a culture of respect in our young men, so that we can work towards a future where gender inequality is a thing of the past.

On Friday, 10 March, we gathered for a full school assembly to celebrate International Women’s Day. We had the privilege of hosting guest speaker Kate Walsh-Rose, who spoke to our students about inequalities that still exist for women, people of colour and people with disabilities. Kate had assistance from some of our students during assembly, to demonstrate using practical examples, problems that still exist within our society, and small actions we can all implement in our everyday lives to be champions of change.

A massive thank you to Kate for her time this morning, your interactive presentation had the students engaged throughout and your message will no doubt resonate within our Community for years to come.

We began the last fortnight at Resurrection House with a Year Level Assembly, where we heard from students that experienced Santa Monica and Urban Engagement in the first four weeks.
 

Five students spoke about Santa Monica, with Jhonathan Andres reflecting that he "gained independence, respect and the charisma of a young adult and a young man”. Jhonathan shared that by completing the activities at Santa Monica, he learnt to “embrace and shape it into your own satisfaction, ultimately, to become resilient" to get the most out of it. Finally, he spoke about the importance of "being patient with others as it was essential to ensure everyone’s enjoyment lasted four weeks."

Josh Bell also spoke well about the Urban Engagement program, where he summarised the program, but also reflected:

“Urban Engagement highlighted the importance of teamwork. When we were in charge of everything, it became crucial that everybody in your group did their bit, otherwise it would be a tough task. It was a place where we were exposed to a new type of work ethic and was something we had to very quickly adapt to”.

These personal reflections provided great insight to the rest of the Year 9 students, and added to the excitement of everyone who will take part later in the Year.

This week, Mr Cox initiated the inaugural Resurrection House Run Club. Around 30 students turned up to school at 7am for a running session down near the Maribyrnong River. This is a great way to start the day and will be running each Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Students need to contact Mr Cox to register interest.

Also, Homework Help is really building up, with about 20 students also attending these sessions regularly. Ms Navarro is leading this and has been impressed with the work ethic and dedication to this and I encourage more to attend. This is also on Tuesday and Thursdays from 7:45-8:30am

This week we have conducted the inaugural Rice House Week. We celebrated our first Community Mass in the Marian Shrine, with the service led by Old Collegian, Fr Joe Giacobbe. The boys really liked how Fr Joe was able to connect with them and make the messages of Lent relevant to their lives. He talked about the importance of Lent as a time of renewal and emphasised giving of yourselves to others. 13 boys were directly involved in the Mass, by reading, bringing forward the Offertory and Altar Serving. It was also great to see all students singing and responding in the Mass.
Finally, we finished the fortnight with the Staff v Student Netball Match and a BBQ to conclude Rice Week. It was a great way to continue to promote community connectedness, staff and student relationships and inclusion.

In the next few weeks, NAPLAN will be in full swing, and I am excited to see how the boys go with this academic challenge. Wishing everyone a great long weekend and I look forward to seeing the students back on Tuesday, refreshed and ready to learn.

The Staff Spotlight is a new video series, showcasing the excellent staff at the College

This week - We catch up with Mr Xavier Cox, one of the inaugural teachers at Resurrection House!

Music has taken flight, In the past six weeks, all of the St Bernard’s College co-curricular music ensembles have roared to life. Students have been working hard, rehearsing, experimenting and preparing new music for their upcoming concerts and college events. So far, the college Symphonic Band, Showband and SBC Voices have performed in front of the St Bernard’s Community.

There are many different band opportunities at St Bernard’s College, including the new: Year 8 Music Academy, Clarinet Ensemble, and the upcoming College Drumline. Please see below a list of all the college ensemble and their current rehearsal schedules.

If you would like to be a part of the college ensemble, please feel free to send an email or talk with one of the music staff members. As always, thank you to all of the students who come to rehearsals each week and are engaging in the music.

In the coming weeks, not only will St Bernard’s College be hosting a the first lunchlive concert but a BATTLE OF THE BANDS event, with prizes up for grabs for the best performance. lunchlive will be debuting the Year 8 Music Academy, Guitar Ensemble, some of the Year 11 and 12 VCE bands and some of the student-led bands. All students are invited to join and create one of their own bands and are welcome to rehearse in the music department before and after school and during recess and lunch. Upcoming information regarding the Battle of the Bands will be coming soon and displayed on MySBC.

If you are interested in starting private instrumental lessons or continuing with lessons in term two, Trybooking will be open from the 10th of March and will be closing on the 12th of May. Lessons need to be registered via Trybooking for lessons to resume in Term Two. If you have any questions regarding private instrumental lessons, please contact the music administrator, Michelle Puglisi at MPuglisi@sbc.vic.edu.au.

Students are highly encouraged to be a part of one of the college ensembles if they are having music lessons. Joining an ensemble is a nurturing experience that allows your son to develop not only new friendships but challenging musical skills, which in culmination includes various performance opportunities; including all year ACC Music, the Music Soiree and a collaborative concert with St Columba’s College in term 2.

In term 2, Friends of Music will be resuming. Friends of Music is a wonderful opportunity for parents and members of the St Bernard’s Community to get involved in the music program, and with that contribute to creating as many opportunities as possible for all the young men involved. Looking ahead, it is our hope to raise money for not only a more diverse collection of instruments, but for a national and international trip within the next few years. If you would like to join Friends of Music, please email the Head of Music, Joshua Romeo at JRomeo@sbc.vic.edu.au.

Applications are now welcomed for additional members
to join the St Bernard’s College Council

The St Bernard’s College community is inspired by the Charism of Edmund Rice and our daily work informed and enriched by the EREA touchstones. We strive to offer a liberating education, based on Gospel spirituality, within an inclusive community committed to justice and solidarity.

The Advisory Council plays a pivotal role in the life of the College. It provides governance and oversight and collaboratively participates in setting the strategic direction of the College. Working closely with the Principal, the Advisory Council also oversees the College’s alignment and faithfulness to the Charter and the highest quality stewardship.

To ensure that the Advisory Council is in the best position to support the Principal and the College, it is critical that each member of the Council and its subcommittees brings skill and experience that complements the skills and experience of the other members, as well as the skills and experience relevant to the Council’s responsibilities.

The Advisory Council is now seeking expressions of interest from the St Bernard’s College community for additional members for the Council and subcommittees with excellent communication skills, commitment to the College and its mission, and substantial experience in the following areas:

• Governance and Risk

• Finance Accounting / Investment

• Property

For a confidential conversation about the role of the Board or to request an application pack, please contact Jackie Besley, Managing Partner, Devereaux Consulting on 0413 633 195 or jackiebesley@devereauxconsulting.com.au

Applications close at 5.00 pm on Sunday 26 March, 2023.

Our focus for Year 7 is 'Belong'; we want our boys to find a home in our community. There are several events throughout the year that aide in achieving just this - one of them is camp. For the first time ever, we have decided to take the boys down to our coastal home at Santa Monica usually reserved for our year 9 programme.

Soaking up the last of the warm weather down the coast our boys have been throwing themselves into an action-packed program. Our Santa Monica staff have been leading them on surf safari's, bush walking and mountain biking.
Surfing is a firm favourite down at Santa Monica, with the camp being perfectly located to take advantage of the breaks along the Great Ocean Road.

There have been reports that the boys have been ripping it up challenging the Year 9's and local surfers. The same can be said for the boys on the Mountain Bike trails. There are no e-bikes available here, so the boys have to dig in and use those pedals; like they used to in historical times.

Santa Monica has some great trails leading out of the back of camp and up onto the surrounding ridges. Mick and Pete, our long serving staff members know these trails like the back of their hand. They delight in sharing the unique history of the area and how the land has been forged and shaped over time.

Despite such an action packed and energy sapping few days there's always some time for a bit of cricket. Santa Monica is known for its pristine oval; we keep it a secret though because of the lack of parking. Howzat!!!!!! for a start to your St Bernard's College career.

2023 Lake Mungo Immersion (Year 11 & 12 Students)

On Thursday 16th March at 7PM the College will host the Lake Mungo Launch: Information Evening.

All Interested Year 11 & 12 Students & Parents are welcome!

To view the information page - click here

To view the program booklet - click here

2023 Daly River Immersion (Year 10 Students)

On Wednesday 15th March at 7pm the College will host the Daly River Launch: Information Evening.

All Interested Year 10 Students & Parents are welcome!

To view the information page - click here

To view the program booklet - click here
 

Please contact Ms Lori Caroll via email if you have any further questions or enquiries regarding the 2023 On Country Immersion programs - lcarroll@sbc.vic.edu.au

“Doing nothing for others is the undoing of ourselves” Horace Mann

Life presents significant challenges for many families within our College community but it can also be a time of hope.

The Social Justice Network would like to encourage more parents to join the group and contribute towards assisting others and advancing worthy causes.

More about SBCSJN

The St Bernard’s College Social Justice Network (SBCSJN) is a group run by parents interested in engaging actively in justice work as well as meeting on a monthly basis to see how social justice can become alive more fully in their own lives as well as their families (stbernardssocialjusticenetwork.weebly.com).

SBCSJN believes in the intrinsic goodness of humankind and that through the positive relationships and partnerships of parents, staff and students working for social justice for all, we can help our children have a positive hopeful view of the future.

SBCSJN’s popular annual information night to spread messages of social justice within the College community occurs each year in August.

Meetings are held at 7pm in the Peter Hogan Boardroom at the College on the third Wednesday each month (next meeting 15th March 2023).

All parents are invited to come along and join the group. You will be most welcome.

St Patricks Day Procession 1957

Reference: St. Patrick’s Day Archives - Maureen Kavanagh Archives

Despite the short but heavy shower at the beginning of the St. Patrick’s Day Procession, the 16th March was an admirable success. This year, thanks to the courtesy of Joe Butler, the college flag was triumphantly borne through the streets of Melbourne, by car.

Leading the St. Bernard’s contingent was the college captain, Jim Kirby, followed by the three columns of students of the senior school. The college band, conspicuously attired in their black blazers, contrasted vividly with the familiar neat grey uniforms of those marching. The boys were a credit to both the college and their parents.

Dr. Mannix, the famous Prelate of the archdiocese of Melbourne, took the salute as usual from Parliament House.

The march terminated at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, where schools and societies participating were dismissed. Many people attended Benediction at the Cathedral at the conclusion of the day.

The SBC uniform shop is only a click away - now operating via appointments, Please click here to book an appointment or order via our online shop if you know your son's sizes'

Please note that the uniform shop is closed during the school holidays
 

For all other uniform enquiries, please email rbuhagiar@sbc.vic.edu.au or phone 9289 1176.

Re: Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD)

Every year, all schools in Australia participate in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD). The NCCD process requires schools to identify information already available in the school about supports provided to students with disability. These relate to legislative requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005, in line with the NCCD guidelines (2019).

Information provided about students to the Australian Government for the NCCD includes:

· year of schooling

· category of disability: physical, cognitive, sensory or social/emotional

· level of adjustment provided: support provided within quality differentiated teaching practice, supplementary, substantial or extensive.

This information assists schools to:

· formally recognise the supports and adjustments provided to students with disability in schools

· consider how they can strengthen the support of students with disability in schools

· develop shared practices so that they can review their learning programs in order to improve educational outcomes for students with disability.

Please click here for a PDF containing more information about the NCCD process.

Should you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact the Learning Enhancement and Diversity Leader – Jeanette Shine- jshine@sbc.vic.edu.au

The St Bernard's Foundation's is excited to announce our 2023 Hall of Fame nominee's

Ms Maureen Kavanagh

&

Mr Gerard Brown

Both nominees have a longstanding history with the College and wider St Bernard's Community spanning decades and are testaments to the College's values.

Maureen's tireless work in the College archives has ensured our rich history has been preserved and maintained for future generations to come.

Gerard's passion has always been his work with the SBC Athletics' team, one of his crowning achievements was his leadership and coaching in the early 2000's, which saw the College win 13 out of 14 ACC Athletics' championships, dubbed the 'Decade of Dominance' this ACC record stands to this day.

This year, the event will be hosted in The Conversation Quarter at the State Library, Victoria.

The Conversation Quarter is a unique blend of heritage architecture and cutting-edge technology.

Melding three centuries of architecture under one roof, the courtyard space features the library’s original bluestone wall as a one-of-a-kind focal point, backed by the Edwardian arched windows of the La Trobe Reading Room and topped with postmodern roofing

Tickets are now available for the Gala Dinner, $175 per person which is all inclusive of a 3-course dinner and drinks.