Newsletters

Dear Parents,

We have had another busy week at school and all whilst bracing the current arctic blast. From early morning struggles defrosting car windows, to braving icy pavements on the way to school, our school community has faced this weather head-on. 

On Wednesday we were treated to a beautiful Mass led by year 6. The theme was based upon Pope Francis' 'Year of Prayer', with a particular focus on The Our Father. It was truly soul-stirring. 

The school hall was filled with a peaceful aura as our Year 6 led us in prayer and reflection. Their thoughtful words and adaptations left everyone moved and inspired. It was a powerful reminder of the profound impact prayer can have on al of our lives, and the strength it can bring to the community.

I would like to take a moment to applaud all of our children for their reverence, grace, and poise throughout the service. Their participation and commitment made this mass a memorable experience.

I am looking forward to catching up with all of you during Parents' Evening on Tuesday. It is a fantastic opportunity for you to connect with your child's teachers, discuss your child's progress, and gain insights into their educational journey. We believe strong partnerships between parents and teachers are crucial for your child's success. 

School Council

Our fantastic School Councillors will be taking on an important mission during Parents' Evening on Tuesday. They will be interviewing parents to gather valuable feedback and insights into making our school even better! 

Our dedicated Councillors are passionate about representing you and the children, and they want to make sure every voice is heard. So, seize the opportunity to have a chat with them and share your thoughts, ideas, and suggestions. 

Whether you have a burning question, a brilliant suggestion, or just want a friendly chat, our Councillors will be there to listen and support you.

Trans EK Assembly - Disciples

Today, we enjoyed an incredible assembly led by Trans EK, where we delved into the importance of being a disciple and accepting God's calling to spread the Good News.

Using the power of TikTok, our amazing children explained how Jesus' parables can inspire us to perform good actions and deeds in our daily lives.  Let's take a moment to reflect on what truly matters to us – is it the material possessions or, more importantly, how we treat and behave towards others? 

By sharing thought-provoking examples and stories, our assembly highlighted the significance of valuing compassion, kindness, and love in everything we do. Together, we can make our World a better place.

So, join us in this mission, as we embark on this incredible journey of self-reflection, personal growth, and spreading positivity all around. Let's choose to make a difference, embrace love, and create a ripple effect of goodness that will touch countless lives.

Remember, it's the little actions that count and can have a big impact. Small gestures of kindness can go a long way in brightening someone's day and bringing smiles to faces. Let's be the change we wish to see in the World, one good deed at a time.

Micro Dukes

Our Micro Dukes have been working hard on their 'Keeping Safe' task this week, and we couldn't be more proud.

They have been practising calling their parents as part of their 'Keeping Safe' task.

Not only are they gaining valuable knowledge, but they're also developing essential communication skills. Speaking confidently and effectively is crucial in emergencies, and we want our Micro Dukes to be prepared for any situation.

By participating in this task, we are taking an important step in ensuring the safety of our children both inside and outside of school. 

Junior Dukes

In Junior Duke, we have been looking at ways to improve our school environment, both inside and outside. Our Tuesday group loved looking in the library, and couldn't resist taking time out to read a book.

Early Years Coffee Afternoon

We would like to express our gratitude to all the parents who joined us for our Coffee Afternoon on Thursday. Your presence made the event both special and memorable.

We were overjoyed to see so many of you gather in our school, sipping on warm beverages and sharing in uplifting conversations. It was an absolute pleasure to have our parents come together and connect with each other.

We truly believe that strong parent-school partnerships are key to ensuring the success of our little learners. Your ongoing support and involvement play a significant role in nurturing their development, and for that, we are incredibly grateful. 

Year 1 - Science - testing their senses 

Our Prep class had a blast this week diving into the fascinating world of our senses. With eyes closed tightly, the young explorers embarked on an aromatic and tantalising adventure of smells and tastes.

The room was filled with anticipation as our curious kids fearlessly embraced the challenge! The air was filled with hints of mystery and excitement, as each one of them eagerly awaited their turn. Can you imagine the suspense? 

As aroma's danced in the air, the children took a deep breath, their senses tingling with excitement. Some guessed straight away, others, with expressions of deep thought, couldn't quite put their finger on it. But that didn't stop them from savouring the moment and gamely throwing out ideas.

Next, it was time to taste and truly indulge their senses. A medley of flavours awaited our brave Prep class as they explored tastes both familiar and new. 

The joy that filled the room was infectious. Laughter, learning, and exploration blended seamlessly, creating an atmosphere of pure delight. Our Prep class truly showcased their sense of adventure and keen observation.

Year 2 - All about seeds

Is a tomato a fruit or vegetable? A question posed in this week’s science lesson. Children learnt about the role of seeds in fruits and vegetables. They compared the size and number of seeds in different foods and were amazed by the abundance of seeds in passion fruit. Additionally, the class delved into the life cycle of plants, from germination to seed dispersal, which perfectly complemented their geography topic of Farming. The children were introduced to various farming methods across the globe, and how some farmers grow crops for their own consumption, while others rely on livestock for their livelihood.

Year 3 - Science

This week, the Lower Transition Scientists were busy exploring the principles of friction and gravity through a fun and engaging experiment. The children planned and executed a comparative experiment to test a toy car on ramps made from different materials. The experiment helped the children understand how different surfaces impact the speed and movement of the toy car. By analysing the results of the various ramps, they were able to draw scientific conclusions about the effects of friction and gravity. This experiment not only provided an interactive and enjoyable way of learning science, but also helped the young students develop essential skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork. Overall, it was a fantastic learning experience that left a positive impact on all involved.

Year 3 - Art

This term, our Year 3 children are immersing themselves into the world of history by exploring Stone Age cave paintings. The children have delved into the common features of cave art, including handprints and abstract images of animals and hunters. To begin planning their own cave art, the children created a unique hand stencil painting. Their challenge was to create the painting with "earthy" shades of watercolour paints, mimicking the natural pigments that were used in original cave art from the surrounding environment.

Year 4 - Design and Technology

Over the past few weeks, our Year 4 children have been exploring the exciting world of sewing. Armed with their colourful fabrics, needles, threads, and a dash of creativity, they have embarked on a fantastic journey to create their very own pencil cases. 

Under the guidance of the talented Mrs Gabb, our Year 4 children have mastered the art of whip stitching. With each careful stitch, they have skilfully brought their pencil cases to life. From choosing the perfect fabric to adding intricate embellishments, their attention to detail is simply awe-inspiring. But that's not all! Our creative geniuses didn't stop at the whip stitch. They have gone above and beyond by adding buttons and embellishments to make their pencil cases truly unique and personalised.

We couldn't be more proud of our Year 4 children for their dedication, creativity, and growth throughout this project. Not only have they honed their sewing skills, but they have also learnt valuable lessons in patience, problem-solving, and expressing themselves through art.

Year 5 - DT - Juggling Balls 

We have a fantastic update from our talented Year 5 children. After weeks of hard work and dedication, they have completed sewing their very own juggling balls! 

Not only did they master the art of stitching, but they also put their juggling skills to the test, challenging some of our brave teachers to a juggling showdown.

It was a sight to behold as our Year 5 children showcased their juggling prowess, impressing both their peers and teachers alike. They demonstrated tremendous coordination and focus throughout their juggling routines.

We couldn't be prouder of our amazing students for their determination and perseverance throughout this task. It's truly inspiring to see them develop new skills and confident personalities. 

Year 6 - DT - Tote Bags

Our year 6 children have been working diligently to create their own tote bags, and after adding the finishing touch of handles, they are now ready to take them out for a spin! Our young designers are thrilled to be flaunting the latest fashion trend with their own original tote bags.

But these bags are more than just a fashion accessory. They are a testament to our children's creativity and craftsmanship. Each bag is a unique masterpiece, featuring one-of-a-kind 'Hapazome' patterns and individual skills.

FOPS Valentines Disco

Love is in the air! Get ready for the most enchanting event of the year - our Valentines Disco, happening on Friday 9th February in our school hall.

This will be the 1st Valentines Disco since 2019, so be sure to mark it in your calendars and get your children's dancing shoes ready, because they will not want to miss this magical, children-only event.

Tickets Available: Tickets go on sale from Wednesday 24th January. Make sure you grab yours early, as they are bound to sell like hotcakes! 

Weekly Wellbeing

A Mindful Walking Meditation

Some benefits of walking meditation are increased blood flow, better digestion, lower stress levels and improved wellbeing. It can also be a wonderful bonding experience as a family.

1. Set the intention as a family of going on a lovely walk with no time limitations. Meditations can be active and playful. Try a quieter space where you can be in nature, if this is possible.
2. Talk about how we can have a deep awareness of our surroundings when we walk mindfully, which helps our minds feel clearer and our bodies feel calmer.
3. Throughout the walk, notice your breath and ask your child to notice theirs. Explain the breath is a link between the mind and body. It may be nice to take some lovely deep breaths through the nose together for a few minutes to encourage a deeper sense of calm.
4.  Use all senses while you walk. Ask your child what they can hear, smell, see and touch. What is the closest sound they can hear and what is the furthest sound they can hear?
5. Notice together the earth beneath your feet. Talk about how the ground supports us so well, helping us feel safe and nurtured.
6. Mindful walking meditations can be fun so if you would like a focus, ask your children to find something that represents each colour in the rainbow. You may need to remind them of the colours to prompt them.
7. Give lots of time for space, quiet and reflection. Sometimes children are more likely to talk about their feelings or things that are bothering them in this environment.
8. When you feel as though it is time to return home, talk about your experience as a family and how it felt to walk in this way.

Why not give it a try this weekend?

Tulsi's Book Review

Sports News

Tuesday U9's Football

On Tuesday, our Under 9’s played a home Football fixture against Claire’s Court. St Bernard’s fielded three teams for this fixture and competed extremely well across the three matches. 

St Bernard’s A team started well, going 1-0 up against their opponents with a great goal taken by Younis. Claire’s Court responded well to going behind and scored twice in quick succession before half-time. As soon as the second half kicked off St Bernard’s got themselves level with a goal from Akaal before Claire’s Court responded to retake the lead shortly afterwards. St Bernard’s put a huge amount of pressure on their opponents' defence throughout the second half and were unlucky not to find an equaliser. A brilliant and competitive game to kick off our season. Well done to all the players who played so well and to Veeran, who was voted MVP. 

St Bernard’s B team was a mixture of Year 3 and 4 boys who played extremely well. They found themselves 2-0 up at half-time before running out of steam and losing the game 5-2 in the end. Well done to all the players who played an incredible first half, especially to Ryan S who was voted MVP for his team. 

St Bernard’s C team had a mixture of Year 4 boys and girls and Year 3 boys! They played extremely well against their opponents and won their match 6-4 in a thrilling contest! Well done to all the players and to Pranay who was MVP.

U9'S Netball vs Gayhurst 

On Tuesday our Year 4s travelled to Gayhurst School in Gerrards Cross to participate in a netball fixture. We had three teams play against 5 teams from Gayhurst and although the scores were not counted, our girls put up an amazing effort and played well throughput the afternoon. Well done to all the players, and a special congratulations to both Avani and Mia for being awarded as the MVPs for the day.

U11's Netball vs Gayhurst

On Wednesday, it was the turn of our Year 6 netballers to play against Gayhurst. Our Under 11A team played in one of their toughest matches yet against a very formidable side. Our girls kept their composure, blended very well as team, and as a result we scored some well-worked-out goals. We won the match 16-12. Our girls all played very well, and Manpreet was awarded the MVP award.  

Our Under 11Bs fell short 5 goals to 9 in what was a very entertaining game of Netball. Our players adapted well to positional changes, and regardless of our opponents having a slight height advantage, our girls matched them very well. Well done for an outstanding effort, and special congratulations to Isabella for receiving the MVP award.