Newsletters

Dear Parents,

Firstly, I would like to extend a massive thank you to all the parents who were able to attend Parents' Evening on Tuesday.

It was wonderful to see so many enthusiastic parents engaging with our dedicated teachers and discussing the progress of their children. Your participation is invaluable in creating a strong home-school partnership that contributes to your child's overall development. 

Parents' Evening provides an excellent opportunity for you to gain a deeper understanding of your child's educational journey, whilst building meaningful connections with our supportive staff.

We have also been focusing on wellbeing this week. We believe that academic success is not the only measure of achievement. For this reason, we have launched Wellbeing Wednesdays to prioritise the mental and emotional health of our children and staff members. Every Wednesday, the usual morning routine will be put aside to give everyone the opportunity to engage in activities that promote wellbeing. From mindfulness exercises to outdoor games, we strive to create a healthy and happy learning environment for all. In addition, we will be hosting a Wellbeing coffee morning for parents on January 31st. We are excited to welcome you to this event and share our vision of including holistic elements to education. We hope that through Wellbeing Wednesdays, our children will develop healthy habits and gain valuable resources to manage stress and overcome challenges.

We are also very proud of our Wellbeing lunchtime club which is run by Mrs Barker. Since its launch in October, it has been a massive hit amongst all our children, providing a range of engaging activities to support their mental and emotional well-being. It's the perfect opportunity for your child to learn valuable techniques for managing stress, building resilience, and promoting positivity. Wellbeing club is on Tuesday lunchtimes - 12.45 - 1.15 for Years 1-3 and 1.15-1.45 for Years 4-6.

School Council

We want to say a big thank you to all the wonderful parents who took the time to speak with our School Council members during Parents' Evening. Your valuable input and feedback are greatly appreciated.

Your responses to our survey will be absolutely invaluable in helping us to improve and make our school even better for our incredible children.

We believe that working together with parents is the key to creating the best possible educational experience for our children. Your thoughts, suggestions, and opinions matter to us! 

Prep Liturgy - Special People

On Wednesday, our Prep children delivered an exceptional Liturgy that left us all deep in thought. Their poignant words served as a reminder that we are all part of a special family in our parish.

During the Liturgy, our talented Year 1 children emphasised how each one of us is unique and precious in God's eyes. They reminded us that He knows us all by name and watches over us with love.

The children spoke with conviction, and their beautiful singing was truly moving. It was an honour to see how much their confidence has already grown during this academic year.

Early Years 2 - All about money

We have had an incredible week in Early Years 2, as our little superstars have been diving into the exciting world of money. They have been busy bees, learning to recognise different coins, adding them up, and understanding the true value and importance of money. 

Their classroom was then transformed into a vibrant shop, filled with all sorts of goodies, treats, and treasures. From delicious biscuits, mouthwatering chocolates, to refreshing fruit juices and milkshakes, they had so much to choose from. Watching their eager faces light up as they made their purchases was an absolute delight for us all.

Our little entrepreneurs handled their money like pros, carefully counting their coins and working out the prices of their desired items. The joy and satisfaction on their faces was priceless, reminding us why we do what we do – to nourish young minds and build a solid foundation for their futures. 

This hands-on experience has not only taught them valuable math skills but also instilled the essence of responsibility and the understanding that money is earned through hard work and wise choices.

Year 1 - Wellbeing Wednesday 

What a heart-warming day it was in year 1 on Wellbeing Wednesday. Our little ones arrived in their classroom to discover a delightful surprise waiting for them - cuddly teddy bears!

These adorable buddies were eagerly waiting on each child's chair, ready to embark on a day filled with fun and friendship. From the moment the children laid eyes on their new companions, their faces lit up with excitement.

Throughout the morning, the classroom was filled with joyous laughter and endless conversations as our Year 1 stars formed connections with their cuddly friends. The children took turns introducing their bear buddies to the class, proudly presenting their chosen names and sharing stories about their fluffy companions. 

The teddy bears became an integral part of their day, with the children involving them in various activities and lessons. From reading adventures to imaginative play, these cherished teddies brought an extra dose of magic to our year 1 classroom. 

Year 2 - Collective Worship

It has been a wonderful week for our Year 2 class. We have spent time focusing on our own well-being and reflecting on our feelings about school and the friendships we have formed.

What's more, our amazing children have taken the reins and planned our upcoming class worship sessions. They have selected the theme, scripture, and even determined our response to the text. Their thoughtful planning will serve as the foundation for our collective worship.

We are thrilled to see our children taking the initiative and leading these sessions. This goes to show that even at a young age, nurturing friendships and encouraging thoughtfulness can lead to incredible outcomes!

Year 3 - Magnets

This week, our Year 3 children have had an amazing opportunity to discover the fascinating world of magnets. Through engaging experiments, these curious young scientists have learnt about the various applications and significance of magnets in our day-to-day lives.

Lower Transition scientists have deepened their understanding of magnetic fields and how they operate, whilst also having hands-on experiences and witnessing the magnetic force. It was a delightful surprise to see their reactions as they watched paper clips being attracted to the magnets.

Witnessing such captivating experiments has been an incredible experience, and we are excited to see our budding scientists apply this knowledge into their future scientific endeavours.

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 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! 

Achievements

We would like to extend our congratulations to Pranay of Lower Trans for receiving the Player of the Match Award at Slough Rugby Club in their recent match against Phoenix Club. During the presentation ceremony, his coach had this to say:

"Pranay has demonstrated remarkable consistency and dedication over the last three to four weeks. His contribution has been further distinguished by exceptional teamwork and sportsmanship." - Well done Pranay

This week, I was fortunate enough to receive the following uplifting letter from a parent. It is always reassuring to hear about the positive and nurturing impact our school has on our children. Their kind words truly made my day and it is wonderful to be able to celebrate courage & diversity within our school community. 

Dear Mrs. Verma,

I hope this message finds you well. It has been a year since our last correspondence, and we are thrilled to share some wonderful news about Darissa's progress.

Firstly, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude to you and the entire St Bernard Prep School community for the incredible support provided over the years. The positive impact on our children's growth has been truly remarkable.

Darissa recently had the opportunity to perform in her first dance on the stage organized by the Malayalee Community to celebrate the Annual Christmas and New Year. We are delighted to share that she exhibited grace and confidence throughout her performance, thoroughly enjoying the experience. While she was initially nervous about performing in front of an unfamiliar audience, she managed to overcome it beautifully.

As parents, we attribute Darissa's newfound confidence to the nurturing environment and platform that St. Bernards consistently provides. We want to extend our deepest thanks for your continuous efforts in ensuring our children receive not only academic excellence but also the support and encouragement needed for their personal development.

Regarding our previous concerns about Darissa's confidence, we are pleased to see significant progress. The school's guidance and the supportive atmosphere have indeed made a significant difference. We appreciate the partnership with the school in this journey.

Best regards,

Madhumita & Om

Weekly Wellbeing

Wellbeing Update

As part of our drive to improve the wellbeing of all members of our school community, we are delighted to share with you some new, exciting initiatives which we hope will be of benefit to all.

• We are launching Wellbeing Wednesdays in school. Every Wednesday morning during the registration period, all the children will participate in a wellbeing activity. This could be a mindfulness activity, a meditation or simply time for the children to chat.

• We will be trialling Wellbeing Weekends. Once a half term, the children will get a homework free weekend. We hope this will allow the children, and you as parents, the opportunity for some downtime. The time that is usually spent on homework could be used for a walk, watching a movie together, meeting friends, pursuing a hobby, playing a board game or simply spending quality time together as a family. The proposed weekends are those beginning Friday 2^nd February, Friday 1^st March, Friday 3^rd May and Friday 31^st May.

• We will be holding regular Wellbeing Coffee mornings for parents. Our first Coffee Morning will be on Wednesday 31^st January from 8.00am to 8.30am in the DT Room. This is an opportunity for parents to take some time out from their busy lives for a quick coffee, and a chance to socialise with other parents and teachers. 

• We have also reinvigorated our Wellbeing Club which now takes place on Tuesday lunchtimes, and is run by our ELSA, Mrs Barker. The Wellbeing Club meets in the Science Room,  12.45-1.15 for Years 1-3 and 1.15-1.45 for Years 4-6. All children are welcome to attend.

Thanking you in advance for your support with these new wellbeing initiatives. We look forward to seeing some of you at the Wellbeing Coffee Morning on the 31^st.

Ms Underwood and The Wellbeing Team.

Guitar Lessons

We currently have limited slots available for anyone wishing to take up Guitar lessons at school on a weekly basis.

Our guitar teacher, Travis Williams, is a true rockstar. He has been a professional drummer, guitarist, and singer, and has shared the stage with legends like Shane McGowan (The Pogues), Paul Simonon (The Clash and Gorillaz), Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols), and many more! 

What sets Travis apart is his passion for teaching and ensuring that children have fun whilst learning. With his expertise, Travis's students have achieved an impressive average mark of 86% in all graded exams. It is not uncommon for his pupils to achieve Grade 4, which is GCSE level, before leaving primary school!

If you are eager to get your child started on a musical journey, simply complete the form in the Parent Portal and return it to reception. Don't wait too long, as slots are limited and in high demand!

Get your child's creative juices flowing, boost their confidence, and let the music fill their souls! Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity!

Tulsi's Book Review

Sports News

Monday U10's Football

On Monday, our U10 Football team went head-to-head against Langley Hall in an intense home game. While our visitors came out strong, scoring two goals in quick succession, Archie's goal just before half-time brought us back in the game. Despite our team's strong performance in the second half, we were unable to score, and Langley Hall ultimately secured the victory with a third goal. A special shout out goes to Rohan, our team's MVP for the game, and to all the players who gave it their all out on the field.

Tuesday U9's Football

On Tuesday, St. Bernard's A and B teams played against Thorpe House in a home fixture. The A team started strong, with Veeran scoring a long-range shot, but conceded two goals before half-time. In the second half, St. Bernard's played almost entirely in Thorpe House's half, creating many shots on target that were saved by the exceptional goalkeeper. Unfortunately, Thorpe House scored a counter-attacking goal in the last few minutes, ending the game with a 3-1 loss. Well done to all the players and especially to Shrey who was the MVP.

The B team had an exceptional game against Thorpe House's B team. After conceding the first goal, St. Bernard's showed great resilience to lead the game 2-1 at half-time. The game ended in a 2-2 draw, with Reyansh scoring two fantastic goals and being named St. Bernard's MVP. Congratulations to all players!

Wednesday U11's Football

On Wednesday, both St Bernard’s U11 A and B teams played against a strong Holy Family team. The A team started well and kept Holy Family out and created some great chances on the counter-attack before Holy Family took the lead just before half-time. St Bernard’s A played superbly in the second half and created lots of chances, but unfortunately couldn’t convert them into a goal. St Bernard’s went all out in attack in the last minute trying to find their deserved equaliser and were caught on the counter-attack by the hosts and lost the game 2-0. Well done to all the players and to Jayan who was MVP for the team. 

St Bernard’s B team played against a very strong Holy Family team and found themselves 2-0 down before St Bernard’s responded with a beautifully worked goal finished off by Kishin just before half-time. Holy Family continued to press in the second half and scored three more goals without reply, giving us a final score of 5-1 to Holy Family. Well done to all the players and to Arjun J who was the MVP of his team.

U11's Netball vs Gayhurst

Our Under 11A&B Netball teams welcomed Langley Hall School this week. The Under 11B’s were beaten by a very strong team, but our girls put up a very good effort throughout the entire match. We were able to score 2 goals. Our ladies defended immensely, and did not make it easy for the opposition. Our Under 11A’s then took to the court, and from the start gelled as team that seemed very hungry for goals. The movement of our players on the court, and the passing amongst each other was something spectacular to behold. Our girls finished the game with a resounding 10-4 victory. A very dominant display from our team indeed. Well done to both teams for their amazing efforts on the day, and a special congratulations to Hafsah and Hasitha who were nominated as their respective team’s MVPs.