St Bernadette's Primary School Dundas Valley

Over the past week, our staff have been taking part in Professional Learning about students who have English as an Additional Language or Dialect. These students are those whose first (or home) language is not Standard Australian English and require additional support to develop Standard Australian English language proficiency. These students may be born overseas or in Australia but the first language they have heard or have spoken in is a language other than English. By understanding the first languages of our students, our teachers can develop strategies to assist these students at their stage of Standard Australian English development.

As a school and a Diocese, we value the diversity of languages in our schools. Research has shown that students who are literate and proficient in their first language, will be able to become literate and proficient in another language. Over the next week, we will be asking students about their first language and what languages they use at home. The more information we have, the better we can assist our students to develop the language needed to succeed at school.

Have a wonderful week,

Jackie Willard

Assistant Principal

Gospel

Lk 20:27-38

Some Sadducees – those who say that there is no resurrection – approached Jesus and they put this question to him, ‘Master, we have it from Moses in writing, that if a man’s married brother dies childless, the man must marry the widow to raise up children for his brother. Well, then, there were seven brothers. The first, having married a wife, died childless. The second and then the third married the widow. And the same with all seven, they died leaving no children. Finally the woman herself died. Now, at the resurrection, to which of them will she be wife since she had been married to all seven?’

Jesus replied, ‘The children of this world take wives and husbands, but those who are judged worthy of a place in the other world and in the resurrection from the dead do not marry because they can no longer die, for they are the same as the angels, and being children of the resurrection they are sons of God. And Moses himself implies that the dead rise again, in the passage about the bush where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. Now he is God, not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all men are in fact alive.’

This term in Religion Stage 1 are exploring the question How can we as peacemakers help build and sustain relationships? 

At the beginning of the term we brainstormed the different ways we can be peacemakers and added these actions to a kindness chain that now hangs in our classrooms. 

Last Thursday our Stage 1 students were finally able to attend their very first excursion at Rouse Hill Estate. Shortly after arriving we put on our costumes, received our name badges and headed back in time to the year 1889 to learn first hand about what school life was like in the late 19th century.

Throughout this immersive experience the students were able to take part in a recreation of classroom activities including practising writing on slates, completing a science lesson about the life cycle of a silkworm, a sewing lesson, a drawing lesson as well as maypole dancing in the yard. It was a fantastic day where the students were able to make distinct comparisons between schooling then and now.  

Despite the pouring rain as we travelled along the M2, we arrived at Taronga Zoo safely just after its opening. Splitting into two large groups aided by parents and Miss Simone and Mr Kensell, we began our journey through the zoo. We were lucky enough to participate in a zoo lesson under the guidance of zookeeper Alex. She taught us more about living things and their life cycles. We had a great time especially meeting the bush turkeys and ibis that roam freely around the zoo. A huge thank you to the teachers for organising this fantastic excursion.

Please notify our office as soon as possible, if you know that you may be leaving St Bernadette’s at the end of this year. As you know, you are required to give ten weeks notice if you are leaving. Please contact our office for a copy of a leaving form that must be completed.

We thank you for your ongoing support.

Recently, Year 3 student Tahlia N, competed in a dance competition. She participated in a range of styles, placing in all. We congratulate Tahlia on her efforts.

If you wish to purchase any items from our school clothing pool, please email the school office via dundasvalley@parra.catholic.edu.au . If the items are available, they will be sent home with your child. We are no longer able to have uniforms paid for via QKR! app, as unfortunately refunds aren't able to be processed if your required uniforms aren't available.  Therefore all payments need to be processed via EFTPOS only in the school office.