St Bernadette's Primary School

This week we celebrated Shrove Tuesday with some lip-smacking pancakes and Ash Wednesday, with a wonderful whole school Mass. Our students were perfectly behaved and respectful and our choir sang beautifully under the guidance of Jess, Cath and Troy. Our student leaders ran this seamlessly and had a heap of fun in the process!

On the topic of our Student Leaders, I am very happy to report that all our Year 6 students have made a HUGE contribution in making the start of the year smooth, calm and enjoyable for all. As I said to them the other day, it is in the little moments, when there are no staff around, that they can and have made a difference. Helping to keep the school clean and tidy, sitting calmly in the under-covered area, helping younger students in the playground and consistently choosing kindness in every interaction – it all makes a difference! Our elected leaders are off to the city for a Leadership Conference today, and I thank all of them for their attitude and maturity.

After a couple of issues this week, can I kindly remind all parents and caregivers not to directly approach or address other children regarding any incidents or concerns that may arise at school. While we understand that emotions can run high when children share some of their playground experiences at home, it is important that we model staying calm, using the appropriate channels to deal with conflict and to ensure that all students feel safe and supported within our community. If an issue occurs at school, please bring it to the attention of their teacher or assistant principal so it can be handled thoughtfully, fairly, and in accordance with school policies. By allowing staff to manage student matters, we help maintain a respectful environment for all children and model positive, appropriate ways to resolve concerns.

Students are encouraged to accept conflict as a normal part of friendships and relationships. Through our UR strong Friendology Program , students develop effective strategies to respond respectfully and are pastorally supported by staff along the way.

While we cannot guarantee that conflict will not occur between students at school, we do promise that staff work very hard to ensure all students identify mistakes, see them as a learning opportunity, accept consequences, and restore their relationships here at school. Thank you for your ongoing support and cooperation - it makes a huge difference.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lenten season. In the next 40 days leading up to Easter, we are each challenged to change gears ... to slow down a little more ... and to spend time reflecting on where we are currently at with - our faith, our family, our friendships, and with ourselves. Whether a Catholic Family or not, I hope that we can all take this time to look inward and focus on the things that really matter.

We are called to work hard this year, on fasting from any words, conversations or attitudes that might hurt or harm others or ourselves, and feast on all that brings joy, peace, forgiveness, healing and wholeness to our lives and relationships.

How will we help our children engage with Lent this year? Perhaps creating a Lenten Calendar of our own using some of the ideas on this page and also including suggestions from the kids themselves? The main thing to remember is to keep it simple, but from the heart.

Geordie

GRIP Student Leaders Conference

Today our Student Leaders travelled up to the Perth Convention Centre to join other student leaders all over WA at the GRIP Student Leaders Conference. Students worked together through games, discussions and activities, connecting with other student leaders and sharing experiences. All students came back with a clearer vision for their leadership roles, the confidence to lead with kindness and purpose and lots of inspiration for making a positive difference at school.

They have already made a positive impact here at Bernie's and we wish them well for the remainder of the year!

Absentees

Please remember to complete an absentee form whenever your child is away from school. This helps us keep accurate attendance records and meet reporting requirements. Notification must be in writing and can be submitted via our website - https://stbernadettes.wa.edu.au/families

Thank you for your cooperation.

Arriving late to school/leaving early

Parents are reminded that if your child arrives late to school or needs to leave early, they must please be signed in or signed out at the school office. This process ensures accurate attendance records and helps us maintain the safety and wellbeing of all students.

Year 2 - 6 Piano, Guitar & Drum lessons 2026

Keyed Up Music is the largest music school providing music lessons for kids in Perth. With over 550 guitar students per week, the professional guitar teachers at Keyed Up know how to not only teach guitar competently to your child but also engage, inspire and create learning opportunities for them. Coupled with some basic practice discipline and good ol’ fashioned grit, there are simply no limits to your child’s musical potential! They too could be a Rock n’ Roll star of the 21st Century.

Guitar and Drum lessons are held at Bernie's after school on a Tuesday & Thursday. Please hop onto the Keyed Up Music website for more information - https://www.keyedupmusic.com.au/

Year 6 Camp - Wednesday 25 - Friday 27 February

A message from the Henry Street Centre Assessment Clinic - availability

There is now new availability and growing capacity of The Henry Street Centre Assessment Clinic to support students, and their families with comprehensive psychological and educational assessment services.

As of February 2026 we have no waitlist, and welcome referrals and enquiries from schools, parents, and community professionals.

If you are interested in what kind of assessment services we offer, or are looking to make an enquiry, please view the attached letter for further information.

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A reminder for our families

Our school canteen is only open on

Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Orders can be placed online via the Spriggy App before 8.30am

or in person at the canteen.

In the Catholic tradition, our parish and school are closely connected.

The parish, led by Father Giovanni, provides spiritual leadership and is responsible for ensuring we nurture students’ faith alongside academic learning. The school supports the parish by helping children grow in Catholic values, preparing them for sacraments, and encouraging family participation in parish life.

It’s essentially a partnership — the parish is the faith community, and the school is one of its key ministries. For more information about our Parish, please click here:

https://portkennedy.perthcatholic.org.au/