St Bernard's Newsletter

Dear Families,

As this is my last newsletter as headteacher, I just wanted to thank you all for your support and encouragement over the last four years. It truly has been my privilege to be headteacher of a school that has such a powerful legacy and has been responsible for the education of young people for well over a century. I keep telling people that I believe that the Bernardines have left their special character in the walls. As headteacher, it has certainly felt like it! This incredible community is very much part of what they left to us – a focus on God in all things – Dieu Mon Abri.

I also want to take the opportunity to thank all of the fabulous staff team – teaching and non-teaching staff alike. The team here at St Bernard’s is unique – the friendship and focus, learning and laughter, commitment and compassion is simply unrivalled. The staff team at St Bernard’s aren’t ‘simply doing a job’ they embrace a way of life – ‘Love one another as I have loved you.’ It is real and very palpable. It is not a platitude, it is the St Bernard’s way. The MBE that I have been awarded is for our whole school community – there is no I in team!

My final thank you is to our young people. They have been an absolute pleasure and I continue to be in awe of their capacity for good. Their gifts and talents are boundless and I am so proud of them. They have literally made my heart sing over the last four years with friends, family and former colleagues no doubt tired of the way in which I continuously speak about our girls (and our few boys!) as simply being amazing.

God knew what he was doing when he led me to a school in Westcliff and I am following his plans now. I pray that our young people will always put God first in everything confident that he will grant all things good and holy in His name. I will continue to keep you all in my prayers, please do keep me in yours.

With love,

Mrs Moise-Dixon

• Time changes for September: Gate closes at 8.40am with registration starting at 8.45am.
• A polite reminder to parents that if their child is unwell they should go to reception.
• Children should not be using their phones in school to contact their parents.

The prestigious Headteacher Awards have once again been awarded to a special student from each year group who has stood out for their commitment to learning and serving others. For this final term of the year, Mrs Moise-Dixon passed the torch to her successor, Mrs Barnes, who selected her first crop of winners for the Headteacher Awards. Mrs Barnes winners were:

Lucia - 7A

Lucia is a friendly member of 7A, she is so helpful and organised. She recently helped out with the fundraiser, coming in early with her friends to organise our event. She helps others around her, and is a great role model to her peers. She is also doing so well with her sporting achievements.

Martha - 8A

Martha comes into form time happy and confident every morning. She will contribute to classroom discussions around careers and when reading The Bone Sparrow. Martha is a delightful member of the form, always impeccably dressed, enthusiastic and has a fantastic attitude to learning in her lessons. Keep on being amazing!

Hephzi - 9R

Hephzi has made great progress this year. She has been a wonderful form captain and has been proactive in completing tasks on time. She is polite and respectful and a great role model.

Sophia Balloch - 10H

Sophia is a remarkable student whose dedication and positivity shine in everything she does. She consistently strives to achieve her best, showing determination and a strong work ethic in all aspects of her learning. Sophia is not only a respectful and polite individual, but she also plays an active role in the school council, where her thoughtful contributions make a real difference. Her willingness to listen, engage, and support others sets a wonderful example for her peers, and she is truly a valued member of the school community.

Shekinah Nyamu - 12F

Shekinah takes her role as Charity Prefect seriously: she has led the organisation of fundraisers such as Bench ball and the Easter Egg raffle. She has shown kindness, generosity and initiative, giving of her time as well as funding some of the prizes. Thank you for being such a good role model to your peers and younger students.

Congratulations girls, keep up the incredible work!

Special awards were also given out by the Head of Years to the student they believed excelled the most this term. Here are their winners:

Year 7 - Makaylah

For a fantastic contribution to school athletics. Dedication to learning and a positive attitude to all tasks. - Mr O St Clair

Year 8 - Grace & Christabel

Miss Lynch contacted me specifically to say they had been brilliant during Year 6 taster day and these two students were so amazing with the children, she thought they should consider a career in teaching. - Mrs Sian Alexander

Year 9 - Dilha

Dilha is a proactive student and a talented artist, contributing to school life by submitting her fantastic artwork for sale at the school fete. - Miss C Campbell

Year 10 - Isabella

I gave the award to Isabella for her dedication to her education and school life. Isabella is always a friend that can be relied on and is proud of her academic achievements. - Miss S Hill

Sixth Form - Christianah

Christianah is always willing to help and volunteers so often for extra activities. She always has a smile on her face.

Congratulations to all our winners, keep on striving, serving and succeeding!

Did you know that students with 95-100% attendance are 30% more likely to reach their expected standards than pupils who attend only 90-95% of the time? This shows just how significant attendance is on learning, aptitude and grade performance.

Using a holistic approach, we do our best as a school to alleviate the barriers that prevent your child from having excellent attendance. We are pleased to report that this is working:

Attendance Averages

• National Average: 93.5%
• Southend Average: 93.2%
• St Bernard's Average: 95.7%

Form Attendance

The following forms had the highest averages of attendance for the year, they were awarded with boxes of celebrations, as we believe it's worth celebrating!

Year 7 - 7M 96.67%

Year 8 - 8R 97.09%

Year 9 - 9C 96.70%

Year 10 - 10H 96.62%

Year 12/13 - 12/13F 91.01%

100% Attendance

An impressive number of students (80) have managed to go the entire year with a 100% attendance record. Each received a special award and certificate for their commitment and dedication. Some of our 100% attendees are pictured above. Congratulations to you all, let's keep the streak going for next year!

In this final week of the academic year, we held our annual Awards Ceremony for both the lower and higher year groups.

Parents joined the school to watch and cheer as students received special awards for a variety of achievements, including dedication, progress, attitude, attendance, sports and religious life. The audience was also treated to some outstanding musical performances from our students, including solo artists, group singers and our incredible school chamber choir.

Special trophies were also awarded to some of the older students for their outstanding commitment to their subjects and their service to the school. These standout winners include:

Monsignor George Stokes Award - Hannah 12/13C

Da Vinci Creativity and Innovation Award - Lois Graham-Ward 10F

Creativity and Innovation Award for D&T - Florence Wallace 10R

The Old Girls' Association Award for Consistent Effort - Kingsley 12/13R

Miss O'Shaughnessy Award - Susi 12/13H

Keauffling Award for Dance - Ruby 10R

Drama Sheild - Lois 10F

Helen Mirren Award - Lola 10A

Carolyn Lettieri Cup - Selin 9R

Father George Lemaitre Award - Athenna 9F

Congratulations to all our award winners, and to all involved in putting on this spectacular event!

We're incredibly grateful to all the people who came along to our first ever summer fete this year. To celebrate the Jubilee Year, we invited students, parents and members of the local community to join us in celebration of the school.

There was something for everyone at the school fete: adults enjoyed a drink (or two) at the bar, perused the second-hand wares and charity stalls, and took part in the art auction, while the younger ones bounced all day long on the inflatables, ate delicious ice creams and competed in the various carnival games around the playground.

We also featured special student performances, including solo singers and an amazing guitarist. Other highlights included the BBQ, book sale, photo booth and, of course, the raffle.

Thank you to everyone who helped organise this amazing event, and thank you to all of you who came along to help support the school.

This year we had another incredible week of cultural enrichment, with many fascinating special guests coming in to teach the students about other cultures. We had a range of exciting talks and activities, including:

• Latin-inspired Zumba Dancing
• Cultural Fashion Show
• Bhangra Punjab Dancing
• Black Hero (Stormzy) Talk
• Caribbean Steel Drums
• Rambert Ballet Dancing

The annual fashion show was a particular highlight. Students from all year groups came to school rocking both modern and traditional cultural dress, celebrating the diverse range of cultural backgrounds our students originate from. A select few then took to the stage to showcase their outfits, with some even performing traditional dances or singing traditional songs in front of the whole school!

A huge thank you to all our special guests, our students thoroughly enjoyed the different activities, and all came away with greater knowledge of other cultural practices. And of course, a big shout-out to Miss Hill for organising culture week.

St. Bernards held its annual Sports Day on Monday 14th July at Garon's Park. The day was characterised by a fantastic level of competition and sportsmanship with each student giving their all for their house.

Some students competed in the alternative events with Welly Throwing, Target throw and Tug of War proving popular. On the track students competed in 100m, 200m 800m and relay, whilst in the field students competed in high jump, long jump, triple jump, shot putt, javelin and discus. The day culminated in the winners of each year group relay vs staff teams, and the Year 9 Melrose team took home the glory after narrowly beating the staff team.

Congratulations to the overall winning house: Annay.

St Bernard's was proud to once again hold the Summer Soiree. This annual event is a celebration of all the wonderful musical talent here at the school, with performances given by both students and staff.

This year we had some truly magnificent performances, including the school orchestra, the chamber choir, a harpist quartet, soloist singers, guitar soloists, and even a student rock band with drummer, singer and base-player. We were also excited to host some very special guests: the St Bernard's Alumni Choir. Former students, lead by the former singing teacher of St Bernard's, returned to the school to perform a few beautiful pieces at the place where their singing journeys started.

Overall, the evening was a mighty success, leaving the audience thoroughly impressed by the quality and diversity of our homegrown musicians. Thank you to everyone who came along to support; to all the staff and student performers who gave such a spectacular show; and last but not least, to our head of music, Mrs Githu, for orchestrating this superb event.

A huge well done to the Year 7 & 8 contestants in the annual St Bernard's Spelling Bee!

Our young dictionary dynamos put on an excellent show, battling it out over complex words like anaesthesia, chihuahua and onomatopoeia! The brain-power on display was truly phenomenal. The event was a testament to how hard the KS3 girls have been working on their spelling this year.

It was a well-fought contest, but in the end our two winners were Aliyah in Year 7 and Maryam in Year 8. Congratulations girls, keep up the great work!

Well done to everyone in Year 7 and 8 for coming out in full-force (with custom-made banners and chants) to support the competitors, and for your hard-work and focus on spelling throughout the year.

At the annual St Bernard's Gala Ball, we said our final farewells to the Year 13 and Year 11 students. Staff and students dressed their best for a night of celebration - sharing laughs, dances and fond memories of their time together at St Bernard's.

It's always hard to say goodbye when the students leave us after so many years, but we are so excited to see where life takes them after their time at St Bernard's.

This final term half-term at the school has produced great fruit for the religious life of the school. Masses continued each week with Fr Paul and Fr Viktor, the head students took part in the BCYS Student Leadership Conference, and the Liturgy prefects embarked on a pilgrimage to Brentwood Cathedral. It's amazing to see so many young people engage with their faith and committing to serving God through the principle of "love one another, as I have loved you".

Looking towards next year, the chaplaincy hopes to grow with new opportunities for students to further enrich the religious life of the school. Morning prayer sessions will be held every day before registration, with liturgy prefects running the sessions and encouraging other students to attend. A weekly chaplaincy club will begin in September, where students can discuss faith, organise bible studies and create display boards for the school. The new Year 7's will be going on a retreat to Ayelsford Priory, where they will be thinking about new beginnings and the direction God wants to take them during their time here at St Bernard's.

Yours faithfully,

Mr R Young

Two of our Head Students, Ese and Zainab, embarked on a mission to The Campion School to meet with other school leadership teams and learn how to become effective leaders. Here they are pictured with Bishop Alan after having a brief chat.

Well done to our Liturgy Prefects for their engagement during the pilgrimage to Brentwood Cathedral. They learnt a lot about the faith and the Brentwood diocese, as well as what on earth an 'ambo' is. Hopefully this new-found knowledge will help shape them in their roles as liturgy prefects.

It was a pleasure to once again have Fr Paul celebrate the feast of St Bernard with us on the final day of term. He gave a very engaging homily with an important message for the students to take with them into summer: have empathy for others, as we never know what crosses they may be carrying behind the scenes.

The final half term of sixth form is an exciting one, filled with students finishing exams and Year 12 students preparing for their next steps but also engaging in lots of exciting extra-curricular activities. Here are some of the half term’s highlights.

Year 12 UCAS Fair and Personal Statement Preparation Day

We had a fantastic day which began in school with Mrs Owen doing a crash course on the personal statement changes for this year. We explored examples and went through how to answer each of the three questions which students must address if they want to apply to university. The day continued with a coach trip to Essex university, and we explored the Colchester campus and went round the UCAS fair. Students were able to talk one-to-one with university and apprenticeship providers. The day was a great way to build upon the future pathways day that we completed just before May half term.

Year 12 Talk the Talk Event

At the end of June we were pleased to welcome back the Talk the Talk facilitators part funded by Jack the Petchey Foundation. The day helped to build students confidence in their presentation skills and help them be pushed out of their comfort zones ready for university and job interviews. The feedback from students and the facilitators was all very positive.

New Year 12 Induction Day

We welcomed our prospective Year 12s to St Bernard's, both internal and external students, to experience lessons and what life as a sixth former is like here at the school. Students gained all the privileges of being a sixth former and started to explore what the expectations of A-Level learning are. We are very much looking forward to welcoming our new Year 12's in September.

Super Curricular Reading Presentations

As part of the sixth form tutor time programme students complete super curricular reading to extend their knowledge on areas of interest outside of their taught curriculums. We wanted to encourage students to share the knowledge they have gained through this reading and to help build upon the Talk the Talk presentation skills. Students were set the task to write a blog post and create and present about a chosen topic. They completed these in form time and the best blog posts and presentations from each form group were awarded a prize. There were some fascinating presentations from life on mars to the benefits of chocolate. Super curricular reading is a key element of the personal statement so all this information can be used as students are writing their drafts of their personal statements.

RAG Week

This year we have seen another successful RAG week filled with lots of fun events to raise money for charity. Service is a key part of St Bernard’s ethos and raising money for local charities is a highlight of the year. This year we saw the haunted house, guess the teacher baby photo, staff vs teacher netball match, funky drinks stall, teacher ice bucket challenge, a movie night and finally we have the annual visit from the ice cream van. Thank you to staff, students and parents for supporting all these events. A particular shout out to this year’s Head Student Team who organised everything this year – well done!

This year, an incredible 100% of Year 12 students participated in a workplace experience. Many secured placements aligned with their career aspirations, while all developed key transferable skills. Placements took place across Essex and London, including roles in organisations such as:

· University College London

· St George’s Hospital

· Aon Insurance

· House of Commons, Westminster - with local MPs, Bayo Abaya and David Burton-Sampson

Feedback from both students and employers reflected the value and impact of these experiences:

“To be honest it's hard to fault your student, her initiative and teamwork was excellent, it was like having a member of staff.”

All Year 10 students took part in a week of work experience, with 98% off-site. We are grateful to employers who generously shared time and expertise. Students explored a wide range of sectors—from health and construction to law, marketing, and creative industries—gaining valuable insight into the world of work.

One student supported the Haven’s Hospice ‘Waddle on Sea’ campaign. She created impressive marketing materials and participated in the penguin launch! Do look for these about our City.

Many students found the work experience has transformed their careers planning:

“My placement has impacted my plans because I am now leaning towards pursuing a career in speech and language therapy/pathology, specialising in young children with autism, ADHD, and other speech delays.”

This year, we introduced a weekly careers curriculum starting from Year 7. This term’s focus has been on Labour Market Information (LMI), helping students understand local and national employment trends and identify growth sectors in our area. We encourage parents and carers to explore LMI with their children to support informed career choices. Useful websites include:

· National Careers Service

· LMI for Soutend on Sea Poster

Year 10 students benefitted from an engaging and impactful workshop led by Mel Swayze, our link partner from the Department for Work and Pensions. Students received practical advice on writing CVs and preparing for the world of work. All Year 10 students now have a CV to be proud of.

Students in Years 7, 10, and 12 participated in the Careers and Enterprise Company’s Future Skills Questionnaire. This tool helps us audit and evaluate our current careers provision. The insights gained will help us to guide the continued refinement and personalisation of our programme. We thank all students for sharing their student voice.

This term, Year 12 Business Studies students at St Bernard’s collaborated with aerospace firm IPECO on a real-world cost-benefit analysis project, exploring in-house investment versus outsourcing. Following a site visit in May, and with support from Mrs Cousins and Mrs Stenhouse, students presented professional-quality pitches to IPECO’s team in June.

Our St.Bernard’s Enterprise Adviser Kaye Mercene praised the school’s strong engagement and communication, expressing excitement for future cross-curricular projects. We are proud of our students and value our continued partnership with IPECO, which offers meaningful industry experience.

We are incredibly proud of our students and grateful for our ongoing partnership with IPECO, which continues to provide invaluable opportunities to bridge the gap between education and industry.

Year 12 students benefitted from workshops and talks delivered by Make Happen, a university widening participation initiative. The programme aims to debunk myths about Higher Education and raise aspirations. In June, students attended a particularly insightful session on networking and the professional use of LinkedIn.

This term saw the soft launch of the St. Bernard’s Alumni Association, with Year 13 leavers joining and sharing their ideas. It was a great chance to hear what they hope to gain—and give back. Looking ahead, we plan to develop alumni-led initiatives like career talks, mentoring, social events, and a regular newsletter. We're excited to grow this network and keep our community connected.

If you would like to join our alumni, or have any suggestions about what you would like from the association, please contact Mrs Liza Phillips – lph@stbernards.southend.sch.uk

Our Year 12's went back in time on their school trip to Greece, where they explored ancient ruins, examined priceless works of art, and spent some time soaking up the Mediterranean sun.

Highlights from the trip including the visit to ancient Greek monuments to the Greek gods in Athens, and walking in the St Paul's footsteps in Corinth. The delicious Greek food wasn't too bad either!

Well done for your excellent conduct on the trip Year 12! We hope you enjoyed travelling back in time to visit ancient civilisation (and getting a nice tan in the process!).

On Wednesday, 2nd July, 48 students from Year 8 and Year 9, along with 5 teachers, set off for France. On the way to Normandy, the group stopped at a traditional bakery where they learned how bread—and particularly the famous baguette—is made. They even had the chance to try their hand at making their own croissants!

On the second day, the group visited Arromanches and explored the D-Day Landing Museum. There, they learned about Operation Overlord, the massive military operation launched in 1944 to liberate Europe during World War II. They also walked along the beach and saw the remarkable remains of the Mulberry Harbour. Effie shared her thoughts:

“I learnt so much at the D-Day Museum. Being able to see the beach at the same time as learning in the museum was truly mesmerising and unforgettable.”

Later in the day, the students practised their French by ordering ice cream and crêpes from a local shop.

On Day 3, the group travelled to Bayeux to see the world-famous Bayeux Tapestry. Having studied the Battle of Hastings in Year 7 History, students were excited to see the 230-foot-long tapestry, which beautifully depicts the events of the battle. Iona commented:

“I loved visiting this historic piece of artwork and learning all about the amazing Battle of Hastings.”

In the afternoon, they headed to the town of Lisieux to visit the Basilica of Sainte-Thérèse. Marcia reflected on the experience:

“It was very beautiful, and it helped me to connect with my faith. The visit reminded me of my relationship with God and helped me reflect on my actions.”

On the final day, before returning home, the group visited the port town of Honfleur. As it was Saturday—market day—the students enjoyed browsing the many stalls and tasting local produce. Amber shared:

“It was fun looking through all the different stalls and experiencing a bit of French life.”

Overall, students and teachers had a wonderful time. One of the teachers, Miss Cahill, said:

“It has been wonderful to see the girls learning and enjoying their time with friends.”

Miss Dubois

Head of MFL

As part of Culture Week celebrations, the impressive African Kingdoms Project was proudly displayed in the area outside the library. This project was the result of Year 8 students’ hard work during the spring term, where they were tasked with researching 2–3 African Kingdoms in depth for a homework assignment. Students developed their own enquiry questions—such as “How did African rulers demonstrate their power?” or “How were African Kingdoms affected by the arrival of Europeans?”—which guided their investigations and final presentations.

The school voted for their favourite projects, congratulations to Amenah Nadree for winning the most votes, closely followed by Kaitlyn Addo-Boateng and Michal Madueke. The winning projects stood out for their thoughtful research and creativity. The display was not only a celebration of student achievement but also a powerful showcase of African history and culture. Congratulations to all those Year 8 students whose projects were displayed for their outstanding efforts.

Miss K Lynch

Head of History

English Schools Track & Field Cup

A huge well done to all our students who competed in the English Schools’ Track and Field Cup! Both our Junior and Inter Girls teams reached the Regional A Final — an amazing feat in itself!

Junior Girls – 5th in East Anglia
Inter Girls – 4th in East Anglia

Both teams in the Top 10 scores nationally – narrowly missing out on place in the national finals!

The day was full of brilliant performances, school records smashed, and personal bests broken across many events. We are incredibly proud of everyone involved!

Borough Athletics

Our students had a brilliant week representing the school at Borough Athletics, taking part in a wide range of track and field events with determination, resilience, and pride.

We are thrilled to share some of our team highlights:

• 2nd Place Overall in Field Events

• 2nd Place Overall in the Relays

Year Group Placings:

• Year 7 – 3rd Place

• Year 8 – 4th Place

• Year 9 – 3rd Place

• Year 10 – 3rd Place

A huge well done to every student who took part. You showcased true sportsmanship and gave your all throughout. We are incredibly proud of each and every one of you!

The following students were selected to represent the Southend Borough at the Essex School championships where they achieved some fantastic results

Rosa Manzyukova Telenchana: Year 7 Javelin-4th place

Makaylah Lyanda: Year 7 200m- 4th place

Lucia Radley: Year 7 200m-Bronze Medal

Honor Oteng: Year 8/9 100m-Gold Medal

Rita Okohora: Year 8/9 80m Hurdles-finalist

Shani Mukudu: Year 8/9 Hammer-Gold medal

Florence Wallace: Year 10/11 1500m-Finalist

Hannah Agunsoye-Delight: Year 10/11 Discus-Silver Medal

We are delighted to announce that Honor Oteng competed in Birmingham for Essex and became the Junior Girls 100m National champion. A huge congratulations to Honor!

Our students have been thoroughly enjoying cricket this term—showing real passion, skill, and sportsmanship during lessons and beyond. With growing numbers attending after-school training, we’ve got some serious talent on the rise. Definitely one to watch next year!

Borough Rounders Tournament!
A fantastic afternoon filled with fun, energy, and plenty of rounders! Our students represented the school brilliantly, showing excellent teamwork, quick decision-making, and great sportsmanship throughout. Well done to everyone involved!

Students took part in line dancing during Cultural Week to explore the rich traditions of Texan culture. They showed great enthusiasm while learning this energetic dance style, gaining insight into the social and musical heritage of Texas.

In partnership with the Jack Petchey Foundation, the science department was thrilled to host 'Science Made Simple' for a special STEM talk with our Year 9's & 10's.

This explosive presentation showcased a range of interactive experiments for our students to enjoy and take part in.

The talk also explored the many awe-inspiring innovations that today's scientists are currently working on, including a proposed "space elevator" transport system and a high-speed transatlantic train tunnel.

A huge thanks to our guest speaker, Ruth Perkins, for giving the girls such an inspiring and informative talk.

Mrs Hunter

Head of Science

As part of Cultural week, the Drama department ran a trip to see "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at The Bridge Theatre in London.

Directed by Nicholas Hynter, this immersive production was hilarious, engaging and left students talking about it for days after!

If you get a chance to go and see it - we highly recommend that you do! The show is running until the 20th of August.

To celebrate the success of the students in the Performing Arts department, we held a showcase of Musical Theatre and LAMDA acting exam pieces.

With a diverse and exciting range of solos and monologues, the students truly entertained and enthralled their audience. We're extremely proud of our talented performers!

Well done everyone, keep up the great work!

Mrs Bell

Head of Performing Arts

A huge well done to our two Year 10 students, Lois and Isabella, for receiving the Brentwood Citizenship awards!

Lois received the award in recognition of her selfless and courageous assistance of an elderly gentleman in distress. Her quick response, kindness, and humanity made a meaningful difference in a critical moment.

Isabella received the award in recognition of her unwavering commitment, compassion, and tireless efforts in supporting our school community. Her generous contributions to various committees and fundraising initiatives reflect not only her strong work ethic but also a deep alignment with our school’s values and ethos.

Huge congratulations girls, this award is a truly commendable achievement, which highlights your commitment to serving others both at school and in the wider community.

After a brief hiatus, the journalism club is back in action at St Bernard's. The newly established journalism team (now coordinated by Miss McGowan and Mr Young) have been hard at work this term to bring you their brand new student newspaper - The St Bernard's Stylus.

Miss McGowan had this to say about the project:

"This project would not have been possible without the hard work and determination of our Chief Student Editor, Effie (9A), who has worked tirelessly to learn how to run a newsroom, manage deadlines, and edit articles to a professional standard. Her leadership has helped bring our shared vision to life and set a high standard for future editions.

We anticipate this to be the first of many exciting editions of The St Bernard’s Stylus, and we hope it becomes a cherished space where student voices can flourish, inform, and inspire."

This first issue featured many inspiring pieces, with articles about current affairs, school news, arts contributions and more!

The SVP Team have been hard at work this term. After introducing SVP and the Hungry Cupboard to the school in their assembly, they got to work organising a school fundraiser to help raise funds for the Hungry Cupboard.

After weeks of preparation, the SVP Ministry put together a truly amazing "Teacher Ice Bucket Challenge" event for the whole school to enjoy.

Students flocked to the MUGA to watch their favourite (or least favourite) teachers get drenched in freezing cold water!

Thanks to a fantastic turnout, the SVP Team managed to raise nearly £150 for SVP. Stunning work girls, the money you've raised will go a long way to help our local community!

There will lots more fundraising opportunities in September with SVP, so make sure to come along to our meetings if you want to get involved!

Whether it’s sending something on Snapchat to keep a streak going as soon as you wake up, getting up to speed on news on Twitter or live streaming thoughts about your day on social media, it can be hard to keep away from screens. But how do you know when enough is enough?

It’s important to be able to self-regulate your own screen time to stop it impacting your well-being. Here are some tips to help you have a healthy relationship with your screen!

1. Prioritise key tasks over screens. It can be tempting to multitask with a screen, but often it can become a distraction. To help strike a healthy balance it’s important to set simple rules that you can follow like putting your phone on ‘do not disturb’ when doing important activities like homework or creating device free zones in the home.

2. Stay engaged with family and friends – in real life! Try making screens part of family time, like a movie or an online games night is one way to include others and build bonds with friends and family.

3. Learn how to manage risks online. Everyone faces risks when communicating and accessing online services. Trust your instinct and if someone – or something – looks too good to be true – it probably is! Be open and honest with family and friends and be open to advice. Remember that there are practical things you can do to deal with risks online, like blocking and reporting on the platforms.

4. Think carefully about what you post and share with others online. Maintain a positive online reputation that will serve you well later on in life when applying for a job or higher education.

5. Self-regulate your screen time – with support! All consoles and some social platforms have in-built settings that allow you to set alerts to tell you when you’ve reached a certain amount of time on the platform and gives you a summary of time spent to support digital wellbeing.

For more information, support and advice use Keep Children Safe Online: Information, advice, support - Internet Matter

If you got into trouble in the water, would you know what to do?

Around 140 people lose their lives at the UK and Irish coasts each year, and over half never even planned to enter the water. It's important you know what to do in an emergency so you can help without putting yourself in danger.

There are two simple skills you should know that could save a life:

▪ If you find yourself in difficulty in the water, float to

increase your chances of survival.

▪ If you see someone else in trouble in the water, call 999 or

112 and ask for the Coastguard.

Float to Live

1. Tilt your head back, ears submerged.

2. Relax and try to breathe normally.

3. Move your hands to help you stay afloat.

4. It's OK if your legs sink, we all float differently.

5. Spread your arms and legs to improve stability.

Every summer, the RNLI and Swim England help thousands of children stay safe on the beach through free Swim Safe sessions.

How to Book a Free Swim Safe Session

Swim Safe takes place every summer, from May to September, at selected coastal and inland locations across the UK. Book your free session at swimsafe.org.uk.

Summer is a great opportunity to rest and recuperate but isolation, loss of structure and changes in sleep patterns can be bad news for your mental health. Add to this the lack of support from friends and teachers if something goes wrong, and it can be a worrying time! Here are some links for you to access if you need support over the summer:

https://www.nelft.nhs.uk/set-camhs

https://www.kooth.com/

https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent

Get Urgent Help | Support If You're Struggling | YoungMinds

We want students and their families to always have access to support and to have a variety of different ways of accessing it. As a result, we have created a Mental Health and wellbeing page on the external website Wellbeing and Mental Health - St Bernard's High School. We also have a ‘Link tree’ https://linktr.ee/sbhs_wellbeing which contains links to a variety of external agencies and charities that provide support for young people and their families. In addition, we now also have a dedicated email address that parents and students can use if they want to reach out for help but don’t know how to start mentalhealth@stbernards.southend.sch.uk. Be aware that this is checked daily during term time but the ‘linktree’ offers advice about out of hours support and advice.

It is with a heavy heart that we have to say farewell to a number of teachers and support staff at the end of this term, including some very notable ones.

Mrs Moise-Dixon (Headteacher) - Our fabulous Headteacher is moving on after an incredible 4-year stint as head of the school. Mrs Moise-Dixon has been truly remarkable in her guidance and leadership to both staff and students during her time here. She has left a momentous mark on the school and her absence will be sorely felt.

Miss Escott (English Teacher) - Miss Escott joined us as an ECT and has since spent many years here as a competent and professional English Teacher who is much loved by her students. She leaves us to embark on new adventures, and we wish her all the very best with all her future endeavours.

Mr Bremner (Maths Teacher) - Mr Bremner has served the school's maths department for many years. He is a consummate professional, and has an incredible knack for explaining complex maths concepts to students. His skill and professionalism will be greatly missed.

Mr Glassock (Premises) - Mr Glassock has been a member of our premises for nearly 20 years! This is a remarkable stretch of service to the school, and his absence will most certainly be felt. He is moving on to become a Primary School teacher, and we wish him the very best in doing so.

Other leavers:

Mr Gajula (Science Trainee)

Miss Ward (PE Trainee)

Mr George (Maths Trainee)

Miss De Ascencao Vierira (MFL Teacher)

The school will be welcoming many new faces to the school when we start back in September. Here's a roundup of all the new teachers and member of the support team:

Ms Rama-Beiro (Spanish Teacher)

Mr Somerset-Butler (Spanish Teacher)

Mr Palmer (Head of Physics)

Ms Tortora (LSA)

Ms Thorne (LSA)

Ms Mead (LSA)

Ms MacMahon (LSA)

Ms Glifford (LSA)

Ms Greene (Assistant Headteacher)

Ms Drisdale (Assistant Headteacher

Ms Naveed (Lead Practitioner: Science)

Ms Nice (Head of Year 9/Science Teacher)

Ms Miah Sahin (Technology Teacher)

Mr McGorry (English Teacher)

Ms Saward-Read (English Teacher)

Ms Smith (Apprentice Teacher)

Ms Trigg ( PE Teacher)

Mr Cannon (Caretaker)

Ms Servante (Science Teacher)

• 11th September - KS3 Information Evening
• 18th September - KS4 & KS5 Information Evening
• 9th October - Year 7 Settling in Evening (Online)
• 6th and 8th October - Year 7 Retreat Days
• 7th October - School Photographs
• 16th October - Harvest Mass
• 17th October - Year 11 Leadership Conference

We currently have exciting opportunities for passionate teachers and experienced senior leaders to become part of our school community.

If you are interested in applying for one of these roles, please complete the relevant application form and send it to us at recruitment@stbernards.southend.sch.uk.

The St Vincent’s Centre's pop-up food and clothing charity store is still ongoing. Come along every Thursday to St Helen's Catholic Church, Westcliff (27 Milton Road, Westcliff-On-Sea, SS0 7JP). Browse their wares, try tasty food and help raise money for charity!

Market Opening Hours:

1. Morning: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM

2. Afternoon: 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM

Thank you so much for your support in spreading the word and helping us make a difference in the community.

Gracious God, in you we find all beginnings and endings.

Help us to show kindness and understanding through open hearts.

Help us to continue to flourish and grow in Your love and support those in need of Your friendship.

Prompt our learning today using our talents and gifts so that we may serve You more faithfully. Prompt our actions with Your grace and complete them with Your help, so that we may truly love one another as You have loved us.

St Bernard, pray for us

Amen

Email: office@stbernards.southend.sch.uk
Website: stbernardswestcliff.org.uk
Location: Milton Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, SS0 7JS UK
Phone: 01702 343583