We are nearly there.  As we enter the final days before the end of the school year there can be a tendency to ‘back off’ the focus on school life. This could also be true in your own work setting.  The year has been an exhausting one and we are all in need of a break.  It is so important that we maintain the energy and application until the final day.  The moment we take our foot off the pedal elements of anti structure can appear.  Let's enjoy the last days and also keep focused on ending the educational year satisfied and comfortable that every moment was significant.
I mentioned to teachers this week to enjoy and soak up the final weeks.  They have had your children in their care for 40 weeks.  The relationship that they have shared has been very close and it is possible they will never have the chance to teach this particular 2024 group again.  I am able to see the nurturing care each day in each of the classrooms. We do have a community of teachers and children being in close relationships that is beautiful to observe.
This week we welcomed our new teachers for 2025.  Molly Nolan, Ellie Hewitt and Catlyn Lear arrived this week to join with their unit level teachers in a planning session for 2025.  We are thrilled to have them aboard with our Clairvaux community.

Reflection

As we celebrate the season of Advent we think of the love of God for us.  This is symbolised in the greenery of the Advent wreath.  A chance for new growth for each of us and to take time for prayer and reflection.

Thanks to Julie for ensuring that our school entry displays our focus on Advent, a time of preparation for Christmas.  The four candles will be lit at our parish masses over the four weeks of Advent.  The candles that are lit each week signify how the embracing love of Christ has been manifested over time.  As we lit the first candle last weekend, it commenced the time that we are looking forward to Christ breaking into our world.  A time for hope, a prayer for peace, joy and love. 

This is the real meaning of Advent and Christmas. 

Last Thursday and Friday I was in the city and it was busy with the Black Friday sales and decorations.  It was everywhere.  We need to be mindful that as a Catholic school the focus is on  the spirit of welcoming and the expectancy of the birth of Christ.  

In our school corridors the children have also focused on the spirit of Christmas. They have decorated the hallway with their own Christmas lights which they have made and written on with their thoughts on what is the real meaning of Christmas to them. I have included a selection of their thoughts.  Sometimes the words from our children can have an impact on us as adults.  This is just a handful.  Thanks to all the children and Lia who has inspired the children and now has them displayed around the school.

Lighting up with the Christmas spirit:

"Dear God, we hope this Christmas that everyone has a roof over their heads, and are healthy, loved and warm. We hope that eveyone is safe, happy and cared for. Through Christ our Lord, Amen."

Parent teacher interviews

For two nights this week we have had the opportunity to meet with parents and celebrate and share the good news of the improvement and growth in the past four terms for all children. 
Thank you to the parents who attended to engage with our teachers regarding your child learning journey this year. I would like to thank our  teachers as well for their professionalism as a collective unit with our focus on a low variance curriculum led by our Middle Learner Leaders.  Improvement is generated and ongoing improvement made, when we have teachers sharing our understanding of explicit instruction, and working together as a teaching group supporting each other's professional growth.

Step Up Day

Next Tuesday 10 December all children,  (not our Year 6 students who will be at their respective Secondary schools) will move to the next level class to meet with their 2025 teacher and their classmates.  Many hours of planning have been invested by our staff to create 27 learning groups.  There are many considerations that impact the creation of each group and the staff have endeavoured to select a class which works best for your the child(ren).

Kelly Club dates for 2024 - 2025

The Holiday program begins with a special program for Wednesdy 18  December to Friday 20 December. Then it will go into recess to return for normal holiday programming Monday, 6 January.  We thank all the staff from Kelly Club for ensuring that our children have received wonderful care before school, after school and the holiday program. The service is a great support for our school families who require this extra assistance.

As we rush towards the end of the year, don't forget to take time out for yourselves and your family, take care of those you love, that is the real message for Christmas.

Brendan

ST VINCENT DE PAUL CHRISTMAS APPEAL
Christmas Hampers
So far, we have had a wonderful response of food donations for the 
St. Vinnies Christmas Hampers for local families in need.  Our final collection date will be Friday 13th December, so donations will continue to be accepted in classrooms up until this date.   Listed below are food items being collected for each year level.  Our aim is to make 40 hampers.  Your generosity will make a huge difference to many families this Christmas. Thank you!
 

PREP: jars of jam, vegemite, peanut butter, Christmas cake, mince pies

YEAR 1:  breakfast cereal, chips-large bags, Savory biscuits  eg. BBQ shapes

YEAR 2: muesli bars, shortbread, sweet biscuits (not chocolate)

YEAR 3: cans of soup, baked beans, popcorn, bags of party mix lollies

YEAR 4: jars of pasta sauce, tins of tomatoes, pancake mix

YEAR 5: canned fruit, Christmas pudding, cake mix

YEAR 6: soft drink (1.25 or 1 litre), long life custard, jelly 

The Giving Tree

Our‘Giving Tree’  donations for families in need at Christmas time, also continues to grow.   A reminder that unwrapped  gifts, toys and personal care items can be placed under the Christmas tree in the school foyer.  Gift cards can be sent to school in a labelled envelope and placed in the classroom note bag to go to the office.
We are continuing to accept these gifs until Friday 13 December. 
         Your generosity is greatly appreciated!

Clairvaux End of School Mass 

An invitation is extended to all families to join us at our final School Mass next Friday 13th December, 9.15 am at St. Bernard’s Church. 
Our theme for the mass is ‘Be the Light - Shine Bright’.  We will focus on how we can shine our light brightly over the Christmas season, bringing hope, joy, peace and love to those around us.  It is also a time to celebrate and give thanks for our 2024 year and farewell our Year 6 students as a school community.

Sacramental Dates 2025

Dates for all Sacraments have been set for next year.  

Year 3 students receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation in Term 1.

Year 4 students receive the Sacrament of Eucharist in Term 2.

Year 6 students receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in Term 3.

Please note, some dates may be subject to change.

*Please note:  if you have a child in another year level who needs to ‘catch up’ one of these Sacraments please contact me so they can be included in the program and information can be sent to your families.  jroutley@ccsbelmont.com.au

Reconciliation (Year 3)

FAMILY FAITH FORMATION: Wednesday 19th February 6:30pm – St. Bernard’s Church

PREPARATION DAY: Wednesday 5th March 9am-3pm

SACRAMENT DATES: Tuesday 25th March 6:30pm and Wednesday 26th March 6:30pm

Eucharist (Year 4)

FAMILY FAITH FORMATION: Wednesday 14th May 6:30pm – St. Bernard’s Church

PRESENTATION MASSES: Saturday 17th May 6pm, Sunday 18th May 9am and 10:30am

Saturday 24th May 6pm, Sunday 25th May 9am and 10:30am

PREPARATION DAY: Tuesday 10th June 9am-3pm

SACRAMENT DATES: Saturday 14th June 6pm, Sunday 15th June 10:30am

Saturday 21st June 6pm, Sunday 22nd June 10:30am

Confirmation (Year 6)

FAMILY FAITH FORMATION: Wednesday 13th August 6:30pm

PRESENTATION MASSES: Saturday 16th August 6pm, Sunday 17th August 9am and 10:30am

Saturday 23rd August 6pm, Sunday 24th August 9am and 10:30am

PREPARATION DAY: Wednesday 10th September 9am-3pm

SACRAMENT DATES: Sunday 14th September 1pm and 3:30pm

Tuesday 16th September 6:30pm

Advent

We celebrate the second week of Advent when we light the second purple candle.
This is known as the ‘Peace Candle’ or ‘The Bethlehem Candle’. This candle reminds us of the journey which Mary and Joseph made to Bethlehem. 

         A Prayer for Peace
For those who are fleeing:
sanctuary
For those who are staying:
safety
For those who are fighting:
peace
For those whose hearts are breaking: 
comfort
For those who see no future: 
hope.


Julie Routley  REL

Preparing for a Screen-Savvy Summer

As the summer break approaches, we know families are looking forward to a well-deserved rest and plenty of quality time together. With the extra hours of leisure and, for many, new devices under the Christmas tree, it's a great time to think about how we manage screen time in our homes.

Open Discussions About Screen Time

Screens are a big part of our children's world, and setting healthy habits is key to ensuring they benefit from the amazing opportunities technology can offer while avoiding potential pitfalls. This summer, we encourage families to have open and honest discussions about:

• Setting boundaries: How much time is reasonable to spend on devices each day?
• Balancing activities: How can screens fit alongside outdoor play, reading, and family time?
• Online safety: What guidelines should be in place to keep children safe online?

Learning Through Apps

If your children will be using screens over the break, why not make it a learning experience? Here ia an app to consider that blend fun with education:

• Times Tables Rock Stars: A fantastic tool for improving multiplication skills in an engaging way. Thanks to our school subscription, it’s free for students to use until March. If your child has not yet given you their login details - email your child's 2024 teacher or Andrew at arayson@ccsbelmont.com.au for your child's log in details.

Keep an eye out for apps that can support literacy, problem-solving, and creativity while keeping your child entertained.

A Time for Family Connection

While technology can be a wonderful tool, there’s nothing quite like summer to disconnect from screens and reconnect with family. Whether it’s playing a board game, going for a walk, or enjoying a meal together, these moments are the ones that create lasting memories.

We hope this summer is filled with joy, rest, and positive experiences for all our families. If you have any questions or need advice on managing technology at home, feel free to reach out.

Clairvaux Carnivale News

What a fantastic day with our Clairvaux families and the community. We had over 4,200 people through the gates, and lots of excited children when they saw the activities and rides on offer. It did get hot, but the weather didn’t stop the attendees from supporting the school in every way they could.

With plenty of entertainment, the range of food, games, the baking competition, book sale, crafts and stalls, there was a lot of activity happening at once.

Although the total funds raised are still being calculated, Carnivale 2024 has already exceeded the previous fundraising totals! These funds will be used for future Clairvaux playground updates.

There are so many people and businesses to thank for contributing to the event.

To all our school families who donated, volunteered, attended on the day, and purchased items, thank you. Thank you for helping to spread the word about the event as well.

To the Clairvaux staff, thank you for helping on the day and in the lead up to the event.

To our donors and sponsors, the event would not be possible to run without your support.

Thanks to our Master of Ceremonies, Grant Burrows, and our entertainers including the Clairvaux Choir, Cheer Geelong, Belmont High Bands and Jacinta Bolling on piano.

To the activity providers on the day including Kelly Sports, Wild Hearts Play Co, Rainbow Wishes, St Bernard’s Playgroup and Coerver Coaching, thanks for engaging our children.

To the organisations that provided services on the day we say thank you, St John Ambulance, Australian Breastfeeding Association, Barwon Water, Barwon Security, Geelong ATMs, emergency services - Victoria Police and the CFA.

Lastly, a special thanks to the Clairvaux Carnivale Committee members who volunteered all year to bring this event to life.

In talking to students who have graduated from Clairvaux, they often talk about Carnivale as a highlight of their school years. We hope the current students remember this Carnivale in years to come.

Get in touch
For general enquiries please email clairvauxcarnivale@gmail.com,
and for donation and distribution questions clairvauxcarnivaledonate@gmail.com

Carnivale links 
Website: clairvauxcarnivale.com.au
Facebook: facebook.com/ClairvauxCarnivale
Instagram: instagram.com/clairvauxcarnivale/

Gemma Willocks
Carnivale Committee

An opportunity for parents and families to celebrate the end of the 2024 year.

Please enter via the Church car park entrance (gate 5). Bring a picnic dinner to share with your family along with picnic blankets and chairs. 

Please note - if the weather looks like a challenge we will let families know by 3:30pm the same day if the event will be cancelled (it will not be resceduled but we may be able to manage for a performance during school time).

5:00 pm - Arrival

5:15 pm - Year 4, General Christmas clothes

5:25 pm - Year 2, General Christmas clothes, sunglasses and rock and roll hair

5:35 pm - Year 3, General Christmas clothes

5:45 pm - Year 1, General Christmas clothes and Santa hat

5:55 pm - Choir, General Christmas clothes

6:05 pm - Prep, General Christmas clothes (bell for around the neck made at school)

6:15 pm - Year 5, General Christmas clothes 

6:25 pm - Year 6, General Christmas clothes

6:40 pm - Conclusion of the evening and perhaps a special visit from someone…HO HO HO

Recently we have had the Geelong city council at school at both pick up and drop off time and they have issued fines based on their observations. 

PICK UP/DROP OFF ZONE

For those who use the drop off/pickup zone or drive down Reynolds Road you would understand that more often than not it becomes very congested.

We have had the Geelong Council review the situation and there has been a LEFT TURN ONLY sign installed at the exit closest to the staff car park. Cars will not be able to turn right or drive straight ahead when exiting the drop off/pick up zone. You will need to go up to the Laura Avenue roundabout to turn back the other way.

We appreciate this is a change but it is very welcomed by the school and we hope it makes a significant difference to the flow of traffic.

Please do not double park on the right hand side of the drop off zone. This is a two way street for bus access and it is illegal to park or stop on the right hand side of the road. Children are not permitted to cross the road to enter a vehicle which is parked illegally. If you are unable to pull in to the left hand side of the curb please drive on and come around again.

STAFF CAR PARK

Another reminder that we consistently need to be communicating is for parents NOT to park in the staff car park at any time. This is clearly signed. We have staff coming and going at all times of the day and especially at pick up and drop off time we are trying to keep the movement to a minimum. Children should not be walking through the staff car park other than on the yellow crossing from the gate to the footpath.

CHURCH CAR PARK

Please ensure you are conscious of where your children are playing in this space and keep ball use under control. We keep children behind the yellow line until they are with their parent/s. It is important that you as parents are also reinforcing safety in this area and keeping in mind that cars have right of way.  Ideally we would like children walking on footpaths at all times.

ACCESSIBLE PARKING

We have some accessible parks around our school at gate 2 and also in the church car park. Please do not park in these parks unless you have a permit displayed. We do have families who require these parks and it can be difficult to collect children if access to these is not available.  We appreciate your respect and consideration for those who rely on these spaces."

BIKES
If your child rides their bike to school could you please have a conversation with them about bike safety and expectations in the school yard. We love seeing children being independent but ask that they be respectful of after school crowds particularly along the path to McDonalds Reserve and around the Church car park. We also do not allow any scooters or bikes to be ridden in the school yard.

PLAYGROUND
We welcome parents into our yard after school however ask that toddlers and all school children are not on the play equipment. We kindly ask this from a risk point of view in regards to accidents, supervision and children who should be waiting at gates for their parents to arrive.  

Christmas at St Bernard’s 2024 

Wednesday 18th Dec 7:30 pm Penitential Service (Reconciliation) Tuesday 24th Dec 6:00 pm Family Mass (Carols beginning at 5:45pm) Tuesday 24th Dec 9:00 pm Vigil Mass (Carols beginning at 8.30pm) Christmas Day 9:00 am Christmas Mass (One mass only) 

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace to those who enjoy his favours” (Luke 2”14) 

As we approach our celebration of Christmas – the birth of Jesus into our world – we take  time to reflect on the words of the angels on the first Christmas night. In our troubled world  of wars, famine, homelessness, it’s hard to imagine what a peaceful world would look like,  and what we can do to make that happen. 

Each of us can look into our own heart in the search for peace, and share that with our  families, friends, fellow parishioners, work colleagues. Within our communities, we can be  mindful of those in need, struggling to meet day to day living costs. We acknowledge and  give thanks for all who support the poor, sharing their time and gifts of compassion. 

Within our community of St Bernard’s, we give thanks for all who contribute to sharing the  heavenly message of peace and spreading the Good News of God’s love for all. 

May this Christmas be a time of peace, joy and love, nurturing hope for our world and  offering the cup of love to all. 

St Bernard’s Parish Team