from the principal Kite ingoa o te Atua, o te Tamaiti, o te Wairua Tapu. Amene. Kia ora tatou. Greetings to all.

Dream BIG – Think BIGGER

We are already into week 9 of term and it is a good time to consider what parents could expect of their son. Having expectations that are high – yet realistic – is essential for his success at St Bernard’s. Think of a balloon. If there is no air (no expectations), it is flat. If you put in too much air (expectations that are too high and impossible to meet), the balloon bursts. Finding the right balance of expectations will stretch your son to grow without frustrating him.

Don’t let puberty lower your expectations. Just because your son may become moody or resistant doesn’t mean you should let him pull back on household chores, his activities, or his schoolwork. Or your encouragement and involvement. It’s all about finding the right fit.

Work out reasonable routines for the year. Allow for schoolwork, chores, sports, clubs, regular bedtimes and leisure. Agree on technology use for fun rather than schoolwork.

Don’t be surprised if your son focuses more on friendships. This is common but friendships aren’t the only important aspects of your son’s life and need not crowd out other important activities and responsibilities.

Expect boys to grow and change and encourage them to find new activities to replace ones they’re no longer interested in. Some young teenagers stick with the same activities that they’ve done since they were young boys; others go through radical changes. Both are normal.

Help your older teenager find challenging classes that stretch them. The easy options may look inviting but might not do your son justice or supply the foundation needed for further studies or employment. Take advice from our school staff if you are unsure.

Continue to support your teenager’s activities. Help your teen find helpful coaches, teachers and club leaders who have high expectations and great relationship skills. Go along to support and cheer on.

Encourage your teen to look for opportunities after finishing College that are exciting and stimulating. Some get excited about varsity. Others get excited about a trade. Others want to join the army. Still, others want to try to be independent and work and live on their own.

Listen closely to your son and talk through your expectations together. Try to bring your expectations and your teenager’s expectations closer together so you can offer support and encouragement and he feels respected.

Accept you may have to take more of a back seat. But back seat drivers can also be effective in making sure the course is steady and safe! And teenagers are still hearing what you say even when they seem not to be listening.

Hope these tips are helpful and provide a discussion point around the dinner table. (adapted from Principals’ Digests vol 19, no 5.)

Peter Fava

Achieve @ St Bernard’s

March 2013

Year 12 Retreat

The Year 12 Retreat was held at Kaitoke Country Gardens on Friday 8 March. We had our theme on Targeting and Resilience, which is the Ascent Stage of our Retreat Programme.

The boys had the opportunity to be in session and reflect on their own resilience and think on the things they wanted to target this year. They all had a practical opportunities of focus with skeet, archery and focusing exercises with Rock and Wa-ter. A new element this year was to use Ipods to make movies about living our 2013 Pillar – ‘In the Way of Mary’.

A massive thanks to all the Year 12 Pastoral Staff and the DRS and Chaplain for making this a great day out!

Athletics Day Year 12 Retreat

Māori

On Wednesday 6 March, the Whanau Support hui with slightly over 100 parents and the families of our Māori students, met outside the school canteen for a BBQ appetiser in preparation for the school’s first Whānau Support hui for the year. Although the meeting focused on the impressive results achieved by most of our Māori students through 2012, none more so than the 90% pass rate at NCEA Level 1, next term’s meeting will focus more on what the parents have to say about education for their sons at St Bernard’s College.

T Williams, HoD, Maori

Upcoming dates on St Bernard’s College Māori community calendar

Ki-O-Rahi tournament for Y7/8s – Wednesday 10 April – second to last Wednesday of Term 1. Ngā Manu Kōrero Speech Competition – Friday 17 May – second Friday in Term 2. Venue: Naenae College. Matariki – the week beginning Monday 10 June. Two Māori students will be selected by Mr Fava to represent the College at the Matariki commemoration at Government House, hosted by Governor General Lt Gen Rt Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae. Māori Language Week will be celebrated from Monday 1 July – Sunday 7 July (second to last week of Term 2). The theme of the week is “Ngā Ingoa Māori” or

“Māori names” Kapa haka Regionals – Friday 5 July – second to last Friday of Term 2. Venue: Horticultural Hall in Lower Hutt. Trip to Kāpiti Island – Date to be confirmed. Trip down the Whanganui River – Date to be confirmed.

Science

Inaugural Social Justice Retreat

Debating News

Thank you to all the parents who have arranged for their son to get their work books. These are excellent homework exercises if your son says that he has no homework. Thank you for the yogurt pottles that have come in. Please keep them coming in as we are currently using a lot of them in our science classes. We also need the 1L yogurt containers. Internal assessments are currently being held for the senior classes. Please reinforce with your son the fact that every standard is important. Getting standards and the credits now will mean less stress at the end of the year. We had 12 Year 11 students attempt the Australasian Brain Bee competition which is based around the field of neuroscience. Science fair is coming up in Term 2 please get your son prepared for this. International Competition for Assessment in Schools (ICAS) will be held again this year. We would like as many students to enter this international competition. It is compulsory for 9EP and 10AN and it is optional for all junior senior classes. There are awards for high distinction, distinction and merit achievers. I look forward to your son’s entry. B Higson, HoD, Science

We have entered six teams in the Wellington speaking competition this year and their first debates are in the next two weeks. For the juniors this is quite daunting so any help that parents can give in terms of preparation and seeing that they are ready would be greatly appreciated.

The senior debaters are all in a coaching position this year and are all doing an excellent job. This role requires them giving up a lot of personal time and without their contribution we would not be able to enter as many teams as we have.

Best of luck to everyone. Sue McNab – debating convenor

Commissioning Mass

The Archdiocese of Wellington held the Teacher’s Commissioning Mass at the Cathedral in Hill St on 26 February. A number of our teachers were being recognised for new qualifications in leading Special Character at St Bernard’s. This is a significant mana enhancement for our school.

Gerard McKay Certification in Catholic Special Character

Maria Fouhy Certificate in Religious Education – Leadership and

Graduate Level Mike Fowler and Nick Wilson

Certificate in Religious Education – Leadership Level

Peter Fava and David Sefton Certification in Catholic Special Character –

Leadership Level Our senior student leader and RE staff came to the Mass to celebrate these achievements. Congratulations to all the staff who were acknowledged at this Mass.

On the weekend of 22-24 February, Ms Fouhy, Mr Sutherland and Mr Wilson took 11 willing and able Bernard’s Men to Magnificat Community, Featherston, to spend some time looking at the social justice teaching of the Catholic Church.

We spent time in prayer, service, community, reflection and planning on ways that we can enhance the social justice arm of our school community in the way Jesus showed us. This was the most amazing weekend of growth for this crew and we look forward to the initiatives they are setting up in our school for this year and beyond.

Thanks to our sponsors Blackwoods protector Safety and Dulux for the provision of the safety gear we used during this time.

Sport

2013 Champions

Tuesday 28 February saw the largest ever group of Bernard’s Men running, jumping and throwing their way around the Hutt Rec in the annual SBC Athletic Championships. Along with an increase in participation we were witness to several record performances across all grades.

Records tumbled in the Y7 200m, 400m, long jump (C Tustin), Y8 800m (D Goldsworthy), Junior 200m(B McEwan),Yth shot put (R Tala), Int 100m (P Tuisamoa), Int High Jump (N Dicken), Senior 200m, 400m (T Makoii) and Snr 1500m (B Lynch). The Y7 “Pompallier” relay team also set a new record in the 4 x 100m. Well done to all our athletes.

A group of around 50 boys headed off to Newtown Park 2 days later to compete in the Hutt Valley Colleges Athletics where we finished 3rd behind HIBS and HVHS.

A team of 7 boys will contest the Regional Championships with hopes of gaining selection to the North Island Championships to be held in April in Masterton.

Volleyball

At the recent College Sport Regional Tournament our Senior team finished a creditable 4th place with Brett Manaia being named in the Tournament Team as “Best Spiker”. Another player to grab the attention of selectors is Mona Mafile’o Tuala who will be trialling for a spot in the NZ Youth Team. Trials are held in Palmerston North during Summer Tournament week.

Cricket

Cricket is showing a healthy resurgence in the junior grades. Our up and coming Y7/8 team is competing in the qualifying rounds of the NZ Cricket Cup and have won their first two games convincingly. They have one more round robin game against Naenae Intermediate and if successful will meet a strong Raroa Int team in the quarter finals.

Our Junior 1 team is competing in the division 2 grade but is currently sitting at the top of the table.

Football

Junior and senior trials have been held. Teams will be announced very soon. We will have a team in the Capital Football competition. It will be in either the 13th or 14th Grade.

Please ensure that the sports fee is paid because we cannot register players who have not paid their fees. Players will need to purchase shinpads, college socks and shorts. We will supply the tops.

I have a number of very good boots that have been donated. They are available at very reasonable costs. We also have a football tracksuit available. It is $85 and many of the players from last year already have one. The football season for the college sport teams will be at the start of term 2. Capital football teams will begin near the end of this term. B Higson _- Football Convenor

Triathlon

On Tuesday 12 March SBC entered a team in the College Sport Wellington Triathlon Championships held at Scorching Bay. We had 2 individuals and 2 teams for the event. All boys competed well. Congratulations to the year 7 and 8 team who won their grade (100m open water swim, 5km bike and 1.5km run). The Champion team was Josh Sales, Jared Angus and Hayden McMillan. Congratulations

to these boys. Hopefully a future in triathlon.

2013 ATHLETIC CHAMPIONS Y7 Cameron Tustin Y8 Jordan Wainui -Teepa Junior Samuela Tatafu, Logan Hoare Youth Brandyn Wilson Intermediate Nathan Dicken Senior Brandon Lynch

Coming Up

NISS Water Polo 21-24 March Swimming Sports 25 March Marist Quadrangular 3 – 6 April CSW Golf Champs 4 April Y7/8 Interschool swimming 8 April

Summer Sport Update

With all summer sports in full swing it is time to update you on results to date:

Golf currently 1st = in the Hutt Valley Grade Water Polo currently 1st in Grade Tennis Senior 1 currently 2nd in Div 1 Hutt Valley Grade Tennis Senior 2 currently 1st in Div 2 Hutt Valley Grade Tennis Junior 1 and 2 currently 2nd in Div 1 & Div 3 respectively

2013 Term Dates Term 1 29 January to 19 April Term 2 6 May to 12 July Term 3 29 July to 27 September Term 4 14 October to 10 December

Important Dates 2013

Contact Details

p 04 560 9250 f 04 560 9251 e office@sbc.school.nz w www.sbc.school.nz

Physical/Postal Address 183 Waterloo Road Lower Hutt 5010 New Zealand

March 25 Swimming Sports 27 Rugby Weigh In 28 Easter Liturgy 12 noon 29 Good Friday—Easter Break April 3 School commences 8.40am Marist Quadrangular, Auckland 6 North Island Athletics 8 Phillips Cup Golf Y7/8 Interschool swimming 9 Class Photos 11 Acoustic Evening 12 Y11 PED Camp 3.30pm depart

Sponsors of the St Bernard’s College Newsletter

Free Doctor’s consultation at St Bernard’s College

Plan to be as fit and healthy as you can be!!

Clinic Open Tuesday 8.30—11.30am

Thursday 12—3pm

Alex Ferrier-Kerr is our school health nurse. Dr Beena Hegde will be in attendance at the

Thursday Clinic

570-0883 or 560-9250 (College office)

Free Dental Treatment offered by

Graeme Yee Dental Care, 66 Bloomfield Terrace, Lower Hutt,

566-1119.

This free treatment is available to all secondary students until their 18th birthday. All new patients, students and parents are welcome. If you have any questions please feel free to call on the above number.

Uniform Shop Normal Opening Hours Monday 8:15 to 9:00am Thursday 12:30 to 1:30pm

Uniform on AP

Uniform purchases may be charged to your AP with the consent of the college on a case by case basis. Boys need to bring a signed note from parents. Please email accounts@sbc.school.nz or phone the accounts office ext 861

Second Hand Uniform

If your son has grown out of some uniform items that are in good condition and he no longer requires them as they are too small, please consider donating it to the school or we can sell on your behalf less a commission. All sales from second hand school uniforms go to the library to purchase new books.

If you have items to donate or sell, please leave them at the school office or if you have any queries, please contact Tania on

587-0024.

Preferred method of payment school fees The school prefers all school fees to be paid directly to our bank account. This is a safer means of payment that provides a reliable trail. Our bank account is ASB Queensgate 12-3142-0164653-00. Please include your son’s first name and surname, and your phone number in the reference fields. Receipts are issued for all payments and given to students in class. If you are facing financial difficulties please see the Principal. Thank you.

Please!

PFS News

A big thanks to Pak’n’Save Lower Hutt who are

sponsoring the Year 10 Rewards Programme for

Term 1 2013! Each week, each top student in each

form class will receive a $5 voucher for being the

top student! Please support our sponsors!

15 Y7/8 Badge Ceremony P2 19 Last Day of Term 1 May 6 Term 2 commences 8.40am 7 Y7/8 Immunisation 9 Choral Workshop 11 Rugby grading games 15 SBC Cross Country 17 O’Shea Shield 24 Work Day 25 Open Day TBC June 3 Queens Birthday (holiday)

This is a plea to parents/caregivers to name jerseys on the back of the

monogram, and name PE t-shirts on the label and shorts on the waistband or

bottom hem. I have had a brand new unnamed college jersey since the first

week and cannot find an owner. It is size 87 cm. Please check your son has

his jersey at home and that it is named. Contact Ms Taylor if you think it might

belong to your son. Mrs E Thomson

Entertainment Books: See insert.

Year 7 and 8 students will be issued a book to take home to purchase or sell in the first week of Term II. Other families in the school may purchase a book from the school office. The books are $60. Any books ordered before the official launch on April 5 will get a bonus offer sheet. These books and bonus offers will be available from the office on April 9 and can be used straight anyway.