Special Character Reports
Y13’s Peak
The Y13 Retreat was held
at the Silverstream Retreat
Centre on 7/8 February. The
Retreat was themed ‘The
Summit’, which is the where
the boys are at in their school
careers at St Bernard’s.
Special Character
After several years at school,
starting the journey at the
basecamp, the Year 13
students are at the end of the
climb. It is time to summit the
mountain that they have been
climbing in their secondary
education; time to come out
on top.
based around student
leadership, but also
focused upon the concept
of ‘Bernard’s Men’. In other
words what does it mean
to be a Bernard’s Man as a
leader in year 13? The retreat
was based upon building
confidence and self-esteem,
teamwork and bonding,
Choices and focus for
the coming
year, leadership within
our
school
community and
developing personal spir ituality
and our relationship with God.
We looked at win/win negotiating, wrote a letter to the
Archbishop about being
young Catholics today,
did a
session on Social justice,
brotherhood and looking at
the values these men want to
promote this year in the school
which will be the hallmarks of
their legacy. A big thanks to
all the staff who were
involved: PF, SE, SU,
WL, DC, FO, PI, MF,
HI, HT, Callum
Dickinson and
Br Tim!
The theme was
Flying the Flag
Faith & Chips
Making Uniformly Excellent Impressions
B
W
e had the Inaugural Faith and Chips
session on 12 April which involved
about 40 senior students (Year 12
and Year 13) from SPC Stream, St
Mary’s, St Catherine’s, Sacred Heart and host
college, St Bernard’s College. We celebrated
mass together with Father John Greally and
then the students gathered together to meet
each other and discuss what happened in their
various schools with the school social justice
programmes while sharing hot chips. It ran
from 4 – 6.30pm and was a successful start to
the Faith and Chips series! We will be aiming to
do another session next term and look forward
to having our students together to celebrate
our common faith and discussing ways we can
impact our world as young Gospel people!
18
ack in March the
Year 12 boys were
asked to attend
the Commonwealth
Ceremony in Wellington. We
were asked to provide two
students to be flag bearers. We
couldn’t find just two so I sent
the best that stepped forward. I
went on materity leave and left
them In the capable hands of
Mrs Jaeger.
Due to their prompt arrival and
outstanding grooming they made
such an impression that they all got
jobs flag bearing and some other
schools that turned up late missed
out completely. The boys said it was
an amazing experience and the
drinks and nibbles at government
house later were nice and fancy but
not filling, hence the waterfront trip
to eat more food before heading
home. The organisers said they
loved the boys and invited them in
advance for next year.
Mrs Clare Shill
Y12 Dean
St Bernard’s College 2013