This week, the College celebrated MacKillop House Week, with a series of engaging and enjoyable activities. On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday during lunch, Year 7 students competed in an intense house tournament of Dodgeball, showcasing a delightful display of friendly competition and camaraderie among the Year 7 students.

Last Wednesday morning, we were honoured to have Fr Bernie Lane join us once again to celebrate the MacKillop House community Mass, assisted by the student leaders in MacKillop and the Year 7 MacKillop Class Captains. Throughout the week, students and staff enjoyed daily quizzes about Mary Mackillop, adding an educational touch to the celebrations.

The week concluded on a high note with a fundraising BBQ on Friday. A special thanks goes out to MacKillop House Captain Callum, as well as all the other staff and student leaders who contributed to making this week a success. Their efforts, along with the enthusiastic participation of the students, truly made Mackillop Week a memorable event.

Thank you to everyone who boldly helped celebrate this week.

Join us for a special morning with award-winning author Suzy Zail, internationally published and celebrated for her powerful young adult novels The Wrong Boy, Alexander Altmann, and I Am Change. Her work shines a light on injustice and is studied in schools worldwide, including recognition on the USBBY’s Outstanding International Books list.

🗓️ Date: Wednesday, 27 August 2025
⏰ Time: Breakfast at 7:45 AM | Author Talk: 8:00–8:45 AM
📍 Venue: St Bernard’s College, Peter Hogan Boardroom
🎟️ Cost: Free!
📝 Register by 22 August to secure your spot https://www.trybooking.com/DEFYN

Parents and caregivers — come be part of something meaningful!

Join us for the relaunch of the St Bernard’s College Social Justice Network (SBCSJN) — a passionate group committed to encouraging social justice conversations and action within our community.

📅 Wednesday 27 August 2025
🕖 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
📍 Peter Hogan Boardroom, St Bernard’s College (Enter via Gate 6, Hampton Road)

Hear from our team, connect with other like-minded individuals, and explore how we can support student-led initiatives, host awareness events, and contribute to fundraising efforts for important causes.

Let’s bring social justice to life — together.

Click here to register your attendance

Earlier this week, we welcomed our Year 9 and 10 families to St Bernard’s College for our annual Subject Selection Expo — a key event in helping students shape their future learning pathways.

The evening began with a warm welcome from our College Principal, Dr Michael Davies, followed by an informative presentation from our Assistant Principal (Learning), Mr Francis Camenzuli, who guided families through the subject selection process and key considerations for the years ahead.

Families then had the opportunity to explore a vibrant expo space, engaging with Key Learning Area leaders, subject teachers, pathway advisors, and representatives from universities and training providers. It was a fantastic chance to ask questions, gather insights, and feel supported in making informed decisions.

Thank you to our dedicated staff, supportive families, and all the external partners who contributed to making the night such a success!

Thank you to The Man Cave for joining us at St Bernard’s College last night for our Social Justice Network parent event!

Not only did they kick off the evening with a fun game of Heads or Tails, but they also led an inspiring and honest conversation around healthy masculinity and preventative mental health for young men — reminding us of the importance of open dialogue across our whole community.

We were especially proud to hear from our College Captain, Hayden, and Wellbeing Captain, Jonah, who shared their personal reflections on The Man Cave program and the impact it’s had on their journey at St Bernard’s.

A huge thank you to our dedicated staff, supportive families, and especially the Social Justice Network for organising and championing this important event.

Although our team didn’t come away with the win, we are incredibly proud of their bold and spirited performance in the semi-final. Taking on the challenge with determination and teamwork, they demonstrated great character and resilience throughout the match.

It was a valuable experience, and we have no doubt that each player has grown and developed important skills by being part of this journey.

Congratulations to the winning team on a well-earned victory!

Photo courtesy of AFL Victoria.

Monday, 4 August, marked the second Year 9 Interdisciplinary Day with our partner school, Ave Maria College. Students kicked off the day with a lively joint assembly, testing their knowledge with a fun round of true-or-false facts and a practice group challenge, before diving into a variety of engaging activities.

A special thank you to Ave Maria College for another enriching experience, and to all students and staff who brought bold energy and enthusiasm to the day. We’re already looking forward to Day 3 later this year!

On Friday, the St Bernard’s College community united for an inspiring student-led assembly, celebrating the remarkable achievements of our students! This year’s theme, “Be Bold,” has been embraced wholeheartedly, with students demonstrating courage, creativity, and excellence across all areas of school life.

We proudly honoured our ACC Premiership teams and celebrated individual talents, including winners of the Big Science Competition and the Year 7 House competition. Students shared highlights from transformative programs such as the Australian International Music Festival, Newsies, the Essendon Football Club Academy (EFCA), and the South America Immersion, as well as reflections from the Year 9 Leadership Camp and SBC Fire Carriers Day. We even heard from one of our students preparing to take on the City2Surf this weekend—best of luck to all participating!

A special shoutout to our Year 8 Division 3 soccer team, who not only showcased outstanding skill but also brought home the ACC Term 2 Premiership!

It was great to hear from two of our House Captains - Nagle House Captain, Oisin, who reflected on the success of Nagle House Week, and MacKillop House Captain, Callum, who shared exciting plans for MacKillop House Week, kicking off this week.

As we continue through the term, let’s carry this momentum forward—celebrating our wins, supporting one another, and striving boldly in all we do.

Yesterday, our St Bernard’s College Year 10 football team faced off in their second annual match against Emmanuel Catholic College from Perth, WA. Partnering with fellow schools is a wonderful way to build new connections and foster sportsmanship within our community. 

It was fantastic to see both teams giving it their all, showcasing their skills and embracing the spirit of friendly competition. This match also served as excellent preparation for our Year 10 team as they gear up for the Herald Sun Shield Intermediate Semi-Final match next week! 

A big thank you to Emmanuel Catholic College for your continued partnership and support. We look forward to more matches and collaborations in the future! Let’s keep the spirit of teamwork alive!

We’re incredibly proud to announce that our very own College Sports Captain, Charles, has been selected to represent Australia at the New Zealand Cross Country Championships in Christchurch this weekend!

Charles earned his spot on the Australian Athletics team by meeting a tough selection criteria—an achievement that speaks volumes about his dedication, talent, and leadership.

Congratulations, Charles! Go well, run strong, and know your St Bernard’s community is cheering you on every step of the way!

St Bernard’s College is excited to host its third Business Lunch of the year — a fantastic opportunity to connect, learn, and be inspired.

📅 Date: Friday, 5 September 2025
🕧 Time: 12:30PM – 2:30PM
📍 Location: Michael Perrett Pavilion, St Bernard's College Essendon
👉 Enter via Hampton Rd Gate 8 and follow the road down to the ovals

💰 Cost: $60 per person — includes a delicious buffet lunch and drinks!

🎟️ Tickets available now: https://www.trybooking.com/DDMSZ

🎤 Guest Speakers:

PATRICK SAUNDRY – Commercial business adviser helping enterprises work smarter

AGOSTINO GIRAMONDO – Senior News Corp executive and media industry expert

TONY KOFKIN – Seasoned financial services professional with over 30 years of experience

LT. COL. KYLE TYRRELL – Army veteran and performance coach helping athletes thrive under pressure

Don't miss this chance to network and gain insights from industry leaders. We look forward to seeing you there!

I’ve lived in Melbourne for 26 years, and since the ban on UK expats was lifted in 2022, I have regularly donated blood and plasma and am a passionate advocate for Lifeblood.

The importance of donating has hit my own household in the last few weeks. My husband has been in hospital since mid-July and continues to be treated for a rare autoimmune disorder triggered by an infection.

One of his treatments has been IVIg- a blood product made from the antibodies in plasma from hundreds of donors. You can read more about this lifesaving product in Michael Klim’s story

So, as we continue to work together towards our own SBC Lifeblood team goal for 2025, I wish to personally acknowledge and thank all donors in our community and in Australia whose selfless act of donating really does save lives.

Please…’give blood, give life’.

Congratulations to St Bernard's College student Tevita, who, after his outstanding performance at the 2025 Marsh AFL National Development Championships, has been named a member of the U16 Boys All Australian Team!

Tevita showcased remarkable skill and determination throughout the competition, and his hard work truly paid off with this prestigious recognition. Competing against some of the best young talent in the nation, Tevita's dedication to the sport has shone brightly, and we couldn't be prouder of him!

We look forward in anticipation to seeing what the future holds for you.

Photos courtesy of AFL Photos.

Following the DAV’s decision to restrict entry to the schools' competition to Year 9 and above, St Bernard’s College launched an internal Year 7 and 8 Debating Program to foster our next generation of aspiring competitive public speakers. The program officially commenced on Friday, 25 July, with the first debate on the topic: “That parents should lie to their kids.”

Our young debaters rose to the challenge, delivering persuasive arguments and speaking with confidence and poise. The competition will continue throughout Term 3, culminating in a Grand Final between the top two teams in Term 4.

What an amazing weekend for our talented swimmer, Isaac! We couldn’t be prouder of his incredible achievements at the 2025 Victorian Metropolitan Short Course Championships at MSAC!

Isaac powered his way to a gold medal in the 12-year-old Boys 200m Freestyle, a true testament to his dedication and hard work. And he didn’t stop there—Isaac also claimed three silver medals in the 100m, 400m, and 800m Freestyle events!

Congratulations, Isaac! Your determination and talent continue to inspire us all. Keep chasing those goals!

Last week, four of our talented Year 10 and 11 Italian students proudly represented St Bernard’s College in the Dante Alighieri Poetry Competition finals (unfortunately, one student was unable to make it on the day).

Out of more than 2,200 competitors across the State, these boys placed in the top 5%, a phenomenal achievement that speaks to their boldness, dedication, and passion for language and culture.

Thank you to the staff who guided and supported our students throughout the preparation and competition journey — your encouragement and commitment helped them shine.

And finally, our warmest thanks to the Dante Alighieri Society Melbourne and Brunetti’s Carlton for their generous support and for making the day such a joyful and memorable experience.

To our finalists and participants: your courage to compete and your commitment to excellence truly embody what it means to Be Bold. Avanti con coraggio — onward with courage!

After the success of the inaugural Year 9 House Cross Country in 2024, the spirit of boldness was alive and well last Friday afternoon as St Bernard’s College Year 9 students took part in the second annual House Cross Country Carnival at Aberfeldie Park — a vibrant continuation of our celebration of the House system.

Braving the crisp winter air, students stepped up to the challenge with bold determination, pushing themselves on the course and cheering each other on with genuine enthusiasm. It was fantastic to see such courage and camaraderie in action.

Congratulations to Avila House, this year’s overall champions!

A special shoutout to our top finishers:

🥇 James – 1st place with a new course record of 9:32

🥈 Will – 2nd place

🥉 Alex – 3rd place

Thank you to all students for your bold participation and to the staff whose efforts made the event a great success. Here's to continuing to be bold — in sport, in spirit, and in everything we do.