Congratulations to our newly appointed student leaders — we know you’ll lead the St Bernard’s College community with integrity, empathy, and a strong sense of purpose.

Supported by our Year 11 and Year 12 Student Council, we’re excited to see what this team will achieve together.

Thank you to all who applied — the number of applicants for these highly sought-after roles is a true reflection of the incredible leadership within our student body. And remember, leadership doesn’t always come with a title.

A special thank you to our outgoing 2025 captains for their outstanding leadership and the legacy they leave behind. Your influence will continue to guide and inspire long after your term ends.

What a term for our SBC athletes! We’re proud to celebrate seven incredible premiership wins across a range of sports and year levels.

Senior Hockey – Back-to-back champions! A commanding 5–2 win over Whitefriars sealed the title with a strong start and a brilliant team effort.

Senior Basketball B – Grand final glory! Congratulations to the team for taking out the premiership in style.

Year 10 Table Tennis – Champions! A fantastic season of focus and consistency.

Year 10D Basketball – Premiers! SBC 72 def. Emmanuel 47. Huge shoutout to captain Lachlan J. for an incredible 38-point performance!

Year 8 Double Victory - Our Year 8 teams brought home two premierships: 

Hockey and 8D Basketball. 🏑 The hockey team are back-to-back premiers, clinching the title in a thrilling penalty shootout!

Year 7 Div 2 Table Tennis – Champions! A brilliant performance from our youngest team – the future is looking bright!

A huge thank you to all players, coaches, and supporters – and a special acknowledgement to our opponents for their sportsmanship and competitive spirit throughout the season. Go SBC!

Our Year 7 Humanities students have been diving into ancient Egypt through hands-on projects—and the results are amazing! One even included LED lights! 

Well done to all our creative historians.

At St Bernard’s College, we’re proud to celebrate students who are making a real difference for the planet.

Ayden (Year 8) has been a quiet champion of sustainability, collecting juice boxes from cross-country runners each Thursday morning and adding them to Nagle House’s tally. Thanks to Ayden’s consistent efforts, Nagle is leading the house competition by a wide margin — proof that small actions can have a big impact!

A key motivator for Ayden — and many of our students — is knowing that the funds raised through the Victorian Container Scheme are supporting OzHarvest, helping provide meals to those in need. Every five containers donated equals one meal.

Patrick (Year 12) paved the way last year, collecting recyclable containers from home and even his neighbours. His initiative helped his house surge ahead and inspired others to get involved in reducing waste and promoting environmental responsibility.

These students are living examples of our motto: Achieving Excellence By Learning and Doing. Well done, Ayden and Patrick — your leadership is helping build a greener future!

VCE Media Night dazzled with red carpet glamour and black-tie elegance as Year 12 students proudly showcased their creative works. Families and friends celebrated the talent, passion, and storytelling of our emerging filmmakers, graphic designers, and animators, in an inspiring evening that highlighted the artistic excellence nurtured within our school’s Media program. Thomas Marchesani, VCE Media teacher, spoke of his privilege of working with the 2025 VCE Media cohort - acknowledging the diversity of the students and the growth he has witnessed in each of them throughout the year. Mr Marchesani praised the hard work, imagination and passion that the students have poured into the creative journey that was being showcased and celebrated.

Students expressed their anxiety and excitement in the lead-up to sharing their work with family and friends in such a setting, but as everyone made their way to their seats and the showcase began, laughter, applause, joy, and pride filled the room. Parents and guardians commented on the intriguing stories and the talent of the students that blew them away! The community that surrounds our students, at school and at home, is what gives students the confidence to be creative and express themselves.

Congratulations to the students of the VCE Media class and Mr Marchesani, a successful evening and wonderful work!

Join us for an afternoon of racing spirit and community!

📍 Venue: The Moonee Ponds Club
🕧 Time: 12:30–3:30 PM
👗 Dress Code: Race Theme / Smart Casual
🍽️ $100 for a delicious two-course meal
🍷 Drinks available at bar prices
🎁 Prizes to be won!

🎟️ Open to all parents and St Bernard’s Old Collegians
👉 Book now: https://www.trybooking.com/DFVUZ

Join us on Wednesday, 22 October from 6:00–8:00 PM in the O’Brien Centre for a vibrant evening celebrating our Art & Technology students!

Explore stunning student artwork and folios from Years 7–12, enjoy finger food & drinks, experience live performances from Music, Drama & Media and discover creative projects in Food Studies, Product Design & Digital Technologies.

📍 O’Brien Hall
🎟️ Free event – Register now: https://www.trybooking.com/DFJQN

We can’t wait to see you there!

Over 8 weeks, Year 11 VCEVM students cooked, shared stories, and learned life skills with Embracia Aged Care residents. See below a reflection from one of our students about their experience.

'Over the past eight weeks, Year 11 VCEVM students from St Bernard’s College visited Embracia in Moonee Valley Aged Care to cook and learn from the residents.

Each week, we worked together to create recipes, share ideas, and hear stories about food and cooking from their past. 

We learned practical skills in the kitchen and gained a better understanding of different experiences and traditions.'

On Monday, 15th September, a group of exceptional students took part in the ACC Music Concert at the iconic Hamer Hall – a truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Their performance was the culmination of six months of dedication, rehearsals, and collaboration with students and teachers from 13 other ACC schools.

Among the highlights of the year, some of our talented boys also had the privilege of performing at the Sydney Opera House – a testament to the calibre of musicianship nurtured within our community.

The journey to Hamer Hall included just three rehearsals, one of which was a full-day intensive held at Emmanuel College the day before the concert. Despite the limited preparation time, the students rose to the occasion, delivering a performance that was both polished and inspiring.

Beyond the music, this experience fostered meaningful relationships and unforgettable memories. Working alongside peers and educators from across the ACC network, students built connections that will last well beyond the final note.

Their effort, enthusiasm, and professionalism were nothing short of outstanding. We are incredibly proud of every student who contributed to this remarkable event.

As part of our Physics unit on Forces, Year 7 students took on the exciting challenge of designing and building their own Rube Goldberg Machines—deliberately complex devices that perform simple tasks through a series of chain reactions.

Using recycled materials and incorporating at least four simple machines (such as pulleys, levers, and inclined planes), students planned their designs in a project booklet before constructing and filming their machines at home.

The results were outstanding! From feeding pets and turning pages to extinguishing candles and powering appliances, each creation showcased remarkable creativity, problem-solving, and a strong grasp of physics principles.

A heartfelt thank you to all the families who supported their sons throughout this engaging and imaginative STEM project.

Students at St Bernard’s have been inundated with various book and literature events throughout Term 3.  Various reading challenges, the Year 7-9 students were challenged to participate in the Book Bingo Challenge and our Year 10 cohort participated in the Golden Ticket Reading Challenge with great prizes up for grabs for those eligible readers. 

The Library was abuzz with activity during Book Week, where there were daily Scavenger Hunts, Crack the Code treasure chest competition, daily literacy activities, Spelling Bees in the wide reading classes and the SBC Book Week Auction. It was great to see the student engagement. A fun, energetic time was had by all who participated.

The Year 8 Literature Festival saw St Bernard's English and Library Teams collaborate to host keynote author Suzy Zail, as well as a variety of authors, illustrators, a slam poet and comedians. The presenters were very impressed by the level of input and engagement of our students. Well done Year 8.

The SBC Short Story Competition was launched at the Year 8 Literature Festival. Does your son have a passion for writing? There are prizes to be won for entering our Short Story Competition. In 1000 words or less, students can submit their story to the Library Homepage by Friday, 7th November. Contact Ms Jacqui Gale if you have any questions. The theme: “Today the Prime Minister announced a new rule and it changes everything. It seems small at first, but the people are beginning to fight back.”

The Library will be open in the upcoming school holidays from Monday, 22nd to 25th September from 9am -3pm.

Last Friday, the 12th of September, our St Bernard's College community came together for the 44th running of the Marby150 in collaboration with St Columba's College. From the early 3:30 am start at the Essendon Rowing Club to the famous “staff lap,” it was incredible to see so many students pushing themselves and supporting one another. 

The Marby150 isn’t just about the kilometres covered – it’s about resilience, teamwork, and the spirit of our College community. So far, we have raised over $9,000 for the Ruben Centre located in the Mukuru slums of Nairobi, and that figure continues to rise.

Thank you to Ms Romanin for coordinating this fantastic event, to our sponsors, and to everyone who participated, cheered, or helped make the day a success. What a tradition to be proud of!

We warmly invite our alumni, parents, and past parents who are working in or studying the medical and allied health fields to join us at the College for our first industry-based networking event.

This is a great opportunity for our young alumni studying in the medical and allied health fields to meet professionals in these industries.

This event is free to attend and includes beverages and canapes. 

📅 Thursday, 16 October
 🕡 6.30 PM – 8.00 PM
 📍 Peter Hogan Boardroom, St Bernard’s College (Parking via Gate 6)

Please book your ticket in the link below:-
https://www.trybooking.com/DDCMB

Please note that we will be hosting different industry-based events throughout 2026 - stay tuned!

St Bernard’s College’s Year 9 and 10 Civics classes from Semesters 1 and 2 had the opportunity to meet The Hon. Ben Carroll MP on 5 September. Mr Carroll is the Deputy Premier of Victoria, Minister for Education, Minister for WorkSafe, and Member for Niddrie.

He provided an insight into his life as an old collegian, his journey into politics, and his career. He answered questions from the students—who didn’t hold back—and responded to them all in great detail. Mr Carroll was very generous with his time, and it was a pleasure for the students to meet with him.

On Wednesday, 10 September, at the 2025 ACC Cross Country Championships, our St Bernard’s College athletes showed what it means to Be Bold — pushing limits, chasing excellence, and standing proud.

Team Results:

Under 16s Champions

Senior Group Champions

Senior Division 1 Cup Winners

3rd Place Overall

Individual Standouts:

Patrick – U16s Winner

Jude – U16s 3rd Place

Hamish – U17s Winner

Charles – Senior Race Winner

From start to finish, our boys ran with heart, courage, and bold determination. We’re incredibly proud of all our runners.

St Bernard’s College is honoured to continue strengthening its partnership with fellow Edmund Rice school, Colegio Cardenal Newman from Argentina. Hosted at the Santa Monica campus, this immersion was a unique three-day experience that deepened the connection between St Bernard’s College and our Edmund Rice Education Beyond Borders (EREBB) partners Colegio Cardenal Newman from Argentina, continuing the spirit of our South America Immersion earlier this year. 

The program included special highlights such as a Bush Mass celebrated by Old Collegian Fr Joel Peart, surfing and team-building activities supported by Go Ride A Wave, and rich cross-cultural dialogue that strengthened bonds of friendship and understanding.

These days together reflected our commitment to offering students an education that transcends borders, while affirming the value of our strong partnership with Cardenal Newman.

The College continued its longstanding tradition of the SBC Vinnies Winter Sleepout, held in solidarity with those experiencing homelessness and hardship. 

This year’s event was particularly meaningful as we were joined by our Edmund Rice Education Beyond Borders (EREBB) partner school, Colegio Cardenal Newman (Argentina), for a night of collaboration, advocacy, and reflection on how we can be a voice for the voiceless in our world. 

We extend our gratitude to the Parent Social Justice Network, who provided soup for supper and assisted in the Winter Appeal drive the following morning.

Thanks goes also to the generosity of our community - we were able to contribute another full van of donations to the Footscray Vinnies Soup Van, alongside a significant collection for Helping Hands Mission Op Shops Airport West through the VM Student Clothing Drive. 

St Bernard’s College and Ave Maria College are proud to present our 2025 Year 9 Co-Production, ‘Not in a Million Years’, written by Ave’s very own Ms Katie Houghton.

This fresh new take on the classic Jane Austen novel, ‘Pride and Prejudice’, takes us into the world of the Bennett sisters as they navigate high school, relationships and preparations for the upcoming Spring Ball.

Tickets are now on sale for this premiere production. TWO NIGHTS ONLY!

Thursday, 9 and Friday, 10 October 2025, 6pm

Francis Hall, Ave Maria College, 14-22 Vida St, Aberfeldie

🎟️ Click here to book tickets

Our Year 11 Outdoor & Environmental Studies class spent two days rafting the Mitta Mitta River through the Alpine National Park near Omeo last week. 

Students' paddling skills were put to the test as they tackled multiple grade 3 rapids over the trip, including some named ‘Waterfall’, ‘Dislocation’, and ‘Graveyard’. 

The students showed great resilience camping out in freezing temperatures, which was rewarded with stunning scenery within a wilderness environment.

Last week in the ACC, things got interesting with a thrilling showdown: St Bernard's vs. St Bernard's! 

The friendly rivalry between coaches and students brought electrifying energy to the stadium!

Here’s to more unforgettable games ahead as we continue to "Be Bold!"

Monday, 8 September marked the final Year 9 Interdisciplinary Day for 2025.

Students from St Bernard’s College and Ave Maria College joined forces for a Shark Tank-inspired challenge, showcasing a wide range of innovative ideas—from screen time management apps and renewable fuel solutions to aero tube transportation and animal translation devices.

There were standout presentations, including one that kicked off with a rap! Well done to all students for thinking outside the box and boldly unleashing your creativity.

Thank you to our imaginative students from both schools for your enthusiastic engagement throughout the year. We hope these days have sparked new friendships and helped you develop valuable skills to carry forward in your studies and life journey.

Last Friday, we kicked off our Marby150 initiative with a spirited Charity Netball Match against St Columba’s College — a celebration of teamwork, physical activity, and social responsibility in support of the Sisters of Charity.

Now, our focus turns to the Maribyrnong 150 (Marby150). This Friday, students from St Bernard’s College and St Columba’s College will take on a 12-hour endurance run along the river trail, working together to cover 150km in support of our partners in Kenya: the Edmund Rice Catholic Education Centre and the Ruben Centre.

Every lap run helps fund education, healthcare, and daily meals for students in need. We run not just for fitness, but for hope, opportunity, and solidarity. 💛

👉 Donate now and help us make a real difference: Click here to donate

The recent St Bernard’s College Business Lunch brought together old collegians and community members for an afternoon of connection, reflection, and inspiration. The College proudly welcomed back members of the Class of 1986, who shared their experiences and insights in a lively and thought-provoking panel discussion.

Guided by Patrick Saundry, Commercial Director at Affinda, the panel featured three accomplished alumni: Agostino Giramondo, Managing Director of News Corp Victoria/Tasmania; Tony Kofkin, Director of Kofkin Bond & Co; and Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Kyle Tyrrell, Founder and Mental Performance Coach at Tier1 Human Performance.

Each speaker reflected candidly on their journey since leaving St Bernard’s, touching on themes such as Life Right After School, Career Pivots, Daily Habits and Performance, Challenges and Resilience, Leadership and Community Values, and What I Wish I Knew Then. The conversation highlighted the power of adaptability, perseverance, and leadership grounded in service to others.

It was truly an honour and deeply inspiring to listen to Agostino, Tony and Kyle’s stories and advice, which resonated strongly with all in attendance. The event once again showcased the enduring bonds of the St Bernard’s community and the shared values that continue to guide its alumni long after graduation.

What a term it’s been!
Thank you to our students, staff, and families for making it so memorable. Wishing everyone a safe and relaxing break.

To our Year 12s — we’re thinking of you as you prepare for your final weeks and sit trial exams over the holidays.
Best of luck — we know you’ll rise to the challenge!

A friendly reminder: full summer uniform returns next term.

We can’t wait to welcome you back, refreshed and ready for the term ahead.

The 500 Supporters' Group invites our community to one of Melbourne’s most iconic sporting lunches at the MCG!

Since 2000, these events have become renowned for their marquee guests, vibrant atmosphere, and support for a great cause. Held just before Melbourne Cup Day, this Spring Carnival Lunch is always a highlight!

📅 Tuesday, 28 October
📍 Members Dining Room, MCG
🕐 12:15pm – 3:00pm
🎟️ $175 per ticket
👥 $1750 for a Table of 10

To learn more about the 500 Supporters' Group and to book, visit https://www.500supportersgroup.org/events-lunch-racing