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Bernadette Buzz

June 1- 5

Are you following us on Instagram yet? It's a great place to stay connected with some of the daily activities that happen at St. Bernadette (Please note, we do not do follow backs). Check us out and follow us today to see why St. B's is the best! @stbe.rnadette

If you've requested a follow but weren't accepted yet, please send us a DM or an Edsby message with your IG Handle so we know it's a family from our school. Thank you. We now officially have over 1000 followers from our school! Thank you!

Our Link Tree site also has a list of school-related information and websites that you need and are easily accessible. Check it out and save it! (https://linktr.ee/stbernadettecs)

In this issue:

  • Hey June....
  • Celebrating the Various Heritages at St. Bernadette CS
  • Ontario Day is June 1st
  • Bike to School Week (June 1-5)
  • Walk and Roll to School Campaign
  • June is Recreation and Parks Month (JRPM) Passport
  • Are you Moving by September 2026?
  • Happening This Week and Beyond

Hey June....

As we welcome the month of June, we are blessed with warmer days, joyful energy, and a calendar filled with meaningful celebrations and milestones within our school community. This is a special time of reflection, gratitude, and connection as we come together to celebrate both our faith and the diverse community that makes our school so vibrant. In our Catholic tradition, June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This devotion reminds us of Christ’s deep and unconditional love for all people. The Sacred Heart calls us to live as His followers—showing compassion, kindness, forgiveness, and care for one another in all that we do. As a faith community, we are encouraged to reflect on how we can embody this love in our daily interactions and ensure that every person feels seen, valued, and respected. June is also a time of rich cultural recognition and celebration. We honour National Indigenous History Month, reflecting on the history, contributions, and resilience of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. We proudly celebrate Portuguese, Italian, and Filipino Heritage Months, recognizing the traditions, languages, and stories that enrich our classrooms and community. These celebrations remind us of the beauty found in our diversity and the importance of learning from one another. In the spirit of unity and joy, our school is also excited to celebrate with the world as the World Cup begins this month. This event is a wonderful opportunity for students to celebrate their cultural roots, share traditions, and come together in friendly competition and school spirit as many of our students gravitate to playing soccer during their recess breaks. The World Cup makes us reflect on our commitment to fostering belonging—where every student can take pride in who they are while appreciating the backgrounds of others. As a Catholic school, we continue to emphasize the importance of inclusion, dignity, and love for all, recognizing that each individual is uniquely created in the image of God. June invites us to live this message more intentionally, celebrating not only our differences but also the common humanity that unites us. For our Grade 8 students, June marks a significant and emotional milestone. They are excitedly looking forward to their third-grade trip, a cherished time to build memories and celebrate friendships. We will also gather to honour them at their Graduation on Friday, June 19th, marking the culmination of ten years of elementary education. As they prepare to begin their next chapter in secondary school, we send them forward with our prayers and best wishes for continued success and happiness. As we journey through this joyful month, may we keep the Sacred Heart of Jesus at the center of our lives—guiding us to love more deeply, serve more generously, and celebrate more fully the gifts of each person in our community. Wishing all of our families a peaceful, joyful, and blessed June.

Celebrating the Various Heritages at St. Bernadette CS

Are you looking for a super fun family activity that will allow you and your children to celebrate your shared cultural heritage as well build excitement for the upcoming FIFA World Cup?  We have just the answer for you! To showcase our diversity and demonstrate our World Cup spirit, we want to create a picture collage in the front foyer of the school based on the countries participating in the World Cup (for a full list, open the link below). If your family has any connection to any one of the countries listed below, please send in a photo of your child(ren) - or your whole family - wearing the team jersey, a sign with the country's name on it, or holding a flag of the country (fabric, printed or hand-drawn).  Get creative and add in whatever props (soccer ball, small national symbols (e.g., maple leaf for Canada, shamrock for Ireland, etc.) you would like into the photograph. For an extra degree of fun, you could even paint your face(s) in the country's colours! If possible, on a piece of paper, cardstock, the inside of a cereal box, etc., please include any or all of these completed sentences, which will be posted alongside the photograph: 

  • “My family is from ___”
  • “We speak ___ at home”
  • “I am proud of ___”

By June 8th, have your child bring the photo and write-up to school to give it to their classroom teacher and we will post it on our World Cup Wall. If you prefer, send a digital copy of the photograph to our ESL teacher at rhonda.cantle@dcdsb.ca And if your country isn't being represented at the World Cup, no worries. We would still love you to participate and your photos will naturally be included on the wall!

Ontario Day is June 1st

June 1 marks Ontario Day, a time to recognize and celebrate the province we call home. It commemorates the creation of Ontario as a distinct province in 1867 and offers an opportunity to reflect on its rich history, diverse communities, and shared values. For our school community, Ontario Day is a moment to appreciate the land on which we live, learn, and grow, while also acknowledging the important contributions of Indigenous peoples and the many cultures that have shaped our province. It encourages us to continue building a community rooted in respect, inclusion, and pride in our shared home.

Bike to School Week (June 1-5)

  Bike to School Week (B2SW) is a celebration of the journey to school by two (or three!) wheels that takes place every year during the last week of May. This year, we’re celebrating Bike to School Week from June 1 – 5, 2026.  Schools across Ontario can participate by registering on the Bike to School Week webpage, along with promoting biking as a fun way to travel to and from school and around the neighbourhood.  

Walk and Roll to School Campaign

  Durham Region will be hosting a Walk and Roll to School contest for DDSB and DCDSB elementary schools over two weeks in June. This contest encourages students to bike or scooter to school. Schools are asked to: ·         Take a photo of their bike/scooter parking area each Thursday (June 4 and June 11, 2026) ·         Submit photos to: activetransportation@durham.ca Schools with the highest participation (most bikes parked) will have a chance to win a bike to raffle at a future school event. These initiatives support students in walking and wheeling to school, contributing to: ·         Increased physical activity ·         Improved mental health ·         Greater independence and social connection ·         Environmental and community benefits More Resources: https://www.durham.ca/en/health-and-wellness/resources/Documents/HealthyLiving/Lets-Walk-And-Wheel-To-School.pdf Bike to School Week - Ontario Active School Travel

June is Recreation and Parks Month (JRPM) Passport

June is Recreation and Parks Month, and municipalities in Durham Region are celebrating with a variety of recreation and community activities. Participation and programming may vary by municipality. The Passport Adventure encourages residents to get active, explore their community, and take part in participating local events for a chance to win a brand-new bike. How it works: • Use your passport to help plan which participating events you would like to attend throughout June. • Attend participating recreation events in your community. • Scan the unique QR code at each participating event you attend to enter the contest. • Visit your municipality’s recreation webpage for more information, where offered Each QR code scan counts as one entry into the grand prize draw. The more participating events you attend, the more chances you have to win! Activities may include Free fitness programs, public swims, bike month activities, and other free opportunities offered by participating municipalities across Durham Region throughout June. Availability and programming may vary by community. Grand prize draw Open to all residents of the Regional Municipality of Durham. Children and youth aged 17 years and under require parental permission. Contest runs from June 1 to June 30, 2026. One grand prize bicycle will be awarded.

Are you Moving by September 2026?

As we begin planning for the upcoming school year, we kindly ask families to let us know if your child(ren) will be moving or will not be returning to St. Bernadette Catholic School by September 2026. If this applies to your family, please complete the form below and return it to the school office as soon as possible. Please note complete as much information as you can at this time, and the last day of school for students is Thursday, June 25, 2026. This information is essential as it supports our class organization process and helps us make thoughtful and appropriate student placements for next year. Thank you for your time and cooperation. Please contact the office if you have any questions.

Happening This Week and Beyond

Coming Up:

  • June 8th - Regional Track and Field Day at Notre Dame for select students
  • June 9th - Choir Singing at BallyCliff
  • Wednesday, June 10th - Portugal Day - Wear your Portugal Jerseys/T-shirts or Red/Green (or your Ronaldo Jersey!)
  • Friday, June 12th - Philippine Independence Day- Wear Red/White/Blue and/or spirit wear celebrating the Philippines!
  • June 16th - Family of Schools Grade 8 Graduation Mass and Luncheon - 11:00am
  • June 18th - Grade 8 Graduation Breakfast
  • Grade 8 Graduation - Friday, June 19th - Ceremony from 6:30-7:30 pm

Need a spot where all our important information is in one spot! Book mark our LinkTree! School hours and information, spirit wear link, how to report an absence, school year calendar- it's all there!

Credits:

Created with images by MIA Studio - "5 years old happy Little asian girl child showing front teeth with big smile and laughing she ride bicycle to School : Healthy happy funny smiling face young adorable lovely female kid.Back to school." • Peruphotoart - "Laughing young woman with helmet on an electric scooter" • chika_milan - "Stack of moving boxes in new house"