St Raphael’s Catholic School Term 2, Week 4/A Newsletter 19th May 2014
Dear Parents Items are being performed at the annual Cowra Eisteddfod and I want to acknowledge the dedication, perseverance and teamwork of all those involved. On Friday our campaign began with the choirs and this week we see Verse Speaking Choirs on stage tomorrow. Some staffing variations are coming up: Mrs Carolyn James commences Maternity Leave this week, a little earlier than anticipated. Year 4 classwork is being taken on by Mr Andrew Casey until the end of year. Relief staff will cover the period until Mr Casey commences service. Mrs Kylie McNamara has adopted the Stage 2 Coordination role and Mr Darrel Colemane has adopted the Stage 3 Coordination role. Miss Lee Ann Kervin is undertaking a planned return to work programme building towards full time. Mrs Marg McMurtrie and Mr Bob Allen are assisting in this process. Our school website has a P&F Association link. Go to it and you’ll find an absolutely excellent presentation of school life from your parenting point of view. This has been an exemplary piece of collaboration that has included parents, students, school leadership team and parish priest. Congratulations to Mal Bird and Glenn Brule on the fine product and process. Best wishes to secondary hockey representatives playing today against CHS and to secondary Chess representatives against Scott’s College (Bathurst). Best wishes to primary student leaders on the leadership course at Bathurst tomorrow. Best wishes also to primary and secondary representatives who are competing at Bathurst in the CWA Public Speaking Contest next week and at Wellington in the Diocesan Spelling Bee. It’s a source of immense pride to see these children of ours competing so well across such a broad range of activities.
Gospel Challenge Term 2 Week 4 “The Holy Spirit will teach you everything” John 14:1-12
Monday 19 P&F Meeting at 7pm. Tuesday 20 Happy birthday to Koen Galea, Flynn Hindmarsh and Alaska Marold. Eisteddfod Verse Speaking. Year 6 Leaders’ Day in Bathurst. Outward Bound Meeting 7pm. Wednesday 21 Happy birthday to Tayla Bartle and Archie Brown. Secondary Chess Team vs The Scots School. Thursday 22 Happy birthday to Charlie Sturgiss and Oliver Wilson. Friday 23 Happy birthday to Jack Clements. Manna Fest. Primary Rugby Union Gala Day. Monica Brown Concert at St Raphael’s Church 7:30pm. Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 St Raphael’s Parish Liturgy Conference.
Michael Gallagher Principal P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
Happy birthday to Holly Proctor and Grace Richmond th th for the 24 and Ellie Garlick for the 25 . Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au
Mary Bags It is great to see the pride that the students display when it is their turn to take home the Mary Bag. A reminder to Primary students to return their class Mary Bag each day so all students can have the opportunity to take them home to pray with their families. Dates for the Calendar 23rd May- Monica Brown Sacred Concert 7.30pm St Raphael’s Church, all welcome 23rd - 25th May - Manna Fest - Ridge Crest Christian Convention Centre Burrendong Weekend Masses 24th/25th May - Third Eucharist home sheet Weekend 24th/25th May - St Raphael’s Parish Liturgy Conference Weekend Fundraiser for Caritas: Bingo Fun Evening Madeline Cooper is holding a Bingo Night Fundraiser for Caritas Australia. It will be held on the 28th June after Saturday Mass in The Falcon Room in the Cowra Services Club. Time 7.30pm to 10pm. The night will contain Bingo, fun games, light music with light snacks being served at 7.30 pm. Major and Minor prizes available for bingo and other games. A raffle is going to be run leading up to the event and drawn on the bingo night. Ticket price per person is $25. RSVP would need to th in by Friday 20 June. Tickets will be sold at St Raphael's school and weekend masses. Altar Servers’ Roster th Sat 24 May: Michelle Grech, Samantha MacCabe, Emma Wilkinson and Lucy Proctor. th Sun 25 May: Madelyn Stead and Bernadette Zarb. School Readers for Weekend Parish Masses: th Sun 25 May: Mrs J White. School Eucharistic Ministers for Weekend Parish Masses: th Sun 25 May: Mrs J White.
Infants Choir in the Eisteddfod Congratulations to the Infant Choir for singing so wonderfully and winning their section at the Eisteddfod and a very BIG thank you to the parents for presenting the children so beautifully. Helen Finlay Festival, Diocese Secondary Music Workshop, Conservatorium Concert and Eisteddfod Wow, what a busy time we had since we started school this year. I can’t believe what our students have achieved in the musical field in this short period of time. It all started with the Festival of International Understanding, singing at the Peace Bell opening P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
ceremony and in River Park after the parade. Our students performed ‘Dona Nobis Pacem’, (Latin = ‘Give Us Peace’) and ‘We Are the World’, songs which were very appropriate for the occasion as the United Nation was our guest country and peace is on everybody’s mind. Soon after the festival was over, we started practicing for the Cowra Eisteddfod which was held last Friday. Our choristers sung in three sections; Stage 2 and 3 Choir, Central School Choir and Secondary Choir st Sections. Our school received two 1 prizes; awarded to Central School Choir and Secondary Choir Sections. Congratulations to all of you for taking up the challenge, having the courage to represent our school, in some ways, in a less popular field. th On 4 of May the whole school attended the concert performed by the students from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Five brass players and the percussionist presented our students with an entertaining program, full of diverse compositions. The tour is a very valuable educational event for both sides. School children have the opportunity to listen to live music and explore the instruments and their possibilities. Listening and watching ‘live’ performances is always a unique experience and gives everyone an opportunity to expand their knowledge and appreciation for the aesthetic value of music as an art form. For the last six years music teachers from Bathurst Diocese have been organizing and conducting Music Workshops, where students from Diocesan Schools have the opportunity to work together in variety of musical ensembles under the guidance of music teachers and instrumental tutors. Students were involved in performing groups such as Orchestra, Big Band, Guitar Ensemble and Vocal Ensemble (Choir). In the first week of term two, secondary students travelled to Forbes and to Bathurst to take part in the Diocese ‘annual’ music workshop. Students from Red Bend College, James Sheahan, MacKillop College, St Raphael’s and St Stanislaus worked together for two days and at the end of Friday’s session all musicians presented their talents and hard work at the Concert in the early evening hours. Please read an e-mail from Mr Vince Connor, sent to all teachers after the concert: Dear Colleagues, I was reminded again of the high quality of music we have in our schools again on Friday. The Showcase was such a great reflection on the talent we have in our schools, both students and staff. Needless to say, such a great event does not happen by accidents. Congratulations and thank you for the hard work you put in with so much excitement and enjoyment. Our students are getting a very great deal! Kindest regards Vince Vince Connor Consultant to Schools Catholic Education Office Diocese of Bathurst Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au
Congratulations to all our students who participated in the Diocesan Secondary Music Workshop which surely gives us the opportunity to be part of this cultural event. It was great to see so many parents and grandparents who travelled to Bathurst to see their children performing at the concert. Thank you so much for your support. It means a lot to all of us. I also would like to express my sincere thanks to Mrs Fleur Cains who provided the transport to Forbes and Bathurst. Your support and commitment is greatly appreciated. I also would like to say thank you to Mrs McNamara, Mrs Wheeler, Miss Downes, Miss Gannon, Mr Lette and Mr Jeffries for walking, supervising and ‘ushering’ our students at the Eisteddfod. If you think about it, it is quite a ‘challenge’ to keep over 100 children quiet and organised while waiting to get on stage, which we never really know when it will happen exactly, then to make them perform with gusto, enjoyment and without fear. Finally, many thanks to all the students who participated in all these ‘musical’ events. Well done everybody!!! Yours musically, Grazyna Swansborough - Music Teacher Primary Assembly The next primary assembly will be held this week, rd Friday 23 May. It will be led by Mr Colemane’s class, Year 6c. If your son / daughter is to receive a class award a note will be sent home early this week. Parents are always most welcome to attend any primary assembly. Visiting Shows Notes for the Kinder – Year 2 show, ‘The Gigalees’ were sent home two weeks ago. The return date for these notes is this coming Wednesday (21-5-14). The th show will be performed on Tuesday, 27 May. Centacare Centacare Bathurst is presenting a program called “Acting Out” which is designed for primary school students and their parents. The presentations are delivered by Centacare’s trained facilitators and are sponsored by the Catholic Education Office. Parents are invited to a session that provides an overview of the strategies with an emphasis on the current research on cyber safety. Notes were sent home last week to help determine numbers for the parent session which is to be held on Tuesday, May 27. Please return these notes this week to help the school determine what needs to be organised for this parent session. Dates for the Centacare visits are: Monday, May 19 (Kinder, Year 1, 2 & 4) and Tuesday, May 27 (Year 3, 5, 6 & Parents). The parents’ session is at 2pm on th Tuesday 27 May and will be held in Computer Lab 3.
P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
Primary Physical Education Lessons Wednesdays st This week on Wednesday, 21 May Year 1, 3 and 4 will be wearing their sports uniforms as they will be involved in Physical Education lessons. Next week, th Wednesday 28 May the students needing their sports uniforms are Year 2, 5 and 6. Sporting Events Secondary Mon, May 19 Hockey v Cowra High Primary Fri, May 30 Polding Touch Trials (Mudgee)
Outward Bound 2014 th There will be a meeting this Tuesday, 20 May at 7pm in room 2. All students and their parental representatives must please be there. Thank you School Photos Order forms for the school photos will be coming home today. Please note there are a few changes. th The dates set aside this year are the Tuesday 10 th June and Wednesday 11 June. th K-Year 6 will be photographed on Tuesday 10 June. Year 7-10 and family portraits will be photographed on th Wednesday 11 June. Please note the family portraits only include those family members who are students at St Raphael’s. If you have any queries or need to change anything, please contact Cliff Dykes photography on Crunch and Sip – Morning Fruit Break Our school is a registered 'Crunch and Sip' school which encourages children to develop healthy eating habits. Instead of interrupting classes during the day the children are encouraged to eat a piece of fruit or vegetable before school commences. This is not a time for biscuits and chips and we strongly encourage all students to participate in the healthy eating time. Please send a suitable sized piece of fruit or vegetable with your child. HEAD LICE in the INFANTS We have had a small outbreak of head lice in the Infants. Please CHECK your child/children’s hair regularly. If head lice is present please inform the school and treat with the appropriate head lice product. Thank you for you cooperation. Lost Property There is a large box of unlabelled items in lost property. These include drink bottles, watches, food containers, jewellery, mobiles phones, ipods etc. Please could you send your child to the front office to claim these items before the end of the month. Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au
RAFCA - Recycled Art items If you have not collected your item from the swimming st pool, it will be open this Wednesday, 21 May, from 9am-4pm or Monday to Wednesday thereafter from 9am-4pm. Please collect items as soon as possible. Canteen Update This week’s roster is as follows: Tues 20 Anna Triming
Wed 21 CLOSED
Skye Muddle
Thurs 22 Lisa Robertson
Fri 23 Sam Doorey
Mon 26 Angela Kollas
Kristen Sturgiss
Margaret Stewart
Natalie Goard
Margie Thomas
Launch of the new P&F Association website Coming home today is a letter announcing our P&F Association website launch. Please find some time to go on to the website and give us your feedback.
The workshop is divided into three parts: What is a 'trauma-informed' approach? What it involves and how it is helpful? What is trauma and what are its effects? (Key points of which to be aware) Core principles of a trauma-informed approach to interpersonal relating and how these can be implemented in offering support to adult survivors of childhood trauma/abuse All ASCA workshops are grounded in the latest research presented in ASCA's Practice Guidelines for Treatment of Complex Trauma and Trauma Informed Care and Service Delivery. www.asca.org.au/guidelines (Source: http://www.asca.org.au/workshops/workshop-forsupporters.aspx)
St John’s Anglican Church Autumn Book Fair Extended over 2 weeks with bargains galore! rd th Dates: Friday 23 May and Saturday 24 May th st Friday 30 May and Saturday 31 May Doors open at 8:30am For donations or offers of help as workers please contact Bruce Pietsch on 0427 722810 or email bpietsch28@gmail.com
WELL DONE Congratulations to the following students who have achieved the next level on the Behaviour Management Programme. Level 5 Jordan Hurley Max Duff Aiden Roberts Owen Munro Level 6 Kelly Price Mackenna Cusack Patrick Heilman
R1 K2 R2 K1
Jack Clements R2 Jessie Irvine R2 Jamara Lambshead X2
R1 R1 R1
Harry Waters Amy Grant Yvette Langlands
K1 K1 R1
Your Teachers are very Proud of You!
One day workshop for carers and supporters of adult survivors of child abuse Why come? You know or you live with someone who has been abused as a child. You need to understand the impact it has on their lives and on your life, and how you can support them better whilst caring for your own self. Provided by ASCA (www.asca.org.au) professional trainers qualified in mental health in a safe and friendly environment at the Canowindra CWA Hall, Blatchford St. $10 fee (GST free) for catering and hall hire. Includes: One day of training, handout, morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea Saturday, June 21 2014 - 08:45 – 17:00. Register online at: www.itmatters.com.au To discuss or register offline, call 0458 698 460 Workshop description This workshop is designed for partners and supporters (carers) of adults who have experienced childhood trauma and/or abuse.
P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au
Dear Parents, Friends & Teachers, It is with great excitement that we launch the new St. Raphael’s Catholic School, Parents & Friends Association website. The aim of this website is to create an easier medium for Parents & Friends to interact, and keep up to date with the P&F activities and contributions to our school. Our new site is available through the school website by clicking on the ‘P&F’ link, alternatively, by entering www.straphaelspnf.wordpress.com in your browser on your home computer, or mobile device. The first thing you may notice on our site is our new Logo. Our Logo, was developed with the view to create an ‘identity’ for the P&F that was fresh and vibrant. After consultation with students from our school, the above logo was designed and adopted. An explanation of our new logo can be found under the ‘About’ tab on the home page. The site has been built so that navigation is made as user friendly as possible. We have included an ‘Events Calendar’, ‘Newsletters’ link, ‘Minutes’ from previous meetings, ‘Have Your Say,’ an opportunity to provide your vote on our current polls, and a way to anonymously lodge agenda items or opinion, ‘Media Gallery’ of past events, and a ‘Contact Us’ page. I urge all Parents, Friends, Teachers and Students to familiarise yourselves with the site. I understand that attending meetings is not always convenient. I trust our new website will provide all with a new opportunity to interact with our Parents & Friends Association. On a final note, I would like to acknowledge the contribution of Glenn Brule’ P&F Publicity Officer, who has spent countless hours building our site. Also Principal Michael Gallagher and Assistant Principal David Maher on their thoughts, ideas and blessing of the site. Kindest Regards, Mal Bird
St Raphael’s Catholic School P&F President M: 0418 421 498 malbird1@outlook.com http://straphaelspnf.wordpress.com
P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au