St Raphael’s Catholic School Term 2, Week 1/B Newsletter 28th April 2014
Dear Parents
Welcome to the new term. I hope the holidays were refreshing for you all. Scores of stimulating experiences have been prepared for our children this term – so hang on and enjoy the ride.
ANZAC DAY They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old; Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them. Lest we forget.
I want to pay tribute to students who represented our school and their families with such excellence at the Youth Week activities in the lead-up to the holidays. You may remember the “arrests” by local police that occurred at school in Week 11. External assessment of literacy and numeracy skills occurs by testing in years three, five, seven and nine. On May 13, 14, and 15 the 2014 NAPLAN testing will be held. You will receive a detailed analysis of your child’s results later in the year. The results of these tests assist teachers in developing programmes that are directly relevant to the needs of our children. Two reminders: that the postponed Athletics Carnival is being held this Thursday, that Secondary Parent / Teacher Discussions are being held this Wednesday and Thursday. ANZAC day was last Friday. Students represented St Raphs at every service from dawn. Thank you for your support in having the children turned out so beautifully in their uniforms to commemorate our fallen service people. Congratulations to the student leaders who conducted themselves with such dignity in their representative roles. Lest we forget.
Michael Gallagher Principal
P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
Gospel Challenge
Term 2 Week 1 “Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another” John 20:19-31
Monday 28 Happy birthday to Ashley Langfield and Justin and Amber Thomas. ANZAC Service at 10:30am. P&F Meeting at 7pm. Tuesday 29 Happy birthday to Maddison Johnson and Christian Petty. CCC Swimming Carnival at Homebush. Wednesday 30 Secondary Parent/Teacher Discussions. Year 6 Peer Support training. Secondary Diocesan Music Workshop in Forbes. Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au
Thursday 1 Happy birthday to Bronte and Toby Keen and Hayden Mullins. Secondary Parent/Teacher Discussions. Year 6 Human Sexuality Course. Friday 2 Happy birthday to Amelia Gundersen. St Raphael’s Athletics Carnival. Secondary Diocesan Music Workshop and Performance in Bathurst. Year 6 Human Sexuality Course rd
Happy birthday to Ben Varela for the 3 and Matthew th Banks and Sam Gallagher for the 4 .
In the last week of term 1, our Year 8 students celebrated an Anointing Mass with the parish. The year 8 students then provided and served morning tea to the parishioners. Thank you to parents and students for your generosity in providing such a sumptuous morning tea. It was very much appreciated. Many compliments were made concerning the behaviour, participation and hospitality of the students. Well done Year 8. Dates for the Calendar Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th May - Eucharist Enrolment sheets given to parents at both Weekend Masses. Tuesday 6th May - Eucharist Enrolment meetings with parents 3.30pm and 7pm in St Brigid’s Hall. Friday 9th May- Infants Mother’s Day Liturgy 10.30am St Raphael’s Church Altar Servers’ Roster rd Sat 3 May: Natalie Banks and Chloe Robertson. th Sun 4 May: Madelyn Stead and Bernadette Zarb. Emily Beath-Pearce and Flynn Bennett at Gooloogong. School Readers for Weekend Parish Masses: th Sun 4 May: Mrs T Johnston. School Eucharistic Ministers for Weekend Parish Masses: th Sun 4 May: Mr M Gallagher, Mrs J White. School Computer Roster rd Sat 3 May: Miss K Slaven. th Sun 4 May: Mrs P Bischof.
Primary Assembly The next Primary Assembly will be held next week, th Friday 9 May. It will be led by Miss Downes’ class, Year 4D. 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. P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
Secondary Parent Teacher discussions As previously advised, please note the following: * All bookings are done on the school website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au * On the reverse side of the mid-semester reports the steps to be followed to complete bookings is visually shown. * Reports are being sent home with students this week. * The steps start by clicking on: Parent / Teacher Discussions. * Next: Enter the booking code: 9X8LB (then follow the steps indicated) Important Information * There is to be one ten-minute booking for each teacher for any one student, regardless of how many subjects that teacher instructs the student. * It is necessary to stick to the ten-minute session as once the order is disrupted there is a significant flowon effect for the overall discussion timetable. * You must have an email address to complete this process (booking confirmations are emailed immediately). * If you are unable to complete the bookings, phone the school office on 63422940 Secondary Parent / Teacher Discussion Timetable. * Date Wednesday, April 30 and Thursday, May 1 *Times: 3.40pm – 5.30pm (Wednesday) AND 3.40pm – 7.00pm (Thursday) * Duration: Time allowed for each discussion is 10 minutes. * Venues: Secondary Classrooms Note: Bookings close at 3pm tomorrow (Tues)
News from the Art Department Congratulations to all students that brought in sculptures for the Recycled Art for Cowra Awards. The standard this year was outstanding, some fitting the "fantastic and fun" category very well. The range of materials used and your creativity is inspirational – an excellent effort – thank you! A big thank you for the parental support for this project. Thanks also to the Groves and McCabe family who helped transport these sculptures to the Aquatic Centre in the holidays. The sculptures are now at the Cowra Aquatic centre. They are still accepting entries on Monday 28 and Tuesday 29 April between 10:00am and 3:30 pm. Contact Mr Chris Cannard on 0428636663 if you have any queries. The judging will be taking place on Friday 2 May by a panel of 3 invited judges. Watch the press for details. Inel Date Secondary Visual Art
Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au
Primary Physical Education Lessons th Physical Education classes for this week, 30 April are: Years 1,3 & 4. These classes need to wear their sports uniform. Note: The Years 1, 3 & 4 students will be wearing their sports uniform on two consecutive days due to the Athletics Carnival. th Next Week – 6 May: Year 2, 5 & 6 wear sports uniform. Primary Cross Country Next Monday, 5th May, St. Raphael's Catholic School will be sending a squad of long distance runners to Coolah to compete in the annual Cross Country event. We wish all competitors the very best. Stage 2 Rugby League On the final Tuesday of Term 1, all of the Stage 2 boys went down to River Park to play the 'Greatest Game Of All,' Rugby League. Our school nominated 2 competitive and 2 non-competitive teams in the Year 3 + 4 division, the Russell Richardson Cup. We had a fantastic day, with many boys getting a taste of Rugby League for the first time. Wearing the school colours of green and gold, representing the school playing sport is a memorable experience. Special thanks to Mrs. Brown (and her boys!) Mr. Stephenson, Mr. Killick and Mr. Newell for helping to organise the 'Swirls' Competitive team. A win and two losses for these boys. Thanks also to Tom (Yr. 9) and Ben (Yr. 8) for helping guide our Non-Competitive teams for Years 3 + 4. The boys in these teams had a great time amongst their peers. Our 'Stripes' Competitive team need special mention. They went through 3 round matches, 1 semi-final and then a Grand Final, undefeated. Five from five! On the day, they scored 35 tries, only allowing our line to be crossed 5 times. Riley Langfield was named player of the Grand Final. He top scored for the team throughout the day with 10 tries. Luke scored 6, Aidan had 5, Jackson 4, Nick and Harry with 3, Sam 2, Mitchell and Justin scored 1 each. Daniel was unlucky not to get one. As winners of the day, these 10 players get the chance to again don the 'green and gold' and represent our school on the last Wednesday of this term in Dubbo. Congratulations and well done to all of the Year 3 + 4 boys. Sporting Events st School Athletics Carnival (River Park) - Thurs 1 May Secondary Tues May 6 – CCC Netball (Under 15s) in Sydney Tues May 6 - Under 13 & 16 Rugby League (Dubbo) Wed May 7 - Bill Turner Soccer v Canowindra (Under 15 Boys in Canowindra) Thurs May 8 - Diocesan Cross Country in Orange Primary Mon May 5 - Diocesan Cross Country (Coolah) Thurs May 8 - Sevens Rugby Regional finals (Orange) Fri May 9 - Polding Winter Trials (Tamworth) P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
Athletics Carnival for Kindergarten, Year One and Year Two Sport for this week will be on Thursday. All students to wear their sports uniform on Thursday. They can wear a t-shirt in the colour of their house instead of the white shirt if they have one. Kindergarten, Year One and Year Two will be attending the Athletics Carnival on Thursday. They will have an early recess at school and be down at the park about eleven o’clock. Great fun will be had taking part in various novelty events before ‘The Great Race’ - a sprint on the track at twelve o’clock. They would love to see you there, cheering them on. Lunch will be eaten down at the park but please remember for Kinder, Years One and Two there will be no lunch orders that day and no canteen at school for recess.
Kindergarten Reading Helpers Reading will be from 9.30 to 10.30 on Thursday due to the Athletics Carnival. We would love to see you if you can make it. Mothers' Day Liturgy Kindergarten, Year One and Year Two invite all mothers (dads, grandparents, friends) to celebrate Mothers' Day in St Raphael's church Friday 9th May at 10.30am. Spend morning recess with your children after a cup of tea. Please note this date in your diary as the children would love to see you there. 2014 Outward Bound REMINDER - 1st Instalment Due THIS Wednesday morning for Year 9 students interested in participating in this year’s Outward Bound opportunity. This will be the only instalment that will assist to assure you an order of place for the experience in November. Collection of the first $100 instalment will begin from 8.15am at the School Front Office. See you there. Mrs MacCabe Visiting Shows In Term One, the Year 3-10 students had the opportunity to see visiting performance shows. The Secondary students saw a play titled, ‘Flowers for Algernon’ and Year 3-6 attended a Forensic Science show titled, ‘A Case for Discovery’. This term, on May 27, the Kinder – Year 2 students have the opportunity to see a performance titled, ‘The Gigalees Crazy Circus Show’. Notes will be sent home next week. Morning Arrival Time Towards the end of last term concern was raised about the early arrival of children at school, their supervision and safety. Teachers are not on duty until 8:30am. Prior to that time no supervision is provided. Parents need to be aware of the risk this poses to the children technically they are trespassing before 8:30am. Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au
Medication Authority Legally, teachers are not permitted to administer medication to students on their own judgment. Children are not permitted to carry their own medication or to self-medicate (except for approved asthmatics and diabetics). If you need your child to be medicated during the day a form from the front office is to be completed that details the medication, dosage, frequency and doctor. Existing authorizations need to be updated. Mobiles and Electronic Devices A reminder about the school policy on mobile phones and electronic devices. “Mobile phones can be viewed as enhancing security for students traveling to and from school. Misuse of mobile phones can lead to disruption of the learning environment, intimidation or harassment by SMS, text message, photographic, video or other data transfer system available on the phone. St Raphael’s students may carry mobile phones to and from school. Once at school mobile phones must be switched off and handed in at the front office. Mobile phones will be locked in a secure place at the office during school hours. At the end of the school day phones may be collected and therefore also any voicemails and text messages. Mobile phones may not normally be taken on school excursions. The school mobile will be taken on excursions and the children will be able to be contacted, via the principal in the case of emergencies. Students with phones at school during the course of the school day will have the phone confiscated. Repeated breaches will result in disciplinary provisions. Students who bring mobile phones to school do so at their own risk – the school will not accept responsibility for any loss or damage to mobile phones. Portable computer games, cameras, ipods and similar devices should not be brought to school. They will be confiscated if they are brought. Repeated breaches will result in disciplinary provisions.” 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. The programme for 2014 is designed for both students and parents to receive the most up to date information on anti-bullying strategies and cyber safety. For Kindergarten, Years 1 and 2 students the programme has a strong emphasis on making friends, kindness and being a good friend. These strategies assist the students build resilience and support an anti-bullying culture. The sessions for Years 3, 4, 5, & 6 assist students to understand what constitutes bullying and has the students undertaking role plays to reinforce strategies to deal with bullying. This year the programme also highlights the powerful role of the bystanders. In addition for the Year 5 & 6 students we explore how to use social media such as the internet and mobile phones in a fun but safe way. P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
Parents are invited to a session that provides an overview of the strategies with an emphasis on the current research on cybersafety. Notes will be sent home shortly to help determine numbers for the parent session. Dates for the Centacare visits are: Monday, May 19 and Tuesday, May 27. Time4Kids – PCYC Fundraiser Each year during the month of April Time4Kids events are held across Australia. Hundreds of participants from all walks of life - community members and leaders, business leaders and owners, celebrities and sporting heroes come together to support PCYC and Do Time to Stop Youth Crime. Volunteer detainees are locked-up in mock gaol cells, under the supervision of a Police Officer and must raise bail through donations to be set free. Proceeds from the fundraising goes towards youth development and crime prevention programs at one of over 130 PCYCs throughout Australia. Mr Ben Cooley and Bryson and Maguire Sciberras were arrested this year and managed to raise over $700 between them. Well done on your fantastic efforts!
Canteen Update This week’s roster is as follows: Tues 29 Tracey Gunnyon Jodie Toohey
Wed 30 CLOSED
Thurs 1 Tracey Gunnyon
Fri 2 Carol Lynch
Mon 5 Sally Bruncher
Jane Stendall
Kylie Kollas
Angela Kollas
Margaret Stewart
Please remember that all Yr3-10 Canteen orders for Thursday’s Athletics Carnival need to be in by tomorrow. Please note the canteen will not be open at school on Thursday so please ensure that you pack lunches for all Kinder – Year 2 students. Thank you.
Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au
WELL DONE Congratulations to the following students who have achieved the next level on the Behaviour Management Programme. Level 5 Riley Langfield Jackson McLeish Christian Petty Justin Thomas Ethan Tindall Zoe Budge Felicity Henderson Jorja Bone Rory Nixon Noah Keen Gabrielle Budden Charlotte Cooper Lilly Pilcher
4D 4J 4J 4J 4J 5G 5G 5G 5G 5O 6C R2 X1
Luke Banks 4J Cameron Melton 4J Jock Stephenson 4J Harry Thuaux 4J Digby Williams 4J Sienna Emseis 5G Bernadette Zarb 5G Hugo Skene 5G Catherine Gallagher 5O Jayden Millar 5O Madeline Webster 6S Olivia Edwards X2
Your Teachers are very Proud of You!
A Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend is a Marriage Enrichment experience for married couples – set in peaceful, picturesque surroundings, away from the distractions of everyday life. During the weekend, couples have a unique opportunity to reconnect, rekindle and refresh their relationship. Take time out of your busy schedule, to invest in your most precious asset . . . your Marriage! Weekend date: 13 – 15 June at Mt Carmel Retreat Centre, Varroville, NSW Bookings: Ardell & Bill Sharpe tel. 02 4283 3435 or wsharpe@bigpond.net.au www.wwme.org.au www.facebook.com/WWMEasternUnit
TENNIS HOT SHOTS AND CARDIO The MLC tennis hot shots program for term 2 resumes this week on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. Hot shots is a skills based program conducted by Tennis Australia qualified coaches that ensures children aged 4 and up are taught in an environment suitable to their age and skill level. The cost for term 2 is $90. rd Cardio resumes on Saturday 3 May at 8am. Cardio is a fun group tennis related fitness program set to music and is open to all ages and abilities. The cost is $90 for term 2 or $15 per week. Private or semi-private tennis coaching lessons are available by appointment. For more information on class times, vacancies or to enrol contact Helen Garratt on 0407139164, 63428447 or email handlgarratt@bigpond.com P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au
P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au
St Raphael’s Catholic School 2014 Athletics Carnival Thursday, 1st May
Our annual Athletics Carnival is to be held on Thursday, 1st May, 2014 at River Park. The carnival will involve all students from Years 3-10 in events from 8 years to 16 years of age. All parents are most welcome to attend the carnival and cheer the athletes on. Our carnival is for everyone. Infants students will be attending the carnival – participating in novelty events and a 100m race. The carnival commences at 8.50am SHARP with the Secondary 400m events. Student Movements Secondary students, who are dropped by car or walk to River Park , are asked to be at the present by 8.45a.m. for Roll Call. Any student who comes to school by bus will wait on the secondary playground then walked to River Park, supervised by teachers. Note: Secondary students competing in the early events (400m running) must be at River Park by 8.45am Note: All secondary students will walk back to school at the completion of the carnival.
Primary students are to arrive at, and leave from school, in their usual manner. They will walk to and from the River Park with their teachers.
Note: The only students permitted to leave from River Park are those with their parents. Parents, not students, must speak to the student’s Homeroom Teacher prior to leaving.
Clothing / Water / Sun Protection / Expectations Students are permitted to wear mufti in their House colour – Blue (Kilbreda), Red (Raphael) or Yellow (Xavier). The mufti must be appropriate for athletics while at the same time respectable. NOTE: School hats must be worn, no other caps. All students have been allocated a House and, if they are not sure of their House, they are to see Mr Thomas as soon as possible. Please note that crepe paper is not allowed and coloured hair spray is not to be brought on the day. Sunscreen should be brought. No student is allowed to leave their group without informing their supervising teacher. When needing to go to the toilets students should inform the supervising teacher and go in pairs. Phones and music players are not allowed during the carnival.
Food / Lunch Pool Canteen is available from 10am, throughout the day. All students should have their own water bottle and light refreshments.
Parent Helpers As with all of our carnivals, we rely on the generous assistance of our parents, so, if you can spare time to assist please contact Mr Thomas. Championship Events rd th th th Championship points are allocated as follows: 1 – 12, 2 – 10, 3 – 8, 4 - 6, 5 - 4, 6 – 2. Students will be receiving ‘place certificates’ on the day of the carnival Age Champions will be announced back at the school in Secondary Playground 1, after the students return from the carnival. Age champions and the winning house will be recorded in the next Newsletter. Age Champions will receive medallions at the K-10 Semester One Assembly (planned for June 20) The team to attend the K-10 Schools Carnival in Cowra will be selected from place getters at our carnival. As this is a representative opportunity, those selected would be expected to attend. st
NEXT CARNIVAL: Venue: COWRA
nd
K-10 Schools Carnival th Date: Friday, 25 July, 2014
We are looking forward to a great carnival and hope that everyone will be involved. A special welcome is extended to any parents who would like to come along. Sport Committee
P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au