St Raphael’s Catholic School Term 1, Week 11/A Newsletter 4 April 2016 Facilities
19%
54%
18%
9%
Fees
23%
60%
14%
4%
Dear Parents
Communications
35%
35%
23%
7%
This week marks the end of a term during which secondary students in particular (and staff) have been asked to absorb inconvenience for the sake of the construction project. It is with a degree of both relief and satisfaction that time is coming to an end and the benefits of those inconveniences will begin to flow through. The opening of the new facility is still some way off as there is landscaping and refurbishment of some existing spaces yet to be addressed. As the pressure on space is reduced primary students (and staff) will also be relieved to have their territory back again in the new term.
Sporting
32%
53%
7%
9%
Cultural
32%
58%
11%
0%
Catholicity
40%
53%
7%
0%
Electives
31%
50%
13%
6%
In relation to the building project, a negative was the injury sustained by one of the workmen which has him still hospitalised. I ask for your prayers for him and his family during this time of recovery. On Friday of this week the annual Athletics Carnival is to be conducted at Twigg Oval. This is a great experience for all students from Kindy through to Year 11 and you are encouraged, if possible to attend, for part of the day to witness these young athletes in action.
Thank you for the support you have given to your children in their learning and for the support received by the teachers throughout the term. I hope term 1 has been a full and rewarding time. th
School commences again on Tuesday, April 26 and everyone will need to be in the lovely winter uniform. May the school holiday be refreshing and safe for you and yours.
Michael Gallagher Principal
Easter 2
Parent Teacher Learning Discussions are being conducted in the first week of the new term but appointments have to be made before then – please refer to the Newsletter for logon details to ensure maximum convenience in a couple of weeks time. A “Parent Satisfaction Survey” was conducted throughout March yielding many results, a summary of which is produced below. Thank you those families who provided this feedback which will be used in our planning. The numbers and comments provide some clear focus about where best to invest our efforts. The full detail of the results will be presented for discussion at the May P&F Meeting. PERCENTAGE
++
+
-
--
Learning
25%
54%
20%
2%
Teaching
30%
58%
12%
0%
Pastoral Care
39%
46%
11%
5%
Resources
32%
51%
16%
2%
Social Life
30%
49%
14%
7%
P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
Season of Glory! Easter is not just a day or a weekend. It is a whole season that last for seven weeks. After the penance and fasting of Lent, make this season one of joy and celebration. Be lavish in your hospitality, generous with your good cheer and loud in your praise: Alleluia! The Lord lives! Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au
Monday 4 Happy birthday to Deakin Horton. Tuesday 5 Study Centre @ S17 (Computer Lab 3) 3 8-8:45am. Wednesday 6 Study Centre @ S17 (Computer Lab 3) 3 8-8:45am. PSSA Swimming at Homebush. Harmony Day. Thursday 7 Study Centre @ S17 (Computer Lab 3) 3 8-8:45am. Friday 8 SRCS Athletics Carnival. Happy birthday to the following students celebrating birthdays in the holidays: Flynn Pearce, Thomas Heilman, India Johnson, Benjamin Price, Stanley Rush, Annaleise Prescott, Riley Langfield, Emily Beath-Pearce, Lucas Pearce, Maddison Oliver, John Terry, Xavier Lynch, Ethan Millar, Colton Cartwright, Ryan Chapple, Kayli Hurst and Zali Pearce
Altar Servers’ Roster th Sat 9 April: Rachel and Ben Myers, Meg Jones. th Sun 10 April: Cate Gallagher, Natalie Mallon. th Sat 16 April: Elizabeth Heilman, Sophie Johnston. th Sun 17 April: Volunteers for Cowra please. Gooloogong: Emily Beath-Pearce. rd Sat 23 April: Kate and Laura Price. th Sun 24 April: Mikelli and Ky Garratt. School Readers for Weekend Parish Masses: th Sat 9 April: Miss K Slaven. th Sun 10 April: Mr M Gallagher. th Sun 17 April: Mrs S Whiteley. School Eucharistic Ministers for Weekend Parish Masses: th Sat 9 April: Miss K Slaven, Miss R Downes. th Sun 10 April: Mrs S Whiteley. th Sat 16 April: Mr A Casey. th Sun 17 April: Mrs P Bischof, Miss L Pratt. School Computer Roster th Sat 9 April: Price family. th Sat 16 April: Tom Heilman. th Sun 17 April: Mrs P Bischof. rd Sat 23 April: Casey family. th Sun 24 April: Mrs M McMurtrie.
Mid-Semester Parent Teacher Interviews Mid-Semester Parent Teacher Interviews will take place in Week 1 of Term 2. P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
Wednesday 27/4/16 for Primary and Thursday 28/4/16 for Secondary. Interviews may be booked between 3.30 - 7pm by logging on to: https://www.schoolinterviews.com.au Primary Parents enter the event code: r6un3 Secondary Parents enter the event code: zv6dx Then follow the prompts. Bookings will open the afternoon of Wednesday 30/3/16 and close Friday 22/4/16. Please note, Miss Blazley will not be available on the 27th. Kindergarten Green families may book an alternate time for Wednesday 4/5/16. A separate event code unique to KGreen will be sent home later this week. If you experience any problems accessing the site, please contact Mr Lette. Library News Week 11 Term One A reminder to return books before the end of term. The winners of the Term I return book draw will be announced early term two and winners will receive their books at the next assembly. Chess Club: It has been a busy term for chess players. Term two will be the year three and four chess tournament. Write down your names on the sheet in the library. A big thank you to the hard working monitors who have been of great assistance to myself and the students this term, well done: Misty Williams, Meg Jones, Melissa Mood, Dekota Hindmarsh, Tianna Azzopardi, Emma Clements, Natalie Mallon and Elizabeth Heilman. Happy Reading. Mrs Skinner Year 4 Green Assembly Year 4 Green will be running the primary assembly on Friday 29th April 2016. The assembly will be in St Raphael's Hall commencing at 2.00pm. Primary Homework There will be no Primary homework distributed this week due to end of term activities and the athletics carnival. Homework will resume in week 1 of Term 2. Thank you for your assistance with homework this term.
WEEK 11 SPORT FOR K-6 Due to the School Athletics Carnival being held on Friday there will be no other sports lessons this week for the Infants and Primary children. Sports uniform with house colour t-shirts for all children, Kinder to Year Six, is ONLY to be worn on FRIDAY. Please note the Canteen will not be open at school on th Friday 8 April due to the Athletics Carnival. Swimming Superstars Last week, Pip Austin and Sam Kelly made their way to Sydney to swim at the Homebush Olympic Pool. Both had qualified from lead up carnivals over the term. Pip finished 6th and Sam finished 4th. Not bad Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au
for some swimmers from little old Cowra! Well done and congratulations to both of you. Rugby League in Term 2 On the second Tuesday of next term, all of the boys from Years 3 to 6 will be competing in the annual David Peachey/Russell Richardson Rugby League day. The school has entered teams in both the Competitive and Non-Competitive pools on the day. Training has already begun during lunch times. For those parents who have boys in the non-competitive teams, rest assured that it is basically touch football, with held being called almost as soon as a hand is laid on the opponent. There will not be any lunch orders on this day, however a canteen will be open at the ground. Every player requires $1 on the day which can be paid to the teachers at the ground on the day, covering team nominations. Any queries or questions, please contact Grahame Statham at the school. All of the girls from 3 to 6 are hoping to play Netball against the other Cowra schools on the same day up at the courts. More information to follow. High Hopes For Hockey Another successful Hockey Gala Day was held last Friday for school students in the Cowra area. In total 11 schools made up the 300 students who took part in the day. In the morning session the instructors worked with small groups of about 10 students on all aspects of hockey: tackling, passing, dribbling, scoring and most importantly patience. At lunch our mixed school teams talked strategies with their team mentors and it was game on! Twenty minute games were played and all instructors could be heard motivating by encouraging all those present to do their best. The day ended with all students receiving an ice block and the best and fairest from each school being presented with a hockey startup kit. Making new friends, playing sport and lots of prizes; all of it on a sunny day, who could ask for more? Thanks to the Cowra Hockey Committee members; Students from both high schools, Bill Sutor and volunteer instructors who gave their time so generously. Special mention must also go to our sponsors: Cowra Services Club, Coles, McDonalds, and Al at FHE Hockey. Season starts this Saturday for all U11's at 1130 and U15's at 1230am.
Hockey Gala Day Last Friday, Year 4 headed off to the Edgell Park hockey grounds to participate in the Hockey Gala Day. It was great to see so many students from local and P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
surrounding schools attend the day and to witness the positive interaction between students and teachers. The day began by being split into teams, then a meet and greet activity before recess. After recess teams rotated around skills stations lead by volunteers and secondary students. After lunch students played in modified games to put their skills into practice. These games were played in great spirit and with plenty of encouragement. An ice block was an excellent way to finish the day. Well done to Year 4 and many thanks to Mr Cooley and the Cowra District Hockey Association for a well run day. Mr Colemane - Year 4 Teacher
ANZAC Day Parade ANZAC Day falls on the last Monday of the holidays. A strong representation to march with the school banner in the ANZAC parade would be appreciated. If possible, please assemble in winter school uniform at the RSL club at 10:00am on th April 25 . Outward Bound 2016 Many thanks to the school community for your support of our Easer Cupcake day. Well done Outward Bound students on producing some wonderful creative cupcakes! Our next fundraiser will be a Wood raffle. Outward Bound students will be approaching friends and family during the holidays. Raffle tickets will be on sale at the front office! Many thanks to the Frazer family for donating a load of wood. Mr Ben Cooley Productive Food Garden The food garden has survived its first summer. The wicking beds installed in March 2015 have proven very effective, particularly over the summer holiday break. Gardeners have reaped an abundance of produce during Term 1. There has been an endless supply of tiny tomatoes, basil, spinach, capsicums, chillies and eggplants. Some of this produce has been used within the canteen and the balance is either eaten fresh from the garden or taken home to be enjoyed by school families. With a prolific supply of basil from the Year 4 garden we produced basil pesto early in Term 1. Miss Gibbs’ Year 7 Math’s students assisted with calculating the cost of producing the basil pesto and determined the end product price. Whilst expensive to produce, a small profit was made, and the funds have assisted in the purchase of seedlings for winter planting. Year 1 have proven to be very enthusiastic and independent gardeners and have planted out their bed with cauliflowers, cabbage, spinach seedlings and
Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au
rhubarb. Likewise Year 3 has recently planted broad bean and shallot seeds. The year 4 garden bed is adopting an heirloom approach and we will be witnessing some old style vegetables later in the year. Primary students and teachers are looking at learning mathematics in a much more engaging way. The productive food garden is endeavouring to assist with teaching aids. One example of this is the recent installation of a weather post. The post holds a temperature gauge and rain gauge. In addition to this older technology the garden has also purchased a wireless weather station. Students will be able to record, graph, and average data they collect. Term 1 has also seen the completion of the Coles/Landcare grant funding. The embankment has been planted out with variety of native plants and there has been some rocks and logs placed amongst plantings to provide habitat to beneficial creatures. Thanks to Mick Gee, David Stendell, Ben Cranney and Stephen Rutledge for their assistance with positioning these large pieces. Last Saturday saw the final piece of the puzzle in place with the planting of fruit trees for the food forest. Two cherries, two apricots, two apples, one fig and one peach, will form the upper storey. The under storey will be planted seasonally with vegetables requiring greater space than our raised beds provide such as watermelons, pumpkins, sweet potatoes and rock melons. We would like to give a big thank you to Peter Delany for his kind donation of 4 large lucerne bales. This will help retain moisture and provide nitrogen for our trees. Also thanks to the ever vigilant Errol McAlister for his time in connecting water to the area. And of course thanks to the parents and friends who provided the muscle for hole digging on Saturday; Donna O’Brien and family, Angela Kollas and crew, Joel and Brenden Stendell, the Cranney clan, Marty and Flynn and the Rutledges.
P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
Canteen Update This week’s roster is as follows: Tues 5 Kate Wilson Lisa Day
Wed 6 CLOSED
Thurs 7 Carrie Simunic
Fri 8 Cindy Langfield
Tracey Gunnyon
Nicky Hudson
Mon
Holidays
The roster for next term will be sent home this week. Also with a new copy of helpers list and numbers as I have lost people again. Could my helpers for Friday be at the Carnival Canteen by 9am please. There will be NO CANTEEN AT SCHOOL ON FRIDAY. There will be a Canteen at the Carnival unfortunately the Infants will not be allowed to come over to the Canteen so lunches will have to be packed for them to take with them. There will be Drinks, Treats, Sausage Rolls $3, Sausage Sizzle $2.50. Only available to Years 3 – 11 on a first in best dressed. I have managed to find a supplier for Gluten Free Pies and Sausage Rolls they will be on the Winter Menu.
Have a lovely holiday – see you next term. Donna Stokes – Canteen Manager
Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au
Australasian Schools Competition Entry Form th Closing Date: Friday 8 April WELL DONE Congratulations to the following students who have achieved the next level on the Behaviour Management Programme. Level 5 Jazmine Millar Kate Proctor Maddison Anthony Lecksi Killick Tiarna Vale William Cranney Louis Johnson Stanley Rush Logan Haslam Rowan Wheeler Level 6 Thomas Cusack Jack Gee
3 Green 3 Gold 4 Green 4 Green 4 Green 4 Green 5 Green 5 Green 5 Gold 5 Gold
Clare Harris 3 Gold Emanuel Kollas 3 Gold Caitlin Brodbeck 4 Green Zoe Simunic 4 Green Elliott Bennett 4 Green Eppie Emseis 5 Green Lachlan Pullen 5 Green Daniel Gorham 5 Gold Dominic Henderson 5 Gold Joseph Waters 10 Green
1. Child’s Name
Year
Class
…………………………………
……
……
Exam
Cost
Tick Choice(s)
Mathematics (Yrs 3 – 10) $8.80 English (Yrs 3 – 10 ) $8.80 …………………………………………………
________ ________
2. Child’s Name
Class
……
Exam
Tick Choice(s)
9 Gold
Your Teachers are very Proud of You!
Cost
Mathematics (Yrs 3 – 10) $8.80 ________ English (Yrs 3 – 10) $8.80 ________ ........................................................................... 3. Child’s Name
9 Gold Holly Gorham 7 Green
Year
……………………………..……… ……
Year
Class
………………………………..…… ……
……
Exam
Cost
Tick Choice(s)
Mathematics (Yrs 3 – 10) English (Yrs 3 – 10)
$8.80 $8.80
________ ________
Enclosed is a cheque for the amount of _______ Parent’s Signature: …………………………..
ST. RAPHAEL’S CATHOLIC SCHOOL ATHLETICS CARNIVAL Friday, 8th April, 2016 This year our school carnival focus is participation! As in previous years students will move from event to event as an age group in a circuit of Athletic event. Because we are following this structure we are able to stay very closely to the times allocated for the event on the program. This hopefully assists our families who would like to come and watch in the lunch hour to know where everyone will be. I encourage the families to come along and watch their children go round. It fills children with such pride to know that “mum or dad is watching” We require the assistance of several parents this year, if you are able to help please contact Mr. Steven Thomas at school so we can ensure a smooth running and fun day for all. Lunch and snacks will be provided for our helpers. Date Time Transport
Friday 8-4-16 Secondary Students 8.45am at River Park Primary Student Usual school arrangements Secondary students must arrive at River Park for Roll Call no later than 8.45a.m Primary students will arrive at school in the usual manner and walk with their
Teachers
Lunch Bring Wear
All students will walk back to school at the conclusion of the carnival to be relased as usual onto the buses or other modes of transport All students are to bring their own lunch, Mrs Stokes will be running a modified canteen on the day with snacks and re is no provisions made for lunch orders Hats, Sun Screen, Joggers and your competitive spirit. School Sports Uniform, or House Colours. Blue / Yellow / Red All students are to wear joggers for competition as it is a Diocesan rule that no student can compete in socks or bare feet or football boots. Spikes are permitted in track events other than the 800m and 1500m events, High jump and Javelin
P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au
Events
There will be no practice jumps or throws – time does not allow this students are encouraged to warm-up and be ready. Their teachers can help with this At each event students will have the option to compete and be involved. Owing to time restrictions not all students will be guaranteed three attempts at each event. Make ‘em count!
Infants
Infants students, will be attending the athletics carnival between recess and lunch. Please see additional note in this newsletter for details. The school canteen will not be operating at school on this day.
We all hope that the students have a great day and involve themselves in as much as possible. Help other and support their peers. Citius, Altius, Fortius (Faster, Higher, Stronger.) Mr. Steven Thomas Sport Coordinator
P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au