St Raphael’s Catholic School Term 1, Week 6/B Newsletter 5 March 2018 and we work in service of the poor. If we could capture and replicate such a balance in the wider world, I believe we would develop a stronger, more cohesive and caring society. Please participate in all that you can this week. Dear Parents
Michael Gallagher Principal
What shall we give to the needy this lent? In deciding, decide generously. After all, before us is the great alms Jesus gave: "He loved us, and gave himself up for us." (adapted from catholic.org) In our parish we are challenged to approach Lent more positively. Lent is about doing more, rather than doing less. The “preparation colour” purple could be a strip of cloth along the centre of the dining table that reminds everyone. Sharing a regular time of family prayer. Giving a percentage of allowance to the missions. Adopt a special project of generosity for someone who needs it. Discuss your faith. Build up these habits of goodness and after six weeks how can we not be better people in a better world? A Lenten focus? Balancing our “busyness” seems to be a growing need whether we are young or old. Too often does our haste to be elsewhere drag us past people and events that could really enrich us. “How are you going?” is often answered accurately with “flat out” and that usually means that somehow we “miss out” on valuable encounters. The movement substituting “slow food” for “fast food” has a good message about our damaging pace of life. Yes, we are busy, but are we busy about the right things? Catholic Schools Week (March 4-10) happens across Australia this week and in Cowra there is an array of activities being conducted that reflects the breadth and balance that we promote in life. We listen to and learn from those who have gone this way before us, we share a meal across K-12 with parents and staff, we compete in sports with one another and with parents and staff, we pray together, we acknowledge our heritage, those who established the tone of our school P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
Monday 5 Catholic Schools Week Assembly 10am Tuesday 6 Happy birthday to David Kang Science and Engineering Challenge Wednesday 7 Happy birthday to Zoe Jones and Jacinta McKay
Thursday 8 Happy birthday to Sam Myers and Ellie Thompson
Friday 9 Happy birthday to Billy Brown and Milla O’Reilly Heritage Day Fair 1pm - 2-50pm Happy birthday to Miia and Ayrlee Flannery for the 10 and Charlee Pollard for the 11th
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Very big apologies to Alannah Maguire who celebrated her birthday last week, happy birthday!
Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au
Heritage Day This week in our Religion classrooms there is an emphasis placed on the heritage of our school community with Heritage Day being conducted on Friday. Bishop Daniel Delaney, the founder of our own Brigidine Sisters and the Sisters of St. Joseph, founded by St.Mary MacKillop will be the focus of our school remembrance for this whole school celebration. The Heritage Day Fete will be held once again this year on Friday afternoon March 9th. Please try to join us for this lunch (1pm – 2:30 pm) time fun. There will be stalls and lots of goodies to purchase. Games, a jumping castle, raffles and fun activities are also some other fundraisers at the fete.The idea is to raise money. No food or events are free. Students will wear mufti in green and gold, for a gold coin donation; our Brigidine school colours. All money raised will be distributed to our annual school charities eg CARITAS and Catholic Missions. Hope you can join us Karla Slaven and Peta Bischof Dates for the Calendar March 4th- 10th- Catholic Schools Week School Readers for Weekend Parish Masses: th Sat 10 Mar: Jenny White Th Sun 11 Mar: Sue Marsh School Eucharistic Ministers for Weekend Parish Masses: th Sat 10 Mar: Karla Slaven th Sun 11 Mar: Laura Moodie and Marg McMurtrie
The Study Centre Feeling swamped with assessments? Need help with your homework? Research tasks to complete? Need a quiet place to study? The Study Centre @ St Raphael’s is the answer!! Who: Students from Year 2-12 Where: S17 (Computer Lab 3) When: 8:00-8:45am Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday The Study Centre @ St Raphael’s 2018 Term 1 Wk 5-11 (Except Athletics Carnival) The Rite Journey The Year 9 Rite Journey programme enjoyed a beautiful sunrise together with family members on Thursday morning. This early morning get together was the symbolic starting of the course for the year with two short ceremonies: “The Calling” and “The Departure”. The Rite Journey is a unique educational programme designed to support the development of self-aware, vital, responsible and resilient young adults. The programme is targeted at providing students with reference points during the passage to adulthood. After a sunrise start, and a brisk 4km walk back to school by the students, breakfast was enjoyed by all in the Hospitality room in the MSLC. Many thanks to Mrs Bischof and her team of staff helpers: Ms Gibbs, Ms Makin, Ms Cruickshank, and Mr Carrol. The ceremonies concluded with a short talk and a blessing for all from Father Laurie. There was a100% participation by students in this very early morning start which indicates their committed approach to the Rite Journey.
PLP A reminder to all parents who received a letter inviting them to participate in Personal Learning Plan (PLP) discussions for their child/children. Bookings can be made using the following link and code https://www.schoolinterviews.com.au Enter the code: pbwhm Bookings will close on Wednesday March 7.
P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
National Day of Action against Bullying Our school is focused on awareness, identification and strategies to eliminate Bullying. During week 7 our school will participate in activities to raise awareness of this issue that affects our children, youth and Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au
community in general. As a school community we will be participating in the National Day of Action against Bullying on Friday 16th March, information about activities will follow in next week's newsletter. Wellbeing Team
selection in the Diocesan Swimming Team. Once again many PB’s were achieved and all swimmers made St Raphael’s proud representing with pride and sportsmanship. Unfortunately none of our swimmers made it through to the next level. Another thank you to those parents who provided travel to and from this event!
Student Photographs As per our request in the newsletter from Week 1. In order to clarify any privacy issues regarding the publishing of student photographs the form at the end of the newsletter needs to be completed and returned. An email with the information to will also suffice. Please email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au Please note, we need your response in addition to whatever your completed on enrolment forms. If you do not reply by March 16, the school will presume it has your permission to publish the photos and names of your children. Swimming at St Raphs On Tuesday the 20th of February, 32 students travelled to Bathurst to compete in the Eastern Region Swimming Carnival. All swimmers performing excellently with a number of Personal Bests achieved. A massive thank you to the band of dedicated parents and friends that help throughout the whole day with time keeping, events like these can not run smoothly without your time and help. Congratulations to Emma Tremble, Laura Price, Phoebe Smith, Mia Hudson, Carter Langfield and Lecksi Killick who qualified for individual events and the Senior Girls Relay Team (Lecksi Killick, Phoebe Smith, Mia Hudson and Laura Price) and the Senior Boys Relay Team (Rory Sullivan, Jyedon Goard, William Pearce and Carter Langfield) who advanced to the Diocesan Swimming Carnival in Dubbo. These nine talented swimmers took on the best swimmers in the Bathurst Diocese, vying for P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
Thanking you in advance for your prompt assistance in this matter. School Fees A reminder that school fees for Term 2 are now due. Prompt payment would be appreciated. Thank you. Road Rules Awareness Quiz A red flashing man at a pedestrian traffic light means you must: a) Turn back if you’re already crossing the road b) Race across the road c) Stop and wait for the green light Answer can be found under the P & F news. Staffing Update As you may know Mr Dean has been on leave since the start of the year and will not be returning to St Raph's - so we wish him well in his endeavours. We are most grateful for his five years of service to our school, particularly in the areas of technology management, Mathematics and school magazine production. We also acknowledge with gratitude the fine work and student support provided by Mrs Nicole Pearce during the past five weeks. Recruitment for the Maths / Technology role begins immediately. Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au
Poignand Ave – One Way Council recently resolved to convert Poignand Avenue to one way and the signage to effect this change has now been erected. This is an attempt to minimise congestion problems experienced by residents, in particular during school drop-off and pick-up times.
Canteen Update This week’s roster is as follows: Tues 6
Wed 7
Thurs 8
Fri 9
Mon 12
Karen Campbell
Dianne Franks
Lyn Terry
CLOSED
Robyn McAlsiter
Carol Lynch
Jessica Newcombe
Anne Jessett
Carrie Simunic
Leanne Twigg
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Due to Heritage Day next Friday the 9 March there will be no normal lunch orders. Recess will be as normal. At lunch there will be chicken supreme and rice for $5 and custard and chocolate mousse with strawberries for $1.50 available.
Student Photos: From time to time the school may place photos of your children in the newspaper, newsletter or associated publications to mark their success in various aspects of school life. Please note that all of these publications will be published on the internet in some format or another.
Student Details: Name
Class
Yes I give permission for my child/ren's photo to be published
No I do NOT give permission for my child/ren's photo to be published
Answer to the Road Rules Quiz If the red man at a pedestrian traffic light starts to flash, continue to cross if you’re already on the road but don’t start to cross. P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au