St Raphael’s Catholic School Term 2, Week 2/A Newsletter 7 May 2018 The sight of St Raphael’s students wearing the winter uniform well this term is indeed a source of pride. Thank you for presenting your children so beautifully.
Dear Parents The St Raphael’s Debutante Ball was conducted on Friday evening at the showground pavilion. The debutantes and partners were presented beautifully and prepared thoroughly. It was with immense pride that we all saw dignity and poise on display in abundance from these emerging adults of our community.
Michael Gallagher Principal
Planners, organisers, workers, coaches, supervisors, presenters from the P&F Association all deserve great accolades for the detailed presentation on Friday. Guests of honour who received the debutantes were Mrs Helen Barker and Mrs Stephanie Cook (State Member for Cootamundra). External assessment of literacy and numeracy skills occurs by testing in years three, five, seven and nine. Next week, on May 15, 16, 17 NAPLAN testing will be held. You will receive a detailed analysis of your child’s results in Term 3. The results of these tests assist teachers in developing programmes that are directly relevant to the needs of our children. We maintain a calm and healthy perspective on the significance of this testing. Cross Country competitors from the Primary Department will compete at Coolah tomorrow, and from the Secondary Department at Orange on Thursday. Best of luck to those dedicated athletes and thank you to parents for your ongoing support. Work Placements for Year 12 VET students occur this week and we are most grateful for the generous support of local businesses in Hospitality and Construction which welcome our very capable students into their workplaces. Parents of Confirmation candidates meet on Wednesday – two meeting options are available, session 1 at 3:30 and session 2 at 7:30pm. Both will cover the same background material for Confirmation and both will be conducted at St Brigid’s Hall. Mothers Day is on May 13th (as you would all be well aware). There will be a Liturgy for mothers and all students K-11 being conducted on Friday May 11 at 10:20 at St Raphael’s Church, followed by morning tea for all our mums. A special event for all, you are warmly invited and encouraged to attend.
P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
Monday 7 Happy birthday to William Pearce Year 12 Work Placement Big Science Competition Tuesday 8 Happy birthday to Philippa Elwin Year 12 Work Placement Year 8 Retreat Primary Diocesan Cross Country Wednesday 9 Happy birthday to Aedan Leatherland and Charlie Thurtell Year 12 Work Placement Confirmation Parent Meeting 3-30 and 7-30pm Thursday 10 Year 12 Placement Secondary Diocesan Cross Country Secondary Chess Comp v JSCHS Friday 11 Mothers Day Liturgy 10-20am Happy birthday to Soneita Cotter and Drew Langfield th th for the 12 and Thyna Chandara for the 13 .
Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au
Altar Servers’ Roster th Sat 12 May: Alisha Azzopardi, Cohan and Archer Howden. th Sun 13 May: Orlando and Harriet Perry School Readers for Weekend Parish Masses: th Sat 12 May: Jenny White
Behaviour Levels Plenty of students are very close to being rewarded for their positive efforts in and out of the classroom for term 1. Several students have achieved the Bronze level by obtaining 30 green stickers! These students will receive a certificate at our next assembly and will be recognised in front of the secondary school. Keep up the great work! Steve Carroll and Tahni Isedale Secondary Wellbeing Team
School Eucharistic Ministers for Weekend Parish Masses: th Sat 12 May: Andrew Casey Laudato Si In 2015 Pope Francis published a document titled Laudato Si. This document was written to remind us about the importance of caring for our common home. It details what is happening to the world in which we live. As a school community we are placing a focus on how we play our part in making a difference in our world. While the document identifies what is happening to the world in which we live, it also fills us with hope. It encourages us to make small, simple changes to help care for our common home, such as turning off unnecessary lights, being water conscious and recycling where possible. Therefore it challenges us all to question, what kind of world do we want to leave to those who come after us? If you wish to read more about Laudato Si a summary of the document can be found at the following link https://www.catholic.org.au/commissiondocuments/bishops-commission-for-justice-ecologyand-development/laudato-si/1711-encyclicalsummary/file
Peer Support This week in Peer Support children will have an opportunity to discuss their personal qualities and strengths. The children will identify their qualities and acknowledge how they contribute to their achievements. Through activities children recognise they used their strengths to achieve success and can be encouraged to approach future activities optimistically. Ask your child to describe their own qualities and strengths so you can recognise and acknowledge these. Uniform It has been a pleasing start to the term and it is great to see our students in their winter uniform. Students must remember that the uniform is to be worn correctly at all times. This includes travelling to and from school. Boys, in particular must ensure that the shirt is tucked in and the tie is worn correctly at all times, before, during and after school. P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
SAFE ROAD CROSSING REMINDERS Are you using the school crossing to deliver and collect your child/children in the morning and afternoon? Infant students, in particular, need daily supervision by their Parents/Carers when crossing Liverpool Street. Remaining in the vehicle, or standing on the opposite side of the road and calling for your child to run to you, crossing where the buses pull in, are all scenarios for potential road accidents. Modelling the correct use of crossings and to Stop, Look, Listen and Think before crossing a road send important everyday messages to our children. Keeping our children safe should be a shared priority for us all. Kindergarten 2019 We had a great turnout for our first Information Session last Thursday, however if you didn’t make it and have a child starting Kindergarten at St Raphael’s in 2019 could you please come via the office and collect an enrolment pack. Please fill in the enrolment pack and submit it as soon as possible so that they can be processed. Also, if you know of anyone interested in sending their child to St Raphael’s please pass on this information so that they can also collect a pack and stay informed.
Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au
Drum Lessons I am pleased to inform you that Drum lessons are available at the school. The teacher Daniel Brown is an ex-student of St Raphael's (2011 Graduate) who studied drums at Excelsia College in Sydney. Lessons will be available during school hours on Wednesdays using the school kits. If you want your child to learn drums please call Daniel for details on 0435 429 147. Grazyna Swansborough Music Teacher
8 Ways to Help us to Help your children Keep sick children at home. Children’s health doesn’t normally improve during the day – If they’re sick when they leave home, they’ll not only infect their classmates but they’ll be home before the day is out. Plan the collection place and time with your child. Let the children know before they leave home when and where they will be collected. Minimise changes of routine. Children often feel confused and uncertain and they can scramble what you think is a simple message. Commit changes of routine to writing. If teachers / office staff clearly know what you’re trying to achieve they can help.
The project adopted by the Parents & Friends Association of St Raphael’s Catholic School more than 2 years ago has reached a massive milestone! Week one of Term 2 saw the reveal of the K-2 playground resurfacing, and what an impact it has made. It has changed the make, shape and feel of the entire area. All reports from children are pleasing, staff seem happy with the result and the amount of bandaids distributed by office staff has been drastically reduced! A few testimonials from students – Sam and Sarah Myers – ‘It’s soooooooooo cool Mum’
Plan ahead for collection of children during the day. A note to the teacher regarding an appointment guarantees that your child can be at the foyer ready to go at the appointed time.
Hubber Children – ‘it is very snazzy and they are so lucky to be at an awesome school with people who do lots to make school a beautiful place." As we walked down the hill this morning Tobes let out a big " Holly Hannah would you get a look at that!’
Give plenty of notice. Last minute phone calls about changed plans cannot be guaranteed to be delivered in time.
Sophie Richmond – ‘it looked great...... can’t wait till primary gets a turn (now that she is in primary she felt primary should have been done first!!)’
Notify the school of changes to your circumstance. It is vital that we have current address, phone number, employment contact, emergency contacts at the very least.
Lily Carson - ‘it's awesome -but it's not our playground it's the infants playground. We're all stuck down in the drab, dreary, boring playground looking up at this exciting, colourful universe -it's like we're outside the fence at Disneyland longing to get in"
Clearly label your children’s clothing and equipment, no matter how old the children are or how responsible they think they are. Canteen Update This week’s roster is as follows: Tues 8
Wed
Thurs 10
Fri 11
Mon 14
Jodie Toohey
CLOSED
Lisa Mallon
Mary Campbell
Ammie Broad
Nicole Pearce
Kylie Kollas
Melanie Clarke
Jessica Newcombe
Please note that the winter menu has started. Some people have been ordering Dino nuggets which are unavailable.
P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
To all the parents, friends and carers of the St Raphael’s Catholic school community a massive THANKYOU for every contribution you have made to our fundraising efforts, no matter how big or how small! This entire project has been funded by you! The playground renovation has been broken up into stages, commencing with the kindergarten courtyard, the outdoor nature play space incorporating chookyard, music wall and vegetable garden, the outdoor stage and surrounds, and the resurfacing of the K-2 playground. There are still some fringe works to complete with blocks, boards, netball hoops and fill. The projected completion date is now the end of June. Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au
We believe that PLAY has never been a more important aspect of our children's growth, especially in today's society where technology and screen time can absorb young minds, often parents are busy working, and the absence of home play spaces are an ever increasing factor. We are endeavouring to create niche play spaces for all types of play; green space, creative/imaginary/performance, outdoor/nature and sport. Be proud of your contribution to this project and take 5 minutes to drop by and check out the facelift. The primary playground is next on the radar. Plans, budgets and timelines will be discussed at the st upcoming P & F meeting on Monday May 21 , all are welcome to attend.
St John’s Anglican Church Book Fair Bargains Galore! th
Dates: Thursday 17 May th Friday18 May th Saturday 19 May Doors open at 8:30am For donations please contact Bruce Pietsch on 0427 722 810 or email bpietsch28@gmail.com or Len Shepherdson 0419 164 563 or 6341 4911
WELL DONE Congratulations to the following students who have achieved the next level on the Behaviour Management Programme. Primary Level 5 Lily Doyle Cohan Howden Laura Chang Matilda Healy Lachlan Partridge Broc White
3 Green 4 Green 4 Gold 4 Gold 4 Gold 5 Green
Secondary Bronze Level Flynn Bennett 8 Gold Matthew Mallon 8 Gold Will Norton 8 Green Mollie Pozza 8 Gold Jessica Trengrove 8 Gold Misty Williams 8 Gold
Layla Healey Beth Kollas Mathew Graham
4 Green 4 Green 4 Gold William Leatherland 4 Gold Thomas Pullen 5 Green
Sophie Johnston Michael McNamara Hollie Orford Annaleise Prescott Lily Vardy Laura Casey
8 Gold 8 Gold 8 Gold 8 Gold 8 Gold 9 Gold
Your Teachers are very Proud of You!
P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au