St Raphael’s Catholic School Term 3, Week 3/A Newsletter 31 July 2017 Individual Learning Plans are being discussed with parents in coming weeks. Please set aside time for this important endeavor. Dear Parents “Resilience” is a word often used these days in relation to young people and refers to the ability to bounce back from difficult situations. It has been proposed that “cotton-wooling” the young has reduced their ability to deal well with the ebbs and flows of daily life. Let’s seek out ways in daily life for our children to strengthen their “bounce-back ability” in themselves and in their relationships.
Michael Gallagher Principal
The Parable of the Hidden Treasure
This coming weekend Cowra marks the anniversary of the POW breakout. All these years later we are still in desperate need of peace in our world … join the communal ceremonies, raise the awareness and grow peace. The first ever St Raphs HSC Trials begin today. Your prayerful support is called on to guide Year 12 students to find and maintain focus in this challenging time. Thank you to Mrs Bennett for the investment into making the Shiroshi City visit so successful. The visiting Japanese students and their carers thoroughly enjoyed their Aussie visit. Thank you to those who generously welcomed these visitors into your homes and families.
The kingdom of heaven is available to all people. Some will stumble into it, like this man who found it in a field while working. Others, like the merchant in the next parable, were searching for it and found it (Matt.13:45-46). It will be found by all whose heart are sensitive and whose ears are fully open to hear and eyes open to see. (Northwood)
Vinnies winter appeal: Thank you to those Year 10 students and staff volunteers for the sleepout and to anyone who has sponsored so far. Supporting the homeless and eradicating homelessness is an enormously important social issue. Will you help in some way please?
Monday 31 Happy birthday to Charli Kelly and Mollie Pozza. Year 12 Trial HSC Exam Week. Year 11 VET Work Placement week.
Cultural Competency #2 is being conducted on Thursday afternoon as previously advised. Congratulations to the whole staff for their involvement.
Tuesday 1 Happy birthday to Brian and Samantha MacCabe and Maddison O’Reilly. ICAS English Test.
On Thursday and Friday a squad of Secondary students will represent our school at the Quinn Cup competition being conducted at Lake Burrendong. We wish our representatives every success.
Wednesday 2 Happy birthday to Sarah Shady, Hugh Williams and Jamie Zarb.
VET Hospitality and Construction students from Year 11 are away on the first of their Work Placements this week. We are most grateful to the businesses who so generously host our students.
P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
Thursday 3 Happy birthday to Bethany Wheeler. Quinn Cup at Lake Burrendong. Friday 4 Happy birthday to Seamus McCormick. Quinn Cup at Lake Burrendong. Ancient History Excursion.
Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au
Dates for the Calendar Tuesday 1st August - Eucharist Enrolment meetings with parents 3.30pm and 7pm in St Brigid’s Hall
Bullying can be: Physical - hitting, pushing, punching, physically threatening Verbal - name calling, teasing, put downs, abusive language Spreading rumours Damaging, destroying, hiding or stealing work or belongings Technology based Other unacceptable behaviours are: Exclusion Sexual harassment Racial discrimination Libel/slander
Friday 11th August - Vinnie’s Winter Sleep Out The sleep out participants are hoping to make a difference by creating their very own fundraising appeal for this worthy charity. Through the site you can easily support our efforts by making a secure donation. We would also really appreciate it if you could share our page or comment so more people know what we are doing and may support this experience. https://nswvinniesschoolsleepout.gofundraise.com.au/ page/StRaphaelsWarriors
Dealing with a bully: 1. Show that it doesn’t upset you - it may stop the behaviour 2. Tell the bully the actions are unfair, unwanted, wrong 3. Talk about it with a trusted adult - parent, Homeroom teacher 4. See the counsellor to learn some appropriate startegies to deal with bullying
Altar Servers’ Roster th Sat 5 Aug: Grace and Phillipa Richmond, Ashley Langfield. th Sun 6 Aug: Cowra: Volunteers please. Gooloogong: Flynn Bennett.
REMEMBER: It’s important to tell someone if you or your friends are being bullied Everyone has a right to feel safe at all times All reported incidents of bullying and intimidation will be investigated
School Readers for Weekend Parish Masses: th Sun 6 Aug: Ms C Spora. School Eucharistic Ministers for Weekend Parish Masses: th Sat 5 Aug: Mr A Casey. th Sun 6 Aug: Ms C Spora. School Computer Roster th Sat 5 Aug: Miss R Downes. th Sun 6 Aug: Mrs M McMurtrie.
PASTORAL CARE AND STUDENT WELLBEING The environment at school exposes all of us to many different types of people. Mostly these relationships are affirming and life-giving. Sometimes, however, we encounter difficulties in our relationships with one another and one of the most severe manifestations of broken relationships is the presence of bullying behaviour. Despite our best efforts at school, this element continues to trouble students from time to time. It is important that as teachers and parents we continue to advise our young people to deal with bullying effectively. Humans, being as we are, this type of behaviour will never be completely removed from the school context or any other environment communication and trust are the keys to identifying and addressing bullying. P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
S. Whiteley - Pastoral Care and Student Wellbeing Kids help Line 1800 55 1800 www.kidshelp.com.au Lifeline 13 11 14 Beyond Blue 1300 224 636
Relationships Australia 1300 364 277 www.reachout.com.au Information for young people www.moodgym.anu.edu.au web-based program
NAPLAN Practice Test for Students in Years 3,5,7 and 9 The school readiness test is a “practice run” for schools to assess their technology ahead of “NAPLAN Online”. St Raphael's will be running their “Readiness Practice” during Week 8 of Term Three. More information regarding the benefits of NAPLAN Online and privacy related issues will be sent out to parents and carers shortly. Staying the Course with Formative Assessment This week each student will receive a card that outlines the usefulness and effectiveness of Formative Assessment within the learning context. Please take some time to read and discuss the positive outcomes that Formative Assessment is having on your child's learning. This is a great initiative towards quality education.
Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au
Kindergarten and Robotics Kindergarten have been working with robotics and cooperating with each other to drive the Blub ots around our 'school block'.
Archibull 2017 Archie Industry Excursion is Wednesday 9 August. Permission notes are due to the front office. Regards "Archie team" Library News th th Book Week will be from 25 August to 28 August (week 6). During this week the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) presents annual awards to books of literary merit, for outstanding contribution to Australian children's literature. We have commenced reading texts from the short list in classes and students have been very creative in preparing posters for our library displays. During this week we will have a Book Parade on rd Wednesday 23 where we have a student parade involving years K-6. Students come to school dressed as a book character. I have been discussing this with classes and students can see me for any details about their character. Following the Book Parade parents are invited to have lunch with their children. More details to come. In Week 3 we will be commencing the year 5 and 6 Chess Knockout, students are to let me know if they wish to take part. Happy Reading. K.Skinner - Librarian P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
Thank you A very Big thank you to our P&F for providing us with this wonderful music wall. How lucky are we! , Thank you, Thank you, thank you!
Mr Embroidery Uniform Draw Jeremy Ryan from Mr Embroidery has once again kindly donated Cowra Cash vouchers to our school. To be eligible for the draw, students need to have demonstrated good behaviour, sound work ethics and appropriate interaction with peers and teachers. Congratulations to Chelsea Kennedy from the infants and Jack Millar from the Primary.
Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au
Canteen Update This week’s roster is as follows: Tues 1 Jodie Toohey
Wed 2 CLOSED
Thurs 3 Rebecca Fahey
Fri 4 Nicky Hudson
Carrie Simunic.
Lyn Terry
Mon 7 Cathy Acret
Cindy Langfield
Soup of the Week: Chicken and Corn Parents and students are reminded that the menu is for Kinder to Year 12 – there is no split between what Primary and Secondary can order.
Friends & Families of St Raphael’s Catholic School Are you beginning to think about next year’s winter getaway? Perhaps this is your golden opportunity.... This year our Christmas Fair raffle is CHANGING! In an effort to reduce the requests for donations from families and local businesses we are spreading our wings and taking you to a DESTINATION ANYWHERE! Win a $5000 travel voucher from Dynamic Travel. Please follow the link below to purchase your tickets: https://www.rafflelink.com.au/straphs2794
WELL DONE Congratulations to the following students who have achieved the next level on the Behaviour Management Programme. Level 5 Nathan Lavender Level 6 William Cranney Thomas Partridge Rory Sullivan Tiarna Vale Louis Carson Matilda Proctor Crystal Holmes
9 Gold
Ellie Garlick
10 Gold
5 Green 5 Green 5 Green 5 Green 7 Gold 8 Green 9 Green
Max Myers 5 Green Anthony Smith 5 Green Charles Stephenson 5 Green Emily Beath-Pearce 7 Green Charles Williams 7 Gold Kalia Williams 8 Green
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