St Raphael’s Catholic School Term 3, Week 6/B Newsletter 18th August 2014
Dear Parents Confirmation on Saturday evening was rightly a time of celebration for candidates, their families and for the whole parish. The packed event marks the transition for our young people into a more adult role in their church – and that’s the kicker. What does it actually mean? Well it’s a lot more that a bishop’s visit, some red gowns, a ceremony and a party, that’s for sure. If people make their Confirmation work they will become a changed person over time, the change will be in their attitude and actions, especially in relation to those who most need their support. Between each person and the Holy Spirit working on their part of the world real change for the better will be clear to everyone. The four days of “Passport to Paris” last week involved the whole school in some form or another and those who participated in the Exhibition and the Cabaret will tell of the extraordinary talent of these young people in our St Raphs family. Too often do we (the older generation) underestimate the true capacity of the young, and last week we were challenged to stop and look at and appreciate what we really have here in our children. Congratulations to every exhibitor and performer and deep gratitude to Mrs Inel Date, Mrs Grazyna Swansborough, Mrs Peta Bishof, Mr Peter Lowe and Mr Phil Dean and the many who made the displays happen. Wednesday of this week is a Pupil Free Day. The whole staff will be spending the day under the guidance of Fr Richard Leonard SJ considering how to answer the challenge of developing in our children a strong spiritual life in a media saturated society. Fr Richard will also be presenting for parents / parishioners on Wednesday evening in St Brigid’s Hall at 7:30pm. The topic he will be speaking on is associated with loss and suffering and comes under the heading “Where the Hell is God?” which is the title of one of his internationally renowned books.
Book Week Parade costumes together before Friday. Come along and immerse yourself in the book display at the library and stash away some gifts for those upcoming birthdays and Christmas. The Friday parade will inspire and entertain (as well as disrupt and confuse the peacefulness at home … but it’s worth the fun on the day). Several applications for enrolment are being received at this stage so we must know the numbers in each year group very accurately to enable applications to be finalised. If you have plans for next year and beyond that will impact on the school, please let us know promptly.
Michael Gallagher Principal
A Gentile Shows Her Faith Matthew 15: 21-28
Jesus, Lord of all, hear our prayers of intercession for those we love. Heal our sick, comfort the bereaved, reconcile us with those who have hurt us and whom we have hurt. Forgive us our sins and help us to grow in faith and knowledge of you.
This week is also Book Week and you will be pleased to know that there are still several days to get those P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au
Monday 18 P&F Meeting at 7pm. Tuesday 19 Happy birthday to Joshua Gocin and Charlotte Tindall. Year 10 Road Trauma Excursion. Wednesday 20 Happy birthday to Mathew Graham and Renae Grech. PUPIL FREE DAY Thursday 21 Happy birthday to Samuel Frazer. Friday 22 Happy birthday to Lecksi Killick and Maggie van Eeden. Book Week Parade at 10:20am. Primary Assembly at 2pm led by 1SO. rd
Happy birthday to Nicholas Varela for the 23 and th Zach Ashton on the 24 .
Confirmation Congratulations to our Year 6 students who received the Sacrament of Confirmation on Saturday night Mass. Following the Mass the children and their families gathered with Bishop Michael and enjoyed a supper together in St Raphael’s Hall. Congratulations again on receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation. Confirmation Retreat Last Tuesday our Year 6 students participated in a Confirmation Retreat. The day started with a reflective prayer in the Chapel. From there the students moved into the Heritage Centre where they spent the day learning about the Gifts and Fruits of the Spirit. The students were given the opportunity to reflect on the gifts they think they posses and how they see these fruits and gifts at work in others. Altar Servers’ Roster rd Sat 23 Aug: Natalie Banks and Chloe Robertson. th Sun 24 Aug: Katherine and Sophie Johnston. School Eucharistic Ministers for Weekend Parish Masses: rd Sat 23 Aug: Miss R Downes. th Sun 24 Aug: Miss L Pratt.
P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
Primary Assembly nd The next primary assembly will be this Friday, 22 August. It will be led by Mrs Twohill-Scott’s class, Year 1SO. 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. Library News BOOK WEEK has arrived and the winners have been announced. A display of the winners and the 2014 shortlist books are on display in the library. The theme for 2014 is Connect to Reading and our classes this week are discovering the large range of new books, enjoying the many experiences a good book can offer and actively connecting to reading. Remember the BOOK WEEK PARADE this Friday starting at 10: 20. Students have been using the library to give them inspiration on what they will dress up as. Parents may wish to visit our library after the parade to view the lovely range of books our students are fortunate to enjoy and borrow. See you there. Kerri Skinner - Librarian Year 10 Road Trauma Excursion th Tuesday 19 August 2014 Parents are reminded that students need to be at the school by 4.55am for the bus to leave promptly at 5am. The bus will return to the school by approximately 6:30pm. Students are to be dressed in full sports uniform – Year 10 Jumpers are allowed but tracksuit is to be black school tracksuit.
“Passport to Paris” What wonderful support for our glorious celebration of the arts. Many thanks to our parent body that supported our events. An enormous list of thank you's: Renae Forsyth for the gorgeous props; Rebecca Bennett for organising the tea towels; Lil Wilson for facilitating the Milkcrate Events; Haydn Thomas for purchasing drinks; Jaqui Cusack and John Bischof in the kitchen; Lisa Brown for the loan of some table decor; Jen Shady from the "Sewing Box" for the table runners; Kristy White for the large photographs; Leoni Brown for organising the Outward Bound raffle; Jon Sullivan/Patrick Waters and Chris Groves for their auctioneering skills and Sonia Turner for the "kindy" portraits. Thank you also to our P&F for sponsoring the prizes- these will be available to collect from the front office on Tuesday. A huge thank you to all the students that helped in so many different ways - we could not have done it without you! Thank you to our wonderful staff; front office administrators; Errol and Leigh McAlister for transporting the class art; for counting and collecting money; for helping on the floor; collecting/delivering display boards and all the help in the kitchen! A fantastic team effort! Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au
A reminder to those Kindergarten parents who wish to buy the “French Photo” of their child. Please send in $3 in an envelope with your child’s name and class and the photos will be sent to you. A final Bonjour and Merci beau coup... We shall pack our "passports" away until next time! Best wishes Creative Arts Department
Kindy Start Important dates for children staring Kindergarten in 2015. th
Parent information meeting: Monday 25 August. 7:00pm Kindergarten Classroom Term 3 Kindy Start #1: Kindy Start #2: Term 4 Kindy Start #3: Kindy Start #4: Kindy Start #5: Kindy Start #6:
Week 9 Week 10
Term 3 Term 3
Thursday 11th September Thursday 18th September
Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4
Term 4 Term 4 Term 4 Term 4
Thursday 9th October Thursday 16th October Thursday 23rd October Thursday 30th October
Time: 1:30pm-3pm Location: St Brigid’s Hall Requirements: Small bag, paint smock, hanky and spare underwear. Cost: $5 a week to be paid at the door
If you have not enrolled your child for Kindy Start yet, please contact the front office as soon as possible. Collection Of Children from the Convent Courtyard For the next few weeks renovation work is being done in the Convent Courtyard, making it unsafe for the normal after-school pickup arrangements. Plan B is for parents to continue to park in the church car park but to walk around the front of the church and collect their children from the Rose Garden gate to the playground.
Primary Physical Education Lessons Wednesdays th This Wednesday, 20 August there will be no Physical Education lessons due to the school’s Teacher Retreat th Day. The following week, 27 August Years 2, 5 and 6 will need to wear their sports uniforms. Sporting Events Secondary Sept 11-12 Quinn Cup (Oberon) Fri, Sep 12 CCC Athletics Primary Fri, Sep 5
Polding Athletics
P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
Lost Property Lost property is a reality of school life. Labelling helps us to return the property promptly to the correct owner. We depend on families to check that the clothing children bring home is actually theirs. The vast majority is successfully reunited with its owner. During each term unlabelled / unclaimed property accumulates at the front office. Parents are encouraged to take the chance to come in and check. After a term unclaimed lost property is kept in a basket in the store room, still available for the owner to claim. After another term any remaining unclaimed lost property will be allocated to either St Vincent de Paul or our Clothing Pool. Dropping off students in the morning on Liverpool Street Parents are asked to please be considerate of others when dropping off children in the drop and go zone in Liverpool Street. Please note: It is only a drop and go zone, do not leave the vehicle parked there before 9:30am. Please do not stop right at the beginning of the zone, drive up as far as you can so vehicles behind you can also enter the drop off zone. The ranger is being very vigilant with parking and driving safety issues around school zones and will hand out very steep fines and demerit points to those breaching the rules. Thank you. Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au
Canteen Update This week’s roster is as follows: Tues 19 Jodie Toohey
Wed 20 CLOSED
Anna Triming
Thurs 21 Jane Stendell
Fri 22 Jayne Webster
Mon 25 Raelene Nelligan
Tracey Gunnyon
Kelly Webb
Jen Shady
The Eat fresh and win starts this week, below is the menu available to earn stickers. The existing winter menu will also still be available. EAT FRESH AND WIN MENU ORDER TO RECEIVE YOUR STICKER. NEW Broccoli & Carrot Pasta with Dino’s Dino’s Peas, Corn, Potato Bake & Gravy Chicken Schnitzel, Peas, Potato Bake & Gravy Stuffed Potato with a Meat Bolognaise & Cheese GLUTEN FREE Broccoli, Carrot & Corn Pasta Chicken Nuggets, Peas, Potato Bake & Gravy
WELL DONE Congratulations to the following students who have achieved the next level on the Behaviour Management Programme. Level 6 Amelia Clements Will Thompson Emma Chalker Kate Price Samantha Gibb Level 7 Mackenna Cusack
$4.00 $5.00 $5.50 $4.50
4D 4D 6C 6C R1
Amber Thomas Charles Williams Isobelle Lynch Ky Thompson Henry Sant
4D 4D 6C 6S R1
R1
Your Teachers are very Proud of You!
$3.50 $5.00
FATHER’S DAY SPECIAL – for a short time only you can purchase a Cathedral Restoration silk tie for just $30.00, a perfect Father’s Day gift. Be quick to take advantage of this special offer. Ties are beautifully boxed and can be purchased from the Cathedral Gift Shop, the CDF or online at:
IF YOU ORDER ANY OF THE FOLLOWING FROM OUR WINTER MENU ALSO ENTITLES YOU TO A STICKER:Lasagna, Stuffed Potato & Curry Chicken & Rice. MORNING TEA There will be a range of different things to choose from starting at 50c to $2.00. For example Fruit Jelly, Snack Snake, Fruit with a Chocolate Dip just to name a few.
Urgent request for any new helpers for the canteen. Unfortunately some helpers are unable to come any more due to changed circumstances and I am looking for anyone who may be able to replace them. Please complete the helper form at the end of the newsletter.
www.cathedralappealbathurst.org.au.
Thank you Donna Stokes – Canteen Manager
CANTEEN HELPERS St Raph’s P and F will be holding our “GOT BOOKS” th fundraiser during lunch time on 18 September in the last week of term 3. We are looking once more for donations from families of pre-loved books to sell. Please bring in all of your pre-loved children’s and th young adult’s books between now and 10 September for collection in homerooms. Books need to be in good condition for resale. Please note we do not need preschool books but picture books, early readers, chapter books and in particular books for high school kids. Don’t forget our monthly meeting tonight at 7pm – all are welcome to attend.
P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
NAME: _______________________________________ PHONE NO: __________________________________ DAY OF THE WEEK AVAILABLE __________________ ONCE/TWICE A TERM WEEKLY FORTNIGHTLY LAST MINUTE EMERGENCY LIST ONLY (I need this as kids get sick and my volunteers can’t come in so I need to ring someone between 8-9 am at the last minute that morning to come in).
Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au