St Raphael’s Catholic School Term 3, Week 8/B Newsletter 1st September 2014 staff as we detail the establishment of our PLC. Please mark on your calendar Tuesday, October 7 as a pupil free day.
Dear Parents Fathers' day next weekend is certainly worth celebrating because there is a lot more at stake than the profit margin from the commercialisation. Gather with and pray for/with fathers next Sunday in particular, to be good men and affirm them in their efforts to rediscover the importance and richness of their role. Fathers of our Infants children are also invited to participate in the Fathers’ Day Liturgy and morning tea at 10:30am on Friday. It was twelve months ago that we got the first official hint that our Year 11/12 expansion was being seriously considered. Much discussion, planning, training and paperwork later we are surging towards having Year 11/12 a reality. Current tasks receiving particular focus are executive recruitment, staff training/partnerships and school visitations. NAPLAN results are expected to arrive this week and will be circulated on Friday. Students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 will have their achievements ranked along with all the other students across the nation. While these results are useful snapshots of learning progress they should serve to provide confirmation of what we already know, as the significant adults in the life of our children. Teachers are prepared to discuss with you any questions that may arise – this would best be included in Parent / Teacher discussions coming up in the near future.
Michael Gallagher Principal
Matthew 16:21-27 If we are to be followers of Jesus, we need to let him lead, accepting that he will not lead us away from suffering, pain or difficulty. Instead of seeking our own benefit and gain, we allow every experience – even in moments of distress – to draw us into closer relationship with Jesus who invites us to lay our burdens on his shoulders. I pray that I may let go and grow in trust of God’s love for me.
Student leaders from secondary and central schools across the diocese will gather for a day of leadership development early in Term 4. This network of leaders could become a significant stepping stone for the future of the schools as well as for the individuals. PLC stands for Professional Learning Community and it may be familiar to P&F members from an outline provided back in late 2012. Since then staff members have been undertaking projects and training with this approach as the framework. We are currently part way through a coaching process under the guidance of Ms Tonia Flanagan from Melbourne and she is working on phase two today and tomorrow with key personnel at school. On day 1 of Term 4 Tonia will be working with the whole P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au
Monday 1 Happy birthday to Laura Chang and Ben Symons. Tuesday 2 Wednesday 3 Happy birthday to Orlando Perry and Misty Williams. Thursday 4 Happy birthday to Isabella Hines and Hugo Skene. Friday 5 K-2 Fathers’ Day Liturgy at 10:30 in St Brigid’s Hall. Primary Assembly led by 3S at 2pm.
On Wednesday 20th August our staff spent the day “retreating”. Our facilitator for the day was Fr Richard Leonard. Fr Richard proved to be a gifted and humorous speaker who left us pondering many things, but also feeling refreshed and energised. Fr Richard is a Jesuit priest. The Jesuit priests were founded by Ignatius of Loyola. A major premise of St. Ignatius’s Spiritual teaching, and also Fr Richard’s, is that we human beings were created by God, who creates good things out of love. Thus we humans are most fulfilled when we live out the desires and purposes God built into our design. We are created to love, to enjoy life, to exist in a loving community in the world. When we truly believe that we are designed for a fulfilling life, then we can begin to let go of our fears about what God might want for us. It is only when we are convinced of God’s love that we can trust and give ourselves to God. We grow in our perception and awareness of God’s love as we pay attention to daily details, as we practise gratitude. We pay attention and begin to see that God is in fact present to us through the everyday and the ordinary. God does not require anything to be “special” or “holy” because we are special and holy already. Altar Servers’ Roster th Sat 6 Sept: Kate and Ben Price, Chris Gibbs and William Norton. th Sun 7 Sept: Madelyn Stead and Bernadette Zarb. Gooloogong: Emily Beath –Pearce and Flynn Bennett. School Readers for Weekend Parish Masses: th Sat 6 Sept: St Raphael’s School Leaders. School Eucharistic Ministers for Weekend Parish Masses: th Sun 7 Sept: Mr M Gallagher, Mrs S Whiteley and Mrs T Johnston. School Computer Roster th Sat 6 Sept: St Raphael’s School Leaders. th Sun 7 Sept: Sam Gallagher. P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
Primary Assembly th The next primary assembly will be this Friday, 5 September. It will be led by Mr Statham’s class, Year 3S. 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. Parent / Teacher Discussions Parent / Teacher Discussions are being organised in the first week of next term. Primary discussions are to th be held on Wednesday, 8 October, with the Secondary discussions to be held the following night, th Thursday 9 October. Notes will be sent home soon with the necessary booking codes.
Polding Representative - Rugby Union St. Raphael's Catholic School has had a representative at the recent Polding Rugby Union matches held down on the South Coast of N.S.W. Will Austin was part of the Polding team. On the Tuesday, he played two round matches, winning both. Polding beat Western 29 nil, then MacKillop 12 - 5. On Wednesday, he played a quarter final match against Sydney East, narrowly winning 7 - 5. Then it was semi-final time against Sydney West. A 10 - 5 win enabled them to proceed through to the Grand-Final on the Thursday. Their opposition in the Grand-Final was to be the 'other Catholics,' MacKillop. They had progressed to the main event after having been beaten by Polding back in the round matches. A tough match followed, with MacKillop turning the tables on the previously undefeated Polding boys, going out winners 19 - 12. Congratulations Will on your representative honours. Primary Physical Education Lessons Wednesdays rd This Wednesday, 3 September students in Years 1, 3 and 4 will need to wear their sports uniforms. Next th week, 10 September Years 2, 5 and 6 will be wearing their sports uniforms. Cowra Schools’ Tennis Competition th Thursday, 18 September th On Thursday, 18 September eight primary boys and eight primary girls will be involved in games of tennis against students from Cowra Public and Mulyan Public. Mr Paul Lewis, along with Mrs Helen Garratt, started this event five years ago. It is an excellent opportunity for the students to be involved in competition playing tennis. Students to compete on this day will be selected this week and notes sent home. Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au
Polding Athletics Venue: Newcastle th Date: Friday, 5 September This week four students from St Raphael’s will be competing at the Polding Athletics Carnival in Newcastle. They are competing for the opportunity to participate in the NSW Athletics Carnival. Students to make it through to the diocesan squad are: Mikelli Garratt: shot put, discus (breaking existing records in both disciplines) Luke Banks: discus Hayden Mullins: high jump Riley Langfield: shot put Good luck! Sporting Events Secondary Sept 11-12 Quinn Cup (Oberon) Fri, Sep 12 CCC Athletics Primary Fri, Sep 5 Polding Athletics
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. Please go to your kids’ bookcases, spend ten minutes cleaning them out and send a bag of books in to school today!
WELL DONE Congratulations to the following students who have achieved the next level on the Behaviour Management Programme. Level 6 Mikelli Garratt Jorja Bone Samara Tedeschi Macauley Kellett Brandon Mutch Level 7 Tianna Azzopardi Yvette Langlands
4J 5G X1 X2 R1
Hamish Newell Tayah Burns Ellie Garlick Brooke Lewis
4J 5G K2 K1
3M R1
Bridie Braddon 3M Samantha MacCabe R1
Your Teachers are very Proud of You!
Fathers' Day Liturgy – save the date All dads, families and friends of Kindergarten, Year One and Year Two are invited to St Brigid's Hall to celebrate Fathers' Day Friday 5th September at 10.30am. School Fees Financially, we need to assess our position near the close of term. Thank you to all parents who have taken care of the current fee accounts by the due date. Numerous accounts, however, are overdue and your attention to this matter will be appreciated. If there is any difficulty or reason why payments are not currently being made please make contact promptly and a solution can be found with discretion and confidentiality. Thank you. Canteen Update This week’s roster is as follows: Tues 2 Raelene Nelligan Skye Muddle
Wed 3 CLOSED
Thurs 4 Sam Doorey
Fri 5 Lisa Mallon
Mon 8 Jenene Nixon
Jo-Anne Graham
Lyn Terry
Dawn Stedman
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 P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
Little Athletics Registration Registrations will be held at the Twigg Oval canteen on: Saturday 13/9/14 at 10am-12 noon Saturday 20/9/14 at 10am-12noon Thursday 9/10/14 at 4pm-6pm Or online at laansw.com.au Fees are $85 per athlete from U'6-U-17 $80 for 3rd and subsequent athlete $75 for Tiny Tots group (child must be born before October 1, 2011) The season will begin on Thursday, October 16, 2014 at 5pm. Athletes are to gather near the Little A's shed. Registrations will also be taken on the day. If an athlete has an IGA badge on their shirt from last season, the badge is to be removed. Spikes are only to be used by athletes in the U'10 to U'17 groups. Shorts must be plain black (no white material or brand name). Jackeroo Ranch Horse Riding Jackeroo Ranch is once again running the popular horse riding camps in the Winter Holidays. st th th 1 Week: Sat 20 Sept - Sat 27 Sept nd th th 2 Week: Sat 27 Sept – Sun 5 Oct These camps are for “horse-mad” children aged 6-16 years. Five to six hours per day are devoted to horse activities including a one hour lesson and three hours trail riding in the beautiful Turon Valley. Previous experience is not necessary as beginners to advanced riders are catered for. We specialise in teaching nervous riders and developing their confidence. This is “not just a camp” – it is a wonderful farm experience your child will treasure forever. Enquiries: Mrs. Pattie Hudson. Ph 6337 7173 (nights are best).
Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au
Gavin Grant 10 years Memorial Golf Day Fundraiser th Date: 26 October Venue: Cowra Golf Club Cost: 4 to a team at $12 a head - $8 per team will be donated to the fundraiser. Teams can register on the day or earlier at the Golf Club. Funds are being raised to be split evenly amongst the local schools to fund counsellors for our youth. Plenty of fantastic prizes and trophies to be won. There will also be raffles and a sausage sizzle on the day.
Cowra Information and Neighbourhood Centre Is offering Scrapbooking classes on Mondays or Fridays for adults. If you are interested please leave your name and number at reception and which day you would prefer for the classes. All you will need to bring is a photo/s and some scrapbooking supplies you wish to use. Cutting mat, scissors, glue etc will be provided. If you have any questions call and ask for Rhee on 6340 1100.
P & F Holiday Reading Fundraiser
Have you got books in your home bookcase that your children are finished with? Have your children got books ready to read for the school holidays? We need donations of your pre-loved children’s and young adult’s books between now and 10th September for collection in homerooms. Books need to be in good condition for resale. We don’t need a large donation from each family - just spend
10 minutes and find 10 books that
we can sell at our book sale for our children to read over the school holidays whilst raising money for our school.
Book Sale - lunchtime 18th September All books only $2! P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au