St Raphael’s Catholic School Term 3, Week 9/A Newsletter 12 September 2016
Dear Parents Kindy Start is a pivotal element in this school for introducing new parents and new kindy children to the St Raphael’s family. Kindy Start is an excellent forum for teachers and parents to discuss issues surrounding the transition between home / pre-school and “big” school. It also offers the opportunity to observe the responses of the children to the new tasks and new environment of St Raphael’s. To launch this year’s Kindy Start programme a meeting of parents was conducted last Thursday evening and the first children’s session will occur on Thursday of this week. This week the annual Cowra Show is held. In the pavilion, throngs of people will be visiting our school display. The St Raph’s display will be breathtaking. Such dedication at such a busy time of term speaks volumes about the dedication and loyalty of members of our school family. Thank you all families, parishioners and staff members who have supported the First Eucharist children who marked the end of their initial journey on the weekend. Thank you also to those staff members who facilitated the Year 9 Reflection Day last Thursday – which was according to those involved was brilliant. Thank you Kindy staff who enjoyed a gorgeous day at the Farm and MRF last Wednesday. Thank you to the Exploring Early Childhood students of year 11 and all of Year 1 and staff who braved the very ordinary weather for the Child Protection Day on Friday. Thank you to the supervisors and organizers of the student social (Year 6-11) on Tuesday evening. There is little mystery as to why energy levels are somewhat drained. Welcome home to all those visitors to our town and our school. This week will be heavily about hospitality with the Back to Cowra Reunion as well as the official opening ceremonies and events around our new learning facilities. The events of this weekend mark a most significant event in the school’s story and we pray for God’s ongoing blessing of our evangelising work.
Michael Gallagher Principal
P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
The Prodigal Son “But we had to celebrate and be happy, because your brother was dead, but now he is alive; he was lost, but now he has been found” Luke 15: 32 God’s Mercy Being Church means being God’s people, in accordance with the great plan of his fatherly love. This means that we are to be God’s leaven in the midst of humanity. It means proclaiming and bringing God’s salvation into our world, which often goes astray and needs to be encouraged, given hope and strengthened on the way. The Church must be a place of mercy freely given, where everyone can feel welcomed, loved, forgiven, and encouraged to live the good life of the Gospel. Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium
Opening celebrations!! We look forward to sharing the opening functions of our MSLC with our community this weekend! Reminder: Friday 16 September "cocktail party". From 6pm, $10 at the door. Sunday 18 September- starting with mass at 9am. Many thanks for your valued support. Staff of St Raphael's Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au
Year 7-10 Interim Reports Year 7-10 Interim reports will be sent home with students this Wednesday, 14 September. Monday 12 Tuesday 13 Happy birthday to Zoe Simunic. Study Centre 8-8:45am in S17. Cowra Show. Wednesday 14 Study Centre 8-8:45am in S17. Cowra Show. Stage 3 Milo T20 Blast Competition at River Park. Thursday 15 Study Centre 8-8:45am in S17. Kindy Start #1 1:30pm-3pm. Friday 16 St Raphael’s Cocktail Party at 6pm. CCC Athletics Saturday 17 School Open Day for Back to Cowra Reunion 8:30am11:20am.
Year 11 Exams The Year 11 Preliminary exam block will take place during Week 10 Term 3. Students will only be required to be at school for scheduled exams. Students will be allowed to go home after morning session exams or arrive to school for the afternoon session. However, the school is aware some students may only be able to catch public transport (or other arrangements) that occur in the morning and in afternoon as per normal school times. If a student cannot make arrangements to travel outside these times and who do not have exams at a required time they must be in the school library engaged in private study whilst other classes are on. Student cannot leave the school grounds between morning and afternoon exam sessions when they have the two sessions on one day. Year 5 Hill End Excursion th th On Wednesday 24 and Thursday 25 August, Year Five travelled to Hill End for an excursion. Despite the rain and cold weather a fantastic time was had by all! I liked the bush walk because we got to see the mountains and it was a great view! (Tianna)
Sunday 17 Mother Scholastica Opening Ceremony at beginning with Mass at 9am. Happy birthday to Kristian Kujundzic, Jack Miller and th Kaylah Rust for the 17 .
Altar Servers’ Roster th : Sat 17 Jarred Stead, Mia Hudson & Logan Haslam th Sun 18 :Volunteers Please School Eucharistic Ministers for Weekend Parish Masses: th Sun 18 Michael Gallagher School Computer Roster th Sun 18 : Peta Bischof
Parent Teacher Interviews Parent / Teacher Interviews will be held first week back th next term. For Primary (K-6), Wednesday 12 October. For Secondary (7-11), Thursday 13th October. To make a booking, please go to: https://www.schoolinterviews.com.au Log in and follow the prompts to make your booking. For Primary, enter the code 'ujtmk'. For Secondary, enter the code '2vt39'. Any problems, please contact the school office: 63422940. th Bookings open Wednesday 14 September and rd close Friday 23 September. Mr Lette - Administration Coordinator K-12 P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
My favourite part was at the cemetery because we learnt about when and how people died in the Gold Rush. We had to look for lots of different information on the headstones. It was fun! (Kate) I liked going to the mine because I've never been in one before. (Ryan) My favourite part was going in the underground mine and looking at where the miners dug. (Alannah) I liked dancing all the new dances after dinner on the first day. Even our teachers joined in. My favourite was the Macerena- it was a lot of fun. Hill End was cool. The view was amazing and mind boggling. (Lizzie) My favourite part of Hill End was going gold panning at the creek with all my friends. It was fun because everyone enjoyed it and most people found gold to take home. (Lachlan) Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au
My favourite part of our excursion was when we visited Hawkins Hill and saw an amazing view. (Philippa) My favourite part of the excursion was gold panning because I got to sit on a rock in the middle of the creek and gold pan with a stick because my hands were turning purple. (Emma) My favourite part was sleeping in the train carriage because it felt oldfashioned and strange. (Rowan) Kinder MRF and Farm Excursion Kinder had a wonderful day out on Wednesday. We visited the Cowra MRF and the Rowewarne Family Farm. The weather was fantastic which made the day even better. Our trip to the MRF was very interesting and we thank Tim and Anthony, our wonderful tour guides for the morning. We learnt that the MRF now has a recycling facility for small batteries, mobile phones and unwanted paint. We thank Cowra Council for their generosity. Each of us received a bag with sunscreen and lots of information about recycling. We are also very grateful for the gift of two new laying hens and water and grain feeders.
On the Rosewarne's farm, we watched Halle's dad shear some sheep. Mrs Rosewarne told us all about what happens to the wool and gave us some to bring home. We are so lucky! We also learnt how to check the wool on the sheep's back and each had a turn. This was really interesting. At lunch time the poddy calves were hungry and it was time for feeding. Some of the calves even sucked on some of our fingers.
We would like to thank Mr Rosewarne, Mr and Mrs Rutledge and Erin for hosting our farm visit. We had a great day.
RAFCA Recycle Art Awards Many thanks to all students who entered sculptures into this year's event. It was fantastically supported by the community which meant a lot of competition. This event has now become a fixture on our calender and we look forward to the students continued support. Ben Price- 1st and best in show Secondary - 2nd prize Bradey Trethewey, 3rd prize Matthew Grech, Highly commendedKate Price, Samuel Frazer, Ky Johnson.
Well done to 4 Green for their 2nd prize and Kinder Green and Kinder Gold on their 2nd and 3rd prizes. Congratulations to you allyour school is proud of you! Inel Date – Art Department Secondary Mathematics News – “MATHS MATTERS!!!”
Year 7 – 10 ~ our school has such an amazing thing happening over the next few weeks – our new Learning Centre is being officially opened. Please remember that we are all part of these awesome opportunities but especially for “our” children. Each student and family have had many links to the St Raphael’s family and how they are very lucky to have had these chances to do well in their learning. The official opening of the new building is something that has been asked for over many years, and it’s now
P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au
happening. Already, it is so good to see that students already reaping the benefits of this amazing structure (not just the building). We need to praise all students for their resilience to working onwards with their studies whilst dealing with change – it really makes them better people and hence also helps them appreciate what they have available to them from here on in.
don't hesitate to contact the Secondary Mathematics teachers. Mrs Cherie MacCabe
With 2 weeks till the holidays, students will begin new topic areas that continue into T4. These topics will continue to challenge your child/ren and will be assessed in T4. As year groups we will also be checking off against student outcomes for topics that have been covered in classes. Just remember – not everyone understands something at the exact same time – it’s like a “snowball effect” for all of us.
Canteen Update This week’s roster is as follows:
Year to Date Testing Time ~ all Stage 4 and 5 students have just had their Year to Date tests last week. This is a task that assists the teachers with progress grades in their Mid Semester Reports that will be sent out next week. Not all students perform well in stressed conditions, and that’s OK, but the ones that don’t put time and effort into each lesson (or external study) may need to reconsider their home Mathematics practice if results don’t come up trumps. Other students may be pleasantly surprised with how they have gone – Well Done to them. For all Year 11 students: Ahhhh……1 week till Yr 11 Preliminary EXAMS ~ in class, students have been given past papers to look over, learn some study techniques and attempt for solutions. Although time in class is not enough to rely on for practice. Let’s work together as a team to support these students. Support, good food, lots of water, sleep and some review work each day (not just on Maths) but on all their subjects ~ they will be rewarded with their efforts. Holidays are going to be the prize at the end. Free Opportunity: I haven’t had many attendees to be given time to do some after school study on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:15pm till 4pm. It is time to go over questions and solutions to past papers with them. These Year 11 students have been given all the opportunities possible to assist them feel “OK” to go into their exam. This will be the last week, till next year, for this chance of extra time with Mathematics. Last Week's Challenge Answer ~ 10 times This Week's Challenge Question -
If there are any questions about the Student Application Portfolios (not the Challenge Question) or how to document and external Mathematical activities, please
P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
Tues 13 Karen Campbell
Wed 14 CLOSED
Thurs 15 Tracey Gunnyon
Fri 16 Cindy Langfield
Mon 19 Sally Bruncher
Ammie Broad
Kylie Chang
Briony Woodhouse
Don’t forget to visit our website for updates of all that is happening with the P&F and for adding your views. This can be done via the school website at www.straphaelscowra.edu.au
WELL DONE Congratulations to the following students who have achieved the next level on the Behaviour Management Programme. Level 6 Louis Johnson Mitchell Casey Level 7 Caitlin Brodbeck Laura Casey Jack Harper Thomas Heilman Benjamin Myers Ky Thompson Matthew Mood
5 Green Stanley Rush 5 Gold Olivia Falconer 4 Green 7 Green 8 Gold 8 Green 8 Gold 8 Gold 10 Green
5 Green 7 Green
Kaitlyn Rutledge 4 Green Brendan Stendell 7 Green Benjamin Azzopardi 8 Gold Logan Leatherland 8 Gold Lucas Pearce 8 Gold Grace Gallagher 10 Green
Your Teachers are very Proud of You!
Live Life Live Festival When: Saturday September 24th Where: Orange Civic Square- North Court, Orange, NSW 2800 Ages: All ages Music: Mental As Anything; Sarah McCleod (The Superjesus); Killer Queen (Australia's leading Queen Tribute Act); Eric Grothe & the Guru's (Eric Grothe Snr from Parramatta Eels); Jade Martin Band. Celebs: Brett Kenny (Parramatta Eels), Graham Eadie (Manly); Peter Tunks (Bulldogs), Angry Anderson, Swanee. Free Family activities: jumping castle, inflatable water slide, bungee run, kids sumo wrestling, face painters, Harley Davidson Jumpstart display, markets, walking performers. Tickets: tickets can be purchased at www.livelifelive.today with limited tickets available.
Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au
Jackeroo Ranch Horse Riding Jackeroo Ranch is once again running the popular horse riding camps in the Spring Holidays. st st 1 Week: Sat 24thSept- Sat 1 Oct nd st th 2 Week: Sat 1 Oct – Sun 9 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). Yoga 4 Kids @ The Perfect Health Centre Cowra School holiday workshops 6-12yrs Friday 30th Sept 9:30-11am Cost $15 13+ years Wednesday 5th Oct 3pm-5pm Cost $20 These workshops will focus on: calming the mind, developing self awareness, and increasing self esteem. Term Four: Weekly Classes Yoga 4 kids Starts Wednesday 19th of October 3:30pm to 4:30pm Ages 6-12 years Cost $80- for 8 week course Yoga helps kids develop strong healthy, flexible bodies and calm, clear and creative minds. This is a small class to enable greater interactive development. Yoga 4 Teens Starts Tuesday 18th of October 4-5pm Ages 13 + Cost $80- for 8 week course Bookings essential. By Email, Phone or at the Centre. Address: 45 Macquarie Street Cowra pH: 63411817 contact@perfecthealthcentre.com.au
RSVP Cocktail party and Opening Ceremony for the Mother Scholastica Learning Centre Yes we am able to attend the Cocktail party on 16 September 2016 Name: _____________________________ Number attending: ____________________
Yes we am able to attend the Opening Ceremony on 18 September 2016 Name: _____________________________ Number attending ____________________
P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au
Development of a Framework for Pastoral Care and Wellbeing for Catholic Education in the Diocese of Bathurst Any interested parents are invited to be involved in a focus group discussion regarding the development of a framework for Pastoral Care and wellbeing for Catholic education in the Diocese of Bathurst. Please could you contact the school by Wednesday 21st September if you wish to participate.
P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au