St Raphael’s Catholic School Term 4, Week 11/A Newsletter 14 December 2015
bathurstcatholicyouth.org
Dear Parents St Raphael’s Cricketers playing at the Melbourne Cricket Ground last Thursday will be deeply etched into many memories. Winners in the Australia-wide T20 competition is an extraordinary achievement that sets a very tough benchmark for teams of future years. Congratulations to our award winning girls. Building on the very successful Induction process introduced this year, we will follow a similar process to begin 2016. Staff Orientation will be the first day (Wed Jan 27 in 2016), Student Induction for Year 11 + Year 7 will be the second day (Thu Jan 28 in 2016) and the whole school begins on the third day (Fri Jan 29 in 2016). A special note that Kindergarten children commence at 10am, an hour later that the main body of students. Parents of Kindergarten students may then adjourn to St Raphs Hall for morning tea (and tears, if necessary) Staff members of our school invest hugely and personally in the lives of your children. The time, the commitment, the personal investment is extraordinary and I am privileged to work daily alongside such wholesome people. To aid learning is an investment in the future and, between the works of good families and good staff members, our children here have a very sound foundation. Come and pray in thanks with us at the end of year Mass on Tuesday at 9:30am.
Third week of Advent This week of advent is about “Joy”.
Joy is the most infallible sign of the AWARENESS of the presence of God. One of the biggest booby traps in the spiritual life is to forget this presence of God and spend a lot of time and energy in searching for him. We cross oceans, climb mountains, make pilgrimages, read books and consult this guru and that guru looking for God. And all the while he is present within us. We are like the absent minded professor who is looking for his glasses that are resting on his forehead. St. Augustine tells us in his Confessions about this futile search for God that so characterized his early life. “Late have I known thee, late have I loved thee. All these years I was looking for you outside and all the while you were here. And I didn’t know it.” This week make an inventory each day of the things which bring you joy. Find God in the joy.
I want to specifically acknowledge the extraordinary work of the School Executive this term. They both taught and carried out their own executive duties with professionalism, energy, thoroughness and good will. Thank you for the support you parents have given to the school in 2015. There isn’t a school anywhere that survives without active support of parents. Our school continues to grow due to your good will and help. A reminder that Thursday of this week is a Pupil-Free day, so children finish on Wednesday. Finally, our patron Saint, Raphael, is also patron saint of travellers, physicians and young people. I pray that this Christmas Jesus will be brought to life in your family and in our world and that St Raphael protect our travellers and our young people and bring healing through Christmas to those who suffer.
May you discover God’s love active in the world this Christmas, and share that love with others.
Michael Gallagher Principal P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au
Monday 14 Happy birthday to Charlie Graham. Primary Class Parties and Disco. Tuesday 15 Happy birthday to Jackson McLeish and Sophie Richmond. End of Year Mass at 9:30am. Wednesday 16 Last day of School for Pupils. Thursday 17 Happy birthday to Melissa Mood. PUPIL FREE DAY. Friday 18 Happy birthday to Flynn Bennett. School closes. PUPIL FREE DAY. Happy birthday to those students celebrating birthdays in the rest of December: Alannah Gocin, Lucy Proctor, Mackenzie Thompson, Charlie Coombes, Sebastian Keefe, Shannon Cunneen, Matilda Cruikshank and Brianna Goricki.
Altar Servers’ Roster th Sat 19 Dec: Sophie Johnston, Emma Hines. th Sun 20 Dec: Bernadette Zarb, Mikelli Garratt. Gooloogong: Flynn Bennett, Emily Beath-Pearce. th Sat 26 Dec: Volunteers please. th Sat 27 Dec: Volunteers please. School Readers for Weekend Parish Masses: th Sun 20 Dec: Mrs J Colemane, Mr D Colemane. th Sat 26 Dec: Volunteers please. th Sat 27 Dec: Volunteers please. School Eucharistic Ministers for Weekend Parish Masses: th Sat 19 Dec: Miss R Downes. th Sun 20 Dec: Mrs S Whiteley. th Sat 26 Dec: Volunteers please. th Sat 27 Dec: Volunteers please. School Computer Roster th Sat 19 Dec: Joe Waters. th Sat 26 Dec: Volunteers please. th Sat 27 Dec: Volunteers please.
P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
Music Note As this is our last newsletter for 2015, I would like to take the opportunity to say a big thank you to all the music students who performed and represented school during this year. In February and March students took part in the Diocese Secondary Music Workshop. Students were allocated to different ensembles then worked for two days on preparation for the Showcase, which was at the end of day 2 rehearsals in Forbes. In March students from Primary and Secondary school represented St Raphael’s in The Festival of International Understanding, singing the national anthem of Sri Lanka in their language. In May, Secondary, Primary, Central School Choirs and the Band took part in the Cowra Eisteddfod where we were awarded with several prizes. Congratulations to all participants. The winter months were spent on rehearsing minimusicals which were performed at the end of September, having involved every student in the Primary Department. Secondary students have had their chance to ‘shine’ in their October Concert. In the meantime, the choir and the band also rehearsed and took part in school liturgies and school masses. I would like to express my gratitude and thanks to all the students who attended practices, especially those held during lunch times. Your commitment was greatly appreciated. In November, a few students from our school performed in Cowra Musical & Dramatic Society performance of ‘The Wizard of Oz’. It was really a very enjoyable performance. Congratulations to Lucy Proctor, Nick Brown, Jackson McLeish, Kate Proctor and Zoe Budge who was fantastic as Dorothy. Late in November the School Band entertained the crowd at the P & F annual Christmas Fair. I would like to acknowledge the proactive role of Mrs Leoni Brown who organized during the fair a karaoke corner where children had opportunity to share their vocal and instrumental skills. December did not ‘slow us down’; the performance at the Award Day was very warmly received. On Tuesday the choir and some band members will be taking part in our end of school year mass. I would like to say a big thank you to all the parents and teachers who helped in any way with our performances. It is our combined effort which make things happen and that makes our school great. We all feel very proud of St Raphael’s. On the last note: To the Students and Parents, have a Wonderful Christmas, full of Joy and Peace and all the best in the New Year. Yours Musically, Grazyna Swansborough
Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au
T20 Blast Cricket On Thursday 10th December 2015 St Raphael’s Catholic School T20 Blast Cricket team travelled to Melbourne to play in the National Finals held at the MCG. This is where the best eight of both girls and boys T20 Blast Cricket teams come to play off for glory at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The girls’ first game was against St Thomas Moore School from the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. The girls selected to bowl first, which was a smart move with Ruby Frazer claiming her first wicket for the day with an accurate over. This was followed up by all the girls containing the St Thomas Moore batswomen to a getable 96 runs even after a few ‘nervous’ drop catches. Kate “I just like to hit the ball” Cumming then set out to get the runs all by herself smashing fours and sixes to all parts of the ground! The final score in the first match, St Raphael’s Girls, comfortable winners 187 runs to 96. In the second game the girls opponents were from the Borroloola School. Borroloola and Gulf Group Schools consist of 3 remote school campuses in the Gulf of Carpentaria area and is part of the Barkly Region in the Northern Territory. These girls were extremely talented individuals; however, the St Raphael Girls had their sights set to go one better than their Runner Up title in 2014. Matilda Proctor and Zara McKenzie dominated with the bat scoring close to 50 runs each! St Raph’s run out winners 220 run to 50 runs. The third game was against Corpus Christi School from Tasmania. Both teams were yet to taste defeat at the carnival, so it was a game of who ever won, won through to the 2015 Grand Final. Mikelli Garratt started the bowling innings with an early wicket from an accurately pitched delivery that knocked the stumps down. The Corpus Christi team then gathered their nerves to score some handy runs, until a devastating spell of bowling from Tayah Burns. Tayah’s first ball was straight at the stumps bowling her opposition. The next two deliveries were hit straight to St Raph’s fielders taking great catches! Tayah in her first three balls had taken an impressive hat-trick. Corpus Christi had set a defendable total of 137 runs. Emma Wilkinson set about scoring all around the ground to give St Raph’s a handy total after the first two overs without losing a wicket. Then in the 5th over the call came from the opposing bench the scores were level, St Raph’s needing runs and Corpus Christi needing wickets to get to the National Final! Alexie Buchtmann P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
played a fantastic innings, turning the strike over regularly and hitting some impressive boundaries late in the game. St Raphael’s Girls won in a nail biter 157 runs to the Corpus Christi 136 runs! After a quick lunch break the girls were back out on the field warming up planning to go one better than last year! Rangeview Primary School would be their foes in the final for 2015, it was only them standing between them and glory! Annaleise Prescott batted with patience and power making quick runs early in the game. St Raph’s girl batted well losing a few wickets but posted a total of 154 runs. It would be down to their bowling and fielding to protect their smallest total for the entire day. Annaleise who was chosen to receive the impressive ‘Spirit of Cricket’ award volunteered not to bowl during the final. Zara, Tilly and Ruby bowled with speed. Alexie, Tayah, Mikelli and Kate bowled with accuracy. Emma bowled her slow, looping balls which seemed at time to be unplayable. St Raphael’s taking consistent wickets and demonstrating impressive fielding throughout the game. No-one knew the final outcome of the game, and as both teams gathered around the umpires to have the scores announced everyone was very nervous. As the umpire read out that St Raphael’s had won 154 runs to 129 runs, there were tears, Squeals and screams…and that was just from the coach! St Raphael’s had won! They are now the National T20 Blast Schools Cup Champions! Luke O’Reilly Team Coach
Staffing 2016 Staffing appointments have been the focus of much work this term. In 2016 the Leadership Team Consists of: Principal – Mr Michael Gallagher Assistant Principal – Mr Andrew Casey Religious Education Coordinators (Primary) – Miss Karla Slaven, (Secondary) – Mrs Peta Bischof Infants Coordinator – Mrs Kylie McNamara Acting Primary Coordinator (2016) – Mr Darrel Colemane Administration Coordinator (K-12) – Mr David Lette Secondary Curriculum Coordinator – Mr Ben Thompson Secondary Assistant Curriculum Coordinators - Mrs Lorna Ahern and Miss Clare Spora Acting Secondary Wellbeing Coordinator (T1, 2016) – Mr Steven Thomas For Your Calendar If you are a member of staff you start with Orientation Day on Wednesday, January 27th. If you are in Year 7 or Year 11 you start with Induction Day on Thursday, January 28th If you are in Kindergarten you start at 10am on Friday, January 29th. Everyone else starts at normal time on Friday, January 29th. Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au
A Word of Thanks My most sincere and grateful thanks to all those staff colleagues, students, school families and other friends who have given me such support and encouragement recently. I have been overwhelmed by the messages, calls, cards, flowers, gifts and acts of kindness, all of which have helped sustain me at a difficult time for our family. The strength and importance of a community have been affirmed at a time in our world when the focus seems to be on individual gain at the expense of relationships. In our school community we share a gift which cannot be bought: the gift of a generous and caring spirit. Long may we continue to nurture it. Grace and peace and the blessings of Christmas to all our families. Sue Whiteley (Secondary staff) Canteen Update This week’s roster is as follows: Tues 15 Sally Bruncher
Wed
Thurs
Fri
Mon
CLOSED
Karen Campbell
nesday 20 January 20C Cowra Regional Art Gallery 2016 Summer Art Workshop for Children Wild Animals in Clay with Catherine Bennett Model animals in clay using hands and tools. Come with an idea of your favourite animal- a wild animal, a sea creature, an Australian bush animal, an imaginary animal. Clay animals will be glazed, fired and ready to be collected in a few weeks. 7 to 9 year olds - 10am to 12noon Cost $20 pp Mosaics with Catherine Bennett In three hours participants will create a mosaic surround mirror with pieces of coloured tiles and brightly coloured grout to then take home and hang it on a wall! 10 to 13 year olds - 1pm to 4pm Cost $30 pp Relief Printmaking with Heather Valance Using relief printing techniques and designing an image based on favourite animals or creatures participants will print onto a canvas bag to take home at the end of the workshop. 7 to 9 year olds - 10am to 12noon Cost $20 pp Portraiture with Anne Morton Working with painting and drawing materials participants will create their own portrait on canvas board from a photo they bring to the workshop. 10 to 13 year olds - 1pm to 4pm Cost $25 for registration forms (one per child). All classes are designed for the age groups mentioned and class sizes are restricted to 10 participants. All materials provided. Please register early as all payments must be made no later than 18 January 2016 to secure a place. The Gallery is closed from 21 Dec 2015 to 12 January 2016. Workshops will be at the Art Gallery Multipurpose Room 77 Darling Street. P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
NSW Government Learn to swim - classes for children (Swim and Survive) Cowra Swimming dates are 11-21 January 2015. See below to enrol.
Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au