St Raphael’s Catholic School Term 4, Week 7/A Newsletter 21 November 2016 meeting of the P&F Association is at 7pm this evening at the staff room, to which you are all invited.
Dear Parents
Michael Gallagher Principal
Advent begins next Sunday … the preparation time for Christmas, more affectionately known as the silly season for the commercial version of Christmas. Let’s not lose sight of the reason for the season. Thank you to all those who participated in the Thanksgiving Dinner and Review in the parish on Saturday evening. It’s an important thing for everyone to give time to reflecting on and celebrating good work together. Congratulations to the organizers who reminded us of the many reasons we have for being grateful. Congratulations to the wonderful performers at “St Raphs’ Got Talent” last week. The excitement and zest is precisely what was needed at this stage of the term. Thank you to Amy O’Reilly and colleagues who enabled the show to happen. Stage 4 Exams are on the agenda this week and we wish those students well in their preparations. May their hands be steady and their minds clear. Congratulations to our three new Masters of Theology, Miss Renae Downes, Miss Chloe Gannon and Miss Karla Slaven. External post graduate study is a tough but rewarding challenge and I pay tribute to these young ladies for years of work they have invested in their future and that of their students. Final consultation about the Annual Improvement Plan 2017 and the budget allocation is currently being called for. The future focus is very strong in securing sound, strong foundations to take us forward with excitement and energy. NAPLAN 2016 Synthesis is available and will hopefully be a practical and targeted tool for your programming in 2017. Being specific about individual students, specific topics and strategies has made this a hugely beneficial project for students and their learning. The final 2016 Women’s Mass and breakfast is on this coming Saturday – 9am in the chapel followed by brekky in the MSLC. Our big focus this week is to ensure that the P&F Christmas Fair is a roaring success. Lock it into your th calendar to come along on the 25 November and enjoy a great night out with the family. The November P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
Feast of Christ the King Christ the King Sunday celebrates the all-embracing authority of Christ as King and Lord of all things. Officially called "The Feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King," it is celebrated on the final Sunday of Ordinary Time, the Sunday before Advent.
Lord Jesus, when You walked the earth, Your humility obscured Your Kingship. Your meekness confused the arrogant, Hindering them from grasping Your purpose, Teach me to model after Your eminence, To subject my human nature to humility. Grant me with a natural inclination To never view myself greater than anyone. Banish all lingering sparks of self-importance That could elevate me greater than You. Let my heart always imitate Your humility! Amen Next Sunday begins the first week of Advent
Monday 21 Tuesday 22 Happy birthday to Georgia Hanley and Duncan Muir. Diocesan Primary Summer Trials in Dubbo. Wednesday 23 Happy birthday to Makenzie McAllister-Duffey. Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au
Thursday 24 Friday 25 ST RAPHAEL’S P&F CHRISTMAS FAIR!! th
Happy birthday to Mitchell Pattingale for the 26 and Aaron Dhrygck, Logan Leatherland and Maddison th Tremble for the 27 .
EXALT Those participants in BLAST 16 are invited to follow up nd with a reunion event, Exalt at Orange on December 2 from 6pm – 8:30pm. Please see Mrs Bischof for details. Altar Servers’ Roster th Sat 26 Nov: Kate and Laura Price. th Sun 27 Nov: Orlando Perry, Archer Howden and Maddison Tremble. School Eucharistic Ministers for Weekend Parish Masses: th Sun 27 Nov: Mrs P Bischof. School Computer Roster th Sat 26 Nov: Miss R Downes. th Sun 27 Nov: Gallagher family.
2017 HSC Disability Provisions All Year 11 students were given a letter in Week 4, explaining disability provisions for the 2017 Higher School Certificate. If you would like the school to apply for these provisions on your child's behalf, please contact Mrs Therese Johnston, Learning Enrichment Teacher, at your earliest convenience. Rewards For Excellent Writing Congratulations to several Primary students who produced some award winning writing compositions for the “Respect Ed” writing competition. Stage 2 students had to compose an acrostic poem while Stage 3 students produced a skilful Haiku poem. Jackson McLeish, Cameron Forsyth, Lucy Proctor, Mollie Thompson, Holly Orford and Oscar Whitty all received awards for their writing compositions.
P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
LIBRARY NEWS WEEK 7 TERM FOUR 2016 As we approach the end of the year remember to keep up to date with book returns. The books that were purchased from the Book Fair are now on display and being borrowed. Thank you once again to the students and parents who purchased books that allowed me to buy $673 worth of books for the library. Recently the following students received a lucky book draw prize from our Book Fair. William Allan, Georgie Anning, Charlotte Tindall, Seamus McCormick, Zac Healy, Eoghan Killick and Lily Vardy. Secondary students receiving a book prize were: Duncan Muir, Mitchell Amos, Lily Pilcher, Ellie Garlick, Kaylia Williams, Brooke Lewis. Kerri Skinner Librarian.
Summer Sports Trials Tomorrow, 22nd November, 15 St. Raphael's students will travel to Dubbo to compete in the Summer Sports Trials. This year, we have children trialling in the Sports of cricket, touch football and tennis. We wish them luck in their chosen sport, as well as safe travel.
St Raph's Got Talent 2016 What a wonderful morning K-6 had last Wednesday! So many talented students! Here at St Raph's we are so proud of all of our kids! A special mention to Yr 6 who ran our Talent Show; how mature and fantastic you all are! With over 40 entries auditioning this year, it sure was a hard choice to select the finalists for St Raph's Got Talent. The lucky finalists were: Stage One Lily Carson, Sara Rush, Harriett Perry, Pyper Muddle & Bronte Keen, Arheeshay Ryan, Tobie Hubber and Emma Haslam. Stage Two Phillipa Richmond, Laura Price, Ashleigh Langfield, Maddison O’Reilly, Elliott Bennett, Natasha Smaluck and Yoi Yap. Stage Three Natalie Mallon, Emma Clements, Meg Jones, Louis Carson, Will Norton, Sophie Johnston & Jess Trengrove and Nick Brown. This opportunity has provided a platform for selfexpression and has allowed student's to develop confidence in a safe and supportive environment. Here at St Raphael’s we are all about building each other up and acknowledging and supporting our fellow peers. This Talent Quest was not about winning, but about sharing those talents. Remember kids that your talents are God's gifts to you; what you do with it is your gift to others! Mrs O'Reilly Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au
PASTORAL CARE AND WELLBEING WORKING TOGETHER: AS the school year draws to an end, with all that means and entails, it’s a good time to reflect on the achievements and challenges of 2016. At St Raphael’s we have had many of both. Achievements are to be celebrated and we do that with enthusiasm. Challenges are for us all to look at with honesty and learn from. Often challenges have a number of aspects. It’s important that we all (students, teachers and parents) embrace challenges with respect for each other. It’s easy to not see another’s point of view but when we work together for our young people, the best outcomes can be achieved. Good communication is essential to achieving the best outcomes. TECHNOLOGY: Once again there is a serious need for us all to be alert to the possibilities for young people to find themselves in trouble when using social media. At school we aim to be vigilant when students use technology. There are a number of different ways of keeping track of student use of the internet – diocesan, school, classroom. Even so, students can be tempted to try to get around these systems of checking. Parents, be assured that there are effective means of tracking student usage. Serious consequences are applied to those who misuse the school internet system. At the same time we often have to address social issues which arise from misuse of technology out of school. When young people spend a lot of time on social media sites, there is always the chance that problems can arise. Research and good practice tell us that young people need their social media use monitored and limited. Yes, I know how hard that can be, but the safety of the students we work with is very important. Parents, we are here to support you. As parents, we very likely buy the phones/computers that our children use. If not, then we certainly pay the electricity bill and phone bill. Consider this when there is conflict about who decides about technology use. Some tips: 1. Have a family spot where all the phones, laptops, ipods etc are charged, away from bedrooms 2. Lockdown the internet at a set time each night – it means pulling out the plug! 3. Keeping phones “safe” in your bedside drawer is an option Late night communication is not productive socially, nor does it assist a healthy learning mind. Mrs Sue Whiteley
P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
School Bus passes for 2017 If your child is starting Kindergarten or going into Year 3 or Year 7 in 2017, you need to apply/reapply for their bus pass now. All bus travel applications are done online now. Please go to the following link and click on the blue “apply now” button and complete the application online. https://apps.transport.nsw.gov.au/ssts/howToApply The school will then get notification of your application and will be able to endorse the application online. You no longer need to print the application out – it is all done electronically. If you have any queries please phone the school. Canteen Update This week’s roster is as follows: Tues 22 Karen Campbell Lisa Day
Wed 23 CLOSED
Thurs 24 Lisa Mallon
Fri 25 Kylie Kollas
Mon 28 Jacquie CCusack
Heather Keen
Kristy White
Lisa Lette
Vicki Banks
There is less than a WEEK to the St Raphael's P&F Christmas Fair which is th on this Friday 25 November. Rides begin at 5.30pm and the Christmas Fair from 5.30-8.30pm. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL THERE!
CHRISTMAS FAIR DUE DATES: CHRISTMAS MONSTER RAFFLE TICKETS are to be rd returned to school by this WEDNESDAY 23 NOVEMBER 2016! Please remember to return them to school ASAP. JAZZY CONTAINERS are to be returned to school by th this THURSDAY 24 FEBRUARY 2016! Please remember to return them to school ASAP. CAKE STALL TRAYS eill be sent home today and are to please be returned to school FRIDAY th 25 NOVEMBER 2016! This is the morning of the fair. Please ask at the front office if you need any additional trays. UNIFORM STAND Any second hand winter, summer or sports school uniforms can be delivered to the th school by Thursday 24 November. Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED We always need more Volunteers to help set up and pack down the fair, sell tickets for rides or run raffles (come on Dad’s and Granddad’s!), help with the Cake, Uniform or Jazzy Container stands and so on. You can help before, after or during the Fair. Please contact Laura Cranney at straphaelspnf@gmail.com or call or text on 0418 412 177 to volunteer to help make our School Christmas Fair a SUCCESS!
WELL DONE Congratulations to the following students who have achieved the next level on the Behaviour Management Programme. Level 7 Holly Wilson 3 Green Mackinlee Charnock 3 Gold Clare Harris 3 Gold Evie Louttit 3 Gold Lily Gee 4 Green Yap Yoi 4 Green Izac Healey 4 Green Carter Langfield 4 Green Orlando Perry 4 Green Rory Sullivan 4 Green Tianna Azzopardi 5 Green Meg Jones 5 Green Jack Webb 5 Gold Josephine Gundersen 6 Green Rachel Myers 6 Green Aidan Bugeja 6 Green Lakelan Goard 6 Green William Harris 6 Green Digby Williams 6 Green Misty Williams 6 Gold Flynn Bennet 6 Gold Matthew Mallon 6 Gold William Norton 6 Gold Your Teachers are very Proud of You!
Saturday, 26th November - Women's Reflection Day Advent - a season of hope Presenter: Sr Mary Louise Walsh Cost: $25 includes morning and afternoon tea. BYO Lunch. Where: Family Hall, Mount Schoenstatt, 230 Fairlight Road, Mulgoa Time: 9.30 am to 3 pm Bookings: info@schoenstatt.org.au or Phone: 4773 8338 RSVP: 21st November. Sunday, 27th November - Advent Journey for Young Adults - guided meditative bush walk-dinner-prayer & adoration. Cost $40 including dinner and materials-wear comfortable clothing and shoes suitable for bush walking. Where: Mount Schoenstatt, 230 Fairlight Road, Mulgoa Time 3 pm to 9 pm Registration and further information: Sr M Julie, juliebrcar@gmail.com or call 0408 738 334 RSVP: 24th November. Saturday, 17th December - Christmas Carols at the Shrine The Schoenstatt Sisters would like to invite you to join them for an evening of carol singing at the Shrine. Please bring a blanket or chairs and some snacks if you wish. Children are encouraged to come dressed as angels and shepherds. You are welcome to enjoy a picnic dinner in the groups before the Carols commence. Where: Mount Schoenstatt, 230 Fairlight Road, Mulgoa Time: 7.30 pm to 8.30 pm Cost: Free - Everybody Welcome.
P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au