St Raphael’s Catholic School Term 4, Week 8/B Newsletter 28 November 2016 On Friday afternoon you are warmly invited to attend the annual Primary and Infants Awards Assembly at St Brigid’s Hall at 2pm.
Dear Parents Children being physically active in their daily lives sets up an excellent habit for their future. I have recently seen a significant increase in the number of students riding bikes to school rather than being delivered and collected at the gates. Of course this is an activity that needs to be allowed with consideration of age and stage of maturity. I strongly encourage you to consider this as an option for your children with a couple of provisos; that students know and practice road rules and that they are kitted correctly and safely. With increased use of technology comes increased responsibility to protect access. Often we undervalue the issue of security by being lax with passwords. Learning the importance of maintaining high security is a crucial lesson we, as adults, must foster among our young people, so I appeal to you strengthen and support this message at every opportunity as we do at school. The P&F Christmas Fair on Friday evening was an excellent achievement resulting from hard, collaborative work by many and strong leadership from Mrs Laura Cranney. I want to publicly acknowledge the enormous number of hours of work freely given from precious spare time by those who crafted this exceptional event. We are privileged to have such generosity from good people. Swimsafe is being conducted this week for the Infants students and is an enormously important part of the learning for these young people. As the adults in their life it is our responsibility to ensure that they are safe and protected, particularly around water. The school’s annual Financial Audit is being conducted this week. It is an opportunity to recognise and thank Mrs Alison Downes for the professional and exceptionally accurate work she does in the area of school finance. We are most blessed to have such skill in our management team. This week we are well represented at the two day Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Network Conference. Integration of these key areas of learning into existing programmes is an important challenge in which we are currently engaged.
P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
Michael Gallagher Principal
Advent, the season of preparation for the coming of Christ at Christmas, should be a time for families to come together in prayer. Advent is a season of anticipation. The anticipation of Advent comes from anticipating the birth of the Christ in Jesus of Nazareth. Advent is a time to celebrate the coming of the King and to spend time reflecting on the implications of that for humanity: mostly, this centres around the forgiveness of God, God’s compassion, God’s love. In our hectic modern world, however, it is easy to get distracted, and the Christmas music on the radio and decorations in the stores tend to increase our anxiety. No wonder so many people are tired of Christmas by the time Christmas Day finally arrives!
Lord God, only you can see into my heart and know that under all the busy-ness of my life there is a deep longing to make this Advent one that welcomes you more deeply into my life
Monday 28 Happy birthday to Alizah Walker. K-2 Swim Safe. Tuesday 29 Happy birthday to Trent Beath-Pearce and Jack Chamberlain. K-2 Swim Safe. Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au
Wednesday 30 Happy birthday to Sarah Clark and Zoe Doorey. K-2 Swim Safe. Thursday 1 K-2 Swim Safe. Friday 2 Happy birthday to Dominic Bryant and Leo Casella. K-2 Swim Safe. Primary Special Annual Awards Assembly at 2pm. Happy birthday to Darby Hubber, Cooper Pullen and th Arheeshay Ryan for the 4 .
St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal Spirit of Christmas Christmas is a season of giving. Everyone seems to be a little more generous and charitable around Christmas. Although the spirit of giving can abound this time of year, the spirit of “me-ism” can quickly sneak in if we’re not careful. As much as we want our children to get excited about all of the festivities of the holidays, we also want to teach them to focus their hearts and minds outward on others —just as Jesus Himself did. One way of doing this is to support t he St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal. Our local Vinnie’s this year have expressed a need for gifts for 8-12 year old males and females. Families are encouraged to support the valuable work that Vinnies do and to also experience the importance of giving and thinking of others. Please bring unwrapped gifts to the front office th by Friday 9 December (week 9). Altar Servers’ Roster Sat 3rd Dec: Jarred Stead, Mia Hudson, Logan Haslam. th Sun 4 Dec: Cate Gallagher, Natalie Mallon. Gooloogong: Lily Vardy. School Readers for Weekend Parish Masses: th Sun 4 Dec: Mrs J White. School Eucharistic Ministers for Weekend Parish Masses: rd Sat 3 Dec: Ms C Spora. th Sun 4 Dec: Mrs M McMurtrie. School Computer Roster rd Sat 3 Dec: Casey Family
P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
Homework Changes Due to swimming lessons, the Infant's children will only be reading for homework during weeks eight and nine. Also all homework will cease for students K-6 at the end of Week Nine. Library Books and Swimming Due to the Infant's children attending swimming lessons, borrowing of library books will cease. If your child has any outstanding books belonging to the library, please ensure the books are returned as soon as possible. Kindergarten Reading Helpers If possible, Kindergarten would love our reading mums to continue to help with reading during swimming. Thank you. Library News Chess stage 3 2016 : After a long set of games and a round robin Rowan Wheeler has won the Chess challenge, congratulations! Thank you to all the students who took part with Emma Clements, Elizabeth Heilman, Daniel Gorham and Ethan Millar the last (and very competitive) challengers. Ethan (second) and Daniel (third) will receive a book prize at the next assembly. DIRECTOR’S READING CHALLENGE READ TO LEARN …….READ FOR FUN …….READ TO WIN …..The Executive Director’s Summer Reading Challenge is open to all students enrolled in our Catholic schools in the Diocese of Bathurst. Students need to independently read 10 or more ageappropriate books (5 full length novels for secondary) during the summer holidays to go in to the draw to win one of four iPad minis. There are two categories, based on the age the student is on Monday 6 February 2017: Primary - Years K-6 (10 or more) Secondary - Years 7-12 (5 or more if reading age appropriate novels) HOW TO ENTER: If you would like to keep an informal record of the books you have read over summer, then download and complete the personal reading log. Once your challenge is complete, enter your list of read books online to go into the draw for a prize (the link to the entry form is available on the Catholic Education Office website via the News section www.bth.catholic.edu.au). A parent or guardian must confirm books read prior to entry. Please see Mrs Skinner if you want a log or more details. Entries must be received by 5pm, Monday 6 February 2017. The draw will take place on Friday 17 February 2017 and the winners will be published on the Catholic Education website. Primary Special Awards Assembly Parents and friends are invited to the Primary Special Awards Assembly to be held in St Brigid's Hall at Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au
2.00pm on Friday 2 December 2016. Note: This may change to St Raphael's Hall if the weather is hot. Award recipients have already received letters inviting parents to attend. Secondary Special Awards Assembly Parents and friends are invited to the Secondary Special Awards Assembly to be held in St Brigid's Hall at 12.00 on Tuesday 6 December 2016. Note: This may change to St Raphael's Hall if the weather is hot. Award recipients have already received letters inviting parents to attend. VISUAL ART Well done to our year 11 Visual Art students who entered the local "UpstART" exhibition currently on at the Cowra gallery. Congratulations to Madison Harcombe and Madison Sparkes for receiving, respectively, a Merit Award and a High Recommended. A great effort for our first year 11 group competing with private and public schools throughout Central West.
Madison Harcombe
degrees, our students performed admirably. Congratulations to Ky Garratt who will represent the Bathurst Diocese early next year at Newcastle in the sport of Tennis. Thanks to all of the parents who ferried the children to Dubbo also.
Bus Travel Notice From 20 December 2016, the Private Vehicle Conveyance (PVC) subsidy will be phased out and replaced with the new School Drive Subsidy. The changes are explained below. What is the Private Vehicle Conveyance (PVC) subsidy? PVC is a subsidy available to parents or guardians who drive students to school or a public transport pick up point. PVC is only available to the nearest public transport pick up point or to school where no other transport options are available. Applications for 2016 and for term one 2017 are due by 20 December 2016. From 20 December 2016, the PVC subsidy will be phased out and replaced with the new School Drive Subsidy. The last date for any PVC subsidy applications is 20 December 2016. What is the School Drive Subsidy? School Drive Subsidy is the new subsidy available to parents or guardians who drive students to school or a public transport pick up point. School Drive Subsidy is only available where there are no other public transport options. School Drive Subsidy applications open on 17 January 2017. What is changing for schools? Schools will continue to provide attendance records twice a year for PVC and for the School Drive Subsidy. Payments will be made directly to the parents or guardians of students approved for the School Drive Subsidy. From 20 December, schools should no longer provide parents and guardians with the PVC forms. School Drive Subsidy forms will be available from 17 January 2017.
Madison Sparkes
Summer Sports Trials Last Tuesday, 14 students travelled to Dubbo for the annual Summer Sports Trials. Tennis and Touch Football were the two sports that our children were involved in on the day. In very trying conditions, 35 P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
What is changing for parents and guardians? Applications for PVC close on the last day of term four, 20 December 2016. No applications will be accepted after this date. From 17 January 2017 customers will only be able to apply for the School Drive Subsidy. The new School Drive Subsidy will be paid ‘per trip’ (for the complete school trip). This ‘per trip’ payment is different from the current PVC subsidy, which is paid ‘per student’. A flat per kilometre rate will apply to the School Drive Subsidy and will be adjusted annually.
Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au
PVC subsidy rates will not be adjusted annually. The PVC subsidy rates will remain fixed at 2017 levels. The requirement to do a special return trip to and from home each morning and afternoon will be removed for the School Drive Subsidy. The 300km per trip payment cap will be removed for the School Drive Subsidy. The limit of eight trips per year for distance education students to attend mini-schools during term time will be removed for the School Drive Subsidy. School Drive Subsidy payments can only be made directly to the parents and guardians who have applied. Parents and guardians can check the website for full details on changes, eligibility and distance requirements at transport.nsw.gov.au/schooldrive
$20 meat voucher from Cowra Cash Butchery: Jenni Fitzsimmons. Lolly jar: William Pearce. $50 cash: Beau Ford. Teacher photo guessing comp $25 Sports. Power voucher: Julie Gorham.
Canteen Update This week’s roster is as follows: Tues 29 Lisa Day
Wed 30 CLOSED
Briony Woodhouse
Thurs 1 Carrie Siminic
Fri 2 Lyn Terry
Mon 5 Ammie Broad
Ona Lawrence
Cindy Langfield
Angela Kollas
Kylie Chang
WELL DONE Congratulations to the following students who have achieved the next level on the Behaviour Management Programme. Level 6 Thomas Thuaux Level 7 Ashley Langfield Lucas Bryant Flynn Jones William Cranney Eppie Emseis Eoghan Killick Sophie Johnston Chloe Robertson Cameron Melton Ethan Tindal Xavier Lynch
9 Green Dempsey Farrell-Gray 9 Green 3 Green 3 Green 3 Green 4 Green 5 Green 5 Green 6 Gold 6 Gold 6 Gold 6 Gold 10 Green
Phillipa Richmond Jack Campbell Will Campbell Poppy Starr Kate Statham Jackson McLeish Grace Richmond Sam Kelly Will Thompson Charles Williams
3 Green 3 Green 3 Gold 4 Gold 5 Gold 6 Green 6 Gold 6 Gold 6 Gold 6 Gold
The Cowra Services Club is holding a Monster Toy Raffle and Childrens K-6 Disco on Saturday th 17 December – entry is free
Your Teachers are very Proud of You!
P&F Christmas Fair Full list of donors and winners to follow next week. Big thank you for all those who helped on the day. Some of the other winners on the day of the class stalls were: Year 4 WINNER takes all Lottery Tree: Brooke Smith. P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Tel: 6342.2940
Email: straphaels@bth.catholic.edu.au School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au