Term 2, Week 5 - Monday 27th May, 2024

What's On This Week

Principal

Dear Parents and Carers, 

Yesterday staff, students and parents had a wonderful morning acknowledging Sorry Day at Mass together with our Parish. Thank you to all the students, parents and staff who supported this event. It was a bonus to have a special breakfast enjoyed by all. Thank you to the many helpers who made the Mass special, we are truly a great community. 

We also invite parents and families to celebrate our students making their First Holy Communion next Saturday evening at Mass. The students are well prepared and excited to undertake their responsibility in the Catholic Faith. 

Over the last few days we have been privileged to have a special Japanese guest, the famous opera singer Atsuko Sensei, who is preparing a large group of our students to sing at the Cowra Breakout 80th Anniversary. The students will be singing in Japanese at the memorial presentation. This is such a special historical occasion for our students to participate in. Atsuko will go back to Japan next week and come back to Cowra for the Breakout Memorial in August. 

The connections our school has built with Japan, through Seikei and Shiroishi City, gives our students a very rich cultural experience. The students not only learn Japanese, about culture, and Japanese people, they also establish respect for other cultures and in turn a sense of pride in being proud of Australia. 

I want to acknowledge the support and collegiality we have with our local police through PCYC - Andrew Buchtmann, and CINC Youth Worker - Hell Horton. Together we are able to holistically support and motivate students, and give families support. It is through the combined care and relationships with our youth, that we are able to establish goals, strategic pathways for the future, confidence and set students up for success. 

As I mentioned in the last newsletter, on Monday 17th June we have a staff development day. On this day staff will be working with Michael McDowell on the next steps in our inquiry journey, exploring diverse ways to give students feedback for improvement. The day will also involve a comprehensive workshop on our new Strategic Improvement Plan. The plan involves key areas identified for improvement, and will ultimately be clearly articulated across 5 years.  Monday 17th June will therefore be a PUPIL FREE DAY for all students.  

I invite parents to attend part or all of our professional learning day. To confirm your attendance please email or ring the office to indicate if you are attending for part or all of the day (this is for catering and group allocation purposes). If only attending AM or PM, please also indicate which part you will attend. 

In encouraging parents to attend the professional learning day, it is your opportunity to have a voice in a strategic improvement plan. We will be asking both staff and parents for feedback on the day. Please don’t miss your opportunity to have insight into the strategic improvement plan and an opportunity to be a part of its development. 

God Bless, 

Michelle Deschamps - Principal

Assistant Principal

Welcome to another edition of the St Raphael’s Newsletter. There is a great deal happening at the moment at our wonderful school. The staff are currently preparing for our Staff Development Day (SDD) that is happening on Monday 17th June, writing reports, whilst the students are completing assessments, competing in Eisteddfods and working hard in class. The purpose of our SDD is to increase the impact of our teaching in the classroom. Our staff strive to improve their classroom expertise so that the student’s learning is constantly improving and they are achieving to their potential. We want to improve our craft so that every time a student walks through our front gates in the morning they know they are in for a day of quality education from staff that care about them and their learning.

At St Raph’s we have reviewed our enrolment policy ensuring that our school is a school of first choice. We are a Catholic Diocesan School and we do not have to take every student that turns up at our front door. We have initiated a student/parent enrolment agreement that states that any student/parent must adhere to the agreement as a condition of enrolment. It is important that we have a consistent and thorough process so that  our entire school community understands that St Raphael’s is a school that develops the learning of each student, fosters a love of the teachings of Christ and to build the character and resilience of each individual student.

On this note, next Monday 3rd June, we will be having our Year 6 into Year 7 evening to outline who we are and what our expectations for our coming Year 7’s will be. It should be a wonderful opportunity for the school community to come together and learn from each other.

And on Tuesday 4th June we commence our Kindergarten 2025 Transition Program with our Prospective Enrolments - Parent Information Session.  Please spread the word to your friends, and to all those looking to St Raph's as their school of choice for 2025.

David Wickham - Assistant Principal

Faith, Mission & Learning

Sorry Day

Yesterday was National Sorry Day. Sorry Day is an opportunity to become more conscious of past harm done and the healing needed in relationships between Aboriginal and white Australians. In 1998, Australia stopped to recognise for the first time a National Sorry Day on May 26th, the eve of the commencement of National Reconciliation Week. Genuine reconciliation requires acknowledgement of the harm done by the perpetrators and beneficiaries of past policies so that healing can reach the whole community. 

This year, Sorry Day fell on a Sunday, so we decided as a School and Parish Community to come together for a National Sorry Day Mass and Breakfast. Many thanks to all the students, their families and staff who came together to commemorate this important event in our community

We are St. Raphael's recognise past wrongdoings and are Sorry. We will keep working together, Now More Than Ever to move forward in a true sense of Reconciliation.

First Eucharist

This weekend, during the 6pm Saturday Parish Mass, 14 of our students will receive the Sacrament of First Eucharist. They and their families have been preparing for this most important time in their lives. We ask you to continue to pray for our First Eucharist candidates and their families. All welcome to join our School and Parish Community for this celebration.

Tomorrow all of Year 3 and our First Eucharist candidates will participate in their annual Retreat Day. 

Yr 9 Retreat Day 2024 - 4th June

The Year 9 retreat will be held at St Raphael's School on the 4th June 2024. School retreats/reflection days are an integral part of the life-long faith formation of young people. They provide a unique opportunity for exploration of the student’s personal faith. The experiences enable students to understand each other and their world in a new light and experience closeness to God. We are blessed to utilise the DeoQuest Team again for the Yr 9 Retreat. The team will through fun and engaging activities unpack some of the pressing questions our young people have about their faith and life. Our day will commence with Mass and will conclude with an Encounter experience.

Place: St Raphael’s Church, Hall & Chapel

Time: 9.00am - 3.00pm

Travel: Students will come to school and attend Homeroom. Students will return to school by 3.00 in time to catch buses.

Meals: Students will need to bring a drink bottle. Recess and Lunch will be provided. 

Dress: Dress is sensible casual. Students will need to sit on the floor for many activities during the day so clothing must be comfortable and appropriate. Enclosed shoes are to be worn.

Real Talk

Last term, all students from 7-10 participated in sessions from the Real Talk Australia Team. These sessions are vital to our students to help them build positive and meaningful relationships with each other. Next week, parents are invited to attend an online forum from Real Talk Australia. The invitation and details are provided here. 

Nicole Twohill-Scott - Leader of Faith, Mission & Learning (Acting)

Library News

Wellbeing & Enrichment

Attendance Matters

Regular attendance helps students develop discipline and a sense of responsibility. It prepares them for future commitments.

Regular school attendance is a fundamental aspect of character development that prepares students for the responsibilities and commitments they will encounter in various facets of their lives. The habits formed through regular attendance contribute to the overall success and wellbeing of students in both their academic and future professional journeys.

If you are concerned about your child’s attendance you can seek advice from NSW ParentLine 1300 1300 52.

Learning Logistics & Pathways

Careers Corner

Students, parents & carers are encouraged to check out the latest updates on our school's career pathways website: https://straphaelscowra.careertools.com.au/

Any questions, please contact Mr Lette, thank you.

David Lette - Leader of Learning Logistics and Pathways

Secondary Sport

Teams Tennis

Our boys and girls tennis competed in the Secondary Diocesan Teams Tennis Gala Day in Orange. Well done to the girls team, consisting of Laura, Shelby and Izzy; and to the boys team which consisted of Owen, Layne, Deakin, John and finished in 3rd place.

PSSA Soccer Referees

Toby (Year 9), Dominic and Oliver (Year 8) officiated Round 1 of the PSSA Soccer Championships between Cowra Public School and Canowindra Public School last week.  What a great opportunity for these students to share, and extend their existing skills in refereeing.

Year 8 Camp

Year 8 had a great time at camp at Borambola Sport and Recreation Centre. Students took part in BMX, Mud Run, Trivia Night, Damper Cookout and Indoor Rock Climbing. Student behaviour was exemplary and all students displayed a "have a go" attitude. Thank you to Mrs Bennett and Mr Phelan for supporting the students on camp.

Upcoming Events

NSWCCC Cross Country - Sydney - Wednesday 5th June

Secondary Diocesan Soccer Gala Day (Open Boys & Girls) - Orange - Tuesday 11th June

Netball NSW School cup Netball (Stage 4 & 5) - Cowra - Wednesday 12th June

Secondary Diocesan Netball Gala Day (Stage 4, 5 & 6) - Orange - Friday 28th June 

Secondary Diocesan Netball Trials (Open Girls) - Cowra - Thursday 4th July

Andrew Phelan - Secondary Sports Coordinator

Administration

Canteen

Community Connections