Term 3, Week 3 - Tuesday 6th August, 2024

What's On This Week

Principal

Dear Parents and Carers, 

Over the last 2 weeks we have been thoroughly privileged to host 26 Shiroishi and Seikei Japanese students and their teachers. 26 St Raph's families have welcomed a Japanese student into their home, and these parents, their children, extended family and friends have joined together with their visiting student to experience each other's culture, language, family dynamic, and a 'day in the life' of living in Cowra.  The experiences have been immeasurable, and many new friendships have been formed. 

It has been a thoroughly busy time for our host families who have endeavoured to ensure their Japanese student has had the most memorable homestay experience. Under the fantastic guidance and care of Mrs Tamatha Olbourne, a full schedule of events has ensured the students have also had numerous enriching experiences within school. 

There have been many highlights, however I think Mr Cooley’s farm was certainly an experience the students will never forget, particularly the new farming skills they learned. Last weekend our host families, St Raph’s teachers, Japanese students and teachers enjoyed an amazing bonfire event hosted by the Healey family. We give our enormous thanks to the Healeys for their generosity in inviting us onto their rural property to enjoy a sausage sizzle, huge fire, marshmallows, games and a joyful time together. 

On Sunday we commenced the day with a special Mass in commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the Breakout. In the afternoon we attended the Peace Bell ceremony, where the Cowra Youth Council, who include a high number of St Raphael’s students, supported the ringing of our Cowra Peace Bell by dignitaries, among them our Captains, Maddison Tremble and Kai Fitzgerald. Concluding the ceremony, Youth Council Ambassador and Year 11 St Raphael’s student Laura Price -led the running of the lantern to the  Japanese Gardens. 

Also on Sunday, St Raphael’s students who are in the Youth Council, attended a private wreath laying with the Prime Minister. Whilst the visit was brief, the Prime Minister had a conversation with Laura about his own son who is currently in Japan on work experience. 

Our host families and their Japanese students, in conjunction with our St Raphael’s Youth Council members and community members, walked with lanterns and the large Crane to the POW Camp site. The lanterns were laid along the path and a large group of our St Raphael’s students and our 26 Japanese students, sang two songs in Japanese with Nara’s famous Japanese Opera Singer, Atsuko Arai. This opportunity was truly beautiful, and one in which we are extremely proud of our students. Following this event, our St Raphael’s Youth Council students attended dinner with the Mayor, and the Governor of NSW. 

Yesterday, our Japanese visitors, school leaders and some staff attended the very sombre wreath laying commemorations at the Japanese and Australian war cemetery. During the  ceremony we were graced with an amazing jet fly over. 

It has been a truly significant time for us, and over all community events, St Raphael’s has featured as a highlight. I am deeply thankful to all involved for your outstanding hospitality and commitment to our school and it's place in the wider communtiy landscape.

Finally, I would like to thank all the staff, parents and students involved in my Principal Review. The hard work our community has demonstrated over the last years has certainly been acknowledged and appreciated. Our success as a school can only be attributed to our whole community. Each person is a fundamental and precious part of St Raph's. The feedback received has highlighted the directions we are undertaking in our Strategic Improvement Plan. So onwards and upwards for our outstanding school!

God Bless, 

Michelle Deschamps - Principal

From the Assistant Principal

Welcome to another edition of the St Raphael's Catholic School Newsletter. Last week was a week of celebrations and experience. On Wednesday we celebrated who we are at St Raphael’s with our Secondary Semester 1 Awards Ceremony. The purpose of the awards ceremony was to celebrate those students who epitomise the core beliefs of our school. Awards were presented to students for Academic Excellence, Sporting Achievements and Religious Values.

We also experienced our Year 12 Music student Elliott Bennett perform his HSC piece to the school and this was followed by our Principal Mrs Deschamps speaking to the school on the importance of striving for excellence. When you break down all these awards you cannot help but come to the conclusion that at St Raphael’s we are dedicated to providing excellence in the classroom. 

We strive to ensure that our students have the learning opportunities to become creative and analytical thinkers, those students who have worked hard to achieve excellence over the semester. 

We also endeavour to promote our students on the sporting field and I know we do this exceptionally well as this is witnessed on a weekly basis. We also recognise those students who consistently give their best effort and do not give up. We as a community cannot want anything more from those who are under our care. 

Watching and listening to our musical performance, we were entranced by the talent on display. I looked across the audience as Elliott played and the students were incredibly respectful as they listened and were entertained. 

Lastly but just as importantly, we recognise those students who live our Gospel values everyday and strive to be the best version of themselves. The students who are respectful and loving of their fellow human beings and follow in the footsteps of Jesus; we acknowledge them. 

At St Raphael’s we are a “first choice” school because we provide opportunities for the holistic development of every student who is under our care and that is what we celebrate!

David Wickham - Assistant Principal

Faith, Mission & Learning

Mercy 

Mercy is compassion, forgiveness or kindness shown towards someone. 

Each time we go to Mass, we find ourselves praying for mercy. ‘Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy’ and again in the Gloria - have mercy on us. Later throughout Mass we return to this theme: Lord let your mercy be on us. It is a fundamental need for each of us. 

We do not pray for mercy because we believe God has failed to be merciful to us. The wonder of our faith is that God watches for us to come to his loving arms. In our prayer we open our hearts to this gift of endless mercy. 

Considering Mass is our highest form of prayer, it is important to wonder about how we can show mercy to those around us in the normality of our daily lives. 

I wonder.. if I can lead by example and show mercy to those in need. 

I wonder.. how impactful the ripple effect can be in our community. 

Year 12 Retreat 

Our Year 12 retreat was last Friday. This Year 12 retreat day focuses on being true to oneself. On this day, students are given the opportunity to look inward at themselves and discover who they are as people. They will be exposed to many skills and concepts to help them on their journey of self-awareness and self-discovery. The main focus is ‘I am True’, however there will be smaller focuses that run through the whole day including; silence, self-awareness and finding joy, God in my life.

The aim of the day is to allow the students time to think about themselves, all the qualities that they possess, to accept them and be true to themselves.

2024 Confirmation Program

Week 5- 10/11 August (Robing Weekend)

Retreat Wednesday 14th August

Celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation, Saturday 17th August during the 6pm Parish Mass

Gabrielle Bruin - Leader of Faith, Mission & Learning

Learning Engagement & Wellbeing

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

As we continue to navigate the complexities of our modern, technology-driven world, I want to take time out to address an important topic that affects the well-being of our children: screen time.

In today's digital age, screens are an integral part of our daily lives, offering countless benefits such as access to information, educational resources, and opportunities for social interaction. However, it's crucial to balance these benefits with mindful limitations to ensure our children develop healthy habits and maintain overall well-being.

To help our children develop a healthy relationship with technology, here are some recommendations:

• Set Boundaries: Establish clear rules regarding screen time limits. Encourage children to take regular breaks and prioritize activities that do not involve screens.
• Create Tech-Free Zones: Designate certain areas in your home, such as the dining room and bedrooms, as screen-free zones to promote family interaction and restful sleep.
• Encourage Physical Activity: Promote outdoor play, sports, and other physical activities to ensure children stay active and healthy.
• Be a Role Model: Demonstrate balanced screen use yourself. Children are more likely to follow guidelines when they see adults practicing what they preach.
• Engage in Screen Activities Together: Use screen time as an opportunity to bond with your children by engaging in educational games or watching family-friendly content together.

By working together, we can ensure our children enjoy the benefits of technology while mitigating its potential drawbacks. Let's strive to create a balanced environment that supports their physical, mental, and emotional development.

Craig Jeffries - Leader of Learning Engagement
c.jeffries@bth.catholic.edu.au

Youth Survey

The NSW Government in partnership with the Advocate for Children and Young People (ACYP) and the Office for Regional Youth have launched a survey to engage with young people on the issues that matter to them most, the survey is open for young people aged 14-24. Link to survey - Your Voice, Our Future - Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management

Attendance Matters

Holidays should be booked during school breaks. Students should be at school every day during the school term, right from the first day until the last.

While it's generally advised for holidays to be booked during school breaks, it's also important for parents to communicate with the school regarding any planned absences and to adhere to the school's attendance policies. 

In cases where absences are unavoidable, working with teachers to ensure that missed material is caught up can help minimise the impact on a student's education and school processes are followed for any missed assessment tasks.

Japanese Cultural Exchange

We have been blessed to have 16 Seikei High School students and 10 Shiroishi City Students visit St Raphael's with their teachers for the last 10 days.

Our students have had an amazing time staying with their Host Families, going to local sports, eating Aussie food (lamb has been their favourite), seeing the sites of Cowra, doing sheep work and making new friends. Our guests also attended all of the Cowra Breakout 80th Anniversary events, enjoying our Mass on Sunday, the lantern walk and the wreath laying.

We would like to give a special thanks to all of our Host Families for welcoming our guests into your homes, showing them around Cowra, and taking them to all of the events. Your time and effort is greatly appreciated and you have made our guests feel extremely welcomed and given them an experience they will never forget.

A huge thank you to Anne, John and Zac Healey for providing the location and wood for the Bonfire on Saturday night. All of our Host families and guests gathered for a Sausage sandwich, marshmallows and lots of fun. Thank you very much to the Healey family for setting everything up for our guests, it was a wonderful night.

A big thank you to Ben Cooley as well for showing our guests around your farm. They were amazed by the incredible view and had so much fun with the sheep, an experience they will never forget.

Thank you to all staff and students for welcoming our guests from Japan into our School and community, it has been a wonderful time with so much fun had by all.

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Primary Learning & Enrichment

Bronze and Level 7 Award Recipients

Congratulations to the following Primary students who have reached Bronze and Level 7 on the Behaviour Management Plan.

Bronze

Wyatt Burns * Eli Hodder * Angus Ousby * Beatrix Perry * Savannah Bates * Gaella Gaju * Ruben Fitzsimmons * Lacey Rayner * Alby Binu * Fathima Faisal * Gabrielle Bryant * Jarreau Emseis * Grace Kelly-Shepherd * William O’Reilly

LEVEL 7

Samuel Harris * Harry Raynolds * Nicholas James * Gerry Yappas * Ruby Louttit * Rosemary Bennett * Eleanor Duguid* Samuel Launders * Harriet McColl * Connor Frazer * Jacob Graham *David Kang * Cameron McAlister * Claudia Orford * Anna Pearce * Evie Smith * Mason Kirwan * Stella Frazer * Madeline Wiegold * Lachlan Johnstone * Jack Smith * Lochie Sykes * Ava Allan * Anantarvir Dhumi * Olivia Edwards * Willow Harris * Rory Rue * Noah Campbell * Tilly Gundersen * Elsie Meyers * Gus Osborne * Maddison Thomas * Michael Zhang 

Library News

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

Primary Sport

Polding Touch Footy

This week sees Will O'Reilly heading to Wollongong to compete in the Touch Footy PSSA Carnival. Recovering sufficiently from his broken collarbone at the PSSA Rugby Union Carnival last term, Will will face tough competition at this Touch competition, where the best in the state meet to play. Congratulations on your achievements, Will.

Grahame Statham - Primary Sports Coordinator

Bathurst Diocesan Golf Day

On Monday, two boys from Year 6 played golf down at Blackheath Golf Club. David competed in the 18 hole competition, whilst Liam represented in the nine hole division. We look forward to hearing how they went on their return. Best wishes boys!

Southern Region Athletics Carnival

Last Friday, we sent 57 athletes from Years 3-6 to the Southern Region Athletics Carnival. The day had been moved to Cowra as the Canowindra track was deemed too wet to compete on. 

A lovely, frosty morning greeted competitors, with the promise of a lovely, sunny day to follow. 9 Catholic schools from our region were present, with St. Mary's Orange winning the day, with Catherine McCauley Orange second and St Raphael's Cowra third.

We will have many students moving through to the Diocesan level in Dubbo on Friday 23rd August, with the top three from each track and field event qualifying for progression. 

Whilst all students from our school did a great job on the day, two students in particular deserve special mention, achieving Age Champion. Vallie was the Junior Girls Age Champion and Will was the Under 11s Age Champion, both competing in multiple track and field events to secure these positions. Well done Vallie and Will.

Special thanks to those parents who stepped up to share the timekeeping duties for 'Lane 1' on the track. These days can't run without your help.

St. Edward's Canowindra did a super job hosting the day, considering the late change of venue. Mr. Ken McNamara and his very able staff ran the day like clockwork, with the parents from Canowindra keeping everyone happy with their yummy treats from the canteen. Well done, St. Eddies!.

Thank you to Miss McGrath for officiating at the discus all day and to Mr O'Reilly who was our track starter throughout the day.

Once all four regions have completed their carnivals, results will be tabulated and notes sent home to those off to Dubbo for the next leg of Athletics. Until then, if you placed in the top three, keep training.

Administration

Attendance Notifications to Parents

Most families would already be familiar with the Automated Attendance SMS Notification System, which sends a text to the  primary parent, in the primary household, if your child is marked as absent at school (without prior explanation) by 9:30am.  Parents can communicate their child's absences to the school in advance (and therefore avoid the SMS notification), either via the Compass App, or by contacting School Administration. 

A change to this process, effective Term 3 will now see this Attendance SMS sent to the primary parent in all households, which will have particular relevance to those students living in dual household/multiple residential addresses.

Should you have any questions about this system, please contact Administration on 6342 2940.

Canteen

Coming Soon - Online Ordering at the Canteen!

Exciting news for all families! By mid Term 3 St Raph's will be rolling out an online Canteen ordering/payment system.  Further information will be distributed as it comes to hand, but this option is likely to be a great solution for those families that don't always carry cash and prefer to pay online. Please note that cash payments will also remain available, and the current system of placing cash in the lunch bag for payment and ordering to Mrs Stokes will remain an option for those that prefer it.  Stay tuned for more information on this great online alternative!

Term 3 Canteen Menu:

Please note the attached canteen menu for Term 3, with some minor changes made from last Term.

Community Connections