Term 3, Week 5 - Monday 19th August, 2024

What's On This Week

Principal

Dear Parents and Carers, 

Last Saturday evening, the commitment and dedication of our Year 6 students undertaking their confirmation with our Bishop, Father Dong, families and  Parish was celebrated. The students were excited to come to this celebration and were warmly welcomed and congratulated on their Confirmation. At St Raphael’s our student commitment to the Sacraments demonstrates our commitment to our Catholic identity and ethos. 

The next steps in our Year 10 into Year 11 journey are currently taking place. Mr Wickham and I are extremely excited by the wonderful Year 11 cohort for 2025. This cohort will shine, and will continue to support each other with friendship as they undertake their rigorous study. 

A book I hold dear to my heart is 'The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse'. I often read something from the book for assemblies. I wanted to highlight this week a page from the book: “What do you think success is?” asked the boy. “To love”, said the Mole. At St Raphael’s we witness many instances of love. Love demonstrated by teachers to students, love demonstrated from peer to peer (staff and students) and  love demonstrated to families. It is through love that we make the difference in our Catholic School. It is with great pleasure that we farewell our St Raphael’s graduates each year knowing that they will continue to “love”. 

We wish Year 12 the very best as they finalise their Trial HSC Exams. The final weeks of 13 years of schooling will see our Year 12 work together with determination to support each other. Supporting each other to succeed in these final weeks ultimately reflects on the cohort's results. So keep working hard!

Last week we again applauded the commitment and dedication of our Duke of Ed students, with more Gold Awards being achieved. This is a massive undertaking and it is not without the total dedication that Mr Phelan has towards every student in the program. I know in my career of 34 years, I have never met any Gold Award recipients, let alone multiple students from the one cohort! To receive this Award is a highly prestigious achievement, and a supreme accolade the students will have for their lifetime. 

Last week numerous Year 10 were involved in the Vinnies Winter Sleepout. Whilst students recognised that they were probably far more comfortable than people who may be homeless, the learning experience gained amplified in the minds of our students, that there are many reasons why people may experience homelessness, and the hardship they experience is very challenging, demoralising and difficult to turn around. This deep learning aligns with our Service Learning focus at St Raph’s: that by explicitly teaching and reflecting on Service, we start to really connect the heart, head and hands. 

Attendance continues to be a key focus in all schools. As a Diocese we are focused on achieving 91% attendance in our schools. At St Raphael’s we celebrate our great attendance with our students who are usually above 91% attendance rate. Our Primary classes are always exemplary in attendance despite the fact that last Term was particularly strained with a variety of illnesses. This Term in Secondary we are aiming to have whole class awards for attendance. Therefore each week we are celebrating our top 3 high attendance achievements. Last week the winner was 9 Gold at 95%, followed by 10 Gold achieving 92.4% and Year 11 at 91.2%. This week we have 10 Gold in the lead with 93.4 %, 9 Gold slipped slightly to 92% and Year 11 has sustained 92%, and in third place is 7 Gold on 88%. 

It may seem strange to continually focus on attendance, however schools are about student learning, achievement and progress. Every day a student is absent can equate to significant learning loss. It is difficult for students to catch up when they go back to school as their day of return involves a whole new agenda and rigorous learning. Therefore schools and parents need to ensure that students are at school every day unless they are sick or have family emergencies. It is NESA who mandates that students must apply themselves with sustained effort and due diligence to satisfactorily complete their curricular study. 

Have a wonderful week!

God Bless, 

Michelle Deschamps - Principal

From the Assistant Principal

This week we have started the process of interviewing our Year 10 students who are continuing on to Year 11 and in the next 2 weeks we will be interviewing our prospective Year 6 into Year 7 students. The purpose of these interviews is to inform our students and parents what the St Raphael’s Catholic student looks and sounds like.

Central to our discussion is the idea of what separates us from other schools in our community and it is that one word - “Catholic”. It is our Catholic tradition and heritage that defines who we are, it is a following of the Catholic ethos that makes us think of who we are and our place in the world and it is determination to abide by the Gospel Values that will allow our students to grow and develop into resilient, strong young men and women who are able to go out into the world with the resilience to make decisions based upon a strong moral code. The word Catholic is not just something that we have on our sign out the front of the school, it is what we live and breathe every single day and we try to model and teach what this means and make it relevant to our students in their everyday existence.

This is witnessed with our delightful Year 6 students participating in their confirmation retreat last week where they had the opportunity to develop their faith and reaffirm what the core principles of being a Catholic actually means and the importance of this with their lives. Students in senior school had a sleep out on Thursday night where they slept rough on cardboard mattresses and outside. The purpose was to gain insight and empathy for others who are not so fortunate and who do not get to sleep in a bed every night. The discussions I had with these students was a greater understanding of others but also an overwhelming sense of gratitude for what they have and maybe an acknowledgement of the part their parents have played in giving them a simple bed to sleep in and a great school to attend. 

The opportunities we are giving our students will develop them into people of Catholic character - people that will be able to make a positive impact upon this world.

David Wickham - Assistant Principal

Faith, Mission & Learning

Sacrament of Confirmation

22 St Raphael's students were fully welcomed into the life of the church through the Sacrament of Confirmation on Saturday evening. The candidates completed a 5 week preparation period prior to being Confirmed. 

Year 6 also participated in their Confirmation Retreat during the week. The aim of this retreat day was to give the Year 6 students the opportunity to focus totally on the sacrament of Confirmation, and consolidate their learning in class. 

Staff Retreat

This Friday, all staff will be participating in our annual retreat. This year we have Br Damien Price facilitating. Br Damien is an Edmund Rice Christian Brother who lives in Brisbane, Australia. Damien has taught for over thirty years in schools throughout Australia and New Zealand. Over the past twenty years he has worked with disadvantaged youth, homeless men and women, refugees, and asylum seekers.Damien has Masters Degrees in Counselling and Pastoral Guidance, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree which focused on the sense of self that youth grew into as they engaged with homeless people over an extended period of time.

He is passionate about the power of story to unite us. In the sharing of stories we celebrate our shared humanity with its innate dignity. At this time in our history we also are invited to engage deeply with the story of planet Earth as well. 

Testimonials:https://encountertheheart.com/testimonials/

Gabrielle Bruin - Leader of Faith, Mission & Learning

Charlotte Vella

Yesterday marked the twelve year anniversary of Charlotte Vella, a past student here at St Raphael's Catholic School. Charlotte was in Year 3 at the time of her passing. A plaque remembering her memory is in the school's front garden. This morning, a group of Year 6 students joined for prayer near the plaque, hearing about Charlotte and what a sweet girl she was, her favourite colour and her favourite songs.

Charlotte Vella has gone, but is certainly not forgotten.

Learning Engagement & Wellbeing

Attendance Matters

If you’re having difficulty getting your child to school on time every day, contact the school so we can work together to find a solution.

Reaching out to the school is a proactive and constructive step if you're experiencing difficulties in getting your child to school on time.

Contact your school to discuss any specific challenges your child may be facing. Subject teachers can provide insights into the classroom dynamics and academic progress, helping to identify potential areas of concern. Wellbeing and Learning Enrichment staff can discuss attendnace transition plans and further support where necessary.

Collaborate with the school to identify any underlying issues contributing to the difficulty in getting your child to school on time. This could involve academic challenges, social issues, or other factors impacting your child's motivation or wellbeing.

Read about School Avoidance here.

AI Deepfakes: What Every Parent Needs to Know

Parents, are you curious about AI and its impact on your child's life? Concerned about the risks of deepfakes and online safety? Join this must-attend webinar to explore the world of Generative AI (GenAI)!

Learn how GenAI is woven into your child's digital experiences and understand its role in potential risks like image-based abuse. Discover strategies to protect your child and gain valuable tips for starting conversations about responsible GenAI use.

This free online event is perfect for parents of children of all ages who want to stay informed about AI's influence on how kids live, learn, and play online.

7.30pm AEST 10th September 2024. Don’t miss out on this opportunity for essential insights and resources. Register now at bit.ly/AIDEEPFAKES to safeguard your child's future in the digital world!

Primary Learning & Enrichment

Bronze and Level 7 Award Recipients

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

Bronze

Charlotte Graham * Briyan Thomas * Jack Lawrence-Lyall * Henry Mitchell * Ryder Muddle

LEVEL 7

Evelyn Doolan * Annie Keefe * Ebony Whitton * Violet Pye * Shayla Egan * Ava Woods * Jimmy Ball * Lucy Bryant * Ruby Charnock * Sophia Flanagan * Albert Harris * Billie Harris * Thomas Medway * Rohan Meyers * Oscar Smith * Piper Tindall * Rebel Thompson * Campbell Douglas * Isabel Prideaux * Eli Hodder * Angus Ousby * James Beath-Pearce *  Melanie Bryant * Simon Hakiza * Charlee Larkin * Joshua Launders * Henry Rowlands * Jack Keefe * Beatrix Perry * Joshua Randell * Jimmy Smith * Lane Thompson * Molly Vella *  Erik Bowen-Chambers * Joy Bowen-Chambers * Ava Douglas * Patrick Dyer * Emily Twigg*  Savannah Bates * Flynn Allard * Halle Flanagan * Claire Harrison * Harper Chalker * Jack Langfield * Indigo Nurcombe * Jacob Wydmuch

SILVER AWARD

Harriet McColl * Melanie Davies * Liam Doolan * Max Holmes

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 Golf

David Kang recently competed in an 18 hole CPS golf tournament at Blackheath. His performance on the day have resulted in him being selected for the Polding team. He will now head to the Hunter Valley later in the term for this next challenge. Well done and good luck, David.

PSSA Touch Footy

Recently, Will competed in a week long Touch Footy tournament down in Wollongong, representing Polding. Big days with multiple games saw mixed results across the four days for Polding. Will was a dominant player in this team, scoring tries and being elusive in attack. Well done, Will.

Todd Woodbridge Cup Tennis - Stage 3

Tomorrow, our Year 5 + 6 tennis players head to Parkes to compete in the Todd Woodbridge Cup. Best wishes to these players.

Diocesan Athletics - Dubbo

This Friday, whilst most students will be enjoying their Pupil Free Day with a sleep in, ten of our Primary athletes will be heading to Dubbo for the Bathurst Diocesan Athletics Carnival. We have both Track and Field competitors on the day. A few of our students are in multiple events, but many of the group are only in the one event, including two girls who are in the relay event at the very end of the day. Athletics is often seen as an individual sport, but here is an example of where it is most definitely a team sport. Run, jump and throw well, team!!!

Grahame Statham - Primary Sports Coordinator

Secondary Sport

Diocesan Rugby Gala Day (Mudgee)

Max, Ned, Nick, Alice and Toby represented the school at the Diocesan Rugby 10’s Gala Day in Mudgee on Wednesday 14th August. On the day Max, Ned and Nick combined with St Mary’s Catholic School (Wellington) to form a Stage 4 Boys team, Toby combined with St Mary’s Catholic School (Wellington) to form a Stage 5 Boys team and Alice combined with St Matthew's Catholic School (Mudgee) to form a Stage 4 Girls team. All players reported that the day was enjoyable and plan on attending again next year.

Upcoming dates 

Diocesan Athletics Carnival (Dubbo) - Thursday 22nd August. Bus departs from the school bus bay at 5:30am, returning at approximately 6pm. All other details are available for participants via Compass.  

Netball NSW Region Final - Stage 4 & 5 (Orange) - Thursday 5th September

Andrew Phelan - Secondary Sports Coordinator

Duke of Edinburgh

We have another 3 Gold Awardees!! ️ ️

Congratulations to our School Captain, Kai, who has been awarded with his Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award. 

To earn this award Kai had to complete the following:

• 52 hours of Community Service (Coaching with Cowra & District Junior Soccer Club)
• 52 hours of Physical Activity (Playing with Cowra & District Junior Soccer Club)
• 52 hours of Learning a New Skill (Refereeing with Cowra & District Junior Soccer Club)
• 2 four-day Adventurous Journeys (Kosciuszko National Park & Blue Mountains National Park)
• 1 five-day Residential Project (Japanese Exchange Program)

Kai will be invited to Government House later in the year to receive his award from the Governor of NSW.

Congratulations on an amazing achievement Kai!

Congratulations to Caitlin who has been awarded with her Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award. 

To earn this award, Caitlin had to complete the following:

• 52 hours of Community Service (Assistant Duke of Edinburgh Award Leader)
• 52 hours of Physical Activity (Cowra Netball Association)
• 52 hours of Learning a New Skill (Ceramics with Mrs Rebecca Bennett)
• 2 four-day Adventurous Journeys (Kosciuszko National Park & Blue Mountains National Park)
• 1 five-day Residential Project (CSU Experience Days)

Caitlin will be invited to Government House later in the year to receive her award from the Governor of NSW.

Congratulations on an amazing achievement, Cailtin!

Congratulations to Zac Healey who has been awarded with his Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award.

To earn this award Zac had to complete the following:

• 52 hours of Community Service (Meals on Wheels)
• 52 hours of Physical Activity (Tennis)
• 52 hours of Learning a New Skill (Woodwork)
• 2 four-day Adventurous Journeys (Kosciuszko National Park & Blue Mountains National Park)
• 1 five-day Residential Project (Japanese Exchange Program)

Zac will be invited to Government House later in the year to receive his award from the Governor of NSW.

Congratulations on an amazing achievement Zac!

Upcoming dates

Dubbo Stampede Running Festival - Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th August.

Kiama Coast Walk (Bronze, Silver & Gold) - Friday 1st November - Sunday 3rd November.

Andrew Phelan - Duke of Edinburgh Award Coordinator

Administration

No students on school grounds before 8:20am

Families are reminded that there is to be no general student access to school grounds before 8:20am. 

There is no staff supervision until this time, and therefore students arriving on school grounds prior to 8:20am are out of bounds.  Please assist your school with the wellbeing and safety of all students by ensuring that your child is not on school grounds prior to 8:20am.

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

Term 3 Canteen Menu:

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

Community Connections

Anita Heiss Reads Bidhi Galing

An online literacy event for all families to celebrate Indigenous Literacy Day!

Wednesday 4 September

7pm – 7.30pm

Indigenous Literacy Day is held on the first Wednesday of September and is an annual celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ Stories, Cultures and Languages (find out more here: (https://www.indigenousliteracyfoundation.org.au/ild). To celebrate this year, the Council of Catholic School Parents NSW/ACT’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Committee has organised a wonderful online evening event open to all families in our schools.

We are delighted that Aboriginal Australian author Anita Heiss will read her book Bidhi Galing.  Dr Anita Heiss AM is a proud member of the Wiradyuri nation of central New South Wales and one of Australia's most prolific and well-known authors publishing across genres including non-fiction, historical fiction, commercial fiction and children's fiction.

Her book Bidhi Galing (Big Rain) tells the story of the Great Flood of Gundagai in 1852 and the Wiradyuri heroes Yarri and Jacky Jacky who paddled bark canoes through raging floodwaters, risking their lives to save countless others. Primary school students aged 7–12 – and their families! – will love this story and the beautiful book illustrations. It’s a chance to sit down together and enjoy a nice, quiet time listening and reading, which is a wonderful way to support children’s literacy skills at home.

The Committee has a limited number of books to give away so families can read along with Anita, so register now to receive a copy of the book in the mail! We’ll include a Home Reading Tipsheet and fridge magnet too!

Go to the Council of Catholic School Parents NSW/ACT website to REGISTER.

 Or use the QR code below

  See you online on the 4th September at 7pm!