Term 4, Week 8 - Monday 2nd December, 2024

What's On This Week

Principal

Dear Parents and Carers, 

As we come to a very busy end of the year, I would like to highlight the many compliments St Raphael’s students have received during each of the excursions/camps which have taken place over the last weeks. Again, last week our Year 10 students received praise from the camp ground staff at Borambola Sport and Recreation Centre. The staff stated that it was a fantastic time for them as staff to have such awesome students and they were very appreciative of the respect the students demonstrate. 

Recently I have been mentioning the dangers within the realms of the cyber world. Often issues are brought to school due to online bullying which happens in out of school hours. Both parents and teachers are dealing with students who may be the perpetrator. As we would both agree, this can be very distressing for schools, parents and students. 

People say things online that they would not normally say in the real world. Students can often copy what others do, or believe that their comment was just a joke and on occasion they may be deliberately offensive. There are many instances whereby students on the receiving end are deeply distressed, angry or depressed. 

So what can we do to encourage students to be safe online, and what do you do if cyber bullying occurs? Stay calm, support your child/student and let them know they will be helped. Reassure them that it is great that they have come forward to tell an adult. Keep copies of everything. If a parent is notified, they should contact the school, and if a teacher is notified the parent(s) will be informed. All parents are encouraged to take their evidence to the police. 

If your child has been involved in bullying online, explain your disappointment. Discuss the problems around ‘joking’ online and how it can be easily taken the wrong way. Explain that they made a poor decision, and if other children were involved, that they also made a poor decision. Have a consequence relative to what has happened. Use the situation for other conversations about appropriate and safe online interactions.

Students in Years 7 and 8 will have Snr Constable Heffernan visit the school in the next couple of weeks. She will highlight to students the seriousness of online bullying, as well as bullying in general.  

God Bless, 

Michelle Deschamps - Principal

From the Assistant Principal

Welcome one and all to another newsletter from your Assistant Principal at St Raphael’s Catholic School. First off today I want to talk about the wonderful evening we had with our students performing at the CAPA Night. This evening showcased our talent in the arts, music and dance. It was extraordinary to witness the students performing at such a high level and expressing themselves through music, dance and artworks. I have no talent in any of these areas but love watching and listening and participating with our students as they get the opportunity to showcase their talents. It was also wonderful to talk and see so many parents and families there to support our school and our students. This above everything else is what we do here at St Raphael's, for such a small school we offer opportunities that other schools cannot hope to match. A massive shout out to staff and students who performed and prepared such a lovely evening.

On another note, even though we are heading towards the end of the year our standards remain the same. These standards regarding behaviour and learning are also what makes St Raphael’s a school of choice. Our expectations for our students are that they come prepared to learn at our school and do not compromise the learning of other students. We do not tolerate bullying in any measure and we continually speak to our students about how we treat each other and how we follow procedures for any bullying issues. So even though we are coming to the end of the school year does not mean that we are lowering our standards. 

If you have concerns or questions please contact the school.

David Wickham - Assistant Principal

Faith, Mission & Learning

Advent marks a season of preparation, waiting and reflection as we anticipate the celebration of Christ’s birth.  The first week of Advent centers on hope - the deep, expectant hope in the promises of God. In the midst of our busy lives, Advent invites us to pause, light the first candle and reflect on how God’s light enters even the darkest moments.

The prophet Isaiah captures this hope beautifully, "the people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned." (Isaiah 9:2)

This verse reminds us that hope is not passive but active - an unwavering trust that God’s promises will be fulfilled, even if we cannot see the full picture. Just as the Israelites awaited the Messiah, we are reminded to look beyond our present struggles and hold fast to the hope of God's unchanging love and faithfulness.

During this first week of Advent, let us consider:

• How can I bring hope to others in my daily interactions?
• What parts of my life feel like "deep darkness" and how might I invite God's light into them?

I wonder:

• How do others experience hope when their circumstances feel overwhelming?
• How does reflecting on God’s promises shape the way I approach the unknown in my own life?
• In what ways can Advent practices help me deepen my trust in God’s faithfulness?

Gabrielle Bruin - Leader of Faith, Mission & Learning

Learning, Engagement & Wellbeing

Bronze and Level 7 Award Recipients

Congratulations to the following Primary students who have reached Bronze, Level 7, Silver, Level 9 and Goldon the Behaviour Management Plan.

BRONZE AWARD

Shamara Hewagamage

LEVEL 7

 Jack Barac * Henry Mitchell * Andrea Thomas

SILVER AWARD

Alby Binu * James Beath-Pearce * Grace Kelly-Shepherd * Aditya Manuraj Nair * Edan Carman * Gaella Gaju

LEVEL 9

Stella Frazer * Samuel Lazanski * Ally Pye * Rebel Thompson * Ava Woods * Madeline Wiegold * Hamish Carman * Ruby Louttit * Lochie Sykes * Olivia Edwards * Beatrix Perry * Jimmy Smith * Lane Thompson * Savannah Bates * Tilly Gundersen * Gus Osborne * Maddison Thomas * Michael Zhang * Rowdy Causton * Tyler Harris * Jacob Graham * Claudia Orford * Harry Raynolds * Evie Smith

GOLD AWARD

Hank Hubber * Levi Thompson * Vallie Bodiam * Melanie Davies * Archie Frazer * Max Holmes * Phoebe Porter * Ashley Kang * Aiva Poole * Jack Thompson * Rosemary Bennett * Olivia Finn * Ben Pearce * Mason Kirwan

Late Arrival of Secondary Students

Families are reminded of the process around late arrival of Secondary Students.  Secondary Students are not permitted to sign themselves in using the Compass Kiosk.  Any Secondary Student arriving late to school (i.e. after 9:10am) will be signed in at the School Office. Their late arrival will be marked as unexplained until an attendance note to explain the reason for their late arrival is added by their parent on Compass, or a phone call/email placed to the school to justify their child's late arrival.

Attendance Matters

The impact of school absences, even seemingly small ones, can accumulate and affect a child's learning significantly.  The cumulative effect of absences over time can lead to gaps in knowledge and understanding. 

Consistent attendance is vital for academic success, as each day in school provides valuable learning opportunities.

If your child is expressing reluctance to go to school regularly, it's essential to address the issue promptly. 

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

K-6 Swimsafe Program

Today was "Day 1" of nine down at the pool for our 2024 Swimsafe lessons. Rain is predicted for some of the days, but that won't stop us! Continue to pack the towel, swimmers, rash shirt and sunscreen each and every day. If it rains, we will bus the children down to the pool. They will be getting wet anyway! Lesson times are provided below as a guide.

Thank you to the parents who volunteered to walk to and from the pool. If any parent missed the opportunity to nominate, you are still most welcome to join your child's class at the leaving times below, from under the shade cloth area on the Infant's Playground.  Please ensure each night that wet swimmers and towels are hung out to dry, ready for use the next day.

"Learn To Swim - It Saves Lives!"

Polding Cricket Trials

Tomorrow, Rory Rue from Year 5 will head to Lismore in the states north, to trial against 41 other boys from across the top half of the state, trying to secure a position in the Polding Cricket team that will play in a week long tournament early next year at Maitland. We wish Rory all the best and safe travels.

Todd Woodbridge Cup Tennis

On Monday 18th November, St Raphael's sent a team of 10 Stage 3 students to compete at the Todd Woodbridge Cup Finals day, held in God's country, Parramatta!  We had made it through to the Finals Day after having won our Round Day in Parkes earlier in the year. We were one of 18 schools to reach the finals. Two losses and two wins saw us finish midfield on the day, however it was a great experience for all. Casey Dellacqua, former World Number 3 in Doubles and ranked as high as 26th in Singles, spoke to the children before the day kicked off. She signed some hats, one which was later presented to Rosemary Bennett for excellent sportsmanship displayed on the day. Isn't that lovely to hear? Well done to our players, Emily Twigg, Claudia Orford, Melanie Davies, Beatrix Perry, Rosemary Bennett, Archie Frazer, Harry Raynolds, Sam Launders, David Kang and Josh Launders.

Summer Sports Trials

Recently, a number of our Year 4 + 5 students travelled to Dubbo to trial for spots in the Diocesan team across three sports. We were successful across all sports in gaining selection for our St. Raphael students. As mentioned above, Rory Rue made it through for Cricket, with a very quick turnaround to the next selection trial. Will O'Reilly made it through to the Polding trial next year in the sport of Touch Footy. Rosemary Bennett and Josh Launders both made it through their trial, heading to the Polding trial on day two of the school year in 2025. Congratulations and good luck to these four students.

Administration

School Fees Are Now Overdue

Families are reminded that 2024 School Fees are now overdue.  If you do not already have a payment plan in place, please contact the school as a matter of priority to make payment.

Save the Date!

The 2024 Presentation Day Assembly (K-12) has been confirmed as follows:

• Friday 13th December (Week 9) - 9:30am @ St Raphael's Catholic Church

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.

2025 School Year -Key Information

2025 School Requirements

A reminder that all school uniform items may be purchased from Mr Embroidery, Redfern St Cowra, in accordance with the St Raphael’s Catholic School Uniform Requirements.

Additional stationery purchases will be required as per:

• Infants & Primary Equipment List
• Year 7 Equipment/Book Requirement List
• Year 8 Equipment/Book Requirements List
• Stage 5 Equipment/Book Requirement List
• Stage 6 Equipment/Book Requirement List
  

Provided here are the School Bell Times for 2025 – please note the confirmation of school start and finish times (8:50am – 3:10pm) and a change to class/period durations to bring Secondary and Primary bell times in line.

Canteen

Online Canteen Ordering is now available via the Flexischools App!

You can download the App and find registration and online ordering instructions here.

Please note!

• there is no toasting of sandwiches in Term 4
• gluten free nuggets are reserved for gluten free students only

Community Connections

Youth Development Scholarships

Youth Development Scholarships are for students who live in social housing or out-of-home care, along with NSW students in years 10, 11 or 12. 

The $1,000 scholarships can be used for educational, support related or living expenses in the 2025 academic year for textbooks, tutoring, laptops, transport costs and more. 

For new and returning high school students, applications close on Friday, 21 February 2025. 

For returning tertiary students, applications close on Friday, 14 March 2025. 

Check the NSW Department of Communities and Justice website for information on eligibility and items and services that can be purchased or email education@homes.nsw.gov.au.