Term 2, Week 8B - Monday 16th June, 2025

What's On This Week

Principal's Report

Dear Parents and Carers, 

It is hard to believe that we are in the countdown to the student break. Obviously the winter is in full swing and the holidays will be a nice time for students to recharge and keep warm. We encourage students at this time to keep warm during the colder days, as numerous students are arriving without jumpers or tights. We understand that there is a difficulty purchasing tights for our secondary sizing and we are currently looking into how we can address this to ensure our students are warm. 

Last week I had the privilege to attend the Western NSW VET Awards evening. It was fantastic to see that only two schools achieved a nomination to the VET Awards, and both Darby and a Mackillop student were successful as first place recipients. Now Darby starts preparations for the State Awards whereby she will go through a rigorous interview process in order to be selected. We wish Darby every success!

We are truly privileged to have VET subjects in our school, with almost every senior student nominating to do a VET course towards their HSC Examinations. VET is one fantastic way we are able to support students with alternate HSC pathways, as they achieve a qualification and their HSC. 

It is a timely reminder to talk about Cyber safety with our students and parents. I encourage all parents to follow Susan McLean on facebook. Susan has significant experience in Cyber Safety and was a member of the Victorian Police for 27 years. She is now one of our leading experts in Australia in internet safety offering great advice to parents, students and teachers.  

In addition, next Term we'll be advertising some small focus groups. We will invite up to 6 parents for a cuppa and we will be discussing strength-based parenting strategies and topics from Dr Lea Waters. Together we will look at strategies to support our students to flourish.  More information will follow. 

Stay warm!

God Bless, 

Michelle Deschamps - Principal

From the Desk of the Assistant Principal

Last week I spoke at the Primary Assembly, and as always it was tremendous to see the school community celebrate the success in learning of so many of our students. I would thoroughly recommend to all our parents and families, that if you have the opportunity to, to please come along and experience a Primary Assembly with us.  I guarantee you will walk away with a smile on your face and sense of pride at being part of our wonderful school.

My theme for the week was on the importance of being persistent and not giving up. We want to develop resilience in our students so they can deal with the stress and success of school life. I went a step further this time on how it is important to ask and seek help when required. It is all well and good to be persistent but you also cannot simply keep doing the same thing and expect different outcomes to happen. I mentioned one of my favourite sayings to the students “Nothing changes if nothing changes”. I stressed to the students that if you are confronted by a problem. or in a situation where you need help with ideas or how to do things, it is important to not give up! But it is equally important to not keep doing the same thing over and over if it is not working.

Over the first half of this term students, staff and parents were asked to complete the annual school survey to give the school feedback on our commendations and recommendations. This is vitally important and we need to have this feedback so we can look at it and not think we are doing a great job but make changes if we have to.

The results were extremely pleasing with growth in our Net Promoter Score improving in all areas. This Net Promoter Score is how many people rated us 'agree' or 'strongly agree' with what we are attempting to achieve at our school. To have such a significant increase in this area suggests to us our school planning and focus is working and that people are seeing that we are a school of choice and will continue to be so.

One area that we do need to look into is communication and making sure our messages are clear for all to see and understand. We have reviewed our communication policies this year and we are becoming clearer with our Compass Feed and School Calendar, Social Media and School Newsletter. There are numerous ways that we communicate with our school community and the information is there and readily available. Add to this, we have an Administration Team that is highly organised and happy to help with all matters of concern or interest, whether that be by email, phone or in person at the School Office.  The School community has ample ways to see what is happening in and around our school, and I encourage you all to embrace these opportunities.

As always, if you have any concerns or suggestions please feel free to come in and discuss with me.

David Wickham - Assistant Principal

Faith, Mission & Learning

St Oscar Romero

Throughout the Jubilee Year of Hope,  we will  look to saints who remind us what it means to hold onto hope and act with courage. One such figure is St Oscar Romero, Archbishop of San Salvador, who became a powerful voice for the poor and oppressed during a time of great violence in El Salvador.

St Oscar Romero spoke out boldly against injustice, violence and corruption, even though he knew it put his life at risk. He reminded the world that faith calls us not to stay silent, but to act with love and hope. In his final homily before he was assassinated in 1980, he said:

“If they kill me, I shall rise again in the Salvadoran people.”

As a Brigidine school, his legacy continues to inspire us today. Reminding us to care for those in need and to stand up for what is right. As a school committed to justice and compassion, may we walk in the footsteps of St Oscar Romero: listening with open hearts, speaking with truth and living with hope.

Gabrielle Bruin - Leader of Faith, Mission & Learning

Celebrating our Student's Achievements!

Rugby Union State Championships

Last weekend, two of our Secondary students Alice and Ada played in the Rugby Union State Championships in Dubbo for the Under 14's Central West girls team.  The team came 3rd in the Country Champs and placed 5th in the state titles.  Fantastic achievement, Alice and Ada!

Dubbo Sheep Show

Congratulations to Tommy who attended the Dubbo Sheep Show last month. The Show was attended by many schools, public and private from within NSW, and 
Tommy was a participant in showing Ewes and Rams in the open classes where he took out:

• 2nd place in Ram under 14 months shorn
• 4th place Ewe Shorn under 14 months
• 4th Sires Progeny
• 5th Group 1 Ram and 2 Ewes

What a great experience, Tommy. Well done!

Administration

School Photos

Individual Student Shoot/Access Keys for the ordering of School Photos have gone home with students, with online orders opentill tomorrow 17th June.  If you have any ordering questions or issues please contact CSP directly admin@cspnsw.com.au or 6342 3070.

Optional Extra for Secondary - Student ID Cards

When placing orders for school photos, Secondary families will now have an additional option to select (if you wish)...Student ID cards.

These cards will be printed with your secondary child’s 2025 school photo, their name and date of birth.

Student ID cards can be used as proof of age, as well as proof of being a student, and will enable secondary students to purchase student rate tickets to movie cinemas, as well as concession ticket pricing when travelling on public transport.

School Fees - Instalment #2 Now Overdue

Families are reminded that Instalment #2 of School Fees are now well overdue. If you haven't already done so, please arrange for prompt payment, or contact the school to discuss your circumstances. 

From the Library

Premier’s Reading Challenge

The 2025 Premier’s Reading Challenge is off to a great start with all students completing the challenge during our Library lessons. Some of our Year 3 & 4 students have been choosing a Renaissance levelled Book for reading at school and at home that belong to the Premier’s Reading Challenge, doubling their efforts. Well done!

Chess Comp

Our annual Library Chess Comp will take place in 2025. It will look a little different this year. We will still have 2 comps running, one for Years 3 & 4 and another for Years 5 & 6. Both comps will commence at the beginning of Term Three. The Years 5 & 6 Comp will take place on Wednesdays Years 3 & 4 Comp on Thursdays. The comp will run for the first four weeks of term with the Finals taking place in Week 5. Sign up and practice sessions will be held this term in Weeks 8, 9 & 10.

Library Opening Times

The Library is open from 8:30am-8:50am and 1:30pm-1:55pm Monday-Thursday. All students K-12 are welcome to come to the Library at these times to borrow books, read a book, complete activities and play games in a quiet place. 

Book Week .... BOOK IT IN!

Our annual Book Week Parade will take place in Week 6 next term on Wednesday 27th August. This year’s theme is Book an Adventure. Definitely lots of ideas for costumes using the theme. Can’t wait to see the amazing, adventurous and all star costumes this year. More details to come.

Story Time Mondays

Our fabulous Library Monitors continue to be a wonderfully helpful presence in the Library. In a show of great initiative, Year 5 student Hazel has begun a Storytime Session at lunchtimes on Mondays. Come along and enjoy a lovely story being read.

Nicole Twohill-Scott - Librarian

Primary Sport

PSSA Rugby League

This week, Will O'Reilly heads to Hoxton Park in Sydney for three days of Rugby League, representing Polding against the rest of the State of NSW. Will was selected from the trials held in Bathurst earlier this term. We wish Will all the best at this big event. Run hard and tackle harder!

Upcoming events

Week 9 - Tuesday 24th June - Rugby 10s in Orange - Six Stage 3 boys attending

Week 10 - Monday 30th June - Polding Rugby Union Trial in Forbes - Will O'Reilly attending

Week 10 - Wednesday 2nd July + Thursday 3rd July - Polding Touch Footy Trials in Port Macquarie - Will O'Reilly attending

Week 2 - Monday 28th July - Todd Woodbridge Tennis Cup Stage Two in Cowra - 24 students attending

Week 2 - Wednesday 30th July - Todd Woodbridge Tennis Cup Stage Three in Cowra - 24 students attending

Week 2 - Friday 1st August - Southern Region Athletics Carnival in Canowindra - 56 students attending

Cross Country Running

Last Wednesday, Archie from Year 5 travelled to Horsley Park in Sydney to compete in the Catholic Primary Schools Cross Country trials. Archie had made it into the Bathurst team after qualifying at Coolah earlier this term. Archie finished the 3km run in 36th position, which is phenomenal. Well done on your achievements, Archie.

Attendance, Wellbeing & Enrichment

Infants:

Ruby Bell, Bayley Feeney, Lukie Gavenlock, Riley Howard, Charlie Langfield, Erestelle Watmore, Jaxson Whittaker, Chelsea Woods, Kingston Aditagane, Maggie Delaney, Stella Freebairn, Jack Gumbleton, Ava Levis, Ayush Manuraj Nair, Henry McVicar, Annie Moodie, Evie Morgan, Hugo Mullins, Ivy Ramsay, Eve Robson, Jesse Sigurnjak, Nicolas Silman, Grace Tolley, Addison Vincent, Evi Yappas, Anastasia Buckley, Heidi Gavenlock, Fergus Hakiza, Harper Hovey, Laine Louttit, Lacey Porter, Archie Reid, Harper Spicer, Nina Sykes, Austin Thomas, Lincoln Tindall

Primary

Piper Atkinson, Lillian Beiga, Charlotte Bryant, Oscar Bryant, Charlie Cooley, Ellie Hudson, Mackenzie Langfield, Lachlan Meyers, Ella Moodie, Evie Oliver, Artemis Poole, Toby Raynolds, Annie Riley, Mia Thompson, Jacob Todd, Nixy Vincent, Stella Frazer, Lachlan Hong, Matilda Laing, Rohan Meyers, Angus Robson, Rebel Thompson, Piper Tindall, Vallie Bodiam, Vivienne Graham, Shamara Hewagamage, Mitchell Holmes, Aiva Poole, Isabel Prideaux, Lochie Sykes, Tenuli Wickramage Don, Gerry Yappas, Wyatt Burns, Noah Campbell, Simon Hakiza, Hannah Jones, Jack Keefe, Aditya Manuraj Nair, Michael Zhang

Secondary

Mahalia Doolan, Archie Frazer, Ivy Gunn, Tyler Harris, Claire Harrison, Max Holmes, Briannah Honeysett, Hunter Keefe, Jack Langfield, Olivia Finn, Emily Mitchell, Holly Mitchell, Hunter Robins-Sirol, Maddy Whitty, Enal Wickramage Don, Brodi Bright, Callum Dromgold, William Durant, Harry Frazer, Georgia Kennedy, Ruby Lazanski, Aiden Mitchell, Max Osborne, Ned Osborne, Joshua Todd, Immogen Longhurst, Maddi Causton, Neil Duguid, Owen Holmes, Isabella Peck, Alexander Peterson, Sophie Phelan, Summer Vella, Jamie Zarb, Hannah Fahey-Doolan, Mathew Graham, Cohan Howden, William Leatherland, Arheeshay Ryan, Addie Skinner, Cassandra Zarb, Makayla Curtis, Darby Hubber, Seamus McCormick, Mia McCoy, Laura Price.

Bronze Level - Positive Certificates

Mason Ruttley

Canteen

Council of Catholic School Parents

Parent Webinars

USING PARENTAL CONTROLS TO HELP PROTECT YOUR CHILD ONLINE

For parents and carers of primary school students

Presented by eSafety Commissioner Team

Thursday 19 June 2025
12.30 – 1.15pm

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Parents and carers of tweenagers and teenagers, these two webinars are for you!

PLEASE JOIN CCSP’S FREE WEBINARS IN TERM 2 Register using the link - see you online!

PARENTING TWEENS: WHAT KIDS NEED NOW, BEFORE THE TEEN YEARS
For parents and carers of primary school students 8+
Presented by Michelle Mitchell
Tuesday 24 June
7pm - 8pm

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR PARENTING TWEENS

PARENTING TEENS: STAYING CONNECTED THROUGH THE TEEN YEARS
Parents of high school kids 12+
Presented by Michelle Mitchell
Wednesday 25 June
7pm - 8pm
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR PARENTING TEENS

Community Connections

Bake Sale - Wednesday 18th June @ Recess

Buy a sweet treat for recess - cupcakes & cookies from 50c to $4.

All funds raised will support our local Country Education Foundation (CEF).

The CEF provides financial support to our students as they leave St Raphael’s for tertiary studies. This support is offered to those who go on to study at university or TAFE and also to those who undertake trade pathways. 

We are thrilled to have an anonymous donor who is so passionate about our work that they are matching all donations made before 30th June, dollar for dollar!

Not only will giving now double your dollar, but it will also double the difference made for our regional communities. Every dollar donated to CEF creates $4.99 in social impact. That is an impressive return on your investment and it means you are making a measurable, tangible and real difference.

Your contribution to this campaign will enable the Cowra CEF to provide funds directly to support a Cowra school leaver in accessing further education or training.

If you are interested in making a tax deductible contribution before the end of this financial year, then please do so via the CEF website: https://cef.org.au/donations/

Please select “Donate to a CEF local foundation”, then nominate “Cowra” as the local branch you would like to support.

If you would like more information about how our local CEF support our students or would like to join the CEF, please contact Mr Lette via: d.lette@bth.catholic.edu.au

Thank you

David Lette

Treasurer, Cowra CEF

As part of their Winter Health campaign, the NSW Health Department has provided the following information to Schools:

Call health direct campaign – campaign resources found here

NSW Health is pleased to share with you the new call health direct Campaign toolkit. The campaign aims to promote the health direct number as the first step to access health advice, care and treatment for non-life threatening conditions.

When you call health direct, you’ll speak to a registered nurse who will help you get the care you need. They can find you a nearby doctor, pharmacist, urgent care service, or even connect you to specialist virtual care. We’re encouraging people to save this number, 1800 022 222, for free, easy access to health advice and care whenever they need it.

 The key links are:

• For more information about health direct: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Hospitals/Pages/healthdirect.aspx
• Campaign launch Ministerial media release: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/news/Pages/20250521_01.aspx

 Vaccination education campaign – campaign resources found here

NSW Health is pleased to share with you the 2025 Vaccination Campaign toolkit. This campaign aims to raise awareness, support and encourage proactive information-seeking so individuals can make informed decisions about immunisation. These materials are evergreen and can be used throughout winter and beyond.

 The key links are:

• For more information about vaccinations: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/vaccinationinfo
• Translated information about vaccinations: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/vaccinationinfo#translations

 2025 Influenza Vaccination campaign – campaign resources found here

NSW Health is pleased to share with you the 2025 Influenza Vaccination Campaign toolkit. This campaign aims to raise awareness of the importance of flu vaccination during winter, to help increase uptake of the flu vaccine among all of population in NSW, particularly at-risk audiences. The flu vaccine is recommended for everyone aged 6 months and over and offers the best protection from getting really sick.

 The key links are:

• Book a flu vaccine: www.healthdirect.gov.au/nswfluvaccine
• For more information about influenza: www.health.nsw.gov.au/flu
• For more information about respiratory illness: www.health.nsw.gov.au/respiratory

 2025 Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) campaign – campaign resources found here

NSW Health is pleased to share with you the 2025 Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) Campaign toolkit. This campaign, which runs until the end of winter, includes budget-friendly and accessible ways for families to:

Eat healthily – tips to eat healthily and drink water, including free low-cost winter recipes and lunchbox ideas

Get active – ideas and tips to help you stay active during winter such as at-home exercises or connecting with nature

Support – free programs to help you and your family keep up healthy habits. 

 The key links are:

• NSW Healthy Eating Active Living website: Healthy Eating Active Living - Getting healthy starts with small steps