Term 3, Week 8B- Monday 8 September, 2025

What's On This Week

Principal's Report

Dear Parents and Carers, 

The Heart of Our Community: Family Engagement at St Raphael’s

At St Raphael’s, we are more than a school—we are a vibrant, faith-filled community. What truly sets us apart is the strength of our relationships, especially the deep and enduring connections we nurture with our families. We believe that when families are engaged, students flourish, and our entire community grows stronger.

Family involvement is not simply welcomed at St Raphael’s - it is cherished. We continually seek meaningful ways to connect with busy families, recognising that their presence enriches every aspect of school life. Whether through spiritual celebrations, classroom experiences, or community events, we are proud to offer a wide range of opportunities for families to be part of our shared journey.

One of our greatest joys this year has been the increased participation of families in our school Masses, liturgies, and parish life. The warmth and spirit shared during our Mother’s Day and Father’s Day breakfasts and liturgies were truly uplifting, with outstanding attendance and heartfelt conversations between families, staff, and students. Grandparents Day was another highlight - an overwhelmingly successful celebration that reminded us of the legacy, wisdom, and love our elders bring to our community.

We were also proud to host a celebratory event in honour of Cowra’s Festival of International Understanding, with India as the focus. Our Indian families and students led the way in planning and presenting a rich cultural experience for our school. We explored customs, language, history, and traditions—and one of the most memorable highlights was the opportunity to taste an array of gourmet Indian dishes, lovingly prepared and shared.

During Catholic Schools Week, our open classrooms offered families a window into the learning journeys of their children. These moments of connection were complemented by informative evening sessions, such as Kindergarten orientation and the Year 10 to Year 11 transition night, where staff and families engaged in meaningful dialogue to shape future initiatives.

Our Parents & Friends (P&F) Association continues to play a vital role in fostering family engagement. Through this forum, staff share insights into school programs, and parents contribute valuable perspectives. This year, we introduced our new Stage 5 Camp and hosted a specialist session on Teen Mental Health - both events underscoring our commitment to holistic student wellbeing and strong parent partnerships. The P&F also organised the much-loved Mother’s Day and Father’s Day stalls, creating joyful moments for students and opportunities for parents to connect. Jersey Day coinciding with our Father’s Day breakfast brought a delightful burst of colour and camaraderie, with dads proudly sporting their team jerseys - a simple gesture that spoke volumes.

Each year, our strong presence in sporting events and the Cowra Eisteddfod provides families with opportunities to engage in the joy of singing, dancing, music, and drama. These events showcase student talent and invite families to celebrate alongside us.

Beyond these special occasions, everyday contributions from families make a lasting impact. Our primary assemblies are filled with proud parents, sharing in the joy of class presentations and celebrating student achievement. Canteen volunteers and reading helpers bring energy, care, and connection into our school spaces. Parent/Teacher Conferences, held this week, offer a vital platform for collaboration, reflection, and goal-setting - ensuring every child’s learning journey is supported by a strong home-school partnership.

A cornerstone of our school’s strength is our approach to wellbeing. Our dedicated Wellbeing Team - including the Leader of Learning Engagement, Aboriginal Liaison Officers, Learning Support Teachers, and our Counsellor - works closely with families to support vulnerable students. We understand that some family situations are complex and that societal pressures can be deeply felt. Through attendance plans, safety plans, and individual learning plans, we partner with families to ensure every student is supported to be their best. Our Careers Advisor also plays a key role in guiding students and families toward future pathways, with significant success and heartfelt collaboration.

Looking ahead, we’re excited to welcome families to our upcoming Heritage Day - a celebration of culture, community, and connection. Soon after, we’ll gather to honour our Year 12 and Year 6 students as they prepare to embark on new chapters, with heartfelt farewells shared among staff, students, and families.

At St Raphael’s, we believe every parent, grandparent, and caregiver is an essential part of our story. Our Catholic school is a family - one built on care, inclusion, and shared purpose. Together, we continue to grow a community where every child is known, every voice is valued, and every family belongs.

God Bless, 

Michelle Deschamps - Principal

From the Desk of the Assistant Principal

Welcome back to another instalment of the St Raphael’s Catholic School Newsletter. As always it is a privilege to be associated with this school and to be part of the Leadership of the school is an honour. The Leadership Team meets three times a week with two briefing sessions on Tuesday and Friday and a dedicated meeting time on Wednesday afternoons. The purpose of all these meetings is to discuss and formulate plans that best suit the needs of our students. When making decisions the question is always asked - How will this benefit our students? The students are at the center of everything we do at St Raph’s and whether this is about learning, excursions, PD or wellbeing we make decisions that we think will grow and develop our students. 

We have numerous policies and practices in place at St Raph’s from a uniform policy to assessment practices and the purpose of all these is once again to promote a safe learning environment for all our students. In my role as Assistant Principal I attempt to ensure that these policies and practices are being followed and that we have consistency across the entire school. I spoke to the students at Monday Muster once again about the idea that you might not agree with a policy or a decision but you will accept the teacher’s/school’s decisions and actions. If we choose to not follow policies/rules then it is much harder to provide that safe learning environment.

The school has Parent/Teacher conferences this week on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings and I would strongly encourage everyone to come along and discuss with our staff the learning of our students/your child. These conferences are another great way to be involved with the school and to witness the learning growth of your child. So please come along and talk to our fantastic staff.

Our Year 12 students are progressing towards their last few weeks at school and we celebrate their 13 years of schooling in a number of ways in the coming weeks. Next week the students will have some fun with different dressups for each day and then next Friday 19th September the Year 12 students are being taken away for the day to celebrate together in their final excursion. On Tuesday 23rd September they will have their Graduation Assembly at St Raphael’s Church. This is their last official school day with the final three days of term being set aside for HSC Masterclasses. It has been an absolute pleasure getting to know these young men and women.

David Wickham - Assistant Principal

Faith, Mission & Learning

In this Jubilee Year of Hope, we are reminded that the Holy Spirit is God’s greatest gift to us, guiding and strengthening us as we walk through the joys and challenges of family life. 

The seven Gifts of the Spirit; wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord, are not abstract ideas, but living graces given to help us see with God’s eyes and act with His heart.

Jesus promises us the Spirit in John’s Gospel:

“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.” (John 14:26)

Just as the disciples needed courage and guidance after Jesus’ Ascension, so too do we today. The Spirit equips us with wisdom to make good choices, courage to stand up for what is right, reverence to love God and one another and wonder and awe to help recognise God’s greatness and our need for Him.

💡 For Parents
In the rhythm of everyday life—school routines, busy schedules, and the ups and downs of parenting—the Gifts of the Spirit are quietly at work. When you encourage your child to show kindness, when you model forgiveness, when you remind them to persevere in difficulty, you are helping them to recognise the Spirit’s presence in their lives.

🌱 The Jubilee Year of Hope invites us to reflect on how these Gifts can help our families remain hopeful and resilient. Hope grows when we trust in God’s faithfulness, even in times of uncertainty. As Pope Francis reminds us, hope is the virtue that “keeps us going, never despairing.” The Spirit’s gifts nurture this hope, helping our children believe that their future, and the world’s future, are held in God’s loving hands.

🙏 Prayer
Come, Holy Spirit. Fill our families with your gifts. Grant us wisdom in our decisions, courage in our trials, and hope in our hearts. May we walk together in faith, raising our children to know Your love and to live joyfully in Your Spirit. Amen.

Andy Martin Podcast

This Podcast provides listeners with answers some students may have in RE classes. Worth a listen.

https://open.spotify.com/show/6VlI8DSYzxqqKq0iF406lM?si=396d2df423314e7e

And while I have your attention, could you please take 5 minutes of your time to fill out this survey - this is purely for our understanding of the Religious context of our school.

Gabrielle Bruin - Leader of Faith, Mission & Learning

Key Notices

Please Don't Send Sick Children to School

A friendly reminder from St Raphael's Catholic School:

We understand that attendance is important, but so are healthy happy children. With lots of illness still around..... 

Please help us keep our school community healthy by not sending sick children to school. It is important to know the exclusion periods for different illnesses to prevent the spread of germs.

For more information please refer to the recommended minimum exclusion periods detailed here. 

Morning Delivery of Children
Safe morning delivery of your children needs consideration and co-operation among all motorists.  Please take note of the following points:

• Till 9:30am the drop-off zone out the front of the school is “No Parking” so you cannot leave your car. It is literally, 'Stop, Drop and Go'!
• Please drive to the front of the available drop-off zone to enable others to pull up and deliver their children behind you
  
• Deliver your children and move away from the drop-off  zone carefully and promptly.
  
• It’s illegal to park in the Bus Zone outside the hours of 9:30am and 2:30pm
• It is illegal to park across the driveway
• If you wish to walk your child to the school gates, please park outside the zone and walk to the front of the school with your child, making sure to use the pedestrian crossing on Liverpool Street if required.

Bake Sale - Thursday 11th September

This Thursday 11th September, Secondary Students will be conducting a bake sale at recess to raise funds for the Country Education Foundation. Every $ raised goes to support our Year 12s next year and is generously being matched dollar for dollar by an anonymous donor! Donations of baked good are most welcome! Bring your coins, and support this wonderful cause.

Deadly Pathways Expo at CSU Dubbo

Last Tuesday, our First Nations students from Years 9, 10 and 11 travelled to Charles Sturt University in Dubbo to attend the Deadly Pathways Expo.

The expo provided a valuable opportunity for students to meet and learn from First Nations role models working across science, technology, health and community services. Students participated in engaging workshops and keynote sessions delivered by CSU academics, as well as a variety of hands-on activities designed to spark curiosity and inspire future study and career pathways.

A key focus of the day was helping students understand the support available for First Nations learners entering and succeeding in both TAFE and university.

The event was hosted by comedian Andy Saunders and musician Luca Saunders, who captivated the audience with performances in Biripi language.

We extend our sincere thanks to Mr Chris, our Aboriginal Student Pathways Advisor, for coordinating this valuable experience and continuing to create meaningful opportunities for our students.

HSIE Competition Success!

In Term 2, St Raphael's Year 10 Gold HSIE students participated in the Australian History Competition and the Australian Geography Competition.  Both these competitions are 'skills based,' assessing students ability to interpret and analyse a variety of sources, including diagrams, graphs and tables. The content in drawn from the Stage 5 History and Geography syllabus documents.  Congratulations to the following students for their outstanding achievements:

Taylia - Distinction in the Australian Geography Competition.

Laura - Distinction in the Australian History Competition.

Owen , Georgie and Taylia - Credit in the Australian History Competition.

Library News

Book Week 2025

What an amazing week we had this year for Book Week. There was lots of fun and activities in the Library each lunchtime. The highlight of the week was certainly our Book Week Parade. Even though the weather was inclement the parade was a huge success in the Mother Scholastica Learning Centre. A big thank you to all the students and staff who dressed up on the day and to the many parents, carers, grandparents and friends who came along and supported the parade.

We also held a Colouring In Competition and our Chess Grand Finals during Book Week.. The winners of each are:

Colouring In Competition - Kesaia Aditagane, Sasha Carman, Kaitlyn Davies, Penny McColl, Levi Thompson, Ben Overman

Stage 2 Chess Competition - Albert Harris

Stage 3 Chess Competition - Hamish Carman

Book Fair

Our bi-annual Book Fair will take place next term in Weeks 1 & 2. During week 1, students will be able to window shop and make a wishlist of  the books and other things that are on offer this year. In week 2, students will be able to purchase from the Book Fair. There will also be times that parents will be able to come and purchase from the Book Fair too.  More specifics and details will be announced.

Year 11 Prelimary Exams

In Weeks 9 & 10 while the Year 11 Prelim Exams are taking place, students in Year 11 are most welcome to use the Senior Study area in the Library to study and prepare for their exams. Mrs Scott will have some treats available to help with motivation and energy levels.

Nicole Twohill-Scott - Librarian

Primary Sport

Diocesan Athletics Carnival

Recently, St. Raphael's Catholic School sent 20 Primary students to Dubbo, competing at the Diocesan Athletics Carnival. A great day greeted our competitors, with pleasing results occuring both in track and field events across the day. A big thanks to Miss McGrath for running the Girl's High Jump on the day, as well as parent volunteers. We have five students progressing through to the Polding selection trials on Friday 12th September in Newcastle. Lexie Kennedy for the 100m, 200m and Long Jump. Jack Lawrence-Lyall for High Jump. Addison Longhurst for the 100m. Will O'Reilly for Long Jump, 100m and 800m, and Ebony Whitton for 100m and Shot Put. Will O'Reilly was Senior Boys Age Champion.  We wish these five students all the very best.

Infants Tennis

With our Sporting Schools Grant money, we have Helen Garratt coming in on Thursday mornings, upskilling our Infants students in the sport of Tennis. The smiles on the faces of our youngest sporting stars has been great to see. Keep up the good work Infants and thank you Helen.

Primary Sport Choices

Across five Thursdays, Years 3-6 have been competing in their chosen sports for Sport. We have students going off to the Tennis courts, Park Run participants running around River Park at present, Touch Footy and Soccer players chasing balls down at River Park, and Netballers shooting hoops here at school. Lots of fun and fitness happening here at St. Raphael's!

Stage 2 Todd Woodbridge Cup

News just in! St Raph's finished 3rd and Kaitlin won an effort award!! 

Grahame Statham - Primary Sports Coordinator

Attendance, Wellbeing, Curriculum & Enrichment

Teen Mental Health Matters

When: Tonight, Monday 8th September, at 6pm

Prior to the scheduled P&F meeting tonight, St Raphael's will be hosting an information session focusing on teen mental health. Nicole Prendergast, from The Black Dog Institute, will be presenting the session via ZOOM.  Parents are warmly invited to attend at the MSLC. 

St Raph's P&F

Congratulations to the winners of the Fathers Day raffle. All recipients (except for 1st place-cash ticket) were emailed directly by Rafflelink, and have been tagged on the Parents of St Raph's Facebook page.  Winners can collect their prizes from the school office.

1st Prize – Olight scope-mounted torch & business apparel (supplied by SKG Outdoors) Winner: Grace Langfield

2nd Prize – $250 Gift Basket of local produce (supplied by SWM Chartered Accountants) Winner: Deirdre Holmes

3rd Prize – Ken Worth Gift Basket (donated by Cowra Freight) Winner: Hayden Cassidy

4th Prize – $250 Cowra Toyota Gift Voucher Winner: Samuel Cranney

5th Prize – Cowra Remedial Massage Gift Voucher Winner: Melissa Ousby

6th Prize – 6-month RAD Gym Membership Winner: Notified by email

7th Prize – 6-month RAD Gym Membership Winner: Jessica Traves

8th Prize – Bunnings Gift Pack Winner: Mikaela Webb

9th Prize – Collapsible Space-Saving Saucepan Winner: Laura Price

Canteen

Community Connections

Alpha at St Raphael’s – Explore Life, Faith, and Meaning
St Raphael’s Catholic Parish invites you to come along to Alpha. It begins with an introductory video on Thursday, 18 September at 6.00pm in the Catholic Hall – a welcoming and safe space for anyone curious about life, faith, and meaning.  Alpha is for people of all ages and backgrounds who want to explore life’s big questions in an open and relaxed environment. We’ll share a meal, watch a short video, and enjoy conversation where no question is too simple or too challenging. You don’t need to have been to church recently – or at all – to feel at home at Alpha. Whether you’re searching for purpose, wanting to connect with others, or simply curious about Christianity, Alpha is the perfect place to start the conversation. To register, contact the Parish Office on (02) 6342 1369.  Everyone is welcome – come and see!