Term 4, Week 4 - Monday 25 October 2021

Principal's Report

Dear Parents,

Kindy Start is up and rolling, the second session is being held on Wednesday of this week. Smoothing the transition into school life is important for children and parents alike. We are really excited to be working with our HSC cohort of 2034.

Today is World Teachers Day and is an opportunity to recognise the work and dedication of people in our crucial profession. A positive of COVID 19 is the increased community understanding of the work teachers do on a daily basis. I want to publicly acknowledge the massive investment made by teachers and support staff at St Raphael’s in the learning and wellbeing of our students.

The 2021 Australian Training Award Finalists have been officially and jointly announced by The Hon Stuart Robert MP (Minister for Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business) & The Hon Luke Howarth MP (Assistant Minister for Youth and Employment Services). It is with immense pride that we see our school listed as one of the three national finalists after being involved in delivery of VET for only six years. We anxiously await the judges decision scheduled for mid November.

Incoming principal, Mrs Michelle Deschamps, was very grateful for the warmth of the welcome she received here at St Raphael’s last Friday. She will return in two weeks and for further transition and hopefully we can soon have an occasion when the school community can meet with her.

The last official school day for Year 12 is this Friday and the Year 12 Awards & Farewell Assembly will be held COVIDLY safe. Sadly parents are not permitted to attend and we cannot have the whole school gathering the occasion deserves. The ceremony will be on Zoom for parents and students in their homerooms @ 9:15am. The community Mass and Graduation Dinner for family and staff will be held on 9 December. 

At this assembly Secondary Student Leadership will change hands. Congratulations to those people taking up official leadership roles and be assured that you will have support as you refine your skills. Primary Student Leaders are now beginning the application and selection process.

E-Safety is an issue we have to be constantly vigilant about as parents and teachers. The ease with which undesirable people can make contact with our children via chat rooms is most disturbing. Our trustful children can find themselves vulnerable and lost all too easily. Securing the home network, having oversight of social media and developing savvy children are layers of defence. The school will be facilitating input from police around e-safety around the Stage 3 and 4 age groups and parents are strongly encouraged to use the opportunity to further open up the discussion and strategies with the children.

It's wonderful to see progress on the installation of the VET COLA. Addition of the outdoor learning area for VET Construction is an important enhancement for students. Slats, lighting, trim and guttering will be installed this week to complete the installation. 

Michael Gallagher 

Principal

Faith & Life

This week we celebrate World Teacher’s Day

On this World Teacher’s Day, bless our teachers.

Help them become even more joyful disciples and profound echoes of your wisdom,

Bless our teachers with the gifts of Your truth, beauty and goodness.

Bless them with integrity, so that they bring Your words to life.

Bless them with courage and perseverance to walk the paths You have laid out.

We pray in the name of Jesus who knows all too well the challenges and joys of being a teacher,

Amen

Altar Servers at St Raphael's Parish

Saturday 30 October - Volunteers Please

Sunday 31 October - Volunteers Please

Sacrament of Reconciliation 
Families of Year 2 students are reminded to please check Compass for the 'Virtual Parent Meeting' for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  A few important changes have been made: The preparation time for Reconciliation will begin on the weekend of 13th/14th November (Week 6). Participants will receive their first worksheet on this weekend. The Sacrament of Reconciliation service will now be held on Monday 13th December at 6:30pm.  

First Eucharist

Families of First Eucharist candidates (Year 3) are reminded to please check Compass for details regarding the zoom gathering this Thursday at 7:30pm.  Please use the link provided in your Compass News Feed.

Miss Gabrielle Bischof - Sacramental Coordinator g.bischof1@bth.catholic.edu.au

What's On This Week

Focus on Families

St Raphael’s Catholic School presents…….

A Kaleidoscope of Kindness:

A three week initiative all about Kindness. The initiative will include:

• Australian World Teacher's Day-29 October
• Yr 12 Final Assembly-29 October
• Take Home Kit around the theme of Kindness. Students return leaves weekly for display.
• Crazy Sock Day for Missions-5 November
• Yr 12 Kindness to self hints and ideas.
• International Kindness Day-In school activities-Friday 12 November.

Take a Few For You:

For the next three weeks we will pause Take A Few For You as families complete their Kindness Take Home Kits.

SPaR on Zoom:

We will still continue our weekly SPaR (Stop, Pray and Reflect) Session via Zoom. The sessions will continue to take place each Wednesday evening at 7:30pm. These sessions are designed just for you as parents and carers to attend to your own spirituality. SPaR Sessions aren’t heavy and are an opportunity for you to catch up with other parents/carers in our school community. I encourage you to make yourself a cuppa and log onto the Zoom meeting. The meeting code, password and instructions are below. If you need any further information or have a better time and day in mind, please contact me via my email address (n.twohill-scott@bth.catholic.edu.au)

Log onto Zoom at https://zoom.us/

Click on join at Meeting. Then put in the following Meeting ID and Password. 

Meeting ID: 683 3228 0743  Password: 427664

If you would like anything else to help out during this time, please contact me via email (n.twohill-scott@bth.catholic.edu.au)

Wellbeing

Earrings for Hope

Year 9 Green are raising money for Share the Dignity by selling 3D printed earrings.  Most of the earrings are approximately 3cm tall and 3mm thick. They all have a 2mm hole that fits most sleepers. The sleepers are not included. Some designs come in assorted colors. Supplies are limited and may run out.

Cost: $5 for a pair or Buy 2 pairs get one free

Date: 1:30-1:50pm November, Week 5, Wednesday 3rd (Secondary), Thursday 4th (Primary) and Friday 5th of (Infants).

Canteen

Please find attached for your convenience a copy of our Summer Canteen Menu for 2021. This menu will be effective for Term 4.

Primary Award Recipients

It was so lovely to acknowledge and celebrate our achievements at school once again. Congratulations to our Term 4, Week 3 award recipients. We are very proud of your efforts.

My New Gallery

Positive Learning Behaviour - Primary

Congratulations to our primary students who have achieved the next level on our  Behaviour Management Program. 

Level 5

Mason Paul - 4 Gold

Level 7

Bobby Broad - 3 Gold

Rowdy Causton - 3 Gold

Joy Bowen-Chambers - 3 Green

Olive Hodder - 3 Green

Max Holmes - 3 Green

Charlize Skelton  - 3 Green

Emily Twigg - 3 Green

Angus Anning - 4 Gold

Jacob Cranney - 4 Green

Aiden Gundersen  - 4 Green

Alice Jennings  - 4 Green

Oscar McGill - 6 Green

Level 8

Milla O'Reilly - 5 Green

Charli Raynolds  - 5 Green

Charlee Woodhouse  - 5 Green

Laura Bennett - 6 Gold

Your Teachers are very Proud of You!

This Week's Birthdays

Community Connections

WRAS Netball and Umpire Program 2022

The Netball program provides high performance coaching and training opportunities to up-skill athletes and assist them in progressing to higher representation within the sport of netball.  The program is endorsed by Netball NSW and provides talented netballers the opportunity to grow as netballers and people within the framework of Netball Australia’s Develop a Diamond program.  The program sits between local representative netball and higher order representation such as NSW state team selection.

To be eligible for selection in the 2022 program athletes must:

• be turning 15 or 16 years old in 2022
• be living or attending school in the WRAS catchment area
• be a current financial member of their local association and Netball NSW
• submit a nomination form before the closing date and attend a phase 1 trial day.

Our umpire Program supports identified talented umpires to access quality education and development opportunities delivered by professional and specialised service providers in a well-managed, monitored and controlled environment. The program is endorsed by Netball NSW and provides talented athletes the opportunity to grow as umpires and people.  The program will allow umpires to upskill and work towards a National C or B badge depending on their experience.

To be eligible for selection in the 2022 program umpires must:

• Be aged between 14-18 years of age in 2022
• Be working towards a National C or B badge
• Display the potential to progress through the NNSW & NA Umpire pathway
• Demonstrate a dedication to improving performance

• Athletes must reside, attend school, or be employed in the WRAS catchment area.

Athlete nominations for the WRAS 2022 Greater Bank Netball Program and umpires program are now open. Nominations will close at 9am Friday 29 October.

Background information
Netball – Netball – background information for nominating athletes
Netball Umpire- Netball Umpire- background information for nominating umpires

Links to nominate
Athletes
Umpires

Trial dates
Phase 1 trials – Sunday 7 November (Orange)
Phase 2 trials (by invitation only) – Sunday 21 November (Orange)
All trials will be run in November 2021 in line with NSW Health advice.

More information can be found on our website https://wras.org.au/programs/netball-2/#1448868385538-7dccaf35-aeb1