Term 4, Week 6 - Monday 13th November, 2023

What's On This Week

Principal

Dear Parents and Carers, 

Last Saturday night marked the final graduation of 13 years of schooling for our Year 12 2023. We are very proud of this group of fine young men and women, who have made a significant and enduring impact at St Raphael’s. With examinations completed, our students are set to embark on a wonderful journey into their adulthood. Their schooling at St Raphael’s and in Catholic education, has set each student up for success with skills and knowledge, as well as an education focused on the whole student. 

A question we ask when our staff are interviewed and to incumbent students: What makes our Catholic school different from other educational institutions. The answers invariably acknowledge that every school seeks to offer the best education to every student, with maximum student growth. However the significant difference is that we are a faith community and indeed lucky to be a community across K-12. The community we established is permeated by the Gospel spirit of freedom and love, which is inclusive and fosters individuals who are discerning and are focused on the growth of the whole person. In saying this, students at St Raphael’s are sincerely proud to be in our school, and are afforded many opportunities to be challenged and step out of comfort zones, and also be persons for others. 

Last week our Year 6 students had their Sydney experience. This event was meticulously planned by Mr Statham and Mrs Beecher, to ensure our Year 6 have a diverse range of experiences before transitioning to Year 7.  A trip such as this one requires our students to have courage, confidence, be collaborative and have resilience. Being away from family, routine and experiencing many ‘first’, can be exciting and a little scary. We thank our Year 6 teachers for the extraordinary work involved in the Sydney trip, and for the opportunity for our students as they get set to embark on Year 7. In addition, we applaud our Year 6 students who received many compliments about their behaviour, maturity and respect for their teachers and each other.  

In conjunction with our new Leader of Teaching and Learning for 2024, Mr Dominic Lenaduzzi, we are pleased to announce the appointment of our Literacy Coach, Mrs Kathryn Keefe. These two key leaders along with our Secondary Data, Testing and Intervention Leader, will establish processes and strategies targeted at further extending the capabilities of every student commencing from Year 7 through to Year 12.  This targeted approach will involve significant collaboration and professional development of staff, so we have consistency and common practice aligned with our inquiry learning journey. CEDB is committed to ensuring that their schools have every opportunity and resource to improve every student's ability to go beyond expected student growth. So watch this space for exciting times ahead!

Various parts of uniforms have caused concern. Having said that, our new sports shirts are looking fantastic, and many students have purchased them already. In liaisons with Mr Embroidery, we have discussed the girls PE sports short issue. They are currently exploring a number of suppliers to seek out a better solution. Regarding the girls skirt length, we acknowledge that whilst 'knee length' is the expectation across our Catholic schools, this exact length is not always feasible due to the current design of the skirt. Again we are working with Mr Embroidery on this matter and have asked for the girls skirts to be made with a longer hem for all future orders.  In the meantime, it is important that girls' skirts are not too short. If they are as near to the knee as possible, that is acceptable. 

We realise that it is Movember, however a number of our secondary boys are sporting mo's which are not part of the uniform policy. We are asking parents to support school expectations and ensure their boys are clean shaven. 

Please refer any school fee or other payments or queries to our Administration Officers. They are managing financial matters as the Operations Manager is on leave at present. 

Attached to this newsletter is the 2024 School Fee structure.

God Bless

Michelle Deschamps

Faith, Mission & Learning

Year 12 Graduation

We celebrated our Year 12 Graduation on Saturday evening where we formally recognised the wonderful achievements of our students throughout their 13 years of schooling.  We celebrated the light that has grown in these young people throughout their time at St Raphael’s, that light that they now take out into the world.

Gabrielle Bruin - Leader of Faith, Mission and Learning

St Raphael's Church Altar Servers Roster 

Saturday 18 November - Ned and Max Osborne

Sunday 19 November - Sam and Josh Launders

Saturday 25 November - Charlize Skelton and Lucy James

Sunday 26 November - Beatrix Perry and Tilly Gundersen

Saturday 2 December - Noah and Georgia Campbell

Sunday 3 December - Sienna Launders and Halle Flanagan

Saturday 9 December - Olivia Finn and Molly Vella

Sunday 10 December - Laura and Rosemary Bennett

Saturday 16 December - James Beath-Pearce and Lucy James

Sunday 17 December - Sam and Josh Launders

School Holidays - Volunteers Please

Administration

Respectful Relationships with our Neighbours 

Families are reminded to please do their bit to maintain respectful relationships with our neighbours when facilitating school drop off and pick up. Encouraging your children to stick to the paths when walking to and from the school gates (and not encroach on residential nature strips or garden beds) and keeping vehicle access clear for residents in Poignand Avenue are two ways we can maintain good neighbourly relations.

Bike Safety

If your child is travelling to or from school by bike or scooter, please take the time to reinforce road safety. From time to time we receive calls from members of the public, expressing concern for students  crossing the road unsafely around busy traffic and other road users.  Most recently this concern related to the main street and bike riders duckin out in front of trucks. Please remind your children to always use traffic lights and pedestrian crossings when crossing the road, and to always be mindful of other road users. 

Scholastic Book Club

The latest Scholastic Book Club order for the year went home with infants and primary students last week. Orders are now due online, or may be dropped back to school by this Friday 18th November.

Wellbeing

How Parents can Support Their Child's Learning 

Many students come to school every day being extremely tired from having a late night, being on their devices and playing games. Sleep plays a crucial role in student learning and academic performance. Parents are key to promoting healthy sleep for their children. 

Here are some of the key benefits of sleep for students:

• Memory consolidation: During sleep, the brain processes and consolidates the information learned during the day. This helps students retain and recall information more effectively, which is essential for studying and performing well on tests.
  
• Improved focus and attention: A good night's sleep helps students stay more alert, attentive, and focused during class and while studying. This, in turn, leads to better understanding and retention of material.
  
• Problem-solving and creativity: Sleep has been shown to enhance problem-solving skills and creativity. When students are well-rested, they can approach challenges with a clearer and more innovative mindset.
  
• Emotional regulation: Adequate sleep can improve a student's ability to manage stress, regulate emotions, and cope with the challenges of academic life. Lack of sleep can lead to mood swings and increased stress levels.
  
• Better decision-making: Sleep is essential for good judgement and decision-making. Students who are well-rested are more likely to make informed and rational choices, especially in situations where they need to weigh various options.
  
• Physical health: Lack of sleep can compromise the immune system, making students more susceptible to illnesses. A healthy body is crucial for optimal cognitive functioning and academic performance.
  
• Time management: When students get enough sleep, they are more likely to manage their time effectively, as they can think more clearly and plan their schedules efficiently.
  
• Reduced risk of burnout: Adequate sleep helps prevent burnout, which is common among students who push themselves too hard. A well-rested student is more resilient and less likely to experience academic and emotional exhaustion.
  
• Enhanced creativity: Sleep has been linked to increased creativity and the ability to make connections between ideas, which can be particularly beneficial in subjects that require creative thinking and problem-solving.
  
• Stress reduction: Good sleep can lower stress levels, helping students maintain a healthier work-life balance and mental well-being.
  
• Learning and skill acquisition: During the deep sleep stages, the brain processes and consolidates newly acquired skills and knowledge, making it easier for students to improve and master their subjects over time.
  

In summary, sleep is essential for student learning and overall academic success. It contributes to memory consolidation, better focus, emotional stability, and enhanced decision-making. Students should prioritise a consistent and sufficient sleep schedule to reap these benefits and optimise their educational experience.

Tips for Parent/Carer Education and Engagement

https://www.esafety.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-02/educate_4_-_tips_for_parent-carer_education_and_engagement.pdf

Primary Sport

Swim Safe

Swim Safe Swim Safe 2023 continues this week for year K-6.

Swim Safe Essentials 
Labelled swimmers, labelled towel, labelled sunscreen, labelled rash top or t-shirt, labelled goggles and/or ear plugs (if required), labelled school hat, plastic bag for wet swimming attire, labelled dry shirt/jumper to wear back to school. Please have socks and underwear labelled as well. 

If you have any questions in regards to this please do not hesitate to contact the school or Mr Chris Colemane at c.colemane@bth.catholic.edu.au

Canteen

Helpers Needed!

Our wonderful canteen is in desperate need of volunteers, and the draft roster for Term 4 is full of holes just waiting for your availability! If you would like to speak with Donna about joining the Canteen Volunteer team in 2023, please call her on 0427 501 508 or register your interest here.

Whether it's one day a term, a month or a fortnight, your assistance would be most appreciated. Volunteering at the canteeen is a great way to connect with your school, meet your child's friends and get to know other families at the school. It is also a heap of fun, and lunch is provided.  In the same way that it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a community to continue to provide fresh and healthy meal options at school. Please consider putting your hand up to help.

Community Connections

Headspace Cowra is hoping to gather some information about our neurodivergent young people and their engagement with local health services. We would really appreciate it if you could take few minutes to complete this super quick survey. Many thanks, the headspace Cowra team.

https://forms.office.com/r/ddhAhsQQLw?origin=lprLink



Come join the Triathlon Club this Season!  Every second Friday arvo 530pm for 6pm start.

Next to Cowra Pool and Basketball Court