Term 1, Week 10 - Tuesday 2nd April, 2024

What's On This Week

Principal

Dear Parents and Carers, 

This morning I had the privilege to watch our secondary spelling bee final. Not only did the students show their talent for spelling, they also demonstrated courage getting up in front of their peers. Congratulations to the finalists and to all students for participating. 

As our term comes to a close, it is a great time to reflect on the many learning experiences students have had in class and beyond the classroom. It is all of these experiences combined which contribute to the development of the whole person. 

After Easter Sunday we call the next 8 days the Easter Octave whereby we bask in the glory of what has been done for us and given to us. It is therefore pertinent to be thankful for the education our students receive and the many opportunities they are given. 

This week we have very special visitors from the prestigious Seikei school in Japan. Seikei is a Kindergarten to University school. This visit from Principal Senda is focused on developing relations with St Raphael’s and looking at opportunities for students to be immersed in each of our schools. Principal Senda is also here to mark the 80th anniversary of the Cowra Breakout. We look forward to future endeavours with Seikei. 

Although we have one more week left for the school term, I would like to congratulate our students on the hard work they have sustained over the term, and the strength and gentleness displayed by our students. I know I speak on behalf of the staff, when I acknowledge that St Raph’s is definitely the school of choice!

God Bless Everyone, 

Michelle Deschamps - Principal

Assistant Principal

Happy Easter and I hope everyone enjoyed the extra long weekend with family and friends and celebrated the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The school had our Easter Liturgy last Thursday and I could not be prouder of how respectful and reverent our students were. Listening to all the Stages of the Cross I could see the words having a real effect on students as they listened to the story of Christ’s death and resurrection. It was extremely moving and like I said, I was once again extremely proud to be a member of the St Raph’s community.

I spoke recently at the Secondary Assembly about the wonderful opportunities that exist at St Raphael’s. The school is outstanding in the opportunities that it is providing our students, and no matter what pathway our students choose there are staff to point them in the right direction.

With this opportunity comes responsibility; our students need to understand they have a responsibility to follow the vision and mission of our school. We have policies and procedures in place and if students want to take on the opportunities that we offer they must adhere to, and follow staff directions. This is the basic tenet of learning and of any school. Students must follow the rules and policies of the school. I feel very strongly about seeing these policies applied by our school and the high expectations that our staff have for the learning of all students will be a continued message to our students. 

The Term 1 Interim Reports for 7-11 will be available on Compass by Friday this week, and this allows for parents and carers to obtain a guide for where the students are performing. This is followed by a Parent/Teacher evening on Tuesday of Week 1 Term 2. This is a great opportunity for parents/carers to meet and discuss the learning of their child with the teacher. 

Holidays will be at the end of next week and I wish everyone a happy and safe holiday. It also is the end of my first term as Assistant Principal and I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for making me so welcome into this community that is St Raph’s.

David Wickham - Assistant Principal

Faith, Mission & Learning

Alleluia He is Risen!

A very blessed Easter to you all. Easter is more than a day, it’s a season. Commencing on Easter Sunday and running until the great Feast of Pentecost, the Church celebrates that Jesus Christ rose from the dead. Over the next few weeks, we will hear many appearance scripture readings of the Risen Christ. It is a time of great renewal of our Faith. 

Project Compassion

Thankyou to those families who have been collecting for Project Compassion in their own homes. Please return all boxes and money to the school by next Thursday 11 April so that all donations can be finalised by the end of Term 1.

First Eucharist

This weekend sees the commencement of The First Eucharist program for this year. Those children wishing to be part of the program in 2024 must attend one the Parish Masses over the weekend. Please keep these children in your prayers over the next few months as they prepare for this most important sacrament. Please find program details below.

Enrolment Weekend: 6th & 7th April

Parent Meeting: Monday 8th April at 3:30pm or 7:00pm

First Eucharist Preparation Weekends: 27th & 28th April, 4th & 5th May, 11th & 12th May, 18th & 19th May, 25th & 26th May

First Eucharist Retreat

Tuesday 28th May

Sacrament of First Eucharist

1st & 2nd of June

If you require any further information, please contact me (n.twohill-scott@bth.catholic.edu.au)

ANZAC Day 

ANZAC Day this year falls on the second Thursday of the holidays. We still would like as many of our students to attend and march as a school community. If your child/children are available, please find the details below.

When: Thursday 25th April.

Where: Outside Club Cowra on Brisbane St

Time: 10:00am Meet Staff

          10:20am Wreath Laying

          10:30am March to River Park

          11:00am ANZAC Ceremony

Dress: Full School Winter Uniform

Upon our return to school next term, we will pause and reflect about ANZAC Day in a special Liturgy. The Liturgy will take place on Tuesday 30th April @ 10:30am in St Raphael’s Church. All welcome.

Nicole Twohill-Scott - Leader of Faith, Mission & Learning (Acting)

Athletics Carnival - Secondary

Secondary Athletics Carnival - Wednesday 3rd April

The Secondary Athletics Carnival will be in Cowra tomorrow, Wednesday 3rd April. Parents are responsible for organising for their child to arrive safely to the athletics track at River Park by 8:50am. A number of teachers will remain at school and walk students who came to school by bus safely to the oval. Supervising teachers will also be present at Cowra Public School for any students wishing to hop off the bus there. Students wishing to participate in the 400m running races are to meet at 8:20am for a 8:30am start. All students will return to school under the supervision of teachers by 3:10pm. Students are encouraged to wear their house colours or sports uniform on the day and to Slip, Slop, Slap. 

Athletics Carnival - Primary

Primary Athletics Carnival - Thursday 4th April

This Thursday, 4th April, sees our Primary 3-6 Athletics Carnival down at River Park. Throughout the term, all classes have been participating in track and field trials for sport, ready to take on the events at our Carnival. Students are asked to arrive at school by 8:50am (fruit break) where they will have their name marked off the roll, then walk with their teacher to the track. The exception to this will be the students who have nominated to run in the 800m event. These students are asked to head straight to the track, where this event will kick-off at 8:50am.

On this day, students are asked to wear their "House Colours." Kilbreda = Blue. Raphael = Red. Xavier = Yellow.   Hats are compulsory, either a house colour hat or the school hat please. Bring plenty of water and sunscreen as well. Mrs. Stokes has a canteen running on the day down there, however lunch orders should already be in for this day. Students will return to school at the end of the day ready for dismissal.

K-2 Athletics Carnival

Also this Thursday, all students from Kindergarten to Year 2 will be walking down to the Athletics Carnival, to participate in some Novelty events, the 100m dash and attempting the Long Jump. K-2 will come to school as normal, participate in classes in a shortened morning session, before heading down to compete after eating their recess at school. K-2 children will complete their events before heading back to school for lunch and the afternoon session/nap! Any parents wishing to walk to and from the Carnival are asked to meet the teachers and children on the playground at 11 o'clock. First event for our K-2 children begins at 11:30am. All students are asked to also come dressed in their House Colours.

Kilbreda = Blue. Raphael = Red. Xavier = Yellow.

Primary Sport

Primary Swimming

Tomorrow, Wednesday 3rd April, sees two of our Primary students heading off to Sydney to swim in the Olympic Pool at the CPS Swimming Carnival. We wish Anna Pearce and Max Holmes, both from Year 6, all the very best in their events. Unfortunately, Patrick Dyer qualified to attend, but an arm injury since racing at Dubbo, has forced him out of the meet. 

Primary AFL

Next Tuesday, 9th April, we have three boys who have made it through to the Polding AFL trials, being held at Warners Bay near Newcastle. Liam Doolan from Year 6 and Harrison Sheehy and Will O'Reilly, both from Year 5, progressed to this level earlier this term after trialling well in Bathurst. We wish them well in their endeavours.

Primary Cross Country

Last Thursday, all students from Years 3 to 6 went to River Park for Sport to compete in our school's Cross Country try-outs. Not everyone is a long-distance runner, myself included, however this day caters for all types. We have a 2km course set out that sees some children happy to walk the whole distance, some who do a mix of walk-run, whilst our "professional athletes" stormed around the course, attempting to make it to the next level. That will be in Coolah on Tuesday 7th May, starting at 10am. Children turning 8, 9 and 10 this year run the 2km course around the Coolah Golf Course, whilst the 11 and 12 year olds have an extended 3km run. From last Thursday, 26 students have qualified to participate at this next level. With a month to go before the event, children who qualified and who intend on going, are asked to 'up' their training in preparation for this event. Please include some hills in your training!

David Peachey Rugby League

Last Wednesday, we had ten Year 5 + 6 boys represent the school in the annual Peachey/Richardson Rugby League day. Three games on the day against Canowindra Public, Grenfell Public and Cowra Public, saw the boys come away undefeated with three wins. Bobby "Campbell-Gillard" Broad and Max "Cartwright" Holmes were both strong in attack, making good metres up the middle all day. Toby "Lussick" Woodhouse and Rory "Matterson" Rue both were excellent dummy halves, with quick thinking, darting runs, resulting in tries for both boys throughout the day. Connor "Gutherson" Frazer and Jacob "Sivo" Wydmuch showed considerable speed out wide over the course of the day, leaving the opposition in their wake. Will "Moses" O'Reilly and Harrison "Brown" Sheehy ran the team around as first receivers, dictating play with thoughtful and accurate play. Jimmy "Hopgood" Smith was hitting his straps the longer the day went with strong runs and good defence. Player of the day for our team was Sam " Paulo" Harris. He was superior in his tackling and made good metres with every leg driving run.The boys are to be congratulated on their performance representing the school on the day. 20 tries scored across the day, letting in only 9. Well done. 

Grahame Statham - Primary Sports Coordinator

Secondary Sport

NSWCCC Swimming Championships

Good luck to Max Osborne and Neil Duguid who are competing at the NSWCCC Swimming Championships at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre on Thursday.

Southern Country Football (Soccer) Trials

Congratulations to Laura and Karly for representing the Bathurst Diocese today at the Southern Country Football (Soccer) Trials. The Bathurst Diocesan team played games against the Wagga Wagga Diocese and the Canberra/Goulburn Diocese. Both girls made it through to the Possible v Probables round. Well done to Karly for gaining selection in the Southern Country team to play at the NSWCCC Football (Soccer) Championships in Sydney.

Upcoming Events

Secondary Diocesan Cross Country (Orange)  - Thursday 9th May 2024

Secondary Diocesan Team Tennis Gala Day (Orange) -  Wednesday 15th May 2024

Secondary Diocesan Basketball Gala Day (Bathurst) - Thursday 16th May 2024 

Secondary Diocesan Athletics Carnival (Dubbo) - Thursday 22nd August 2024

Administration

Evacuation Drill Today

Today our students and staff K-12 conducted an annual Evacuation Drill.  The process went smoothly and all students are to be congratulated on the calm way they followed instruction and on their sensible approach to this safety process.

2023 Year Book

The 2023 Year Book is now available for collection. Year Books are distributed to all 2023 families, with many already being sent home via the youngest Infants/Primary Student. Secondary families who are yet to receive their 2023 Year Book are encouraged to have their child collect their family's copy from the school office before the end of Term.

Canteen

Canteen Closed This Thursday

Please note that the School Canteen will be closed this Thursday 4 April due to Mrs Stokes coordinating the canteen at River Park for the Primary Athletics Carnival on this day.

Please note that there is no toasting of sandwiches, rolls or wraps in Terms 1

Community Connections