Term 4, Week 6 - Monday 18th November, 2024

What's On This Week

Showcase of the Creatives!

Join us Tuesday 19th November to celebrate our many talents in the creative space! Casual viewing, mingling and grazing from 6pm followed by an hour of entertainment from 6:30pm

Principal

Dear Parents and Carers, 

St Raphael’s students never fail to impress!  Last Saturday night we celebrated 13 years of schooling with an amazing cohort of students who will each have a great future ahead of them. One of the endearing qualities of this cohort is the life long friendships they have with each other, and I am sure that these connections will remain with the St Raphael’s community. 

We are thrilled to announce three ARTEXPRESS nominations for the Year 12 Visual Arts class. This is an outstanding accolade, and a reflection of the quality of teaching they have had from Mrs Coombes. Whilst each student’s artwork will now go to a panel for the final selection, these students whether selected or not, have achieved very high marks for their HSC artworks. They also have the prestigious nomination letter to add to their CV, which will support them enormously in their careers. 

In January 2025, our first St Raphael’s exchange student, Emma Haslam will fly to Seikei High School for her year long exchange. In turn we will welcome our Seikei High School exchange student, Saya Mizuno. She is in Year 10 and will arrive in March which is the start of their school year. We are super excited, and she already has a number of families seeking to have Saya as their billet. Saya will experience 4 family stays in her time in Cowra. The wonderful thing is, Emma will arrive back in Cowra to spend three months with Saya before she leaves. We are blessed to have this wonderful cultural exchange. 

Last assembly I talked to students and staff about cyber safety. Over the following weeks and terms, I will be discussing various aspects of cyber safety with students, and offering parents some workshops. In the meantime, I highly recommend parents purchasing Sexts, Texts and Selfies by Susan McLean. She is one of two leading experts in Australia regarding Cyber Safety. 

Recently, along with all the Principal’s in the Diocese, we had the privilege of having a conference with Susan McLean. As Principal’s we think we know a lot about cyber safety. However after the conference with Susan, we were equally horrified about the many past, recent and emerging threats to our students. The world of cyber security is also constantly evolving with sophisticated implications constantly changing cyberspace. To commence the conversation with our students, I challenged each student to talk to their parents about what they are doing online, who they talk with and anything that has worried them. So I ask parents to keep the conversations happening with your children.  Some key conversation starters are included at the end of this newsletter.

God Bless, 

Michelle Deschamps - Principal

From the Assistant Principal

Welcome to another edition of the St Raphael’s Newsletter. It has been a busy two weeks and I am once again extremely proud of our school and our students. Over the past couple of weeks the primary school and especially Year 5 have been involved in choosing the primary school captains for 2025. I spoke to the whole group and stressed the importance of having a go and putting yourself “in the arena”. I wanted to ensure they understood that success only comes from taking the first step and it is much easier sitting back and not getting involved. We were overwhelmed with the number of students who wrote a letter putting forward their credentials to be a school leader.

We then last week had those students speak in front of the entire primary school parents and staff. Public speaking can be a harrowing, nerve wracking experience but all 18 of these students stood up and spoke clearly and passionately about why they wanted to be a school leader. It was inspiring being in the audience and listening to these brave young souls overcome their fears and impress the entire audience with their eloquence. Congratulations to all those students!

Above all St Raphael’s is a learning institution and this past week the secondary students in Stage 5 have undertaken end of year exams. These exams are to assess the learning of our students and will be reported upon in the Yearly Report. Staff at St Raphael’s pride themselves on implementing lessons that will challenge and invigorate our students. Staff are constantly reflecting upon their teaching practice ensuring that students have every opportunity to improve and become better students. The rest of the school are completing final assessments that will hopefully demonstrate growth in their learning. Staff are always more than happy to hear from parents and carers who have concerns or maybe parents would like to congratulate their child’s teacher.  

On this note I would stress to our parents and carers that if they have questions about anything that happens at school could they please contact the school and make an appointment to discuss the issue. Chinese whispers will not solve an issue but coming forward for open and robust communication is key to moving forward.

David Wickham - Assistant Principal

We proudly announce our Primary Leadership Team for 2025!

Primary Captains: Harriet and Anant

Primary Prefects: Rosemary, Gabrielle, Melanie and Josh

Faith, Mission & Learning

Our Parish just completed the Sacrament of Reconciliation with our Year 2 students on the weekend. We focused on the 'Parable of the Lost Sheep', found in the Gospels of Matthew (18:12–14) and Luke (15:3–7). It offers a powerful reflection on God’s love and mercy. It presents the image of a shepherd who leaves his 99 sheep to seek out the one that is lost, emphasising themes of individual worth and the joy of restoration.

Here are a few takeaways:

The shepherd’s willingness to leave the 99 sheep underscores the idea that every individual is deeply valued. This is a comforting reminder that no one is insignificant in God’s eyes, and His love reaches even those who feel abandoned or unworthy.

When the shepherd finds the lost sheep, he rejoices, and in Luke’s account, there is a celebration in heaven. This illustrates that reconciliation and redemption are central to God’s kingdom, and they bring immense joy.

The parable invites us to see others with compassion and humility, remembering that everyone has moments of vulnerability and need. It also encourages communities to celebrate rather than judge when someone returns to the fold.

From a worldly perspective, leaving 99 sheep to find one might seem impractical or reckless. However, this illustrates the upside-down nature of God’s kingdom, where love and grace often defy conventional logic.

I wonder...

• How do I view those who have strayed or made mistakes? Do I reflect God’s grace in my actions toward them?
• Am I open to being “found” when I feel lost or distant from my faith or values?
• In what ways can I help create a community that celebrates restoration and redemption?

The parable ultimately serves as a reassurance that God’s love is personal, boundless and forgiving, offering hope to anyone who feels lost.

Gabrielle Bruin - Leader of Faith, Mission & Learning

Administration

Learning, Engagement & Wellbeing

Late Arrival of Secondary Students

Families are reminded of the process around late arrival of Secondary Students.  Secondary Students are not permitted to sign themselves in using the Compass Kiosk.  Any Secondary Student arriving late to school (i.e. after 9:10am) will be signed in at the School Office. Their late arrival will be marked as unexplained until an attendance note to explain the reason for their late arrival is added by their parent on Compass, or a phone call/email placed to the school to justify their child's late arrival.

Attendance Matters

Attending special school events fosters a sense of belonging to the school community. Expect your child to attend and participate in events.

Setting the expectation for children to attend and actively participate in special school events is a positive step toward creating a supportive and vibrant school community. It contributes to a well-rounded educational experience that extends beyond the academic curriculum.

Expecting children to attend and participate in school events instils a sense of responsibility. It teaches them that being part of a community involves active involvement and a commitment to shared experiences.

Bronze and Level 7 Award Recipients

Congratulations to the following Primary students who have reached Level 7, Silver and Level 9 on the Behaviour Management Plan.

LEVEL 7

 Jack Lawrence-Lyall * Jade-Lily Moriarty * Briyan Thomas * Jarreau Emseis * Louis Thomas

SILVER AWARD

Alexander Dunlop * Albert Harris * Lachlan Hong * Alex Kelly-Shepherd * Evie Woodhouse * Charlotte Graham * Matilda Laing * Franky Morgan *  Piper Tindall * Angus Robson * Madison Smith-Scott * Fathima Faisal * Nicholas James * Campbell Douglas * Sash Germanoski * Gabrielle Bryant * William Buik * Lexie Kennedy * Ruben Fitzsimmons * Halle Flanagan * Charlee Larkin * William O’Reilly * Lacey Rayner * Henry Rowlands * Beau Tremble * Melanie Bryant * Simon Hakiza * Michael Zhang * Tyler Harris 

LEVEL 9

Logan Thompson * Hazel Mullins * Benjamin Overman * Digby Delaney * Charlie Sims * Archie Stanford * Hank Hubber * Ashley Kang * Gerry Yappas * Ava Allan * Jack Keefe * Joshua Randell * Rory Rue * Patrick Dyer * Anantarvir Dhumi * Eleanor Duguid * Willow Harris * Erik Bowen-Chambers * Joy Bowen-Chambers * Harper Chalker * Ava Douglas * Lucy James * Jack Langfield * Emily Twigg * Mason Kirwan * Indigo Nurcombe * Jacob Wydmuch

Year 6 Sydney Excursion

In Week Four, 37 Year 6 students turned up bright and early on the Wednesday morning, ready for a departure time of 6am, about to head to 'the big smoke!' Sydney was in our sights and excitement was evident on all faces.

The Jewish Museum was the first port of call once reaching Sydney. All students had read the novel "Once" by Morris Gleitzman and had learnt a little about the war, so this tied in well.  A 'Survivor' talk was of great interest, as was asking questions of a dead survivor 'Olga' and receiving answers through amazing modern day technology!  A lovely stroll along the coastline from Bondi to Bronte, finishing with a swim in the shallows at Bronte was a nice way to finish the day.  Then it was off to the motel to arrange rooms and have dinner, followed by a night walk around town.

Day Two had us walking up to St. Mary's Cathedral for a quick look, then it was onto Parliament House for a very educational experience that contained role plays for the students.  A short walk down to Cirqular Quay to catch a ferry to Manly was up next. For many, it was their first time on Sydney Harbour which is always nice. Upon reaching enemy territory (Parramatta fans don't like Manly much!!!) the children had just over an hour to investigate the corso, buy their lunch and have a look around, before it was back onto the bus, heading to the Sydney Cricket Ground.

The S.C.G. Tour was an education program titled "Walking In The Shoes Of ..." Our 'hero' was Steve Waugh. We were led around the ground and behind the scene places of interest, all the time being able to stop and listen to Steve's voice who provided information about where we were at the time. Finishing in the S.C.G. Museum was also great for the children to see an array of sports that included memorabilia from rugby league, rugby union, soccer, A.F.L. and cricket to name a few.  Back to the motel for dinner and a walk around Darling Harbour saw out the day. Over 20 000 steps completed on this day.

Friday saw us up early for breakfast and pack up, heading to Jamberoo water park for the day. Beautiful weather greeted us and the children were very keen to get underway. Challenges with the teachers on some of the slides saw the students come up short. Teachers 1, Students 0! Lots of great fun was had by all on the day. Back onto the bus for the trip home, with a quick McDonald's dinner stop at Yass.

Arriving back at St. Raphael's at 8:20pm saw some very tired children greeted by their "lonely" parents, grateful to have them back safe and well.  What a fun excursion with excellent kids! We had a ball, thanks to the respectful behaviour shown by the students. We had many members of the public come up to the teachers and comment on what a great bunch of students we had.Thanks to Mr. Jeffries for taking time out of his busy Secondary commitments to again make the journey with us. A great lead into Year 7 for next year. Mrs. O'Reilly was a late inclusion and did a superb job as our "mum" and "chemist." Thank you both for your 'above and beyond' efforts.  Bring on 2025 Year 6 excursion!

Grahame Statham

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Positive Partnerships

The fantastic team at Positive Partnerships has just released their dates for semester 1 next year. 

They deliver high-quality professional learning and resources through workshops, webinars, and online modules for parents, carers, and school staff. This strengthens their capacity to support and advocate for our students who are on the Autism Spectrum.

 Please find the Positive Partnerships’ NSW/ACT schedule for semester 1, 2025.

As always, you’ll find a mix of online and face-to-face events, including:

• Parent/ carer programs

Library News

Primary Chess 2024

The 2024 Primary Library Chess competition has now concluded. The Senior Primary (Years 5 and 6) winners were:

• Grand Champion – Edan Carman
• 2nd place – Josh Launders
• 3rd Place – Sam Launders

The Junior Primary (Years 3 and 4) winners were:

• 1st place – Hamish Carman
• Equal 2nd place – Digby Delaney and Vivienne Graham
• 3rd place – Sarah Langfield

On Monday, Digby Delaney and Hamish Carman competed together in the Junior Chess Grand Finals. In the end, Hamish won by getting Digby in checkmate. Luckily, they were both good sports and declared “good game!” Written by Digby and Hamish.

Learning Logistics & Pathways

Careers Corner

Students, parents & carers are encouraged to check out the latest updates on our school's career pathways website: https://straphaelscowra.careertools.com.au/

Any questions, please contact Mr Lette, thank you.

David Lette - Leader of Learning Logistics and Pathways

Primary Sport

K-6 Swimsafe Lesson

Coming up in Weeks 8 + 9 are our intensive swimming lessons for all students across our Infants and Primary school. The groupings are currently being sorted by the team down at the Aquatic Centre and we will hopefully have the groupings ready to be published in the next Newsletter. If parents would still like to nominate themselves for walking to and from the pool with the students, please ring the school and leave your name.

NSW Golf Tournament Representation

Last week, David from Year 6 represented NSW at Golf down in Kiama. From Diocesan selection at Blackheath, to Polding selection in the Hunter Valley, through to NSW. selection down in Kiama, David has achieved great things with his golfing skills throughout the year. This latest achievement is great recognition for all of the efforts he and his parents have put in. Congrats David.

Summer Sports - Dubbo

Last week, St Raphael's Catholic School had students from Years 4 & 5 attend Dubbo across five summer sports. On Thursday, Rory and Lane went to Cricket, Billy Simms went to Softball, and Will O'Reilly, Grace Kelly-Shepherd, Vallie Bodiam and Lexie Kennedy were at Touch Footy.On Friday, Henry Rowlands attended Basketball, whilst Rosemary Bennett, Beatrix Perry, Ashley Kang, Joshua Launders, Samuel Launders, Henry Mitchell and William Buik went to Tennis.

Todd Woodbridge Cup

Today in Sydney, ten Stage 3 students from St Raphael's are competing in the State Finals for Tennis, having made it through from the Parkes Carnival earlier this year. The event features the top 18 schools from across the state, with St Raphael's being one of the selected teams. This is already a significant achievement. Results will be shared in the upcoming Newsletter.

Administration

School Fees Are Now Overdue

Families are reminded that 2024 School Fees are now overdue.  If you do not already have a payment plan in place, please contact the school as a matter of priority to make payment.

Save the Dates!

Term 4 Primary Assembly Dates have been confirmed as follows:

• Friday 29th November (Week 7) - 2:05pm @ St Brigid's School Hall

The 2024 Presentation Day Assembly (K-12) has been confirmed as follows:

• Friday 13th December (Week 10) - 9:30am @ St Raphael's Catholic Church

No students on school grounds before 8:20am

Families are reminded that there is to be no general student access to school grounds before 8:20am. 

There is no staff supervision until this time, and therefore students arriving on school grounds prior to 8:20am are out of bounds.  Please assist your school with the wellbeing and safety of all students by ensuring that your child is not on school grounds prior to 8:20am.

Canteen

Online Canteen Ordering is now available via the Flexischools App!

Thankyou to those families who have already signed up to Flexischools to manage their children's recess and lunch canteen orders!  We've been overwhelmed with the positive response, and are so excited to be providing a convenient and cashless ordering system to meet the needs of students and families. 

If you haven't already done so, we encourage you to download the Flexischools app from the Apple or Google store and follow the prompts to create an account. You can download the App and find registration and online ordering instructions here.

Please note!

• there is no toasting of sandwiches in Term 4
• gluten free nuggets are reserved for gluten free students only

Community Connections

Youth Development Scholarships

Youth Development Scholarships are for students who live in social housing or out-of-home care, along with NSW students in years 10, 11 or 12. 

The $1,000 scholarships can be used for educational, support related or living expenses in the 2025 academic year for textbooks, tutoring, laptops, transport costs and more. 

For new and returning high school students, applications close on Friday, 21 February 2025. 

For returning tertiary students, applications close on Friday, 14 March 2025. 

Check the NSW Department of Communities and Justice website for information on eligibility and items and services that can be purchased or email education@homes.nsw.gov.au.

Youth Carer Bursary

Are you aged between 12 and 25 years and looking after someone in your family or one of your friends with a disability, illness, or because they’re getting older?  
If you’re also studying at school, TAFE, university, or another educational institution or have an intent to study in 2025, you may be eligible for the Young Carer Bursary.  

The $3,768 bursary can be used for buying laptops, school uniforms, books,  or paying for school fees, transport, school activities and more. 

Applications close on Friday, 22 November 2024 

Visit the Young Carers Network website to download the information pack, check your eligibility, and apply.