P.O. Box 7, Cowra 2794 Email: [email protected]Tel: 6342.2940 School Website: www.straphaelscowra.catholic.edu.au Dear Parents A complex but exciting time is upon us: the first major event of Parish celebrations marking the 125 th anniversary of the creation of our parish was held on Friday evening – while it was planned as “Dinner Under the Stars”, mother nature reminded us who was boss and Plan B kicked into action with the 250 guests revelling in the great company, the great dining, the great story and the great entertainment. “Absolutely excellent” was the verdict on this gathering. Swimming representatives travel to Dubbo today (Primary) and tomorrow (Secondary) for the Diocesan Swimming Competition. We have enjoyed rather extraordinary success by having a very large contingent travelling away and we are most grateful to parents and teachers who invest their time in making such opportunities available our children. May you all be blessed with safe travel. Wednesday marks the start of two important events; It is Ash Wednesday and therefore the whole school Mass on Wednesday morning will mark the beginning of Lent – six weeks during which we consciously “go that extra mile” for one another. Additionally, Wednesday marks the start of the annual Year 6 camp at Lake Burrendong, a time individual and group challenge where students test their personal capacity in many dimensions. Both of these events ask participants to “stretch the boundaries” as Fr Pat challenged us to do at Masses last weekend. The 50 th Festival of International Understanding, featuring the United Nations officially begins next Saturday and runs through next week. In reality the Youth Ambassadors from community organizations began some time ago as did members of choirs and parade planners. St Raph’s is being excellently represented this year by Miss Madison Johnson and Miss Kelly Price. Numerous other St Raph’s students are representing other community organizations. (Hannah Nobes – Youth Council, Olivia Edwards – Netball Association, Claire Liversidge – Rural Fire Service).Our choir will be involved in the opening Ceremony at the Peace Bell next Saturday evening and school representatives will attend the opening dinner. A week later, of course, is the festival parade and party at River Park in which we will be strongly represented. Coinciding with the festival dates this year we also have Catholic Schools Week. More detail has been circulated about events and invitations. The opening events on next Monday are the annual CSW Open Day and morning tea, followed by the K-10 Assembly featuring the annual CSW Address, this year being presented by Mrs Jenny Allen, Executive Director of Catholic Education in the Bathurst Diocese. Michael Gallagher Principal Ash Wednesday Ash Wednesday Prayer Father in Heaven, May this season of repentance bring us the blessing of Your forgiveness and the gift of Your light. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Monday 3 Happy birthday to Tarnia Palmer Field. Primary Diocesan Swimming in Dubbo. Tuesday 4 Secondary Diocesan Swimming in Dubbo. Wednesday 5 Happy birthday to Emma Chalker, Shiloh Smith and Ethan Tindall. Year 6 Excursion to Lake Burrendong. Ash Wednesday Mass at 9:30am. St Raphael’s Catholic School Term 1, Week 6/B Newsletter 3 March 2014 Gospel Challenge Term 1 Week 6 “Unless you repent, you will all perish” Matthew 6:24-34
Thursday 6 Happy birthday to William Austin, Matilda Proctor and
Depp Ryan-Lukasiak. Year 6 Excursion to Lake Burrendong.
Friday 7 Year 6 Excursion to Lake Burrendong.
Happy birthday to Callista Ford, Samson Myers, Ellie
Thomson and Harry Thuaux for the 8th and Daisy
Heilman, Carly McIntyre and Lucy Pattingale for the 9th.
Dates For the Calendar
Week 6 - Ash Wednesday: March 5th 9.30am High school students to be in school uniform. If necessary bring sport clothes to change into.
Week 7 - Catholic Schools Week ‘More than a Great
Education’: March 9-15 - Heritage Day Mass: Friday March 14th-10am - Heritage Day Fete: Friday March 14th
1pm - 2.30pm
Ash Wednesday Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lenten Season. It is a time of penance, reflection, and fasting which prepares us for Christ's Resurrection. The ashes we receive are a symbol of penance. The ashes are made from the blessed palms used in the Palm Sunday celebration of the previous year. Altar Servers’ Roster Sat 8
th March: Tom Heilman and Owen Munro.
Sun 9th March: Isobelle Lynch and Mikelli Garratt.
Wednesday Parish/School Mass Ash Wednesday: March 5th 9.30am School Readers for Weekend Parish Masses: Sun 9
th March: Mr D Maher.
School Computer Roster Sat 8
th March: St Raphael’s School Leaders.
Library News Library Bags: Please remember these for the protection of books borrowed. Borrowing: As well as during library lessons, borrowing is available every day before school and during lunchtime. Missing books: Could parents please check whether they have any copies of the following Sparkler books at home. They have been used as readers in classes; Ellie and the Magic Computer, It’s Pay Back Time, Making Friends With Samson, Sticky Fingers. Library Monitors 2014: Our first assembly of the year saw the induction of our hard working library monitors. Alex Duff 6S, Lucas Pearce 6S, Tristan Anthony 6S, Amelia Sharp 6C, Brock Carman 6C, Nathan Lavender
6S,William Lawler 5G, Zoe Budge 5G,Amy Gruessing 50. Congratulations . Library Days Reminder: MONDAY Year 2P, Year 6 classes, TUESDAY Year 2W, Year 4 and 5 classes WEDNESDAY Kinder B THURSDAY Kinder F, Year 1 classes FRIDAY Year 3 classes Happy reading Kerri Skinner - Librarian Infants - Kindergarten, Year one and Year Two In Terms Two and Three our 'nose blowing' programme takes place. All the children give their nose a good blow before entering school. This ensures that their hearing is the best it can be and does not affect their participation in class work. As several children already have colds and runny noses we ask that you encourage the children to give their nose a good blow each morning - a good blow, not just a wipe. Hearing and listening are very important in all lessons. Primary Assembly
The next primary assembly will be held next week, Thursday 13
th March. It will be led by the Primary
Prefects and House Captains. If your son / daughter is to receive a class award a note will be sent home at the beginning of the assembly week. Parents are always most welcome to attend any primary assembly. Festival Parade
15th
March, 2014
A note was sent home last week asking parents to
indicate if their child/children will be attending the
Festival Parade on March 15. Every student this year
is being asked to wear their sports uniform. The
colours of the United Nations emblem are blue and
white. For the parade the students will be given a blue
material sash to tie over their left shoulder and pin to
their waist on the right side. This allows us to reflect
the colours of the United Nations during the parade.
Note: The students in the choir will be wearing blue t-
shirts.
Note: The blue material plus safety pins will be sent
home with the students next week.
Year 6 Burrendong Camp Two more sleeps until Year 6 head off to Lake Burrendong!! Just a reminder to be at school by 7:15am for departure on Wednesday morning. Return is approximately 4:00pm on Friday afternoon. A reminder to hand any medication to your teacher before boarding the bus. It should be labelled with instructions in a zip lock bag. Mr Colemane and Miss Slaven
held in Dubbo today. Tomorrow, it will be the turn of
the secondary to participate in the diocesan swimming
carnival, also in Dubbo. Approximately a total of forty
students will be representing our school in these
events. An outstanding achievement! Congratulations
to the swimmers on being rewarded for their talent and
training by making it to this representative level. Thank
you to the many parents transporting their children to
these carnivals.
Secondary Sports Uniform Days Secondary students are required to wear their sports uniform on the days identified in the table below. Please note some days have changed. Week A
Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri
9-2 10-1 7-2 9-1 8-1
10-2 8-2 PASS-3 PASS-1
10-2 PASS-3
Week B
Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri
10-1 9-1 7-1 8-2 7-2
10-2 9-2 8-1 7-1
7-2 8-1
8-2
PASS-1
Primary Physical Education Lessons
Wednesdays
Physical education classes for this week, 5th March
are: Year 3,4 and 5. These classes need to wear their
sports uniform. Next week (12th March) Year 2, 5 and
6 wear sports uniforms.
Secondary Representative Selection Trials
Touch Football (March 18) & Soccer (March 20)
Diocesan Selection Trials are scheduled for Touch
Football (Forbes) on March 18 and Soccer (Bathurst)
on March 20. Teams (boys and girls) need to be
organised for Touch Football and notes will be sent to
parents this week. The age group for Touch Football is
15 years and under. Mr Cooley and Mr Jeffries will be
organising the ‘touch football’ trials, selections and
notes.
Soccer is for Year 12 students (Under 18s), boys and
girls, and students can register as individuals. Mr
Thomas will speak to students during classes this
week. If a student feels they have the skills to make
this representative level they are invited to make
contact with Mr Thomas. Relevant registration details
will be sent home.
Canteen Update This week’s roster is as follows:
Tues 4
Wed 5
Thurs 6
Fri 7
Mon 8
Karen Campbell
Lisa Day
CLOSED
Kate Wilson
Jo-Anne Graham
Lyn Terry
Kelly Webb
Skye
Muddle
Jacqui C-Cusack
Jayne
Webster
A big thank you goes out to Mrs Catherine Azzopardi for donating watermelons to the canteen - they were very much appreciated. As from Tuesday there will be new chips available in the canteen they are GLUTEN FREE. Mamee: Lone Star B.B.Q flavour, Mamee: Cheese Twistems. They will be $1.00 per packet. As from this Friday 7
th March there will be NO SLUSH
PUPPIES SOLD ON FRIDAYS until the end of term due to lent. Heritage Day 14
th March there will be NO LUNCH
ORDERS ACCEPTED instead there will be Hot Dogs sold $2.00 each but there are only limited amount available. Also there will be crazy ice creams cones available : 1 scoop $1.50, 2 scoop $2.00 each also sweets sold. RECESS ONLY BLACKBOARD: Hash Browns 80c, Pizza Slice $1, Ham & Cheese Bread $1, Apple & Mouse Crumble Cup or Apple & Custard Crumble Cup $1. Thank you Donna Stokes – Canteen Manager
ST RAPH’S P & F QUIZ NIGHT
SAT 5th APRIL 2014
Our major fundraiser for this term is the Quiz night. Haydn Thomas, fresh from his international Speaking commitments, is to be our quiz master so you are sure to be entertained and enthralled! One of the main attractions of the evening is the vast array of prizes to be won throughout the evening in the continuous draw. We are hoping that the families of St Raph’s will be able to contribute by way of a donation. It could be a bottle of wine, a gift voucher from a Cowra Business, gourmet items, a box of chocolates or even a cash donation that could go towards purchasing items. It does not have to be expensive but good quality please -something that someone would like to win! Also if you own a business in town and would like to make a donation, we would be very grateful. If you would like us to acknowledge that you made a donation, please include a card with the donation otherwise it will remain anonymous. All donations can be left at the front office at school.
Thanks so much to all the families who have already generously donated. We will print details about bookings next week but tickets will be $10 per head with tables of 8. BYO Drinks and nibblies. Anyone aged 15 and older is welcome. Start organising your tables now!!
WELL DONE Congratulations to the following students who have achieved the
next level on the Behaviour Management Programme.
Level 5 Matthew Banks 3M Kasey Burton 3M Jack Chamberlain 3M Scarlet Shepherd 3M Codie Thompson 3M Meg Jones 3S Ethan Millar 3S Phoebe Simunic 3S Jarred Stead 3S Cameron Forsyth 4D Matthew Mallon 4D Marcus Mullins 4D Jessica Trengove 4D Lily Vardy 4D Charles Williams 4D Misty Williams 4D Charli Hubber 4J Hamish Newell 4J William Horton 4J Isabella Hines X2 David Mood K2 Mitchell Beer R2 Anna McNamara R2
Your Teachers are very Proud of You!
A Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend is a Marriage Enrichment experience for married couples – set in peaceful, picturesque surroundings, away from the distractions of everyday life. During the weekend, couples have a unique opportunity to reconnect, rekindle and refresh their relationship. Take time out of your busy schedule, to invest in your most precious asset . . . your Marriage! Weekend date: 21 – 23 March at Mt Carmel Retreat Centre, Varroville, NSW Bookings: Ardell & Bill Sharpe tel. 02 4283 3435 or [email protected] www.wwme.org.au www.facebook.com/WWMEasternUnit Cowra Netball Saturday Competition
Where: Col Stinson Park When: Competition runs each Saturday commencing on the 29
th March 2014
5 -7 Years 11:00am-12:00noon 8- 10 Years 10:30am-12:00noon 11-12 Years 10:30am-12:00noon 12-14 Years/ Division 1 and 2 timeslots rotate weekly between 1:00pm and 2:30pm Uniform: Cowra netball shirt – free to registered players Black netball skirt Cost: 5 – 10 Years $50 (Net Set Go) 11 – 17 Years $100 (Juniors) $125 (Seniors) Player with a disability $30
5 -10 Year olds will be part of our NetSetGo Program and will also receive a participant pack consisting of Gilbert netball, ANZ NetSetGO t-shirt and participant medal. Registrations will be taken on Saturday 8 March at Col Stinson Park from 11:00am-2:00pm and Saturday 15 March at River Park following the festival parade. For more information please contact Kristen Ryan on 0409813802 or email [email protected] JUNIOR RUGBY EAGLES KICK OFF THEIR SEASON
Training for the Cowra Eagles U13’s and U15’s starts next week on Tuesday 4
th March at 5.30pm at the Rugby
grounds, with training for the U17’s starting the following week on Tuesday 11
th March. Despite rumours to the
contrary, the Eagles U15’s side is very much alive, with additional players pulled in from surrounding districts as a result of pre-season discussions between the Cowra coaching staff and these clubs. Those players who have not yet registered have the opportunity to register at these initial training runs courtesy of an obliging registrar who will be present to sign them on. Registration is essential to ensure all players are covered by insurance and costs $70. Cowra is well represented in the initial Central West representative training squads with several players across all age groups being selected in these squads. They are: U13’s – Cameron Trengove, Eduan van Eeden, Oliver Groves; U14’s – Pat Heilman, Billy Eldridge, Mac Cusack, Ethan Corcoran, Denous Bakini; U15’s – Jack Thurtell. Under 12s have their selection trials this coming weekend in Orange. The number of Cowra players in these squads is indicative of the standard of rugby played by Cowra in the Central West Junior Rugby competition. We have the players, the coaches, and the enthusiasm, so we look forward to seeing you all at the first training on Tuesday 4
th March (13’s and
15’s) or Tuesday 11th March (17’s).
Walla Rugby training for U7’s, U9’s and U11’s commences on Friday 28
th March at 6pm at the Rugby grounds.
Registration costs $60 and all are welcome. If you haven’t played rugby before, the coaches are skilled at making you comfortable with the fundamentals of the game, so come along and have a go.
Junior Golf Lessons
Steve Cains, Cowra Golf Club's Resident PGA Golf Professional conducts great fun Junior Golf sessions each Sunday morning. The sessions cover learning and practice of all aspects of the great game of golf and include substantial actual play on the course. If you want to have great fun, meet new friends, enjoy the outdoors and the beautiful Cowra Golf Course while learning a skill for life, please contact the Cowra Golf Shop on 6342 1211 for further information. Day/time: Sundays 9:00am until 10:30am. Place: the Cowra Golf Club. Cost: $5 per session.
In 2014, Catholic Schools Week will be celebrated from March 9-15. It will once again involve the
communities of all Catholic primary and secondary schools in NSW and the ACT to showcase to the wider
community the opportunities that Catholic schools provide. The main aim of the annual event is to build community awareness
about the strengths and distinctiveness of Catholic schools.
The theme for CSW 2014 will be 'More than a great education'.
This theme provides an ideal opportunity to showcase the rich history of Catholic schools, and the many
wonderful achievements that make Catholic schools unique.
In Cowra, Catholic Schools Week coincides with the International Festival of Understanding. The ‘United Nations’ is the focus for
this year. Therefore, over the next few weeks the students will be involved in activities that reflect both these special weeks of
celebration. Also, Cowra is celebrating 125 years since the inception of St Raphael’s Parish along with 75 years since the building of
our present church (the third on the site).
The timetable of events listed below has three aspects:
1. Events specifically organised for Catholic Schools Week, with a local recognition of the school’s heritage.. 2. Events relevant to the Festival of International Understanding (Focus: United Nations) 3. Timetabled events that fall into this week.
Note: There are many opportunities for parents to participate.
Our guest speaker at our K-10 Gathering is Mrs Jenny Allen (Executive Director of Schools for the Diocese of Bathurst)
Timetable of Events
Catholic Schools Week & Cowra Festival of International Understanding
Day Time Event
Sat, Mar 8 6.00pm School Festival Choir Performs at the Peace Bell
Sun, Mar 9 Beginning of Catholic Schools’ Week
Mon, Mar 10 10-11am
11-11.20am
11.30am-12.10pm
K-6 Open Day (Parents visiting their children’s classrooms)
Parents invited to share recess with their children
K-10 School Gathering in St Raphael’s Church
*Guest Speaker: Mrs Jenny Allen (Executive Director, Bathurst Diocese)
- Parents are most welcome
Tue, Mar 11 12.08-12.58pm
All Day
Secondary Assembly (Theme: Catholic Schools Week)
Primary teams competing in the Cowra Rugby Gala Day
Wed, Mar 12 No events scheduled for this day
Thu, Mar 13 2.05 -3.00pm Primary Assembly (Theme: Festival: United Nations)
Fri, Mar 14 10-11am
1.00-2.30pm
St Raphael’s Heritage Day Mass (Kinder – Year 10)
St Raphael’s Heritage Day Activities (Kinder-Year 10)
Sat, Mar 15 12.00pm Festival Parade (starting from Brougham Park)
