Media Releases

Trailblazing Leadership: South Australia's Aboriginal Catholic School Principal Shares Her Inspiring Family Legacy

In a groundbreaking moment for South Australia, Emma Fowler, Principal of St Raphael's School in Parkside, stands as an Aboriginal Catholic school Principal. Her leadership is deeply rooted in an extraordinary family legacy that intertwines with the story of Saint Mary MacKillop, one of Australia's most revered educators and the nation's first canonised saint.

Emma Fowler's great-great-grandmother, Annie Brice, a Boandik woman born around 1854 near Penola, South Australia, was taught to read and write by Mary MacKillop herself. This act of education not only transformed Annie's life but also planted seeds of resilience and advocacy that have flourished through generations.

"Mary MacKillop believed every child deserved access to education, no matter their background or circumstance," says Emma Fowler. "That belief changed my great-great-grandmother's life and continues to inspire me every day as I work to nurture a love of learning in my students."

Annie Brice's story is one of remarkable courage and determination. At the age of 11, she began taking lessons with Mary MacKillop, becoming one of the few Aboriginal children of her time to learn reading and writing. This education empowered Annie to represent herself in court during legal disputes later in life—a bold act for an Aboriginal woman in the 19th century.

Emma's journey to becoming a Principal is as inspiring as her family history. With a decade of experience in educational leadership, she has previously served as an Assistant Principal at St Joseph's School Kingswood and as an Education Advisor for Technologies at Catholic Education South Australia. A proud advocate for diversity in education, she has dedicated her career to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive.

"As a principal, the privilege of connecting with each child, staff member and family is an incredible responsibility that I treasure and embrace," Emma states. Her leadership style mirrors Mary MacKillop's values—compassion, equity, and a commitment to seeing the potential in every student.

This Reconciliation Week, St Raphael's School will host a special event where Emma Fowler will share her family's remarkable story alongside members of her family. The event will explore themes of resilience, cultural heritage, and the transformative power of education. Students, families, and members of the wider community are invited to attend this celebration of reconciliation and learning.

Event Details:
Date: Thursday, May 29, 2025
Time: 9am to 10am
Location: St Raphael's School, Parkside, 114 Glen Osmond Rd, Parkside.

The event will also feature special guests connected to the story of Annie Brice and Mary MacKillop.

Media representatives are encouraged to attend this unique opportunity to witness how one family's legacy continues to inspire future generations.

This event promises to be both compelling and thought-provoking—a celebration of leadership, education, and cultural connection that underscores the importance of reconciliation in modern Australia.

For media inquiries or further details about the event, please contact:

Katrina Tucker
Marketing and Communications Coordinator
St Raphael’s School on Kaurna Country 
114 Glen Osmond Road
Parkside  SA  5063
(08) 8274 4900
KTucker@raph.catholic.edu.au
www.raph.catholic.edu.au
 

St Raphael's School in Parkside has unveiled a treasure trove of Adelaide's Catholic history with the restoration and display of century-old stained glass windows in its new front office. These meticulously preserved artworks, dating back to 1909, offer a unique glimpse into the city's religious and artistic past.

Key Points:

• The windows, originally installed in St Raphael's Church between 1909 and 1913, depict various religious figures including St Raphael, St Patrick, and St Brigid.
• Created by renowned artists at H. L. Vosz, Limited, the windows represent some of the finest examples of early 20th-century religious art in South Australia.
• The preservation effort highlights the school's commitment to maintaining its 136-year-old Catholic heritage, which began with its founding by the Sisters of Mercy in 1889.

"These windows are not just beautiful artworks, they're a tangible link to our past," says Principal Emma Fowler. "They tell the story of Adelaide's Catholic community, their faith, and their commitment to education and spirituality which we honour at St Raphael's School today."

The windows' history includes fascinating details such as:

• A 1909 unveiling ceremony featuring the first Australian performance of "Gruber's Mass"
• Donations from diverse groups including the Children of Mary and nurses from the Hospital for the Insane
• Careful removal from the old church building and loving reinstallation in the school's new facilities

St Raphael's School invites the public to view these historic treasures and learn more about Adelaide's Catholic heritage through their newly launched webpage.
 

St Raphael’s School has been honored with the prestigious Community Event of the Year Award at the Australia Day Citizen of the Year Awards for its groundbreaking initiative, the Reading Revolution. This event, held in November 2024, aimed to foster a love of reading among children and the broader community.

The initiative featured an expert panel on literacy, a read-a-thon involving local kindergartens and childcare centers, and book prizes to encourage participation. Principal Emma Fowler emphasised the importance of not only teaching children how to read, but also teaching them to want to read, as an immediate alternative to screen time and a long term strategy for success.

Event organiser Katrina Tucker expressed gratitude to the community partners who contributed to its success.

We can’t wait for our 2025 event—stay tuned for updates! For the resources produced from our 2024 event take a look here.

For more information or resources from the event, visit St Raphael’s School’s website or contact Katrina Tucker directly ktucker@raph.catholic.edu.au

Thank you to everyone who participated and supported us! 

St Raphael's School is proud to announce exceptional student performance in two crucial academic assessments conducted in 2024. Our students have demonstrated outstanding results in both the Phonics Screening Check and the newly introduced Number Check by Catholic Education South Australia (CESA), reinforcing our commitment to providing a "bright and inspired start" for every child.

Phonics Screening Check Success

In the state-wide Phonics Screening Check, St Raphael's students achieved remarkable results:

• 100% of students exceeded the desired benchmark
• School average significantly higher than state, CESA, and Eastern Region averages

This exceptional performance in foundational literacy skills underscores the effectiveness of our teaching methods and the strong support from our parent community.

Number Check Achievement

The 2024 CESA Number Check, assessing early numeracy skills, saw St Raphael's students shine once again:

• Results well above state, CESA, and Eastern Region averages

This achievement highlights our commitment to building strong mathematical foundations from the earliest stages of education.

A Bright Future Ahead

Principal Emma Fowler commented, "These outstanding outcomes reflect the quality of education at St Raphael's and underscore our unwavering commitment to academic rigour. Every child is encouraged and supported to achieve their best, with a curriculum tailored to foster curiosity, resilience, and excellence."

St Raphael's School continues to shape confident learners ready to embrace future challenges and opportunities. We extend our gratitude to our dedicated educators and engaged families for their partnership in this success.For more information about St Raphael's School and our academic programs, please contact our school office.

St Raphael's School is committed to delivering a "bright and inspired start" for every child, focusing on strong foundations for lifelong learning. Our tailored curriculum and supportive community ensure each student reaches their full potential.

We are thrilled to announce that two of our esteemed educators have won awards in the inaugural Unley Rotary Teacher Awards 2024. 

Award Recipients 

Tia Della Pace has been selected as a recipient of the Unley Rotary Teacher Award for 2024 in the category of "Encouragement." This award recognises Tia's outstanding contributions as an early career teacher. 

Meeiying Lee has been selected as a recipient of the Unley Rotary Teacher Award for 2024 in the category of "Achievement." This award acknowledges Meeiying's exceptional accomplishments as an experienced educator. 

Recognition of Excellence 

These prestigious awards highlight the dedication and genuine care that both Tia and Meeiying demonstrate. Their commitment has been recognised, with the Lord Mayor Michael Hewitson and Local Member for Unley David Pisoni present at the ceremony. 

“We need to raise the status of teachers in our community” Mayor Hewitson stated in his speech “they need to be empowered.” 

The awards featured 18 nominations from 11 participating schools in and around the local area. St Raphaels’ School received the greatest number of nominations and was in excellent company alongside Unley Primary, Unley High School, Concordia and Urrbrae High School.  

This marks the third award for St Raphael's Primary School this year, following Assistant Principal Anthony Sicaria's recognition as one of Australia's 50 Best Teachers in the News Corp Best Teacher campaign. We are truly blessed with outstanding educators who shape our future generations! 

Awards Ceremony 

The Presentation Ceremony for the Unley Rotary Teacher Awards 2024 was held on Tuesday, October 22nd. This dinner event celebrated the outstanding contributions of educators across various categories, including Encouragement Awards for early career teachers, Achievement Awards for experienced teachers, and Team Awards for collaborative efforts. 

These prestigious awards are a testament to the dedication, outstanding academic results, and genuine care that both Tia and Meeiying demonstrate in their roles. Their commitment to their students and the field of education has been rightfully recognised by the Rotary Club of Unley. 

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to both Tia and Meeiying for this well-deserved recognition. Their achievements reflect the high standards of teaching excellence within our school community. 

Please join us in celebrating the remarkable accomplishments of Tia Della Pace and Meeiying Lee. Their success is a source of pride for our entire school community and serves as an inspiration to all educators. 

In a bold move to combat the dominance of screens and ignite a passion for literacy, St Raphael's School is launching a groundbreaking "Reading Revolution" program. This innovative initiative, featuring an expert panel and read-a-thon, aims to instill a love of reading in children and empower them for future success. 

Empowering the Next Generation Through Literacy 

Principal Emma Fowler emphasises the critical importance of providing compelling alternatives to screen time. "Immersing yourself in a book is the key to unlocking success in an overstimulated world," she states. St Raphael's School believes that fostering a love of reading is crucial for children's development and future prospects.  

Just because they CAN read doesn't mean they are going to WANT to read - we must FIX this! 

Expert Panel Event: "Literacy - A Foundation to Success" 

On November 4th, 2024, St Raphael's School will host a groundbreaking event as part of their innovative "Reading Revolution" read-a-thon. The expert panel will feature renowned authors and literacy specialists, including: 

Tania Ingram, Children's Book Author: "Literacy is a doorway to effective communication, empathy, wonder, and possibility. Reading with your child is the greatest gift you can give them." 

Mandy Foot, Children's Book Author and Illustrator: "Children learn to read pictures well before they learn to read their first word. Picture books play an enormous role in opening up a young child's world and introducing them to literacy." 

Andrew Joyner, Children's Book Author and Illustrator: "Get your child a library card and visit your local library regularly. There's a whole world of reading in a library... and it's all completely free!" 

Bec Hughes, Senior Executive at Raising Literacy Australia: "Reading to babies and young children exposes them to varied and rich language that boosts their brain development and prepares them for future learning."

Karyn Stephens and Caitlin Hadrill, Youth and Children's Coordinators, Unley Libraries: Advocating for libraries as the secret weapon in this reading revolution. 

Join the Reading Revolution 

The "Reading Revolution" read-a-thon will run from November 4th to 8th, encouraging students and the wider community to read as many books as possible. Special book prizes will be awarded to the most avid readers. 

• Event Details: 
• Date: November 4th, 2024 
• Time: 6:15 PM 
• Venue: St Raphael's School Hall, 114 Glen Osmond Rd, Parkside 
• Cost: Free entry 
• Children welcome 

Don't miss this opportunity to be part of a transformative movement in children's education. Join St Raphael's School as they lead the charge in revolutionising literacy and shaping brighter futures for our children. 

It is with immense pride that we announce Anthony Sicari, our esteemed Assistant Principal Leader of Learning and Learning Diversity, has been recognised as one of Australia's 50 Best Teachers in the News Corp Best Teacher campaign. 

This prestigious accolade celebrates Mr Sicari's unwavering dedication to educational excellence and his profound impact on countless young minds. As a leader of our Year 6 cohort for many years, he has consistently demonstrated an exceptional commitment to addressing the diverse needs of every student with a kind and caring approach. 

The quote from The Advertiser encapsulates Mr Sicari's invaluable contributions: "Consistently goes above and beyond for every student, tirelessly addressing their diverse needs with a kind and caring approach. His leadership in extra-curricular activities like debating and STEM has enhanced our students' educational experiences." 

Mr Sicari's inspirational, kind, and caring dedication to fostering a nurturing and enriching learning environment inspires both students and colleagues alike, making him a true embodiment of what it means to be an exceptional educator. 

The Best Teacher campaign, now in its second year, recognises and honours outstanding teachers across Australia while raising their profile and acknowledging their profound influence on students and the wider community.  

This year, the campaign received over 1,320 nominations from peers, students, and parents, highlighting the heroic actions of some of our most humble teachers.  

Please join us in congratulating Mr Sicari on this well-deserved recognition and thanking him for his exceptional service to our school community.