Newsletter 16 2020

Dear Parents/Caregivers, Students, Staff and Friends of St Raphael's School

Welcome to the new term!

This term we have much happening. Last week we filmed the school concert in stages and all families will be sent the link for their child/ren’s performance by the end of this week.  This was something new for us and a different way of presenting Performing Arts learning, so our families are still able to participate.

We have a few other exciting announcements to make regarding our staffing for 2021. During the holiday period, Marianne Farrugia, Sue Coghlan and I, held interviews for a few positions we have on offer at our school.  We were fortunate and received quite a few applications for each position.

As I have written to families previously, Sue Coghlan has won a position as a Religious Education Consultant at the Catholic Education Office for two years commencing in January 2021. Kelly Manera has been appointed in her stead and students will have the opportunity to meet with her later this term. Kelly is a well-qualified educator who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this leadership role.  

Wendy Davey has been appointed to the role of Education Support Officer - Administration. Wendy is currently managing the front desk in a share situation with Denise D’Alessandro. Wendy is also known to all our students as one of the Education Support Officers- Learning Support. Wendy will also continue her learning support role.

Katrina Tucker has been appointed as the Marketing Coordinator and has begun her work with us. Miranda McLaughlin has been appointed as one of our Early Years teachers beginning in 2021. Miranda is currently teaching at another Catholic school.  Anthony Sicari has been appointed as one of our Primary Teachers and will continue his employment with St Raphael’s School next year.

Late last term, we received news that Emma Heinrich, one of our teachers who left on Maternity Leave in August 2017, will not be returning next year as she has won a substantive position at another Catholic school. Emma may be known to some of our families having taught at this school for 14 years previously.  

Last Thursday I met the architects and Catholic Educational Personnel to begin preliminary discussions regarding the refurbishment of the top level of the 2 storey building. Earlier this year I applied for a Commonwealth and State Capital Grants Program and we were successful in winning some funds to kick start this project. We are really excited about our plans for this school.

Families would have received a letter late last term, detailing the fee structure for 2021. A link to the fee structure is here. We are committed to ensuring that all current and future families have access to a Catholic education and especially one here at St Raphael’s School.

With every best wish,
Mia Harms
Principal

Celebrations are an important part of our Catholic tradition and we have had several reasons to celebrate this week.

10th Anniversary of the Canonisation of Mary MacKillop
As we remember the legacy of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop we are called to ‘Take Fresh Courage.’ As Mary battled to get her new order accepted by the church she was excommunicated by the local Archbishop. Mary did not hold any resentment or ill-feeling, but she showed her great strength by travelling to Rome to seek an audience with the Pope and have her new order accepted and the excommunication overturned.

Feast of St Paul of the Cross Founder of the Passionists
Fr Denis spoke at all the weekend Masses about the challenges St Paul of the Cross faced in starting his order. He wanted his order to reach out to the marginalized and the poor who were not always being catered for at the time.  It took 50 years for his order to be officially recognised!

We can certainly be inspired by the faith and perseverance of these two incredible Saints as well as many others who have gone before us and created this rich tradition for us today.

First Communion
This is the tradition that we celebrate each time we gather as a Catholic community. We congratulate Gracie and Archie N who celebrated their First Communion over the weekend and are now fully initiated into the Catholic Church. We have several more celebrations over the coming weeks and you are welcome to join us as we celebrate with the parish and their families. 

Go peacefully,
Sue Coghlan
APRIM (Assistant Principal Religious Identity and Mission)

Term 4 Master Blaster/Kanga Cricket Resumes
Second half of the cricket season resumes on Saturday 31 October for our Year 2/3 Master Blaster/Kanga team. Please ensure that your child attends their designated training session on Wednesdays after school from 3:15pm – 4:00pm, as they are an important part of ensuring development of skills required for game day.

Hello St Raphael’s School community, my name is Katrina Tucker and I have been appointed as the Marketing and Communications Coordinator. 

Payment of fees
Fee statements have been mailed out to all families this last week.

Note that payment of fees is required to be finalised by the end of November. 

Thank you for your immediate attention to any outstanding accounts.

Information regarding 2021 school fees was emailed to families last term. Please refer to our website to download School Fee Information 2021.

Jodi Jansons
Finance Officer
E: accounts@raph.catholic.edu.au 

Term 4 Canteen Menu
Our Summer Menu for this term is available here and salads and wraps are back!

Sports Day Help Needed
If anyone is available to assist the Canteen on Sports Day, Thursday 19 November, it would be greatly appreciated.  We are looking to have a sausage sizzle, together with lots of delicious snacks throughout the day.  More information regarding preorders will be provided closer to the day.

Emma Alexander
Canteen Manager

St Raphael’s Sports Day will be held on Thursday 19 November from 9:15am – 1:00pm at the school.  To get ourselves into the spirit of this whole school event, we are asking if every family in the school can donate one or more items in their child’s team colour.  All items will be collected and placed into themed Sports Day colour gift baskets, which will be raffled on the day.  A few basic suggestions could be a red drink bottle, a blue cap, a yellow beach ball or some green tennis balls.  Be creative, with items that will excite and surprise!  If donating food items, non-perishable is definitely the way to go.  We could appreciate it if all items can be brought to the school by Thursday 12 November.