Newsletter 17 2021

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

This past week has been a significant week in our Liturgical Calendar as Catholics celebrated All Saints Day on 1 November and All Souls Day on 2 November. We remember all saints, known and unknown, who were ordinary people who did extraordinary things in their lifetime. These courageous women and men have given us hope and continue to inspire us today. We also remember and pray for all our loved ones who have died. We honour their lives and give thanks for them all.

Parents Welcome Back on School Grounds

It has been good to see a few parents/caregivers back on school grounds and we continue to look forward to your participation in upcoming school events. Please remember to sign in using the COVID Check- In QR Code. Wearing a mask is highly recommended.

Staffing News

In the last newsletter I wrote to inform you that we were in the process of appointing a Physical Education Teacher and a Performing Arts Teacher for 2022. I am delighted to announce that I have appointed Hannah Reid to the role of PE Specialist Teacher and Mandy Flynn to the role of Performing Arts Specialist Teacher. We look forward to welcoming our new staff later this term when they visit our school in preparation for next year.

Other staffing news is that Sarah Edson will be leaving us at the end of this year to take up a permanent teaching position in Mildura. Sarah is currently our Year 4 teacher and she will be sadly missed.

Year 6 Camp Experience

We are committed to providing outdoor education experiences for our students and today the Year 6 Class went to Port Hughes for their 3 day camp experience. I am sure that students will have a marvellous time away and return home with many stories to share with their family. I thank Anthony Sicari, Marianne Farrugia and student teachers Alexandra Partridge and Massimo Paradiso who have also attended.

We Need Your Help

We thank Simone V, mother of Conner, and James and Anna C, grandparents of Annabella, our volunteers, for their help in selling ice blocks this week. If you have a half hour to spare on Thursdays and Fridays from 1:00 pm -1:30 pm we would greatly appreciate your help in selling ice blocks to our students. No experience necessary!

Christmas Gathering

Save the date: ‘Christmas Gathering', Thursday 2 December!

We will be having a Christmas Gathering on Thursday 2 December for our students to show case some of their learning.  We will be hosting the event in the school Hall and due to COVID restrictions, regarding capacity of numbers, the evening will be presented in two staggered sessions:

6:30 pm   – 7:10 pm    Reception – Year 3
7:15 pm – 8:00 pm      Years 4, 5, and 6

This will be an opportunity for our students to perform a Christmas song, and share some of their learning.  Once the early years session is finished, families can leave to allow the second group of families to participate. There are some families who have children across both groups, and they will need to remain for the entire gathering. Only two adults per family and siblings will be able to attend at no cost. More information about the gathering will be sent home to families later this term.   

With every best wish,
Mia Harms
Principal

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Welcome to Week 4!

This week, two feasts mark our liturgical calendar. On Monday 1 November the Church celebrated All Saints Day when we remember all the Christian saints throughout history. There are more than 10,000 saints recognised by the Catholic Church each of whom have been faithful role models, giving their life to God and showing us how to live a Christian life. Many of us are connected to special saints, those whom we admire, those whose names we chose at Confirmation, saints who we pray to and saints that have inspired the names of schools and parishes. May we continue to see remarkable individuals living saintly lives today, especially those working towards justice and peace in our world.

Following All Saints Day, the Church also remembers those who have died. All Souls Day, otherwise known as the Commemoration of All The Faithful Departed is when we can pray, remember and celebrate the lives and souls of those we have lost. Experiencing the loss of a loved one is always difficult and confronting.  Our Christian understanding of death embraces both the hope and knowledge of eternal life and that we will be spiritually united with God once we leave our earthly existence.

World Teachers Day Australia

Last Friday, we extended our heartfelt thanks to all our teachers here at St Raphael’s School who give tirelessly to their work and are passionate about all the children in their care. We often speak about the profession of teaching being a ‘vocation’ and not just a job. Teachers never switch off, they are wired to always care about their learners emotional, social and academic needs. We thank our teachers for all the work that they do and appreciate that we can never really know when their influence stops -today, tomorrow or in 20 years from now. Our Catholic system’s commitment to our students to see them as ‘thriving people, capable learners and leaders for the world God desires’ is at the heart of what we do. God bless our wonderful educators at St Raphael’s School!

Sacrament of Reconciliation

This evening we are holding our second family gathering for Reconciliation preparation. The Sacrament of Reconciliation  (previously referred to as Confession or Penance) has undergone some changes since the Second Vatican Council. The major renewal in thinking revolves around reaffirming the truth that God loves us without fail and forgives us before we even recognise our need to be forgiven. Therefore when we make poor choices we are also damaging our relationship with God, with others and ourselves. Reconciliation is about building bridges and making an attempt to make things right. Not matter our age, we make mistakes and the Sacrament of Reconciliation reminds us to focus on the social aspect of our wrong-doing in the hope of making better decisions in the future.

If your child is interested in participating in the Sacramental program in 2022 and you would like more information or to have a chat, please feel free to contact me via the school office.

Brother Michael Hamper Appeal

Our major fundraising effort for Term 4 is contributing to the Brother Michael Hamper Appeal in conjunction with our Parish. We have been asked this year to provide non-perishable items to support the appeal. Suggested grocery donations include jars of baby food, rice, pasta, cereal and tuna. We appreciate your support in this appeal for 2021. Children are invited to bring in donated goods over the coming weeks.

Below is an excerpt from our Parish bulletin outlining the history of the Brother Michael Hamper Appeal.

The story of our parish Christmas Hamper Appeal started in 1983 when a few members of the St Vincent de Paul Society Glen Osmond Conference were preparing a small number of Christmas hampers for people in need. Brother Michael Kirgan, CP, expanded the initial concept and took it upon himself to door knock local businesses for donations. This has grown to the distribution of more than 200 hampers to over 700 individuals by up to 70 volunteer drivers across the Adelaide metro area every year for the past 38 years. After Brother Michael’s death in 1994 the Appeal was incorporated as a charity in October 1997 and each year the organising committee obtains the names of vulnerable families and individuals from four Vinnies conferences and other welfare and disability services in Adelaide. Through the generosity of our parishioners the Appeal raises funds for food hampers, grocery vouchers and toys. Local schools and parishioners also contribute extra groceries for distribution and parishioners are involved in wrapping gifts, packing hampers and delivering to people’s homes. The work of the committee has continued with the support of our Parish Priests and parishioners and demonstrates that Br Michael’s spirit of caring is still amongst us. The parish’s support of the Brother Michael Christmas Hamper Appeal is charity and outreach in action and demonstrates a hands-on commitment to our faith, a commitment to a spirit of caring which has motivated our parishioners to support people in need in the wider community over the last 38 years. All monetary and grocery donations to our hampers will once again be distributed throughout the Adelaide metro area, providing a brighter Christmas for those in need.

Wishing you a wonderful week ahead!

God bless,
Kelly Manera
Assistant Principal Religious Identity and Mission

Living Learning Leading Surveys

Last term, staff, students and families were invited to complete the Living Learning Leading surveys as constructed by the Catholic Education Office to collect important perception data about our school.

Students from Year 2 to Year 6 responded to questions about their Catholic education, including their experience of the Religious Education program, how they feel about the way their learning is supported at school, whether they feel they have a voice in their learning and how they feel about the school environment.  Results of the survey indicated that our students highly value their Catholic education, feel very well supported in their learning and feel welcome and safe at school.  Less favourable responses were given about the level to which students feel they have a say in their learning. This is very important information for us to reflect upon and respond to in our forward planning as student agency is an area of focus for us through our Visible Learning work.

Though only a small number of our families responded to the Parent/Caregiver survey, this has also provided us with some important perception data.  Families indicated that they perceived St Raphael’s School to be a very welcoming school and that their children find their learning enjoyable and interesting. Families also indicated that the Catholic education their child is experiencing is meaningful. Whilst results were also still favourable, an area of growth for us is to strengthen parent/school partnerships.

Thank you to families who did take the time to engage with this survey. This information is valued and valuable.  Last week, the leadership team analysed the parent, staff and student responses to begin to create our strategic intent for the next three years. This will be considered by the School Board at our next meeting later in the term and then shared with our community.

Marianne Farrugia
Director of Learning

Catholic Schools Athletics Carnival

Yesterday (2 November) students from Year 3-6 (39 in total) competed in the annual Catholic Schools Athletics Carnival at Athletics SA Stadium, Mile End. We were placed in Section 4 this year, competing against schools with often much larger school populations than our small school. All of our training over a number of weeks saw us go into the carnival well prepared, with many of our athletes placing in the top four of their selected events.

Special congratulations to Savannah D (5M) who won the Individual Age Champion Medal for the Girls Year 5 Division. Savannah placed first in the hurdles, shotput, 200 metres and came second in the 100 metres. Savannah, along with her Year 5 team-mates, Holly K, Mia K and Natalia S, also won the 4 x 100 metres baton relay. In addition, this combined group went on to win the Girls Year 5 Age Group Pennant – a great result!

Overall, our girls’ team finished third overall and the boys’ team finished eighth out of 9 schools.

The efforts of the entire team was impressive and I congratulate the following students:

Isla A, Celine P, Amy S, Ebony N, Caroline S, James C, Jacob J, Harry E, Manny G, Jessica S, Luella R, Ivy H, Loraine C, Jemima McI, Luca L, Nathan F, Oliver H, Nicholas P, David M, Savannah D, Mia K, Holly K, Natalia S, Sidney D, Aiden B, Ashton C, Roman R, Sienna C, Ada L, Angie M, Rebecca S, Sara M, Alessandro C, Xavier R, Hugo N, Lucas S, Archie N, Josh McK, Zane G.

Many thanks to the following parents who volunteered as officials for the day: Nayomi Fernando, Julie Rechichi and Umit Gencturk.  Thanks also to Curtis Ding and Ally Partridge, our current pre-service teachers and Year 6 student official, Zane G. Finally, a big thank you to David Monti and Sarah Edson, for assisting with supervision of students on the day.

Definitely, a team effort by all involved, resulting in a great day and experience for our students.

Water Safety Program

Students in Reception to Year 5 will be participating in our annual Water Safety Program at Unley Outdoor Pool in Week 7 (Monday 22 November to Thursday 25 November). A note containing all of the details regarding the program will be distributed early next week.

Jeanette Archer
PE Teacher and Sport Coordinator

Students commenced their science learning this term by engaging in some introductory research to clarify exactly what a shadow is, which they published on Seesaw.  The class then wondered what affects shadows.  Students realised that their wonderings were scientific variables which could be tested scientifically, which they set out to do.

Students then wrote their testable hypothesis ‘If the torch is moved closer to the object, then the object’s shadow will increase in height.’ They conducted their investigation and recorded and graphed results. Students then concluded on the accuracy of their hypothesis.