Newsletter 3 2021

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

As we enter our third week of Lent, we are reminded to find time in the everyday busyness of our life to listen to God’s message of love, inclusion and kindness. I am sure that like me, the day can sometimes become so busy with things to do and conversations to be had that we don’t take the time to reflect on the many blessings we have, freely given to us.  How can we become the face of God to one another? In our everyday, where do we place our energy?

Parents/caregivers would have noticed that teachers are posting student learning via Seesaw to share with respective families. This is one way that we are endeavouring to make the learning visible to parents/caregivers.  We will be holding learning conversations with families at the end of this term, from Monday 29 March - Thursday 1 April. In the meantime, if you have questions about your child’s learning, please make contact with teachers as the need arises.

Parents/caregivers may have noticed that there was lots of activity taking place in the school carpark today. We are in the process of installing a new front electronic sign. We have been waiting several months for approval from various avenues to have this capital works project completed and some of the works began today.  Please remember to use the back entry for student collection and drop off.

Thank you to the parent/caregivers who have nominated to become part of the 2021-2022 School Board. All parents/caregivers are invited to attend the AGM on Tuesday 16 March at 6:00pm when school reports will be delivered and a new School Board formed. This will also be an opportunity to farewell retiring Board members.  If you are attending the AGM, please RSVP to info@raph.catholic.edu.au

Thank you to all families who are scanning in the QR codes when entering the school grounds. Detailed below is some information from the Commonwealth Department of Health for parents/caregivers to consider. 

• COVID-19 vaccines are free and voluntary for everyone living in Australia.
• Some previous government advice indicated there were some visa categories excluded from the free COVID‑19 vaccine eligibility. The updated advice from the Commonwealth Government indicates that there are no visas excluded.
• The Australian Government will provide COVID-19 vaccinations free to everyone living in Australia, including refugees, asylum seekers, temporary protection visa holders, and those on bridging visas. People currently residing in detention facilities will also be eligible, including those whose visas have been cancelled.
• More translated information about COVID-19 vaccines is available on the Commonwealth Government Department of Health website. It includes:

            - Information on the Pfizer vaccine
            - Information on what to expect after your vaccine
            - How to prepare for COVID-19 vaccination
            - The COVID-19 consent form
            - A video about COVID-19 vaccines (in some languages)

More information about the vaccine and the vaccine roll out is available at covidvaccine.sa.gov.au, including frequently asked questions.

Please read Marianne’s article about our exiting news regarding the launch of our ‘St Raphael’s School Learner Dispositions’.  Parents/caregivers are invited to come along to the launch on Friday 12 March at 9:00am. I look forward to seeing you there.

With every best wish,
Mia Harms
Principal

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Over the past weeks, students have continued to focus on the season of Lent, through prayer, class discussions and activities. In conjunction with this learning, teachers have prepared units of work using the redesigned Crossways curriculum. This rich curriculum encompasses knowledge strands as well as weaving Wisdom skills and dispositions, that are, life-long skills that nurture dialogue, respect, spiritual awareness, interpretation, truth seeking and discernment. Our hope is that in developing these skills and dispositions we will enable our learners to flourish in the RE classroom and beyond.

Father Denis classroom visits
Father Denis has continued his weekly class visits this year and has spent time talking to the students in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2. His presentation has focused on Jesus and what it would have been like to grow up in his time. The children connected with the many different images he shared and asked insightful questions. These included discussions around the clothing, food and games Jesus would have experienced in his time and some background about his family. This week, Fr Denis will visit the Year 3 class and explore the sacraments with a focus on Baptism and Reconciliation. We are very blessed to have Fr Denis so connected with our school and available to share his wisdom with us all.

Southern Cross: South Australia’s Catholic News
Please find below the link to the Southern Cross news.
www.thesoutherncross.org.au

Father Patrice
Finally, may I ask that as a community we keep Fr Patrice and his family in our prayers as he grieves the passing of his beloved mother, Adolphina Joan, in Tanzania. May she rest in eternal peace.

FOR THE HEART......
“Please, sorry and thank you are words that open up the road to a good family life.” Pope Francis

God bless
Kelly Manera
Assistant Principal Religious Identity and Mission

This weekend we reach the mid-point of Lent. It can be challenging to continue with the goals we have set for ourselves so perhaps this is a time to ‘reset’ and look towards the time we have remaining and recommit to our lenten plan. Please refer to the parish website, www.themonastery.net.au for opportunities during Lent and Easter. You are also advised to consider the services you would like to attend over Easter within the parish. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, everyone needs to book a place for the service or to attend the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday. If you would like to be involved with the services, please let me know.

A reminder that families who would like to explore their child participating in the next Sacrament Programme, you need to attend the information evening for parents on Wednesday 24 March, 7pm at St Paul’s Church. Please indicate your desire to attend to me at pconnell@themonastery.net.au         

Pauline Connell
Parish Associate

Language of learning
Over the past year our focus has been on increasing our language of learning at St Raphael’s School.  We are making a shift to ensure our students know what they are learning – not just what they are doing. This helps our learners to make sense of and take ownership of their learning.  Teachers are sharing learning intentions with the students from the curriculum.  They are also working with learners to help them identify what success looks like in relation to this learning.  This way, students can know what they are aiming for and how they are progressing in relation to the learning. Mia and I are engaging in ‘learning walks’ regularly and asking the following questions of the learners:

What are you learning?
How are you going?
How do you know?
How can you improve?
Where can you go for help?

Ask your child about the learning intentions and success criteria of their learning at school. You might also like to ask the above questions and help them build their language of learning.

St Raphael’s School Dispositions launch
Our learner dispositions will be officially launched at a whole school assembly on 12 March at 9am.  All are very welcome to attend – please RSVP via info@raphs.catholic.edu.au.

The process of identifying the ‘top five’ learning characteristics that we believe our students should develop, took place over the later part of last year.  Input was sought from students, parents and teachers and the final five were identified.  You may have seen the colourful posters around our school depicting CURIOUS, RESILIENT, THOUGHTFUL, RESPONSIBLE and COLLABORATIVE.  We are most grateful to Amy, mother of Leo T, who very generously designed our poster.  Thanks also goes to Lauren Herraman, our after-school art teacher, who worked with student representatives last year to design our gorgeous characters.

Marianne Farrugia
Assistant Principal Director of Learning

Sports Day 2021
Sports Day is now just over three weeks away, on Thursday 25 March from 9:15am – 1:00pm. Students have been busy in their PE lessons preparing for their activities. A reminder that Sports Day is being held at school from 9:15am – 1:00pm. Parents/caregivers are most welcome to attend. Please see the article in the newsletter about our Sports Day Raffle. We kindly ask that each family donate an item (or items) in their child’s/children’s team colour. Spirit Cup points will be awarded for each item donated.

Catholic Schools Swimming Carnival
Sixteen students from Year 3-6 will compete in the annual Catholic Schools Swimming Carnival on Thursday 18 March at the Marion Aquatic Centre. They are preparing for the carnival with some organised trainings leading into the event. We wish them the best of luck in their endeavours!

Winter Sport Program for Students in Year 2 to 6
During Terms 2 and 3, which is the winter season for our out of school hours school sport program for students in Years 2 to 6, we will be offering the following sports: Soccer and AFL Football. A note with details about each sport on offer will be distributed this week. There will be a two-week window, with all ‘Expression of Interest’ forms due back by 17 March.

Holiday Basketball Clinics
Attached here is a flyer for those students from 9 years of age and older who are interested in developing their skills in the sport of Basketball. Kevin Brooks, a former 36er, will be leading  the clinics during the upcoming April school holidays.

Jeanette Archer
PE and Sport Coordinator

Our thoughts and prayers go to the Neal Family on the recent passing of their Mother and Grandmother, Ronda Crossing.

St Raphael’s Sports Day will be held on Thursday 25 March 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 Tuesday 23 March.

Thank you for your support.

The Year 6 class led by Social Justice Leader Angela M, are bringing our St Raphael’s School garden to life and we need your help! Woolworths is currently promoting sustainable gardens through the Woolworths Discovery Garden project. Could you help us bring our garden to life by collecting these Discovery Garden pods and send any spare pods to school so that way we can plant them in our garden? More information about the Woolworths Discovery Garden can be found at the link here.