St Raphael's School newsletter September 19
Contents
- From The Principal
- Farewell and Welcome: A Time of Change at St Raphael’s
- We Want Your Feedback: Help Us Improve Our Canteen Service
- The APRIM
- Reading Revolution: Igniting a Love for Literacy
- Thank You to Our St Louis Aged Care Residents!
- STEM MAD Showcase 2024
- Performing Arts
- SPORTS DAY
- Code Camp
- Madhavi Parker's Insights on Managing Behavior at Home
- Annual School Photos Day
St Raphael’s Community Fair – A Wonderful Day of Reconnection and Celebration
What a day! Our recent Community Fair was an incredible success, filled with joy, laughter, and a true sense of togetherness. It was wonderful to see so many new faces joining us, as well as the familiar ones we hold so dear. From the bustling stalls to the happy sounds of children enjoying the activities, it felt like the spirit of St Raphael’s was shining brightly.
One of the most special moments for me was connecting with our old scholars. Hearing their stories and cherished memories of their time at St Raphael’s was both heartwarming and inspiring. It reminded me of how deep the roots of our community go and how this school continues to be a place of lifelong friendships and formative experiences. Listening to their reflections, from recounting favourite teachers to reliving moments in the playground, was a beautiful reminder of how St Raphael’s has shaped the lives of so many. Seeing current students, families, staff, and alumni all together at the fair felt like a perfect representation of what makes our school special. We are a community that thrives on connection – not just with those here today, but with everyone who has ever walked through our gates.
We are thrilled to announce that the Community Fair will now become an annual tradition! It’s exciting to know that we’ll continue building this event to reflect the “St Raphael’s way”, creating even more opportunities for families, both new and long-standing, to come together, celebrate, and make lasting memories. We can’t wait to see what next year holds as we grow this wonderful event into something that truly represents the heart and spirit of our school.
Thank you to everyone who came along, volunteered, or contributed to making this day so special. Your presence and participation have strengthened our community in ways that will resonate long after the last stall packed up.
Until next year’s fair, let’s continue to celebrate and build the strong bonds that make St Raphael’s such a remarkable place to be.
As we approach the end of the term, it’s time to farewell one of our most cherished staff members, Tanya Stott. Tanya has been a genuine blessing to our school, with her warm heart and deep understanding of children shining through in all that she does. Her unwavering commitment to honouring student voice has been a guiding force, especially in how we approach our liturgies and Masses. Tanya ensured that our students were always central to our celebrations, and her legacy will continue to inspire us in this mission.
We will miss Tanya dearly, but we are excited for her as she embarks on a well-deserved family holiday to Germany. There, she will reconnect with family and friends, and we wish her all the joy and relaxation this trip promises. Tanya, thank you for your dedication, kindness, and the love you’ve poured into our community. St Raphael’s won’t be the same without you, but we look forward to hearing all about your adventures when you return!
At the same time, we are delighted to welcome Linda Lowe, who will be joining us in Term 4. Linda brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, and she too is passionate about ensuring student voice is heard in all aspects of school life. We are excited to see the positive impact she will have as she joins our community, and we know she will fit right in with the caring and supportive spirit of St Raphael’s.
I am thrilled to announce that Anthony Sicari has been officially appointed as our Substantative Assistant Principal. This is a well-deserved recognition of Anthony’s hard work, passion for learning, and his deep commitment to the students and families of St Raphael’s. Over the years, Anthony has proven to be an incredible asset to our community, and we are excited to see him continue in this leadership role. With his dedication to fostering a love of learning and his genuine care for each and every student, Anthony is the perfect companion to help lead St Raphael’s into its next chapter. His enthusiasm, combined with a strong focus on supporting our families, ensures that we will continue to grow and thrive as a school community.
Congratulations, Anthony! We look forward to the positive impact you will continue to make in this new role and know that with you as part of the leadership team, the future of St Raphael’s is bright.
Additionally, we are thrilled to announce the permanent appointments of six remarkable staff members: Tia Della Pace, Meeiying Lee, Janelle Scrivener, Katrina Tucker, Verity Arthur and Amy Pellegrini. Each of them has already made such a strong and positive contribution to our school, and we are so pleased to welcome them into the St Raphael’s family in a permanent capacity. Their dedication, energy, and love for our students are evident in everything they do, and we are incredibly fortunate to have them with us.
This is a time of both farewells and new beginnings, and it’s a reminder of the vibrant and evolving nature of our school community. We are grateful for the staff who have shaped us, excited for those who are joining us, and proud of the journey we are all on together.
At St Raphael’s, we are always striving to provide the best experience for our students and families, and one of the key areas we’d love your input on is our canteen service. Whether your child regularly enjoys lunch from the canteen or just an occasional treat, your feedback is invaluable to us as we work to ensure it meets the needs of our community.
We’re keen to hear your thoughts on the menu options, quality of food, pricing, and overall service. Are there certain meals your children love, or perhaps something you’d like to see offered more often? Your suggestions and ideas will help us make improvements and ensure the canteen continues to serve our students in the best way possible. We encourage you to take a few minutes to share your feedback, as it will directly influence the choices and improvements we make.
Thank you in advance for your input! Together, we can ensure the canteen remains a valuable and enjoyable service for our students. https://forms.office.com/r/VqCxQSyzNd
Dear families and friends,
Mercy Week – Week 10
In Week 10, we are really looking forward to celebrating our rich Mercy Heritage! Our school was established 135 years ago in 1889 by the Sisters of Mercy and we are still going strong!
Each day during this week, classes will spend time learning about and reflecting on what this means to us today.
There are also a couple of whole school events planned. The first of these is our Mercy Day Stalls, which are occurring between Recess and Lunch on Monday September 23rd. This event is being coordinated by our senior Yr.5/6 classes who are preparing a range of stalls and experiences and this year, each class has also been invited to contribute a stall. Some of these may require some family support and if this is the case, class teachers will reach out to and inform caregivers. Money raised from the stalls will be shared between the 2024 Catholic Charities Appeal and the Sisters of Mercy Charity known as Mercy Works. Families will all have received a Catholic Charities Appeal pamphlet – on it you can find details if you would like to donate directly to this appeal.
On Friday September 27, our whole school will be heading to the Monastery for the day, beginning with Mass at 9.45am and returning to school shortly before the end of the day. All families will have received a note with full details of this event. Please ensure that you have read it and returned the permission and medical information section to the class teacher.
ReLAT – Religious Literacy Assessment for Yr. 4 students
Each year, Yr. 4 students in Catholic Schools are required to do an online assessment of their Religious Literacy. This is not an assessment of faith, but of the knowledge and skills taught through the Crossways Religious Education Curriculum. Our Yr.4’s completed this assessment last Tuesday September10. Later in the year we will receive their results which are passed onto families. These also inform our future planning for Religious Education.
Term 4 APRIM
Next term, we welcome Linda Low to St Raphael’s in the APRIM role as I head off with family on a long planned holiday. Linda and I met recently for handover and she is greatly looking forward to meeting you all!
Farewell
Finally, I thank you all for having welcomed me so warmly into your community and I sincerely cherish the time I have spent among you. St Raphael’s is a very, very special place and a part of it is in my heart and will remain there!
I will leave you with a blessing from my heart to you all…
Loving God,
We ask your blessing on each of us.
May we continue to support St. Raphael’s to strengthen and grow, generously adding our unique threads and encouraging all to do the same.
May this precious tapestry be welcoming and nurturing of all, animate the wisdom of our faith, contribute to a hope filled future, harmonious relationships and educational excellence and endure to inspire with its beauty and relevance.
We ask this through Jesus Your Son, Amen.
Blessings to you all,
Tanya
Dear St Raphael's School Families,
We are thrilled to announce our upcoming "Reading Revolution" program, featuring two exciting events designed to celebrate and promote literacy in our school community. We invite you to join us in fostering a love for reading and highlighting the importance of literacy in our children's lives.
Read-a-thon: November 4-8
We encourage all St Raphael's students to participate in our school-wide read-a-thon from November 4-8. During this week, students will be challenged to read as many books as possible, either independently or with others.
To get involved:
- Look out for SeeSaw guidance from your child's teacher
- Keep a tally of books read so they can be marked on the classroom chart each day
- Generally encourage reading at home and school
Special book prizes will be awarded to top readers in each class. Let's make this a fun and engaging way to boost our reading habits!
Expert Panel: Literacy - The Foundation of Success
- Date: Monday, November 4th
- Time: 6:15 PM
- Venue: St Raphael's School Hall
Join us for an insightful evening as Principal Emma Fowler hosts a panel of literacy experts including:
- Representatives from Raising Literacy SA
- Unley Library specialists
- Local children's authors: Andrew Joyner, Tania Ingram and Mandy Foot
This event will explore:
- The crucial role of reading in children's development
- How reading fosters brain development and neural connections
- Practical strategies for families to support literacy at home
Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and tools to support your child's reading journey.
We look forward to your enthusiastic participation in both the read-a-thon and expert panel session. Together, let's ignite a passion for reading that will last a lifetime!
To RSVP for the panel and see who the speakers are please click here. Children are welcome to the expert panel event. For any questions please contact Katrina on ktucker@raph.catholic.edu.au
Happy reading!
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the residents of St. Louis Aged Care who joined us for our recent Community Prayer, hosted by our Year 2 and Year 5/6B classes. It was truly wonderful to see so many familiar faces in our school hall, celebrating the special relationships our students have built with the residents.
Our Year 2 and Year 5/6B classes regularly visit the nursing home, and these interactions are invaluable for both our students and the residents. Having the residents present at the prayer not only highlighted the importance of these connections but also reinforced the values of compassion and community that we cherish at St. Raphael's School.
We look forward to further strengthening these bonds in the future.
Our extension students recently participated in the STEM MAD (Make A Difference) Showcase, demonstrating their innovative thinking and problem-solving skills. Two teams from St Raphael's School rose to the challenge of creating STEM prototypes designed to make a real-world impact.
The STEM MAD Showcase is a celebration of student learning that promotes STEM initiatives addressing real-world problems while encouraging students to act for justice and the common good.
Our students embraced this opportunity, developing projects that showcased their creativity and technical abilities.
Key Highlights:
- Students utilized the Design Thinking process to empathize, ideate, design, prototype, and test their innovations.
- The teams developed coding skills using micro:bit technology, enhancing their digital literacy.
- Teamwork was a crucial aspect of the project, providing valuable collaborative experience.
Both teams represented St Raphael's brilliantly, demonstrating excellent coding skills and innovative thinking processes. Their participation in this showcase aligns perfectly with our school's commitment to delivering a bright and inspired start for our students.
We're proud of our students' achievements and their dedication to making a positive difference in the world through STEM. Their participation in events like STEM MAD reinforces our school's focus on future-focused learning and social responsibility.
Term 4 Save the Date:
Christmas Concert
- What: A festive performance featuring each year level presenting a unique performance, along with an assortment of sideshow performances and some surprise acts!
- Date: Friday evening, 15 November -- Week 5
- Venue: St. Raph’s Theatre/School Hall
Celebrating the Arts Evening
- What: R-6 Instrumental Tuition Concert (Piano, Guitar, and Drums) and Year 4-6 Drama Club performance 'The Constellation Show', written by Maria Arias Contreras (Year 5/6H)
- Date: Thursday evening, 21 November -- Week 6
- Venue: St. Raph’s Theatre/School Hall
Please mark your calendars for these exciting events! We look forward to seeing you there!
Celebrations:
Our school community recently had the pleasure of witnessing four of our incredible Choir students—Mila, Maria, Leo, and Senul perform the song ‘Puttin' On The Ritz’ at our Community Fair on Sunday 8 September.
A special thank you goes out to our talented students and their supportive families for their time and commitment.
As you can see from the photo, audience members were transported back to the roaring 1920’s!
End of Term 3 Reminders:
Catholic Schools Music Festival Performance
- Date: Tuesday, 24 September
- Time: Show commences at 7:30 PM
- Venue: Adelaide Festival Centre
- Tickets: Available for purchase through Ticketek ($41 per person)
Over the last three terms, our Year 5 and 6 Choir Ensemble students have been diligently preparing to perform ten soulful songs at this year’s Catholic Schools Music Festival.
We warmly invite all families to attend and strongly encourage Year 4 students who are considering joining the Year 5/6 Choir Ensemble in 2025 to come and see what it's all about while supporting our talented performers.
Thank you for your ongoing support in nurturing our students' artistic talents. Your encouragement helps them shine!
As we look ahead, we are excited about the upcoming events and the opportunities they provide for our students to showcase their talents. We appreciate your partnership and look forward to celebrating together.
Warm Regards,
Mandy Flynn
Performing Arts Teacher and Coordinator
We are excited to announce that Sports Day 2024 is just around the corner! Mark your calendars for Friday, October 18, as we gather at the wonderful Walford Parks Playing Fields for a thrilling day of athletic competition.
We warmly invite all our school families, friends, and relatives to join us for the festivities, which will kick off at 1pm. This year’s Sports Day promises to be an exhilarating event, featuring a variety of activities suitable for all skill levels—think of it as a mini-Olympics packed into one afternoon!
In a new twist, we will be celebrating at Walford, and we encourage everyone to stay after the events conclude. Enjoy delicious offerings from our food trucks and continue the celebration until 5pm.
Come out and support our students as they showcase their talents and sportsmanship. We look forward to seeing you there!
- Friday October 18
- 1pm - 5pm
- Walford Parks Playing Fields
- Cnr of Cross Rd and Belair Rd - parking in surrounding streets please be sure to check the signs.
We are delighted to offer an after school coding opportunity in Term 4 for all our Year 3, 4, 5 and 6 students. You can book your child in via www.codecamp.com.au/straph
Get in quick as spaces are limited.
Madhavi Parker of Positive Minds Australia recently delivered our parental educative session on managing behavior at home. For those who couldn't attend, here's a summary of key takeaways and the slideshow Madhavi put together for the session:
Shifting Perspectives
Madhavi emphasised the importance of adapting parental approaches rather than solely focusing on changing children's behavior. This shift in perspective can lead to positive changes in the home environment.
Framework for Discipline
A comprehensive framework was provided to address common challenges and offer practical solutions tailored to each family's unique needs. The goal is not just to modify children's behavior but to empower parents with new tools and perspectives.
Key Insights
Overwhelm and Teaching
- When a child is overwhelmed, it's not the time to teach
- Avoid adding your alarm to their alarm
- Parents should be comfortable with their children's discomfort
Problem-Solving
- Allow children to work out their own solutions sometimes
- Don't fix all their problems for them
Relationships and Connection
- Focus on building strong relationships
- Understand that what adults see as minor events can be significant to children
Positive Storytelling
- Share good stories and positive encounters from your day with your children
Empowering Decision-Making
- Encourage children to make decisions by saying, "That sounds so disappointing, what are you going to do about it?"
Dealing with Disappointment
- Teach children that it's normal to want things they can't have
- Allow them to experience their feelings, but don't let them dwell on negativity
Teachable Moments
- Have conversations and teachable moments outside of overwhelmed states
- When a child is overwhelmed, focus solely on calming them
Compassion and Empathy
- Always approach situations with compassion and empathy - to your child and yourself
Event Information
This session explored how parents can adapt their approaches to create positive change at home. The goal was to empower parents with new tools and perspectives to create a more harmonious home environment.
By implementing these strategies, parents can work towards creating a more positive and supportive atmosphere at home, fostering better relationships and more effective behavior management.
We sincerely hope that this session provided a positive outcome to those who attended and for everyone else - we hope that the above notes provide the same.
Dear School Families,
We are excited to announce that our Annual School Photos Day will take place on Friday, September 20. We want all our students to look bright and smart for their photos, and we kindly ask for your support in helping them achieve this.
Dress Code Expectations
To ensure that our students present themselves in the best possible light, we ask that they adhere to the following guidelines:
Neat and Tidy Appearance:
Please ensure that students are well-groomed and presentable.
Students are to wear their full PE uniform or their New school uniform.
Year 6 are to wear their Year 6 jumpers please.
This includes avoiding non-uniform items such as:
- Crazy hair clips
- Casual weekend jumpers.
- Socks in colors other than those specified in our uniform policy
Upholding Our Standards Every Day
We believe that maintaining a neat and uniform appearance fosters a sense of pride in our school community. We encourage our students to uphold these standards not just on Photo Day, but every day. By wearing their school uniform with pride, students contribute to a positive school environment and a sense of belonging.
Support for Families
We understand that there may be circumstances where families need assistance in meeting these expectations. If you are facing challenges in ensuring your child adheres to the uniform policy, please do not hesitate to reach out to us for support. We are here to help!
Thank you for your cooperation and support in making our school a place of pride and excellence. We look forward to seeing all our students looking their best on Photo Day!
Upcoming Events
School Photo Day
Mercy Stalls presented by all year levels.
St Raphael’s School was established in 1889 by the Sisters of Mercy and each year we proudly celebrate our heritage during Mercy Week.
On Monday September 23, between Recess and Lunch, there will be stalls for students to either purchase small items or play games ie; Pin the tail on the donkey. These have traditionally been set up and run by our senior students, but this year each class is responsible for creating and establishing a stall. In this way, all students see themselves as being able to contribute to the Common Good in a meaningful way. Look out for more information from class teachers, who may be seeking parent support on the day. Apart from being a lot of fun, we are also hoping to raise money which we will then send to the Sisters of Mercy charity which is known as ‘Mercy Works.’ This organisation supports vulnerable communities in Papua New Guinea.
Catholic Schools Music Festival
Excursion to the Monastery and last day of Term 3
Our school will head by bus to the Monastery. We will begin the day with Mass in St. Paul of the Cross Church at 9.45am. Following this, students will be lead through a variety of activities within the Monastery grounds. Recess and Lunch are provided on the day, due to the generosity of the Monastery. We will return to school via bus, in time for the regular afternoon pickup. A more detailed plan of the day will be provided closer to the event, in the form of an excursion note.
Sports Day
Grandparents Day
You're Invited to Our Grandfriends Morning!
We are thrilled to invite you to our Grandfriends Day next week! Join us on Friday at 9am in the hall for a special morning dedicated to celebrating the wonderful relationships between our students and their beloved grandparents and special friends.
Here's what we have planned:
- 9am: We will kick off the morning with a short prayer, followed by an exciting performance by our talented Choir students singing "Putting on the Ritz."
- After the performance, children will escort their Grandfriends back to their classrooms for a fun-filled visit.
- Classes 3, 4, 5, and 6 will be set up downstairs to showcase their learning, while other classes will share their activities in their rooms.
- Enjoy delicious jam, cream, and scones available in the hall for our special guests!
This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to share their school experiences with you. We can't wait to see you there!
Read-a-thon
Running from November 4th to November 8th. We're encouraging our students, and the kindy kids at Cranley House Child Care Centre, Grove Kindergarten, Kozy Kids Glenside and Guardian Child Care Centre, plus the wider community to read as many books as possible, either to themselves or to others, and keep a tally.
Special book prizes will be awarded to the children who read or had the most books read to them at each participating kindergarten and at St Raphael's School.
Expert Panel: Literacy - The Foundation of Success.
Don't miss this opportunity to learn from experts and gain valuable insights into the world of reading. Join us in our mission to cultivate a community of passionate readers and lifelong learners.
St Raphael's School, is proud to announce an expert panel event on the importance of reading, hosted by Principal Emma Fowler. This event is part of our Reading Revolution read-a-thon and will take place on Monday, November 4th, from 6:15 pm in the school Hall.
Why Reading Matters: Practical Insights for Families
Join us for an enlightening discussion on the crucial role of reading in children's development, focusing on practical reasons that families with children aged 0 to Year 6 can relate to. Our expert panel will explore how reading fosters brain development and neural connections in young children, enabling positive academic, social, and wellbeing outcomes.
Panellists
- Representatives from Raising Literacy SA
- Unley Library specialists
- Local children's authors: Andrew Joyner, Tania Ingram and Mandy Foot
Event Details:
Date: Monday, November 4th
Time: 6:15 pm
Location: St Raphael's School Hall, 114 Glen Osmond Rd, Parkside.
Cost: Free entry with children welcome.
RSVP: Required to ensure adequate space, please.
PE Week
Christmas concert: Aisle Be Home for Christmas
All abord for our Christmas Concert: "Aisle Be Home for Christmas"
Sing along to your favourite Christmas carols, laugh with our student stand up comedians and enjoy some slapstick, drama and musical theatre performances.
Paging passengers for Friday 15 November
Gates open 6pm for a 7pm flight
Entertainment, drinks and desserts available.
Enjoy a show put on by all our students just for you!
Tickets are $5 each [St Raphael's School students free], via QKR or at the front office.
Social