Media Releases
Celebrating Excellence: Our Educators Shine at the Unley Rotary Teacher Awards!
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.
Transform Your Child's Future: Join St Raphael's School for the Game-Changing "Reading Revolution"!
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.
Exceptional Leadership: Mr. Sicari Shines in News Corp’s Best Teacher Campaign
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.
