St Raphael's School Newsletter 4 2024

Communication lies at the heart of our partnership with you, and we are constantly seeking ways to ensure that you are informed, engaged, and empowered in your child's education. With this in mind, I am excited to unveil our new infographic that explains the various ways we share information at St Raphael’s School. This visually engaging resource serves as a guide to the various ways we communicate with our families, providing a comprehensive overview of the channels available to you. From traditional methods to modern platforms, our goal is to offer a diverse range of options that meet your needs and preferences.

We believe that effective communication is a shared responsibility, and we are committed to providing you with the tools and support you need to stay informed and engaged in your child's education journey. One way you can ensure you don’t miss any important upcoming events is to turn on notifications for both the Seesaw and Audiri app as well as bookmark the school’s news and events page located on our website. If you need help installing any of our apps, please contact the front office for detailed instructions.

I encourage you to take a moment to explore our new infographic and familiarise yourself with the communication channels available to you. As always, if you have any questions, feedback, or suggestions, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. Together, we will continue to create a nurturing and enriching learning environment for every child at St Raphael’s School.

Emma Fowler - Principal

This communications flowchart can also be found on our website here. 

As a part of our reporting obligations, formal reports are sent to families twice per year. These are sent in the middle of the year and again at the end of the school year. This year we will be moving to provide digital student reports that will be released via the SEQTA Engage App. SEQTA is a Learning Management Software, used by all diocesan Catholic schools in South Australia, as well as most of the Catholic College’s in Adelaide. In the coming weeks, you will receive information via email re: downloading the app and preparing for reports being released at the end of the term. Please ensure that your email details are correct and up to date.

As we strive to maintain a safe and secure environment for all our students, I want to take a moment to remind you of some important procedures regarding school drop-off and pick-up. Your cooperation and vigilance are essential in ensuring the safety and well-being of every child in our care.

We have noticed more families and students taking the option to walk or ride to school which is excellent to see. We want to remind you that it is important to stay safe at all times.

First and foremost, I want to bring your attention to some important safety advice provided by SAPOL.

Please be cautious of approaches from strangers, especially when traveling to and from school. If approached, students should not respond and should not accept offers of rides or gifts.

Students should seek assistance from nearby adults if they feel unsafe, seeking help/support on school grounds/from staff where available to them. SAPOL also advises that taking out a mobile phone and calling the Police (on 131 444 or 000 in an emergency) can deter an offender.

We encourage you to discuss this advice with your child and reinforce the importance of staying safe and vigilant at all times, especially when traveling to and from school.

To support this safety advice, we ask families to please not drop children off at school before 8:30 unless you are utilising before school care to avoid being in a situation where they can be approached by a stranger.

Drop-off and Pick-up Procedures:

In addition to staying vigilant, we also want to ensure that our drop-off and pick-up procedures run smoothly and safely for everyone involved. Our Kiss and Drop zone has been working efficiently, thanks to your cooperation, and we encourage you to continue using it safely.

Please remind your child to enter and exit the car from the left-hand side to avoid traffic hazards.

Do not queue across the road; instead, follow the designated route around the school and back out to Glen Osmond Road. It only takes a few extra minutes to complete the loop, and it helps keep traffic flowing smoothly.

Do not drop off or pick up in the middle of the road; please utilise the designated car parks or Kiss and Drop zone to ensure the safety of all students and families.

By adhering to these procedures and working together, we can maintain a safe and efficient drop-off and pick-up experience for everyone. Thank you for your cooperation and commitment to the safety of our school community.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to our school office. Your feedback and cooperation are invaluable as we strive to create a safe and supportive environment for all.

We are excited to share that on Wednesday evening we hosted our first “What Big School Looks Like” for our partner Kindies, ELCs and any other family who is looking to start school in the future. The event explored the exciting world of literacy and what that looks like for our little learners. As we continue to foster a love for literature and learning, we want to share some valuable tips on how you can create a literature-rich environment at home to support your child's literacy development.

1. Surround Your Child with Books: Make books a prominent feature in your home by setting up cozy reading nooks and bookshelves filled with a diverse selection of age-appropriate books as well as setting up a subscription for audiobooks with the local library. Encourage your child to explore different genres, topics, and authors to expand their interests and imagination.

2. Read Together Daily: Set aside dedicated time each day for shared reading with your child. Whether it's before bedtime, during mealtime, or as part of a morning routine, reading together creates special bonding moments and reinforces the importance of literacy in everyday life. I know it can be challenging to fit this in with a families busy schedule but prioritising 5-10 minutes a day is all it takes.

3. Model a Love for Reading: Children learn by example, so let them see you enjoying books and reading for pleasure. Whether it's curling up with a novel, browsing through a magazine, or even reading aloud to them, your enthusiasm for reading will inspire and motivate your child to develop their own love for books.

4. Create Literacy-Rich Activities: Integrate literacy into everyday activities by incorporating reading, writing, and storytelling into games, arts and crafts, cooking, and outdoor adventures. Encourage your child to write letters, keep a journal, or create their own stories and illustrations to express their creativity and imagination.

5. Visit the Library Regularly: Take trips to the local library to explore new books, participate in storytelling sessions, and borrow materials to enjoy at home. Libraries offer a wealth of resources and activities to support your child's literacy journey and foster a lifelong love of books.

6. Make Reading Fun and Interactive: Engage your child in interactive reading experiences by asking questions, making predictions, and discussing characters, plot, and themes. Encourage them to act out scenes from their favourite stories, create their own endings, or even stage a mini-book club with friends and family.

By creating a literature-rich environment at home, you are not only nurturing your child's literacy skills but also fostering a lifelong love of literature and learning. Together, we can inspire and empower our young learners to become confident, curious, and engaged readers.

If you have any questions or would like further resources to support your child's literacy development, please don't hesitate to reach out to our school team. We are here to support you every step of the way on this exciting journey of learning and discovery.

Dear families and friends,

What a beautiful celebration was held for our mums and all the special women in our lives last Friday morning. It was lovely to see so many of our families enjoying a cuppa and something delicious to eat while catching up for a chat with others. We finished the occasion with a prayer that our students had written and a blessing from Fr. Tom.

Hopefully families had time to spend with and enjoy each other on Sunday!

Sacramental Programme

Congratulations to Leo and Henry who are currently participating in the Parish Reconciliation Programme. They will shortly receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation at a special Liturgy to be held at St. Paul of the Cross Church on Wednesday May 22 at 7pm. Information has been sent out by both the Parish and the School relating to preparation for the Sacraments of Confirmation and Communion. Sue Schulz, the Parish Pastoral Associate has asked that all enrolment forms be sent to the Parish Office by Monday May 27. If you have any questions or queries you are encouraged to contact Sue on 8338 1277 or email her at sue.schulz@monastery.net.au

Whole School Mass – Celebrating Pentecost

Next Wednesday May 22, our whole school will gather in St Raphael’s Church at 9.15am for an early celebration of the Feast of Pentecost. Many refer to this celebration as the church’s birthday. It commemorates the disciples experiencing the gift of the Holy Spirit, which strengthened and inspired them to go out into the world and continue the ministry of Jesus. Families and friends are most welcome to join us!

St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal

Last term, our school community supported the work of Caritas through Project Compassion and we recently sent them $350.10 that we raised together through our various initiatives. This term, our school will be supporting the Vinnie’s Winter Appeal, so when you are next going through your cupboards and drawers, check to see if you have any good quality warm clothing, blankets, quilts etc that your family no longer requires. We plan to order some large Vinnie’s collection boxes for our school, for donations to be placed in. A note will go out to families to let you know when they arrive. Many thanks!

On reflecting about the wonderful community of St. Raphael’s School, this quote from Ryunosuke Satoro came to mind…

“Individually, we are one drop. Together we are an ocean.”

Many blessings to you all,

Tanya Stott - APRIM

SA Uniting Communities has a service called 'Family By Family' - a program designed by families for families. Families who are experiencing hard times are linked up with families who know what it's like and have ideas to share. It is a network of families helping other families of all sizes, shapes and cultures.

If you are a family who has been through some difficult times and come out the other side, you could be an excellent source of information and support to a family who are experiencing challenging circumstances right now. With the support of the Family By Family team, you could be linked up with others to help reduce social isolation, navigating single parenting, setting up life in a new state/country and so many other areas.

Some of the requests that families seek support for include: "We'd like our family to get out more" "We'd like to have routines around home" "We'd like to have some more friends" "We'd like to learn better budgeting" "We'd like to improve our kids behaviour"

Family by Family will help link you up with other families.

Whether you are seeking support, or if you would like to be a supporting family, you have choices.

If you, or someone you know, are looking for a support service please contact Family By Family Home or 0455 963 934 or on Facebook.com/familybyfamily

School Counsellor - Sarah Byrnes

Our Annual Report will give you a snapshot into the performance of our school. While it's a requirement for us to produce it, we also embrace the chance to report to our school community about our activities and our plans. The Report provides a very detailed outline of our school including Census information, NAPLAN results and funding streams.

It's available for download here.

This term the Year 6 students are inquiring into Biological Sciences. The guiding inquiry question for this unit of study is:

How do the changes in physical conditions of a habitat affect the growth and survival of living things?

Students are posing questions to investigate and making predictions. To aid in their inquiries, students have designed a unique experiment collaboratively, exploring the impact different variables have on the growth of plants, including sunlight, soil, water and temperature. Students will monitor their data, represent their observations, conclusions and data for a specific audience. Students are developing their transdisciplinary skills incorporating using literacy (scientific vocabulary) and digital technology within their inquiries.

The sunny start to Autumn has helped us take our Science outside to enjoy this delightful weather!

Last Monday, our school was transported to the sunny piazzas and vibrant culture of Italy for our first ever Italian Cultural Day. The festivities began with students arriving in colorful Italian-inspired outfits, setting the mood for the day's events. At lunchtime, the scent of freshly baked pizza wafted through the air as students and staff gathered in our very own "piazza" to enjoy an authentic Italian meal. The delizioso spread included classic pizzas, along with creamy gelato for dessert. After refueling on the delectable Italian cuisine, the real fun began with a lively performance celebrating Italy's rich traditions. The children danced and sang along to a mix of classic folk songs and modern Italian pop hits.

Signora Mitchell, our passionate Italian teacher, deserves a huge round of applause for organising such a successful and immersive cultural experience. "It was wonderful to see the students so engaged and excited to learn about Italy," she shared. "Events like this make the language come alive."

Grazie mille to all who participated!

We are thrilled to announce the strong interest in debating among our students this year. Our school has not one, but three teams competing in the prestigious Debating South Australian Competition. With a talented group of Year 5 students participating in the Year 5/6 Debating Competition. Additionally, we have two teams of Year 6 students showcasing their skills in the Year 6/7 Competition.

During the first three weeks of the term, our debaters have been diligently preparing for their inaugural debate. They have collaborated extensively, developing persuasive arguments and considering diverse perspectives.

Our initial focus has been on understanding the structure of a debate, with students honing their ability to apply rigour to their persuasive arguments and graciously accept constructive feedback from their peers. Throughout this process, our debaters have been developing invaluable collaborative and critical thinking skills. They have shared their thoughts, challenged each other's ideas, and grown together as a team.

We are proud to share that all three teams have represented our school admirably, with two of our teams emerging victorious in their first debate. Our students deserve commendation for their unwavering preparation and dedication. We extend our gratitude to the parents and carers who ensured their children arrived on time for the debates.

Moving forward, our goals are to enhance our rebuttal skills and ensure that all arguments are backed by solid evidence. We are confident that our debaters will continue to excel and make us proud.

Please note that photography and recording are not permitted during the debates, as per the guidelines set by South Australian Debating. However, Mr. Baxter will capture photographs of our teams after the debates, when possible.

Congratulations to our debaters, and best wishes for continued success!

Mr. Baxter & Mr. Sicari Debating Coaches

We would like to formally invite our students, parents, carers, and extended family to attend a 'soft launch' of our new school on Wednesday June 5 from 8:15am.

About the Soft Launch

As a school, we have been working hard on this project for nearly a year and are super excited to share the almost final product with you. We will be moving into our fabulous new learning spaces and hosting a wonderful Grand Opening event in Term 3, once our new car park is ready to go. This soft launch event is an opportunity for you to join us for a walk-through and exploration of the new spaces before we officially move in. You'll have the chance to chat with our leadership and staff about the new facilities and what they will provide for our students. Plus, you'll be able to experience it all alongside your children.

What to Expect

During the soft launch, we will be providing a morning tea and have our coffee cart on site to help you on your way. This is a chance for the entire school community to come together, get a sneak peek of the new spaces, and share in our excitement for this new chapter.

RSVP

We hope you can make it to this special event.

Please RSVP via our school website here.

We look forward to welcoming you to our new school!

Next Parents and Friends meeting online via TEAMS.

Monday May 30, 6:30 - 7:30pm

If you wish to be invited please email Katrina on ktucker@raph.catholic.edu.au

A Day of Disco, Movies, and Crafty Delights

A highlight of the day was the arrival of the incredible Bop Till You Drop entertainer, and their dazzling disco. The children's eyes lit up as they stepped onto the dance floor, ready to showcase their best moves. Laughter and music filled the air as they sang along to their favorite tunes, played interactive games, and danced the day away.

But the fun didn't stop there! Our OSHC team also organised a movie afternoon, including pass the parcel, cookie decorating, and the creation of friendship bracelets. To top it all off, our students were showered with an array of sensory prizes, including fidgets, slime, and spinners, ensuring that every child left with a smile on their face.

Our OSHC fosters a strong sense of community and this Pupil Free Day was a testament to our commitment to creating a nurturing and engaging environment for our students. So, if you're looking for a place where your child can explore, learn, and have fun, before and after school as well as on pupil free days, look no further than St Raphael's School OSHC.

Each year, our school sends home a Scholastic Book Club pamphlet filled with books available for purchase by families. We are proud to participate in this program as it provides an affordable and convenient way for our students to access high-quality children's literature.

What many may not know is that Scholastic's Rewards program gives back 15% of every order placed through the Book Club to our school. This allows us to purchase valuable educational resources that directly benefit our students' learning experiences. We are grateful for the opportunity to participate in the Scholastic Book Club and appreciate the company's commitment to supporting school literacy.

Orders for the current Book Club issue are due by May 18th. Families can place orders either online through the Scholastic Australia website or by using the hard copy pamphlet sent home. 

You may recall our social post from a month ago where the family of our student Chance rescued a baby possum at our school. Here is an update from the person now caring for it at Save Our Wildlife Foundation Incorporated.

"Thank you Chance, Hewan and St Raphael's School Parkside staff for the part you have all played in this joeys rescue. My mum and I have the pleasure of caring for this young brushtail joey (was mistakenly ID'd as a ringtail) who we have named Helia. She is doing better than what we ever imagined! We are so proud of her progress thus far. She is going strong and gaining her weight at a steady pace after losing weight while battling an eye infection. She currently weighs 108g and is still 3-hourly fed around the clock."