Newsletter 4 2021

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

On Friday 12 March we came together as a school community and officially launched our St Raphael’s School Learner Dispositions. This process of identifying the dispositions of curious, resilient, thoughtful, responsible, and collaborative into our everyday learning commenced six months ago.

We began the process with our students with two simple questions, ‘What does a good leaner look like and how does my teacher enable my learning?’ Marianne Farrugia, AP Director of Learning and I spent a few weeks, early last year interviewing a cross section of Reception to Year 6 students. What became clear, was that our students thought a good learner was someone who did what the teacher told them to do, someone who sat and listened. Whilst we want our students to be respectful in their learning communities, we also want our students to have student agency, i.e. having a voice to ask, to question, to contemplate, to collaborate, to discern, to critically reflect and to take responsibility for their learning.

If you haven’t had the opportunity to view our students speaking about these dispositions go to our school website here. We want our students to become assessment capable learners, thriving in their learning and in order to do that, we have to give them the language to do so.  

Last night we held our Annual General Meeting at 6:00pm.  Parents/caregivers were sent a copy of the AGM reports via email. As part of the proceedings, I wish to formally acknowledge the School Board in their endeavours to provide support and wisdom to the school in their collaborative partnership with myself and the parish. I also wish to thank retiring members, especially Sue Gabel who has been on the Board for the last four years and has also been the School Board Chair for the last two years. She has, and continues to be, a strong advocate for our school and our endeavours to ensure that we remain a competitive and affordable option for families choosing Catholic Education. I wish to also mention, Michelle Santin, who has also been a Board member for the last 4 years. She too has served our community diligently. A special mention to Bridget Kearins, who was co-opted back on the Board as Finance Chair during 2020.  

Following the AGM, we held our first School Board Meeting and this year we welcomed three new Board Members, Courtney Hood, Kirstie Coultas and Gaia Ricci, who were voted in as Board Chair, Finance Chair and Secretariat respectively.  Other Board members include: Luke Read, Lev Makaev, Matthew Pike, Samuel Chua, Fr Denis Travers and Marianne Farrugia.  We thank them in anticipation for their service and stewardship as representatives of our school community and members of the School Board.

Next week we hold our annual Sports Day on Thursday 25 March. Parents/caregivers are welcome to attend and will need to follow the usual practice of using the QR code when entering the school grounds and sending an RSVP to info@raph.catholic.edu.au by Wednesday 24 March. This ensures we know who is on site at all times.  A coffee van will be available for adults and Emma, our Canteen Manager, has supplied various treats to be enjoyed with your coffee. If you haven’t already done so, please place an order of sausages for your child/ren and yourself if you wish to participate in the sausage sizzle offer. Once the official proceedings of Sports Day have concluded, students may be taken home with parents/caregivers. All students remaining will conclude their day with fun activities provided by supervising teachers. OSHC will be on offer after school as per usual.

On Sunday 21 March all families are invited to a ‘playdate afternoon’ organised by the Parents and Friends. This is a great opportunity to meet and catch up with St Raphael’s School families. It is an informal get-together happening at Marshmallow Park from 2:00 pm – 4:00pm. We would love to see you there.

With every best wish,
Mia Harms
Principal

Dear Parents and Caregivers, 

This week we mark the solemnities of St Patrick on the 17 March and St Joseph, husband of the Blessed Mary and father figure for Jesus on the 19 March. Although both feasts fall during this week, it is not unusual for society to pay more attention to that of St Patrick. He has become one of the world's most popular saints. Some little-known facts about St Patrick include he was born in Britain not Ireland and that he was a slave during his teenage years. Patrick used the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity and later became a missionary and Bishop of Ireland. 

St Joseph, whom many places and churches around the world are named after was known as a loyal, compassionate, and hardworking man who trusted in Mary and God alike. St Joseph has become the patron saint of the universal Church and families. It is interesting to note that in Scripture there is not a lot of mention of Joseph appearing in Jesus' later life, during his public ministry, his death and Resurrection, with many scholars suggesting he passed before Jesus' adult life. Both saints trusted in God and lived selfless lives. We can learn from both men the importance of team and trusting and working with others. St Joseph supported and walked alongside Mary and St Patrick always evangelised and moved with a team as he travelled and shared the Gospel message.

May the breastplate of St Patrick below be a guiding prayer during this Lenten season.

Christ be with me, Christ within me
Christ behind me, Christ before me
Christ beside me, Christ to win me
Christ to comfort me and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger
Christ in hearts of all that love me
Christ in mouth of friend or stranger.
(390-461 A.D.)

Gardening Club 
Two of our Year 6 leaders, Angie and Ada have established a gardening club at St Raphael’s School. The club meets weekly at lunch time and all students are welcome to attend. The group is in its infancy stage deciding on a club name, rosters and garden bed set up. They are excited about the possibilities and would welcome any donations of gardening supplies. This initiative is very much in keeping with Pope Francis message about ‘caring for our common home”. 

Sacramental Program
Just a reminder that our first Parent Evening for Reconciliation is on Wednesday 24th March at the Monastery. Please contact Pauline Connell at the parish office if you require further information.

Southern Cross: South Australia’s Catholic News 
Please find below the link to the March edition of the Southern Cross news. 
https://thesoutherncross.org.au 

The prayer below was shared at Tuesday evening's Annual General Meeting. The reflection celebrated the gift of our children and I was inspired by the quote 'children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see' (John Whitehead). It is our shared responsibility to love them and equip them with skills, knowledge and values that will allow them to flourish in the future.

FOR THE HEART...... 
Heavenly Father, we welcome and acknowledge each child as a delightful blessing from You. May we love them wholeheartedly, teach them comprehensively and support them entirely. May their gifts and talents be fulfilled and their uniqueness be celebrated.
May they always reach their full potential.
We ask this in your name.
AMEN  

Have a wonderful week ahead!

Kelly Manera
Assistant Principal Religious Identity and Mission

Learner Dispositions 
At St Raphael’s School we believe learners learn best when they can talk about, reflect on, and own their learning.  We want learners to know how to take charge of their own learning and to ‘know what to do when they don’t know what to do’. 

To support our learners at St Raphael’s School we have identified five learner dispositions that we would like our learners to develop to help them be the best learners they can be.  These were identified through a collaborative process where students, teachers and families had the opportunity to contribute. 

To commemorate the occasion of the launch of St Raphael’s Leaner Dispositions which took place last Friday, I, along with Alessandro (Year 6 Reporter), spoke to some of our leaners about how they were using their dispositions to help them learn.  You can see these conversations in a video which is now available on our website here.  Please take a look!  We also hope that you will engage your child in conversations about their learning at home and how they can use and develop great learner dispositions in all aspects of their life. 

Marianne Farrugia
Assistant Principal Director of Learning 

Sports Day 2021
Students are getting excited with Sports Day fast approaching next week on Thursday 25 March. All parents/caregivers were sent home a detailed note with information about Sports Day. Summary dot points are:

• Sports Day to be held on school grounds on Thursday 25 March from 9:00am-1:00pm
• Parents/caregivers welcome to attend – you must RSVP (see Parent Note) due to COVID-19 guidelines
• Request for Sports Day Raffle donations from each family in sports team colours.
• Sausage Sizzle is available for lunch – Pre-order form (see Parent Note) must be returned by this Friday 19 March.
• Parents/ caregivers can take their children home at the conclusion of Sports Day at 1:00pm. Remaining students will be supervised at school until normal dismissal time

A copy of the Sports Day information for parents note sent home last week is available here.

Sports Day Raffle Tickets  
Tomorrow each family will be sent home one book of raffle tickets to purchase for the upcoming Sports Day Raffle. Tickets sell for $1 each. There are some great prizes to be won and we thank you for your generosity in supporting our school.

AFL Auskick Program – Term 2
During Term 2, all students in Reception – Year 2 have the opportunity to participate in AUSKICK. It is a developmental program for young students to learn the basic skills of AFL Football. It will be held weekly on Saturday mornings at Parkside Primary School from 8:30 – 9:30am. Your child will bring home a hard copy of the flyer today which gives all the details for registering online for the program. As AUSKICK is affiliated with a national sporting body, the AFL, the cost is free with the use of the Sports Voucher (government subsidised). A great opportunity for your child to be physically active and develop fundamental movement skills. The flyer is attached here.

Appleton Sports Holiday Clinics –  AFL Football
Appleton Sports are holding AFL Football Clinics in the upcoming April school holidays. The clinics will cater for the following age groups (5 – 11 years of age / 12-17 years of age). See the flyer here for more details.

Jeanette Archer
PE and Sport Coordinator

St Raphael’s School Family Playdate this Sunday
Everyone is invited to the St Raphael’s School Family Playdate, to relax, chat, eat and watch the children play! This coincides with Harmony Day which aligns beautifully with wanting our community to come together as one and connect.

Marshmallow Park, this Sunday 21 March, 2pm - 4pm. BYO afternoon tea.

Volunteering opportunities for Term 1

Sports Day Making session
The Loft, Tuesday 23 March, 3:00pm - 4:30pm

Please join the Parents and Friends Committee in the Loft after pick up to create the Sports Day raffle baskets and make the new sports day ribbons. Children are permitted to play in the school grounds.

Raffle baskets will be made up from the donations received from our school families and will be sorted into house coloured prize packages.
Coloured ribbons will be created in house colours to sell on the day for $1. These funds will go toward future P&F events. The school will purchase the coloured ribbons and pins. 

Sports Day
Thursday 25 March, 9:00am - 1:00pm
Volunteers are needed to assist with the BBQ and to sell cakes, ribbons and raffle tickets. Please contact info@raph.catholic.edu.au if you are able to help.

The Parents and Friends thank you in advance for your support.

Sports Day Sausage Sizzle
Don’t forget to get your sausage sizzle orders in for Sports Day.  Orders close this Friday 19 March.

If anyone is able to assist with the sausage sizzle on Thursday 25 March your help would be greatly appreciated.

Last week of term opening days
Please note as the last day of Term 1 (Friday 9 April) is a pupil free day the Canteen will be open on Wednesday and Thursday that week.

Emma Alexander
Canteen Manager