Celebrating our new school building additions
Thank you to all our families who came out before school this week to attend our Soft Launch, it was wonderful to be able to show you around the new buildings and explain our reimagining of St Raphael's' School. We hope you are as inspired as we are to embark on this next chapter of our school, and your ever evolving and rewarding educational journey with us. We are confident these new spaces will encourage achievement academically, socially and emotionally for our students.
Please note that we will be hosting a larger scale launch, as a community fair day on Sunday September 8.
We will be inviting the wider community to this day and filling it with student exhibitions, open classrooms, performances, sporting activities, entertainment, food trucks, and a licensed bar. Please put this in your diaries now and be sure to extend the invitation to your family and friends.
We look forward to moving forward with you.
Dear families and friends,
Last week, our whole school gathered at St Raphael’s Church to celebrate Pentecost. We were led by our senior students who wrote the introduction and welcome for our mass and also the prayers, sharing with us their thoughts on the needs of our community and wider world that they felt needed to be prioritized. The reverent and confident manner in which they participated during the ceremony, showcased their leadership skills and set an excellent example for our younger students. Fr. Tom was our celebrant and his homily was very much tailored to his young audience, who listened carefully and with great interest to the stories he shared. We were introduced to Deacon Phi, who is a recent arrival to the Passionist community at the Monastery. Deacon Phi supported Fr. Tom during the mass. We are very grateful to work in partnership with our local parish and for their genuine interest, care and support!
St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal
The donation bins have arrived and are located in the Front Office – now we just need to try and fill them with warm quality articles of clothing. This is a great time to go through cupboards and wardrobes to see if your children have grown out of items, or if you have clothing you no longer need. Providing they are still in good repair and are warm, the team at Vinnie’s would love them! They also welcome donations of blankets and sleeping bags. New clothes such as beanies, socks, scarves and mittens would also come in very useful as would cash donations. In the last week or so, as the temperature has finally dropped and it is feeling like winter, I have been reminded of the vulnerable in our communities. Those who are homeless come to mind first, but so too do those who are struggling financially – keeping warm and dry may well be a challenge for many!
Crossways Curriculum - Religious Education Professional Development Day for Teaching Staff
This Friday, teachers and leadership are heading to Stella Maris School at Seacombe Gardens, for a day of high quality professional development in the Crossways Religious Education Curriculum. We are joining the staff of Stella Maris and also St. Bernadette’s School and are being led by members of the Catholic Education Office Religious Education Team. The curriculum is accessed via an online platform, that has undergone a review and significant development in the last few years. It is regularly updated with new and additional resources, to support the teaching of Religious Education in an engaging, relevant and rigorous manner. Teachers will have the opportunity to work with their year level counterparts across the three schools, to design contemporary units of learning.
Fr. Tony returns to St Raphael’s School
We welcome Fr. Tony back to St Raphael’s after returning last week from his leave. He visits us most Fridays, spending time each week with a class and then often heading out to the oval at Recess and Lunch breaks.
Last Thursday, I attended a Religious Leaders Day on the theme; ‘Unlocking the Heart: Theology and Religious Education through Art.’ The guest speaker was Fr. Elio Capra, a captivating and extremely knowledgeable presenter! It is with him in mind that I leave you now with two pieces of wisdom…
“Human beings don’t learn from experiences, they learn from reflecting on their experiences.” (John Dewey) “
Eucharist is not just in the mass – you must go out and live it!” (Fr. Elio Capra).
Many blessings to you all,
Tanya Stott - APRIM
Once again, St Raphael's will be involved in the International Competitions and Assessment for Schools (ICAS). It's an opportunity for our students to showcase their academic and critical thinking skills and to be exposed to analytical and problem-solving contexts. If you are interested in your child participating in either the English or Mathematics competition, please read this letter for further information.
As part of the annual Catholic Education South Australia's Open Week campaign, our reception student Nadia participated in a special photo shoot. Congratulations to Nadia for her excellent performance and lovely smile that captured the spirit of our school. Nadia displayed enthusiasm and charm during the photo shoot, making her a great ambassador for our school. We thank her mother, Felicia, for her support throughout the experience.
We are proud to be part of this state-wide campaign each year, as it highlights the positive environment that Catholic education provides. From August 12-25, you can see Nadia's photo on a bus shelter ad along Glen Osmond Road and in a retail ad at the Arkaba shops.
Nadia has represented our school admirably. Her participation in this campaign will likely inspire families to explore Catholic education and its offerings. Please feel free to congratulate Nadia on this achievement when you see her at school.
In the last days of May this year our Year 4, 5 and 6 students spent their time at Wirraway Homestead Camp. This was an excellent few days spent experiencing new things, learning new skills, and working out how to spend down time away from home, family and the usual distractions.
On Day 1, students developed their self-management skills by setting up their own dorms. The first afternoon was filled with small group activities, including cracking a whip, lassoing, potato sack races and other collaborative tasks. A fabulous dinner was shared, followed by an exciting night walk, where students enjoyed star gazing and listening to the mysterious sounds of native and farm animals in the night. After a fantastic first day and night, the energy of the camp was lifted by the arrival of the Year 3 students on day 2. Over the next two days, students enjoyed a variety of activities including horse riding, herding sheep, archery, horse grooming, hiking and low rope obstacle courses. Many students were risk takers, who overcome hurdles and initial fears participating in activities that brought great joy!
“My Camp highlight was horse riding because it was fun, the horse I rode (his name is Oscar) was very nice and wasn’t frightened easily” – Leo
On camp we focused heavily on our Mercy Values, seeing students exercising compassion, respect and justice supporting one another through the ups and downs. Many students took full use of the free time to forge strong bonds in the school community, enjoying the pool table, table tennis and other assorted games. The art of ‘what to do’’, during no organised activities was exciting, with students creating fun activities including soccer games, an impromptu night walk and a dance off.
“A highlight was feeding the goats (Anchovy and Rosemary) and learning how to play pool as well as horse grooming… oh and the horse riding of course!” – Amy
It was fabulous to see students taking ownership and responsibility of the space during camp, regularly working as a team to clear the tables, clean dishes and tidy the rooms.
“My highlight was definitely the horses. I was nervous at first but overcame it and loved it” – Josh
We would like to thank all St Raphael’s School staff and leadership who supported the camp, providing fresh energy over the three days in helping the students maximise their time. A special thank you to the Wirraway Homestead Camp staff, who were very gracious hosts!
"My Camp Highlight was horse riding because it was fun and an learning experience at the same time” – Lucas
Camp is a special time where many memories are created by students and the 2024 Camp will long be remembered!
“I loved everything about camp and especially my horse Spike” - Chris
Teachers of Year 3, 4, 5 and 6 - Jodie Hamilton, Chris Uzzell, Tom Baxter
On Friday, May 24th, our youngest students embarked on an exciting journey to the Adelaide Zoo. The Receptions, Year 1s, and Year 2s had the opportunity to participate in a hands-on lesson that explored the intricate world of animal habitats.
During their visit, the students delved into the fascinating process of designing enclosures that cater to the unique needs of various animals. They learned about the essential elements required to create a suitable living environment, ensuring the well-being and comfort of the zoo's residents.
One of the highlights of the excursion was the chance to get up-close and personal with a captivating lizard.
After their encounter with the lizard, the young learners put their knowledge into practice by constructing their very own miniature habitats.
We extend our gratitude to the Adelaide Zoo for providing our students with this incredible educational experience and for fostering a deeper appreciation for the importance of preserving and protecting our planet's remarkable creatures.
Our partnership with St Louis Aged Care, allowed our Year 2 students to make another visit, where they spent quality time reading books to the residents. The experience was truly heartwarming, as the children's vibrant energy and enthusiasm brought smiles to the faces of the elderly. The room was filled with laughter, warm conversations, and an atmosphere of joy and camaraderie.
This collaboration allows our students to connect with the elderly residents, fostering a sense of togetherness and mutual understanding across generations.
Our partnership with St. Louis Aged Care goes beyond mere visits; it represents a commitment to fostering a sense of community and sharing knowledge across generations. Through these interactions, our students learn valuable life lessons from the wisdom and experiences of the elderly residents, while the residents themselves find joy and fulfillment in imparting their knowledge to the younger generation.
Moreover, this partnership reinforces our Mercy values of being compassionate, respectful, and just, that we strive to instill in our students. By witnessing firsthand the challenges faced by the elderly, our children develop a deeper appreciation for the importance of empathy and understanding.
Thank you Year 2 and Mrs Scrivener
Quick survey to ensure we run our next event at the best time for you!
We are organising an informative session with a guest speaker on effective parenting strategies to help create a happy family environment. We want to schedule this event at a convenient time for as many parents as possible to attend.
In order to do this for you we invite you to complete our super short survey here [PLEASE]
Please note we have shared some wonderful resources below from Andrew Fuller, however he is not confirmed as our guest speaker for the above mentioned event.
Little kids are a bit like roosters- they get up early & make a lot of noise. Then they start to ask weird questions like, ‘Why aren’t frogs purple?’ or ‘do clouds talk to one another?
Childrens brains are like sponges soaking in all they can about the world. Learning is the best & most fun game in town. This is driven by the wonderful imagination & creativity of children. Our aim is to keep it that way.
Four ingredients of success
Your love for them helps them to feel safe & secure and is the basis for everything. The language and perspective of parents is incredibly influential. Parents provide a lens through which their children see the world. There are four additional skills that every parent can help their children develop to provide the basis for success in school & in life:
Showing up
Opting in
Being interested
Thinking clearly
To read more on ecah of the above please download Andrew's Key Skills for Parents sheet here.
Upcoming Events
Pupil Free Day
Friday 7th June – Wacky Science Experiment Day $65
Available to book via the fully booked system.
If you had already booked either of these day’s please ensure you rebook.
If you have any question’s please don’t hesitate to contact Wendy at wdavey@raph.catholic.edu.au
Book Club Playgroup 9:15am - 10:30am.
In our bright and air conditioned library we invite you to help develop your child’s love and understanding of learning each Wednesday morning. Come and join our new, free Playgroup. Each week we will choose a different picture book to read to the group.
Community Prayer with Reception
International Sushi Day (Canteen Special)
Book Club Playgroup 9:15am - 10:30am.
In our bright and air conditioned library we invite you to help develop your child’s love and understanding of learning each Wednesday morning. Come and join our new, free Playgroup. Each week we will choose a different picture book to read to the group.
Young Mary MacKillop incursion for World Refugee Day
Book Club Playgroup 9:15am - 10:30am.
In our bright and air conditioned library we invite you to help develop your child’s love and understanding of learning each Wednesday morning. Come and join our new, free Playgroup. Each week we will choose a different picture book to read to the group.
Community Prayer with 5/6H
SACPASSA Netball Carnival
Book Club Playgroup 9:15am - 10:30am.
In our bright and air conditioned library we invite you to help develop your child’s love and understanding of learning each Wednesday morning. Come and join our new, free Playgroup. Each week we will choose a different picture book to read to the group.
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