St Raphael's School newsletter September 21

As the calendar turns towards December, we find ourselves entering one of the most beautiful seasons in the Church – Advent. This special time invites us to pause amidst the busyness of life, to reflect on the meaning of Christmas, and to prepare our hearts for the arrival of Christ.

Advent, derived from the Latin word adventus, meaning "coming," is not just about counting down the days until Christmas morning. It is a season of anticipation and hope, as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus while also remembering the promise of His return.

At St Raphael’s, we encourage our community to embrace this sacred time through prayer, reflection, and acts of kindness. The Advent wreath, a familiar symbol in our classrooms and church, reminds us of the growing light of Christ as we light one more candle each week. This simple ritual helps us focus on the themes of hope, peace, joy, and love – the gifts Christ brings into our lives.

As we prepare for Christmas, let us also remember that Advent is about more than celebration. It is a time of waiting – something that can be challenging in our fast-paced world. Through waiting, we learn to trust in God’s timing and to find peace in His promises. Just as Mary awaited the birth of her Son with faith and humility, we too are called to wait with open hearts, ready to receive God’s love.

In practical ways, we can prepare for Christmas by seeking opportunities to share God’s love with others. Perhaps this means offering a helping hand to someone in need, writing a kind note to a friend, or setting aside quiet moments as a family to reflect together on the true meaning of Christmas.

This Advent, may we all find the time to draw closer to Christ and one another, remembering that the true gift of Christmas is God’s presence among us. Let’s take these weeks to prepare, not just our homes, but also our hearts, so that when Christmas arrives, we can truly rejoice in the wonder of Emmanuel – God with us.

Wishing you and your families a blessed Advent season.

Our Reading Revolution was a roaring success, bringing our whole school community together to celebrate the joy of reading. From picture books to chapter books, our students eagerly turned pages and dived into new worlds, and the results were nothing short of inspiring.

This year, we had the wonderful privilege of involving our partner Kindy and Early Learning Centres in the challenge. Their participation added a delightful energy to the initiative, as even our youngest readers contributed to the grand total. Their enthusiasm was infectious, reminding us all that a love of reading begins early and can grow for a lifetime.

Across the school, we were blown away by the effort and determination of our students. The Reading Revolution became a daily talking point in classrooms, hallways, and even at home, with students enthusiastically sharing their favourite stories and competing to see who could read the most books. Some families even swapping books in kiss and drop to increase the variety of books their children were reading.

We are thrilled to announce this year’s top readers and runners-up from each class:

Year Level    Runner Up         Winner

Rec              Xander                Peter

Yr 1              Nico                     Freddie

Yr 2              Ethan                   Arlo

Yr3/4           James                  Mason

Yr56/H        Reggie                 Josh

Yr5/6B        Senul                   Lucas

• Highest number overall was Fryderyk with 111 books
• Highest Class overall was Reception with 414 books  and  Year 2 came ina close second with 407 books.

And as a school, we reached a phenomenal milestone, reading a grand total of 2186 books! What a fantastic achievement!

We are so proud of the dedication shown by every student who took part in the Reading Revolution. Whether it was discovering a new author, re-reading an old favourite, or exploring a genre for the first time, every page turned brought us closer as a community of learners and storytellers.

A special thank you goes to our Kindy and ELC partners for their enthusiasm and support, as well as to parents and caregivers for nurturing the love of reading at home. We’re already looking forward to next year’s Reading Revolution, dreaming of even more books, stories, and adventures. Until then, keep those library cards handy and the bookshelves stocked – the reading journey never ends!

As we prepare to step into 2025, we’re turning our attention to the future of St Raphael’s and how we can continue to grow as a community and school. This is an exciting time for us, as we work on developing our new strategic plan – a roadmap that will guide us in providing the best possible education and opportunities for our students.

Your voice is a vital part of this process. As parents, caregivers, and valued members of our community, your insights, ideas, and opinions play a key role in shaping the direction of our school. We want to hear from you about what we’re doing well, where we can improve, and what you envision for the future of St Raphael’s. To make this process simple and accessible, we’ve created a short online survey. It should only take a few minutes of your time, but your contributions will have a lasting impact on the way we shape our school for the years to come.

You can access the survey here: https://forms.office.com/r/r1Fei2Yxix

We encourage every family to participate and share their perspectives. Together, we can create a plan that reflects our shared values, aspirations, and commitment to every child’s growth and success.

Thank you for being an integral part of the St Raphael’s community. With your help, we can ensure that 2025 and beyond are filled with new opportunities and continued excellence for our students.

The weeks seem to be shooting past and we will be in Advent before we know it!

Advent begins on Sunday, 1 December and is a reminder that we are preparing to celebrate Jesus’ birthday. This point sometimes gets lost in the business of the Christmas Season. Holidays, feasts preparation for Christmas Day itself sometimes becomes overwhelming.

The Catholic Tradition has a visual reminder, a simple wreath with four candles, three purple in colour and one of rose colour (or pink). Each candle has a little message to assist us in remembering the season of Advent a time to prepare for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.

Year 6 Graduation & Whole School End of Year Mass 2024

I’m sure the Year Six families are aware of the final days approaching for their children at primary school. Letters will go home this week for the Year 6 Retreat and an invitation to all to attend the Year Six Graduation Liturgy on Monday, 9 December at 6:30pm. All Year Six students are required to be here by 6:15pm dressed in their full summer uniform.

Our whole school end of year Mass and Farewell to Year Six students will be held at 9:30am on Tuesday 10 December at St Raphael’s Church Parkside. Everyone is welcome to join us. Students will sit with their class teachers in the front section of the church.

Advent is a relatively short liturgical season, so perhaps it’s fitting that short, simple prayers are all we need to feel God’s calming presence in our lives amid the many distractions of November and December.

“Heavenly Father, heal my heart during this season of Advent. Help me to love more fully. To forgive more generously. To wait more patiently for Christmas, embracing each day and hour knowing the joy that awaits. In Your name I pray. Amen.” Advent Prayers: Catholic Advent Prayers for the 2024 Season

Wishing you well for the coming weeks.

Lin Low

APRIM

As the holiday season approaches, the Parish of St Paul of the Cross is once again rallyiour community to support the Brother Michael Christmas Appeal. This initiative, which has been bringing warmth and cheer to disadvantaged families since 1983, continues its noble mission in 2024.

How You Can Help

From November 18 to November 29, 2024, we're collecting non-perishable items for Christmas Food Parcels. These parcels will be distributed to families in need across Adelaide, reaching as far as Elizabeth in the north, Aldinga in the south, and Mt Barker in the hills.

Items Needed:

• Jam and Vegemite
• Instant Coffee and Tea Bags
• Rice, Pasta, and Noodles
• Canned Tuna and Pasta Sauce
• Cereal (small packets preferred)

Please note: We have sufficient donations of baked beans and tinned soup.

Supporting Vinnies Women's Shelter

In addition to food items, we're also collecting donations for the Vinnies Women's Shelter.

These items will be used to create Christmas Gift Packs for women residing in the shelter:
• Ladies Perfume
• Lotion
• Body Wash
• Hand Cream

Pre-made gift packs are also welcome.

The Impact of Your Generosity

Since its inception, the Brother Michael Hamper Appeal has been distributing 225 food and gift hampers each Christmas.

Your contributions directly support this effort, bringing joy and relief to families during what can be a challenging time of year.

How to Donate

Simply place your donated items in the designated classroom boxes.

Let's come together as a community to make this Christmas brighter for those in need. Your generosity can make a real difference in someone's life this holiday season.

We are pleased to inform our school families that there will not be an increase in school fees for the 2025 school year.

We can also inform that our 2025 Term 3 reception intake will continue to be offered free of charge.

It is at the heart of Catholic education that our schools are affordable and accessible to all.

If any family has financial concerns, we ask them to contact either our Principal Emma Fowler or Finance Officer Damian Emery  at their earliest convenience to confidentially discuss additional support through fee remissions.

We are thrilled to share some outstanding achievements from our students in recent academic competitions and events.

ICAS Results

Our students have performed admirably in the International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS). Here are the highlights:

Year 6

• Caroline: High Distinction
• Lucas: Credit

Year 5

• Leo: Participation

Year 4

• Daniel: Credit
• James: Credit
• Alex, Evan, and Leo T: Participation

Year 3

• Sam: Credit

Congratulations to all participants for their hard work and dedication!

STEM MAD National Finals

We are proud to announce that our Year 3-4 STEM MAD group has achieved a remarkable feat by qualifying for the National Finals. The team participated in the online event on Tuesday, showcasing their innovative ideas and problem-solving skills on a national stage. This accomplishment reflects the creativity and scientific aptitude of our young learners.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all students who participated in these events. Your efforts contribute to our school's culture of excellence and inspire your peers to reach for the stars.

Our recent expert panel on literacy provided valuable strategies for enhancing reading skills:

Key Strategies:

• Use picture books to improve comprehension and vocabulary
• Establish bedtime reading routines
• Encourage repetitive reading of favorite books
• Develop digital literacy skills

Resources and Engagement:

• Utilise library resources, including interactive kits
• Make reading interactive with props and sound-enhanced books
• Attend library events and use community resources

Fostering Creativity:

• Explore diverse stories reflecting various identities
• Use wordless books to spark imagination
• Encourage illustration skills through copying exercises

Reading Techniques:

• Implement "Think Aloud," "Turn & Talk," and "Act It Out" strategies
• Incorporate reading into daily life through small, frequent sessions

For Older Students:

• Share novels with adults, reading chapters aloud together

These strategies aim to create a lifelong love of reading and improve literacy skills. For more information on how we promote reading at our school, visit our Literacy Focus page.

Discover the flavours that bring our community together with our special cookbook, a heartfelt collection from St Raphael's School. This 44-page treasure features 24 delicious recipes and heartwarming stories from our families, celebrating our diverse culinary traditions.

Inspired by Jesus's open table practice, this cookbook invites you to experience the inclusive spirit of our community through the universal language of food.

Get your copy for just $15 and support our P&F Fundraiser! All proceeds will enhance our school community.

Purchase on the QRK! App or in person at the front office.

Make this Christmas delicious by sharing the gift of home-cooked meals and cherished memories!