Welcome

Dear members of the St Raphael’s school community,

This Friday is National Sorry Day and on this day we remember Kevin Rudd’s Apology Speech to Indigenous Australians at Parliament House, Canberra in 2008.

This important anniversary reminds all Australians of the hurt and suffering that Indigenous Australians have suffered from past Government policies and practices. It is a time to remember the hurt and suffering of our first Australians – the dispossession of their culture, traditions, languages and families.

Many immigrants who have also experienced this would know what this kind of dispossession feels like.

At Monday’s assembly, the Year 3/4E Homeroom led us in prayer for Indigenous Australians. One of the prayers urged us to continue the conversation with our Indigenous brothers and sisters so that we may come to a deeper understanding of the hurt of the past and the issues and obstacles that many of our present Indigenous Australians still experience. Ignorance is no longer a valid excuse.

As a truly Catholic community, we recognise that reconciliation is more than just a word. The true meaning of the word reconciliation is forgiveness. Our Year 3 children will receive the sacrament of Reconciliation later this year.

As we reflect on the significance of this week let us take the time to open the conversation with our children about our fellow Indigenous Australians.

To start the conversation I encourage you to visit the Stolen Generation Fact Sheet: https://www.reconciliation.org.au

School Building Fund

Members of the School Education Board have recently put together a letter requesting tax-deductible contributions to the newly-created School Building Fund. This fund has been set up to enable parents, businesses and corporations to make financial contributions to be used for financing the playground upgrades and Outdoor Learning Area redevelopment. A hard copy of this letter and forms will be sent home in your child’s tub today and can be located on the School Education Board section of this newsletter.

If you are aware of any small/ large businesses or corporations that would be possibly interested in making donations to this fund could you please email: seb@srprestonwest.catholic.edu.au

The SEB have put together a specific information pack for these businesses/ corporations.

Playground upgrades and Outdoor Learning Area redevelopment

A big thank you to the volunteer members of our Outdoor Learning Area Redevelopment Committee who have been working hard behind the scenes to redevelop the school grounds. The new conceptual plans for Stage 2 'Sound Garden' area near the church have been posted on the noticeboard on the wall near the new kitchen space. This Sound Garden area will involve a lot of sensory and experiential play space and activities. We invite you to view the plans and ideas for the Sound Garden area on the noticeboard. We are asking the children to give their input into what they would like in this space. Works are hoping to be started in the coming weeks.

Further works on the main playground space (Stage 3) will commence hopefully later in the year when the necessary funds have been raised, the conceptual plans have been approved and all water, gas and electricity services have been identified. There will be a large sign erected in the school grounds in the coming weeks outlining the three-stage plan complete with conceptual masterplan drawings and ideas.

Road Safety Concerns

It has again been brought to my attention that some children are not using the designated school crossing on Breen Street and are continuing to dangerously cross Cooper Street at the Breen Street corner and east of the school. These children are apparently being called across the road by grandparents and parents! It has been reported to me that last week after school a boy ran across Cooper Street to get a tennis ball without any adult supervision.

The school will not accept any responsibility for this kind of behaviour outside the school grounds. We have been proactive in previous newsletters to remind parents and grandparents about the importance of teaching children road safety. The teachers are constantly reminding the children of road safety and the road rules.

We would all be devastated if something ever happened to any one of our children due to disobeying these rules. We ask that you support us in keeping the St Raphael's children safe when they enter and leave the school grounds.

The same applies for drivers and parking around the school on Cooper and Breen Street. I have again received multiple complaints from parents who are noticing other parents leaving their vehicles to escort their children into and out of school. The west side of Breen Street is a 'Kiss 'n' Go' area and should not be used as a parking area at drop off and pick up times. Please be considerate of other road users otherwise we will have no choice than to request the presence of the Victoria Police and Darebin Council Parking Inspectors.

Uniform Shop

A big thank you to the wonderful Uniform Shop volunteers who continue to provide a valuable service to our school community. We know that the children take pride in their school uniform.

Yesterday I was presented with a $10 000 cheque from the Uniform Shop from the profits accumulated over the last two years. This $10 000 will go directly towards the new Playground/ Outdoor Learning Area redevelopment.

A reminder to all parents of the following:

All children need to be wearing the correct school uniform and school shoes on the correct days.
No sports bomber jackets should be worn with the formal school uniform.
All sport shorts must be navy blue.
Runners may only be worn with the children’s sports uniform or brought to school in the children’s bag if instructed by their teacher.
Black leather shoes must be worn with the formal school uniform.
Long hair must be tied back at all times with only navy or gold ribbons.
Winter uniforms should now be worn.
Boys may continue to wear formal and sport shorts throughout winter.
White socks must be worn with the sports uniform.
Grey socks must be worn by the boys with the formal school uniform.

If your child is wearing the incorrect uniform without a note from their parents they will be issued with a notice. Please support the school by ensuring your child wears the correct school uniform.

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