August 17, 2014
Dear St. Raphael School Families and Parishioners,
The start of school is finally here!! We are ready ? how about you? We are very excited to have our school filled with students again, and to begin our journey of faith and education together.

Please join us at school for our K-8 Open House on Sunday, August 17 ^th after 10am Mass. The school will be open from 11am to 12 noon. The teachers and I will be here to greet you. Parents and students are welcome to come to school, find their new rooms, chat with teachers, drop off supplies, and connect with school friends.

Remember to mark your calendars for our K-8 Back to School Night on Friday, August 22 ^nd at 7pm in the school gym, a time-honored tradition here at St. Raphael. We will have a great deal of important information for you about the school year, and there will be a party for parents following the presentations in the gym. Please note that this is an ADULTS ONLY event, and ALL PARENTS ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND. Our Student Council, Student Ambassadors, and School Board will be providing free babysitting in the Preschool Rooms from 6:45pm to 10:00pm.

The first week of school can be exciting, but it can also be challenging for students and families. Everyone has to adjust to a new schedule, new teacher and classroom routines, homework, and friendships. You can help make this process go more smoothly by simply following a few tips.

First, make sure everyone gets to bed at a reasonable time and has a healthy breakfast before coming to school. Give yourselves plenty of time to arrive at school on time ? no one functions well when they are rushed and filled with anxiety at the beginning of the day.

Check your students? backpacks regularly, at the beginning and all throughout the school year. We send home an incredible amount of information with your children, and we know that a great deal of it never reaches your hands. Remember, you purchased the backpack ? you have the right to look in it! Keep up to date with your child at school by digging into that backpack on a regular basis.

Remind your children, as we will, that we are all here to help them succeed in school. New classes, teachers and routines may seem a bit daunting at first. But we are here to help them adjust and learn.

And finally, keep in mind that sometimes friendships change over the summer between kids. These changes are usually part of normal development and should be expected. Help guide your child through these changes by keeping an open mind, listening, showing them lots of love and encouragement at home, and helping them turn to God when they feel sad and afraid.

Please keep us all in your prayers for a successful start to the 2014-2015 school year, and thanks for all you do to support us!

Peace and Blessings,
Kim Vangel
Principal