April 19, 2015

Dear St. Raphael School Families and Parishioners,

It has been so much fun this week watching our younger students experience “tree climbing on steroids,” as one adult observer described it. Many of them set ambitious climbing goals and met them, climbing into the very tops of the huge trees next to church. Others had the goal of simply learning how to climb with the “magic knot” and overcoming their fear of moving far off the ground; these goals were met as well, and there were smiles and shrieks of delight with each child’s accomplishments. Next week our older students will climb and will incorporate science lessons into their climbing activities. They are scheduled for Monday through Wednesday, weather permitting. Come by and watch for a while - you will be amazed!

I’d like to focus this week on the second section of our school Mission Statement:

CHARACTER – Our school and parish community endeavor to develop each student’s character by modeling and practicing the cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance. We nurture our students’ perseverance, sense of gratitude, leadership, and ability to make informed moral choices.

We know that, especially as a Catholic school, we want our students to develop the highest character before they go out into the world. We also know that Character is not something that is just taught in school.

We know that our students must be able to learn about character from their parents, their families, their teachers, their friends, and their fellow parishioners. They may learn Prudence, the ability to judge what is right or wrong in any given situation, by seeking their parents’ advice when faced with a difficult situation. They may learn Justice, the determination to give everyone his or her rightful due, through lessons in history and literature at school, guided gently by teachers. They may learn Fortitude, the strength to do what is right, by listening to Monsignor Breier’s daily homilies at mass, and concentrating on following God’s will in their lives. They may learn Temperance, the restraint of desires and passions, by observing our parishioners who put Christ at the center of their lives, attending mass, and giving so generously of their time and financial support to keep St. Raphael strong. Together, parents and teachers help students persevere when they encounter challenges. We remind students of their blessings, and we model our gratitude for all that we have. Our students are all expected to be leaders, and our small school community provides countless opportunities for them to practice those skills. And finally, we all work together to guide our children as they learn to make choices, informed by their faith and sense of morality. Forming the Character of these young people is perhaps our most important group project; and we all depend upon each other to make this group project a success!

Please keep our 2nd Graders and their teacher, Miss Stephanie Amsler, in your prayers as they begin their final week of preparation for their First Holy Communion. I hope that many of you will be able to join us for this very special parish mass next Sunday, April 26th at 10am. Seeing the pure joy and holiness of these boys and girls on this important day is truly a blessing, and may just help all of us recapture some of that joy and holiness within ourselves.

Looking Ahead…..

• Monday, April 20th Science in a Tree for Grades 3 & 4

• Tuesday, April 21st Science in a Tree for Grades 5 & 6

• Wednesday, April 22nd Science in a Tree for Grades 7 & 8

2nd Grade Potluck Family Dinner, 6pm

• Thursday, April 23rd Student Council Elections

Chess Team 3:15 - 4:15pm

• Friday, April 24th Volunteer Appreciation Mass, 8am

Confirmation Bow Mass, 8am

• Saturday, April 25th Bellarmine Speech Meet at Vianney High School

• Sunday, April 26th First Communion, 10am Mass

Peace,

Kim Vangel

Principal