March 29, 2015

Dear St. Raphael School Families and Parishioners,

As we approach the holiest week of the liturgical year, I hope that you will consider attending masses and services during the Triduum with your children. These days leading up to Easter are filled with wonderful traditions in the Catholic church, and I am always saddened to learn how many of our St. Raphael students have not experienced the beauty of the Triduum. My family did not attend these services when I was growing up, and truthfully, I felt a bit intimidated when I first considered going. But let me assure you that there is nothing intimidating about the Triduum! Please bring your family to one or more of these holy experiences in preparation for Easter, and treat your children to something wonderful.

Have you been following the 40 Acts Together program that Monsignor told us about at the beginning of Lent? At school we have been working very hard on embracing the spirit of doing good works during Lent by emphasizing one Act of Kindness each school day. Every day has its own Act of Kindness which is displayed in all of our classrooms, the hallway, and the office in the morning. Teachers and students talk briefly about how to demonstrate the Act of Kindness for the day, and then go about trying to incorporate that Act into their school day.

At lunchtime, when we all pray the Angelus together over the Intercom, I remind students about that day’s Act of Kindness, and the students helping me that day offer their examples and ideas for carrying out that day’s Act. Some of the Acts are simple things like, “Try to smile more,” or “Say Thank You when someone does something nice for you.” Other Acts are a bit more challenging, like “Introduce yourself to someone at school whom you do not know,” and “Talk to a group of people whom you don’t normally speak to.” We still encourage students to give up something for Lent in order to experience sacrifice, but we have loved these positive Acts of Kindness Challenges as well. Ask your student about it!

Looking Ahead…

• Thursday, March 26th - Chess Team, 3:15 to 4:15pm in the Art Room

• Friday, March 27th - Report Cards available for online viewing on Fast Direct, 3pm

• Saturday, March 28th - Bellarmine Speech Meet at St. Raphael

• Sunday, March 29th - Family Mass for Palm Sunday, and Science Fair Projects in Cafeteria

• Wednesday, April 1st - Spring Picture Day

• Thursday, April 2nd - Noon Dismissal K-8

• Friday, April 3rd & Monday, April 6th - No School Preschool - 8

Peace & Blessings,

Kim Vangel

Principal