September 14, 2014
Dear St. Raphael School Families and Parishioners,
A Big Welcome to our St. Raphael School Alumni at Sunday’s 10am Mass. We are so glad to have you back for a visit, and hope that you enjoy seeing both the old and the new in our beautiful school. While you’re here at St. Raphael School, we invite you to join in on one of our favorite sayings: “It’s a Great Day to be an Angel!”

Teachers at school have been working diligently to record student learning progress on Fast Direct this past week. When you look at your child’s grades, there are a few things I ask you to keep in mind. First, our grading scale is 0-4 for all subjects in all grade levels. So you will not see percentages; you will see grade ratings of 0-4 for each assessment in the gradebook.

Second, you will not see averages or totals of points. Remember that our purpose for grades is to determine the student’s level of learning at the time of reporting. So what you are seeing in the gradebook is where the student’s level is at the time of that assessment. At the end of the quarter, the teacher will analyze the pattern of grades and performance, combined with more informal classroom performance observations, and the teacher will determine the student’s overall level of learning at the end of the quarter. That will be the student’s grade for the quarter. So it’s possible for a student to receive 2’s and 3’s along the way, and still end up with a 4 at the end of the quarter, if the pattern of learning demonstrates that the student has reached an exemplary (4) understanding of the learning goals by the end of the quarter.

Some parents have expressed fear about the new grading system, and we are very sensitive to that. I ask you to give it some time. Many schools in St. Louis are using this grading system quite successfully, and report that student learning and motivation are much improved. Please reserve judgment until you have seen some longer term results and effects. We will be evaluating the system and our implementation of it all along the way, making tweaks and changes as necessary. Our goal is to improve student learning for ALL students, those who struggle, those who excel, and those who are right on target.

As you know, our annual Angel Appeal kicked off last week, and Monsignor Breier is asking for parishioners to give prayers, service, and financial support to the parish through this Appeal. Here at school, we are asking the students to participate in the Angel Appeal as well. Students will receive cards and envelopes in the next week, with space for them to jot down their commitment to pray for their parish, to perform an act of kindness in honor of their parish, and to give a very small amount of money if they wish. Please note that students who are members of parishes other than St. Raphael will be asked to do these things for their own parishes. The most important thing is for them to pray for their parish. We will ask students to complete the cards anonymously, and then to simply place them in the collection basket when they are at a weekend Mass in September, either here at St. Raphael, or at their own parish Mass. We ask you to talk with your children about the importance of prayer and service, especially. Our hope is that, with your help and guidance, this small act will help to instill a sense of gratitude and faithfulness in our students to their parish families.

Thanks for all of your prayers and support – we couldn’t do what we do at St. Raphael without you!
Peace and Blessings,
Kim Vangel
Principal