WEEKLY BULLETINThis is a story of hands, specifically, my mother’s hands. She was a peacemaker. She would reach out her hand and, without speaking a single word, would convey the

WEEKLY BULLETIN Week of September 26th, 2016

Student Name ______________________________

Mrs. Collin’s Corner We pray for peace in our communities: surrounded by violence and cries for justice, we hear your voice telling us what is required . . . “only to do justice and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8) Dear Saint Raphael Parents & Friends: This is a story of hands, specifically, my mother’s hands. She was a peacemaker. She would reach out her hand and, without speaking a single word, would convey the message, “I love you more than any words could possibly say.” As a child, I remember her reaching out in the pew at Mass to squeeze my hand. Sometimes her hands were rough from gardening, but her clasp was always gentle and loving. I watched those hands grow older, more wrinkled, and swollen with arthritis. In the last months of her life, when she could not remember words, it was I who gently squeezed her hand to send the message, “I love you more than any words could possibly say.” My mother taught me how to say “I love you” with a touch of a hand. I try to remember that as a parent with my own children. We need to teach our children to be peacemakers and that begins at home. It begins with parents trying to end a disagreement with “I love you, no matter what.” Christ calls us to an unconditional love, one that has no room for pride or selfishness. Try letting your child know that he/she is loved more than words could possibly say; try saying it with the squeeze of a hand. Thank you to all who came to the Family Mass last Sunday. We hope to grow in numbers for our next Family Mass on October 9. By coming to Mass, we help our children know who God is in order to learn how to be the person God meant them to be. In the category of graduates who are setting the world on fire is Ashley Sanchez, sister of Josh Sanchez (6th grade), who wrote a beautiful poem for Hispanic Heritage month. (Included in this bulletin.) She is currently a senior at San Domenico High School and started a Latino club at San Domenico. We are so proud of this talented young writer! Saint Raphael Parish is having its fundraiser/auction on October 22. All school families are invited to be a part of this event which raises money for the Capital Campaign. We directly benefit from the remodeled gym and school bathrooms and this is a way to do our part to say thank you. Invitations can be found in the school office. The Halloween Festival is on October 29. This is a wonderful community-builder, as it takes many hands to prepare the food, run the booths, and sell tickets. All of San Rafael can get a taste of our fabulous school community. May we teach our children to be peacemakers in a world that desperately needs more Christ-like people. May we begin by extending a hand in peace. Lydia Collins, Principal

Saint Raphael School | 1100 5th Avenue, San Rafael, CA 94901 | 415-454-4455

[email protected] @straphaelsch @saintraphaelschool @saintraphaelschool

Mrs. Collin’s Corner Oramos por la paz en nuestras comunidades: rodeado de violencia y llorando por la justicia, oímos su voz que nos dice lo que se requiere. . . "Sólo para hacer justicia y amar la bondad y caminar humildemente con Dios." (Miqueas 6: 8) Estimados Padres de San Rafael y Amigos: Esta es una historia de las manos, en concreto, las manos de mi madre. Ella era una pacificadora. Cuando era niña, Ella alcanzaría la mano y, sin decir una sola palabra, podía transmitir el mensaje, "Te amo más que cualquier palabra podría decir." recuerdo que durante la misa ella tomo mi mano para apretarla. A veces, sus manos eran ásperas de la jardinería, pero su aprieta fue siempre amable y cariñosa. Vi esas manos poniendo mayores, más arrugadas, y se hinchan con la artritis. En los últimos meses de su vida, cuando ella no podía recordar palabras, era yo quien apretó suavemente la mano para enviar el mensaje, "Te amo más que cualquier palabra posiblemente podría decir". Mi madre me enseñó a decir "Te amo" con un toque de una mano. Trato de recordar eso como madre con mis propios hijos. Tenemos que enseñar a nuestros hijos a ser pacificadores y ese comienza en el hogar. Comienza con los padres tratando de poner fin a un desacuerdo con "Te amo, no importa qué." Cristo nos llama a un amor incondicional, una que no tiene lugar para el orgullo o el egoísmo. Trate de decir a su hijo que él / ella es amado más que palabras podría decir; intente decir lo mismo con el apretón de una mano. ¡Gracias a todos los que vinieron a la misa de la familia el domingo pasado! Esperamos crecer en número para nuestra próxima Misa Familiar el 9 de octubre. Al venir a misa, ayudamos a nuestros hijos a conocer a Dios, con el fin de aprender a ser la persona que Dios les llama a ser. En la categoría de los graduados que están creando el mundo en el fuego es Ashley Sánchez, hermana de Josh Sánchez (6º grado), que escribió un hermoso poema para el mes de la Herencia Hispana. (Incluido en este boletín.) Ella es actualmente una senior en San Domenico High School y comenzó un club latino en su escuela. ¡Estamos muy orgullosos de esta talentosa escritora! La parroquia de San Rafael está teniendo su recaudación de fondos / subasta el 22 de octubre. Todas las familias de la escuela están invitados a ser parte de este evento que recauda dinero para la campaña de capital. Somos los beneficiadores del gimnasio remodelado y esta es una manera de hacer nuestra parte para dar las gracias. Las invitaciones se pueden encontrar en la oficina de la escuela. El Festival de Halloween es el 29 de octubre. Esta es una maravillosa celebración de comunidad, ya que necesitamos muchas manos para preparar la comida, ejecute las cabinas, y vender entradas. Todo de San Rafael se puede obtener una muestra de nuestra fabulosa comunidad. Ojala que enseñamos a nuestros hijos a ser constructores de paz en un mundo que necesita desesperadamente más personas como Cristo. Podemos empezar extendiendo una mano en paz. Lidia Collins, director



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IMPORTANT MESSAGES AND DATES ATTENTION PARENTS

Student Progress Reports will be posted October 7th onto SchoolSpeak. Make sure your SchoolSpeak is up and running by then, as we will not be issuing paper

copies this year. Please stop by the office if you need help logging on!

Marin Catholic High School Open House is Sunday, October 23, 2016

This is a great opportunity for 7th and 8th graders to tour and learn more about the school!

A Friendly Reminder about Birthday Treats Please remember to try and bring a healthy treat.



Calendar SEPTEMBER 29 Feast of the Archangels Mass (wear Sweaters) 30 Spirit Day - Wear your College/High school Gear 30 Faculty VS 8th Grade Volleyball Game 1:30pm in School Gym OCTOBER 5 12:15 Dismissal 6 Veritas Family Math Night 7 Progress Reports (To view, make sure your SchoolSpeak is up and running!) 10 Columbus Day - No School 12 12:15 Dismissal 18 Picture Retake Day



BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS - October 4 at 5:00pm In honor of the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi and his love for all creatures, you are invited to bring your pets to the Saint Raphael Plaza for a special blessing. All pets must be on a leash or in a carrier. BENEDICION DE LOS ANIMALES—4 de Octubre a las 5:00pm En honor a la fiesta de San Francisco de Asís y su amor por todas las criaturas, están invitados a traer sus mascotas a la Plaza de San Rafael para una bendición especial. Todas las mascotas deben estar en un portador o con correa.

Saint Raphael School Preschool Dine and Donate Information!



Poem by Ashley Sanchez, SRS Alumni and San Domenico Senior September 2016 If you ask me if I know Spanish I'll tell you a story about how a young man and woman fled Two countries ravaged by war I'll tell you/ how they were from El Salvador and Nicaragua I'll tell you where those countries are. If you ask me if I know Spanish I'll tell you how those two torn-apart countries Brought my mother and father together. My Spanish It sits and waits for you to finish speaking My Spanish Is me looking over my parents' emails On the lookout for grammar mistakes and misspellings Because they are worried That they won't be taken seriously. My Spanish It acts as a border line The line between Latino and American. It doesn't know what to call itself. If you ask me if I know Spanish I'll tell you how my grandma carried a culture on her back When she fled across golden deserts to Ameríca. She tried to tie herself down to an English-speaking post But always came running back to her native tongue. If you ask me if I know Spanish, I'll tell you my people are "I always wear my heels to the Quinceañera" people "Pero like" people "Ay, dios" people

"Ya comiste niña? Tienes hambre?" People "No me digas!" people. I'll tell you that There's no telling us to be quiet When we spent so long finding our voices. I'll tell you how English sits remixed in our mouths, So that sleep becomes "esleep" And Facebook is "feisbu" I'll tell you that my Spanish Wants to know why Brown skin is beautiful on a white girl But on me it's dirty On me, it's "can you please make your face a shade paler?" On me, brown skin is an open invitation to ask "How did your parents get here?" My Spanish wants you to know that my people are not exotic We are not spicy My Spanish wants you to know that spicy is reserved for our food My Spanish wonders if it has an expiration date It is a flame we snuffed out once we realized Spanish Leads to "Go back to your country" and "This is America!" and it leads to all the Latinos in my grandma's apartment being told we had to move out My Spanish It is proud It makes mistakes It is in my hair, my skin My Spanish knows that there will always be words that escape me. My Spanish is unapologetic.







Documents

WEEKLY BULLETINThis is a story of hands, specifically, my mother’s hands. She was a peacemaker. She would reach out her hand and, without speaking a single word, would convey the