St Raphael's School

Sunday 20th January 1889, Bishop Reynolds, Head of Catholic Diocese of Adelaide, blessed and opened a Mission School in Young Street Parkside for 130 children. The Sisters who taught at the school travelled daily by horse-drawn vehicle from their convent in Angas Street.

December 1896 – the Sisters who were teaching at the school moved into a rented house at Parkside.

In September 1922 the Sisters moved into the Convent, which at the time, was located on the school site.

In 1961 the Rev. J.W. Gleeson blessed the foundation stone of the new building.

The Sisters continued to head the school until 1985 when the first lay Principal was appointed.

In 1986 Sister Kathryn Travers, the last teaching Sister of Mercy, left the school.

In 1999 the school underwent a major redevelopment. The purchase of additional land, together with major building and grounds development, saw a marked improvement in facilities. The new facilities were blessed by the Rev. Leonard Faulkner on October 31st, 1999.

Today, St. Raphael's School stands proudly on the strong foundation of strength and foresight established over a century ago by the caring Sisters of Mercy.

St Raphael's Fundraising for Catholic Charities:

2022

St Raphael’s at the Monastery
St Raphael's School is blessed to have a strong relationship with the Parish at the Monastery. Their most recent visit during Mercy Week was a wonderful day spent under the guidance of Father Denis, Sue Schulz, and the Parish team. As a school community they celebrated Mass together to conclude their Mercy Week celebrations and engaged in a variety of activities in the beautiful Monastery grounds. The sun was shining, and they explored the gardens, planted seeds, fed the chickens, picked fruit, had a tour of the historic buildings, listened to a presentation by Annie O’Neill from Catholic Charities, played lacrosse and decorated butterflies. 
"We are so fortunate and blessed to have strong and positive links with our local parish"
Mia Harms, Principal at St Raphael's School, Parkside.
 

2019

St Raphael's held their Walk for Water/Mercy Day event on Friday 27 September to support the Mercy Sisters and Catholic Charities. 

See the fantastic photos below of Jamie Mulcahy -  Acting APRIM (Assistant Principal Religious Identity and Mission) and the students as they try not to spill any of their water as they walk round the school. The students were sponsored for how far they could get without spilling a drop of water. All students got a chance to wear their me4u badges and the weather was nice and sunny! Catholic Charities thanks everyone involved for all their efforts to help those in need in our Community!

Earlier in the year the school  invited Catholic Charities to run the BBQ at their Sports Day. Due to bad weather the event had been postponed and we were rewarded with another beautiful sunny day. See photos below of Catholic Charities staff and volunteers working the BBQ as well as all the fun of the Sports Day! 

The year before St Raphael students ran a Mercy Day to support Catholic Charities. The Year 6 and 7 classes came up with activities that related to some of the agencies that are funded by Catholic Charities. The students came up with some fantastic ideas i.e. a bowling game to Knock Out Homelessness (Hutt St & Catherine House). Sensory activities to support learning in our special schools (St Patrick's and Our Lady of La Vang).  See photos below!

(The donations amount includes money raised in 2017).