St. Raphael School recently received a $5,000 Barona Education Grant through the Barona Band of Mission Indians to fund a portion of the technology needed for a new junior high science program, which includes virtual dissections, interactive physics, and virtual chemistry experiments.

Assemblymember Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer, representing the 59th District, made the check presentation at the South Los Angeles school’s weekly Monday morning assembly Sept. 29.

 “Thanks to Assemblymember Jones-Sawyer’s endorsement, St. Raphael School’s grant application was accepted and we were consequently awarded the funds to purchase Chromebooks for our new science program,” said Barbara Curtis, principal at St. Raphael School.

Jones-Sawyer, who grew up in the Crenshaw district and graduated from USC and Harvard University, told St. Raphael School students that he credits the Catholic education he received as a child for his success in college. St. Raphael School was founded in 1947 by the Adrian Dominican Sisters.