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- Principal's Corner
- FROM THE APA
- APRE News
- National Reconciliation Week
- Sports Update
- Athletics Carnival
- Free Parent Webinar
- Term Dates
- Guidance Counsellor Corner
- Pastoral Chaplain's Chat
- Tuckshop News
- Breakfast Program
- Defence
- Date Claimers
- Wonder Recycling Rewards for Schools
- Uniform Supplies
- Absent from School
- Assembly and Bell Times
- Our Mission Statement
NAPLAN
Congratulations to all of our Year Three and Year Five students who completed assessments for The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN). We are so incredibly proud of how our students took these tests in their stride and gave their best. We say it proudly, that we do not need any NAPLAN test to tell us how amazing our students are - no test, on any day can measure the true capacity and insight into a person. However, tests are a part of our life and the manner in which every student, teacher and staff member went about the two weeks was truly remarkable. Well done to you all!
From 2023, NAPLAN will move to earlier in the school year and be held nationwide in March, during Term One.
TCE Complaints Process
From time to time, we understand that parents and carers may be unhappy with the services provided at our school. If you have an issue or concern about your child's education, please follow the Townsville Catholic Education complaints process (available on our website). The process ensures complaints are brought to the attention of the school in the first instance and provides options for resolution, mediation and escalation.
Before School Supervision
Supervision commences at 8am on school days. Parents are encouraged to use the Outside School Hours Care service if children need to be dropped at school prior to this.
The winter chill is in the air and very soon, those red jumpers will be making a presence at Holy Spirit Catholic School. Now is a great time to dig them out of the closest, give them a wash to soften them up and perhaps check they still fit. School Locker does have a supply available should you need to re-stock.
It is always fantastic when our students adhere to the uniform as it makes us stand out for the right reasons. Holy Spirit Proud!
With the upcoming Athletics carnival, this is a tremendous opportunity to teach our students many wonderful skills. The trip on the bus, the cheering for your team and participation in as many events, teaches our students social skills and the ability to work as and for the team. It may be the chance to taste defeat and how do we bounce back from this. This is resilience 101. As adults, it is our job to show our young people that we value persistence, having a go and the ability to congratulate others.
We are so looking forward to next Tuesday as our Branagan Blues, Stephen Whites and Arnold Reds battle it out for Athletics glory.
Get in the Spirit!
Paul Martin
This Sunday is Pentecost Sunday. The readings tell of the coming of the Holy Spirit, just as Jesus had promised. The Holy Spirit empowered the disciples to spread the message of Jesus. He also gave them seven gifts: joy, love patience, kindness, understanding, reverence (respect) and courage. We receive the Holy Spirit in a special way at Baptism and it is then renewed in us at Confirmation. The Bishop lays his hands upon each child and says, ‘Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.’ The gifts of the Holy Spirit can help us follow the right path in our daily lives and fill us with God’s goodness. Next Monday, students in the Sacramental Programme will be confirmed and receive their First Holy Communion. Please continue to keep these students in your prayers.
O God, send forth your Holy Spirit into my heart
that I may perceive, into my mind that I may remember,
and into my soul that I may meditate.
Inspire me to speak with piety, holiness, tenderness and mercy.
Teach, guide and direct my thoughts and senses from beginning to end.
May your grace ever help and correct me,
and may I be strengthened now with wisdom from on high,
for the sake of your infinite mercy.
Amen.
by Saint Anthony of Padua
This week at Holy Spirit we value justice. Justice, for many people, refers to fairness. We should always be looking to discover ways in which we are called to be people for others. We are called to: show dignity to others; help those in need with the essentials required for a decent life (food, clothing and shelter); pay special attention to the needs of those who are poor; care for one another; care for all that God has made. This week we pray that our students pay attention to those around them and be examples of showing justice to others.
National Reconciliation Week is held from 27 May to 3 June each year. It is a time to celebrate and build on the respectful relationships shared by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Australians. The National Reconciliation Week 2022 theme, “Be Brave. Make Change.” is a challenge to all Australians— individuals, families, communities, organisations and government—to Be Brave and tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation so we can Make Change for the benefit of all Australians. Last week our school community gathered for a Liturgy where each class made a pledge to be the change.
Read more at the National Reconciliation Week website at https://nrw.reconciliation.org.au/
God bless.
Caroline Fuller
National Reconciliation Week started last Friday 27th May and will end this Friday 3rd June. It is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements and to find out how each of us can help achieve reconciliation in Australia. This year the National Reconciliation Week theme is Be Brave. Make Change.
Change begins with brave actions in our daily lives - where we live, work and play. Our whole school gathered last Friday morning for our National Reconciliation Week liturgy. During the liturgy, each class presented a pledge for the brave actions they will take in their own classrooms in order to move forward on our journey to reconciliation.
Thank you to our students who led us in prayer.
Mabo Day
This year we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Mabo decision. Mabo Day celebrates Mer Island man Eddie Koiki Mabo and his successful efforts to overturn the legal fiction of terra nullius, or 'land belonging to no-one'.
The Mabo case recognised for the first time that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have a special connection to the land of their ancestors. The decision led to the Australian Parliament passing the Native Title Act in 1993.
Eddie's daughter, Gail Mabo is hosting a Mabo Day Festival at Riverway on Friday 3rd June 5pm - 9pm. This is a free event for the entire community, featuring local artists, cultural dancing, food vendors, fireworks and more.
Interschool Cross Country
Holy Spirit students competed in the Townsville Interschool Cross Country at Bicentennial Park. This is a very challenging race with all schools sending students and each race having approximately 150 competitors. Our students ran well and demonstrated our school motto “Strength in the Spirit”.
Some highlights for our team were Noah B (4D) - 1st place - 10 Year Boys, Asha L (5C) 7th place - 11 Year Girls, Jemma C (6A) 1st place and Daijah-Lee K-S (6D) 7th place – 12 Year Girls.
Noah, Asha, Jemma and Daijah-Lee went on to trial for the Northern Region School Cross Country Team yesterday. Finally, congratulations to all students involved.
Thank you kindly to our staff who assisted Mr Martin, Mr Wootton, Mr Roberts, Mr Place and Mrs Pierce.
U12 Townsville School Football
Congratulations to Mia T (6A) for her selection in the U12 Townsville School Football Team. Mia trialled exceptionally well for the Northern Region Team in Ayr, narrowly missing selection. Well done Mia for representing Holy Spirit so well.
Basketball State Championships
Congratulations to Kaden R (6B) and Shay-Lee W (5C) for their efforts competing in the Basketball State Championships over the past week in Mackay. Both Kaden and Shay-Lee represented Holy Spirit well, enjoyed the experience playing against difficult opposition and made new friends. Well done!
Holy Spirit Interhouse Athletics Carnival – Tuesday, 7 June
This year the Holy Spirit School Athletics Carnival will be held at the Sports Reserve in Bourke St., North Ward on Tuesday, 7 June 2022 for Prep - Year 6 students. Children may be taken directly to the Sports Reserve; the entry point will be through the Bourke Street gate.
When: Tuesday, 7 June 2022 from 9am - 2pm
Transport: Children will be transported to and from the carnival by bus.
Should a student arrive late to school, parents will be required to transport their child to the Sports Reserve.
What to wear: Students are to wear their Sports Uniform. Students may choose to wear a coloured t-shirt to represent their House colour. Students must wear a school hat and covered footwear to and from school.
What to bring: Sufficient water and food for the day, there is no access to the canteen or school tuck-shop. For convenience, some students may prefer to bring their own sunscreen.
Tuckshop: Students are not permitted to access the canteen and there is no school tuck-shop.
Volunteers: We are seeking parents to assist on the day with tasks such as judging, long jump, shot put and tabloid sports.
Please see the program below for approximate event times:
The Feel Good Foodie Truck will be onsite serving drinks and light meals for parents, guests and spectators only.
eSafety’s Term 2 webinar on parental controls helps parents and carers learn about software tools and other strategies for taming technology at home.
The webinar explores the benefits and limitations of parental controls and covers how to safely set up devices and popular games and apps like Roblox and Youtube.
We've also created some handy webinar posters you can share with your school community.
Term Dates 2022 |
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Term 2 |
Tuesday 19 April 2022 |
Friday 24 June 2022 |
Term 3 |
Monday 11 July 2022 |
Friday 16 September 2022 |
Term 4 |
Tuesday 4 October 2022 |
Friday 2 December 2022 |
Pupil Free Day: Friday 2 September 2022 |
In this edition of SchoolTV - TRAUMA
Children and teens will experience events during their lives that will affect them emotionally and physically. How they react to these events depends on their age, personality and past experiences. Children can experience strong feelings of fear, sadness, guilt, anger or grief, making it difficult for them to cope with everyday life.
There are a number of ways that parents and caregivers can support children after a traumatic event. Your reaction to an event will impact your child’s ability to cope and recover. Children will look to the adults in their lives to help them better understand a traumatic event so it is important to ‘tune in’ to their fears and provide them with the comfort and support they need.
In this edition of SchoolTV, parents will learn how to gain a better understanding of trauma and how it affects children of all ages.
We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this edition of SchoolTV and we always welcome your feedback. If you have any concerns about your child, please contact your child’s teacher for further information or seek medical or professional help.
Here is the link to the Trauma edition of SchoolTV
https://hsstsv.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/trauma
Playing games online can be great for socialising and an outlet for a child’s imagination. There can also be some downsides.
Help your child enjoy the fun of gaming safely. Book in for our Safer online gaming webinar to learn about popular games and pick up strategies for managing the risks.
Register now and share the link with other parents you know.
Is social media causing your child distress?
eSafety’s new video Digital technologies and mental health, helps parents and carers support young people to look after themselves on apps and social media.
The four-minute video provides tips on encouraging positive behaviours and what to do if your child experiences something distressing online.
Use eSafety’s videos to learn about key issues and keep the conversation going with your kids about what they experience online.
Watch the video or listen to the audio file.
Is this app safe for my child?
Parents can find themselves put on the spot when their child demands to download an app.
In these situations, it’s best to do some quick research. Use eSafety’s app checklist to help you assess whether an app is suitable for your child.
Would you like to know more? eSafety’s Information sheets for parents and carers cover a range of online safety topics in easy-to-read format. Share them with your friends and school community.
Holy Spirit Catholic School uses Flexischools ordering system. To register, login or to place orders, please click this link:
ROSTER |
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02.06.22 |
John Kars, Margaret Vaughan |
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03.06.22 |
Sue Viviers | ||
06.06.22 |
Joshua Solomon, Brooke Vass, Marissa Wallace | ||
07.06.22 |
Sue Viviers, Leigh Robertson |
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08.06.22 |
Christine Nash, Kerri Player, Rebecca McLennan |
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09.06.22 |
John Kars, Rose McSherry |
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10.06.22 |
Sue Viviers, Marissa Wallace |
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13.06.22 |
Nicole Boon |
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14.06.22 |
Erin Donald, Sue Viviers |
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15.06.22 |
Anita Coggiola |
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CAKE (We are kindly accepting donations of packet cakes only at this time) | |||
06.06.22 |
Allyce Rawnsley, Belinda Tuckett, Jordana Ferrara, Kathryn Cripps, Kylie Smtih | ||
07.06.22 |
Sally Neiberding | ||
09.06.22 |
Cathy Duvel | ||
10.06.22 |
Mayleen Nona | ||
13.06.22 |
Lanie Hedger, Melissa Smith | ||
FRUIT |
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06.06.22 |
Allyce Rawnsley, Berndadette Bryant, Kathryn Cripps, Yela Yakere | ||
07.06.22 |
Sally Neiberding | ||
10.06.22 |
Helpers Wanted | ||
13.06.22 |
Bernadette Bryant, Penny Lange |
We are open Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 8am-8.25am at the hall.
Your support with donations of spreads (not nut based) and bread are needed and appreciated, due to the increase in children accessing the program.
Donations can be dropped off at Tuckshop.
Hello defence families, now that some things are trying to get back to normal with some military members heading off on exercises, courses and deployment, here are a few tips to help with these absences.
Also don't forget to remind your children that defence club is on every Wednesday at morning tea. This may help with absences as well, keeping your children busy and providing regular check-ins between us.
Top Five Tips for Managing Absences with Babies and Toddlers
One: Establish a routine for you and your little one(s).
- Coordinate naps
- Play time
- Mealtimes same time each day and pre-plan meals.
- Bath time
- Bedtime routine – read a book or sing to them
Two: Playgroups, first time parent groups, or playdates with other parents.
- Socialisation is required to get you out of the house.
o Walks in pram
o Library – Libraries often have programs for parents and bubs.
Three: Emotional support – family or friends.
- Having someone you can call anytime day or night.
Four: Crisis plan – when you are having a rough night or your little one is sick.
- Have a list of contacts that you might need in emergencies.
o Emergency friend or relative to speak with day or night.
o Police
o Ambulance
o After hours GP – Doctor to your Door
o Defence Member and Family Helpline
o Lifeline, Beyond Blue
Five: On-line support - when in doubt there is always help.
- Raising Children Network – www.raisingchildren.net.au
- One Place - online community service directory – www.oneplace.org.au
- Australian Breastfeeding Association - www.breastfeeding.asn.au
- Infant Management and Parenting Skills – Child, Youth and Family Health Ph. 44339000 www.townsville.health.qld.gov.au/services/community-health/child-youth-and-family-health-service/
Jacqui has recently joined the team at DMFS as one of the Defence Social Workers.
Previously Jacqui has worked in Child & Family Support as a Therapeutic Child Practitioner and Domestic and Family Violence Specialist in Tasmania and Townsville.
Jacqui has relocated back to her home town of Townsville so that she can spend time with her family and grandchildren after spending 20 years in Tasmania.
Welcome to the team Jacqui!
CONNECTING WITH YOUR DEFENCE COMMUNITY
Open Arms - Veterans and Families Counselling
Building Better Relationships
A program to help you rediscover what's important in your relationship and to rebuild a relationship with your partner.
- Focus on what works well to strengthen your relationship.
- Enhance the resilience of individual partners and the relationship.
- Create shared meaning through values and rituals of connection.
- Understand the emotions behind your partner's life dreams.
- Manage conflict positively and adopt a positive perspective.
Who can attend: Current and ex-serving ADF members and their partners. Adult children and their partners.
When: Three day program 8-10 June
Register: Program registration | Open Arms
Date |
Event |
June |
02.06.22 |
Interschool Sport Season 2 begins |
03.06.22 |
MABO Day - Indigenous Shirts |
06.06.22 |
Playgroup |
07.06.22 |
HSCS Athletics Carnival |
08.06.22 |
Whole School Assembly |
09.06.22 |
Interschool Sport Week 2 |
13.06.22 |
Playgroup, P&F Meeting |
15.06.22 |
Assembly 5D/1D |
Wonder Recycling Rewards for Schools
Our school is taking part in the Wonder Recycling Rewards campaign.
Help us collect bread bags so we can earn points to redeem on new Sports equipment. Bread bags can be dropped off to Prep B, see Mrs Connor.
For all further information needed, please see the attached flyer below.
All uniform supplies are available at The School Locker, Domain Central (close to Bunnings).
Phone 1800 826 155
Uniform days for students:
Monday and Wednesday - Formal uniform
Tuesday and Thursday - Sports uniform
Friday - own choice
Senior shirts may be worn on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
If your child is going to be absent, please enter the details through Compass, as this is the most efficient way to inform the school.
Wednesday Assemblies |
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Prep – Year 2 |
8.40am |
Years 3 – 6 |
2.10pm |
Whole School Assemblies |
8.45am |
Daily Bell Times |
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8.15 am |
Students are allowed to move to class |
8.30 am |
School day commences |
10.30 am |
Morning tea bell |
10.55 am |
Five minute warning bell |
11.00 am |
School day resumes |
1.00 pm |
Lunch bell |
1.25 pm |
Five minute warning bell |
1.30 pm |
School day resumes. |
2.50 pm |
School day concludes |