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- Principal's Corner
- From the APA
- APRE News
- Holy Spirit Interhouse Athletics Carnival
- Save the Date
- Tuckshop News
- Playgroup
- Seasons for Growth
- Pastoral Chaplain's Chat
- Guidance Counsellor Corner
- Breakfast Program
- eSafety Parents
- Defence
- Date Claimers
- Term Dates
- Assembly and Bell Times
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Welcome to Term 3!
Student Concerns – Social, Emotional and Academic
Occasionally, parents and carers may have concerns when things at school influence your children. Home is a “safe place” and this is where children are most likely to raise their feelings about their friends, their school work or how they are feeling about a particular incident.
The school yard reflects society because it teaches children the things they need to know for life – negotiation, collaboration, give and take, conflict resolution, navigating mean words and comments, and so on. As much as we would do anything to protect our children from negative feelings or negative incidents at school, things do occur that we need to deal with.
Our staff rely on our parents to keep us informed when incidents occur that require further attention or investigation. Our teachers will always try to get to the bottom of things and assist where they can. Please always inform teachers about any concerns you may have. It is always best to deal with issues as quickly as possible. We can’t cater for our student wellbeing effectively without your help. In my experience, conversations can solve small issues quickly, before they grow into bigger issues that require more time and effort.
The Townsville Catholic Education Office has a documented process for managing concerns and complaints. The flowchart below outlines this process.
Townsville Catholic Education will adopt the principles of procedural fairness and natural justice throughout the complaint management process. This requires a fair and proper procedure to be used, which involves disclosure, a reasonable opportunity to respond and impartiality to reach a fair and correct decision.
It is important that all complaints:
- Are handled in a positive and transparent way.
- Are recorded at every level, properly documented and reported to the Principal or delegated person as soon as practicable. Documents related to the complaint are kept and stored in accordance with Townsville Catholic Education Office procedures.
- Can be made to the Principal or their delegate of the school/college or to Townsville Catholic Education Office if the complaint involves a Principal.
- Are resolved with mutual respect and clear communication.
- Where possible, are resolved at the first point of contact. If this does not occur the receipt of the complaint will be acknowledged within five working days by telephone, in person, by email or in writing.
Procedure for people making a complaint
During the course of a child’s school years, a parent/carer, student or other persons may have cause to make a complaint about school/college decisions, processes, management, conduct of staff and/or students, or have other general concerns.
Step 1: Discuss the complaint with the class teacher (Resolve at the first level)
If a complaint is with the child’s teacher or relates to an issue concerning the child’s experience at school/college, make an appointment with that teacher as soon as possible through the school/college administration. Discuss the complaint with the teacher and give the teacher an opportunity to suggest a solution. The teacher will make a record of the complaint and report the meeting and any outcomes to the Principal or their delegate. Together, parents/carers and teachers should be able to resolve the problem at this level.
Step 2: Discuss the complaint with the Principal or their delegate (Seek support to resolve a complaint)
If the complaint remains unresolved, make an appointment to see the school/college Principal or their delegate to discuss the issue further. Alternatively, a parent/carer and the teacher may agree to ask the Principal or their delegate to act as a go-between in informal conflict resolution in an attempt to resolve the problem.
If the complaint relates to more general school/college matters, the complaint should be raised directly with the Principal or their delegate. The Principal may refer the complaint to a delegate such as the Deputy Principal. Complaints can be lodged in person, by telephone, writing or via email.
Complaints about a Principal should be directed to an Education Consultant or Director, School Development Services at the Townsville Catholic Education Office.
Step 3: Contact Townsville Catholic Education Office (Refer the matter to an external source)
If the complaint has been discussed with the Principal or their delegate and is still not resolved, please contact the Townsville Catholic Education Office. Complaints may be lodged by telephone, email or in writing. The name of the complainant and the nature of the complaint will be reported back to the Principal. Townsville Catholic Education Office staff will then work with all parties to seek a resolution.
Anonymous complaints will be only acted upon if enough information has been provided to allow for follow-up with the relevant Principal or their delegate.
Step 4: Independent review (Seeking external intervention)
If the complaint is not resolved through these formal processes, it can be lodged with the Non-State School Accreditation Board (NSSAB).
Best wishes
Kath
Welcome everyone to another exciting term at Holy Spirit Catholic School. We have hit the ground running as we get back into our routines on these frosty mornings.
Coming up on Sunday July 24 is our annual "Colour Me Crazy" at our school. Save the date as this is going to be another fun filled exciting community event for our families. Eye wear, such as sunglasses, is essential to protect the eyes. These do not need to be our sunglasses but they are on sale for $5 from the front office from today. These are available until sold out.
We are looking for parent volunteers for our stations, as this event cannot go ahead without parent support. If you can assist, please email myself at pmartin@hsstsv.catholic.edu.au
Welcome back for Term 3. It was lovely to see so many smiling faces on Monday as our students returned to school. A special welcome to those families and students that are new to our school this term. This week, our Holy Spirit Value is ‘Mercy’. Mercy is all about a combination of compassion and forgiveness. It is easy to be angry with someone and to treat that individual badly. It is very important to discuss with children what mercy is so they can show it to those around them. This week as we return for the start of a new term, we pray our students be merciful towards other by encouraging them to show compassion and take the time to show kindness to others.
In this week’s Gospel, we hear the story of Martha and Mary (Luke 10:38-42). Martha and Mary lived in Bethany, a small village near Jerusalem. They were close friends of Jesus who often came to visit them when he passed that way. Jesus and His disciples had been invited to stay for a meal, but while Martha was busy preparing the meal, Mary sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to Him, speak. Martha grew angry at having to do all the work, but Jesus, while grateful for what Martha had done, told her that Mary had done the right thing. He was happy that Mary had chosen to take time to listen to the Word of God.
Celebrated annually in Week 3 of Term 3, Catholic Education Week is an opportunity for all 313 Catholic schools in Queensland to celebrate and promote their distinctive mission and ethos. Catholic education strives to make a difference in the lives of those in our schools and in the wider community by challenging young people to live out the message of Jesus and to reach their full potential as compassionate, contributing, life-giving members of society. Catholic Education Week in 2022 will be celebrated in Queensland from 24 July – 30 July. The theme for 2022 celebrations will be Communities of Faith, Hope, Love.
God bless
Caroline Fuller
Holy Spirit Interhouse Athletics Carnival
Congratulations to the Branagan Blues for winning this year’s Athletics Carnival. House spirit was alive and well as students cheered for their team mates in the various events. Many thanks to all of our staff and volunteers who contributed to the success of the carnival. Congratulations to all students involved for their fantastic participation and competition.
A full gallery of photos can be found on our School Facebook Page.
We now look forward to the Interschool Athletics Carnival on Thursday, 11 August. Selected students will be notified this week for training to commence in Week 2.
Yours faithfully, and in sport
Brenton Place
HPE Specialist Prep - 6
Holy Spirit Catholic School uses Flexischools ordering system. To register, login or to place orders, please click this link:
ROSTER |
|||
14.07.22 |
John Kars, Annette Burns, Anne Fisher |
||
15.07.22 |
Sue Viviers, | ||
18.07.22 |
Marissa Wallace | ||
19.07.22 |
Erin Donald, Shelley Connor |
||
20.07.22 |
Christine Nash, Kerri Player, Rebecca McLennan |
||
21.07.22 |
John Kars, Rose McSherry, Annette Burns |
||
22.07.22 |
Sue Viviers, Marissa Wallace, Tim Marrinan, Virginia Novinetz |
||
25.07.22 |
Nicole Boon |
||
26.07.22 |
Shelley Connor |
||
27.07.22 |
Anita Coggiola |
||
CAKE (We are kindly accepting donations of packet cakes only at this time) | |||
14.07.22 |
Cathy Duvel | ||
18.07.22 |
Allyce Rawnsley, Jordana Ferrara, Kathryn Cripps, Kylie Smith, Sally Urquhart | ||
19.07.22 |
Leigh Robertson | ||
21.07.22 |
Jo Leviston | ||
22.07.22 |
Mayleen Nona | ||
25.07.22 |
Lanie Hedger, Sam Connor | ||
26.07.22 |
Petrece Dwyer-Sayers | ||
FRUIT |
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18.07.22 |
Allyce Rawnsley, Berndadette Bryant, Kathryn Cripps, Yela Yakere, Preshy Sikhosona, Sally Urquhart | ||
25.07.22 |
Bernadette Bryant, Penny Lange, Sam Connor | ||
26.07.22 |
Petrece Dwyer-Sayers |
Seasons for Growth
Seasons for Growth offers children and young people a safe space to come together, and share their experiences of change and loss.
Seasons for Growth is a confidential social and emotional program facilitated by Tegan Towler (Guidance Counsellor) and Kerry Donlan (Pastoral Chaplain), as student companions.
The program is not designed to counsel but assist young people to cope with some of life’s big issues, such as separation, divorce or the loss of a loved one, which are experiences encountered by many families. It is structured to equip children with strategies to support the variety of emotions caused by these events, with participation in the program recommended 12 months after the change. However, please note that some children are quite resilient and cope very well, without the need for additional support, so please take this into consideration.
Program delivery will occur at a set time each week for 8 weeks, each session is approximately 45 minutes in the Pastoral Chaplain’s room. If you would like more information and feel that your child/children would benefit and are interested in participating in Term 3, please contact me by email kdonlan1@hsstsv.catholic.edu.au or via the school office.
More information about the program, please visit the Seasons for Growth website.
In this edition of SchoolTV - GRIEF & LOSS
Grief is a natural response to loss. It might be the loss of a loved one, relationship or even a pet. The more significant the loss, the more intense the grief is likely to be. Children and adults grieve differently due to their developmental stage, and this can prove difficult for parents to understand.
Young children fluctuate in and out of the stages of grief rapidly, as they may not comprehend the permanency death. They express their grief more physically. Teens on the other hand may not know how to express their grief and will need some space to process their loss. Some may choose to grieve alone, not wanting to stand out or be seen as not coping. Whilst others, who may have a greater understanding, can start to question their own mortality.
In this edition of SchoolTV, parents can learn how to acknowledge their child’s feelings and the best way to support them through the grief.
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 classroom teacher for further information or seek medical or professional help.
Here is the link to the Grief & Loss edition of SchoolTV
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.
Join us for eSafety’s parents and carers webinar on popular apps TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube.
Support young people to use technology safely and get tips on what to do if your child has a negative experience online.
The sessions are free to join and start on Monday, 1 August 2022. Register now and share the link with other parents and carers you know.
Encourage safe digital play over the holidays
Winter holidays can mean more time indoors and more time online.
eSafety can help you manage the change in routine with fun activities like Be an eSafe kid. Get your children reading along with the colourful characters to learn about positive behaviours and what to do if something goes wrong online.
You might also like to check out The eSafety Guide to learn about popular apps, games and social media. Some apps offer safety and privacy features such as Messenger Kids which allows parents to monitor their child's chat.
Support young people to deal with online challenges
Online dares and challenges are something most parents and carers will be familiar with. While these activities can be entertaining and creative, some can involve bullying, risky or even life-threatening behaviour.
Let your child know they can talk to you if something online makes them feel unsafe or is encouraging them to be hurtful to others.
Here are some ways to support your child in these situations:
- Ask questions about the games and apps your kids are using and what they are watching online.
- Use parental controls and safeguards on devices to help manage what your child experiences online.
- Support your child to report online bullying to the platform on which it occurred. If the platform does not take action within 48 hours, you can report cyberbullying and other harmful content to eSafety.
Read eSafety's latest blog on online challenges at esafety.gov.au.
Update devices and settings to keep your family safe online
Technology is always changing so it’s important to update devices and check privacy settings regularly.
Apart from routine updates, there are also new safety features being rolled out which can help keep families safer online.
- Apple have updated their settings to help parents manage what their child can do on their device. The new communication safety features help protect children from viewing or sharing nude photos in messages.
- Instagram’s expanded parental controls lets teens invite their parents to supervise their activity on the app. Parents will see their child's new followers and accounts they follow, but won’t see their messages or search history.
Read more about parental controls and using technology safely in the home at esafety.gov.au
Time to Dine - Partners Night Out - Friday 22 July
Fancy meeting other spouses and enjoying a partners only night out? Take the time to dine and join us for dinner at the Bohle Barn. Meet new friends, catch-up with old ones, soak up the live entertainment, relax and unwind.
Tickets to this event are essential and are limited so book now!
This is a self-funded activity. Attendees are responsible for the cost of purchasing their own food and drinks.
Where: Bohle Barn, Bohle
When: Friday 22 July - 7:00pm
Registration: Eventbrite - Time to Dine
Coffee Connections - Café Bambini Fairfield - Thursday 4 August
ADF members and families in Townsville, we’d love to see you at Café Bambini - Fairfield for Coffee Connections in August. Whether you’ve been in Townville for a while now, or have just arrived, everyone’s welcome.
This is a self-funded activity. Attendees are responsible for the cost of purchasing/providing their own food and drinks. Children are welcome under parent/guardian supervision.
Where: Café Bambini - Fairfield
When: Thursday 4 August, at 9:30am-11:30am.
Registration: Eventbrite - Coffee Connections
ADF Families Survey
Defence recognises the critical role our families play in supporting ADF members and the work they do in serving our nation.
The ADF Families Survey collects information on ADF families to understand the unique experiences and circumstances they face. It is an important way for Defence to ensure we support the wellbeing of families supporting ADF members and veterans.
For more information visit ADF Families Survey : Your Family : Department of Defence
Get to know us before you need us: Meet Lisa
DMFS Townsville welcomes Squadron Leader Lisa Power to the team.
As a Military Support Officer (MSO), Lisa provides advice, assistance and practical support regarding military matters to unformed members, and supports local ADF units and Commanders with member welfare support.
Lisa has previously been a military spouse, and had a career in the APS. Since joining the RAAF she has experienced long-term absences away from her family, including deployments and periods of MWD(U).
Lisa has a strong interest in wanting to ensure that ADF members and their families are aware of the support services available to them.
Date |
Event |
July |
14.07.22 |
Interschool Sport Week 4 |
18.07.22 |
Playgroup |
18.07.22 |
P&F Meeting - 6pm |
18.07.22-22.07.22 |
Mulkadee |
19.06.22 |
Board Meeting |
20.07.22 |
Assembly 4D/PC |
21.07.22 |
Interschool Sport Week 5 |
25.07.22-29.07.22 |
Catholic Education Week |
Term Dates 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 |
Wednesday Assemblies |
|
Prep – Year 2 |
8.40am |
Years 3 – 6 |
2.10pm |
Whole School Assemblies |
8.45am |
Daily Bell Times |
|
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 |
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.
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.