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Gratitude. It is a word we have all heard before, but what does it really mean? Being grateful is about more than just saying ‘thank you’; it is about appreciating all the people, places, and things that bring us joy and make our lives better.
At Holy Spirit Catholic School, we believe in the power of gratitude. We encourage our students to reflect on all the things they are thankful for. It could be something as small as a sunny day or as big as a family holiday. No matter how big or small, each thing can bring a smile to our faces.
Gratitude is a habit that can be developed over time. When we are mindful of the things we are grateful for, we can start to look at life from a more positive perspective. We can be kinder to ourselves and others, and our relationships can become stronger.
At Holy Spirit Catholic School, we are thankful for all the teachers, staff, and students who make our school a wonderful place to learn and grow. We are also grateful for the parents and carers who provide us with the support and resources we need to make our school an amazing environment for learning.
There is a list a mile long of the things I am grateful for this week and I'd like to share some of them with you.
I am grateful for:
- the opportunity to gather with colleagues over the last three days at the Principals' Meeting, which has provided me with new learnings and the opportunity to workshop new ideas.
- our staff who have trained and supported Mrs Logan with preparing our Interschool Swimming team who competed in the 'A' Schools Carnival today.
- our Chaplain, Mrs Donlan, and her team of Year 6 helpers who cook and serve toast on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings.
- our Year 3 and 5 teachers as well as Mr Martin, Mrs Bates and Mr A’Herne who have been diligently preparing our children and devices for NAPLAN testing, which will take place from Wednesday next week.
- our Teachers and other staff who will be assisting at our Prep Open Day this coming Saturday morning.
- plus many more!
As a family, perhaps around the dinner table tonight, you may like to share with your loved ones the things that you are grateful for.
The Gospel for the Third Sunday of Lent (John 4:5-42) describes the meeting between Jesus and a Samaritan woman beside a well. In Jesus’ time, the Samaritan’s and Jews hated each other but Jesus spoke to the woman kindly. This story reminds us that God loves all people no matter where they are from. God asks us to be like Jesus and to respect and care for all people no matter who they are. We encourage our students to also respect and care for each other and be a forgiving friend, especially during Lent.
This week we value Excellence. Excellence often refers to greatness, the very best. Achieving excellence is a very difficult thing to do at times. It is a quality that people really appreciate, because it is so hard to find. Striving for excellence is trying to do our best at whatever task we set our minds to do. At Holy Spirit, staff are always looking for ways to help students achieve excellence. This, we pray that our students draw upon their many skills and show excellence in a given area.
ST PATRICK’S DAY 17 th MARCH:
Next Friday, March 17, is St Patrick’s Feast Day and is celebrated worldwide. St Patrick is the Patron Saint of Ireland and the Irish. He was born about 389 A.D. in Northern Wales. St Patrick had an adventurous life. He was captured by pirates at the age of 16. The pirates brought him to Ireland to tend the flocks of a chieftain in Ulster. Six years of slavery made him a devoted Christian. He escaped to France and became a
monk. In 432, a vision led him to return to Ireland as a missionary bishop. He brought Christianity to Ireland and taught there for 29 years. He used the shamrock, a 3 leaf clover (Ireland's national flower) to explain the Blessed Trinity and we still use this as well when teaching about the Trinity. St. Patrick founded 365 churches, baptised over 120,000 people and consecrated 450 bishops.
ST JOSEPH’S FEAST DAY 19 th MARCH: St Joseph was the husband of Mary and the foster-father of Jesus. We know Joseph loved Jesus and when Jesus stayed in the Temple, Joseph (along with Mary) searched with great anxiety for three days for him (Luke 2:48). We also know that Joseph treated Jesus as his own son for over and over the people of Nazareth say of Jesus, 'Is this not the son of Joseph?" (Luke 4:22). He teaches us forgetfulness of self in the service of others. He is the patron saint of fathers and workers.
PROJECT COMPASSION:
Don’t forget to keep filling your Project Compassion Boxes. This year, Project Compassion features the stories of four inspiriting people from Nepal, Australia, Zimbabwe and Vietnam. This week we hear Laxmi’s story in Nepal. After losing her father at a young age, Laxmi was at risk of falling further into extreme poverty. But with the support of our partner Caritas Nepal, Laxmi joined a child's club, became a leader in her school and is now a mentor to other girls in her village. Laxmi is now excelling in her studies and working towards her dream of becoming a civil engineer. She continues to be involved in the child's club, serving as an advisor and mentoring the next generation of young leaders at her old school. Since 2018, Caritas Nepal has supported more than 5,000 children through the child's clubs. To read more, visit: https://www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion/pc23-stories/
The Dental Van will be leaving Holy Spirit school at the end of this term. Prep consent forms were recently issued. If you would like your child/children to receive their free course of dental care please return a form ASAP. If you require a form, please phone 0418 155 562.
Parents are most welcome to book an appointment if they wish to attend. We are also happy to book siblings in at the same time. This includes kindergarten and secondary school students up to year 10. It is not necessary to be eligible for the Medicare CDBS funding. All children from age 4 will receive free treatment provided they have a Medicare Card number.
If you have any questions or wish to make an appointment please phone the friendly staff on the above mobile number.
Holy Spirit Catholic School uses Flexischools ordering system. To register, login or to place orders, please click this link:
ROSTER |
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09.03.23 |
Rose McSherry | ||
10.03.23 |
Helpers Wanted! | ||
13.03.23 |
Brooke Vass, Kerri Player | ||
14.03.23 |
Shelley Connor, Sifa Ayinkamiye |
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15.03.23 |
Rebecca McLennan |
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16.03.23 |
Anne Fisher, Shelley Connor |
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17.03.23 |
Helpers Wanted! |
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20.03.23 |
Nicole Boon |
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21.03.23 |
Shelley Connor, Thiru Sasi Emmanuel |
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22.03.23 |
Helpers Wanted! |
CAKE (We are kindly accepting donations of packet cakes only at this time) | |
09.03.23 |
Cathy Duvel |
10.03.23 |
Therese Lynch |
13.03.23 |
Allyce Rawnsley, Melissa Smith |
14.03.23 |
Sarah Flanagan |
16.03.23 |
Kerri Lovatt |
17.03.23 |
Jessica Mannion |
20.03.23 |
Emma Philippa, Kathryn Cripps, Lanie Hedger |
21.03.23 |
Leigh Robertson |
22.03.23 |
Samantha Adame |
FRUIT |
|
10.03.23 |
Kate Smith |
13.03.23 |
Allyce Rawnsley, Emily Lyons, Jinomon Thomas, Vicki Darr |
16.03.23 |
Jo Leviston |
17.03.23 |
Jessica Mannion |
20.03.23 |
Kathryn Cripps, Loren Parker, Preshy Sikhosana |
The LGBTIQ+ learning lounge explores a range of topics to help the LGBTIQ+ community stay safe online. The resource includes practical tips and guidance on dealing with online trolls, staying safe when meeting people online, and what to do if things go wrong.
Join our social media self-defence webinar
eSafety’s social media self-defence workshop aims to help women use social media platforms more safely and effectively.
The webinars cover how to set up your social media accounts and profiles with safety in mind, and how to deal with online abuse through muting, blocking and reporting.
Register now for the next webinar on Wednesday 22 March.
Make a report if something goes wrong online
If you or someone you know experiences online abuse, you can do something about it. Depending on the social media service or online platform, you can report, block or mute the abuse.
If it meets our thresholds, eSafety can also remove harmful online content.
Tell us how we can make Safer Internet Day even better
Thank you to everyone who got behind Safer Internet Day on 7 February.
If you got involved, we’d love to hear your feedback by filling out our quick survey.
Missed Safer Internet Day this year? No probs. You can still download the resource kits for ideas to get your workplace or school involved in making every day a Safer Internet Day.
In this edition of SchoolTV - EXAM JITTERS
Every year, more and more emphasis is placed on achieving good results in exams causing many students to feel extraordinary pressure and having unrealistic expectations. This month on SchoolTV, parents will find advice on how to help students cope with the pressure and how students can work smarter to achieve the results they desire.
Exams are like a game. Once you know how to play the game, your chances of achieving great results rapidly increase. Parents can learn how to assist their kids to maintain perspective and keep their sanity intact during exam time.
Diet, exercise and sleep all play an important part in helping a student balance a busy schedule and study smarter. Keeping stress levels to a minimum and reducing anxiety can be easily achieved through careful planning and having a supportive environment.
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 Exam Jitters edition of SchoolTV
https://hsstsv.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/exam-jitters
We are open Monday, Wednesday and Friday 8am-8.25am in 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.
Time to Dine, Spouse Social Dinner - Friday 10 March 7:00pm
*** LOCATION CHANGE *** We are heading to Palmer's Bar and Kitchen
Come along to our first social dinner of 2023, where you can meet new friends, catch-up with old ones and if you haven’t already, you’ll meet DMFS Townsville’s Family Liaison Officers, Meagan & Kim. Palmer's Bar and Kitchen is located in the heart of the Palmer Street eating precinct. Time to Dine is an informal, social dinner for spouses that provides a great opportunity to make new connections in a relaxed and friendly environment.
This is a self-funded activity. Attendees are responsible for the cost of purchasing their own food and drinks.
Where: Palmer’s Bar and Kitchen - 12 Palmer St, Townsville
When: Friday 10 March 7:00pm
Registration: Eventbrite - Time to Dine
WHAT'S ON IN TOWNSVILLE
To keep up-to-date with Council initiatives across Townsville, visit Townsville City Council’s
What's On Townsville's website or Facebook page.
Art in Conflict touring exhibition from the Australian War Memorial
Contemporary artists’ responses to conflict bring to light untold stories, reveal neglected histories and deepen our understanding of Australia’s experience of conflict, both past and present.
Supported by research from an Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Project, the exhibition highlights how war art can lead us to consider different ways of thinking about current and recent conflicts, inviting us to consider perspectives we might not otherwise encounter.
Exhibition Dates: 3 March – 7 May
Launch: Thursday 2 March, 6 – 8pm
Curators Talk: Saturday 4 March, 10:30 – 11:30am
Join exhibition curator Dr Anthea Gunn as she tells us about the works on display and what was involved in curating this thought-provoking exhibition.
Artist Talk: Sunday 12 March, 10:30am – 12pm
Join us for an informative morning at the Gallery as Art In Conflict artists Susan Norrie and Shirley Macnamara give us an insight into their artworks on display and discuss the long legacies of war.
For more information, head to Perc Tucker Regional Gallery Facebook page.
Defence Member and Family Helpline
For advice, support or local community information, contact our all-hours Defence Member and Family Helpline. Run by Defence Member and Family Support, the helpline is the best way to access the programs and services that we offer to help Defence families manage the military way of life.The helpline is available 24/7 and is staffed by qualified human services professionals, including social workers and psychologists.
Event |
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March |
09.03.23 |
Reconciliation 6pm |
10.03.23 |
McAuley Shield Meeting @8.40am, Ruth Young Hockey Gala |
11.03.23 |
Prep Open Day 8.30-10am |
13.03.23 |
Life Education finishes, Playgroup |
14.03.23 |
Mass 5A, 5C & 5D |
15.03.23 |
Lower School Assembly - 2D, Naplan begins |
16.03.23 |
Close the Gap Day, Naplan |
17.03.23 |
National Day of Action Against Bullying, Naplan |
20.03.23 |
World Happiness Day, Naplan, Playgroup |
21.03.23 |
Harmony Day, Naplan |
22.03.23 |
Upper School Assembly - 4B, Naplan |
Term Dates 2023 |
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Term 2 |
Monday 17 April 2023 |
Friday 23 June 2023 |
Term 3 |
Monday 10 July 2023 |
Friday 15 September 2023 |
Term 4 |
Tuesday 3 October 2023 |
Friday 1 December 2023 |
Pupil Free Day Friday 1st September, 2023
All uniform supplies are available at The School Locker, Domain Central (close to Bunnings). Phone 1800 826 155
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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All assemblies in the hall |
8.40am |
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 |