Wow! What a start to 2024 we have experienced so far. From severe weather (cyclones and hot weather) to new families arriving, Ross River Road maintenance work, clean ups and everything else that is involved with new year's preparations. Thank you to the many families that continue to display resilience to their children. It would have been tough if you lost power but we have come out the other side and probably learnt a lot about ourselves as well. I certainly appreciate air conditioning!

Townsville Catholic Education Office has approved an additional professional development day in 2024.  The date will be Friday 26th April, 2024 and will be a pupil free day. This day follows on from the ANZAC day public holiday on Thursday 25th April. The reason for granting this additional professional development day is to provide the time and opportunity for all teachers to prepare for the implementation of V9.0 of the Australian Curriculum at the commencement of 2025. This planning day will focus on supporting teachers to have a deep understanding of the changes to content and assessment from the current Australian Curriculum to the newly revised curriculum.  There is much planning already occurring in all schools to ensure all teachers are well placed to provide rich learning experiences for their students.  This additional professional development day (pupil free day) will only occur in 2024.

This Friday, we have our Opening Liturgy and commissioning of our 2024 school leaders. I look forward to working with this group of young people as we look for ways to engage our students in the life of the school.

Happy Days,

Paul Martin 

Hello and welcome to Week 3,

I have borrowed the phrase "Courtesy, Cooperation & Care" from another local school, as it relates well to one of the routines of school life - morning dropoffs and afternoon pickups.  As we are well into the school year, I would like to request parents and caregivers be mindful of our children during these busy times.

I would like to remind everyone that we have three designated drop-off and pickup zones: Hatchett Street, the Church carpark and Albert Street. If parents are coming into the school to collect their children, we kindly ask that they use only the designated parking bays and not park on footpaths, neighbours' driveways, in NO Standing Zones, or the Administration carpark (unless you need to use the disabled bays). 

The correct use of these areas ensures the safety of our community, especially your children. If you are a pedestrian using the Church carpark in the afternoon, please use the supervised pedestrian crossing, modelling safe behaviours for all students. 

If staff members approach you to ask you to move from an area or encourage you to use the pedestrian crossing, they will do so only for your child's safety. Courtesy, Cooperation & Care.

Later this month, Healthy Harold from the Life Education Team will be visiting Holy Spirit teaching students from Prep to Year 6 about topics such as a healthy body, growing good friends and being cyber-wise. Parents can access the website to find out more about the topics that will be covered.

Have a great week

Nicole Lennox

This week at Holy Spirit Catholic School, we value respect.  Having respect for someone means you think good things about who a person is or how he or she acts.  Respect also means that you accept somebody for who they are, even when they are different from you or you don’t agree with them.  We often use the value of respect in schools when we are speaking with children and how they treat others.  We reinforce that showing respect to someone means they act in a way that shows they care about their feelings and well-being.  This week, we pray that our students show respect for others by thinking and acting in a way that shows others they care about their feelings and their well-being, not calling others names, treating each other with courtesy and caring about themselves.  

Tuesday 13th February, is Shrove Tuesday.  In ancient times, this was a day of celebration, when there were processions and people feasted together before they entered a time of fasting and prayer during Lent.  Today, many still follow this tradition by eating pancakes.  This is associated with the ancient custom of eating the last supplies of milk, flour and eggs before the beginning of Lent.  

Lent also begins with Ash Wednesday on the 14th February.  We will be having a litugry in the hall for Prep - Year 3 and Years 4-6 will attend mass in the church. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Sacramental Programme

Registration for this year’s Sacramental Programme commenced on 24th January. If you are intending your child/ren to participate in this year’s programme, please go to the Parish Office to collect the necessary forms to register. Enrolment forms are to be returned completed to the Holy Spirit Parish Office. Registration has been extended until Friday 9th February.

School Leaders

This Friday morning  at our Whole School Assembly, we will induct our School Captains and House Captains.  Everyone welcome.

God bless,

Caroline Fuller - APRE

The leadership team has visited several classrooms, and it's exciting to witness the enthusiasm of both students and teachers. They are gradually acquainting themselves with their respective classes and establishing routines and structures to enable a successful term of learning.

10 Questions to get your child talking about school 

1. Tell me about the best part of your day.
2. What was the hardest thing you had to do today?
3. Tell me about what you read in class today. 
4. Who did you play with today? What did you play? 
5. What’s the biggest difference between this year and last year?
6. What are you looking forward to about tomorrow? 
7. Can you show me something you learned (or did) today? 
8. What made you laugh today? 
9. Which subject did you enjoy most today? Why?
10. What rules are different at school than our rules at home? Why do you think this is? 

Year 3 and Year 5 NAPLAN

What is NAPLAN?

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is an annual national assessment for all students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9 and is the only nationwide assessment that all Australian children undertake.

It’s a measure to see whether or not young Australians are developing the literacy and numeracy skills that provide the critical foundation for other learning and their productive and rewarding participation in the community.

When is NAPLAN?

The NAPLAN testing window begins in Week 8 of Term 1. Our school schedule is as follows:

• Wednesday 13th March - Writing at 9 am
• Thursday 14th March - Reading at 11 am
• Tuesday 19th March - Conventions of Language at 9 am
• Thursday 21st March - Numeracy at 9 am

What if my child is absent from school on test day?

If your child is absent on the day of a test, they will be caught up on the day they return to school, except for Year 3 Writing, which needs to be finalised by Monday 18th, as this is still completed on paper. All tests need to be finalised by Monday 25th March.

How can I help my child prepare?

Rest assured, our teachers are explicitly teaching all content to allow our students to be successful in NAPLAN. However, there is a Public Demonstration Site available that you can work through with your child to allow them to understand how to use the online tools correctly. Your child will sit a practice test before the test schedule in class so that they can understand the NAPLAN experience. Further information can be found here.

If you have any concerns about your child’s participation in NAPLAN, please do not hesitate to contact me via email at kbates@hsstsv.catholic.edu.au or your child’s classroom teacher.

Kristy Bates

Acting Assistant Principal Pedagogy and Learning 

We are open Tuesday and Thursday 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.

Online safety for every family

Short videos and easy-to-read advice sheets to help you talk with your children about online safety. In English, Arabic, Chinese, Dari, Tamil and Vietnamese.

Holy Spirit Catholic School uses Flexischools ordering system.  To register, login or to place orders, please click this link:  

Flexischools

ROSTER
08.02.24	Helpers Wanted
09.02.24	Helpers Wanted
12.02.24	Sarah Myles
13.02.24	Shelley Connor
14.02.24	Helpers Wanted
15.02.24	Helpers Wanted
16.02.24	Helpers Wanted
19.02.24	Kerri Player
20.02.24	Shelley Connor
21.02.24	Christine Nash, Tarah Donlan

CAKE    (We are kindly accepting donations of packet cakes only at this time)
08.02.24	Cathy Duvel
12.02.24	Melissa Smith
19.02.24	Kathryn Cripps
20.02.24	Leigh Robertson
21.02.24	Samantha Adame
FRUIT
09.02.24	Kate Smith

In this edition of SchoolTV - SCHOOL TRANSITIONS

Whether it is starting school for the first time, moving up to a higher grade or embarking on a journey through secondary school, there is no doubt that any school transition is a very exciting time for children and parents. It means your children are growing up!

However, transitioning is an ongoing process. It can continue long after students have entered their new environment and may encounter difficulties at a number of different stages. These stressors may appear as anxiety and frustration and result in negative or disruptive behaviours. Such behaviours can become problematic making the transitioning process even more difficult for children and parents.

In this edition of SchoolTV, parents will learn practical strategies to assist your child during the transition process and reduce stress and anxiety levels.

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 the school counsellor for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to the School Transitions edition of SchoolTV
https://hsstsv.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/school-transitions

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.