Thank you to our dedicated teachers and busy parents for taking the time to attend our Parent-Teacher conferences. Building relationships with your child's teacher shows them that we are working together to support their learning. Even challenging conversations can lead to positive outcomes for our students, your child/ren. If you missed the booking deadline, please email your child's teacher as we aim to meet with every student's parents. Remember, you can schedule a meeting at a convenient time throughout the year, not just in Term 1.

Harmony Week is from March 18-24, with Harmony Day celebrated on Thursday. Did you know this day originated in Australia and is now observed globally? This year's theme is 'Everyone Belongs', with orange chosen as the colour to symbolise Harmony Week. Orange traditionally represents communication, meaningful conversations, freedom of ideas, and mutual respect. Thursday is also Close the Gap Day. Students are encouraged to wear their Indigenous shirt or an orange shirt (for sun safety) with their Holy Spirit shorts to acknowledge these Awareness Days. 

As this is the final newsletter for the term, I would like to wish you all a safe Easter break.

Have a great week

Nicole Lennox

This Sunday, called Palm or Passion Sunday, is the first day of Holy Week. Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday are called the Triduum—three days that are the highlight of the Church year. There are two Gospels proclaimed at Sunday’s Mass. The first Gospel tells of Jesus' triumphant entrance into Jerusalem. Riding on a borrowed colt, Jesus was hailed by the crowds as they blessed God and shouted “Hosanna!”  The second Gospel goes on to tell of the events leading to Jesus' Crucifixion.

Our Year 5/6 students and our choir, will present the events leading to the crucifixion on Tuesday night @ 7pm– Stations of the Cross – as well as part of our special Easter Liturgy on Wednesday 27th March @ 8.45am.

This week at Holy Spirit we value justice. Justice, as we all know, is all about fairness for ourselves and for others. We should always be looking for ways in which we are called to be people for others, especially when we see something that isn’t fair and we can help in some way. During Lent, we are especially called to help those in need with the essentials required for a decent life (food, clothing and shelter). Our donations to Project Compassion this year is a great way to help those in need. We encourage all our families to buy their book of tickets for our Project Compassion Easter Raffle. By supporting this, we are doing our part to care for those who are poor.

Project Compassion Easter Raffle: A book of tickets has been sent home with the eldest in the family to raise funds for Project Compassion. This year, there are 10 prizes in total with our bigger prizes being for first, second and third. Additional tickets are available in our office at the Front Reception. You can also see the prizes on display behind reception. Please remember that tickets are due back on Tuesday, 26th March, for the draw of our prizes on Wednesday, 27th March, at our Easter Liturgy.  Good luck, everyone, and thank you for your generosity in supporting Project Compassion, where little donations go a long way in helping those in need.

PROJECT COMPASSION BOXES: Boxes can be returned to the Office at the end of this term. Thank you in advance to all those families who put aside a little from home to support PC24. For more information about CARITAS and its work go to www.caritas.org.au

Have a great week.
God bless.
Caroline Fuller

Stations of the Cross

Tuesday 26th March 7pm

in the Lynch Family Hall.  

Come along to support our performers!

Just a reminder that our Holy Spirit Cross Country is on Friday, April  19th from 8.30am-10.30am.

Location: Holy Spirit Oval (easy access available via Albert Street)

Start Time: 8.30am

Prep to Year 2 - 8:40am - 9:25am,

8-12 Years - 9:25 - 10.15am

Please note that times of events are a guide (approximations only), we may run ahead of or behind schedule.

TRACK: Prep, Yr 1 & Yr 2 will run in their Year Levels and remain on the oval. The Prep to Year 2 course is a participation event and will include fun obstacles along the way. All other students will run in their age groups accordingly.

UNIFORMS: Students are to wear their Sports Uniform. Students may choose to wear a coloured t-shirt to represent their House colour. It is also an expectation that students wear their hat and sandshoes. Coloured zinc and/or House team accessories are permitted.

SPECTATORS: AII parents/guardians are welcome to attend our carnival to cheer on and support the students. If you are not a volunteer on the day, we do ask that you please remain in the designated spectator areas. Students will sit in their House team's tent.

VOLUNTEERS: If you wish to volunteer for a station around the course, please email Rebecca Lobley at rlobley@hsstsv.catholic.edu.au by Tuesday, 26th March. While it is expected that you remain at your station until the Cross Country is completed, arrangements can be made for you to see your child/children compete.

We look forward to a great day of fun and participation.

Prep Enrolments are now being accepted for new enrolments and for siblings for 2025 – Application forms are available on the school website or click HERE

Families who have a sibling entering Prep in 2025, please submit your enrolment form to the office as soon as possible.

INSTRUMENTAL PROGRAM

Can you please notify the office on or before Friday 22nd March if your child is not continuing Instrumental tuition in Term 2.

Free Parent Presentation by The HopeFull Institute's Glen Gerreyn

March 21 6:00-7:00pm

We are excited to welcome Glen Gerreyn from The HopeFull Institute to talk on the topic of Positive Parenting. Glen is the director and co-founder of The HopeFull Institute. Glen has written several books and spoken to parents, young people, and organisations nationally spreading the message about the power of hope in directing your life purpose, inspiring action, and motivating change.

When: Thursday, March 21. 
Time:  6:00 pm - 7:00 pm.
Location:  St Margaret Mary’s College - Benedictine Place.
 
During his one-hour Positive Parenting seminar to parents, “Glen will share the five fundamental positive parenting tools, based on positive psychology research"
 
Topics covered include:
o How to help your child find a vision
o The rules of encouragement
o How to be where you are
o Teaching your children how to fail
o How to say you’re sorry
o Making the home a refuge
To register to come, please click on the link:https://compasstix.com/e/efsm88yf0w

We hope to see you there!

e-Safety - Online safety video adventures

Watch four short videos, each featuring a hero and their online safety superpower. This series is designed for kids aged 5 to 8 years old to help them learn how to protect themselves online.

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

Flexischools

ROSTER
21.03.24	Nam Bassi
22.03.24	Sue Viviers, Virginia Novinetz
25.03.24	Margaret Vaughan, Nam Bassi
26.03.24	Shelley Connor, Breanna Shortland
27.03.24	Jayson Daldy
28.03.24	Anne Fisher, Brooke Davies
15.04.24	Kerri Player, Nam Bassi
16.04.24	Breanna Shortland, Natasha O'Sullivan, Shelley Connor
17.04.24	Christine Nash, Jenny Hawkins, Natasha O'Sullivan, Tarah Donlan

CAKE    (We are kindly accepting donations of packet cakes only at this time)
25.03.24	Alysa Guppy-Kause, Sam Connor
26.03.24	Petrece Dwyer-Sayers, Sarah Flanagan
15.04.24	Kathryn Cripps
16.04.24	Leigh Robertson
17.04.24	Samantha Adame
FRUIT
21.03.24	Jo Leviston
25.03.24	Sam Connor
26.03.24	Petrece Dwyer-Sayers
15.04.24	Allyce Rawnsley

SPECIAL REPORT: Celebrating Harmony Week

Harmony Week is celebrated annually during March to highlight our diverse cultures and help us better understand each other’s experiences and backgrounds. During this week, the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is also acknowledged on the 21 March. Harmony Week is an opportunity to recognise Australia's multiculturalism, which embraces people from all over the world, especially indigenous Australians. As a nation, we are encouraged to promote respect, understanding and appreciation for all cultures.

Australia's multicultural background has been shaped by migration since 1945, which at times has culminated into situations that have been challenging and sometimes leading to conflict due to a lack of understanding. Harmony Week reminds us to appreciate everyone, regardless of their background or circumstances.

Families can join in the celebrations of Harmony Week, and view it as an opportunity to join in the activities that unite cultures demonstrating that everyone belongs. There is no set way to celebrate the week, but participating in international food fairs, attending street parades, wearing orange or even just having a meaningful conversation, can all help show your support.

For further information on how you can get involved, click on the links below:

• Official Website
• A Taste of Harmony
• Downloadable Resources

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.