What an amazing term we have been through at Holy Spirit Catholic School. From Catholic Education Week, NAIDOC celebrations, Challenge Games, Year 5 camps, Coloured Clothes Days, Athletics Carnivals, School Photos, Fathers Day and now Showcase, the community is thriving. 

I want to thank all of our families that have supported the school in both action and by word of mouth. We are continually hearing the Townsville community is impressed with our students and our school as our enrolment number continues to increase.

Our Preps for 2025 are nearly full already. Thank you to our staff who continue to battle all the challenges that the Education Sector throws our way.

Congratulations to Mr Clem, Mr Brice-Houseman and the Holy Spirit Rugby League team who competed in the Les Tagg Trophy of a night time at Brothers. We fought hard on Monday against Cranbrook in the 'Battle of the suburb' but went down 28-18. Thank you to the parents for their support for the team.

Have a fantastic break from the school routines and we shall see you back in Term 4.

Strength in the Spirit

Paul Martin 

Enrolments

Enrolment Terms and Conditions
When a student is accepted for enrolment at our school, parents/carers/guardians sign a Student Enrolment Agreement which contains important terms and conditions. These terms and conditions are updated from time to time, and were last updated earlier this year.
 
The Conditions of Enrolment are available on our school website or click HERE Please contact the Principal if you would like to discuss the information contained in these documents.
 
Media/Photography/Video Consent for students 
 
During the enrolment process, parents/carers/guardians consent to the use of images of their child. The consent is outlined below. Parents who wish to withdraw this consent should contact the school.
 
Photos, video footage and work samples of students are used regularly by the school for the purpose of acknowledging the efforts of the student/school, or for promotion, marketing or advertising the school or Catholic Education. Parents consent to the student being photographed or filmed for school, Catholic Education or Townsville Catholic Diocese related communication or for education purposes. Parents understand this may include media (e.g. television, radio, publications), school publications (e.g. newsletters, year books), online media (e.g. websites) and social media (e.g. Facebook, Instagram). Please note the student’s name and voice may be included with the photograph/video. Parent’s understand it is their responsibility to notify the school if they do not wish to consent to the student’s photograph/ video appearing in any or all of the above, or if they wish to withdraw this authorisation and consent.

Did you know that the Townsville Eisteddfod has been running since 1948? Holy Spirit enters our Year 4, 5, and 6 choirs every year to compete against other schools in the same categories. Our Year 4 Choir and Year 5 Choir competed yesterday and proudly returned to school with 1st and 2nd place, respectively. This is an outstanding achievement for students; we are very proud of them. Our Year 6 students will compete on Thursday, so stay tuned for their results.  Thank you to Kerry Rhen, who worked with our Choir students, Sue Laing, for co-ordinating and our Pianist, Sarah Ferguson.

This week is Child Protection Week, and this year's theme is “Every Conversation Matters”, emphasising the importance of dialogue in addressing child abuse and neglect. Yesterday, our Year 2-6 classes had a visit from Townsville Catholic Education Student Protection team members. They conducted ‘Safe Talks’ with each year level, reminding them of the 3Rs: Recognise, React, and Report. Our classes will also discuss this critical topic and remind our students who the Safe Persons in our school are. We encourage all our students, even our Preppies, to identify five trusted adults to turn to if they find themselves in need—one person for each finger on their hand.

In Week 9, Season 3 of Interschool Sports, the final season of 2024, begins. Our Year 5 and 6 students will represent our school in AFL, Basketball, and T-ball. This provides another opportunity for our students to represent our school in the community as they compete against other primary schools. We wish them all the best and eagerly anticipate hearing about their performance on the field/court as the games progress throughout Term 4.

Nicole Lennox

Do we listen well to each other? Do we, as children do, often interpret what someone is going to say and hear something different to that which is intended? In Sunday’s Gospel, Mark 7:31-37 they brought to Jesus a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech. Jesus put his fingers into his ears and touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, ‘Be opened.’ And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. By touching his ears and his mouth, Jesus had given the man a voice for the first time. As a result, the man was able to truly hear and understand. We encourage our students to listen carefully to each other and pay attention to what is being said so that it is interpreted correctly with no misunderstandings on either side.

This week at Holy Spirit we value compassion, meaning sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others. Compassion gives us the ability to understand someone else's situation and the desire to take action to improve their lives. It is the quality that allows us to step outside of ourselves and see the circumstances of others. It supplies the willpower to do what is necessary to make the world a more caring place. This week, we pray our students show compassion to those around them.

This Friday, a number of our Year 6 students will participate in the Mini Vinnies homelessness experience. We will welcome Stephen Gasparini to our school, the Youth Engagement and Development Officer for the Townsville Diocese St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland. Stephen will speak to the students, sharing information on the number of people experiencing homelessness across Australia and how we can help. The children will participate in a number of activities to raise awareness of homelessness. You can help by donating much-needed items for people in our community. This year we encourage donations of cleaning products or toiletry products. Donations can be sent into the office to be part of our donation on Friday night. Your compassion and generosity will be very much appreciated.

This Sunday, 8th September, is the special feast of the birth of Mary, the mother of Jesus. We honour Mary as a Spirit-filled person who listened to God speaking to her. Mary showed the fruits of the Spirit in the way she lived her life. She can inspire us all and show us how to be patient, kind, joyful and hope-filled people so that we, too, can live out Jesus’ message.

Loving God,                                                                             

You love us and want us to be happy.
Help us to use the gifts of the Spirit like Mary did.
May we be inspired by the qualities Mary showed and look to her as a model of kindness and goodness, patience and peace, love and joy.
We ask this prayer through Jesus, Your Son.
Amen.

God bless.
Caroline Fuller

What's happening around our school

Cent Sale 

MEGA CENT SALE Opens this afternoon - After visiting Showcase, grab a ticket. 

$2 for 10 tickets Drawn on the Thursday 10th October.

Tickets are on sale Monday through Friday from 8:15 to 8:45 a.m. and 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Cash and EFTPOS are available. Thanks for supporting our School Fundraiser!

Click to HERE view our cent sale prizes.

Kristy Bates

Assistant Principal Pedagogy and Learning 

At Holy Spirit there are accessible parking spaces available in the front office/administration and Church car parks. These parking spaces are marked in both locations. Your assistance with ensuring that these parks are accessible and free from traffic is greatly appreciated. Please do not park in these spaces unless your parking permit is clearly displayed.

In this edition of School TV – physical activity & exercise

Kids these days often use computers and mobile devices for relaxation and recreation purposes, as well tools for learning and education. This is impacting on the sedentary lifestyle kids have now adopted. The key is finding the balance and parents play a critical role in helping children establish positive health habits that will benefit children in the long-term.

Physical activity and exercise is not only vital to a child’s overall development but it has so many other benefits. With children spending more time on computers being sedentary, it is even more important to get kids moving more. As well as maintaining a healthy weight, it also improves concentration by helping to establish connections between different parts of the brain. It helps kids develop fundamental movement skills impacting positively on their confidence, self-esteem and ability to develop social skills.

On an emotional level, it reduces stress and anxiety while improving posture and sleep. Physical activity and exercise is good for your child’s health, now and in the future. Parents should encourage their kids to move or play sports at every opportunity – in and out of school.

We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this edition of School TV 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 Refusal edition of School TV:

https://hsstsv.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/physical-activity-exercise

Mini Vinnies 

                       “Making a Difference

                         Friday 6th September 2024 

Each year, the Year 6 Mini Vinnies students are given the opportunity to participate in activities that highlight the fact of homelessness in the community. 

To ensure this event retains its significance, students will be given the opportunity to engage their individual perspective from a position of opportunity.  They will be invited to consider the issues of homelessness and associated stigma, as they participate in practical activities that prompt discernible conversation around possible scenarios and thinking laterally, outside of their own personal experience and what is considered the norm in society.

While this event will not require students to stay overnight, it will create an experience that will inform and direct learning, outside the classroom context.  There will be a representative from St. Vincent De Paul directing activities that provoke students to consider homelessness as a reality.   Raising awareness is a tangible voice for homelessness and generates compassion and understanding towards those who are less fortunate in society.

In previous years, children have been asked to donate items that are needed in our own community.  In response to this need, we ask that students donate at least one cleaning and/or toiletry item and would also like to extend this invitation to the wider school community, as an action of collective outreach to others. To support this event, please place your donations into the blue box, which can be located in the administration office or alternatively bring them to the classroom for collection.

Thank you in advance for supporting the collective outreach efforts of the Year 6 students and the Holy Spirit school community.

Child Protection Week 2024

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, particularly honey and golden syrup, due to the increase in children accessing the program.

Donations can be dropped off at Tuckshop.

Just a reminder: The toasters will be turned off at 8.15am, so bread with spreads will be the choice once the toast runs out.  This allows both students and staff enough time to be ready for the start of the school day. 

Here we are nearing the end of term 3 already!  

I have really enjoyed getting to know our defence students over the past couple of weeks and I am looking forward to seeing more of them during Term 4. 

There have been some families experiencing some absences, so please reach out at any time via email or phone.  I have been able to get around to classrooms so the children can put a face to the name, and have encouraged them to seek me out for a ‘walk and talk’, if and when they need a little break. 

We have restarted Defence Club on Tuesdays for our Prep - Year 2's and Fridays for our 3's - 6's. Lots of ideas have been shared and we are sure to have a great deal of fun in the weeks ahead.

Safe travels to all of you venturing away over the September holiday period. 

Kat Jordan DSM. 

Coffee Connections – Tues 10^th Sept – Hervey’s Café

Indulge in coffee and engaging conversations at this month’s coffee connections event.

Join the DMFS staff at Hervey’s Café at Cannon Park for a delightful coffee experience; perhaps accompanied by a sweet treat!

Let the coffee and conversation flow at this month’s Coffee Connections - and your first cuppa is on us!

When: 10^th September

Time: 9.30am-11.30am

Where: Hervey’s Café, Twin City Hotel, 14 Hervey Range Road Thuringowa Central

Tickets: Eventbrite: Coffee Connections – DMFS Townsville

Park Adventures – Wed 25th Sept – Wadda Mooli Park

Calling all families! Join us for a fun-filled morning playing in the park.
Enjoy a relaxing time while the kids have a blast on the playground equipment. It's the perfect opportunity to mingle with other spouses and make new connections, bring a blanket or a chair if you wish.

So come on out and meet your Friendly DMFS Staff

When: Wednesday 25^th September 2024

Time: 9.30am -11.30am

Where:  Wadda Mooli Park Elliot Springs

Tickets: Eventbrite: Park Adventures – DMFS Townsville

Townsville Medicare Urgent Care Clinic information

The Townsville Medicare UCC opened in December 2023 and is available for patients who are unable to access their usual GP for urgent, but non-life-threatening conditions. The Townsville Medicare UCC is not intended to replace visits to a patient’s regular GP.

The Townsville Medicare UCC is:

Ø  Located at Eastbrooke Family Clinic, 86 Thuringowa Dr, Thuringowa Central

Ø  Operating from 7 days a week, from 11am to 9pm.

The Townsville Medicare UCC is a bulk-billed walk-in service. Patients won't need an appointment or referral to be seen.

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.

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.