Our classes are once again participating in the URStrong Friendology program this year, featuring a new and exciting curriculum for each of our year levels. I sent a message through Compass reminding parents and caregivers that they have free access to the resources available in the Parent Portal. I hope that as a Holy Spirit family, you will reinforce the important messages of empowerment, self-compassion, and kindness at home. Most year levels have been introduced to and are currently working with the Friend-o-Meter, which is a valuable tool to help our children (and some adults) understand the differences between healthy and unhealthy friendships.

Below is a summary of tips for supporting children in managing challenging friendships, written by Dana Kerford. 
One of our favourite tools for discussing feelings in friendships with kids is The Friend-o-Meter. Friendships naturally ebb and flow, and it's normal for them to dip into the Red-Zone occasionally. However, what happens when a friendship frequently moves between the Green-Zone and the Red-Zone? Many children can relate to the experience of a friendship that often feels unpredictable and exhausting. 

These high-conflict friendships can be particularly challenging, both for the child and for their parents and teachers. When kids fluctuate between calling someone their “Best Friend” and declaring they’re no longer invited to birthday parties, it can leave everyone feeling frustrated and confused. 

To help a child navigate this kind of friendship, the first step is to gauge how deeply it affects them. Are they upset? Struggling with it? If not, they might just need time to work out the dynamics of their social interactions. Strong personalities often clash, creating what we refer to as ‘Fiery Friendships’. The key is to ensure that the good moments in the friendship outnumber the bad ones. If they can manage their “Friendship Fires” effectively, they may just be on the path to a lasting bond. 

If a child is truly distressed, strategies like spending less time together or learning to communicate openly with their friend can be beneficial. Encouraging them to recognise the difference between normal conflicts and mean behaviour is essential too. Ultimately, guiding children to foster healthy friendships empowers them to build connections that are both meaningful and supportive.

For the complete article and additional resources, please visit the Parent Portal.

This third Sunday of Lent, we listen to the parable of the Fig tree (Luke13:1-9).  When the owner of the fig tree wants to dig it out because it doesn’t bear any fruit, the gardener asks to look after it for a year and give it a chance to bear fruit. God is like the gardener who is willing to be patient, kind and forgiving waiting for us to respond to his love. If we are kind and forgiving towards each other, showing respect, we will respect each other and our environment, God’s creation. 

This week at Holy Spirit we value compassion. What does this mean? It means 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. What better way can our community show compassion? This week, our school community raised nearly $1000 to support families in our two primary Catholic Schools in Ingham. We can also support Project Compassion and the good work of many people across the globe by putting a little something.

LAM from VIETNAM

Lam was born and raised in rural Vietnam with his farming parents and three siblings. As a 27-year-old man of very short stature, he experienced significant physical and social barriers due to his disability. When Lam graduated high school, many of his fellow students pursued career aspirations at university. But it wasn’t the same for Lam, whose physical disability meant few vocations available to him. Without access to employment opportunities, he stayed at home with his parents in their rural home where he spent most of his time completing household chores with his family, harvesting vegetables,  feeding chickens and cooking meals. Lam felt increasingly isolated and felt disconnected from his friends, from society and from his dream of becoming a graphic designer. 

Through the I-SHINE program, supported by Caritas Australia’s partner in Vietnam, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Lam was able to pursue his dreams and become more independent. He enrolled in a six-month IT Technician training course in Da Nang that not only equipped him with professional skills but also rekindled his social connections and confidence. Lam’s dedication during the training paid off as he launched a freelance graphic design business from his home. Today, he is a successful graphic designer, serving clients locally and internationally and earning a stable income every month. He has a creative life. 

Today is the Feast Day of St Joseph. 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. 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" Joseph teaches us forgetfulness of self in the service of others. He is the patron saint of fathers and workers. 

Guardian of Jesus and husband of Mary,
God trusted you to take care of His Son.

Mary trusted you too,
and you helped raise Jesus with love.
Saint Joseph, please be like a father to us.
Help us to follow God’s path.
Give us strength, kindness, and courage,
and keep us safe from all harm.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

God bless.
Caroline Fuller

Classroom Showcase - Save the Date

You are invited to come and visit your child’s classroom on:

Wednesday, 26th March - 3pm - 4.15pm or

Thursday, 27th March - 8am - 9am

Year 3 and Year 5 NAPLAN

NAPLAN is officially over for the year! A huge congratulations to our Year 3 and Year 5 students for their hard work and dedication throughout the testing period. Their effort and resilience in completing these assessments are truly commendable. Well done!

Year 1 Literacy

Our Year 1 students engage in their InitiaLit literacy block each morning, building strong foundational reading, writing, and phonics skills. Through structured lessons, hands-on activities, and engaging stories, they develop confidence in decoding words, expanding vocabulary, and improving comprehension. This dedicated literacy time sets them up for success in all areas of learning!

Kristy Bates

Assistant Principal Pedagogy and Learning 

Save the Date:

Rugby Union Gala Day:

On Friday 7th March, Holy Spirit students in grades 5 and 6 represented our school at the Rugby Union Gala Day. The Grade 6 team played very well earning them a spot in the grand final. Students had a lot of fun competing against other schools in the region. Congratulations to all students involved on the day.

Run Club:

Did you know that running in the morning offers numerous benefits, including boosted energy and productivity, improved sleep, better mood, and stress reduction, while also promoting a healthy heart. Run club is open to students in grades 2-6 and commenced this week. It will continue every Tuesday and Thursday morning, 8:00am - 8:15am on the school oval (weather permitting). Each lap the students complete will also earn tokens for their house. 

Touch Football Clinic:

Last Tuesday, our grade 3 and 4 students had the opportunity to engage in a touch football clinic run by QLD Touch. Students learnt important skills such as throwing, catching, dodging and decision making which are transferable to a range of other sports.

Interschool Swimming Carnival:

On Thursday 27th March, selected Holy Spirit students will represent our school and compete in the B schools interschool swimming carnival. Throughout this term, students have been committed to their training after school. We wish all students the best of luck on the day. 

Spotlight on Sport:

If your child has achieved something amazing in their sport, share a photo with us and we would love to help celebrate their achievements.

We’re excited to announce that HSCS is now on Instagram! We can be found at @holyspiritcatholicschool_tsv -  to stay updated on school events, student achievements, and community highlights. It’s a great way to connect and see all the wonderful things happening at our school!

Follow us today and be part of our online community! 

Our online web store is live! We will have this open until the 26^th March, week 9.

They will take approximately 6 weeks to be made and delivered around Week 3 of Term 2.

https://blackchrome.com.au/shop/holy-spirit-catholic-school/

Our Harmony Day celebrations will be held at 12pm on Thursday 20th March in the hall. 

Students are able to wear orange or clothing that represents their culture. All clothing must be sun safe. 

Families are welcome to join us.

In this edition of School TV - SPECIAL REPORT: Social Media & Comparison Culture

Young people today are growing up in a world where exposure to other people's lives is constant. Through social media and other platforms, they are regularly presented with curated highlights - from flawless holiday photos and academic milestones to the latest fashion trends and fitness achievements. This continuous stream of idealised content fuels what is known as comparison culture, where self-worth is often measured by how someone stacks up against others.

For children and adolescents, who are still figuring out who they are, this culture can be particularly damaging. Constantly comparing their appearance, achievements, or social standing to friends, influencers, and even strangers can lead to unrealistic expectations and a skewed sense of self-worth. This relentless need to measure up can contribute to feelings of inadequacy, self-doubt, and anxiety - undermining both confidence and emotional wellbeing.

The good news is, families have a powerful role to play in helping young people navigate these challenges. This Special Report will help you empower your child to build the resilience and confidence needed to navigate today's comparison-driven world and embrace their own unique path.

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 Social Media & Comparison Culture edition of School TV

https://hsstsv.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-social-media-comparison-culture-au

eSafetyparents

Online safety basics – what you need to know

National Playgroup Week is a celebration of all thing's playgroup. Connection, fun, friendship, and overall, the joy of play!

Hello Defence families,

As we near the end of our first term it has been great to see numbers at Defence Club grow from week to week. We have enjoyed a variety of activities over the past couple of weeks. Some of the kids made some autumn themed paintings, we had a go at a Picasso portrait and had some Lego fun.

I have included some events that are coming up…check out the Barra Fun Park if you haven’t already, it will be a really fun day!

DID YOU KNOW ABOUT DEFENCE HOLIDAYS NQ??

https://defenceholidaysnq.com.au/ Here is a link to Defence Holidays NQ. They are a non - profit travel service that was started by the Soldiers of North Queensland back in 1972, to provide affordable holidays for Defence force personnel and their families, former serving members, veterans, war widows, police and emergency services and correction officers.
They can provide exclusive Defence Discounts on accommodation and tours by booking various hotels, apartments and tours located throughout Queensland and Australia at exclusive rates. This is really worth checking out and planning ahead for a holiday break at a reasonable price.

Barra Fun Park Family Day – 22 Mar 2025

ADF members and families, come along to our Family Fun Day at the

Barra Fun Park! Make a splash on the Aqua Park, maybe catch a Barra,
and enjoy a relaxing afternoon.
When: Saturday 22 March 2025
Time: 4.00pm-7:00pm
Where: Townsville Barra Fun Park
Tickets: Tickets will be available via Eventbrite from Monday 03 March.

Guided Wellness Evening – 26 Mar 2025

DMFS social workers invite you to prioritise your self-care and join us for
an evening of relaxation and wellness guided by Dani from Conscious
Heart Awakening. We will finish the evening with a cocoa drinking

ceremony, which should leave you feeling relaxed and
grounded. This is an amazing opportunity to focus on your
well-being and to connect with your Defence community.
When: Wednesday 26 March 2025
Time: 6.00pm-8:00pm
Where: Geckos Family Centre
Tickets: Tickets available via Eventbrite.

Unaccompanied Resident Family (URF) Workshop – 03 April 2025

Are you considering an unaccompanied posting? Have you recently
commenced an Unaccompanied Resident Family (URF) posting? DMFS
Townsville understands that choosing to go URF is an important family
decision. 

Please join us at the Harry Cobby Centre RAAF base Townsville on 03
April, at 1430 and at 1730.
This will be an opportunity to hear from DMFS social workers, ADF
Chaplains and administrative staff surrounding preparation, challenges,
opportunities, categorisation policy, available support and tips to assist you
and your family with decision making.
Please RSVP confirming your attendance numbers and session time to:
dmfs.townsville@defence.gov.au

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. 

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.