The reading this Sunday, The Ascension of the Lord (Luke 24:46-53) , is taken from the last words of the Gospel of St. Matthew. The eleven disciples, the Apostles, go to a mountain where they see Jesus. We are told that they worshipped him. They have come to know that Jesus is not only a great teacher, but also their Lord and God. Then, they received the great commission from Jesus before he ascended back to the Father. “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” Yes, the Lord has ascended into Heaven, but He is with us in a new way as we walk by faith and not by sight, but let’s never doubt that the Lord is close to us now and forever. Someday, He will be revealed to us in a glorious way at the end of time, a day that we wait for with great patience.

This week at Holy Spirit, we value justice. Justice is the principle of fairness, where everyone is treated equally and given what they deserve. It involves making sure that rules are applied fairly, rights are respected, and people are held accountable for their actions. For students, justice is important because it helps create a safe and respectful learning environment. When students feel that they are being treated fairly—by teachers, classmates and school rules—they are more likely to trust others, speak up and take responsibility for their actions. Understanding justice also helps students develop empathy and stand up for others who may be treated unfairly. 

Monday was National Sorry Day and is the start of National Reconciliation Week.  The theme this year is, "We cannot wait another generation". This year highlights the urgency of acting on the Bringing them home recommendations in 2025. The Bringing them home report was released a generation ago. Many of the survivors who shared their experiences with the Bringing them home inquiry are no longer with us. Remaining survivors are elderly, many have still been able to access their records or any form of redress. They are faced with an aged care system that reminds them of the institutions they were removed to as children. Now, the younger generations are stepping up and taking action.

National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. The dates for NRW remain the same each year: 27 May to 3 June. These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey— the successful 1967 referendum, and the High Court Mabo decision respectively. Reconciliation must live in the hearts, minds and actions of all Australians as we move forward, creating a nation strengthened by respectful relationships between the wider Australian community, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The National Reconciliation Week (NRW) 2025 theme, Bridging Now to Next, reflects the ongoing connection between past, present and future. Bridging Now to Next calls on all Australians to step forward together, to look ahead and continue the push forward as past lessons guide us. 

God bless.
Caroline Fuller

What is happening in our Classrooms!

Year 2 

Year 2 students have been enthusiastically engaging in collage activities during Art lessons. They explored different textures, colours, and materials to create unique artwork expressing their ideas and creativity. Students developed fine motor skills while experimenting with design and composition through cutting, layering, and arranging various papers. The collage projects encouraged imagination and individual expression, creating vibrant and diverse art pieces.

Year 3 

Year 3 students engaged thoughtfully in a Religious Education lesson exploring the story of David and Goliath. They discussed the themes of courage, faith, and trusting in God when facing challenges. Through storytelling, role play, and reflection activities, students made connections between David’s bravery and how they can show courage in their own lives. The lesson encouraged them to think about how faith can help overcome obstacles, no matter how big they seem.

NAPLAN Results

Students in Years 3 and 5 will receive their NAPLAN results at the beginning of Term 3. These will be sent home with your child when they arrive at the school.

NAPLAN results are reported across four proficiency levels, helping families and teachers understand how students are progressing at the time of testing:

• Exceeding – The student is performing above expected standards for their year level.
• Strong – The student is meeting challenging but reasonable expectations.
• Developing – The student is working towards expected standards.
• Needs Additional Support – The student is not currently meeting expectations and may require extra assistance to support their learning.

If you have any questions about your child’s results once they are received, please don’t hesitate to contact their teacher.

Report Cards

As you may be aware, in 2024, Townsville Catholic Education conducted surveys regarding reporting with staff and parents. The survey responses have informed the review of the Reporting Guidelines for Prep to Year 10, which have now been updated. The changes to your child’s report from this semester are outlined below.

• The Learning Areas Comments have been removed. Instead, report cards will contain a Learning Area Statement outlining the key learning undertaken for the semester.
• Application to Learning refers to the students' effort in learning and completing tasks to the best of their ability. It reflects how the student responds to the feedback and demonstrates interest in their learning. This is reported on a 4-point scale: Needs Attention, Satisfactory, Very Good, Excellent.
• A statement indicates that the Working With or C achievement level is the expected end-of-year achievement standard. This level of achievement is highlighted in the explanation.
• In Prep, students are assessed and reported against the achievement standards for English, Mathematics, Health and Physical Education, and Religion. 
• One general comment, personalised by the class teacher included at the end of the report. 

Kristy Bates

Assistant Principal Pedagogy and Learning  (APPL)

Holy Spirit Interhouse Athletics Carnival – Friday, 20 June

This year the Holy Spirit School Athletics Carnival will be held at the Sports Reserve in Bourke Street, North Ward on Friday, 20 June 2024 for Prep - Year 6 students. Children may be taken directly to the Sports Reserve from 8am onwards; the entry point will be through the Bourke Street gate. Students will need to sign in on arrival to avoid being marked not present for the day.

When: Friday, 20 June 2025 from 8.30am - 2pm  

Transport:  Children will be transported to and from the carnival by bus. 

Should a student arrive late to school, parents will be required to transport their child to the Sports Reserve. 

What to wear:  Students are to wear their Sports Uniform. Students may choose to wear a coloured t-shirt to represent their House colour. Students must wear a school hat and covered footwear to and from school.

What to bring: Sufficient water and food for the day, there is no access to the canteen or school tuck-shop. For convenience, some students may prefer to bring their own sunscreen.

Tuckshop: Students are not permitted to access the canteen and there is no school tuck-shop. 

Volunteers: We are seeking parents to assist on the day with tasks such as judging, long jump, shot put and tabloid sports. Please email rlobley@hsstsv.catholic.edu.au if you are able to help.

Please see the program below for approximate event times:

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 on Tuesday and Thursday morning, 8:00am - 8:15am on the school oval (weather permitting). Each lap the students complete will earn tokens for their house. 

E-Sports:

Exciting news! The Australian Esports League (AEL), in proud partnership with Townsville City Council, is launching the inaugural Townsville Schools Esports Cup!

Friday, 20 June 2025

St Anthony’s Catholic College 

Open to Primary (9+ years) & High School students

FREE to attend!

Students will compete in:

Minecraft CTF | EA Sports FC 25 | Minecraft Build Off | Just Dance… and more!

Includes a career pathways workshop, supporting digital literacy, youth engagement & local esports growth.

Register now or learn more: 2025 Townsville Schools Esports Cup – Australian Esports League

Let’s game, learn & grow together!

Spotlight on Sport:

Has your child accomplished something amazing in their sport? Share a photo with us and we would love to help celebrate their achievements.

Our Spirit Walk is on Friday 13th June, 2025

Remember to create a profile page at www.myprofilepage.au and share your profile to family and friends to receive online donations.

Simply raise $10 to receive your first incentive prize, there are 15 prizes to collect!

Become a Fundraising Monstar and receive a Monty Handball by completing all your online virtual badges!  Can you receive them all?

In the midst of all the tasks, responsibilities, and noise of daily life, it's important to pause and check in with yourself. Your well-being—mental, emotional, and physical—is not a luxury; it's the foundation of everything you do.

Take a moment today to breathe deeply, nourish your body, and engage in something that brings you peace or joy. Remember: small acts of self-care add up. You matter, and taking care of yourself is not only okay—it's essential.

Dog’s Day Out – 31 May 2025

Join in the Fur Family Fun at our Dogs Day Out!

All friendly dogs are welcome. Whether they bring a single parent, couple or family, all can enjoy a sunny Townsville day.

Take time to connect, play, or chill out with a free cuppa and bickie.

QPS Paws On Patrol and Townsville City Council will be joining Townsville’s Defence Member and Family Support team to provide local information and as many pats and belly scratches as possible.

Tea, coffee, biscuits and dog treats will be provided.

Date: Saturday 31 May 2025

Time: 9.00-10.30 am

Venue: Rossiter Park Off Leash Dog Park, Kimball Street, Aitkenvale

Tickets: via Eventbrite

Resin Cheeseboard Workshops – June 2025

Get ready to stir your creativity and let your stress melt away in a swirl of colour and calm at our 4 Resin Cheeseboard Workshops! Held in the DMFS office with both evening and weekend classes available.

You’ll mix, swirl, and flow your way through vibrant resin pigments, learning how to work with this magical medium while letting go of life’s daily pressures. As your colours blend and settle, so too can your mind — this workshop is as much about mindfulness and well-being as it is about creativity.

Tickets go Live at 9.30am Friday 02 May 2025. Make sure you are following us on Eventbrite for notifications! Please only register for one workshop per person.

Date: 04, 11, 14 & 21 June 2025

Time: Wednesday Workshops 6-8.30pm| Saturday workshops 9-11.30am

Venue: DMFS Townsville, CNR Nathan Street and Ross River Rd, Cranbrook

Tickets: via Eventbrite for Wed 04 June, Wed 11 June, Sat 14 June & Sat 21 June

Open Arms 

Open Arms is running Doing Anger Differently in May and June: This program is designed to learn how to manage thoughts and feelings that contribute to anger; and develop skills to reduce heightened physical anger responses. The courses will be held Tuesdays, 13 May to 17 June 9am to 11.30am

For more information please contact Open Arms

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.

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.