Recently, our school Mission Statement has been under review from our School Board and P&F committee and I thank those who have been involved in our review. Your contribution to what we do as a school community is valued. 

Our current  Mission statement:

This is not finalised but open to final feedback from our community and catholic Identity committee. If you have thoughts or feedback, please email them to me at pmartin@hsstsv.catholic.edu.au or catch me for a conversation.

Our 2025 school year is coming closer to finishing and 2026 planning is certainly well underway with budgets, staffing, class lists, booklists, and preparation for our January professional development days. Thank you to the many families who have indicated whether they are returning or moving on as we continue our interviews for new students. This Saturday, we welcome our new Prep students and families as they participate in our Prep Orientation morning. New families are joining the Spirit community and we want to say 'Welcome'.

Pupil Free Day in January 

Good luck to our Year 6 cohort as they embark on the Year 6 camp to Daradgee Environmental Education Centre near Innisfail next week. Our staff have spent considerable hours planning this over the last 12 months and are ready to take our 100 students on their next adventure before heading off to high school. Thank you to the parent helpers who have volunteered their time to assist with the supervision for this wonderful opportunity. It is greatly appreciated by our staff.

School Renewal

Townsville Catholic Education operates on a 5-year cycle for School Renewal and Improvement, involving all schools within the diocese. Currently, we are in the fourth and last year of our current Renewal cycle and next year we will be embarking on our “Year of Renewal’.  During the Year of Renewal we will review and reflect on our progress as a school over the last five years in order to celebrate our successes and identify areas for improvement.  Following this review we will be setting goals for the next 5-year cycle.

At present, we are gathering data on the education offered at our school in preparation for the rigorous self review which will occur next year.  During this time, we will provide several opportunities for you to be involved, including surveys, parent forums, and engagement through our School Board and parent community. These channels will allow everyone to have a voice in the process. 

I strongly encourage you to be part of this process, and one way that you may have already started was the completion of the ECSI surveys earlier this year. Your active involvement and feedback will provide us with invaluable information to make informed decisions for our future. Together, we can create a better learning environment for all.

Strength in the Spirit

Paul Martin 

Hello Parents and Guardians,

If you have visited our school recently and been near the Year 3 area, you may have noticed a colourful and reassuring addition to our new playground. The post pads installed on the poles look fantastic! They not only add a vibrant splash of color to the space but also significantly enhance the safety of our students as they play. This small yet important improvement helps us ensure that the playground remains a fun and safe environment for everyone. We are always looking for ways to strengthen our safety measures, and this new addition perfectly combines both function and form.

Day for Daniel

This Friday is a very significant day as we observe Day for Daniel, Australia's largest child safety and awareness day. This initiative, run by the Daniel Morcombe Foundation, is dedicated to educating children and adults about keeping kids safe.

We encourage all students to participate by wearing something red this Friday. If your child owns a red t-shirt and/or red socks, we would love for them to wear them. Please remember that we are fortunate to have red elements already in our uniform (like our red school shorts and big red school hat), so there is absolutely no obligation to purchase any new items. The most important thing is the conversation and awareness it promotes.

Celebrating World Teacher's Day

On the very same day, we are also privileged to celebrate World Teacher's Day.

I want to take a moment to acknowledge the extraordinary hard work and dedication our teachers pour into their roles, day in and day out. They are the cornerstone of our school, creating an exceptional and nurturing learning environment so that our students—your children—receive the very best education possible. Please join me in thanking our wonderful educators this week for their tireless efforts and commitment.

Thank you for your ongoing support as we continue to work together to make our school safe, engaging, and supportive.

Nicole Lennox 

The passage in this Saturday’s reading is known as the Beatitudes from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. It outlines a series of blessings for those who embody humility, compassion, righteousness, mercy, purity, peace and perseverance in the face of persecution. Jesus teaches that true happiness and spiritual reward come not from worldly status or comfort, but from living a life aligned with God's values -promising comfort, fulfillment and the kingdom of heaven to those who suffer, seek justice and live with integrity. 

In the Beatitudes, we learn that courage isn’t just about being brave in big moments—it’s also about standing up for what’s right, even when it’s hard. Jesus reminds us that true strength comes from being gentle, kind and fair. We show courage when we comfort someone who’s hurting, when we speak up for others and when we choose peace over conflict. It takes real bravery to be kind when others aren’t, to forgive and to stay true to our values. This week, we encourage our students to be courageous in everyday ways—by being compassionate, respectful and hopeful, no matter what challenges come their way. 

Feast Of All Saints – 1 st November: A Saint is someone who has dedicated their lives to God and whom the Church believes is God. Wrongly, we often think Saints are perfect, but in fact, their greatest witness is how they coped with the ordinary difficulties of life and how their love, sacrifice and fidelity inspired others to follow Jesus. Sometimes, we can look around us and see people who are living a holy life, finding blessings within their daily lives and demonstrating the extraordinary power of God working in them through their words and actions. Who are the living saints we recognise and know?

All Souls Day – 2nd November: is a Catholic Day of Remembrance 

which we celebrate the day after All Saints Day. We remember and pray for friends and loved ones who have passed away. The Feast of All Souls reminds us of our obligation to live holy and good lives so that our souls too, may one day be received into heaven.

Day for Daniel is a National Day of Action to raise awareness of child safety, protection and harm prevention. Our students are regularly engaged in activities that educate children regarding their personal safety and empower them to Recognise, React and Report if they feel something is not right. 

MINI FETE:

This Friday, our Mini Fete will be held. In the month of October, we as a Catholic Church in Australia, focus on supporting missions throughout the world.  In our school community, we will raise funds to support the Missions with our MINI FETE. Children are encouraged to bring a small amount of money (preferably in change) to participate, have fun and support the Missions. Teachers have been asking for assistance or asking for donations for their stalls. If you can assist, contact your child’s teachers. Thank you all in advance for supporting such a worthy cause. It is always a great afternoon to come together to support those in need. The afternoon concludes with 4 of our staff members being slimed by students.

What better way can our community show Our SPIRIT Way in action? By supporting Catholic Missions and their good work . On Friday, our Mini Fete will be held in the afternoon. All proceeds go to Catholic Missions. Everyone is welcome to come along for an afternoon of fun.

God bless.
Caroline Fuller.

Preparing for Spell-Ex in 2026

Our teachers are taking part in training for Spell-Ex, a new spelling program that will be introduced in Year 3 and Year 4 classrooms from 2026. Spell-Ex helps students understand how words work — including sounds, meanings, and word parts — to build strong spelling and vocabulary skills. This professional learning ensures our staff are well prepared to deliver high-quality literacy lessons that support every learner. 

Read, Talk, Grow!

Building strong minds through language and reading

We know that reading and talking are two of the most powerful ways to support your child’s learning. Every story shared, conversation had, and question asked helps children build the skills they need to think, communicate, and understand the world around them.

The Power of Talking

Everyday conversations — in the car, at dinner, or before bed — help children grow their vocabulary, confidence, and curiosity. When children can talk about their ideas and experiences, they’re better prepared for reading and learning at school.

The Joy of Reading

Reading together every day builds imagination and knowledge. It doesn’t matter what you read — storybooks, comics, recipes, or signs — every bit of reading strengthens your child’s language and love of learning.

Simple Ways to Help at Home

Read or talk about a book every day — even 10 minutes makes a difference.

Ask questions like, “What do you think will happen next?”

Talk about new words or funny moments in the story.

Celebrate all reading — let your child choose what interests them.

“When we read and talk with our children, we’re not just teaching them words — we’re opening doors to imagination, confidence, and lifelong learning.”

Kristy Bates

Assistant Principal Pedagogy and Learning  (APPL)

Interschool Swimming Carnival: 

Last Tuesday, our school proudly competed in the B Schools Swimming Carnival. Despite limited opportunities to train, due to the event’s postponement earlier in the year,  Holy Spirit students delivered outstanding performances in the pool. We placed 6th overall, with many swimmers achieving top-three finishes in their races. Congratulations to all students who participated and represented our school with such determination, teamwork, and resilience. We’re incredibly proud of your efforts!

Holy Spirit Swimming Carnival: 

Our annual Holy Spirit swimming carnival is being held on Friday 21st November at Long Tan pool. Permission slips have been sent home to families on Compass. If you need assistance accessing Compass, please reach out to the office or classroom teacher. 

Uncle Les:

Last week, Grade 5 and 6 students had the special opportunity to welcome a local elder to their PE lessons to deepen their understanding of First Nations culture and perspectives. During the session, students explored the traditional art of spear making and discovered the diverse purposes spears served. They then put their skills to the test by throwing spears at a target and experienced using a woomera (spear thrower) to launch the spear even further.

Townsville Basketball:

Over the next three weeks, our Grade 4 and Grade 6 students will enjoy a special opportunity to learn basketball from some of Townsville’s finest coaches. During PE lessons, representatives from Townsville Basketball will visit the school to teach students new skills, techniques, and the fundamentals of the game. We’re excited to partner with Townsville Basketball and can’t wait to see our students develop their skills. Who knows, we might even discover a future basketball star!

Netability:

Netability is an inclusive netball program for people with a disability. The program provides participants an opportunity to play netball in a fun, safe and inclusive environment and is back again for the final term with times available on both Tuesday afternoon and Thursday mornings for the month of October.

For dates, locations, and times: Netability Program - Netball Queensland

No need to register, just turn up on the day. If you have any questions, please feel free to email Natalie.parsloe@netballq.org.au or call 0404 428 113.

Club Sport:

Is your child interested in trying a new club sport? Townsville has a range of sports on offer to children. See the flyers below for opportunities with touch football and softball/teeball. 

Spotlight on Sport: 

We are incredibly proud to announce that Thea has qualified for the National Primary Schools Track and Field Championships in the 100m Multi-Class event!

This amazing event will take place in Canberra from 28–30 November, and we couldn't be more excited to see Thea represent our school on the national stage. Her dedication, resilience, and sportsmanship have been truly inspiring.

Please join us in congratulating Thea and wishing her all the best as she prepares to compete — we’ll be cheering you on every step of the way! 

eSafetyparents

Online safety basics – what you need to know

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. 

2^nd-hand school uniform donation call-out

This year we have had the pleasure of chatting with many families, and one thing we’ve heard often is how tricky it can be to find school uniforms when arriving right before – or just after – the school year begins.

To make things a little easier, we are excited to announce that the 2026 Defence Welcome Expo (Saturday 31 January) will feature a school-uniform give-away market! 

If your children have outgrown their uniforms, or if you are posting out and would like to pass them on, we would love your donations. Every piece will go directly to recently arrived Defence families, helping them feel settled and ready for the school year.

We are welcoming donations from any Townsville school – primary or secondary. Please ensure uniforms are clean and in good, reusable condition. (For hygiene reasons, we cannot accept shoes, school bags, or hats.)

Donations can be dropped off at our office:
DMFS Townsville, 340 Ross River Rd, Cranbrook (Nathan Business Centre)
Monday to Friday, 8:30am – 5:00pm

Your support will make a big difference – thank you for helping us give Defence families the best start to the 2026 school year!

2026 Townsville Defence Welcome & Information Expo – Saturday 31 January

Join us on Saturday 31^st January at Townsville Stadium, Annandale for a huge morning of connection, community, and fun!

With over 150 stallholders, exciting military displays, plenty of giveaways and entertainment, our school uniform free stall, and activities for all ages, there will be something for everyone!

Don’t miss this great chance to explore what Townsville and the North Qld region has to offer!

Time: 09:30am-12:00pm

Where: Townsville Stadium, Murray Sports Complex, Annandale

Register: Eventbrite: Townsville’s 2026 Defence Welcome Expo

Friday Coffee Catch Ups

My name is Bec & I’ve been a Defence spouse for 12 years.   During this time I have learned the best way to enjoy each posting is to get out and find my “tribe” as early as possible. Having experienced postings both with & without kids, I know the challenges of meeting new people from both perspectives.

When I knew we were coming to Townsville I joined the community groups (as we all do) and started scoping out ways I could get out to meet new people (and catch up with ones I’ve met at previous postings). I found that there wasn’t a regular coffee group, so created my own.

Creating this regular catch up gives not only myself, but anyone else who comes along the opportunity to socialise with other spouses in a relaxed setting. There are regulars who come weekly, and I have found these women to be some of the most supportive people (and knowledgeable about Defence life).

I post the location on the Townsville Defence Partners Facebook page every week. Look out for the coffee cups, everyone is welcome so come along and meet some amazing people!

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.