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Last Saturday, members of the School Board attended a formation day. Members of the Holy Spirit School Board are drawn from parents, parish members and the staff members.
The members are:
Parents - Damien Farrington, Michael Catt and Fred Nucifora
Parish – Fr. John Kunnathumadappallil and Michael Purcell
Staff – Caroline Fuller, Begona Bengoa and Geraldine Egelton
The role of the School Board is to look at the future direction of the school. Over the past four years the Holy Spirit School Board has assisted with the planning and development of the school resulting in 20 new classrooms. The School Board has also re viewed and re-written the School Mission Statement: - Inspired by gospel values and strengthened by the Holy Spirit, we nurture a love of learning, respect and service in an environment of generosity.
On Monday evening two more key parent groups met. The Indigenous Parents Reference Group met to plan events for the year ahead. This group of parents have been responsible for our amazing NAIDOC celebrations and other activities across the school year.
The CAFE parents also held the AGM and congratulations to those elected into positions for 2020: President - Madison O’Flynn
Vice President – Sarah Brown
Secretary – Kristy Bates
Diocesan Representative – Rachel Nucifora
Last year, Holy Spirit CAFE funded the Urban Warrior Course in the Year 4-6 playground and the mural on the Prep climbing wall. This year they are committed to funding The Resilience Project for student well-being.
Throughout any day at Holy Spirit, parents are assisting in classrooms and the tuckshop. Thank you to all who contribute generously for the benefit of our students.
God Bless
Geraldine
Last Sunday was the first Sunday of Lent which began on Ash Wednesday and lasts for forty days. The first Sunday tells the story of Jesus’ temptation in the desert (Matthew 4:1-11) when despite the temptations and hardships experienced, he chose to follow God. There are three ways in which we can renew and enrich our lives during the season of Lent: to pray, fast and give alms. We can pray for ourselves and others who are poor in spirit and have need of our love and support. We can fast by giving up something which is important to us as we think of those that are in need. We can give alms by giving to CARITAS or giving our time; for example visiting lonely or elderly people or helping our parents with jobs.
This week at Holy Spirit, we value stewardship. The earth and all life on it are part of God’s creation and we are called to respect this gift. We are responsible for taking care of the world we live in and for sharing all the wonders and resources the earth gives us. Our changing environment prompts us to stop and think about how we live on our planet. As stewards of God’s creation, we are called to respond and to adopt new ways of living as Pope Francis highlights in his encyclical, Laudato Si': On the Care of our Common Home. Project Compassion is Caritas Australia's annual Lenten fundraising and awareness-raising appeal. Millions of Australians come together in solidarity with the world's poor to help end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity.
This week our Project Compassion feature story is Phany from Cambodia. Twenty-seven-year-old Phany, lives in a village in western Cambodia. Struggling to earn a living as a rice farmer, she was forced to leave her daughter behind in the village, to take up construction work in the city. Then in 2016, Phany joined a Caritas supported program, learning more productive farming and irrigation techniques. Her community learned to work together for better water management, to combat drought.
Over 70 percent of Cambodia's population live in rural communities – and the farming families living in poverty are the most food insecure. Thirteen percent of Cambodians live below the poverty line, while 35 out of every 1000 babies die due to malnutrition.
In 2016, Phany joined the Upholding Community Dignity Together program, where she learned new farming techniques, such as a drip irrigation system which enabled her to get a better yield from her vegetable crops and to conserve water for drier periods. She also learned how to grow vegetables and raise chickens and ducks. Phany’s community also took part in training in health, nutrition, hygiene and disaster preparedness, arming them with better strategies to cope with environmental changes.
With your help, mothers like Phany can continue to uplift their communities and provide food for their families. A brighter future for women, men and their families can start today. Let’s Go Further, Together.
For more information on Phany, please visit https://lent.caritas.org.au/page/week-2
Have a great week.
God bless
Caroline Fuller
Mulkadee 2020 - The Wizard of Oz
Students wishing to participate in Mulkadee 2020 once again have the opportunity to work with professionals in choir, concert band, guitar ensemble and string orchestra over a period of five days and culminating with a showcase production at the Townsville Entertainment Centre.
The google registration form will go live on Friday 28th Feb and students will have 4 weeks to apply. Please note, due to the popularity of the Mulkadee event, unlike previous years, not everyone who applies will be accepted into Mulkadee. All students are encouraged to fill in the experience question and also have the opportunity to explain why they would like to be a part of Mulkadee 2020.
Payment is not required until students have been notified of their successful application.
Students will be notified by April 20th.
Mulkadee ticket sales open on April 20th.
For the Mulkadee Student Application 2020 please click HERE
CLOSING DATE: MARCH 27, 2020
For Parent Information Letter please click HERE
8th March 2020
The theme for International Women’s Day (8 March) 2020 is, I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights. The theme is aligned with UN Women’s new multigenerational campaign, Generation Equality, which marks the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
The year 2020 represents an unmissable opportunity to mobilize global action to achieve gender equality and human rights of all women and girls. Extract from https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2019/12/announcer-international-womens-day-2020-theme
Holy Spirit Catholic School uses Flexischools ordering system. To register, login or to place orders, please click this link:
ROSTER |
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05.03.20 |
John Edwards, Louise Daley, Rose Mcherry |
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06.03.20 |
Jeena Philips-Koshy,Tim Marrinan, Virgina Novinetz |
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09.03.20 |
Andrea Clark, Nicole Boon | ||
10.03.20 |
Sue Viviers, Thiru Sasi Emmanuel, Tina McDonough | ||
11.03.20 |
Christine Nash, Natalie Neucom |
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CAKE |
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05.03.20 |
Kathryn Cripps |
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06.03.20 |
Mayleen Nona |
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09.03.20 |
Kat Harrington, Melissa Smith |
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10.03.20 |
Helen Spagnol |
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11.03.20 |
Majella Purcell |
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FRUIT |
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09.03.20 |
Kat Harrington |
We are open Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 8am at Tuckshop.
Your support with donations of spreads (not nut based) would be appreciated. Donations can be dropped off at Tuckshop.
DCO Events and Activities
There are lots of great DCO events coming up during the next few months. For more information on these events and to register for these activities follow the links below.
4,11,18,25 March KidSMART RSVP now
FamilySMART Registrations closing soon
19 March Eat, Drink, Repeat (Dinner) Register for this child free event
21 March My Dad & Me: Sundae Funday Mums get the morning off
Save the date for these great events.
29 March Dogs Day Out
21 April Dr Seuss Picnic
7 May Let’s Do Lunch
Coming in June Think Pink – Ladies Wellbeing Event
Add this to your favourites so you never miss a DCO event
Open Arms – Peer Network 2020
The Peer Network(PN) is designed to provide practical advice and information to assist those supporting veteran's and their families. It is also a place to connect and discuss ideas and current challenges in the community.
The PN meets monthly to participate in free training workshops and information sharing. The agenda for these workshops is driven by the needs of the peers who attend these meetings and is coordinated by Open Arms staff. The meetings aim to assist the wider veteran community:
Date |
Time |
Agenda topic |
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|
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March 12th |
2pm - 4pm |
Looking after YOUrself |
April 2nd |
2pm - 4pm |
Meditation & Sleep |
May 7th |
2pm - 4pm |
Food & Mood |
June 4th |
2pm - 4pm |
Benefits of Exercise in Mental Health |
July 2nd |
2pm - 4pm |
Motivation |
August 4th |
2pm - 4pm |
Emotional Intelligence |
September 3rd |
2pm - 4pm |
Stress Management & Compassion Fatigue |
October 1st |
2pm - 4pm |
Creating a Positive Outlook |
November 4th |
2pm - 4pm |
Indoor Therapies |
December 3rd |
2pm - 4pm |
Christmas Connection & Reflection
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If you would like more information or to register for a workshop, email
Or call 1800 011 046 and ask for the Townsville Peer Support Team
Contact DCO
If you need support, help, or advice at any time, the Defence Family Helpline operates 24-7 and is staffed by qualified human services professionals including social workers and psychologists.
The best way to access any of these services is to contact the all-hours Defence Family Helpline on DefenceFamilyHelpline@defence.gov.au or 1800 624 608.
It goes without saying that we always love our children. That doesn't mean however, that we always like them or how they are behaving.
Not liking your child is a taboo parenting subject, but it shouldn’t be. It’s a source of unnecessary guilt that comes with the parenting territory. Rather than beating yourself up, it’s useful to figure out what you don't like and work from there. Here are some of the common reasons, and some ways to help overcome it.
Date |
Event |
March |
02.03.20- 13.03.20 |
Parent Teacher Interviews |
05.03.20 |
Season 1, Interschool Sports begins |
06.03.20 |
CCC Meeting |
20.03.20 |
St Margaret Mary's College Open Day |
23.03.20 |
Naplan Readiness Test Yr 3 & Yr 5 |
Term Dates 2020 |
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Term 1 |
Tuesday 28 January 2020 |
Friday 3 April 2020 |
Term 2 |
Monday 20 April 2020 |
Friday 26 June 2020 |
Term 3 |
Monday 13 July 2020 |
Friday 18 September 2020 |
Term 4 |
Tuesday 6 October 2020 |
Friday 4 December 2020 |
Pupil Free Day: Friday 4 September 2020 |
All uniform supplies are available at The School Locker, Domain Central (close to Bunnings).
Phone 1800 826 155
Uniform days for students:
Monday and Wednesday - Formal uniform
Tuesday and Thursday - Sports uniform
Friday - own choice
Senior shirts may be worn on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
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.
Wednesday Assemblies |
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Prep – Year 2 |
8.40am |
Years 3 – 6 |
2.10pm |
Whole School Assemblies |
8.45am |
Daily Bell Times |
|
8.15 am |
Students are allowed to move to class |
8.30 am |
School day commences |
10.30 am |
Morning tea bell |
10.55 am |
Five minute warning bell |
11.00 am |
School day resumes |
1.00 pm |
Lunch bell |
1.30 pm |
Five minute warning bell |
1.35 pm |
School day resumes. |
2.50 pm |
School day concludes |