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- Catholic Bishops of Queensland Statement
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As we head towards the penultimate week of Term 3, we need to look back on the many things we have achieved in the last 9 weeks. As I sat and wrote the Principal’s Report for our C.A.F.E. meeting this week, I was astounded at the many commitments made.
First we welcomed new staff members and their babies to the Spirit community, participated in National Tree Day and finished the week with hugging a tree. We had Catholic Education Week, Spirit Awards, and the Nalgaray group presented the winners of the T shirt competition with their award winning shirts. We purchased books from the Book Fair, continued to educate ourselves in Road Safety and Child Safety. Father John made his class visits and we had a number of students celebrate the Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist recently. We ran, jumped, threw and competed in the Athletics Carnival ( Covid style), had Matty Bowen visit for Adopt a Cowboy and celebrated with our Dads for Father’s Day. Phillip Thompson visited and presented the school with new flags and we are nearly prepared for the next round of building to happen in our school. All this and we still have a week and a half to go.
Recently, I was reading an article from Brené Brown around challenges and how we approach them. She wrote,
“Purpose is an essential element of you. It is the reason you are on the planet at this particular time in history. Your very existence is wrapped up in the things you are here to fulfill. Whatever you choose for a career path, remember, the struggles along the way are only meant to shape you for your purpose.”
I feel we have all had our struggles this year and they are here to challenge us. It is a fantastic opportunity for us, as adults, to model resilience and persistence in these challenging times to our children. My son begins his exams for Year 12 and it is admirable how he continues to handle the pressure he puts on himself for his exams while dealing with the many opportunities missed this year. Yet, he gets up everyday with a positive attitude. Our students at Holy Spirit continue to amaze me with their ability to meet the ‘Spirit Way’ everyday. I asked a student, who had received a Spirit Slip for ‘working extremely well in class’, what he did to receive such praise and his response was tremendous. He said, ‘ I am not sure. It is what we always do here at Holy Spirit’. Fantastic attitude!
Last Friday, during the Pupil Free Day, our staff engaged in many different professional development options. Some of our school officers were participating in the MAPA course offered by TCE. Others heard from Laurie Kelly around wellbeing especially during these Covid times. Librarians met at TCE for their annual network day and the teachers were involved in 2 parts. The morning session was around the Learning and Teaching cycle and the use of PAT data. The second part was RE and we focused on assessment. The staff ensured the assessment task matched the achievement standard for their year level. I would like to congratulate our staff for their continued professional commitment to learning how to improve for our students. We even have some staff on a course this Saturday to learn more around student learning.
Happy Days
Paul Martin
First of all - R U OK? Thursday 10 September is, R U OK? Day. It is a day that we start a conversation with those around us and check if they R OK. But this day is not only for the children, but also for the adults - the people we work with and the parents! So don't forget to start the conversation this R U OK day as well as every day!
Prep to Year 2 Early Years Testing – This week, we had visitors from Townsville Catholic Education deliver our results. Students are tested at the beginning and towards the end of the year, which allows us to see if there has been growth in the areas of Oral Language and Numeracy. We are really pleased with our students’ growth and thank our staff for their tireless efforts to improve students learning. The results also allow us to offer intervention and targeted learning groups for improvement and/or extension in the classroom.
Pupil Free Day – Professional Development
Last Friday, teachers participated in professional development to build the capacity and confidence to reflect on their teaching and to know the impact of their teaching on learners. School Officers were involved in either MAPA training (Management of Actual or Potential Aggression) or a workshop facilitated by Laurie Kelly regarding training the brain.
Professional development helps staff continue to not only be competent in their profession, but also excel in it. There’s always room for growth and improvement of professional skills. Attending a conference or workshop can provide staff with new ways to sharpen skills within their toolbox. The more knowledge an individual gains of a specific skill set, the more confidence they will have when performing these skills. Professional development days are provided and organised to ensure staff continue to strengthen their practice and knowledge, so skills stay relevant and up-to-date.
Strength in the Spirit,
Brenton Place
Acting Assistant to the Principal – Admin
‘For where two or three meet in my name, I shall be there with them’ (Matthew 18:15-20). When we meet to pray, we come together as one family and Jesus joins us in our prayer. To have a good relationship with God means we must become a truly loving and caring person as part of a loving and caring community of people united in Christ. As a community we have a responsibility for each other's wellbeing. During COVID, it has been hard for some families to meet together in person. But fortunately, many of us have still been able to meet together through other means. However we meet people, in person or virtually, whether it’s to pray, to learn, to sing, or to talk, or to do something else together, if we invite Jesus in, then he will be with us, listening to us and guiding us.
This week at Holy Spirit, we value humility. Humility is the quality of having a modest or low view of our own importance. It is the ability to be humble, to take care of others and not putting yourself first. This week, we pray that our students show humility by: being silent, being in control, serving others happily, learning from mistakes and having a gentle heart. We are continually reminding student’s to think before they act and to always act when there is a need and what better way to do this than with humility.
“Humility is the mother of all virtues; purity, charity and obedience. It is in being humble that our love becomes real, devoted and ardent. If you are humble nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know what you are. If you are blamed you will not be discouraged. If they call you a saint you will not put yourself on a pedestal.” —Saint Teresa of Calcutta
This Sunday, our second group of students will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation and First Eucharist with the Holy Spirit Parish. Please keep those students in your prayers at this very special time.
God bless.
Caroline Fuller
Well done to the team members: Jorja, Isabella, Gianluca and Samuel.
Please see below an opportunity for parents to engage in online learning regarding cyber-bullying.
Parents and carers have new tools to help pull the plug on cyberbullying with $440,000 from the Palaszczuk Government.
Minister for Child Safety, Youth and Women Di Farmer said free access was now available to online cyberbullying training and eResources from Parentline and yourtown.
“This is online training aimed at adults with children or young people at risk of, or who are already the target of cyberbullies,” Ms Farmer said.
“We know cyberbullying is as insidious and as it is prevalent.
“It’s distressing that more than half of young Australians report they’ve experienced psychological distress from cyberbullying on social media and online chat sites.
“The Premier has urged social media platforms to be part of the solution and work harder to help create a safer online environment.
“But, social media platforms and easily to use privacy settings are just one part of the picture; parents and carers also owe it to their children to keep them safe in cyberspace.
“As a parent myself, I know how hard it can be to have the conversations we should have with our teenagers about cyber safety and appropriate online behaviour.
“That’s where online cyberbullying training and eResources from Parentline and yourtown can help to arm parents and carers with the information you need to know about internet bullies and how they operate.”
Tracy Adams CEO of yourtown welcomed the Palaszczuk Government’s funding.
“Not only has it helped us to develop training and eResources, we’ve also employed a cyberbullying consultant to provide advice to communities across Queensland,” Ms Adams said.
“Parentline has also developed training for all our counsellors so we can deliver parent and carer support by phone, web chat or email.
“Our training was developed with the support and expert knowledge of the eSafety Commissioner and we are working with health and education community networks to ensure copies of the eResources are available publicly, or on request.”
Ms Farmer said the Palaszczuk Government was committed to supporting parents, carers and young people with the skills and knowledge to beat cyberbullying.
“No one wants their child to be the victim of cyberbullying, nor the instigator of cruel, nasty and harmful online behaviour,” Ms Farmer said.
“Bullying isn’t acceptable in the playground and it shouldn’t be tolerated online either.
“As Queenslanders, we all have a responsibility to make a stand against bullying regardless of whether it occurs in the real or virtual worlds.”
Last year more than 83,500 users accessed Parentline’s website to gain the tools to beat cyberbullying.
To connect with Parentline’s cyberbullying training and eResources go to: https://parentline.com.au/
Holy Spirit Catholic School uses Flexischools ordering system. To register, login or to place orders, please click this link:
ROSTER |
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10.09.20 |
John Edwards |
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11.09.20 |
Jeena Philips-Koshy, Tim Marrinan, Virginia Novinetz |
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14.09.20 |
Kate Smith, Paula Luke | ||
15.09.20 |
Sue Viviers, Thiru Sasi Emmanuel, Tina McDonough | ||
16.09.20 |
Felicity Leon | ||
CAKE (We are kindly accepting donations of packet cakes only at this time) | |||
10.09.20 |
Cathy Duvel | ||
14.09.20 |
Lanie Hedger, Melissa Smith |
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15.09.20 |
Helen Spagnol |
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FRUIT |
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14.09.20 |
Allyce Rawnsley | ||
15.09.20 |
Bernadette Bryant, Louise Sutton |
We are open Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 8am in the Hall.
Your support with donations of spreads (not nut based) would be appreciated.
Do you know a living veteran of the Second World War
To acknowledge the significance of the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, DVA has produced a Commemorative Medallion and Certificate of Commemoration to all living veterans of the Second World War.
RSL Scholarships
The RSL Queensland Scholarship program aims to empower ex-Defence personnel, Defence partners and veteran dependants by supporting them through tertiary study.
Visit the RSL Queensland website for full scholarship eligibility details, application processes and scholarship terms and conditions.
MWD(U) Information Sessions
It is that time of the year again and posting orders have been released. 3BDE HQ will host a number of information sessions for those members considering MWD (U) during this posting cycle. The information sessions are open to members and their partners. Children are welcome but no childminding will be provided. The sessions will be conducted at Geckos Family Centre on the following dates. No RSVP is required.
Thursday 10 September 1700 - 1800
Defence Family Helpline
For advice, support or local community information, contact our all-hours Defence Family Helpline. Run by the Defence Community Organisation, 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.
Catholic Bishops of Queensland Statement
Bishop Tim Harris joined with other Queensland Bishops to launch a very important statement leading into the October State Election.
The Queensland Bishop's offer this statement as a way of sharing key points of Catholic teaching … as we prepare for the State election.
The COVID-19 crisis has shown more clearly than ever the need for a new kind of solidarity both to deal with the pandemic and find a way beyond it.”
The bishops explained in the statement that Catholic social teaching has a preference for the poor and vulnerable, underpinned by the principles of the dignity of the human person, the common good, subsidiarity and solidarity.
To read the full statement please click HERE
Term Dates 2020 |
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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.
Wednesday Assemblies |
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Prep – Year 2 |
8.40am |
Years 3 – 6 |
2.10pm |
Whole School Assemblies |
8.45am |
Daily Bell Times |
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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 |
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.