Last Friday, Year 5 ventured to Riverway to discover what it means to be a leader and the skills required to lead Holy Spirit Catholic School in 2021. They had to strive to push themselves when outside their comfort zone, work in teams and at times, display resilience when things did not go their way. What an amazing day. You may have seen some of the photos from Facebook and the many smiles. The next stage of the leadership process involved discussions with myself and how they may see the role of leadership.  It was tremendous to see so many students wanting the leadership responsibility. Good luck as they head into stage 2 of the process.

Yesterday, we sent our Year 6 cohort to Lake Tinaroo for their camp as they prepare for the next adventure in their life - high school. Thankfully, the Lake Tinaroo Environmental Education Centre has been able to accommodate our group with the current Covid guidelines - a blessing. These students will realise that they are capable of great things when they push themselves physically and mentally. Sounds like the SAS TV show doesn’t it. However, with the assistance of our fantastic staff, these students will finish with Holy Spirit Catholic School in the coming weeks with lifetime memories and great friends. Wishing all our campers a safe and fantastic week.

Yesterday, we welcomed the ‘new batch’ of Holy Spirit family members with our Prep Orientation Day. There were so many happy faces and a few nervous ones, but they were the parents. It is always an exciting time when we get to see the future of our school. Amazing how this newsletter article started with our current Year 5 and 6 leaders and now finishes with our future leaders. We can’t wait to work with these little people and their families. Welcome to Holy Spirit.

Have a great week everyone

Happy Days

Prep 2021

We welcomed our Preppies for 2021. They had a great morning meeting their teacher, working in their new classrooms and making some fancy hats.  We look forward to them joining our school community next year. 

Year 5 Leadership Day 

Last Friday, Year 5 students participated in leadership activities at Riverway. Students worked in groups negotiating roles and responsibilities. They had to apply critical and creative thinking to solve movement and design challenges. 

Ella S - "We all had to work together as a team and I got to talk to people that I wouldn't normally talk to. My favourite activity was raft building."

Abbey V -  "I enjoyed the raft building the most as it was a lot of fun and everyone worked together and cooperated as a team”.

Seth R - "The best part about the day was going kayaking and raft building because it was something new and I think I was good at it and the teachers were helpful”.

Isabella R - "I liked making new friends as some of my friends were in other groups.  My favourite activity was the Amazing Race."

Swimming Lessons

Swimming lessons began this week for Year 2. They are enjoying the bus ride and learning lots of swimming skills.  

Reminder that all children will need the following items each day:  

• Swimmers (one piece for girls)
• Shirt to wear on bus
• Towel
• Slip on shoes 

    2D Ready to go!              

Have a great week.

Kristy Bates

Acting Assistant to the Principal - Admin 

The Parable of the Talents, reminds us that God has given talents to each one of us

that are gifts from God.  Three men were each given a different number of talents.  The first man used his talents well and doubled them; the second also worked hard and used them wisely but the third felt that he had little to offer and hid his talent away and did not use it.  Each of our students has differing gifts or skills and we are challenged as parents and teachers to encourage and guide our children to develop them and use them wisely.  A good attitude and pride in doing their best allows children to grow to be the best that they can be as a person and life-long learner.

This week at Holy Spirit we value reverence which is defined as a feeling or attitude of deep respect for someone or something.  It is often tinged with awe and can describe how we treat someone to show them intense respect.  This value inclines a person to show honour and respect through their actions.  During the course of the year, our students have many opportunities to show their reverence, especially during prayer and we pray they continue to show reverence to God by striving to follow His holy will.  

Today is Remembrance Day, which was originally called Armistice Day, commemorated the end of the hostilities for the Great War (World War I), the signing of the armistice, which occurred on November 11, 1918 – the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.  On this day, we remember the sacrifices of the Australians who have served our country to make it a peaceful place to live and give thanks for their courage and sacrifices for our benefit.

Today, we also remember Blessed Catherine McAuley.  In the evening of Thursday, November 11, 1841, Catherine McAuley, the founder of the Sisters of Mercy, died at  the Convent of Mercy on Baggot Street, Dublin—the first of twelve convents she had established in the preceding decade.  By the time of Mother Catherine's death in 1841, there were 100 Sisters of Mercy in ten foundations.  The Sisters have since spread throughout the world continuing their mercy works to bring education and care to the poor and sick.  Our school continues to incorporate the mercy values espoused by Catherine McAuley in all that we do. 

Mercy Reflection:

May you meet mercy each day in light of your own heart,

At the hands of your loved ones,

In the eyes of the stranger and the needy and if by chance you do not at first meet it,

Then search your own heart for it, listen patiently for word of it and it will tap you on the shoulder;

A quiet surprise, a small gesture and tender look, given and received in the encounters of your day! 

(Mary Wickham rsm)

God bless.

Caroline Fuller

National Recycling Week is back for a 25th year with the theme Recovery - A Future Beyond the Bin! There are so many ways you can get involved at home, work, school or in the community. 

Follow this link to find great ideas for home!

National Recycling Week

Get Involved At Home - Planet Ark Recycling Near You

Some outstanding work from our 2D writers.

Holy Spirit Catholic School uses Flexischools ordering system.  To register, login or to place orders, please click this link:  

Flexischools

We are open Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 8am in the Hall.

Your support with donations of spreads, vegemite, jam etc. (excluding peanut based spreads) would be appreciated.  

https://www.awm.gov.au/commemoration/WeRememberThem

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Christmas Lunch @ The Courtyard - Thursday 3 December

To be notified when registrations for this event open, follow us on Eventbrite

Join us for lunch at The Courtyard. This will be the final catch up for 2020. Bring your Christmas cheer and come dressed in favourite Xmas outfit. It will be a chance to catch up before school ends and the whirlwind of postings, Christmas shopping and parties start.

This is a self-funded activity with attendees responsible for purchasing their own food and drinks.

Webinar: Posting during COVID: Managing quarantine – 12 November

One of the big challenges for Defence families can be moving to a new location. An interstate move in the upcoming posting cycle may also involve a mandatory 14-day period of quarantine or self-isolation as determined by the gaining state or territory. All families posting interstate should be prepared to quarantine.

The next webinar in the ‘COVID-19: Surviving and thriving’ series is ‘Posting during COVID-19—Managing quarantine’.

This webinar focuses on the experiences of Defence families who have recently completed a 14-day quarantine period to provide information about what you might expect in quarantine. We’ll also provide strategies and tips to help manage some common relationship, parenting and self-care issues that can arise in a quarantine environment.

The webinar will include a presentation from the Posting Cycle Movement Control Cell and information about what support you will have along the way. There will also be a chance to ask questions.

Please be aware of time discrepancies depending on your location—the presenters are based in ACT and NSW.

Be sure to register by 10 Nov 2020.

Are you posting? Don't forget to join the mailing list in your new location

If your family is posting soon, the best way to connect with your new community is to join the DCO mailing list in your new location. Keep up to date with upcoming events and activities.

We can help! It is as easy as 1, 2, and 3. Send us an email with the subject line "We are posting to …." And we will forward your details to the DCO team in that area.

Online safety webinars for your parent and carer community

The education team at eSafety has been working on a new free webinar series for parents and carers, to be delivered live in 2021.

The demand for our popular parent and carer webinars in 2020 prompted us to develop the 2012 series to support school communities.

Each term, we will offer a new topic that will run numerous times.  These webinars will provide parents and carers with the knowledge, skills and tools to support their children to have safe, positive online experiences.  This is especially important in an era when we are all online more than ever before.

The Term 1 webinar topic is eSafety's guide to cyberbullying and online drama.  This will be offered five times over the term.  We will let you know when the topics for the following terms are announced.

All uniform supplies are available at The School Locker, Domain Central (close to Bunnings).

Phone 1800 826 155

The School Locker

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.