Every year, we look forward to the Christmas break with joy, anticipation and excitement. It's also a celebration of the religious feast when we honour the coming of God amongst us in the human form: The birth of Jesus. 

Faith is a wonderful gift which is rooted in our daily lives. We are fortunate to connect with God when we pray, care for creation and engage with others in respectful friendship. 

The Gospels tell us Jesus was born in a stable as there was no room. In our world today, we have millions of people seeking a better life. In our own school community, we have given generously to St Vincent De Paul with our Christmas hampers and sizeable contributions to Catholic missions. We continue to pray for a better world. 

We can all do something this Christmas to contribute to a better community in our own special way.

Farewells

This week, we farewell a number of staff who have been part of the school community. We want to thank them for their service and commitment to our students and wish them well in their future endeavours. Some are moving into completely new careers:

Ayesha Dobson, Emma Watt, Simona Longson, Taleah Ross, Kelly Walsh, Nancy Johnson and Georgia Taylor.

Thank you for being part of the Holy Spirit community.

Service Awards

At last week's assembly for awards, Townsville Catholic Education presented service awards to staff for reaching milestones. Congratulations to these members of staff for their dedication to Catholic Education:

20 years: Rebecca Nieminen and Maureen Crimeen

30 Years: Suzanne Dunlop, Gloria Sim, Paul Martin

40 Years: Jane Aylward and Sue Laing

Wishing all our families a safe Christmas break and we will see you back in 2025.

Paul Martin 

As the year comes to a close, we give thanks for all we have experienced and shared as we mark the end of the 2024 school year. Last night was special for our Year 6 students who celebrated Rite of Passage. As I watched the Year 6 PowerPoint Presentation and listened to the speakers, it was beautiful to see the culmination of the years of growth in our senior students. I watched them having fun, working together and caring for others through many activities. I believe the seeds of mercy and gospel values have been sown and are alive and well in the students leaving our school. Congratulations to our senior students and you, their parents and carers, who support them in their journey.

ST VINCENT DE PAUL HAMPER: A BIG THANK YOU to all who generously donated items for our annual Christmas Hamper that was given to St Vincent de Paul this morning during our liturgy. What a wonderful way to start the Christmas season by showing care and mercy for those less fortunate in our community. 

ST WENCELAUS: Legend surrounds the brief life of Saint Wenceslaus 1, Duke of Bohemia (907-935), venerated initially because of his martyrdom but most remembered today because of a Christmas carol from the 16th century that celebrated him as a model of generosity. Separating fact from fiction may be difficult after 1000 years, but your own track record with regard to generosity should be easier to tally. Will anyone sing praises of your generosity a millennium from now? A hundred years? Ten minutes after you are gone? If not, what can you do today to start building your own lasting legacy as a disciple of Christ? (from Take Five for Faith)

I hope you all have an enjoyable holiday, and I look forward to seeing you all next year in 2025 to start the year again. Best of luck to our Grade 6 senior students moving into High School and future endeavours. 

Your contribution to Holy Spirit Catholic School will be remembered.

Have a safe and happy holiday.

God bless.
Caroline Fuller

Thank you to all who completed our Parent Engagement Survey.  

The winner of the Bunnings voucher is Mrs Andrea Sprott, congratulations!!

LAST DAY

Students are permitted to wear coloured clothes on the last day of school but must wear their school hats, sun-safe clothing and closed in shoes. Students will be dismissed at 12.00pm.