Interschool Chess Championship Highlights

This week, our Interschool Chess teams showcased their incredible skills and sportsmanship as they competed against primary and secondary students at Annandale Christian College. We are thrilled to share the remarkable achievements of our players during this exciting event!

A special shoutout goes to Adrian, who was crowned champion in the A division after winning all 7 of his games. His strategic moves and exceptional focus made him a standout player, and we couldn't be prouder of his accomplishment!

Additionally, Patrick earned a Merit award for his impressive performance, demonstrating great determination and skill throughout the competition. Our Division B team also deserves recognition for their hard work, securing an impressive 3rd place in their category.

Congratulations to all our teams for representing our school with pride and embodying Our SPIRIT Way at the competition! 

This week, our students had the opportunity to watch an engaging performance by Backflips Against Bullying. The high-energy show combined acrobatics and parkour while addressing important issues related to bullying. Topics discussed included empowering bystanders, developing exit strategies, understanding cyberbullying, fostering self-reflection, managing retaliation, and building resilience.

Just a reminder that our school community have access to the Cyber Safety Hub.  I have included the details below.  This is a valuable resource for parents and carers. If your child plays Roblox, you may be interested in the upcoming Webinar.  See below for details

https://www.internetsafeeducation.com/hub-home/

Whole Community Passcode  -  HSCS25

Kind regards

Nicole Lennox 

The first Sunday after Pentecost is celebrated as the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity. Jesus appeared to His disciples (John 16: 12-15) and sent them out to make disciples of all peoples. He told them to baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. As part of our Catholic faith, we believe in the mystery of the God who shares Himself with us through the three persons of the Trinity, the Father who created us, the Son who was His human presence on earth and showed us how to live and the Holy Spirit who fills us with God’s love and the courage to carry out His mission in the world.

This week at Holy Spirit we value hospitality. Hospitality is about people welcoming others into spaces where they spend their time. It ensures that everyone is comfortable and offers help or guidance to those who need it. Therefore, our hospitality to others is a sign of our love for God, for God is always present when guests are present at the table. The value of hospitality is always at work as we welcome new people to our community.

This Friday week, our school will celebrate Holy Spirit Day. The day began with a whole-school liturgy and which will be followed by a number of activities and games from the past across the year levels. The highlight of the day will be the Spirit Walk. We look forward to seeing you on the day.

Today, 11th June, is the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This devotion dates back to the Middle Ages and recalls the mystery of God who is love and honours the heart of Jesus as the source and centre of the incarnate love of God. Jesus’ sacred heart is often portrayed as a flaming heart, shining with divine light, reminding us of the incredible fire of Christ’s love for us.

God bless
Caroline Fuller

The Power of Reading!

Reading aloud to children daily is one of the most impactful and nurturing habits parents can adopt. Beyond fostering a love for stories, this simple practice significantly enhances a child's cognitive, emotional, and social development.

Regular reading sessions enhance children's understanding of language structures, improve listening skills, and foster better attention spans. These benefits contribute to stronger school performance, particularly in reading and writing tasks.

Moreover, children who are read to consistently demonstrate greater imagination and creativity, as stories introduce them to diverse scenarios and problem-solving situations.

Tips for Incorporating Daily Reading

Make It Interactive: To engage your child's thinking, ask questions about the story, discuss the illustrations, and encourage predictions.
Be Consistent: Set aside a specific time each day for reading to establish a routine.
Choose Diverse Materials: Introduce a variety of genres and topics to broaden your child's horizons.
Lead by Example: Let your child see you reading, demonstrating that it's a valuable and enjoyable activity.

NAPLAN Results

Students in Years 3 and 5 will receive their NAPLAN results at the beginning of Term 3. These will be sent home with your child when they arrive at the school.

NAPLAN results are reported across four proficiency levels, helping families and teachers understand how students are progressing at the time of testing:

• Exceeding – The student is performing above expected standards for their year level.
• Strong – The student is meeting challenging but reasonable expectations.
• Developing – The student is working towards expected standards.
• Needs Additional Support – The student is not currently meeting expectations and may require extra assistance to support their learning.

If you have any questions about your child’s results once they are received, please don’t hesitate to contact their teacher.

Report Cards

As you may be aware, in 2024, Townsville Catholic Education conducted surveys regarding reporting with staff and parents. The survey responses have informed the review of the Reporting Guidelines for Prep to Year 10, which have now been updated. The changes to your child’s report from this semester are outlined below.

• The Learning Areas Comments have been removed. Instead, report cards will contain a Learning Area Statement outlining the key learning undertaken for the semester.
• Application to Learning refers to the students' effort in learning and completing tasks to the best of their ability. It reflects how the student responds to the feedback and demonstrates interest in their learning. This is reported on a 4-point scale: Needs Attention, Satisfactory, Very Good, Excellent.
• A statement indicates that the Working With or C achievement level is the expected end-of-year achievement standard. This level of achievement is highlighted in the explanation.
• In Prep, students are assessed and reported against the achievement standards for English, Mathematics, Health and Physical Education, and Religion. 
• One general comment, personalised by the class teacher included at the end of the report. 

Kristy Bates

Assistant Principal Pedagogy and Learning  (APPL)

Run Club: 

Thursday is the last day for run club this year. We encourage all students to join us on the oval (8:00am - 8:15am) and earn tokens for their house. Currently the Branagan Blues are winning the tally with a total of 636 points. 

Athletics Carnival: 

Our annual athletics carnival is fast approaching. All students have been busy practicing their skills in high jump, long jump, shot put, sprints and relays. Please remember that students must be on time to school that day to ensure they are on a bus in time for their events. If you are taking your child directly to the sports reserve, they must be signed in by an adult from 8am at the sign in desk. There will be a coffee van on site from 9:30am however no food will be available at the venue. 

League Stars:

League Stars is coming to Holy Spirit in Term 3. See the flyer for more information. 

Spotlight on Sport:

Has your child accomplished something amazing in their sport? Share a photo with us and we would love to help celebrate their achievements.

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. 

A big thank you to the Parker and Bright families for the generous donation of bread and spreads! 

DMFS Programs – Absence from Home Support

Absences from home due to deployments, training, or work travel can be challenging. Here are some helpful tips to support your family and stay connected:

Call into our office at 340 Nathan Business centre, CNR Ross River Rd and Nathan Street, Cranbrook to collect a copy of Absence from Home Support booklet or download a copy of the Member and Family Care Plan from the website.

• Stay Connected by writing letters or keep a journal to share once you're back together.
• Create Routines by maintaining regular schedules.
• Talk openly, be honest with children in age-appropriate ways about the absence, and reassure them that it's normal to miss loved ones and talk about their feelings.
• Build a support network by reaching out to services like DMFS and stay connected to friends, neighbours, and support contacts.
• Celebrate milestones by taking video, photos or letters to share later. Create a countdown calendar or memory jar to track the time apart
• Practice self-care by taking time to rest, enjoying hobbies, and looking after your personal wellbeing. Your resilience supports the whole family.
• Plan for Reconnection after the absence and allow time and space for everyone to readjust at their own pace.

Remember, you are not alone. Support is available, and staying connected can make a big difference.

Keep up to date with our events!

DMFS Townsville has an Eventbrite page. Tickets for all DMFS events are only available through Eventbrite. Events are uploaded at different times throughout the month.

To avoid missing out on tickets, follow the page to receive an instant notification when events are released.

To opt-in to receive notifications directly from our Eventbrite page, all you need to do is:

• Follow the DMFS Townsville Eventbrite page
• Register your details
• Download the Eventbrite app
• Enable push notifications

My Dad and Me - 14 June 2025

ADF Dads, Father figures and kids in Townsville are invited to Grab your helmets, pump up those tyres, and get ready to roll — it's time for some wheely good fun with My Dad & Me! Whether you're cruising on a scooter, tearing it up on a bike, or wobbling along with training wheels, this is your chance to hit the track with Dad (or a favourite grown-up).

We’ll throw in a BBQ to fuel your laps, plus a fun and friendly way to learn some road safety tips along the way. It’s all about making memories, meeting other Defence dads, and proving once and for all who’s faster — you or your old man! It’s going to be a wheelie great day!

Date: Saturday 14 June 2025

Time: 9.30-11.30 am

Venue: Wadda Mooli Park, Elliot Springs

Tickets: via Eventbrite

Coffee Connections – Junction Café, North Shore – 18 June

Take a break and join us for Coffee Connections with DMFS! While the kids burn off some energy on the play equipment, you can enjoy a relaxed cuppa and connect with other partners. It's a great chance to share stories, support one another, and build friendships in your Defence community. We’d love to see you there!

Date: Wednesday 18 June 2025

Time: 9.30-11.30 am

Venue: Junction Café, 5 Rockingham Drive, Burdell

Tickets: via Eventbrite

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.