Welcome back to the 2021 school year. It was lovely to see so many smiling faces this morning as our families returned to school. A special welcome to those families and students who are new to Holy Spirit. Each year, our school focuses on a Holy Spirit Value each week and this week we commence the school year with the Value of Excellence.  Excellence often refers to greatness, the very best. Achieving excellence is a very difficult thing to do at times. It is a quality that people really appreciate, because it is so hard to find. Striving for excellence is trying to do our best at whatever task we set our minds to do. At Holy Spirit, staff are always looking for ways to help students achieve excellence. This week as we commence a new school year, we pray
that our students draw upon their many skills and show excellence in a given area.

At the end of 2020, Pope Francis declared 2021 to be the Year of St Joseph. The Holy Father wrote Patris corde against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, which, he says, has helped us see more clearly the importance of “ordinary” people who, though far from the limelight, exercise patience and offer hope every day. In this, they resemble Saint Joseph, “the man who goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet and hidden
presence,” who nonetheless played “an incomparable role in the history of salvation.” The following litany reflects the values our school promotes with our community.

May the example of St Joseph guide us in our ways in 2021.  May we reflect the heart of God, sure in faith, strong in hope, built on love.  And may our journey lead us into God’s gentle and almighty Presence, our God whom we will one day see face to face.  We ask this through Christ out Lord.  Amen

Next Wednesday morning, our Year 3 to 6 classes will gather for our Opening Mass.  In addition to celebrating the beginning of a new school year, we will commission our student leaders at the end of the Mass.  Our Year Six students have a very important role in developing school spirit as leaders and role models for the younger students.  The Opening School Mass will commence at 9am in the Lynch Family Hall.  Due to current regulations in relation to indoor spaces, numbers will be restricted to parents/carers and grandparents of those children from Grade 5 and 6 with leadership positions (maximum 4 people per student).  Seating will be organised at the back of the Hall for these family members.  

SAINT JOHN BOSCO is the patron saint of apprentices, editors and publishers, schoolchildren, magicians, and juvenile delinquents.  His feast day is this Sunday – January 31.  He was born in Piedmont, Italy and grew up in extreme poverty.  After ordination, he devoted his whole life to educating young people, especially the poor.  He founded the Salesians, men and women who continue this work with youth throughout the world.

I hope you all have a lovely start to the school year.

God bless

Caroline Fuller