Christmas Newsletter | 2 Dec, 2015
Dear Families,
I feel an incredible sense of gratitude and appreciation as
I reflect on the year that we have had together at Holy
Spirit Catholic Primary School. The celebrations and
highlights have been many and varied and I am so glad
that I have been given this opportunity to again lead the
school community. I look forward to seeing community
members at our End of Year mass held Friday 4th
December at 8:30am at Holy Spirit Church.
I have been truly grateful for the dedication and
commitment of parents at Holy Spirit this year. There is
no doubt that the families contribute considerably to the
wonderful community atmosphere and school spirit here.
Parents have worked tirelessly for the whole school
community and their efforts have had a major impact on
student learning – enabling us to provide fantastic
resources for our students, including the new senior
playground.
I would like to express my sincere thanks to Fr. Jimmy
and our School Board members who are committed to
the pursuit of excellence at Holy Spirit and to building a
strong, faith filled, Catholic community. The support,
advocacy and wisdom of our Board members has been a
real asset to our school and has made my job as Principal
a pleasure. I wish Father Jimmy all the best in 2016 as
he embarks on a very deserved sabbatical year.
I acknowledge and thank the fabulous Holy Spirit staff
who continually strive to provide challenging and
stimulating learning opportunities for our students in
partnership with families. Each staff member goes above
and beyond in so many ways. I have been truly blessed
to work with such enthusiastic, passionate and
professional colleagues. We farewell the staff, students
and families who are moving on or beginning a new
venture and thank them for being a part of our
community. We hope Holy Spirit always holds a special
place in your heart. We wish Ms. Anna Hill, Mrs.
Rowena Staude, Ms. Lauren Copeland, Mrs. Mona
Bonson and Ms. Jessie Martin all the best at their new
positions next year.
I take this opportunity to thank our Year six students for
their many contributions to our school community. I
wish them all the best for their move to Middle School
and hope that their memories of Holy Spirit School will
be fond. The Year 6 Graduation mass and dinner will be
held at Holy Spirit Church starting at 6pm followed by
dinner and awards at school on Wednesday 9th
December. All Holy Spirit community members are most
welcome to come along and farewell our Year 6
students.
Finally I would like to say how proud I am of our
students and all that they have achieved this year. It has
been a privilege to be entrusted with their care and
education and to watch each one grow not only
academically but also in faith, love and wisdom.
The school has received two early Christmas presents.
Firstly the school was successful in receiving a $16,900
grant from the Block Grant Authority funded by the
Australian Government. This money will assist in
providing large shade sails over our new playground and
outdoor learning space. Secondly, we received a
donation from the Senator for the Northern Territory,
Nova Peris to assist school attendance and with the
running of our Indigenous students Homework Centre in
2016.
I look forward to seeing you all on Thursday night at our
re-scheduled Christmas Carols Concert. The Carols will
be held in the school courtyard and start promptly at
5:45pm, students are required to be ready at 5:30pm. We
will be taking gold coin donations that will go towards
the St. Vinnie’s Christmas appeal. Families are
encouraged BYO dinner or buy a sausage in bread and
drink after the Carols. Parents are encouraged to bring
along chairs for the Carols.
As this is the final newsletter for 2015, God bless you all
and keep you safe this Christmas season.
Mr. Simon Duffy
Principal
Principal’s Reflection For Reflection:
“Away in a manger, no crib for his
bed, the little lord Jesus, laid down
his sweet head”
-Away in a Manger (Christmas
Carol)
Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School
STUDENT OF THE WEEK AWARDS Congratulations to the following students:
Transition, Rm.8 - Cooper Crich, Isaac Peris
& Angel - Maria Cyriac
TR/1, Rm. 9 - Estelle O’Connor, Deba Yoelu
& Izaiah Fermanis
Year 1/2, Rm.3 - Chloe Duffy & Lasith De Silva
Year 1/2, Rm.4 - Max Hennessy
Year 1/2, Rm.6 - Alex Barker & Shaun Mathews
Year 3/4, Rm.14 - Harry Andreou & Ali Bail
Year 3/4, Rm.15 - Whole Class Award
Year 3/4, Rm.17 - Miguel Ladines
Year 5/6, Rm.10 - Mon Pinitkittikhun & Terry Poniris
Year 5/6, Rm.12 - Kassandra Kirby & Madyson Wistrand
Year 5/6, Rm.13 - Alexa Busteed
A W.E.S.T Award is presented to a person who is
Welcoming, Encouraging, says Sorry and is Thankful.
This week’s W.E.S.T Award goes to :
Judeann Latu & Kayden Leeson
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Happy Birthday to the
following Students who
celebrate their birthday in
week 9 & 10:
Damien Marriner
Weston Tedcastle
Brandon Kurnoth
Odin Kainulainen
Caleb Paterson
Chelsea Biddlecombe
Kaitlin Barker
Ursula Hall
Terry Poniris
Matilda Tranter
Jayda Romano
Raquel Caldwell
Brandon Seabrook
IMPORTANT DATES The last day of Term for students is Thursday the 10th of
December. Term 1, 2016 commences on Thursday the 28th of
January.
ENROLLING A NEW STUDENT If your child turns 5 prior to 30 June 2016 he or she is eligible
to commence Transition in January 2016.
Please call into the office for an enrolment form.
We also have vacancies in Years 1-6.
If you have handed in an application form for 2016 and have
not had an enrolment interview with the
Principal please contact the front office to arrange a time.
FRONT OFFICE HOLIDAY HOURS The front office will be closed from the
18th of December - 11th of January Inclusive.
The office will open again on the 12th of January.
Office hours will be 8:30am - 3:30pm.
As there will be only be a small number of staff at the
school during the six week break we ask that you please
call the office before coming in to ensure that the front of-
fice is open for your visit.
CANTEEN NEWS... As of 2016, lunch time orders will only be available online.
Recess will still be available for purchase over the counter.
Go to: www.ouronlinecanteen.com.au .A reminder that can-
teen is open Wednesdays to Fridays only
LIBRARY BOOKS Please check for any library books that might be ‘hiding’ at
home or in bags and return to them to Mrs. Baylis in the
Library or to the front office before the end of the school year.
OUTSTANDING SCHOOL FEES Thank you to the many families who have already finalised
their school accounts for 2015. To those families who still
have fees outstanding please be aware that payment is now
overdue and fees need to be paid as soon as possible.
If you believe that that you will not be able to pay your school
fees account by the end of the school year (10th Dec, 2015) or
are having difficulties making payments, please contact the
office and make an appointment to arrange a payment plan.
Payments can be made at the School office between 7:30am
and 3:30pm Monday to Friday, by cash, cheque or EFT.
Credit Card payments can be made over the phone or
electronic payments can be made directly to the school.
Our account details are as follows:
Account Name: Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School
Branch Number: 08 5933
Account Number: 39 895 1673
ACCOUNT PAYMENT-HOLIDAY PERIOD Due to the small number of staff over the holiday period,
authorised payments from credit cards will not be processed.
Please contact Lee at the front office on 8927 3411 or email
for more information or to make alternative arrangements.
SCHOOL FEES - 2016 Families are advised the following school fees for 2016 will
apply. These fees have been recommended by the CEC
Finance, Facilities & Resources Committee and endorsed by
the Bishop. If the level of increase creates any hardship for
you please make an appointment with the Principal to discuss
the circumstances.
1st Child $283.75 + levies = $428.75 per term
$283.75 + $70 + $50 + $25 = $428.75
2nd Child $255.38 + levies = $400.38 per term
$400.38 + $428.75 - $50 = $779.13 per term – total of 2
3rd Child $227.00 + levies = $372.00 per term
$372.00 + $799.13 - $50 = $1101.13 per term – total of 3
4th Child levies only = $145.00per term
$145.00 + $1101.13. - $50 = $1,196.13per term – total of 4
Levies
$70.00 Books & Services (per child/per term)
$25.00 Excursion (per child/per term)
$50.00 Air-conditioning (per family/per term)
$45.00 B&S extra for Years 5 & 6 (per child/per year)
Community of Learners (fees are subject to change)
After School Care (fees are subject to change)
Before School Care (fees are subject to change)
One Child $350 per week
($350 as of June)
$80 per day
($85 as of June)
Child Care Benefits (CCB) apply
One Child $105 per week $21 per day
Child Care Benefits (CCB) apply
One Child $9 per morning
(includes breakfast)
Child Care Benefits (CCB) apply
COL & OSHC 2016 All children must be enrolled at Out of School Hours Care even if
your family do not intend to regularly use the service. The 2016,
OSCH registration form in now available from the front office and
the school website. Please return your form to the front office.
Bookings and cancellations must be in writing. If you wish to cancel
your child’s booking, please sign and return the cancellation form at
least 24 hours before the day you wish to cancel (Before 2:30pm for
After School Care and before 7am for Before School Care). Cancel-
lations received with less than 24 hours notice will be charged as
normal fee. A late fee of $50 (plus $1 per minute) will apply if
children are collected after 5:30pm.
The Change of Bookings Form can be obtained from the front office
and from the OSHC building. All bookings and cancellations must be
in writing and made through the front office. Email accepted, please
email to: [email protected]
An updated Parent Handbook for Community of Learners and Out of
School Hours Care will be available for families from next week. It
will outline new fees for 2016 and some new information regarding
the services. Copies will be available from the front office, COL and
OSHC for you to collect.
UNIFORM During the Christmas break families will be buying new shoes and other clothing items. Please note the correct uniform
requirements. A new style purple shirt will be available for purchase in the new year. The current purple shirt can still be
worn during 2016.
Students are expected to wear full school uniform each day. A signed note from parents must be sent to school if a student is
out of uniform. Students out of uniform will be issued with a note to parents advising breach of uniform - the note is request-
ed to be returned signed
School
New style purple shirt $30
Purple polo shirt with school emblem and black collar $20
Black Shorts or Skorts - plain black with NO logos, stripes $25
School dress with purple tie $40
Black school hat with logo $15
Black shoes or sandshoes - must be plain black with black laces
Socks - white or black
Sandals - black or brown
Jewellery
A wrist watch may be worn and a thin gold or silver chain with a cross but no other form of jewellery is acceptable.
Students who have pierced ears may wear one pair of ‘sleepers’ or ‘studs’ only. No anklets or wristbands are allowed
(Exception made for school -based program wristbands)
Hair
Needs to be neat and tidy at all times. Hair is not to be hanging in the face of students, if longer than students shoulders
needs to be tied back. Purple or black ribbons are acceptable.
Nail polish is not permitted
A written note from parents must be sent to school if a student is out of uniform. Without a note students out of uniform will
be issued with a note to parents advising breach of uniform – this is expected to be returned signed.
Hats are a compulsory uniform
item
HALFWAY THROUGH ADVENT— HAVE I MISSED IT? It’s halfway through advent and I'm not sure what happened. I really wanted to this to be a reflective and
calm season, preparing for your birth and pondering how you came into this world in such a stunningly
humble way. But it’s so busy and I’m distracted and sometimes even short tempered with those that I love
the most. Where are you in THAT?
I am discouraged and wish I could start over. But as I sit here in the rare moment of silence, I contemplate
your birth. In the a bed of straw, with the smell of manure everywhere. It’s a mess in that stable...and come
to think of it, my life is a little messy, too. I suddenly see that it is not just the mess of the stable but into my mess that you
enter the world. You came into a humble place and that humility is often where I live my life- feeling guilty or distracted and
wishing I were a better person. But if I stop thinking of myself and focus on you, I realise that there you are, waiting to love
me, even though I have so many unfulfilled good intentions about prayer, so many desires of how to change this fleeting Ad-
vent season.
I can begin advent today ad this season deeper by making room in my heart for you. I can take just a moment before I get out
of bed in the morning and feel the empty in my life I so often fill in with my busy-ness. It is there I need you most. Come,
Lord Jesus. Come into that dark and lonely spot in my heart. You know what my needs are more then I do. Let me feel your
love. If I only carry that thought with me each day, it will prepare me for Christmas.
Thank you Lord. It’s not too late. You are waiting to enter my life today, wherever I let you in. Help me to open my heart in
these remaining days.
Thank you Lord. It’s not too late. You are waiting to enter my life today, wherever I let you in. Help me to open my heart in
these remaining days.
Term 4 Calendar, 2015 Week Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Assembly
Week 9
December
1st Sunday Advent
30
Advent Prayer
1 2
Academic Reports sent
home
3 Academic Reports sent
home
Christmas Carols Evening,
5:45pm.
4
Whole School Mass,
8:30am
Year 1/2 Room
Tracey Coco &
Dell Williams
Week 10
December
2nd Sunday Advent
7
Advent Prayer
8
MultiLit and MiniLit
Graduation
9
Year 6 Graduation Mass,
awards and shared meal
from 6:00pm
10 Water Activities T-5
REWARD AFTERNOON
11
NO SCHOOL Leadership
Simon Duffy &
Paula Sellars
Term 1 Calendar, 2016 Week Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Assembly
Week 1
Jan/Feb
3rd Sunday Ordinary
Time
25
Vacation Care
26
Australia Day
27
Vacation Care
28
Students Resume School
29
TBA
Week 2
February
4th Sunday Ordinary
Time
1
2
3
Multi/MiniLit resume
4
5
Family night at
Casuarina Pool
5:30 -7pm
TBA
Week 3
February
5th Sunday Ordinary
Time
8
Homework Centre
begins
9
Parent information night
4-6:30pm
10
Ash Wednesday
11 12
Whole School Opening
@8:30am TBA
Week 4
February
1st Sunday Lent
15
Life Education Van
Basketball Gala day
16 17 18
Board Meeting
19
Bombing of Darwin
ceremony @ cenotaph
TBA
Week 5
February
2nd Sunday Lent
22 23
Parent/Teacher Goal Setting 3-6pm
24 25 26
Reward Afternoon TBA
Week 6
March
3rd Sunday Lent
29 1 2 3
AFL Gala day
4
TBA
Week 7
March
4th Sunday Lent
7 8 9 10 11
Indoor Cricket Gala day TBA
Week 8
March
5th Sunday Lent
14 15 16 17
Board Meeting
18 Rugby League Gala
Harmony Day Dinner @
5:30pm
TBA
Week 9
March
Palm Sunday
21
Holy Week
22 23
Easter Raffle Drawn
24 25
Good Friday TBA
Week 10 March/April Easter Sunday
28
Easter Monday Holiday
29 30 31 1
Netball Gala Day
Reward Afternoon
TBA