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

finance.holyspirit@nt.catholic.edu.au

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: admin.holyspirit@nt.catholic.edu.au

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

Community Notices

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