Parents & Friends Association

Last week, we held our Annual General Meeting for our Parents and Friends Association. I am pleased to advise that Phil McEvoy (President) and Aleshia McEvoy (Secretary) are continuing in their current role. We thank them for their continued dedication and contribution to our College community. I am pleased to announce that Anton Mayer-Miller has volunteered to be our Treasurer for 2025. It is wonderful to welcome Anton to our P&F Executive Team. I look forward to working, in partnership, with our Parents and Friends Association this year.

College Board

Our College Board Annual General Meeting was also held last week.

On behalf of Holy Spirit College, I would like to thank the following Board Members for their continued service.

Camille Morris - 4 years

Valerie Paul - 3 years

Jackie Flanagan - 2 years

Claire Grandcourt - 2 years

Father Andrew Hogan - 2 years

Craig van de Kaa - 2 years

Cameron Wayman - 2 years

Phil McEvoy - 1 year

Amanda O’Brien - 1 year

We thank our Board Members for their time and commitment to Holy Spirit College.

At our Annual General Board Meeting we welcomed our College Leaders to the College Board. Elise P.G, Liam H and Rory F will attend meetings this year. Student voice is valued in our College and we look forward to the contributions our College Leaders will bring to our Board.

Lions Youth of the Year Public Speaking District Finals

Congratulations to Rory F for winning the District finals in Townsville on Saturday 15 March. The competition was tough with six very talented and outstanding students from North Queensland competing for the prestigious title. Rory won the overall competition and will now be competing at the State finals in Brisbane on 4 and 5 April.  This is a prestigious honour for Rory and we have every confidence in Rory representing all North Queensland Lions Clubs with respect and pride. On behalf of our Holy Spirit College community, I would like to wish Rory every success at the State final.  We hope you enjoy the opportunity and experience, Rory!

Swimming Carnival

Our Swimming Carnival was held on 14 March. It was a huge success with maximum participation by our students in attendance. Organising an event for our whole College takes an incredible amount of time and hard work. A very special thank you to Chris Newton (Sports Program Leader) for organising the swimming carnival and for providing an event for House Spirit at our College to shine. 

Year 7 in 2026 Information Evening

We look forward to welcoming new students and their families to our Year 7 in 2026 Information Evening on Tuesday, 29 April 2025, from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. All interested parents/carers/students are welcome to attend this evening.

Pre-register for the event here.

Prayer

As we are now in the third week of Lent, traditionally a time for fasting or giving something up, I would like to share with you a positive prayer that encourages both fasting and feasting. 

The Fast Life

Fast from judging others;

Feast on Christ dwelling in them.

Fast from fear of illness;

Feast on the healing power of God.

Fast from words that pollute;

Feast on speech that purifies.

Fast from discontent;

Feast on gratitude.

Fast from anger;

Feast on patience.

Fast from pessimism;

Feast on hope.

Fast from negatives;

Feast on encouragement.

Fast from bitterness;

Feast on forgiveness.

Fast from self-concern;

Feast on compassion.

Fast from suspicion;

Feast on truth.

Fast from gossip;

Feast on purposeful silence.

Fast from problems that overwhelm;

Feast on prayer that sustains.

Fast from anxiety;

Feast on faith.

- Author Unknown

Blessings,     

Alison Wales - Principal

Reflection

As we approach Holy Week, this will be our final newsletter before this most sacred time in the Church. Let us take a moment to reflect on its profound significance. Having journeyed on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in December 2018, the events of Holy Week now hold even greater meaning for me.

On Holy Thursday, we are invited to relive the Passion narrative of Christ. It was on this day nearly 2,000 years ago that Jesus gathered His friends for what He knew would be His last meal with them. That night, He was arrested while praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. During our pilgrimage, we had the privilege of praying in this garden and walking the Via Dolorosa, the path Jesus would have taken through the Old City of Jerusalem, forced by Roman soldiers on His way to crucifixion on Good Friday. This experience is etched in my memory. We rose at 4:30 am and walked in darkness through the Damascus Gate of the Old Jerusalem wall to follow the Stations of the Cross. Each of us took turns carrying a cross and reading aloud, singing between the stations. The journey concluded at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where we climbed the stairs to the Rock of Calvary, venerating the altar located directly above the very rock where Jesus's cross stood. We then celebrated Mass at the site of the tomb where Jesus was buried and resurrected. The spiritual significance of these experiences was overwhelming.

The events of Holy Week evoke a wide range of human emotions. They remind us of Christ's suffering on the cross, His mockery, and the beating He endured from those who could not accept His divinity. For believers, it is a time of rejoicing, as Jesus defeated death and rose to new life. We must first confront the betrayal of Thursday, the pain of Friday, and the grief of Saturday before we can truly celebrate the joy of Easter Sunday. The Easter message is one of hope, proclaiming that those who believe in Jesus can have eternal life; it conveys the promise of a living and loving God. As stated in the Catholic Mass, in the Preface of the Eucharistic Prayer II, “He opened His arms on the cross… and revealed the resurrection.” The resurrection is God's ultimate 'yes' to a life surrendered to Him.

Let us pray:

"Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave me drink; a stranger and you welcomed me; naked, and you clothed me; ill, and you cared for me; in prison, and you visited me." - Matthew 25:34

Holy Week promises to be a rich and meaningful experience. May the Easter ceremonies deepen our sense of belonging to our faith community and strengthen our solidarity with one another. Wishing you a Happy and Holy Easter! 

Lily R and Natalie S, our 2025 Christian Leadership Chairs, share their reflections on their time with the IMPACT group and their excitement for the future.

Lily R: “This term I have enjoyed the opportunity of being a part of Breakfast Club, run by our HSC IMPACT group, where we provide free breakfast for those in our HSC community, staff or students, who have not had a chance to have breakfast before school. Muffin Break Caneland generously provides muffins, much to the delight of our students. Breakfast Club also provides a social environment for students of all year levels to come together every Monday and Wednesday morning.

I have enjoyed the opportunity to participate in the prayer life of our College. This includes attending Chapel Mass on Thursday mornings and the honour of being a part of the Official Opening and Blessing of the New INTAD Precinct with Bishop Michael." 

Natalie S: “Term 1 has been an exciting time helping to make a positive difference within the IMPACT group for our community. Our annual Project Compassion fundraiser has been wonderful to focus on, with a goal of raising $3000 to purchase 10 sewing machines for Irene in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Helping at the Swimming Carnival sausage sizzle in Week 7 and the upcoming stall at Cross Country provides an excellent opportunity to showcase how IMPACT helps those in need.

I have enjoyed contributing to the behind-the-scenes work for IMPACT, including prayer for the College, brainstorming fundraising ideas, and assisting with College events while connecting with a variety of students along the way."

Thank you to Lily and Natalie for leading our Christian Leadership Group – IMPACT throughout Term 1. Let’s hope that we reach our target for Project Compassion to provide 10 treadle sewing machines for Irene in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Let’s unite against poverty - “THREADING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER”

End Poverty | Promote Justice | Uphold Dignity

Lesley Fraser - Assistant Principal (Mission)

From the Deputy Principal

College Photo Day 2 - MSP Photographers

MSP Photographers will return to our College on Thursday, 3 April 2025 to take photos of Year 7 and Year 9 students and any students absent on Monday, 17 February 2025. Sibling photos can also be taken at Recess 1.

A reminder that all students will have their photo taken whether you are purchasing any or not.

Please be reminded that all students are required to wear their full formal uniform on this day, including ties for boys. Makeup, hair and jewellery rules as per the Student Diary will apply on these days.

Camille Morris - Deputy Principal (Administration)

Welfare News

2025 ANZAC Day Morning Parade

Holy Spirit College has a fine reputation of supporting and remembering those who served our Country, especially those men and women who lost their lives.

As schools are an important part of Mackay’s ANZAC Day services, all HSC Students and Staff are invited to march in Mackay’s 2025 ANZAC Day Morning Parade on Friday, 25 April 2025.

Dress: Students are to wear full formal dress uniform (including ties for boys). The College broad brim hat or bucket hat must be worn. Sports caps are not permitted.

Assembly Point: Students are to assemble in the Caneland Central ground level carpark at 8:00am (Row G08), with the March commencing soon after.

Route: Exit the carpark, move into Victoria Street at 8:35am, then right into Wellington Street, left into Gordon Street, right into Macalister St, then right into Alfred St for dispersal.

The Mayor and Special Guests representing the ANZACs (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) will review the parade at the dais in front of the Civic Centre in Gordon Street.

Please Note: Wearing of Medals

Citizens and students are encouraged to wear service medals of deceased, close family members and direct ancestors. While veterans wear their medals on the left breast, medals worn for a family member are to be worn on the right breast. Veterans cover their medals with their right hand after laying wreaths and when reciting “Lest We Forget” at the end of “The Ode” (to cover any awards or decorations the Fallen may not have received).

Medals worn on the right breast for another person may be covered by the left hand.

The Holy Spirit College Leaders will be laying a wreath at the Mackay City ANZAC Day Service.

Is my teenager ready to stay at home alone all day?

With the Easter school holidays fast approaching, I am sure a number of Year 7 parents are faced with their student begging them to not send them to vacation care or Grandma’s house over the holidays. After all, they insist they are "old enough to stay home and look after themselves now that they are at high school and all their new friends are staying home alone over the Easter holidays". No doubt your student will put forward the argument that “All my friends' parents let them stay home alone all the time!”

Every year before Easter holidays, I am asked by a few ‘first time’ Year 7 parents “Is my son/daughter old enough to be left home alone?” I recall thinking about this myself when my children first attended high school.  Luckily being a teacher, I was able to supervise my children during school holidays; however, I understand some parents feel under pressure to leave their children at home during school holidays because the amount of annual leave at your workplace nowhere near matches the number of weeks of school holidays.    

Interesting to note, if the McCallister's from the 'Home Alone' series lived in Queensland, Kevin’s parents might have joined the Home Alone Bandits in jail.

In Queensland, if you leave a child under 12 years of age for an unreasonable amount of time without supervision, you have committed a criminal offence. Even if your child is mature enough to be home alone, you are still responsible for their wellbeing and safety at all times.

Legislation

Queensland Criminal Code Act 1899 (QLD) - Section 364A

When deciding whether the time left alone was unreasonable, the courts will consider things like the age and capacity of the child, the length of time the child is left unattended, the presence or absence of shelter, food and water, and the reason the child was left unattended

What constitutes an unreasonable amount of time and reasonable supervision and care will depend on the circumstance(s).

So, when asked by high school parents “When is my child old enough to stay home alone”, once they are over 12 years of age there is no right or wrong answer because children mature at different rates.  You may have a 13 year old who you feel confident to stay home alone and cook the family dinner safely, or you may have a 16 year old who you are still unsure you can trust to leave alone and not burn the house down whilst cooking toast.

As parents, we are responsible for our children and to make reasonable decisions about their safety at all times.  This means you need to use your judgement about leaving students home alone after the age of 12 in Queensland.  Think about whether your child can cope and make reasonable decisions if required and always have a safety plan in place.

Here are some questions you might like to ask before you make the decision with your student to leave them home alone:

• Who can they call on if they need something? Organise an emergency contact – neighbour, friend or grandparent. Have their numbers near the phone.
• What are the rules about using technology (how many hours a day?)
• Can they use the stove, oven, washing machine, iron, dryer etc? Don’t assume they know how to use them or the rules for using these.
• How are they expected to help around the house now that they have time to spare and no schoolwork to do? Do you give them a list of chores to complete?
• Are friends allowed over during your absence? Who is allowed? Do their parents know that there will not be an adult at home?
• Can they leave to go to a friend’s house? Will there be an adult present? How will they get there and back?
• Are they allowed to leave the house to go to the shops, park, movies etc? Have them tell you their plan for the day and encourage them to let you know if it changes.
• Do all the siblings get along, especially if they are left home alone together… without a referee?
• Consider what is available in the house (eg. medication, alcohol) and decide if they need to be kept out of reach.
• Discuss what to do in an emergency (eg. someone became injured, fire, and intruder).

Only you and your teenager can decide if they are mature enough to stay home alone. If the time doesn’t feel right, you will know!

Sandy McLellan - Assistant Principal (Students)

Curriculum News

Year 12 Students - Confirmation

Year 12 students studying General Subjects will have already completed their first assessment, IA1 (Internal Assessment 1), which counts towards their final Year 12 result in each subject.  In some subjects, students will have already also submitted their IA2 (Internal Assessment 2). Students will have received their results from their teachers for all IA1; however, this mark is provisional until it has been ’confirmed’ through the Confirmation process which will occur in April.

QCAA requires that all schools advise students and families of the following:

“All results for Units 3 and 4 Internal Assessments (IA1, IA2, IA3) in General Subjects are provisional only and subject to change until they have been finalised through the state Confirmation processes”. (QCAA advice)

Students’ results may stay the same, go higher or lower. This process is very similar to the Verification process in the old system where there was always some movement in results across subjects.

All IA1 results are uploaded to QCAA who have advised all Queensland schools of the students who have been selected by computer to have their actual exam or assignment reviewed. A group of teaching staff in Queensland who have been trained to ‘confirm’ work in each subject, will gather in Brisbane or online to go through each assessment submitted.

Once each student’s results have been confirmed, the results will be released to schools and will also appear in the student’s QCAA online Learning Account. Later in the year, results from IA2 and IA3 will also be uploaded for a second session of Confirmation. Then all three of the four results that count towards the final senior result in each subject will be recorded in the student’s Learning Account. The final result will come from the External Exam in Term 4.

Free Online Tutoring to Improve Reading

Does your child struggle with reading?  Students 8-14 can access Free Online Tutoring for 6 months through Griffith University.  Students must be available 2-3 times per week for 30 minutes. Griff Linc Reading Research team has developed a new tutoring method for middle years students struggling with reading. 

Please see the flyer with more information attached and apply through the email listed.

Anne Miles - Assistant Principal (Curriculum)

From the Office

New Holy Spirit College Bucket Hats

Our new Holy Spirit College bucket hats are now available to purchase from Uniform Solutions.

Uniform Solutions

134/140 Diesel Dr, Paget, QLD 4740

Business Hours:

Monday – Friday: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Saturday: 8:30am to 11:30am

Absent from School

Irene has had a tough life. Her father was killed during a war when Irene was young, leaving Irene to live with her mother and siblings on very meagre resources, often going hungry for extended periods of time.  

Irene first became pregnant as a teenager and later had to raise her two children with the support of her mother, after her husband abandoned her.  

As a single mother, it was challenging for Irene to care for her two sons without a stable income. She worked hard but didn’t have a steady job to support her family. Irene’s life changed after she participated in the Youth Capacity Strengthening Program, run by Caritas Australia’s partner, Caritas Kongolo. 

Through programs like these, your support through donations made to Project Compassion helps to offer pathways out of poverty in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and beyond.  

Get to know Irene’s story.

“I want to say a big thank you to Caritas Australia and Caritas Kongolo. Thank you so much for uplifting me. I never thought I, Irene, could become someone. I never knew this life was possible,”. - Irene 

Thank you for encouraging your students to contribute to our Project Compassion PCG donation boxes.

Jeanette Refalo - Mission Support

Indigenous Education News

QATSIF Round 16 Scholarships

I would like to congratulate the following students on receiving QATSIF Round 16 Scholarships for 2025 and 2026.

Seth A.W	Kailu B	Lacey B	Kirra B
Leni F	Emily G	Bailey G	Emily S
	Lachlan T	Patience H

The Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Foundation was established in 2008. This funding was created to support Indigenous children in education across Queensland. These funds represent the money from stolen wages in which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were withheld pay, and the money was put into a Trust. Thousands of Indigenous workers were unable to access this money and in some cases were paid in the form of food or clothing, not wages. Through the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Foundation, this funding goes towards school fees and equipment needed for Indigenous students to attend school. QATSIF has been successful in building a higher retention rate of Year 12 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students receiving their QCE. To qualify for these scholarships students must maintain an attendance rate of 85%, be achieving A-C in English and a C or higher in other subjects and must be demonstrating efforts of good behaviour and be positive role models at school.

The Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) is also a partner organisation of QATSIF. Students with an interest in paramedicine can apply to receive an additional scholarship with the QAS. I would like to congratulate Lacey B on successfully gaining a QAS scholarship. Lacey will be connecting with Indigenous Paramedics who will support her in gaining her first aid certificates and driver's license.

QAS has a wide range of career pathways for Indigenous students to study, including Paramedicine, Emergency Medical Dispatcher, Patient Transport Officer and Public Servant. 

Year 12 Commencement Celebrations 2025

Over the 5th and 6th of March, I attended the Year 12 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commencement Celebrations and Mass in Rockhampton with three of HSC’s First Nations Students. We gathered with First Nations Year 12 students from Colleges across the Diocese to celebrate their 13 years of schooling.

On Tuesday the HSC students travelled down to Rockhampton with Wayne Huntley,  HSC Teacher, Lesia Scott, St Patricks College Indigenous Liaison Officer, two St Pat’s students and myself. We all met at Kevin Castles Centre to have dinner and a games night with our Leadership Team from Rockhampton. Phillippa Johnson, Sharon Haynes and Natalie Semple also joined with some students and Indigenous Liaison Officers from Shalom College in Bundaberg and Marist College in Emerald.

On Wednesday all the Year 12’s and staff members met at the Rockhampton Leagues Club to join in a day of Leadership activities, career clusters and pathways sessions. The students got to engage with First Nations Community members on Darumbal Country to tell their stories on their personal pathways into their careers in Mining, Nursing and Youth Work. Bishop Michael and Mr Michael McCusker, Director of Catholic Education in the Rockhampton Diocese, attended these activities with us. Bishop Michael spoke about his life journey and wished all the Year 12s the best in their career pathways after school. Mr McCusker shared with the students some important tips on goal setting and how to achieve goals when they set them.

Wednesday night we attended the Commencement Celebrations Dinner and listened to guest speaker, Dr Melinda Mann, who shared with us her life journey in reverse.

Thursday morning, we gathered for Mass at St Joseph’s Cathedral, with Bishop Michael presiding. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Year 12 students were recognised for how far they have come in their schooling years. The trip was successful for the students, offering the opportunity to reconnect with friends from other colleges in the Rockhampton Diocese, as well as our Indigenous Education Liaison Officers and Leadership Team.

Nadine Cleveland - Indigenous Education Liaison Officer

The Retreat will be taking place at Discovery Parks - Coolwaters, Yeppoon, and will be led by Dave Jorna, from Project Hatch. Dave has studied Psychology, was a Campus Minister, is an Emotional Intelligence Consultant, and has been working with young people for over nineteen years.

From the Project Hatch Program, your student will learn to create small differences in their thinking, to make big changes in their behaviour and self-confidence, experience ways they can be a positive influence in the lives of others and reflect on how the Gospel messages are alive and relevant in their daily lives.

When: Monday, 31 March to Wednesday, 2 April 2025

Departure: 8:00 am sharp on Monday, 31 March from Holy Spirit College

Return: 5:00 pm on Wednesday, 2 April to Holy Spirit College. Parents are asked to be at the College by 5:00 pm to collect your student.

Where: Discovery Parks – Coolwaters, Yeppoon

Please Note: Due to the risk of allergic reactions and anaphylaxis within the Year 12 cohort, please ensure all snacks do not contain nuts.

We remind parents and students that, as representatives of Holy Spirit College, our College Rules & Expectations will apply (refer pages 9 to 15 of the Student Diary).

Should a student breach our College Rules & Expectations, the Retreat Team may, at their discretion, contact parents and request them to collect their student from Yeppoon.

I know it will be a fantastic time away for our Year 12 students, and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at the College.

James Newton - Dean of Students (Year 12)  

Year 7 News

Year 7 Team Building and Pastoral Care Activity Days

As part of the Holy Spirit College Year 7 Pastoral Care Program, students will take part in a Team Building Day at Seaforth Pines Outdoor Education Centre on Monday, 31 March and Tuesday, 1 April 2025. The students will participate in a range of team building and leadership activities, and a series of physical activities, to develop bonding and team spirit among the Year 7 Pastoral Care Groups. Students will also develop group co-operation, trust, communication skills and problem-solving skills.

The activities will run during regular school hours. When travelling to Seaforth, students will depart the College at 8:30 am sharp and return to the College by 2:50 pm. Meals will be provided for students on the day they are at Seaforth Pines.

Seaforth Pines Team Building Day

Seaforth Pines Activities will include: a low ropes course, archery and pines challenge. The Team Building Day is run by Seaforth Pines Outdoor Education Centre and Holy Spirit College. Whilst participating, students should be aware that normal College rules still apply. From a risk management and safety point of view, it is extremely important that students are cooperative and responsible at all times. Unacceptable behaviour will be managed by staff and, in some instances, if inappropriate behaviour is demonstrated, parents may be asked to collect their student from Seaforth at their cost.

Students will need to wear sensible clothing and closed in shoes, appropriate for all the outdoor activities. Due to the physical nature of the activities, shorts will need to allow both freedom of movement and modesty. Midriff and sleeveless tops will not be permitted.

Checklist of what to bring

• Students must wear closed in shoes
• Large water bottle
• Broad-brimmed hat
• Sunscreen
• Insect Repellent

Please Note:

• Soft drinks, chewing gum and confectionery are not to be brought on the Team Building Day
• As with normal College policy, a number of items are not to be taken on these days including iPods, mobile phones, gaming devices and any other items of value
• For safety reasons, jewellery is to be removed for all activities. Students who are unable to remove jewellery will not be able to participate in the activities around which the program has been developed

If you have any questions please contact the Dean of Students – Year 7, at the College on 4994 8600 or by email at Kyle_Danns@rok.catholic.edu.au.

Kyle Danns - Dean of Students (Year 7)

Year 7 in 2026 Enrolment

Science News

Last Friday, 25 Year 10 students represented Holy Spirit College at the Science and Engineering Challenge at Whitsunday Anglican School. 

Over the day students were split into 8 groups where they had different challenges to solve. They were given points as they worked through the different problems in their challenge. Some challenges included:

• designing a plane out of balsa wood to fly a certain distance and hit a target;
• designing a wind turbine that has the fastest revolutions per minute;
• create a morse code out of lights and relay messages to team members;
• design an environmentally friendly house that is cheap, and can withstand rain, wind and mass;
• connect electricity to different grids.

All the students did an amazing job!  They were enthusiastic and worked collaboratively with their team throughout the day. A big thank you to the students for the respect they showed to the University staffwho ran the day and their willingness to help them clean up after each challenge.

At the end of the day and after all the points were tallied, we are very proud to announce that HSC were the winners of this year’s tournament – beating four other schools throughout the Mackay district.

Well done Year 10s! A big thank you to Jakob Kapor who came to help supervise on the day.

Trish Dwyer - Dean of Science (Senior)

HPE News

Date Claimers

Creative Arts @ HSC

That's a Wrap for Term 1!

As Term 1 comes to a close next week, the Creative Arts department at HSC has had an incredibly busy and vibrant term filled with creativity and collaboration. From new beginnings, as our groups came together to engaging rehearsals, our students and staff have truly outdone themselves.

A special thank you to Ms Barbe and the Digital DJs for providing fantastic music at the Swimming Carnival. Your tunes kept the energy high and made the event even more enjoyable. We are looking forward to you bringing your fun and exciting vibe to the HSC Cross-Country Carnival next week! 

Additionally, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to Mrs Hyde and the Music Ministry for their beautiful singing at St Joseph’s Mass last Saturday evening. Your voices added a special touch to the service and were deeply appreciated by all.

We also want to express our thanks to the wonderful Art Officials group for creating an amazing artwork displayed in the Student Reception foyer. This piece celebrates Harmony Day and also reflects our religious theme for this year, “Pilgrims of Hope.”

Next week, our Drama group will be in the spotlight leading us through the Lenten Prayer Service - a dramatised version of the ‘The Way of the Cross – Through the eyes of Mary’. They will be bringing their unique talents to this important event. Our thanks to Ms Robinson and the Drama Group for all your hard work and dedication in preparing for this special prayer service.

In the last edition of the College Newsletter, we celebrated the outstanding achievements of our Senior Captains, Rory F, Liam H, and Elise P-G, at the recent Lions Youth of the Year event. We are thrilled to share more exciting news regarding this competition! Special congratulations go to Rory F, who represented the Mackay area at the next level of the YOTY competition in Townsville. Rory once again impressed the judges and audience with his confidence, eloquence, and depth of thought. He will now compete at the state level in Brisbane this April. We’re all behind you, Rory, and incredibly proud. We wish you all the very best as you continue to represent Holy Spirit College for the title of Queensland Youth of the Year. Thank you to Mrs Suzanne Gakowski for her mentorship of these students and for supporting this Creative Arts group.

Looking Ahead to Term 2: We have many exciting plans for Term 2, including:

• Performance opportunities within the school community
• Dance, Debating and Rock Pop Mime Competitions
• Visual Arts workshops

We look forward to another term filled with creativity, growth, and artistic expression. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to making Term 1 a success, and we can't wait to see what Term 2 has in store!

If your student would like to join in all the fun of the Creative Arts groups, it's not too late to join! Students can bring a friend along—our groups welcome everyone, no previous experience required, just a keen interest to participate. See the Creative Arts Timetable below and let’s make this year a creative adventure for all!

Creative Arts Schedule

Group	Day	Time	Venue	Tutor/Teacher
Band	Monday	7:20 - 8:20 am	PAC	Mr Bauer
Choir	Tuesday	7:20 - 8:20 am	PAC	Ms Illguth and Mrs Abell
Art Officials	Tuesday	Recess 1	Room 17	Mrs Oliver
Dance Troupe	Wednesday	7:20 - 8:20 am	PAC	Mrs Skipper
Debate Club	Wednesday	Recess 1	Room 26	Mrs Farquhar and Ms Wainwright
Music Ministry	Wednesday	Recess 1	PAC	Mrs Hyde
Art Therapy	Wednesday	3:00 - 4:00 pm	Art  Room	Mrs Oliver
Drama Club	Thursday	7:20 - 8:20 am	PAC	Ms Robinson and Ms Wainwright
Creative Arts  Committee	Thursday	Recess 2	Music Room	Mrs Abell and Creative Arts Chair
Drum Corps	Friday	7:20 - 8:20 am	PAC	Mr McClelland and Mr Watson
Digital DJs	As required		PAC	Ms Barbe

Bernadetta Abell - Creative Arts Program Leader

Sports @ HSC

Swimming Carnival 2025 - A Day of Fun, Spirit, and Teamwork!

On Friday, 14 March 2025, our school came alive with energy and excitement as students, staff, and supporters gathered for the annual Swimming Carnival. With bright costumes, impressive cheerleading routines, and endless enthusiasm, the day was a true celebration of school spirit.

The pool saw plenty of action, with swimmers putting in great efforts across all events. From fast-paced races to fun relays, everyone gave it their best shot while enjoying the friendly competition. One of the standout moments was the teacher relay race, where staff members made a splash in an entertaining showdown that had the crowd cheering!

When they weren’t racing or cheering on their teammates, students had a blast on the waterslides, adding an extra element of fun to an already exciting day. The laughter and excitement from the slides were just as loud as the cheers from the stands!

Beyond the water, the support from the sidelines was incredible, with students cheering on their classmates and creating an atmosphere of encouragement and teamwork. Whether in the pool, on the slides, or in the stands, everyone played a part in making the day special.

A huge thank you to all our swimmers, cheer squads, and supporters for bringing such great energy and enthusiasm. The carnival was a fantastic reminder of the fun, teamwork, and house spirit that make our school events so special. We can’t wait to do it all again next year!

Cross Country Carnival 2025

On Friday, 4 April 2025, the last day of Term 1, Holy Spirit College is holding its annual Inter-house Cross Country Carnival. This year, there will be a change of events, as we will be splitting our competitive races from our fun run.

Students wishing to compete at Mackay District School level, as well as contribute points towards Age Champion, will be racing against others in their own age group. This will make for a quick event with the College’s best putting on a showcase running event. We will then move into a fun run, where all students will be encouraged to get points for their house!

Please see below the map for the upcoming events:

Competitive Map

• U13 – 3km
• U14-U19 – 4km

Whole school ‘Fun Run’

• U12 – U19 years – 4km

Please ensure that your student is wearing the following to ensure safety in the sun!

• College Cap or Bucket Hat
• Enclosed footwear
• Appropriate running attire or the College Sport Uniform

Looking forward to finishing off Term 1, 2025!

Yours in Sport,

Chris Newton - Sports Program Leader

HSC Teams Impress at CBSQ Tournament in Rockhampton

Two weeks ago, we proudly took three teams—One Open Girls team and Two Open Boys teams—to compete in the CBSQ basketball tournament in Rockhampton. Our students displayed incredible determination, sportsmanship, and skill throughout the event.

The Open Girls team put up a strong fight, winning two out of four games, with several nail-biting finishes, including a tough one-point loss. Standout players included Kirra C, Kaitlyn W, and Isabella T.

In the boys’ competition, our HSC 1 team was dominant, going undefeated throughout the tournament. The team played with intensity and precision, executing strong offensive plays, and maintaining solid defence. Luke D, Sam C, and Chase. B were standout performers, consistently delivering key moments that kept the team ahead in every game.

The HSC 2 team also impressed, winning 2 out of 4 games and showing remarkable improvement with each match. Phoenix R, Tristan H, and Jacob T led the way with standout performances, helping the team gel and grow stronger throughout the tournament.

A huge thank you to our volunteer coaches, Mr Rob Cunningham and Mr Buddie Wilson and our staff Mrs Nanette Devitt, Mr Chris Kidd, Mrs Kelly Wells, and Mrs Jonnet Hutchinson for their support.

Congratulations to all players on a fantastic tournament—you represented HSC with pride both on and off the court!

Meet our 2025 QISSN Captains!

2025 Doves Captains - Ava S and Alysse A

Superhero Power-Up: If you could give the team one netball "superpower" for 2025 what would it be and why?

Telepathy: because it will create easy cohesion and strength down the court, as when a team has good communication it is hard to break them.

Team Anthem: If your team had a hype-up anthem, what song would it be and why?

‘Thunder’ by Imagine Dragons, because it has a catchy beat and is easy to sing to, it also has encouraging themes in the song.

"Captain's Playlist": Describe your leadership style using three song titles.

“Stronger - what doesn’t kill you” by Kelly Clarkson
“Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor
“Hall of Fame” by The Script

Emoji Communication: If you could only use emojis to give feedback after a game, what three emojis would you use most often?  

"Coach for a Day": If you were the coach for one practice, what drills would you run for the team?

We would run through teamwork drills that require communication and working together.

2025 Eagles Captains - Luke D and Lachlan M

Superhero Power-Up: If you could give the team one netball "superpower" for 2025 what would it be and why?

Eagle Vision:venhanced vision to see the entire court clearly and anticipate opponents' moves. ‘SCREEEE’

Team Anthem: If your team had a hype-up anthem, what song would it be and why?

‘Remember The Name’ by Fort Minor because we will set a legacy to be remembered and will be talked about for generations. Also, it’s a very upbeat hype song.

"Captain's Playlist": Describe your leadership style using three song titles.

"Don't Stop Believin’" by Journey
"We Are the Champions" by Queen
"Not Afraid" by Eminem

Emoji Communication: If you could only use emojis to give feedback after a game, what three emojis would you use most often?

The tears of happiness emoji represents our team camaraderie we are supportive and get around each other. The heartbreak emoji is for when our team loses and we are not mad but disappointed. The Eagle represents when we put our hands in and screech Eagles on 3! 1. 2. 3. Eagles! ‘SCREEEE’.

"Coach for a Day": If you were the coach for one practice, what drills would you run for the team?

Warm up, of course, to prevent injury then play. Elimination, for some friendly competition and to improve shooting and the hustle for the ball. And end with a game because there’s no better way to learn than in a game environment.

Sport Sponsors 2025

P&F Association

Our next meeting

The next P&F Meeting will be the AGM on Wednesday, 21 May 2025, from 5:00 pm.

All are welcome!

If you need to contact our P&F Association please email parentsandfriends@hsc.qld.edu.au

SchoolTV

One of the initiatives of our P&F Association is to provide SchoolTV for our HSC Community.

The purpose of SchoolTV is to provide a single resource for parents, students and staff covering a range of Wellness & Wellbeing topics, on a monthly basis.  Content is based around the very real issues faced by parents and today’s youth and is presented in a multi-media format.

SchoolTV is available at all times on the HSC Website.

Special Report: Social Media & Comparison Culture

Young people today are growing up in a world where exposure to other people's lives is constant. Through social media and other platforms, they are regularly presented with curated highlights - from flawless holiday photos and academic milestones to the latest fashion trends and fitness achievements. This continuous stream of idealised content fuels what is known as comparison culture, where self-worth is often measured by how someone stacks up against others.

For children and adolescents, who are still figuring out who they are, this culture can be particularly damaging. Constantly comparing their appearance, achievements, or social standing to friends, influencers, and even strangers can lead to unrealistic expectations and a skewed sense of self-worth. This relentless need to measure up can contribute to feelings of inadequacy, self-doubt, and anxiety - undermining both confidence and emotional wellbeing.

It's vital that parents and caregivers understand how deeply comparison culture can influence a child's self-perception and sense of value. Left unchecked, it can foster perfectionism and a dependence on external validation, where a 'like' or comment becomes the measure of their worth.

The good news is, families have a powerful role to play in helping young people navigate these challenges. This Special Report will help you empower your child to build the resilience and confidence needed to navigate today's comparison-driven world and embrace their own unique path.

Here is the link to your Special Report

Report online abuse 

If you need to make a complaint about cyberbullying, image-based abuse or illegal or harmful online content, report to eSafety to get help having content taken down.

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