FROM OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM
Reflection
A Catholic school is more than just a place of education; it is a community built on the teachings of Jesus. His message in the Gospels calls us to live with love, compassion, justice, and service, which shapes everything we do.
One of Jesus' most powerful teachings is found in Matthew 25:35-40, where He says:
"For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited me in; I needed clothes, and you clothed me; I was sick, and you looked after me; I was in prison, and you came to visit me."
In response to this Gospel teaching, Holy Spirit College:
- Encourages social justice initiatives, such as the Backpacks for the Homeless, fundraising for Project Compassion, and participation in the St. Vincent de Paul Winter and Christmas Appeals.
- Promotes inclusivity and care for the vulnerable, ensuring all students feel welcomed, respected, and valued, regardless of their background.
- Teaches students to recognise the dignity of every person, just as Jesus did when He reached out to the poor, the sick, and those excluded by society.
In Luke 6:37, Jesus teaches:
"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."
At Holy Spirit College, this teaching influences:
- The way we resolve conflicts—students are encouraged to practice forgiveness and reconciliation rather than holding grudges.
- Pastoral care and well-being programs that focus on restorative justice instead of punitive measures.
- A school culture where mistakes are seen as opportunities for growth and learning rather than simply failures.
Jesus' greatest commandment, found in Matthew 22:37-39, is:
At Holy Spirit College, this is reflected in:
- A sense of community—staff and students are encouraged to support one another, celebrate differences, and work together to create a caring school environment.
- Prayer, liturgy, and reflection—providing time for students to grow in faith and develop their relationship with God.
- Servant leadership—students are taught to lead with kindness and humility, just as Jesus served others rather than seeking power.
A Catholic school doesn’t just teach academics; it forms students to be people of love, service, and faith. Jesus' Gospel teachings shape how we treat one another, care for the vulnerable, and strive for justice. In a Catholic school, we are called to live differently, guided by faith and a commitment to the dignity of every person.
Let us pray:
Loving God,
Thank You for our College, where we grow in love, service, and faith. Help us to follow Jesus' example by treating others with kindness and respect. May we recognise the dignity in every person and strive for justice in our world.
Guide us to live with compassion and courage so that our actions reflect Your love each day.
We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
We would like to remind you about the Opening and Blessing of our INTAD Precinct, taking place on Thursday, 20 February 2025, with the presence of the Most Reverend Michael McCarthy, Bishop of Rockhampton and Mr Michael McCusker, Diocesan Director, Catholic Education - Diocese of Rockhampton. Please be advised that all students are expected to attend these events in their full formal uniform, including ties. Thank you for your support and understanding.
God Bless,
Lesley Fraser – Assistant Principal (Mission)
Administration
Queensland Health's School Immunisation Program
Our College is participating in Queensland Health’s annual School Immunisation Program. All Year 7 and Year 10 Students will be offered free vaccinations as recommended on the National Immunisation Program schedule to protect against vaccine preventable diseases. Year 7 students will be offered the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (Whooping Cough). Year 10 students will be offered the Meningococcal ACWY Vaccination. For further information regarding these vaccinations please click on the below links:
A letter and consent card was sent home with all Year 7 and Year 10 Students on Friday, 31 January 2025. Parents/carers are required to complete and sign the Queensland School Immunisation Program Vaccination Card indicating ‘YES’ if you wish your child to be vaccinated or ‘No’ if you do not wish for your child to be vaccinated and return it to your child’s Pastoral Care Group by Friday, 14 February 2025. Only students with a completed and signed consent card on the day of the school immunisation clinic will be vaccinated. If you do not return a consent card or the card is incomplete, you may be contacted by the immunisation provider to check if you want your child to be vaccinated. The provider will not follow up with parents and carers who have indicated ‘No to Vaccination’.
Vaccinations Dates:
Year 7: Tuesday, 13 May 2025
Year 10 (Dose 1): Tuesday, 18 March 2025
Year 10 (Dose 2): Tuesday, 15 July 2025
College Photos by MSP Photographers
MSP Photographers will be at our College to take photos of our students and staff this term.
The dates are as follows:
Monday, 17 Feb: Year 8, Year 10, Year 11 and Year 12
Thursday, 3 April: Year 7 and Year 9 plus catch-up day for any students absent on Monday, 17 Feb.
Sibling photos will be able to be taken at Recess 1 on either day.
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.
Mackay School Dental Service
Camille Morris - Deputy Principal (Administration)
Welfare News
Free Parenting Education Programs - CatholicCare/Mackay Family Relationship Centre FRC
58 Sydney Street, Mackay
Over the next few months, the Family Relationship Centre will be rolling out a suite of Free Parenting and Education programs. The programs can be delivered one-on-one to clients or in groups. The sessions are designed to support parents in navigating the challenges of raising teenagers. These sessions will provide practical strategies for:
- Managing difficult behaviour effectively.
- Reducing stress and anxiety in your teenager.
- Improving communication and understanding with your teen.
Whether you're looking to strengthen your relationship with your child or seeking new tools to handle tricky situations, these sessions are a valuable opportunity to learn and connect with other parents.
The parenting programs that we will be offering are as follows:
1,2,3 Magic and Emotion Coaching
(One-on-one and group bookings currently available.)
Learn to manage difficult behaviour in children 2-12 years of age
In this three part workshop parents will learn:
- How to discipline without arguing, yelling or smacking.
- How to sort behaviour.
- How to handle challenging and testing behaviours.
- Choosing your strategy, the three choices.
- Using emotion coaching to encourage good behaviour.
Anxiety Coaching for Parents
(Bookings available from the beginning of March 2025)
Learn how to reduce anxiety and build resilience in your children.
In this three-part workshop parents will learn:
- How the brain works and how anxiety develops.
- How loved ones can influence anxiety.
- Building resilience and reducing anxious symptoms in your child.
- Practical strategies to use with your child in anxious moments.
Engaging Adolescents
(Bookings available from the beginning of April 2025)
Resolve difficult behaviour in teenagers by learning how to talk to and understand your teen.
In this three-part workshop parents will learn:
- Common ground shared by parents and reasonable expectations to hold about adolescents.
- A three-option model and flow chart for decision-making.
- Skills for tough conversations for handling those problems you just can't ignore.
- How to build a relationship with your teenager and making the best of your non-crisis conversations with them.
Bookings for any of these programs can be made by contacting 1300 783 544 and asking about the parent education programs available in Mackay.
Sandy McLellan - Assistant Principal (Students)
Curriculum News
Celebrating Success of Top ATAR Students at HSC in 2024
Last week we celebrated our annual Academic Assembly. Students who achieved Academic Excellence and Outstanding Studentship Awards for Semester 2 2024 were presented to the College assembly. We also celebrated the achievements of our Year 12 Graduates. Due to wet weather, our highest achieving graduates attended an event earlier, receiving their gift, recognition and morning tea, and cut the Year 12, 2024, cake which was shared with College staff.
College Dux Awards and CQU Academic and Changemaker Awards were also announced. The prestigious Principals Excellence Awards were presented to six (6) Year 10 students
In addition, VET students and students who have been successful in their employment aspirations were celebrated at the Academic Assembly. A movie clip celebrating all the shared pathways of our 2024 Year 12 graduates was enjoyed by the College community.
Our 2024 graduates were highly successful in their pursuits with over 92% receiving offers to their preferred courses. An outstanding number were awarded apprenticeships and employment offers. 2025 has already commenced with our students yielding offers from the Mackay community of School-based apprenticeships. These students are already on their pathways towards successful careers!
Our CQU award recipients and top ATAR students are:
College Dux Award & CQU Academic Award – Joseph L
CQU Changemaker Award – Bridget S
Top 10 ATAR Students (Alphabetical Order)
- Alivia B
- Demi D
- Nicholas D
- Dakoda-Sky E
- Jessica H
- Joseph L
- Angus M
- Lily P
- Nickolas P
- Lucy S
Year 11 and 12 Absence from Exams and late Assignments - AARA
The QCE senior system in Queensland has a different approach to attendance at exams and submitting assignments late for General and Applied subjects. The language involved is new and the regulations tighter than the previous system.
There are two rules for assessment deadlines and then provisions for students to apply for ‘special consideration’. Special consideration also has a new name – AARA (Access Arrangements and Reasonable Adjustments and School-approved Absences).
The two rules are:
- All assignments (projects, design folios etc) need to be submitted ‘on or before the due date’. If a student does not attend school on the due date the assessment needs to be handed in or emailed by the due date unless there is AARA in place (special consideration).
- All exams need to be sat on the day they are timetabled.
Where circumstances arise that cause difficulty for students to achieve this, then an application needs to be made to the College as soon as the situation becomes known.
This is a link to the application forms. It is an Application Form for Access Arrangements and Reasonable Adjustments (AARA) and School-Approved Absence.
Under the new policy, students’ are eligible for a limited number of situations where consideration can be given. All events need documentary evidence.
- Disability – short or long term – which is a barrier to the student’s performance
- Evidence – Medical Form, Inclusive Curriculum Documents within the College etc
- Illness – short or long term
- Evidence - this Medical form needs to be used as evidence or the same detail included in the Medical Certificate by the Doctor. “Unfit for attending school” is not accepted by QCAA (Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority).
- PRINT THE DOCUMENT AND TAKE IT TO THE DOCTOR WITH YOU.
- Misadventure – (evidence - flood documentation, funeral notice, police report etc)
- an unexpected event
- not a choice made by the student or family (not a family holiday which is a choice by the family) – as specified by QCAA
- has an adverse effect
- School-Approved Absence – e.g. representing Queensland in sport or cultural event
- Evidence – statement from Cricket Queensland etc.
QCAA has advised that there are always unique events that occur and should the student be seeking consideration for an event which is not covered by their guidelines then the school will seek QCAA’s advice.
These are useful documents for this process.
- QCAA Confidential Medical Report Template for Doctor (AARA)
- Year 11 and 12 Application Form for Access Arrangements and Reasonable Adjustments (AARA) and School-approved Absence
- Guidelines for Completion of Senior Assessment
They are also available on the Website, Parent Orbit, Student Café and Parent Lounge.
Please contact me if I can assist in any way.
QCAA's Parent Support and Advice
Looking for practical advice to help support your child’s learning and wellbeing? The Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) has worked with clinical psychologist Dr Judith Locke to create a series of short videos offering tips and strategies for parents and carers.
These videos cover key topics such as:
- fostering independence and resilience
- establishing homework routines with your child
- supporting your teen in senior schooling
- encouraging effective study habits
- maintaining balance and wellbeing.
Whether your child is starting prep or tackling senior exams, these videos provide practical guidance for every stage of their schooling journey.
Access the full series on the QCAA website.
Regards,
Anne Miles - Assistant Principal (Curriculum)