Reflection

I’ve always admired mosaic-tiled coffee tables – the way countless small pieces form something beautiful and whole. Eventually, I decided to make one myself. After watching some YouTube tutorials (which made it look far easier than it was), I started. But cutting tiles and fitting them into a meaningful design was more complex than I imagined. I spent so much time focusing on the individual pieces that I lost sight of the overall picture.

In many ways, that mosaic table became a reflection of life itself.

Our lives are like mosaics, a collection of moments, challenges, achievements, and relationships that form a unique and beautiful picture together. But in the busyness of everyday life, with assessments, friendships, responsibilities, and worries, it’s easy to become fixated on one small part and forget the bigger story God is helping us create.

When I feel overwhelmed or stuck in the messiness of daily life, I often return to a small stone on my desk. Engraved on it are the words from Psalm 46:10: “Be still and know that I am God.” These words remind me that in the stillness, God is present. When I pause, breathe, and let God in, I begin to see that He is gently shaping the bigger picture of my life, the mosaic only He can see in full.

Eventually, I finished that coffee table. But what I really gained was a deeper understanding of how important it is to care for the small things, while also stepping back and allowing God’s love to bring unity and meaning to it all. 

At Holy Spirit College, our motto, "Peace and Unity", encourages us to be attentive to the various elements and purposes that shape our lives. As Pilgrims of Hope in 2025, we are invited to pause, be still, and recognise God’s loving presence, which quietly forms the mosaic of our lives, one piece at a time. 

In this spirit of hope and unity, the Catholic Church joyfully welcomes a new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV. Originally from the United States and having served faithfully in Peru, Pope Leo brings a deep pastoral heart, a commitment to dialogue, and a vision for a more connected and compassionate world. In his first public address, he expressed gratitude to Pope Francis and called upon everyone to build bridges of understanding and peace. As he begins this sacred mission, let us keep Pope Leo XIV in our prayers, trusting that the Holy Spirit will guide him—and us—on this shared journey of faith.

Let us pray:

Loving God, we give thanks for the election of Pope Leo XIV, the new shepherd of Your Church. May the Holy Spirit guide him with wisdom, courage, and compassion as he leads us forward in faith. Strengthen him to be a voice for peace and unity, and a beacon of hope for all.

As Pope Leo XIV begins this sacred mission, guide us as well, Lord, to walk with trust and openness. Help us listen deeply to Your loving presence in our lives. Nurture our hearts so that, like the Pope, we may see not just the individual pieces, but the greater mosaic You are gently crafting within us.

Amen.

God Bless,

Lesley Fraser - Assistant Principal (Mission)

Welfare News

Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month

As part of the Rotary Club's End Domestic and Family Violence Campaign, The Betterment Project visited the College on Tuesday, 13 May 2025 to talk to our Year 12 boys.

Mason Black and Daniel Mason spoke to the boys about how to build respectful relationships with themselves and with women. The Betterment Project aims to prevent domestic violence, sexual assault and suicide by fostering good habits in young men before bad habits manifest.

If you want to find out more about the project, I suggest checking out this youtube clip of Mason Black challenging his peers to be proactive in stopping abuse and to keep their mates accountable. The speech was praised for inspiring positive change but also received criticism for potential hypocrisy within the school community.

Brisbane Boys' College Captain Mason Black's resounding address to his peers

Thank you to the Mackay Region Rotary Clubs for sponsoring this opportunity.

It's in our control to end coercive control.

In Queensland, the month of May is dedicated to Domestic and Family Violence Prevention. This annual initiative aims to:

• Raise awareness of domestic and family violence and coercive control
• Highlight the support services available
• Send a clear message that violence in our communities will not be tolerated

The theme for 2025 is take positive action today to build a safer Queensland. A safer Queensland can start with you. Whether you’re part of a member of a community sports club, a small business owner, a school board member or just a Queenslander who cares, there are simple things we can all do today to take action against domestic and family violence in our communities.

What are domestic and family violence and coercive control?

Domestic and family violence is not about conflict – it’s about power and control. In a healthy relationship, there is an equal balance of power between partners, and both partners feel free to state their opinions and make their own decisions. Love not Control. Domestic and family violence is not always physical violence, it can take many forms including coercive control.

Coercive control is a pattern of behaviours (which can be both physical and non-physical) perpetrated against a person to create a climate of fear, isolation, intimidation and humiliation. It might make you feel unsafe, scared, threatened, or like you are walking on eggshells. Over time, this behaviour can have a devastating impact on your autonomy, independence, personal wellbeing and safety. (http://www.qld.gov.au/lovenotcontrol)

All forms of abuse are serious and never acceptable.

Adolescent Violence in the Home

Adolescent violence to parents/carers is a serious issue. Anecdotal evidence suggests it is increasing. Adolescent violence can be perpetrated against mothers, fathers, siblings and carers by daughters and sons. There are many reasons why it occurs. These include children witnessing or experiencing family violence and repeating their fathers’ abusive and violent behaviours toward their mothers, parenting styles, adolescents’ reactions to traumatic events or conflict, adolescent mental health or drug and alcohol issues and other contributing factors. Sometimes there is no apparent reason why it happens. This booklet provides a resource for parents/carers who experience violence from their adolescents. It helps parents/carers identify violent behaviours, suggests strategies for dealing with adolescents and provides a contact list of services and agencies that can help parents/carers deal with the traumatic situation they find themselves and their families experiencing. We hope it will help to increase the safety and well-being of parents and carers and provide strategies to support them in parenting their adolescents in ways that promote caring, responsibility and non-violence. (domesticviolence.com.au)

For more information, download the attachment below or visit Love ≠ Control.

Curriculum News

Year 10 Mentoring

Tomorrow, Friday, 23 May 2025, Year 10 will have a study day to allow for students and parents/carers to attend Mentoring sessions. They will complete their Set Plan and select their subjects for Semester 2 Year 10, progressing through to Senior. This is a wonderful day where Senior Leaders in the school provide advice and assistance whilst students consider their pathways and best subject selections.

Further queries can be made to the following staff:

Year 11 and 12 Students and Parents

QCAA have developed two animated videos that give students and parents a quick guide on how the QCAA endorses internal assessments and confirms students’ results.

The videos are available on the QCAA website via the links below:

Endorsement – quality assuring school-devised assessments

Confirmation – quality assuring school-marked assessments

Reminder – AARA Policy – Senior Students

A reminder, Year 11 and 12 students who are unable to sit an exam or submit an assignment must have an approved AARA under QCAA guidelines. These guidelines and application have been communicated by email, Year 11 Information Session, through Year Level Deans and also the Information book given to all students.

Please note, students are not eligible for an AARA on the grounds of:

• Unfamiliarity with the English language
• Matters the student could have avoided (eg misreading exam timetable, misreading instructions, not backing up files on a computer)
• Matters of the student’s or parents/carer’s own choosing (eg family holidays)
• Matters that the school could have avoided

If there are any questions or concerns, please contact the school for clarification.

Year 12 Confirmation – First Internal Assessment

QCAA advised this week of the publishing of the first Internal Assessment confirmed results for our Year 12 students. As these results are confirmed, they will appear in the Students Learning Account. Communication to Year 12 parents and Year 12 students in LEP explained the importance of monitoring these accounts.

Student samples were submitted in Term 1 and have undergone the QCAA state wide process of reviewing and confirming marks for every general subject (ATAR eligible subject).

Further Confirmation events will be held later in the year to confirm the results of the second and third Internal Assessment. Students will know all their results before they sit their External Exams.

Students will have learnt from their strengths and weaknesses in their first assessment and are working with their experienced teachers to improve their future work.

Confirmed results will also appear in Parent Lounge and Student Café after the 30 May.

Anne Miles - Assistant Principal (Curriculum)