Parent Information Sessions

On Tuesday afternoon, we held our Year 8, 9 and 10 in 2026 Parent Information Sessions. It was wonderful to welcome so many of our parents and caregivers to this event. Choosing subjects for the following year is always an exciting opportunity and a rewarding experience for our students as they look forward to the next year level. I thank Anne Miles - Assistant Principal (Curriculum) for coordinating this event for our parents.

Congratulations to the lucky Spirit Café voucher winners!

QATSIF Scholarships

Last week, I attended the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Foundation Scholarship (QATSIF) presentation at CQUniversity with Mrs Nadine Cleveland - Indigenous Liaison Officer. The foundation supports Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in their completion of Years 11 and 12.  QATSIF is a charitable trust first established in 2009 to ensure any interest from unspent Indigenous wage reparation money is made available to help Indigenous young people. QATSIF’s patron, Aunty Ruth Hegarty, author and Stolen Wages campaigner, sent her blessings and encouragement to our young First Nations students to get up when they fall down and dream big. Congratulations to the following Year 12 QATSIF Graduates:

• Lincoln H – Master of Ceremonies
• Madison T - QAS scholarship awardee
• Taryn C
• Jacob D
• Grace R
• Riley S (absent from the presentation)

Eisteddfod Results

Our Choir performed on Thursday, 14 August and were awarded 2nd place in Choral Singing for Secondary Schools, 2nd place in Choral Singing Hymn & Folk Singing for Secondary Schools, 2nd place in Folk Singing Group for Secondary Schools and 2nd place in Jazz/Modern Vocal Group for Secondary Schools. Our Choir received the prestigious Macrossan & Amiet Solicitors Choral Championship - Secondary Schools Award. These results are outstanding, and our gratitude goes to Brandi Illguth - Choir Director and Bernadetta Abell - Creative Arts Coordinator, for your tuition and support of our Choir. 

Our Concert Band performed on Monday, 18 August under the tuition of Mr Sam Bauer. Our Drum Corps performed on Tuesday, 19 August under the tuition of Tim McClelland, and they received a Very Highly Commended in the section Percussion/Handbell Ensemble for Secondary Schools. Thank you, Mr Bauer and Mr McClellan, for your tuition and ongoing support. We look forward to our Drama Group performing at the Eisteddfod in October.

Book Week Festivities

What a fantastic Inaugural Book Week Costume Parade we had last week! A huge thank you to Suzanne Gakowski - Dean of English (Senior) for bringing her energy and enthusiasm to this event. Both students and staff enjoyed the opportunity to dress up as their favourite character. Here's to a future of promoting a love of reading and adventure for our College community. This is just the beginning of our Book Week spirit of adventure!

Year 8 Big Night Out

A big thank you to Greg O’Neill - Dean of Students (Year 8) and his team for coordinating a wonderful evening for our students. The HSC DJS (Shane M & Hayden B) entertained students and staff with a mixture of music, including requests. The Year 12 Student Representative Council members: Olivia C, Rory F, Jesse H, Liam H, Natalie L, Stephanie P, Elise P.G and Natalie S provided interactive and fun games to keep the Year 8 students entertained and engaged.

A big thank you to the following staff who helped supervise on the night: Kerri Allen, Shelby Barbe, Shae Robinson, Liz Falzon, Adrianne Mifsud, Angela Wright, Robyn Robinson, Maria Mason, Sandy McLellan, Candice Lade, Charlotte Buchannan, Cecilia Hyde, Samantha Croton, Andrea Morrow, Nadine Adamson and Nyah McNamara. 

Z-Club

Ponytail Project

The HSC Z Club hosted the Ponytail Project again this year to raise awareness of those in our community living with cancer. The energy and community spirit the Ponytail Project generated was infectious. Eight students and two teachers donated their long ponytails so that wigs can be made for cancer patients. Thank you to Samantha Croton, Cecelia McLoughlin and the Z Club students for continuing this initiative in our College.

Birthing Kits

On Sunday, our Z-Club hosted the annual birthing kit assembly in the Father Bucas Centre. Teachers, Mrs Ceceila Mcloughlin and Ms? Samantha Croton worked with the Zonta Club of Mackay to ensure the assembly of 1,500 birthing kits occurred.  This powerful global initiative is aimed at improving maternal health in developing countries.

These kits are simple yet life-saving. Each one included:

• A plastic sheet to provide a clean surface
• Soap for handwashing
• Sterile gloves
• A scalpel blade for cutting the umbilical cord
• Cord ties
• Gauze squares for cleaning

This initiative is a beautiful example of how the efforts of volunteers can have a global impact.  Many thanks to the volunteers from our local community and secondary schools (Holy Spirit College, Mirani State High and Whitsunday Anglican School) for your involvement. 

The work that the Z Club does in our community is always so practical and tangible. I encourage students to get involved in a service group as volunteering has many benefits including boosting your mental and physical health.  Helping others also activates the brain’s reward system, releasing feel good chemicals like oxytocin.

A big thank you to the following HSC staff volunteers:

Samantha Croton, Cecelia McLoughlin, Maria Mason, Adrianne Mifsud, Liz Falzon and Helen Ringelstein.

Student Free Day

Reminder: Next Friday, 5 September, is a Student Free Day. During this day, all our staff will be participating in professional learning. Our Administration Office will be closed on this day. I encourage our students to use this day to study and prepare for all upcoming assessments.

Year 11 and 12 Students – Exam Blocks

On Monday, 8 September our Year 12 students studying ATAR subjects will commence two weeks of Mock Exams in readiness for their External Exams in Term 4. Our Year 12 Vocational Students have the opportunity to undertake competency catchup sessions to ensure they complete the requirements of their Certificate courses. The Year 11 students will start an exam block period on Wednesday, 10 September for the remainder of the term.

All students have been provided with an individual exam and competency catchup sessions timetable. Students will only be required to attend school at these scheduled times.

Staff News

Principal’s Assistant, Leeza Arnold, will be on leave for the remainder of this term, and I wish her well for her long service leave. Kellie Doherty, Administration Assistant - Business Support, will be my assistant while Mrs Arnold is on leave. I would like to take this opportunity to warmly welcome Mrs Doherty to the role. Mrs Doherty can be contacted via email, Kellie_Doherty@rok.catholic.edu.au.

Congratulations to Mikaella Beazley and her husband, Sean, on the safe arrival of their son, Oakley. We wish Mrs Beazley all the best while she is on maternity leave, and we look forward to welcoming her back next year.

Father’s Day

On Sunday, 7 September, we celebrate and honour our fathers. A heartfelt Happy Father’s Day to all our HSC fathers, grandfathers and father-figures in our lives. May your special day be filled with joy, appreciation, and well-deserved rest.

Prayer

Dear Lord,

We seek your guidance and support for our students as they begin their exams. Grant our students wisdom to understand their studies and clarity to recall all they have learned. Help them to realise the importance of preparation and determination. May they feel Your calming presence and peace during this challenging time, and may they be guided by Your light in all their endeavours.

We also give thanks for fathers and father figures who guide, protect, and love with unwavering strength. Bless them with joy and peace this Father’s Day.

May Holy Spirit College continue to grow in faith, hope and love.

Amen.

Blessings,     

Alison Wales - Principal