Learning & Teaching

National Simultaneous Story Time

Students gathered in the library at 11am on Wednesday 24th May to participate in the National Simultaneous Story time. 2,357,000 children participated and Holy Spirit was part of it! This year’s book was The Speedy Sloth by Rebecca Young. 

Now in its 23rd year, the NSS is held every year on the last Wednesday in May and it brings children together in schools, libraries and homes all around Australia to read the same Australian picture book at exactly the same time.

A big thank you to Katherine & Trish for engaging our students in the NSS this year!

Holy Spirit is committed to ensuring our students receive a well-rounded education that fosters and nurtures the growth and development of each student as they grow towards maturity. 

Our 5/6 students will be participating in sexuality education classroom workshops this term. We have once again partnered with Sue Pain, the founder of About Real Life. Sue will be leading our students in this program and is an experienced presenter of primary and secondary programs designed to support this aim. Sexuality education in schools is part of a broader curriculum aimed at maximising student’s health and wellbeing. These workshops are sensitive to and respectful of the values and beliefs of the school, parents/guardians and families. 

We hope that these workshops begin conversations at home that assist our students with their growth and development, whilst equipping them with the knowledge they need to become informed young adults. 

ICAS Assessments

We are delighted to inform you that Holy Spirit will be participating in the world-renowned ICAS competitions this year for our Years 3 - 6 students.

What is ICAS? 

ICAS is an online academic competition that is designed to assess students’ higher order thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Mathematics, Science, Writing, Spelling Bee and Digital Technologies. 

Each assessment celebrates students’ accomplishments by providing opportunities for recognition and development. Every student will receive a printed certificate and an online results report. Top performers will be eligible for medals.

We encourage you to consider entering your child into ICAS this year. Learn more about ICAS here: https://www.icasassessments.com/products-icas

Holy Spirit has signed up for both the English and Mathematics ICAS Assessments in 2023. These tests will be completed at school, during school hours, and are not compulsory to complete. You may enter your child in one or both of the English and Mathematics ICAS Assessments. Students must be in Years 3 - 6 to have the opportunity to sit these assessments. 

Testing Date period  

English: Monday 14th - Friday 18th August 

Mathematics: Monday 28th August - Friday 1st September

Actual dates of the assessments are TBC. 

Our school has signed up for the ICAS Assessments Parent Payment System (PPS) for (English & Mathematics). Through this system parents can pay for ICAS directly online while tests will still be held at our school. 

Please use the following details to register your child/children by no later than Monday 31st July. Each test will cost $19.25 (inc. GST) per child per test. Payment is required at the time of registration.

Please note that unfortunately late payments for assessments are not available. The school cannot extend this time or sign students up later as the enrolment process is completed through the ICAS Parent Payment System website. 

To sign up

Our parent page link is: https://shop.icasassessments.com/pages/pps

Our school access code is:  RFY966

Click on ‘Enter’

Follow the steps to register your child/children in one or both of the English & Mathematics assessments. Finalise enrolment, payment and save. The information of enrolment will then be sent to the school. Please ensure that your child’s information is accurate and current as this is what you will see on the final certificate and report documentation. 

A permission slip will be sent home to all families that enrol their child/children into an English and/or Mathematics ICAS Assessment closer to the assessment date.

We are proud to offer the ICAS Assessments, and look forward to celebrating some fantastic results later in the year.

Please do not hesitate to contact myself via Dojo or email if you have any questions.

Library

The Library will be open to our families, before school, on a Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of each week, from 8:35 - 8:50am. You are welcome to visit Trish in the library to read with your child or borrow a book.

Assembly

Thank you to 3/4D for sharing their learning at assembly this fortnight. 

Well done to our School Choir who performed at assembly in week 4. We loved listening to you!

Please check the school calendar for the class presenting at assembly each week. 

Assembly is held at 2:30pm on Friday.

Have the best fortnight!!

Kayla Flindt-Petersen

Learning & Teaching Leader