Dear Parents and Carers 

REMEMBRANCE DAY 

Yesterday, we were extremely fortunate to participate in a very powerful Remembrance Day Ceremony with members of our community and the armed forces. We were privileged to have Australia’s Federation Guard in attendance, who performed a Catafalque Party. There are quite a few photos of the event on our Facebook page. Special thanks to Vicki Walsh, our fabulous Defence Mentor, for all her coordination of the event.

Laurence Binyon

“Ode of Remembrance”

eSAFETY

Sadly we are receiving a growing number of reports from parents concerned about the online activity of their own child or another student. While it is occurring outside school hours, the fallout of relationships and the reality of face to face communication is occurring at school. Leadership and teachers are now spending considerable time working through the issues, managing behaviours, dealing with restorative practices and, in most cases, informing parents of what is happening. Each year we provide eSafety information sessions to students and constantly revise eSafety rules. The online world is constantly evolving and difficult to navigate, but I urge all parents to read and implement many of the rules and advice provided by the government’s ESafety Commissioner. For information use this link:

FAMILIES LEAVING HOLY SPIRIT

Thank you to the families who have informed us if they are leaving our community at the end of the year. However, there have been a few cases where the children have told their teacher they are leaving but as yet, the Front Office has not been notified. If you are leaving at the end of the year and have not let us know officially, would you please inform the Front Office ASAP or fill out the slip below and return it to the Front Office. It is important for our planning of classes for 2020 that we have this information as we have a waiting list for most year levels.

Have a great week

 Brad Gaynor

Principal

brad.gaynor@cg.catholic.edu.au

2020 School Fees 

Letters were sent home on yesterday with the eldest child in relation to school fees for 2020. Payment of fees by direct debit is encouraged and a form has been included, for those families not currently using this payment method, for your consideration. For those families currently paying by direct debit, please complete the included direct debit form to alter the amount of your current payment. If you are behind in your school fees, due to your direct debit rejecting or you have not been paying the required amount, please adjust your direct debit amount to cover the arrears.

All direct debit forms need to be returned to the school office by Friday 22 November, so that all alterations can take place before the end of the school year.

If you have an older child who will be attending a different systemic primary school or systemic secondary school in 2020 you will also need to complete each year, the ‘Building Fund Levy & CE Tuition Fees’ form. This form needs to be completed and returned to the school for you to obtain your sibling discount and Building Fund Levy exemption. If this form is not returned to us, you will automatically be charged full CE Tuition Fee and the Building Fund Levy at this school. Families with four or more children attending both Secondary and Primary Systemic Schools will not be charged the CE Tuition Fee for the fourth or subsequent child. 

Please read your School Fees Letter and complete the necessary forms and return to the front office no later than

Friday 22 November 2019 

If you have any queries regarding school fees for 2020, please contact me. 

Kathryn Leslie

Office Manager

On Wednesday, the school community came together to commemorate Remembrance Day.  We were privileged to have Australia’s Federation Guard in attendance, who performed a Catafalque Party, showing their highly disciplined skills, to the delight and awe of our audience.  Our guest speaker Colonel Blaydon Morris reminded us of the significance of the loses made during war times, but also of the assistance provided to countries in need by our Australian Defence Forces.  Our students stood quietly and respectfully in reflection, during an unfaltering Last Post and Rouse, played by Bugler, Musician David Willis. 

Our music was provided by the very talented Holy Spirit Choir and JPC Vocal Group, who came together with a haunting rendition of “In Flanders Fields” and led us in the National Anthem.  Ms Taylor (HSP) and Miss Robinson (JPC) worked in close collaboration together and produced beautiful music, enhancing our Ceremony.  Again, we had the very talented Mr Matt Foster, who not only accompanied the choirs, but performed the poignant backdrop with his violin, for our wreath laying.

Wreaths were laid by Flying Officer Shaun McGill, President, Gungahlin RSL sub branch and by our Defence Students, on behalf of our school community to acknowledge the deaths in all conflicts and also for those who now suffer from PTSD.  Mrs Naomi Johnson, kindly provided our beautiful wreaths, which included olive branches for peace and silver fern to acknowledge our Kiwi allies.

Some of our Holy Spirit relatives were acknowledged in our Ceremony, both past and present Defence Personnel.  We were reminded, that most of us have a connection to someone who has served for Australia or other countries. I would like to thank the families who sent in photos of their loved ones, to make our Remembrance Day Ceremony a truly personal and relative presentation.  Thank you to all the ADF parents who attended our Ceremony, it was a great show of support.

At the end of our Ceremony, our students were asked to find out about their own family’s defence history.  Our Ceremonies can be an important time for us to come together and reflect as a community.  They can also be a catalyst for our students to start a conversation with a family member or a veteran and discover their story. 

This is how our youth will remember the sacrifices of our past generations and honour their spirit.

Lest We Forget

Vicki Walsh, DSM

If you would like to attend the National Ceremony at the AWM, at 10:30 on Monday 11 November, please follow the link below for your free tickets.

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Lest We Forget

Vicki Walsh, DSM