Ex Student – Chiara Visits HSPS
On Tuesday, we were delighted to welcome back alumnus Chiara Santiglia.
Since leaving Holy Spirit P.S., Chiara has achieved outstanding success as a talented sprinter, competing at elite levels and inspiring young people to pursue their goals with dedication and resilience.
Her achievements include placing third in this year’s Stawell Gift, where she competed against Sha’Carri Richardson (ranked 8th in the world for the women’s 100m), and runner-up in the 2025 Stawell Gift, Australia’s oldest and richest short-distance running race.
Our school captain, Chloe, did a wonderful job interviewing Chiara, who shared insights into her athletic journey and what it takes to succeed both on and off the track.
We hope you enjoy watching the interview.
Chiara was warmly welcomed by students, who were thrilled to meet her and took the opportunity to ask her many questions.
We wish Chiara all the best as she continues her studies in psychology and trains towards her goal of qualifying for the 2028 Olympics.
A Wild Day Out at Werribee Zoo
On Thursday 21 May, our whole school headed out to Werribee Open Range Zoo for a day to remember.
Students had an amazing time on the open-air safari bus, coming face to face with rhinos, giraffes, zebras, and so much more.
It was a wonderful opportunity to learn, explore, and connect with the natural world together. A big thank you to all the staff and parent helpers who made the day such a success.
It was great to see the animals up close in the open safari. I couldn’t believe how high the antelopes could jump! – Leo T, Junior S
We saw hippos and they were swimming on top of each other and showing off. – Alia, Junior Z
Holy Spirt Day!
Holy Spirit Day was a wonderful celebration of faith, creativity, and community across the school.
The day began with rotating activities for our Junior, Middle, and Senior students, with learning centered around celebrating our feast day of Pentecost and exploring the Fruits of the Spirit.
Throughout the day, students engaged in a range of creative experiences inspired by the theme of the Holy Spirit.
It was a joyful and meaningful day that highlighted the talents, creativity, faith, and spirit of our school community.
A highlight of the day was coming together as a whole school community to celebrate Mass. Our choir represented the school beautifully with their wonderful singing, and our School Captains and leadership team led and read with confidence and reverence throughout the celebration.
Cross Country Team: Running Strong at Bundorra Park
On Thursday 14 May, 16 students from Years 3 to 6 headed to Bundorra Park for the Cross Country Carnival.
For some students, it was their first time running in a cross country event and their first time representing the school, a big milestone by any measure.
Every student ran with dedication and determination, and showed great character in the encouragement they gave other Holy Spirit runners out on the course.
A top day all round.
Congratulations to Chelsea (Year 5) and Alexia (Year 3), who will represent the school at the District Carnival on Thursday 4 June.
We wish them all the best.
MACS Policy
As part of our newsletter communication, I will also be keeping families informed of key Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) policies, as it is important that all families are aware of the protocols and procedures that guide us as both a school and system community.
This week I am highlighting our Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy and Procedures, which underpins our Child Safety compliance at Holy Spirit and reflects our ongoing commitment to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of every child.
Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy for schools
Child Safety and Wellbeing Procedures for schools
I would like to thank the many parents and students who have already completed and returned their Code of Conduct agreements, and kindly ask any families who have not yet done so to please return these to the school by the end of this week.
Thanks
Belinda Cheong – Principal
WOW! THE WEATHER. WE CAN DO IT!
Dear parents and carers,
We are pleased to see our WOW! Darebin!; program is doing well since we started. This is the ‘Walk or Wheel Once a Week’ program with the City of Darebin. The program
encourages students to walk, scoot or bike to school every Thursday.
- as we approach the winter season, we understand that the weather can be challenging,
- but we have some encouraging tips to help make it easier for families to participate:
- dress appropriately: Wear warm, waterproof clothing, including hats, gloves, and
- scarves, to stay warm and dry.
- umbrellas and raincoats if it is a rainy day.
- buddy up: Encourage your child to walk or cycle with a friend or a group of friends. This will make it more enjoyable and safer.
- stay visible: Bright or light-coloured clothing helps you stay visible. Reflective
- clothing or accessories are also helpful, especially in the colder mornings.
We encourage families to participate in the program and make it a regular part of their weekly routine. Together, we can promote healthy habits and reduce traffic congestion around the school.
ALSO!
Just a reminder to warm up the wheels for Thursday. We would love to promote WOW!
Darebin and get the students to walk or wheel to school every Thursday for this term! There is a great pizza party at the end of the term for the winning class!!! Thanks in advance for your efforts to help the students to participate!
Building Resilience
In week 5, the Holy Spirit students zoomed in to a session run by Kids Helpline titled, ‘Developing Resilience’.
A particular focus was the top 5 tips to improve your resilience.
These are:
- Break the problem down
- Focus on the positives
- Build your support network
- Look after yourself
- Know your limits
Many student were unaware of Kids Helpline, however now they know a little bit more!! People who are available to them 24/7, remain anonymous and have an extra support in their network!
Feedback from the counsellor: I just wanted to send a huge thank you to both you and your students for the warm welcome into your virtual classroom today. It was such a pleasure meeting everyone and having the opportunity to chat together about ‘Developing Resilience’.
Thanks so much for having me. I really enjoyed the assembly and learned a lot about Sir Doug Nicholls. That was a great way to educate us all – the video and the quiz show. Very informative and entertaining! Yes it is so exciting for the students to see the award – but of course the pizza party is even more exciting 🙂 – Tara
Chairperson of Catholic School Parents Victoria
As Chairperson of Catholic School Parents Victoria (CSPV), I’m passionate about helping parents and carers feel connected, informed, and supported within their school communities. CSPV works alongside families, schools and Catholic education leaders to ensure parent voices are heard and valued, while promoting student wellbeing and positive school partnerships. We believe strong school communities are built when families and schools work together, and we’re proud to support parents through advocacy, resources, and shared experiences across Victoria.
Please visit our website: https://cspv.catholic.edu.au/
Upcoming Events
First Eucharist
As a school community, we ask our families to keep some of our Year 4 students in their thoughts and prayers as they prepare to receive the Sacrament of First Eucharist this Saturday at 5:00pm at Holy Spirit Church.
These children are: Deeb Sukkar, Ethan Casauria, Annie Dinh, Elijah Henderson,Chahid Kairouz, Sami Kairouz, Cooper Robertson, Jazmina Souki, and Harrison Madigan.
This is a very special milestone as the students continue their journey through the Sacraments of Initiation and grow in faith and relationship with God.
We pray that this celebration will be a meaningful and joyful occasion for our students and their families. Please feel free to join us at mass and join in the celebration this weekend. As always, all are welcome.
Feast of the Sacred Heart
Wider Community Information
