“We are all invited to walk the streets of the world with one’s brothers and sisters.” – Pope Francis

In conjunction with Catholic Mission, the College runs an annual Catholic Immersion for students in Year 11. These experiences are spiritually enriching for our students and staff that attend. The lifelong learning that occurs, both about different cultures and how different communities around the world encompass their Catholicism, is priceless for these senior students.

Past Holy Spirit College students have travelled to places such as Cambodia, Mongolia, Borneo and Timor-Leste.

From the Catholic Mission Website: A Catholic Mission Immersion is where a small group of adults or students visit church and school communities in an Australian Indigenous context or an overseas country for 10 – 12 days. The purpose of an immersion is for participants to experience life, faith and justice from a new perspective and return home inspired to live a personal sense of Catholic ‘mission’ in Australia.

The College Environment Group has been involved in a number of good causes within the school since its inception in 2017. Notably, the annual preloved clothing sale is beginning to become a recognised part of Holy Spirit Day activities and is a favourite among the students and staff alike.

These students also helped to improve the sustainability of the school by installing recycling boxes which are now to be found in all classrooms. Plastic bottles, can and popper boxes are also collected for the Vinnies Return and Earn scheme, raising money for local projects.

Initiatives with recycling, litter removal and waste management have also been implemented around the College, as well as a number of fun activities such as building a lizard lounge and tadpole hotel, attending various environmental conferences, engaging in clean ups around the school perimeter and visiting the Green Connect Farm in Warrawong.

The students also embrace special days such as Clean up Australia Day, World Environment Day and the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation by giving reflections and prayers in homeroom.

The future of sustainability initiatives at Holy Spirit College looks exciting with the writing of a second official School Environment Management Policy and the formation of a staff environmental group to supplement the work of the students. We, as a College, are working towards being united in our effort to improve the sustainability of the school community and have fun saving the planet.

Holy Spirit College fosters the development of all students according to their skills and talents. Students are invited to be part of the following academic competitions throughout the year:

ICAS

Australian Mathematics Competition

The Big Science Competition

MAD STEM Competition

The World Skills Electrotechnology Competition

South Coast Public Speaking Competition

Debating Competitions

Science Olympiads

daVinci Decathlon

Tournament of Minds

The da Vinci Decathlon is an academic competition designed to challenge and stimulate the minds of school students in Years 7-10. Students compete against other schools in teams of eight across 10 disciplines: engineering, mathematics, code breaking, art and poetry, science, English, ideation, creative producers, cartography and legacy.

International Study Tours occur at the college every second year and see a group of interested students and staff travel to areas of historical importance and cultural significance around the world. In past years these locations have included Gallipoli, where students followed some of the wartime experiences of the ANZACs during the First World War. Students have also had similar adventures in France and Belgium, visiting battlefields and giving research presentations graveside about their “adopted” digger. These tours are historically rich and immensely rewarding for students and staff alike.

In 2024, students will be offered the exciting opportunity to participate in a cultural study tour of Japan.

Students will be provided with the opportunity to participate in a number of cultural activities, including a visit to a high school in Tokyo where they can cultivate friendships and enjoy an authentic experience of school life in Japan. The group will also visit many cities and places of cultural, historical and religious significance such as Kyoto, Nara and Hiroshima.

The tour is set to take place in October 2024 and students who attend this overseas trip will undoubtedly return with an enriched understanding of Japanese culture and an enhanced life experience.

Participating in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) experiences at Holy Spirit College provides students with a myriad of opportunities for intellectual growth, skill development, and future career prospects.

Through hands-on experiences both in and out of a traditional classroom setting, students are encouraged and supported to engage in practical experiments, research, and projects that foster creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. The collaborative nature of STEM promotes teamwork and communication, essential attributes in any professional setting.

Moreover, exposure to cutting-edge technologies and methodologies prepares students for the rapidly evolving landscape of the modern workforce. Beyond academic benefits, involvement in STEM pathways often opens doors to extracurricular activities, competitions, and mentorship programs, connecting students with like-minded peers and professionals in the field.

Holy Spirit College has fostered a rich culture of success in the STEM-MAD competition, having won numerous National Design Awards in the recent past. The skills acquired in these activities not only enhance academic performance but also lay a solid foundation for pursuing diverse and rewarding careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Holy Spirit College provides a range of opportunities for students to develop their skills in public speaking and debating.

The College hosts the annual South Coast Public Speaking Competition, giving students from Year 7 to Year 11 the opportunity to compete against students across the Illawarra, Campbelltown and the Southern Highlands.

Students at the College also have the opportunity to participate in debating. For those teams who place first in the local competition, there is the opportunity to compete at a State level at the end of the year.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is an internationally recognised program for young people (aged 14 to 25), building their skills to equip them for life and work. By creating opportunities for young people to develop skills, get physically active, give service, and experience adventure, the award can play a critical role in their development.

The program upholds core values celebrated within the Holy Spirit College community such as teamwork, dedication, service and resilience.

To attain the Award, students will complete activities in the following areas:

giving service (volunteering time to assist others in our community);
participating in regular Physical Recreation;
undertaking and learning a new Skill; and
completing a series of Adventurous Journeys as a team with fellow students.There are three levels for the Award; Bronze, Silver and Gold.

The College staff have successfully run the Duke of Edinburgh International Award for a number of years. Several students have reached the Bronze level, with some progressing to the Silver Award. Students involved with this program speak highly of the opportunity to experience an adventure outside of their comfort zones.

Each year the College offers the program to Year 9 and 10 students.

Holy Spirit College has a long history of great sporting successes. The impressive sporting history of the College is testament to the values of teamwork, dedication and grit promoted through all aspects of College life.

2023 marked the 16th consecutive win of the Vince Villa Memorial Trophy for the Most Outstanding Coeducational Secondary Sport School in the Diocese of Wollongong. This outstanding achievement pays tribute to the commitment of both staff and students who dedicate time during the year to participate in the sporting community of the Wollongong Diocese.

Another great success is the College’s consistent achievements at the overall Co-Educational Secondary School Championship at Diocesan Swimming, Cross Country and Athletics Carnivals.

Holy Spirit College provides a range of opportunities for students to be involved in representative sport at a Diocesan level. These include teams for:

Touch Football

Netball

Football

Rugby League

Tennis

Basketball

Volleyball

Hockey

AFL

Cricket

Futsal

Rugby Union 7s

Oztag

The College also has competitive teams for surfing and mountain biking.

Annually all students are offered the opportunity to participate in Dragon Boat Racing as part of the Holy Spirit College team.

Students also regularly represent the College on a state level at NSWCCC events for Football, Netball, Rugby League, Triathlon and Cricket.

As part of the Stage 5 PDHPE program, the College operates a sport afternoon on a fortnightly basis for students in Years 9 and 10.

These students have two periods of sport per cycle staffed by PDHPE teachers.

Rationale:

The sport afternoon provides students with an opportunity to experience a wider range of physical activities that cannot be offered within the regular program offered at the College.

It also provides students with exposure and access to a variety of community venues. This, in turn, increases student opportunity to participate in more lifelong physical activities.

Outcomes are for students to:

successfully participate in physical activity on a regular basis;

show responsibility in sport selection, equipment, etc. required for their particular activity;

travel to and from any external venue responsibly and safely;

have the opportunity to compete against other students in that sport;

participate in the activity according to instructions and safety guidelines;

cooperate with others; and

have fun.

Process:

Students participate in PDHPE classes with their PDHPE teacher. This works on a two/three week rotational system, where classes participate in an activity for two or three consecutive sessions and then rotate.

A timetable of activities for the year is listed in the front of their workbook along with permission notes for particular venues.

Activities Offered:

Tenpin Bowling

Tennis

Fitness

Rock Climbing

Dance

Circuit training classes

Archery tag

Fitness and boxing classes

Ten bin bowling

Indoor rock climbing

Dance

Tennis

Yoga

Lawn Bowls

VENUES:

Wollongong University Uni Hub

Hangdog

Northern Bowl

Woonona Bulli Gymnastics

NSPC Training

Eco Fitness

Black Diamond Adventures

Chodat fitness

Northern Bowl

Hangdog

Boogielife

Beaton Park Tennis Centre

Savvy Fitness

Bellambi Bowling Club

Students from Years 7 – 11 have the opportunity to join the school production on stage or behind the scenes. In 2024 the students will perform ‘Frozen’ from the 27 June - 29 June. The performances will take place in the Casey Ryder Centre.

The College endeavours to provide a variety of opportunities within the classroom and also in an extracurricular setting to ensure that all students experience the arts. Throughout the school year the College offers a range of creative experiences for students to be involved such as:

School Production

Annual Musical Gala Night

Choir - for Liturgy, Mass and school events

String Ensemble

Senior and Junior Vocal Groups

Rock Band(s)

Students have the opportunity to:

learn an instrument within the classroom or as an extracurricular activity with the college rock bands;

sing as part of a college ensemble or choir;

collaborate and perform devised works within the elective drama classes or as part of the school musical; and

engage in a variety of art making activities such as photography, ceramics, drawing, and computer-based technologies.

Students studying Creative Arts are fortunate to have specialist areas and equipment to enhance and promote their learning.

The Creative Arts faculty is proud of their academic results and expects students to treat the artistic subjects with the same academic rigour as they would other subjects. Our students have access to industry standard software in the areas of digital artmaking practice and photography, as well as a dedicated senior studio space.

Our creative arts subjects offer a wide range of opportunities for students to develop their own interests, and to be self-motivated and active learners who can take responsibility for their own learning in school and post-school settings.