History

Holy Spirit Primary School, founded in 1979, is set in spacious grounds in Darwin's northern suburbs. We see ourselves as part of the parish and work closely with the Parish Priest and church community

With a student enrolment of approximately 400 the school strives to enable students to grow personally, academically and spiritually in keeping with our motto

As we celebrate 23 years of providing Catholic education to the parish we have much of which to be proud.

Our teachers are committed to providing a quality Catholic education based on Gospel values in partnership with the parish and parents. Their priority is to support students achieving their potential.

Holy Spirit caters for diversity. Our focus on Maths and English is validated by our strong NT MAP results. Through use of developmental continua teachers discern student needs, either in support or extension. The talents and interests of the students in Sport, the Arts and the environment are catered for through both school and community involvement.

Holy Spirit Community of Learners (3-5 yrs) is a new initiative based on full or part time sessions where students experience a programme inspired by Reggio Emilia philosophy where they are co-constructors of their learning and are encouraged to learn through all their symbolic languages. April 2003

During the mid'70s the population in the northern suburbs was increasing at such a rate that a new primary school was needed. Father Brady with the help of the parish council, established a special sub-committee to handle all matters related to the planning and building of the school.This sub-committee consisted of Mr Martin Ford, Mr Jim Ford, Mr Alf Goody, Mr Jim Lyon and Mrs Gill Webb. The request to the Federal Government for funding under the Capital Aid Scheme was approved. After consultation with the Principals of St Mary's and St Paul's Schools the Architects Wilkins, Klemm and Morrison drew up plans, tenders were called, and the Firm of Progressive Builders undertook to complete their task for the commencement of the 1979 school year.

Father Brady then turned his attention to securing the services of a religious order to administer the school.Approaches were made to the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and to the Sisters of Mercy (Singleton, N.S.W.).The Sisters of Mercy accepted responsibility for the school for an initial period of five years which was extended for a further three years. The foundation Principal, Sister Patricia McGinty was ably supported by Sisters Marie Matthews and Mary Bowe.

On Friday 27 April Bishop O'Loughlin concelebrated Mass in the school auditorium with Fathers Brady, Travers, Mostawik, Cruikshank, English, Donnelly and Guy. After Mass, the Bishop blessed the school building and joined the staff and visiting religious for lunch. On Sunday 29 April the Federal Minister for Education, Senator the Honourable J L Carrick, officially opened the school. Mr Paul Everingham,Chief Minister, Senator Ted Robertson, Senator Bernie Kilgariff,Mr J Englund, the Administrator of the Territory, and Dr J Eedle, representing the N.T. Department of Education, were present withparishioners, friends and associates of the school.

1978 Aug	The first sod was turned.
1979 Feb 1	The first staff meeting was held in the Mass Centre as the school was not quite ready. Mr Wes Whitmore, Headmaster of Wanguri Primary School, had offered the use of their facilities and with his staff hosted a luncheon for the new staff of the new Holy Spirit School.
Feb 3	Builders handed over school building to parish committee.
Feb 4	Parishioners 'cleaned up' the school.
Feb 5	First term began with Staff and Years 5, 6 and 7.
Feb 6	Years 3 and 4 commenced.
Feb 7	Years 1 and 2 commenced.
Feb 12	Preps commenced.A total of four hundred and thirty four pupils were enrolled in fifteen classes.
1980	Student population rose to five hundred and eighty in eighteen classes. First Sports and Swimming Carnivals took place. Bishop O'Loughlin administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to the first group of students in the Mass Centre. Plans were drawn up for a block of demountables on the Angelo Street side of the school.
1981	Demountables were ready for occupation in August. School motto was chosen and the school crest was designed .
1982	Student population climbed towards mid six hundreds. School crest mounted over front entrance and in courtyard. First year of semester system with four terms.First school magazine produced
1983	Enrolments peaked at six hundred and sixty five. Transition class introduced in second semester.
1986	First Lay Principal Mrs Jo Diaz Appointed to commence beginning 1987

The crest is shaped as a shield, the school motto ToLive, To Love,To Grow in Christ. A silver dove, representing the Holy Spirit overlooks a large stylised Sturt's Rose, the centre of which is the Mercy Cross the emblem of the Sisters of Mercy. The name of the school is scrolled at the base of the crest. We hope to symbolise in our crest the Spirit of God impregnating the work of the Sisters of Mercy in the Territory, particularly in Casuarina.

Claude Hanssens Peter Tolhurst Fr Peter Guy Grace Blengini Wendy McCarthy Estelle Huybrechts Sue Tennant Trudy Stock Jane Boustead Jill Morrison Terry Higgins Louise McKee Dawn Parkinson Carmel Foott Marlene McNeill JoycePlumb Audrey Power Diane Rooney Sr Mary Carmel Smith Margaret Callanan Fr J Brady Sr Patricia Gill Gray Pat MeGufficke Sr Marie Bernie Richards

Sr Mary Bowe, Sr Marie Matthews, Sr Patricia McGinty(Principal), Bishop O'Loughlin, Sr Patricia Lake (Provincial Superior) and Father Joe Brady photographed by the NT News just before the school opened.

Alan Farrell, Emily Webb-Brennan, Clair Parker, Sam Falkingham, Ruth Dunham and Ioly Patsia blow out the candles as we celebrate our 20 th birthday.

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