Choosing the right education for your child is one of the most important decisions you will ever make.
As parents, carers, or grandparents you have a choice – and the right – to offer your child the best education available.
The Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle proudly hosts some of the best schools in Newcastle, Maitland, the Hunter and Upper Hunter, Lake Macquarie and Manning regions.
Catholic schools offer a unique educational experience which forms the child or young person as a person of integrity, compassion, faith and wisdom. Catholic schools also work closely with their local parish to enhance in students a capacity to make sense of their world, to make judgements and to recognise the uniqueness of others within a faith community.
Each school has a supportive community of teachers, parents, carers, P&F committees, clergy, parishioners, and support staff who work together to focus on students; encouraging success, promoting discipline, supporting creativity and instilling compassion. This means that Catholic schools don’t just teach religious studies, they seek to develop spirit, mind, body and character and cultivate Gospel values that support lives filled with joy, endeavour and hope in the future.
Each Catholic school has a commitment to focusing on each individual child’s ability, offering a unique array of educational, creative, sporting and formation opportunities for students.
Finally, Catholic schools offer peace of mind to parents; knowing they’ve made the right choice and the best investment for their child’s future. It is because of this and the many opportunities available to students that we believe choosing a Catholic education, is the right choice to make.
What we offer:
THE ONLY K-2 SCHOOL IN THE DIOCESE
Holy Spirit Infants School is the only Kindergarten to Year 2 school in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle. Holy Spirit Infants’ community is a small and unique school that encourages students to live out the gospel values of acceptance, respect, dignity and honesty and provides a holistic experience for students through academic, spiritual, physical and emotional endeavours. Students of Holy Spirit Infants School, Abermain are encouraged to continue their Catholic education by attending Holy Spirit Primary School, Kurri Kurri and later ASC, St Peter’s Campus, Maitland.
QUALITY TEACHING AND LEARNING
At Holy Spirit Infants School, we strive for excellence in all areas of school life and value each individual child and their learning experiences. We provide a supportive and nurturing environment promoting the importance of doing our best and enabling children to realise their full potential in all aspects of their development.
We seek to provide a holistic experience for all students from Kindergarten to Year 2, through academic, spiritual, physical, social and emotional endeavours. We focus on the talents and gifts of each individual child and encourage them to share their special gifts.
Holy Spirit Infants is a learning community that strives to provide a broad-based education that educates for today’s world, with tomorrow’s leaders in mind. We are committed to developing a love of learning in each child by promoting the importance of lifelong learning, collaboration and learning through play and specialised whole school pedagogy.
CONTEMPORARY LEARNING
Holy Spirit Infants is a contemporary learning environment that embraces a learning culture that encourages all students to explore and discover their many talents and abilities. We believe that learning is a personal journey for the students and the teacher – one that is exciting, engaging and enduring. Our teachers pride themselves on their professionalism and ability to develop and deliver teaching programs that incorporate classroom learning opportunities and outdoor learning activities.
Our commitment to contemporary learning beyond the 21st century is focused on the needs of our students. We aim to prepare them for a future that is marked by a rapid change not only in science and technology, but in so many aspects of everyday life. We teach our students in a way that encourages them to adapt, apply and transfer new skills and knowledge, show respect towards others, embrace technology and equip themselves with skills that will allow them to be lifelong learners in a rapidly changing world.
Our curriculum is geared towards facing this exciting challenge. The use of contemporary tools is constantly shaping our teaching and learning practices. We have created learning spaces that facilitate the use of technology to support and engage students in all key learning areas. We aim to be a learning centered school.
MODERN AND CREATIVE FACILITIES
Holy Spirit Infants has been recently renovated with newly furnished classrooms that encourages student collaboration and group work, promotes inquiry and creative exploration of ideas, as well as supports students to engage in deep and powerful learning.
The flexible learning areas allow children and teachers to set up the room in a manner that is conducive to learning. Some desks allow children to stand whilst working and special seating has also been purchased to fit the needs of the students. Children are placed into fluid and flexible grouping for reading and spelling.
All students have access to a bank of computers, iPads in every classroom, interactive TVs, Smartboards and the ability to collaborate with schools around the diocese and the world via our video conferencing connection.
Students also have the opportunity to explore, play, interact, problem solve and collaborate in their new outdoor learning area. We are guided by current research that children learn through play, conversation and extending their problem solving skills and imagination. Our school features a fairy garden, boat, rock garden, oversized outdoor scales, mud kitchen, deck and workbench, climbing equipment, sand pit and an imaginative play area.
SPECIAL NEEDS SERVICES
Holy Spirit Infants currently host two satellite classes for the Aspect Hunter School which specialises in educating children with autism. Aspect classes are conveniently located on our school grounds which assists children with their transition into the mainstream classroom.
The aim of the satellite program is to provide specialised support services and facilities to help students develop the skills to become as independent as possible so they can eventually integrate into a mainstream classroom. Aspect staff facilitate professional development to our classroom teachers, allowing us as a whole school to be skilled in all areas of special needs. It is of great advantage having Aspect onsite, as it provides convenience for siblings by enabling them to attend the same school, wear the same uniform and attend the same events.