Holy Spirit leads the way with inclusion

By Catherine Rankin

An all-female leadership team is engaging students with robotics, an entrepreneur program and a therapy dog at Holy Spirit Catholic School in New Farm.

Principal Bianca Murphy, Assistant Principal Veronica King, and Director of Learning Gabrielle Yates have brought their understanding of classroom dynamics to their roles as leaders thanks to their extensive backgrounds as teachers since they stepped into their roles in January.

“I think the importance nurturing relationships with staff and with children and leading with empathy… is at the forefront of what we do here,” Mrs Murphy said.

Connectivity and inclusivity are two core values at Holy Spirit.

The school is working alongside psychologist Karen Young to accommodate all students, including those who are neurodivergent.

“It’s about celebrating each unique student, but it’s also fostering that environment where they get to celebrate, to identify and experience who they are,” Mrs Murphy said.

A new entrepreneurial program allows students to participate in discussions about ecological crises.

The program encouraged a student to reach out to David Attenborough who then replied in a hand-written letter.

Their certified therapy dog, Freddie, comes in on Wednesdays and has been met with enthusiasm by students.

The school is currently undergoing renovations that will include three new classrooms dedicated to students in Grades 4, 5 and 6, designed to assist with a smooth transition from primary school to high school.

The new building will introduce a specialist STEM teacher, allowing students to engage in engineering subjects such as robotics.

The renovations are set to be completed by the end of 2025.

Photo caption: Gabrielle Yates, Bianca Murphy and Veronica King bring a wealth of empathy and experience

Photography: Kate Lockyer