Welcome back

Welcome back to all our new and existing families to Bowen State School. Can I thank everyone for your understanding and patience through a difficult delayed start to the 2022 school year. We are excited to welcome all students back to school and are ready for the teaching and learning. I would encourage families to remain in regular contact with teachers through Class Dojo, phone calls and socially distanced safe catch ups. I have observed calm and settled rooms with evidence of lots of resourcing and planning to ensure all students have the best start to the year.  Students in the upper years are currently in the recruitment process for school leader positions of Sports Captains and Student Council. Our leaders will be formally inducted during this term. We will notify families of the time lines and format.

Please be assured that our school has been taking all appropriate precautions regarding health and hygiene and we will continue to act in accordance with the advice of Queensland Health.

If you or any members of your household develop symptoms or feel unwell, please get tested immediately and stay home and isolate. Further information including testing centres, alerts and symptoms of COVID-19, can be found via the Queensland Government https://www.covid19.qld.gov.au/ website.

Could I encourage families to utilise the frequently asked questions for families resource https://qed.qld.gov.au/covid19/frequently-asked-questions and always contact the school if you have any questions or queries around the current COVID 19 directives. Our school Facebook page, school sign, SMS and emailing are ways we are regularly communicating with our school community.

New Staff

This year we welcome many new staff to Bowen State School. We have included a profile on each within this newsletter. Our main focus is supporting a successful transition with lots of induction and training around the Bowen Way! Please join with me in welcoming our newest editions to the team.

Welcome Karen Weekes

At the end of 2021 we farewelled Mr Callaghan on his western adventure. In his absence, I would like to welcome our very own Mrs Karen Weekes into the Acting Deputy Principal role for this term. Karen brings a long career of early years expertise and is undertaking some great leadership this year around the inclusion and differentiation work at Bowen State School. The position will be advertised this term and interviews will commence shortly for the role till the end of term 2 this year with possible extension. Congratulations Mrs Weekes, we are all looking forward to having you undertake this role in our school.

Day 8

Parents may not be aware that traditionally we collate all the students within our school for our allocation of school funding on the 8th day of the school year. Due to a very unsettled and unpredictable start to the school year, the department has made some significant adjustments. It was recently announced by Education Queensland that funding for Bowen State School will be based on our November 2021 predicted numbers for this year. I would like to inform families that by now we would usually be able to finalise classes and teachers for the year. Unfortunately, as the process is being drawn out it is important that families understand that there may be some changes to classes and teachers. The expected timeline is around the 25th of February. We will notify individual year levels if this change does need to occur.

Full School Review

This year Bowen State School will be undertaking a full school review. This opportunity to look for the next steps at Bowen State School will involve the whole school community. The external reviews will be talking to staff, students, parents and community members. The dates for the review will be 10th,11th and 12th of May. I will be including information about the process and resources leading up to the event via the newsletter. We are working hard with staff this term reflecting on the key strategic work and high yield practices that are working to improve the learning outcomes this term. I have included an information flyer for families.

I'm looking forward to sharing more great stories around the teaching and learning this term. Until next fortnight, have a great couple of weeks.

Christien Payne

Principal

I believe in: Hard Work Honesty Transparency