For millennium’s more than 2,600 first nation peoples from countries around the world have used Yarning Circles as a way of sharing stories, discussing issues, ways of knowing, learning and communicating. Who would have known that in the 21st century researchers are now utilising and acknowledging this exchange is used for many methodologies and theories that support human development, social constructs and mindfulness.

Term 1 commenced with a real focus on our Yarning Circle and the significance this will have on our students and staff. We began Term 1 with all of our amazing staff undergoing some upskilling around Inclusion and Differentiation, it was just awesome to see how passionate Bowen Sate School is about every student feeling included in every aspect of their learning careers.

Should any parents like to know more about this exciting forward focused learning our staff are happy to explain.

Term 2 has many exciting dates to remember we have NAIDOC scheduled for the Thursday last week of Term 2. This year we have some amazing parents who bring to our school another layer of Cultural understanding around our First Nation Torres Strait Islander peoples. I am very excited to let you all know that we will be increasing our Collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art and Artefacts, these will be displayed in the Library Showcases along with our other remarkable items. The school is also excited to be including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Games for all students Tuesday and Thursdays each week.

Bowen State School is very proud to have a Sports and Recreation Officer from Girudala who will be working at the school a couple of times each week. Won’t give away the details, watch this space there will be more info in the Guidance Officers Term 1 Report.

It is with great pride that I mention all our parents who have really done it tuff again this year. We have seen practically all our students return to school despite the fear of COVID, I really want to congratulate our families for their belief in our school and how we have done everything to make Term 1 as positive an experience as possible.

I would like to remind parents that should you find you do not have any fruit etc for the children especially since we have had COVID and Floods and there is often nothing much to buy at the supermarkets, its tricky when payday falls on the day the shelves are bare. Please remember that we can feed our students Breakfast and Lunch at school. All we need is for the students to let us know and we will organise things discreetly for them.

Ending this report with the information that we should see the completion of garden, signage and Gabion Boxes with more Native Trees planted as the garden and riverbed part of the Yarning Circle will be completed early in Term 2. Watch this space for the news that we have received funding for the Shade Sails so that our students can fully utilise the Yarning Circle as a significant part of the school cultural studies.

Thank You for all your support we truly can be so proud of all our students.

CEC Karenne