Filter Content
Explicit improvement agenda
Recently the leadership team attended a day of professional learning around the feedback from the North Queensland review. One of the recommendations was to refine the work with a sharper and narrower, precise focus. During the day we spent time working on our draft Annual Implementation Plan for 2020. We noted that in our whole school review two years ago a recommendation was to refine and sharpen our Explicit Improvement Agenda. Taking on board all of this information allowed some clarity for ourselves. We believe that it is important to sharpen our focus this year and that staff, students and families know exactly what we are focusing on and where we see ourselves at the end of 2020.
I believe that we have narrowed our focus into two areas. “Reading” and “Problem solving”. We want to improve the learning outcomes for all our students in this area in 2020. The school has set 3-4 strategies for each of these areas to simplify and outline the core work. Can I share that all the capacity building and professional learning that will occur in these two areas this year will be explicitly unpacked with students, staff and families. It is vital our community is aware and included in this important work. At this week’s staff meeting we are going to brainstorm and agree on what a successful reader and problem solver will look like at the end of 2020. This will enable us to backtrack the right professional learning, strategies, capacity building and markers to tell us we are on the right track.
ARD visit
Last week we hosted Graham Foster our newly appointed Assistant Regional Director for his first visit to the school for 2020. Graham enjoyed “classroom walkthroughs” to the Yr.6, 5 and 4 classrooms. During the visit we asked students what they know about the Writing task so far? How they were going? and how they could improve?
Students were confident to talk their classroom learning walls and share evidence of the learning in their book work. We saw a high standard of setting out and great practices across the classes to support the learner.
We spent time as a leadership team and discussed the various roles commissioned this year to directly target our areas to improve. It was a great opportunity for Graham to meet our new staff and team leaders. Graham will return again this term and look forward to share how our work is progressing.
Looking forward to sharing more great stories happing in our school over the next fortnight. Until then have a wonderful couple of weeks.
I believe in:
Hard Work
Honesty
Transparency
Attendance
Unfortunately our school wide attendance has taken a dip and has fallen below our target of 93%. One alarming trend that has made itself apparent is 21% of our students are attending school less than 85% of the time. If your child is missing 1 day per week of school, that equates to over 2 and a half years of their schooling life.
Here at school we have started contacting families of those students with poor attendance to offer support in getting your child to school. If for whatever reason you are having trouble to get your child to school, please ring the school and we will assist you. We have an amazing support team who are willing to help.
On a good note, as of last Friday 260 students had been at school every single day for 2020 so far. All students who have 100% attendance at the end of week 5 will be receiving our special attendance wrist band and partake in a massive group photo that will feature in our School’s lift out for the Bowen Independent paper. Keep it up!
Current Whole School Attendance
Stop, Drop and Go!
With the influx of recent complaints regarding parents/guardians using the stop, drop and go facility on Kennedy St inappropriately, here is a timely reminder of how to use this facility correctly and respectfully.
In the morning
• Keep left while queuing for Stop, Drop & Go.
• Stay in your car (this maintains a steady flow of traffic).
• Children must exit cars from the curb side only.
• Store your child’s bag inside your car; no-one should open boots at the drop zone.
• Give way when exiting the drop zone as cars may be circling.
In the Afternoon
• Your child waits under the shaded tree next to the entrance to the school. As you approach, your child will make his/her way to the car for a quick exit.
• Delay your arrival to minimise traffic congestion.
• Keep left while queuing for Stop, Drop & Go.
• Children enter cars from the curb side only.
• Store bags inside the car and not in the boot.
• You (the driver) must stay in your car.
• Give way when exiting Stop, Drop & Go as cars may be circling.
• If your child is not yet at Stop, Drop & Go, drive slowly on and circle the block to then re-join the que
• Do not double-park at any given point of time. This is an accident waiting to happen, especially with a number of buses using the same road.
Remember to be respectful and safe towards each other. Modelling these values to your children shouldn’t stop at the school gate.
We have had discussions with Bowen Police and they have committed to increasing their traffic patrols around BSS before and after school to monitor the situation. We hope this will ensure the safety of all of our students using this facility.
On parade today we celebrated our student leaders for 2020 including School Captains, Vice School Captains, House Captains, Cultural Leaders and Student Council. We would like to congratulate all students on their positions and we look forward to working with them throughout the year.
School Captains
Harris Wright & Matilda Payne
Vice Captains
James Madlangsakay & Jacob Logan
With our School Principal, Mr Payne and Guests: Andrew Willcox, Dave Clarke & Constable Renee Schneider
House Captains:
Sinclair – Mia Martin & Blake Gerrard
Leichhardt – Rashawn Watego & Maddie Tiler
Denison – Alissia Gibson & Kai Hatherell
Cultural Leaders:
Shelby Boers & Hailey Blair
Student Council:
Sienna Dickinson, Riley Begg, Trinity Blake, Nate Head, Glynnie Domingo, Isaiah Howell, Ayla Barratt, Callum Peebles, Edie Jackson, John Amaro-Bishop, Abby Halloran, Tristan Tremain, Max Layton, Grace Cullen, Kayde Murdock, Gigi Wallis-Hage, Lennox Lawrence, Dylan Bath
4G
4G have had a fantastic start to 2020! We jumped straight into learning from day one and, as a result, won the attendance award for Week 2. We've been analysing 'The Twits' during English and investigating number and place value in Maths. A big focus for the early couple of weeks was on neat bookwork which is evident from the picture.
2M
2M have had a cracker start to the year! We’ve been planting seedlings in different soil types; measuring using different units of measurement; writing narratives and making our stories even more interesting by adding adjectives; learning about technology in the past and comparing it to today’s mod cons; counting, adding, subtracting and learning about fact families….and so much more!
Here’s a happy snap of 2M with their ‘soaring to success’ goals for 2020.
6P
In term 1, 6P have been focussing on short stories and comparing their features to decide the author’s intention. Our students are really enjoying exploring the characters and looking for supporting evidence in the text to describe them. We have even started writing our own short stories and have been receiving feedback.
1/2I
We had a visit from Dan and Allison from Paluma Environmental Education Centre. They taught the students about habitats, the needs of animals and what a scientist is. Here is what some of the 1/2I students had to say.
I liked Science. I liked it when Dan dressed up and he sang.
By Ella
We sang and Dan dressed up as a frog and he played the ukulele.
By Jacob
Dan and Allison dressed me like a scientist. They make medicine.
By Lu’Dontae
Dan and Allison taught us about habitats and where animals live.
By Noah
Allison and Dan came to teach us about animals. They need food, water, shelter and sunlight. I learned about the environment.
By Bella
Allison and Dan came to visit the class and talk about the environment. They said that there are five needs for living things – water, food, sunlight, air and shelter.
By Mila
Allison and Dan visited us to teach us about animals. Allison and Dan also taught us that animals need sunlight, water, food and shelter. They taught us a song about where they live.
By Amber
A dancing frog came into the class to sing a song. It was about frogs.
By Bodhi
P&C News
The year is off to a flying start and many exciting things are happening with the P&C. Our first meeting was held on Monday the 10th of February at 6.00pm in the Library. The executive committee and members were present and all excited for the year ahead.
Our Breakfast/Lunch Program is up and running, thanks to a $25 000 grant and we are calling for volunteers to assist with the program. If you can help with purchasing food or assist with the program in the mornings please contact P&C President Matthew Bath on 0412 874 464.
We are working with the School Administration, Teachers and Student Council to formalize our fundraising goals and events for the year. Already locked in is our annual Fete, School discos and Colour Run (launching on the 28th of February) with more to be discussed in the next few meetings.
The opening time for the School Uniform shop was discussed and all agreed it would take place on Friday mornings prior to Friday parade.
Our AGM is being held on the 9th of March after our General Meeting, scheduled at 6.00pm. All executive positions will be open and memberships for 2020 will also be open. Existing members will need to renew for 2020 and new members are most welcome at this time or any time during the year.
If you are keen to be involved in your children’s education, voices concerns or want to achieve positive outcomes for children at Bowen State School, the P&C is an excellent forum at which your voice and opinions will be heard in a respectful and positive environment.
Executive Positions Required for a P&C
• President
• Vice president
• Treasurer
• Secretary
P&C Membership forms will be made available in office from 24th February.
Should you wish to nominate for any of the executive positions or would like advice on what is required to fill one of these positions, please contact President Matthew Bath on 0412874464.
Sports Update
Upcoming Bowen Sub-District trials are as follows:
Netball- Monday, March 2nd 2020
Rugby League- Monday, March 2nd 2020
Soccer- Monday, March 23rd 2020
Softball- Monday, March 30th 2020
School Trials
Soccer Trials will take place this Friday during afternoon sport rotations.
The final trial for Rugby League will take place on Monday February 24th 2020 at 1st lunch. Please ensure your child has a fitted mouthguard in order to take part in the trial.
Cross Country
Bowen State School Inter-house Cross Country Carnival is scheduled to be on Thursday, April 2nd 2020. Training has started on Monday and Wednesday mornings from 8:15am-8:30am. So far, we have 75 students participating in Cross Country before school. It is amazing to see so many students out being active even in this weather. Keep up the hard work guys!!
Swimming
Swimming lessons have started this week and will run for the next 6 weeks. Please ensure your child has his/her sunsafe swimmers, a towel and a pair of thongs to attend lessons on their allocated swimming day.
Bowen State School believes that each student should be provided with the
opportunity to engage in an appropriate water safety and learn to swim program. This is why there is no cost for students to attend swimming lessons.
We ask that parents/carers provide the same opportunity by encouraging them to come to swim and provide necessary clothing. The benefits of swimming are lifelong and could save a life.
