Filter Content
Exciting infrastructure projects
Recently our school hosted a regional visit by the Department of Education infrastructure team to scope up future works for our school. I am very pleased to announce close to $300 000 of works will occur over the Christmas holiday period. I have included a list of these projects for families to view
- New playground for prep on schedule for construction in the September holidays
- New roofs: E Block and Music hall
- Surveying: department funded solar panels for the school
- External repaint G Block
- External repaint Tuckshop Christmas holidays
- Three new flag poles to be erected at the front entrance of the school
These projects will continue to improve the look and add pride in our school. We want to create an environment that is visually appealing and respectful to the beautiful history of our school campus. A future project we have prioritised for the school is a new admin building. This will improve the facilities and access for all our school community. I will continue to pursue this request into the future. This project remains number one on our school improvement plan.
Bowen Rail Launch
This week I was invited to the inaugural launch of the Bowen Rail Company. We heard the clear message regarding the positive impact this project will offer to the Bowen community and jobs it will create. Bowen Rail is committed to employing local staff and keen to expand their operation to include servicing the new trains arriving from America in 2021. Staff spoke of the improved technology, lessened environmental footprint and innovative ways to improve rail safety. This project will bring families to our community which will be a positive growth for our schools. It was pleasing to hear positive news regarding jobs for our town in a turbulent time. I am looking forward to our future relationship with Bowen Rail and the opportunities it will offer for our school.
Prep 2021
As we progress through the term I encourage families to promote Bowen State School as the choice of school to your friends and families. We have worked hard this year to organise a transition program that will cater to not just the child but also the families. This week we hosted our prep information evening and will follow on with three visits to school this term. All information is available on our Facebook page, website and out in the local kindies. Please don’t hesitate to call the school to organise a visit or tour of the school. I have included a fantastic quote about what we value and believe in our prep transition process. “Our transition activities involve the family not just the child because we believe transition involves the whole family. Teachers knowing parents is as important as knowing the child. When we enrol a child, we enrol the family” Looking forward to sharing more great stories happening in our school over the next fortnight. Until then have a wonderful couple of weeks.
I believe in: Hard Work Honesty Transparency
Christien Payne
Principal
Attendance on the Rise!
A big Congratulations is in order for the increase in attendance over the past couple of weeks. For the past 2 weeks our attendance rate has been sitting at 91%, which is pretty good considering all of the illnesses going around of late. It is now important for us to build on this momentum and keep increasing attendance to push our overall rate for Semester 2 above 90%.
Over the past few weeks we have been sending out our attendance team for daily home visits and will continue this work with individual families for the remainder of the year. Please remember that if your child is away from school you must contact the school each day that they are away.
After School Pick Up
Lately there has been a trend of children hanging around the school grounds after school. Please ensure that your child leaves the school grounds and does not continue to play with friends on the school play equipment or oval.
Due to state wide Covid-19 restrictions we are currently restricting adult access to schools during student drop-off and pick-up times. We are also advised to encourage adult social distance outside of the school grounds while your children are being dropped off or collected. This is important not only because it is a directive of our state health advisor, but it also reiterates to our students the awareness of the current health pandemic and the importance of us Queenslanders doing our part to stop the spread. It is vital that once you have collected your children from school that you do your part and leave the premises. Bowen has an abundance of parks where social distancing can be easily achieved.
#StaySafe
6R
This term we have been practising our oil pastel skills of blending and outlining. This was our first project.
5B
This term in science the year 5s have been learning about the properties of light. We have created light mazes where the light reflects off mirrors to pass through the maze. Students were then given the challenge of changing the property of the light exiting the maze. Many students changed the colour of the light by using cellophane while other students changed the shape of the doorway by cutting the doorway into a particular shape or placing an object in the doorway to create a shadow.
1/2I
1/2I are just starting our new unit where we will be writing a retell of a cultural story. Year Twos will also have to compare 2 cultural stories.
To begin the unit, we drew a picture for maximum impact from the Chinese story - The Four Dragons. We also had to explain why we drew that part of the story.
Badge Recipients
We would like to congratulate are our newest Merit Badge recipients presented with their badges on Friday 21st August 2020. The purpose of a Merit Badge is to promote and recognise students that display outstanding behaviours at all times. Their exemplar behaviours reflect our School Wide Positive Behaviours. At Bowen State School we are Learners, Respectful, Responsible and Safe.
Emily, Bohdan, Amelia, Max, Isabella, Sahara, Ella, Nicole, Watuya, Thaikahnus, Logan, Emily, Jessica, Lara
Julie, Chace, Maya, Ali, Bella, Shadayai, Scarlett, Phoenix, Jace, Clare, Taylor, McKenzie, Elijah, Emmerson
Hannah, Emma, Evie, Keiralee, Riley
Alexis, Matilda, Jed, Logan, Keyan
Michael, Jacob, Phoebe, Amelia, Izybella, Ruby, Noah
Letia, Maylee, Kerry, Lateisha, Mark, Miah, Megan, Ellah-Paige, Tristan, Brandon, Ayla, Tynan, Kash, Chelsey
Callum, Charlotte, Hayden, Jake, Ileana, Riley, Hayley, Quynh Anh
Science Week
This week we have been celebrating National Science Week. Our theme was ‘Physics, Forces And Flying Fruit’.
Students took part in lunch time challenges, including a water bomb challenge and a balloon plane competition.
Each class also conducted experiments, which focussed on the ways that we can produce force using our bodies, air, water and man-made materials. We used rubber bands in some of our experiments and discovered that we can increase a force by combining small forces made by each rubber band, to make a greater force.
On Thursday, we used this knowledge of combining forces to see if we could explode some watermelons. The students and staff all had so much fun working together to make the experiment work. Some were nervous. Some were brave. All enjoyed a great learning experience.
GO Update – Stronger Relationships
At Bowen State we are working on strengthening our relationships as staff, with students, parents and the wider community.
Staff have been busy connecting over nutritious and delicious morning teas and whale watching bush walks recently. We are looking after ourselves in order to best look after your children. Here are some of our staff in action.
Staff verse Students tug of war challenge in the under covered area. It was a very popular event with students rolling up in numbers to take the staff down. It was a tight competition where both teams showed determination, grit, resilience and teamwork. We look forward to another show down next week!
Community Relationships
We welcome new Sports and Recreation Officer Juke Tabua to the team. Juke has lived in the Whitsunday region and has built strong relationships at Bowen State School already. Juke will be onsite Tuesday and Thursday lunch times to connect with kids during physical activities. We officially welcome Juke to our Bowen State School Community
We officially welcome new PCYC Community Development Officer Rachel Miller to the team. She has been working with the school and Seargent Michelle O’Reagan to present a cyber safety workshop to our years five and six students.
Child Youth Health Nurse (CYHN) Janet Russell has been conducting hearing and vision screeners for our Prep and referred students on a Thursday. This free service from Queensland Health, Bowen hospital is an imperative resource to ensure our little people have then best chance of experiencing success with their learning.
Early Years Coach Karen Weeks, Mr Payne and our wonderful Prep teachers are connecting with 2021 future parents at 5.30pm in the library this Thursday in preparation for our 2021 Prep transition.
Playgroup is going strong on a Friday morning, come along from 9am onwards to connect with our school team and others in our community.
Weekly we are consulting with parents, carers, doctors, speech language pathologists, occupational therapists, counsellors, Education Queensland Staff and parents. We pride ourselves on strong relationships and continue to move forward in this work.
Have a great week! Danielle Upkett
PBL news
The PBL focus for weeks 6 and 7 is centred on being respectful. This week in particular we are focussing on treating others with respect and using appropriate language at school. Our PBL lesson this week included a definition of appropriate language to use at school. Please reinforce this focus with your child/children at home. For example, being respectful at home could include taking turns, using manners and talking nicely to parents and siblings.
Please remind your child/children to trade their Gotchas at second break for a chance to win the weekly PBL prize draw which is drawn at Friday’s parade.