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Welcome back,
Welcome back to all our families to a very busy term 4. As shared on parade as a whole school we are looking forward to the next 8 weeks of learning and the difference we can make for the students at our school. As we continue to drive the explicit improvement agenda we are closely monitoring and collecting evidence of our impact along the way. The leadership team is currently reviewing the data and collaborating with teachers to map out the direction for 2022. This will occur in staff and year level meetings throughout this term.
Staff transfers are officially out and I can announce that transferring in is Katherine Davidson from QB State School, Sinead Merrypor from Bowen State Highschool & Jennine Turner from Labrador State School. Transferring out is Mary Mason to Miami State School on the Gold Coast. Congratulations to these staff and welcome to new staff transitioning in to our great school.
As we work through teacher preferences we are looking forward to the transition opportunities into new classrooms later this term. We are modelling our staffing and classes based on current numbers and will continue to do so right up to Day 8 in 2022. To support this accurate model, it is important that families notify the school ASAP if your family is relocating at the end of the year.
Parent Teacher and Student interviews
To kick off the term we are hosting parent, teacher and student interviews in the hall next Tuesday. This opportunity to connect with your child’s teacher is extremely important to celebrate growth and discuss the next steps in the learning. This community event allows our school to come together and put our students front and centre in conversations. Information has been sent out to families on how to book an interview using the SOBS online booking system.
Principal business days and middle leaders conference
Over the next couple of weeks members of the leadership team will be travelling to Townsville to collaborate with other leaders right across the North Queensland Region. Our school was invited to present our outstanding work around writing strategies. Karen Weekes our Early Years Coach and I will share our story and provide ideas to other schools to implement some of the key strategies.
This opportunity will allow us to re-focus the work in the region and our next steps in 2022. There is a fantastic two-day timetable of learning provided and I am looking forward to coming back and implementing new learning strategies into our school.
Looking forward to sharing more great stories around the teaching and learning this term. Until next fortnight, enjoy the next couple of weeks.
School Captains and Vice Captains Applications Open
An exciting time of the year is starting on Monday where applications for our school captains and vice captains open for our aspiring future leaders in Year 5. To be successful, students need to hold a gold badge and complete a number of different tasks as part of our application process. From Monday, students will have 4 weeks to write a letter to the Principal, Mr Payne outlining the leadership qualities they will bring to the Captain’s role. A shortlist of applicants will then be asked to sit in a panel interview with Mr Payne and Mr Callaghan to answer a few questions relating to the role and give them the opportunity to give examples of how they follow our 4 school Values. Finally, our shortlisted applicants will then be asked to present a speech to our Year 4 and 5 students and staff. At the conclusion of the speeches, a vote will be cast by the audience to decide who will ultimately be our School Captains.
School Captains will be announced at the end of week 9 at our Awards Parade. Further information will be provided to the prospective applicants this Monday. Good luck to all of our future leaders here at Bowen State School.
In 2D/G, this term in science, students are learning about objects, types of materials and their properties. Last week students discussed and sorted different objects by their materials and properties. The class will be conducting science tests based on strength and water resistance in the next few weeks before starting to make their own waterproof lunchboxes.
This term year 6 is investigating the plight of the Moon Bears. We have started out learning by researching Moon Bears, their habitats, characteristics, diets and appearance. The students in year 6 all agree, Moon Bears are adorable, however we were shocked to discover that Moon Bears are also farmed for their bile for the use in Chinese medicine. We have begun to unpack the purpose and audience of the junior fiction story "Moon Bear Rescue" written by Kim Dale that follows the life of a baby moon bear named Star. We are looking forward to learning more as the unit progresses.
Mental Health Week at Bowen State School
Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) launched our Bowen State School mental health week Monday with the NEDShow live from California America via zoom. NED’s message makes up his name:
N – Never give up “I can’t do that yet” “with practice I will do it”
E – Encourage others, we are all a treasure
D – Don’t give up!
We are selling yo-yo’s as a tangible reminder of NED’s message via order in envelope until Wednesday next week. Check out the website www.thenedshow.com
During Week 3 on Thursday I will be visiting the Year 3 classrooms and showing the students some of the instruments they could choose to play if they join the instrumental music program for 2022 at Bowen State School. Being part of the instrumental music program means your child receives a FREE lesson each week on their instrument (woodwind, brass or percussion) and participates in the school Concert Band. Being part of the instrumental music program means the students learn to work together as a team to play music and while they are having fun, they are also learning valuable skills such as note reading (incorporates both literacy and numeracy aspects), resilience, persistence, leadership and teamwork among many others.
As there are limited places within the instrumental music program at Bowen SS for 2022, I will also be conducting musical aptitude testing with the Year 3’s and then students will be invited to join the program.
Because of these recruitment activities there will be NO LESSONS HELD IN WEEK 3 (Monday and Thursday).
BAND IS ON AS NORMAL on Thursday morning starting a 7.50am. All Year 5 and 6 students and selected Year 4’s should be attending. Ensemble playing is an integral part of the Instrumental Music Program in Queensland State Schools and all students enrolled in the program are required to attend.
Please contact me if you would like to discuss any aspect of the instrumental music program at Bowen State School.
Amanda Mattiske (amatt216@eq.edu.au)
Our final Book Fair for 2021 starts on the 1st November. Reading Oasis is an Egyptian themed so would be great to see lots of pyramids and mummies.
Year 4 – 6 students can design a poster (A3 size) or diorama to help promote this event. This is to be completed at home. Entries need to sent to the Library before 9am on Friday 29th October.
Prep to Year 3 will have competitions sent to their room.