School Review

This week our staff and families engaged in rich conversations with the School Review team. We welcomed Noel, Paul and Maria to our great school and loved hearing some of their own personal stories at the opening meeting. Over the three days we all enjoyed sharing all our great news stories. This opportunity allowed a broad range of conversations to share our current work and ways we are working hard to support our students. On the final day we heard affirmations of our great practices and heard great feedback for the next lift for our school. The reviewers shared that they spoke to 15 parents, 19 students & 54 staff. Collectively the voice expressed the following key affirmations:

1. Student centred approach from all staff. Our kids come first.
2. There is a positive working environment, teachers and leaders are collegial and are united in this relationship to support students
3. Our school community partnerships were a stand out with purposeful and meaningful relationships specifically targeted to support the students here at Bowen State.
4. There was a high level of respect between teachers, leaders and students in the school and the reviewers felt the “voice” was extremely strong around this.

I would like to thank our staff for their openness and willingness to share the work. A huge thank you to our office staff and leadership team for their hard work in preparation for this event. Congratulations to the whole school community. It is important we now celebrate these great affirmations and reflect on why we hold these practices close to our heart. Over the next four years we look forward to embedding the 5 key recommendations into our every day work. Imagine in 4 years reflecting back to how these improvements will position our school in this great community.

P & C AGM

Congratulations to the members elected at our annual P&C AGM this week. I would like to introduce our executive for 2022.

President: Kirsten Siggens

Vice President: Christine Chambers

Secretary: Debbie O'Sullivan

Treasurer: Olivia Gordon

Prep Transition and Playgroup

This year we are excited to announce that we have Nicole Brown and Sheree Kerr running our weekly playgroup. This community service is an important opportunity for families to continue their child’s transition in learning and a wonderful age appropriate event for families to network and meet new friends. We offer targeted planned activities and guest speakers including visits from speech pathologists, fire department, ambulance and the police. We value our playground and the continued investment and refinement has been a golden opportunity for our community.

It is now the time of year we commence the transition for new families to Prep in 2023. We have commenced locking in dates for this transition and what Bowen State School will have to offer for the next six months. Keep your eye on the face book page and posters promoting the transition process this year.

NAPLAN Online

This year Bowen State School engaged in the first year of NAPLAN online. The year five completed their entire testing on the computers and year three also except for their writing component. I would like to thank Maxine Hillery our Head of Curriculum for her calm guidance and careful planning for the sessions. We found the students were highly engaged with the new platform and enjoyed the online component. We now enjoy much faster results back to our school to look for the next lift for our school. Thank you to the year 3 & 5 teachers for your commitment in the preparation for this import annual event.

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

Our current whole school attendance sits at 86%. Congratulations to 2WG for having the highest attendance with 92%. Fun fact- our highest attendance day was Thursday 5th May with 91%.

Badge Parade

On Friday 20th May we will have our second Badge Parade for the year. Students who receive a Smiley, Silver or Gold badge demonstrate our school values of being responsible, respectful, safe and a learner in all areas of the school.

Tuckshop Orders

Please remember Tuckshop orders close at 9am daily. We highly recommend downloading the Flexischools App, where you can purchase uniforms and preorder Tuckshop in advance. Unfortunately, no late orders will be expected.

Morning Drop-Off

Students are to wait under C Block when they've been dropped off to school until collected by their teacher. Please be advised that supervision of students starts at 8am, we kindly ask that you do not drop your students to school before 8am. Reading Hub is also on every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays at the Library at 8:15am.

School Timetable

Please see below our School Timetable which can be located on the Bowen State School website

As you may be aware, Queensland Health have updated the requirements for anyone who is deemed a close contact of a confirmed case of COVID-19.

Please note, when determining whether someone is a close contact, schools and early childhood services are not considered a household, or household-like accommodation or care facility.

New requirements for close contacts

From 6pm on Thursday 28 April 2022, close contacts who do not have COVID-19 symptoms no longer need to quarantine.

Students who are close contacts must notify their school that they are a close contact

For 7 days after becoming a close contact, students over the age of 12 must wear a face mask while outside of their home, including at school, and when outdoors if unable to physically distance. Queensland Health also recommends that children under the age of 12 wear a face mask when it is safe to do so.

It is recommended that students undertake a rapid antigen test (RAT) on the first day they leave home, and every second day (e.g. days 2, 4, and 6) until they are no longer a close contact.

Close contacts who develop COVID-19 symptoms must not attend school and should isolate until their symptoms resolve.

Rapid antigen tests (RATs)

Schools are not providing RATs to staff or students who are close contacts. You will need to source and administer your own tests. However, our school is continuing to provide RATs to staff and students who develop COVID-19 symptoms while at school.

If you or your child tests positive to COVID-19

Queensland Health requirements for people who test positive to COVID-19 remain unchanged. You must follow the Queensland Health guidelines outlined in the first steps to take if you have COVID-19.

Face masks

As a gentle reminder, masks continue to be required in certain settings for anyone aged 12 years or older, such as when travelling on public transport. They are also recommended whenever you can't physically distance.

Anyone who chooses to wear a mask at school will be supported to do so.

At Bowen State School we work hard to support students to build resilience and to have a variety of coping strategies in their back pack.  We want students to be assertive and deal with things as they arise, not let things build up.  Students are encouraged to:

1. Look person upsetting them in the eye and in a firm voice say STOP
2. If person continues to upset them, walk away and report to a staff member wearing a orange vest
3. If it continues again, go to staff member in orange vest and share strategies and say you need their help

This allows an immediate consequence to occur and students to feel supported.

Students need to learn skills to cope with stressors and a range of different personalities and characteristics.  If you child is coming home and ‘venting’ about things that upset them at school ask if they have followed the steps above. 

The word ‘bullying’ is thrown around at times, the diagram below is a great reminder!

Congratulations to Alexis Howell, Georgia Gordon, Charlee Snell and Lily Sanderson who will be competing at the North Queensland Trials in Townsville.

Playgroup has been off to a fantastic start! Last Friday was an extra special Playgroup session with Mother's Day Activities such as a Lotion Making Station, Sugar Scrub and Mum Mug Making!

Playgroup is at the Library every Friday from 9:00am-10:30am, all ages welcome.