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Signing off on the Four-year plan
On Tuesday our community steering group met with Helen McCullough our ARD to sign off on our four-year strategic plan for Bowen State School. I was an amazing two hours of hearing voice from the school and community. A highlight was the sophisticated feedback from the school student leaders and hearing their thoughts around “Equity and Excellence”. The document will shortly be made public and will be our strategic guide for the next four years.
Regional Professional development
On Monday and Tuesday, I met with Regional Staff, Principals and Middle Leaders from our Whitsundays community to discuss curriculum and our inclusion journey so far. It was great to collaborate as a community and an opportunity to share the great work we have engaged in during this year. The key learnings have confirmed our direction in 2023 with a sharp and narrow focus around “Differentiation for all diverse learners in English”.
Feedback from recent ARD visit
Last Thursday we hosted Kylie Smith the Regional Director and Helen McCullough Assistant Regional Director for a final visit for 2023. We visited the three Year 2 classrooms and were extremely impressed with the teaching and learning. Students that were spoken to could clearly articulate their growth and next steps. Congratulations to Rachel Weekes, Laurel Inch and Sinead Merrypor for your leadership and hosting our special guests.
"Year 2- What an improvement in the students! Excellent growth in teacher/student clarity and use of learning walls. Elements of learning walls are enabling assessment literate learners – know what they need to know and do to be a C, B and A is strengthening – continue to work on this and please thank all students and teachers for welcoming us to their classes and of course an excellent year of learning! Much to celebrate in Year 2! What I saw today was inclusion in action – all learners in their classrooms, engaged and high expectations from their teachers (and themselves)."
Principal
Parents often link with staff for support inside the school gate and outside the school gate. raisingchildren.net.au is an amazing site that offers families a plethora of resources for support across of a range of development areas for our kids. Please check out the website or the new app if you are interested. We have feedback that families have found it useful in creating a more peaceful, happy, healthy and engaged family. As we prepare our little people for the transition out of the current year into school holidays there are heaps of resources here to support parents and children. The website even has the function to check out movies and their suitability based on age and interest.
Thank you to all the music parents and students for their support and enthusiasm during 2022. Please ensure that any school instruments and music (red book and blue book) are returned to the school office as soon as possible, if they have not been returned already.
P/1W have been admiring the sunflowers growing in our garden at school. Here are some examples of our sunflowers.
3J has been working on a variety of mathematics concepts. In Geometry, we made 3 D shapes using straws, paddle pop sticks, play doh and blue tac. Some students were able to make a triangular prism easily. we have also explored the line of symmetry to design flags for the World Cup Football and monsters.
