Challenge Games

I would like to acknowledge the tremendous success of the challenge games camp recently held in Townsville. A huge effort from all staff involved in the planning and preparation. I would like to especially thank Mr Ethan Shaw, Mrs Fiona Radcliffe and Miss Emma Chandler for their efforts for the 11 students and their families during the camp. The feedback from the students and staff were that they had an awesome time and fantastic extra-curricular activities during the trip. A highlight was our school being spotlighted on the Townsville news. This would not be possible without major sponsorship and we are forever grateful for the kind donations from various organisations this year.

School Opinion Survey

Families and students are once again being provided the opportunity to have a say around the service we provide to our students and parents. Staff will also get the opportunity to provide feedback on their experiences here at Bowen State. Please keep at eye out for details around this important event in the Newsletter and Facebook page. Teachers will allocate class time for Year 5 & 6 students to complete the survey at school. The data received will support our school, looks for ways to improve and provides the best environment for our students.

Prep Transitions

Last week we had our first prep transition for families. This experience provided a wonderful opportunity for families and incoming preps to become familiar with the schools’ facilities and staff. We had approximately 50 families on the morning which was outstanding. Check out the Facebook page for all the upcoming key events this term.

Our whole school attendance is currently  88.49%.

Bowen Buddies

Keep a look out for students wearing a green vest in the playground, these are our Bowen Buddies.  Bowen Buddies is a playground peer mentoring program. Students in Year 5 and 6 support our younger students by organising games, problem solving friendship issues and encouraging students to follow our four school values. Congratulations to the 45 students who signed up to help make our playgrounds a happy and safe place.  

Lunch Time Basketball

Students in Year 4-6 can book a weekly time to play basketball on the multi purpose, during the break times, by signing up to the roster.

Gold Badges

At Bowen State School students in Year 5 and 6 are recognised for demonstrating leadership by being awarded a Gold Badge. Our Year 5 students can start applying for a Gold Badge.

Gold Badge applications involve completing the selection criteria, writing a resume/CV, written responses, leadership log and referees. Our Year 5 students can start applying for a Gold Badge.

Student Leaders 2024

In Term 4 we will be electing our School and Vice Captains, Cultural Captains and Sports House Captains for 2024. Students will need a Gold Badge to apply for School and Vice Captains. Students need a Gold or Silver badge to apply for a Sports House Captain.

School Opinion Survey 2023

Have you say about what our school does well, and how we can improve by participating in the School Opinion Survey. The survey will take approximately 5 minutes using a computer, tablet or smart phone.

An invitation to complete the Parent/Caregiver Survey was emailed to one parent/caregiver per family, and it will have the subject line ‘School Opinion Survey for parents and caregivers, 2023’. Check your junk email folders if you can’t find it.

The School Opinion Survey collection period closes Friday, 18 August 2023.

Karen Weekes
Deputy Principal

Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) Celebrations Week 5

If you child has 3 Gold Gotchas or 30 Blue Gotchas for being safe, respectful, responsible and a learner they will be celebrated this week during Week 5 PBL celebrations

Year 6 – Thursday 2-2:45pm

1. Hide and Seek
2. Icing cakes/biscuits
3. Goodge/Oz Tag

Year 5 Tuesday 2-2:45pm

1. Art/puzzles/board games
2. Soccer
3. OzTag

Year 4 – Thursday 2-2:45pm

1. iPads/Just Dance
2. Making pom poms
3. Board games/drawing/puzzles

Year 3 – Thursday 2-2:45pm

1. Art
2. Construction – paper planes making and competition UCA
3. World Cup Tabloid

Year 2 – Wednesday 2-2:45pm

1. Art
2. Prep/1 playground play
3. Construction/marble run

Year 1 – Thursday 1-1:30pm

1. Spider/Rocket early play
2. Chalk drawing concrete paths

Prep – Tuesday 2pm-2:45pm

1. Craft
2. Face painting/colouring in
3. Picnic/hair colouring

Guidance Officer (GO)

Resilience – we have been teaching what resilience is across the whole school.  Being able to bounce back after stress/worry/an incident.  We talk about how to calm ourselves before we react

• breathe (mountain breathing tracing fingers on our hand)
• distraction – do something fun eg. Scissors, paper rock game; think of a funny moment
• positive self talk eg. We all make mistakes, I will ask for help or try again.

This is part of our Monday morning PBL lessons which is also reinforced throughout the week.  Students receive Dojo points and or Gotchas for being resilient, safe, respectful, responsible and a learner.

Danielle Upkett
Guidance Officer 

Our current English unit requires students to create an informative text with a supporting image. Students have been identifying noun groups from various texts to create informative paragraphs about the habitat, diet, appearance and predators of various animals.

In Science this term, students are investigating the life stages of living things. As part of our science unit, we have planted bean seeds and are monitoring their growth as they enter different life stages.

Last Friday, 28^th July, students from 3A and 3D had the privilege of attending the matinee performance of Grease-The Musical at the Bowen State High School. These students have been learning 'Greased Lightning' as their dance this year and this was a great opportunity for the students to attend a live performance. Students came back raving about the performance. They now have lots of great costume ideas for their dance performance. The only disappointment was that they did not get to perform their dance at the high school! They are keen to perform. So come along to Bowen State School’s Annual Fancy Dress Evening on August 31^st. It will be a great evening of entertainment for the whole family.

NEW CHALLENGE INSPIRES SCHOOL STAFF TO TAKE A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

On Tuesday 1^st August Bowen State School launched a staff  www.10000steps.org.au Timed Tournament for 39 days beginning on August 1^st and finishing on September 8^th. There are 5 enthusiastic staff teams with over 37 participants.

This is an initiative of our Staff Wellbeing Action Group. They invited all staff to make every move count this August as CQUniversity’s 10,000 Steps Program and Queensland Walks bring the state together for a fun new physical activity challenge.

The Queensland Walk Explore Steps Challenge aims to motivate and support people to be active every day. These are some reasons why walking is

• Walking is an easy and accessible way to stay active – you can do it anytime, anywhere.
• Make every step and every move count!
• Walking is the most popular physical activity in Australia.
• When you go for a walk it’s not just your body that benefits, the way you think and feel changes too.
• Physical activity produces hormones to improve sleep and releases muscle tension.