17th March 2020 Issue 8

Dear Parents and Caregivers As a Principal, I cannot underestimate the power of purpose. Purpose attracts, engages, empowers and inspires. Purpose compels us to do, create, explore and discover. It unites communities and lures others to reach out. Ultimately, a purpose that is not contextualised is meaningless. At a recent school visit, I was privileged to talk through our school’s vision. Over the last few years, our school vision has aligned to the vision of the State Schools Strategic Plan. Every student succeeding is the shared vision of Queensland state schools. At Gowrie we work hard to ensure every student receives the support needed to belong to the school community, engage purposefully in learning and experience a journey of social and emotional flourishing. Around the school you will see our School Vision banner and it is with thanks to some of our school leaders, Emily G, Esther and Matilda for making a wonderful display in our school foyer that makes us proud to be part of the vision.

Kind regards and take care Mandy

So true. A positive difference is being made at our school because of the work and support you give to our school community. I realise there is a lot of quiet achievers working in the background, adding to the strength of our school being a place of belonging.

PHOTOCOPY PAPER

Parents please remember if buying paper to bring to school please purchase

REFLEX PAPER It is available for around $5/ream at lots of suppliers

including Woolworths, Big W, or your local post office. Thank you

DATES TO REMEMBER

National Day Against Bullying - free dress day wear bright colours: no donation needed Friday 20th March

Parent Teacher Meetings 23rd, 24th and 25th March 2.00pm-4.00pm

School Photo Day Tuesday 24th March

Show Holiday Thursday 26th March

School Cross Country 9:00-11:00 am Friday 27th March

Last Day of Term Friday 3rd April

Mothers Day Stall Thursday/Friday 7th and 8th May

School Disco Friday 29th May

EFTPOS To assist parents, the school has EFTPOS facilities for fast, efficient pay-ment of school fees & other payments. No cash re-quired, $10 min transaction.

Parents are asked to contact the

school and provide an explana-

tion each day their child is ab-

sent from school.

This can be done in person by

visiting the school, via phone

call or by leaving a

message on the 24hr Student

Absence Line 46986860.

We thank you

for your

Cooperation.

Visit our schools Facebook page and stay up to date.

On Week 7 Monday assembly a number of year 3 students read aloud their persuasive texts encouraging their parents to consider buying a pet. There were a few students who signed off as ‘from your petless daughter/son.’ It made a joyful start to the week. We laughed at the creativity behind the persuasion. Well, our staff in Prep, Prep/Yr One and Year One were busy in the background organising an AVA PetPEP visit for a school incursion.

Held last Friday, our early years classes participated in an AVA PetPEP program. It is the Australian Veterinary Association’s Pets and People Education Program, an education initiative that teaches children about responsible pet ownership and safety around animals. The program was developed by veterinarians and teachers to promote safe, healthy and responsible communities through a focus on how to interact with, understand and care for animals. Included is a photograph of Amanda Siddins who is a Vet, mum to Alex in Year One and Teagan in Prep year who presented the program for our school along with Greg Horrocks from Bio Security and his sniffer dog Edge.

We thoroughly enjoyed the presentation.

On behalf of the students and staff- We loved it

The Gowrie 5 R’s: Resilience Rigour Respect Responsibility Relationships

Principal Award recipients: I was off site last week at a number of Principalship events. Hence I did not give the amount of time needed to formulate the Principal Award nominations. However I would like to make mention of this trio of students who have been supporting some year 3 students around learning team sports such as soccer. Their time, encouragement and patience is making a difference.

Clubs at Gowrie State School

Last week our school captains and Mrs Cox went on a membership drive to classes encouraging students to become a member of our coding, environmental and/or board games clubs. The introduction of these clubs was an initiative brought about by student voice last year and the student leadership team felt that we needed to promote them to make them be-come more successful. Yesterday on parade, members of each club were handed membership cards, which stay current for 6 weeks. During the 6 weeks, the expectation is that members will attend and participate in all club sessions. After the six weeks, they have the option to leave the club or renew their membership. Each time membership is renewed or started, a new card is issued. Membership of clubs will appear as an extra curricula activity on the report card in the semester that the student is a member. The number of members for each club is limited due to supervision and availability of resources. Choir members will receive their cards next week.

Weekly Messages from our Student Leadership Team. Our positive behaviour focus for this week: Responsibility This Friday it is National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence. Over the last few weeks every member of our Student Leadership team has lead the way in promoting the important message. Bullying No Way. “Pulling someone down will never help you reach the top” This is a powerful sentence. And our school community continues to work together to be the one voice.

We are very proud of the flourishing student leadership but it must be remembered that there a number of students who are not in Year 6, or do not wear a Student Leadership badge and they are leading the way with this important message.

Voice: Involve us. Involve students. We are strong learners.

A message sent through to Principals from the Deputy Director General. Sent through late yesterday afternoon. The information was sent to Mr Tony Cook, Director General, Department of Education. The advice highlights the rationale for schools remaining open and the contribution that the nation’s approach regarding schools is making to the containment and management of COVID-19. It is envisaged that this advice may be helpful in responding to enquiries from staff and parents regarding the current position on schools. Of course, as this is an evolving situation, circumstances may change depending on the progress of the virus. I trust this information is useful in managing local enquiries.

I have summarised for ease of reading. We will do our best to keep you informed, via many avenues. Please make the most of these opportunities to keep in touch with us and what's happening at school - weekly newsletters, school emails, Communication Books, school website, school signs, Facebook, monthly P&C meetings, volunteering and parent/teacher meetings (by arrangement). We very much value your thoughts and words.

MOBILE DENTAL CLINIC NEWS The Mobile Dental Clinic 42A is at Gowrie State School and we have sent registration forms to all families. If you have filled in the registration form and have sent it back, we are phoning those families now. If you still want to fill out a registration form could you please complete the form and return it to the school office as soon as possible. All families are eligible to come to the Dental Van for dental treatment, the only criteria, you must have a green or blue Medicare card. Please contact Dental Van if you have any questions. The Dental Van is open each Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 8.30am until 4.00pm and closed Thursday and Friday. Our phone number is 0408 767 779 Appointments will be made with parents/carers so they can attend with their child/children at times that are suitable with the Dental Van and parent. For your Dental appointments you need to sign into the school office and bring your Medicare card. If there are any concerns please contact the Dental Van. Thank you Karen and Deborah

All 10-12 Zone & 13-19 District trials be postponed until the directive/guidelines are released. DD School Sport trials planned for the 19 March are currently being reviewed and information about whether these trials will go ahead will be communicated to all schools on Wed 18 March.

Artist of the Week: Week 8 Curly Creations

Explore paper strip rolling and curling, creating 3D pictures and paper sculptures

Criteria: Use round pencil or your fingers to form round, smooth curls. (No brought curly ribbons please.) Can combine 2D and 3D elements. Creative design and clever decorative details.