This Newsletter is published each Tuesday and is available on our website. It is part of our commitment to keep parents/carers and the wider community informed about what is happening at our school.

Dear Parents/Caregivers. It's the Little Things... The students in the early years have been watching the construction of our new outdoor deck area being added onto the existing outdoor area of the Prep building and pathway each morning while they eat their healthy snack or pause for a peek during playtime.

They were super impressed with how much dirt was shovelled out and were a tiny bit frustrated that it did not rain a lot so it could become their very own pond for ducks. Oh, it is the little things, the small deeds and actions done with great care and consideration that can really make a big impact. We are a fortunate school community in that we enable the many opportunities for discussions with the students, particularly, do not overlook all the little gains and achievements and appreciate the little things. We have had a beautiful entry into Spring. The warm change is in the air and the layers of jumpers are finally coming off. With only 3 days of term remaining there is the bubbling excitement of school holidays ahead, but also the tiredness of end of term. It is important to remind our students of taking things slowly and making the right choices. Thanks to the parents/carers who could make it to the camp photo show after Mondays assembly.

Kind regards Mandy

14th September 2021 Issue 10

22 Old Homebush Road, Gowrie Junction QLD 4352 Phone: 4698 6888 Student Absentee Line: 4698 6860 Outside School Hours Care: 0439 923 855 Email: admin@gowriess.eq.edu.au Website: www.gowriess.eq.edu.au Facebook: www.facebook.com/gowriess

Parents & Citizens’ Association meetings held 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7:00pm. All welcome.

Relationships Rigour Resilience Respect Responsibility

DATES TO REMEMBER

P&C Meeting Tuesday 14th September 7pm

Gowrie is Great Day Thursday 16th September

Talk Like a Pirate Day - gold coin donation Thursday 16th September

Last Day of Term 3 Friday 17th September

Queens Birthday Public Holiday Monday 4th October

Term 4 Commences Tuesday 5th October

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

Congratulations to our Principal’s Award Recipients

Congratulations to Year 4 Students on receiving Principal Awards this week. Absent - Zara, Luke, Jack. The story. I don’t usually award every student in a class however, every now and then there comes a time when an opportunity presents itself whereby each student has stepped up at the same time. (a challenge to get everyone on the same page at the same time) but this class stepped up during camp week. In the background, each day this class has been diligent in working as one, respecting diversity, learning about personal growth and appreciating what it takes to work together and stay together, regardless of personal challenges/celebrations emerging through individuality. May they continue their journey with the pride they have nurtured every day.

Congratulations to Bridie, Blake, Lilian, Isla, Rosie, Lucas and Aiden on receiving Students of the Week awards this week.

Connect - Collaborate - Care

Everyone connected. Everyday striving to make an impact. Everywhere learning. Gowrie staff share a strong commitment to student needs

Let’s Start Prep 2022 Both Mrs Cox and I are looking forward to the Term 4 Prep 2022 Transition program. Each year, the school welcomes the ‘next year’ preppies to transition sessions. During this time, the 2022 preppie parents are treated to an information session presented by Linda and myself. Please note that the dates for these transition sessions will be promoted in early Term 4. We believe it is not the ideal scenario to have a transition session on a day when building construction work is at it’s peak. We are waiting on the progress over the holiday break and will discuss the timetable with the builders to determine some dates (The Prep building is currently undergoing significant renovation). The parent information sessions provided by the leadership team will give time to the following focus areas:

• Welfare and wellbeing - whole school behaviour management framework, student safety programs such as National Day of Action Against Bullying, Day for Daniel to name a few. • A day in the life of a student at Gowrie State School - school expectations and procedures such

as dress code, buddy system, Monday assembly and Gowrie postcard. • Literacy and Numeracy – how we teach reading and writing, early numeracy concepts.

We will have a number of booklets/information brochures available. Delayed Entry The Preparatory (PREP) Year is compulsory. This means parents who delay the entry of their child to school do not have the option of not completing Prep. Every child must complete Prep rather than starting at Year 1.

Transition to School Resources to Support Your Child There are many ways you can help your child transition from home or kindy to school. It is suggested that you could take a look at the short video from the Department of Education, "What is a Transition Statement" which is one of several videos on their website designed to assist families, early education and care services and schools to support positive transitions to Prep. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SIChLjW068

A Prep Flash Back We were preppies once upon a time. I am sure that these students from past years will not mind shar-ing the memories of transitioning into their Prep year. We are very proud of all Gowrie students who pass through our teaching and learning lives. From stories passed along, they are doing just fine with their future pathways. Best wishes to past Gowrie students as they move into term 4 whether it be their final year of school or next year level on their journey.

Keep a Watch on our School these Holidays. Parents and community members can help take care of our school by reporting any suspicious after-hours activity to School Watch on 13 17 88. By keeping an eye out we can work together to create a safer school community and help to reduce vandalism, theft in our school. If you see something suspicious, please don't intervene. Call the School Watch number and let the local police or State Government Protective Security Service deal with the matter. Term 4 A draft of the Term 4 calendar is underway. Lots of opportunities for school and community engagement, student wellbeing and academic growth, good and fun times and the next steps to be taken. We would like to put it on the radar that planning for the Term 4 swimming program has had some challenges due to the need to have available, a designated number of qualified swim instructors on particular days and times. The students will participate in a swim program at the Darren Large Swim Academy in Wilsonton. We are currenting awaiting confirmation for a Week 2 start. As per usual arrangement, students will take bus transport, the cost of the lesson and bus travel is comparable to previous years and a schedule will be sent home as soon as possible. This swim facility has indoor pools which are heated to a comfortable teaching temperature, between 31 and 34 degrees for year round swimming and seamless learning. The pools are specifically designed for teaching and coaching and utilise an extensive in-water ledge system to provide comfortable depths for even the most timid young swimmer. Kudos to the Highfields Aquatic Centre who have worked with us throughout the term to develop a plan and it is unfortunate that a suitable staffing arrangement could not come about. Please note we have booked the Highfields Aquatic Centre for the school swim carnival. Friday 26th November.

Photos are a flashback from 2017: some of our current year 5 and year 6 students.

A snapshot to give a glimpse of the Touch Football day. An end of term bulletin with a gallery of photos will be sent out Thurs-day to showcase the Prep and Prep/One

dance party, the Root Cause “tasty lunches’ activity and other class activities.

Year 3 Artists

This term in art we have been learning about 3-Dimensional art. We created our own art us-ing clay and pressed found objects into the clay to create our own ‘fossil’ that could be dis-played in a museum of the future.

Guidance Chatter R U OK? Day is a great reminder to check in with others but it is important to remember when we ask that question of children, family, friends and colleagues what is the true expectation of our question? How do we gauge what someone needs from us? These two simple choices will guide you when checking in…. “Do you want my help in solving this problem, or do you just need me to listen?” Sometimes all we need is someone to listen to our concerns and other times we require support to find a solution or narrow down our choices. Listening is really important, but knowing WHY

you’re listening is powerful. So when you ask “ R u Ok?”, find out if you are needed to offer possibilities or just providing en-gaged listening. Nadine Johnston Guidance Officer

Student Council will be

selling ice blocks and popcorn for .50c on Friday at 1st break

outside of the tuckshop to celebrate the end of Term 3.

BSC opening time: 6:30am - $13.40/child/session—breakfast available

ASC closing time: 6:00pm - $19.60/child/session—afternoon tea provided

Vacation Care – 6:30am to 6:00pm - $57.70/child/day

Incursions and Excursions - extra

Direct debit is the only accepted method of payment using Debit Success.

Gowrie Outside School Hours Care facility is run by our P&C Association with an efficient and qualified team of staff headed up by our Director and casual educators. Our team’s experience and dedication to the students and service is of the highest standard. Our service is located on school site providing a safe, fun filled place to be. Enrolment forms are available on the school website or from the office.. You can organise with our OSHC team to have permanent bookings or casual with CCS available if eligible and all paperwork returned. We appreciate as much notice as possible for bookings to allow us to organise sufficient staffing and resources. Bookings can be made by calling or email the service. Before and After School Care cancellations must be cancelled 24hrs prior to booking. Vacation Care cancellations require 7 days notice. Failure to cancel bookings in the required policy time, will result in being charged for that session.

For further information please contact us on 0439 923 855 or alternatively you can email bookings and cancellations to oshcadministration@gowriess.eq.edu.au If your call is not answered please leave a message. We routinely check our messages.