12th May 2020 Issue 4

Dear Parents and caregivers The movie, The Sound of Music is a 1965 American musical drama film. Way before your time but you can google if need be. The soundtrack, The Hills Are Alive with Music was re-invented yesterday when the hills and rolling dips of Gowrie were awakened by the sounds of 68 Prep and Year One students. It was nice. We have missed our students. The advice from relevant departments regarding clear and actionable guidance along with wide public health strategies has been the main pillars in our planning. Coupled with the huge amount of respect extended yesterday by the parents and carers at our first round of drop off and pick up, we believe you have rekindled our shared wisdom. Yesterday we saw the return of our Prep and Year One students. There was a plan for this transition and our Gowrie families were great in supporting the health and safety expectations. It was a big moment. It went well. The students quickly settled in. I couldn’t believe how much they have grown. I had the privilege of visiting the three classrooms. But in all honesty, the students really weren’t that much interested in talking with me. They were so focussed on their lessons I could have done a star singing performance and it would not have raised a ripple in their eyebrows. Two students (Alice and Paulina) in the Prep/One class delivered to my office some wonderful class drawings and thoughts about returning to school. (I have included in the newsletter the responses from the Prep class.) The overwhelming response from Prep/One was ‘happy to be back with their friends’. But tired from being too excited to sleep well the night before. We hope you enjoy our newsletter gallery. Kind regards and take care Mandy

A story to read for our young (and older) students.

Chapter Four

How some of Mrs Fogarty’s Preps felt about coming back to school…

I was happy – Charlie

I was happy to see all my friends again – Lachlan

Happy to see my friends – Laciee

A bit sad, because I didn’t want to leave my Mum – Ryan

Really excited! – Ebony

I was a bit nervous and sad because I haven’t been to school for a while – Mae

I was very excited, I missed you Mrs Fogarty – Matilda

Excited – Torvi

I was happy, because I missed everyone – Taylor

Happy because I wanted to see my friends – Darcy

Very, very, very excited because I missed everyone so much – Lucy

Happy to see Charlie and all my friends – Alex

I was excited – Adrian

Really excited – Paddy

A bit scared because of the Coronavirus – Mitchell

Really excited to see all my friends – Nicky

I was excited to see everyone – Ethan

I was excited…more than the whole wide world, to see my friends! – Antonio

A bit sad, because I didn’t want to leave Dad – Xavier

A bit sad to leave Mum, but happy - Lincoln

These are not the exact words, but they capture the feed-back from the older students in years 4 to 6 when I have vis-ited their classroom. These students are children of essential workers and they have been steadfast in keeping the school culture alive and well. Respectful and responsible. Resilient and showing initiative in problem solving. Careful and con-siderate. Conversations around the dinner table in many homes have echoed the extra effort, thinking behind the many juggling acts needed to keep the varied commitments attended to, the care for nurturing trust and the importance for keeping the world’s children learning through COVID-19. We have taken time to share with the older students that it is not only our school, or country. Never before have so many children been out of school at the same time.

AMAZING WORK IN PREP/1 LEARNING FROM HOME

FROM WEEK 3

Year 4/5 Making home made and

‘school made’ butter

Last week students made butter from fresh full cream. Below is a collage of photos and comments made by the students.

Improving students’ reading is a major driver of our school. A strong pattern has emerged from the many conversations that we have had with parent/carers via phone and email. It seems that an innovative spirit has gained a lot of traction. The table below, Nagy and Herman (1987), clearly highlights the importance of regular reading.

Matilda has kick started her reading journey for the Premier’s Reading Challenge. “Never Ever Before’ has she found so many good books in one spot. We are registered. Let’s make 2020 a big year for our school participating in the Premier’s Reading Challenge.

BSC opening time: 6:30am - $13/child/session—breakfast

included

ASC closing time: 6:00pm - $19/child/session—afternoon tea

included

Vacation Care – 6:30am to 6:00pm - $56/child/day

Incursions and Excursions - extra

Direct debit is the only accepted method of payment using

Debit Success.

We are now licensed to take 60 children so spaces will always be available but we appreciate if you can call the service and book accordingly so we can roster staffing.

Casual bookings are available. Unwanted bookings for Before and After School Care must be cancelled 24hrs prior to booking so that we can staff accordingly. Vacation Care cancellations require 7 days notice.

Failure to cancel bookings in time will result in being charged for that session.

For further information please contact us on 46 307 710 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.

COVID-19 Fee Changes

As per current childcare

subsidy changes due to COVID-

19 at this stage there is no fee to

the family, therefore no state-

ments will be issued over the

coming weeks.

If you have fees outstanding from

Term 1 we would appreciate this

fixed up as soon as possible,

please contact

Justin to discuss.