All children in the school are offered a common core of subjects which are English, Mathematics, SOSE, Science, Art, Music and Physical Education. Children in Years 6 and 7 will be doing LOTE (Japanese). In addition to this, children may be involved in one or all of the following:- choral singing, recorder ensemble group, instrumental band, music and sport. Information technology through computer work is emphasised throughout each year level within the school.

Support Teacher – Learning Difficulties (STLD)
To enable the school to provide adequate support for all the children, specialist teachers are available to advise and assist teachers plan programs for children who have been identified as having special needs. Some of these children may be withdrawn from the regular classroom to receive small group or individual teaching. If your child needs to become involved in this program you will be consulted. Parents wishing to consult a Support Teacher should do so by making an appointment with the Support Teacher or through the School Office.

Guidance Officer
Guidance services are available to parents, staff and children of the school. Ian Collett is at the school one day a fortnight. His services are readily available (on referral) to assist in meeting school and parent identified concerns.

Speech Language Pathologist
Our Speech Language Pathologist, Lauren Sali, provides services for students who have special needs in:-

• Language;
• Fluency (eg stuttering);
• Voice;
• Social interaction skills;
• Eating and drinking;
• Speech;
• Alternative and augmentative communication systems.

The Speech Language Pathologist and teachers work together using an integrated classroom-based program to provide services to students with speech and language impairments. Services include direct therapy with individuals and groups, consultancy services and training for teachers and parents.

The Speech Language Pathologist’s role extends beyond correcting speech to include working with other children with communication disabilities and their families, consulting on language and communication across the curriculum, and liaising with other agencies and community groups.

Speech Language Pathologists are specially trained professionals who have knowledge of the development of communication skills and how to identify, evaluate and manage speech and language disorders.

Music Program
A specialist Music Teacher is attached to the school for one and a half days each week. Each class receives music lessons for half an hour per week. Here, the aim is to develop children’s musical concepts, skills and knowledge with the appropriate breadth and depth and to transmit our cultural heritage through a wide range of musical styles and perspectives;-

• Singing
• Listening with understanding
• Rhythmic movement/dancing
• Playing
• And creating music

Our Music Teacher co-ordinates rewarding musical experiences for the children, and devotes much time to organising choirs, recorder ensemble, musical competitions and plays. The school choir is selected from children in Years 4 to 7. They rehearse every week and work towards performing on a regular basis. Children from Years 4 to 7 learn recorder.

Children in Years 5 to 7 are given the opportunity to join the school’s Instrumental Program conducted by Geoff Poole. The program offers tuition in brass, woodwind and percussion instruments, for a fee of $75 per term. The duration of a group lesson is half an hour in school time.

Physical Education
Physical education in our school contributes to students being fully active and is suited to the development of all children; the average child, those ready to progress to higher levels and those who need greater practice and encouragement.
Our Physical Education Teacher visits the school for one and a half days each week and each class receives a half-hour lesson. Our Physical Education Teacher helps organise the interhouse sporting competition held each year.

School Sport
Through sporting activities, the school attempts to develop a good spirit of competition and sportsmanship in all children. We attempt to give children in Years 5, 6 and 7 opportunities to participate in sport. Children may choose to be involved in some of the following inter-school sporting teams:
Swimming…Athletics…Softball…Tee-ball…Netball..... Cricket…Soccer

Religious Instruction
Legislation provides that within a specific time period each week approved instructors, who are religious leaders or accredited representatives of a faith group, are able to gain right-of-entry into a State school to provide religious instruction to students to develop and support particular beliefs, values and attitudes. These provisions do not extend to students in preparatory year.
The program of Religious Instruction at Gowrie State School is delivered in accordance Education Queensland policy as outlined in the policy statement SCM-PR-021: Religious Instruction in School Hours which is available for perusal at:

http://education.qld.gov.au/strategic/eppr/schools/scmpr021/

Religious Instruction classes are held at the school each Monday between 11.00am and 11.30am.  Ministers and lay people from a number of religions (approved by Education Queensland) conduct these classes.
Currently, there are several choices available. Anglican, Baptist, Uniting and Presbyterian faiths are taught co-operatively. Lutherans and Catholics are taught separately and there is a group for non attenders. They usually go to the library to read with supervision. Parents are asked on enrolment to choose which of the options they want, fill it out and sign it and return it to school. We need to have a record for each student, so your co-operation in this is much appreciated. Should a parent wish to change groups or withdraw their child, this can be done through a letter to Administration, informing us of your wishes in writing.

A copy of programs taught is available at the school for parental perusal.

Currently, Gowrie State School does not have access to a Chaplaincy service.

Interschool Sport
Interschool sport is held on Friday afternoons for students in Years 5, 6 and 7. Bus transport costs approximately $3.00 per child.
In 2008 swimming lessons will be conducted at the Tall Timbers Swimming Pool at Highfields where lessons are taught by their trained instructors together with our Physical Education Teacher. The cost will be approximately $6.00 per child, this is for the lesson plus the cost of the bus.
Children are allocated to the following Sport Houses

Dental Therapy
Children may be treated at the Mobile School Dental Clinic when it visits the school during school hours. This is a free service and the children have access once every two years. The Dental Clinic will contact parents through the school to find out if you wish your child to attend the clinic.
This service, with its main thrust towards the prevention of tooth decay, will have a marked effect on the future level of dental health of our children. This school strongly recommends the use of this facility.

School Nurse (Health Assessment of Students)
Parents will be advised through the school’s newsletter of the actual time of the visit of the School Health Sister. Staff from Queensland Health Authority are now required to carry out the following procedures:-

Prep -
1) Screening of all students in vision, hearing, height and weight, and speech and language development;
2) Observation of gait, behaviour and general demeanour; and
3) Other assessment procedures (eg fine/gross motor skill assessment) to be carried out as indicated.
State Primary Schools -
1) Year 1 – screening and assessment will be carried out as above where a student has not been assessed previously in prep;
2) Year 7 – screening of all students will be carried out in visual acuity and hearing. In addition, all boys will be screened for colour defect and all girls for spinal curvature (scoliosis);
3) Other assessments – students from any school year who are referred to staff of the Division of Child Health because of suspected health problems will be assessed as dictated by the nature of the problem. Department of Education staff, parents or students (self-referrals) are all appropriate sources of referral.

Our School Rules

• Be Safe
• Be Respectful
• Be A Learner

What does this look like for our students?
Some examples are :

BE SAFE – In the Classroom

• We act with the safety of everyone in mind
• We use equipment safely
• We keep our hands, feet and objects to ourselves
• We work and play safely

 BE SAFE – In the Playground

• We act with the safety of everyone in mind
• We use equipment safely (includes bikes, scooters, out of bounds areas)
• We keep our hands, feet and objects to ourselves
• We work and play games safely
• We leave sticks and stones on the ground

BE RESPECTFUL – In the Classroom

• We treat others with courtesy and respect
• We share with others and take turns
• We look after all property and the environment
• We speak nicely to people
• We listen to all instructions

BE RESPECTFUL – In the Playground

• We treat people and living creatures with courtesy and respect
• We share with others and take turns
• We look after all property and the environment
• We speak nicely to people
• We listen to all instructions

BE A LEARNER – In the Classroom

• We give everyone the opportunity to learn
• We are always ready to learn
• We listen to each other
• We take turns
• We co-operate

BE A LEARNER – In the Playground

• We give everyone the opportunity to play
• We are always ready to learn
• We take turns
• We co-operate while we discuss and play

BEHAVIOUR BENCHMARKS
Expectations :

• Students will be able to identify their behaviour standard and self monitor their progress
• Students will accept responsibility for their current behaviour and undertake collaborative goal setting and review, to bring about positive behaviour change
• ALL students will strive to reach a COMPETENT level of behaviour

Pupil's Progress Report Card
Assessment of your child as a member of his/her class:
A Report Card will be issued each semester to let you know our assessment of your child's progress.  Formal examinations will constitute only part of the evidence upon which the assessment is based. 
You are asked to -

• read the Report Card carefully
• sign the Report Card where indicated
• return the signed Report Card to the school

The Report Card may not reveal to you all that you would like to know about your child's progress.  Formal parent/teacher interviews are available for all families in June and December of each year.
It is important that parents make every effort to attend these interviews, as teachers are able to give a far more meaningful report on this face-to-face basis.
All students in Years 1 to 3 have attainments plotted on a Continuum in Reading, Writing and Numeracy.  An individual student profile is developed and reported to parents.  Some students in Year 2 will be involved in validation activities to determine if individual support is needed.
All Year  3, 5 and 7 students sit for a series of standardised tests in Literacy and Numeracy towards the end of Term 3.  The tests are an indicator of your child’s progress in relation to other children of similar age.  In 2008, the tests will be performed throughout Australia as an initiative of the Federal Government.  The results  of these tests are made available to parents towards the end of the school year and will normally accompany your child’s final Report Card.
  
Student Council

Membership
School Captains, two Representatives from each class - Years 1 to 7, Staff Representative.
Objectives

• To enhance decision-making in the school by the provision of timely and relevant advice, comment and recommendations to the Principal of the school by a council representing the school student community.
• To report to the Principal on matters referred to by the Principal for comment and recommendations.

Behaviour Management Plan
Operating Principles

• All members of staff work co-operatively to implement the plan.
• Teaching children to take personal responsibility for improving their behaviour is a major emphasis.
• Each member of staff, as part of our HRE Program, has a responsibility to support children in their attempts to manage their behaviour.
• Within each classroom the key elements of Rights, Responsibilities, Rules and Consequences are taught and reinforced regularly.
• The Behaviour Management Plan is a reflection of our school mission values and beliefs.
• The implementation of the program rests upon the shared responsibilities of administration, teachers, parents and children.
• Positive working relationships are quickly re-established with a “disciplined” student.
• Teachers are prepared to implement a variety of strategies to increase the effectiveness of the plan.
• Good communication exists between staff at all times.
• As a staff, we continually work together to improve the process.