Anti Bullying
Gowrie Primary School is proactive in dealing with bullying.
Gowrie Primary School is proactive in dealing with bullying. The school is guided by the standards set out in the National Safe Schools Framework, which also addresses sexual harassment and racism, and has established a strong school culture to combat bullying.
Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative
The Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative (AuSSI) is a partnership of the Australian State and Territory Governments that seeks to support schools and their communities to become sustainable.
The Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative (AuSSI) is a partnership of the Australian State and Territory Governments that seeks to support schools and their communities to become sustainable.
This is a whole-of-school approach, to explore through real-life learning experiences, improvements in a school’s management of resources and facilities including energy, waste, water, biodiversity, landscape design, products and materials.
Autism Program
Gowrie Primary School offers an Autism Specific Program catering for 18 students with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Our curriculum addresses priorities collaboratively formulated between staff and families making up and Individual Learning Plan (ILP) for each child.
Imagine living in a world in which very little of what we see, touch, hear, smell and taste makes any sense and these sensations seem chaotic and overwhelming. Imagine that in order to be able to function successfully everything has to be consciously learned.
Imagine having absolutely no idea of how and why people do the things they do even people on whom you rely.
Imagine having autism Spectrum Disorder.
Gowrie Primary School offers an Autism Specific Program catering for 18 students with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder.
The program offered is based on the belief system that out students have universal rights.
- All children have the right to be treated with dignity and respect.
- All children have the right to learn in and be free from others doing for them what they can do for themselves.
The following are beliefs upon which the program is based:
- All children have the opportunities to learn.
- Children come to school to lean the skills they need to interact successfully in a variety of settings.
- Children have the opportunities to be engaged in learning experiences with adequate resources.
Our curriculum addresses priorities collaboratively formulated between staff and families making up and Individual Learning Plan (ILP) for each child.
Bluearth
Bluearth is a physical education program developed to improve physical activity which is essential to a healthy life. It promotes whole person health which integrates body, mind and spirit. It also provides meaningful experiences to promote life-long habits.Bluearth is a physical education program developed to improve physical activity which is essential to a healthy life. It promotes whole person health which integrates body, mind and spirit. It also provides meaningful experiences to promote life-long habits.
Bluearth is designed to improve:
- Ability to concentrate and remain focussed on specific tasks
- Cooperation
- Awareness of others
- A willingness to accept new challenges
- Improving behaviour/choices
- Desire to attend school on Bluearth days
- Self confidence
Bluearth keeps students fit and healthy using a range of core moments based on coordination and agility. Bluearth puts these programs in challenges and games making the experience as enjoyable as possible for the student.
How the Bluearth approach works
The key to the Bluearth Approach and the reason it is so successful is the focus on the students' experiences as a result of participating in each activity. The Bluearth coach seeks feedback from the students throughout the session drawing on their feelings, reactions and thoughts that resulted from their participation. Students are not told what is right or wrong, rather, through skillful guidance and questioning a range of powerful messages are reinforced. These include:
- Honesty
- Fair play
- Consideration for others
- Cooperation
- Challenging oneself
- Quality of attention
Bluearth seeks to assist teachers to maximise learning outcomes for all students through a PLP that will supplement and complement their professional skills.
The power of the Bluearth Approach is the transferring of key developmental learning from the Bluearth session into the classroom setting and from the Bluearth coach to the classroom teacher.
Clubs
The aim of the Clubs program is to support the schools Bounce Back program by developing positive teacher and child relationships across the school, provide children with enrichment learning opportunities and to broaden their depth of knowledge and their life long learning skills.The aim of the Clubs program is to support the schools Bounce Back program by developing positive teacher and child relationships across the school, provide children with enrichment learning opportunities and to broaden their depth of knowledge and their life long learning skills.
On Friday afternoon from 2-3 o’clock a Clubs program operates at Gowrie. Children from years 1-6 choose a club they are interested in doing for 3 consecutive weeks. Teachers plan activities they have expertise in.
Some activities are: cooking, golf skills, Oz Tag, drama, pottery, screen printing, dancing, sketching, guitar lessons and computer research.
Dance Program
Gowrie students K-6 engage in specialised weekly dance lessons, designed to develop gross motor and movement skills, as well as building fitness, confidence and coordination.Gowrie students K-6 engage in specialised weekly dance lessons, designed to develop gross motor and movement skills, as well as building fitness, confidence and coordination.
The focus for dance in each student in dependent on their grade level and development.
Gowrie Dance Troupe
The Gowrie Dance Troupe was established in 2008 as part of the “Friday Fun” program, with only 6 students. Today in has grown in to a structured performance troupe, with over 55 dancers from grade 2 to 6.
The Troupe have been fortunate enough to perform at a variety of high-profile events such as the Opening Ceremony of the Pacific School Games at Canberra Stadium in 2008 and The JRock Dance Festival at the Canberra Theatre in 2009, as well as numerous school functions, festivals and shopping centre appearances throughout each term.
The key principle of the Troupe is to promote positive body image, self esteem, coordination and friendship in the students. Above all, it is about having fun, building confidence and working together.
Aside from learning and rehearsing routines in Hip Hop, Breakdance, Crunk, Jazz and Contemporary Ballet dance styles, the dance troupe meets weekly to focus on:
- Flexibility
- Fitness
- Coordination
- Core Strength
- Performance skills, and
- Formation
The Dance Troupe is inclusive and open to all students from grade 2 onwards, regardless of ability or dance experience. A willingness to have a go in all you need!
Health and Wellbeing Program
Health and Wellbeing aims to develop the whole person through physical and social activities. Programs such as Peer Support, Success for Boys, Rock and Water, Bluearth and Habits of Mind promote co-operative social learning. Health and Wellbeing aims to develop the whole person through physical and social activities. Programs such as Peer Support, Success for Boys, Rock and Water, Bluearth and Habits of Mind promote co-operative social learning.Information Technology Program
The school has a computer resource centre with networked computers complemented by a number of computer pods housed in classes and the library.The Information Technology Program is continuously developed and upgraded. Interactive Whiteboards (IWBs) are installed throughout the schools. Each IWB is connected to a computer and data projector, so that all students can benefit from interactive learning. Multi-media sessions are taught using DVD and internet resources on a daily basis.
The school has a computer resource centre with networked computers complemented by a number of computer pods housed in classes and the library. Information technology education is integrated across all classes involving areas such as word processing, information retrieval and educational games related to the work being covered in class. Students have supervised access to the internet and utilise the My classes program
Instrumental Music Program
Gowrie Primary school gives children in years 5 and 6 the chance to be selected for the two year woodwind Music Program which is part of the ACT Department of education and training’s Music Program.
Gowrie Primary school gives children in years 5 and 6 the chance to be selected for the two year woodwind Music Program which is part of the ACT Department of education and training’s Music Program.
Kids Matter
This is an initiative run by the school and aims at strengthening those factors that protect students from developing mental health problems.This is an initiative run by the school and aims at strengthening those factors that protect students from developing mental health problems. Some of these factors reside within the student (eg: being socially and emotionally competent), some within the school context (eg. having supportive and caring relationships with parents/carers, family and community).
At Gowrie Primary we focus on providing a positive school community, we have selected and use the ‘Bounce Back” curriculum program which teaches resilience and encourage parent support with access to information on child development and parenting. School staff and parents are also being trained on how to identify and support children experiencing mental health difficulties.
Learning Assistance Program
All children are assessed in order to determine their learning needs and Learning Assistance is provided to those students who require extra help in the areas of literacy and Numeracy.The Learning Assistance program at Gowrie Primary includes a Literacy and Numeracy Coordinator for Gowrie Primary School. Their role will be to provide coaching and mentoring to all teachers K – 6 to support the Balanced Literacy and Numeracy Programs at Gowrie.
All children are assessed in order to determine their learning needs and Learning Assistance is provided to those students who require extra help in the areas of literacy and Numeracy.
The Learning assistance teacher and the Literacy and Numeracy Coordinators will work with teachers in the classroom and also work in small groups in the classroom. Small groups of up to six children can be targeted for withdrawal from their mainstream classes to work on programs that are designed to meet their needs. The benefit of working in small groups is greater opportunity for children to receive individual help from the teacher.
Learning Support Centre
The Learning Support Centre teacher works with children who have been identified as having specific learning difficulties. Theses children receive some individual tuition, some assistance in the small group situation, and also participate in some of the usual classroom activities.
The Learning Support Centre teacher works with children who have been identified as having specific learning difficulties. Theses children receive some individual tuition, some assistance in the small group situation, and also participate in some of the usual classroom activities.
Library Program
The library program involves all grades from preschool to year 6. Regular lessons are timetabled for all classes when weekly borrowing takes place. The library program involves all grades from preschool to year 6. Regular lessons are timetabled for all classes when weekly borrowing takes place. Borrowing is greatly encouraged in accordance with the developmental stage and interests of each child. The Library is regularly updated with new and interesting books for all age groups. The Library provides a wide range of literature, both fiction and non-fiction, suitable for all students from Preschool to Year 6.The school recognises that the development of literacy is a life-long process. The role of the school is to continue the language learning begun before school entry and to provide opportunities for all students to become lovers of literature. Our Library uses a computer cataloguing system and all students are trained to utilise the computer facilities for borrowing and reaching work.
The Library is a popular place and is regarded as a whole school community resource centre. It is open at lunch time and children are able to read books and magazines, write, draw, play chess and other board games, listen to stories, do craft, use the computers, complete homework or research tasks and return or borrow books.
STRINGS Social Skills Program
The 'STRINGS' program assists with social skills teaching and provides children with positive values for life.The ‘STRINGS’ Program evolved from and M&M Pathways training and development program and is a whole school Student Welfare program designed for the specific needs of the Gowrie Primary School community. The program assists with social skills teaching and provides children with positive values for life. The purpose of the program is to give students skills to enable them to make positive choices and to recognise the consequences of those choices. The title ‘Strings’ is an acronym which represents the following values:
- S - Safe Play
- T - Teamwork
- R - Resilience
- I - Improvement
- N - Never Give Up
- G - Growth Diary
- S - Self Belief
At Gowrie we recognise the importance of positive behaviour choices. Along with STRINGS, the Bounce Back program promotes positive values as well.
Student Representative Council (SRC)
Children are encouraged to take and active role in the life of the school. Each term, two children out of each class from Year 1 to Year 6 and elected to Student Council. The Council plans and conducts activities to raise funds for charities and offers suggestions on behalf of the total student body.
Children are encouraged to take and active role in the life of the school. Each term, two children out of each class from Year 1 to Year 6 and elected to Student Council. The Council plans and conducts activities to raise funds for charities and offers suggestions on behalf of the total student body.
THRASS Program
THRASS (Teaching Handwriting Reading and Spelling Skills)THRASS (Teaching Handwriting Reading and Spelling Skills)
Gowrie Primary teachers use a phonics based literacy tool called THRASS which makes the learning of English clearer for children. Children are taught how to use THRASS charts to make informed, independent and accurate spelling attempts when writing and to improve their word skills when reading.