REMINDERS
Friday 7th March- Prep Students have their last Friday off next week
Monday 10th March- LABOR DAY PUBLIC HOLIDAY
PLEASE CHECK COMPASS FOR EVENTS AND EXCURSIONS
THIS WEEK
This week has been a challenging week for us at Gowrie St. We have had many staff out unwell or for bereavement. I would like to say a massive thank you to Tim our incredible Assistant Principal who has steered the ship, as I have been one of those unwell. I would also like to say a big thankyou to all the staff who have helped out, making sure Gowrie St ran smoothly, providing our community with the best learning opportunities, as it does everyday, for our children. Thank you all so much
Eron Chapman
Principal
VALUES AWARDS
ATTENDANCE CUP WINNERS
BIRTHDAYS
Grade 5/6 Gapu Ngunpan
On Wednesday the 26th of February, the grade 5/6 indigenous students went to Melbourne with students from ASHE. We saw a performance called Gapu Nupan (Chasing the Rainbow). This show involved two different indigenous cultures, Aboriginal and Taiwanese coming together to collaborate. They both did traditional dancing and singing. I really liked watching the performance and learning more about the cultures and how they can come together and seeing them be happy. – by Halo Joachim
Thank you so much to Kaeila Arts for organising this amazing opportunity for our students. The chance to go along to such an incredible performance at the Melbourne Arts Centre, as part of the Asia Top Festival, was alone fantastic but they also organised for our students to meet the performers afterwards. A big thanks to Anita Larkin for all her work MAKING IT ALL HAPPEN and also a big congratulations to our students who represented our community with Excellence and Pride.
SCREEN TIME
At Gowrie Street Primary School, we want to ensure every child starts their day ready to learn. One significant factor that affects focus, emotional regulation, and engagement is screentime—both in the morning and before bedtime. We are seeing numbers of students who say they want to be back at home on their devices and it takes teachers and ES signficiant amounts of time to help regulate these students so that they are ready to learn.
Morning Screentime
Using screens (such as tablets, phones, TVs, or gaming devices) before school can make it harder for children to focus, follow instructions, and settle into learning. The fast-paced visuals and stimulation from screens can lead to emotional disregulation, making the transition to a structured classroom environment challenging.
To support your child’s learning and wellbeing, we encourage families to create a screen-free morning routine. Instead of screens, children can:
Have a relaxed breakfast together- or pop in to our brekky program to eat and talk with friends
Read a book or listen to a story
Play with toys, draw, or do a puzzle
Get fresh air with some light movement- walk, ride, or scoot to school.
Night-time Screentime
Screens before bed can also impact learning by disrupting sleep. The blue light from screens reduces melatonin levels, making it harder for children to fall asleep and get the deep rest they need. Poor sleep can lead to tiredness, difficulty concentrating, and increased frustration at school. We are seeing numbers of students falling asleep during the morning session due to lack of night-time sleep.
To help your child get a good night’s sleep, we recommend:
Turning off screens at least one hour before bedtime
Creating a calming bedtime routine with reading or storytelling
Keeping devices out of bedrooms overnight
By reducing screentime in the mornings and evenings, we can help students arrive at school feeling calm, well-rested, and ready to learn. Thank you for working with us to support your child’s success. If you are struggling with establishing screen-time routines please give us a call and speak to Bron, our Wellbeing Leader.
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