North Queensland Toyota Cowboys community ambassador Matthew Bowen is visiting north-west and Far North Queensland this week talking with students, schools and parents about the importance of good school attendance and a new secondary education opportunity opening up next year.
Stopping off at Healy State School in Mount Isa before flying on to visit Western Cape College in Mapoon and Weipa and finally Yarrabah State School, Bowen will be delivering prizes to classes with the best attendance records in term 2 and challenging students and parents to continue to Try for 5! and further boost attendance in term 3.
Try for 5!, supported by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, is running in nine schools across the state, designed to challenge, motivate and reward individual classes and schools for their attendance during the challenge period.
"The program is jointly delivered with the Brisbane Broncos and uses both clubs' profiles to engage students and their families in a way few others can," Cowboys general manager – community Fiona Pelling said.
"Results are measured against attendance for the same period in 2015 and whilst only running throughout term 2, this year there has been significant improvements in all schools."
While Try for 5! focuses on primary schools, Bowen’s visit is also being used to encourage Indigenous boys and their families to consider NRL Cowboys House as an option to enable them to access secondary school.
Currently under construction in Gulliver, Townsville, NRL Cowboys House will provide a supported boarding option for boys from remote North Queensland communities where there is no local secondary school, enabling them to access the school of their choice in Townsville.
Travelling with Bowen, project manager for NRL Cowboys House Gayle De La Cruz said: “Having Matty Bowen on board is an added bonus as he can talk to parents and students from his experience about leaving home to attend school, staying focused on your goals and working as part of a team”.
“NRL Cowboys House is designed to encourage and nurture students, whether their interests are in the arts, academic pursuits or sport.
"Our ultimate aim for the House is for each young man to reach their full potential, finish secondary school and to transition into a job, training or further study.”
>>> NRL Cowboys House Enrolment Pack 2017
Main image: Matthew Bowen at Healy Primary School, Mount Isa
