School Newsletter - Issue 1, Term 1 2025

To stay informed about all the upcoming festivities and key dates, please visit our Events & Key Dates page. It's your go-to resource for a sneak peek into the exciting happenings at Silkwood School.

Date	Event
Mon 20 April	Term 2 Start
Wed 22 Apr	Senior School Photo Day
Thu 23 Apr	Junior And Primary School And Music Group Photo Day
Fri 24 Apr	Middle School Photo Day
Mon 27 Apr - Fri 01 May	Year 10/11 Optional South Passage Voyage
Wed 29 Apr	Year 6 Time And Space - Mother's Event
Wed 29 Apr - 01 May	Year 5 RWLAP
Mon 04 May	QLD Labour Day P.Hol
Fri 08 May	Mother's Day Community Breakfast
Mon 11 - Fri 15 May	Year 12 RWLAP
Wed 13 May	Year 6 Time And Space - Father's Event
Thu 14 - Fri 15 May	Year 3 RWLAP
Mon 01 - Wed 03 Jun	Year 6 RWLAP
Tues 16 Jun	Festival Of Light (Last Day Of Term 2)
Wed 17 - Fri 19 Jun	Sem 1 Student Exhibitions (Appointment Times Only)
Fri 19 Jun - Sun 12 Jul	School Holidays

Dear Families,

As we prepare to welcome everyone back for Term 2, we’d like to share a few updates to our bus services, effective from the start of term on 20 April 2026.

Updated bus timetables are attached and can also be viewed on our website:
https://www.silkwood.qld.edu.au/our-community/school-bus-service

As our community continues to grow, these adjustments help us better support safe, reliable, and well-connected transport options for our students.

Key updates include:

1- Helensvale stops will now move from the North-Western Bus to the Northern Bus service for the morning run only, beginning from 6:50am. This change responds to increased traffic conditions on the eastern side of the highway during this time.

2- A new stop has been added at Nerang Train Station (western side) on the Central Bus morning run at 8:10am. The afternoon stop will remain on the Southern Bus. This addition aims to strengthen connections with train services and will be trialled this term.

3- The Highland Park – Alexander Drive at Sue Court stop will now run on the Southern Bus in the morning at 8:00am, while remaining on the Central Bus for the afternoon.

4- A new stop has been introduced at Oxenford – Michigan Drive near Swindon Place on the North-Western Bus for both morning and afternoon runs.

5- The Ashmore – Cotlew Street at Ashmore Plaza stop will now run at 7:42am on the Northern Bus morning service.

We encourage all families to review the updated timetables carefully to confirm your child’s current stop and times.

To support a smooth start to the term, please ensure your child’s Smart Card has sufficient credit and that notifications are enabled on the TransportMe Passenger App. Setting up automatic top-ups is also recommended. If a card has no credit, alternative transport will need to be arranged.

If your child requires a replacement Smart Card, please email schoolbus@silkwood.qld.edu.au or have them visit reception. A $5 replacement fee will be applied to your TransportMe account.

We also take this opportunity to remind students of the importance of respectful and safe behaviour while travelling on the bus. Our drivers’ focus is on ensuring a safe journey for all, and maintaining a positive environment is essential. Any breaches of expectations may result in temporary or ongoing suspension from the service.

For our Junior and Primary families, please remember that students must be met at their stop by a parent or guardian, who should arrive at least 10 minutes prior to the scheduled time. Students must also be registered with our Outside School Hours Care provider, Extend, to ensure support is available if a bus is missed.

If your child will no longer be using the Silkwood Bus Service, please let us know via email so we can update our records.

We’re looking forward to seeing everyone back for a wonderful Term 2.

Warm regards,
Community Relations Team
Silkwood School

Exciting News: Extend to Join Silkwood School in Term 1, 2025!

We are thrilled to announce that starting Term 1, 2025, Silkwood School will be partnering with Extend After School and Vacation Care to provide our students with exceptional out-of-school hours care. Extend is renowned for its high-quality programs that offer children a safe, fun, and enriching environment.

About Extend

Extend is dedicated to helping raise responsible kids through new, fun, and inspiring programs. Their services include after-school and vacation care, ensuring our students are well cared for outside regular school hours. Extend's professional educators are committed to creating a nurturing and engaging atmosphere where children can laugh, learn, and play.

What to Expect

Service Operation Hours: Extend will be available after school from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Vacation care will also be provided during school holidays.

**Extend has confirmed they will implement a before school care service as soon as the Department of Education has approved their request. This will take approximately 2 - 3 weeks. Silkwood School is working on a solution to make before-school care available to families starting Wednesday, 29 January. More information will be provided on Friday, 24 January.

Enrolment Details: Families can enrol their children in Extend's programs through the Extend website. Detailed information about times, fees, and booking procedures will be shared with families soon.

Welcome Pack: A comprehensive Welcome Pack will be distributed to all families, including an introduction to Extend, service operation hours, fees, and booking information.

Communication: Extend will provide a fortnightly newsletter insert and social media updates to inform families about the latest program initiatives and booking reminders.

We are confident that this partnership with Extend will significantly benefit our school community by providing our students with a reliable and enriching care option. We look forward to welcoming Extend to Silkwood School and seeing the positive impact on our students' out-of-school hours experience.

For more information, please visit the Extend website or contact our school office.

Click here for more information

Operating Hours and Fees

Programs	Times	Fees*	After CCS^
After School Care	3:15 PM - 6:00 PM	$33.50	$3.35
Vacation Care	8:00 AM - 6:00 PM	$84.75	$8.47

Early Bird Rate*

Booking 14 days in advance will give you access to the Early Bird Rate
Fees are per session per child. Visit extend.com.au for a full list of fees.

Child Care Subsidy^

Based on the maximum possible entitlement of the Child Care Subsidy (CCS)
To determine what level of CCS you are entitled to, visit www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/child-care-subsidy or call 13 61 50.

We ask parents and carers to use our pick-up and drop-off systems unless it is unavoidable for student wellbeing.

Additional Team members are allocated to support at these times to help our youngest students and students who need assistance to get safely to class. Please remain in your vehicle at drop off and pick up; our team is there to help students get in and out of cars and walk to class.

Morning Driveway Drop-Off Schedule

Starting from 8:00 am, the Primary School Prep area will have dedicated supervision provided by school staff and Advisors for parents dropping off their Prep and Year 1 children during this time.

We encourage families to support their little ones in walking independently from the set-down area to the Prep gate and Year 1 Advisories. This promotes confidence-building and empowers them as they arrive at school each day.

Additionally, please be aware of the updated arrangements for Year 2 pick-up and drop-off, which have been moved to Middle School.

Year Level	Set-Down Area	School Starts	Drop-Off Time
Prep	Outside of Prep	8.45am	8.00am – 8.40am
Years 1	Primary School set down area, before the first bridge	8.30am	8.00am – 8.25am
Years 2 – 9	Middle School set down area	8.30am	7.45am – 8.25am
Year 10 - 12	Robina Railway Station or Town Centre	8.30am	8.00 am – 8.25 am

Afternoon Driveway Pick-Up Schedule

PLEASE DO NOT ARRIVE BEFORE YOUR PICK-UP TIME, AS YOUR CHILD MAY NOT BE READY FOR COLLECTION

At the end of the school day, we need to move a lot of traffic in a short space of time. To assist with the smooth operation of our afternoon schedule, we have a few guidelines we ask you to follow:

To eliminate car park congestion, please do not arrive earlier than the times below to collect your child.
If you arrive early, you will be asked to re-circulate the driveway until your child arrives.
If you arrive on time, use the drive-through pick-up system and refrain from parking if possible.
If your child is not looking out for their car or does not respond to their name being called, you will be asked to circulate the driveway until they make their way to the pick-up area.
If someone other than a parent or guardian is collecting your child, please let the school know in advance.
Please ensure your child’s name and year level are clearly visible on your passenger-side car visor.

When pulling up to collect your child, please ensure you stop the vehicle as far to the front as possible so that we can assist multiple families. In the Primary School, there are three vehicle spaces marked on the ground to help you see where you need to stop. Our volunteers will ask you to move forward if you have stopped with a vacant bay in front of you. Please respect their direction. They are there to help every child get to their vehicle safely and promptly.

Families with siblings use their youngest child's pick-up zone and the latest designated pick-up time for that zone.

Year Level	Pick-up Area	School Finishes	Pick-Up Time
Prep	Outside of Prep	2.55pm	3.00pm
Year 1	Outside of Prep	3.00pm	3.10pm
Years 2 – 5	Middle School driveway	3.00pm	3.20pm
Years 6 & 7	Middle School driveway	3.00pm	3.15pm
Years 10 – 12	Robina Railway Station or Town Centre	3.00pm	3.00pm

Senior School

At the start of each term, we must remind our Senior School families of our Robina campus's parking, drop-off and pick-up procedures

Campus Drop-Off and Pick-Up Procedures

The locations to do this are Robina Train Station and Robina Town Centre. For ease of access and parking availability, we highly recommend using Robina Station. An Advisor will be at the train station each morning at 8:15 am to walk with any students needing support to get to School and again in the afternoon, should students require it. All other students can leave at 3:00 pm for their various transport options (off-site).

Students cannot be picked up or dropped off on the streets directly adjacent to the School ie. Laver Drive and Easthill Drive, as this will put the School in breach of Council conditions.

Details relating to student parking can be found in the Senior School Operations Handbook.

Exploring Early Childhood Education at Silkwood School Playgroup

Are you a parent or guardian looking for an enriching early childhood education experience for your little one aged between 15 months and 5 years? Look no further than the Silkwood Sprouts Playgroup, where children and parents alike embark on a journey of discovery in an environment that mirrors the nurturing atmosphere of a Silkwood Prep classroom.

In Playgroup, we offer a holistic approach to early childhood education, encouraging growth and learning through a variety of engaging activities:

Crafts and Creativity: Children can unleash their artistic talents through simple crafts, while parents can join in or simply watch as their little ones explore their creativity.

Nature's Playground: Creative play with natural materials and objects ignites curiosity and fosters a deep connection with the world around us. It's a chance for children to learn while having fun.

Storytime in Nature: Our circle and storytime sessions celebrate the natural world and its seasonal changes. Through captivating stories, children and parents alike immerse themselves in the wonders of nature.

Melodies and Rhymes: Music is a powerful tool for early childhood development. At Silkwood School Playgroup, children engage in a rich learning experience through music and rhymes, stimulating cognitive and social growth.

Imagination Unleashed: Stories are more than just tales; they fuel the imagination. We provide a treasure trove of stories that nourish young minds, offering abundant material for creative play.

Bread Making: As a delightful hands-on activity, bread making fosters teamwork and fine motor skills. Plus, who can resist the aroma of freshly baked bread?

To join our Playgroup Program, children must be pre-enrolled for Silkwood's Prep Program.

If you're eager to learn more about the Silkwood School Playgroup and how to enrol your child in this enriching experience, please don't hesitate to reach out to our school enrolment team at info@silkwood.qld.edu.au. We look forward to helping your child embark on a journey of early childhood education and discovery at Silkwood School.