As we approach the end of Term 1, I want to acknowledge our parents & carers, students and school team for the mighty effort throughout a tricky term 1. It has been a most disruptive term due to COVID, floods and emergency directives that we have all experienced. In my entire teaching career, I have not experienced such a disrupted beginning to the year and acknowledge everyone in the community who has responded to the ever-changing landscape of schooling and education. I certainly am looking forward to the break where we can all reset and settle into routines for Term 2 and the rest of the year.

Despite the disruptions, learning has progressed, and the Advisors have adapted well. 

There is much to celebrate this term....

• Our teaching team implemented planning via our new teaching and learning system, SEQTA;
• We have navigated through a myriad of ever-changing restrictions and mandates;
• We implemented our Gecko Sports development program;
• Successfully navigated the GCCC conditions to render a development approval for Robina.

...and the list goes on. 

However, the connection of the school and family has returned in the last weeks, by which I am so encouraged.

My experience has been that we cannot overestimate parents/caregivers' critical role in successful learning.

Parents/caregivers contribute very much to their child’s development and are among the most important influences on the way in which the child approaches learning. Indeed, parents are the first educators of children and ready them for their educational journey through the schooling system. I have researched and witnessed that the most successful learning occurs when an active partnership with parents occurs. Communication is a critical factor in the partnership between parents and the school. Where a partnership exists, it is easier for parents to feel confident about the learning taking place in the classroom.

At Silkwood School, I am consistently impressed by the commitment to involve parents/caregivers in the learning and development of our students. Through our advisory approach, open communication is encouraged and embraced to ensure there are no surprises.

Thank you to the parents and Advisors who have met with the students to develop their PLPs (Personal Learning Profiles) and review their ILPs (Individual Learning Plans), reflecting our commitment to the partnership approach.  

In the coming days, we will celebrate our first festival for the year – our Autumn Festival. I look forward to celebrating as a whole community. I extend my very best wishes to every family and student over the first term break. Please keep safe and well, and I look forward to seeing everyone back following the Easter long weekend.

An update from our CEO, Valerie Campbell-Hogg...

To say I was excited to share our wonderful news earlier this term is an understatement! After a court mediation with the Gold Coast City Council, we are delighted to have reached an agreement that will allow us to formally open our Senior School Campus at Robina in Term 2!

As part of this agreement, we have conditions related to the management of school finish and pick up times, the size of events, and student parking (among others). We see these as manageable conditions.

Once we have the final details of the conditions, we will plan the operational changes arising from these conditions and let our senior families know.

We are so very excited to have this agreement as the Robina Campus looks fantastic, and we can’t wait for the students to experience their amazing new learning environment.

I would personally like to express my deepest gratitude to Greg Gapp for the enormous amount of work that has gone into making this happen so quickly. It was only 12 short months ago that we began this work. Achieving full campus approval, including Senior School and Distance Learning accreditation and bank finance, is truly remarkable.

I would also like to thank Cara Shipp for her leadership and her Team for working positively to manage a problematic term arising from the council’s decision.

This is another moment to celebrate for Silkwood’s Vision – and I am so grateful it was resolved quickly. I know the magic of the Silkwood Learning Community will make a positive contribution to the Robina area.

A final thanks to the school community – your patience and understanding with this matter have been appreciated.

Our 2022 plans can now progress as planned. We are grateful to have you on this journey with us!

Kindest Regards,

Valerie Campbell-Hogg

CEO - Silkwood School

Our School Events page covers dates and events happening at Silkwood throughout the year; it is updated regularly and accessible anytime via our website or app. Please refer to this page as a reference point before contacting the school. 

Where families may need to know specific information regarding an event, our Community Relations Team will distribute relevant information to families of the applicable year levels leading up the event.

Students travelling with our School Bus Service require a valid SmartCard with credit already loaded onto their account. Bus trips are charged at $5.00 per trip with your SmartCard, and $10.00 per trip without presentation of a valid SmartCard (this will be charged at $5.00 at time of trip, plus a $5.00 manual administration fee).

If you would like your student to be issued with a bus card, please let us know by emailing schoolbus@silkwood.qld.edu.au and we can arrange this for you.

Students who travel by bus must be able to travel independently, have familiarity with their bus stop and have the ability to stay seated with their seatbelt fastened for the duration of their journey. Seatbelt use is compulsory on our School Bus Service.

We will still be requiring a parent or guardian to be waiting at bus stops to collect any students aged 12 or under.

Please be reminded that all students must adhere to the Queensland Government’s Code of Conduct for School Students Travelling on Buses.
This can also be viewed on our website by going to the ‘Our Community’ drop down menu and clicking on the School Bus Service link.

In 2023 there will be a ban on device usage on our bus service. This includes smartphones, laptops and tablets.

• Devices will be required to be placed in the student’s bag and stay there until they depart the school bus.
• Headphones can be set up prior to boarding the bus with a podcast or music playing, however, the device MUST remain in the student’s bag (once set, no adjustments).
• Bus drivers will be monitoring this, and any instance of device usage on the Silkwood School Bus service will be treated as a behaviour breach and will have consequences as outlined on our School Bus Service page on our website.

Our bus drivers are employed to ensure all students reach their destination in a safe and timely manner, therefore, their attention needs to be on the road. Could you please refrain from messaging bus driver’s personal phones during this time.

* Please be aware that the Southern bus route will be subject to delays and changes during 2023 as tram works progress.

The Silkwood School Autumn Harmony & Harvest Festival will be held on Thursday 31st March 2022.

As part of Silkwood School’s seasonal festival calendar, we host an Autumn Harmony & Harvest Festival – ‘celebrating inclusiveness, diversity, respect and belonging for all Australians.’

• Usual school start and finish times apply.
• Normal break times apply throughout the day. Students will need morning tea, lunch, hats, and also sunscreen applied before coming to school. For Primary students, along with bringing their own lunch, there will be a vegetarian pizza rotation for those whose dietary requirements allow them to partake.

STUDENTS ARE TO WEAR:

Primary School: orange school t-shirt as per usual Thursday uniform.

Middle & Senior School: students are encouraged to wear orange (or similar Autumnal colour) or their normal school uniform

Our festival celebration is a student-centred event. Students will stay in their class groups and be involved in a full day of activities designed to provide a variety of enriching experiences. The timetable for the day is as follows:

• 9.00am –  9.30am: Opening Ceremony at the Primary School Oval (for Prep-Year 12)
• 9.30am – 3.00pm: Full day of student activities
• 3.00pm: Normal school pick-up procedures apply, school bus services operate as usual.

Please Note: whilst parents are welcome to attend the opening ceremony, please note this event will be brief. It will be standing room only around the outside of the oval. We kindly ask for prompt departure after the ceremony to ensure student activities can commence on time. Carpooling is recommended as parking on-site is very limited and parking on Shepherd Hill Lane is strictly forbidden by the council.

Food Donations

Traditionally, Autumn is a time of harvest, a time to restock our pantries and prepare for Winter. In this harvest spirit, we are taking the time to recognise that many people in our local community are less fortunate than us. To support our wider community, we kindly ask that each family provide a small food donation such as tinned or dried foods, grains, sauces (anything non-perishable) and hardy, fresh vegetables and fruit such as pumpkin, potatoes and apples. Donations can be placed in collection boxes on the locker racks outside of your child’s classroom. Boxes will be available outside each classroom from Monday 21st March through to Wednesday 30th March.

Our food collection or ‘harvest’ proceeds will be donated to the Nerang Neighbourhood Centre, which provides food boxes for the most vulnerable and needy members of our local community. The Foodbank Service is run by volunteers and feeds over 60 families a week.

Thank you for your support of our Autumn Harmony & Harvest Festival!

Our Tuckshop Team is committed to providing wholesome lunches and snacks for our students. High-quality and homemade foods are available for purchase and served in paper bags or BioPak plant-derived, compostable containers. 

Student lunches can be ordered online through the Qkr! App, orders must be placed before 8.15 am. 

Changes in Term 2

At the end of term 1, we made the final transition to a paperless ordering system. The major change in this process was the removal of tuckshop baskets from around the school. 

• All orders are to be made via the Qkr! App, before 8.15am each day, click here for instructions; OR
• Parents and carers can place their orders directly with Jo at the tuckshop (cash payments accepted);
• Late orders can be handed in at the tuckshop window or by phoning Jo on 0415 907 888 as early as possible;
• Students can place their orders directly with Jo at the tuckshop. This must be done before 8.20am each morning so as not to affect school start times;
• Lunch orders will be collected by lunch monitors and delivered to classes as usual.

The School fully supports the move to a paperless, cashless ordering system (cash will be accepted at the tuckshop window when ordering directly with Jo in the mornings).

The Qkr! App ordering system is straightforward and provides a visual menu to assist with ordering.

Learn more about the Silkwood Tuckshop and using Qkr! via the buttons below. 

We have two programs confirmed for term 2 so far. Details of the remaining programs will be shared in week 1 of term 2.

Contact the providers directly to make a booking for your child or children.

After a rocky start to the term, we have finally found our rhythm and settled into the routines of Prep life. In our IU this term we have explored the concept of friendship through the story of Gilwil. This has helped us to establish a positive culture within our classrooms.

We have also delved deep into our class interests. We have been exploring our interests through provocations. A provocation is an invitation to provoke thoughts, ideas and actions that can help students expand on a curiosity or interest. Some of the current interests in Prep are dinosaurs, insects, marble runs, and big cats. We will continue to explore and develop these interests next term.

Learning About Each Other...

This Term in Year 2 we have been spending time getting to know each other and adjusting to our new advisories. We have especially really been enjoying our new Exploring Program and all the different activities we are engaging in at school.

Friday Bush and Creek Adventures...

Every Friday, we go on outdoor adventures (weather permitting 😊) down to the creek or through our school forest walks. We mostly like to explore this space and all the wonderous it has. This term, Year 2 spent some time discussing the natural changes that occur with the weather changing. We discovered a difference in water levels rising and falling, branches and rocks moving from place to place and even some natural erosion.

Gecko Sports Physical Education...

We have been very lucky to be able to have some guests come in from Gecko Sport to coach us in PE each week. Here we have been learning some basic ball skills and it has been so much fun to learn some really fun games.

Our start to 2022...

The staggered start this term has allowed our Year 3s to slowly transition into the new adventure of primary school with their new Advisors. We have tried planning many moments that matter with restrictions in place. For our afternoon sessions, we have been learning about the Year 3 totem, the Eastern Water Dragon. Incorporating both science and art to make engaging lessons for our students. We have also read our totem story that shares the important message that 'Change is a Part of Life', where we discussed the many new changes that come in Year 3. 

A visit from The Wild Rangers....

We have also invited Wild Rangers to come in and bring some real Eastern Water Dragons and some other native animals. Each class got to spend an hour of dedicated time with our rangers.

Our democracy...

We began talking about democracy and our voting system for our community project. To support our learning, we voted for class representatives. Everyone did a fantastic job!

P.E, Music and Drama...

We have had Gecko Sports coming in for P.E to fine-tune our gross motors skills. Although the Strings Program is delayed, we have temporarily replaced that with some drama lessons. The kids are having a ball! 

Hebrew Tales...

We have ended our first Integrated Unit, Hebrew Tales, with a special visit from Year 7 student Noy Grau. Everyone enjoyed hearing and learning from an older student in the Middle School. We look forward to a fun close to Term 1.  

Norse Mythology...

Norse mythology has been the main unit of study for Year 4 this term. The students have been introduced to the many gods and goddesses through the vivid tales that make up the epic sagas. As the children themselves begin to question the world around them, these rich stories bring forth characters that too have flaws and fit perfectly within the realm of development for this age group.

Recently a visit from Living History explored the Viking people and their traditions. The children explored traditional dress and played games, including an epic battle wielding shields and swords.  

In conjunction with this, the children are learning the play 'Thor’s Hammer' and are fortunate enough to have the expertise of Goat Track Theatre guiding the production. Last Friday the children had a full day workshop learning how to create characters while bringing their scripts to life. Stay tuned for the final playdates closer to the end of Term 2. 

Settling into Term 1, 2022...

Although we have had a rocky start to the year, Advisors are impressed with how well most students have adapted to the changes. Our exploring theme this term has been India, focusing on the Ramayana, with cross-curricular links to art, craft, dance and drama. Our term will culminate in a shared Indian feast and celebration.

Maths Pathways...

The Year 5 students are also learning to navigate Maths Pathways, which personalises maths learning and provides fun energisers to engage them in all things maths.

P.E with Gecko Sports...

Additionally, in readiness for our Interschool Sports Tournament next term, the students have been harnessing their AFL and touch football skills with Gecko Sports.

The Year 6/7 Learning Enrichment class came back with great energy and settled into the school year by working through a series of group challenges and leadership initiatives, building teamwork, communication, trust and, at times, testing our frustration tolerance. 

We created a visual working agreement for our advisory and as a group, we chose important values of joy, hard work and co-operation which will always be a focus for our advisory.

Recently, we have been testing our skills in the kitchen and the garden and planning our next exploring units together for a great year ahead.

Learning about our totem...

In Year 7, students have been gifted the Butterfly Totem to honour and care for. The butterfly represents embracing change and transformation, being your unique self and creating balance. Over the term, students have created a variety of artworks that represent these qualities. On 16 March, local artist Susy Boyer guided Year 7 on how to sketch the butterfly. Students explored pencil techniques as well as blending and shading.

Students have also been exploring different painting techniques and are entering the Bazaar Art Competition. Each advisory is submitting a butterfly which will be on display on 6 August at Country Paradise Parklands, Nerang.

Interschool Sports training with Gecko Sports...

In Term 2, Interschool Sport begins. In preparation, Year 7 have had weekly visits from Gecko sports to practise and expand their skills in sports such as AFL, Soccer, Netball and Basketball.

Year 8 are killing it! 

They have stepped it up like they’re doing the Q1 Challenge (which some of them are!). Last year they were the babies of the High School, and this year they are Middle School leaders and taking it all in stride.

We are currently having a 1950s and 60s experience in English where Year 8 students are becoming Mad Men and creating TV commercials for a modern product in 1950s style. We shared some 1950s food favourites, including jelly and spam, to get us in the mood. Yum!

Pavement art...

We have also been experimenting with different drawing techniques and had a go at creating some pavement art this term. Some of us are still coming to terms with the ephemeral nature of this art style after all the effort that was put into these creations.

Machu Picchu...

This term we have also been able to visit the ancient Incan city of Machu Picchu … virtually. Year 8s have been donning the VR headset and have taken off to explore the ancient ruins (and meet some llamas) all from the comfort of the classroom. 

Year 10 Outlearning Days...

It has been great to see a number of students engaging in internship opportunities as part of their learning program. Having Tuesdays set aside for real-world learning has given the opportunity for students to take their learning beyond the four walls of the advisory and extend their learning into the real world. Pictured is year 10 student Blake Bell with Advisor Scott. Blake is passionate about mechanics and engineering and is currently undergoing an internship at INS Engineering. 

At INS, Blake is learning new skills in steel fabrication and welding as well as gaining first-hand experience of the time management, organisation and professional communication skills required in the workplace.

Year 11 Rite Journey...

This year, the Year 11s are participating in The Rite Journey. This 12 month Rite of Passage centers around the ‘hero’s journey’. It requires the students to challenge themselves in new ways as they develop a deeper understanding of self, how they can serve others and their community and ultimately ask themselves the question: 

Each week Year 11 students have lessons and activities as part of this programme, with excursions and incursions to come throughout the year. 

To commence the programme, we had a wonderful Welcome to Country Smoking Ceremony facilitated by Justine and Ben from the Ngarang-Wal Gold Coast Aboriginal Association. Throughout Term 1, the three groups have run activities, group discussions and team bonding activities. Whilst the other two groups are spending a bit more time planning their activities for later in the year. 

The boy's group, led by Scott, have jumped straight into some action-packed activities. This term, the boys have had the opportunity to work with Paul Burragun (Uncle Boomerang), a Birrunburra Bundjalung Yugambeh Yuggera Turrbal man of South East Queensland and North East New South Wales. Uncle Boomerang has worked with the boys on various topics, including a cultural yarn exploring different Aboriginal peoples' rites of passage, weaving with local natural fibres, traditional fire lighting, stone tool making and Woomera spear lessons. It has been great to see the boys take on these new skills and challenges while demonstrating respect, teamwork, and persistence.

We look forward to keeping you updated on our adventures throughout the year!

The Launch of Distance Education at Silkwood School...

Our first distance education cohort has certainly hit the ground running! Very quickly the students have familiarised themselves with this new way of learning and have courageously overcome those annoying tech problems. Well done, Team!
 
It was wonderful to be able to host our first on-campus event:  Our parent afternoon tea and information session. It was lovely to make a face-to-face connection with our families. We look forward to working in partnership with you all.

Exploring...

Italy Carnevale - found us exploring Italy and particularly the Carnevale held in Venice every year. Students delved into Geography, History, the Italian Hall of fame, food and culture. To truly experience the culture, we're planning a meal in an authentic Italian restaurant.
 
FEAST program – (Food education and sustainability training) This program aims to inspire our young people to eat healthily, waste less and become change-makers in their local community.

Computer Science -The focus for our learning has been Python 101 - Minecraft Education Edition. Students have started learning to code with the Python language in Minecraft Education Edition.

 
Visual Arts - On Tuesdays, students have had the option of joining us at the Mount Nathan campus to work on an art project in collaboration with another advisory. Watch this space for the end product!

PILP - For our personal interest learning projects, our students are working on interests ranging from Interior design to mechanical engineering to game programming and steaming. We're genuinely excited to see what they produce.

Leo Baker (Year 9) - is currently exploring being a barista, so one of our supportive mentors, Barbara Bauer from Kaffe Europa, provided a shadow day opportunity for Leo, where he learnt:

‘How to be a waiter and the vital aspects of running a cafe. I also learnt that hospitality could mean dealing with frustrating people and that you need to be able to always keep calm and remember - the customer is always right.’ 

Kaelan McCormack (Year 12) - is currently engaging in an internship with AMB Marine with the view of securing a school-based traineeship. Kaelan really enjoys the variety of work available and commented that ‘there is always something different to learn.’ 

Vegas Kennedy (Year 10) - has a passion for social media marketing and spent the day at YAKK to see how a successful digital media company operates. 

“I loved it, I sat in on a strategy meeting with a potential new client, it was really exciting. It was also really great to see a familiar face.’ 

He’s talking about Mia Hofmann, a recent Silkwood graduate, who completed an internship with YAKK last year. Subsequently, she was offered a job and works at YAKK twice a week, while also studying marketing and communication at Bond University.  

Nicole Pulik, Amalia Neville and Sofia Mynott all in year 11, have just signed up to a school-based traineeship in Conservation and Ecosystem Management with Envite Education, helping to restore a beautiful piece of land in Currumbin.

Thomas Hayes (Year 10) has also secured a traineeship with The Car Place. He has been working casually with Daniel and is excited to connect this work experience with a qualification in automotive body repair. 

Congratulations to Tahlia Eagles (Year 11) who has completed her traineeship with the Little Green Truck Company, she received glowing reports from Novaskill on her work ethic and positive attitude. 

Liam Hydes (Year 12) and Muki Harris (Year 10), took advantage of their Tuesday outlearning day to hit the shops at Robina Town Centre, introducing themselves, and leaving resumes in the hope of securing some work experience. The effort proved to be very fruitful as connections and opportunities have arisen as a result. 

Thank you to Marissa Skrobar (Year 12) and Adam De Hombre (Year 11) for volunteering their time to mentor students in the younger grades with their projects in music and fashion, respectively. The students love working with them and really benefit from their guidance and assistance. 

A massive shout out to Year 4 student Dottie, for her entrepreneurial spirit and the recent recognition she received from The Canungra Times.

As part of her Personal Interest Learning Time, Dottie has been creating beautifully hand-painted butterfly cards, which she has been selling at local markets in her area. They seem to be a hit with her customers, selling over 35 cards before 10.30am at The St Luke's Car Boot Sale, an annual fundraiser for St Luke's Anglican Church, Canungra.

Click the button below to read the article written about her in The Canungra Times.

Well done, Dottie. Keep up the great work!

Hi there! 

My name is Abby. I am a full-time high school student in Jessie's year 10/11 advisory, and I would love your support. I run a small online business for my PLT. My business is about making people happy and making people feel extra special with my hand decorated mugs. I have created an Instagram page for my products @marosann325. It would be greatly appreciated if you would head to my page to check it out. I will post pictures of my mugs and I will soon be starting the Easter holiday bundle. A website is being made, and once it is out, I will link it in one of my posts.  

I hope you have a great day. 😀

PS. Please reach out via my Instagram page if you have any questions.

We are delighted to share an amazing sporting achievement by two of our Year 6 students, Taika Hoare and Joshua Kelley.

Both students played in their cricket premiership grand final last weekend for the Burleigh Bullsharks, and won!!!!! Undefeated in the competition, not only did the team play a sensational season, both Taika and Josh came away with individual awards.

Taika - Took out the leading run-scorer in the competition: 438 runs, an average of 146

Josh - Took out the leading wicket-taker in the entire division: a total of 16 wickets; and 3rd leading run-scorer for the competition

Well done Taika and Josh, we are all so proud of your achievements! You are great representatives of your club, school, family, and most importantly, yourselves. Keep up the great work, we can't wait to see what the future holds for your both.

Cross Country Carnival

OUR SILKWOOD SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY CARNIVAL WAS A GREAT SUCCESS THIS WEEK! UNFORTUNATELY, THE WEATHER DIDN'T PLAY IN OUR FAVOUR IN THE AFTERNOON WHICH MEANT OUR YEAR 3 - 5 STUDENTS WEREN'T ABLE TO RUN.

Our Cross Country event provides a fun and developmentally appropriate, cross-year level opportunity for students to engage in physical activity. Our focus is on students actively participating and doing their best, whether walking, running, skipping or dancing their way through!

The day was spread across three events for Prep-Year 2, Years 3-5 (cancelled due to the storm) and Years 6-12. Those who were able to participate had a great day!

For students interested in expanding their sporting horizons and seeking more competitive opportunities, our cross country event is also used as an opportunity for students aged 10-19 years to trial for the District Cross Country Trial and have their times recorded for consideration.

District Sports

Silkwood School is part of the Broadwater District Sporting Schools Region and proudly supports students in pursuing their sport of interest. District Trials are a highly competitive, representative sporting pathway for students aged 10 to 18 years wishing to pursue representative pathways in their chosen sport. It gives students the opportunity to attend a trial alongside students their age in their sport of choice and be selected in our District Team to compete at the District Carnival.

This year we have had many students from Years 4 to 12 trialling for a range of sports, including tennis, AFL and soccer. Congratulations to all students who have attended these trials! It has been wonderful to see sport back up and running after many events were cancelled in 2021. 

How To Participate

The 2022 District Trial Calendar can be viewed below. If your child is interested in attending the Broadwater District Trial and you can support their attendance, please get in touch with your child's Advisor via the Parent Portal.

FREE Kids Triathlon - Gold Coast

Good morning,

The Event Crew, in conjunction with the Pho3nix Foundation, Tourism & Events Queensland and Major Events Gold Coast are hosting a FREE kids triathlon for all school-aged children 7 - 14 years, on the Gold Coast! 

What: Pho3nix Kids Gold Coast Triathlon

When: Saturday 2nd April 2022

Where: Broadwater, Southport

More info: www.theeventcrew.com.au/event/gold-coast-triathlon/

In addition to the triathlon, we will also have Swim/Run and Bike/Run options available to any kids who are not confident in swimming or riding. We would love your school to get involved and help our kids be active, participate and have some fun! 

We hope to see some Silkwood School students there!

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or queries on the event, I'm more than happy to help.

** We also have a school challenge in our Gold Coast Running Festival, for your chance to win a $500 Rebel Sport voucher. Check it out: https://www.theeventcrew.com.au/event/gold-coast-running-festival/groups-challenge/

Kind regards,

Monica Cameron
Sales & Partnerships
The Event Crew

Silkwood Equestrian Facebook Group

Silkwood School has established an Equestrian Network Group to provide a positive, respectful, and engaging social media platform for Silkwood families who share an interest in all things equestrian. A safe place to share and discuss information that will enhance a sense of community and connection. These groups are solely for members of our school community.

Group members can post and share information directly to the page. 

Click the button below to visit the Facebook page and to join the group.

Please be sure to read the group rules before requesting to be added to the group. Moderators will ensure content is aligned with the group's purpose.

We take the opportunity at the beginning of each school year to let our community know more about the SCCA, Silkwood Community Care Association (Silkwood's P&F) and our Class Carer and Community Carer Programs.

Our Class Carers are an amazing group of parents and carers who volunteer their time to support families in the following ways:

• Organise year-level playdates or social catch-ups to help families get to know each other and strengthen the class community;
• Welcome new families to the class and arrange appropriate introductions with other parents;
• Share information of upcoming class or year level events, i.e. excursions, school camps, school-wide events etc;
• Direct families on where to find operational information relating to attending Silkwood School;
• Encourage and support the members of the class group to get involved in school activities and SCCA events (e.g. Trivia Night, Breakfasts Events, Kids in Business Markets etc.);
• Promote the School and its parent engagement opportunities;
• Encourage new families to attend a New Parent Morning Tea or meet the Principal (these take place at the start of the school year – unfortunately, they were cancelled in 2022 due to COVID restriction);
• Organise gifts of appreciation for Advisor birthdays, World Teacher Day and end of year thank-you;
• Support the Advisors by organising parent helpers for requested class and school activities such as School festivals, catering, fresh flowers etc;
• Support the School with the moderation of the official Year Level Facebook Groups.

Class Carer Recruitment is carried out at the beginning of each school year. Our Class Carer Program is supported by a Class Carer Coordinator (Year 2 mum, Melanie Bentley) who is responsible for supporting, recruiting, and training Class Carers and facilitating regular meetings throughout the year. A new initiative in 2023 is the introduction of a Community Care Coordinator (Year 3, 6 & 9 Mum, Tiffany Webb). This role specifically focuses on supporting new families as they begin their Silkwood journey. With the tricky start to the year, it has been challenging to get this role up and running. The SCCA and School Team are working on a simple process to implement to ensure our new families are supported as they embark on their Silkwood journeys. Both of these as also volunteer roles.

We look forward to a great year ahead!

As the new year began, the children at Silkwood Helping Hands began to settle back into their schooling routine and make new friends. The older children were encouraged to engage in different activities with the younger ones, especially those who were new, to make them feel welcome and comfortable. To assist with this new transition to OSHC, the educators and children worked together to discover new ways for the service to be welcoming and exciting to all children. It was soon decided that the children would begin new clubs while at the service. There were many discussions about the different clubs the children would like to participate in. We now have Messy Mondays art club, CKC Tuesdays (Cool Kids Club) run by the students, Science Thursdays, Funday Fridays, and the all-favourite Lego challenges would be back each week. 

The Lego challenges have been a great way for the children to use their imagination and challenge themselves as they choose to take on the different tasks. The Lego challenges encourage the children to share their ideas, communicate what they are creating and share their imagination and creativity with others. This has helped the younger children settle into the service and form new relationships as they work together or side by side to complete the challenges. 

CKC has been a fantastic project for a few of the older children to step up and take responsibility as leaders. Aaron and Jack have developed a great sense of pride as they work together to decide what activities they would like to lead. They conduct different sports activities during the Cool Kids Club. They have learnt to listen to the children they are leading, observe their abilities and adapt the games and challenges to be appropriate for everyone. Aaron and Jack have demonstrated excellent leadership skills as they take on the challenge, working together and encouraging as many people as possible to get involved and feel included. Through this club, the older children have begun to understand that though you can plan an activity, plans don't always work out the way they hoped and have learnt to adapt and adjust as things change.

Our Term 3 School Holiday Program

We have prepared for an adventurous, engaging, and fun school holiday program with Helping Hands!

Each of our Holiday Programs is created from within the service, which ensures that every club-based day, incursion, and excursion is tailored directly to your child’s interests and age.

We have many opportunities for children to be active these school holidays, to create new connections with other children, and to explore their interests by having fun in a safe and inclusive environment.

Check out the Holiday Program for Helping Hands Silkwood by clicking the button below, or by heading to our website and looking for your service where you’ll always find the most up-to-date holiday program details.

Our educators have been busy planning a program that is guaranteed to keep your kids engaged! There will never be a dull moment at Helping Hands these school holidays!

Secure your child’s place now!