Back to School Newsletter - Issue 1, Term 2 2024

Our School Offices are open 8.15 am to 4.00 pm, Monday to Friday. During these hours, you can contact the office via phone (07) 5655 0300 or email reception@silkwood.qld.edu.au. When calling, please follow the prompts to connect with our Primary, Middle and Senior Campus.

Our friendly Community Relations Team can help with most enquiries over the phone or by email.

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.

Morning Driveway Drop-Off Schedule

Please note: The back playground area will be supervised from 8.00 am for those wishing to drop off their Prep child from this time.

Year Level	Set-down area	Drop-off times (between)	School start time
Prep	Outside Prep	8.00 - 8.40am	8.45am
Year 1	Primary School set-down area	8.00 - 8.25am	8.30am
Years 2 - 9	Middle School set-down area	7.45 - 8.25am	8.30am

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 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 pick-up 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 they do 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 is 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 road 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.

For example.

Siblings of Prep-Year 1 students go to the Primary School pick-up zone.
Families with students only in Years 2-9 go to the Middle School pick-up zone.

PRIMARY SCHOOL PICK-UP SCHEDULE (Prep Car Park)

The latest pick-up time for this location is 3.20 pm, students not collected by this time are taken to OHSC, charges apply.

Year Level	Pick-up Time
Prep & Year 1 (and older siblings)	3.00 - 3.10pm

Students with large musical instruments may be dropped off and collected from the Prep car park on their assigned music days.

MIDDLE SCHOOL PICK-UP SCHEDULE

The latest pick-up time for this location is 3.30 pm.

Year Level	Pick-up time
Years 2 - 5	3.20 - 3.30pm
Years 6 & 7	3.15 - 3.30pm
Year 8 & 9	3.10 - 3.30pm