Silkwood School in Gold Coast, Queensland | Primary School

Silkwood School

Locality: Gold Coast, Queensland

Phone: +61 7 5655 0300

Address: 39 Shepherd Hill Lane 4211 Gold Coast, QLD, Australia

Website: http://www.silkwood.qld.edu.au

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25.01.2022 An exciting new chapter awaits for our soon-to-be Year 3 students as they move into the next phase of their learning journey at Silkwood To mark the occasion, we celebrated with a beautiful Transition Ceremony for our Year 2 students and their families. Whilst we have had to 're-imagine' the format of these ceremonies for 2020, we are just so pleased that it has been possible to do so and in turn welcome families on-site for these special moments in their young person's life

25.01.2022 Another milestone moment that matters this week with Year 6 celebrating the exciting move from Primary to High School The students enjoyed a wonderful ceremony surrounded by friends, family and the school community, right in the heart of their new learning environment. With heartfelt reflections from their Advisors, many happy tears and laughs were shared as we celebrated these bright young learners embarking on the next chapter of their education adventure. Congratulations Year 6! We are proud to be by your side on this journey as you courageously learn, grow, lead and explore your own paths

25.01.2022 SILKWOOD SCHOOL END OF TERM NEWSLETTER We have seen a wave of activity and excitement at Silkwood in Term 3. As we reach the end of another wonderful term, this newsletter edition captures many year-level highlights and the moments that matter on our Silkwood journey. Enjoy a visual story of the term, alongside a message from our School Principal, an update on the Spring Dreaming Festival, Vacation Care details and much more. ... We hope you enjoy reading, and once again we thank all families for your continued cooperation and support throughout Term 3. https://www.silkwood.qld.edu.au//school-newsletter-term-3-

24.01.2022 Our amazing Year 3 strings students have been practicing hard for their term 3 performance. Unfortunately families could not attend the performance on the school grounds so we brought the show to you! A HUGE thank you to our wonderful Music Teacher's Melanie Creamer and Amanda Lanham for everything you do for our school. We would also like to thank Mel's husband, PJ, for giving his time and skills to record our Music Groups today, and Joella (Alumni) for all her help today! "Music can change the world" - Beethoven

23.01.2022 BOOK WEEK UPDATE It's Book Week Day at Silkwood on Tuesday 20 October. Due to COVID restrictions, this year's event will be a student, school team and volunteers only event, however, we still need the support of parents and carers to help our young people get excited and prepare for this wonderful day.... More information will be coming soon, in the meantime, our Book Week Team are busy planning

21.01.2022 Our High School Deputy Principal, Cara Shipp, a descendent of the Wiradjuri people of Dubbo, NSW (through her father’s side), facilitated our opening ceremony this morning. She acknowledged that the land we are on always was, and always will be, Aboriginal land. We met today on land that has been cared for by the Kombumerri people of the Yugambeh nation for many thousands of years. Cara thanked the ancestors and elders for looking after this special place so that we can be he...re enjoying it at Silkwood School. She also acknowledged our Aboriginal students and guests and our youth worker Jai, who is a Gadigal man of the Eora Nation (Sydney) through his father’s side. His father was a member of the stolen generation, and Jai was born and raised here on Kombumerri country. It was a magical opening ceremony with performances by our school choir, orchestra groups and guitarists. The students enjoyed a day filled with activities to honour the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples creating many ‘Moments that Mattered’. Cara closed the ceremony with a single word. ‘Yindyamarra’ ..which means 'respect, be gentle, be polite and do things slowly'. Enjoy the school break, everyone, we look forward to seeing your smiling faces in term 4.

20.01.2022 First up in our Spring Dreaming Festival Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander business showcase is EMRO Designs EMRO Designs is a 100% Aboriginal owned business founded in 2019 by proud Bundjalung woman, Emma Rolls. Emma collaborates with Aboriginal artists to have their artwork reproduced onto items such as rugs, outdoor mats and cushion covers. In Emma’s words; "My passion for starting my own business came from seeing the under-representation of Indigenous-owned businesses... within the Early Education Resources sector, and from a passion for being able to share local Aboriginal artists work and incorporate more authentic Aboriginal resources into Early Education. Profit from each item sold goes directly back to the artists, which directly injects money into the local community to ensure a sustainable income for the artists and ensuring they can continue sharing our rich culture through their artwork." Connect with EMRO Designs on Facebook, or explore and learn more about Emma’s beautiful range at https://emrodesigns.com.au

19.01.2022 R U OK Day is our national day of action when we remind Australians that every day is the day to ask, Are you OK? 2020 has been a challenging year for everyone and circumstances have made it even more important for us all to stay connected and, for those who are able, to support those around us. By asking Are you OK?, listening, encouraging action, and checking in we can ensure that someone, finding it tough, feels supported to access appropriate support. To support he...alth and wellbeing at Silkwood and to support the R U OK Day initiative, we were honoured to host Mick from LIVIN, to visit with our Year 9 to 12 students. LIVIN is all about living your life at the top and breaking the stigma around mental health. Mick ignited conversations on how to identify warning signs of mental health challenges, how to help those around you, and he encouraged our young adults to take part in open, honest discussions about their wellbeing. Throughout the day students also enjoyed creating a gratitude wall where they swapped kind messages for cupcakes, explored conversation corners with guidance on how to support someone who is struggling, and unwound in the mindfulness room with yoga and strategies for self-care. So remember, EVERYDAY is a day to ask #RUOKDay

19.01.2022 We can't quite believe that Week 3 of Term 3 is done and dusted! We have been very busy here at Silkwood. Check out Issue 1 of our Term 3 newsletter to read all about what we've been up to ... https://www.silkwood.qld.edu.au/n/issue-1-term-3-newsletter

18.01.2022 Reaping the rewards of hard work, Year 4 enjoyed finishing their fractions Integrated Unit by holding a pizza party They planned an inquiry project that involved calculating how many pieces of pizza and oranges would be needed to feed everyone Pleased with the calculations, the Advisor's prepared freshly wood-fired pizzas and everyone rounded the day off by singing a fraction rap on the oval.

18.01.2022 We are very excited to finish Term 2 with the launch of our new school website and newsletter The newsletter is a great way to keep up to date with important information, key dates and to celebrate our Moments that Matter. In this issue you will find: A message from our School Principal Important School Bus Information... Helping Hands Vacation Care Program Term 2 Wrap Up We will publish a more detailed ‘Back to School’ newsletter in the final week of the school holidays. Until then, enjoy reading our current edition and have a well-deserved break, we look forward to seeing you in Term 3! Take a read here: www.silkwood.qld.edu.au/newsletters/end-of-term-2-newsletter

17.01.2022 Today's $20 Boss Market saw our Year 6 & 7 students bring their entrepreneurial skills to the table and sell their goods and services in a real-life marketplace Developed by the Foundation for Young Australians (FYA), the program provides each student with $20 of start-up capital to create, launch, and operate their venture over a school term. After weeks of planning, our young entrepreneurs were excited to see their ideas come to life, and they did a fantastic job engaging and educating buyers on their products We look forward to seeing next year's event return bigger and better!

17.01.2022 Today marks the first day of School Support Staff Recognition Week We would like to take this moment to share in appreciation for our incredible school team that work hard to support our Advisors and the educational journey of all our little learners. Despite the challenges of 2020, our community has grown and adapted in every way possible to carry our vision and help deliver The Silkwood Way So please join us in saying thank you to all our support teams for everything they do to make a difference!

17.01.2022 Parents, please ensure you register at one of our sign-in booths every time you come onto school grounds. Morning & Afternoon. Thank you

16.01.2022 Our School App recently launched, and we are so excited to bring this seamless platform into the hands of our community The app provides ready access to important information about events and daily activities at Silkwood, and is a great way to see content and communication from the school! With just a few clicks, you can easily find: ... The school calendar Absentee messaging Visitor sign-in link School bus information Links to key information The school newsletter After school activities and much, much more! Download and learn more about the app by visiting www.silkwood.qld.edu.au/news/silkwood-school-app A big thank you to those who have already downloaded and are exploring the many functions of our app

15.01.2022 To help you stay organised for the last week of school, here are our key dates for this week! Monday 30 November: Year 6 Graduation Ceremony, 3.45 pm in the High School Amphitheatre Tuesday 1 December: Prep Transition Ceremony, Moonlight 3.45 pm & Starbright 4.30 pm on the Primary School Oval... Wednesday 2 December: Last day of school for all students, celebrated with a Festival Day in the Primary School & various excursions for the High School Thursday 3 December: Exhibitions (pupil free day) students attend by appointment only Friday 4 December: Exhibitions (pupil free day) students attend by appointment only Helping Hands Vacation Care is available from Thursday 3 December Families, please refer to official communications emailed last week regarding parking and ceremony details. If you are yet to book your exhibition time, please do so via the parent portal

14.01.2022 We are excited for all students to present their semester's journey at our Exhibition Days (18 & 19 June) next week Don't forget, these are student-free days and Silkwood's official last day of learning for Term 2 is Wednesday 17 June. Helping Hands Vacation Care kicks off on Thursday 18 June, should you need to use this service please secure your bookings as soon as possible.... Please refer to the email sent this morning for more details, and keep an eye out for an email on Tuesday 16 June regarding parking and sign-in procedures. We look forward to welcoming families into the school for their Exhibitions next week!

14.01.2022 Today our Year 1 and Year 2 students enjoyed an active morning outdoors at their Athletics Carnival! We saw an excellent sense of sportsmanship and teamwork on the field, with relay races, long jump, hurdles, shotput and many other fun activities. It was great to see everyone embrace fun, resilience and adventure throughout the day

13.01.2022 At Silkwood, we value creating defining moments in a student's learning journey Our two-year learning cycle cultivates strong relationships that mean a lot to both the Advisor and students, and it brings the opportunity to create moments that matter along the way. Christine began working with our current Year 5 students in the final chapter of their Year 2 learning journey. Today, she reflects on this time together and how their learning community has reconnected through r...eading "We were together for two and a half years! When we were in Year 3 together, Wolf Girl 1 was released and we were hooked! Every time I went to put the book down, the students shouted at me NOOO keep going! Year 4 approached and Wolf Girl 2 came out, and we devoured that book as well. As Year 4 came to a close, I watched these wonderful young people transition to the next phase of their learning. This year, I began reading the series to my current class, and to our surprise, we discovered Wolf Girl 3 was due to be published I quickly connected with the current Year 5 Advisors, and pitched the idea to read aloud to my current and previous students for the first few weeks of term. It has been so great to spend time together again and continue to make moments that matter on their Silkwood journey "

13.01.2022 SILKWOOD SPRING DREAMING FESTIVAL The Dreaming Festival is an opportunity for the entire student community to come together to celebrate the rich history, diverse cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and to recognise these communities as the oldest continuing cultures on the planet. The Festival is a curated day-long program that promotes the arts, cultures, languages, foods and narratives of a diverse community, intrinsic to the under...standing of the broader Australian cultural context. With current COVID-19 restrictions in place, the Spring Dreaming Festival will be a student & school-team only event. Rest assured, we will have cameras at the ready to capture the many Moments that Matter that these wonderful events bring. To parents & carers of Silkwood, to help your child prepare for the festivities on Thursday.. PRIMARY SCHOOL & MULTIAGE: Please ensure your child(ren) wear either YELLOW or RED shirts (High School Multiage wear usual school polos), have morning tea, lunch and a water bottle packed as usual, and please also remind them to bring a hat and wear sunscreen (this is an outdoor event). HIGH SCHOOL: This year, as part of the day's program, the entire High School will be coming together for a shared lunch. Your High School child will not need to bring their lunch this Thursday. Please ensure they have morning tea and water bottle packed as usual and make sure they remember to bring a hat and wear sunscreen (this is an outdoor event). TUCKSHOP IS OPEN

13.01.2022 Many students are enjoying their vacation care experience with Helping Hands From walking among the surrounding wildlife exploring bush trails, to colourful science experiments, tie-dying and nature-inspired craft creations, it has been a fun few weeks of holiday's so far - here are our highlights!

11.01.2022 Spring has sprung at Silkwood, bringing beautiful nature and animal sightings to our school environment We love seeing the flowers and Australian natives in bloom, with furry friends and vibrant wildlife exploring our bushland surrounds, it is one of our favourite times of the year!

11.01.2022 As part of their Personal Interest Learning Time, our students are encouraged to explore ideas and draw on expertise from mentors in their field of interest by connecting with real-world mentors Recently, two of our Year 8 students Ripley and Ava sent their photographs to a professional photographer for feedback against a design brief. Paul Bloomfield was generous with his time, offered to help again in future, and was suitably impressed with their work! We are proud of the...m for being brave enough to seek a mentors critique on their projects This rigour is an important part of the project cycle and helps develop entrepreneurial spirit whilst creating a meaningful connection to real-life learning through their work. Congratulations Ripley and Ava on building your photography skills and meeting the briefs well. A big thank you to their Advisor Nikki for supporting them along the way, and huge thanks to Paul Bloomfield for lending his time to supporting our students on their journey! Yellow Flowers captured by Ripley Creek Scenery captured by Ava

11.01.2022 Year 10 enjoyed winding down on Friday with an invigorating Pilates session Amber from Pilates in the Park had everyone super engaged and energised. It was the perfect opportunity for the students to find their balance, recentre and reflect on their learnings for the week A big thanks to their Advisor Mara for organising the class, the students are eager for more!

10.01.2022 A great way to begin Friday and new for Term 3, Breakfast Club is a wellbeing initiative led by our Learning Enrichment Team It provides an opportunity to create social connections, with the added benefit of a healthy and nutritious breakfast to give students a positive start to their day. In their words... it's cereal-sly good! It was wonderful to see many smiling faces this morning!

10.01.2022 It’s a public holiday this coming Friday

09.01.2022 Stories of Silkwood To mark NAIDOC Week, our Aboriginal team members Cara, Jai and Rachelle, had a yarn about their backgrounds with some of our Indigenous students, Barty & Harry, Peira & Jaego, Balin, and Ethan. "I am a descendent of the Wiradjuri people of Dubbo NSW, through my father. Dad taught me that education can improve the lives of my people, and from a very young age I wanted to become a teacher and bring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives into... schools so that our cultures are valued, and our kids flourish." Cara "I am a Gadigal man of the Eora Nation (Sydney) through my father's side. His father was a member of the stolen generation, and I was born and raised here on Kombumerri country. I want to support students to be proud of who they are and make our school inclusive for all." Jai "My name is Rachelle, and I am a proud Indigenous Woman. My Great Great Grandfather was part of the Stolen Generation and adopted by a Western Family at a young age. The only knowledge I have is that I am a part of the NSW Koori people. I have been searching after my tribe for a while now, but have had little success. In saying this, I feel so incredibly blessed to part of the Silkwood tribe, with the whole school's respect and compassion for not only the First Nations people, but the land and culture that we have to share. I have always known that I wanted to help, educate and support young minds. Whilst studying Education Support, a dear friend of mine (who was also an Indigenous Support Worker) told me that he sees me as a "spear being thrown into the water, breaking through the tough surface and guiding young people through the currents." This has forever been planted in my heart, and is a seed that I see flourishing for a very long time to come at Silkwood." Rachelle As NAIDOC 2020 invites Australians to embrace the history and culture of this country, we say thank you to our team members and students for taking the time to share your stories and perspectives. We respectfully acknowledge the traditional custodians who have cared for this land, and we endeavour to do all that we can to celebrate and connect to country - not just this week, but every week Always was, always will be. #NAIDOC2020

09.01.2022 Join us for the next Silkwood Community Care Association - SCCA meeting! COVID-19 provisions are in place with this meeting restricted to 12 people, RSVP is essential We look forward to seeing our community come together and take the SCCA’s Vision, Mission and Aims throughout 2020 and beyond RSVP to: [email protected]

09.01.2022 Our student exhibitions are a point in time for reflection and renewal, a dedicated space where students can present their portfolio of learning and reflect, evaluate and celebrate their progress and achievements with their parents, mentors and Advisors. Tahlia (Year 9) has been exploring her passions and developing her entrepreneurial abilities by growing her painting and creative skills under the mentorship of her Grandfather Tahlia has begun selling her artworks to the community, and recently shared this timelapse with us at her exhibition as part of her reflective practice

09.01.2022 After enjoying a novel study of 'The Don's by Archimede Fusillo, Year 8 were looking forward to workshopping with Archie on his visit to Silkwood. With Archie stuck in Melbourne lockdown, the workshop went virtual, and the group instead met via Zoom A chance to connect with an engaging speaker and respected author, the students were thrilled to participate in such a fascinating literary exercise - albeit digitally! In these workshops, Archie discussed themes within the boo...k and stories and anecdotes of moments in his life that inspired his writing and led to his career path It was the perfect forum to launch into a creative writing workshop, where Archie shared 'tricks of the trade' and writing exercises with the students. As an author who sees value in the role stories play in shaping lives and connecting people, it was a joy to have Archie work with our students as they deepened their connection to storytelling See more

07.01.2022 On Thursday we were thrilled to hold our annual Summer Music Concert, albeit in a virtual format! In a year like no other, our music and choir students have battled the impacts of COVID-19, rising with resilience to courageously learn and grow on their musical journey, here are a few of our favourite highlights!

06.01.2022 As part of the 2020 Dreaming Festival, we are excited to bring you a showcase of local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses Over the next week, we will be sharing the stories of several businesses and their founders, to further connect our Silkwood community with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members. We have an incredible array of businesses and alumni featuring, and we hope you enjoy exploring their beautiful products Check back later today for our first business feature!

06.01.2022 Congratulations to our wonderful Silkwood School community for surviving term 2! Collectively we showed resilience, flexibility and heart as we joined together to navigate each and every challenge thrown our way by COVID-19. It is now time to breathe........ We look forward to seeing you all in term 3. In the meantime, be kind to yourselves and each other, and be sure to take some time to rest, reconnect and rejuvenate

06.01.2022 As we near the end of our final school term for 2020, we are pleased to share many exciting highlights and school-wide updates in this newsletter edition Access the newsletter via www.silkwood.qld.edu.au//school-newsletter-issue-2-term-4- Happy reading, and once again, we thank all families for your continued cooperation and support throughout 2020. Congratulations - we are almost there!

06.01.2022 Year 12 embarked on their final camp together, embracing a local destination close to their hearts and living the Silkwood graduate vision: "See the adventure, opportunity, connections and possibilities in life." Advisor Christie shares her reflections:... "The knowledge of our place in space and time, and the fragility of our rainforest and catchment, are invaluable to cultivate in our students who are about to go into the world as influencers and future decision-makers. This camp saw us explore a deep connection to the environment, and immerse in reflection - taking time to enjoy the journey after what has been a challenging year. With Kalindi now Principal at Numinbah Valley Environmental Education Centre, and her presence intertwined in the student's Silkwood adventure, it was a wonderful opportunity to reconnect and get everyone together for one last experience We truly made the most of every second, creating moments that matter in their final chapter at Silkwood." Congratulations Year 12, graduation is just around the corner!

06.01.2022 It is great to see our students dive into real-world projects that make a difference in their community Tobi, who is in Year 11, has been heavily involved in community action to prevent local mountain bike (MTB) trails from being shut down and bulldozed. Tobi is on the Executive Team for his local Gold Coast MTB Club Inc. and represents the huge importance of these tracks for the youth community. Using his voice to create change, Tobi has been interviewed by local papers, ...Channel 7 and Channel 9, and on Friday was featured riding on 7NEWS Gold Coast as a local, up and coming competitive rider in South East Queensland This real-world experience in community engagement and having his voice heard serves as an incredible learning opportunity for Tobi. We are so proud that he has embraced this with such calmness, enthusiasm and passion

06.01.2022 Next up in our Spring Dreaming Festival business showcase is Open House Collective, a dynamic and energetic community venue located in West End Open House launched in 2019 from the vision of Mia Goding (Local Makers), Troy Casey & Amanda Hayman (Blaklash) and Nick Goding (Box Vintage). Open House is a boutique art and retail store with a curated offering featuring local makers and designers, slow fashion, vintage clothing and beautiful Aboriginal art and products from acros...s the country. Here you'll find wall hangings, frocks, jewellery, ceramics, soaps, homewares, woven baskets, sculptures and so much more. Not only is it a beautifully curated retail space, but it also transforms into a studio, workshop and art gallery on occasions! Pop in and visit at 73 Vulture Street West End, or check out the Open House Collective Facebook page and website via www.openhousecollective.com

05.01.2022 With holiday's fast approaching, registration is open for the Helping Hands Vacation Care Program Enjoy a fun-filled mix of activities and excursions from Friday 18 September to Friday 2 October: - All Things Science - Language Day - African Safari... - Wheels Day - Spring Has Sprung at the Farm - And plenty more! Be quick as places are limited www.helpinghandsnetwork.com.au/silkwood-school/

04.01.2022 At Silkwood, our students are immersed in life-changing experiences and unique pathways to their future with the world as their oyster, and we empower them to learn from that space! With the support of her Advisor and parents, Tayah was recently accepted into the START QUT program: Dance Legacies, paving a unique pathway for her future plans of completing her degree at QUT (Queensland University of Technology) after graduation Tayah has been studying dance for three year...s participating in a number of workshops with Sydney Dance Company and Queensland Ballet, alongside a work experience residency in early December last year. Here is what she had to say about this opportunity: "Dance is not just movements; it is a way to create and express beyond words. When I started ballet at thirteen, I knew this was my passion, and that it is what I wanted to do with my life. I dedicate so much of my time to dance, that when I found out I was accepted into the START QUT program, I knew this would be my next step towards a bright future. This experience is allowing me to get my foot in the door for future studies, and I am really looking forward to completing my studies at QUT during semester two." Through this process, QUT now has a deeper understanding of the Big Picture Academy Graduate Portfolio, opening future pathways for Silkwood students. We are thrilled to see Tayah exploring her passions and thriving as she harnesses her education journey! You can learn more about the Silkwood Learning Program and how Big Picture Education Australia integrates within our Senior Academy by visiting our website

04.01.2022 Many of our Senior Students spend most of their time out of the classroom, learning through internships and real-world experiences. Some have the chance to work alongside our School Team, building their skills whilst exploring their passions As an avid reader and fan of the library, Maddie approached Fiona, our Library & Resource Coordinator, to see if there was an opportunity to gain some hands-on work whilst deepening her connection to the literary world.... Mentored by Fiona, Maddie has since engaged in a long-term internship at the Silkwood library, and never looked back! Part of her role includes overseeing, collecting, organising, and issuing library resources such as books, films and audio files. Alongside Fiona, Maddie recently connected with our Library Management System (LMS) software provider for an online training session to ensure we were using the most efficient processes. She also refreshed her knowledge on best library practices, and is now sharing this with fellow students and library visitors "The powerful part of Silkwood's long-term internship program is the ability for the student to progress at a speed that matches their skills and drive. In Maddie's case, her passion and skill level at the library has been exceptional, which also meant that she was able to attend a System Administrator training session, and deepen her project work and professional development." - Fiona, Library & Resource Coordinator Maddie reflects on how this internship has contributed to her understanding of the wider world: "This experience has calmed my fears of the real-world work environment. I now feel prepared and have the social skills and knowledge to operate in a workforce. Oh, did I mention that the library is always open and that checking out books is free? Come in and give us some company!"

04.01.2022 Our Year 7 and 8 Advisors recently welcomed the Year 4, 5 and 6 students to try a morning in the High School After science lab lessons, art in the Makerspace and HPE, the group engaged with senior students to ask about their transition from Primary to High School. Each shared a snippet of their personal Silkwood journey, and passed pearls of wisdom onto the younger students. Some of these included: The work does become more challenging, but your Advisor helps a lot, and... it is work that will be useful for your future. You learn how to manage your time and develop important organisational skills. It can be sad if your friends do not continue into High School, but there are lots of new students who come along, and new friendships are forged! You do not get assigned homework, but if you do not complete your set work during the school day you can be asked to catch up on the work at home - so it is best that you use your learning time well. It is important to be respectful to your Advisors. A big thank you to Lucas, Casie, Grayson, Brandon and Seth for courageously leading and taking the time to share their experiences with fellow students!

03.01.2022 This NAIDOC Week, we reflect on our connection to First Nations peoples, how their knowledge, culture and footprint, is ingrained in the history of this beautiful world At Silkwood, we are part of Kombumerri country and the wider Yugambeh language region. We respectfully acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, and their capacity and resilience as Aboriginal custodians. Our connection to country stands strong every day. Journeying through Silkwood, in and out ...of the classroom, this bond inspires young people to build deeper connections to themselves, others and their local environments We are proud to work closely with our traditional custodians, and Indigenous mentors and team members, to visibly and authentically embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, cultures and histories within our school gaureima (story), learning programs, and our physical environment. NAIDOC Week acknowledges and celebrates our nation's history, a history which dates back thousands of years. Together, we are empowering one another to lead the road to reconciliation, have respect for the Dreamtime, and know the importance of connection to country. Always was, always will be. #NAIDOC2020

03.01.2022 Today we are thrilled to feature Silkwood Alumni, Jaelyn Biumaiwai, as part of our Spring Dreaming Festival business showcase Below, Jaelyn reflects on how her time at Silkwood empowered her to think entrepreneurially and launch Unapolojaetic Illustrations. "Unapolojaetic Illustrations officially bloomed in late February 2019; however, the seeds were first planted in September 2014 (Term 4 of Grade 9) when I first moved to Silkwood and was introduced to Personal Interest L...earning. My very first Personal Interest Project was focused on graphic design. Long story short, I enrolled in and completed a 4-week beginner Adobe Illustrator (AI) course and never did graphic design as a project again. Fast forward to Term 3 of Grade 10, where I had grown very familiar with Personal Interest Learning and The Silkwood Way, and realised my pathways were endless for projects. I was home one day and had started to watch this Mori fishing show on NITV called Tangaroa with Pio. Being Aboriginal and Fijian, I found the culture aspect fascinating and had this big life-changing moment. I decided I was going to focus on Mori and Pasifika cultures and communities in my Personal Interest Learning Time, and I did so until graduation. Because of my Personal Interest Projects, I became very involved in the Brisbane Pasifika community and stayed connected after school. I enjoyed being surrounded by a lot of creative people and was involved in a community youth project where I had the opportunity to create a flyer and t-shirt design for our final showcase. With this, I redownloaded AI and had to dig deep to try to remember the skills I learned from my short course. Ultimately this reintroduced me to AI, and I truly enjoyed it. I kept playing around with it and started to illustrate people! I created some illustrations for my sister as a Christmas present, and my parents thought it would be a great business idea. So, I took that idea and ran with it! Unapolojaetic Illustrations was born, and the rest is history! It is terrific to see Jaelyn grow on her entrepreneurial journey, and build a business that inspires her to connect with her communities through combining her love for Culture and Art You can follow Jaelyn through her Unapolojaetic Illustrations Facebook page and on Instagram via @unapolojaetic.illustrations!

02.01.2022 Today marks the end of National Reconciliation Week, and 2020 also marks the twentieth anniversary of the reconciliation walks of 2000, when people came together to walk on bridges and roads across the nation and show their support for a more reconciled Australia. As always, we stand on the shoulders of those who came before us, and Australians now benefit from the efforts and contributions of people committed to reconciliation in the past. At Silkwood, we have developed a ...program to embrace the Australian Curriculum priority of authentically embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culture, and history into our school programs. Working hand in hand with local indigenous mentors to understand and connect with local knowledge and ways of learning, we have woven this into integrated and meaningful learning experiences for our students. Students across the school were involved in many wonderful learning experiences to celebrate National Reconciliation Week 2020. The theme of this year’s NRW is #InThisTogether2020 and our Year 12 students honoured this theme today with a Yarning Circle. The Yarning Circle is an ancient communication forum, used by Indigenous Australians to break down barriers between people and encourage honesty and trust. Our students began with sharing a joyful moment they had experienced during the past week and went on to discuss why Australia's Indigenous heritage is important to recognise and celebrate. Today we work together to further the national journey towards a fully reconciled country. #NRW2020 #InThisTogether2020

02.01.2022 This week, Year 6 explored ancient Rome through a fun day of hands-on learning with Living History Australia Beginning with a discussion on what life was like in ancient Rome for gladiators and senators alike, the experts were impressed with the calibre of questions the students were asking Everyone then had a chance to handle several artefacts, try on helmets, shoes, armour and ancient accessories, before trying their hand at gladiator battles to finish the day. The smiles on their face tell it all!

02.01.2022 Silkwood ‘Back to School’ Newsletter - Term 3 2020 Included in this issue you will find: A welcome back message from our Principal Terry COVID-19 Plan update... Important School Bus information The return of After School Activities Term 3 Driveway Schedule School Camps update Term 3 Events .and much more! If you have questions regarding any matters in the newsletter, please email [email protected] We look forward to seeing many smiling faces next week! https://www.silkwood.qld.edu.au//back-to-school-term-3-new

02.01.2022 Today is our official 'last day of learning' at Silkwood and we're super excited to welcome families onto the school grounds this Thursday and Friday for our student exhibitions A series of emails have been sent to families over the past few weeks providing information on our exhibitions with further details below regarding our parking and visiting procedures. Parking will be available on both the Primary School and High School Campus for Exhibition times only ... All parents are asked to go directly to your child's Advisory to sign in (no need to attend the school offices) Due to COVID restrictions, we kindly ask all parents to depart the school campus immediately after your child's exhibition School uniforms are not required to be worn however, we ask that students please dress in smart, casual clothing. Our students are extremely excited & just a little nervous about their upcoming presentations and there’s a definite ‘buzz of anticipation’ in the air! We look forward to seeing you soon Please DO NOT ATTEND if you are unwell

02.01.2022 Our Week 7, Term 3 newsletter is here The newsletter is a great way to keep up-to-date with relevant information, key dates and to celebrate our many Moments that Matter. In this issue you will find:... A message from our School Principal, Terry O'Hanlon Rose Details about our School App launch Current updates and reminders Book Week at Silkwood - save the date! Year level highlights Real-World Learning insights Vacation Care Program, and plenty more! www.silkwood.qld.edu.au//school-newsletter-issue-2-term-3- For questions regarding any matters in the newsletter, please contact the school office. Happy reading! Community Relations Team

01.01.2022 Families, this Friday is a regular school day for Silkwood, please ensure your child/ren attends school as normal. We finish the term on Thursday 17 September, a day earlier than other schools

01.01.2022 Happy Tuckshop Day! Today we say a special thank you to our lovely trio - Tucky Jo, Brigitte and Masako, for providing such delicious and healthy food to our students and team members! The contribution you make to our Silkwood community is immense, and we are so grateful to have your nurture, care and positive spirit shine bright each and every day We are so excited to see the new tuckshop area grow in 2021, and we are delighted to be on this journey with you.... To share a special shout out of your own, please add a message in the comments below, and we will be sure to share these with Jo and her team