Grammar Plus

Diverse extra-curricular opportunities to grow, shaped by students’ interests & pursuits.

 

 

Sport
A huge variety of sports are represented at the school and are very much influenced by our cohort of students. We offer training and development in: cricket; netball; touch football and rugby union (both for boys and girls). Our equestrian students represent the school in a variety of competitions and also partake in weekly horse sports tuition in flatwork, show jumping, dressage and theory.

Other sports include: athletics; swimming; cross country; rowing; basketball; soccer, softball; hockey; rugby league; triathlons; archery; gymnastics; dance; and sailing.

Each year our students from Year 2 through to Year 12 participate in inter-house sports for swimming, athletics and cross country. Our Kindergarten and Year 1 students participate in a fun day for athletics and swimming, each receiving a participation award for their efforts. They join in with the whole school for cross country, which is fun day with a BBQ lunch in houses and our Kindergarten and Year 1 students are encouraged to have a fun go on a short course.

Students also represent the school in a variety of sports mainly through Hunter Region Independent Schools (HRIS) and the levels beyond this, the Association of Independent Co-Educational Schools (ACIES) and NSW Combined Independent Schools Sports Council (CIS) competitions.

Elite Performance Pathway 
Our Elite Performance Pathway programme has been established to identify, nurture and develop student athletes to reach their full potential in both their academic and sporting ambitions, whilst providing opportunities to train and be mentored in an environment of excellence by top quality coaches and facilitators.

Within the school grounds we have a Fitness Gym where we organise fitness classes, activities and cross fit workouts for students from mid primary upwards. We are also blessed with a high standard of sporting facilities within walking distance from the school. We access playing fields and netball courts at the Bill Rose Sports Complex, a rugby field at the Scone Rugby Club, a newly built equestrian arena at White Park and a 50m Olympic pool within the Scone Memorial Swimming Pool.

First Aid
Vital skills for life, caring for others and supporting our wider community we facilitate First Aid Courses for secondary students to have as a skill and also as a qualification. We also support students to complete their Bronze Medallion Award, an international benchmark for lifesavers which builds knowledge and skills in rescue, personal survival and emergency care, along with the ability to perform aquatic rescues in a safe and efficient manner.

Outdoor Education
Experiential learning is a focus for our community. Inspiring and stretching students through enjoyable activities, some of which also support the wider community bring many rewards.

Each of our students from Kindergarten through to Year 11 participate in a school camp. Whilst Kindergarten has a sleepover in the school grounds, each of our other year groups go offsite for their camps. The majority of these camps involve outdoor activities and experiential learning such as: skiing; abseiling; archery; canoeing and hiking. Independence, teamwork, leadership and resilience are skills developed, all contributing wellbeing in our students.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award empowers students to explore their full potential and find their purpose, passion and place in the world. To earn an Award, each young person must learn a skill, improve their physical wellbeing, volunteer in their community and experience a team adventure in a new environment.

Outward Bound programmes are all about learning and the impact this has on the individual. These offsite programmes help students to discover, develop and achieve their potential. Learning is through purposeful and intense experiences with real consequences and powerful, positive and memorable outcomes. With a spirit of respect and compassion these programmes stretch people both physically and mentally. In doing so they act with care, concern and generosity towards people and the natural environment.

Agriculture
We encourage students with an interest in agriculture to be involved in some of the programmes that the school is currently involved in and if they have a special interest in other agricultural areas, we will facilitate involvement wherever possible.

Steer leading and cattle preparation in the Upper Hunter Beef Bonanza right here in walking distance from the school, is a great opportunity for students to learn but also to connect with many other students and for career cultivation.   A Dorper Sheep Training Course is also organised for some of our students, along with The Rotary Youth in Cotton (RYCOTT) three day program for Year 9 to 12 agriculture students wanting to gain knowledge of cotton growing.

Hospitality
Grammar Grind is our café run by the Year 11 & 12 students who study Hospitality through Vocational Education Training (VET). They are supported by the Year 9 & 10 Food Technology Students. Grammar Grind is run as a commercial café to provide a café style experience with real customers from within the school and also from the wider community. Grammar Grind also gives back to the school community, raising funds for programmes such as our Vanuatu Mission Trip, our fete during the Scone Horse Festival, the Cancer Council and our Food for Friends programme.

Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship is encouraged throughout the school community, inspiring our students to build these life skills. 

Aside from our Grammar Grind which is also mentioned within Hospitality, our students have plenty of opportunities to develop skills of entrepreneurship through market stalls at our annual P&F Home Grown markets, at our annual Fete within the Scone Horse Festival and within markets at school run by our Year 9 & 10 Commerce students.

Drama
Our students enjoy drama and those that who are a little less outgoing are supported to gradually stretch themselves to feel comfortable performing in front of others. Each of our primary classes from Kindergarten through to Year 6 perform as a class for primary assembly, providing great enjoyment for the primary school, along with parents, who are encouraged to come along and watch.

Our Year 9 and 10 students who choose drama as an elective subject perform in a theatre space, local to our school. Other students, friends, parents and the wider community are invited to watch their performance.

Art
Art is enjoyed and celebrated throughout the school and culminates in our annual Art Show which is open to the wider community. Every student taking art class throughout the school submits an entry in our annual art show.

Culture
Respect for culture is an important part of appreciating and supporting our wider community. Excursions to historical sites, cultural exhibitions and performances from an important part of our experiential learning culture.

Music 
Music is embedded in the culture of our school and another way in which we serve our wider community.

Our Kindergarten, Year 1 and 2 students sing in a choir and participate in the Upper Hunter Eisteddfod. From year 3 onwards, we have a primary choir and a secondary choir that students can be involved in if they choose to.

Each of our year 3 students learns a string instrument – either the violin or cello, as part of their music lessons. This is a programme established in conjunction with the Upper Hunter Conservatorium of Music.

Singing and lessons in instruments (1:1) are organised in association with teachers from the Upper Hunter Conservatorium of Music and other individual tutors onsite, here at the school, but at an additional cost to families. Many of these students play in our string ensembles, orchestra and band.

Each year we have students from Year 3 onwards participate in an offsite Kia Ora music camp for the Upper Hunter region. This is a great opportunity to further develop their skills and connect with our wider musical community, mixing with different students and teachers from the Upper Hunter.

An inter-house music competition is held annually, developing not only an appreciation for the talents throughout our school, but a chance for each student to participate in the choir category, as well as ensemble and solo performances. Students compete in their house and a wonderful, close atmosphere which surrounds this competition.

Every second year we organise a school musical, involving from Year 3 through to Year 12. These are spectacular performances and yet another way for students to stretch themselves, showcase their talents and support our wider community.

Strategy Games
Games requiring strategy are encouraged at school. We have a weekly chess club one lunchtime each week and these kids also participate in regional, inter-school competitions. The giant chess board in our playground also gets a good workout.

Careers
Within the Secondary School we have an onsite careers counsellor who also facilitates and encourages exploring relevant careers expos and university visits to investigate career options.

Public Speaking & Debating
Public Speaking is part of our Primary School Curriculum so each primary student experiences public speaking. This starts in The Yellow Cottage Preschool as news, also known as show and tell. Vital for the development of each individual, it allows students to feel comfortable with public speaking in a safe, supportive environment. Students are also selected to participate in inter-school public speaking through Hunter Regional Independent Schools (HRIS) competitions.

Debating stems on from those with a particular talent or interest in persuasive speaking and is available as an extra-curricular activity from Years 5 to 10.