Student opportunities and activities

Creative arts

Choir

Singing is fun at our school.  We have three choirs – an Opera House Choir comprised of thirty-six year 5 and year 6 students, a junior choir for interested students in year 3 to year 6 and a Vocal Ensemble for talented singers in year 5 and year 6. All choirs perform at special school celebrations.

Dance

Students in year 3 to year 6 have the opportunity to audition at the beginning of the year for our two dance groups. Our dance groups perform at school events and various eisteddfods and festivals across the Northern Sydney area.

English

The study of English is mandatory in NSW from Kindergarten to Year 12.

In English, students learn about the study and use of the English language in its various textual forms. These encompass spoken, written and visual texts through which meaning is shaped, conveyed, interpreted and reflected. Complexity increases as students progress through their schooling.

Developing proficiency in English enables students to take their place as confident communicators; critical and imaginative thinkers; lifelong learners; and informed, active participants in Australian society. Their understanding of English through knowledge and skills acquisition is essential to their intellectual, social and emotional development.

The study of English should develop a love of literature and learning and be challenging and enjoyable. It develops skills to enable students to experiment with ideas and expression, to become active, independent and lifelong learners, to work with each other and to reflect on their learning.

Enrichment

Mathematics and writing enrichment opportunities are available for identified students within the school throughout the year. Parents of students selected in these enrichment programs are notified in writing at the beginning of Semester 1 and/or Semester 2.

Nominated students in year 5 have the opportunity to attend a Semester 1 or Semester 2 enrichment program at The Forest High School. These students attend the program with year 5 students from other local primary schools.

Human society and its environment

In HSIE, students explore varied subjects in human society and its environment to learn about history, geography, people, societies and culture.

Students also have an opportunity to learn more about people and the societies and environments in which they live.

A large number of individual subjects make up the key learning area of HSIE in which students:

• research, gather and analyse information
• question and make judgements
• write for a variety of purposes.

Languages

In NSW primary schools, the study of a language is optional.

Language study allows students to develop communication skills, learn about languages as systems and explore the relationship between language and culture. Students engage with the linguistic and cultural diversity of societies and reflect on their understanding of social interactions.

Mathematics

The study of mathematics is mandatory from Kindergarten to Year 10.

By studying mathematics, students learn to work mathematically – developing fluency, understanding, problem-solving, reasoning and communication skills.

The syllabus consists of the following strands:

• number and algebra
• measurement and geometry
• statistics and probability.

Personal development, health and physical education

PDHPE provides students with opportunities to explore issues that are likely to impact on the health, safety and wellbeing of themselves and others – now and in the future. Students also participate in challenging and enjoyable physical activity, improving their capacity to move with skill and confidence.

PSSA

Inter-school sport is organised through the Warringah Primary Schools Sports Association (PSSA) and is played against other schools on Friday morning. The ideology of PSSA sport is participation, sportsmanship, skill development, fitness and fun.

Our school selects students to compete in PSSA Carnivals. There are opportunities for representatives to compete up to national level. Students also have the opportunity to represent our school in a range of sports which may include netball, cricket, soccer, T-ball and softball.

Selection is based on ability, behaviour, and interest.

Coaches conduct trials to select all teams.

Winter PSSA Sports offered are Netball, Soccer and AFL

Summer PSSA Sports offered are Softball, T-ball, Cricket and Eagle Tag

For more information regarding NSW PSSA Sport click on this link:  PSSA Sport

Religion and ethics

NSW public schools offer special religious education and special education in ethics, delivered by approved providers wherever available.

Allambie Heights Public School currently offers the following options for Special Religious Education (SRE) and Special Education in Ethics (SEE):

Combined Scripture – Combined SRE adds value to school communities in many ways. It allows students to explore and nurture their spirituality; facilitates a pathway for the spiritual care of students; raises the conversation of faith and gives permission to students to talk about their own faith and journey; and it teaches the basic themes and lessons of the Bible for students to consider. All children interested in learning about the Christian faith are welcome to attend these lessons. Children learn in a fun and engaging program what the Bible has to say and how it applies to our world today. They are encouraged to ask lots of questions, debate and think through the wide range of topics discussed. All children work through an activity book and enjoy great music and games. All denominations are very welcome, Anglican, Pentecostal, Uniting, Presbyterian, Baptist, Seventh Day Adventist, Bretheren and also Orthodox. Classes are run by volunteers from Christ Church Northern Beaches, as approved by the Anglicare Diocese of Sydney. Curriculum details are available at https://whysre.com.au/sre-curriculum/cep-curriculum-overview/

Catholic Scripture – The Catholic SRE curriculum delivers an ethical framework based upon a relationship with a loving God who is the source of goodness and truth. Catholic students who attend this scripture can also complete the sacramental program for Reconciliation, First Communion and Confirmation. Classes are run by volunteers from Catholic Community of North Harbour, as approved by the Catholic Diocese of Broken Bay. Curriculum details are available at https://www.bbcatholic.org.au/parish-community/ministries/ccd/curriculum

Primary Ethics (y1 – y6 students only) – The philosophical ethics classes that make up the Primary Ethics curriculum are inquiry based. Children use dialogue and discussion, learning how to think about ethical matters through the give-and-take of reasoned argument. The NSW government has authorised Primary Ethics, a not-for profit organisation, to deliver these classes.  For further information about the content of the philosophical ethics curriculum or to see a short video, What Happens In Ethics Classes, please go to www.primaryethics.com.au . Classes are capped at 22 students.

Non scripture – Under the provisions of Section 26 of the Education Act 1990, students may be exempt from attending religious education classes, on the basis of conscientious objection on religious grounds.  Students who attend non scripture sit and read quietly in a supervised area. During this time, students cannot complete class work or receive extra teaching from a teacher. These activities should neither compete with SRE nor be alternative lessons in the subjects within the curriculum.

For more information, visit Religion and ethics.

To request a change to your child's SRE or SEE preference please follow the steps below. Changes to SRE and SEE are made at the start of each term.

- Click on the following link https://ehub.enrol.education.nsw.gov.au/

- Scroll down and click on 'update details'

- Click on 'login with Service NSW'

- Click on the 'My updates' tab

- Click on 'Update SRE/SEE preference'

If you have any questions regarding this process, please call the school office on 9451 5440.

Science and technology

In science and technology, students explore the natural and made worlds. They learn how to apply scientific and technological skills, knowledge and understanding across a broad range of contexts.

Science provides a way of inquiring about the world around us. It explores evidence and investigates ways to discover, develop and produce solutions to real world problems. The inquiry and skill-based nature of science opens doors to ideas and discoveries.

Sport at Allambie

Our school has the following four sport houses:

Fraser - Yellow

Bradman - Red

McKay - Green

Rosewall - Blue

Outcomes of the sport program include:

• Participation, enjoyment and skill development of all students.
• Opportunities for students to gain confidence and to develop a variety of skills in lifelong learning, recreation and sporting activities.
• Competition opportunities in sport which stimulate and challenge students.
• Increased social skills through participation in team situations.

Implementation of the sport program

• Year 3 - year 6 students participate in the Friday sports program. Here students participate in a variety of activities designed to provide opportunities to develop skills, interest and enjoyment in a wide range of games and modified sports. Bushwalking and tennis lessons are offered during the Winter terms.
• Year 3 - year 6 students participate in school swimming, cross country and athletics carnivals & knockout carnivals. The school selects students to compete in Warringah Primary Schools Sports Association (PSSA) Carnivals. There are opportunities for representatives to compete up to national level. Students also have the opportunity to represent our school in a range of sports which may include netball, softball, T-ball, beach volleyball, cricket, soccer, rugby league & rugby union.
• Students in Kindergarten - year 2 participate in 150 minutes of physical activity throughout the week during lesson breaks, fitness breaks and movement breaks.

Sports Carnivals

Swimming

A swimming carnival is held at the start of Term 1 and students from Years 3 - 6 participate. It is held at Lane Cove public swimming pool and parents are invited to attend.

Cross Country

The cross country carnival is held at the end of Term 1 on the school oval. Children 8 - 10 years run 2 kilometres and the seniors competitors run 3 kilometres.

Athletics

An athletics carnival is held in Term 3 and all students participate. It is held on the school oval and parents are invited to attend.

Following the respective school carnivals students are selected to compete against other schools in the Warringah Zone Carnival.  The school also selects students to compete in PSSA Carnivals. There are opportunities for representatives to compete up to national level. Students also have the opportunity to represent our school in a range of sports which include netball, softball, basketball, cricket, soccer, touch football, tennis and AFL.

Sounds-Write

At Allambie Heights Public School, we teach phonics using a linguistic phonics program called Sounds-Write, an evidence-based program developed in the United Kingdom.

Sounds-Write is a very highly structured, multi-sensory, incremental and code-oriented, instructional approach to teaching children to read and spell. The Sounds-Write program is implemented in the classroom and provides very fast and effective teaching for children at all levels.

We are proud to be one of the few Sounds-Write Training Schools providing outstanding phonics teaching for training purposes as well as taster mornings, introducing the Sounds- Write program. This program is successful in teaching children to read and spell because it starts with what all children know from a very young age – the sounds of our spoken language. Then, using a very systematic approach, it teaches them how these sounds  are coded within our writing system.

Implementation:

Children at our school will be sure to tell you how much they enjoy their Sounds-Write lessons. Its structure and simplicity makes it a program accessible to all learners and helps them to make excellent progress with their reading and spelling.

Sounds-Write promotes the use of multi-sensory engagement with the materials appropriate to  the level and abilities of the children being taught. Visual, auditory and kinaesthetic activities  are at all times combined simultaneously to promote learning. Sounds-Write also enables teachers to differentiate the challenges placed before the learner in order to meet their individual needs.

The four key concepts children are taught are:

1.                letters are symbols that represent sounds

2.                sounds can be spelled using 1, 2, 3 or 4 letters

3.                the same sound can be spelled in different ways

4.                the same spelling can represent different sounds

The three key skills children need to master reading and spelling are:

1.                blending

2.                segmenting

3.                phoneme manipulation

Children in Kindergarten begin with the Initial Code where they practice all 3 key skills whilst learning the 1:1 sound-spelling correspondences and securing their understanding of key concept 1. This builds up confidence and phonic knowledge in a truly reversible system, enabling them to decode and encode a wide range of words and sentences. At first, children  learn to read and write simple one syllable words with a CVC structure. Complexity of word structure systematically builds up so that children apply their code knowledge to monosyllabic words with up to 6 sounds.

Once the Initial Code has been mastered, children continue to practice all 3 key skills whilst learning Extended Code which explores key concepts 2, 3 and 4. Learning of the Extended Code is a lifelong process – we all continue to develop our understanding of this code whenever we encounter new words. Which is why Sounds-Write can be applied across all grades in our school. Whilst learning the Extended Code, children read and write monosyllabic and polysyllabic words at an age-appropriate level.

Our K-6 learning and support program focusses on small group support for children who require additional consolidation of the classroom program so that all learners can reach their reading and spelling potential.

The following resources provide additional information for our parents and carers about the Sounds-Write program:

·         Sounds-Write website

·         Sounds-Write – Help your child to read and write with John Walker (Initial Code Unit 1 to Unit 7)

·         Sounds-Write – Help your child to read and write – part 2 with John Walker (Initial Code Unit 8 to Unit 11)

·         Pronunciation of Initial Code sounds