Learn more about the programs offered at Stanmore Public School.
Creative and Performing Arts Programs
Stanmore Public School provides Creative and Performing Arts programs staffed by specialist teachers in music and drama. As a result, the school has a strong tradition of music and drama performances.
All students have the opportunity to participate in these activities and experience success. The programs are part funded by a parent contribution. As a part of these programs, many students have the opportunity to perform in school ensembles for music, dance and drama and also in regional and state ensembles and festivals. These include performances at the Opera House and the NSW Band Festival.
Each year, the school holds the performing arts “Showcase” at a local theatre where all of our students perform items prepared in Drama and Music lessons.
Music Ensembles
The school provides the opportunity for students to participate in many Music Ensembles. These include Bands, String Ensembles, Percussion Ensembles, Ukulele Club, Recorder Ensemble and Choirs.
Rehearsals of the ensembles usually occur at lunchtime or before school. Comprehensive information about the Music Program is detailed on the Instrumental Music Program page. It lists information about each ensemble including descriptions, skill levels, costs, any audition requirements and expectations of being in an Ensemble.
Kitchen Garden Program
The school provides the opportunity for all students to participate in the Kitchen Garden Program each year.
Following a grant from the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation in 2012, the school created a kitchen garden and converted the old school library into a stunning kitchen with five cooking bays.
Two terms per year, all classes have a fortnightly lesson in the garden, with a garden specialist, and in the kitchen, with a kitchen specialist, giving them the experience of growing, harvesting, preparing and sharing nutritious food. The gardening program includes composting and worm farming. A range of curriculum areas are integrated into the Kitchen Garden program.
Excursions and Camps
Excursions, incursions (including visiting performances) and camps (overnight excursions) are a feature of the learning program at Stanmore. They enrich classroom learning and provide students with vivid, real life experiences that make learning more powerful and therefore more likely to be understood and remembered. These activities are planned carefully to ensure quality educational benefits and reasonable cost.
Camps are overnight excursions that have the same curriculum focus as other excursions, plus a social focus of building school cohesion, cooperation and teamwork. There are camps for Year 3 up to Year 6 and they are planned to ensure a range of different experiences over five years. All are within one to two hours travel from school, except trips to Canberra and the goldfields for Years 5 and 6.
The school notifies parents of upcoming excursions at the beginning of each term and requires a signed permission note for attendance at each one. All school excursions require the approval of the Principal.
These activities are organised on a cost recovery basis. The school books the activities and pays for transport, entry fees and accommodation costs, where applicable. The total cost is divided between the students and this cost is then passed on to families. If families are experiencing financial difficulties they should contact the school regarding financial assistance.
Debating and Public Speaking
Stanmore Public School has well-established debating program. Each year the school enters teams of Stage 3 students in a local inter‐school competition, and we have a strong track record of success in this competition. Class teachers train the debating teams at lunchtimes.
Teachers also run Public Speaking clubs at lunchtime. Students who participate have the option to enter the NSW Multicultural Public Speaking competition.
Lunchtime Clubs and Groups
In addition to Music Ensembles, Debating and Public Speaking, our teachers run a wide range of clubs and groups for studnets to participate in at lunchtimes. These include the Waste Warriors sustainability group, Drama Groups, Dance Groups, Lego Club, Minecraft Club, Craft Club and Wellbeing Club.
Sport
Stanmore Public School has a strong tradition of sporting excellence. A wide range of sporting opportunities are available to students, catering to all levels of ability and a variety of interests.
Sports Carnivals
Every year the school holds Swimming, Cross Country and Athletics Carnivals for students in Years 3 - 6. Students who meet qualifying times are selected to represent the school at Balmain Zone Carnivals.
Primary School Sports Association (PSSA) Sport
Stanmore Public School is a member of the Balmain PSSA competition, fielding Senior and Junior teams with students from Years 3-6. Students who participate in PSSA complete in a weekly inter-school competition every Friday, at an external location. Sports offered include cricket, OzTag and netball in summer, and soccer, touch football, AFL and netball in winter.
School Sport and PE
Sport is also taught as part of the curriculum, with all classes engaging in school-based sport and PE lessons. External sporting education providers are sometimes engaged to teach specialist sporting programs such as gymnastics and dance.
Home Reading Program
A Home Reading Program operates in all classes across the school. This program is designed to develop a love of reading and provide regular reading practice on books that students can read.
Every day younger students take home a book at their instructional reading level and the school expects that they will spend 10 to 15 minutes reading aloud to a parent or older member of the family. Students have a card for parents to sign and return to school to show the reading task has been completed. Students then read their book at school to a teacher or volunteer.
Older and/or more capable readers, who are borrowing novels, will not change their book every day and may also prefer to read quietly to themselves.
This daily independent reading is a valuable part of developing and enhancing literacy skills and is an integral part of the school’s successful Literacy Program.
The school appreciates parents’ support in encouraging their children to read a little every day.