Student opportunities and activities
Canterbury has an impressive array of extracurricular clubs and programs on offer, especially considering the relatively modest size of our school population. These programs suit all ages and interests and are taught by specialist teachers or teachers with a particular passion for a subject or discipline.
Our extracurricular activities include: strings ensembles, concert bands, choirs, dance groups, art club, drama club, green thumbs garden club, chess club, coding club, dungeons and dragons, wrap with love knitting club, Korean dance, Storychasers student newspaper, public speaking, debating, Spanish language classes, netball, soccer, football, touch football, basketball, softball, cricket and tball. There is truly something for everyone which is important because we want every child to be engaged at school, find like-minded friends and explore their interests and hone their talents.
In addition there are a number of leadership opportunities for students from Kindergarten to Year 6 including library monitors, K-6 student representative council, student leadership, and house captains.
We ensure that there are authentic opportunities for students to perform, compete and contribute e.g. student newspaper is issued to every family, garden club grown and sell their produce, sports teams compete with other schools, knitting club donate their creations to charity, SRC and student leaders improve the school and their community through student initiatives, strings and band perform at venues including the Opera House and band festivals.
You can find out more by visiting https://cpsclubs.info/
The core curriculum is also extended through exciting excursions and overnight camps. Students attend camp once a year from Year 3 to Year 6 at Canterbury.
We have a great partnership with the girls and boys high schools next door to our school which allows our Year 5 and 6 students and teachers to engage in additional programs across disciplines that challenge and extend our senior students.
Band
Canterbury Public School offers students the opportunity to be part of a school concert band which rehearses once per week under the guidance of Mr Martin Davison. Mr Davison has performed in jazz bands, plays the saxophone and many other instruments and conducted school bands all over Sydney. The concert band rehearses every Thursday from 3:20pm to 4:20pm. The training band rehearses every Wednesday from 3:20pm to 4:20pm.
Strings ensembles
Students of string instruments can choose to be part of the string ensemble, which meets once per week under the guidance of Ms. Rhea Sullivan. Ms Sullivan is also the violin tutor.
All students wishing to participate must be enrolled in weekly lessons during school term, either with a tutor at school or an external tutor of your choice (please pass external tutor's contact details on to Rhea so that she can inform them of the music we are covering). Students must also commit to weekly ensemble rehearsals as per below. See full T&C.
Ria Sullivan
CANTERBURY PUBLIC SCHOOL
Participation, Equity & Excellence
"Hi, my name is Ria Sullivan, and I'm the
strings coordinator at Canterbury Public. Today, we're introducing some of the
instruments that we have on offer in our string program. String instruments have a wooden body
and strings that can be plucked or bowed. The orchestral string family has five
instruments, and we have three on offer here: violin, viola, and cello. For an introduction to the instruments that
we have on offer here, I'm now gonna hand you over to some of the students
from the senior string ensemble.
Student 1
The smallest member of the strings family is
the violin, and it makes the highest sounds. You play the violin by placing it between your
chin and your shoulder and bowing or plucking the strings like this.
Student 2
The viola is bigger than the violin, has
thicker strings, and makes a warmer sound. Like the violin, it is also placed
between your chin and shoulder, and bowed or plucked like this.
Student 3
The cello is much bigger than a violin or viola and is played sitting down. The cello plays lower notes than the violin
Student 4
but it can also play high notes.
Student 5
There are lots of sounds you can make
with string instruments by playing them in different ways.
Bowing, plucking, harmonics, tremolo, and extended techniques, such as playing behind the bridge, Bartók pizzicato, glissando, or col legno.
Ria Sullivan
We have three string ensembles at CPS. We have the Stringlets group, the
Junior Strings, and Senior Strings. The Stringlets group is the first group that
a student will join, and it usually starts halfway through term one to ensure that
everyone has had a few lessons before we start. This ensemble starts halfway during term one
and covers ensemble basics, such as basic baton cues, playing together, and learning to
listen to each other, and reinforces string playing basics. After completion of the first year, students
will then move on to the Junior String Ensemble.
We reinforce the ensemble basics that we cover in the Stringlets program. We also start material that
includes playing different parts. So the highest ensemble at CPS is the Senior
Strings, which covers more complicated repertoire, with each part playing different
parts and learning how these parts work together.
The students will cover more advanced instrumental techniques, and there are more
external performance opportunities, such as Festival of Instrumental Music at the Opera
House and performance at places like Kegworth Fair.
To enroll in the strings program, students must commit to a weekly lesson with a tutor,
either on-site or externally, and also commit to a weekly rehearsal. Enrollment is done through the cpsclubs.info
website, where you will also find rehearsal times and locations for
each of these ensembles. Thank you for watching. I hope it was useful and inspires you to get
involved.
CANTERBURY PUBLIC SCHOOL
Participation, Equity & Excellence
Phone: 02 9718 2884
Email: canterbury-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au
Ensembles & Rehearsal Times:
Junior Strings (Monday, 8:30am)
Senior Strings (Wednesdays, 7:50am)
Stringlets (Wednesdays, 8:50am)
Instruments
The school has some instruments to hire. Other parents have also hired instruments from commercial hire businesses in the past few years. The String Centre at Chatswood will hire or sell instruments. Prices for hiring and or purchasing instruments vary. Information can be obtained by contacting the school music liaison teacher, ensemble leader or talk to your child's tutor about what would be the best way to proceed. Another option is to contact the Department of Education's Arts Unit in Lewisham, who have a range of instruments for hire.
Tutors
If you would like your child to learn an instrument at school please contact the tutors to organise a time and place for tuition. Please inform the school as well so that your child's place in either the school band or one of the strings ensembles is secured for the year.
At Canterbury Public School, we offer a variety of programs in the classroom and across the school to help students build new skills, make friends and explore new interests.
Our programs may include:
- school sport, athletics and inter-school competitions
- creative and performing arts groups and showcases
- cultural and language activities
- excursions and incursions
- public speaking and debating
- interest-based clubs
- student leadership opportunities
- activities that support high potential and gifted learners.
Contact us to learn more about what’s available and how your child can get involved.
Before & After School Care
Contact Details:
Primary OSH Care
Canterbury Public School
Church Street, Canterbury NSW 2193
0417 267 719
cboshc@primaryoshcare.com.au
Opening Hours:
Before School: 7:00am - 9:20am
After School: 3:00pm - 6:00pm
Vacation Care: 7:00am - 6:00pm
Come and join the fun at Canterbury Primary OSHCare. Every day we offer a program based on your child's emerging and recognised interests.
Clubs cater for topics with ongoing appeal and homework, science and gardening clubs operate regularly throughout the year. Our Health & Wellbeing program runs each term and is provided at no additional cost to families. H&W engages with external coaches offering specialist and extension experiences.
Our program is regularly supplemented by a special focus topic designed to challenge children's thinking and introduce contemporary themes. There are always plenty of activities to join or free time to enjoy too.
Primary OSHCare services are regularly assessed by ACECQA and to date, 100% of our services have met all NQS assessment criteria. In fact, the majority have exceeded expectations as we aim for excellence in OSHC. Exceeding the standard is significant and a hard won achievement.
We aim to exceed expectations in all areas of care, we support and care for children from non English speaking families in a diverse and inclusive environment. Get in touch soon to secure your place.
Vacation Care:
Let’s Celebrate!
During the holidays a varied program that works within the family budget is offered. Look forward to many local excursions and special events, mixed with centre based incursions and activities to ensure the holidays pass as they should, with a mix of fun and down time.
For more information including enrolment, click here.
Our extra-curricular highlights
Debating and public speaking
The Premier’s Debating Challenge is open to students from Year 5 to 12. Teams compete in a round robin series of debates against other schools. The winners go on to compete at regional and state level to determine the eventual state champion.
Creative and performing arts
Creative arts is mandatory for students from Kindergarten to Year 6.
In creative arts, students discover a variety of art forms through a study of dance, drama, music and visual arts where they learn to appreciate, compose, listen, make and perform.
Each art form has its own unique knowledge and skills, elements or concepts as well as a capacity to inspire and enrich lives.
Beyond the Creative Arts core curriculum
Canterbury students can enrol in extra-curricular arts programs. For more details please visit cpsclubs.info.
For more information about Canterbury's creative arts programs please click here.
Trips and excursions
Excursions and incursions are arranged by teachers to inform and complement classroom learning programs. Excursions are arranged with the view that all children will attend unless they are sick or other extenuating circumstances prevail. If for any reason, you find yourself in financial difficulties, please do not hesitate to make a confidential appointment with principal.
Facilities and resources
Learn how our spaces and tools support every subject and learning style.
Events
Find out about school events, celebrations and what’s coming up.