Co-Curricular and Camps
Chinese
Chinese language learning at the Preparatory School is based
upon the use of stories and music. Specifically designed stories
that are written in the form of plays become the focus for
a range of motivating language activities that help students
develop confidence and competence in the language as they
progress through each story unit.
This approach allows language development to be supported and
nurtured within the familiar, predictable context of a story that is
the focus for the unit’s work. Music is integrated with the story,
and in each unit of this program, students will learn to perform a
play and a dance to accompany that play.
Art Studies
Students from Years 1 to 6 have three sessions per fortnight
in our specially designed Art Room/Studio area. Children in
Kindergarten and Pre-Primary have art/craft taught as part of
their developmentally appropriate program.
Activities are geared to the developmental level of each year
group and include all studio areas such as drawing, painting,
collage, a variety of printmaking techniques including lino prints,
3D construction, painting on textiles and many other art activities
related to a variety of themes. The School has its own kiln and all
classes are exposed to working with clay.
At the completion of each year, two prizes are awarded to
outstanding students; the Junior Hamilton Prize for Art and the
Junior Hamilton Prize for Craft.
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The vocabulary has been carefully selected, and deemed as
essential for students during the initial stages of their language
learning. Another component of this program is the Gesture
Approach, a technique that uses hand signs to help students
learn and remember this important vocabulary found in the plays,
songs and other activities. There is an equal, strong emphasis
on the development of all four language skills (reading, writing,
listening and speaking) through a program that meets the needs
of all language learners and their learning styles. Activities are
varied, so that students have the opportunity to work individually,
in partners, in small groups, and as a whole class.