Co-Curricula

Cathedral School has an amazing Instrumental Music Programme comprising of three main bands. Along with our Stage Band this gives us four bands in our School which cater for a broad range of musical skills.

Training Band

This band is for students with NO musical experience, and is the starting point for beginner students. Most students start their band journey here in Year 3.

Transition Band

Students generally progress to this band after a year of playing or when they demonstrate the desired level of capability.

Performance Band

The students in the Performance Band are invited to join this band after demonstrating advanced skills and strong commitment to the band programme.

Stage Band

This is a jazz ensemble that provides performance opportunities for the most experienced Brass, Woodwind and Percussion students from our Concert Band programme.

Benefits of Participation in the Instrumental Music Programme

Being part of a band is a wonderful opportunity for all children. No prior musical experience is needed to join the Training band, which is our entry level band. During their time in the band your child will learn to play an instrument, read music and work together with their friends to produce wonderfully energetic, exciting and melodic sounds.

The many skills they learn (such as increased concentration and self-discipline) carry over into other parts of their learning and lives. Most importantly, they have lots of fun!

Playing in a band can contribute to a students’ non-musical development in many ways. These may include:

• Increased maturity and self discipline
• Increased concentration and focus
• Leadership skills
• Opportunity to represent their school
• Collaboration, Communication and Creativity skills

Students usually access the Instrumental Programme at the end of Year Two.

Sport and physical education are a valued and accepted part of a school’s curriculum because they contribute to the development of the whole child. They provide opportunities for a number of social, physical and emotional learnings and they are an important expression of our culture.

Sport is part of the PD/Health/PE Key Learning Area at Cathedral School. It is regarded as an integral part of the school’s total curriculum.

Participation, enjoyment and skill development of all students are essential features of school sport.

Sport provides opportunities for students to gain confidence and to develop a variety of skills for participation in lifelong recreation and sporting activities.

Sport, including the competitive element, is potentially valuable as a medium for social and psychological development – i.e. development of such positive traits as co-operation, ability to persist in the pursuit of long-term goals, respect for others, self-esteem and self-discipline, leadership attributes and ability to handle success and failure.

School Carnivals and Representative Pathways

Students in Years 3-6 (and possibly some older Year Two students) participate in the school swimming, athletics and cross country carnivals and if selected in the school team, have the opportunity to progress to the Eastern Region, Diocesan, Polding & State carnivals.

Cathedral School values involvement in the NSW CPS Polding Sports Council Program. Through this Program opportunities exist for students and staff in various roles. The program includes:

• Annual swimming selection trials.
• Annual athletics selection trials.
• Annual cross country selection trials.

Students in Years 5 & 6 also have the opportunity to be nominated in Diocesan Selection Teams in a variety of Sports throughout the year. This provides a pathway to State and National Competitions.

• Annual winter sports selection trials (Hockey, Netball, Rugby League, Rugby Union and Soccer).
• Annual summer selection trials (Cricket, Softball, Tennis and Touch Football).

Musica Viva visits Cathedral Primary twice a year, bringing the best nationally and internationally acclaimed performers direct to our school: interactive, dynamic and culturally diverse groups that perform a wide variety of musical styles.

Musica Viva is a highly interactive, live performance and is complemented by high quality educational resources used in music lessons.