Cocurricular Opportunities
Our Years 3 to 6 students enjoy an extensive range of cocurricular opportunities and experiences which encourages them to pursue their passions and showcase their talents. We are committed to inspiring self-assured, tenacious and mindful young women who embrace opportunities, discover their voice and strive for personal excellence.
Clubs and Activities
We pride ourselves on offering a diverse range of cocurricular clubs and activities that foster the holistic development of our students. Many of the clubs are led by our dedicated teachers, who are deeply invested in nurturing our students’ talents and passions. Additionally, we collaborate with trusted external companies to offer specialised programs, ensuring a well-rounded experience that encourages skill-building and personal growth beyond the classroom.
Arts and Crafts
This club provides a relaxed and creative space for our Years 5 and 6 students to explore different types of arts and crafts activities. While the students experiment with a variety of art forms, this elective is more craft-focused than the students’ regular art lessons. The girls learn skills and techniques such as jewellery making, textiles, sewing, journalling and card making, resin and marbling.
Chess Club
This club is run informally in the Macdonald Library during lunchtimes. Students can learn how to play chess or challenge their peers in games.
Code Camp
Code Camp, which is held at school during the holidays, provides our students with an opportunity to develop their coding skills.
Debating Club
This upper-primary club is focused on nurturing critical thinkers, articulate communicators and confident young leaders. It helps students to fine tune their persuasive techniques and structure informed and convincing arguments. At the end of the term, club members participate in a debating showcase to demonstrate their newfound skills.
Drama Club
Coordinated by Expression Drama Studio, this club helps students develop their dramatic and communication skills.
Happy Mandarin
This club helps students gradually master the basic application of Mandarin in a relaxed and supportive learning environment.
Ignite Award
The Ignite Award is a challenging program of discovery for students in Years 4 to 6. The program provides a framework to learn valuable skills, be physically active, assist others in the community and experience adventures. It is a great tool for young people preparing to transition into secondary school and fosters positive self-development and leadership skills.
Public Speaking Training and Oracy Assessment Program
This program teaches students how to use their voice to its full potential for clear, effective and engaging communication.
Academic Programs
Our teachers also offer a variety of academic clubs throughout the year:
- Homework Club
- Maths Skill Development
- Reading Buddies
Music
Music is an integral part of daily life at St Mary’s, therefore we encourage our Years 3 to 6 students to participate in various cocurricular music programs. Through these opportunities, students develop musical talents and essential life skills such as teamwork and discipline while experiencing the transformative power of music in enhancing emotional wellbeing. Our aim is to instil a lifelong love for music in our students, ensuring they benefit from its joy and enriching experiences.
Our students can learn the following instruments from one of more than 30 specialist peripatetic music teachers:
Strings: Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass
Woodwind: Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Saxophone
Brass: Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Baritone Horn, Euphonium, Tuba
Other: Piano (classical, jazz, contemporary), Guitar, Bass Guitar, Percussion, Drums, Music Theory, Voice and Composition.
CHOIRS
- Years 5 and 6: Nightingales and Skylarks
- Years 3 and 4 (non-auditioned): Hummingbirds
STRINGS
- Giocoso Group: For students who have begun learning a string instrument.
- Academy Strings: For students who have been learning a string instrument.
- Chamber Strings: This invitation-only ensemble is for advanced string musicians.
BANDS
- Junior Concert Band: For all Year 6 students who play a band instrument.
- Junior Jazz Band: For advanced Year 6 jazz instrument musicians.
Sport
Providing an inclusive and dynamic cocurricular sport program that caters to our students’ interests and abilities is a top priority at St Mary’s. Our commitment extends beyond mere competition; it’s about fostering holistic growth. Through a blend of competitive and non-competitive settings, we aim to cultivate skills that transcend the field and nurture resilience, teamwork and leadership. By engaging in sports, our students not only stay active but also learn invaluable life lessons, including perseverance and sportsmanship.
Interhouse Sport
Swimming
We host two annual Interhouse Swimming Carnivals, a Years 1 to 3 Carnival and Years 4 to 6 Carnival. All students are trialled, ranked and entered into events that are suited to their level of swimming.
Cross Country
All students from Years 3 to 6 are expected to participate in our Interhouse Cross Country event. Girls in Years 5 and 6 can choose to run a long or short course.
Athletics
Field events are taught and recorded in Physical Education lessons and contribute to Interhouse Athletics Carnival results.
The official Interhouse Athletics Carnival day features track events and team games. In the lead up to the carnival, all students are trialled, ranked and entered into events that are suited to their ability.
Interschool competitions
St Mary’s is affiliated with the Junior Independent Girls’ Schools Sporting Association (JIGSSA) of WA, which facilitates a variety of sporting competitions throughout the year. The emphasis of JIGSSA’s competitions is participation and friendly competition.
Term 1
- Years 4 to 6 Swimming Carnival (whole cohort participation carnival with no pennants)
- Invitational Pennant Carnival for Years 4 to 6 students (selected team members only)
- Summer Games fixtures for Year 6 students (AFL, Cricket, Tee Ball and Water Polo)
- Year 4 Summer Games event (Cricket, Golf, Hockey, Rugby, Spike Zone, Tennis)
Term 2
- Winter Games fixtures for Year 6 (Basketball, Hockey, Netball, Soccer)
- Years 3 to 6 Winter Games event (AFL, Soccer, Netball, Basketball)
Term 3
- Years 3 to 6 Cross Country Carnival
Term 4
- Years 4 to 6 Athletics Carnival (all students, participation carnival with no pennants)
- Years 3 and 5 Summer Games events (Cricket, Golf, Hockey, Rugby, Spike Zone, Tennis)
Recreational Sport
Learn to Surf
We make the most of St Mary’s proximity to Trigg Beach by offering before-school surfing lessons to our Year 6 students in Terms 1 and 4. This program develops the girls’ fundamental surf skills and water safety. Wetsuits and surfboards are provided, as is transport to and from school.
Active for Life
This program is designed to help Pre-primary to Year 2 students develop their fundamental movement skills by participating in circuit, movement and dance activities.
Kidz’nSport
Keeping children active and healthy is important. Kidz’nSport offers a year-long program for our
Pre-primary to Year 4 students that focuses on the development of skills, fitness and self-confidence.
ACRO
An outside agency offers this program which gives students the skills to build their strength, flexibility and fitness in a fun, encouraging and non-competitive environment.
Redhage Basketball
This Term 2 program teaches children the fundamental skills required to play basketball in a fun and supportive setting.
Community Clubs
We are delighted to support several sports clubs that benefit our students and others in our local community.
St Mary’s Swim School offers a comprehensive Learn to Swim program for 5- to 16-year-olds in our heated outdoor 50 metre pool.
North Coast Swim Club provides competitive training for girls and boys, and adult fitness sessions. Expert coaches provide tailored programs for individuals. The club is affiliated with Swimming WA.
St Mary’s Netball Club competes in the Perth Netball Association’s winter competition. The club fields junior and senior teams. Teams are graded by external graders.
