Interschool sport

Our school is proudly linked to the Castle Hill Primary School Sports Association (PSSA). The PSSA runs a competitive Friday sports program throughout both the summer and winter months. The summer competition is split into two sections- Term 1 and Term 4. Students selected in teams must commit to both ends of the competition. The winter competition runs from the end of Term 1 through Terms 2 and 3.

Sports on offer

Summer sports	junior and senior cricket junior and senior girls and boys touch football senior boys and girls softball junior girls and boys T-Ball girls and boys basketball
Winter sports	junior and senior girls and boys soccer junior and senior netball junior and senior newcombe ball junior and senior AFL

All students in Years 3 to 6 are eligible to try out for selection in these sporting teams. Students who are turning 10 or under in the year in question are eligible for the junior teams whilst students who are turning 11 or 12 are eligible for the senior teams.

Note to parents and students of those entering Year 3: It is very challenging for Year 3 students to make these representative teams. They are competing against students in Year 4 as well as those students in Year 5 turning 10.

Trials for these teams are conducted in the weeks preceding the start of the competition. Students are informed of the trials by the organising teacher at the morning assembly. Students are expected to show responsibility by listening to the trial messages and attending trials if they wish to be considered for selection.

Teachers who nominate to coach a team are the selectors and consider a number of factors when selecting teams. These may include ability, attitude, behaviour and commitment. Students who are unsuccessful in gaining selection are to be commended for their efforts and will benefit from the rounded sports program offered back at school.

Music

As a part of the school's release of face to face program, every child at North Rocks Public School attends music lessons over the year taught by a specialist music teacher.

Music is explored at school by focusing on 5 ways of producing sound.

• pitch (how high or low)
• tempo (how fast or slow)
• dynamics (how loud or soft)
• duration (how long or short)
• tone colour (how different)

During the year, these musical concepts will be taught through fun games, with the emphasis on participation and enjoyment. All children will be allowed the opportunity to play a variety of untuned and tuned musical percussion instruments.

Our music room is equipped with a piano, organ, keyboard, autoharp and a guitar, which all students are encouraged to explore. We also have many and varied instruments which are played regularly as part of each lesson. These instruments range from the more commonly known untuned instruments such as triangles, tambourines and castanets, to the not so well known instruments such as guiros, vibraslaps and cabasas. Commonly known tuned instruments played regularly include boomwackers, chime bars and glockenspiels. We also have a number of metallophones and xylophones for the students to play.

Choirs

Students who are interested in joining the 3-6 choir are to audition at the beginning of the year or notify the choir coordinators if they are mid-year enrolments. If students are successful with their audition they will have the chance to join the school choir, which performs at many important school assemblies and ceremonies throughout the year.

All K-2 students are welcome to participate in the K-2 Choir.

Other performance opportunities include:

• North Rocks Public School Symphonic showcase
• Anzac Day ceremony
• K-Mart Wishing Tree launch
• NRPS assemblies and events
• The Primary Proms festival
• Festival of Choral Music

Joining any of the choirs requires a commitment to attend all rehearsals and to learn the repertoire required. Students who have been part of North Rocks Public School choirs in the past have cherished the experience. Choir students gain a unique knowledge of performance techniques along with a sense of pride as they represent their school.

Debating

Our school debating teams participate in various competitions including the Premier's Debating Challenge.

Drama

Teaching Services Australia

Band members enjoy playing exciting and challenging music representing a wide range of styles. Gaining confidence in performance is an essential part of the learning. The band program aims to foster a love and understanding of music, develop skills in ensemble playing and reading music notation, and facilitates the building of friendships with other musicians from a broad cross-section of the school and community. The many performance opportunities available ensure that students are able to perform to a very high standard each year.

Instruments

There are a range of instruments to choose from in the band, including:

• trumpet
• saxophone,
• flute
• clarinet
• trombone
• bass guitar
• drum
• percussion
• french horn
• keyboard
• euphonium.

Students pay purchase or hire instruments. A second hand instrument register is also available. Advice on instrument selection is given prior to starting in the band.

What are the benefits of learning an instrument and being in a band?

There are many benefits to children when they join band.

Some benefits include:

• helping develop social and life skills such as cooperation, patience and tolerance, and provides the opportunity to make new friends with a common interest
• increasing self-esteem and confidence as they master a new skill
• performing as a group, the children can earn the recognition and respect of their peers,and they can do it in the relative safety of the group rather than having to do it on their own
• helping develop motor coordination
• providing the opportunity to learn another language that transcends culture, age, race and socio-economic status, which they can take with them and use through life
• fostering a creative and expressive outlet which can enhance emotional development
• providing them and you with proof that they can make a commitment and follow through with it.