Co-Curricular+Policy


 * CO-CURRICULAR POLICY**

 Here at //Society High // we believe that students can learn from being out of the classroom - as well as being in. We have a compulsory extracurricular activity program – students must choose at least one co-curricular interest listed below but not limited to. We believe this is important because it discourages isolation and it provides students with other skills for life beyond //Society High //. This is not applicable to the year twelves.

At //Society// High, we offer a wide range of inter-school sports, including; dance, soccer, netball, basketball, softball, tennis, badminton, volleyball, table tennis, cricket, hockey and football. Students compete against other schools locally, and if competitively successful, will advance further to a zone level and onwards. Inter-school sport is an important part of student life. It allows the students opportunities to interact with other learners outside of their usual environment. Physical education is considered a necessity at //Society High.// It aids students’ learning as physical activity releases endorphins that relaxes students and enhances their ability to concentrate. This is especially important for kinesthetic learners who are often not catered for in other capacities. At Society //High// we place a particular emphasis on dance for both sexes. We offer many different forms including classical, contemporary, ballroom, hip hop and pop. We believe dance is a fantastic outlet for creativity, physical activity, working independently and dependently. We believe that this expansion of creativity can enhance our students’ ability to generate original answers to problem solving in Maths, constructing responses to English and more confident performances in drama.
 * INTER-SCHOOL SPORT**

We have a House System at //Society High.// The four houses are Kozak (magenta), O’Connor (lilac), Skennar (emerald) and Song (sky blue). Participation in house events garners points for a student’s house, whilst rule breaking will result in loss of points. House events include the Swimming Carnival, Athletics Carnival, Trivia Quiz and Talent Quest. The House System is a great way to encourage togetherness and healthy competitiveness amongst students.
 * HOUSE SYSTEM**



We believe it is important to prepare students to become the caretakers and pioneers of our ever-changing democratic society.  One of the ways we do this at //Society High// is our student run Interact Club. The Interact Club works with the local Rotary Club in working with the wider community as well as the school. Within the school, students organize fundraisers, run charity events and work in unison with the Student Representative Council in ensuring all students’ needs are met. Out of the school, the students assist the local Rotary Club with events like the Red Shield Appeal. Interact Club is a great way to encourage and teach our learners to be citizens of the community and eventually, citizens of the world. Working willingly for the benefit of others is always a good characteristic to possess and is especially important today as the world becomes more capitalistic and self-concerning.
 * INTERACT AND ROTARY CLUB**

We provide an extensive overseas program at //Society High//. Students have the opportunity to travel and learn at various affiliated institutions across the globe, with a special focus on China and France. We also offer science based expeditions to Huntsville, Alabama, USA for their interactive space camp. We also have an adventure camp - a seven day trek for year elevens through Nepal . The reason why we provide these opportunities is to encourage independence and creativity and a universal familiarity with the world to create global citizens.
 * INTERNATIONAL TRIPS**

At //Society High// we also have National Trips to aid in familiarizing our learners with all different facets of Australia. The trip to Canberra for year sevens is a fantastic way to teach our students about government and Australian history in an active and visual way. The year nines visit Uluru/Ayers Rock. This provides the perfect opportunity to teach students about Aboriginal history and their impact on the land, as well as allow the students the chance to see one of Australia’s most famous landmarks. Camps are a great way for students to socialize and bond with their peers and also their facilitators. It is a chance for students to learn outside of the classroom, which is always a welcome change.
 * NATIONAL TRIPS**

In order to enhance our students’ understanding of the city they live and learn in, we conduct a City Search for year tens. This involves the students hunting down landmarks, using clues as references. The students always enjoy this day and it improves students’ independent learning abilities. We also have camp for year twelve students. This camp is in Ocean Grove and takes place a week before classes commence. This camp is all about reassurance and preparation for our year twelves, about encouraging trust between student and teacher, and also about fun. Year twelve is generally the year where students become more socially tolerant towards each other, and we believe that this camp can be the catalyst for this shift in maturity.
 * LOCAL TRIPS**

At //Society High// we provide Outdoor Education and also allow students to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh award. Outdoor Education involves traditional camping trips where students learn to survive in the outdoors by gaining skills in first aid, putting up tents, cooking outdoors, etc. The Duke of Edinburgh Award is similar, but it works as a reward system with adventure camps needing to be completed in order to advance. The gaining of these skills is useful for students. There are other benefits too. Students learn independence and confidence by being put out of their comfort zone. They learn to work together as well, solving problems as groups.
 * OUTDOOR EDUCATION/DUKE OF EDINBURGH AWARD**

The Student Representative Council (SRC) is considered crucial to //Society High//. The council is usually made up of thirty to forty students (five or so from each year level) that are elected by their peers. The President and Vice-President are elected from the senior school contingent. The council’s job is to be the voice of the students. This is an important role and can build fantastic leadership, organization and general confidence skills in its members. But it is also beneficial as it is a place for students to go to have their say. Every month, the SRC formulate proposals/pieces for teachers and parents to hear. These may be constructive criticisms, general ideas or perhaps praise. Whatever it is that the students wish to have heard. They also organise several events within the school, such as formals and LOTE week.
 * STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL**

Students at //Society High// frequently engage in activity camps and outdoor adventures. We believe that students that undertake these gain experience in physical, emotional and social challenges. Anderson [1] discusses how it gives students the skills to be “able to reflect on their experiences in the broader context of their lives”, helping them gain character. At //Society High//, we follow this way of thinking and provide a wide range of outdoor and life programs and camps to better our learners.
 * RATIONALE **

The students of //Society High// are encouraged to engage in community service activities. Warner says it is part and parcel of city life. "We try and make things like community service as realistic to living as possible," he says. "I don't necessarily agree with the notion that because people are young people they need to do these things." Hempenstall says it is important to "broaden the horizons of students" in this way. "To actually see one's own community and perhaps aspects of the community such as the elderly can help to round out their perspective," he says. "Students at the Year 9 and 10 level are often very insular, very self absorbed, and activities that can take them outside of that and give them a different perspective can certainly be helpful." Participation in such activities only aides our learners in making them the most worldly and generous people they can be. [2]

The Student Representative Council is a necessity at //Society High//. Giving the students a voice is crucial. Students can often feel that in school, the sharing of their opinions is pointless and can be detrimental to their over all happiness within the school. [3] The creation of the SRC is one solution to that. This not only empowers students and creates confident, well spoken young people; it ensures that all learners have an outlet for any frustrations or problems.

A recent survey undertaken by Mission Australia, found that participation in the creative arts was the second most desired extra-curricular activity, behind sport. [4] At //Society High//, we attempt to provide as many different creative and physical outlets for our learners as possible. It is undeniable that in events such as the Athletics Carnival or the Talent Quest, there is a real opportunity to engage the learners and give them a mode of expression that is not always available in general school life.

[1] Anderson, P. (2008) Challenging experiences: what do students learn?, //International Schools Journal, 28,// p. 55-58 [2] Devai V. What future for pastoral care? [online]. __Education Review__; v.16 n.9 p.8-9; 14 February 2007. Availability: ____ ISSN: 1329-6329. [cited 31 Aug 09]. [3] Hunter, L. & Hearfield, S. (2005) What can we learn by listening to the students? What more can we learn by even deeper engagement? //Australian Journal of Middle Schooling, 5,// p. 25-28 [4] Mask (2008) The arts: making a difference in regional schools, //Drama Victoria, 31,// p. 16-20
 * Footnotes **