Co-Curricular
Our school offers our students a range of co-curricular activities, some of which are delivered by specialised teachers.
Physical education
From rhythmic exercises, pyramid building and tumbling, to organised inter-school sport, our students are well-rounded and challenged through physical activities that helps to build their intellectual and academic focus. Our wide range of programs encourage fair play and teach the value of participation.
We have extensive grounds with space for ball games and boulders for clambering, along with sandpits and play equipment within the natural environment. Our multipurpose playing fields are used for sports such as basketball, soccer, and baseball. Skipping, hopscotch, handball and other traditional games are actively encouraged.
The Alice Springs Steiner School is a proud member of NT Interschool sports program. Our upper primary students’ can try a variety of sports such as cricket, athletics, AFL, netball, basketball, and rugby. They are also able to nominate for selection in the regional teams that can lead to NT representation.
Craft
A great emphasis in Steiner schools is placed on students creating and learning with their hands. Through craft certain qualities can be developed, such as perseverance and determination, concentration, an eye for beauty, colour and design, fine motor skills and particular technical skills.
Handwork lessons are more than a means of promoting dexterity and skill. Handwork is an essential element for the harmonious development of the student. Such work challenges them to grow in direct and powerful ways. Rudolf Steiner was very particular about this. He saw the danger of the modern student losing the skill and confidence of making something “with their own hands” and he observed in traditional cultures a vital ingredient for a healthy education. Through handwork the child’s thinking, feeling and will develop in a healthy way.
Music
Music is an art imbued with power to penetrate the very depth of the souls, imbuing man with the love of virtue – Rudolf Steiner
Every child at our school learns a musical instrument, music is an integral part of the Steiner curriculum; it brings balance to the day. Music is an important form of expression and is integrated into everyday activities at the school as part of greeting, stories, lessons, festivities, and recreational activities. Singing is a part of every day from Billy Button preschool through to Class 6.
Children learn the recorder from class 1 through to class 6. Individual tuition of a stringed instrument – violin, viola or cello and musical notation is taught from class 3 and by class 4 children participate in orchestra work.
From Class 3 onwards all students learn a stringed instrument – violin, viola, or cello. The school offers stringed instrument tuition from an accredited teacher. Orchestral strings do not have frets; therefore, they fine-tune a child’s ear for perfect pitch. After 12-18 months of individual lessons, the children can join an ensemble. There is a choice of two student Orchestras: junior and senior strings group. The senior group performs at community events and functions and hosts a smaller chamber group.
Languages
Languages have always been an important part of the Steiner curriculum. A communicative competence is aimed for throughout the classes. Our school has a strong focus on learning Arrernte, a language that belongs to Arrernte people, the traditional owners of the land and country where our school is based.
Learning a new language enhances literacy skills, improves memory and brain function, helps develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, fosters respect and understanding of other cultures, improves overall performance at school, creates career opportunities and enhances travel experiences. Learning a language in Primary school accelerates brain development. Oral skills are developed easily, and younger children have more time to become proficient in the new language.
Outdoor education
Our outdoor education program builds resilience, strength, and skill so our students are strong in body and mind; able to thrive in the outdoors. We explore our local environments, giving the students an appreciation of the spectacular surrounds of Central Australia. In Class 7 & 8 we travel further afield, engaging in activities such as kayaking, sailing and caving.
The opportunity to camp with classmates away from the creature comforts and the security of home can be a daunting prospect for some students and their parents but learning to rely on one’s own resources and those of peers and teachers is a chance to test oneself against the elements in a safe and supported environment.
Appropriately supervised ‘Rites of Passage’ are disappearing for young people in today’s society, with unfortunate consequences for those reaching adolescence and early adulthood having never been away from home. For our students, learning to be away from home for these short periods prepares the ground for a time in the future where children will feel confident about stepping up to the challenges of life in a healthy way.
An outline of The Alice Springs Steiner School outdoor education program -
- Class 1: Camp at The Alice Springs Steiner School in the Stone Circle for 1 night.
- Class 2: Camp at Simpsons Gap (Rungutirpa) for 1 night.
- Class 3: Camp at Trephina Gorge (Alherrkentye) for 2 nights.
- Class 4: Camp and trek at Hamilton Downs for 3 nights.
- Class 5: Camp and trek the Larapinta Trail for 3 nights.
- Class 6: Camp and trek at Uluru and Kata Tjuta for 4 nights.
- Class 7: Sailing in Darwin with Milkwood Steiner School for 4 nights
- Class 8: Walking with camels in Rainbow valley (Wurre) for 4 nights