Co-Curricular - Junior Sport Stage 3

This week marks the halfway point in the term. There has been so much on, that if you blinked you may have missed it, and there is still so much more to come. I hope that all our boys are settling into their summer teams and starting to gel and make headway with their development. There have been many pleasing results over the first two weeks of the season, and I look forward to many more.

Often, in the co-curricular space, all things sport dominates the discussion. However, it would be remiss not to acknowledge the cultural pursuits also available to the boys in these conversations. There are many opportunities available to our students, however they are not being taken up at the same rate as sport. This is partly due to cultural pursuits not always being afforded the same airtime as other activities. The benefits of participation in cultural activities are extensive and, notably, many of the College’s highest academic performers have been actively involved in both sporting and cultural pursuits.

The Benefits of Cultural Co-Curricular Activities for Students

Cultural co-curricular activities like debating, justice groups, choir and music give students opportunities to learn in ways that complement classroom lessons. Research involving Australian students shows that when young people take part in structured activities outside the formal school curriculum, they are more likely to feel connected to their school community and engaged in learning overall. For example, a long-running study by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) found that participating in activities such as music, drama, debating, and community work promotes a sense of belonging at school—a feeling that supports engagement with academic subjects. 

Participation in these activities also supports students’ social behaviour and wellbeing. National research tracking nearly 4,000 Australian adolescents showed positive associations between extracurricular involvement and young people’s mental health, peer relationships and exposure to less risky peer behaviour. Though the direct effects on academic achievement in this particular study were small, involvement in the arts was linked with better peer group characteristics and social functioning. 

Cultural activities like debating and justice groups help build essential communication and critical thinking skills. Debating encourages students to analyse ideas, form arguments, and speak confidently in front of others—skills that transfer directly to classroom discussions and written assessments. Working in justice groups fosters empathy, civic awareness and leadership, all of which contribute to positive social behaviour and teamwork. While specific Australian figures vary by activity, educators often report improvements in cooperation, collaboration and responsibility among regular participants. 

Engagement in choir and music has unique benefits too. Research within Australian education settings highlights that music can enhance social inclusion and personal expression, as well as strengthen vocabulary and comprehension through active participation in lyrics and performance. These social-emotional benefits contribute to confidence, persistence and communication skills, which in turn can support overall school performance. 

Finally, co-curricular involvement helps students build time management and organisational skills. Balancing rehearsals, meetings or events with schoolwork teaches planning and prioritisation—skills that are valuable for study habits and academic progress. This combination of social, emotional and cognitive development helps students become more engaged, motivated learners both inside and outside the classroom. 

I would strongly encourage all the Junior School boys to explore these cultural activities and get involved. The benefits to learning, the chance to meet new friends and the new experience that await are all positive outcome to development. If you would like to join the choir, Junior School Justice Group or any other cultural activity, please come and see me in my office. I would love to hear from you.

Winter Sport Preparation

With the approach of winter sport, it is time to start thinking and planning for the beginning of the season. One such area is mouthguards for the boys playing contact sports, namely Rugby and AFL. Each year Michael Iannellio, SPC Old Boy, visits the College to fit mouthguards for the boys. Please see below for expressions of interest, times and costs. The boys have spoken highly of these mouthguards in the past, saying they are comfortable, fit well and most importantly protect their teeth well. 

For Expressions of Interest, please fill in the Shield Mouthguards Form. 

There is also some information about the Rugby Raffle available in the Senior Sport section of this newsletter. The raffle will support our touring squads on their visit to New Zealand. 

Good luck to all our teams this weekend.

John Locke

Head of Co-curricular Stage 3