Enrichment and Extra-curricular Opportunities

CAPA Ensembles

• String Ensemble is open to students in Years 7-12. String Ensemble enables students to join a community of talented musicians. Students can make new friends, play music together and engage in peer tutoring. The String ensemble also allows students to develop team skills, listening skills, intonation, and rhythm. Students will have the opportunity to participate in: Pulse Showcase of Excellence.

• Beginner String Ensemble is open to all students who wish to begin learning a string instrument. The String ensemble also allows students to develop team skills, listening skills, intonation, and rhythm. Students will have the opportunity to participate in: Pulse Showcase of Excellence. Once students have reached a certain point they will be moved into the String Ensemble.

• Visual Arts Ensemble is open to students in Years 7-12. Visual Arts Intensive enables students to develop their artistic and creative skills, and experiment with new mediums. Students will have the opportunity to participate in: the Nagoya Art Exchange, Operation Art, Young Archie Competition and Woof Art Prize.

• Junior and Senior Contemporary Ensembles are open to students from Years 7 - 12. The Junior Ensembles focuses on students in years 7 - 8 who have not worked in a small ensemble previously. Whereas the Senior Contemporary Ensemble is an auditioned ensemble that engages in rigorous and challenging repertoire. Students in these ensembles will have the opportunity to perform at a range of internal and external events throughout the year, including: the Penrith Valley Performing Arts Festival, Penrith in Performance, Carols in the Garden, Year Assemblies, Recognition Assemblies.

• Concert Band is open to students in Years 7-12. Concert Band is focused on extending students in their chosen musical instrument. The Penrith Selective High School Concert Band has grown exceptionally in size and talent. With the increase in band members, we have also seen a variety of new instruments. These include a bass clarinet, French horn, and percussion (including the congas). Students will have the opportunity to participate in: Penrith Eisteddfod.

• Choir Ensemble is open to students in Years 7-12. Choir is focused on extending students in singing. Choir improves mood, decreases stress levels, depression and anxiety. Singing in a group provides students with a sense of belonging to our school community. Students will have the opportunity to participate in: In-Concert, Pulse Showcase of Excellence in the Arts, Penrith Anzac Day Ceremony and Schools Spectacular.

• Drama Ensemble Enrichment is open to students in Years 7-12. The Drama Ensemble Enrichment Program is focused on extending and challenging students in the Creating and Performing Arts.  Drama promotes communication skills, teamwork, dialogue, negotiation, socialisation and critical thinking. It stimulates the imagination and creativity. Through intensive focused rehearsals, students will have the opportunity to participate in: LightsUP Drama Festival and the Penrith Valley Performing Arts Festival.

• Dance Ensemble is open to students in Years 7 to Years 11. Dance provides students with the opportunity to express themselves through a variety of genres and styles through either individual or group work. Students can also develop skills in choreography. There are opportunities to enter external competitions throughout the year.

• Competitive Dance Ensemble at Penrith Selective High School is an auditioned ensemble that aims to provide students with more challenging choreography and allows students to participate in a broader range of performance opportunities. Students train and rehearse dance works during scheduled weekly rehearsals which are then auditioned and showcased at various events throughout the year. Our highly experienced dance tutor will choreograph, teach and prepare a work with the students that is technically and stylistically appropriate to the ensemble.

  Students will have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of internal and external performances including Penrith in Performance, Synergy Dance Festival, Penrith Valley Performing Arts Festival and selected eisteddfods at the discretion of our Dance Tutor.

Sport Enrichment

• Basketball Enrichment is offered to all age groups. This program trains student athletes, using the game of basketball to build: Confidence, resilience, equality and respect, time management skills and the ability to work effectively in a team. We offer a weekly training session with external coaches provided by Venoa, a private basketball coaching program who train local talent from beginners to NBL players - the highest professional league in Australia. These sessions are offer 3 times a week is open to students in Years 7-12.
• Cricket Enrichment is offered to all age groups, beginner to advanced. The program provides coaching sessions by a NSW Representative Cricketer. These coaching sessions offer extensive skill development and increase student practical exposure to the game. These sessions are offered once a week.
• Volleyball Enrichment is offered to all age’s groups. This program provides character building skills, including leadership, teamwork and communication. All volleyball sessions are coached by a qualified state representative player. These sessions are offered once a week.
• Tennis Enrichment is offered to all age groups and skill levels. The school is very fortunate to have a Certified Professional Tennis Coach, Christopher Forwood, on staff to run this excellent program. Mr Forwood has been the head coach and owner of Topform Tennis since 1995. He has been coaching beginners through to high performance players, competing at local and national levels. The sessions consist of skill development and increase an aerobic capability. These sessions are offered once a week.
• Soccer and Futsal Enrichment is offered to all age groups. This program is coached by ex-professional international footballer, Gary McGinnis. Mr McGinnis began his professional career in his native country of Scotland. As an ex-Scotland Under 21 International player, he has also had some outstanding experiences at Glasgow Celtic, Dundee United and Captain of St. Johnstone before playing and coaching in Hong Kong and Australia. Gary McGinnis would like to share his knowledge and experience with our next generation of young players at our school. Sessions will consist of: fun activities to improve the skills of each student,  Technical skills in passing, controlling, shooting, goalkeeping, defending and attacking and Developing fundamental skills as well as specialised and manipulative movement skills. These sessions are offered weekly.
• Rowing Enrichment is also available. Students at Penrith Selective High School are offered the chance to participate in a Rowing program conducted by Nepean Rowing Club. A number of students enjoy this activity. It is not operated or supervised by school staff and enquiries should be directed to the Nepean Rowing Club Captain, Daniel Waddell for information and training details on info@thenepeanrowers.com

Duke of Edinburgh Program

The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award - Australia  is an internationally recognised, development program for Australians aged 14 to 24. It equips young people with opportunities explore their full potential and find their purpose, passion and place in the world.

Within the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, participants design their own unique program that challenges them to set and meet goals while forging qualities of strength, resolve and commitment.

For the Award to be achieved, each young person must learn a skill, improve their physical well being, volunteer in their community and experience a team adventure in a new environment.

Achieving an Award recognises individual goal setting and self-improvement through persistence and achievement.​Through participation in this Award, students develop problem solving skills and teamwork, while building resilience and their personal leadership capacity.

For details about the school’s extensive Duke of Edinburgh program, please contact the school.

Other Enrichment Programs

• Debating Enrichment is open to students in Years 7 to 10. This program is run by our alumni. This program encourages student to extend themselves by refining their ability to think rigorously and critically, considering ethical and philosophical ideas. Opportunities include: The Penrith Selective High School Debating Enrichment Program as well as external debating competitions such as The Premier's Debating Challenge, University Debate, Combined High Schools debating team. These sessions are offered weekly.
• Python Coding Enrichment is led by UNSW students for students in Year 7 – 11. This extra-curricular opportunity will provide students with valuable computational thinking and problem-solving skills via a range of challenging coding problems. Three programs are offered for each individual level including beginners, intermediate and advanced. This session is offered once a week.
• Web Development Enrichment is led by UNSW students for students in Year 7 – 11. Students will take a very practical approach to learning Web Development by applying their knowledge to create a personalised and interactive website/blog. Three programs are offered for each individual level including beginners, intermediate and advanced.
• Euler Mathematics Enrichment is open to Year 8 students. Euler “is a series of challenging mathematical/computer programming problems that will require more than just mathematical insights to solve. Although mathematics will help you arrive at elegant and efficient methods, the use of a computer and programming skills will be required to solve most problems.” Euler provides “a platform for the inquiring mind to delve into unfamiliar areas and learn new concepts in a fun and recreational context.” These sessions are offered weekly during Terms 1, 2 & 3.
• Gauss Mathematics Enrichment is open to Year 9 students. “GAUSS, with its interactive programming platform, results in students who are better equipped to explain the theory behind their work, developing and strengthening their analytical skills for future projects. GAUSS provides students and researchers with the high-end analytical tools needed to solve the complex problems they’ll face in both academic and professional careers.” These sessions are offered weekly during Terms 1,2 & 3.
• Noether Mathematics Enrichment is open to Year 10. “The students are involved in a wide range of significant mathematical problem-solving activities.  Each activity is explored to sufficient depth for students to appreciate the solution strategy involved and the process by which it is obtained. The program aims to develop the mathematics problem solving skills of the students.  It also aims to develop the students’ skills in the logical and effective presentation of solutions, and, of course, to increase the students’ knowledge of mathematics.  There is a consistent emphasis on systematic approaches to problem solving”. These sessions are offered weekly during Terms 1,2 & 3.
• Maths Olympiad Enrichment is open to students in Years 8-12. The aim of this program is to teach major strategies and develop flexibility for higher order thinking problem solving. Maths Olympiad fosters creativity, ingenuity and strengthens intuition. This program is ideal for those who have a talent for mathematics. Maths Olympiad stimulates enthusiasm and enjoyment of mathematics.

Enrichment Tutoring

• Woodwind Tutoring is open to students in Years 7-12 at all stages of learning. Woodwind Tutoring is focused on extending students in in their study of the instrument. Students will have access to a highly qualified private tutor who will personalise a program for them.
• Vocal Tutoring is open to students in Years 7-12 at all stages of learning. Vocal Tutoring is focused on extending students in singing. Students will have access to a highly qualified private tutor who will personalise a program for them.
• Piano Tutoring is open to students in Years 7-12 at all stages of learning. Piano Tutoring is focused on extending students in their study of the instrument as well as preparing students for their external exams. Students will have access to a highly qualified private tutor who will personalise a program for them at the level required.
• Guitar Tutoring is open to students in Years 7-12 at the beginning or intermediate stages of learning. Guitar Tutoring is focused on extending students in their study of the instrument. Students will have access to a highly qualified private tutor who will personalise a program for them at the level required.
• Drumming Tutoring is open to students in Year 7-12. The tutor will guide students through the art of percussion, providing instruction on how to play various kinds of drums. This tutor is highly qualified and offer personalised programs for students.
• Speech and Drama Tutoring is open to students in Years 7-12. Speech & Drama tutoring is focused on extending students acting and speech skills. Students have access to a highly qualified private tutor who will personalise a program for them.

Academic Competitions

• The Computational and Algorithmic Thinking (CAT) competition is a one-hour problem-solving competition designed to encourage student curiosity and promote multiple modes of thinking. Build on the important mathematical concepts established in the Junior Division. Consolidate strategies and develop greater flexibility for problem solving. Foster creativity and ingenuity and strengthen intuition. Stimulate enthusiasm and enjoyment of mathematics. Provide an opportunity to compete against other schools and terms.
• The AIO is suitable for an IT class that has learnt some computer programming, 3-hour contest. Students write short computer programs to solve six problems that vary in difficulty. The competition does not test computer literacy or knowledge but is focused on problem solving through programming skills.
• The Australian Maths Competition is a 75-minute task made up of m/choice and and problems. It is designed to strengthen their problem-solving abilities and foster creativity and competition. The competition consolidates strategies and develops greater flexibility for problem solving. This competition is compulsory for Year 7 – 10 and non-compulsory for Years 11 – 12.
• The Australian Maths Competition is a four-hour contest is designed to stretch talented students. It is suited to Years 7 – 10 level and particularly for those who: - have completed Maths Enrichment (Gauss and Euler level), - are high achievers in the Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC). The AIMO gives talented students an opportunity to be recognised and to participate in activities which will enhance their enjoyment and knowledge of mathematics. This competition is non- compulsory for Year 7 – 10.