At Covenant Christian School, we see all programs outside of the main curriculum as co-curricular activities. They're not just extra bits; they actually work hand-in-hand with what students learn in the classroom, strengthening their learning through out-of-class experiences.
Here's the lowdown on the two:
Co-curricular Activities
These are generally held before or after school, though some might happen during school hours. Participation is optional, and usually, there's a payment involved for the program. We offer a broad range of opportunities across different categories, aiming to help students explore God's creation beyond the syllabus and discover new skills and passions.
Some of our co-curricular offerings include:
• Sports Academy: This is an inclusive, after-school skills development program for students from Kindergarten to Year 12. The sports on offer vary depending on the child's age and the season, but they can include things like Basketball, OzTag, Soccer, Netball, Multisport, AFL, Athletics, Touch Football, Taekwondo, and Volleyball.
• Dance Academy: An after-school program where students can express their faith and creativity through dance and drama. We focus on glorifying God using age-appropriate music, choreography, and costuming. Styles include Jazz, Ballet, Hip Hop, Drama & Musical Theatre, Lyrical, Tap, Christian Lyrical, K-pop, Dance Fitness, Senior Pointe, and Limber and Stretch. Students with high dance technique can even audition for eisteddfod troupes that perform at events and school assemblies.
• Music: Our music programs offer Choir, Concert Band, String Ensemble, Guitar Ensemble, Vocal Ensemble, Senior Orchestra, Senior Band, and even weekend workshops. Music tours also provide fantastic opportunities for students to perform and share their musical gifts.
• Academics: These programs are designed to extend and enrich students, helping them build critical thinking and analysis skills. Examples include Homework Help (Academic Tutor), Chess Club, and STEM Club (which includes Coding). For our secondary students, we also have a Debating Club and Small Group Tutoring in Maths, English, and Science.
• Additional Opportunities:
◦ Duke of Edinburgh International Award: This is offered to students in Years 9 to 11 and encourages personal discovery, growth, independence, perseverance, responsibility, and community service through voluntary activities.
◦ Leadership opportunities: These include our Mustard Leaders, which is a weekly lunchtime Bible Study group for Years 7-10 led by senior students. Mission trips to places like Cairns and Japan also provide unique leadership and faith development experiences.
◦ Service Learning: Programs like the "Micah Project" involve students serving the community, such as engaging with elderly people in nursing homes. This helps them develop relational skills and broader perspectives.
Extension and Enrichment - Extracurricular Activities
At Covenant, what some might call "extracurricular" activities are often referred to as "extension and enrichment" programs. These programs particularly focus on additional learning opportunities, and some of them may even occur during school hours. A great example of this is our Future Problem Solving program, which really helps students grow in critical thinking skills and gives them the chance to participate in competitions.
Key Differences and Purpose: While both types of activities offer fantastic learning opportunities beyond the standard curriculum, the main difference lies in their primary focus and how they fit into the school day. Co-curricular activities are broader, covering sports, arts, and clubs, and typically happen outside of regular school hours. Extension and enrichment programs (extracurricular) are more geared towards academic growth and advanced learning, and sometimes these activities can take place during school hours.
These activities are absolutely vital for a student's personal development, character, and overall well-being because they:
• Provide opportunities to explore God's creation in ways not covered by the syllabus.
• Allow students to discover new skills and passions and develop their God-given gifts.
• Help students grow in communication and teamwork skills.
• Enable them to face challenges, learn from adversity, and develop problem-solving abilities, whether from success or failure.
• Instill character traits like good sportsmanship, resilience, humility, patience, and generosity. This is especially important as all our coaches and staff are Christians and are trained to teach in a Christian manner.
• Ultimately, help develop well-rounded, Christ-centered students who are equipped to serve others in various capacities.
For our senior secondary students (Years 11 and 12), engaging in these activities can also really strengthen their profiles for university applications and future careers. It shows a willingness to step out of their comfort zone and demonstrates teamwork, collaboration, and leadership skills. We even facilitate pathways for high-achieving sports students to help them balance elite competition with their schoolwork.
