School sport
The sports programs at Mount Kuring-Gai Public School (MKPS) are organised by class teachers and our personal development, health and physical education (PDHPE) teacher Mrs Todd. Students participate in a sport session and a physical education (PE) session weekly. During these sessions essential skills for various sports and fitness techniques are taught using our vast array of sporting equipment. Students are encouraged to participate and enjoy these outdoor learning opportunities.
At MKPS we hold three major carnivals each year. Students in Years 3-6 participate in a swimming carnival and students in Kindergarten to Year 6 participate in athletics and cross country carnivals. Successful students from each age group, 8 and above move through to compete at zone level with an opportunity to compete at the Sydney North level if they qualify.
Our students in Years 3 to Year 6 participate in primary school sports association (PSSA) winter sports netball and soccer and play other local schools each Friday in Terms 2 and 3. Training for these sports are either before or after school. Those students not selected for these teams remain at school and have an in-school competition.
Students also have the opportunity to be selected in the boys and girls Sydney North sporting teams. Students from across the northern region including the area from the Sydney harbour to Parramatta and Swansea participate in the selection trials. If successful, students participate in the state carnival North Sydney region.
Band
Our school is extremely lucky to have such a wonderful band. We are also blessed with the honour of having a very gifted band director Ms Narinder Vaccarella. The training band and performance band currently have 10 students. Any interested students may join the training band from Years 3 onwards. Students then progress to the performance and the bands rehearses every Friday morning, for performance band its 7:45am to 8:30am and for training band its 8:30am to 9:15am. The band members must all receive formal musical instruction. The cost involved for performance band is $100 per term and for training band is $90 per term. Musical lessons and instrument purchase or hire is additional.
The band is an integral part of the school and can certainly enrich a child's schooling experience. Our band regularly performs at school assemblies, as well as at special events such as the Berowra Musical.
The band is currently in need of new members. If you are interested in joining the band for some toe tapping fun please contact either Ms Narinder Vaccarella (mkpsband@gmail.com) or Ms Letitia Watson-Ley (letitia.watson-ley@hotmail.com or 0434 107 009).
Garden Club
We have a small enthusiastic group of students who meet each Thursday lunch for Garden Club. In our school garden, students have been busy planting, watering, weeding, harvesting and picking off snails. In our vegie garden we have planted beetroot, lettuce and snow peas. The snow peas and beetroot are growing well, however, we need to keep our gardens protected as the garden is also being enjoyed by our resident bunnies! Our herb garden has been flourishing. We currently have parsley, mint, thyme, oregano, rosemary and some fragrant lavender.
Mrs Wasowski supervisors the garden club and is always looking for extra volunteers to assist her with the gardening.
Art Club
Art Club is a recreational club for visual art lovers. Children attend from years 2 - 6 and meet every Monday in Mrs Slade's classroom. Students are provided with opportunities to enter art competitions and experiment with different media each week. You can see some of the beautiful masterpieces throughout the school.
Choir
The Junior Choir is open to students in years K - 3. The choir meets during the first half of lunch every Tuesday to rehearse. With help from Ms Harvey, the students are taught basic music concepts and how to be a successful member of a choir. The students are given the opportunity to sing in front of an audience, as they perform at school assemblies and special events.
The Senior Choir is open to students in years 4 - 6. The choir meets during lunchtime on Tuesday's to rehearse. With the help of Mrs Slade, they are taught an exhaustive repertoire of songs which they perform at music festivals such as The Hornsby District Music Festival and "Arts Alive" at the Sydney Opera House.
Dance Group
The Dance Group is for students between years 3 - 6. The Dance Group meets with Miss Cameron every Wednesday afternoon between 3.30pm - 4.30pm to rehearse. Auditions are held in Term 1 with performances being held from Term 2 to Term 4. Some of the performances include school assemblies, The Sydney North Public Schools Dance Festival and Hornsby District Music Festival.