|
Music
The cultural development of each girl is highly valued at Ascham. The girls have many opportunities to enrich their lives through the school’s extra-curricular program, both by participation in performances and by excursions to professional performances of opera, ballet, chamber music and concerts.
The dedication, skills and energy of the school’s extra-curricular staff provide the girls with outstanding creative and artistic opportunities. The music program includes instrumental and voice tuition, specialist workshops, tours and a multitude of ensembles, visiting directors, excursions, music camps and concerts. The girls may join the school orchestra, jazz band, guitar orchestra, wind ensemble, string group, percussion group, flute and clarinet choir and madrigal. Early evening recitals and lunchtime concerts provide regular opportunities throughout the year to perform and to attend.
Drama
Ascham has an outstanding Drama department offering students opportunities to participate and perform in the school’s theatrical productions. The fully-equipped Packer Theatre with its revolving stage provides a magnificent venue for major productions, many of which are performed with students from other schools. Smaller drama rooms are used for intimate productions. Ascham regularly invites guests from other parts of Australia and abroad to direct school performances. The school has an extensive program of attending theatre performances and participating in interschool drama competitions and other events.
Extra-curricular clubs and activities
In addition to providing the advantages of a thorough academic education, Ascham also encourages all girls to develop new and challenging interests in a wide and ever-expanding range of extra-curricular areas. Girls can join a variety of clubs: debating and public speaking, art, photography, film, current affairs, drama, surfing, social justice and environment, dance, sailing, Shakespeare and theatre sports. Students produce their own newspaper, and participate in chess competitions and maths enrichment which can include Olympiad competitions.
A number of other extra-curricular competitions include Tournament of the Minds, public speaking, debating and Future Problem Solvers competitions.
Excursions and tours
Throughout the year, Ascham offers many excursions which are tailored to extend classroom learning in many academic and extra-curricular areas. Most are day outings for a variety of subjects including Ancient History, Geography, Biology, Art, Drama and Music. Longer excursions for several days include the annual music camps.
Senior School students can participate in outstanding overseas study tours organised by the school. These include art tours of New York, ancient history tours of Europe, language and music tours to many countries, and community volunteer tours, such as to two schools in Cambodia built from funds raised by the Ascham community.
Overseas exchange program
Ascham has a unique exchange program with seven overseas schools for girls in Year 10. For many years, this program has provided an enriching experience for the girls, their families and their wider school communities, both at Ascham and at the exchange schools.
The exchange schools are:
Through various commercial and cultural exchange organisations, Ascham also facilitates exchanges to other destinations. |
