Student opportunities and activities
At Newtown High School of Performing Arts, we offer a variety of programs in the classroom and across the school to help students build new skills, make friends and explore new interests.
Our programs may include:
- school sport, athletics and inter-school competitions
- creative and performing arts groups and showcases
- cultural and language activities
- excursions and incursions
- public speaking and debating
- interest-based clubs
- student leadership opportunities
- activities that support high potential and gifted learners.
Our extra-curricular highlights
Debating and public speaking
Students can develop their thinking, communication and teamwork skills through debating and public speaking. They also have the chance to compete in local and state events.
Creative and performing arts
Our Dance, Drama, Music and Visual Arts programs help students be creative and express themselves. They can join in concerts, art shows and drama activities.
Trips and excursions
Our students enjoy getting out of the classroom to explore, learn and try new things. These experiences help them grow, build confidence and see how their learning connects to the world.
Co-curricular
The Film Production Company
The Film Production Company will work as a team to plan, film and edit short film/s during the year.
Themes and genres will be chosen depending on student and teacher interests as well as level of expertise. Students will work towards various film festivals throughout the year and screening of their work will be during Performance Seasons at school.
The Film Production Company is open to students in Years 8 to 10. The Company will meet weekly in the Visual Arts Faculty.
Selection criteria for the Film Production Company
Students are required to produce a short film (30 seconds) that demonstrates their interest and skill in various aspects of film production.
An application form can be collected from the Visual Arts staffroom and must be submitted with a film into the nominated Drive folder by 3.10pm on Monday 24 February.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1JJ2BtI9JYHI3GueTiW6x_NhxrSeaxGXs?usp=sharing
Technical Company
Technical Company, under the direction of the Technical Director Mr Benjamin Turner, organises the
production aspects for all school events throughout the year.
The Company is open to students from Years 8 to 12. Interested students can apply on Monday 17 February at 3:30 - 5:30pm in the Studio Theatre.
Selection criteria for Technical Company
Students will complete a written assessment and perform a series of basic tasks designed to demonstrate their current knowledge of/ability in technical production.
Current examples of opportunities at Newtown High School of the Performing Arts.
- Wide reading/Renaissance reading
- English Extension I and II courses
- Acting of plays
- Presenting speeches
- Film making
- Public speaking
- Premier’s Debating Challenge
- Digital times Showcase elective
- Streaming classes in stage 4 and Stage 5 - 5.1 -5.3
- Mathematics Extension I and II courses
- Mega Mathematics Day to The University of Sydney
- Mathspace - extension style questions
- World of Maths Day
- Rich Learning Tasks
- Science club
- University of Sydney excursions
- STILE online learning platform
- STEM excursions
- Engineers without Borders: Year 8 workshop
- Young Australians’ Cancer Initiative (YACI) workshops
- Excursions to Symbio Wildlife Park, Taronga Zoo, Luna Park
- History Extension course
- Mock Trial team
- Public speaking
- HSIE libraries
- HSC Student Conferences
- USYD Excursion
- Self-directed creative tasks
- Extension activities
- Model UN
- Differentiated assessment tasks
- National History and Geography competitions
- External partners including Messina (Food Technology)
- Sustainability in Textiles and Design, Design and Technology and Food Technology
- Vegetable and herb garden growing their own food for use within the kitchens and using aromatic indigenous plants
- Self-directed learning activities
- Project Based learning allowing for differentiation
- After school workshops
- Alignment with industry standards and best practices such as the laser cutter
- Access to emerging technologies, such as 3D printers
- Specialised manufacturing and fabrication services
- Auditioning students for selective Year 7 and 11 Dance intake.
- Years 8-12 Classical Ballet courses.
- Year 9 and 10 Dance Extension courses.
- Co-Curricular Dance and Classical Ballet Program - entry via audition.
- Showcase performances in semester I and II
- Students represented in School Spectacular
- Lighthouse Dance Project - 2 day senior program in tertiary Dance career pathways.
- In The Spotlight Dance Festival - Performance extension opportunity.
- State Dance Festival - Arts Unit selected
- HSC Callback - exemplary HSC Dance student works.
- USA Dance Tour - Biennial overseas tour providing further tertiary and career dance opportunities.
- Regular masterclasses and choreographed work opportunities led by industry professionals.
- Auditioning students for selective Year 7 and 11 Music class intake.
- Year 8 Musical Vitae
- Year 9 and 10 Extension Music classes
- Music 1, 2 and Extension courses in stage 6
- Songwriting, Like a Version and Digital Video Production courses
- Auditioned ensembles including single stage ensembles (e.g Junior Choir) and mixed stage ensembles (e.g Symphony Orchestra)
- Showcase performances in semester I and II, Concert seasons, Gala Finale (large scope projects)
- Band Festival Competitions, Sydney Eisteddfod, ASBOF
- State recognition in: Opera House, Town Hall, Manly Jazz festival, Cantabile Festival, Seymour Centre performance, Arts Unit
- Offering instrumental, vocal and theoretical tutoring
- Professional links for students through visits from composers and performers
- Industry workshops: APRA, Composition workshops
- Cross collaborative projects eg school musical, Dance and Music performances
- Auditioning students for selective Year 7 and 11 Drama class intake.
- ear 9 and 10 Extension Drama subjects
- Arts Unit Drama Companies and Ensembles
- Company program in Stage 4, 5 and 6
- Showcase performances in semester I and II
- Gala Finale Performances
- Student led and student directed performances
- Director and Designer mentorships
- Workshops with various organisations such as ITS and Physical Theatre
- Certificate 3 Entertainment
- Workshops and Masterclasses with NIDA
- ATYP Partnerships and internships
- Productions with Industry Professionals
- Regional and State Drama Festival performances
- Film festivals such as Bloodfest, Film by the city, Flicker festival and My State Film festival
- Filming opportunities with various arts and community organisations.
- Industry Casting opportunities
- Targeted Masterclasses
- Targeted excursions e.g. Sydney Modern, White Rabbit Gallery
- Opportunities to enter competitions and art prizes
- Exhibition of work in the NHSPA gallery
- NAS Intensive workshops and support for attendance of HSC Extension program.
- Showcase posters
- Personal Interest Projects
- Year 9 Photography course
- Bundanon HPGE camp (years 8-11) and exhibition
- Extracurricular competitions and programs for individual and teams (Sydney East, NSW State and National Levels)
- Sport trials for extracurricular sports
- Bstreetsmart & Breel
- Coaching NHSPA primary school students
- Before and after school training programs
- Year 9 and 10 PASS elective subject
- External providers for school sport allow students to further explore specialised movement options
- Alliance Française excursions and Little Snail French Restaurant
- Kwiziq Online French Subscription for senior classes and HPG students in Stages 4 and 5
- Tricolore Kerboodle Online Learning Platform (Interactive Language exercises)
- University of Sydney NAFT HSC Study Skill Day
- NAFT HSC Speaking Preparation Workshops
- JSTOR, Artstor, Drama online- journal access
- Digital and online magazines
- Wheelers eBooks and audiobooks
- Clickview
- Mentoring and research for extension students
- Literacy sessions to support faculty tasks
- Learning and Support
- Wellbeing program
- Peer support program (Year 7)
- School counsellor
- School Support Officer
- Role-playing club
- LGBTQIA+ club
- Transition programs Year 6 to 7 and 10 into 11)
- Showcase electives Year 9
- Sydney Park Project (Science, Maths, Dance and HSIE)
- DEAN Project (Science, PDHPE, Maths, Dance)
- Prefect-led newspaper
- Debating
- Public speaking
- Writing competitions
- Core and extension choirs
- School Musicals
- Students represented in the Arts Unit companies and ensembles
- Year 9 and 10 Mentoring program
- Year 8/11 Coaching Program
- Year 12 student/teacher mentor program
- NHSPA students adjudicate and coach Newtown Public School debating
- RAISE mentoring
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Peer and self-nomination for:
- S.E.E.D team
- Prefects and school captains
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House captains and vice-captains
-
Duke of Edinburgh
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Peer support program (Year 10 students)
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Performing Arts Leadership opportunities: Performing Arts Prefects, student conductors where appropriate, performance soloists (eg Town Hall performance), some ensembles with student leaders; choir section leaders, orchestral and SWE section leaders
- NHSPA Careers expo
- University information sessions
- Work experience opportunities/workshops
- One-on-one career interviews
- Career mentoring for future pathways
- Scholarships
- Early-entry mentoring of specific degrees
High Potential and Gifted Education
Facilities and resources
Learn how our spaces and tools support every subject and learning style.
Events
Find out about school events, celebrations and what’s coming up.