At New Lambton Public School, students have an opportunity to further develop their interests and skills in a number of Extra-Curricular Programs that run during the school year.
Chess
Chess is an engaging activity that helps develop students' critical, problem solving, decision making and lateral thinking skills. Students participate in the Hunter/Central Coast Schools Competition and this provides them with the opportunity to play against many schools.
There are two chess teams ranging from beginners to experienced players. Each year, trials are conducted for students in Years 3-6 from which the teams are selected. New Lambton has a strong tradition of producing competitive chess teams.
Choir
All children in Year 1 and Year 2 have the opportunity to participate in the Junior Choir. Children sing a variety of fun songs and perform at school events such as Mother's Day and Father's Day Breakfasts as well as Christmas activities.
Crunch 'n' Sip
This program runs throughout the whole school. Each day students bring fruit or salad vegetables to eat in the classroom, usually at a set time. Each child has a bottle of water in the classroom to drink throughout the day. The program supports healthy living and lifestyle choices and is incorporated into PD/H/PE programs.
Dance
Dance Groups & Hunter Schools Dance Festival
Each year children have the opportunity to audition for dance groups run by an experienced choreographer in the mornings before school. There are currently four dance groups running at our school. The grups are: Boys Hip Hop Group from Years 2-6, Junior Dance Group for children from Years 2 and 3, and two groups from children in Years 4, 5, & 6.
These dance groups learn dances to audition for the Hunter Schools Dance Festival. This is an opportunity for children to perform alongside peers from other schools and participte in a professional setting. The children make an audition video at the end of Term 1, practise the dance throughout Term 2, and if successful in their audition, they perform early in Term 3.
Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 Dance Groups
Students in Kindergarten, Year 1 & Year 2 have the opportunity to be mentored by a small group of Year 6 students in creative movement and dance. Year 6 students choreograph the dances and teach them to the various groups once a week during lunch time. These dance groups perform at various events at school throughout the year including at Mother's Day & Father's Day Breakfasts and the annual Talent Show. It is a fantastic oportunity for Year 6 students to demonstrate leadership and for the K-2 students to get to know older peers.
Debating
Premier/s Debating Challenge
Students from Year 6 are selected to represent the school in Debating. The Premier's Debating Challenge begins in Term 2. Students debate other schools over the term and they have the opportunity to progress to the finals. Students from this debating team are also chosen to be mentors for students in the Train on Debating Squad.
Train on Debating Squad
Students in Year 5 have the opportunity to compete in the Train on Debating Squad. Teams are chosen and they debate other schools over Terms 2 and 3. As with the Premier/s Debating Challenge, debates are held both at school and at other schools within the local area.
Doing Diversity Differently
Nine ambassadors from Year 6 are chosen to be in the Doing Diversity Differently Team. The aim of the team is to promote Multicultural Education within the school. Students attend a conference at the University of Newcastle in Term 1 to gain knowledge and to share ideas with other ambassadors from different schools. Students then return to school and with the help of a Year 6 teacher, implement activities that support Multicultural Education.
Environment
The aim of our Environmental Policy is to foster students' understanding of the environment and to develop attitudes and skills which encourage sustainable development. At New Lambton Public School each grade has developed units of work that incorporate teaching about the environment. Many of our excursions are based on these themes.
Earth Hour and Clean Up Australia Day are two of the special days that we take part in throughout the year which highlight environmental issues. New Lambton Public School participates in the Newcastle City Council's Environment Program known as Climate Cam which raises awareness of environmental issues concerning trees, electricity usage, waste and water usage. A weekly program of paper and cardboard recycling operates throughout the school. We have successfully applied for and attained many features that enhance our school's environment including solar panels, rain water tanks and self-regulating taps.
External Competitions
At New Lambton Public School students have the opportunity to participate in many external competitions organised by outside agencies. A number of mathematicians participate in the Australasian Problem Solving Mathematical Olympiads. There are five Olympiads throughout the year in which students answer five very challenging mathematical problems. Children with an interest in reading and literature have the opportunity to compete in the Kids' Lit Quiz . In previous years our teams have travelled to Orange and Canberra to answer literature questions against other schools for the honour of then being able to travel to the World Final. For the "All Rounders" at school, students have had an opportunity to compete on the television Quiz Show, 'It's Academic!'.
French Club
The French Club runs after school on Tuesday and Wednesday. The program is a beginner's course for first time French speakers. Participating student have opportunities to learn basic phrases about themselves and their interests through speaking, listening, reading and writing activities. Lessons include songs, videos and games to consolidate student understanding.
Leadership
There are many leadership opportunities for students at New Lambton Public School. They include:
Leaders of the School: Two Captains and ten Prefects from Year 6 are chosen to be the leaders of the school. They have extra responsibilities including leading the weekly Monday morning whole school assembly.
Parliament Ministers: The two School Captains are the Prime Ministers in Parliament. There are ten other Ministers that are elected from Year 6. Parliament begins in Term 2 and meets every fortnight where motions are raised and debated.
Library Monitors: Year 6 students have the opportunity to take a leadership role in the library. Monitors are given a day each week where they help in the library at lunchtime.
House Captains: There are eight Year 6 students chosen to be House Captains, two for each of the four Houses.
Dance Group Instructors: Year 6 students have the opportunity to lead groups from Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2. Groups perform at various school functions throughout the year.
Science Club
Science Club is run at lunch times twice a week for Year 4 students who have an interest in Science. The club is repeated each term for a new group of students so that any student who is interested is able to participate some time during the year.
Students work collaboratively to meet a challenge. The current challenge is for students to work in groups of three to five to create the strongest tower, of a specific height and made from straws. In 2013, a group of students from the group were selected to participate in the 2013 Hunter Innovation Festival "Straw Tower Competition" run by Engineers Australia.
Scripture and Ethics
Children from K-6 can nominate to participate in Catholic, non-denominational scripture or non-scripture classes. These classes are run by trained volunteers and supervised by the classroom teacher once a week for half hour sessions. From 2014, children from Year 1-6 can elect to participate in Ethics classes. Numbers will be limited to the number of trained volunteers who offer their services at our school.
Sport
New Lambton Public School has a long tradition of being very competitive in the many sports in which they participate.
Star Struck
Star Struck is the combined Hunter Central Coast Public Schools annual performing arts showcase. Each year students from New Lambton Public School have the opportunity to audition and perform in the areas of Dance, Choir, Drama and Puppets. Traditionally, we have approximately 90 students representing our school at Star Struck.
Toast and Jam
Toast and Jam is an opportunity for all children at New Lambton Public School who play a musical instrument to get together and jam. Toast and Jam is an acronym! Turn Out Awesomely Sensational Tunes and Just Appreciate Music.While tuning instruments and setting up the hall, there is toast and jam to eat and a time to chat and enjoy each other’s company. After toast, students play a variety of musical pieces together. All children are given musical scores that are written for their instrument as well as their level of ability.