We believe that young people who are physically fit and enthusiastically challenged in a fun and safe sporting environment perform better academically.
As a result, we provide inclusive sports and outdoor education activities for students of all abilities. Students gain personal satisfaction and develop socially and emotionally through team participation.
Sport
St Andrew’s Cathedral School provides sport and co-curricular activities for individuals across a vast range of ability levels. The program is designed to be inclusive, with activities available for any student at any level. All students are encouraged to participate in the school’s sporting activities. The enjoyment and support gained through team participation, improved physical fitness, skills for dealing with success and failure, as well as the ability to interact within various social environments, are all positive attributes gained through participation in the sporting and co-curricular programs the school offers.
Summer Sport involvement at St Andrew’s Cathedral School is optional. Winter Sport is compulsory for Years 7 to 11, taking place during Terms 2 and 3. Students are expected to attend training sessions after school on at least one weekday afternoon and participate in Saturday games. The school provides transport to and from sporting events outside Sydney Metro (Year 7 students do not normally play inter-school sport until Term 2, as the summer season encompasses Term 4 2020 and Term 1 2021).
– Junior School and Gawura School
Our Kindergarten to Year 6 sport program focuses on the development of fundamental movement skills. It aims to build on the programs offered in previous years, utilising various facilities in the school and city for both summer and winter. This is highlighted by our K-2 program exploring gymnastics and swimming programs during the year, providing the students with a skill set that will serve them well in future physical activity.
We are part of ASISSA (an inter-school sporting association) for students in Years 4-6 to compete against other schools on a weekly basis in seasonal sports. Through our interschool sport program, students learn less tangible skills, such as resilience, team work and humility in a safe and supportive environment.
Within the interschool competition, St Andrew’s Cathedral School Junior School has a fine reputation for sporting success and attitude, which is reflected in each student’s skill development, enthusiasm, encouragement of others and conduct. All sports, competitive and non-competitive, are fully supervised throughout the afternoon. There are three major school carnivals during the year.
All students (Years 3-6) are expected to participate at the school’s swimming, cross country and athletics carnivals. There are opportunities for students to represent St Andrew’s at ASISSA carnivals and at NSW Combined Independent School level.
Term 1
| Date | Year 3 | Year 4 | ASISSA (Year 5 and 6) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 February | AusKick | Gymnastics | Trials/training for ASISSA |
| 11 February | AusKick | Gymnastics | AFL and Touch Footy |
| 18 February | AusKick | Gymnastics | AFL and Touch Footy |
| 19 February | Swimming Carnival | Swimming Carnival | Swimming Carnival |
| 25 February | AusKick | Gymnastics | AFL and Touch Footy |
| 4 March | Tennis (NM) | Gymnastics | AFL and Touch Footy |
| 11 March | Tennis (NM) | Gymnastics | AFL and Touch Footy |
| 18 March | Tennis (NM) | Gymnastics | AFL and Touch Footy |
| 25 March | Tennis (NM) | Gymnastics | AFL and Touch Footy |
Term 2
| Date | Year 3 | ASISSA Boys | ASISSA Girls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 April | Football – skills and games | Football | Football |
| 29 April | Football – skills and games | Football | Football |
| 6 May | Cross Country | Cross Country | Cross Country |
| 13 May | Football – skills and games | Football | Football |
| 20 May | Football – skills and games | Football | Football |
| 27 May | Football – skills and games | Football | Football |
| 3 June | Football – skills and games | Football | Football |
| 10 Jun | Football – skills and games | Football | Football |
| 17 June | Athletics skills | Football | Football |
Term 3
| Date | Year 3 | ASISSA Boys | ASISSA Girls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 July | Athletics skills | Touch Footy | Netball |
| 22 July | Athletics skills | Touch Footy | Netball |
| 29 July | Athletics skills | Touch Footy | Netball |
| 5 August | Athletics Carnival | Athletics Carnival | Athletics Carnival |
| 12 August | Netball – skills and games | Touch Footy | Netball |
| 19 August | Netball – skills and games | Touch Footy | Netball |
| 26 August | Netball – skills and games | Touch Footy | Netball |
| 2 September | Netball – skills and games | Touch Footy | Netball |
| 9 September | Netball – skills and games | Touch Footy | Netball |
| 16 September | Netball – skills and games | Touch Footy | Netball |
Term 4
| Date | Year 3 | ASISSA Boys | ASISSA Girls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 October | Cricket – skills and games | Tee-ball or Cricket | Tee-ball or Cricket |
| 14 October | Cricket – skills and games | Tee-ball or Cricket | Tee-ball or Cricket |
| 21 October | Cricket – skills and games | Tee-ball or Cricket | Tee-ball or Cricket |
| 28 October | Cricket – skills and games | Tee-ball or Cricket | Tee-ball or Cricket |
| 4 November | Tee-ball – skills and games | Tee-ball or Cricket | Tee-ball or Cricket |
| 11 November | Tee-ball – skills and games | Tee-ball or Cricket | Tee-ball or Cricket |
| 18 November | Tee-ball – skills and games | Tee-ball or Cricket | Tee-ball or Cricket |
| 25 November | Tee-ball – skills and games | Tee-ball or Cricket | Tee-ball or Cricket |
| 2 December | Tee-ball – skills and games | Tee-ball or Cricket | Tee-ball or Cricket |
– Middle School
Summer Sport involvement at St Andrew’s Cathedral School is optional.
Winter Sport is compulsory from Years 7 to 11, taking place during Terms 2 and 3.
Students are expected to attend training sessions after school on at least one weekday afternoon and participate in Saturday games. The school provides transport to and from sporting events outside Sydney Metro (Year 7 students do not normally play inter-school sport until Term 2, as the summer season encompasses Term 4 2020 and Term 1 2021).
Summer Sport – Term 1 and 4
| Basketball (boys and girls) |
| Cricket (boys) |
| Debating (boys and girls) |
| Fencing (boys and girls) |
| Mountain Biking (boys and girls) |
| Summer Hockey (boys and girls) |
| Term 4 only |
| Softball (girls) |
| Swimming (boys and girls) |
| Touch Football (boys and girls) |
| Theatresports (boys and girls) |
| Water Polo (boys and girls) |
| Dance (boys and girls) |
| Tennis (boys and girls) |
| Maker Space (boys and girls) |
| Ultimate Frisbee (boys and girls) |
| Rugby 7s (boys and girls) |
| Squash (boys and girls) |
Winter Sport – Term 2 and 3
| Athletics (boys and girls) |
| Dance (boys and girls) |
| Cross country running (boys and girls) |
| Fit for Life (boys and girls) |
| Fencing (boys and girls) |
| Football (girls and boys) |
| Hockey (girls) |
| Netball (girls) |
| Rugby (boys) |
| Tennis (boys and girls) |
| Year 8 and Year 9 Middle School Drama |
| Ensemble (boys and girls) |
| Year 7 Drama Club (boys and girls) |
| Debating (boys and girls) |
| Theatresports (boys and girls) |
| Water Polo (boys and girls) |
| Maker Space (boys and girls) |
| Cross country skiing (boys and girls) |
| Interschools Skiing |
| Squash (boys and girls) |
| Dance (boys and girls) |
| Robotics (boys and girls) |
| Girls in Tech (girls) |
| Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (boys and girls) |
– Senior College
Summer Sport involvement at St Andrew’s is optional.
Winter Sport is compulsory from Years 7 to 11, taking place during Terms 2 and 3.
Students are expected to attend training sessions after school on at least one weekday afternoon and participate in Saturday games. The school provides transport to and from sporting events outside Sydney Metro.
Summer (Terms 1 and 4)
| Basketball (boys and girls) |
| Cricket (boys) |
| Debating (boys and girls) |
| Fencing (boys and girls) |
| Mountain Biking (boys and girls) |
| Summer Hockey (boys and girls) |
| Term 4 only |
| Softball (girls) |
| Swimming (boys and girls) |
| Touch Football (boys and girls) |
| Theatresports (boys and girls) |
| Water Polo (boys and girls) |
| Dance (boys and girls) |
| Tennis (boys and girls) |
| Maker Space (boys and girls) |
| Ultimate Frisbee (boys and girls) |
| Rugby 7s (boys and girls) |
| Volleyball (boys and girls) |
| Mock trial (boys and girls) |
| F1 Club (boys and girls) |
Winter (Terms 2 and 3)
| Athletics (boys and girls) |
| Dance (boys and girls) |
| Cross country running (boys and girls) |
| Fit for Life (boys and girls – Yr 9 +) |
| Fencing (boys and girls) |
| Football (girls and boys) |
| Hockey (girls) |
| Netball (girls) |
| Rugby (boys) |
| Tennis (boys and girls) |
| Mock trial (boys and girls) |
| Debating (boys and girls) |
| Theatresports (boys and girls) |
| Water Polo (boys and girls) |
| Maker Space (boys and girls) |
| Cross country skiing (boys and girls) |
| Winter Basketball (boys and girls) |
| Squash (boys and girls) |
| Dance (boys and girls) |
| Robotics (boys and girls) |
| Girls in Tech (girls) |
| F1 Club (boys and girls) |
St Andrew’s Cathedral School has a strong commitment to outdoor education, stemming from the belief that students gain real life skills and experiences as a result of spending time in the outdoors.
Outdoor Education
The outdoor education program at St Andrew’s Cathedral School is one of the largest and most comprehensive of any school in NSW, beginning with a Day Camp in Kindergarten and running through to Year 10.
The school has its own Outdoor Education Department and campsite called Kirrikee, an outdoor education centre in the Southern Highlands south-west of Sydney. It is focused solely on delivering high quality programs which are interesting, safe and meaningful. Our motto is, “challenging and changing lives”.
For more information on our Outdoor Education programs, visit our website.
– Junior School and Gawura School
Students from K-6 attend an outdoor education program once each year. Each program has the primary aim of enabling every student to develop an understanding of their relationship with their Creator and to marvel at the wilderness areas they are in. It aims to challenge, change and encourage students emotionally, relationally and spiritually. The Outdoor Education program is an important component of the curriculum and all students are expected to attend.
Kindergarten has a day out at Centennial Park and Wild Play. Year 1 has a long day camp in a local national park and Year 2 has a day camp with a school sleepover.
The focus in the primary ages is to have fun and give these young students a taste of the Australian bush with time away from the normal comforts and security of home, together with some small outdoor recreation skill development.
Each camp is run by the school’s own outdoor education staff.
– Middle School
Our comprehensive outdoor education programs are an important feature of St Andrew’s Cathedral School education and something for which the school is well known. The camps are compulsory, with every child participating in the Year group program from K-10. Outdoor education is associated with ‘Kirrikee’, the property owned by the school in the Southern Highlands. Camps in Years 7 and 8 are based on and around this property, including nearby national parks and state forests.
SACS outdoor education seeks to bring about a reconnection with our natural world. This is particularly relevant to SACS students in their unique urban educational environment. While providing students with the opportunity to explore some amazing places, the students also experience being challenged, often having to go beyond what they thought they were capable of. They experience community, often with students they don’t know, and they have the opportunity to experience and show leadership themselves.
Our program provides a wide range of diverse age-appropriate experiences in the outdoors for the students, with each year’s experiences leading to more challenging ones in subsequent years.
Year 7 in Term 1 and Year 8 in Term 2 attend five-day programs based around Bundanoon and the Kangaroo Valley. Year 8 students can either choose the Kirrikee or Outdoor Adventure camps.
In Year 9 during Term 3, SACS offers two different camps, including a unique snow program. Most students spend five days camping in the snow, learning how to build igloos, snow caves and being taught cross-country skiing. The other option is canoeing down the Murray River. (All camps are charged to parents separately and a comprehensive equipment list is provided.)
– Senior College
Providing amazing experiences to develop leadership and resilience
St Andrew’s Cathedral School Year 10 Outdoor Education is the culmination of an extensive program. It is sequenced so that students build on previously taught skills, as well as providing new experiences for students.
Outdoor Education is compulsory at SACS and the minimum length of expedition is seven days in Year 10. There is a range of amazing expeditions offered. Each expedition focuses on the students being self-sufficient, carrying all the equipment and food necessary for their time away. Those students who have not previously had experience in Outdoor Education need not be concerned as the Year 10 options are designed to assist them in achieving the set goals and are within student ability levels. All programs have a director and an independent safety and logistics coordinator. Each group consists of between 12 and 15 students, with a minimum of two staff.
Expeditions (for seven to eight days duration) cover a range of disciplines and locations, including hiking programs in the Snowy Mountains or the Bibbulmun track in Western Australia or the Larapinta Trail in the Northern Territory. The other fantastic programs are horse riding in the Victorian high country, sea kayaking at Myall Lakes, a backcountry snow tour in the Kosciuszko National Park, Munda Biddi trail in Western Australia and a mountain bike cycle tour incorporating amazing scenery and wilderness trails. Our longer option is our pinnacle program – the 20-day ‘Kosi to Coast’ trip involving hiking and whitewater canoeing. Students who attend the 20-day program also have the option to complete a Certificate II in Outdoor Recreation as part of the trip.
The aim of SACS Outdoor Education is to foster a love of the outdoors, the opportunity to live simply in community with others and to challenge students’ personal boundaries. We provide amazing experiences in amazing places, developing leadership, initiative, self-esteem and resilience, all within a Christian context.
Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
Students from Year 8 are encouraged to join this program, which involves learning skills, developing interests, undertaking service and the planning/ undertaking of expeditions.
The program culminates in the Gold Award, which is highly recognised within employment as an outstanding achievement in its own right.
Further details are available from the Director of Sport and Cocurricular, Mr Ric van Wachem at rvanwachem@sacs.nsw.edu.au .