Specialist Program
Our rich Specialist Program inspires creativity, cultural connection, and physical well-being through the Arts, German, Auslan and Physical Education.
Our Specialist Program allows students to explore their interests and talents in a variety of areas, from the creative and performing arts to physical education and language studies. These programs are designed to ignite passion, foster creativity, and promote a healthy, active lifestyle.
The Arts: nurturing creativity and expression
The Arts play a vital role in our curriculum, offering students the chance to express themselves and develop critical thinking skills. Our arts program includes fine arts, performing and media arts, music, dance, and drama, encouraging students to explore their creativity in diverse ways. Whether it’s through painting, sculpture, film, or performance, our students are given opportunities to discover their artistic strengths and grow in confidence.
In 2024, we expanded our Arts program by introducing a dedicated Performing and Media Arts teacher, further enhancing the creative opportunities available to our students.
Some highlights of our arts program include:
- Visual arts: Students engage with various media, including painting, drawing, sculpture, and digital art.
- Media: From photography to animation, our media program helps students explore modern artistic expressions.
- Performing arts: With opportunities to participate in choir, musical productions like our Year 3-6 Musical and F-2 Christmas Nativity Play, students develop a love for music and performance.
- Dance and drama: Through dance, students build physical coordination and confidence, while drama activities enhance their public speaking and collaboration skills.
German language: a connection to heritage and global perspectives
At St John’s Lutheran School, our German language program connects students to the rich cultural heritage of the local area while fostering a global mindset. Through engaging, hands-on activities, our students not only develop strong communication skills in German but also gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of diverse cultures.
The program is designed to make language learning fun and interactive, encouraging students to broaden their perspectives and think in new ways about the world around them. By embracing the German language, our students enhance their cognitive abilities, creativity, and openness to different cultural experiences—all while having a great time along the way.
Learning German at St John’s helps students become confident, culturally aware individuals, ready to engage with the wider world.
Auslan: enhancing communication and expression
Australian sign language (Auslan), offers many benefits for all learners. As a visual-spatial language with its own unique grammar and vocabulary, Auslan helps children develop a range of essential communication skills. By learning Auslan, children enhance their educational and personal development, as well as their ability to express themselves and understand others. Learning to sign stimulates brain development, improving memory retention, mental flexibility, and motion processing.
Introducing Auslan to our Specialist Language programme aligns with our school-wide values of wonder, love, and courage. It encourages a sense of wonder as children explore new ways to communicate, fosters love through building deeper connections with others, and requires courage as students step out of their comfort zone to learn something new and challenging. This inclusive approach allows all children to enjoy communicating in a new and engaging way while strengthening their non-verbal communication skills and broadening their understanding of diverse communities, fostering empathy and cultural awareness.
Physical education: building healthy, active lifestyles
Physical Education (PE) is an integral part of our curriculum, promoting physical well-being, teamwork, and resilience. Our students are encouraged to participate in a range of sports and physical activities, both within the school and through local competitions such as SAPSASA and district sporting events.