Student opportunities and activities

School Band

Teaching Services Australia facilitates the band program at Murray Farm. Students from Year 3 to Year 6 can enrol in the program to participate in lessons on their nominated band instrument, and to attend a weekly Band Rehearsal.

Murray Farm Public School's band program consists of three bands: Training Band, Concert Band & Performance Band. Rehearsals are held before school on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday (respectively).

Group lessons (of approximately five students) are open to new beginners, who also make up the Training Band. After the initial members progress to Concert Band, and at this point that they then attend private instrumental tuition (mostly off-site). Further progression to the Performance Band takes place after a successful audition.

The MFPS Band Program has a well-established history. Students have the choice of the following instruments on which to start their musical careers: baritone horn, clarinet, euphonium, flute, percussion, saxophone, trombone and trumpet, French horn, and Bass Guitar,

With a team of specialist TSA teachers as well as two Band Conductors and three rehearsal assistants, the MFPS Band Program is a busy, positive and productive learning environment. Throughout the year, the Band members will have the opportunity to perform at a variety of school events such as the Cracker Carnival, Open Day and Chamber Music Evenings, but will also participate in a number of local public competitions such as the Ryde Eisteddfod.

The MFPS Band Program is a proud part of the school's culture and looks forward to continued growth and musical development.

For further information and enrolment details please contact TSA

https://teachingservices.com.au/

Phone: 02 9651 7333 ext 2

Email:  info@teachingservices.com.au

School Band Flyer

String Ensemble

The Murray Farm Public School String Ensemble is coordinated by parent volunteers from the Murray Farm Public School P&C.

The program is open to students from Kindergarten to Year 6 who play violin, viola, cello or double bass.

String ensemble caters to beginners to advanced players.

Weekly rehearsals are scheduled before school at 7.45am in the school hall.

String Ensemble Flyer

Dance

Murray Farm Public School offers multiple dance opportunities to students in Years 1-6.

In Term 2 and 3, Murray Farm has 3 stage-based dance groups - Stage One (Years 1 and 2), Stage Two (Years 3 and 4) and Stage Three (Years 5 and 6). Students selected for these Dance Groups are provided with the opportunity to enhance their knowledge of the elements of dance, explore movement and learn choreography as part of a team. The students rehearse weekly and are provided various opportunities to perform, including school events and the Hills Performing Arts Festival.

Since 2022, Murray Farm Public School has also sent dancers to participate in PULSE Alive. PULSE Alive is a K-12 NSW Department Schools event where our students are given the opportunity to perform in massed dance. PULSE Alive has previously run in T4 and T1 of the following year, this is due to the performance being in mid Term 1.

Choir

Murray Farm Public School has a long-held reputation for choral excellence. Choral singing and performance opportunities have always and continue to be embedded into our school culture. There are 3 performance choirs which practice weekly and participate in a variety of performance opportunities in and out of the school context. All three choirs are audition based and provide students with the skills necessary for choral excellence.

The Junior Choir

The Stage 1 Junior Choir is composed of students from Years 1 and 2. They learn a range of repertoire, sung in alto and soprano parts. They sing in the style of 'call and response' and rounds. The Junior Choir performs at whole school assemblies, celebration days and at external community events.

The Stage 2 Choir

The Stage 2 Choir draws students from Years 3 and 4. Murray Farm Public School has a long and successfully history of auditioning and participating in, The Hills Performing Arts Festival. They learn a variety of pieces divided into alto and soprano parts with increasingly complex rhythm patterns and time signatures. The highlight of the year is performing in a mass choir with surrounding schools.

The Opera House Choir

The Stage 3 Opera House Choir, has from its inception in 1985, showcased the exceptional voices of Murray Farm Public school students and it has played a prominent role in the culture and tradition of our school. The 36-voice choir is comprised of students form Years 5 & 6 and has an alto and soprano section. The choir meets twice a week for rehearsal and has a team of specialist music educators, working alongside the students, who work closely with the Department of Education’s Arts Unit.

The Opera House Choirs’ focus is providing a well-rounded music education including choral performances that extend the students learning beyond the K-6 Creative Arts syllabus in musicology and ensemble singing. The members of the choir have opportunities to create and choreograph choral flash mobs, performed during the school day to promote wellbeing through music for their fellow students. A highlight of the Opera House Choir calendar is performing on the Opera House stage in a mass choir as part of the Festival of Choral Music. The Opera House Choir has successfully auditioned and performed in this prestigious event for 28 consecutive years. Most of all the Opera House Choir aims to instill a love of music and song that students will treasure for life.

Primary Schools Sporting Association (PSSA)

Murray Farm Public School participates in NSW Primary School Sports Association (PSSA) competitions. We are part of the Castle Hill Zone PSSA, along with 19 other local primary schools.  Castle Hill Zone forms part of the Sydney West School Sport Association.

Murray Farm Public School students participate in both a Summer and Winter PSSA competition.

Summer PSSA

·       Cricket

·       Basketball

·       T – ball

·       Softball

Winter PSSA

·       Boys and Girls Soccer

·       Netball

·       Newcombe ball

·       AFL

Public Speaking

Murray Farm has a proud history of public speaking. We participate in the prestigious state-wide Department of Education Arts Unit competition, the Multicultural Perspectives Public Speaking Competition, every year, with students being supported in their participation at school, local and regional levels. Students are provided with the opportunity to develop their speaking ability and confidence by exploring ideas relating to multiculturalism in Australia – often, but not necessarily, with reference to their own heritage and family stories.

Our school team successfully sent a Year 3 representative to the 2024 Regional Final.

Debating

Debating is a fun and engaging way for students to develop their skills in public speaking, reasoning and team work.

Murray Farm Public School has proudly participated in the NSW Premier’s Debating Challenge for a number of years. Students selected to participate are given the opportunity to compete against other schools. In each debate, teams find out the topic covered and their position (affirmative or negative) on the day, just before their one-hour preparation time. Once the preparation time is up, three speakers from each team take turns to speak, with a fourth silent speaker helping out during preparation and the debate.

Students selected for the debating team and buddy team train weekly to build their skills needed for debating. The buddy team participate in 'mock debates' with the debating team during training sessions so that they can further develop in areas, such as creating clear and logical arguments, as well as rebuttals.