Special Interest Groups

Catering for individual talents and needs is a hallmark of Chatswood High School.

We are proud of the range of programs developed to enhance the educational choice and aspirations of our students and recommend each student involves themselves in at least one of these activities.

Apart from these groups the school offers special teaching programs for academically gifted students as well as remedial intervention programs when special assistance is needed.

Activities Available

Academic competitions

Debating at Chatswood High
Debating at Chatswood High

National and State academic competitions are held throughout the year. Our school has always performed well in these events and all students are encouraged to enter. These include:

Chess

Our students are encouraged to play or learn chess. A chess club has been active for many years and teams are entered in the Commonwealth Bank Secondary Schools Chess competitions in four separate grades. It is not necessary to have played chess before to join.

Debating and Public Speaking

Students are introduced to public speaking and debating in mainstream classes, and encouraged to train with competition teams. Representative teams have made their mark in school debating competitions: Hume Barbour, Karl Cramp, Commonwealth Junior and Senior and Macquarie Schools Cup.

Individuals compete in public speaking competitions conducted by the Sydney Morning Herald and Legacy. Experienced coaches have assisted teams to finals success and with the depth of talent developing we anticipate greater success to come.

Duke of Edinburgh Awards

These awards are an established strength at Chatswood High. The program has been conducted for approximately 20 years at our school. Self-reliance training, personal goal setting, and public service are encouraged through this scheme where our students prove their worth as junior citizens.

Training is provided at school by experienced and committed staff and expeditions set out from Marnie, the school's own bush property adjoining the Wollemi National Park.

Students progress from Bronze, through Silver to Gold levels and any student with effort and experience can gain an award.

Gifted and Talented

Chatswood High offers gifted students opportunities to develop their aptitudes and talents. All teaching staff have undertaken specialised training in identifying and teaching gifted students. Chatswood High has two selective classes in each junior form who gain entry to our school via the annual Selective Schools Entrance Exam.

ISCF

The Inter School Christian Fellowship (ISCF) meets weekly with students gathering to hear visiting speakers, musicians and discussions on life and faith with plenty of fun and games. The group is interdenominational and teacher led and student leadership is nurtured. This voluntary group has been active from the earliest years of the school's establishment.

The ISCF conducts annual weekends away, social activities and leadership camps.

Lend-A-Hand

Rotary has joined with Chatswood High to assist 'at risk' students with personalised tutoring. Rotarians donate their time, expertise and life experience tutoring our students referred through our school welfare committee. This program has a proud record of success with both learning and behaviour improvements.

Singing with the Stage Band
Singing with the Stage Band

Music

Music is one of the school's areas of excellence. School bands and orchestras can be heard before and after school an almost any day. The talent developed through our music programs has been recognised widely with awards in competitions at home and overseas, invitation performances at public events including television and high regard within the education community. The Music Programme offers both tuition and performance and a large number of students in the school belong to one of the many groups.

Our bands have an international profile and the students who play in them reflect the commitment expected from all students in the school. Every two years the band embarks on an international tour. Each year there are tours within Australia.

On offer are two concert bands, two stage bands, a string ensemble, a guitar group, choir and individual instrument tuition before and after school. Instrument hire is available to all students.

Peer Reading

Our Peer Reading program aims to improve the ability of Year 7 students who may need extra assistance with reading. Trained Year 10 students act as individual tutors, assisting with reading, listening and giving encouraging feedback. The program does not impact upon regular class attendance and is conducted during extended roll sessions.

Apart from the experience gained, an added bonus for our tutors is an accredited TAFE qualification recognised as advanced standing for university degrees.

Computing Special Interest Group

Students with a strong interest in animation, multimedia, creative digital art, game design and video editing are encouraged to attend the SIG meeting each week in our computer laboratory. Here they learn to extend their expertise beyond syllabus requirements.

Sport

Proudly displayed on school walls are testimonials to sporting greats from our past, as well as tributes to the success of our present students.

Participation in sport is actively encouraged for all, and opportunities to achieve sporting excellence exist for talented individuals. The school has its own full-sized oval with night lighting and basketball and tennis courts.

Traditionally, Rugby has been nurtured with links to Gordon Rugby adding to our students' enjoyment and success. Our senior team were undefeated Premiers in 2004 and have regularly exchanged tours with a Japanese school.

European Handball has enjoyed success and produced Boys and Girls international and state players.

Students who bring specialised sporting talents are encouraged to extend their horizons.

The school has produced tennis stars, triathlon champions, outstanding swimmers and basketball representatives.

Student Representative Council

Our school has had an active SRC for many years. Many of our office holders and representatives have progressed to leadership roles in the community.

Elected representatives from each school year group become involved in the democratic process, discover leadership, engage their peers in finding a voice, become more tolerant and cooperative members of society and develop a sense of responsibility, pride and loyalty to their school.