Being able to offer our children a wide range of diverse extra-curricular activities is very important as it encourages them to become independent, confident and successful members of the community. These clubs are run by specialized teachers and take place during school hours.
The list of clubs is ever changing but generally includes:-
Arts – Drama, Dance, Art, Music, Brass band
Sports – Ball games, Swimming
Languages – French
A rich variety of co-curricular activities contribute to the overall development of the child, while at the same time, making school life an enjoyable experience. The school offers a well-balanced and graded programme of physical education, which develops a sense of team spirit and healthy competition among the pupils.
Children are encouraged to express themselves as we foster their creativity. They learn to appreciate the various art forms and in the process, have fun.
Expression in Song
Expression in Song is a musical project where children are taught and sing songs based on suitable themes. This helps build confidence and gives the children exposure on stage.
The Kindergarten makes performances during school functions and parade days. This is to encourage and develop confidence and artistic talent in the children.
Expression in Colour
Besides the performing arts, children have ample opportunity to nurture their skills and talent in drawing, painting, and handicrafts.
An art exhibition is held at every class throughout the academic year and the classes come alive with vibrant colours bringing out the best in art and craft.
Work without play makes Jack a dull boy
Growing in every way means training the body as well as the mind. Physical Education is, therefore a vital part of learning. Participation of children in physical education therefore plays a big role in their holistic development and this is seen in their motor skills development and performance as well as their educational potential
Through various sports and games, including the play park, the Kindergarten also strives to instill a healthy sense of competition, discipline and sportsmanship.
As the children participate in the aforementioned activities, they learn about important values such as:
Swimming is a life skill since it helps build competence and confidence in an individual. Apart from being a life skill, it is an excellent form of physical exercise as it is a non-impact activity and caters for a wide variety of skill levels. It is a skill that opens the doors to a number of other sports and may one day save your life.
In ORA, we are incredibly blessed to have our own swimming pool in the compound which was commissioned in May 2017. Swimming is taught as a lesson during the school terms as long as the weather is favorable. Teaching starts from Play group through to class 8 and it is taught by a professionally trained life-guard.
It is a great achievement for us to see pupils from play group who are initially scared to get into the water at the beginning of lessons, progress through to confident, able swimmers by the time they leave School.
NOTE:
During the school terms, only students are allowed to come and swim.
We welcome the rest of our community over the holidays for a fee. While here over the holidays, you also get to enjoy a simple lunch and soft drinks as you and your families swim.
Music helps us to make sense of the world. We all agree that without music in our day to day activities, we will be leaving in a ‘dead world’. In ORA, Music plays a big part in our time. The children have weekly music lessons, with our specialist music teacher, from Grade 1 to class 7.
We believe that every child can be a musician and should have the opportunity to discover their musical potential. Music has the power to bring people together through shared expression and enjoyment and we have designed our curriculum to equip the children with the skills and self-belief they need to participate in a rich and varied musical life. We work to cultivate a culture of performance in our school and our children love to perform and to listen to the performances of other children.
Kids can play music during their free time in order to keep them busy, an idle mind is a devil’s workshop!
The following instruments are offered at school:-
Evaluation:
Students are expected to perform during school functions.
We have recently purchased 15 new Brass instruments and a have very qualified teacher. We are proud to be able to use our own instruments for practise. The children are really enjoying and having fun while they practice.
Learning to play a musical instrument has a host of benefits for children. Researchers have found evidence that music lessons can enhance the sensitivity of the brain to speech sounds and help children improve their language skills, as well as their musical ability. Other research has found that it can boost children’s memory abilities, improve their behaviour and intelligence as a whole.
It also helps children learn to read music scores, gain better motor skills (as they need to learn how to play instruments), gain a sense of belonging when they’re in a group who all play music together. It helps boost self-confidence too and encourages social interaction.
We have the privilege of offering children the opportunity to learn one of the most highly respected dance forms, Ballet. This club will take the absolute beginner and train through the classical techniques and steps and aims for the children to be able to perform routines and give them a great grounding in this magical dance.
We have a very well trained and committed teacher who trains children who are interested from Grade 1 to class 5 and it is intergrated into the school time-table throughout the week.
At ORA, French is taught in a weekly lesson by a specialist teacher to children from Grade 3 to Class 6. Our aim is to immerse the children into the language and culture at an early age when their language learning skills are at their best. We engage them with a fun and challenging scheme of work developed to build up their level of language gradually, while promoting their curiosity in how language works.
We want learning languages to be exciting and we stress the links between French and other areas of the curriculum. We aim to celebrate this during our end of year closing days.
Education for Life
Scouting complements the school and the family, filling needs not met by either. Scouting develops self-knowledge and the need to explore, to discover, and to want to know. Scouts discover the world beyond the classroom, tapping the skills of others to learn and to become well-rounded people.
Fun with a Purpose
Scouting also achieves its purpose of helping young people develop physically, intellectually, socially, and spiritually. It is all about building confidence and self-esteem, learning important life skills and leadership skills, team building, education, and fun! Scouts learn how to make good choices and to take responsibility for their actions so that they are prepared for their adult life as independent persons.
In ORA, scouts are guided by the scouts motto and promise which are:
Scouts Motto: Be prepared.
Scouts Promise:
On my honour, I promise that
I will do my best
To do my duty
To God and to my country
To help other people at all times
And to obey the scout laws