Enrichment and Extension Opportunities
Lauriston Girls’ School
Enrichment and Extension Opportunities
Lauriston’s aim is for all students to be active participants in a learning environment that enables them to participate in a range of curriculum and co-curricular experiences that enrich their learning, nurtures their talents and challenges them to reach their potential At Lauriston we strive to provide a range of offerings that will encourage students to develop their interests and talents.
Therefore, enrichment is provided for all students through both the classroom setting and co- curricular activities, various school-based clubs, community service activities and leadership opportunities.
For some students, extension activities build upon the core curriculum by extending students’ learning beyond what is typically covered in the classroom. Within the classroom , extension tasks encourage students to explore concepts at a deeper level, making connections between different areas of knowledge. In addition, students may participate in external competitions or take up opportunities to participate in school activities that go beyond what is taught in the classroom.
Some co-curricular activities may require enrolment and there will be terms and conditions to participate. Parents and students are encouraged to read the Co-curricular Handbook to learn about the enrolment terms and conditions.
Cover: artwork by senior student Jing Jing, a finalist in the Young Laurie Portrait Competition
Lauriston Girls’ School Enrichment and Extension Opportunities | 2 Correct at time of publication, 15 May 2025. All information is subject to change.
Chess
• Victorian Primary zonal competition
• Victorian State Championships
• Chess Club Years 1-6
Community Service
The following activities provides an overview of the enriching activities that may be offered:
Compass Award Program for Years 5 and 6
Duke of Edinburgh Program for Years 9 to 12
Drama
• Master classes and workshops - professional actors/directors/dramaturges come to run master classes
• Live Theatre visits to see professional companies - allows students to see work in action and inspire them for both written and performance work
• School Plays and Musicals - Opportunities to work both on stage as performers and behind the scenes as designers of sound, lighting, make up, costume, props and sets for school plays and musical
• Years 4 to 6 lunchtime Drama Club
English
• Debating: Lauriston students participate in the Debaters Association of Victoria competition which:
o promotes confidence and effective public presentation
o encourages logical and critical thinking, social awareness and an interest in current affairs
o is multi-disciplinary meaning that debating techniques can be used in all subject areas
o addresses the ‘critical and creative thinking’, ‘ethical’, ‘intercultural’, and ‘personal and social’ dimensions of the Victorian Curriculum.
• Independent Schools Victoria poetry competition
• Boroondara Literary Awards
• In House Creative Writing Workshops run by members of staff, including our own published poet Saradha Koirala
• Stonnington Short Story Writing Competition held in June
• Australian Wide writing competitions such as the Melinda Datogini Young Writer Competition for Year 10 students
• Melbourne Writers Festival – Years 5-6. Invitation only. 24 students
• Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee – Invitation only for Years 3&4. All students in Years 5&6
Lauriston Girls’ School Enrichment and Extension Opportunities | 3 Correct at time of publication, 15 May 2025. All information is subject to change.
• ICAS English Years 3-6. Parent sign-up
• Years 5 and 6 Public Speaking Competition
Entrepreneurship
Years 5 and 6 Entrepreneurship Program
Humanities
• Australian Geography Competition is open to students from Years 7 to 12
• Australian History Competitions is open to students from Years 7 to 10
• Future Problem-Solving program
Languages Other Than English
French
• French Assistant - tailoring sessions to student ability and includes differentiation, flexible pace, reflection and analysis. Students may work one-on-one or in small groups.
French language immersion trips (Years 10, 11 and 12)
Language immersion study trips move beyond what’s possible in a traditional classroom, encouraging gifted students to stretch their language abilities, cultural competencies, and critical thinking skills in a real-world environment through:
• Authentic context and real-world application
• Deep cultural engagement
• Advanced language acquisition
• Critical thinking and problem-solving
• Interpersonal and emotional growth
• Motivation and independence
Dedicated extension programs (Year 10)
• We have a dedicated extension course in Year 10 that uses a different textbook.
• This offers intellectual depth, challenge, advanced content, individualised pathways, and authentic, interdisciplinary experiences.
• Students follow similar themes but read, listen and view more advanced texts, have more advanced writing and speaking class tasks.
Berthe Mouchette speaking and writing competitions
• This competition offers creative expression and innovation (artistic outlet and personal voice), higher level thinking and language mastery, confidence and emotional development, inspiration and real world relevance, and the potential for interdisciplinary connections.
Tailored extension activities
• Students are offered extension possibilities as required. This could include examples such as:
• French readers (Year 8)
• An extension channel in Teams with extension activities (Year 10)
• Years 4 to 6 Alliance Francaise program
Chinese
• Chinese assistant - tailoring sessions to abilities, working with groups of different abilities. Chinese speaking and writing competitions
• Year 10 and 11 SLA and First Language writing and speaking competitions. These competitions offer creative expression and innovation (artistic outlet and personal voice), higher level thinking and language mastery, confidence and emotional development, inspiration and real-world relevance, and the potential for interdisciplinary connections.
Chinese language immersion trips
Language immersion study trips move beyond what’s possible in a traditional classroom, encouraging gifted students to stretch their language abilities, cultural competencies, and critical thinking skills in a real-world environment through:
• Authentic context and real-world application
• Deep cultural engagement
• Advanced language acquisition
• Critical thinking and problem-solving
• Interpersonal and emotional growth
• Motivation and independence
• Long-term educational and career benefits
Dedicated extension programs – Years 7-10
• The dedicated extension courses – Chinese SL extension - use a different textbook.
• This offers intellectual depth, challenge, advanced content, individualised pathways, and authentic, interdisciplinary experiences.
• Students follow similar themes but read, listen and view more advanced texts, have more advanced writing and speaking class tasks. Students complete different (more advanced) assessment tasks.
Tailored extension activities
Students are offered extension possibilities as required. This could include examples such as:
• Years 8 and 9 tailored extension materials for students who have completed several years of primary education in China and newly arrived students after Year 7 (a separate course with a different textbook).
• Prep to Year 4 after school Mandarin class
Latin
• Tailored extension activities
• Students are offered extension possibilities as required. This could include examples such as: additional translation material; additional activities linked to their History Projects; Comprehensible input-based activities Spanish
• Spanish assistant / one on one speaking sessions - tailoring sessions to abilities
• Tailored extension activities
• Students are offered extension class activities as required
Library Activities
• Author visits/talks and writing workshops throughout the year
• Annual excursion to the Melbourne Writers Festival (for Year 10 students)
• KidsLit interschool reading competition at Year 7 (2 x teams of 4 students)
• Book clubs at each year level, (including a book buying excursion to a bookshop at Year 7)
• House Reading Challenge and Principal’s Reading Challenge at Year 10
• Co-ordination of the Australian Computational and Linguistics Competition (OzCLO) competition – the opportunity to problem solve in small teams
• Promotion of writing competitions, including the Independent Schools Victoria (ISV) Poetry Competition, Hachette Australian Prize for young writers, plus others
• Activities organised around celebrating books and reading during Book Week each year, plus other events such as Library Lovers’ Day.
• Study Club on Mondays and Tuesdays
• Library committee provides peer-to-peer opportunities for students to run meetings and work collaboratively to organise library events.
• Digital and physical resources from the Senior Library support and nurture the interests and passions of all students including those gifted and talented.
• Lunchtime activities, such as Puzzle Club
Music
• Lauriston in Recital
• Masterclasses where appropriate for instrumental and vocal students
• VSMF for Band and String groups
• Music examinations - AMEB and/or other syllabi
• Recital Program - Lunchtime opportunities through to afternoon and evening recitals.
• Chamber Music Program
• Orchestral Concerto
• Choir (before school Years 2-4)
• Strings (before school Years 1 and 2)
Mathematics Extension and Enrichment
Legend:
APSMO | Australasian Problem Solving Mathematical Olympiads
ICAS | International Competitions and Assessments for Schools
AMC | Australian Maths Competition
MAV | Maths Association of Victoria
Enrichment and open to all students Item
Enrichment Class (by selection)
3 times a week
Problem solving and reasoning
Maths Challenge or Maths Enrichment program from AMC
MAV Maths Games Days
Extension class
Twice a fortnight
Students come out of normal maths class
Maths Enrichment program from AMC
$55.20 per student
year 5, 6
year 4 – 6
Flexible entry and exit From Term 2 7
Extension class
Separate class stream
Complete year 8 and majority of year 9 curriculums
Flexible entry and exit
Accelerated class
Separate class stream
Complete year 10 pathway (i.e. 10A) curriculum
Fixed class
Extension class
Separate class stream
Complete year 10 pathway (i.e. 10A) curriculum
Flexible entry and exit
Accelerated class
Separate class stream
Complete Maths Methods Unit 1&2 curriculum
Fixed class
Australian Intermediate Mathematics Olympiad
$25.00 per student
year 8
year 9
year 10
year 10
Selected students only September 7 – 10
Physical Education and Sport
• School Sport Victoria pathway
• GSV Sport
• GSV Finals nights
• GSV representative teams (v AGS / APS)
• Athletics Victoria Cross Country
• Athletics Victoria Track & Field
• Camps (swimming, cross-country, track & field)
• Strength & conditioning
• Rowing program
• Snowsports
• Lauriston Recreational Sport program
• Lauriston Netball Club
• Lauriston Basketball Club
• Years 3 to 6 Running Club
• Years 2 and 3 Sport Skills
• Junior Schol Diving
• Junior School Yoga
• Junior School Interschool sport for Years 5 and 6
Science
• Robotics Club – offers competitions and activities
• Stem Club – offers competitions and activities
• Stem Investigations (e.g. creating AI Animal, Fab Lab projects) - Years 3-6
Science Competitions Competition
Sleek Geeks
IB Biol/Psych students Entries close 14 April
Big Science Competition Year 7-10
50 minutes online Morning 12/5
Science Talent Search 12 x Year10 Early August
Junior Science Olympiad Year 9 and 10 Year 7&8
2 hours online
International Chemistry Quiz
Year 11 and 12 Chemistry students
Year 10 Optional
11th June 4-6pm 13th June (have requested change to 11 June)
60 minutes online 4-8 August
Chemistry Olympiad 2 hours online (Year 10-12)
In class for Y11&12 (backing onto tutor time or a break)
Need a Y10 time (wed p1 if all blocked on together)
7 August 3.15-5.30pm (up against GSV
(Any day between 7-17 August)
Biology Olympiad 2 hours online (Year 10-12) Anytime day between 5&15 August
Physics Olympiad 2 hours online (Year 10-12) 4 August 3.15-5.30pm (up against GS)
Science Week
(Any day between 4-14 August)
Theme “Decoding the Universe” 9-17 August
Social Sciences
• Model UN for students from Years 7 to 12
• Ethics Olympiad competition for students who enjoy critical and creative thinking
• Ethics Centre Young Writers’ competition
• Monash University Business School excursion to explore behavioural and experimental economics
• VCE students may choose to extend with additional Study Guide activities
Technology
• Years 7 to 12 STEM Club
• Years 5 and 6 Minecraft Club
• Year 6 Podcast Club
• Years 2 to 6 Tinker Club
• Years 3 to 6 Coding Club
Visual Arts
• Young Laurie Portrait Competition open for all students
• Little Darlings Youth Portrait Prize, run by the National Portrait Gallery open for all students
• Fortnightly lunch time Art Club with our student Visual Arts Captains and our Head of Visual Arts
• Art club Years 1 and 2
• Prep to Year 6 Drawing Competition
Lauriston Girls’ School Enrichment and Extension Opportunities | 10 Correct at time of publication, 15 May 2025. All information is subject to change.
