Co-curricular is core

For whatever reason, schools have a tendency to separate the key pillars that underpin them. Our College is arguably made up of four pillars: curriculum, pastoral care, faith and service, and cocurricular. Each pillar plays a crucial role in the formation of our students. However, if we were to investigate the role that each pillar played in the formation process, we would quickly find that they are deeply entwined and integrated.

Co-curricular has always played a crucial role in the formation of students and the building of our community. Over the years, this has been recognised by our College leaders long referring to it as ‘co’ curricular, rather than ‘extra’ curricular, as it is coined in many other schools. Co- curricular at Saint Ignatius is not a ‘value add’ option, rather an integral component to the fabric of the College. the sporting fields, all experiences play a role in building neural connections that reinforce learning and development.

Additionally, in many ways there is no better place than the co-curricular environment to build the essential human competencies for life: empathy, gratitude, resilience, perseverance, teamwork, collaboration, and communication to name but a few.

Our two key frameworks, the Learning and Teaching Framework and the Wellbeing Framework, reinforce the importance and value of co-curricular at the College even further. We speak at length now about the importance of developing both cognitive and human competencies in our students. Co-curricular plays a significant role in developing our students’ ability to think and act, and to solve problems ‘in the moment’ within an ever-changing environment. From the neuroscience of learning, we also know of the strong connection between emotion and cognition in the learning process. Whether playing an emotive piece of music, performing a dramatic scene in the College musical, or experiencing the range of competitive juices that flow on

When we look at our world and the challenges young people face from a wellbeing perspective, we can again lean on co-curricular to support their development. Everyone wants to belong, whether that’s to a team, group, ensemble, cast, or crew. Companionship and a sense of belonging are essential to human functioning. The co-curricular program affords students and their families an opportunity to explore common interests with like-minded peers, building community by sharing their gifts and graces with one another.

The Saint Ignatius’ College co-curricular program plays a central role in animating what we desire for all members of our community, as expressed in our frameworks. In essence, co-curricular ensures that every student is afforded opportunities to develop the whole person, where formation and learning are a whole-body experience expressed through the head, the heart, and the hands.