A Look at the Diverse Extracurricular Opportunities on Offer at DHSVAD

We extend a warm welcome to all our returning students! We’re really looking forward to this year - we hope you are too.

It is so important to engage in the extra-curricular side of school life for a multitude of reasons. A study in the Journal of Preventive Medicine found that:

• Adolescents who participated in extracurricular activities were significantly less likely to engage in recreational screen-based activities for two or more hours after school.

• Taking part in extracurricular activities was associated with higher levels of life satisfaction and optimism, and lower levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms.

• Longer screen time (more than two hours a day) was associated with lower levels of life satisfaction and optimism, and higher levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms.

• Mental health is strongest when teens participated in extracurricular activities and spent less than two hours on screen time.

That is why we welcome and meet students where they are at with their creative and performing arts journeys. No prior experience is needed to be a part of our programs.

We’ll talk you through some of our upcoming programs that we’d love students to participate in.

Music Programs

Music Ensembles are in Full Swing!

Congratulations to our fantastic Year 7's who have already signed up for our music ensemble programs.  It’s not too late to sign up if you haven’t already! Speak to Mr Fitzgerald in the CAPA staffroom if you’d like to join any of the ensembles!

Here's the schedule for our ensemble programs:

• Tuesday: Concert Band (2:40 - 4:00PM)

• Wednesday AM: Vocal Ensemble (7:30 - 8:45AM)

• Wednesday PM: Stage Band/Jazz Collective (3:05 - 4:20PM)

• Thursday AM: Junior Rock Band (7:40 - 8:40AM)

• Thursday PM: Senior Rock Band (3:05 - 4:20PM)

Music Excursions on the Horizon

Vocal Ensemble - InConcert Program: Vocal ensemble students are invited to join the InConcert program, where they'll rehearse a piece to be performed with 500 other choir students at Sydney Town Hall in May.

Year 11 Music Gamelan Workshops: Year 11 Music students will participate in a workshop focussing on the traditional Balinese instrument, the Gamelan.

Drama Programs

Drama Ensembles

Years 7, 8 and 9 Drama Ensembles are underway and are hosted every Tuesday afternoon from 2:40-4:00PM. It’s not too late to join and ensemble notes have been sent out on School ENews. Students can also collect a note from Mr Quaglia in the CAPA staffroom.

Drama Excursions

Performance Appreciation Club Excursions: Year 10 and 11 clubs will soon receive a note about our upcoming trio of shows with Belvoir Theatre and Year 12 Performance Appreciation Club will kick off shortly with a mix of Belvoir and Griffin Theatre productions.

Onstage Success: 40 Drama students from Year 10, 11, and 12 enjoyed a successful outing to see the best HSC works from 2024 at the Seymour Centre.

Theatre Recommendations

For our theatre enthusiasts, here are some upcoming highlights:

• Picnic at Hanging Rock is currently showing at Sydney Theatre Company - An Australian Gothic classic.

• The Dictionary of Lost Words will be showing at Sydney Theatre Company throughout March.

• Big Girls Don’t Cry coming up at Belvoir St Theatre is looking to be a hilarious romp!

Dance Programs

For all our students passionate about dance here are some opportunities where we welcome all experience levels:

Year 7 Dance Ensemble - Tuesday mornings from 7:40-8:40AM.

Senior Dance Ensemble (Years 8-12) - Tuesday mornings from 7:40-8:40AM.

Dance Excursions

Stay tuned for upcoming Dance Excursions - preparation for Pulse Alive, School Spectacular and Dance Appreciation Club are currently underway.

If you’d like to chat anything Dance related, please reach out to Ms Lukezic or Ms Swadling in the PDHPE staffroom.

Adelaide Tour

From Thursday 26 February to Sunday 2 March, 44 of our Year 11 and 12 Dance, Music, and Drama students headed down to witness eight different shows as part of the Adelaide Festival 2025. They also participated in an Art Gallery visit and four Adelaide Writers Festival workshops. It was an incredible trip! We will provide you with an article recap in the next edition of the Newsletter.

Until Next Time

As always, we are here to support your kids creativity. If there's anything they'd like to discuss, they can find us in the staffroom next to the A Block bathrooms. Feel free to even just say hi!

We look forward to getting to know all our Performing Arts students even better!