Programs
Extra-Curricular Programs
Kitchen Garden Program
Our Kitchen Garden Program (KGP) provides students with hands‑on opportunities to design, build and maintain a productive garden. Students grow and harvest fruit and vegetables, follow recipes and prepare food to share with the school community. With opportunities to host whole‑school and community events, the program strengthens connections while generating funds to support future garden projects.
KGP is facilitated by classroom teachers with support from ES staff, with additional volunteers invited to assist during special events. Throughout the program, students engage with key concepts related to healthy eating and biology. The real‑world, hands‑on nature of the program also provides a strong foundation for literacy and numeracy, inspiring students to create recounts, procedural texts, informative pieces, persuasive writing, invitations and event advertising.
KGP is timetabled once per fortnight and operates through two learning groups, combining students in Foundation through to Year 6. Promoting meaningful partnerships, encouraging mentoring, cooperation and positive buddy relationships.
Animal Care Program
Our Animal Care Program gives students the opportunity to care for a range of animal species. The program currently includes our chickens and, building on student interest, is expected to expand to include lizards, birds, stick insects and other suitable school pets.
Students learn the needs of each animal, design care routines, and implement feeding and cleaning timetables. Inquiry learning in biology and mathematics is naturally embedded throughout the program. There are also rich literacy opportunities, encouraging students to write recounts, procedural texts, persuasive pieces, informative reports and narratives.
The Animal Care Program is delivered by classroom teachers with support from ES staff. Students participate once per fortnight, alternating with the Kitchen Garden Program, further promoting cross‑age learning and meaningful relationships between students.
The presence of animals on campus also provides valuable emotional support for students who may need a moment to regulate.
Genius Hour
Genius Hour empowers students to pursue a project driven by personal passion. Whether exploring design and construction, investigating science or humanities topics, or contributing to student leadership through the SRC.
Students set goals, investigate their interests and create meaningful outcomes with teacher guidance. Across their projects, students develop essential metacognitive, personal and interpersonal capabilities, while drawing on literacy and numeracy skills such as research, data collection, measurement and communication.
Genius Hour runs weekly and uses flexible Foundation to Year 6 multi‑age learning groups. Students nominate their projects, and teachers support them by identifying and explicitly teaching the inquiry skills needed for success. Staff ensure learning is appropriately differentiated, enabling meaningful engagement for students at all year levels.
Community volunteers with specialised expertise may be invited to assist when needed.
Creativity Hour
Creativity Hour encourages students to explore their artistic passions through projects such as rock band, visual arts and other creative pathways. Students choose a focus area, set goals and work alongside teachers to develop skills in performance or visual arts. Through hands‑on creation, students build confidence, collaboration skills and creative thinking. All student work will contribute to an inspiring showcase at the ACPS 150 celebration, complementing learning from our specialist Music and Art programs.
The program runs weekly, with students working in mixed‑year groups to support rich collaboration and differentiation. Teachers identify the skills students need to progress in their chosen creative pathway, providing targeted support and fostering inquiry and creative thinking. Literacy links arise naturally as students produce recounts, procedural texts, informative writing, persuasive pieces, invitations and advertising materials.
ACPS Writers Festival featuring the Carol Cardyle Writing Award
Arthurs Creek Primary School is proud to launch the ACPS Writers Festival in 2026. Held each November, the festival celebrates student creativity and effort in written expression. All students are invited to anonymously submit up to three original pieces created throughout the year. Submissions may include narratives, poems, informative texts, persuasive pieces or any other writing form that showcases each student’s unique voice. Anonymity ensures a fair and unbiased judging process.
The festival culminates in the presentation of two major awards: the Carol Cardyle Writers Award and the Most Improved Writer Award. Recipients are honoured with a perpetual trophy, an individual certificate and a voucher in recognition of their achievement. Beyond celebrating achievement, the festival fosters a strong writing culture across the school, encouraging students to take pride in their work, set personal goals and share their creativity with the wider community.
Maths Olympiad Program
The Maths Olympiad Program provides extension opportunities for students with a strong interest and aptitude in mathematics. Designed to stretch and challenge learners, the program focuses on problem‑solving, logical reasoning, strategic thinking and perseverance. Students engage with rich, non‑routine mathematical tasks that encourage deep thinking, collaboration and the application of concepts in new and complex ways.
Participants may take part in formal Olympiad competitions as well as school‑based problem‑solving sessions. The program not only extends high‑achieving mathematicians but also helps students develop confidence, resilience and a growth mindset. Through targeted guidance from teachers, the Maths Olympiad Program fosters a genuine love of mathematics.
