Specialist Subjects

Specialist Subjects at Parkside

Specialist Subjects at Parkside Primary School provide students with opportunities to explore creativity, movement, communication, self-expression, language and culture through Chinese, Physical Education, Performing Arts and Visual Arts.

These programs help students build confidence, skills, and a broader understanding of themselves and the world around them.

Physical Education

At Parkside Primary School, we are committed to fostering healthy, active lifestyles in alignment with the South Australian Health and Physical Education Curriculum.

Every student participates in a 45minute Physical Education lesson each week, delivered by our specialist PE teacher. These lessons focus on building fundamental movement skills, developing game sense, enhancing spatial awareness, and encouraging teamwork and fair play.

In addition to P.E, government sports grants provide opportunities for all students to experience sports clinics in a range of things such as tennis, volleyball, gymnastics.

At the end of Term 1 we hold our much anticipated Sports Day, where our House Captains work with our P.E teacher to organise a range of activities for all students.

School Sport SA

Students aged 10 and above are eligible to represent our school in School Sport SA (formerly SAPSASA) programs, including cross country, swimming, and athletics.

Year 5/6 students also have the opportunity to participate in knock-out sports competitions throughout the year, developing skills in leadership, collaboration, and resilience.

Chinese

At Parkside Primary School, students have the opportunity to learn Chinese as part of our language program.

Learning Chinese helps students develop communication skills, cultural understanding and an appreciation of one of the world’s oldest and most influential cultures.

Through engaging and age-appropriate lessons, students build their skills in speaking, listening, reading and writing Chinese, while also exploring traditions, celebrations, stories and everyday life in Chinese-speaking communities.

Our Chinese program encourages curiosity, confidence and respect for cultural diversity, helping students become informed and globally aware learners.

Performing Arts

At Parkside Primary School, Performing Arts supports students to explore ideas, build skills and grow in confidence.

Through Music, Drama and Dance, students engage in rich learning experiences that develop strong knowledge of the Arts, practical skills in creating and performing, and important dispositions such as resilience, collaboration, creativity, and reflection.

Our Performing Arts teacher also runs our choir programme, with Junior Primary choir being offered for Year 3-4 and then Senior Choir in Year 5/6.

Students in the Senior Choir participate in the Festival of Music and perform in September at the Festival Theatre.

Visual Arts

At Parkside Primary School, Visual Arts provides students with opportunities to explore creativity, express ideas, and develop confidence through artistic learning experiences.

Students engage with a range of art forms, techniques and materials, building their skills while learning to appreciate both their own work and the work of others.

Our Visual Arts program encourages imagination, experimentation and personal expression, while also helping students develop fine motor skills, critical thinking, and an understanding of artistic processes.

Every second year we hold an Art Show, where every student creates and displays a piece of artwork. This event celebrates student creativity and achievement, and provides our school community with the opportunity to enjoy and recognise the artistic talents of all learners.