Clubs and Activities

Walford offers a range of Arts and Cultural experiences and activities for students to enjoy outside of the classroom. Students are able to learn new skills, develop their self-confidence and be part of a larger group, growing their interest and engagement in pursuits they can enjoy for the rest of their lives.

Chess Club

Chess Club caters for all levels of players. The Chess Club holds weekly practices for girls in Years 3 – 12 who are interested in learning or playing chess.

A coach assists in developing skills, strategy and enjoyment of the game. Students then have the option of participating in the inter-school chess competition. Chess develops critical thinking, problem solving and decision making.

da Vinci Decathlon

The da Vinci Decathlon is an academic competition taking place annually, designed to challenge and stimulate the minds of school students. Students compete in teams of eight across 10 disciplines including: Mathematics, English, Science, Code breaking, Engineering, Ideation, Creative Producers, Art and Poetry, Cartography and General Knowledge. The da Vinci Decathlon is open to Middle School students.

Debating

Debating allows students to build critical thinking skills in a positive and supported environment. Our debaters compete against other schools, and work with a coach to help improve their debating abilities. Debating season runs in Term 2 and 3, with students meeting once a week to practise and prepare during this time.

Environmental Club with Humanitarian Objectives (ECHO)

ECHO aims to create a more environmentally conscious and socially aware school community through activities and projects.

Meetings are held fortnightly throughout the year. Students discuss current affairs, plan activities, and organise fundraising activities, all with the aim of growing advocacy and agency around environmental and humanitarian causes.

Junior School Culture Club

The Junior School Culture Club aims to identify the diverse cultures within our school and create opportunities for students to celebrate their background and beliefs in a fun and informative environment.

Celebrations include dancing, sharing languages and stories, cooking and exploring art in various cultures. Culture Club members develop a sense of pride in the multicultural and diverse aspects of our school community.

Mock Trials and Mooting

Students are given an opportunity to argue a fictional case against an opposing school team. This requires review of case materials, preparation of addresses and witness statement analysis. Cases are heard in front of a judge and points awarded for how effectively the students address the case. Both mock trials and mooting give girls an opportunity to collaboratively solve problems and build confidence. Students are guided and receive feedback from practitioners, which helps develop skills for their future.

Reconciliation Action Plan Committee

Walford’s Reconciliation Action Plan Committee is comprised of students and staff across three sub-schools who meet regularly during the year to plan events and activities that support the School’s Reconciliation Action Plan. The Committee’s vision is to grow our understanding of and respect for our nation’s first people to empower our community to embrace and contribute to a reconciled Australia. The Committee reviews and implements a reconciliation plan, participates in National Reconciliation and NAIDOC Week as well as initiates whole school assemblies and learning activities in support of reconciliation. We are grateful to be supported by Kaurna leaders in the community who help us with our learning and action.

Tournament of Minds (TOM)

Tournament of Minds (TOM) is a creative problem-solving competition offered to students in Years 5 – 10. Mixed year level teams compete in one of four categories – Engineering Mathematics, Social Sciences, Language Literature or Applied Technology.

The competition is judged on two components; a spontaneous problem and a six-week challenge. During tournament training students are presented with problems they collaboratively solve and present in the space of a few minutes.

The six-week challenge is released in early Term 3 and students are expected to attend at least one after school session per week as determined by the team and the staff facilitator.

Gymnastics Club

The Gymnastics Club is a popular activity available to all Junior School students. Running in the Walford Sports Centre every Friday after school during Terms 1, 2 and 3, students improve their fitness and develop recreational gymnastics skills in a fun and supportive environment.

Art Club

Participants in the Art Club undertake a range of group and individual activities determined by the students. Art Club provides the opportunity to work on new and different projects distinct from those being undertaken in class. The content each term is discussed and negotiated with students and covers a wide range of media.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award presents young people with a range of voluntary activities that encourage personal discovery and growth, self-reliance, perseverance, responsibility to oneself and service to the community.

It is a unique self-development program that helps to foster leadership, confidence, teamwork, communication, motivation and independence. Students can gain SACE points for their involvement in the Award and it is a valuable addition to a young person’s repertoire of capabilities.

Coding and Robotics Club

Coding and Robotics Club is offered to students in the Junior School. Meeting each week, students have the opportunity to learn the basics of coding and expand their social, intellectual and problem-solving skills through project-based education. Year 5 students participate in RoboCup Junior, which encourages young people to take an interest in scientific and technological fields, to cultivate their interest through robotic competitions and to learn through hands-on creation.

Rostrum Voice of Youth

Rostrum has organised the Voice of Youth speaking competition since 1975 to contribute to the welfare and personal growth of Australian youth. Public speaking provides the opportunity to gain experience and confidence in expressing views and communicating a message. Students compete in other public speaking platforms when the opportunity arises, such as Lions Youth of the Year, Plain English Speaking Awards and My First Speech.

Junior School Science Club

During Term 2 and Term 3 students in Year 3 and 4 have the opportunity to engage in fun and challenging science activities. These range from viewing specimens under the microscope, preparing samples and hypothesising, all of which are based around the biological sciences. There are opportunities for student-driven projects and interests to be explored.

Science Club

Science Club is held weekly. Middle School girls are able to choose from a wide selection of experiments and then undertake them. Equipment and materials are supplied and assistance is plentiful. Science Club allows students to perform the required number of experiments to achieve the SPECTRA award that is offered through the Science Teachers’ Association helping them become more proficient in the use of laboratory equipment, problem solving and in self-directed processes.

There is nothing we love more than introducing families to our School and the Walford learning experience. To visit our school and see our top-class facilities we welcome you to book a private tour, or join one of our upcoming small group tours.