Our weekly music sessions in Campbell House are always eagerly anticipated by our young learners. This specialist program is integral to our curriculum. Musical experiences are embedded within the children’s daily classroom programs and as educators, we highly value the role of music within our learning environment.

There are many learning benefits of children engaging with music. Over time, children develop their listening skills, concentration, perseverance, creativity, imagination and memory by engaging with music. Through immersive music and movement experiences, the children begin to gain an understanding of musical concepts such as rhythm, pitch, beat, tempo and tone. Working in a group also requires skills such as cooperation, communication and self-regulation.

Music and movement go hand in hand. When the children are totally immersed in music and movement experiences, their mind and body are working simultaneously. Music strengthens the connection between the body and the brain.

Incorporating music into a child’s life at a young age plays an important role in language and personal development. It supports children to associate sounds of letters with words and enhances listening skills that will later be useful for interpreting information. In addition, music exercises the left side of the brain, which processes language.

The link between music and effective learning has been highly researched. This research indicates that through music, children construct strong thinking skills when they are predicting, organising, imagining, anticipating, repeating, extending and inventing. A 2016 study at the University of Southern California’s Brain and Creativity Institute found that musical experiences in childhood can actually accelerate brain development, particularly in the areas of language acquisition and reading skills.

For these reasons, along with the pure delight and enjoyment that music brings, music is highly valued within our early learning programs.

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Out of School Hours Care

St Catherine’s School offers an Out of School Hours Care program to all ELC and Junior School families. The program is implemented by our provider ‘After the Bell’, and operates within the ELC building. Parents are reminded that if you need to use the Before School Care or After School Care service, registrations need to be made in advance with ‘After the Bell’. Please allow up to five business days for your registration to be processed before your child can begin attending the program. Registration is free. All families are encouraged to register so that you can use this service in the event that you are unable to pick up your child.

Before School Care – 7.00am to 8.45am

After School Care – 3.00pm to 6.00pm

Registrations can be completed via the ‘After the Bell’ website.

Please phone 9758 6744 for all enquiries.