High potential and gifted education

Music

Northbridge Public School offers music as a core subject, taught weekly by a specialist music teacher. Within these classes, HPGE students receive targeted support and enrichment opportunities designed to extend their musical knowledge and challenge their skills. Classroom music instruction provides these students with a rich, creative outlet that fosters critical thinking, advanced problem-solving, and heightened auditory skills, all of which contribute to their overall intellectual growth. In 2025, the school launched a campaign encouraging students, including HPGE learners, to learn an accompaniment of the NPS School Song on any instrument of their choice and perform it at a school assembly, with personalised guidance and support from their teacher. The accompaniments are available at multiple levels, ranging from very simple to highly complex arrangements, allowing HPGE students to select pieces that stretch their technical and interpretive abilities. Many students performed at our assemblies this year on a variety of instruments and were so inspirational to their peers.

Musical

Each year, students in years 5 and 6 participate in a school musical - in 2025, this was Shrek the Musical Jr! Students are given the opportunity to audition for a singing only, speaking only or singing and speaking leading role in the musical. Selected students receive small group instruction in drama and singing, which is tailored to develop their skills in a supportive and focused environment. This benefits students in a myriad of ways, from line and lyric memorisation which challenges cognitive skills like memory, concentration and sequencing, strengthening both verbal and non-verbal communication skills through voice projection and use of body language, and by building social skills through collaboration, teamwork and resilience.

Band

The Northbridge Public School Band Program offers an enriching musical experience that nurtures creativity and teamwork among students. NPS has two bands, Training Band for students in their first year of instrument learning and Concert Band for students beyond their first year of playing. It provides opportunities for HPGE students to develop their skills through challenging repertoire and leadership roles. Participation in the band fosters confidence, discipline, and a sense of community, supporting students’ overall academic and personal growth. Students perform regularly during the year, both at NPS community events, and for NPS students who are inspired by band students’ commitment and passion for music.

Choir

Students in Years 1 and 2 are invited to join the Junior Choir, and students in Years 3 to 6 are invited to join the Senior Choir. Choir offers students a fantastic opportunity to develop vocal skills and experience the joy of group music-making. Choir participation is especially beneficial for High Potential Gifted Education (HPGE) students, providing new musical challenges and opportunities to extend their abilities beyond the classroom. Singing in choir helps students strengthen memory, concentration, and listening skills as they learn and perform varied repertoire. It also supports literacy and language development through focused work on lyrics and diction. Additionally, students have opportunities to showcase their hard work through solo and small group performances, allowing them to build confidence and develop their individual musical skills in a supportive setting. The choirs perform at a wide range of community and school focused events, including the Festival of Children’s Music at the Chatswood Concourse.

Debating

Debating at Northbridge Public School provides students with an opportunity to develop their critical thinking, public speaking, and teamwork skills in a supportive and challenging environment. Each year, we form school debating teams from students in Years 5 and 6 who participate in the Premier’s Debating Challenge against other local schools. Our students learn how to respond to topics, build persuasive arguments, and present their ideas with confidence and clarity.

Debating also encourages collaboration, as students work together to prepare cases and practise rebuttals, learning to listen respectfully and respond thoughtfully to opposing viewpoints.

Through regular practice sessions and constructive feedback from adjudicators, our debaters continue to grow and refine their skills. Whether competing as a main team or supporting as reserves, timekeepers, or chairpeople, every student involved gains valuable experience. We are proud of the commitment and enthusiasm our students show for debating each year and celebrate the teamwork and learning that comes from being part of this program.

Indigenous Connections

During National Reconciliation Week our SRC leaders ran a special whole school assembly. They explained what Reconciliation means and the significance of learning about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and explored how we can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. Learning about our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and history plays an important part of school life at NPS as we give an Acknowledgement of Country in each classroom and at all school events. Students We have also read books which explore Indigenous culture and in Visual Arts lessons students appreciated the work of contemporary and traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists which inspired them to create their own creative artworks.

This year we celebrated NAIDOC Week with a special whole school assembly led by our SRC leaders. The theme this year is The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy. This theme honours the incredible strength and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, as well as the powerful vision and legacy that our Elders and communities leave for our future generations. During our assembly we were delighted to have special guests join us, Indigenous performer Darlene and her duo partner Mary. Some highlights included listening to jazz, singing ‘We are Australian’ and joining in dancing to ‘Nutbush City’. SRC presented information about the significance of NAIDOC Week and ways that we can support National NAIDOC Week. Students from across the school took part by creating and exhibiting artworks about Australian flora and fauna. These creations were inspired by works from Aboriginal artists of the Yirrkala, north-east Arnhem Land.

Sport - PSSA @ NPS

At Northbridge Public School, our Primary Schools Sports Association (PSSA) program provides students in Stage 2 and Stage 3 with the opportunity to participate in AFL, netball, and soccer. This program supports the development, refinement, and consolidation of sport-specific skills and aligns with our High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) framework, particularly within the physical domain of excellence.

Our PSSA sport is structured in a gala day format, where students are placed into teams to compete in scheduled competitions throughout the school year. Games are organised into fixtures with set draws and divisions, ensuring fair, inclusive, and enjoyable participation for all students regardless of age or skill level.

At Northbridge Public School, the PSSA and HPGE programs work hand-in-hand to promote active participation, skill development, and a love of sport in a supportive and encouraging environment. We encourage all eligible students to get involved, have fun, and grow through the power of sport and teamwork.

Sport - Sporting Pathways @ NPS

Our school sporting calendar offers a wide range of opportunities that cater to diverse sporting interests and abilities. Students are invited to trial, progress and compete across multiple sporting pathways throughout the year.

Earlier this year, our students proudly represented the school at the Zone Athletics Carnival held at ES Marks Athletics Field. This event is part of a broader series of carnivals that include swimming, cross country, and athletics championships, held annually. In addition, students also have access to over 20 additional sports through zone trial pathways. These trials offer opportunities for students with experience and passion in specific sports with the chance to qualify and compete at zone, regional, state and national level events.

These opportunities are open to all students and are particularly valuable for those identified through our High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) program. Participation in these events helps students build skills, grow in confidence, and proudly represent Northbridge Public School on wider competitive stages. We encourage all students to get involved and take advantage of the exciting sporting experiences available throughout the school year.

Operation Art

This year, 8 budding artists from K - 6 have been busily engaged in creating vibrant and thoughtful pieces for Operation Art, a program that celebrates the creativity of young people across NSW. With great care and imagination, students explored colour, emotion, and storytelling through their paintings, proudly contributing to a project that brings joy to hospital environments. Their work may one day hang in a local gallery or even be selected as one of 50 pieces gifted to the Children’s Hospital at Westmead - an exciting opportunity that inspires students to express themselves while making a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

Tournament of Minds

This year two NPS teams competed in the Sydney North Regional Tournament of Minds at UNSW Kensington. The STEM team presented a prototype, demonstrating its potential impact and showcasing their creative problem-solving and engineering skills. Both teams also faced an unseen spontaneous challenge, testing their ability to think quickly, creatively, and work together under pressure. It required rapid idea generation and strong teamwork, which both teams handled exceptionally well.

Throughout the competition, both teams exemplified the core values of Tournament of Minds—teamwork, inclusivity, and creativity. They learned how to compromise and let go of individual ideas in favour of collaborative solutions, strengthening their ability to work as a cohesive unit. By embracing different perspectives and working together, the teams delivered outstanding performances. We are incredibly proud of how they turned these learning experiences into opportunities for growth, demonstrating creativity, teamwork, and resilience throughout the process.