Unique offering at Holy Spirit St Clair

Holy Spirit Students and their string instruments

Holy Spirit Primary School St Clair is fortunate to offer a unique music program to their primary students.

The ensemble program is in its third year and allows Year 3 and 4 students to play instruments such as violins and cellos — which not many schools are set up to teach — without the cost of purchase or private tuition.

Mr Glenn Green, Music Teacher at Holy Spirit, says interest has grown since the program’s inception. “Parents are grateful that their child has the option of learning a musical instrument within the school at an affordable price and some students select to participate in additional lessons which are offered to small groups of students in Years 3 to 6”.

Students also have the opportunity to perform at school assemblies and masses. Year 5 student Jada Thomson plays the viola in the school’s string ensemble. She says these are opportunities to share with the wider community. ‘‘It’s fun and exciting,’’ Jada said. ‘‘The viola is bigger and has more strings than the violin. I like the strings and the sound of it. It’s slow and relaxing.’’

Research states that the consequence of children who study music is accelerated learning in other academic subjects. If a child studies music constantly over a period of time, they do better in school in many ways, including academically and socially. The earlier a child begins studying music, the more the child’s brain growth will be influenced.

Principal Anne Hines says “Our school recognises the unique learning path that each child takes whilst providing a rich array of stimulating experiences for students.”

Written By

Holy Spirit Primary St Clair
www.hsstclair.catholic.edu.au

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20 Feb 2026
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Our Year 1 stars have been leveling up their literacy skills by crafting Super Sentences! To make their writing truly ""super,"" the students are becoming grammar detectives. They are learning how to build strong sentences by identifying the two most important ingredients: The ""Who"" or ""What"": Identifying Nouns and highlighting them in Blue. 🔵 The ""Action"": Identifying Verbs (what they are doing!) and highlighting them in Orange. 🟠 By color-coding their work, our young authors are ensuring every sentence tells a complete and exciting story. Check out some of their colorful masterpieces below! #Year1 #SuperSentences #LiteracyLinks #NSWPrimarySchools #GrammarGurus"

20 Feb 2026
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In English, year 5 have been learning how to compose persuasive texts. Students are writing texts to try to convince their teachers that 'Students should choose their own seats in class'. 🪑 Some of their reasons include the fact that they will be happier students, they will be more focussed on their learning and it will also teach them responsibility. 😀 They are experimenting with the use of both modal and emotive language in their writing to clearly present their arguments in the hope their teachers will share their opinion. Well done year 5.