Our Cognito program offers a rich and wide variety of cocurricular, enrichment activities. Students are provided with a wide range of opportunities so they can explore an area of interest, apply their knowledge to real-world problems and present to real-world audiences, challenge themselves, learn new things and develop relationships.

Cognito activities may include:

• Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA)
• School art exhibition
• Art club
• Choir
• Contemporary ensemble
• Drama club
• Drum ensemble
• Guitar ensemble
• Rock band
• Stage band
  
  English
• Cognito reading challenge
• Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Competition
  Enrichment Day and LGS Poetry Competition
• English Honours award
• Future Leaders writers competition
• HICES debating
• Kids’ Lit quiz
• Lakes illustration prize
• LGS spelling bee
• NAIDOC week activities
• Premier’s Reading Challenge
• Write a Book in a Day (WABIAD)
• Questions writing prize
• Reading challenge
• The Schools Reconciliation Challenge
  
  History
• Australian History Competition
• The National History Challenge
  
  HSIE
• The Australian Geography competition
• Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA)
• da Vinci Decathlon
  
  Mathematics
  HICES maths tournament
• Colin Doyle Memorial Prize
• Maths Olympiad
• The Sydney Academy of Chess
  
  Science
• Australian brain bee challenge
• Build me a future
• Crystal growing competition
• Sleek geeks science Eureka prize
• RACI Australian national chemistry quiz
• Science and engineering challenge
  
  Sport
• Kickfit program
  
  Technological and Applied Studies
  Aurecon bridge building competition
• NRMA future of transport challenge
• Textiles club
  
  Student-led Clubs
  Cognito book club
• Dungeons and dragons
• Mental Health Advocacy Program (MHAP)
  Team
• Student Representative Council (SRC)

Lakes Grammar is proud to provide a strong CAPA program with subjects and cocurricular opportunities in Creative Arts, Visual Arts and Performing arts. Opportunities to learn instruments, participate in bands, choirs and musical theatre are available to students in middle school.

At Lakes Grammar, we believe learning should not just be confined to the classroom. The middle school outdoor/experiences education program is designed to allow students to explore and develop the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to understand and identify with their surrounding environment and culture.

The five dimensions of outdoor learning include:

• Skills and knowledge
• Human – nature relationships
• Conservation and sustainability
• Health and wellbeing
• Civics and citizenship

Sport and physical activity are essential parts of the middle school program. Our student achievements and commitment to sport are celebrated each year at our dedicated sports awards ceremony.

Students in Years 5-8 participate in weekly sports. The Talented Athlete Program is also available for identified athletes.

In Years 5-8 students participate in sports carnivals and may be invited to attend Hunter Regional Independent Schools (HRIS), Australian Independent Coeducational Schools (AICES) or Combined Independent Schools (CIS) carnivals. They could be selected represent our school in a wide range of sports.

Students in the middle school will have the opportunity for their involvement in in the wider school community, leadership, service skills and achievement of personal goals to achieve a middle school diploma. The earn points for their involvement in three nominated areas,) Cognito, Connection and Challenge which culminates in students receiving a gold, silver or bronze diploma.