Stories and highlights

Art Show: Dural Public School came alive with colour, creativity and an incredible sense of pride as we held our annual Art Show. It was wonderful to see so many families attend on Friday evening, enjoying the sausage sizzle, admiring the incredible artwork and generously supporting this very special event.

Sydney North Primary Cross Country Championships: Congratulations also to Anthony, who proudly represented Dural Public School at the championships, finishing in the 50s after earning his place through the Ryde Zone competition. Representing our school at this level is a wonderful achievement and reflects the dedication, perseverance and commitment students have shown throughout the cross-country season.

Sydney North Primary Cross Country Championships: Congratulations to Adele on her outstanding achievement at the Sydney North Primary Cross Country Championships, where she placed 24th against some of the region's strongest young runners. Representing our school at this level is a wonderful achievement and reflects the dedication, perseverance and commitment students have shown throughout the cross-country season.

NAIDOC Week: This week, Dural Public School proudly celebrated NAIDOC Week, recognising and celebrating the histories, cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Canberra Camp: Our Year 6 students enjoyed a wonderful four days in Canberra, bringing their classroom learning to life as they explored Australia's capital and gained a deeper understanding of our democracy and the institutions that shape our nation.

Choir: Our Stage 2 Choir travelled to Marie Bashir Public School in Strathfield to participate in a combined rehearsal with students from schools across the region.

The rehearsal provided a wonderful opportunity for our choir members to sing as part of a larger ensemble while working with experienced conductors in preparation for their upcoming performance.

Band Camp: This week, our Senior Concert Band, Jazz Band and Beginning Band participated in a highly successful three-day Band Camp. Throughout the camp, students immersed themselves in a range of musical experiences designed to strengthen their performance skills, develop their musical knowledge and build confidence as ensemble musicians.

Jayden recently competed in the NSW State Fencing Championships in the Under 13 Boys Sabre event and was crowned State Champion, finishing 1st in NSW in his age division.

Making this achievement even more impressive, Jayden was the youngest competitor in the event, yet demonstrated exceptional skill, determination and composure to defeat a strong field of competitors and claim the title.

This is a remarkable accomplishment and a testament to Jayden's dedication, hard work and commitment to his sport.

We would like to congratulate Eloise on her outstanding achievement at the recent Sydney North Girls AFL selection trials. Well done, Eloise! The trials attracted a very high standard of competition, with talented players from across the region competing for a limited number of representative positions.

Athletics Carnival: We were fortunate to enjoy perfect conditions for our annual Athletics Track Carnival, with a beautiful winter's day providing the ideal setting for competition. All events were keenly contested, and congratulations to every student who participated and gave their best effort.

Tournament of Minds: Being selected for the Tournament of Minds team is a wonderful achievement and reflects each student's enthusiasm, creativity, teamwork and commitment to learning.

We congratulate the students selected for the 2026 team and look forward to following their progress throughout the year as they prepare for the competition.

Rotary Club: Dural Public School was honoured to receive a Certificate of Appreciation from the Kenthurst Rotary Club in recognition of our support of the Serving Hope on Wheels community project.

Zone Cross Country Carnival: In May, 41 students proudly represented Dural Public School at the Beecroft Zone PSSA Cross Country Carnival held at Fagan Park. All students demonstrated outstanding determination, resilience and sportsmanship as they competed against students from 21 schools across the zone.

A special congratulations to Adele, who won the highly competitive 11 Years Girls race. This is an outstanding achievement, and we wish Adele every success as she progresses to the Sydney North Area Cross Country Carnival in the coming weeks.

Debating: The Dural Shining Star Debaters competed in their first debate of the season against Samuel Gilbert Public School. The topic for the debate was "Schools should replace art and music with maths and science." Dural Public School argued the negative position, while Samuel Gilbert Public School presented the affirmative case. Congratulations to our Dural Shining Star Debaters on a fantastic first debate and an impressive victory. We look forward to following their progress throughout the season.

Longneck Lagoon: Year 1 students attended Longneck Lagoon to support their classroom learning. It was a valuable and engaging experience, and it was lovely to see the enthusiasm and involvement of our students throughout the day.

Sydney North AFL Trials: We are incredibly proud to share that Lachlan was selected in the Sydney North team - a fantastic and well-deserved achievement. His excitement was clear, with a smile that lasted the entire day.

Lachlan is now looking forward to the next stage of the journey, heading to Tamworth in May.

Well done to Alicia and Lilian who proudly represented Dural Public School and Beecroft Zone at the Sydney North Swimming Carnival. We are incredibly proud of your efforts and achievements, girls.

Easter Hat Parade: At the end of Term 1, Dural Public School held its Easter Hat Parade. It was wonderful to see such a creative variety of hat designs on display. A special highlight was the delightful dance performed by our Kindergarten students and their buddies. Well done to all who participated!

Colour Walkathon: Our afternoon was full of colour as we wrapped up the school day with our Colour Walkathon. Students collected sponsorships in the weeks leading up to the event and, on the day, made their way around the course while being sprayed with water, slime, and coloured powder by their teachers. What began as a clean afternoon quickly turned into a wonderfully messy and fun-filled event!

Cross Country Carnival: We were treated to stunning weather for this year’s Cross Country Carnival. It was fantastic to see so many students getting involved, whether running or walking to earn points for their house. Congratulations to all competitors, and a big well done to our champion house, Lepus!

Stage 2 Science Incursion: Stage 2 students participated in an exciting science incursion on forces and movement with Kaleidoscope Science. Through a range of hands-on experiments, students explored concepts including gravity, magnetism, push and pull, static electricity, and pressure points. It was a fun and engaging afternoon of learning.

Young Leaders Day: Our student leaders recently attended a leadership day at the ICC in Darling Harbour, where they spent time developing the skills to be positive and influential leaders within our school. They heard from a range of inspiring speakers and returned to Dural Public School with great ideas and initiatives to help them be the best leaders they can be.

Harmony Day: On Thursday, 19 March, Dural Public School celebrated Harmony Day, recognising the diversity of our community. Australia is one of the most multicultural countries in the world, and we are proud to have students from many cultural backgrounds.

Throughout the day, students and staff explored the meaning of harmony and the importance of kindness and respect, while learning about different cultures, traditions, clothing, and beliefs.

Sydney Symphony Orchestra: In Term 1, students from Years 3 - 6 visited the Sydney Opera House to watch the Sydney Symphony Orchestra perform. It was an amazing experience that really showcased the unique talents of each musician and their instruments.

Zone Swimming Carnival: In 2026, Dural competed against 21 schools at the Beecroft Zone Swimming Carnival. Twenty students proudly represented our school, showing great enthusiasm and determination throughout the day. Several students placed 1st and 2nd in their events and will now progress to the next level of competition, which is a fantastic achievement.

It was also wonderful to see so many students overcome their nerves, step up to the blocks and give their best in the pool. Well done to all of our competitors.

Dural Swimming Carnival: This year, we held our annual Swimming Carnival at Waves Aquatic Centre. It was a wonderful morning of competition, with students demonstrating enthusiasm, determination and exemplary sportsmanship.

A very special and heartfelt congratulations to Mr. Field for his exceptional organisation of the event. The carnival ran seamlessly from start to finish, which is a true testament to his meticulous planning and leadership.

We are also incredibly grateful to the many parents who generously gave their time to assist with timekeeping throughout the day.

Grandparent's Day: Dural Public School celebrated Grandparent’s Day on Wednesday, 26 November with a morning focused on fun, connection, and shared learning. Families enjoyed music activities, morning tea on the playground, and the debut performance of our Years 3–6 Drama Club. The event wrapped up just in time before the storm arrived!

Thank you to all the grandparents who joined us for a wonderful day.

Beecroft Zone PSSA Champions!: This year, our Stage 2 Tee-ball Girls were crowned champions of the Beecroft Zone PSSA Tee-ball competition, winning their final match against Cherrybrook, 16–12. It was a nail-biting game, with their coach on the edge of her seat (or excitedly pacing) for the entire match. We took home the championship shield for the second year in a row! Well done Dural!

Well done to our PSSA Summer teams. This is the first year we have had 4 teams get into the 1v2 finals.

• Stage 2 Girls Tee-ball finishing 1st plae.
• Stage 3 Girls Softball finishing 2nd place.
• Stage 3 Boys League Tag finishing 2nd place.
• Stage 2 Girls League Tag finishing 2nd place.

It has been a very exciting season.

ZooSnooz Stage 2 Camp: Our Stage 2 students set off on their very first camp ever (and our first Stage 2 camp in many years) with an unforgettable overnight stay at Taronga Zoo to learn all about animals and their life cycles.

They enjoyed night-time animal walks, life cycle workshops, hands-on encounters, and a full day exploring the zoo, including the seal show and free-flight bird show. What an incredible experience for our young adventurers!

Swim School: Year 1 and 2 have been enjoying Swim School over the past two weeks. It has been a great opportunity for them to build confidence and learn essential water skills.

Year 2 Band Trials: Our Year 2 students enjoyed trying out a range of instruments during our band trials. The room was full of excitement as students experimented with new sounds and discovered hidden musical talents.

For more information about our band program, please contact Mrs Jenniene Spall, our Music Teacher and Band Conductor. We can’t wait to see the next generation of Dural musicians take the stage!

Beyond Words Runner-Up: Jocelyn showcased her outstanding talent in the national Beyond Words Creative Writing Competition, earning the impressive title of Runner-Up in the Primary School category...one of only two prizes awarded across Australia! Along with this incredible achievement, she also received a $1,000 prize. Well done, Jocelyn!

Gifted Games: This year’s Gifted Games at Waitara brought together 20 mixed teams from five schools for a fast-paced day of creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving across Maths, Ideation, Art & Poetry, STEM, Coding, English, Music, and History.

Congratulations to our standout students: Skye and Sandra helped secure gold, Thomas and Cooper claimed silver, and Lucas H and Lucas W took home bronze. Thomas and Cooper’s team also topped Mathematics, while Lucas H and Lucas W’s team won Ideation. Well done, everyone!

Country Fair 2025: Our community came together in full force for the Dural Public School Country Fair. On the Saturday, parents generously volunteered their time to prepare the grounds and set up stalls. By Sunday, perfect weather set the scene for a fantastic day.

From the moment the gates opened, crowds filled the school with laughter, chatter, and excitement. Families, friends, and neighbours enjoyed a huge range of activities such as games, crafts, face painting, raffles, delicious treats, and the ever-popular cake stall.

A heartfelt thank you to all our volunteers and attendees for making the event such a success.

Working Bee: It was great to see parents and children turn up in the school holidays to prepare the school grounds for the country fair. We really appreciate your help.

Stage 2 Genius Hour: On Wednesday, 22nd October, our Stage 2 students proudly presented their Genius Hour projects in a Gallery Walk held in the school hall. Students from Kindergarten to Year 6 explored a wide range of inspiring projects created by Stage 2 students. Each student researched a topic of personal interest and showcased their learning with enthusiasm and creativity. We are incredibly proud of their hard work, curiosity, and passion for learning.

Stage 2 Authors: It was really sweet to see the Stage 2 Kookaburras class read their own handwritten and illustrated books to the Koala and Wombat Kindergarten classes today. The Kookaburras have been working hard on their stories, all centred around a dingo mother caring for her pups. They wrote narratives specifically for a Kindergarten audience, with the intention of sharing them with our younger students. The Kindies loved listening to their older peers read.

Primary Proms: Our talented Year 3 and 4 choir will be performing at the iconic Sydney Town Hall for Primary Proms, a truly special experience for our students!

A huge thank you to Mrs Anderson and Miss Rosolen for their dedication and hard work in preparing the students for this exciting event. The song selection was beautiful and showcased the students' enthusiasm and talent.

Thank you to our school community for your continued support of these enriching extracurricular opportunities.

Hills Public Speaking: Congratulations to our Stage 2 and 3 Hills Public Speaking finalists! They proudly represented our school in the 20th Anniversary Hills Public Speaking Competition during Week 10. This event was another fantastic opportunity to showcase excellence in the academic domain, as part of our Inspire – High potential and gifted education (HPGE) program.

Pyjama Day: We held a pyjama day in Week 9 to raise money for Stewart House, a charitable foundation and centre for children. With our gold coin donations, we ended up raising $344.70!

Art Show 2025: This year’s Art Show theme was "Anything Art!" and our talented students truly embraced the challenge. Inspired by iconic masterpieces such as The Scream, Girl with a Pearl Earring, and Starry Night, they created stunning works using a mix of paper-mâché, paintings, and drawings.

It was fantastic to see so many families come along to support and celebrate our young artists. The highlight of Friday night was our bustling food truck... it was so popular, it sold out!

Well done, Dural! What an incredible showcase of creativity.

Maths Cup: Students from Gili Gili (opportunity class) participated in the Maths Cup during Week 8. There were 102 schools competing on the day. The boys were top of the semis and then they competed in the grand final. It was a nail-biting session and we got 2nd place, which is fantastic. Boys, Dural is very proud of you!

Alpha Show: Sleeping Beauty: K–6 students had a fantastic time watching the Alpha Show’s live production of Sleeping Beauty. This fun, pantomime-style performance had everyone laughing, cheering, and getting involved from start to finish. Along with the entertainment, the show shared an important message about understanding why we sometimes make negative choices and how those choices can impact ourselves and others. It was a great mix of fun and learning that everyone really enjoyed!

1st Place - Stage 2 Girls Soccer PSSA: Well done to our Stage 2 PSSA Girls Soccer team, who came first place in the PSSA final! The final score was an impressive 2-0, reflecting their hard work and determination. The match was fiercely competitive, with both teams showcasing exceptional skill and sportsmanship throughout. Congratulations to our remarkable team on this well-deserved success!

Excursion to Bathurst: In Week 6, our Year 5 students travelled to Bathurst for a day excursion to deepen their understanding of the Gold Rush as part of their HSIE unit. The hands-on experience brought history to life, with students thoroughly enjoying the opportunity to explore and engage with Australia’s gold mining past.

Zone Athletics Carnival: Congratulations to all Dural Public School students who represented our school at the Beecroft Zone Athletics Carnival held at Sydney Olympic Park in Week 6. We are incredibly proud of their dedication, sportsmanship, and effort in what was a very competitive event. We’re excited to announce that five of our talented athletes have qualified to compete at the area level. Well done to all involved!

String and Recorder Group: Opera House Performance: The Gili Gili class and our string students gave a brilliant performance at the Sydney Opera House; an experience they’ll never forget. Earlier this term, our senior choir also had the honour of performing there.

These opportunities are part of our High Potential for Gifted Learners program, supporting students to develop their creativity and reach their full potential.

2025 Book Parade: This year’s theme, "Book an Adventure!", encouraged students to explore the exciting worlds found in books. Dural Public School celebrated with our annual Book Parade in the hall. Despite the gloomy weather, spirits were high as students proudly showcased their creative and colourful costumes. Such a wonderful way to celebrate reading and imagination!

Senior Concert Band - First Place! Congratulations to our Senior Concert Band, who achieved first place in this year’s Band Eisteddfod! The students performed beautifully, showcasing their teamwork, musical skill, and dedication. We are incredibly proud of their outstanding achievement and the way they represented Dural Public School.

Band Eisteddfod: Well done to our Senior Concert Band and Beginner Band who competed in the Band Eisteddfod at Ryde this week. Our Senior Concert Band received a trophy for first place! It was also a special moment for our Beginner Band, who gave their first-ever performance in front of an audience. We are incredibly proud of both bands and impressed by their dedication, progress, and musical achievements!

NSW PSSA State Rugby Union Carnival: One of our outstanding students, Alex, proudly represented Dural Public School at the NSW PSSA State Rugby Union Carnival held at the beginning of August. His team delivered a fantastic performance, winning all four games (including the Major Semi-Final) with an impressive lead. Unfortunately, due to wet weather, the final in Newcastle was cancelled, resulting in the top two teams being declared joint winners. We are incredibly proud of Alex's determination, skill, and teamwork throughout the carnival.

Hills Public Speaking Competition: Students proudly represented Dural Public School in the Hills Public Speaking Competition, competing against peers from their year groups and presenting speeches on a range of given topics. We witnessed outstanding presentations filled with enthusiastic gestures, expressive voices, and persuasive language. Congratulations to all competitors for their confidence, effort, and impressive speaking skills!

Education Open Day 2025: Our Education Open Day was a wonderful celebration of learning, talent, and community spirit. The day began with a special assembly featuring outstanding performances from our bands, instrumental groups, choirs, and a delightful dance by our kindergarten students. Families then had the opportunity to visit classrooms, where students proudly shared their work and learning achievements. The morning concluded with a delicious morning tea generously provided by our amazing canteen volunteers. It was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the vibrant learning environment at Dural Public School.

Premier's Spelling Bee: Students from Years 3–6 recently took part in the Premier’s Spelling Bee, competing against peers within their stage groups here at Dural Public School. It was an exciting and impressive event, with the Stage 3 competition ending in a tie, showcasing the highest level of spelling we've seen in many years! Challenging words like Kosciuszko, cantilever, Murrumbidgee, and orthodontics didn’t faze our talented spellers. Stage 2 also performed exceptionally well, reaching an impressive Round 10. Well done to all competitors for their focus, bravery, and spelling skills!

Harmony Day 2025: The children arrived at school dressed in traditional clothing from their cultures, with many proudly wearing orange to mark the occasion. In the classrooms, students participated in a range of activities that highlighted the rich diversity of both Dural Public School and Australia.

Harmony Week is a time to celebrate inclusion and respect, and to remind us all that everyone has a role to play in creating a sense of belonging for all.

A big thank you to Mrs. Donachie for organizing the delicious orange doughnut sale to help us celebrate Harmony Day!