The annual WriteOn competition is an exciting opportunity for schools, teachers and students to focus on writing. Through the competition, students develop skills in writing to express their ideas and may become published authors. 

The competition is for students in Years 1 to 6 who are accessing NSW syllabuses, including students registered for home schooling. Students create an imaginative text of up to 500 words, using a provided stimulus.

This year, Naomi and Maya have been selected as our school finalists. Their creativity, imagination and writing talent shine through in their entries, which we are delighted to share with our community below.

Catalyst by Naomi  

The cold, misty morning air clung to Lily’s skin as she stood at the starting line. Around her, runners stretched and chattered nervously, while adjusting their bright running shoes. Beyond the crowd, the cross country track twisted through jagged hills and sharp turns that disappeared into the dark distance. 

Lily bit her lip hard. 

She wasn't the fastest runner at school. She had never been. But today she had promised herself one thing: to finish the race. 

“On your marks!” 

The whistle shrieked through the air. 

A storm of feet thundered across the grass as the runners surged forward. Lily forced her legs to move. She raced up the first hill. By the time she reached the top, her palms and feet felt drenched. She was exhausted. Her chest was burning and her lungs felt too small. 

“You can’t do this, give up”, a voice whispered in her head. 

She gritted her teeth and kept running. Her cheeks became crimson red as her heart hammered into her ribs. Runners streamed past her, one by one. Some looked effortless particularly Lizz with her long, black hair waving in the wind like a victorious flag. Lily felt as though she was dragging tonnes of bricks behind her. The hills ahead rose like unforgiving walls. 

Halfway through the race, her left foot slammed tactlessly into a loose hidden root. Lily crashed onto the rocky ground and pain shot through her knees. Wet dirt smothered her hands. The runners whizzed past her without much notice, their footsteps fading further and further... 

For a moment, Lily stayed still. 

Water stung her eyes as she imagined crossing last. Maybe she could just stop. Nobody would blame her after the fall. 

“Hey, you dropped this.”  

Lily looked up. It was Lana from year six, holding out the tiny silver charm that had fallen from Lily's necklace. It was shaped like a moon, a gift from her grandmother. 

“You've got this,” Lana beamed before racing off again. Lily gazed at the silver charm twinkling in her muddy palm. It was such a small thing. Just a few words. 

Carefully and slowly, Lily pushed herself up. Her knees throbbed in pain as she started jogging again. Every breath was like a needle pricking her. Yet every time, the voice in her head told her not to quit, she squeezed the silver twinkling, shiny moon in her palm and took another step. 

One more long hill until it was over. The finish line came into view, bright banners danced among the students crowded along the sides. Lily's legs were now trembling, she was almost there. Lily bent over gasping for breath, sweat dripping from her face. She had not won a medal, she was one of last runners, but she had finished. As she stared at the silver muddy moon still clutched tightly in her hand, tears welled but a smile slowly spread.

The Day When the Insignificant Became the Most Significant- Written By Mya Alexiou 

The day began with the slow collapse of sunlight over Sydney. Summer heat still clung to the air, but the sky was already darkening into dusk. As sea fishermen prepared their lines, far beyond them, a lighthouse stood like a patient eye, preparing to sweep its beam across the darkening water. No one yet knew that tonight would depend on a small, flickering light carried by a girl who barely felt seen. 

Lilly walked through school carrying her small microlight everywhere she went, except into the swimming pool where she refused to enter the water. It was her comfort object, the only thing that made the world feel ordered. Around her, whispers trailed her like shadows. 

“So weird,” someone muttered. 

“What’s wrong with her?”  

She heard them even when their mouths were closed. 

Lilly had been diagnosed with hoarding disorder, though no one agreed on what that meant in practice. To her, it wasn’t about clutter—it was about safety, about holding onto anything that proved things existed and wouldn’t disappear. The school counsellor called it anxiety. Her teachers called it attention-seeking. None of those labels helped her breathe easier. 

When the final bell rang, chairs scraped and shoes thundered across the pavement. 

Lilly reached her front door just as a classmate slammed into her light, sending it wobbling in her hands. It didn’t break, but it flickered as if it had feelings of its own. For a brief moment, she almost laughed, almost cried, and wasn’t sure which was louder inside her. 

She rushed inside, ran upstairs, and slammed her bedroom door hard enough to shake the house. The silence that followed felt heavier than the noise. After ten minutes of crying, her mother entered and sat beside her without speaking at first. 

“Do the kids at school laugh at you?” she asked gently. 

Lilly nodded. “They say I’m weird. They don’t even say it to my face—I just hear it everywhere. I see them looking at me like I’m broken.” 

“Honey, they’re just—” 

“No,” Lilly snapped. “They’re right. I hate this light. I hate everything about it.” 

In a sudden burst of anger, she threw the microlight across the room. It slid toward the stairs, stopping just before it could fall. Her mother caught it quickly. 

That evening, her father insisted she come with him to the harbour. “You can bring your light,” he said. That alone was enough to make her agree. 

Out on the water, the lighthouse beam swept steadily, guiding boats through darkness's grasp. Then, without warning, the lighthouse flickered and died. Panic spread across the boats like wind across dry grass. 

Something shifted in Lilly. She turned on her microlight and lifted it high; its glow sliced through the darkness like a blade. One by one, the boats adjusted course, following her small, steady signal back to shore. For the first time, the insignificant light was the most significant thing there.

Kindergarten enrolments for 2027

DPS is now accepting Kindergarten enrolments for 2027. Every child is entitled to be enrolled at the government school that is designated for the intake area within which the child's home is situated and that the child is eligible to attend.

All children must be in compulsory schooling by their 6th birthday.
Children can start kindergarten at the beginning of the school year if they turn 5 on or before 31 July that year.
Students should start school at the beginning of the school year.

If you live in our intake area and would like to apply to enrol at our school, start by submitting an online enrolment application. Online enrolment is currently only available for Australian or New Zealand citizens and permanent residents.

If you are not able to apply online or you prefer not to, download the paper application to enrol (PDF 768.4KB) form. Please complete the form in English. A translated application to enrol may help you do this.

Online enrolment can also be used for out-of-area enrolment. Please note that out-of-area enrolment procedures are subject to the department’s enrolment policy.

Enrolment applications are finalised at the school.

Dundas PS Preschool Storytime 2027

Is your child starting Kindergarten in 2027 or are you considering Dundas Public School for your family?

We invite you to join us for our Preschool Storytime Sessions in Term 3. These relaxed and engaging mornings are a wonderful opportunity for future Kindergarten students to become familiar with our school, meet other children and enjoy stories, activities and play together.

Parents and carers are invited to stay and join Ms Edwards for an informal chat about school life at Dundas Public School, Kindergarten readiness and what makes our school such a special place to learn and grow.

📚 Monday 27 July

📚 Monday 17 August

📚 Monday 7 September

🕘 9:15am – 10:00am

Please let us know if you will be attending via the link Dundas PS Preschool Storytime 2027 – Fill out form

We look forward to welcoming our future Dundas students and their families! 

NCCD

Each year, schools across Australia participate in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD). The NCCD helps schools identify and understand the adjustments and supports provided to students with disability, ensuring they can access and participate in education on the same basis as their peers. The information collected supports schools to better plan for and meet the needs of all students. Please see the attached fact sheet for more information.

nccd_parent_fact_sheet_english.pdf

The Wattle

Term 2, Week 11, 2026 · 29 Jun 2026

In this issue