High potential and gifted education

AMT Mathematics Challenge

A program for high-potential students in Years 7–10 that develops advanced problem-solving and critical-thinking skills through unique, challenging mathematical tasks.

Art and Language Cultural Project

Year 7 Spanish and Italian students explore culture through art, creating authentic masks and fans inspired by Carnevale and Flamenco dance, later showcased at MADD Night.

CAPA Annual Art and Music Exhibition – Red Point Gallery, Port Kembla

An annual exhibition where students present their art and music in a professional gallery setting, connecting with the wider Illawarra arts community.

Chess Competitions

Students represent Dapto High in local and state chess tournaments, strengthening focus, strategy, and sportsmanship.

Dance

Through Dance Festival, Southern Stars, and MADD Night, students build creativity, teamwork, and confidence while developing performance skills.

Design Club

A creative hub where students design and make projects using Fusion 360, Adobe Illustrator, and 3D printers. Members lead workshops and run school events that foster innovation.

Drama Club and Drama for Sport

Weekly programs that develop confidence, collaboration, and self-expression through acting, improvisation, and backstage design.

History and Geography Hook Day

A hands-on event where Year 7 and 10 students creatively present their learning through themed challenges and interactive activities.

MADD Night/Week

A celebration of Music, Art, Drama, and Dance featuring student performances and exhibitions that showcase the creative talents of our school community.

Student Representative Council (SRC)

The SRC promotes leadership, collaboration, and student voice. Members plan initiatives, represent peers, and contribute creative ideas for school improvement.

Trade Trekkers Sports Group

Students apply problem-solving and design thinking to create practical solutions to real-world challenges around the school.

WorldSkills Competitions

Prestigious national and international events where students demonstrate excellence in vocational areas such as hospitality, engineering, and creative arts.

Anzac Day School’s Award

A national program recognising schools that engage with veterans and honour Australia’s wartime history through student learning and community connections.

Australian Geography Competition

A national contest assessing students’ geographical knowledge and skills, encouraging curiosity about the world and rewarding excellence in geography.

Australian History Competition

Students interpret and analyse historical sources in this national competition that promotes a deeper understanding of Australia’s past.

Create 9

An inquiry-based learning program for Year 9 students that encourages creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving. Students work in teams to design innovative solutions to real-world challenges while developing confidence, communication, and critical thinking skills.

Debating

Students represent the school in the state-wide Premier’s Debating Challenge, developing skills in public speaking, research, teamwork, and critical thinking.

Game Changer Challenge

An award-winning design thinking competition where students collaborate to create innovative solutions to real-world problems.

Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA)

An engaging event where students learn about global issues and international relations by role-playing as UN delegates representing different nations.

Public Speaking

Students refine speech writing and oral presentation skills through local and state competitions featuring prepared and impromptu speeches.

Tournament of Minds (TOM)

A creative problem-solving competition where students work in teams to tackle open-ended challenges across STEM, Arts, Language, and Social Sciences, building teamwork, creativity, and higher-order thinking.

UOW STEM Camp for Girls

A hands-on university program for selected Year 8 and 9 high-potential girls, offering opportunities to explore STEM pathways and develop practical skills in science and technology.

Year 9 and 10 Enrichment Class (English, HSIE, PDHPE)

This class provides eligible students with the opportunity to learn alongside highly motivated peers while engaging with more challenging curriculum content. Students extend their skills through deeper inquiry, critical analysis, and advanced project work across English, HSIE, and PDHPE.

Inclusive Sports

Adapted sporting events allow students with disability to participate and succeed while developing physical, social, and communication skills. Multiclass athletes also access representative pathways in athletics, swimming, boccia, ten pin bowling, and more.

Sports Committee

A student leadership group promoting physical activity and wellbeing through lunchtime sport, carnival support, fundraising, and health initiatives.

School Sport

Weekly sport offers high-potential students opportunities to extend their skills, challenge themselves, and pursue performance pathways in activities that match their strengths.

School Carnivals

Swimming, Cross Country, and Athletics carnivals allow students to demonstrate physical excellence, with representative pathways extending to state and national levels.

Representative Sporting Teams

Students can represent the school in knockout competitions across a wide range of sports, providing opportunities to showcase and further develop their athletic talents.

Regional and State Opportunities

High-performing students may trial for South Coast, Regional, or State teams across multiple sports, supporting progression into elite pathways.

Officiating Pathways

Students can pursue roles as referees or officials through PSSA and CHS programs, from beginner events to state and national championships.

UOW Partnerships

Selected students access the Elite Female Sporting High Performance Program and the Young Athlete Development Program, receiving specialised coaching and support.

Run Club – RunBeyond Project

Develops goal setting, resilience, and teamwork while training elite distance runners for community events such as the Huski Run Festival.

Dance at DHS

Students strong in Dance may audition for the school group, rehearsing weekly to perform at Regional Dance Festival and Southern Stars.

Aboriginal Leadership Group

Empowers students to share their culture and lead initiatives that embed Aboriginal perspectives in school life. Members work with staff, the Karrara Centre, and local Elders to promote language, traditions, and identity through cultural events and On Country experiences.

DHS Dungeons & Dragons Club

Students develop creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration through roleplaying games held four days a week. The program builds teamwork and imagination across Year 7 and 8 groups and culminates in an annual end-of-year tournament.

Green Group

A student-led initiative promoting sustainability and environmental awareness. Members lead Return & Earn collections, fund school improvements, and create green spaces such as native gardens and the school’s “tiny forest.”

Peer Support

Senior students mentor Year 7s to support their transition into high school, helping them build confidence, friendships, and resilience.

RYPEN (Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment)

A leadership and personal growth camp that builds motivation, confidence, and life skills through teamwork and experiential learning.

Seasons for Growth

A small-group program for Years 7–11 that teaches skills to manage grief, loss, and significant change. Participants develop resilience, emotional awareness, and supportive peer relationships.

In our classroom:

Differentiated tasks that adjust pace, complexity and higher-order thinking​.

Formative assessment to monitor growth and adapt learning​.

Explicit teaching of critical thinking and problem-solving strategies.

Opportunities for abstraction, inquiry, and curriculum depth.

Tasks that promote choice, authenticity, and critical and creative thinking including cross-curricular projects.

Flexible grouping for collaborative ideation and presentation.

Differentiated movement tasks and skill refinement in PDHPE.

Targeted learning goals for coordination, agility, and control.

Opportunities to take on lead roles in physical demonstrations or team strategy.

Supportive learning environments that enable exploration and self-assessment.

Strengths-based feedback and goal setting.

Opportunities for leadership within the classroom.

Structured peer collaboration and reflection.

Safe learning environments that encourage confidence, risk-taking, and perseverance.

Debating and Public Speaking

STEM and Design clubs

Academic competitions

Critical thinking workshops

Music Art Dance Drama (MADD) Night

Music and Dance ensembles

Visual arts and drama showcases

Sport squads

Peer mentoring

Student leadership (SRC)

Wellbeing programs

Participation in whole-school inclusion and wellbeing initiatives

Across NSW

Our STEM Enrichment Partnerships with industry and universities deepen our students’ intellectual curiosity while developing innovation and collaboration.

Involvement in the Game Changer Challenge empowers our students to solve future-focused problems using design thinking.

The Premier’s Sporting Challenge (PSC) promotes whole-school participation in physical activity with leadership pathways and professional learning.

The Representative School Sport Pathway and CHSSA events enable our students to trial and compete in sports at regional, state and national levels, fostering discipline, commitment and collaboration.

Participation in region-wide performance ensembles develops our high potential and gifted students’ technical skills, performance presence and physical expressiveness.