Junior School, Term 1 Week 9

Junior School

Last week, I spoke about assessment and the way children notice how we are always watching and assessing in the classroom. This adds an extra dimension to the learning experience for children. Thank you to those parents who have shared how this has resonated with them. I have heard stories this last week about adults who have felt this scrutiny as they learn to play the guitar, return to the gym, learn a new language and take on a new career.

Having seen our Year 4 and 6 cohorts on camp recently, it amazes me how children continue to place trust in the adults around them when they are trying new things in very public ways. As adults our go to mindset is often judging the assessor right back! ‘What would he know?’ or ‘Make your instructions clearer then!’ might be the type of thoughts going through our head. There’s so much we can learn from the way children approach learning. Paying attention to these dispositions also makes us better teachers and mentors.

After Easter, from Tuesday 2 April, our Year 6s will be in Canberra for four nights. This is their second away-from-home experience this term. These very real learning experiences are not just about developing knowledge but stepping out of a comfort zone. This develops the person as much, if not more, than the academic student and provides the foundation for the next healthy risk or new experience.

Sports Day 2024

The rescheduled Sports Day will be on Thursday 28 March. Please indicate if your child will require care after 12.30pm at this link here

The schedule for the day can be found HERE

Thank you to the team of staff who have worked tirelessly to ensure the rescheduled event will run as originally planned. Thank you also to our P&F who will be with us on the day running the BBQ and selling drinks.

The weather is looking favourable and we are looking forward to a fantastic day. Please come along and join us.

Please see below an outline of the day, including drop off and pick up arrangements.

Arrival

All students from Reception to Year 6 to go to their classrooms to get organised for the day before moving to Vaughton Oval with their teachers.

After dropping children at School, parents are invited to make their way to the seated area in the parklands.

Reception

• Participate in events from 8:45am-10.30am.
• Students will be dismissed by their teachers into their parents care at the end of events.
• Parents, please collect your child from class teachers who will maintain a record of student movement at the end of Sports Day.

Year 1 and Year 2

• Participate in events from 8.45am -10.30am.
• Recess back at school 10.30am – 11.00am
• Class activities 11.00am – 11.45am
• Return to Vaughton Oval to view the final stages of Year 3-6 events and presentations at 12:30pm.
• Parents, please collect your child from Vaughton Oval (Year 1 marquee and Year 2 marquee) at 12:30pm. Class teachers will maintain a record of student movement at the end of Sports Day.

Years 3 – 6

• Participate in events from 8.45am -12.30pm.
• Recess break 10.30am.
• Parents, please collect your child from Vaughton Oval at 12:30pm. Students will wait with their class teachers to be collected. Class teachers will maintain a record of student movement at the end of Sports Day.

Uniform

• All students wear their sports uniform.
• Prior to coming to School, students can apply coloured zinc cream and colour their hair to reflect their House colours, wear coloured socks, ribbons etc. Please note, spray cans are not to be brought to School for safety reasons.

What to Bring

No school bags are required for the day.

Students are asked to bring a small backpack containing the following named items:

• Play hat.
• Sunscreen (apply before arriving at School).
• Drink bottle.
• Ample Brain Food and Recess.
• Food and drink may be purchased from the Parents and Friends of Pulteney marquee throughout the morning.

Parking

Please note that we no longer have an arrangement with the Adelaide City Council to waive parking on the southern side of South Terrace. Car park access can be found at the Gilles Street Car Park on the corner of Gilles Street and King William Street.

Hot/Wet Weather

Any decision to postpone the event will be made at 12:30pm on Wednesday 27 March. Should the program be postponed or interrupted, children will go to classes to resume normal Thursday lessons until 3.25pm when they will be dismissed for the day to the R-2 courtyard and Gilles St gates.

Clean Up

Kennion-Miller is rostered to clean up and will be required to stay for a short while after dismissal.

Easter Worship

Due to the rescheduled Sports Day, Easter Worship for Junior School classes will now be on Wednesday 27 March.

9.00am – 9.30am (Years 4, 5, 6)
9.45am – 10.15am (Years – Reception, 1, 2, 3)

Kurrajong Classrooms

Kurrajong classrooms will be open at 8.15am each morning. We ask that parents please do not go upstairs or enter classrooms until this time, unless for an arranged meeting. Thank you for your support with this.

Upcoming Casual Days

Tomorrow, Wednesday 27 March is a casual day with proceeds raised going towards cancer research.

Junior School Swimming (Years 1-4)

As part of the Junior School Physical Education program, children in Years 1 to Year 4 will participate in four 1-hour swimming sessions from Monday 8 April through to Thursday 11 April (Week 11) at the indoor heated swimming complex at Immanuel College, Novar Gardens. Children will travel to and from Immanuel by bus accompanied by Pulteney teaching staff.

Click HERE to view the swimming schedule.

On the days your child has swimming, they will need to:

• Wear bathers underneath sports uniform
• Bring a swimming bag with towel, goggles, drink bottle and underwear.
• Bring school bag as normal with recess and lunch.

Upcoming Excursions

Year 6 students head to the Art Gallery of South Australia on Tuesday 26 March.

P&F News

We look forward to you enjoying the rescheduled Junior School Sports Day and supporting your children on Thursday 28 March.

Refreshments, including a barbeque, will again be available for purchase on the day, for both parents and children.

It would be greatly appreciated if you could be involved in making this day a big success.

You can help by:

•       setting up and serving at the food and drinks stall
•       cooking the barbeque
•       We are seeking donations from the School community for any bought or baked goods to sell at the stall on Thursday 28 March. If families wish to bake or donate goods, please ensure they are nut free and include a list of ingredients alongside any food items to allow students with allergies to identify food they can/cannot eat. Goods can be delivered to Alan Wheaton House on Wednesday or to the F&P BBQ tent on the morning of sports day.

Should you have some time to volunteer, you can do so via https://volunteersignup.org/4Q34K

As part of the Pulteney Volunteer Policy, it is a requirement for all volunteers to hold a current Working with Children Check (volunteer) and have completed the RRHAN Fundamental free online course prior to volunteering.  If you have completed the RRHAN online course and have a copy of your Certificate, please forward it to Leanne Zikos (leanne.zikos@pulteney.sa.edu.au) so that records can be updated.

Jason Fay
Head of Junior School