Junior School, Term 2 Week 9 2026

It will be a couple of busy weeks to finish the term for the Junior School. Recently the Junior Captains asked me if they could raise money for the Leukemia Foundation with a Crazy Hair Day.

This will be Thursday next week. This is a full uniform day, with children (Reception to Year 6) invited to brush their hair differently or to include strange and unique accessories in their hair. No Colouring to be used please. All gold coin donations go to the Leukemia Foundation. Mr King and I will not be getting too involved.

Junior School Disco – Friday 19 June 2026 and Nature Market

We are excited to announce the Junior School Disco will be held on Friday 19 June in Wyatt Hall, a wonderful opportunity for students to enjoy music, dancing and fun with their peers. Discos will take place after the Nature Market in the morning.

Disco Schedule

Each year level will have a dedicated time on the dance floor:

• Reception Students: 2.30-3.05pm
• Year 1 and 2 Students: 10.15 – 11.00am
• Years 3 and 4 Students: 12.15pm – 1.15pm
• Years 5 and 6 Students: (Evening Disco): 6.00pm – 7.30pm

All Junior School students (Reception to Year 6) are welcome to wear casual clothes on the day.

Evening Disco Schedule – Year 5 and 6 Students

• The evening disco for Year 5 and 6 students will run from 6.00pm to 7.30pm, in Wyatt Hall. Entry and exit via Gilles Street only
• Cost is $10 per student which includes a wristband, pizza, and drink
• Further details, including the booking link, will be emailed directly to Year 5 and 6 families.

Nature Market

Year 3-5 classes will set up stalls in June, whilst the R-2 classes will set stalls up in November. The Market will operate between 8.45am and 10.00am. One of the key ideas behind the Nature Market is sustainability.  We know that in the past there have been families who have sold products such as sauces and preserves etc. If you would like to be involved, please email Kass Woods at Kass.woods@pulteney.sa.edu.au

We ask that any stall requests reflect the theme of sustainability and recognise that most customers on the day will be children.

Examples of items to be brought in from home:

• Propagated plants.
• Home-made items – please ensure items are clearly labelled with ingredients and do not contain nuts.
• Home grown produce, such as fruit and vegetables.
• No products with excessive sugar are to be brought in, such as lollies, or drinks.

Morning Routines

Please note that teachers are available from 8.15am each morning in their classrooms. Prior to this they are completing preparation and planning with colleagues. Occasionally scheduled meetings will be taking place at this time too. For R-2 parents it is important that entry to upstairs does not take place until 8.15am. If you would like to speak to your child’s teacher prior to this, please arrange time with time in advance.

Up Coming Dates

Reception Parents: Reception Sports Program – Semester 2 (Term 3 & 4)

We’re pleased to share details of our Semester 2 sports program for Reception students. This introductory program offers a choice between Gymnastics or Fundamental Movement Skills Program, both held on Thursday afternoons from 3.30pm – 4.30pm on-site at Pulteney.

Our co-curricular offerings are designed to provide meaningful, hands-on experiences that help develop each child’s strengths, confidence and sense of belonging, right from the start of their learning journey. These play-based activities are a wonderful opportunity for your child to explore movement, develop new skills, and enjoy being active with their peers in a supportive and fun environment.

Further details are available via the online activity selection form here, which is now open. Please submit your child’s nomination by Friday 12 June. Please note, this program is for Reception students only (not mid-year reception).

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our Junior School Head of Sport, Mr Ben Searle, at ben.searle@pulteney.sa.edu.au.

Jason Fay
Head of Junior School

Year 2 Science Dioramas

This term, our Year 2 classes have been learning about Earth and Space Science. We were lucky enough to visit the Planetarium, where we sat inside the giant dome and were taken on an incredible journey through outer space. It felt like we were flying past planets, stars and galaxies as we learnt more about our universe.

Back in the classroom, we became space scientists! We researched fascinating facts about the planets and kept a Moon Diary, recording what we could see in the sky each night and observing how the Moon changes through its phases. Did you know that in May we had two full moons? The second full moon in a calendar month is called a Blue Moon, which is quite rare—hence the saying “once in a blue moon!” We also investigated different star constellations and discovered how people have used them to tell stories and navigate for thousands of years. We used books, videos and our own research to deepen our understanding. We would like to say a big thank you to Ms B and Ms Cox for helping us with our Science research and guiding us throughout our learning.

As part of our integrated Design and Technologies and Inquiry units, we designed and created space dioramas to showcase everything we had learnt. They took lots of planning, creativity, problem-solving and teamwork, and a whole lot of controlled chaos from Mrs Rees and Ms Oreo! During the unit, we researched lots of facts about the Solar System and displayed these all around the dioramas. We have included all planets, the Sun, some star constellations and a 3D rotating Earth! We are incredibly proud of what we have created and hope you enjoy exploring our journey through space.

Chloe Rees
Year 2 Teacher

Chinese Global Bridge Competition Achievement

On Saturday, 13 June, we were incredibly proud of our students, Abigail Roy, Amy Lyttle, and Sebastian Michael, who participated as finalists in the Chinese Bridge Competition and were awarded third prize.

The “Chinese Bridge” (汉语桥Hanyu Qiao) is a prestigious international Chinese language and cultural proficiency competition sponsored by the Chinese government for non-native speakers.

Throughout the competition, our students showcased confidence in speaking Chinese. Amy presented beautiful Chinese calligraphy, Sebastian delivered an energetic drumming performance, and Abigail impressed the audience with a vibrant lion dance.

While we are delighted with their achievement, the true value of this experience was not the result itself, but the opportunity for students to step outside their comfort zones, build confidence, embrace challenges, and proudly share their talents, Chinese language skills, and cultural understanding with others.

A heartfelt thank you to our parents for your ongoing support and encouragement. Without your partnership, preparation with children and commitment, this experience would not have been possible.

We are extremely proud of Abigail，Amy, and Sebastian for their effort, courage, and growth throughout this journey.

On 11th June during their Chinese lesson, Year 3 students took part in a hands-on dumpling-making lesson as part of their cultural learning. The activity introduced students to Chinese food culture while also developing practical life skills such as teamwork, and fine motor coordination.

Students were shown the ingredients and steps involved in making dumplings, including preparing fillings and folding the wrappers. They worked collaboratively in small groups, supporting each other and taking turns throughout the process.

The classroom was filled with excitement and engagement as students shaped and prepared their dumplings. Most students enjoyed both the preparation and the final tasting, with many expressing pride in what they had created.

I would like to extend a sincere thank you to Sharon Poh Ting Tan (Ariel’s mum) for her generous support in making this experience possible for our students.