Junior School, Term 3 Week 6 2026

Book Week at Pulteney

There is something special about seeing a school come alive during Book Week. Classrooms become worlds of imagination, conversations turn to favourite characters and stories, and books suddenly seem to be everywhere. At Pulteney, we want our young people to be curious and imaginative. Books help make this possible. Through stories, children encounter people, places, cultures, ideas and experiences beyond their own. They learn to ask questions, consider different perspectives and develop empathy. A good book can make us laugh, challenge our thinking, introduce us to something unfamiliar or help us make sense of something we already know.

This is why Book Week is so important at Pulteney. We want children to associate books with joy, discovery and possibility. We want them to see themselves as readers and to recognise that there is a story, an idea or a world waiting for them within the pages of a book. And there is an important role for families too. Reading together, talking about stories, visiting a library or simply allowing children to see adults enjoying books can have a lasting influence. It sends a powerful message: reading matters here.

So, while we will certainly enjoy the costumes, characters and creativity of Book Week, let us celebrate the thing at its heart—the extraordinary gift of a story. Because every child deserves to find a book that makes them want to turn the page.

Junior School Resource Centre – Book Week Information

Book Week celebrations run across Week 7 (Monday 24 August – Friday 28 August). The theme for this year’s event is Symphony of Stories. As always, we aim to highlight the importance reading plays in the lives of children, helping them to open the doors to learning, imagination, and creativity.

Book Week Parade

This year the Book Week parade will be held on Friday 28 August in the Robert Henshall Gymnasium at 8.45am and will include Reception – Year 6 classes. Parents and friends are welcome to attend, and the parade usually takes about 30 minutes. Children are asked to dress up as a favourite book character or in a costume that reflects the theme, Symphony of Stories. We ask that the children think very carefully about their costumes, they are encouraged to be truly creative. It is not expected that costumes are hired or purchased, often the best costumes are home made.

Book Week Pop-Up Book Fair

The Book Week Pop-Up Book Fair will also be held during Book Week and take on a slightly different format this year. Unlike previous years when we have had two separate shops, we will have one larger pop-up bookstore that will operate from Friday 21 August – Wednesday 26 August. The store will be open before and after school Friday and Monday 21/9 and 24/9) in the Kurrajong undercroft and Tuesday and Wednesday (25/9 and 26/9) in Year 3-6/Science undercroft space. A great range of popular titles will be available for sale along with some fun stationery items. More information about this exciting event will be made available to the community shortly through Seesaw. If you are available and able to volunteer at either a morning (8:00am – 8:45am) or afternoon (3:15pm – 4:00pm) session, please let us know by email (see name links below).

Book Week Author Visit

This Book Week we will also welcome popular children’s author Phil Cummings and enjoy a performance by Perform Education. Perform Education will present their performance, Something Special, to ELC – 3 students on Tuesday 25 August. This performance is a live interactive, engaging and educational show featuring the 2026 CBCA shortlisted books.

Phil Cummings will join our school community on Thursday 3 September and Friday 4 September. Phil will spend his two days working with each year level from Reception to Year 6 focusing on the joy of reading and writing. He is an accomplished and award winning South Australian children’s author who has written countless books. Some of our favourite titles include Anzac Biscuits, Wilbur, It’s Bedtime, Crumbs and Footprint. Children are encouraged to bring along any Phil Cummings’s books that they would like signed during their session which will be Thursday for Year 3 – 6 and Friday for Reception – 2. Phil is a repeat visitor to Pulteney, and we look forward to his visit.

Premier’s Reading Challenge

Term 3 also marks the end of the Premier’s Reading Challenge. Reception – 2 students complete the challenge in class. Year 3 – 6 students complete the challenge independently and are required to have it finished by Friday 4 September. Twelve books in total need to be recorded on the reading record (8 books are chosen from the dedicated reading lists and four books are free choice).

Please come and see the Resource Centre staff if you have any questions or would like some guidance with book selection for the challenge. Spare reading records are available at the circulation desk in the Resource Centres. Students in year 3-6 are asked to hand completed forms to classroom teachers or to post them directly to the activity set up on Seesaw.

If you have any questions regarding the exciting events of term three, please call in and ask our friendly Resource Centre staff. We all look forward to working with you and your children throughout this busy and exciting term.

Happy reading!

Yours Sincerely,

Georgie Buenfeld
Georgie.Buenfeld@pulteney.sa.edu.au

Erin Scheurleer
Erin.Scheurleer@pulteney.sa.edu.au

Gabie Hume
Gabie.Hume@pulteney.sa.edu.au

Junior School Resource Centre Staff

Upcoming Key Dates

Jason Fay
Head of Junior School

Performing Arts 

Co-Curricular Updates

A reminder to please ensure you’re logging your child’s absence for Performing Arts Co-Curricular activities via the Pulteney App. Please follow the below instructions:

• Select Co-Curricular Tile
• Select Log co-curricular absence

Junior School
Please note the following updates for Week 7:

• Junior Year 5/6 Dance Troupe BLUE will not have Dance class before school on Wednesday 3 September. Instead, they will rehearse on Friday 4 September from 7.30-8.30am as part of the technical rehearsal.
• Junior Year 4 Dance Troupe will not have Dance class before school on Thursday 3 September. Their rehearsal will take place on Thursday 3 September from 3.20-4.45pm as part of the technical rehearsal. Parents/caregivers are asked to collect their child from the Junior School basketball court at 4.45pm

Pulteney Dance Showcase

Next week, we present our annual Pulteney Dance Showcase on Saturday 5 September in Wyatt Hall. This event is always one of the highlights of the Performing Arts calendar.

There will be two performances:

• 2.30pm Matinee (Year 1 – Year 12 students)
• 7.00pm Evening (Year 5 – Year 12 students)

The Friends of Performing Arts will again be providing a BBQ sausage sizzle and bar between the two concerts. We warmly invite everyone to stay, enjoy a meal and a drink, and spend time with our Performing Arts community from approximately 5.00pm to 7.00pm. A bar service will also be available during the interval of both concerts. My sincere thanks to all the FoPA members for their time, effort and wonderful support.

Tickets are available now! They are limited and expected to sell quickly, so we encourage you to book early to avoid missing out. Adult tickets cost $20.00 each. Non-performing students are welcome to attend free of charge. Please note that children aged 4 and above will require their own ticket, and we kindly ask that children 3 and under sit on a parent or caregiver’s lap. Performing students do not need a ticket. If your child is performing in both concerts, you will need to purchase tickets to both. Seating is allocated, so booking early will also give you the best chance of securing your preferred seats. Please click on the following links or scan the QR code in the poster below.

• 2.30pm MATINEE
• 7.00pm EVENING

Year 5/6 Junior School Musical “Dare to Dream JR” – Ticket Information

We are getting very excited about our upcoming Year 5/6 Junior School Musical, Dare to Dream JR! Performed in Wyatt Hall, there will be three performances:

• Wednesday 9 September, 2.00pm Show
• Wednesday 9 September, 6.00pm Show
• Thursday 10 September, 6.00pm Show

Tickets are now on sale! Please click here to purchase your tickets or scan the QR code on the poster below. Seating is allocated and will be checked upon entrance to the show. Be sure to book online early to secure your favourite seats! They are limited and expected to sell quickly, so we encourage you to book early to avoid missing out.

Adult tickets cost $10.00 each. Non-performing students are welcome to attend free of charge. Please note that children aged 4 and above will require their own ticket and seat, and we kindly ask that children 3 and under sit on a parent or caregiver’s lap. Performing students do not need a ticket.

Instrumental Music and Drama Program

Pulteney’s Performing Arts Department offers private tuition for a range of instruments as well as voice and drama lessons.

Applications for this year opened in December 2025 and have been finalised, however students from Reception right through to Year 12 can enrol at any time across the year. If an instrument, type of lesson or teacher is already fully booked, we can place your child on a waiting list until a lesson becomes available.

For more information about our program please click here. If you’re interested in enrolling your son or daughter, please complete the online application form.

Every contribution, big or small, is greatly appreciated and helps raise valuable funds for our School community.