Junior School, Term 4 Week 7 2025

Thank you to everyone who supported last week’s Nature Market. The teachers and children of our R-2 classes set up some fantastic stalls. There was a real buzz around the courtyard and the concept of separate Junior Primary and Upper Primary markets has worked well. Thank you to all the parents who attended and all of the other groups who set up stalls on the day.

We extend a heartfelt thanks to a special grandparent in our school community Nicci. Nicci has been generously donating her Lucia’s Sauces for our Nature Market year after year. Her kindness and unwavering support have become a treasured part of this tradition. We are deeply grateful for her continued contributions. Thank you for making our market and our community river and brighter with your generosity.

Important Dates

• Reception to Year 6 Move Up Day is tomorrow. Class lists and teacher allocations go out this afternoon. Tomorrow will be a fabulous day for the kids.
• The Year 2 Celebration Assembly is on Thursday morning at 8.45am in the Chapel. This recognises children leaving Kurrajong.
• Our Year 6 Celebration Assembly is on Monday 1 December at 9.00am in the gym. We will have a special farewell for these children as the move to the Middle School and also announce next year’s School Captains and Vice-Captains.
• The Reception to Year 4 Christmas Concert is on Thursday 4 December the Gym at 2.00pm. Much work has gone into this production, and it promises to be the perfect way to head into the Christmas holidays.

R-6 Party Day-Wear House Colours

Tuesday 2 December is the R-6 Party Day. We ask all children to wear their House Colours on the day. The afternoon will be filled with water slides, game and fun. There may even be a dunk tank. Bathers and towels will be required!

There will be a sausage sizzle for children also. We kindly ask for a gold coin donation to support the day.

Improving the Junior School Day – Timetable update in 2026

At Pulteney we place a high value on teaching and learning and continue to investigate ways we can improve our practice and the academic experience for our students. As a result of our recent review, I am pleased to advise you of an enhancement to the Junior School timetable, which will take effect from the beginning of the 2026 school year.

This update, which will adopt a 3–2–2 lesson structure, reflects current best practice in primary education, is endorsed by our teaching staff, and is supported by research including a recent occupational therapy project ‘Ready to Learn’, completed here at Pulteney. Importantly the Junior School timetable is carefully designed to better align with how children learn, engage and thrive throughout the school day.

What are the benefits?

This refinement strengthens our ability to deliver learning with rigour and precision. By strategically spacing the seven lessons across the day, we reduce cognitive overload and introduce three lessons before the longer break, when students are most alert and ready to engage deeply, particularly in core subjects.

Aligned with the Reggio Emilia philosophy, which views time as flexible and responsive to a child’s needs, the new model prioritises cognitive, emotional and social rhythms. Research and staff practice confirm that children learn best when the day includes time for focused learning, movement, exploration, collaboration and self-regulation, rather than extended afternoon blocks which may lead to disengagement or regulation challenges.

In addition, moving the longer break earlier in the day and adopting a “play then eat” approach supports emotional regulation, smoother re-entry into learning and improved consumption of nutritious foods. Evidence shows that students return to class calmer and more focused when they play before eating, and that sustained energy earlier in the day improves concentration in afternoon learning.

Importantly, the revised timetable is tailored specifically to meet the developmental needs of children in Reception to Year 6 and will create a smoother, more developmentally aligned learning flow for our students.

What is changing in 2026?

• Adoption of the 3–2–2 lesson structure (see Table 1) (three lessons before the longer break, two lessons, then two in the afternoon)
• Longer break moved earlier in the day, using a ‘play then eat’ approach
• Safely reducing eating time in classrooms, with duty rosters adjusted to maintain care and supervision
• Junior School dismissal at 3.20 pm supporting safer traffic flow at pick-up time

Table 1

What remains the same:

• No loss of teaching and learning time, with instructional minutes remaining the same
• Continued focus on high expectations relating to academic rigour, ensuring core and specialist subject allocations are maintained
• Care and supervision hours remain aligned with current provisions
• Scheduled start or finish times of co-curricular programs remains the same.

We are looking forward to the benefits these improvements will bring for our students. I encourage you to speak with Ms Sue Mavropoulos, Head of Teaching and Learning – Junior School (sue.mavropoulos@pulteney.sa.edu.au), Matt King, Head of Wellbeing – Junior School (matthew.king@pulteney.sa.edu.au)  or myself if you have any questions.

Thank you for your ongoing support in shaping the best possible learning environment for our students.

AnglicareSA Christmas Toy and Food Hamper Drive

AnglicareSA is deeply grateful for the prayerful and practical support of the Anglican Community as they continue to walk alongside individuals and families in need. As a member of that Anglican Community, Pulteney has once again signed up to donate to the annual appeal, pledging 100 Food Hampers.

The end of the year is naturally a time for reflection, gratitude and celebration. Students have been invited to engage those mindsets and contribute to the AnglicareSA Christmas Toy and Food Hamper drive. Each classroom has a donation point for food items to be collected. Donations of toys and other items can be taken directly to the Chapel.

For the guidelines surrounding donations, please refer HERE. We thank you in anticipation for your support and generosity.

Jason Fay
Head of Junior School