Middle School, Term 3 Week 7 2026

Spring has arrived! Although the weather remains slightly unpredictable, it has been wonderful to see our Middle School students making the most of the spring sunshine. During break times, students have been enjoying a variety of activities, connecting with friends and spending time outdoors. Let’s hope the warmer weather continues!

This afternoon marks the beginning of our Learning Conferences, with the second session taking place on Thursday evening. We look forward to engaging in meaningful conversations about each child’s growth and progress, including their academic achievement, commitment to learning and overall wellbeing. These conferences provide an important opportunity for families, students and teachers to reflect together and identify the next steps in each student’s learning journey.

This Saturday, we also look forward to the Pulteney Dance Showcase. It promises to be a wonderful celebration of the talent, creativity and dedication of our students. We wish all performers the very best and thank the families and staff whose encouragement, time and support have helped make this event possible.

Year 9 into Year 10 – Supporting the Transition to Senior School

As our Year 9 students move towards the conclusion of their Middle School journey, we are also looking ahead to their transition into Senior School.

On Tuesday 8 September, from 9.00am–10.00am, current Year 9 parents and caregivers are invited to attend our Year 9 into Year 10 Parent Information Session.

The morning will include a tour of the Senior School, an overview of the transition plan, curriculum and expectations for the senior years, and information from Heads of House about student development, academic learning and pastoral care. There will also be an opportunity for parents and caregivers to ask questions and become more familiar with what students can expect as they begin this next stage of their Pulteney journey.

These transition opportunities are an important part of ensuring both students and families feel informed, connected and confident about what comes next. We look forward to continuing to work in partnership with families as our students embrace the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences ahead.

Register Here

Outdoor Learning

Last week marked the conclusion of our wonderful Year 8 Outdoor Learning programs for the year, with Moore-Sunter and Bleby-Howard making the most of everything Robe had to offer.

Students reflected on a range of highlights, including kayaking on Lake Battye and mountain biking along the unique sandy trails to the summit of Beacon Hill.

Perhaps more importantly, students were proud of the independence they demonstrated and developed throughout the program. They took great pride in their physical efforts, particularly completing the challenging beach clean-up walk, while also developing their culinary skills. As the second camp where the cohort has cooked for themselves, many students were delighted by how much more confident and thorough their meals were compared with last year.

A huge thank you to the passionate locals in Robe who continue to support our programs, as well as the teachers and parents who helped both at camp and in the lead-up. And, of course, a special thank you to our wonderful students for embracing the experience with such enthusiasm.

Please enjoy some photos below capturing the fun and adventure from both weeks.

AMPout — Acting with Meaning and Purpose
In Weeks 5 and 6, Year 8 students took part in AMPout — a program designed to extend learning beyond the classroom and into the civic life of Adelaide. Complimenting the outdoor learning program at Robe, AMPout invited students to delve into civics and citizenship, exploring how Australian, South Australian, and local council systems are governed, and how the history of lawmaking and justice shapes the society we live in today.
The week began on Kaurna Country, where students acknowledged our cultural history and the importance of continuing to build inclusive communities. Standing in the Parklands, the same land on which South Australia’s founding Proclamation was read in 1836, students were asked to sit with a powerful question that would carry them through the entire week: who decides, and who is left out of the deciding?
A core focus of the program was the capability of evaluation; the ability to question established norms, consider multiple perspectives, and make reasoned judgements. Students were extended in developing this skill across experiences, exploring through hands-on activities in small groups, through real interactions with civic professionals, and through encounters with institutions that shape daily life. Understanding how to evaluate the information they see, the ideas they encounter, and the systems around them was included deliberately into everything students did.
Students visited Parliament House, where they explored how South Australia’s two chambers work together to create law. They observed real proceedings at the Adelaide Magistrates Court, gaining firsthand insight into how the justice system operates in practice and the important distinction between punishment and reform. A walk through Adelaide’s civic heart traced the stories of the reformers who changed South Australian law through petition, advocacy, and courage, finishing at the Centre of Democracy, where students discussed the petition that won women the right to vote in 1894. Each visit built on the last, giving students the context to understand not just how civic systems work, but why they matter.
These experiences formed the foundation for what was the highlight of the week: students designing and debating their own Bills in a simulation of the SA Parliament. Students researched real civic issues affecting young Adelaideans, drafted proposed legislation, and argued their case before the House. We were pleased by the quality of thinking on display. Students identified problems that mattered to them, designed thoughtful solutions, and then defended their ideas under questioning from their peers. The quality of debate, the agency students showed, and the depth of their evaluative thinking were a credit to the groups.
The week concluded by turning that civic understanding inward. The Wellbeing team engaged students in activities that challenged their thinking about group norms and their responsibilities, not just in friendship groups, but in their tutor groups, their year level, and beyond. This was capped off by an concluding session with Riley O’Brien and Dan Jackson from the Adelaide Crows High Performance team, who spoke about culture and character, drawing on examples from elite sport that challenged students to think and act with integrity in any setting. It was the perfect closure to a week that asked students to consider what kind of citizen and what kind of person they want to be.
This was a highly valuable week of learning, and one we are confident will stay with students for some time. A huge thank you to the staff who made it possible, and to the students themselves for their engagement, their curiosity, and their output across the week.
Lauren Connolly
Head of Middle School

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