Middle School, Term 4 Week 5 2026

2027 Transition and Orientation Day

This Friday 13 November, we look forward to welcoming our 2027 Year 7 cohort, along with students joining Pulteney in Years 8 and 9 next year. Our incoming Year 7s will start the morning with their Heads of House, getting to know one another before trying mini-lessons in PE, Drama, Science, English and Art. They’ll join the PE Day celebrations at the lunchtime sausage sizzle before heading off on an Amazing Race around campus. Along the way, they’ll try a drama improvisation, choose a book from the Library display and see how well they can draw a map of the school.

Thank you to our Year 8 students for taking on a leadership role throughout the day, welcoming incoming students and helping them get to know the school. I also appreciate the time our teaching staff have given to planning and delivering mini-lessons that offer students a sense of what learning in the Middle School will be like.

Service of Lessons and Carols

On Monday 16 November, we’ll gather at St Peter’s Cathedral for our annual Service of Lessons and Carols. Families and friends are warmly invited to join us for an evening of music and readings as we reflect on the year we’ve shared and celebrate Christmas together.

The service begins at 7.00 pm, and we ask everyone to be seated by 6.45 pm. Students should wear their formal summer uniform with blazer. A Christmas offering will be collected to support people in need in our community. Bookings are required. Book via Humanitix.

Year 9 City Week

From Monday 16 to Friday 20 November, our Year 9 students will take their learning into Adelaide’s city centre for City Week, the culmination of their work in AMPlify. Working in small groups, students will investigate a question about the city, visit places relevant to their research and interview people who can offer different perspectives. With staff supporting them throughout the week, students will take responsibility for planning their visits, gathering evidence and deciding how to share what they’ve learnt.

Families are warmly invited to the City Week Expo in Wyatt Hall on Monday 23 November, from 4.30 to 6.00 pm. Students will share their findings and explain how they went about their investigations. I’m looking forward to hearing what they discovered and which conversations or experiences changed the way they see Adelaide.

Looking Ahead to 2027 – extended

As we begin planning for 2027, I invite families to share any insights or considerations regarding their child’s classes and learning experience. Please provide this information by Friday 13 November to support the class planning process.

Please email me at lauren.connolly@pulteney.sa.edu.au with any information that may support our planning. While we cannot guarantee specific class placements, your insights help us consider each student’s learning and wellbeing needs.

Thank you for your ongoing partnership as we prepare for the next stage of your child’s journey at Pulteney.

Year 9 Transition to the Senior School: Friday 13 November

Transition Day is a full-day program designed to introduce Year 9 students to the opportunities and community of the Senior School. The day begins with a welcome in the Chapel, followed by a range of team-building challenges and opportunities to connect with Senior Heads of House and other students. Students will also take part in House-based activities before coming together for a final wrap-up in the Chapel. The program is designed to build connections, confidence and excitement as students prepare for their transition into Senior School.

PE Day – Friday 13 November

PE Day is an annual event designed to promote physical activity and participation in sport and recreation. This year, it will take place in Term 4 on Friday 13 November. Students ELC to Year 11 are encouraged to come to school wearing their PE uniform along with their favourite sports or team tops, hats, and accessories. There will be games at recess and lunch in the Quad, to enjoy with friends.

A gold coin donation is requested from students, with all proceeds going to support people in Nepal who enjoy many sports, including cricket, soccer, basketball, and volleyball.

Middle School Anglican Cup

The Middle School Anglican Cup will take place on Tuesday 24 November from 9.30am – 3.00pm, with Pulteney Grammar School proudly hosting the competition across our courts and sporting fields. Click HERE to view the Fixture.

The day will bring together students from St John’s Grammar, Pedare Christian College and Woodcroft College for a fantastic celebration of sport, teamwork and friendly competition. It will be an opportunity for our Middle School students to represent Pulteney, demonstrate their skills and sportsmanship, and enjoy the camaraderie that comes from competing alongside and against fellow students.

We look forward to welcoming the visiting schools to Pulteney for an exciting day of competition,

Speech Night 2026
Thursday 26 November starting at 7.00pm

Attendance at Speech Night is compulsory for all Year 9, 10, 11 and 12 students, held at the Adelaide Convention Centre.

Students must be dressed in formal winter uniform on the evening and are asked to arrive prior to 6.15pm. On arrival, non-prize winning students are to make their way to the foyer of Halls M&N, where they will be marked off the roll and then seated in their Houses, being supervised by members of staff, before the commencement of the ceremony at 7.00pm.

The evening is expected to conclude by 9.15pm and students can be picked up from then. Please arrange a suitable location for pickup with your child.
If you child is unable to attend the evening, an email to their Head of House must be forwarded to negotiate their non-attendance.

We ask that families please make arrangements around co-curricular commitments and part time work to prioritise this important event in the School’s calendar. There will be no exams on the day of or the next morning after Speech Night to accommodate students’ attendance.

We invite the Pulteney Community to attend and booking can be made HERE. Year 9-12 students do not need to book tickets for the evening.

Prize winning students and all Year 12 students will be required to attend a rehearsal during the day and these details will be communicated soon.

AnglicareSA Christmas 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 committed to the annual appeal, pledging to collect food, toys and clothing for communities in need.

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 Drive. Each classroom will have a donation point for items to be collected. We will provide more details to individual classrooms and tutor groups over the coming days, and students will be able to work together to provide packs to represent their collective engagement.

For initial information regarding donations, please refer HERE.