Middle School, Term 4 Week 8 2025
As we bring the 2025 academic year to a close, it has been wonderful to pause, reflect, and celebrate the many achievements, connections, and moments of growth that have shaped our Middle School community. Our students have embraced opportunities with enthusiasm and curiosity, strengthened friendships, and demonstrated the values that make Pulteney such a special place to learn.
Yesterday, we gathered for our final Middle School Assembly, where we acknowledged and celebrated our Year 9 students as they prepare to transition into the Senior School. This moment is always a significant one, recognising their contributions, leadership, and the unique spirit they have brought to the Middle School. We wish them every success as they begin the next chapter of their Pulteney journey.
As we move toward the new academic year, class lists for 2026 will be released through our Learning Management System at the beginning of Term 1. Thank you for your patience and understanding as our team works carefully to ensure balanced, supportive, and thoughtfully constructed learning groups for every student.
Tomorrow, we will also share student leadership positions for our 2026 Year 8 and Year 9 cohorts directly with students. A formal Middle School leadership announcement, including the full list of successful applicants, will be published at the beginning of 2026.
As we enter the holiday season, I extend my heartfelt thanks to our students, staff, and families for your support, partnership, and commitment throughout the year. Middle School is a collaborative endeavour, and it is a privilege to work alongside such a warm and engaged community.
On behalf of the Middle School team, I wish all families a safe, restful, and joy-filled holiday break. Merry Christmas, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back in 2026.
Lauren Connolly
Head of Middle School
Year 9 City Week: Experiential Learning at Its Best
City Week 2025 was nothing short of extraordinary. Our Year 9 students embraced this immersive learning experience with enthusiasm, curiosity, and an impressive level of preparation. Thanks to the groundwork laid during their AMPLify lessons, students entered the week already focused, informed, and energised. They had conducted preliminary research, refined their inquiry themes, and understood that the challenge before them was not to solve a complex problem, but to synthesise information and tell a compelling story about an aspect of Adelaide from their own unique perspective.
This shift from problem-solving to storytelling proved to be transformative. Where problem-solving tasks can sometimes narrow a student’s line of sight, storytelling opened it wide. By inviting students to explore, gather, interpret, and weave insights into a narrative, we encouraged deeper thinking, greater creativity, and more authentic engagement with their surroundings.
The week itself showcased experiential learning at its best. Students learned directly from the city—its people, spaces, sounds, and stories. A combination of guest speakers, master classes, and guided exploration created a rich, layered learning environment. Our visiting filmmaker and experts in storytelling and journalism equipped students with practical skills in interviewing, filming, narrative structure, and ethical representation. Students then ventured into the city to interact with contacts, observe their chosen contexts, and gather the material they needed to craft their stories.
By the end of the week, students were working toward two major outputs: First a 3–5 minute documentary, capturing the essence of their chosen theme; and second, a booth at the City Week Expo, where they curated and represented their learning visually and verbally, sharing their discoveries with peers, teachers, and families.
The Expo was a highlight. It was inspiring to see students confidently explain not just what they learned, but how they learned it, and why their chosen story mattered. Their ability to synthesise information from multiple sources—observations, interviews, research, and master classes—was clear in the quality of their documentaries and the creativity of their booth presentations.
We are immensely proud of our Year 9 students for the maturity, initiative, and imagination they brought to City Week 2025. This year’s refreshed approach allowed them to go deeper, think more critically, and tell stories that truly reflect the spirit of our city through their own eyes.
One example of creative enterprise during City Week came from a group of musically talented students who spent 30 minutes busking in the city. Their set included ‘Just the Two of Us’, ‘Viva La Vida’, a piano solo titled Experience, and ‘Fly Me to the Moon’ on baritone saxophone.
Despite the rain and their limited time slot, the group raised an impressive $116, which they donated to the Anglicare Christmas Hamper Drive. “We were really pleased with how much we made in such a short time,” said Min.
The experience offered a new perspective on performing. “Busking felt less formal and more unpredictable,” said Moses. “The sound travels differently, and the public reacts in their own way.” Gabriele added, “Performing on the street feels more intimate because people can stop right in front of you.” One passer-by even stayed for the group’s entire set.
The success of the project has inspired the students to continue. “We definitely want to busk again,” they said.
How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying – CASTING
Last Friday we released our cast list for next year’s production! The contract of agreement for all performance cast will go home in an email tomorrow. Please look through this document carefully and complete the online MS Form via the link provided in the email.
Our lead cast will meet with the production team next Wednesday 10 December from 1.00-4.00pm in the Music Classroom, Nicholls Building, for a script read-through and to receive guidance on character development from our Creative Director, Jo Casson.
Our first full cast rehearsal will take place on Tuesday 27 January from 1.00-5.00pm in Wyatt Hall.
We can’t wait to see this show come to life! It’s set to be another fantastic production, with tickets going on sale in mid-Term 1, 2026.
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.