Fostering Strong Relationships Through Stories
Human beings are hard-wired for connection. In every aspect—emotionally, physically, mentally, and neurologically—we rely on relationships with others to grow, develop, and maintain our wellbeing. Strong relationships and meaningful interactions are essential for building positive communities.
From an early age, children begin to develop an understanding of empathy, communication, and the value of positive relationships. At Annesley, we recognise that for many students, positive peer relationships are the most important factor in their school experience. As educators, we provide explicit instruction on healthy relationships through our daily Welcome Circles that commence each day in every learning sapce, RAVE (Religion and Values Education), the explicit teaching of social skills, learning through conflict resolution, and learning within our IB PYP Units of Inquiry, especially in the transdisciplinary theme of Who We Are. While this teaching lays the foundation, children need additional guidance to fully develop the lifelong skills for building healthy relationships. Parents play a crucial role in this journey, helping children form strong, respectful connections with others.
The Primary English Teachers Association (PETAA) has developed a valuable resource for parents, which can be accessed here. This resource includes a carefully curated selection of books paired with guiding questions designed to spark meaningful discussions. Humans, particularly children, learn through stories and age-appropriate books can serve as powerful tools for introducing important themes such as kindness, responsibility, and conflict resolution. By reading together and engaging in reflective conversations, parents can help children process their emotions and interactions with others.
Some of the key values in this resource include:
By integrating these discussions into daily routines—both at school and at home—we can nurture children’s emotional intelligence, communication skills, and positive social behaviours. These shared experiences will not only strengthen their relationships now but also lay the foundation for lifelong, respectful interactions.
Together, we can foster a culture of respect and understanding—one story at a time!
Sharyn Darrell
Director of Primary
Today, three inspiring Base 6 students, Alba, Indigo, and Quinn, took the initiative to organise a special lunch in honour of International Women’s Day, which takes place tomorrow.
They invited Year 4-6 students and staff to join them in the Dining Hall, arranged speakers to share their stories, and gifted each attendee a personalised purple ribbon. The girls also delivered an impressive presentation on the history and significance of the day.
It was wonderful to see such a fantastic turnout and support for this meaningful occasion. A tremendous success and the first Annesley Junior School International Women’s’ Day!
Bravo, girls! You have “Accelerated Action’ through learning and awareness at Annesley today!
This week at Budding Lunch, we had the pleasure of welcoming a special visit from The Advertiser, who took a keen interest in our Budding Lunch program here at Annesley.
We are thrilled to share that our story has now gone national, and you can now read it both online and in print.
The feature highlights the social and health benefits of sharing a sit-down lunch, particularly at a time when traditional canteen prices are on the rise. The growing trend towards a more community-focused, nutritious lunch experience has captured national attention.
We are incredibly proud of the Budding Lunch program and would like to thank our amazing students, Mico and Charlotte, for their patience and for representing the school so impeccably during the shoot. We would also like to express our gratitude to Africola for their outstanding food and continued partnership.
Thank you to everyone involved in making Budding Lunch such a success!
Meet Kate Viney!
We are excited to welcome Kate Viney to our Annesley school community as our new Year 6 teacher. With a wealth of teaching experience and a passion for STEM education, Kate is dedicated to creating a classroom environment where students feel empowered, curious, and supported.
Having travelled the world, Kate brings a unique cultural perspective to her teaching, embracing diversity and creating an inclusive atmosphere. She believes that every student has the potential to grow, and her goal is to inspire a growth mindset, celebrating each student’s success along the way.
Kate will be working in Base 6 with Darren to provide an engaging and dynamic learning experience for our Year 6 students. Together, they’ll create an environment where students can thrive in both STEM and digital literacy.
Outside of the classroom, Kate enjoys spending quality time with her young family, their dog, and the outdoors – whether that’s gardening or enjoying the beach. We’re thrilled to have Kate as part of our team and look forward to the exciting things she’ll bring to our students!
Please join us in welcoming Kate to our school community when you see her.
Unit of Inquiry – Change is all around us
Over the last few weeks our Eucalypt children have been exploring changes in nature by observing the lifecycles of chickens and monarch butterflies. This immersive experience not only sparks their curiosity but also encourages lots of questioning and theory making amongst the children.
We have watched our caterpillar make a chrysalis and after emerging from it during a weekend, the children had some theories about where the butterfly had gone.
In addition to butterflies, we have been caring for chickens and observing their growth from eggs to chicks. Again, the children have shared many observations about what they can see happening before them.
On Wednesday we had the privilege of welcoming our Year 3 Grandparents and Special Friends to Annesley.
Grandparents and Special Friends were asked to bring a historical artefact to share with the students, with the students leading the conversation through prepared questions. Our Grandparents and Special friends contributed to the learning in the Year 3 Unit of Inquiry ‘Significant events influence cultural identity’.
It was a wonderful morning, made even more special with our Year 6 students serving coffee from our Bouncing Bean Cafe and a yummy morning tea.
A Day of Excellence and Fun!
It was fantastic to see our students have fun while representing Annesley with pride at the SAPSASA Swimming carnival. Everyone gave their best, and we celebrated numerous personal bests.
Special mention goes to some outstanding performances:
Bronte N
1st – 100m Open Girls Freestyle
1st – 50m Butterfly
2nd – 50m Freestyle
Mila T
2nd – 50m Breaststroke
3rd – 50m Butterfly
A huge congratulations to all swimmers for their incredible effort and sportsmanship.
March 21 is Australia’s Harmony Day, celebrating the country’s cultural diversity
Wear Orange
On Harmony Day, Friday Week 8, all students ELC-Year 6 are encouraged to wear something orange to school with their school uniform. Orange has been the Harmony Week colour since the first event was held in 1999, and symbolises our support for inclusiveness, respect, and a sense of belonging for everyone.
Everyone Belongs – Mosaic
Belonging is our schoolwide conceptual focus for the year. Embedded within our School Vision Statement, a sense of ‘belonging’ – knowing where and with whom you belong – is integral to human existence and helps shape who we are and who we can become. Children belong first to a family, a cultural group, a neighbourhood, and a wider community. Harmony Day symbolises our support for inclusiveness, respect for all cultures and a sense of belonging for everyone.
On Harmony Day, our students will design a logo or picture to show that everyone belongs at Annesley. Each class will create a poster of these logos to display in their rooms. One student from each class will be selected to work with Sarah, to recreate their logo on a clay tile which we will combine to create a mosaic for the school.
Early Bird is Now Closed!
But don’t worry—we’ve got another special offer just for you! Get 4 tickets for just $80—that’s a savings of $5 per ticket!
With only 4 weeks to go, now’s the time to grab your tickets and secure your spot for an unforgettable Musical Bingo night!
Don’t miss out—get yours now! Click here to book
For your information, we include in this newsletter recently updated Annesley Policies:
AJS Allergy and Nut Aware Policy
Annesley Policies can be found our website (selected policies only) and other relevant policies for families are kept in the Policies Tab on School Stream.
We ask our families to refrain from undertaking U-turns on Rose Terrace when bringing your child to school or collecting them at the end of the day. It is unlawful to do a U-turn over the yellow barriers on the road and a safety concern during peak times for our community along Rose Terrace during these busy times.
A reminder to all families that if you have younger children that you have not yet submitted an application form for, that it can be done via this link: https://enrol.annesley.sa.edu.au/application-for-admission/start
An application must be submitted in order for a child to be considered for a place.
If you are not sure if you have submitted an application and wish to check, or for any other questions, please contact Laura in the Student Enrolments Office on 8422 2211 or email enrolments@annesley.sa.edu.au
Through recent engagement with the Unley Council, they have confirmed guidelines for our community to follow when using the Kiss & Drop zone. Drivers must remain within 3 metres of their car in this zone and can only remain stopped for 2 minutes. If a driver moves further than 3 metres away, the 2-minute period no longer applies. We have had regular inspections from Unley Council of this zone recently. We ask our community members to adhere to these guidelines to avoid getting fined, and to keep our Kiss & Drop zone functioning effectively.
A reminder to Primary families that supervision for our students is provided from 8.30am on school grounds. Prior to this time, students are not to be left onsite without an adult family member. Our Before School OSHC Service is available to families requiring early supervision from 7.30am to 8.30am. Similarly, staff supervision is provided after school until 3.45pm. OSHC is available to families needing care after school until 6pm.
Calling all families to donate gently used Annesley uniforms to Unify, our student-led pop-up shop for second-hand uniforms. Your contribution not only promotes sustainability but also helps support many of the school’s initiatives. Your ongoing participation is greatly appreciated and contributes to the continued success of our school community. Donations can be left in the Unify tub located in the Front Office.
Our Bouncing Bean Café and Unify Second-Hand store are open at the following times each week:
Before School: 8.15am – 9am, Everyday
Morning Break: 11.05am – 11.45am, Everyday
Wednesday Afternoons: 3pm – 4pm
Monday 10 March: Adelaide Cup Public Holiday
Tuesday – Friday 11-14 March: Swimming Week – Primary
Monday 17 March: Year 4 Quest – Surf Life Saving
Wednesday 19 March: Assembly
Wednesday 26 March: Chapel
Friday 28 March: Harmony Day
Friday 28 March: Year 1, Tree Climb Excursion
Monday 31 March: Year 4 Quest – Surf Life Saving
Monday 31 March: Student Leaders, National Young Leaders Day
Monday 31 March: Reception, Celebration of Learning
Tuesday 1 April: Reception, Celebration of Learning
Wednesday 2 April: Year 2, Celebration of Learning
Wednesday 2 April: Assembly
Thursday 3 April: Reception, Celebration of Learning
Thursday 3 April: ELC orientations
Friday 4 April: Reception, Celebration of Learning
Saturday 5 April: Musical Bingo – Parents Only Night
Our website now has a volunteering page under the Community Tab that outlines clearly the process we require our family members to follow to volunteer at Annesley. This process meets legislative requirements in order to keep our children and volunteers safe at Annesley. See more here.
