Strategic Framework 2026 – 2030

Learning Environment

Our third and final Strategic Focus Area of our Strategic Framework is Learning Environment. Our commitment at Annesley is to ‘immersive, authentic and creative learning environments that foster learner engagement and student agency’.

Student Engagement vs Learning Engagement

Over generations, focus in schools has been on student engagement,  compliance and conformity, built upon the thought ‘if we can put in structures and systems, and hold their attention, they will learn.’ Schools across the western world however, are reporting a continuing decline in student engagement and many are puzzled on how to address it.

Conformity doesn’t not nurture curiosity or creativity, and compliance does not equate to deep and lifelong learning. Humans innately love to learn and naturally engage through curiosity, creativity and ownership. If students are not engaged in learning, then the learning environment is not optimal. The solution lies in learning engagement, in deep and authentic learning.

Annesley has been an International Baccalaureate Primary Years’ Program school (IB PYP) since 2005, and we remain committed to being an IB PYP school because the IB PYP framework is continually informed by leading educational research around the world, about how primary students best learn.

Teachers in IB PYP schools use a 4-way test when planning for learning engagements. They ask themselves, is the learning:

• Engaging?
• Relevant?
• Significant?
• Challenging?

An IB PYP school, teachers teach for:

• Knowledge
• Conceptual understanding
• Transdisciplinary Skills
• Learner Attributes
• Action

IB PYP Self-Study and Evaluation at Annesley in 2026

This year, Annesley will undertake our IB self-study, an important part of the five-year IB evaluation cycle that supports ongoing reflection, development, and rigour of our IB Primary Years Program. We will have an evaluation visit in early 2027, when our teachers, students and community will collaborate with two visitors from the International Baccalaureate Organisation.

The self‑study is conducted in the year leading up to the evaluation visit and is a reflective process that involves the entire school community. It provides an opportunity to review our implementation of the IB Standards and Practices, reflect on the growth of our program, and consider its impact on student learning and outcomes.

Later this year, Annesley parents will be invited to share their perspectives through a self-study parent survey. Your feedback, alongside insights from other stakeholders, will play an important role in shaping the future development of our IB Program.

Jo Rossiter
Principal

The Annesley Year 4 Camp at Adare Campsite in Victor Harbor this week was a memorable and a successful experience, offering students a wonderful balance of learning, challenge and fun. Students embraced a range of exciting activities, including kayaking, surfing, beach games and mountain bike riding. A highlight for many was the Flying Kiwi, a signature experience that encouraged students to step outside their comfort zone.

Through team challenges and outdoor activities, students developed confidence, cooperation and problem-solving skills while creating wonderful memories. It was a fantastic experience that left students feeling proud of their achievements.

On Friday 27 March, our school community came together for a vibrant and successful Sports Day, filled with energy, colour and outstanding participation from beginning to end. It was wonderful to see students from across all year levels involved, with strong participation throughout the entire day, making it a true whole school event.

From early in the morning, house colours, cheers and chants helped create a lively and supportive atmosphere as students proudly represented their houses. All four houses competed extremely well, showing determination, teamwork and enthusiasm across an impressive variety of events. From the fun and laughter of the chicken throw to the speed and focus of the sprints and the skill required in events such as the high jump, there was something for everyone to enjoy and take part in.

Most importantly, Sports Day was a strong reflection of our six Annesley values in action. Students consistently demonstrated respect, perseverance and teamwork, with Bravery evident as many stepped outside their comfort zones to try challenging events, and Kindness clearly shown through encouragement, inclusion and support for one another throughout the day.

After a full day of spirited competition, congratulations go to Corinth House, who were crowned Sports Day Champions for 2026, achieving an impressive back‑to‑back victory through their consistent effort across all events.

A heartfelt thank you to our teachers who supported events, encouraged students and helped ensure the day ran smoothly. Special thanks to Penny and Millie for everything they did behind the scenes, and to Jo for her ongoing support of such an important community event. A major thank you to Zac for organising and running the day so thoroughly, your planning and leadership were key to its success.

We also thank our school community for coming along to cheer and support the students, and the PA group for organising lunch, which was very much appreciated by everyone.

Overall, Sports Day 2026 was a wonderful celebration of participation, effort and school spirit. We look forward to building on this energy as we head into future sporting and community events throughout the year.

Congratulations to our B Grade cricketers on finishing the season undefeated. We are so proud of the way you play the game and think you look pretty amazing in the our new Annesley cricket tops too.

Our Reception Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ afternoon was a joyful occasion, that truly celebrated the Annesley Values of Connection, Kindness and Joy, which were on display from the very beginning. The children warmly welcomed their special guests and loved spending meaningful time together as they explored the Easter Trail, sharing smiles and participating in experiences that encouraged connection and joy.

The children and special guests enjoyed creative Easter craft activities, where they worked side by side, strengthening connections and creating special memories.

To end the celebration, the children treated their guests to a heartfelt performance of Kindness Is Free, a fitting and uplifting conclusion to a morning filled with generosity, gratitude and happiness.

A few weeks ago we celebrated the continued growth of our co‑curricular instrumental music sessions in partnership with Hallmark Music Studio. Since 2019, the number of co‑curricular music lessons studied by students has expanded from 18 sessions a week to an outstanding 100 sessions a week in 2026.

This is a wonderful moment in which to reflect on the growth of our Performing Arts programme at Annesley Junior School, from its inception in 2020 to now in 2026.  We have a robust and inclusive programme that offers opportunities for every student to achieve using hands on lessons, participation in ensembles, devising and performing in productions and, most importantly, actively viewing, playing within and exploring the arts. We are deeply grateful for community members who share their time, support and experience, particularly supporting our productions. We extend sincere thanks to Kylie Hall and her unwavering dedication to providing and coordinating the instrumental tutors for our school.

We are of course aware that we have such legacy in this space with many old scholars frequently sharing their stories and fond memories of learning Performing Arts at Annesley College and are so pleased to be able to continue inspiring and supporting students to grow in performance skills, life skills (team work, confidence, resilience, expression and problem solving among many others) and experience joy with the arts.

This year so far, it has been wonderful to see students across the school engaging so creatively in the Performing Arts, from our ELC students discovering percussion instruments and adding sound to stories, and Reception bringing stories to life through music, dance and drama, to Year 1 developing acting skills by exploring emotions and Year 2 listening and responding thoughtfully to music inspired by visual art and real-life situations; as they progress through the years, students have continued to deepen their skills, with Year 3 creating dance, drama and music inspired by art from other cultures, Year 4 devising imaginative adverts, Year 5 reading through scripts, developing acting techniques and auditioning for their Term 2 production, and Year 6 confidently learning and demonstrating video and sound editing skills.

A reminder to families

If you have younger children for whom you have not yet submitted an application form, applications can be submitted via the following link: Enrolment

An application must be submitted for a child to be considered for a place. Places are subject to availability and are not automatically guaranteed for siblings, so early application is strongly recommended.

If you are unsure whether you have already submitted an application and would like to check, or if you have any other questions, please contact Laura in the Student Enrolments Office on 8422 2211 or email enrolments@annesley.sa.edu.au.

The safety of our students and their families, along with respectful consideration for our neighbouring residents on Rose Terrace, remains a priority at Annesley.

Kiss ’n Drop Zone

• 8:15am – 8:45am and 3:15pm – 3:45pm each school day
• Extends from the Pedestrian Crossing to the Cubby House
• 3‑minute stop only — please remain within 1 metre of your car

For the safety of children, please avoid:

• Making U‑turns on Rose Terrace
• Double parking

Please consider our neighbours by not:

• Parking across driveways or in no‑standing zones
• Moving rubbish bins on bin day (Tuesday)
• Parking in permit zones

Thank you for your ongoing attention to these guidelines — it makes a positive difference for everyone.

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.

From 4.30pm each day, OSHC requires exclusive access to the eastern playspace (including the soccer field and Adventure playground). After this time, families are asked to move to the western end, utilising the Court and Daphne Gum playground.

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
Tuesday & Wednesday Afternoons: 3pm – 4pm

We have a busy and exciting Term 1 ahead at Annesley, with a range of learning experiences, excursions, and community celebrations planned for our students. Please see the key dates below and add them to your calendar.

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.

We wish all our Annesley families a safe and restful Easter break. Enjoy this special time with your loved ones, and we look forward to seeing our students back for Term 2 on Monday 20 April.