Three Words – What Went Well

Today I refer to an article I wrote in a newsletter over a year ago, as it resonated with many of our families, and is still very relevant to our ‘Ready to Learn’ practices across our school, and our new Annesley Values.

Does this sound familiar?

Parent: ‘How was your day?”
Child: ‘Good.’
Parent: ‘What did you do?
Child: ‘Not much.’

Annesley students are busy, active and engaged learners with full days of learning and adventures and ‘not much’ is not a true reflection of their days! Children however are very good at living in the present moment, so at 3.30pm, these moments of high engagement and learning are already in the past.

Instead, consider keeping the moment that you first see your child at the end of the day for a loving greeting and embrace, then choose a moment (in the car, at the dinner table, before bed) to use these three words to build positive reflection and celebrate their achievements.

What Went Well has emerged from wellbeing sciences, It focuses the mind on positive emotions, reduces stress, builds resilience and enhances wellbeing. It teaches our children to see themselves and their peers in a positive light, and support their self and collective efficacy, countering a natural inclination often to focus instead on the negative.

It is a simple, yet powerful way to boost the mental wellbeing for your child/ren and you!

Ready to Learn – Welcome Circles

Students at Annesley use What Went Well everyday, in welcome circles which start the day in every learning space.

A Welcome Circle is an evidence-based practice to support students to be ready to learn, connecting with human-centered practices to set students up for success in the learning environment.

A Welcome Circle includes:

• Greetings
• Value Focus
• Behaviour Expectations
• Announcements
• A Positive Primer
• Gratitude Practice – What Went Well

Annesley Values – Gratitude

What Went Well is a daily practice at Annesley that aligns with one of our six Annesley Values, Gratitude – We appreciate what we have and express thankfulness.

Jo Rossiter
Principal

Our New Mid‑Year Reception Teacher

We are excited to have appointed Stasia Vigor as the teacher for our 2026 Mid‑Year Reception Class.

Stasia is currently teaching in the ELC at St Peter’s Girls’ School and has previously taught their Mid‑Year Reception class, as well as in Year 4. She brings twenty years of teaching experience, in roles at St Andrew’s School in the ELC, Mid-Year Reception and Primary, and as Director of Cedars Montessori Preschool, Walford.

We are delighted to welcome Stasia to the Annesley teaching team. She brings warmth, extensive experience in the EYLF, Australian Curriculum and IB Primary Years Programme, and a passion for early years learning. Stasia is excited to join our community and begin building strong relationships with our youngest learners, and their families.

The Anney App is currently under development to enhance the user experience of Anney. A demo version has been shared with our team.

To support the continued development of the app, we invite Annesley Families to visit the Anney Support page.

There, you can watch a short video about the app in the Featured Guide section and follow the link provided to complete a very quick survey.

A small group of parents are currently exploring a Green Adelaide grant application for a biodiversity, nature play and cultural learning project within the Junior School nature play area.

As part of the early planning process, we would love to hear from any parents or members of the school community who work in landscape architecture, landscaping, horticulture, ecology, native planting, environmental education or related fields, or who may be able to assist with the project, particularly in  identifying and documenting existing trees and plant species within the school grounds.

The project is exploring opportunities to increase native planting, biodiversity and outdoor learning experiences.

If you are interested in contributing, please contact Marcus Toop – marcustoop@gmail.com.

‘PJ Day’ and ‘The Great Annesley Bake Off’

Two of our Year 4 Enterprise groups have organised special events for our school community in Week 8 to help raise funds and resources for the charity BackPacks 4 Kids SA. BackPacks 4 Kids SA provide resources that contribute to the care, safety and wellbeing of children and young people during periods of displacement from home and routine care. Our donations will help South Australian children who find themselves in need of basic items most of us take for granted. Find out more about BackPacks 4 Kids SA on their website.

Read below to find out more about these 2 exciting events

Pyjama Day – Friday 12 June

On Pyjama Day we invite all Primary School students Reception- Year 6 to come to school in their pyjamas. Pyjamas must be warm enough for the day’s weather and suitable for moving around in throughout the day, including break times and PE lessons. Pyjamas must be worn over underwear.

Oodies and Dressing gowns are welcome, but children need to wear sneakers to remain safe at school.

In support of BackPacks 4 Kids SA, and in keeping with the bedtime theme, on PJ Day we are collecting donations of children’s pyjamas, soft toys and toiletry items (toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap etc) or a gold coin donation.  All donated items should be new.

Annesley Bake Off – Friday 12 June

Oscar, Florence and Henry from Year 4  are excited to announce our first ever Annesley Bake Off. We are looking to find the best cake bakers in our community.

There are competitions for:

• Reception – Year 2
• Year 3-6
• Teachers

You can choose to enter your cake in one of two categories

• Best tasting
• Best appearance

Your cake may also be entered into two additional categories

• Best Dairy free
• Best Gluten free

Cakes are baked at home by students together with a parent/adult carer.

Cakes need to be brought in to school on Thursday 11^th June for judging

The cakes will be sale to the wider school community on Friday  June 12^th and proceeds will go to the Bake Off team’s chosen charity BackPacks 4 Kids SA.

See our Anney news post for further details about the competition and to download an entry form

All cakes must be nut free, please see our Allergen Aware Policy.

In Enterprise at Annesley, students are given time to action their ideas, showcasing their passions, skills and strengths. Isla in Year 4 has created a connection between Unify and the Bouncing Bean Café.

To encourage and support families who donate to Unify, she has created a ‘free hot drink’ voucher for families to take when they donate clothes to Unify. Clothes can be donated, and a card collected in the Unify store next to the Café, or at the Front Office.

Unify was an Enterprise project created by students in 2021, who are now in Year 11, to address clothing waste in our school.

Grevillea and Wattle’s Excursion to the Zoo!

Last Thursday the Grevillea and Wattle rooms visited the Adelaide Zoo for an excursion. As a part of our Sharing the Planet inquiry we are currently exploring wildlife and how our actions impact the environment. We were able to participate in a learning experience through the Zoo’s education program where we were able to see a blue tongue lizard up close and explore different animals homes we can set up in our ELC garden or back yard’s to help support native wildlife. We shared what we noticed about the blue tongue. For example, how it had patterns on its scales and that its back was a different colour to its front!

We then went for a tour around the zoo where we got to see giraffes, pandas, loud monkeys, meerkats and so much more. We were able to answer some questions we came with such as

Do penguins have hair? No, they have tiny feathers that act like hair.

Will there be monkeys at the zoo? Yes! And when they talk to each other it sounds like Annesley sirens.

What do echidnas smell like? Echidna’s smell like the zoo.

Will there be pandas? Yes, but he will be sleeping.

However, our absolute favourite part of the excursion was getting to go on the bus. Twice!

Thank you to all our fabulous ELC educators and family volunteers that made this excursion possible. We had the best time!

On Tuesday the 5th of May, the Year One students enjoyed a much-anticipated Late Night at School, where they had the opportunity to connect with one another and demonstrate our school values of joy, bravery, connection, gratitude, and kindness. There was a buzz of excitement throughout Year One in anticipation of the evening, and it certainly lived up to expectations.

Students participated in a range of engaging activities. With our science teacher, Christiana, they explored star constellations in the night sky. With our Year One teacher, Amy, they created beautiful Moon and Sun artworks, linking to our unit of inquiry, How the World Works, and demonstrating their understanding of the day to night cycle. With Year One Teachers, Jess, Laura, and Bonnie, students made damper.

After completing the various activities, the students gathered on the courts to watch the sunset. Once the sun had set, all classes came together around the campfire to sing songs, accompanied by Sophie, our talented performing arts teacher, on her ukulele.

We then enjoyed the delicious damper, expertly cooked by our Coordinator of Experiential Learning and Wellbeing, Penny. Our wonderful volunteers and leadership team assisted by preparing a sausage sizzle and serving dinner in the dining hall.  After dinner, students returned to their classrooms to wind down with bedtime stories, beautifully read by our Year One teacher, Amy.

Experiences such as these are invaluable for our Year One learners, providing authentic, hands-on opportunities to build independence, strengthen friendships, and develop confidence in a supportive environment. Through shared moments of discovery, creativity, and reflection, students deepen their understanding of the world around them while fostering a strong sense of belonging within our school community.

It was a memorable and enriching experience that fostered connection, independence, and a sense of community among our students.

Join us at Gillingham Hall on 30 May 2026 for a night of laughs, friendly competition, and unforgettable fun!

• Prizes up for grabs
• Best Dressed Prom King & Queen
• Good vibes guaranteed

Tables
Tables of 4 are ideal — if you can get a table of 8, even better!
No team? No stress. Simply tick “Pair Me Up” and we’ll match you with others for the ultimate fun table.

BYO food & drinks

RSVP by 23 May – To book your ticket, please email Cat: rogowskic@annesley.sa.edu.au.

Get your crew together, plan your outfits, and get ready for a night to remember!

SAPSASA Netball Carnival – A Fantastic Effort from All

Our students proudly represented the school at this year’s SAPSASA Statewide Netball Championships, with four teams taking to the courts across the day. Throughout the carnival, every team demonstrated outstanding effort, bravery, and teamwork, embracing the challenge of competing against strong opposition with positivity and resilience.

The carnival provided a wonderful opportunity for students to apply their learning from PE, develop their game awareness, and grow in confidence in a competitive environment. Across all matches, students supported one another, communicated effectively, and showed great pride in representing our school.

A special congratulations must go to the girls SAPSASA team, who produced a tremendous performance to finish inside the top four. Their achievement is a true reflection of the resilience, growth, and determination they displayed throughout the day. The way they adapted to challenges, worked together under pressure, and competed hard and fair was exceptional and something they should be incredibly proud of.

Well done to all students who were selected to participate and represented the school so positively. A huge thank you to Zac for organising the event and preparing the students so thoroughly. We also extend our appreciation to Christian, Penny, Luke, and Kate for their coaching, support, and leadership on the day. Your guidance played a vital role in helping students feel confident, supported, and ready to perform.

An outstanding effort from everyone involved and a memorable SAPSASA carnival for our netballers!

Yesterday morning, our Old Scholars Association hosted a delightful morning tea for Old Scholars of Annesley College and MLC who are now part of our community as parents, grandparents, aunts, and special friends.

The gathering provided a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our multigenerational Annesley family and honour the College’s proud history. It was especially meaningful to welcome a scholar from the Class of 1954, highlighting the enduring connections within our community. She attended with her grandson who is currently in year 4.

Thank you to the Old Scholars Association for organising another lovely event and for continuing to create strong connections across generations.

Last Friday morning, Annesley celebrated Mother’s Day with a wonderful event at the school. Activities and thoughtful gifts were enjoyed with mums in the classrooms, creating many special moments.

The celebration continued at the Bouncing Bean Café, where students and our incredible APA members proudly served coffee and breakfast to our special guests.

A fantastic raffle was also held, with a few lucky mums receiving generous prizes.

We extend our sincere thanks to our amazing APA Committee for organising such a memorable morning. To all of our mothers and mother figures, we hope you enjoyed a restful and happy Mother’s Day, thank you for all that you do.

At Annesley, there are designated toilets for student use and other toilets available for adults to use while onsite.

The designated and clearly labelled adult toilet facilities are located:

• In the Gym
• Courtyard
• Opposite the Front Office.

Annesley staff are always happy to assist if you need directions.

This expectation supports our commitment to maintaining a safe, child‑focused environment for all students and visitors.

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.

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.

May

• Thursday 21st May – Year 6 Quest – Baptist Care
• Friday 22nd May – ASE District Cross Country
• Friday 22nd May – Year 2 Quest – Ride a Bike right
• Friday 29th May – Year 2 Quest – Ride a Bike right
• Saturday 30th May – APA Quiz Night

June

• Tuesday 2nd June – SAPSASA Soccer Carnival
• Tuesday 2nd June – Dare to Become Parenting Series: Dr Marco Gleeson
• Wednesday 3rd June – MYR Orientation Day
•  Friday 5th June – ELC Yoga Incursion
• Monday 8th June – King’s Birthday Public Holiday
• Tuesday 9th June – Base 6 Quest – Forktree Project
•  Wednesday 10th June – Reception Intergenerational Program
•  Wednesday 10th June – Maths Explorer and Maths Olympiad
•  Wednesday 10th June – MYR Orientation Day
•  Thursday 11th June – Base 3 Camp
•  Thursday 11th June – Year 5 Performance – Family and Community
• Friday 12th June – ELC Yoga Incursion
• Wednesday 17th June – MYR Final Orientation Day
• Friday 19th June – ELC Yoga Incursion
• Friday 12th June – Annesley Bake Off & Pyjama Day
• Wednesday 24th June – Reception Intergeneration Program
• Wednesday 24th June – ELC Orientation
• Friday 26th June – ELC Yoga Incursion
• Friday 26th June – End of Term 2

If you require further information about upcoming events at Annesley, please contact enquiries@annesley.sa.edu.au

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.