Primary Education Week – 3-7 August

Primary schooling is a critical stage in children’s development and learning, the years when curiosity deepens, capability expands, confidence strengthens, and a strong sense of belonging takes hold. This is not a precursor to secondary education or what they do beyond school, it is the powerful, determinate phase, with outcomes that echo deeply across a lifetime.

As an ELC – Year 6 school, Annesley students have the focus of every strategic direction, decision, resource and our extensive campus facilities to invest in this primary journey. It positions us as Early Learning and Primary experts, with the journey between Early Learning and Year 6 at Annesley carefully crafted for the benefit of investing in the learning, skills, attributes and aspirations of our students.

This stage deserves national attention, professional respect and policy settings that match its impact. The message of Primary Week is clear: elevate primary education and recognise its central role in shaping Australia’s future.

Happy Primary Education Week!

Jo Rossiter
Principal

Annesley’s NAPLAN results in 2026 are outstanding. They reflect the high quality, evidence-based teaching and learning of English and Maths at Annesley.

This achievement is testament to our school’s Strategic Focus on Learner Growth, and a result of the explicit and personalised teaching of Literacy and Numeracy by expert teachers in learning spaces each day by at Annesley. This includes the implementation of leading literacy program Sounds-Write and highlights the priority we place at Annesley in striving for excellence in these key learning areas, within the IB PYP Framework.

Parents and carers are warmly invited to attend our Student-Led Specialist Learning Walks, taking place throughout Term 3.

These learning walks provide an opportunity for students to lead their parents through a selection of specialist learning spaces, where they will showcase, discuss, and reflect on their learning experiences. Students will take ownership of the process by sharing examples of their work, explaining what they have been learning, and celebrating their growth across specialist subjects. Our specialist teachers will be available in their learning spaces to support the process and answer any questions.

Prior to the event, students will work with their classroom teachers to plan their learning walk and identify the specialist areas they would like to visit. A class-specific learning walk template, outlining the route and focus areas for each specialist subject, will be shared on Year Group page in Anney before the event.

Many of our students’ interests, strengths, and proudest achievements are developed within our specialist programs. These learning walks provide a wonderful opportunity for students to take the lead in sharing these experiences with their families.

Please refer to the schedule below for your child’s learning walk date and time. We look forward to welcoming you and celebrating our students’ learning together.

David Taylor
PYP Coordinator & Highly Able Teacher

Student-Led Specialist Learning Walks

Week 4 | Wednesday 12 August

Year 2
8:15am – 8:45am (Before School)

Year 3
3:45pm – 4:15pm (After School)

Week 6 | Wednesday 26 August

Year 4
8:15am – 8:45am (Before School)

Years 5 & 6
3:45pm – 4:15pm (After School)

Week 8 | Wednesday 9 September

Reception
3:45pm – 4:15pm (After School)

Thursday 10 September

Year 1
8:15am – 8:45am (Before School)

Year 4 History Excursion: Exploring the Impact of Exploration

This term, Year 4 students have begun researching how exploration of the world has brought both advantages and disadvantages to societies. As part of our inquiry, we spent a day investigating the historic Clipper Ship, City of Adelaide in Port Adelaide and visiting the South Australian Museum.

At the City of Adelaide, students explored the world’s oldest surviving composite clipper ship, built in Sunderland, United Kingdom, in 1864. Constructed with a wooden hull on iron frames, the ship was purpose-built to transport passengers and cargo between London and Adelaide. Over its working life, the City of Adelaide completed 23 return voyages and remains the only surviving sailing ship to have provided regular service between the United Kingdom and South Australia. Today, almost a quarter of a million Australians can trace their heritage to passengers or crew members who travelled aboard the vessel.

Walking through the ship gave students a valuable insight into what life may have been like for migrants making the long journey to Australia. They were able to visualise the living conditions, challenges, and opportunities faced by those on board and reflect on whether the sacrifices of the voyage were worthwhile.

At the South Australian Museum, students participated in the Deadly Science Fish Traps STEM workshop. This hands-on challenge explored the engineering principles behind Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander fish traps and highlighted how these technologies were designed for sustainable harvesting across diverse environments. Students investigated how First Nations Peoples used their deep understanding of seasonal cycles, river systems, and species conservation to maintain ecological balance for future generations.

Students also explored the Museum’s First Nations exhibits, gaining a deeper understanding of Aboriginal life and culture before European contact. This provided an important perspective on the impacts of exploration, enriching our discussions about how different societies experience change.

The excursion was a fantastic opportunity for students to connect their classroom learning with real-world experiences while developing a broader understanding of history, innovation, and cultural perspectives.

A Fantastic Effort from All

Our students proudly represented Annesley at the SAPSASA Statewide Soccer Carnival held at Barrett Reserve on Thursday 23^rd July. Throughout the day, the team displayed outstanding effort, determination, and skill, competing against strong opposition.

The carnival provided a wonderful opportunity for students to showcase their soccer skills, work together as a team, and challenge themselves in a competitive environment. Across all matches, students demonstrated great teamwork, supported one another, and played with pride while representing the school. They worked tirelessly to create scoring opportunities, celebrated some fantastic goals, and defended bravely to prevent goals at the other end.

While the overall results may not have been exactly what we had hoped for, the students should keep their heads held high. Their commitment, effort, and willingness to compete right until the final whistle were outstanding. Every player contributed to the team’s success through their positive attitude, perseverance, and determination throughout the day.

Well done to all students who were selected to participate and represent Annesley so positively. A sincere thank you to Penny Rawinski, Christian O’Dwyer, and Zac Venning for their support, coaching, and leadership throughout the carnival. Their guidance helped ensure students felt prepared, confident, and supported throughout the day.

An excellent effort from everyone involved and a memorable day of soccer for our students!

July Vacation Care

What a fantastic July Vacation Care program we had at OSHC! Students enjoyed a variety of exciting experiences, developed new skills, and created lasting memories with their friends.

One of our highlights was a visit to True Ninja, where students challenged themselves on a range of obstacle courses while also building confidence and resilience. The group also travelled via public transport, learning valuable life skills along the way. Another memorable outing was our trip to the cinema to watch Toy Story 5, which was thoroughly enjoyed by all, including staff.

Back at OSHC, students embraced their creative side by decorating their own pot plants and lamps, producing some wonderful and unique designs to take home. We also spent a day collaborating with our ELC friends. Through relationship building activities, obstacle courses, and shared experiences, students formed new connections and welcomed mid year Reception students, giving them the opportunity to explore the OSHC space before beginning their school journey.

During NAIDOC Week, students visited the Cultural Centre, where they explored Indigenous artefacts and deepened their understanding of First Nations culture. Students created stories using traditional Kaurna symbols, encouraging creativity while learning about the rich cultural heritage of the Kaurna people.

Students participated in a tennis clinic ran by Patrick Luke, where they developed new techniques, improved their coordination, and had plenty of fun being active.

As we look ahead, planning for the October Vacation Care Program is already well underway. The program will be available on Anney during Week 5 of Term 3. Please note that Vacation Care programs will no longer be advertised through School Stream, so families are encouraged to regularly check Anney for all Vacation Care information and updates.

Thank you to all our students and families for another successful Vacation Care program. We look forward to sharing more exciting experiences with you in October!

This November marks a truly special milestone for our Annesley community, as our much-loved Gillingham Hall celebrates its 100th anniversary.

For a century, the Hall has been at the heart of countless memories, bringing together generations of scholars, families, and community members for learning, celebration, and connection. As we reflect on its rich history, we are excited to also look ahead and celebrate everything it continues to represent.

We warmly invite all past scholars and members of the community to be part of this significant occasion. Please save the evening of 7th November 2026 and join us in honouring 100 years of Gillingham Hall.

Further details about the celebration will be shared soon.

We commence each new school term at Annesley with Chapel, led by Pastor Pete. Pastor Pete never fails to share a simple, yet powerful message in a meaningful and memorable way.

Last week, Pastor Pete invited Mr Potato Head to join us, as a reminder to allow ourselves to be grateful for this particular moment, as everything is exactly where it should be.

We also welcomed our newest primary students, including our new Mid-Year Reception class who started their primary schooling journey today. Each new student was presented with a special Welcome Card by our Year 6 Senior students during Chapel.

We celebrated two exciting Reception milestones last week.

Our Term 1 Reception students marked 100 Days of School by dressing up as 100 year-olds! There were plenty of laughs as students and teachers embraced their characters and celebrated 100 days of learning.

We also proudly welcomed our Mid-Year Reception students as they began their Primary School journey with their teacher, Stasia. The students have shown bravery and enthusiasm as they’ve settled into their new classroom, met our primary specialist teachers, and embraced new routines and relationships that make their new class such a special place to be.

Congratulations to all of our Reception and Mid-Year Reception students on reaching these wonderful milestones.

At Annesley, each student’s Quest journey begins in Reception, and it starts with Sharing Wisdom.

Reception students build intergenerational relationships with residents from Resthaven, learning through shared stories, experiences and conversations.

These authentic experiences embody our values of wisdom and connection, as each interaction deepens students’ understanding of the rich perspectives intergenerational relationships bring.

The curiosity and enthusiasm of our youngest learners, together with the wisdom and experience of older generations creates memorable and foundational learning moments for everyone involved.

Sharing Wisdom in Reception reflects Annesley’s commitment to experiential learning through our award-winning Quest program. As experts in primary education, we have intentionally crafted experiences that nurture confident and connected young people, sequenced and embedded into the learning of students from Reception to Year 6.

We are pleased to be able to provide new Annesley sports Umbrellas. Keep dry or stay in the shade in style with this top-quality umbrella perfect for school drop-offs, weekend sport and everything in between.

Limited stock available, order yours through the online uniform form on School Stream, or visit the Front Office next time you are at school!

There’s something special about seeing what we can achieve when our community comes together.

The Annesley Parents Association is excited to share that we’ve already raised over $30 through the Drakes Community Dollars Program—and we’re only just getting started!

Here’s how you can help: 

1. Download the myDrakes app.
2. Select Annesley Parents Association as your Community Dollars partner.
3. 
Scan the app every time you shop at Drakes.

That’s it! A small contribution from every shop is donated to the APA at no extra cost to you, helping fund initiatives that directly benefit our school community.

If every Annesley family selected the APA, the impact would be significant.

It’s one of the easiest ways to support our school—simply by doing your regular grocery shopping.

Thank you for helping us build an even stronger Annesley community. Every shop makes a difference!

Annesley Parents Association 

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 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.

August

• Monday 3rd – 6th  – Primary (Reception – Year 6) 3 Way Conferences
• Monday 3rd – 4th – APA – Book Week Costume Swap (Drop Off)
• Monday 3rd – ICAS Assessment – Digital Technologies
• Tuesday 4th – Year 1 – Central Markets Excursion
• Wednesday 5th – Rec Intergeneration Program
• Thursday 6th & Friday 7th – Book Week Costume Swap (Shop)
• Thursday 6th – Year 3 – Adelaide Zoo Excursion
• Friday 7th – Year 5 Quest – Belair National Park
• Friday 7th – Year 6 Science Alive Excursion
• Monday 10th – ICAS Assessment – English
• Tuesday 11th – ELC KESAB Incursion
• Tuesday 11th – Year 1 – Central Markets Excursion
• Wednesday 12th –Student-Led Specialist Learning Walks (Year 2 & Year 3)
• Thursday 13th – Fri 14th – Year 2 Sleepover
• Thursday 13th  – SAPSASA Basketball
• Thursday 13th – Year 3 – Adelaide Zoo Excursion
• Friday 14th – Science Fair hosted by Year 6
• Friday 14th – Year 5 Quest – Bike Ride or Food on the Table
• Monday 17th – Friday 21st – Science Week
• Monday 17th – Year 3 – 6: Author Visit – Kate Foster
• Tuesday 18th – Year 1 – Central Markets Excursion
• Tuesday 18th – Year 6 Art Gallery & Museum Excursion
• Tuesday 18th – ICAS Assessment – Science
• Tuesday 18th (6pm-8pm) – Dare to Become Parenting Series: Amber Owen – Mindful Pathways Conflict and your child
• Wednesday 19th – ICAS Assessment – Spelling Bee
• Thursday 20th – All Schools Mixed Touch Football SAPSASA Carnival
• Thursday 20th – SAPSASA ASE District Athletics Carnival
• Thursday 20th – Year 3 – Adelaide Zoo
• Friday 21st – Year 5 Quest – Bike Ride or Food on the Table
• Monday 24th – Friday 28th – Book Week – Early Years Storybook Trail
• Monday 24th (9am – 9:30am) – Book Week Parade (Primary Classes)
• Tuesday 25th – ICAS Assessment
• Wednesday 26th – Online Author visit – Andy Lee (Rec – Year 2)
• Wednesday 26th – Student-Led Specialist Learning Walks ( Year 4, 5 &6)
• Thursday 27th – Friday 28th – Scholastic Book Fair
• Thursday 27th – Friday 28th – Online Author visit – Matt Stanton (Year 4 – 6)
• Thursday 27th – Friday 28th – Year 3 – Adelaide Zoo Excursion
• Friday 28th – Online author/illustrator visit – Jason Pamment (Year 3, 4 and 6)
• Friday 28th – Reception – Year 2: Illustrator Visit – Mandy Foot
• Friday 28th – Year 5 Quest – Mt Lofty
• Monday 31st – Thursday 10th Sept– Henny Penny Hatching Program
• Monday 31st – Tuesday 1st Sep – Scholastic Book Fair
• Monday 31st – Year 5 Quest – Trangia Cooking

September

• Tuesday 1st  – Thursday 3rd  – School Photos
• Thursday 3rd – Year 3 – Adelaide Zoo Excursion
• Friday 4th – Father’s Day Event
• Friday 4th – Year 5 Quest – Glenthorne National Park
• Tuesday 8th – Track & Field Metro State Championships
• Tuesday 8th – Year 2 Grandparents and Special Friends Day
• Wednesday 9th – Maths Explorer and Maths Olympiad
• Wednesday 9th – Year 2 Production – Primary Classes
• Wednesday 9th – Year 1 Grandparents and Special Friends Day
• Wednesday 9th –  Student-Led Specialist Learning Walks (Reception)
• Thursday 10th –  Student-Led Specialist Learning Walks (Year 1)
• Thursday 10th – Year 3 – Adelaide Zoo Excursion
• Friday 11th – Pupil Free Day
• Tuesday 15th – Friday 18th – Year 5 Camp
• Monday 21st – Tuesday 22nd – Year 6 PYP Exhibition
• Monday 21st – ELC Celebration of Learning
• Tuesday 22nd – ELC Celebration of Learning
• Tuesday 22nd – PYP Exhibition and Road Trip Discussion
• Wednesday 23rd – Hot Shots Tennis Carnival Year 3/4s
• Thursday 24th – ELC Celebration of Learning
• Thursday 24th – Year 4 Celebration of Learning – Wax Museums
• Friday 25th – End of Term

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.