Principal's Message

Welcome to the final week of 2022. As we wrap up the year, I want to thank you for your support of our students and school. 

It has been a big year - a year that has seen both a gradual return to normality following the COVID-19 lockdown years, and a number of changes at Ben Venue. We have made positive steps for our students and families through;

• introducing stage-based classes and fluid stage maths groupings, based on formative assessment,
• enhancing our learning support structures,
• focusing on improving our practice in effective vocabulary instruction,
• innovating in our approach to supporting student connection, motivation and wellbeing,
• commencing our work to enhance student voice,
• holding our inaugural P&C Multicultural Street Food Fair and
• establishing a before and after school care service on site.

All of these initiatives either directly benefit the learning and wellbeing of our students or support families.

At the end of the year, we bid farewell to Year 6 students and to families who may be moving away from Armidale at the end of the year. I wish these students and families all the very best for the years to come. To everyone returning to Ben Venue in 2023, I wish you a safe and enjoyable Christmas break and look forward to welcoming students back to school in 2023.

Week 10 events

Please check the calendar section of this newsletter for important events this week. Please note that a free sausage sizzle will be available following the conclusion of both the K-2 and 3-6 Learning Showcases, at approximately 1:00 pm (Wednesday and Thursday). 

Parents and carers of students in Year 6 are also invited to participate in the staff vs students netball match, starting shortly after 1:00 pm on Thursday. Please join whichever team needs help!

A school environment that supports wellbeing

In line with our focus on contextual wellbeing, we have been making progress with projects that ensure our school environment supports a sense of connection, belonging and general wellbeing for our students. Two such improvements that students have been enjoying recently are the developing vegetable patches managed by the garden club, and the new bell system.

Our new bell system replaces the traditional ringing bell with musical tones. The positive impact on our students has been immediate and profound, as can be seen in the short video clip below.

Also in progress is construction of an additional shed to house a range of new equipment that will be used by students during break times and in sport sessions. We are also working with the P&C to revitalise the area above the basketball court, including the installation of a bouldering wall, with the aim of completing this work by the end of 2023.

With these projects, we aim to make our playground more interactive, ensuring there is something for everyone to engage with during recess and lunch.

2023 class organisation

Teachers and the executive have been working hard on the challenging task of creating the best possible class groupings for next year. There are numerous and often conflicting considerations to account for when composing class lists. Wherever possible, requests have been accommodated. 

On the first day of school next year, returning students should place their bag outside their 2022 classroom. When the music to move to class plays, students should assemble in their 2022 class lines on the pebbles or, for students entering Years 4, 5 and 6, line up at their classroom of last year.

Students who are new to Ben Venue should meet staff at the office at 9:10 am.

Departing staff

At the end of this year we will bid farewell to a number of staff, and welcome new team members.

After many years of service to Ben Venue PS, Mrs Kerrie Edmunds will now retire from classroom teaching. While we wish her all the best, we are fortunate that Ben Venue students will continue to benefit from her experience, as she will likely be working with many of our teachers, supporting quality writing instruction.

This will also be Mrs Melanie Bulmer's final week at our school, before she moves to Canberra with her family. Mrs Bulmer has contributed a great deal to our school over the years she has been with us.

Mr Alex Portell will also be moving away from Armidale, relocating to Wollongong with his family. We thank him for his time with us and wish him all the best for the move.

Mrs Katie Hunt has secured a permanent teaching position closer to her home in Uralla, at Uralla Central School. We know that she will be an asset to her new school.

Miss Ingrid Jansons has made the decision not to return to teaching next year. We wish he good luck in whichever career she pursues.

Mrs Mandy Walker, who has been supporting student learning this year, will also be making a coastal move to Queensland to be closer to family. We thank her for her contribution to students' learning and wellbeing.

While not leaving Ben Venue, Mrs Rhiannon Hoad will be on maternity leave for the duration of 2023 following the recent birth of her son, Jesse. Congratulations Mrs Hoad!

Permanent appointments

Following a highly competitive merit selection process, I congratulate Miss Eliza Drozdowski and Mrs Chantelle Lawrence on having secured permanent teaching positions at Ben Venue. 

Miss Drozdowski has been teaching at our school for several years and it is great to welcome her as a permanent member of the team. Mrs Lawrence comes to us from Sandon PS and brings a set of skills and experience that I am sure our students will benefit from. 

We also welcome Mr Elliot Chapman to the permanent teaching staff, who has been appointed to Ben Venue as a targeted graduate.

Congratulations to our newest permanent teachers.

New team members

In addition to Mrs Lawrence and Mr Chapman, we are also excited to welcome Mr Ben Laurie and Mrs Sarah Farmer as new members of the teaching team. Many readers will also be familiar with Mrs Lauren Corby from her work with S2W this year, and we are fortunate to have her joining Ben Venue on class in 2023. 

Existing staff in new roles

While most of our class teachers remain in their roles in 2023, three will take on different roles in the school. Mrs Amanda Swain, who was selected as the successful applicant in an Expression of Interest process, will be leading Stage 2 as Acting Assistant Principal through 2023. I congratulate Mrs Swain and look forward to working with her on the executive for a full year. 

Mrs Jeannene Gale will be taking a period of leave from her executive responsibilities in 2023, and will move from a class teaching position to the library. Mrs Gale will also be taking on a new position, created for the duration of 2023 only - that of Digital Classroom Officer. In this role, Mrs Gale will work with teachers and in classes to enhance our use of the new technology (particularly our new Main Learning Displays and laptops). Mrs Gale will share the library role with another teacher who will release her one day each week to work in the Digital Classroom Officer role.

Also in the technology sphere, Ms Rebecca O'Hara will take on the Information and Computer Technology role, working with most classes across the school in the computer lab, and finally, Ms Walker will be working as our Physical Education / Sport teacher in 2023.

I wish you a merry Christmas, a happy new year and a safe holiday period.

Cam Pryce

Principal