Principal's Message

Welcome to Week 8, Term 3.

 

Last fortnight, our girls football team defeated Moree PS to progress to the regional final of the competition, our athletes competed in Tamworth, our debating team defeated Carroll PS to progress to the next round of the regional finals, and we held our Book Fair and Parade.

 

This fortnight, our singers have a New England Sings rehearsal, Stage 3 Aboriginal students attend the ASC NAIDOC celebrations, 2027 Kinder transition begins for our first group, Year 5 students travel to ASC for a sports day, and K-2 students will enjoy their athletics carnival.

SAVE THE DATE

Our Creative Arts Showcase will be held from 6pm on Thursday 24 September. 

BBQ from 5pm.

Athletics success

Ben Venue will send it's largest contingent of track and field athletes to the state championships in a long time this year. Congratulations to the following students who will compete in Sydney:

• Blossom Ibe - 100m
• Riley Lord - 100m, 200m & shot put.
• Tom Goodare - 200m & Long jump
• Shaelinta Baines - Discus
• Coen Doyle - High jump
• Morgan Percival - Shot put

• Adelaide Prince, Audrey Groger, Shaelinta Baines & Charlee Page - Senior Girls Relay

Student survey results

Each year, students in Years 3-6 complete the Student Survey. This survey shows the perspectives and experiences of our students and provides our school with feedback on areas of strength and areas for growth. In the 2026 survey, Ben Venue students rated our school above the state average in the following areas:

• Classroom management

• Motivation

• Effective feedback

• Aboriginal student voice

• Absence of bullying

• Connectedness

• Safety and support

• Sense of belonging

• Infrastructure that supports learning

Student feedback indicated parity (less than 2% difference) with the state in:

• Engagement

• Absence of discrimination

• Absence of racism

• Inclusion

• Student voice

• Supportive adult at school

• Explicit teaching 

• High expectations

• Transition to high school (Yrs 5 & 6 only)

• School pride and happiness

Feedback indicated the following as an area for further investigation:

• Aspirations (Students have ideas about their future pathways)

Parent survey results

Thank you to everyone who responded to the NSW Public Schools Parent Survey this year. It was great to see an increase this year to 74 responses. The feedback we received indicated that our school is performing above the state average in most areas covered by the survey. Particular strengths identified included:

• School valuing parent opinions

• Both challenging and supporting students to do their best

• Provision of opportunities in all domains of high potential & gifted education

• Provision of regular information about child's learning

• Communication from staff if there are concerns about child's learning

• Staff are helpful if parents have questions about their child's learning

• Administrative staff are helpful

• Action if wellbeing concerns are raised

• Children enjoying being part of the school

• Children feeling safe at school

• Year to year transitions

• Quality infrastructure

Areas for further investigation included:

• Guiding parents on how to support learning at home

• School reports give a good understanding of child's learning

• Staff communicate successes about child's learning (scores in this area are higher than the state average but still not at levels we can be content with)

The data from both surveys will be analysed to identify trends and inform strategies to maintain strengths and improve identified areas.

Playground upgrade

After years of advocacy from our SRC and support from our P&C, our playground upgrade project (the area above the BBC) is at an exciting phase - the project has been awarded, a start-up date will shortly be set and estimated completion is by December this year. This grounds improvement will provide additional outdoor seating, enhance interactivity of our playground for students and address the ongoing erosion issue above the basketball court.

Internal transition

Our internal transition days, allowing our Kindergarten - Year 5 students an opportunity to step up into their 2027 class grouping will occur in Term 4. Parents and carers are able to submit requests relating to class placements in 2027. These requests should be submitted to our school email address (benvenue-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au, Attn: Principal) by the end of this term. 

2027 enrolment

Enrolment offers have been made to families of 2027 Kindergarten students whose applications were accepted under the Department of Education's Enrolment Procedures. Consideration for enrolment at Ben Venue is still possible; however, any application should be submitted as a matter of urgency, as late non-local enrolment is not guaranteed and students applying late in the year will miss our transition process.

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Cam Pryce

Principal