Welcome back to another term of learning. The year is rushing by and already I have commenced enrolment interviews for families seeking Kindergarten enrolment in 2024. It is understandable that families wish to meet early in the year to secure their place at Ben Venue, with the school currently sitting on its enrolment buffer and unable to accept any further out of zone enrolments for 2023.

If you are aware of families seeking out of area enrolment at Ben Venue in 2024, please encourage them to make an appointment to meet with me in the near future to avoid disappointment later in the year.

ANZAC

Last week, in addition to having a number of our students attend the ANZAC Day march and service in town, all students commemorated ANZAC on the first day back at school. It was wonderful to see so many in our Year 6 Leadership Team leading the school assembly. Thank you to Mrs Watson and Mrs Swain for planning the school ceremony and thank you also to special guest, Warrant Officer, Class Two, Nicholas Barry, for speaking to students at the assembly. Thank you to the teachers and students who represented Ben Venue at the ANZAC day march and service.

Hat Parade

Thank you everyone who attended the Hat Parade and to everyone who supported the P&C's Hot Cross Bun fundraiser on the day. Check out photos of the event in the Hat Parade section of this newsletter. Thank you to Mrs Rogers and the K-2 team for making the day a success.

Monitoring student progress

Last term, I wrote about changes to NAPLAN assessment scales and the fact that NAPLAN student growth data will remain unavailable to us until 2025. I also flagged that we were reviewing our internal assessment practices to ensure we have reliable tools to collect data on student growth. As a result of this review, in the first weeks of this term, students in Years 2 to 6 will complete an externally validated and research-based test known as the Progressive Achievement Test. This test will be conducted again in mid-late Term 4, allowing us to more effectively quantify student progress and the impact of our teaching programs. This information will be triangulated with teacher-based assessments, Check-in Assessments and NAPLAN, providing robust data to inform teaching practice.

While 2023 NAPLAN results have not yet been received, we will provide feedback in the newsletter when the data comes to us. I will provide additional information on school growth gathered from the Term 4 Progressive Achievement Test when analysis of this data has been completed.

Student shirts

Ben Venue PS now has a full range of sizes in the student created Aboriginal design shirt that can be worn or Fridays. The subsidised purchase price of $18 has been extended to Friday 12 May. Prices will increase after this time.

Back to school vouchers

Families are reminded that back-to-school vouchers available through the Service NSW app can be used for school excursions. Families of students in Stage 2 and 3 in particular are encouraged to access these vouchers to reduce the cost of major excursions, if they have not already been used.

Selective school applications - Year 5 2024

Families interested in applying for placement in a Year 5 opportunity class (outside of Ben Venue PS) are reminded to apply before 15 May 2023 as late applications are generally not accepted.

Key dates:

Applications for Year 5 entry to opportunity classes in 2024 open on Thursday 30 March 2023.
Application window closes on Monday 15 May 2023.
All candidates are required to sit the Opportunity Class Placement Test on Thursday 27 July 2023. Unfortunately, this date clashes with the Stage 2 camp this year. Due to limited availability of accommodation, this clash is unavoidable.

Visit the website for further information: https://education.nsw.gov.au/oc

P&C Multicultural Street Food Fair

The P&C is busy planning the Food Fair. We are still seeking additional expressions of interest from families who may be able to cook for the evening. Notes have been distributed to many students and the form was also made available in the newsletter last term. If you have not received a paper note and would like one, please contact the office. The Food Fair was a huge success last year and provided a wonderful opportunity to come together as a community to celebrate diversity.

Extended Kindergarten play area

In the holidays, works were completed on the extension of the Kindergarten play area on the Rockvale Rd side of the school. The area has been almost doubled, allowing this year's Kindergarten and future Kindergarten students more space to run and play ball games.

New seating

Workers are currently installing two new seating tables in the playground, which were donated through the fundraising efforts of previous Year 6 students. We thank our alumni for their donation, which I know will be enjoyed by students for years to come.

Change to the final day of 2023 Term 4

Schools are provided with development days each year to facilitate professional learning for staff. In Term 4, these are held on Monday 18 and Tuesday 19 December. This year, Ben Venue will reschedule the development day of Tuesday 19 December to two evening sessions throughout the year. Ben Venue PS will therefore be non-operational on Tuesday 19 December. Students will still finish as scheduled on Friday 15 December.

Cam Pryce

Principal

Parents & Citizens Association