Principal's Message
Welcome to Week 4 of Term 2.
Please check the P&C section of this newsletter for important messages regarding upcoming events.
Maintaining our focus on continual improvement - Academic growth and attainment
Behind the teaching and learning that occurs in classrooms every day, Ben Venue teachers constantly strive to improve how we support our students to achieve the best possible outcomes. In addition to the learning and change required to implement new English and mathematics syllabuses (commencing in K-2 this year, and 3-6 in 2024), each stage team works on continually developing their practice, both in line with the School Improvement Plan and in response to the developing needs of their learners.
Kindergarten teachers are currently focused on the use of differentiated success criteria to support success in mathematics and synthetic phonics instruction in literacy. Stage 1 teachers have been adapting their practices in response to the new English syllabus focus on synthetic phonics through implementing InitiaLit in the literacy block. Stage 2 are focused on combining quality vocabulary instruction and the Seven Steps to Writing Success. While Stage 3 teachers are in the early stages of improving student voice and the quality of learning-focused classroom talk through a research-based focus on oracy.
In addition, we continue to embed earlier improvements to teaching, learning and wellbeing, including the use of the PAX Good Behaviour Game in our classrooms, flexible stage-based groupings and data-based differentiation in mathematics, a focus on developing vocabulary through quality instruction, and explicit teaching strategies in all learning areas.
Explicit teaching
All classes continue to embed explicit teaching through the use of learning intentions and success criteria, so our students know what to focus their learning efforts towards, and how they will know when they have been successful. Often I visit classrooms and ask students two key questions:
What are you learning to do today?
How will you know when you have been successful?
Increasingly, students are able to respond in a manner that demonstrates a clear understanding of the intent and end result of learning activities.
While taking a new family around the school last week, I was impressed with the responses of Stage 1 students engaged in a writing lesson. One student was able to identity that they were "learning to write compound sentences using conjunctions." When asked what their sentences would look like if they were successful, they were able to identify that they would have two related clauses joined by a would such as 'and', 'when' or 'because'. When students understand their learning in this way, they are able to focus effectively on making specific improvements to their knowledge, understanding and end products, and become drivers of their own development, powerful learning indeed.
Increasing inquiry in learning
Last term, Ben Venue formed an Inquiry Learning Team, charged with the task of increasing the amount of inquiry based learning in which our students engage. Members of this team are now building upon previous work of Ben Venue teachers to trial several approaches to embedding project-based learning in pilot subject areas or classes. The team is invested in developing a model appropriate to our school and students, that strikes a balance between explicit teaching and student led investigation. Our belief is that such a model would enhance student voice and increase engagement in learning with immediate 'real world' application, while allowing us to maintain rigorous, syllabus focused teaching and learning.
These trials will be evaluated in mid Term 4, in the hope that successful approaches can be scaled up to entire stage groups in 2024.
About the playground
Whether its dancing up a storm at the Friday dance party, playing team games, gardening, creating fairy habitats, playing in the sandpits, on the fixed equipment or in the cubbyhouses, or just relaxing with friends, Ben Venue students enjoy their time in the playground. It is always wonderful to walk through the playground at break times and see how well our students play and interact together. When the new sports and equipment shed opens later this week, there will be even more fun to be had.
Softfall replacement
Recently, works have been carried out to replace the ageing and cracked softfall under the larger covered outdoor learning area. The new surface also includes four new handball courts, doubling the number of undercover handball areas available to our students.
We hope to open the area to students by Wednesday this week, in conjunction with the opening of the equipment shed, which will allow students to loan a range of sports and creative play equipment during their lunch break.
ZoneCross Country
It was wonderful to hear many reports from members of the community about how well our students conducted themselves throughout last week's zone cross country event. Well done to all who attended. A full report will be included in the next newsletter.
Thank you to Miss O'Hara for coordinating the event, with the support of Mr Cotter, Mrs Swain and Ms Clayton.
New payment system
Ben Venue is about to upgrade to a new finance system, called School Bytes. The new system will streamline our processes, making life easier for families, reducing office administrative load and removing from teachers' mornings money related tasks that encroach on teaching and learning time.
The move to the new system requires a changeover process, during which we will be unable to recieve any payments. We ask that no online payments be made between now and 23 May, and no cash or EFTPOS payments be made between close of business Tuesday 16 May and Tuesday 23 May. Further information is available by clicking here.
Increase in sickness
There has been a marked increase in student illness in the past week, with a number of students being sent home sick. While regular attendance at school is important, we also encourage families to keep children at home if they are unwell. To prevent the spread of viruses, please be vigilant for signs your child is unwell, particularly with stomach complaints, which appear to be very common at present.
Health and safety
Our school recently reviewed our procedures for responding to and managing a range of potential emergency situations. Our updated plan includes procedures relating to everything from evacuation and lockdown, to responding to smoke, bushfires, snakes, severe weather, loss of services and medical emergencies. As part of ensuring preparedness for these unlikely events, an emergency drill will be conducted within the coming fortnight.
Cam Pryce
Principal