NAPLAN continues this week. Most students have completed their writing, reading and language conventions assessments, leaving only mathematics to go. This will be administered on Tuesday of this week. Catch-up sessions for students who have been away will be held as needed until Monday 27 March. Well done to the students for their efforts thus far.

Colours for the Kids - mufti day fundraiser

This Friday 24 March, we will be participating in the Colours for the Kids fundraiser for Ronald MacDonald House Charities. This is an SRC and Year 6 Leadership Team initiative and was originally instigated by one of our students to support a charity that has assisted her and other Ben Venue students in the past.

To support the fundraiser, students are asked to wear bright colours and bring in a gold coin donation. Students may wear colourful clothes, shirts, wigs, tutus, spray their hair with coloured hairspray or wear colourful accessories. Students are reminded to remain sun safe by wearing their school broad brimmed hat and wear sensible, enclosed shoes.

For more information, please visit the Colours for the Kids 2023 website.

School Photos

Ben Venue's annual school photos will be held next week on Monday 27 March and Tuesday 28 March. Students are asked to wear full school uniform (white shirt, no sport shirts). Sibling photos will be taken on both days, during recess and lunch or between class sessions if required.

Please see the attached timetable outlining when your child's class is scheduled to have their photo taken. The timetable is subject to change, so we ask that students dress in full school uniform on both Monday and Tuesday.

Year 7 2024 enrolment reminder - must be completed by this Friday 24 March

A reminder that to enrol your child in Year 7 for 2024, you will need to complete an Expression of Interest for Year 6 to Year 7 transition by this Friday 24 March. The Expression of Interest (EOI) enables you to indicate which school(s) you would like your child to attend in Year 7. The EOI process is available online via this link.

If your details have changed within the past 12 months, please ensure your address and contact details are up to date with the office before submitting your EOI. If your address details do not match our current records, your EOI will have to be withdrawn. Once your records have been updated via our office, you can then reapply. After you submit an EOI and it has been assessed, your child will be offered a place at a high school.

If your child will not be attending a NSW Government high school next year, please let us know by completing an online Placement Not Required (PNR) form.

If you are unsure whether they will be attending a NSW Government school (you’ve applied for a private school, or you are moving interstate), we ask that you still complete an EOI and follow up with your school once a decision has been made.

The online process will guide you through your options and collect the information required to make the process as smooth as possible. For parents/carers who are not able to complete an application online, a paper EOI form can be collected from the school office.

For more information about moving to high school, visit Going to a public school.

Are your details up-to-date?

If you have recently moved house, obtained a new phone number or email address, or your family circumstances have changed, please contact the office via email benvenue-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au or phone (02) 6772 4263 to update your details.

Attendance

Parents or carers of children of compulsory school age (from the age of 6) are responsible for ensuring their child attends school every day.

On occasion, your child may need to be absent from school. Justified reasons for student absences may include:

being sick or having an infectious disease
having an unavoidable medical appointment
being required to attend a recognised religious holiday
exceptional or urgent family circumstances e.g. attending a funeral.

It is important that students do not attend school if they are unwell. Health advice is that students who are sick should always stay home to rest and recover and avoid putting other students and staff at risk of getting sick.

Explanation of absences

The Department of Education requires parents to provide to the school a verbal or written explanation for absences within 7 days from the first day of any period of absence. If we have not received an explanation within 2 days, teachers may contact you either by sending home a purple slip or via a phone call to discuss the absence. Where an explanation has not been received within the 7-day timeframe, the school will record the absence as unjustified on the student's attendance record.

For more information on attendance, please see the Compulsory School Attendance Information for Parents brochure.

Lana Howlett

Deputy Principal

Community Notices