Jackson School Newsletter

Principal's Message

Anthony Jackson (Acting Principal)

Dear Families,

 

I hope you've all had a lovely long weekend and enjoyed the extended time together as a family. Please find below a summary of this week's issue:

 

Issue Highlights

  • Please see on Page 1 a Goodbye Message from Joan O'Connor-Cox. The school's Senior Education Improvement Leader (SEIL) from DET has met with School Council to release the position. The Principal position has now been advertised externally. The selection panel will conduct an interview process for the new Principal to begin in Term 2.
  • Today we had our School Fun Run and assemblies. It was lovely to welcome parents and carers back onsite again after so long. 
  • COVID-19 Update: This week two staff who worked in the Prep classroom have tested positive for COVID-19
  • COVID-19 Update: If you child comes to school with new COVID-19 symptoms or becomes unwell at school these will be managed as a suspected case of COVID-19 until a test result has been received.
  • COVID-19 Update: A reminder that, testing 5 times a week (school days) continues to be strongly recommended for students and staff at our school.
  • The Department of Education and Training has released a new policy that describes the positive behaviour expected from parents, carers, and other adults in Victorian school communities.
  • To ensure the safety of all passengers on SDTP buses, please find attached revised expectations of students and responsibilities of parents/carers.
  • National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence. The theme for 2022 is Kindness Culture.
  • Student of the Week - in line with our new PBIS rewards system.
  • Showcase of students' learning from across the school in Primary and Secondary.
  • Allied Health and Wellbeing information to support you and your child.
  • Community news including from Jackson OSHC provider TheirCare.

 

Joan

 

Please see on Page 1 a Goodbye Message from Joan O'Connor-Cox. 

 

Joan will not be returning to Jackson School, but will continue to work in education. It has been a pleasure to lead our school improvement journey with Joan since 2015. Every aspect of what we offer as a school has been transformed to improve student learning outcomes during this time. I have particularly admired Joan's strength, determination and passion for quality education. We have shared very similar values during our time working together and both believe that all students deserve the very best education. I keep in regular contact with Joan and I know that she will be looking forward to seeing our school building project complete next year. Jackson has been lucky to have you as our Principal and you should be very proud of the school's successes and achievements.

 

The school's Senior Education Improvement Leader (SEIL) from DET has met with School Council to release the position. The Principal position has now been advertised externally. The selection panel will conduct an interview process for the new Principal to begin in Term 2 2022.

Harmony Week

 

Over this week and next week, Jackson School will be celebrating Harmony "Week". The theme of this year is "Everyone Belongs" aligned to our Inquiry topics Me and Our History. During Harmony Week we will celebrate the diversity within our community to recognise that does everyone belong. Students have participated in engaging cultural activities within their teams. During this week our students will take part in activities to respect our different cultures. Today we had our School Fun Run and assemblies. It was lovely to welcome parents and carers back onsite again after so long. 

 

At Jackson we have a rich ethnic mix of families from a wide variety of backgrounds from all over the world, as well as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Around 20% of our student population speak English as an Additional Language with over 20 different languages within our community. 13% of students were born in countries other than Australia. 

 

COVID-19 Update

 

This week two staff who worked in the Prep classroom have tested positive for COVID-19. This class has been isolated as a "bubble" from other students and staff over the last couple of days to reduce the spread across our community. Students are still required to mix on the school buses to and from school. Any students displaying symptoms for COVID-19 should continue to stay home and get tested. If your child comes to school with new COVID-19 symptoms or becomes unwell at school these will be managed as a suspected case of COVID-19 until a test result has been received. Therefore, following Department of Health guidance, your child will be isolated and you will be asked to collect your child from school. Thank you for your cooperation in advance.

 

The symptoms to watch out for are: 

  • fever 
  • chills or sweats 
  • cough 
  • sore throat 
  • shortness of breath 
  • runny nose 
  • loss or change in sense of smell or taste 
  • headache
  • muscle soreness
  • stuffy nose
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • diarrhoea

Please note that with many of our positive cases in students they have not displayed any symptoms (asymptomatic). 

 

A reminder that, testing 5 times a week (school days) continues to be strongly recommended for students and staff at our school. This is because of the greater risk associated with COVID-19 for some students with disabilities. Testing will be conducted at home, and students and staff must report any positive result. There is no requirement to report a negative result.

 

After doing the tests at home each morning, if it is positive, you will need to:

  1. let the school know on the via the Jackson COVID Hotline 03 9366 4322; Option 4 and/or dedicated email address covid@jacksons.vic.edu.au. There is a message bank on the phone for when the phone is unmanned by our rostered COVID Officer. Families are able to message the mobile number and/or email address 24 hours a day. Please note we will only be able to respond to messages and calls within office hours.
  2. keep your child at home for 7 days 
  3. contact the Department of Health via the COVID-19 Positive Rapid Antigen Test Self-Reporting Form or call centre on 1800 675 398.

Schools are no longer required to individually identify the close contacts of a positive case. Instead, we will inform the school community, at the earliest opportunity, that there was a positive case onsite, all members of the school community should monitor closely for symptoms and that staff and students should continue with daily rapid antigen testing before school. School will continue to notify the community if we have a positive case onsite by Text Message (SMS).

 

We have had a number of staff this week be identified as close contacts following the long weekend. This has caused some disruption to classes. School staff, referred to by the Department of Health as education workers, are eligible for an exemption from household contact home isolation requirements to allow them to attend their workplace (school) to support the delivery of essential services. Under the conditions of the exemption, education workers who are asymptomatic close contacts may return to work during the home isolation period, if it is necessary for continuity of operations of the school and if other options have been exhausted, subject to strict infection prevention and control requirements being met.

 

Respectful Behaviours within the School Community

 

Our school community has demonstrated incredible solidarity and resilience throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Being back in our classrooms with extra health and safety measures is another big transition, but it’s the very best one for our children's education. It’s never been more important for adults in our school community treat each other with respect and kindness.

 

Violence and aggression towards school staff from parents, carers or other adults can have a significant impact on the health, safety and wellbeing of the staff who experience it, and their colleagues. This will not be tolerated whether in-person, over the phone, email or online including SeeSaw.

 

The Department of Education and Training has released a new policy that describes the positive behaviour expected from parents, carers, and other adults in Victorian school communities. The policy sets clear standards of behaviour to create a safe, respectful, and inclusive learning environment for students, staff and adults.

 

You can find the new policy and these resources here: https://www.education.vic.gov.au/parents/going-to-school/Pages/Respectful-behaviours-in-schools.aspx 

 

You may also see the new poster up around our school, promoting positive behaviour.

For more information on how to engage positively with our school, please contact 

 

Student Disability Transport Program - Bus Expectations

 

The DET Student Disability Transport Program (SDTP) is operated by two bus companies: Skylight and Sita. Jackson School is responsible for the communication (with students and families) about SDTP, managing eligibility/service planning, emergency management including student behaviour. Upon enrolment in the SDTP, parents/carers will have signed an application for travel assistance to and from school. 

 

To ensure the safety of all passengers on school buses, students MUST:

  • Be at the pick-up or drop-off point 5 minutes before the departure time
  • Wait at the bus stop safely and do not approach the vehicle until it has stopped 
  • Listen and follow the rules and instructions
  • Walk (to, from and on the bus)
  • Be where you’re supposed to be (stay in allocated seat and not move around the bus when it is moving)
  • Not put their bodies or objects out of windows or doors
  • Keep hands feet and objects to themselves
  • Respect other's feelings
  • Use a quiet voice
  • Use your manners
  • Use equipment properly (wear seatbelt)
  • Not throw any object within or from a vehicle 
  • Not eat food or drink on the bus
  • Respect other's space
  • Respect the privacy of others (not video or take photos of others)
  • Use OK words
  • Tell an adult if there is a problem
  • Keep the bus clean and tidy

Students must operate within current DET and school policy guidelines, particularly in relation to Mobile Phone use by Students and Smoking and Vaping. In line with DET Policy Guidelines, students may use devices to and from school. However, the must not video or take photos on the bus.  https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/students-using-mobile-phones/policy

 

Responsibilities of Parents/Carers:

  • Parent/carer's behaviour should mirror students conditions of travel
  • Parents/carers should ensure their child is at the pick-up point at least five minutes prior to the departure 
  • Parents/carers are responsible for transporting their children to and from authorised stops and for their safety whilst at the stop while waiting for a service 
  • Parents/carers should ensure they are waiting for their child at the drop-off point at least five minutes prior to the arrival time unless the student’s has written permission to travel home or to your vehicle independently from the drop-off point
  • Parents/carers waiting for students at stops should wait on the same side of the road as the transport service to prevent students from crossing the road unassisted
  • Parents/carers must communicate directly with the school and not bus operators, except in the following circumstances: in the event of absence of their child from the morning bus run or in the event of an emergency

Please note that the bus is only able to wait at the bus stop for 2 minutes. Transport assistance is a privilege and not a right and consequences will follow a breach of these conditions. The Respectful Behaviours within the School Community Policy above is also extended to bus drivers and bus supervisors and violence and aggression.

 

To download the SDTP Independent Travel Form , please click here: 

SDTP Independent Travel Form.docx

 

Thank you in advance for your support with these updated guidelines for 2022.

National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence

 

Today is the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence. The theme for 2022 is Kindness Culture. By building Kindness Culture together, we can promote inclusion, respect and community belonging for all of our students. Over the next week, students will undertake a number of activities to reduce our student's experience of bullying. The majority of our issues between students begin online at home and are brought back into school. Please be aware of what your child is doing online at home and who they are talking to on social media. 

 

For fact sheets and more information, please visit: https://bullyingnoway.gov.au/support-and-advice/for-families 

 

 

Teachers are now busy completing end of term assessments to inform their planning in preparation for your child's learning in Term 2. Over the next two weeks your child will have their specialist teachers on one day rather than split across the week. This is to facilitate teacher teams to meet together to plan with leadership. 

 

School Council (Public Reporting Meeting) will be held on 29th March, 2022 at 6:30pm via Webex. Parents and Carers are welcome to attend this meeting to review the 2021 Annual Report to the Community.  If you would like to attend please contact the office for Webex details.

 

I hope you have a safe and restful weekend!

 

Anthony