Principal's News Flash
Corinne Pupillo
Dear parents, carers and friends of the school community
Pupil Free Day - Friday 7 June
We are always grateful for the opportunity to have dedicated days where all staff come together for professional learning. Embedded in the 2024 Professional Development Plan is very specific learning which will not only continue to build on staff skills and knowledge, we also embed ongoing refreshers that aim to support new staff induction.
In the 2023 School Staff Survey, the degree to which professional learning activities improve instructional strategies and teaching skills was 50.9% endorsement for education support staff and 62.2% positive endorsement for teachers and leaders. We can see there is clearly room for us to improve the "what" and "how" we deliver Professional Learning. In 2024 we are restructuring the professional learning to ensure education support staff have access to effective and relevant opportunities that will improve their practice.
We are also monitoring the impact of professional development on student learning. Followig the school’s review in 2023 we have been monitoring student attendance data due to high absenteeism in 2022. Whilst the percentage of students absent for more than 30+ days has significantly decreased, from 50% (2022) to 39% (2023), the percentage of students absent from 0.5-9.5 days has increased from 10% (2022) to 21% (2023). A focus on addressing/ improving student attendance will provide us with more realistic evidence that professional development is impacted on student outcomes.
Friday 7 June has been set aside for a designated Report Writing Day for teachers. Teachers will have a full day to dedicate to writing reports for you child/ren in preparation for the Mid Year Reports. .
Education Support Staff will participate in a range of professional learning opportunities including:
- Positive Behaviour Support - our schools universal practices: Facilitated by our Learning Specialists
- Occupational Health and Safety modules (PROTECT - Reporting and other legal obligations/ Asthma / Anaphylaxis: Facilitated by Mary Boutros
- Communication and regulation supports: Facilitated by our Therapists
- Wellbeing - Tier 1 Practices/Trauma Informed Practices: Facilitated by our Wellbeing Team
Real Schools - Update
Background - On the back of COVID where Melbourne school's faced numerous stints of remote learning in Melbourne, the school entered a partnership with Real Schools which included a targeted focus on Restorative Practices 2.0. The partnership means our Expert Facilitator, Sheila Bollard works hand-in-hand with our school across three years to implement Restorative Practices (RP) as the underpinning methodology of your School Culture. Adam Voigt, Founder and CEO of Real Schools says ‘RP2.0’ is a revolution in teacher practice and cultural leadership. Adam beleive is that RP2.0 is not a program but rather a commitment to your improving your school culture.
The Art of School Culture Leadership
Along with other principals of Real School partners I had the opportunity to meet Adam Voigt, CEO of Real Schools and discuss some of the burning issues in education, as well as participate in one of his very engaging workshops. Adam provided with the affirmation that we are the experts in education and that despite all the layers of accountability, teachers work extremely hard every day to build relationships and positive climate and partnerships between home and school are equal but different.
Adam says "In the same way that you’ll trust a surgeon to literally cut you open if they think it’s good medical practice, we need parents to feel such trust in your teaching practice that they’ll thank their lucky stars they can leave their most precious possession in your care for 35 hours or so a week".
Real Schools is helping our school to navigate the relationships between staff and students, students and students, staff and families. On Monday 15 July we plan to continue our Real Schools journey to develop our very own Restorative Practice Action Plan.
Staffing Update
We farewelled classroom teacher, Leah Mallett last Friday and we thank her for her contributions over the past few years. A very warm welcome to the following staff:
- Tina Wong - Occupational Therapist
- Liberty Brereton - Classroom Teacher
Look forward to you being part of our community and bringing your expertise to the school.
Pupil Free Day - King's Birthday 10 June
School Council News
Fundraising Co-ordinator - Vacancy
If you are interested in coordinating the Fundraising Sub Committee, please contact Corinne Pupillo on 9309 6258.
Our next School Council meeting will be held on Thursday 13 June at 5.30pm
| MEMBER | POSITION |
| Corinne Pupillo | Executive Officer (Principal) /corinne.pupillo@education.vic.gov.au |
| Lisa Sette | Community Representative & President / lisa.sette@education.vic.gov.au |
| VACANCY | Community Representative |
| Paul Malavisi | Parent Representative |
| Mark Mansfield | Parent Representative |
| Chris Ernst | Parent Representative |
| Michelle Owen | Parent Representative |
| Andrew McDonough | Parent Representative |
| Jay Murali | Parent Representative |
| Stephanie Torchia | DE Representative |
| Daniel Moloney | DE Representative |
School Council Sub-Committee Representatives
- Finance Sub Committee Representative - Mark Mansfield
- School Infrastructure Sub Committee Representative – Denise Clarke
- Fundraising Sub Committee Representative – Vacancy
Unwell student
If your child is presenting with cold and flu like symptoms we kindly ask families to keep your child at home if they are experiencing symptoms. In the event that your child tests positive on a RAT for COVID, we strongly recommend a 5 day period of recovery in this case.
Each morning when students are getting ready for school, I ask that you be mindful of how your child is presenting. If they/he/she is feeling/looking/acting unusual or is complaining of being unwell please take them to the doctor. Minimising the cross-infection will assist in reducing the risk of spreading bugs and viruses.
All student absences can be made through the dedicated student absence notification number. Text the student's name, room number and reason for absence.
Make sure you have the student absence notification number saved in your contacts:
Student absence line: 0439 114 197
Reminder: Our newsletter is published each fortnight and will provide you with important information about the school and events that may be of interest to you. I encourage you to read the newsletter that will be sent home via your home email, on the school's Facebook and Instagram Page, Seesaw or on the school's website.
JSA also has a Facebook and Instagram Page. Please like and follow our pages.
https://www.facebook.com/JacanaSchoolforAutism
https://www.instagram.com/jacana.school/
Virtual School Tour
Our virtual school tour is now live on our school website. Please check it out and refer any members of the community to our page.