Principal's News Flash
Corinne Pupillo
Dear parents, carers and friends of the school community,
I hope all our students and staff enjoyed the Term 3 break and found ways to connect with family and friends, as well as managing to do some of the things that fill you and your child's wellbeing bucket. School operations and learning are well and truly underway with so many exciting things happening around the school over the last fortnight.
I was fortunate to have had an early birthday present and visited the Kimberley region (Western Australia & Northern Territory) during the September school holidays. My husband and I caught a floating school (cruise ship) and learnt all about the Kimberley's very unique but very harsh environment. We ventured out on zodiacs each day and were educated about Kimberley's climate, tides, rock formations, flora and fauna.
I've added two photos of our trip:
King George River in the dry season and you can see the two dry waterfalls (black coloured rock). This time of the year the river is calm and peaceful and you can see the variation in the colour and formation of the rocks from the wet season which is arriving very soon.
Horizontal Falls are a unique natural phenomenon where two large tides force ocean water through narrow gaps in parallel sandstone ridges. This creates powerful, fast-flowing horizontal "waterfalls" with a significant height difference between the two sides of the gorge. This natural spectacle, known as "Garaanngaddim" by the local Aboriginal community.
The Kimberley is an incredibly beautiful part of Australia and where we were also welcomed by the local indigenous communities in several locations during our expedition.
My holiday message is to never stop learning.
King George River
Horizontal Falls
King George River
Horizontal Falls
Blackwood Camp
Term 3 kicked off with two secondary groups attending Blackwood Camp. Camp for the Future Ready students and Graduating students is a highlight of the school year for students and staff attending. Blackwood is surrounded by the stunning Wombat State Forest, it is a destination exclusively for students from Victorian Special Schools, where they are given every opportunity to learn through outdoor adventure-based programs.
The Camp's learning focus is Resilience & Teamwork.
Students focus on developing a deeper understanding of their emotions, feelings and behavioural responses. Empathy is a key focus, with students developing and identifying the links between their behaviours and others emotions and feelings.
Blackwood recognises that our students have a diversity of communication needs and that their ability to communicate effectively has a direct impact on the enjoyment and their feelings of inclusion within the program.
Shout out to all the teaching staff at Blackwood and JSA for making camp such an enjoyable and rewarding opportunity for our students.
Planning for 2026
The Leadership Team are in full swing planning for the 2026 school year and our school goals are at the forefront of everything we do. At the heart of our organisational practices are our students and we are not only planning for our current students, but also our 2026 Prep students. Prep orientation sessions are scheduled for Wednesday 12 and Friday 14 November.
Please also note that the school also has Transition Week for students to transition to their 2026 classroom.
Transition Week - Monday 15 - Friday 19 December 2025.
Curriculum Day (no students required at school) Friday 12 December
World Teachers Day - 5 October
On behalf of the whole school community, I would like to sincerely thank all of our amazing teachers. Their contributions across all areas of the school are highly valued. In appreciation of all the work, a special Hot Potato lunch was organised for Thursday 9 October for staff to celebrate the event.
New School Flags
On Friday 10 October, student leaders had the privilege of meeting the local federal member, Mr Basem Abdo. Students demonstrated how the flags are respectfully lowered and raised and damaged flags disposed of thoughtfully. From time to time, our students recognise that the flags can get damaged and on this occasion the school requested new flags to replace the damaged flags. Our students were very proud to be able to talk about the three flags and how carefully they raise and lower them each school day. Thank you to the Member of Calwell, Mr Basem for providing the new flags and for supporting the presentation.
Bunnings BBQ - Fundraiser Saturday 18 October
Tomorrow our fundraising committee are hosting the Bunnings BBQ at Broadmeadows. if you are in the area, please drop by and purchase a yummy BBQ sausage in bread and / or a drink. We wouold love to see you there. Shout out to all the parent and staff helpers and a BIG shout out to Lions Club Auxiliary for the donation of sausage and bread.
The Lions Club Auxiliary are a small group of ladies that have been a wonderful support to us since 2006 and we are really grateful for all thier support for this event.
Student Absence Line
From Monday 18 August when a parent / carer send a TXT or calls the Student Absence Notification Line –there will be no response sent back to the family member/carer.
If parents / carers need to discuss any other issues, they must call the office 9309 6258 from 8:00am - 4:30pm.
We have also streamlined the way we communicate student absences to the classroom team so this is more manageable for admin staff and teaching teams.
Student absence line: 0439 114 197
Communication with Staff Policy
Jacana School for Autism understands the importance of providing helpful and timely responses to common enquiries from parents and carers. To ensure that members of our school community are directed to the most appropriate person to assist them the information below outlines key contacts for common queries:
to report a student absence, please text the Absence Line on 0439 114 197
to report any urgent issues relating to a student on a particular day, please contact the general office on 9309 6258
to discuss a student’s academic progress, health or wellbeing, please contact your child’s classroom teacher/ sub school leader.
Primary Sub School Leader: Daniel Moloney
- Middle Years Sub School Leader: Amelia Frantz amelia.frantz@education.vic.gov.au
- Secondary Sub School Leader; Stefania Mantinioti stefania.mantinioti@education.vic.gov.au
- Senior Secondary Sub School Leader: Sean Procko sean.procko@education.vic.gov.au
for enquiries regarding camps and excursions, please contact your child’s classroom teacher.
to make a complaint, please contact the Principal/Assistant Principals on
9309 6258.
Principal:
Corinne Pupillo | corinne.pupillo@education.vic.gov.au
Assistant Principal [Inclusion and Wellbeing] :
Daniel Moloney | daniel.moloney@education.vic.gov.au
- Assistant Principal [Teaching and Learning]:
- Ellen Paterson | ellen.paterson@education.vic.gov.au
Please also refer to our Complaints Policy, available on the school website
https://www.jacanaschoolforautism.vic.edu.au/policies/management/
to report a potential hazard or incident on the school site, please contact:
OHS Manager Nominee
Mary Boutros on 9309 6258 or mary.boutros@education.vic.gov.au
for parent payments, please contact the general office on 9309 6258
for all other enquiries, please contact our Office on 9309 6258
School staff will do their best to respond to general queries as soon as possible and ask that you allow us 2 – 3 working days to provide you with a detailed response. We will endeavour to respond to urgent matters within 24 hours where possible.
School Council
The next School Council meeting will be on Thursday 30 October 2025
| 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 |
| Savana Bahjat | Parent Representative |
| Andrew McDonough | Parent Representative |
| Abdul Qadir Amir Memon | Parent Representative |
| Mary Boutros | DE Representative |
| Daniel Moloney | DE Representative |
School Council Sub-Committee Representatives
Finance Sub Committee Representative - Mark Mansfield
School Infrastructure Sub Committee Representative – Mary Boutros
Fundraising Sub Committee Representative – Fiona Micelotta
Unwell students
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.
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/
School Website