Welcome Back!

Term 4 2026

Welcome back to Term 4!

I hope you all have had a relaxing and well-deserved break. I hope you've been able to recharge your batteries in readiness for a busy Term 4. We were able to get away for a few days to Echuca / Moama with the kids, diverting via Melbourne on the way home. For our graduate staff completing their VIT inquiry projects, I hope you've managed to have a break these holidays. I look forward to reviewing your projects before your panel presentations.

We have much to look forward to in Term 4, including: Melbourne Cup long weekend (Curriculum Day for Report Writing); Values Week, where we celebrate Russ Jackson Day by displaying our school values and the 8 Employability Skills; The Art & Design Show; the Year 6 and 12 Graduations; Water Play Day; finishing with our Concert in the Courtyard and the final Achievement Assembly. The last day for students will be Wednesday, 16th December. Thursday, 17th December, is our last Curriculum Day focused on transition, with time allocated to share our students' Jackson Learner Profiles and other important plans and documents to set them up for success in 2027. This will be followed by our Staff Christmas Lunch in the Courtyard. Friday, 18th December, is an additional pupil-free day, honoured by the school council as time in lieu for staff who stay for the Concert in the Courtyard. Please note: the VGSA 2026 will not alter this arrangement in 2026.

Workforce

In Katie's absence, Sania from ANZUK joins Casey and Flynn in Term 4.

Towards the end of term, we will wish Sabiha well as she commences her family leave upon the pending arrival of Baby No 2. Belinda is increasing her days in Term 4 and will support teacher release for Disability Inclusion / Vineland assessments until Sabiha goes on family leave.

We have now commenced our Workforce Planning for 2027. We are continuing to recruit staff for fixed-term and ongoing positions. We will hold ongoing interviews for internal candidates early in Term 4. We advertised additional fixed-term teaching opportunities over the holidays.

Buildings & Grounds

Over the holidays, we continued to have several trades in each day. Thank you, Dan, Michael and Azmi, for all of the work you completed over the holidays. These have included:

Hall floor resurfacing and basketball court line marking (fixed, height-adjustable basketball hoops will be installed in Term 4)
New front access fences and gates to the Hall to allow separate access for events
Sensory Room fit-out (these will be completed in early Term 4, with the Junior School sensory room being completed in January).
Updated cabinetry in the Prep, Primary Resource Room, Year 1-2 Toilets and Library.
Hard-wired Salto fobs on external gates. This allows staff to renew their fobs from multiple locations around the school.
Replacement doors and windows on the primary decking and hall, including permanent reveals in the staffroom to reduce the trip hazard
Additional AC split system in the Middle School
Working Traffic and Crossing Lights at the Jackson Station. The crossing button will be relocated to the car park gate in the near future.
Updated Transport Victoria train map
After over 10 years, we have repaired the water pump in the sensory garden. Please discourage students from putting sand in the drinking fountains
Arborist inspections
Shade sail audit
Playground repairs

We have also been working with an architect and landscape architect on the Block 1 (Admin) renovation concept below. This increases the office space with an additional mail room for deliveries. Centralises the conference room with a self-contained kitchenette for external meetings. An increased sick bay which could house a school nurse. A reconfigured IT Comms room and reduced staff resource area. Based on staff feedback, we are developing staff resource stations in each sub-school building (A3 colour photocopiers, laminators, guillotines...). This also creates an informal meeting space and waiting area outside the smaller individual offices. We will modify the school entrance to include undercover waiting areas for students and their families. We welcome your feedback using the form below.

VGSA 2026 Update

The proposed Victorian Government Schools Agreement 2026 (VGSA 2026) has now been lodged with the Fair Work Commission for approval. If approved, the Agreement will commence seven days after the Commission’s approval. It is important to note that some changes to working conditions, including revised teacher work and meeting arrangements, will not commence until the 2027 school year.

During Term 4, we will work collaboratively with our new Consultative Committee to review the revised Department guidance, understand the implications for Jackson School and prepare for implementation of the new Agreement. We will share further information with staff as Department guidance is released and implementation arrangements are confirmed.

Click here for more information about the 2026/27 Consultative Arrangements.

School Staff Survey - Open 12 to 30 October

In Week 2, the staff meeting will be dedicated to completing the School Staff Survey. You will receive the School Staff Survey link from Orima on Monday. There are several points to note when completing the survey, including questions written in double negatives and the rating scale (neither agree nor disagree). Time will be allocated for all staff members to complete the survey in the professional learning session.

Please do not complete the School Staff Survey until the allocated professional learning session.

For more detailed information on other areas of School Operations, please click on the pages on the left for important updates ready to start the school term. These include:

Just a reminder daylight saving in Victoria starts on Sunday, October 4, 2026, at 2:00 am, when clocks move forward one hour to 3:00 am.

I hope you enjoy the remainder of your break, and I look forward to seeing you all on Monday. Keep dry!

Anthony