Learning

PLTs

The Improvement Cycle will continue to be used to support all areas of student learning. During Terms 2 & 3 of 2027, the cycle will form part of our PLT focus, providing a structured process for evaluating, planning, implementing and monitoring all teaching practices. We will continue to have knowledgeable others invited into PLTs to support conversations based on analysing data and strengthening the implementation.  

PowerPoints and Slide Decks

Throughout Term 4, we will continue to strengthen explicit teaching practices by focusing on the implementation of our instructional model. A key priority will be explicit teacher modelling and the effective use of the gradual release, "I Do, We Do, You Do", to support students’ new learning and understanding.

To support explicit teaching, consistency and cognitive load, four optional PowerPoints have been developed to align with our Instructional Model and the Victorian Teaching and Learning Model (VTLM 2.0). 

Leaning Walks and Talks

In Term 4, we will be trialling a new process to help teachers get to know their 2027 learners. PLTs will come together to share learning and wellbeing information, including strategies, adjustments, and supports that have worked well for students.

As part of this process, teachers and Education Support (ES) staff will take part in learning walks, visiting the year level below to observe established learning and wellbeing routines. We hope these visits will provide valuable insight and support a smooth transition into the new school year.

Student of the Week

In line with our vision of "celebrating our successes and achievements", we have revised our Student of the Week Certificate templates. Receiving these certificates for our students and their families can be a huge celebration of our students' achievements aligned to our values. These are purposefully different from our termly Achievement Awards but are now consistent with our branding to take pride of place of the fridge. Please delete previous templates and adopt this new template from Term 4. 

Values Week

In Week 5, we celebrate Values Week. Our students strive to display our values (Learning, Independence, Safety, Respect, Responsibility) everyday by displaying the employability skills (Communication, Team Work/Collaboration, Problem-solving, Initiative and Enterprise, Planning and Organising, Self-Awareness & Management, Learning, Technology). Our students took part in volunteering activities around the school in memory of Russ Jackson. In 1989 our school was renamed Jackson School to honour the work done by Russ Jackson. Russel was a volunteer at Jackson for over 20 years; he was gardener/handyman, caretaker and School Council President. One of his main initiatives was setting up the gardening program.

Over the last four years we have added additional learner characteristics which we teach our students to become a Jackson Learner. These eight Employability Skills will enable all of our students to be contributing members of the wider community. Each term we focus on one characteristic/skills of learning and independence as a throughline of our Inquiry units. 

Please see above our employability skills posters to represent these learner characteristics. In Values Week, students will continue to collect stickers for the 8 employability skills in a Jackson Passport. To reduce visual distractions and reduce cognitive load for our learners, there is no expectation these are all displayed in classrooms. However, you should continue to display the two we will focus this term.