Principal's Message

Jackson School is a collaborative learning community for all. We aim to develop independence through safety, respect and responsibility. We aspire to offer authentic, quality educational experiences that develop futures, create opportunities and inspire student potential; enabling our students to be valued and contributing members of the wider community. We share and celebrate our successes and achievements.   

The Issue Highlights

• R U OK? Day
• Build Update
• School Holiday Activities
• Term 4
• Students of the Week from our PBIS rewards system.
• Showcase of students' learning from across the school in Primary and Secondary
• Health and Wellbeing information to support you and your child.
• Community news including from Jackson OSHC provider TheirCare.
• School Dates -For the most up-to-date calendar dates, always refer to the Xuno Calendar in your Parent Portal.

Dear Families,

Congratulations to teachers Jacqui Kamenar and Laura Gianfriddo for the birth of our new Jackson babies: Milana Kamenar and Sofia Natoli. We hope you are all well and look forward to welcoming you back soon. 

Term 3 has been a busy and exhausting term for all. On top of it being a long term during the depths of winter, the community has had to endure the inconvenience of a reduced school site due to our building program, on top of staffing challenges due to state-wide recruitment difficulties, staff leave and absences. Staff and students have showed amazing resilience, flexibility and remarkable support for each other. Thank you also to our families for your understanding during this period. 

I am pleased that as we approach the end our school building project and as staff return from leave, Term 4 will be easier to navigate for everyone. We are currently recruiting staff for 2024. If you know a teacher who would like the opportunity to join our collaborative learning community, please let us know.

There has also been a lot to celebrate too: NAIDOC Week, 7/8 and P-2 swimming programs, 9-12 Formal, camps and excursions and Literacy and Numeracy Week. One of my highlights was the planetarium incursion and 7/8 Art Show.

R U OK? Day

R U OK? is a harm prevention charity that encourages people to stay connected and have conversations that can help others through difficult times in their lives. It’s our national day of action when we remind Australians that every day is the day to ask, ‘are you OK?’ and start a meaningful conversation whenever they spot the signs that someone they care about might be struggling.

On Thursday 14th September, we held an event for R U OK? Day by students and staff wearing yellow to school and completing activities. Thank you to Helena and the Jackson Student Leadership Team (JSLT) for running the day.

For more information please visit: https://www.ruok.org.au/ 

Build Update

Our Prep-Year 2 students have finally got a playground! Students have had limited outdoor play spaces this term. It would lovely to see the excitement of the students as they arrived at school last Monday. It took a while for staff to coax the students back inside to start their learning for the day. 

Work is nearing completion in our Year 5-8 building with flooring installed, walls painted and cabinetry fitted. We are now waiting for the fire service to be completed so we can begin moving classes into this new space in readiness for 2024. One of our old portable classrooms will be removed in the holidays. This will allow the landscaping works in this area to be completed.

The new library, school cafe and Food Technology kitchen is almost complete. We are awaiting for the glazing to be installed soon. The renovation of our new Performing Arts studio with Film and Radio studios is now nearing completion. We are hoping that we will get sign off to use our new conference room, resource room and staff toilets in Term 4. The lack of staff toilets has been particularly frustrating for staff. 

School Holiday Activities

Entertain the whole family over the school holidays with these kid-friendly events and activities. There are plenty of free, low-cost and events and family attractions to choose from.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

• City of Melbourne School Holiday Events: https://whatson.melbourne.vic.gov.au/things-to-do/family-and-kids/school-holidays 
• Time Out Melbourne: https://www.timeout.com/melbourne/kids/school-holidays-in-melbourne 
• Get Out With Kids: https://getoutwithkids.com.au/school-holiday-activities-melbourne/ 

Term 4

Over the last two weeks, teacher teams have come together to plan for our students' learning in Term 4. Prep to Year 8 classes will continue their learning theme of "Me and Our World" focused around Literacy, Numeracy and Physical Sciences which builds on this term learning of Earth and Space Sciences. Year 9-12 continue their Work Education programs: World of Work, Victorian Pathways Certificate and ASDAN. Our Staff have worked hard to ensure that our students have had authentic, real-world learning opportunities. Thank you.

The first day of Term 4 IS NOT a student free day. Students return to school on Monday 2nd October 2024. Buses will operate as normal on this day. 

I hope you all have a good holiday break!

Best wishes,

Anthony