Principal's News Flash
Corinne Pupillo
2025 SCHOOL THEME: EMBEDDING INCLUSIVE PRACTICES TO ENHANCE LEARNING AND WELLBEING.
When we implement inclusive practices, students feel welcomed, supported, valued and will also empower parent/carer voice and collaboration.
Dear parents, carers and friends of the school community
Professional Learning for staff
Pupil Free day - Friday 6 June
We are always grateful for the opportunity to have dedicated days where all staff come together for professional learning. Embedded in the 2025 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 2024 Student Attitudes to School Survey 63 % of students felt connected to school and this figure dropped from 83% in 2023. Sense of connectedness has been identifed as "the extent to which students feel personally accepted, respected, included and supported by others in the school social environment" Students who feel connected to their school are generally more engaged with their education, have greater wellbeing and higher achievement outcomes. In 2024 the average student absence days was 39.4 for our school and the average number of absence days in Victorian Specialist Schools was 40 in 2024.
In 2024 we had 59% of students with 20 or more days absence and this has remained stable over the past two years.
In 2024 we focused our professional learning on "why" and "how" we deliver professional learning and will continue into 2025 as we experienced a large turnover of staff in 2024 / 2025 as well continuing to recruit for staff. It's crucial that we continue to provide high quality learning for our workforce with the view to develop the skills and practices of our workforce to support students to feel connected to school.
Friday, 6 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
How to support student learning using Autism Specific Tier 1 practices: Facilitated by our Learning Specialists and Inclusion Outreach Coordinator
Regulation and sensory needs: Facilitated by our Wellbeing and Therapy Teams
Restorative Practice - online sessions - Facilitated by Expert Facilitators from Real Schools
Mother's Day Stall
I hope all our mum's had a wonderful day and the gift chosen by their child/ren.
A huge thank you to the following parents who supported the Mother's Day Stall and made the event such a success.
Kristen Bellerini
Radha Fayed
Sabrina Buhagiar
Deb Brereton
Katie Powell
Staffing Update
Welcome to Holly Lancashire, Primary Sub School Leader. Holly has been getting to know all the students and staff in the primary sub school this week as well as attending the swimming program this week.
A warm welcome to Teacher Aides, Cameron Mann & Suleyman Tosun for their appointment to JSA. It's great to have you on our team.
We have finally appointed a HOL Build Artisan Teacher, welcome to Baki Turhan who commenced this week and is preparing the students to reopen the HoL Shed.
Pupil Free Day - King's Birthday Monday 9 June
Students are not required at school on this day
School Council
Next School Council Meeting will be held on Thursday 22 May 2025 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 |
| 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