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

• Winter Fete
• Hands on Learning
• Morning Tea and Information Sessions
• Reminder: Student mobile phone use
• Public Holiday Monday 10 June - Students return Tuesday 11 June. 
• 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,

Winter Fete

Thank you to all of the parents, carers, family members and friends who were able to join us today at our Winter Fete. 100 families were able to attend. Due to your support we raised over $2927.35! Thank you for your contribution as always. School Council will decide how the money will be allocated. Our students displayed many of our employability skills in preparing for and running their stalls. Thank you to Helena McAloon (Leading Teacher) for your coordination of our Winter Fete and thank you to all the staff who made it such a wonderful day. 

Thank you to again to Rod Tobin (School Council Vice-President) and Wynstan Blinds for your generous donation of a $500 voucher for our raffle. The winner of this prize was Loretta Sultana! 

Hands on Learning Keilor-Downs College Partnership

Working in partnership with Linda Maxwell, Principal of Keilor Downs College, we have been very lucky to be given a space at the back of the school to develop into our very own farm model to build on the success of our work at Animal Land in Diggers Rest. This also strengthens our connection with a local mainstream school. 

Our students started from scratch and have been working extremely hard all year. Above are some photos and a summary of what we have managed to achieve so far:

• We have nearly finished our rabbit and chicken enclosure
• We have built multiple veggie patches and garden beds
• Created a lunch area under a gazebo and have built a bird aviary where we will be housing canaries and finches

The students working on this area have worked very hard and we are very proud of them. Great job!

Morning Tea & Information Session

Thank you to our families who have been able to attend our morning tea sessions this year. A few weeks ago, our new Assistant Principals, Bern and Julie, ran an information session on the new Disability Inclusion reform.

All families are welcome to join us for a cuppa from 9:15am on Friday 14th June and/or attend our information session from 9:45am. Please RSVP to Bern via email or SeeSaw. 

Reminder about Student Mobile Phone Use

A reminder that the Department of Education has in place a mobile phone ban that requires students who bring mobiles phones to school to have them switched off and securely put away during school hours. Before school students should also have their phone switched off and kept in their bag until they can place this in the classroom safe. 

As part of our upcoming School Review, the Department is requiring all schools to ensure this ban is in place and enforced. The ban applies equally to all government schools right across the state. This helps ensure that school is a learning environment free from unnecessary distractions and disruptions. 

By ensuring mobile phones are kept away at recess and lunch times, students can interact with each other face-to-face, without the distractions and social pressures that mobile phones can cause. This includes wearable cellular devices like Apple Watches connected to the internet or student's phones. 

I ask for the support of all our families, staff and students in continuing to support the implementation of this policy in our school. 

Student Transport Buses: Mobile phones are permitted when travelling to and from school. However, SDTP Bus Supervisors must report any inappropriate use of or behaviour in relation to mobile phone use by students (inappropriate context, videoing other students, taking photos on the bus). Mobile Phones and wearable devices should not be used before (8:45-9:00) and after school (2:50-3:00) whilst on school grounds.

Exceptions: For a small number of students with particular health needs, an exception to the policy may be granted. Please contact your Sub-School Leading Teacher if you would like to discuss this.

Emergencies: In the event of an emergency or if you need to immediately contact your child, I ask that families contact the school office who will pass on a message as required.

School mobile phone policy: A copy of our school’s local mobile phone policy, which implements the government’s mobile policy in line with our local context, is available here: https://newsletters.naavi.com/i/kNVR13N/mobile-phones/page/cover

Parent support: The Mobile phones in schools webpage provides links to resources for families to help them balance their children’s time using mobile phones.

Download guidance for parents in different languages: https://www.vic.gov.au/mobile-phones-schools#download-guidance-for-parents-in-different-languages 

I hope you have a lovely long weekend. There is no school on Monday 10th June due to the public holiday. Students return on Tuesday 11th June. 

Anthony