Assistant
Principal News Flash
Jacana School for Autism
Stephanie Torchia & Ellen Paterson
Book Week
On Friday 28th of August we celebrated Book Week's 'Symphony of Stories'. We were delighted to see students and staff dressed as characters from books and together we shared a book reading of 'Colours of Home' and 'Save the Gum Trees, Bees and Big Blue Seas.' Students participated in a parade and prizes were awarded to best dress student and staff from each sub school. Congratulations again to:
Primary: Kiara Karki (Room 3) and Zoe Pirotta (Sub School Leader)
Middles: Hazim Raed Alqas (Room 16) and Shirley Mendoza (Room 13 Teacher)
Secondary: Christopher Lolatgis (Room 23), Hunter Perkins (Room 26) and Eirini Markou (Room 22 Education Support)
Parent/Caregiver Opinion Survey
WE WANT OUR PARENTS / CARERS TO TELL US WHAT THEY THINK!
Our school is conducting the annual Parent / Carer Opinion Survey offered by the Department of Education and is seeking your feedback. The survey is designed to assist schools in gaining an understanding of families’ perceptions of school climate, student behaviour, and student engagement. The survey is optional, but we encourage and appreciate your participation. Our school will use the survey results to assist in identifying areas for improvement and professional development needs in the school, to target school planning and improvement strategies.
The Parent / Carer Opinion Survey will be open online from Monday 17 August to Friday 18 September 2026.
The survey will be conducted online, only takes 20 minutes to complete, and can be accessed at any convenient time on desktop computers, laptops, tablets or smartphones.
The online survey will be available in English and 10 other languages including Arabic, Greek, Hakha Chin, Hindi, Japanese, Punjabi, Simplified Chinese, Somali, Turkish, and Vietnamese. Resources are also available in additional languages to assist parents / carers who speak a language other than English at home. Please reach out to the school directly for survey guides in your language.
An email has been sent out to all families with a PIN and we will have iPads available at Reception if you wish to complete at school.
Notifying student absence on XUNO
You can now notify the school of your child's absence on XUNO.
You can still continue to notify absences on the Student Absence Line: 0439 114 197
EXTENDED PERIOD OF ABSENCE APPLICATION FORM
As part of JSA's Attendance Policy, we formalise parent/carer requests for students seeking approval for Extended Absence of 5 or more days (previously 3 days or more).
If you wish to express interest or intentions for your child to be away for 5 or more days, please ensure to complete the 'Extended period of absence application form' below.
All applications for extended absences will be reviewed by the Sub School Leader and Principal. Parent/Carers will be notified via email after consideration of application.
Child Safe Standards
At Jacana school for Autism, every student has the right to feel safe, respected and cared for. Victoria's Child Safe Standards are 11 rules that all schools must follow. They guide how we work, who we hire, how we listen to students and families and how we respond when something goes wrong.
Please take some time to read through our Child Safe Standards Posters.
