Acting Principal's
News Flash
Dan Moloney
Dan Moloney
Welcome to our new Prep families! Welcome back to all of our existing JSA families for 2026. It has been so lovely to see all families safe and well. Our students have been well rested and ready to return to their familiar school routines and thrive.
As your Acting Principal for Terms 1-3, I am honoured and grateful to lead the community at this time. I look forward to working with you and doing all I can, ensuring the smooth running of JSA.
Our 2026 School Theme is:
'Sustaining inclusive practices to enhance learning and wellbeing'
When we strengthen our evidence-based practices, students will be engaged and thrive in their learning.
2026 marks an important year for JSA. It is the 4th and final year of our current 2022-2026 School Strategic Plan. As part of our plan for this year (better known as our Annual Implementation Plan or AIP), we endeavour to build ongoing consistency in the way we:
provide a positive learning environment (how our learning spaces are designed and how we develop and nurture the positive relationships with our students)
plan and implement learning adjustments (the individualised supports we put in place to help your child/children access their learning)
implement our ASD practices in all aspects of student life, with the view of building student independence and readiness for life
implementing solid communication practices, meeting the individual needs of our students and to put student voice and agency at the forefront of our practice.
All of this work is about our broader, common purpose at JSA: to foster resilience and lifelong learning enabling our students to be active participants in family and community life.
Our Assistant Principals, Stephanie Torchia and Ellen Paterson, are sure to keep you up to date with all the key work in this space. We are particularly pleased to welcome back Stephanie to our team who has returned from Family Leave. Her skills, knowledge and experience are invaluable.
Our playground project is coming along very nicely. Mary Boutros, our Safe and Well Leader, will provide you with photos and an update later in this edition.
School Council News
Thank you to all our School Council Representatives, I’ve enjoyed every opportunity to meet and discuss important issues and concerns as well as share the schools’ successes and achievements with you all. Thank you all for your contributions and governorship of our school, it's such important work and I am grateful for the time you give us to do this important work.
First School Council Meeting for 2026 will be held on 19th February .
| MEMBER | POSITION |
| Daniel Moloney | Executive Officer (Acting Principal) daniel.moloney@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 |
| Vacancy | Parent Representative |
| Mary Boutros | DE Representative |
| Ellen Paterson | 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
Communication with Staff Policy - revised 12 December for 2026
Jacana School for Autism understands the importance of providing helpful and timely responses to common enquiries from parents and carers. To ensure that members of our school community are directed to the most appropriate person to assist them, the information below outlines key contacts for common queries:
to report a student absence, please text the Absence Line on 0439 114 197
to report any urgent issues relating to a student on a particular day, please contact the general office on 9309 6258
to discuss a student’s academic progress, health or wellbeing, please contact your child’s classroom teacher/ sub school leader.
Primary Sub School Leader: Ellen Paterson | ellen.paterson@education.vic.gov.au
- Middle Years Sub School Leader: Stefania Mantinioti | stefania.mantinioti@education.vic.gov.au
- Secondary Sub School Leader: Amelia Frantz | amelia.frantz@education.vic.gov.au
- Senior Secondary Sub School Leader: Sean Procko | sean.procko@education.vic.gov.au
For enquiries regarding camps and excursions, please contact your child’s classroom teacher.
to make a complaint, please contact the Acting Principal/Assistant Principals on
9309 6258.
Acting Principal:
Daniel Moloney | daniel.moloney@education.vic.gov.au
Assistant Principal [Inclusion and Wellbeing] :
Stephanie Torchia | stephanie.torchia@education.vic.gov.au
- Assistant Principal [Teaching and Learning]:
- Ellen Paterson | ellen.paterson@education.vic.gov.au
Please also refer to our Complaints Policy, available on the school website:
https://www.jacanaschoolforautism.vic.edu.au/policies/management/
to report a potential hazard or incident on the school site, please contact:
OHS Manager Nominee
Mary Boutros on 9309 6258 or mary.boutros@education.vic.gov.au
for parent payments, please contact the general office on 9309 6258
for all other enquiries, please contact our Office on 9309 6258
School staff will do their best to respond to general queries as soon as possible and ask that you allow us 2 – 3 working days to provide you with a detailed response. We will endeavour to respond to urgent matters within 24 hours where possible.
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