Principal's News Flash 

Corinne Pupillo

Principals Association of Specialist School (PASS) annual awards ceremony is tonight and I would like to congratulate some of our amazing staff for being nominated and short-listed. The state-wide awards recognise individuals or groups' outstanding achievements and are judged under ten categories. The PASS Awards also provides recognition and celebrates the outstanding achievements and excellence of people involved in special education in Victoria.

All the best for tonight's ceremony!  

• Outstanding Graduate Teacher Category: Rob Ball 
• Outstanding Education Support Staff: Tricia French 
• Outstanding Middle Leader Category: Ashlie Hassall
• Outstanding Team Category: Student Engagement Team:  Joel Hockings, Linda Wakeling, Rachael Macmillan, Natalie Conboy, Ashley Stace, Stephanie Di Salvo, Sara Parsons, Irene Gacovski, Zoe Sharpe, Corinne Pupillo & Dan Moloney 

2022 Year Book 

As we reflect back on 2022, Fiona Micelotta has been working behind the scenes to collate a snapshot of 2022.  The annual yearbook has been cherished by our students and families and reminds them of the learning environment, staff and friends from year to year. Thank you to Fiona for your special skills and time in putting this together for us. 

Celebrating Success: Student Awards 

Valuing the partnership between home and school and the co-construction of learning goals has been something that I have observed over time as a key ingredient in students' growth.   

A journey where sometimes we support you and other times, you support us. 

Developing successful and resilient children requires a long-term focus and commitment and collaboration from us all.

Celebrating milestones and individual achievements where we link individual achievement to the curriculum further strengthens the inclusivity for all students.

Primary Awards 

Students in the Primary Sub School are provided with more immediate recognition for their success. Fortnightly Star of the Week awards provides students with feedback and recognition of their effort and success.  

Middle and Secondary Awards 

The sub-school awards for 2022 will be presented by the Sub-School Leader and a member of the Principal Class Team to students in their individual classrooms and they will celebrate with classroom peers.

• Middle Sub School: Tuesday 6 December 
• Secondary Sub School:  Monday 21 November.

ANNOUNCEMENTS 

Parents, carers, schools, and the community all play an important role in protecting children and young people from, and educating them about, the harmful effects of smoking and vaping.

Research from the Royal Children’s Hospital shows many parents and carers are not aware of the harmful effects or how their views about smoking and vaping can impact the likelihood of a young person taking up smoking or vaping.

The Department of Education and Training has developed resources to help you learn more about the health risks of smoking and vaping, and some suggestions about how to talk to children and young people about vaping, and where to get support. To access the resources, go to https://www.vic.gov.au/smoking-and-vaping-advice-parents

You can also view this video on smoking and vaping from experts at the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne for health advice and tips for starting a conversation with young people.

SCHOOL COUNCIL

School Council Meeting 

The next meeting of the School Council will occur Thursday, 8th December at 5.30 pm.

School Council Sub-Committee Representatives

• Finance Sub Committee Representative - Mark Mansfield 
• Building and Grounds Sub Committee Representative – Denise Clarke
• Fundraising Sub Committee Representative – Lisa Sette
• School Council Representative on Student Representative Council (SRC)  

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 Page or on the school's website. 

JSA also has a Facebook Page administered by the leadership team. Please like and follow our page.

REMINDERS

Unwell Students 

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: 

Aerial View - Jacana School for Autism

This aerial photography has captured our school from above to complement our school's Virtual School Tour. Please take a look and see how wonderful the facilities look from above.  

Sun Smart 

Dear parents/carers JSA is a SunSmart community. You can help our students to be SunSmart at school by:

1. Dressing them in clothing that covers as much skin as possible.
2. Apply a generous amount of SPF30 (or higher) broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen at the start of the day before drop-off.
3. Packing their sun-protective hat each day.