Jackson School Newsletter

Principal's Message

Anthony Jackson (Principal)

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

  • Wednesday 8 March 2023 was International Women’s Day (IWD)
  • Parents and carers should have now received your child's ILPs by email. These are also now available on Xuno Portal.
  • Our new buildings are nearing delivery over the weekend of 18th & 19th March. 
  • Year 7 immunisation will take place on 28th March.
  • Congratulatations to all of our successful student leaders, particularly our new School Captains and Vice-Captains: May Jane, Ben G and Arvind. 
  • All members of the community are welcome to attend our Public Reporting Meeting (AGM) on Tuesday 21st March at 6:30pm onsite at Jackson School.
  • If you would like to join our school council as a community member, please contact the school office or email: jackson.sch@education.vic.gov.au. Community Members do not have to be parents of students to join school council. 
  • School Council have made an alteration to our Curriculum Days for 2023 due to the ANZAC public holiday at the start of Term 2. Term 2: 24th April. Students return on Wednesday 26th April. Term 4: 19th December. The last day for students will be the 18th December.
  • There is no school on Monday due to the Labour Day public holiday. Students will return to school next Tuesday.
  • COVID-19 Update.
  • Meet The Team: Kelly and Gabby (and Naanthini on the Allied Health Page).
  • Students of the Week from our PBIS rewards system.
  • Showcase of students' learning from across the school in Primary and Secondary.
  • Allied 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,

 

International Women's Day - 8th March

Wednesday 8 March 2023 was International Women’s Day (IWD), an annual day to celebrate the social, cultural and political achievements of women across the world. This year, the United Nations’ theme for the day is ‘Cracking the Code: Innovation for a gender-equal future’.

 

We are proud to promote a gender-equal school community for our staff, students and our families. 

Individual Learning Plans

 

Parents and carers should have now received your child's ILPs by email. These are also now available on Xuno Portal. Parents and carers will be able to request a hard copy of their child’s report if they would like one. An ILP outlines a modified educational program with long term (annual) and short term goals (semester) and are based upon the Victorian Curriculum (Prep-Year 10) and ASDAN or VPC outcomes for Year 11/12 students. All students at Jackson receive reasonable adjustments to meet their individual learning needs. These include:  differentiated teaching and learning, substantial and extensive adjustments.

 

New Building Update

 

Our new buildings are nearing delivery over the weekend of 18th & 19th March. The Prep/Allied Health modules are now being painted and fixtures installed for delivery onsite next weekend. 

 

The old toilet block has now been demolished and the footings for our new Prep/Allied Health building and Staffroom extension have now been installed. Our staff and students are coping exceptionally well with the disruption onsite. 

Vaccinations

 

Some vaccines are routinely provided free of charge to all Victorian secondary school students.  Students in Year 7 (or aged 12-13) receive the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough) combined vaccine.   Students in Year 10 (or aged 15-16) receive the Meningococcal ACWY vaccine.  We support our local councils to deliver these important immunisations, as part of the Secondary School Immunisations Program (SSIP). Year 7 immunisation will take place on 28th March. We will communicate with you about upcoming Year 10 immunisation sessions and you will receive information about a consent card which you must return to the school providing or declining your consent for your child to be immunised.

 

Learn more: www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/immunisation-in-secondary-schools

Jackson Student Leadership Team (JSLT) Interviews

 

This week our students have applied and sat an interview for student leader positions. I would like to congratulate all of our successful student leaders, particularly our new school captains.

 

School Captain (Year 10): May Jane Purcell

School Vice-Captains (Year 10): Ben Gardiner and Arvind Singh

 

Student Leaders: Valentina, Makayla, Tu Ta, Valentino, Ryliegh, Tyler, Ashton, Simon, Evan, Hayden, Lawrence, Marcus, Ella, Matthew, Tanya, Riley, Ruqaiyah, Jessica, Jayden, Avrin.

 

Our captains and student leaders play an important role in providing feedback to myself and the leadership team as well as representing the Jackson School at events and greeting important visitors to the school. Thank you to our outgoing captains and student leaders for their input and leadership in 2023. 

School Council Elections

 

Jackson School’s School Council is the voice of the parents on how we run our school. 

 

All government schools in Victoria have a School Council. School Council is the governing body of the school and plays an important role in our community. School Council has four main responsibilities:

  1. Governance: establish the broad direction and vision for the school within the community. They oversee school buildings and grounds (facility hire, maintenance and improvements) as well as other contracts including: Out of School Hours Care (OSHC).
  2. Strategic Planning: contributes to the finalisation of the School Strategic Plan and development of the Annual Implementation Plan and reports annually (Annual report) to the school community. 
  3. Finance:  monitors school revenue and expenditure and approves school budgets including for parent voluntary contributions and camps and excursions.
  4. Policy & Review: ratifies DE and school-level policy decisions (including child safe standards), participates in the school review pre-review evaluation and review panel.

Over the last 12 months, Jackson School Council have been heavily involved in our school building upgrade and school improvements. School Council have contributed school funds towards our capital works program, including our new Basketball Canopy. 

 

For more information please see: https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/school-council-overview/overview or download the following fact sheet: 

 

School Council Fact Sheet

 

We are looking for new members to join our school council, in the following categories:

  • Up to 6 Parent Members
  • Up to 4 DET Employees (including Principal/Executive Officer)
  • 2 Co-opted Community Members
  • 2 Elected Student Members (our School Captain and Vice-Captain)

Jackson School Council meet each 3rd Tuesday of the month at 6:30 pm. Meetings are run very efficiently and usually take about one and a half hours. 

 

All members of the community are welcome to attend our Public Reporting Meeting (AGM) on Tuesday 21st March at 6:30pm onsite at Jackson School.

 

If you would like to join our school council as a community member, please contact the school office or email: jackson.sch@education.vic.gov.au. Community Members do not have to be parents of students to join school council. 

Curriculum Days 2023

 

School Council have made an alteration to our Curriculum Days for 2023 due to the ANZAC public holiday at the start of Term 2. These are as follows:

 

Term 2: 24th April. Students return on Wednesday 26th April.

Term 4: 19th December. The last day for students will be the 18th December.

 

31st October (Term 3) and 20th December (Term 4) will continue to be Pupil Free Days as time in lieu for not finishing early at the end of each term and for the Concert in the Courtyard.

 

There is no school on Monday due to the Labour Day public holiday. Students will return to school next Tuesday.

There is an increase in COVID-19 in our community. Please check the COVID-19 Update page for more information on booster vaccinations and current recommendations.

 

I hope you have a lovely long weekend!

 

Anthony