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

  • Thank you to all families who participated in our termly Parent-Teacher Student Support Group (SSG) Meetings this week. ILPs will be published soon.
  • Thank you for your support and understanding during the fire service upgrade in the front car park. 
  • Our new buildings are nearing delivery of 18th & 19th March. 
  • This week our large basketball shade canopy has been completed. 
  • We are aware than some students are bringing in more than one mobile phone from home. Please ensure that your child only brings in one mobile phone to school. 
  • Jackson School is a child safe community. We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which our school is situated, the Wurundjeri (Woi Wurrung) peoples of the Kulin Nation, and pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging. Wominjeka!
  • Download Literacy & Numeracy Tips Booklet.
  • 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.
  • Attention Year 7 Parents: From 6 February 2023, the recommended HPV vaccine schedule for most people has changed from two-doses to a single dose course using the same Gardasil®9 vaccine.
  • COVID-19 Update.
  • Meet The Team: Matt & Alex.
  • 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,

 

Student Support Groups (SSGs) & ILPs

 

Thank you to all families who participated in our termly Parent-Teacher Student Support Group (SSG) Meetings this week. 60 families attended onsite, 110 families had their SSG by phone, and 20 families via a virtual Teams meeting. The purpose of the SSGs is to establish a strong home-school relationship, complete your child's Individual Education Plan & Learner Profile and review progress against your child's “Long Term” goals. 

 

Following your Term 1 SSG your child's teacher will finalise your child's Semester 1 Individual Learning Plan (ILP). These will be emailed to families once they are published and will also be available on Xuno for you to access anytime. An ILP outlines a modified educational program with long term (annual) and short term goals (semester) and based upon the Victorian Curriculum (Prep-Year 10). These are informed from our current assessments of what your child can already do. For Year 11/12 students who are working towards achieving their ASDAN and VCAL outcomes, these will be reported to you in your end of Semester 2 reports. All students at Jackson receive reasonable adjustments to meet their individual learning needs. These include: differentiated teaching and learning,  adjustments (from our Allied Health and Wellbeing Teams) and other support strategies.

 

New Building Update

 

Thank you for your support and understanding during the fire service upgrade in the front car park. Contractors are now nearing completion of this project at the front of the school and will now continue the upgrade through the centre of the school. We apologise for any inconvenience caused and we are extremely grateful of your flexibility in parking in our neighbouring streets during this time. 

 

Our new buildings are nearing delivery of 18th & 19th March. A photographer will be taking aerial photos and videos of the site.  This will be taken for use by the contractors over this weekend. The Prep/Allied Health modules now have roofs, doors, windows, plaster and cladding installed.

 

This week our large basketball shade canopy has been completed. The oval surface now needs to be repaired before we can allow students to use this space. This will provide an undercover learning space for classes, physical education lessons, community events and staff meetings/professional learnings.

Mobile Phones

 

We are aware than some students are bringing in more than one mobile phone from home. This may be because someone in your household got a new mobile phone over the Christmas period. Please ensure that your child only brings in one mobile phone to school. 

 

The Ministerial Order banning all students from using mobile phones during school times  continues in 2023. We strongly encourage students to not bring a mobile phone to school, however if your child does bring a phone to school, the mobile phone must be switched off and stored in the classroom safe.

 

In emergencies, parents can contact your child/ren through the school office. 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 content, videoing other students, taking photos on the bus). Thank you for your ongoing support. 

 

At Jackson School we have invested in 1:1 iPads (Prep-Year 8 or Laptops (Year 9-12) to support and enhance learning, therefore your child does not need a mobile phone for learning purposes.

 

Talking about mobile phone use as a family is a great way to support safe and responsible technology use. Some of our students experience bullying online through social media platforms. This is difficult for us to support and manage when students are not at school.

 

The eSafety Commissioner website has many resources for families, such as:

For more information, please visit: https://www.vic.gov.au/mobile-phones-schools

Child Safe Standards

 

Jackson School is a child safe community. We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which our school is situated, the Wurundjeri (Woi Wurrung) peoples of the Kulin Nation, and pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging. Wominjeka! Keeping children safe is everyone's responsibility. If you have a reasonable belief that a child has been abused and don't report it to police, it's a criminal offence. This law applies to all adults. School staff have additional responsibilities. They must report any suspected abuse if the parents or carers can't or won't protect the child. This is called mandatory reporting. If you have any concerns about child safety please contact a member of the Principal Team or our Social Worker Team: Alex Baynes (Child Safety Officer) or Marg Keatley (Family Liaison Officer) or complete the Contact Us form: https://www.jacksons.vic.edu.au/contact-us/ 

 

To view our Jackson School Policy Advisory Library with child safe standards policy and guidelines, please visit: https://newsletters.naavi.com/i/pNpVrpM 

  • Child Safety & Wellbeing Policy
  • Child Safety Responding and Reporting Obligations Policy and Procedures
  • Code of Conduct
  • Risk Register

For more information please visit: https://www.vic.gov.au/new-child-safe-standards-schools

 

Literacy & Numeracy Tips

 

This booklet from the Department of Education provides handy tips and ways you can help your child develop literacy and numeracy skills. It provides fun, inexpensive, accessible and practical activities you can do with your child at home. The booklet also provides questions you can ask your child to help them learn. Doing these practical activities will help your child develop excellent reading and writing skills, and help them speak well and be a good listener. Through everyday activities at home you can also help them develop their numeracy skills, such as calculating and using numbers, recognising patterns, and using language to develop and express mathematical understanding.

 

We are developing a Jackson version of this guide which we will release soon.

 

https://www.education.vic.gov.au/Documents/literacy-numeracy-tips-booklet.pdf 

 

Literacy & Numeracy Tips Booklet

Changes to Year 7 Vaccinations

 

Attention Year 7 Parents: From 6 February 2023, the recommended HPV vaccine schedule for most people has changed from two-doses to a single dose course using the same Gardasil®9 vaccine. There is no change to the amount of vaccine that is given in the single dose. Please check with your medical practitioner about clashes with any other vaccinations your child may have had recently, including for COVID-19. 

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 weekend!

 

Anthony