Acting Principal's 

News Flash 

Hi everybody,

As we reach the end of Week 7 of a 10-week Term 3, we notice frequent cool weather with blustery 'Jacana winds' and occasional rainfall. In many instances, we have kept your children inside to keep them warm and calm with their classmates. 

We have noticed some student illness recently and reminder to families to send students with sufficient warm clothing at all times. 

We also look forward to better weather ahead as spring nears.

Term 3 is often very busy, involving extensive student assessment to inform our teaching and the selction of each child's Semester 2 IEP Learning goals, to be sent out to all families today. 

In addition, we are seeking all JSA Parents and CareGivers to complete our 2026 Parent CareGiver Opinion Survey that opened this week. All family feedback is greatly needed and valued to help us better understand your perspectives, ultimately informing the education we deliver for your child. 

**Our Assistant Principal News Report will have more information for you on both matters.

Term 3 - Important Dates

Please do not forget:

• Friday, 28th August: Book Week 'Favourite Book Character' Dress Up Day
• Monday, 14th September: Primary Sub School Performance
• Tuesday, 15th September: Middle Sub School Performance
• Wednesday, 16th September: Secondary Sub School Performance
• Thursday, 17th September: JSA Footy Day

JSA Staff Retirements and Farewells

More recently, we had 2 of our longest serving, foundation JSA staff members retire from their roles at JSA. 

Our previous Community Engagement Officer, Karen Glare, retired from her role in Term 2. Karen leaves us with big shoes to fill. In various capacities, Karen demonstrated a strong capability to work with our students to develop their confidence to formulate career plans, plan their secondary pathways and readiness for their post school options. Karen oversaw tremendous positive change in implementing various VET program and apprenticeship opportunities which stand strong for our new Community Engagement Officer to continue. Thank you Karen and good luck in retirement.

Another long standing colleague was Pauline Strkalj. As a valuable Education Support Officer, Pauline has dedicated many years of service to students in classrooms across all levels. Our staff and students will miss her greatly and wish her the best in retirement with her family and loved ones.

School Policy Updates

Our next School Council meeting was held on Thursday, 13th August.

The following policies were recently endorsed by our School Council:

• Attendance Policy

• Child Abuse - Identification and Response Policy

• Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy

• Child Safety Code of Conduct

• Consultative Policy

• Curriculum, Assessment & Reporting Framework Policy

• Insurance (Personal Property) Policy

• Student Wellbeing and Engagement Policy

• Sun Protection Policy

• Supervision of Students Policy

• Visitors Policy

• Volunteers Policy

Please note that all existing policies are found on our JSA Website under the following Policy tabs:

• Child Safety

• Management 

• Occupational Health & Safety

• Parent Payments

• Teaching & Learning

We encourage the ongoing engagement of our families. Any feedback or discussions you may have can be forwarded to me directly. 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

School Council Update

We are very pleased to advise the JSA community that, after a recently successful recruitment drive and council endorsement, we now have a full complement of School Council representatives. 

Please note that the newly appointed School Council President is Radha Fayad. As a new parent representative, Radha brings extensive experience within our fundraising sub-committee and a wealth of skills to contribute to this new role.

In doing so, the council would like to ackowledge the extended service of Chris Ernst, our School Council President this year and Vice President for the 4 years prior to that. His work has been exceptional and we are grateful to have Chris remaining on our council as parent representative from herein.

We also welcome Amir Khan amd Chrisy Maglis as our two other new parent representatives, and Deb Brereton, our new community representative as a past JSA parent. We will definitely share a photo of us all after our next meeting in September.

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 Student 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:  Zoe Pirotta | zoe.pirotta2@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 

https://www.jacanaschoolforautism.vic.edu.au/