Principal's Message

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

• Welcome back to Term 4!
• Upcoming Term 4 Events
• Distressing events of the Middle East 
• Buildings and Infrastructure Update
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice Referendum - 14th October
• New Proposed Parking Restrictions from Brimbank Council
• Students of the Week from our PBIS rewards system.
• Showcase of students' learning from across the school in Primary and Secondary
• 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,

Welcome back to Term 4!

I hope you've all had a lovely holiday together as a family and enjoyed the sunny weather before the rain came this week. It was great to spend quality time with the kids whilst taking couple of day trips to Lorne and Werribee Zoo. 

Welcome back to Faith Agius, Gordana Bekavac, Kathy Berrill, Sue Milverton and Sarah Portelli. We also welcome Lyle who joins our Facilities Team. We are currently recruiting staff for positions in 2024. For more information please visit: Recruitment Online. 

We have much to look forward to in Term 4: The Art & Design Show in Week 5; Melbourne Cup long weekend; Values Week in Week 6 where we will also celebrate Russ Jackson Day on Friday 10th November by displaying our school values and the 8 Employability Skills; Sports Day on Friday 24th November; the Year 12 Graduation; Water Play Day on Friday 15th December; the Achievement Assembly and Year 6 Graduation; finishing with our Concert in the Courtyard. This year the last day for students will be Monday 18th December. Tuesday 19th December is our Last Curriculum Day focused around transition to set students up for success in 2024. Please check the School Dates page for more information.

This term all students will continue their learning in literacy, numeracy and independent learning. Prep-Year 8 class continue their inquiry learning focused on physical sciences (seasons, light, sounds, forces and energy) which builds on this term learning of Earth and Space Sciences last term. Year 9-12 continue their Work Education programs: World of Work, Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC) and ASDAN. Teachers will soon published revisions to your child's Term 4 ILP which will be available for you to view and download on the Xuno Portal. Teachers will be available on Wednesday 25th October from 3:00pm to 4:30pm should you wish to arrange an optional SSG meeting with them to discuss your child's progress before Semester 2 reports are published.

Distressing Events in the Middle East

Members of our school community may be affected by the devastating events in the Middle East. This time is particularly distressing for staff, students, families and carers who have family and friends in Israel and Gaza. I am sure many of you are upset and disturbed by the awful events depicted in media footage and images.

We are also aware that students of diverse backgrounds, including Jewish and Muslim students, may be significantly affected by public events, mainstream media coverage and social media at this time. Our support staff will continue doing all they can to support all our students, and support is also available for our staff and families.

It is possible that extremely distressing scenes from the conflict may be posted online in coming days. Please ensure your children are aware of where they can find support in the event they come across such images.

You may find some aspects of this resource helpful:

• Helping my children after trauma: A guide for parents

Support is also available through external services including:

• headspace: 1800 650 890
• Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800
• Lifeline: 13 11 14
• Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636

As always, please reach out to the school if you or your family would like any support at this difficult time. 

Buildings & Infrastructure

Rendine Modularity have continued to work with us over the holidays to get our capital works program completed. Despite the delay in the window installation and fire service complications, we are on track for completion by the end of October. Over the holidays, works have included:

• The Yard/Playground outside of the admin building has now been completed. Aspects of this design have been removed, but this now allows a larger space for our students to play at recess and lunch. The Leadership Team have decided to maintain the oval split until building works are completed onsite
• The portable removal and commencement of landscaping works outside of our new "Middle School" building. The rear driveway has also been resurfaced up to the yard and Prep-2 playground
• Flooring has now been completed in the Middle School as we near practical completion. We will not be able to occupy this building until the fire service is completed and signed off. This will be completed for classes to move into in readiness for 2024
• Despite the admin corridor being completed for many weeks, we are still awaiting the Building Surveyor to allow us handover of this space also due to the fire service application. I am constantly being assured by the project managers this will be soon
• Windows have finally begun to be installed in our Library/Food Tech/Cafe and Performing Arts (including Radio and Film Studios) are now well underway. We are now waiting for the bi-fold doors to the library extension to be installed and the carpet to be replaced in the Year 9/10 corridor. 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice Referendum - 14th October

On Saturday, 14 October 2023, Australians will have their say in a referendum about whether to change the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing a body called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.

Voters will be asked to vote ‘yes’ or ‘no’ on a single question. The question on the ballot paper will be:

“A Proposed Law: to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Do you approve this proposed alteration?”

Just like at a federal election, the AEC will open thousands of polling places around the country. Polling places will be open between 8am and 6pm, local time, on voting day. You can cast your vote at any polling place within your state or territory. If you're interstate on polling day and need to cast your vote, you will need to visit a designated interstate voting centre.

Jackson School will also be a polling place. For more information please click here: https://www.aec.gov.au/assistance/accessibility.htm#6743 

For more information about The Voice, please visit: https://voice.gov.au/community-toolkit 

New Proposed Parking Restrictions from Brimbank Council

Concerns have been raised with Brimbank Council regarding road safety, congestion and property access issues associated with vehicles parking along Mulhall Drive, St Albans, (near Jackson school). To address these concerns, Brimbank Council is proposing to extend the existing “No Stopping 8:00am to 4:00pm Monday to Friday” parking restrictions on the west side of Mulhall Drive (abutting property No. 43) to outside property No. 41. Please refer to the attached plan for location details. The proposed ‘No Stopping 8am to 4pm Monday to Friday’ will improve road safety and reduce congestion, along this section of Mulhall Drive. It is anticipated that the proposed parking restrictions will be installed within the next ten (10) weeks. For further information please contact Council’s Traffic and Transport Engineering team on 9249 4430 or via email at info@brimbank.vic.gov.au.

Over the last few years our parent drop-off and pick-up of students from school has doubled (up to 80 Families). Like most neighbourhood schools, we do not have adequate parking facilities for all staff, visitors and parents/carers. Our pick-up and drop off zone can only allow for up to 18 parked cars. We also have limited car parking for the 120 staff at Jackson School. It is a traffic offence for cars to be parked over the public footpath and obstruct oncoming traffic any public road. We do not have authority to change parking or traffic management systems around our school. 

We ask all family members entering the car park at this time to keep moving through the drop off and collection zone and not to park in the centere thoroughfare or block the entry gate.  Many families park in the neighboring streets around the school and walk into the school grounds to collect your children from the school. We appreciate this and understand this is difficult like at most schools. This supports us in reducing traffic congestion onto Mulhall Drive. The electronic vehicle entry gates are open throughout the school day. We encourage all students to remain at school until the end of the day. Thank you for your ongoing support. 

I hope you have a lovely weekend!

Anthony