Acting Principal's
News Flash
Dan Molon
Dan Molon
Hi there everybody!
No doubt you have noticed the more cold and rainy weather of late. Winter is certainly upon us. Our students have spent their breaks inside a little more than usual due to the weather to help them stay warm. Inside games and share activities are undertaken to provide the necessary structure for their ongoing interactions with peers.
Recently, it was pleasing to see all of our families engaging in our Term 2 Student Support Group (or SSG) meetings. These are a mandatory meeting families and teachers need to review your child's progress. If you were unable to schedule a meeting time, we ask that you contact your child's teacher to do so.
2026 Principal Conferences
Over the last 3 weeks, Stephanie, Ellen and I were fortunate enough to have attended 2 of our annual principal conferences:
- Hume Merribek Network Conference @ The RACV Resort, Creswick (29th-31st April)
- Principals' Association of Special Schools (PASS) Conference @ The Silverwater Resort, San Remo (6th-8th May)
Both conferences provided a range of professional learning workshops for principal class teams.
Our 2026 Hume Merribek Network Conference focus was on the schoolwide implementation of the Victorian Teaching and Learning Model (Bronwyn Ryrie-Jones) and supporting leaders to manage complex issues in our school communities (Frank Handy). Other inspirational speakers, including Jacqui Cooper (Winter Olympics Gold Medalist), discussed their experiences and motivations to achieve great things who were a hit. All workshops were well delivered in a delightful, country resort setting, not far out of Ballarat.
PASS' Conference theme was 'Building Skills for Life'. Speakers addressed topics including student career pathways (Dr Ann Southall - Latrobe University and Phil Hayes-Brown), leadership health and wellbeing (Dr Jodi Richardson and Jules Allen) and developing positive school cultures (Deborah Patterson). Finally, our key note inspirational speaker was local tennis champion and commentator, Jelena Dokic, who spoke of her personal life experiences and her journey of resilience to share with us all.
On the final day, I was honoured to present our school journey implementing Secondary Curriculum Pathways since 2013. It was a great opportunity to share our successes in implementing our work-based learning programs including SBAT, VET, Trade Tasters and work experience programs for our senior students. We have received a number of enquiries from a number of fellow special schools interested to learn about our well-regarded systems and processes which is pleasing.
2026 School Council
Our 2026 School Council would like to let you know more about who they are and what their work is. In this issue, our new 2026 School Council President is our first councillor to do so, as below:
JSA School Council Bio
Christopher Ernst (pictured to the far right of the photo below)
As President of the Jacana School for Autism I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself.
I am Chris Ernst and have been involved with the School Council and am now in my 4th year. I am currently a Casual Relief Teacher in the northern Melbourne area having previously been a Project Engineer in the Biotech industry. My interests include traveling with family, gardening, cultural events and fixing cars. Most importantly, I am a parent of Celine in the Primary Sub School, and my drive is to ensure that Jacana School for Autism supports and empowers each and every student in a safe, inclusive learning environment.
I have called the northern suburbs of Melbourne my home since emigrating from New Zealand in 2005. I am grateful that Jacana School for Autism exists to support our children in their Primary, Middle and Secondary years.
Our School Council includes parents, community members and staff in ensuring that Jacana School for Autism governance, finances, initiatives and policies are in line with the expectations of the Department of Education and community standards.
The School Council has agreed that the next meeting will be made open for all to observe online. This is to provide the JSA community with insight into the workings of the council.
We invite any interested observers in the Jacana School for Autism community to attend. For an online link to the next meeting please contact Dan Moloney (Acting Principal) at school to then join us.
I look forward to engaging with you all now and in the future.
Regards,
Christopher Ernst
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School Council Vacancies
As you can see in the table below, we do have 4 School Council vacancies.
We are keen to invite parents and/or family members to self-nominate.
Please do not hesitate to enquire with Julie or Kay at our admin office to do so.
| MEMBER | POSITION |
| Daniel Moloney | Executive Officer (Acting Principal) daniel.moloney@education.vic.gov.au |
| Chris Ernst | School Council President |
| Ellen Paterson | DE Representative |
| Mary Boutros | DE Representative |
| Andrew McDonough | Parent Representative |
| Paul Malavisi | Parent Representative |
| Savana Bahjat | Parent Representative |
| CASUAL VACANCY from March 2026 to March 2027 | Parent Representative |
| VACANCY | Parent Representative |
| Denise Clarke | Community Member Representative |
| VACANCY | Community Member Representative |
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