Principal's News Flash 

Corinne Pupillo

2025 SCHOOL THEME: EMBEDDING INCLUSIVE PRACTICES TO ENHANCE LEARNING AND WELLBEING. 

When we implement inclusive practices, students feel welcomed, supported, valued and will also empower parent/carer voice and collaboration.

Dear parents, carers and friends of the school community 

Last Thursday we recognised all our Education Support Personnel (ESP) by having a special Spudalicious Hot Potato Lunch for all staff.  Our ESP are the back bone for all our school programs and activities and we are very grateful for the care and kindness they show to our students and families everyday.   Three Cheers to our ESP. 

Bakers Delight Special Lunch Order Day 

Special shout out to Amelia,  Kristen and Radha for all your hard work in organising the Bakers Delight packs this week.  All reports were that they were super delicious.    Thanks Fiona for also supporting the team of volunteers.  

Framework for Improving Student Outcomes (FISO)

The department have used the Framework for Improving Student Outcomes (FISO) as the school improvement driver in all Victorian government schools since 2015.  You may have seen this image in the newsletters over the past few years.  

We have two Assistant Principals that lead this work for the Schools Strategic Plan, we set our school improvement goals using the focus of Learning and Wellbeing.  

Learning is the ongoing acquisition by students of knowledge, skills and capabilities, including those defined by the Victorian Curriculum and senior secondary pathways.

Wellbeing is the development of the capabilities necessary to thrive, contribute and respond positively to challenges and opportunities of life.

The inner circle demonstrates the connection between learning and wellbeing and the outer circle represents the 5 elements that are the goals of excellence and equity.   When integrated, these elements build a positive environment through strong relationships that enables all students to become:

• happy, healthy and resilient
• successful lifelong learners
• active, informed members of just and sustainable communities.

Our Schools Strategic Plan Goals (2022-2026) are:

Learning - Maximise learning growth for all students

Wellbeing - Maximise the personal and social capabilities of each student.

If you would like a copy of the  2022-2026 School Strategic Plan, please call reception or visit website / Principal Welcome page. 

Additional Student Free Day - Friday 15 August 

At the School Council meeting on Thursday 22 May 2025, School Councillors were asked to endorse an additional pupil free day on top of the current 4 days, and they approved Friday 15 August 2025 for all staff to undertake two important training sessions for all staff.  

The rationale for the additional pupil free day was to provide all staff with crucial training that aligns with FISO learning and wellbeing.  

Wellbeing:

In the morning an external provider, David Vingrad will facilitate a workshop focussed on Challenging Conversations.  Participants in this workshop will take away practical strategies for responding to and diffusing challenging and or complex behaviours.

Learning

The afternoon session will focus on Little Learners Love Literacy and will be facilitated by the Literacy Team and aligns with the Department of Education’s phonics initiative. 

We really appreciate and value the opportunity to provide important training for all our staff and would be grateful if you could mark Friday 15 August 2025 in your student’s diary / home calendar. 

Please get in contact with a member of the Principal Class Team if you have any questions about the training.

Corinne Pupillo – Principal:  Corinne.pupillo@education.vic.gov.au

Daniel Moloney – Assistant Principal [Wellbeing]: Daniel.moloney@education.vic.gov.au

Ellen Paterson – Acting Assistant Principal [Learning]: Ellen.paterson@education.vic.gov.au

Hume - Merri-bek Conference 15 & 16 May  

The Principal Class Team attended the annual Hume - Merri-bek conference held in Sorrento on 15 and 16 May.  The theme for the conference was “Leading with Purpose: Strengthening School Improvement through Collaboration and Implementation”. Bruce Armstrong Educational Leader was the Keynote speaker of the conference where we engaged in a number of sessions and workshops that were designed to demonstrate the insights from neuroscience for leading change and improvement recognising the complex work of leaders. Other sessions on day two included: 

• Dolly’s Dream – focus on challenges facing young people with cyber safety / bullying.  How principals can proactively lead a kindness culture in their school, and how schools can work with families; 

• The Resilience Project – Understanding that positive relationships create the base for supporting colleagues. 

Dan, Ellen and I are grateful for the opportunity to step away from school to attend such important opportunities and to be able to integrate the learning back at school.   We can clearly see the links between what we are are doing at JSA with programs such as Restorative Practice [Real Schools Partnership], School Wide Positive Behaviour Support  Program 

Staffing Update 

Due to personal reasons,  Leading Teacher, Holly Lancashire was unable to continue in the Primary Sub School Leader position.  Dan Moloney has kindly stepped in to support the Primary Sub School whilst we recruit for another suitable applicant.   Thank you Dan.  

Congratulations to Jeanette Corris who has been appointed as the Classroom Teacher in Room 10.  

Rahel Munye has commenced family leave and we wish her all the best for the arrival of her first baby.  

Pupil Free Day - King's Birthday Monday 9 June 

Students are not required at school on this day.

Report Writing Day - Curriculum Day

Students are not required at school on this day.

School Council

School Council endorsed the following Policies  as part of the cycle of review.    If you would like a copy of any of our policies, please ask Julie or Kay in reception, alternatively they can be located on the school website. 

• Cash Handling Policy 2025 
• EFTPOS & QKR Policy 2025 
• Finance Administration Policy 2025 
• Internet Banking Policy 2025 
• Petty Cash Policy 2025 

Our next School Council meeting will be on Thursday, 19 June 2025

School Council Sub-Committee Representatives

• Finance Sub Committee Representative - Mark Mansfield 

• School Infrastructure Sub Committee Representative – Mary Boutros 

• Fundraising Sub Committee Representative –  Fiona Micelotta 

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/