Essential Information

Family Handbook (A to Z)

We have developed an updated online Family Handbook (A to Z) with key information about school operations at Jackson School. This is in addition to information publicly available on our website. Please note our policies and proceedures are continually updated in line with the Department's policy and legal guidance. Therefore, the Family Handbook is subject to change without prior notice. 

To view our updated Family Handbook (A to Z), please click on the link below:

Below is some Essential Information which we hope is useful for you in preparation for the new school year ahead. 

School Values & Expectations

We believe the supportive culture as a collaborative learning community allows us to offer authentic, quality educational experiences that develop futures, create opportunities and inspire students' potential.Our purpose remains clear and our quality education programs enable our students to become valued and contributing members of the wider community. Over the last four years we have added additional learner characteristics which we teach our students to become a Jackson Learner. These eight Employability Skills will enable all of our students to be contributing members of the wider community. These are focused around our values of learning and independence. 

As part of the School-wide Position Behaviour Support (SWPBS/PBIS) program we have recently redefined our behaviour expectations. These are still focused around our three values of safety, respect and responsibility. Instead of seven learning areas these have been condensed into three learning areas: indoors, outdoors and community (which includes online and buses). At Jackson our students receive Jackpoints for displaying these expected skills which they have been able to spend on rewards in our Jackstore. This year, due to increased classes we will have to relocate our Jackstore which will open soon. Students can still use their Jackpoints at our online store in the meantime.

School Times

Below are the school times for 2025:

If students arrive after 9:10 am, your child will have to sign in as late at the administration office. If your child arrives to school after this time, please wait in the foyer with them until they are collected by the classroom staff.

Attendance, Late Arrivals & Early Leavers

We are working with families to continue to support student attendance at school. There is an increasing number of students regularly arriving late to school or being collected early from school. This significantly affects your child's education over the year. We understand families have a variety of commitments and some NDIS appointments cannot be avoided as we are unable to be accommodated during the school day. Between 9:00 am and 9:20 am and between 2:00 pm and 2:50 pm each day our students learn about our Independent Learning areas of the Victorian Curriculum including: our Allied Health programs (Jackson Social and Zones of Regulation), our PBIS behaviour program, RRRR our social and emotional learning program, eSMART online safety, Health and Fitness. This is vitally important to our child's learning and development.

Before School

Staff are allocated in the morning and afternoon to keep traffic moving. The vehicle entry gates are opened automatically from 8:40 am. Parents/Carers are responsible for the supervision of their children until 8:45 am. We are unable to open the school grounds before 8:45 am due to staffing and supervision requirements. As per DE policy, schools are required to supervise students on school grounds 10 minutes before the start of the school day (8:50 am -9:00 am) and 10 mins after school (2:50 pm - 3:00 pm). 

Student Collection & Car Parking

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 centre thoroughfare or block the entry gate.  Many families park in the neighboring streets around the school and walk into the school grounds to collect 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. We understand many families are having to get to the school very early to collect children to avoid this congestion.

Over the last few years our parent drop-off and pickup of students from school has more than tripled with now up to 142 families (44%) collecting their child from school. Like most neighbourhood schools, we do not have adequate parking facilities for all staff, visitors and parents/carers. Our pickup and drop off zone can only allow for up to 18 parked cars. We also have limited car parking for the 137 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. Please note Brimbank Council have fined parents/carers who block the vehicle entry gate and footpath causing congestion onto Mulhall Drive. 

Uniform

The school uniform is compulsory for all students at Jackson School. 

School Council has responsibility for school-level policies including: Student Dress Code and Sun Protection policies.

Lowes Schoolwear is our official uniform provider. Click the image below to access the Lowes online shop. Click here to view the school uniform pricing and order form.

• Order online
• Visit Lowes Airport West at 29-35 Louis Street, Airport West, VIC 3042

From August to April, primary students must wear a sun-protective hat that shades the face, neck, and ears for all outdoor activities. Hats may also be worn for all outdoor activities outside of this time period by parent or student choice.

For Secondary students, we expect them to take responsibility for their sun safety by wearing hats during outdoor activities and adopting other sun protection measures, such as wearing sunscreen or using shade.

State Schools’ Relief

State Schools' Relief is a non-profit organisation that helps families who are facing financial hardship with the cost of new school uniforms and shoes.

Prep and Year 7 students who meet the criteria for and apply for the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) will automatically receive a uniform package.

Families can also purchase non-branded school uniforms, bags, shoes, workwear and swimwear through State School Relief. Please visit: https://stateschoolsrelief.shop. 

For further information about State Schools’ Relief and obtaining a uniform voucher, please make an appointment with us when school resumes in 2025 or visit: https://stateschoolsrelief.org.au/  

Outside School Hours Care

The Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) high-intensity program provided by the Department of Education (DE) will continue at Jackson School throughout 2026.

The OSHC program will run after school between the hours of 2:50 pm and 6:00 pm and on school holidays.

There will be no cost to parents/carers for the OSHC program in 2026.

If you would like your child to enrol in OSHC, please see Karen in the office for further information.

SunSmart

For Primary students from 14th August to 30 April, all students must wear a sun-protective hat that shades the face, neck and ears for all outdoor activities. Hats may also be worn for all outdoor activities outside of the August to April time period, by parent or student choice. 

For Secondary students we expect students to take responsibility for their sun safety by wearing a hat during outdoor activities and adopting other sun protection measures such as wearing sunscreen or using shade. We continue to recommend that our Secondary students wear a sun-protective hat for all outdoor activities where possible.

Student Absences

If your child is going to be absent from school, it is important you notify Jackson School and provide a reason for their absence.

To notify Jackson School of your child’s absence, please call our student absence hotline by dialing (03) 9366 4322 and selecting Option 1. Alternatively, you may respond directly to the text message you receive or log in to Xuno and provide a reason for their unexplained absence.

Parent Pick-up/Bus Changes

Please ensure you have let the office know if there are any daily bus, OSHC or parent pick-up changes by calling the school office directly on: 03 9366 4322 or sending an SMS to: 0447 819 086. Late Arrivals & Early Leavers

Breakfast Club

The Breakfast Club Program will continue at Jackson School throughout 2026.

A range of cereals and toast will be available for any child who wishes to have breakfast in the courtyard from 8:45 am

Mobile Phone Ban

A reminder that the Department of Education has in place a mobile phone ban that requires students who bring mobiles phones to school to have them switched off and securely put away during school hours. Before school students should also have their phone switched off and kept in their bag until they can place this in the classroom safe. 

By ensuring mobile phones are kept away at recess and lunch times, students can interact with each other face-to-face, without the distractions and social pressures that mobile phones can cause. This includes wearable cellular devices like Apple Watches connected to the internet or student's phones. 

I ask for the support of all our families, staff and students in continuing to support the implementation of this policy in our school. 

Student Transport Buses: 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 context, videoing other students, taking photos on the bus). Mobile Phones and wearable devices should not be used before (8:45 - 9:00) and after school (2:50 - 3:00) whilst on school grounds.

Exceptions: For a small number of students with particular health needs, an exception to the policy may be granted. Please contact your Sub-School Leading Teacher if you would like to discuss this.

Emergencies: In the event of an emergency or if you need to immediately contact your child, I ask that families contact the school office who will pass on a message as required.

School mobile phone policy: A copy of our school’s local mobile phone policy, which implements the government’s mobile policy in line with our local context, is available here: https://newsletters.naavi.com/i/kNVR13N/mobile-phones/page/cover

Parent support: The Mobile phones in schools webpage provides links to resources for families to help them balance their children’s time using mobile phones.

Download guidance for parents in different languages: https://www.vic.gov.au/mobile-phones-schools#download-guidance-for-parents-in-different-languages 

Medication and Medical Management Plans

In the event your child requires to take medication throughout the day, a medication authority form will need to be filled out and signed. This form is available for collection at the administration office. 

If your child has a medical condition that requires a medical management plan, can you please ensure that the plan is current and that we have a copy. Students will not be able to attend any excursions or camps where a medical management plan has lapsed. 

Jackson School Newsletter

The Jackson School Newsletter is published through iNewsletter. Jackson School’s newsletter is distributed to all families on a fortnightly rotation. This is sent to families through Email and SeeSaw School Announcements. Click HERE to view our iNewsletter archive.

School Council

Jackson School’s School Council is the voice of the parents on how we run our school. 

We need parent support to help achieve this.

All government schools in Victoria have a School Council. School Council is the governing body of the school and plays an important role in our community. School Council has four main responsibilities:

1. Governance: establish the broad direction and vision for the school within the community. They oversee school buildings and grounds (facility hire, maintenance and improvements) as well as other contracts including Out of School Hours Care (OSHC).
2. Strategic Planning: contributes to the finalisation of the School Strategic Plan and development of the Annual Implementation Plan and reports annually (Annual report) to the school community. 
3. Finance:  monitors school revenue and expenditure and approves school budgets including for camps and excursions.
4. Policy & Review: ratifies DE and school-level policy decisions (including child safe standards), participates in the school review pre-review evaluation and review panel. 

For more information please see: https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/school-council-overview/overview or download the following fact sheet: https://www.education.vic.gov.au/Documents/school/principals/spag/governance/fact1english.docx 

Smoking (including Vaping/e-Cigarettes)

Jackson School is a smoke-free zone.

In Victoria, it is illegal for any person aged 18 or over to obtain, possess or use nicotine e-cigarettes, or e-cigarette cartridges containing nicotine, or nicotine liquids for use in a vaporiser without a prescription. 

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are electronic devices which heat and vaporise liquids that may or may not contain nicotine or flavouring agents. The vapour is inhaled, simulating the act of smoking. Use of e-cigarettes is commonly referred to as ‘vaping’.

It is illegal to sell e-cigarettes to, or buy e-cigarettes for, any person aged under 18 years whether or not the e-cigarettes contain nicotine. Whilst it is not unlawful for a person to possess or use e-cigarettes that do not contain nicotine, it is unlawful to use them on school premises or within 4 metres of a school entrance.

Please find below useful website a list of useful websites:

• Better Health Channel — contains information on the health effects of smoking, strategies for quitting, statistics and Victoria’s laws on smoking.
• health.vic — a Victorian State Government website where schools can download documents and signage to display on school grounds.
• Quit Victoria — offers resources, information and support for people to quit smoking and vaping.
• Better Health Channel: e-cigarettes — contains information on the dangers of e-cigarettes.
• Better Health Channel: e-liquids — contains information the liquid used in e-cigarettes and the dangers of nicotine poisoning.
• The Royal Children’s Hospital: e-cigarettes and teens — contains information on how to talk to teens about the health risks of using e-cigarettes.
• The Royal Children’s Hospital — contains a video suitable for school staff and parents/carers on health risks of using e-cigarettes. 

If students purchase, sell use or possess e-cigarettes on school premises this may result in an external suspension and potentially lead to a police action including a fine.

Download Factsheet: 

Personal Accident and Personal Property Insurance 

The Department of Education and Jackson School do not have insurance for accidental injuries or accidental property damage. However, in some circumstances, medical or other expenses will be paid by the Department where it is assessed that it is likely, in all the circumstances, that the Department is liable for negligent acts or omissions of its staff or volunteers. 

For more information about the Department’s public liability claims process, please see: Negligence Claims Process. 

the Department (which includes our school) does not have accident insurance. Items of personal property that are lost, stolen or damaged at school is not the responsibility of Jackson School or the Department. Staff and students are reminded not to bring items of value to school.

Camp, Sports and Excursion Fund

The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) will continue in 2025 and provides payments for eligible students to attend activities like:

• school camps or trips
• swimming and school-organised sport programs
• outdoor education programs
• excursions and incursions.

Eligibility:

Families holding a valid means-tested Centrelink card or temporary foster parents are eligible to apply.

Eligibility will be determined when the parent’s means-tested Centrelink card successfully validates with Centrelink on either the first day of term one (27th January 2026) or term two (20th April 2026).

Special consideration may be given in certain circumstances. Please make an appointment with us to discuss this further. 

Payment amounts:

Payments are:

• $400 per year for eligible students

Payments are made directly to the school and are tied to the student. 

How to apply:

If you’re eligible to apply for the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund and you processed an application for CSEF in 2025, your application has been copied across for 2026. There are no steps required. If we experience any issues with copying your application across, we will contact you directly to resolve the issue.

If you’re a new family to Jackson School in 2026 or you have never applied for CSEF, an application form will need to be filled out, and a copy of your valid means-tested Centrelink card will need to be taken. 

CSEF application forms are available to fill out and process at the administration office, alternatively you can download the form below:

CSEF application forms must be submitted by no later than Friday, 26th June 2026.

Student Disability Transport Program - Bus Expectations

The DE Student Disability Transport Program (SDTP) is operated by two bus companies: Skylight and Transit Systems. Jackson School is responsible for the communication (with students and families) about SDTP, managing eligibility/service planning, emergency management including student behaviour. Upon enrolment in the SDTP, parents/carers will have signed an application for travel assistance to and from school. 

To ensure the safety of all passengers on school buses, students MUST:

• Be at the pick-up or drop-off point 5 minutes before the departure time
• Wait at the bus stop safely and do not approach the vehicle until it has stopped 
• Listen and follow the rules and instructions
• Walk (to, from and on the bus)
• Be where you’re supposed to be (stay in allocated seat and not move around the bus when it is moving)
• Not put their bodies or objects out of windows or doors
• Keep hands feet and objects to themselves
• Respect other's feelings
• Use a quiet voice
• Use your manners
• Use equipment properly (wear seatbelt)
• Not throw any object within or from a vehicle 
• Not eat food or drink on the bus
• Respect other's space
• Respect the privacy of others (not video or take photos of others)
• Use OK words
• Tell an adult if there is a problem
• Keep the bus clean and tidy

Students must operate within current DE and school policy guidelines, particularly in relation to Mobile Phone use by Students and Smoking and Vaping. In line with DE Policy Guidelines, students may use devices to and from school. However, the must not video or take photos on the bus.  https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/students-using-mobile-phones/policy

Responsibilities of Parents/Carers:

• Parent/carer's behaviour should mirror students conditions of travel
• Parents/carers should ensure their child is at the pick-up point at least five minutes prior to the departure 
• Parents/carers are responsible for transporting their children to and from authorised stops and for their safety whilst at the stop while waiting for a service 
• Parents/carers should ensure they are waiting for their child at the drop-off point at least five minutes prior to the arrival time unless the student’s has written permission to travel home or to your vehicle independently from the drop-off point
• Parents/carers waiting for students at stops should wait on the same side of the road as the transport service to prevent students from crossing the road unassisted
• Parents/carers must communicate directly with the school and not bus operators, except in the following circumstances: in the event of absence of their child from the morning bus run or in the event of an emergency

Please note that the bus is only able to wait at the bus stop for 2 minutes. Transport assistance is a privilege and not a right and consequences will follow a breach of these conditions. The Respectful Behaviours within the School Community Policy above is also extended to bus drivers and bus supervisors and violence and aggression.

In emergencies, parents can contact their children 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 context, videoing other students, taking photos on the bus). Thank you for your ongoing support. 

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

To download the SDTP Independent Travel Form, please click here: