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
News Flash - Deputy Premier Hon Ben Carroll & Local Member for Broadmeadows, Kathleen Matthews-Ward, visits Jacana School for Autism
What a great way to celebrate the Canine Comprehension Program than to have the Minister of Education and the local Member of Parliament visit. The Hon. Ben Carroll, Deputy Premier and Minister of Education and Local Member of Parliament Kathleen Matthews-Ward visited our school on Wednesday 26 March and were both very generous with their time.
The purpose of the visit was to see firsthand our Animal Assisted Wellbeing Program [Canine Comprehension]. Schools Mental Health Funding has been in place since 2023, and our school has allocated this funding to partner with Canine Comprehension.
The Animal Assisted Wellbeing program aims to:
Promote and engage students in programs to develop their mental and physical health and social–emotional wellbeing.
Embed positive mental health approaches across the school.
Implement emotional literacy, help seeking, emotional awareness and resilience Tier 2-3 interventions for identified cohorts/individuals.
Develop a school-based assessment tool to measure and monitor the impact of 'Canine Comprehension' (animal-assisted program) on student wellbeing outcomes.
The visit included Mini (handler) and Victor and they showcased the Tier 2 wellbeing interventions for cohorts of student in the middle and secondary sub schools.
Channel 10 were also there to not only capture the moment but to promote the Ministers public announcement to introduce the animal-assisted wellbeing and engagement program initiative:
The Victorian 2023-24 State Budget committed $4.8 million over 3 years to enable more Victorian government schools to benefit from integrating animal-assisted wellbeing and engagement programs into their school communities and prioritising services for students with disability and additional needs.
The Minister announced that:
Jacana School for Autism will receive a funding grant of $54,080 for 2025 to expand the Canine Comprehension Program
101 schools will receive the first round of grants for animal-assisted wellbeing and engagement programs, each sharing in a total funding of $1,702,351.27
announces Round 2 grant applications will open to schools in Term 2.
Canine Comprehension Program at Jacana School for Autism and a welcomed announcement of $54,080 for the program to expand this year.
School Council
School Council Annual Reporting Meeting and General Meeting were held on Thursday 27 March where the officer bearers were elected.
President - Lisa Sette
Vice President - Chris Ernst
Treasurer - Mark Mansfield
Finance Sub Committee Representative - Mark Mansfield
School Infrastructure Sub Committee Representative – Mary Boutros
Fundraising Sub Committee Representative –Fiona Micelotta
Congratulations to all the officer bearers, I'm really looking forward to working with you and the other School Council Members to implement the School Strategic Plan and Annual Implementation Plans (AIP). We do have one Community Representative vacancy and would encourage any parent/member of the public interested in joining School Council to reach out and connect with me on 9309 6258 or corinne.pupillo@education.vic.gov.au
2024 Annual Report to the School Community
The Annual Report is a celebration of the achievements over the past 12 months and generally a lovely snapshot of our achievements against the 2024 school goals. It was a pleasure to present the Annual Report to School Council and recognise the hard work and dedication of the community and their many achievements. We all should be very proud.
Once the report has been through the quality assurance process it will be available via the school newsletter and website. I would like to acknowledge the dedication and hard work of all our staff. I am grateful to have such a dedicated and hard-working team around me. I really look forward to continuing the work of School Council and the partnership that will be formed through your term in office. The School Council plays an important role in that it endorses the strategic plan for the school and ensures that the school reaches the agreed milestones. It is the principal’s role to report back to School Council on progress and to ensure that school improvement is high on the agenda.
Policies endorsed at School Council
- Child Safety & Responding and reporting Obligations 2025
- Completed First Aid Risk Assessment 2025
- Duty of Care Policy 2025
- First Aid Policy 2025
- Health Care Needs Policy 2025
If you would like a copy of these policies or any other policy, please contact reception on 9309 6258, alternatively, they can be located on the School Website.
| MEMBER | POSITION |
| Corinne Pupillo | Executive Officer (Principal) /corinne.pupillo@education.vic.gov.au |
| Lisa Sette | Community Representative & President / lisa.sette@education.vic.gov.au |
| VACANCY | Community Representative |
| Paul Malavisi | Parent Representative |
| Mark Mansfield | Parent Representative |
| Chris Ernst | Parent Representative |
| Savana Bahjat | Parent Representative |
| Andrew McDonough | Parent Representative |
| Abdul Quadir Amir Memon | Parent Representative |
| Mary Boutros | DE Representative |
| Daniel Moloney | DE Representative |
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