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 3!
• Thank you for your flexibility, understanding and ongoing support with the Industrial Action yesterday
• National test of AusAlert will happen on Monday 27 July at 2pm 
• Uncle Ron Murray incursion for NAIDOC Week
• New retractable tiered theatre seating, Jackstore and buses
• Reminder about SSG bookings, photo permission and census forms
• Showcase of students' learning from across the school in the Junior School, Middle School and Senior School
• 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 3!

Thank you for your flexibility, understanding and ongoing support with the Industrial Action yesterday. I was very appreciative of all of our families who were able to make alternative arrangement for your child/ren on this day. As a consequence, we only had a very small number of students onsite on this day. We recognise that situations such as this can present challenges for families, particularly when making care and work arrangements.

This week the Australian Education Union (AEU) members voted against the revised offer for better pay and conditions across the teaching service. The dispute is not just about pay to combat cost-of-living pressures and align with better wages in other states, it is also about addressing the increase in staff workloads which affects staff retention and recruitment.

A large number of our staff sacrificed a days pay to take part in the stop work action with many also attending the rally in the city. Thank you to the AEU members for fighting for better pay and conditions across the teaching service.

AusAlert - Monday 2pm

We’ve been advised that a national test of AusAlert will happen across Australia on Monday 27 July at 2pm. 

AusAlert is a new, national emergency warning system. It sends warning messages to compatible mobile devices during emergencies, to keep people informed so they can act quickly. The Australian Government plans to launch AusAlert in October 2026. 

On Monday 27 July at 2 pm, all compatible mobile devices will receive a Critical Alert. Compatible mobile devices include phones, tablets, smart watches, safety watches and some vehicle devices. These will vibrate and make a loud, siren-like warning sound for about 10 seconds. This will happen even if they are on silent or do not disturb. The message will clearly state that it is a test. No action is required from the test. 

To minimise disruption, student phones and smart devices should always be switched off and stored securely in lockers or bags during the school day. Students who use their mobile phone as part of a documented exception can continue to do so. If appropriate, they can turn their phone off during the test. 

You may also wish to let your child know that if they see or hear the alert, school staff will support them. You can learn more at AusAlert: children and teens. Information is also available in other languages. We have also created a social story for our students to help them understand about the AusAlert test.

Safe Phones

AusAlert may increase risk for people experiencing violence, especially if they live with someone who uses violence. Alerts may expose safety devices. 

If you or someone you know has a hidden device, the best way to stay safe during the test is to: 

• turn offyour mobile device or put it in aeroplane mode 
• keep your device off or in aeroplane mode for 24 hours. 
• Silent mode and do not disturb will not stop the alert. 

For more information, please refer to the Staying safe with AusAlert page. 

NAIDOC Week & School TV

NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee. 

National NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia at the beginning of July each year (Sun, 6 July 2025 – Sun, 13 July 2025), to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

"For five decades, NAIDOC Week has celebrated the voices of our communities — steady, unapologetic, and proud. Each year, its themes have called for truth, celebrated culture, honoured resistance, and reminded the nation of who we are.

Fifty Years of Deadly marks a milestone. It’s a tribute to the people who built this movement. the Elders who stood firm, the organisers who made space, the artists who turned resistance into expression, and the communities who keep showing up, year after year.  

NAIDOC has always been more than a week — it’s a platform, a protest, a celebration, and a statement of survival."

Thank you Helena, in her role as Marrung Champion, for organising Uncle Ron Murray for the assemblies last week. This week students also took part in a story telling incursion to listen to Dreamtime stories. 

On the SchoolTV page, you will be able to view a short video that promotes an awareness about the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Hopefully this will be something you can watch and discuss with your family.

SPECIAL REPORT: Celebrating NAIDOC Week | Jackson School

School Council

Over the holidays, we continued to have several trades in each day. School Council have invested in the following building upgrades:

• Two independent retractable tiered seating systems seating up to 196 people (2 seperate seating systems of 98 seats. 
• Adding of playground rubber around the middle school playground to retain the soft fall mulch
• Relocation of the PBIS Jackstore rewards shop near the library

Making our student's safety our priority, we have added two new Toyota Coaster 22 seater buses to our fleet.

Upcoming Events & Census

We commence the term with Lower and Upper Primary (Year 3-6) Swimming with much to look forward to, including: 100 Days of Prep, Post School Expo, Bullying - No Way Week, 9-12 Formal, Prep and 1/2 Late Nights and Year 3/4 Sleep Over, Book Week / Literacy & Numeracy Week, Father's Day Stall & Breakfast, R U Ok Day and Footy Colours Day.

We look forward to seeing you for your Student Support Group (SSG) parent-teacher meeting next Tuesday. Please book your time through Xuno.

Department of Education’s August Census, takes place next Friday, 7th August 2025.

Can you please review the data on the 2026 Census Data Collection Form that was sent home with your child. If any details are incorrect, please cross them out and write the correct information next to them. Tick correct information. All forms are required to be sent back to school as soon as possible. 

Thank you for your ongoing support as always.

I hope you all have a lovely weekend. 

Anthony