Welcome Back!

Term 4 2023

Welcome Back to Term 4!

I hope you've all had a well-earned break over the holidays and are enjoying the sun. For me, it has been a much needed break to spend quality time with the kids. Han an I spent a lot of the first week painting the house, but we did manage to have a couple of day trips to Lorne and Werribee Zoo. For our graduate staff completing their VIT inquiry projects, I hope you've managed to have a break these holidays. I look forward to reading your projects this week prior to your panel presentations on Wednesday in Week 2.

Thank you all once again for your efforts last term. It was always going to be a challenging term due to staff vacancies, absences, the disruption of the building project, on top of the ever-complex wellbeing and learning needs of our students. I honestly believe you have all done an absolutely remarkable job in a demanding situation. The support and dedication you have shown not only to our students but also to each other really shows how we are a collaborative learning community. Even though we are entering into the busyness of Term 4, I am confident it will be much smoother due to a full staff and a rich, collective knowledge of our student's individual needs.

On top of the excitement of the Grand Final this weekend, we have much to look forward to in Term 4: The Art & Design Show in Week 5; Melbourne Cup long weekend; Values Week in Week 6 where we will also celebrate Russ Jackson Day on Friday 10th November by displaying our school values and the 8 Employability Skills; Staff Wellbeing Week and our Staff Christmas Function; Sports Day on Friday 24th November; the Year 12 Graduation; Water Play Day on Friday 15th December; the Achievement Assembly and Year 6 Graduation; finishing with our Concert in the Courtyard. This year the last day for students will be Monday 18th December. Tuesday 19th December is our Last Curriculum Day focused around transition with time allocated to share our student's Jackson Learner Profiles and other important plans and documents to set them up for success in 2024. This will be followed by our Staff Christmas Lunch in the Courtyard. Wednesday 20th December is an additional pupil free day honoured by school council as time-in-lieu for staff staying for the Concert in the Courtyard. The whole school calendar has been updated for 2023 and can be accessed through Xuno or by clicking this link. This is now our main whole school calendar. The 2023 Termly is available by clicking this link. Please note the termly is for planning purposes only and should not be used in place of the whole school calendar through Xuno. See a summary on the Term 4 Key Dates page.

Robyn is unfortunately still away from work. We wish her a speedy recovery and look forward to welcoming you back soon. Please direct any queries to the leadership team in her absence.

Staffing & Workforce Planning

Congratulations Chloe who has secured an ongoing graduate position at Jackson. Congratulations Jaclyn for receiving her permanent residency visa during the holidays. Congratulations also to Laura M who will be taking on the Year 3/4 PLT Leader role for the remainder of the year.

We welcome Lyle who joins our Facilities Team and will support Graeme with grounds and maintenance requests this term.

Welcome back to Faith Agius, Gordana Bekavac, Sue Milverton and Sarah Portelli. It is lovely to have you back with us. Kathy Berrill is also due to return from LSL in Week 2.

Faith will be taking 4-6C until the end of the year. Thank you to Pagan, Uzer, Alison and the rest of the Year 4-6 and Specialist teams for your flexibility and perseverance with the challenge of a split class for Term 3. This term Pagan will support Nikki, Helena and PLTs with the preparation for the Concert in the Courtyard. Pagan will be allocated to support PLTs in practising their group performances. Nikki will continue to prepare performances for the classes that she teaches in addition to the PLT performances and Sing-a-Long.

Sarah Portelli will work with us in a casual ES capacity until the end of the year. In November, we will also welcome Eva back, who will cover individual Professional Practice Days (PPDs) this term with Michael. See the PPD Timetable on the 2023 Timetables page.

Kristen will be using her post-graduate Social Worker skills in a Inclusion ES role. Angie will be working with Gordan in 78A until the end of the year.

We are working on developing our Workforce Plan for 2024. We aim to have this published by Friday 24th November prior to Planning Week. We have advertised a number of Teacher Class positions for 2024. Next year we have forecasted an increased student enrolment and number of classes. Our temporary enrolment cap will be reviewed by the Department following the completion of our capital works building program. If you know anyone who is looking for work please ask them to get in touch. We will release Expressional of Interest (EOI) for emerging leadership (Teacher) and management (ESS) opportunities soon. We welcome any staff member to apply for career progression opportunities when they are released.

We will now start advertising and appointing teacher and education support staff positions for internal staff in readiness for next year. These positions will be advertised on Recruitment Online (ROL). The Department has developed a new teacher recruitment initiative (TRI) to reduce the time it takes to fill teaching vacancies. The new TRI process will sit alongside the current way of advertising teaching jobs. When using the TRI, schools only need to list their vacancies for a minimum of 3 days, reduced from 14 days. Recruiters can start shortlisting after the application period is closed. Applicants who are part of the Job Opportunities Pool will no longer need to submit a written response to key selection criteria (KSC). Applicants will be assessed against the KSC at the interview per usual recruitment processes. This new process is only applicable for Teacher Class Employees.

For all other positions, we strongly encourage all fixed-term staff to apply. Please visit either Recruitment Online or click on the careers button in eduPay and search for the job. Potential applicants must address the key selection criteria and include a cover letter, resume/cv and at least two referees. For teacher and education support class positions, we advise applicants to apply for all posted job openings rather than only applying for just a single position.

Please see the following Applicant Help page from HR: https://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/careers/Pages/rol_help_applicants.aspx

Admin Team

Thank you to Karen and Matt for their work in tidying and organising the Archive Room over the holidays. If you'd seen the room in Term 3, the photo comparison is unbelievable! Due to the ongoing management of the archive room, access will now be restricted to the Admin and Facilities Teams. For stationary and whole school purchasing requests, please see Karen.

With Sharon Mazzeo (Admin Manager) and Jo Garofalo (Executive Assistant) joining our Admin Team, Karen is now taking on the role of supporting our PLT Leaders with resource ordering and management and camps and excursions admin. This is an effort to reduce the admin burden on teaching staff. Where these roles are distributed across teams, Karen will be your central point-of-contract. Karen will remain as our OSHC Project Manager, liaising with TheirCare and supporting me with liaising with the Department about the High Intensity OSHC Initiative announced in the last state budget.

Sharon and Jo will share the reception duties both AM and PM to allow them time to undertake their other duties. For all Attendance and Uniform (including State School Relief) enquires, please now see Sharon. Please make sure you set a reminder to mark your roles by 9:30am and 2:00pm each day. Failure to do so compromises our students being dismissed safety.

For bi-weekly newsletter items and whole-school dates and events (including SSGs) please now liaise with Jo. All whole school written and online communication are to now be sent to Jo for proof-reading and distribution across the community. Please ensure that Jo is informed of any PLT or class level events which may affect the whole school community.

Kristina, as HR Manager, will now manage Time-In-Lieu accrual and acquittal on eduPay as part of the payroll and leave management. Kristina will continue to oversee the SDTP Buses with Skylight and Sita. Please ensure you lodge all leave on EduPay as well as completing a Staff Absence Form (SAF). For more information on the process for leave and TIL requests, please see the HR Update on the Operations Page. All professional learning and whole school event TIL acquittal will be managed by Gabi Maher / Jo Garofalo.

Anna's role as Finance Manager remains unchanged. To assist our end-of-year processing, including the creation of our 2024 cash budget, our 2023 sub-program budgets will close for new orders on Friday 3rd November 2023. After this date, no new purchase orders will be approved. All goods and or services must be purchased by the end of week 10 (8th December 2023) to allow us to settle all of our creditor accounts by the end of the year. For more information, please see the Finance Update on the Operations Page which includes: new Xuno Purchase Order System and upcoming Virtual Purchasing Cards through NAB.

Buildings & Grounds

There has been a lot of activity onsite these holidays. Thank you to Graeme, Lyle and Azmi for all the work you have done these holidays in preparation for our return to school on Monday. This has included:

Renovating the Primary and Senior Secondary decks. The break-out spaces have been refurbished with artificial grass installed. The Year 1-4 portables external walls have been painted to remove graffiti. We kindly ask that chalk or textas are not used at recess and lunch times as students find it difficult to stick to the chalk/whiteboards previously provided. We will have an official opening and new promotional photos/videos/virtual tour developed early next year. Thank you
New fencing has been installed off the Primary Deck and around the new Prep-2 playground. This follows staff requests to make active supervision easier at recess/lunch times. This also ensures the safety of some of our students who regularly abscond from the school grounds.
This means that staff can now reuse the staff courtyard outside of the new PLT Conference Room. Cam and the HOL Team have renovated these benches for staff use. Thank you. A new platform has been installed off the Prep/Allied Health front deck. The new planter box and palm garden will be re-planted in the coming weeks. This space will also be used by our OSHC program in the evenings
The foyer and staffroom have been repainted, and admin corridor has been re-carpeted following the adjacent works already completed
As well as other ongoing maintenance and grounds works

Rendine Modularity have continued to work with us over the holidays to get our capital works program completed. Even though as a school we have contributed up to $2 million on top of the $10 million received, a number of landscape items have had to be de-scoped due to unforeseen complications and variations to the design along the way. Despite the delay in the window installation and fire service complications, we are on track for completion by the end of October. Over the holidays, works have included:

The Yard/Playground outside of the admin building has now been completed. Aspects of this design have been removed, but this now allows a larger space for our students to play at recess and lunch. The Leadership Team have decided to maintain the oval split until building works are completed onsite
The portable removal and commencement of landscaping works outside of our new "Middle School" building. The rear driveway has also been resurfaced up to the yard and Prep-2 playground
Flooring has now been completed in the Middle School as we near practical completion. We will not be able to occupy this building until the fire service is completed and signed off. This will be completed for classes to move into in readiness for 2024
Despite the admin corridor being completed for many weeks, we are still awaiting the Building Surveyor to allow us handover of this space also due to the fire service application. I am constantly being assured by the project managers this will be soon
Windows have finally begun to be installed in our Library/Food Tech/Cafe and Performing Arts (including Radio and Film Studios) are now well underway. We are now waiting for the bi-fold doors to the library extension to be installed and the carpet to be replaced in the Year 9/10 corridor. This will happen over a weekend to reduce disruption on classes

Disability Royal Commission - Final Report Recommendations

There has been lots in the media in relation to disability over the holidays. As reported by the ABC, Australia's biggest-ever investigation into the abuse and exploitation of people with disabilities has handed down its findings. Phasing out segregated education is among the 222 recommendations made by Australia's largest-ever investigation into the lives of people with disabilities. The final report by the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability has been tabled in federal parliament.

Three commissioners recommended phasing out segregated education or "special schools", by 2051. They also want no new enrolments from 2032. The remaining three commissioners want the transition to happen, but without a deadline.Instead, they suggest stronger relationships be formed between mainstream and special schools, including for the mixing of classes where practical. Despite a new state Premier this week, the Government has been committed to the Disability Inclusion Reform, investing in building new specialist schools and a $326 million investment for upgrades for all other 36 special schools - including Jackson School.

There will be some families worried at the prospect of special schools and group homes closing, but it's important to remember that these are recommendations. The report makes clear that any changes won't happen overnight and need to be done in consultation with the disability community. Issues in relation to the NDIS and the Royal Commission should not discussed with families or the media if approached. I am happy to discuss any concerns families may have in relation to this matter. Please direct these through Jo Garofalo. Any media queries should be directed to the Department's Media Unit: 03 8688 7776 or media.unit@education.vic.gov.au.

For more information, please visit: https://disability.royalcommission.gov.au/publications/final-report

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice Referendum - 14th October

The following provides general advice to staff in Victorian government schools in relation to the Voice referendum and the particular considerations that are important for staff who work in school settings to keep in mind. The referendum is a very important and significant event, as is the case with all referenda. The Department encourages and supports discussion and the respectful sharing of views about the referendum in school communities.

It is expected that discussion and learning about the referendum and the debates that have led to the holding of the referendum will be part of classroom activities in the weeks leading up to the vote. It is expected that school staff will discuss and share views and opinions about the referendum with colleagues. All staff should be aware that there will be a diversity of views held about the referendum, should not make assumptions about the views that colleagues might hold and should ensure that all such discussions are held with respect and sensitivity.

School staff should also ensure that in their professional roles they do not and are not perceived to persuade students to hold a particular view on the Voice.

Any school staff member can engage in campaign activities in their private capacity and own time. However, all staff should be familiar with the requirements set out in the Code of conduct for Victorian public sector employees and the guidance for the Voice referendum published by the Victorian Public Sector Commission (VPSC). School council members should also be familiar with the Code of conduct for directors of Victorian public entities while undertaking their duties on council.

The referendum self-evidently has particular significance for Koorie students and staff. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff who may seek support can request a specialist counsellor from the Employee Assistance Program on 1300 361 008. Specialised counsellors either identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander or are extensively trained to ensure Aboriginal cultural safety. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff can also contact Yarning SafeNStrong or 13 YARN – both 24-hour, free and confidential counselling services run by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations.

For more information, please visit: https://voice.gov.au/community-toolkit

Community Toolkit Fact Sheet (Easy English)

Other information in this Termly Bulletin includes:

A reminder that daylight saving time in Victoria began at 2:00am on Sunday 1st October. Don't forget to change your alarm clocks as there is no Curriculum Day to start the term.

I look forward to seeing you all on Monday. Enjoy the rest of your weekends.

Anthony