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 & friends of JSA community

As we approach the long weekend and Week 7 of Term 1, I can imagine our students are looking forward to an extra long weekend with Labour Day Public Holiday on Monday 10 March and then Curriculum Day on Tuesday 11 March.  No students are required at school on Tuesday as staff will be engaging in important professional learning linked to our School Strategic Plan - Learning and Wellbeing.  

Curriculum Day topics include: 

• Trauma Informed Practices - Wellbeing: Facilitators: Stacie Herman and Jen Bals

• Restorative Practices - Wellbeing: Facilitator: Dan Moloney 

• Active Schools - Wellbeing: Facilitators: Active Schools 

• Mandatory Reporting [Online]

• Understanding and Managing Epilepsy 

Enrolments 

Since the start of the school year, we have had a slight increase in enrolments, although still maintaining the 27 classroom structure.  Nine classrooms in each sub school. 

On 28 February we had an enrolment of 229 / 222.8 (Full Time Effective), which is 3.4 greater than expected compared to the estimated enrolment.  

Thank you to Disability Inclusion Officer, Irene Gacovski  for all her hard work coordinating many of the transitions for our families.  We typically have many inquiries for enrolment at our school and only limited places, so the schools enrolment policy is implemented to ensure we are prioritising students according to our policy.   

Visitor's Policy 

The school welcomes a wholistic approach to supporting students and we welcome working with your child's private therapist or health practitioner.  So we can accommodate an increasing amount of requests, I encourage parents and carers to be familiar with the school's visitor's policy.  

NDIS therapists / allied health / health practitioners 

NDIS therapists/allied health/health practitioners may visit the school no more than twice per term. When arranging a visit, NDIS therapists/allied health/health practitioners must contact the relevant SSL and classroom team to arrange a suitable date and time. 

If the school has not received permission to request and share information with NDIS therapists/allied health/health practitioner, a Child Information Sharing Scheme (CISS) and Family Violence Information Sharing Scheme Consent Form must be signed by the student’s parent/carer before the visit can be conducted. This is arranged by the SSL, Therapy Staff or classroom teacher. 

All visitors to Jacana School for Autism are required to report to the school office on arrival (see exceptions below in relation to parents/carers). Visitors:

• Record their name, signature, date and time of visit and purpose of visit on PASSTAB.

• Take a photograph to be printed on visitor’s name tag on PASSTAB.

• Wear a visitor’s name tag at all times. The tag includes a photo of the visitor and their full name. 

• Provide proof of identification to office staff upon request.

• Produce evidence of their valid Working with Children Clearance where required by this policy (see below).

• Follow instruction from school staff and abide by all relevant school policies relating to appropriate conduct on school grounds including Child Safety Code of Conduct, Respect for School Staff, Statement of Values and School Philosophy, as well as Department policies such as the Sexual Harassment Policy and Workplace Bullying Policy

• Return to the school office upon departure, sign out and remove visitor’s name tag. 

All visitors who are engaged in child-related work (see definition above) must have a valid WWC Clearance. Additional suitability checks may also be required such as reference, proof of identity, qualification and work history involving children checks.

School Council 

The first School Council Meeting was held on Thursday 20 February and it was great to see everyone back and ready for a busy 2025.  

Stephanie Torchia resigned from School Council as she is currently on leave and councillors endorsed Denise Clarke to fill the casual vacancy until March 2025. 

Nominations closed for 2025 School Council Elections on Monday 17 February.  I would like to advise you all of the outcome of the 2025 School Council election.  

In both the parent and employee membership categories the number of nominations was equal to or less than the vacancies, therefore I declare the following school council membership commencing March 2025:

Parent Category

• Andrew MacDonough 
• Paul Malavisi 
• Abdul Quadir Amir Memon 
• Vacancy                                                                                                                                

School Employee Category 

• Mary Boutros 
• Daniel Moloney 

Congratulations to the reappointed School Council Members and the newly appointed members.  Thank you for your nomination and  I look forward to working closely with you on Jacana School for Autism, School Council. 

Policies that were reviewed and endorsed by School Council included: 

• Code of Conduct for School Council 2025
• Communication with Staff  2025 
• Personal Property Policy 2025 
• Standing Orders for School Council 2025
• Supervision of Students Policy 2025

If you would like copies of any policies, please get in contact with reception staff and they will be happy to provide copies to you. School Policies can also be found on the JSA Website.

2025 Annual General Meeting 

The School Council Annual General Meeting is on Thursday 20 March 2025,  and I would also like to extend an invitation to all families to attend and hear first hand the 2024 Annual Report to the School Community which highlights all the achievement but also the areas for further development.  

For catering purposes, please RSVP to Fiona Micelotta  fiona.micelotta@education.vic.gov.au / 9309 6258 

School Council Sub-Committee Representatives

• Finance Sub Committee Representative - Mark Mansfield 

• School Infrastructure Sub Committee Representative – Dr Denise Clarke

• Fundraising Sub Committee Representative –  Kristen Ballerini 

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/