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.
It's been great to see students return after the mid year break and hope that the cold and flu season is behind us. Like many other schools, Jacana experienced high numbers of staff and student absences due to illnesses. After a very long 11 week term, the school holidays were a welcome relief for many that just couldnt shake wintery bugs.
The start of the term has been busy with many different events planned so far.
Naidoc Week celebrations with Marngrook a traditional Aboriginal game played with a ball made of possum skin and sinews. It is believed to have influenced the development of Australian Rules Football (AFL)
Mini Beast Incursion
Secondary Information Night
I've really enjoyed watching student engage in a range of extra curricula activities onsite over the past two week as well as get back into the usual programs and curriculum activities. A BIG thank you to staff that allocated the time to co-ordinate these events for our students. They certainly compliment all student's Individual Education Program.
Secondary Information Evening
Despite small number of parents attending, the evening was filled wiht lots of information about our secondary pathways programs and curriculum. Since the construction of the Yaluk Building, our secondary programs have been enhanced and opathways options expaned. Thank you to past student Emma Davis who spoke so well about her pathways experineces at JSA and attending Kangan Tafe his year. Thank you to our current secondary student, Chris Lolatgis for sharing his experince of s School Based Apprenticeship.
Thank you to Sean Procko, Stefania Mantinioti, Karen Glare, Ellen Paterson and Dan Moloney for supporting the parent information evening. Don't forget the Careers Expo is being hosted by JSA next Thursday 7 August 3:00 - 6:00pm in the Yaluk Gym
Framework for Improving Student Outcomes (FISO) & School Wide Positive Behaviour Support
On Friday 4 July, our studednt leaders celebrated the SW-PBS Gold Award for demonstrating sustained SWPBS Tier 1 foundations and classroom systems and meeting key fidelity measures. Applying for Gold is contingent upon the school having achieved Silver or Gold in the preceding year. Well done to the Student Engagement Team and Student Leaders for leading this important work, I’m very proud of our school.
Reminder - PUPIL FREE Day Friday 15 August
At Jacana School for Autism value the opportunity to develop others and establish job enrichment and career progression. This next curriculum day is aligned with Wellbeing and Learning and will be an important opportunity for our staff to engage with content that will be linked to their professional development.
The two focus session are:
Wellbeing:
In the morning an external provider, David Vingrad will facilitate a workshop focussed on Challenging Conversations. Participants in this workshop will take away practical strategies for responding to and diffusing challenging and or complex behaviours.
Learning
The afternoon session will focus on Little Learners Love Literacy and will be facilitated by the Literacy Team and aligns with the Department of Education’s phonics initiative.
Staffing Update
We continue to recruit to fill some of our vacancies and I'd like to extend a very a very warm welcome to the following staff
- Thuy Tran – Classroom Teacher
- Helen Capuano – HOL Café
- Erini Markou – Teacher Assistant
- Baki Turhan – HOL Build
Communication with Staff Policy
Jacana School for Autism understands the importance of providing helpful and timely responses to common enquiries from parents and carers. To ensure that members of our school community are directed to the most appropriate person to assist them, the information below outlines key contacts for common queries:
to report a student absence, please contact Absence Line on 0439 114 197
to report any urgent issues relating to a student on a particular day, please contact the general office on 9309 6258
to discuss a student’s academic progress, health or wellbeing, please contact your child’s classroom teacher/ sub school leader.
Primary Sub School Leader: Daniel Moloney
- Middle Years Sub School Leader: Amelia Frantz amelia.frantz@education.vic.gov.au
- Secondary Sub School Leader; Stefania Mantinioti stefania.mantinioti@education.vic.gov.au
- Senior Secondary Sub School Leader: Sean Procko sean.procko@education.vic.gov.au
for enquiries regarding camps and excursions, please contact your child’s classroom teacher.
to make a complaint, please contact the Principal/Assistant Principals on
9309 6258.
Principal:
Corinne Pupillo | corinne.pupillo@education.vic.gov.au
Assistant Principal [Inclusion and Wellbeing] :
Daniel Moloney | daniel.moloney@education.vic.gov.au
- Assistant Principal [Teaching and Learning]:
- Ellen Paterson | ellen.paterson@education.vic.gov.au
Please also refer to our Complaints Policy, available on the school website
https://www.jacanaschoolforautism.vic.edu.au/policies/management/
to report a potential hazard or incident on the school site, please contact:
OHS Manager Nominee
Mary Boutros on 9309 6258 or mary.boutros@education.vic.gov.au
for parent payments, please contact the general office on 9309 6258
for all other enquiries, please contact our Office on 9309 6258
School staff will do their best to respond to general queries as soon as possible and ask that you allow us 2 – 3 working days to provide you with a detailed response. We will endeavour to respond to urgent matters within 24 hours where possible.
School Council
Our next School Council meeting will be on Thursday, 14 August 2025
| 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 Qadir 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