Acting Principal's 

News Flash 

Hi everyone!

As we would hope, our students continue to settle in to their familiar classroom routines each week. Whilst it has been chilly and wet outside, students have enjoyed extra time inside to engage in further structured inside play activities.

Aside from their regular routines, we are observing several class groups preparing costumes and props, and rehearsing their routines for our upcoming School Performance entitled 'The Myths and Legends of Jacana', scheduled for Week 10. Things are looking exciting! Our production coordinators, Mary and Elishia will have more information about performances in this issue.

Term 3 Staffing Updates

You may have noticed recent updates on our social media platforms, we have recently appointed another 7 JSA team members including the following:

• Room 5 Classroom Teacher - Anita Srinivasan

• Room 14 Classroom Teacher - Peter Rathjen

• Room 8 and 28 Classroom Teacher - Francesca Lamond (part time, commencing in Week 6)

• NDIS Navigator - Grace Blundell (part time, commencing in Term 4)

• Room 5, 11 and 12 Education Support - Ashlee Smith

• Room 20 Education Support - Mewish Khan

• Room 25 and 28 Education Support - Rugia Ibrahim

Please join us in welcoming them all to our lovely school. 

Term 3 Student Support Group Meetings

This week marks our 2nd week of Term 3 Student Support Group Meetings (or SSGs) for our families to schedule a time to meet with their child's teacher. In these meetings, all parties collaborate to review each child's long term and short term learning goals, as part of their Individual Learning Plan (or IEP). 

Being that all of our students have an IEP, the department mandates these meetings as compulsory each term. Hence, we strongly encourage you to attend. Our APs will have more information to share about these meetings.

Post School Options Expo

On Thursday, 30th July, weheld our annual Post School Options Expo in the Yaluk Gym. We had 13 stall holders sharing information and a wealth of resources about their range of course and program offerings for our students planning their post-school options. It was lovely to see several of our students and their families attend to learn more about the possibilities for their children working towards their post-school options.

Thank you to Sean Procko (Senior Secondary Sub School Leader) and Bronwyn Collister (Community Support Officer) for their thorough planning and organisation.

Secondary Curriculum - Online Workshop

We invite all JSA families to join our upcoming 'Secondary Online Workshop' outlining the extent of our secondary curriculum pathways for our families to better understand and plan for leading into their child's Years 7-12 learning journey.

It will be held online on Monday, 17th August from 3:30-4:30pm. Sean, our Senior Secondary Sub School Leader and Bronwyn, our Community Support Officer, will have more information to share about this event in the coming days.

School Policy Updates

Our next School Council meeting is to be held on Thursday, 13th August.

We are expecting several policies to be reviewed and accesible for you. More details will be provided in our next issue.

Please note that all existing policies are found on our JSA Website under the following Policy tabs:

• Child Safety

• Management 

• Occupational Health & Safety

• Parent Payments

• Teaching & Learning

We encourage the ongoing engagement of our families. Any feedback or discussions you may have can be forwarded to me directly. 

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School Council Vacancies

Communication with Staff Policy (Revised 12 December for 2026)

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 text the Student 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:  Zoe Pirotta | zoe.pirotta2@education.vic.gov.au

• Middle Years Sub School Leader: Stefania Mantinioti | stefania.mantinioti@education.vic.gov.au
• Secondary Sub School Leader: Amelia Frantz | amelia.frantz@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 Acting Principal/Assistant Principals on 

  9309 6258. 

  • Acting Principal: 

    Daniel Moloney | daniel.moloney@education.vic.gov.au

  • Assistant Principal [Inclusion and Wellbeing] : 

    Stephanie Torchia | stephanie.torchia@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. 

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/