Acting Principal's
News Flash
Dan Moloney
Dan Moloney
Hello everyone!
Being Week 8, our students are settled into their school routine for the year.
At the end of this week, we will be distributing your child's Individual Education Plan (or IEP). It is exciting to take note of the focus of your child's learning in this plan to consolidate their skills, develop their language and independence. Ellen, our Assistant Principal overseeing IEP's has further advice for you regarding these.
It is very pleasing that our Playground 3, 4 and 5 Development Project has reached completion this week. Mary, our Safe and Well Leader, will provide you with an update and photos of how beautiful these spaces look ready for your children to enjoy day to day.
Don't our student leaders look terrific in their green vests having access to all of these areas once again this week.
Thanks to Karla and our Student Engagement Team, our Term 1 Cultural Calendar events are underway. As you can see in our 'Important 2026 Dates' page, we have Harmony Day, Ramadan and our Jacanarama Walk for Autism just around the corner. So exciting! We would love to see our families there.
Don't forget to buy your Easter Raffle tickets too. They are on sale for '5 tickets for $5' in our admin area (eftpos only) or via the QKR app. Sales close on Thursday, 26th March.
This year's school theme is:
'Sustaining inclusive practices to enhance learning and wellbeing'
We believe that we can achieve this for your child by 'strengthening our evidence based practices, where your children will be engaged and thriving in their learning.'
2026 marks the final year of our 4-year strategic plan. We endeavour to prioritise the key systems of practice that impact your children's learning: a positive learning environment, access to explicit teaching and planned adjustments for all of our children with an ASD diagnosis. After all, these specialised practices are what we, as a school for autism, are renowned for and insist upon.
2026 School Council Elections Outcome
We are pleased to announce the following parent representatives nominated for 2026-2028:
Chris Ernst
Mark Mansfield
Savana Bahjat
You have been successful in now being appointed as Councillors for the next 2 years.
As you can see, we have one further Casual Parent Vacancy from March 2026 to March 2027. If you are interested in nominating yourself for this role, please come and request a form to register your nomination at our admin office.
We also have two further Community Member Vacancies for any non-parent/carers. For example, if your child has any other family members, i.e. uncles, aunts or grandparents who might like to join our School Council, please also come and request a form to register your nomination at our admin office.
| MEMBER | POSITION |
| Daniel Moloney | Executive Officer (Acting Principal) daniel.moloney@education.vic.gov.au |
| Ellen Paterson | DE Representative |
| Mary Boutros | DE Representative |
| Andrew McDonough | Parent Representative |
| Paul Malavisi | Parent Representative |
| CASUAL VACANCY from March 2026 to March 2027 | Parent Representative |
| Chris Ernst | Parent Representative |
| Mark Mansfield | Parent Representative |
| Savana Bahjat | Parent Representative |
| VACANCY | Community Member Representative |
| VACANCY | Community Member Representative |
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