Principal's Message

Jackson School is a collaborative learning community for all. We aim to develop independence through safety, respect and responsibility. We aspire to offer authentic, quality educational experiences that develop futures, create opportunities and inspire student potential; enabling our students to be valued and contributing members of the wider community. We share and celebrate our successes and achievements.    

The Issue Highlights

• Welcome Back to Term 4!
• Sports Day
• Buildings & Infrastructure
• School Performance
• 2027 Parent Voluntary Contributions
• School Photos
• Showcase of students' learning from across the school in the Junior School, Middle School and Senior School
• Health and Wellbeing information to support you and your child.
• Community news including from Jackson OSHC provider TheirCare.
• School Dates: For the most up-to-date calendar dates, always refer to the Xuno Calendar in your Parent Portal.

Dear Families, 

Welcome Back to Term 4!

We have much to look forward to in Term 4, including: Melbourne Cup long weekend (Curriculum Day for Report Writing); Values Week, where we celebrate Russ Jackson Day by displaying our school values and the 8 Employability Skills; The Art & Design Show; the Year 6 and 12 Graduations; Water Play Day; finishing with our Concert in the Courtyard and the final Achievement Assembly. The last day for students will be Wednesday, 16th December. Thursday, 17th December, is our last Curriculum Day focused on transition, with time allocated to share our students' Jackson Learner Profiles and other important plans and documents to set them up for success in 2027. This will be followed by our Staff Christmas Lunch in the Courtyard. Friday, 18th December, is a pupil-free day, as time in lieu for staff who stay for the Concert in the Courtyard.

In Week 5, we celebrate Values Week. Our students strive to display our values (Learning, Independence, Safety, Respect, Responsibility) everyday by displaying the employability skills (Communication, Team Work/Collaboration, Problem-solving, Initiative and Enterprise, Planning and Organising, Self-Awareness & Management, Learning, Technology). Our students took part in volunteering activities around the school in memory of Russ Jackson. In 1989 our school was renamed Jackson School to honour the work done by Russ Jackson. Russel was a volunteer at Jackson for over 20 years; he was gardener/handyman, caretaker and School Council President. One of his main initiatives was setting up the gardening program. To conclude our 50th Year celebrations, we will inter a time capsule of artefacts from the last 50 Years of Jackson School.

Sports Day

Today was our Sports Day. Thank you to all of the parents, carers and family members who were able to attend today. We hope you enjoyed the day. Thank you to Ben Everson and the team for the day such an amazing experience for our students. 

Our Primary students had their Sports Day this morning with the Secondary students after lunch. As always they loved the sausage sizzle that followed. Our students participated in the following events:

• Hockey
• Soccer
• Newcombe Ball
• Korfball
• 50 Meter Sprint
• Long Jump 
• High Jump  
• Tunnel Ball 
• Soccer Penalty Kick 
• Bean Bag Target Throw  
• Basketball Shot 
• Hurdles
• Egg & Spoon Race
• Water Break/Stretching/Parachute
• Obstacle Course
• Tug of War

Buildings & Infrastructure

Over the holidays, we continued to have several trades in each day. These have included:

• Hall floor resurfacing and basketball court line marking (fixed, height-adjustable basketball hoops will be installed in Term 4)
• New front access fences and gates to the Hall to allow separate access for events
• Sensory Room fit-out (these will be completed in early Term 4, with the Junior School sensory room being completed in January).
• Updated cabinetry in the Prep, Primary Resource Room, Year 1-2 Toilets and Library.
• Hard-wired Salto fobs on external gates. 
• Replacement doors and windows on the primary decking and hall, including permanent reveals in the staffroom.
• Additional AC split system in the Middle School
• Working Traffic and Crossing Lights at the Jackson Station. The crossing button will be relocated to the car park gate in the near future.
• Updated Transport Victoria train map
• After over 10 years, we have repaired the water pump in the sensory garden. 
• Shade sail audit
• Playground repairs

School Performance

Schools are allocated one of four different School Performance Groups: High, Improving, Medium and Developing.

I am pleased to report that Jackson School has maintained a HIGH level for our School Performance Group.

In the HIGH performance group, student outcomes are high across a range of

learning and wellbeing measures. This is heavily influenced by the opinion of our students in the annual student Attitudes to School Survey.

2027 Parent Voluntary Contributions

Schools give students free instruction in the curriculum. This includes: 

• Free access to all items, activities and services that schools use to deliver the curriculum, including reasonable adjustments to support students with disability.
• Free access to all subjects in the Victorian Curriculum or Victorian Pathways Certificate/ASDAN.

Due to the rising cost of living and the number of Jackson families, School Council have agreed to not increased parent voluntary contributions for 2027 and will remain at $70. 

For more information please visit the 2027 Parent/Carer Voluntary Contributions page or click to view the document below:

School Photos

Thank you to families who have reached out to us regarding the 2027 School Photos.

The School Photographer apologises to families for the delay in receiving this year's photos. We know how much families look forward to receiving their school photos. 

Jackson School’s order has been prioritised and we can now confirm that your school’s photos will be delivered to Jackson School on or before Wednesday 28/10/2026.

This year we engaged a new company for our school photos. Unfortunately The School Photographer introduced a new production systems and processes which has caused delays, resulting in wait times far longer than any family should have to experience. 

Because of this delay, The School Photographer has offered all families:

• a complimentary gift pack
• 2026 pricing across our full range for 2027

I hope you all have a lovely weekend!

Anthony