Principal's News Flash
Corinne Pupillo
Dear Parents, carers & friends of JSA,
As we move towards the end of the school year, there is always a full calendar of events that bring us together to wrap up the 2024 school year. I know these events don't happen without a team behind the scenes that ensure the best opportunities for our students. I'd like to take the opportunity to thank all the amazing staff and volunteers that work tirelessly to create engaging opportunities for our students.
Some of the exciting events coming up include:
- Prep Orientation - 13 & 15 November
- Student Support Group Meetings: Monday 18 November - Thursday 5 December
- Hume Whittlesea LLEN Awards - Wednesday 20 November
- Awards - Middle Sub School (Tuesday 10 December) & Secondary Sub School (Monday 2 December)
- Special Lunch Order Day - Wednesday 27 November
- Secondary Camp - Monday 25 - Wednesday 27 November & Wednesday 4 - Friday 6 December
- Year 12 Graduation - Friday 6 December & Year 6 Graduation Thursday 12 December
- Transition Week - Monday 16 - Friday 20 December
Staffing Update
Congratulations to the following staff for being successful in gaining positions at JSA.
Teacher Aides
- Huda Fteeh
- Daljit Kaur
- Amesha Kumari
- Lina Minawiyeh
- Balvinder Kaur
- Gagandeep Braur
- Melissa Gacovski
- Dilnasheen Meerza
2025 Class Lists
Staff have been working on creating the 2025 Class lists with many hours of consultation and collaboration. The 2025 Class lists will be distributed to parents and carers on Friday 6 December 2024, a week prior to transition week which commences on Monday 16 December 2024.
PASS Awards
Principals Association of Specialist School (PASS) annual awards ceremony will be held next Friday 22 November and I would like to congratulate Our Wellbeing Team for being shortlisted in the Outstanding Team category. The team is lead by our Assistant Principal, Steph Torchia and dedicated wellbeing support staff, Stacie Herman, Nina Cerantonio and Kaylah Defuedis.
The state-wide awards recognise individuals or groups' outstanding achievements and are judged under ten categories.
The PASS Awards also provides recognition and celebrates the outstanding achievements and excellence of people involved in special education in Victoria.
All the best for the ceremony which will be on 22 November
Stacie
Nina
Kaylah
Stacie
Nina
Kaylah
Hume Whittlesea LLEN Awards
Wednesday 20 November 2025
The Hume Whittlesea LLEN recognises and awards students excelling in vocational education in local schools. The HWLLEN Vocational Education Awards are proudly supported by Hume City Council, the City of Whittlesea, and the Hume and Whittlesea Youth Commitments, and celebrate student achievements in VCE VM, VET, VPC and SBAT.
These Awards aim to promote the importance and relevance of vocational education and training pathways and celebrate the students’ engagement and achievements within their chosen fields. The awards are based on the student’s results, attitudes and achievements, and are nominated by their schools and are endorsed through recommendations from employers, teachers and work placement coordinators.
Congratulations to the following students for being the recipient of one of the Hume Whittlesea LLEN Awards. I'm looking forward to attending the special ceremony at Broadmeadows Town Hall and celebrate the success. We are very proud of you all.
| Ethan Braun | VPC Achievement |
| Tarek Allouche | VPC Achievement |
| Damien Haitidis | VPC Achievement |
| Halil Ibrahim Han | VET Achievement |
| D'Arcy Owen | SBAT Achievement |
| Ayden Duncan | SBAT Achievement |
VPC 2024 Projects
Congratulations to the two VPC classes for all their hard work in developing their major project for 2024. Well done to you all on your collaborative projects.
Room 19 - Students in Room 19 wanted to raise funds for a donation to the Salvation Army as well as to purchase a green screen for the school.
Alternatively, we can split the profits from the fundraiser activity for the donations to the Salvation Army and the green screen set.
Here are some photos of the scones with jam and cream fundraiser on the 11th November .
Room 22 - Students in Room 22 wanted to raise funds for the post-production of their VPC Project, a documentary titled “Community on the Spectrum.” The students plan to show their film to the JSA community in the future. Here are some photos of the sausage sizzle fundraiser.
2024 Year Book
As we reflect back on 2024, Cathie Turhan and Navneet Kaur have been working behind the scenes to collate a snapshot and celebrations of 2024. The annual yearbook has been cherished by our students and families and reminds them of the learning environment, staff and friends from year to year. Thank you to both Cathie and Navneet for your special skills and time in putting this together for us. We anticipate the Yearbook will arrive in the first week of December. I hope your child also cherishes the 2024 Yearbook as much as I do.
Term 4 PUPIL FREE Days
- Friday 13 December - Preparation for Transition Week [Monday 16 - Friday 20 December]
Virtual School Tour
Our virtual school tour has been updated to include the new Yaluk Building and is live on our school website. Please check it out and refer any members of the community to our page.
https://www.jacanaschoolforautism.vic.edu.au/
School Council
Our final School Council Meeting for 2024 will be held Thursday 05 December 2024.
| 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 |
| Michelle Owen | Parent Representative |
| Andrew McDonough | Parent Representative |
| Jay Murali | Parent Representative |
| Stephanie Torchia | DE Representative |
| Daniel Moloney | DE Representative |
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. In the event that your child tests positive on a RAT for COVID, we strongly recommend a 5 day period of recovery in this case.
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.