Jacana School for Autism Newsletter

Assistant 

Principal News Flash 

Stephanie Torchia & Dan Moloney 

Semester 2 Reports

Semester 2 Reports will be distributed on Friday December 6th via XUNO and in hard copy form (as per request).  

VET/SBAT Offering for 2025

This year, we have observed strong interest from families with children in Years 7-12 around our Secondary Curriculum Pathways during our Parent Information Night and Careers Expo. As it stands, our students have demonstrated interest in the following qualifications:

  • SBAT Certificate II and III Warehouse Operations - Northpoint Industries
  • SBAT Certificate II Food Processing - Onsite @ JSA
  • VET Certificate II Hospitality - Onsite @ JSA
  • VET Certificate II Visual Arts - Hume Valley School
  • Trade Taster - AGA Australia

In acknowledgement of her continued work in this space at JSA since 2019, we were very pleased to nominate our Community Engagement Officer, Karen Glare, for the 2024 PASS Outstanding Education Support Staff Award.

 

Attendance Reminder

As our department often say, 'Everyday Counts: School is better when you're here.'

 

We remind our students and their families that, to improve and grow in your learning, we need you at school as often as possible. We are committed to sustaining a positive partnership with families; understanding any challenges you face and do what we can to support your needs that help your child/ren come to school.

 

We ask that you sustain regular communication with your child's teacher both day to day and during scheduled SSG meetings so that you can work together to maximise your child's attendance and ongoing learning needs throughout the year. 

 

Beyond occasional non-attendance, a range of school-based, tailored supports are there for these families. Members of our leadership team, may make contact with families to provide more intensive supports, to overcome specific barriers to your child's attendance.

 

Stephanie Torchia, our AP (Wellbeing and Inclusion) oversees the Wellbeing Team that select, implement and monitor progress appropriate supports for each family.

Canine Comprehension Survey Data

 

Canine Comprehension survey data is collected periodically throughout the year as formative and summative assessment to assess student's engagement and learning progress. The survey indicates significant improvements in the following factors areas including school connectedness and safety, help seeking and self-regulation. Out of the 20 participants requiring Tier 2 supports, students have reported:

  • 80% feel safe when participating in the Canine Comprehension program
  • 86.7% feel calm after participating in the Canine Comprehension program
  • 93.3% feel that the program helps them with calming strategies
  • 70% know that they can ask for help when something is wrong
  • 55% ask for help when feeling sad
  • 60% know that they feel sad or worried when something is wrong

Curriculum Update 

In Week 1, our Curriculum Teams met for our termly 'Share the Work' Session to both celebrate the successes of our Term 3 Curriculum program and share the curriculum intent in mind for Term 4. 

 

Various successes include the implementation of:

  • our JSA Living Skills Space; with a dedicated bedroom, dining room, kitchen and laundry facility for students to routinely access and develop their personal living skills 
  • our Literacy schoolwide Scope and Sequence: including curriculum units and classroom resources for teams to set like-area goals and plan resources for lessons day to day
  • our Numeracy resource supply for teams to complement our Schoolwide Scope and Sequence, and plan resources for lessons day to day
  • Development of our 2025 Whole School Curriculum Planner, inclusive of Literacy and Numeracy Unit focuses