Jeremy Mackinnon

Assistant Principal

Dear Parents and Students,

I am so fortunate to work at such an incredible school with such amazing people. This term has really reminded me of that. It is not just the events we run and the teaching and learning that occurs, but more about seeing how our community interacts and treats each other. There was no better example than the recent Yr 12 Formal. The night was filled with students and staff enjoying hanging out and making the most of the opportunity to take photos and dance. I’m always on the lookout at these events for students who aren’t connecting with others and are sitting by themselves, however, this year, like most others at JMSS, I observed that the Yr 12 cohort shared that responsibility. I observed on many occasions that our students not only noticed when someone was by themself but intentionally went out of their way to make them feel welcome and included. Our students did this with our staff as well, encouraging them all to join them on the dance floor. The rumour is that I was the only staff member not to dance… which I will not confirm or deny. However, I did spend the entire night dancing on the inside whilst constantly observing such amazing behaviour from our students!

As Term 1 draws to a close, I would like to thank all of JMSS’ amazing staff. Thank you for your dedication to our profession and our students. The work you do is remarkable and appreciated. I love being part of a community where we are all out to support each other and collectively support our students. I hope you all have a well-earned break.

I would also like to acknowledge the outstanding work of our students. You have all navigated ‘new’ in some way, shape or form this year, and you have all done it with various degrees of success. We all measure success differently, and your success is something to reflect on over the holidays. Upon reflecting, think about one thing you could do differently in Term 2… just one! It might be going to bed earlier, going for a weekly walk with a parent, or completing regular revision in the lead-up to the mid-year assessment period. Whatever it is, develop a realistic goal and a plan on how to achieve it!

Finally, I wish to remind everyone of several important contacts over the holiday period. If anyone is experiencing significant distress, please contact any of the organisations below;

I hope staff and students can enjoy a well-earned break.

Jeremy Mackinnon

Assistant Principal