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

• Thank you for the families who attended our morning tea and Disability Inclusion information session
• School-wide Positive Behaviour Interventions and Support Blue Award
• “STEAM”ING FORWARD WITH OUR SPECIAL SUPER POWERS!
• Jackson Policy Advisory Library & Child Safe Standards
• 2023 Annual Report to the School Community
• Students of the Week from our PBIS rewards system.
• Showcase of students' learning from across the school in Primary and Secondary
• 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,

Thank you to all of the families who attended our morning tea and Disability Inclusion information session today. We will have another session for those children who will be going through the new process this year on DATE. Thank you to Bern and Julie for running this. 

Early last week myself, Bern and Julie attended the termly Brimbank-Melton Principal Forum. Jackson School was presented with the Blue Award for our School-wide Positive Behaviour Intervention and Supports (PBIS) program. This is an evidence-based framework for Victorian government schools, aimed at creating a positive, safe and supportive learning culture. Congratulations to our SW-PBIS Team on achieving this award.

“STEAM”ING FORWARD WITH OUR SPECIAL SUPER POWERS!

Last week was Education Week with a spotlight on STE(A)M Education. Jackson School was published in the Department's South-Western Victorian Region Update. Here is a summary:

"We aim to focus on our students’ amazing abilities and “super powers” rather than their disabilities and additional needs. At Jackson we aim to celebrate our “high achievers” where students might be gifted, able or talented in curricular domains and fields to give our students the chance they deserve to reach their full potential. 

This year during Education Week all classes have had a focus on the integration of STEAM across all learning areas. We are a 1:1 device school with all Prep-Year 8 students having a school-owned iPad and our Years 9-12 having their own tablet laptop. Our students also access popular STEAM coding and robotics resources including: 3D printers, Sphero, BeeBots, Bloxels, Lego and OSMO. Despite the cognitive delay in traditional academic learning areas like literacy and numeracy, our students particularly excel in STEAM & 3D Printing, Art and Design Technology and Sport. Our students have been awarded first place in the Makers Empire West Melbourne 3D Printing in Schools Design Project winning a 3D printer competing against 11 mainstream schools. We have had two Year 11/12 students who are medal winners as part of the Victorian Athletics team in the Special Olympics and a student who was the under 14 Australian & Victorian Taekwondo Champion. Our students have been entered into the Royal Melbourne Show (RMS) Art Craft and Cookery Competition and also been represented in the category of Design Technology against mainstream and special schools in both state and independent sectors. Students have won Best Exhibit, 1st Place, 2nd Place and Highly Commended in the Junior Competition for Technology & Design. Our students have also been exhibited in the Footscray Art Prize. Our Year 11/12 students also host a podcast on Syn Radio."

Annual Report to the Community 2023

The 2023 Annual Report to the School Community which was presented at the 2024 Public Reporting Meeting (AGM) has now passed quality assurance from the Department. The Annual Report provides Principals and School Councils with an opportunity to share the year’s achievements and progress with the school community. This includes reflecting on the school’s performance and explaining the impact of school improvement efforts on student outcomes.

The preparation and publication of an Annual Report is a legislative and regulatory requirement for all schools under the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic), Ministerial Order 1280 and the National Education Agreement 2008. It reflects the Department of Education's commitment to building pride and confidence in our government schools and highlights the importance of transparent communication about school performance with our school communities. Annual Reports are published on the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) State Register following being attested by the School Council President and Principal.

To view and download the full Annual Report, please click here:

Jackson Policy Advisory Library & Child Safe Standards

Jackson School is a child safe community. We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which our school is situated, the Wurundjeri (Woi Wurrung) peoples of the Kulin Nation, and pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging. Wominjeka! Keeping children safe is everyone's responsibility. If you have a reasonable belief that a child has been abused and don't report it to police, it's a criminal offence. This law applies to all adults. School staff have additional responsibilities. They must report any suspected abuse if the parents or carers can't or won't protect the child. This is called mandatory reporting. If you have any concerns about child safety please contact a member of the Principal Team or our Social Worker Team: Alex Baynes (Child Safety Officer) or complete the Contact Us form: https://www.jacksons.vic.edu.au/contact-us/ 

As part of School Review and compliance assessment, all of our school policies have recently been reviewed and updated. 

To view our Jackson School Policy Advisory Library with child safe standards policy and guidelines, please visit: https://newsletters.naavi.com/p/mMPbWyN/archive 

• Child Safety and Wellbeing
• Child Safety Code of Conduct
• Child Safety Responding and Reporting Obligations
• Volunteers
• Visitors
• Complaints
• Digital Learning
• Bullying Prevention
• Student Wellbeing and Engagement

If you have any feedback on any of our policies and procedures please complete the form below:

As part of our School Review in Term 3, there will be other opportunities for families to provide feedback on our school. If you would like to participate in a focus group please contact Bern O'Sullivan (Assistant Principal). 

Today, Sarah Brens our Learning Specialist (Literacy), is going on maternity leave for her second child. Thank you to Sarah for her leadership of literacy across our school. Sarah has launched and implemented our Phonics program in our Primary years. She has also developed a Writing Strategy which has led to significant improvement in the quality of our students' writing. We hope you enjoy this time with your growing family and we hope to meet baby soon. 

I hope you have a lovely weekend.

Anthony