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

• Your child's teacher has now completed your Semester 2 Individual Learning Plan (ILP). These will be available in the Xuno Parent Portal and via email.
• We want your feedback about how we deliver our SSGs next year. Please complete this short poll: https://forms.office.com/r/XLWC97Tjee 
• School Building Upgrade Update.
• Our school is conducting an annual survey to find out what parents, caregivers and guardians think of our school. 
•  JSLT have decided to make a Student Voice Box which will be located in the foyer 
• Free 'Little Angler Kits' for students in specialist schools
• 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,

Your child's teacher has now completed your Semester 2 Individual Learning Plan (ILP). These will be available in the Xuno Parent Portal / XUNO Family App and via email. If you would like a hard copy you can request this from your child's teacher.

For help in how to use Xuno including the XUNO Family App and Camps, Excursions and Fees please click here: https://docs.xuno.com.au/students-parents-and-carers 

As included in Issue 11, we want your feedback about how we deliver our Student Support Group (SSGs) next year. Please complete this short poll: https://forms.office.com/r/XLWC97Tjee. Thank you.

School Building Upgrade

New fencing has been installed to create an outdoor learning space for our Preps and students who attend Their Care's OSHC high intensity program. The landscaping of the new Prep-Year 2 playground will be completed over the next week. The new playground equipment was installed this week. The Prep students are loving watching their new learning spaces be developed. This is a $43,650 investment from the school towards our school building upgrade. 

The staffroom extension has now been handed over and has begun to be used by our teacher teams for planning and collaborative meetings. The Admin corridor comprising of a new first aid room, conference room, disabled WC, resource room and staff/visitor toilets will finished at the start of next week. Cabinetry and lighting have now been installed in our new Library, Performing Arts, Food Technology Kitchen and Cafe. Our Year 5-8 Middle School building is now also nearing completion. 

Student Voice Box from the Jackson Student Leadership Team (JSLT)

Captains and Student Leaders from our JSLT have decided to make a Student Voice Box which will be located in the foyer so they can provide regular feedback to the leadership team and school council about what is working and not working in our school. Thank you for your leadership! Watch our JSLT in action below:

Free Little Angler Kits from the Victorian Government

The Victorian Government is investing $1.5 million from the Recreational Fishing Licence Trust Fund to provide up to 95,000 'Little Angler Kits' students in specialist schools across Victoria, free of charge. These kits aim to offer children and their families a school holiday activity while promoting environmental stewardship and fostering a love for nature among children. 

The Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) will deliver the kits to eligible schools between Monday 16 October and Monday 4 December 2023, ensuring availability for the summer school holidays. Each Little Angler Kit includes a fishing rod, reel, line, tackle box, tackle and information on how to use the equipment to catch fish. It is important to note the tackle tray includes fishing hooks. The tackle tray will be wrapped in cardboard and placed inside a pocket inside the fishing kit bag, which will be sealed with a cable tie to discourage students from opening their kits unless they are with a parent or carer.

The program is voluntary, and we support parents and carers in making decisions that align with their family values and beliefs. You can choose to opt out of receiving a Little Angler Kit for any reason. When we receive the packs, Parents/Carers will be asked to collect the Angler Kit from school to ensure the safety of all of our students on the way home from school. Further information about this will follow soon. We recognise that these kits will not be suitable for all of our students due to safety concerns and their sensory needs.

To further enhance the learning experience, the VFA has created a dedicated 'Little Angler Hub' on its website which will be live by Tuesday 10 October 2023. This online resource will provide useful information, instructional videos and additional online materials related to fishing. These will include existing resources from Fishcare Victoria and new resources tailored specifically for the Little Angler Kits program.

FAQ for Families: https://vfa.vic.gov.au/recreational-fishing/go-fishing-victoria/little-angler-kit-project/faqs-for-parents 

Family Fishing Guide: https://vfa.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/864539/7176-VFA-Fishing-Guide-2022-7.0.pdf

Parent / Caregiver / Guardian Opinion Survey

WE WANT OUR PARENTS / CAREGIVERS / GUARDIANS TO TELL US WHAT YOU THINK! 

The Parent / Caregiver / Guardian Opinion Survey is now open until Friday 8 September 2023. If you have been randomly selected to complete the PCGOS you will be contacted directly.

The survey will be conducted online, only takes 20 minutes to complete, and can be accessed at any convenient time within the survey period on desktop computers, laptops, tablets or smartphones. If you would like access to a computer then please let the school office know. The online survey will be available in English and 10 other languages including Arabic, Greek, Hakha Chin, Hindi, Japanese, Punjabi, Simplified Chinese, Somali, Turkish, and Vietnamese. 

If you would like to know more information, please get in touch with our Assistant Principal, Robyn Procak. Thank you for completing this survey to tell us what you think. If you have been chosen to participate and complete the survey, you will go into a draw to win a $50 Woolworths voucher. 

School Council Update

Congratulations to Rod Tobin who now takes on the office of Vice-President. Rod is a parent of a student in Year 1. We look forward to working with you in this role. We have two co-opted community member positions available. If you know someone who is a wider community member (not necessarily a parent/carer) who would like to join our school council, then please contact the school office on: jackson.sch@education.vic.gov.au  

School Council has responsibility for school-level policies including: Student Dress Code and Sun Protection policies. School Council have decided to add a new jacket to through A Plus Schoolwear. This jacket has durable Oxford fabric, fleece lining, draw strings and a hood. The price of these jackets are $56 (child’s sizes age 8 to 14) and $64 (adult sizes) embroidered with the Jackson School logo.

To order school uniform you can either:

• Order online with A Plus Schoolwear
• Visit AGS Prints at:133 Bakers Road, Coburg North
• Visit our general office with correct money and we will forward the order to AGS prints on your behalf.

All uniform is delivered weekly to Jackson School and will be sent home with your child.

For Primary students from 14th August to 30 April 2023, all students must wear a sun-protective hat that shades the face, neck and ears for all outdoor activities. Hats may also be worn for all outdoor activities outside of the August to April time period, by parent or student choice. 

For Secondary students we expect students to take responsibility for their sun safety by wearing a hat during outdoor activities and adopting other sun protection measures such as wearing sunscreen or using shade.  

Year 9-12 Formal

Tonight is the Year 9-12 Formal with a Hawaiian Beach theme. I think the staff are just as excited as the students!

I hope you have a lovely weekend!

Anthony