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

• The JSLT visit our new buildings as the builders finish today.
• Listen to our VPC (Year 11/12) students on the radio.
• The Premier has announced our OSHC program will continue at Jackson School.
• Dharra (Aintree Specialist) School family information session on Thursday 9th November.
• School Council have now agreed on our Parent Payment Arrangements for 2024 at $60 as a partial contribution towards curriculum consumables, online subscriptions and printed learning materials.
• Spooky Dress-up Day next Tuesday, 31st November
• Join us next Wednesday 1st November for our annual Art & Design Show!
• Student-Free Day on Melbourne Cup Eve (Monday 6th November) 
• 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,

Build Update with JSLT

After a year of construction and two further years of design and planning, our main contractors Rendine Modularity have completed the major works and landscaping onsite today. The temporary fencing has now been removed to reveal to our students and staff what has been happening behind the screens all these months.

I felt very privileged to give our Jackson Student Leadership Team (JSLT) a sneak preview this week of their new school. The feedback from our Captains and Student Leaders was very positive. To thank our project managers, architects and contractors for all their work over the last three years, our JSLT will host a morning tea next Tuesday for our final meeting.

However, we can't use the buildings just yet. Our new furniture will be delivered over the next week and there are a few touch-ups to finish and a bit of red tape to sign off from the Relevant Building Surveyor (RBS) . Students will begin moving into the new building at the end of term in readiness for the start of next academic year. 

This $12 million capital works program, including a $2 million Jackson School Council contribution, will ensure that our current and future students will have the very best education facilities for years to come. 

Our School Council will get to view our finished project at the December meeting before we invite all of our families to join us for our official opening for families in early in 2024. 

Jackson Radio

Our Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC) students have been undertaking some industry work experience at a local community radio station, SYN 90.7. Some of our Year 11/12 students have been producing and hosting a radio show weekly since the start of Term 4. You can listen to their latest show below. We are now working on how we can develop our own podcast and/or radio show at Jackson School in our new Radio Studio. Watch this space! Well done to our talented students. We're very proud of you.

High Intensity OSHC Program

Following the success of our OSHC Demonstration Pilot at Jackson School, The Allan Government has announced that our students and families will continue to have access to the new High Intensity Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) program as part of the $121.7 million investment over four years in the Victorian Budget 2023/24. 

The Government has reported that the demonstration pilot has "made a profound difference to kids – they showed improvements in their educational and emotional outcomes, parents reported improved wellbeing, and 92% of mums and dads had either taken up, or were planning to, extra work or training".

To read the full announcement please click on the link or pdf below: Support For Students With Disability And Their Families | Premier of Victoria 

Dharra (Aintree Specialist) School

The team from Dharra (Aintree Specialist) School are holding a family information session on Thursday 9th November. Please complete the form to receive your digital invite

https://forms.gle/md2EaDpvTDCd2uGm6.

Parent Payment Arrangements

School Council have now agreed on our Parent Payment Arrangements for 2024. Due to the ongoing financial hardship of many of our families, Jackson School Council have decided not to increase our school fees. For 2024, Jackson School Council have recommended that families contribute a voluntary payment of $60 as a partial contribution towards curriculum consumables, online subscriptions and printed learning materials. This can be paid by: Eftpos at the School Office, BPay, Xuno Online Payments or by cash. We really value your contribution to our school. 

Jackson School is endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient so that any donations made by you will be tax deductible. To be tax deductible, your donation needs to be made voluntarily. We have suggested an amount to be contributed under “Curriculum Contributions” and “Other Contributions” listed below, but please feel free to contribute an alternative amount. Amounts paid under “Extra-Curricular Items and Activities” are not donations and are not tax deductible. 

For further information please download below:

Spooky Dress Up Day - Tuesday 31st November

Next Tuesday, 31st November, students can celebrate Halloween by dressing-up in their best spooky costume. 

Art & Design Show

Next Wednesday 1st November we will celebrate our student's artistic skills in our annual Art & Design Show! Even though it is a smaller event than last year due to limited space, we hope you can join us to celebrate our students amazing talents and abilities. 

Melbourne Cup Weekend Reminder: Just a reminder that Jackson School has a scheduled Student-Free Day on Melbourne Cup Eve (Monday 6th November) for Assessment and Report Writing. Students return to school on Wednesday 8th November for Jackson Values Week and Russ Jackson Day.

I hope you have a lovely weekend!

Anthony