Essential Information

Family Handbook (A to Z)

To support families with the start of the 2023 school year, our administration team have compiled essential information in the pages in this issue which provides you with all the necessary information to start the year. For more information please visit our updated 2023 Family Handbook (A to Z) by clicking on the link below:

School Times

Below are the school times for 2023:

If students arrive after 9:05am, your child will have to sign in as late at the administration office.

Late Arrivals & Early Leavers

This year we will work with families to continue to support student attendance at school. There is an increasing number of students regularly arriving late to school or being collected early from school. This significantly affects your child's education over the year. We understand families have a variety of commitments and some appointments cannot be avoided. Thank you for your support in getting your child to attend school on time, for the whole day where possible.

In the event you need to pick up your child early from school or wish to take your child off the bus for the afternoon, can you please contact Jackson School on 03 9366 4322 by no later than 1:30 pm.

Uniform

The school uniform is compulsory for all students at Jackson School.

Uniform orders can be placed online at www.aplusschoolwear.com.au or alternatively, please visit the showroom at 133 Bakers Road, Coburg North (Shop Hours: Monday to Friday 9.00 AM – 4.00 PM).

To order school uniform you can either:

• Click Here to 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 (Wednesday) to the Jackson School office and will be sent home with your child. 

State Schools’ Relief

State Schools' Relief is a non-for-profit organisation that helps families with the cost of new school uniforms and shoes who are facing financial hardship.

Prep and Year 7 students who meet the criteria for and apply for the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF), will automatically receive a uniform package.

For further information about State Schools’ Relief and obtaining a uniform voucher, please make an appointment with us when school resumes in 2023 or visit: https://stateschoolsrelief.org.au/  

Outside School Hours Care

The Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) demonstration program provided by the Department of Education (DE) will continue at Jackson School throughout 2023.

The OSHC program will run after school between the hours of 2:50 pm – 6:00 pm and on school holidays.

There will be no cost to parents/carers for the OSHC program in 2023.

If you would like your child to enrol in OSHC, please see Karen in the office for further information.

SunSmart

During terms 1 and 4 at Jackson School, students are required to wear sunscreen and a hat to help protect against the sun whilst playing outside during recess and lunch.  

If your child does not have a hat, they will not be allowed to go and play outside as per our SunSmart policy.

Student Absences

If your child is going to be absent from school, it is important you notify Jackson School and provide a reason for their absence.

To notify Jackson School of your child’s absence, please call our student absence hotline by dialling (03) 9366 4322 and selecting option 1. Alternatively, you may respond directly to the text message you receive or log in to Xuno and provide a reason for their unexplained absence.

Breakfast Club

The Breakfast Club Program will continue at Jackson School throughout 2023.

A range of cereals and toast will be available for any child who wishes to have breakfast in the courtyard from 8:45 am

Mobile Phone Ban

The Ministerial Order banning all students  from using mobile phones during school times will continue in 2023.

We strongly encourage students to not bring a mobile phone to school however if your child does bring a phone to school, the mobile phone must be switched off and stored in the classroom safe.

For more information, please visit: https://www.vic.gov.au/mobile-phones-schools 

Medication and Medical Management Plans

In the event your child requires to take medication throughout the day, a medication authority form will need to be filled out and signed. This form is available for collection at the administration office. 

If your child has a medical condition that requires a medical management plan, can you please ensure that the plan is current and that we have a copy. Students will not be able to attend any excursions or camps where a medical management plan has lapsed. 

Jackson School Newsletter

The Jackson School Newsletter is published through iNewsletter. Jackson School’s newsletter is distributed to all families on a fortnightly rotation. This is sent to families through Xuno News and SeeSaw School Announcements. Click HERE to view our iNewsletter archive.

School Council

Jackson School’s School Council is the voice of the parents on how we run our school. 

We need parent support to help achieve this.

All government schools in Victoria have a School Council. School Council is the governing body of the school and plays an important role in our community. School Council has four main responsibilities:

1. Governance: establish the broad direction and vision for the school within the community. They oversee school buildings and grounds (facility hire, maintenance and improvements) as well as other contracts including: Out of School Hours Care (OSHC).
2. Strategic Planning: contributes to the finalisation of the School Strategic Plan and development of the Annual Implementation Plan and reports annually (Annual report) to the school community. 
3. Finance:  monitors school revenue and expenditure and approves school budgets including for camps and excursions.
4. Policy & Review: ratifies DE and school-level policy decisions (including child safe standards), participates in the school review pre-review evaluation and review panel. 

For more information please see: https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/school-council-overview/overview or download the following fact sheet: https://www.education.vic.gov.au/Documents/school/principals/spag/governance/fact1english.docx 

We are looking for new members to join our school council, in the following categories:

• 1 Parent Member
• 1 Optional Community Member
• 2 Elected Student Members (usually our School Captain and Vice-Captain)

Jackson School Council meet each 3rd Tuesday of the month at 6:30 pm. Meetings are run very efficiently and usually take about 1 and a half hours.

If you would like to join our school council as a parent member, please contact our administration office in early February. 

Smoking (including Vaping/e-Cigarettes)

Jackson School is smoke-free zone.

In Victoria it is illegal for any person aged 18 or over to obtain, possess or use nicotine e-cigarettes, or e-cigarette cartridges containing nicotine, or nicotine liquids for use in a vaporiser, without a prescription. 

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are electronic devices which heat and vaporise liquids that may or may not contain nicotine or flavouring agents. The vapour is inhaled, simulating the act of smoking. Use of e-cigarettes is commonly referred to as ‘vaping’.

It is illegal to sell e-cigarettes to, or buy e-cigarettes for, any person aged under 18 years whether or not the e-cigarettes contain nicotine. Whilst it is not unlawful for a person to possess or use e-cigarettes that do not contain nicotine, it is unlawful to use them on school premises or within 4 metres of a school entrance.

Please find below useful website a list of useful websites:

• Better Health Channel — contains information on the health effects of smoking, strategies for quitting, statistics and Victoria’s laws on smoking.
• health.vic — a Victorian State Government website where schools can download documents and signage to display on school grounds.
• Quit Victoria — offers resources, information and support for people to quit smoking and vaping.
• Better Health Channel: e-cigarettes — contains information on the dangers of e-cigarettes.
• Better Health Channel: e-liquids — contains information the liquid used in e-cigarettes and the dangers of nicotine poisoning.
• The Royal Children’s Hospital: e-cigarettes and teens — contains information on how to talk to teens about the health risks of using e-cigarettes.
• The Royal Children’s Hospital — contains a video suitable for school staff and parents/carers on health risks of using e-cigarettes. 

If students purchase, sell use or possess e-cigarettes on school premises this may result in an external suspension and potentially lead to a police action including a fine.

Download Factsheet: 

Personal Accident and Personal Property Insurance 

The Department of Education and Jackson School do not have insurance for accidental injuries or accidental property damage. However, in some circumstances, medical or other expenses will be paid by the Department where it is assessed that it is likely, in all the circumstances, that the Department is liable for negligent acts or omissions of its staff or volunteers. 

For more information about the Department’s public liability claims process, please see: Negligence Claims Process. 

the Department (which includes our school) does not have accident insurance. Items of personal property that are lost, stolen or damaged at school is not the responsibility of Jackson School or the Department. Staff and students are reminded not to bring items of value to school.

Student Transport

Department of Education offer transport to all students who may be eligible.

If you require this service please see the Jackson School office for further information.

For those students already using this service, the bus stops and times remain the same as in 2022. Independent travel from bus stops permission is also carried over from 2022.

Parent Drop off and Pick up Times. 

Morning Drop Off: The front entry automatic gates will open at 8:40 am for student drop off.

We kindly ask that parents park to the side of the car parks and await a staff member to collect your child/children from your car.

Afternoon Pick Up: The front entry automatic gates will open at 2:30 pm for student pick up.s  

Parents are to park their cars in the designated parking zones and collect your child from the parent pickup zone.

Students will be dismissed from the front of the school outside the general office at 2:50 pm. 

Camp, Sports and Excursion Fund

The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) will continue in 2023 and provides payments for eligible students to attend activities like:

• school camps or trips
• swimming and school-organised sport programs
• outdoor education programs
• excursions and incursions.

Eligibility:

Families holding a valid means-tested Centrelink card or temporary foster parents are eligible to apply.

Eligibility will be determined when the parent’s means-tested Centrelink card successfully validates with Centrelink on either the first day of term one (30th January 2023) or term two (24th April 2023).

Special consideration may be given in certain circumstances. Please make an appointment with us to discuss this further. 

Payment amounts:

Payments are:

• $125 per year for eligible primary school students
• $225 per year for eligible secondary school students.

Payments are made directly to the school and are tied to the student. 

How to apply:

If you’re eligible to apply for the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund and you processed an application for CSEF in 2022, your application has been copied across for 2023. There are no steps required. If we experience any issues with copying your application across, we will contact you directly to resolve the issue.

If you’re a new family to Jackson School in 2023 or you have never applied for CSEF, an application form will need to be filled out and a copy of your concession card taken. 

CSEF application forms are available to fill out and process at the administration office.

CSEF application forms must be submitted by no later than Friday 23rd June 2023.