Jackson School Newsletter

Principal's Message

Anthony Jackson (Principal)

The Issue Highlights

Dear Families,

Year 12 VCAL
Year 12 ASDAN
Year 12 VCAL
Year 12 ASDAN

 

Year 12 VCAL School Leavers

 

Today was the last day of school (ever!) for our Year 12 VCAL students. This Tuesday our Year 12 school leavers had their leavers photos. This was the same day we welcomed our new Prep students to their first transition day. It is always special as our new Prep students start their education with us as our Year 12 students enter into the World of Work and their future careers, education and training. Many of our Year 12 students have continued to attend their classroom learning, Vocational Education and Training and Structure Workplace Learning programs this week. Some Year 12 students will continue their studies until the end of term to complete their courses. Next week our Year 12 students will attend their end of school camp to Apollo Bay. We hope to be able to take our Year 11 students back to Queensland next year. 

 

We look forward to celebrating our Year 12 students' successes and achievements at their Graduation on Wednesday 7th December.  Year 12 students graduating will receive a free ticket. Tickets for Year 12 families can be purchased at the main office from Wednesday the 26th of October. School Council have decided to continue to professionally live stream the Year 12 Graduation online, so that families and staff from across our community can celebrate in our students' successes and achievements. Please contact Christine Tidswell if you would like to discuss anything regarding the Year 12 Graduation.

Jackson Art & Design Show

 

Last Wednesday and Thursday Jackson School held our Art & Design Show in the school hall. Many families attended our evening event. The work our students produced was amazing! I was so impressed to see what our students had produced. It was extremely difficult to choose a Principal Award for the masks and self-portraits. Please see the photos below.

 

Building Works & School Improvements

 

Drilling footings for the new canopy
Removal of the Prep Playground
Drilling footings for the new canopy
Removal of the Prep Playground

 

Work has commenced on our basketball barrel shade last week. We are looking forward to holding our first curriculum days and assembly at the start of the year under our new canopy. 

 

The Prep playground has now been removed and donated to Edgars Creek Primary School. A temporary Prep playground has been created with trampoline, cubby houses and other outdoor activities during construction. 

 

Rendine Modularity have made pre-construction inspection visits with sub-contractors in readiness for the start of our capital works program at the beginning of December. Solid fencing will begin to be erected during December to keep our students safe and away from the construction sites. Some of the car parking near the front vehicle exit gate will be used for construction access. Demolition within our main buildings will commence in the January holidays. Our modular buildings have commenced construction. Our new Prep/1 and Allied Health building will be delivered onsite early Term 1 2023 with our Year 5-8 classrooms due to be delivered onsite early Term 3 2023. 

 

Premiere of "Marcella's Interview"

 

In the last issue I shared with you that some of our Year 11/12 VCAL students took part in a film making program at Future Connect with students from Keilor Downs College, Lakeview Senior College and Melton Specialist School. On the 28th October, a video premiere of “Marcella’s Interview” was held at The Bowery Theatre in St Albans to showcase what our students have developed about employing young people with disabilities. Workplaces are for everyone. We're very proud of what you have produced - you are stars!

 

Please find attached the video our students produced as well as a behind the scenes making of the video.

The Making of Marcella's Interview

NAPLAN

 

 The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) 2023 tests will be undertaken by Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 students from 15 to 27 March 2023 across Australia. Students will be tested in Writing, Language Conventions (spelling, grammar and punctuation), Reading and Numeracy. The NAPLAN tests are implemented by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) on behalf of the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA). 

 

Students with significant intellectual disabilities can be exempted from one or all of the NAPLAN 2023 tests. Generally students at Jackson School are exempted from undertaking NAPLAN tests and other state-wide assessments. In certain circumstances, adjustments are available for students to enable them to participate in the tests. If you would like for your child to complete NAPLAN in 2023 please contact Kelly Sherrard (Leading Teacher - Curriculum & Assessment). Please note that students who are enrolled part time at a mainstream setting will undertake NAPLAN at their other school and not at Jackson School.

 

For further information about the NAPLAN tests, please visit the NAP website at https://www.nap.edu.au/naplan/for-parents-carers. 

COVID-19 Pandemic Orders

 

The media have been reporting an increasing amount of COVID-19 across our communities. Our school will continue to adhere to the Department of Health’s recommendations to ensure that our school remains a safe environment for our staff and students.

 

The Department of Health strongly recommends that students and school staff:

  • who test positive to COVID-19 stay home and isolate for 5 days and do not attend school after 5 days if they are still symptomatic
  • who are symptomatic but have not tested positive not attend school. This does not include students with pre-existing conditions such as hay fever.

Parents and carers are recommended to continue to report their child having COVID-19 to both the school and the Department of Health. 

 

We ask parents and carers to continue to remain vigilant in preventing COVID-19 transmission. Any student who is unwell should continue to remain at home. This is about keeping students healthy and well in our school and reducing the spread of both COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases.

 

Free rapid antigen tests are available at the school for those who need them.

Parents and carers will be contacted if their child shows symptoms while at school.

Students who wish to wear a mask should continue to do so.

 

Victoria State Election - Saturday 26th November

 

The State election will be held on Saturday 26 November 2022. The Jackson School Hall will be a voting centre in the upcoming state election and will be open from 8am until 6pm on election day. 

 

Find a Voting Centre near your home: https://maps.vec.vic.gov.au/elections 

 

For more information, please visit: https://www.vec.vic.gov.au/voting/learn-to-vote/easy-english-guides-on-voting 

Teacher's Planning Days & Reports

 

This week senior and middle leadership team have been planning for 2023. Next week our teacher teams will work together to plan for Term 1 teaching and learning activities. Teachers are currently finalising assessments and reports to families. These will be published to families in the final week of school.

 

It is important to involve students and their parents or carers in learning. This includes providing a written report to parents or carers on student achievement and progress at least twice a year. The Department of Education and Training has allowed some flexibility in student reporting for Semester 2, 2022, in recognition of the ongoing disruption caused by COVID-19 and the flu. Your child's report will still reflect your child’s achievement and progress for all curriculum areas taught across the semester. 

State-wide Transition Day

 

On Tuesday 6th December is State-wide Transition Day. On this day we welcome our new students and families to Jackson School. All of our students will move up to their new classes with their 2023 teachers and education support staff (ESS). Due to the staffing challenges experienced across all industries in the state, we are continuing to recruit for both teaching and ES positions. We will notify families of their child's class, teacher and ESS before the end of term. 

 

I hope you have a lovely weekend!

 

Anthony