Dear Families,

Please find below a summary of this week's issue:

Issue Highlights

Today Joan joined us for our termly Achievement Assembly in the Courtyard. Staff and students got to say goodbye and thank you to Joan. Good luck with your new role within the Department.
I would like to congratulate all of our successful new student leaders, particularly our new school captains: Tahlia M, Arvin L, Hayden B, and Eduardo.
I would officially like to welcome all new and returning members of School Council. Congratulations to Nerida Auld (President & Chair) and Joe Lawrence (Vice-President & Treasurer) for being elected to these positions.
COVID-19 Update: This week 1 staff member (P-6 and ASDAN) and 2 students (3/4 and 7/8) have tested positive for COVID-19 and were onsite whilst infectious.
COVID-19 Update: Rapid Antigen Testing to continue for the first 4 weeks of Term 2.
Jackson School is hosting another mini COVID-19 vaccination clinic on Wednesday 3rd May from 3:00pm in the Jackson School Hall.
This week I visited our Hands of Learning students at Animal Land in Diggers Rest to see their new learning space.
For Term 2, 2022 only, DET recommends schools hold their first professional practice day on the same day for all staff. This is to make it easier for schools to source casual relief teachers. School Council has motioned that our common Term 2 Professional Practice Day will be on Friday 3rd June. This will be a pupil free day.
Things to do these term holidays as a family in Brimbank, Melton and Melbourne.
I will be on leave in the UK visiting family for the first two weeks of Term 2. Robyn Procak will be Acting Principal during my absence.
Student of the Week - in line with our new PBIS rewards system.
Showcase of student's learning from across the school in Primary and Secondary.
Allied Health and Wellbeing information to support you and your child.
Community news including from Jackson OSHC provider TheirCare.

Joan's Goodbye and Achievement Assembly

Today Joan joined us for our termly Achievement Assembly where students and staff were able to say goodbye and thank you to Joan for all she has done for our school community. It was lovely to see Joan at school again as she shared in our successes and achievements from Term 1. Joan is now taking on a Liaison Principal role within the Department working in the Community Liaison office. We wish Joan all the very best in your new role.

During our Achievement Assembly, students receive termly awards for displaying our school values: Learning, Independence, Safety, Respect and Responsibility. Congratulations to all of our award winners!

Students have voted for the name of our new PBIS rewards "Jackpoints". Each Jackpoint is worth $1 (virtual currency) which students can use for individual prizes, class rewards or team events. Thank you Mr Puzzlehead for visiting to hand out our awards and prizes.

Student Leadership Team (JSLT)

This week our students have applied and sat an interview for student leader positions. I would like to congratulate all of our successful student leaders, particularly our new school captains.

School Captain (Year 10): Tahlia M

School Vice-Captain (Year 10): Arvin L

Primary Captain (Year 6): Hayden B

Primary Vice-Captain (Year 6): Eduardo

Student Leaders: Lincoln, Jacob, William W, Riley W, Lorenzo, Valerie, Ella, Shayla, Lawrence, Lujane, Tiana, Stephanie, Trisha, Marcus, Angelique, Ruqaiyah, Tahlia, Sharnay.

Our captains and student leaders play an important role in providing feedback to myself and the leadership team as well as representing the Jackson School at events and greeting important visitors to the school. Thank you to our outgoing captains and student leaders for their input and leadership in 2021.

School Council

I would officially like to welcome all new and returning members of School Council.

School Councils comprise of parents/carers, the principal, staff, community members and secondary students.

Thank you and congratulations to Nerida and Joe for nominating to be elected to the offices of President & Chair and Vice-President & Treasurer.

President & Chair: Nerida Auld (Parent)
Vice-President & Treasurer: Joseph Lawrence (Parent/Carer)
Executive Officer: Anthony Jackson (Acting Principal)
Returning Parent Members: Sarah Jarman (DET), Peter Auld
New Parent Members: Loretta Sultana, Cathy Sama
Staff Member: Matthew Gravatt (DET/Business Manager)
Community Member: Natalia Giglietta
Secretary (Non-Voting): Halina O'Neill
School Captain: Tahlia M
School Vice-Captain: Arvin L

For more detailed information on School Council roles and responsibilities, please visit: https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/school-council-composition-and-office-bearers/policy

COVID-19 Update

Positive Cases Onsite

This week one staff member (P-6 and ASDAN) and two students (3/4 and 7/8) have tested positive for COVID-19 and were onsite whilst infectious. Last week we had a few students and staff who tested positive within our Years 5-8 building. They were isolated as a bubble to reduce the spread across the school. Thank you for your work in ensuring schools remained safe during Term 1.

Rapid Antigen Testing Continues

The Victorian Government has announced it is extending the RAT screening program for the first 4 weeks of Term 2. Thank you to all students and families who have played their role in regularly testing – we know that hasn’t been easy.

Your work has seen COVID-19 cases being picked up at the earliest opportunity, meaning less cases in our school and more time in the classroom for our students.

The testing recommendations will remain the same next Term for students and staff with Special schools recommended to test 5 days a week at home due to the higher risk of severe illness for medically vulnerable children. These will continue to be sent home with your child on Mondays. If you wish for your child not to receive RAT packs please let the office know.

Vaccination Clinic

As we approach winter and flu season, the vaccination of children aged 5 to 11 and booster shots for students 16+ remains the best way to ensure protection for students and staff. The Easter break is a good opportunity to get your child vaccinated ahead of this, with many options across GPs, pharmacies and the state run vaccination clinics. If you have any concerns or worries about getting your child vaccinated, please get in contact with your GP or another health professional who can answer your concerns.

Getting students vaccinated is the best way to protect the school community from further outbreaks and the spread of COVID-19. Vaccination may help to slow the virus spreading to vulnerable people such as elderly grandparents and younger kids who aren’t yet able to be vaccinated.

Jackson School is hosting another mini COVID-19 vaccination clinic on behalf of Taylors Hill Medical Clinic. The next clinic has been scheduled for Wednesday 3rd May from 3:00pm in the Jackson School Hall.

Children and families are encouraged to attend the vaccination clinic at our school for their first or second dose of COVID-19 vaccine, or for third doses if eligible. Vaccination is not mandatory for students and will not be given to students without parent consent.

Alternatively, to organise your child’s second dose during the Term 1 break you can:

find a participating GP, pharmacy or community health service through the Vaccine Clinic Finder. Book your appointment online or by calling the vaccine provider nearest to you.
find a state vaccination centre and opening times by visiting coronavirus.vic.gov.au

For more information and advice please visit:

Translated advice about COVID-19 vaccines is available at coronavirus.vic.gov.au.
You can listen to the Kids Health Info podcast on COVID-19 vaccination from the Royal Children’s Hospital website
Amaze, in partnership with National Disability Services, has developed social scripts to support autistic people that outline the process of getting a COVID-19 vaccination.
The Melbourne Vaccine Education Centre provides information and advice on supporting people with needle phobia.
If you have any questions about COVID-19 and vaccinations, please contact your general practitioner or call the Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398.

Flexible, Hands On Learning @ Animal Land Children's Farm

Over the last couple of years Helena (Leading Teacher) has established a partnership with Animal Land Children's Farm in Diggers Rest. This week I visited the owners Laurie and Joanne to thank them for now donating a learning space for our students to use on Tuesday and Friday each week. Helena, Cam (Artisan Teacher) and our Hands On Learning groups have been volunteering to maintain the farm, look after the animals and make improvements to the facilities. Our new Flexible Learning space is a base for students to use during their re-engagement programs at the farm and work on their personal learning goals. We look forward to deepening our partnership with Animal Land in the future as a "Friend of Animal Land" (FOAL).

Professional Practice Day - Friday 3rd June

Over the last two weeks, teachers and leaders have worked in collaborative teams to plan for rich, authentic learning opportunities for our students in Term 2. During these planning days this term, our students took part in our specialist curriculum programs for the full day. The department recently reached an in-principle agreement with unions, as bargaining representatives of employees in the Victorian Teaching Service. If approved, teachers will be entitled to 3 additional professional practice days in 2022. For Term 2 2022 only, the department recommends schools hold their first professional practice day on the same day for all staff. This is to make it easier for schools to source casual relief teachers. This week, School Council has motioned that our common Term 2 Professional Practice Day will be on Friday 3rd June. This will be a pupil free day. Staff will undertake professional learning on supporting students with complex behaviours.

Things to do these term holidays

Today, some students took part in an Easter egg hunt and an egg throwing competition. Students also came in today displaying their Easter bonnets made at home. Thank you to families for supporting with this tradition. Many of our community will celebrate Easter these school holidays.

Many of the Muslims within our community are currently fasting from sunrise to sunset for Ramadan. The first night of Ramadan began on Friday, 1st April and will end on the evening of Sunday, 1st May (Eid al-Fitr). Ramadan is a month of self-reflection and a way for Muslims to develop positive habits that can be continued and encouraged once Ramadan is over.

I will be taking two weeks' leave at the start of Term 2. On Saturday I am heading back to the UK to introduce our two children to my family for the first time due to COVID-19 disruptions. This will be action-packed with a wedding, birthdays and other celebrations missed during the last two years. Thank you to Robyn Procak for undertaking the role of Acting Principal whilst I am away. Your child's learning will not be disrupted during this time.

It has been a tough transition back to onsite learning for some of our students as they adjust to our school expectation again following two years of disruptions and uncertainty. This has not been helped by staffing shortages due to COVID-19. Thank you as always for your patience and ongoing support this term, we couldn’t have done it without you. I hope you have a safe and restful break as a family.

Best wishes,

Anthony

OSHC News