2025 Term 1, Issue 1 Newsletter
Principal's Message
As we come to the end of an extremely busy term, I reflect on how well our students have settled into their new classrooms and the routine of school life. I would like to thank all staff for their dedication towards student learning and progression alongside their care and attention to ensure positive student well-being which enables our students to achieve the best possible outcomes in all aspects of their education. We continue to strive to offer a wide range of experiences to apply the skills taught in classrooms to real life contexts. Navigating Successful Pathways One Student at a time is our way of ensuring student success and this would not be possible without our parent community engaging in collaborative partnerships with us. I would like to thank all parents for their valuable contributions this term. Together we can achieve so much!
Our School Council has held their first meeting, and I look forward to their continued support in guiding the school’s strategic planning, vision and future growth. Welcome to Wendy Gardner who is a new member of our School Council this year.
One of the most significant events this term has been our 40 Year Anniversary Celebration. On 28 March we enjoyed a wonderful evening on the lawn with current and former students, families and staff sharing memories of what our school has meant to them and how it has positively impacted the direction of their lives. Special thanks to Dave Kelly (Member for Bassendean), Kath Hamilton (Mayor of Bassendean), Paul Boadle (ex Principal of CJSC ESC), April Douglas, Kate Mosely, and Luke Apted (former students of CJSC ESC) for being part of our opening address. A special mention to our Marketing Committee Team who planned and executed the event perfectly and our current staff who gave up their evening to assist.
Our first Support@bility session took place on Friday 4 April with presenters from DADAA and Fish@bility. All presenters invited to sessions are highly valued in their expertise but the networking with other parents at these sessions is just as valuable and I urge you to attend.
I was extremely proud of our fabulous Cricket players who participated in a recent Cricket Carnival with much enthusiasm and commitment to demonstrate our Value of the term, ‘Belonging’. Thank you to all staff who were on hand to encourage and support our students during the day.
Students also enjoyed a Bush Ranger excursion to the Perth Hills Discovery Centre and selected students attended the Annual BStreet Smart Road Safety event which is designed to show students the realities of risky behaviours on our roads.
Please ensure you check out the Yearly Calendar on our school website for key dates for Term 2 -
www.cyriljacksonesc.wa.edu.au under - News and Events - Calendar - 2025 Planner.
I wish all of our families a wonderful term 1 break and thank you for your ongoing support of our school.
Quote - " The school must be a genuine form of active community life, instead of a place set apart in which to learn lessons.' John Dewey
Christine Lester, Principal
B1 Classroom
The first term of school is always a busy and fun one – getting to know our students and getting everything ready for a productive year ahead. Gina, Mikyong, and I have been blown away with the wonderful class we have this year.
The school value of this term is “belonging,” and we have seen that in full display in B1 – with older, more experienced students showing the new students the ropes in all facets of CJ life. Some highlights include visiting Mundaring Weir, the Cricket Carnival, creating our Bush Ranger swamp tortoise sculptures, and our cook-up in independent living. Well done everybody!
Mikail Koulianos, B1 Classroom Teacher
B2 Classroom
The start of 2025 has been incredible, with students stepping out of their comfort zones and forming meaningful new friendships. It has been truly rewarding to witness such a lively and social group eager to connect and foster an inclusive atmosphere where everyone feels welcomed and free to be themselves. The class has excelled in building strong relationships and creating a positive, enjoyable learning environment.
Students have been busy discovering their interests and working hard in their certificate courses and elective units. Students are realising the importance of work skills as they dive into simulated work at Bean@bility and Bike@bility and work placements such as the school library and Gidgegannup Primary school. In between their English, Math, Health and STEM work, B2 students thoroughly enjoyed their Bush Ranger excursion to the Perth Hills Discovery Centre as they learned about bush fires and had a turn blasting the fire hose.
This term I have been so pleased to see each student embrace their new school and become more confident as they have made such a positive and encouraging impact in their learning within the classroom and their experiences during school outings.
Andrew Dixon, B2 Classroom Teacher
B3 Classroom
I am delighted to share with you how wonderfully the students have settled into B3 this term! It has been a joy to watch the students bond as a team, demonstrating respect, cooperation, and enthusiasm in all areas of their learning.
Our focus this term has been on engaging with the school’s literacy plan, where the students have made excellent progress. In Maths, we have been exploring concepts of time and money, and it has been wonderful to see the students applying their skills in real-world contexts. They have been actively participating and showing a great understanding of these concepts.
A highlight of our term was the exciting fire excursion with the bushrangers, which was a fantastic experience for the students. They thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to learn about fire safety and the environment in a hands-on, engaging way.
In Health, we have been focusing on the importance of water and its role in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Students have embraced this topic, and we have encouraged them to incorporate water-drinking habits into their daily routines. This has been a great way to reinforce the importance of self-care and well-being.
Additionally, all students have been consistently following their individual schedules each day, ensuring that they stay organised and focused. They have also been using the Zones of Regulation framework to help them manage their emotions and maintain a positive classroom atmosphere. Each day begins with checking the date, which reinforces routine and sets a positive tone for the day ahead.
Mel Coultas-Jones, B3 Classroom Teacher
B4 Classroom
B4 classroom have had a busy and exciting start to the year, filled with many interesting and enjoyable activities providing a variety of opportunities to learn. Students have undertaken many activities including Preliminary Units, Work Place Learning, Certificate Courses, STEM, Keys 4 Life, ASDAN, Bushranger Cadets, Community Access excursions, Rock and Water, Bike@bility, and Bean@bility.
As part of our Preliminary English Program the students are investigating career and education pathways and opportunities for when they leave school. In our preliminary math unit, we have concentrated on developing student’s independence in the community. We have practised skills with money handling and improved our communication skills. During our class shopping program, all the students demonstrated their cash handling and team work skills, and they made some healthy and tasty meals.
Students behaved in a mature and positive manner, and have worked well, demonstrating excellent communication and team work skills in group tasks, including STEM and Bush Rangers.
All the students have contributed to a great learning environment, where their confidence in different activities has grown, because students encourage each other, and enjoy each other’s company and successes.
Steve Ryce, B4 Classroom Teacher
B6 Classroom
It has been an incredible start to the year for B6. We have students spread far and wide completing certificates, TAFE courses and work placements. In class, we have been working on our creative writing and how to create a budget. Some highlights have included the cricket carnival, an excursion to the Maritime Museum and starting our STEM mission to Mars.
Thank you to Louise, Mike and Donna for an amazing start to the year!
Jack Scott, B6 Classroom Teacher
Classroom Achievement Awards
Congratulations to the following students who received a "Classroom Achievement Award" for term 1. We are very proud of you all and your academic achievements! Keep up the good work.
B1 Classroom - Kody Budd-Doyle
B2 Classroom - Yazzi Abson-Lee
B3 Classroom - Lachlan McCavanagh
B4 Classroom - Monique Park
B6 Classroom - Amelia Blanchonette
Workplace Learning
The new year brings great success for our workplace learning program. We are excited to see new placements that align closely with students' career pathway planning, providing valuable hands-on experiences in their chosen fields.
This year already, we have a greater number of students attending their work placements independently, thanks to the ongoing support and encouragement of our work placement employers. Their dedication to inclusivity and support has helped our students become more confident and independent.
Some of our newest placements include local cafés, doggy daycare, warehouses and new charity stores. We look forward to another successful year of workplace learning and continued growth of the program and the opportunities it offers.
WPL Team
Support@bility
Our Work Place Learning team host one Support@bility session each term. In term 1, we invited Fishability and DADAA in to speak to parents sharing information about their programs.
Mike McMullan from Fishability spoke about the organisation's mission to ensure that recreational fishing is accessible and affordable to all community members regardless of ability, skill level or experience. It is an easy program to access with an easy-to-use booking system on their website www.fishability.org.au Fishability is free to access but participants must attend with a support person. Fishability is run by volunteers and are always looking for new volunteers so please contact them directly if you are interested.
Representatives from DADAA Jasminka Vezmar and Laura Torrisi presented lots of information about the different art forms participants can access in various locations including Fremantle, Lancelin, Midland, Ellenbrook, Hamersley and Yanchep. Art forms that participants can access include visual arts, Photography, Filmmaking, Dance, Performance, and Music amongst other activities. An application form is easily accessible on DADAA’s website to express interest in their vast array of activities. https://www.dadaa.org.au/. DADAA’s Midland office can be contacted on 9250 7633.
DADAA is an NDIS Registered Provider and charges fees for its programs. DADAA can also support young people who are interested in developing a micro-enterprise Business through their NDIS funding.
Student Councillor Update & Student Voice
This year’s Student Leadership Program is comprised of an amazing group of Student Councillors – Brad, Brooklyn, Lachlan, Dom, Jaan and Jacob.
This hardworking team have made our new students feel welcome and have encouraged all students to uphold our school values of Belonging, Respect, Resilience and Courage.
The team spoke confidently during the school’s 40th anniversary celebration, where they proudly explained their leadership role and representation of the student cohort.
World Autism Day was recognised at our school with Student Councillors raising funds for the Autism Association of Western Australia. Students were encouraged to wear bright colours and participate in a jelly bean guess for a gold coin donation, promoting awareness and inclusivity.
The team have also focused on increasing student awareness of their wellbeing, creating a self care checklist and tips sheet for students, encouraging them to use these helpful resources daily. These resources were also shared with the senior campus where our Student Councillors operated a stall at the annual CJ Wellness and Harmony Day Event.
This dedicated leadership team have been very busy this term and look forward to the exciting plans they have in store for term 2!
Katerina Pruiti, Student Wellbeing Officer
Cricket Carnival
On the 12 March, our whole school went to Kostera Oval to compete in the Kal@bility cricket carnival.
Students showed exceptional skill and sportsmanship throughout the day, demonstrating great resilience and spirit. Our teamwork was on full display, working together while batting and fielding and helping each other to aim for victory. Well done to all award winners and thank you to all staff who made such an awesome day possible. Please visit our website - www.cyriljacksonfor more photos.
Jack Scott, Phys Ed Teacher
Division 1: MVP (s): Han, Jaan, Brooklyn, Haylee, Kody / Coaches award (s): Liam, Kasper, Yazzi, Dom, CC
Division 2: MVP: Charlie / Coaches award: Amber
Division 3: MVP: Ali / Coaches: Joshua
Low-Gill Award: Han
Spirit Award: Shaylee
Congratulations to all the students who received recognition for their efforts. Please view our Website under News & Events for more photos.
Yoga
We have a new cohort of students taking part in Yoga and Mindfulness sessions this year, making it an extremely popular class each Tuesday morning, with eleven students taking part on a weekly basis.
Each Yoga and Mindfulness session begins with a 'check-in' where students can choose to express how they are feeling. This is followed by guided breathing techniques and warmup yoga poses, students then move into an activity, followed by teacher-lead yoga shapes. New shapes are introduced for students to learn every week. To end the session students get to choose their favourite meditation - where they can relax to music and a guided meditation.
Sessions allow students to relax for 50 minutes and become present in the moment, what is referred to in yoga as the ‘here and now’. These sessions teach students about how to be mindful with the focus on important topics and themes of kindness, positivity and gratitude and the benefits yoga has on the body and mind.
It is a pleasure to be able to teach our wonderful students yoga and mindfulness each week. Students gain so much from each session as yoga encompasses all aspects of the dimensions of health & wellbeing.
Gina Russo-Forcina, Teacher
ASDAN Photography
We are thrilled to share the fantastic progress our students are making in their ASDAN photography classes! The enthusiasm and creativity displayed by our young photographers has truly been inspiring.
Here are some highlights:
Our students have captured some breath taking images, showcasing their unique perspectives and talents. Everyone has learned about the different elements of photography and can confidently explain these concepts as a group. We’ve had a lot of fun exploring the art of photography, and our students can now label all parts of a digital camera.
This term has been filled with celebrations in our photography class. Our students not only took stunning photos but also embraced teamwork and creativity. It has been nice to see their ability to collaborate effectively while working on group projects. The creativity they demonstrated during our recent photo walk, where they applied their skills in real-world settings.
It’s truly heart warming to witness their growth and passion for photography!
Melissa Coultas- Jones, Teacher
Photos from Lachlan, Gaby, Thomas & Caleb
Employment Pathways
Employment Pathways is a qualification which reflects the role of individuals who are developing the necessary skills in preparation for work. It provides a range of introductory skills and knowledge to provide individuals with an understanding of a work environment. This Semester students have been engaged in using a variety of resources to complete a range of assessment tasks.
This term students have been learning strategies to enhance interpersonal and communication skills for personal effectiveness. They demonstrated the ability to interact effectively in the workplace by creating formal and informal texts like letters and emails. Additionally, students investigated the importance of working healthily and safely, both for themselves and others, and how to respond to emergency incidents. These activities have equipped them with essential skills for professional and personal development.
Andy Dixon, Teacher
CGEA
The Certificate II of General Education for Adults (CGEA) is a year-long course that teaches students the required literacy and numeracy skills to transition to life outside of school – whether this be in the workplace or further study. We have started the year off by doing units that teach the students about communication in the community and within the workplace. Students have been working hard role-playing different scenarios, drafting professional emails, and creating texts that benefit the local community. So far, we have completed two of the eleven units of competency within the course.
It has been particularly fun having deeper conversations with the students, and I am looking forward to a great year ahead!
Mikail Koulianos, Teacher
Rock & Water
The Rock and Water course is a program designed to help students to develop their social skills, self-awareness, and self confidence in various situations. The students are learning about the balance in behaviour between being “The Rock” where a person is firm and “The Water” where a person is more flexible and willing to compromise.
We practice mindfulness and reflect on and consider the best way to behave in various situations and settings. There is a high degree of group work and practical exercises and the students have performed these showing great care and respect for each other. Their willingness to participate in the activities and discuss with the group times they have been the rock or water has increased throughout the term and we have all realised that the best way of interacting with others in all social and work settings is a combination of Rock and Water strategies.
The students have used our work in Rock and Water to plan for upcoming events such as the Kal@bility Cricket carnival this term, and introducing ourselves at social gatherings. The development of good social-emotional skills helps students to develop their own identity and self-knowledge, assists in making decisions/choices, and social contacts.
Steve Ryce, Teacher
40 Year Celebrations
On Friday 28th March 2025, current and former staff, students and families of Cyril Jackson Senior Campus Education Support Centre came together to celebrate 40 marvellous years of our Centre's existence.
So many wonderful memories and moments were shared amongst staff on the balmy evening. We were lucky enough to have some special guests join us - Local MP for Bassendean, Dave Kelly, Mayor of Bassendean Kath Hamilton and Former Principal, Paul Boadle.
Three of our former students, Luke Apted, Kate Mosely and April Douglas shared some fond memories of their time as students of the Centre, whilst student councillors Domenic Milieri and Lachlan Lance spoke of their time as current students and the way Cyril Jackson SC ESC has been so impactful on their lives.
Guests enjoyed an array of food and drinks, shared memories on our Memory Tree and reminisced about past events displayed on the photo boards.
It truly was a spectacular evening and a great reminder of the reason why Cyril Jackson SC ESC is so unique. Thank you to each and every one of our CJSC ESC 'family' for making our community what it is today.
