2025 Term 3, Issue 3 Newsletter

Principal's Message

What an exciting and eventful Term 3 we have had with so many activities enjoyed by students, staff and families. Our school value for the Term was ‘Resilience’ and we saw students demonstrating resilience in so many ways and repeatedly throughout the Term.

For the first time in the school’s history, we embarked on an overnight Camp to Rottnest Island specifically for our 2025 School Leavers. We had a wonderful time exploring the Island and learning about its historical significance.  We aim to continue this as a new Cyril Jackson Senior Campus ESC tradition for our School Leavers in future years. Our Annual Bush Ranger Camp to Swan valley Adventure Centre was a huge success with both day and overnight students pushing themselves out of their comfort zones to attempt activities with much resilience and courage.  Friendships between students are cemented at camp through their encouragement and support of each other. 

The School Ball was extremely well attended with 38 students and 19 staff enjoying an evening of delicious food, music and dance.  Our students were a real credit to the school, they were the first to take to the dance floor and the last to leave.  They all looked extremely glamorous and practised exceptional social skills throughout the evening.  Lifelong memories were created for students as they embraced every aspect of the evening.   Thank you to all staff who gave up their time to support this wonderful social event.

Basketball was the sport of the Term with students attending both the Kal@bility and Wild Cats Basketball Carnival.  Our school achieved huge success with many skills on display on and off the sports field.  Both days were enjoyed by all participants.  Well done to all students and staff involved.

We secured a Healthy Schools Grant this Term which will be used to create a seating area in the community garden to promote positive mental health & well-being amongst our student cohort.   Thank you to Gina Russo- Forcina, a Lead EA at our school, for investing her time and effort in successfully applying for the grant.

Our second Open Day ensured that information was delivered to prospective parents by a presentation and a school tour. The Open Day was well attended, and our enrolments continue to grow as our school profile is promoted in the wider community.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all staff for their exceptional team work this Term.  We continually demonstrate and share best teaching practices, ensuring our students are successful in all aspects of their learning.  Your enthusiasm to create a host of learning opportunities inside and outside of the school for our students is relentless and very much appreciated.  I feel grateful every day to lead such an incredible and unique school where our values and beliefs are a shared philosophy.

I wish all of our families a relaxing Term 3 break and thank you for your ongoing support of our school.

“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all” Aristotle

Christine Lester,  Principal

School fees and charges

Thank you to families who have already paid their child’s school fees and charges.  If you haven’t already paid, please pay as soon as possible.  We use your fees to support individual educational programs offered at CJSC ESC and budget for full payment of subjects and other specific activities the student’s undertake. 

If you are having trouble paying, please contact our MCS, Virginia Abson on 9413 4850 to make a payment plan arrangement. 

B1 Classroom

What a busy and exciting Term it’s been in the B1 classroom!  Between our regular lessons, we enjoyed a range of special activities and unique learning experiences that made these ten weeks fly by.

Most of the magic from Term 3 came from beyond the classroom in my humble opinion. Both our basketball carnivals were a fantastic success, with everyone showing great teamwork and sportsmanship. The Bush Rangers camp saw students show courage and resilience in trying new things. At the school ball students danced the night away and wowed staff with their new form of self-expression.

Well done, B1 ­­­­­­­­­­-  what a fantastic Term!

Mikail Koulianos, B1 Classroom Teacher

B2 Classroom

Term 3 has been an action-packed and memorable time for B2, filled with new faces, exciting experiences, and plenty of learning. One of the biggest highlights was school camp, where students challenged themselves on the high ropes, laughed their way through bubble soccer, tested their skills at archery, and enjoyed a fun-filled quiz night. These activities brought plenty of smiles and created lasting friendships.

The school ball was another standout moment, with B2 students looking fantastic in their formal attire, dancing the night away, and celebrating together. It was wonderful to see everyone socialising confidently, enjoying dinner, and capturing memories through photos.

In the classroom, students worked hard on developing their budgeting skills and setting financial goals. They also continued to strengthen their literacy, focusing on comprehension, spelling, and decoding with growing independence. Beyond the classroom, B2 showed great dedication at their workplaces, including Bike@bility, Bean@bility, and local primary schools.

This Term has truly highlighted B2’s growth, enthusiasm, and teamwork. Well done to all!

Andrew Dixon,  B2 Classroom Teacher

B3 Classroom

As we progress through Term 3, we’re excited to share the learning highlights and achievements taking place in our classroom. It’s been a productive and engaging Term so far, with students showing great enthusiasm across all subject areas.

Throughout the Term, we’ve placed a strong emphasis on personal space and personal bubbles. Each morning, students engage in meaningful discussions about their emotional zones, helping them build awareness of their feelings and the importance of respecting others’ boundaries.

In Literacy, students have completed their program and are making fantastic progress in both reading and writing. We’ve seen a noticeable boost in their confidence and creativity during writing tasks.

In Mathematics, our focus has been on developing number sense using number lines. This has helped students build a stronger understanding of numerical relationships and improved their problem-solving skills.

Our Health unit this Term has centred around personal hygiene, with a spotlight on the importance of brushing our teeth. Students have embraced the topic with enthusiasm and are demonstrating great understanding of healthy habits.

Each week, students have been engaging in Behind the News (BTN) discussions, which have sparked thoughtful conversations about current events and encouraged curiosity about the world around them.

In STEM, we’ve been exploring the solar system. Students designed and built creative Lego models of their favourite planets, combining scientific knowledge with imagination and teamwork.

We’re proud of all the progress made this Term and are looking forward to another exciting and rewarding Term ahead.

Melissa Coultas-Jones, B3 Classroom Teacher

B4 Classroom

B4 classroom have had a busy and exciting term three, filled with many interesting and enjoyable activities providing a variety of opportunities to learn. We have welcomed new student, Sarah Johnson to our class, and she has already contributed to many class activities. Students have undertaken many activities including Bushranger Camp, Workplace Learning, Bushranger Cadets, Community Access excursions, Basketball Sports carnival and School Ball.

As part of our preliminary English program the students have continued to investigate career and education pathways and opportunities for when they leave school. During our class Community Access excursion to the Midland Gate Shopping Centre, we have focussed on developing the student's independence with them being involved in the planning for the excursions, including travel planning, determining the itinerary, opening hours for the venue, costs of transport and entrance, and availability of amenities such as toilets and food vendors. All the students demonstrated their understanding of using public transport, cash handling skills when making purchases, communicating in various settings and working as a team on a shared goal of an excursion.

Students behaved in a mature and positive manner and demonstrated this Term's school value of resilience, both at school and in the community.  

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 a massive Term for B6, with us welcoming our new student Kosta, as well as seeing new staff - Bella and Jai helping our students achieve their goals. With so many graduates, we had most of our class braving the swell to the Rottnest camp, where students learnt about the history of the island and its connection to local Aboriginal customs. 

We are working hard on our goals this Term, starting with persuasive writing. It has been pleasing to see the progress of our students in expressing their opinions. We have also been practicing our fundamental maths skills in preparation for next term's project. 

It has been an awesome term with many great events, and I am looking forward to farewelling our graduates in Term 4. 

Classroom Achievement Awards

Congratulations to the following students who received a Classroom Achievement Award for Term 3.  We are very proud of you all and your academic achievements!    Keep up the good work.  

B1 Classroom -  Jenae O'Donnell
B2 Classroom -  Charlie  Edwards
B3 Classroom - Kyle Coburn
B4 Classroom -  Jaime
B6 Classroom -  Han Nguyen

Workplace Learning

Term 3 has been a busy and rewarding one for our students. We have seen a greater number of students engaged in work experience and many have continued in their placements from Semester 1, thriving in their roles and building on their skills.

We have also introduced new opportunities this Term, with students gaining experience in local cafés, a bird and reptile Centre, and local bookstores.

Each placement is carefully chosen to support our students’ growth, enjoyment, and potential transition into future pathways after graduation. It has been wonderful to see students showing resilience, growing in confidence, and taking steps toward independence in their work placements each day.

 WPL Team 

Student Councillors

Our Student Council Leadership Team welcomed visiting schools and prospective families at our Open Day, outlining their important role as student leaders, representing student voice, ensuring they know their opinion matters, increasing confidence, pride and building resilience.  

The Student Councillors continued their mission to uphold the school's values of Belonging, Respect, Resilience and Courage by continuing to encourage their peers to prioritise their wellbeing and implement self-care strategies in their daily routines. Guest speakers from Zero to Hero “Let’s Talk Resilience” and Headspace spoke to students about their amazing free mental health support services supporting the mental health and overall wellbeing of youths in our community.  

The team also supported community initiatives such as Bullying No Way Day and Wear it Purple Day (supporting our LGBTIQA+ community), promoting inclusivity and belonging amongst our student cohort.  

Katerina Pruiti, Student Wellbeing Officer

Bushranger Cadet Camp - Swan Valley

This year, our annual 3 day Bushranger Cadet camp was held at Swan Valley Adventure Camp in the Swan Valley.  We also offered, for students who were not comfortable staying overnight, the opportunity to come for the day.  This camp is an important part of the Bushranger Cadet level one course. 

The camp was a great opportunity for students to make friends and try new activities. The theme of the camp was for everyone to "achieve their own personal best", and it was fantastic to see students participating, encouraging and supporting each other to do this, enjoying the activities and time together on camp.

Students enjoyed activities ranging from team building games, high ropes courses, crate stack, flying fox, bubble soccer, archery, scavenger hunt, orienteering, Frisbee glow, board and card games in the dormitories the first night, and a fun quiz night, including some awesome acting/impersonations from the students on the second evening. 

We were lucky to have access to catering, so we all enjoyed a cooked breakfast, lunch, dinner, including amazing desserts.

 Steve Ryce, Bushranger Coordinator

School Ball

The annual CJ School Ball took place on Friday 12^th September at the Mercure Hotel in Perth City. 38 students and 19 staff attended the ball this year, making it one of the largest attended events in a long time. As always students dressed to impress, were treated to a delicious three course meal and in true CJSC ESC manner, were the first to hit the dance floor where they remained for the majority of the evening. 

It is always so wonderful observing the Senior Campus and Education Support Centre students interacting so positively at this event. 

Liz Collodel, Deputy Principal

Basketball Carnival

What a fantastic display of sportsmanship, courage and skill demonstrated by students at the Kal@bility Basketball Carnival. Super proud of our CJ Champions who took home the ultimate SPORTSMANSHIP award!  Thank you to Mr Scott for ensuring the organisational aspects of the day were taken care of, our wonderful staff for supporting our students.
Shout out to our award winners listed below:
Coaches Award: Yazzi & Haylee
Goal Scorers: Jacob & Charlie
MVP: Brooklyn & Ash
Low/Gill: Yazzi
Kelton Spirit Award: Nat

Jack Scott,  Sports Teacher

VET External - Certificate I in Agriculture

This Term, our Certificate I in Agriculture students have been attending the Kiara College Farm every Wednesday and have been actively involved in a wide range of farm operations. Their weekly tasks have included caring for our poultry, feeding livestock, growing and maintaining horticultural crops, looking after the worm farm, and operating garden equipment. They have also undertaken valuable animal husbandry tasks with our sheep, gaining important practical skills along the way.

Through these hands-on experiences, students have developed their ability to work effectively as part of a team, while also building self-confidence and independence. It has been wonderful to see their enthusiasm and growth each week as they contribute to the running of the farm.

Rob Liebeck, Teacher Kiara College

VET External- Certificate 1 Hospitality

Jaime and Hayden have been attending the Certificate I Hospitality, one day a week at Dianella Secondary College Education Support Centre, this year. They have gained many practical skills and gained industry knowledge.  Jaime and Hayden have been working hard, to complete the six units of competency to gain their certificate.

Jaime and Hayden have worked alongside students from other schools, developing their communication and team building skills. A highlight has been preparing and selling Bento boxes to staff.  The boxes contained: lemon slice, choc coconut slice, curried egg sandwiches and zucchini slice.

Great work Jaime and Hayden!

Louise Southern

Bento Box Preparation

Retail

We had a busy Term in Certificate 1 Retail. Students have been working in our simulated business Toast ‘N Shake practicing the customer service and work and personal organisation skills we have been learning about in the course. The student's confidence in completing tasks, asking for assistance when required and interacting with each other and customers has increased throughout the term and the level of independence being developed is a credit to the students and the staff training them. The customer feedback forms have shown that the students are recognised by our customers for being professional, helpful, friendly and producing delicious food and drink.  

We have enjoyed many interesting discussions and mock scenarios where the students have demonstrated the theory knowledge they have learned by applying it to possible real-life situations and actual situations in our business at Toast ‘N Shake.

Steve Ryce, Teacher

Cafe Culture

This year, our students have demonstrated outstanding dedication and enthusiasm as they worked to master both the theory and practical components of their course. A major highlight has been their hands-on experience with the industrial coffee machine, a challenge they embraced with energy and determination.

Over the term, students learned to make 10 different types of coffee and devoted many hours to refining their techniques. Their progress has been remarkable, with each student growing in confidence as they mastered setting up the machine, grinding beans, frothing milk, and following essential health and safety practices.

These budding baristas have seamlessly connected their classroom knowledge with practical, real-world skills. As the term draws to a close, it is clear they are well prepared to excel in their practical assessments. The growth, effort, and professionalism they have displayed throughout the year reflect both their potential and their commitment to success.

Andy Dixon, Teacher

Bean@bility

Bean@bility Cafe (simulated workplace) provides students with the opportunity to gain practical skills and industry knowledge in a hospitality environment. Students have gained experience in all aspects of Cafe management, including customer service, food preparation, coffee making, money handling and EFTPOS skills. 

The Bean@bility students have catered for the 40th Anniversary of the school, Open Days, CJ Community Gym and School Meetings.  Students really enjoy providing service to the school community and gaining positive feedback for the work they have been doing.

It is such a pleasure seeing how much the students' confidence has grown and they skills they have gained. 
Congratulations to all involved. Keep up the good work!

Louise Southern

Music

In Term 3 and throughout 2025, students have been learning musical concepts by playing guitar, keyboard and Djembe drum. These music sessions take place on Thursdays and have a practical focus. Now in the program’s fourth year, students have been learning at their own pace at various stages. Performances occur within the support setting, subject to student competence and desire to showcase their dedication and talent.

These musical experiences at CJ's allow for student expression and may spark interest in them to continue learning, practising and playing music beyond school.

Ed Thieme, Music Teacher

Dungeons and Dragons

Between three lunch clubs and Tuesday classes, students have been adventuring far and wide across the Forgotten Realms. Watching the parties develop their knowledge of the rules and ability to work together to solve problems has been a pleasure.

As we work towards the final boss of the Lost Mine of Phandelver campaign, I hope all students have enjoyed D and D this year.

Jack Schott, Teacher

Important Dates for Term 4

To view yearly calendar, please visit our website -  www.cyriljacksonesc.wa.edu.au Click on "news and events" tab, and then click on our "2025 planner"

Monday 13 October - Staff development day, students do not attend
Tuesday 14 October - Term 4 commences
Thursday 30 October - Transition Evening 
Tuesday 4 November - School Reunion 
Wednesday 5 November - Kal@bility Soccer carnival
Friday 5 December - End of Year Awards & Graduation Ceremony all students to attend (last day of school for graduating students)
Thursday 18 December - Last day of school for all other students