1. Where can I find out about uniform, computers, times of the day and other questions that I have about the day-to-day running of the school?
This information can be found on our website under the Policy section. The link is http://kurnai.co/policies
Kurnai’s Policy Documents include; Child Safety and Mandatory Reporting, Medical Information, Medication and First Aid, Bullying and Harassment, Behaviour Management, Camps, Canteen, Child Safe Code of Conduct, Communication, ICT and Mobile Device, BYOD, Financial Management and Control etc.
2. What are the class times?
Morwell Campus Churchill Campus
Warning Bell 8.35 am 8.25 am
Period 1 8.40 - 9.40 am 8.30 – 9.30 am
Period 2 9.40 - 10.40 am 9.30 – 10.30 am
RECESS 10.40 – 11.00 am 10.30 – 11.00 am
Warning Bell 11.00 am 10.55 am
Period 3 11.05 - 12.05 pm 11.00 – 12.00 pm
Period 4 12.05 - 1.05 pm 12.00 – 1.00 pm
LUNCH 1.05 - 1.45 pm 1.00 – 1.45 pm
Warning Bell 1.45 pm 1.40 pm
Period 5 1.50 - 2.50 pm 1.45 – 2.45 pm
3. What is Compass?
Compass is the College online School Management System. This is accessible for College staff, parents and students. Items that are managed via Compass include timetables, learning tasks, attendance, news articles, student notes, learning behaviour reports and semester reports.
Log-in details are mailed out to families prior to the student's commencement or assistance is available from your campus reception during the school year.
4. When do we have to pay school fees and how much are they?
Currently there are no school fees payable. However, there may be additional charges dependent on your elective choices or camps. Accounts are sent out in the mail each term and payments can be made at any campus office by cash, Eftpos, Bpay, direct deposit or Centrepay.
5. Can my child catch a Kurnai school bus?
Students who reside further than 4.8 kms from their closest Kurnai College campus and are attending their closest school can access the school bus network. Students who travel from neighboring towns would require financing their own travel by using local town network and by personal Myki cards.
School bus routes, to and from Kurnai, are updated yearly dependent on passenger numbers.
Paperwork will need to be completed before students access the school bus network.
6. When will I get my timetable?
Draft timetables for the 2021 school year will be handed out to Year 7 students on Orientation Week and visible on Compass in 2021.
7. What would my timetable look like?
Each student will participate weekly in 3 hours of English, 3 hours of Math, 3 hours of Science, 4 hours of targeted reading intervention (Kurnai’s very successful TR@K program), 2 hours of either LOTE or Culture Studies which rotate each semester, and allocated non-core subjects which rotate each semester.
8. What is Tr@k?
Tr@k is the Targeted Reading at Kurnai Program. All students in Year 7,8 and 9 participate in Tr@k. This is a timetabled program that supports the reading growth for all students. Tr@k gives each student the best possible reading and comprehension skills they can achieve. The groupings for Tr@k are not the same as normal class groupings and is fluid depending on individual students demonstrated growth.
9. Do new Year 7 students need a computer?
Yes, all students are required to have a computer for the start of the school year. Details of the recommended computer can be found at http://ict.kurnai.co/byod-kurnai-0 or by contacting the IT department. Computers can be purchased from the school to ease the burden on parents, and a CentrePay option is available for this also. We do, however, support any computer that is within our minimum specifications.
10. Do we need to purchase any textbooks?
Year 7 students do NOT need to purchase any textbooks, only class stationery.
11. What do Kurnai students wear to school?
All junior campus students are required to wear a school uniform. There is also a sports uniform requirement. Failure to wear the required uniform will lead to the student being provided with a temporary one while at school. A note is required if your student is unable to wear their uniform for some reason.
This is the link to Kurnai’s on-line store at Lowes: https://www.lowes.com.au/schools-online/kurnai-college
12. Do you hold Parent Teacher Conversations?
Kurnai College holds Parent Teacher Conversations at each campus twice a year. This is an opportunity for parents/guardians to meet with teachers and discuss your child’s progress. These are held the last two days of Term 1 and 3. Appointment times are booked via Compass, the school management system. Both day and evening times are available.
13. What are Learning Behaviour Reports?
Learning Behaviour Reports are produced every 5 weeks. These reports give parents/guardians regular updates on your students' progress in five categories – Submits tasks on time, Task completed, On time to class, Class preparation, Works respectfully with others.
14. Do we get a newsletter?
Each campus produces a newsletter every fortnight. These are distributed via Compass with hard copies available to collect from each relevant office reception upon request.
15. Do Year 7 students go on camp?
Yes. All Year 7 students attend Camp Coolamatong, 15 minutes out of Bairnsdale on the Gippsland Lakes. The camp goes for 4 days/3 nights costing approximately $300 with payment plans starting in February if required.
You may be eligible for the State Government Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund of $225 per annum per student to partially offset this camp. Families holding a valid means-tested concession card or temporary foster parents are eligible to apply. A Special Consideration category also exists.
16. Can my child have their mobile phone at school?
Recent state legislations do NOT allow students to have mobile phones on them during the school day. Phones are discouraged to be brought to school, however, if they are with a student they should be kept in their locker turned off. If they are found with a phone during school hours it will be confiscated and returned at the discretion of staff.
17. What is ALPs?
This initiative is a College-wide program and teachers at Morwell and Churchill campuses work together to develop curriculum suited to students wanting to advance in their learning. Three to four teachers who are committed to supporting students in this way teach the core subjects and they develop strong relationships with their students to maximise their learning potential.
Testing dates will be advised later in the year via our local primary schools or on our website.
18. What is the Enhanced Numeracy and Literacy Program
In Year 7, every English and Math class has two teachers, better allowing us to target the learning of every student.
19. Is there a school canteen?
All campuses have a canteen that open for recess and lunch time.
20. Do the students get allocated a locker?
All students are allocated a locker and must use this. No school bags are to be taken into the classrooms and students are expected to have the everything require with them to fully participate in their class. The school provides locks and these must be used.
21. When is Orientation Day?
All Grade 6 students will visit their new secondary schools in December and enjoy being a student at their new schools for the day. Kurnai College extends this experience, operating a three day program instead of just the one. Parents do not attend this day. Detailed information on start and finishing times, lunch, what to wear, where to drop them off etc will be supplied to parents/guardians closer to the date.
22. What are the dates of the Community information evenings?
Dates for the Community Information Evenings will be December following the Orientation Day. Information covered on this evening includes BYOD (Bring your own device) and Cybersafety, dress code, camp, important dates, introduction of wellbeing team, timetables, and subject selection.
23. Who do I contact if I need to speak to someone about my child?
In order to get to know our future students, our Leadership Team will be visiting them at their primary schools to meet with the students and their teachers. This will occur in term 4. If you have any concerns or information on your child that you would like to share, you can contact their Year Level Leading Teacher.
Key staff contact details are available at http://kurnai.co/key-contacts
24. When can I meet my child's teachers?
Every year there is a Year 7 BBQ for families to attend their campus and meet the teachers at each site. This is normally held within in the first 4 weeks of each year.
25. What House group will I be in?
Students will be grouped into house groups according to the groups of their siblings. If no siblings have been at the school before, then house colours are distributed evenly. These groups are used to mix campus students for participation of College events, such as swimming and athletics days. Students are encouraged to dress up in their house colour at these events.
Kurnai House Groups
Forsyth – Blue
Freeman – Green
Siddle – Yellow
Thorpe – Red
26. 2021 School Dates
All DET school dates can be found on the DET website. Campus and Excursion reminder dates can be found on our website calendar.
Term 1: 27 January (staff) to 1 April
Term 2: 19 April to 25 June
Term 3: 12 July to 17 September
Term 4: 4 October to 17 December
More information:
Year 7 Program – details http://kurnai.co/year-7