Kurnai News
Masquerade Senior Formal
Last week our Year 11 and 12 students celebrated with their ‘Masquerade' Senior Formal. The students all looked fabulous dressed in their formal attire, with a range of intricately designed masks on display. It was a night of high energy, great food, music, and dancing, making for a memorable night. Thank you to everyone who made this an enjoyable night for our senior students. .
VCE Theatre Studies "She Kills Monsters" Production
On Friday 14th July, the VCE students undertaking Theatre Studies performed ‘She Kills Monsters’ at the Traralgon Art Centre. This performance was part of their VCE Theatre Studies and an opportunity to showcase their hard work and talent. The students spent the majority of their term two busy rehearsing, designing sets, and building props.
Reconciliation Week
Kurnai College acknowledged National Reconciliation Week (27 May to 3 June) today, Friday 2nd June to reflect upon the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.
Students, local politicians, members of the Indigenous community, and Aboriginal Elders gathered at the Morwell campus to attend a flag-raising ceremony showcasing this year’s theme “Be a Voice for Generations”.
Literacy ACMI Excursion
To complement the Understanding and Creating Digital Texts unit, VCE VM Literacy students attended the exhibition Story of the Moving Image at ACMI in Melbourne on Thursday.
The exhibition allowed students to interact and view the major moments in moving image history, including the origins and future of cinema, production design and the creative process, Australian culture and stories, the rise of videogames, and how screens inform, influence and empower us.
Inspiring Health Camp
A group of Year 11/12 students who are thinking about a pathway into health, attended a 3 day “Inspiring Health Camp” facilitated by the Baw Baw Latrobe LLEN and supported by health professionals in our local area. The students engaged in an industry tour spread over 2 weeks and gained meaningful exposure that was aimed to keep their vision focused on pursuing a career in Health.
Churchill Campus Year 7 Camp Coolamatong
During term two, the Year 7 students from the Churchill Campus and Morwell Campus attended their retrospective camps, with the theme of their camp focusing on resilience.
Eight-three Year 7 students from Kurnai College, Churchill Campus attended Camp Coolamatong, along with 16 Year 10 peer support leaders during week five of term two. While eighty-four Year 7 students from the Morwell Campus attended during week eight of term two.
Mine Work Inspiration
The Year 10 Pathways students from the University Campus participated in a program facilitated by The Smith Family called “Work Inspiration”.
Over the course of two Tuesdays, the students completed a series of insight activities with Mine and Land Rehabilitation Authority and RTL Mining & Excavating, gaining first-hand information about employment pathways and job opportunities in the mining industry.
Year 9 Westbury Farm Excursion
On Monday 22nd May, Year 9 students from the Churchill Campus and Morwell Campus travelled to a farm in Westbury to undertake a geographic inquiry that aligned with their unit of studies on biomes and food security. Visiting a farm where they have modified the environment for food production, the students had to consider the impact and influence of factors such as environment, finance, and technology. While at the farm students participated in a discussion facilitated by RACE (raising aspirations and career education in agriculture) Gippsland before completing their inquiry notes.
Yakult Factory Tour
On Thursday 18th of May, the Year 12 Business Management, Year 11 and 12 Food Technology and International Program students attended an excursion to the Yakult factory in Dandenong. The students were able to see first-hand how sustainable business models are applied in practice throughout the tour.
The students were able to learn about quality control and the sterilisation process as well as how Yakult is produced, including the companies’ high standards of quality control, commitment to corporate social responsibility, and environmental standards.
Latrobe Youth Space
On Monday 8th May Morwell Campus students from 7A and 8A walked down to Latrobe Youth Space. This gave the students the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the local provider that aims to empower local young people through providing activities and services that assist them with growing their skills and experiences.
RMIT I Belong Camp
A small cohort of Year 10-12 Indigenous students attend the RMIT I Belong Camp during week two of term two.
I Belong endeavours to address many of the barriers to higher education that students endure. The students participated in a program that enhanced their knowledge about the entry of pathways to university course options and career opportunities. They discovered how you can attend University regardless of if they undertake VCE or VCE VM.
Gippsland Tech School Excursions - Term 2
The Gippsland Tech School is a high-tech learning environment, with innovative education programs linked with local industry delivering real-world learning to students. Kurnai College utilises the resources and specialised programs offered by the Tech School throughout the year. During 2023 students have already had the opportunity to participate in a number of different programs.
ANZAC Day
On Tuesday 25th of April, Student Leaders had the honour of representing Kurnai College at multiple ANZAC services that were held across the Latrobe Valley to pay our respects.
College Captains, Jazmine Sanders, William Bonnici, and Kerwin Valdez attended the Yinnar service, Churchill Campus Vice School Captains, Robert Aarons and Zoe Woodward attended the service held in Churchill, and Morwell Campus School captains, Kieran Webb and Ayla Schiavello attended the service held in Morwell.
Blue Edge Program
The Blue EDGE (Educate, Develop, Grow, Empower) Program is once again been offered at the Churchill Campus this term. The eight-week program which is run by Blue Light in partnership with Victoria Police combining physical training, mentoring and life skills.
Over the duration of the eight-weeks, the selected 12 students from Years 8/9 participate in two sessions a week that aims to increase the student’s resilience and wellbeing using fitness and activity-based learning. In partnership with Victoria Police members, the program builds positive relationships between young people, the police and wider community support networks.
Inter-house Athletics Carnival
The last day of summer, Tuesday 28th February provided a perfect warm day to host Kurnai College’s Inter House Athletics Carnival at Joe Carmody Reserve in Newborough on.
Students from across the College came together and participated in various track and field events, novelty events such as limbo, longest footy kick, or the balloon toss, or simply spent a relaxing day catching up with their friends.
Gippsland Tech School Excursions - Term 1
The Gippsland Tech School is a high-tech learning environment, with innovative education programs linked with local industry delivering real-world learning to students. Kurnai College utilises the resources and specialised programs offered by the Tech School throughout the year. During 2023 students have already had the opportunity to participate in a number of different programs.
VCE Environmental Science Mt. Rothwell Camp
In early February, the Year 12 Environmental Science class went on a three-day camp in the Brisbane Ranges National Park. During camp, students performed a series of tests on the water, soil and air quality of Boar Gully. Students also visited the Mt. Rothwell Conservation Centre (the largest feral predator free ecosystem in Victoria) to learn about the conservation of various endangered and endemic Victorian species of marsupial, including the Eastern Barred Bandicoot – the focus species for the first outcome of the Environmental Science Study Design.
School Council Nominations & Election 2023
Notice of Election and Call for Nominations – 2023
An election is to be conducted for members of the School Council of Kurnai College
Nominations open on Wednesday, 22 February with nomination forms available from each campus office and must be lodged by 4.00 pm on Wednesday, 1 March 2023.
The ballot will close at 4.00 pm on Tuesday, 7 March, 2023.
Year 7 & 10 Immunisations 2023
Please find below the information regarding the School Immunisation Program for Year 7 and Year 10 students.
Consent forms are to be completed by Friday 10th of February to ensure that they are processed in a timely manner prior to the immunisations days at school.
YEAR 7 Students
Students in Year 7 (or age equivalent) receive two vaccinations on the immunisation schedule:
• Gardasil 9 - Human Papillomavirus (HPV), 2 dose course, 6 months apart
• Boostrix – Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis (whooping cough) booster, 1 dose
School Photos 2023
All school photos can be ordered online at Leading Image Photography. Please do not bring photo money to school. Photos can be ordered prior to photo day.
To order your school photos you need to log onto https://www.leadingimage.com.au
Click on Order Your School Photos and enter your school access key.
For orders made after photo day, a personal access key is provided to each student.
2022 Kurnai College Awards Ceremony
On Friday, December 16, Kurnai College held its College Awards Ceremony at the University Campus.
The event commenced with a BBQ lunch in the courtyard at the University Campus before all students and guests moved to the Auditorium at Federation University where the official proceedings commenced.
Kurnai College's Dedlee Dancers commenced the event with a welcome chant, followed by the Welcome and Acknowledgement of Country. The College Chior performed the National Anthem before the Dedlee Dancers took the stage to perform Naa Naa Nukendare.
College Announcement
Dear members of our school community,
Wear It Purple Day
UNIVERSITY CAMPUS
On Thursday the 25th of August, Kurnai College's University Campus will be hosting Wear It Purple Day to raise awareness of LGBTQIA+ youth’s struggles and demonstrate allyship in the Kurnai College school community! This event is for all students and staff to participate in to help show members of the community that they are safe and accepted in our community!
SRC have organised nail painting, ally and pride badges, temporary purple hair spray, face painting, music at lunch and many other fun activities to promote pride in our community!
Year 7 Portsea Camp - Morwell Campus
Eighty Year 7 students from the Morwell Campus adventured on a five-day ‘Positive Start Camp’ at Portsea Camp last Monday 8th – Friday 12th of August.
The students participated in an array of activities including High Ropes Course, Flying Fox, Giant Swing, Boulder Wall, Scooters, Bridge Building, Hut Building, Parachute Games, Kayaking, Rockpool Rambling, Swimming, Beachcombing, Bush Cooking and a Disco Night.
Gippsland Finals Senior Girls School Soccer
The Year 11/12 girls’ team from the University Campus represented Kurnai College at the Gippsland Finals of School Soccer in Traralgon after successfully progressing from the Wellington round in June. The team played in a series of 30-minute round robin games with a chance to progress to State Finals that will be held in late August.
Well-structured and organised, the team comfortably won their first game to Bass Coast Secondary College defeating them 6nil. However, Bass Coast still put the pressure on contending with a couple of 1-on-1s that forced our keeper to pull off a brilliant save.
Year 9 Melbourne Discovery Camp
During Term 3 Year 9 students from the Morwell Campus and Churchill Campus attened their retrospective Melbourne Camps.
The students travelled to Melbourne by train where the spent several days exploring the city and engaging in many of Melbourne's attractions including O'Brien Icehouse Melbourne Zoo, Melbourne Skydeck, and ArtVo.
NAIDOC Week Celebrations
NAIDOC Week celebrations that are held across Australia in the first week of July each year, to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.
The Summit Camp
Last week of term 2 was an amazing experience for the Morwell Year 9 and 10 students who attended The Summit Camp in Trafalgar. Congratulations to everyone who attended for a transformative experience that will help us to confront our limitations and exceed expectations in the future.
We were expertly guided by our coaches Ella, Cam, Logan, Centauri, Adam and work experience student Josh. They proved to be positive, supportive, motivating and invested in the success of each and every student.
Be Wise presentation by the Pat Cronin Foundation
Yesterday, our VCAL and Churchill Year 9 & 10 students attended a Be Wise presentation by the Pat Cronin Foundation.
The Pat Cronin Foundation was established by Matt and Robyn Cronin in memory of their 19 year-old son who died from a coward punch on a night out in Diamond Creek in 2016.
The presentations inform students about Pat and his story, teaching students to reflect on attitudes and behaviours around anger and aggression. Students learn about the impact of violence and coward punches and how they can become part of the solution to end the coward punch.
2021 Dux - Sophie Kootstra
Kurnai College is delighted to announce that our Dux of 2021 is Sophie Koostra. Sophie’s ATAR of 95 is an incredible achievement and is testament to her dedication to her studies during an unsettled year.
Throughout many of the lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sophie continued through focusing on her studies in English, Maths, Psychology, Health & Human Development, and a Certificate III in Health Services.
‘Sophie is a very hardworking and dedicated student’ as described by her teachers.
HPV Training Day
During the last weekend of November, teams from Morwell Campus are usually participating in the HPV Energy Breakthrough 24hr Race in Maryborough.
However, due to COVID-19 restrictions the annual event unfortunately did not go ahead.
Instead the HPV teams headed down to Casey Fields on Friday 26th November to participate in a 6-hour event to put all their hard work from year into practice.
Yakult Factory Tour
Kurnai College’s Year 12 Business Management class visited the Yakult Factory in Dandenong this week, as part of their studies for “Operations”. The Japanese-owned company sells Yakult (a fermented milk drink) across forty countries, with the factory in Dandenong making all the Yakult for the Australian and New Zealand market.
Secondhand Book Sales
Kurnai has changed the way we will be handling second-hand sales, we will no longer be holding an on campus book sales however we have purchased an online membership for all our families to access at Sustainable School Shop.
The Sustainable School Shop encourages re-use and re-cycling through innovation and technology, enabling schools and families to look for a second-hand item first before buying new. Making better use of current resources builds a more sustainable school community and lowers the cost of education.
Inter-house Athletics Carnival
Kurnai College’s Inter House Athletics Carnival at Joe Carmody Reserve in Newborough on Tuesday 2nd of March 2020.
Students from across the College came together and participated in various track and field events, novelty events such as limbo, longest footy kick or the balloon toss or simply spent a relaxing day catching up with their friends.
Thorpe took out the Kurnai College House Athletics Championship Cup winning by a margin of 194 points ahead of runners up Forsyth.
Rockfest Music Competition
Our Music students have had the opportunity to participate in the ‘Rockfest Music Competition’ this year. The competition is a national event that gives students the opportunity to develop networks with music students from across Australia and is adjudicated by professional musicians and industry leaders who provide feedback to the participants to grow and develop their musical potential.
Inter-house Athletics Carnival
A perfect autumn day hosted Kurnai College’s Inter House Athletics Carnival at Joe Carmody Reserve in Newborough on Tuesday 3rd of March 2020.
Students from across the College came together and participated in various track and field events, novelty events such as limbo, longest footy kick or the balloon toss or simply spent a relaxing day catching up with their friends.
Forsyth once again prevailed and took out the Kurnai College House Athletics Championship Cup winning by a margin of 148 points ahead of runners up Freeman.
Travis Colson - Aunty Dot Peters Award Recipient
Kurnai College, Churchill Campus student, Travis Colson was among one of four Aboriginal Victorians to receive a $5000 scholarship at Parliament House on Thursday 13th February. Presented by Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Gavin Jennings at an awards event at Parliament House, the inaugural Aunty Dot Peters Award supports Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students to complete Years 9 and 10 at a Victorian secondary school.
Inter-house Swimming Carnival
Once again, Moe Outdoor Pool was the scene for Kurnai College’s Inter House Swimming Carnival held on Thursday 13th, February 2020. While the weather were not ideal, the cool temperature and rain did not dampen the student’s spirits and the enthusiasm from all participants went a long way to making the carnival a success.
Students from across the College braved the cold conditions by participating in the various competitive and novelty events. Others simply spent a relaxing day catching up with their friends, or participated in the Best Dressed Competition.
Outdoor Education Surf Camp
Recently, 20 students from both the Churchill and Morwell Camp Year 9/10 Outdoor Education classes attended a three day surf camp at Wilsons Promontory. Weather conditions were forecast to be very rainy, windy and cold, however the students were still eager to not let the weather dampen their experience. The surf lessons were pushed forward to earlier in the days to make use of the better weather conditions. Rather than surfing at Wilsons Prom, the group travelled to Waratah Bay for all three surf lessons, as it provided better protection from the prevailing South-Westerly Victorian winds.
Emerging STEM for Women Program
On Wednesday 23rd October a small group of Yr 9 students from Morwell and Churchill campuses attended a day at Ecolinc in Bacchus Marsh with a collection of other Gippsland schools. The students participated in a range of activities including:
• A video conference with Tiffany Yao, an electrical engineer at Ad Astra Rocket Company. Tiffany spoke to the students about some of the work she is completing at the moment in designing more efficient rockets for space travel.
Morwell Campus Year 8 Karoonda Park Camp
42 Year 8 students from Kurnai College, Morwell Campus went to Karoonda Park, during the first week of term 4 for their school camp. On the way there, the students stopped off at Buchan Caves and went through the Royal Cave. The limestone cave consisted of many chambers, filled with calcite rimmed pools and stalactites crystals covering the cave’s roof. Jumping back on the bus the students travelled the last part of the journey before arriving at Karoonda Park. Excitedly the students exited the bus ready and wanting to explore the place they would call home for the next week.
Gippsland Athletics 2019
Thursday the 19th September brought with it fantastic weather and the promise of two weeks holidays for the students.
But before they could celebrate the end of term, a small but talented group of Kurnai students competed against the best student athletes this side of Melbourne's metropolitan areas, at the Gippsland Track and Field Carnival at Joe Carmody Reserve Newborough.
Of the 8 students who attended, we brought home 9 podium finishes which is an amazing effort considering the size of a number of other schools teams in attendance.
Year 10 Tasmania Camp
Kurnai College’s year 10 students recently embarked on a five-day tour of Tasmania.
After a somewhat bumpy flight to Hobart, they boarded an extra-long, pink touring bus and spent the next few days exploring Salamanca Place, Constitution Dock, Battery Point, Hobart City, Richmond, and Russell Falls.
Pool Lifeguard Training
Over two Wednesdays, Year 11 Sport and Rec students at Kurnai College participated in professional Pool Lifeguard training with Life Saving Victoria.
The students interacted in a professional manner with their trainer, and completed a number of online and practical units in relation to gaining their qualification as a Pool Lifeguard.
Kurnai College Music Tour
Kurnai College commends its music's students’ efforts during their recent musical performances. The students performed brilliantly at Churchill Primary School and Yinnar Primary School, and did a wonderful job showcasing the schools musical program.
Proceeding on in their tour, the Music Students from Kurnai College then visited Churchill North Primary School and Morwell Central Primary School the following day. The students once again put on a magnificent performance showcasing their talents to our feeder schools.
Model UN Conference
On the 6th of August, six VCE students from University Campus attended Sale College for a Model UN Conference run by United Nations Association of Australia. The conference included students from six school across Gippsland with groups split up to represent different countries.
Kurnai College’s two teams were to represent the views and political ideologies of Iceland and Mexico in regards to the issue of Global Action on Climate Change.
NAIDOC Week Ceremony
Each year, Kurnai College celebrates NAIDOC (National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observation Committee) week. This is an important part of our students’ education and a strong step towards honouring and understanding our First Australians.
Each campus takes it in turns in hosting the main event.
Students at the Churchill Campus were treated to a BBQ on a glorious winter’s day and Violet Juracevich explained to our students the origins and meaning of NAIDOC.
VCE Biology Excursion - ArgiBio
On Monday the 22nd of July, 30 students from the Senior VCE Biology classes attended an excursion for the day at AgriBio in La Trobe University Melbourne. AgriBio is a leading Agricultural Research Institute that is funded by the Victorian government, mainly focusing on improving local farming industry through genetic engineering practices.
Throughout the day students engaged in activities that will expand their understanding of DNA manipulation techniques and how they may be applied in various industries in Victoria.
VIC SRC Congress
During the school holidays, several of our students attended VIC SRC Congress last week which is a student-led and student-focussed conference. Nearly 200 students come together to talk about the systemic issues that affect all levels of the education system and come up with new, exciting, innovative ways to tackle them...together! These issues become central to VicSRC’s advocacy work as they take them straight to the Minister for Education and work with him on implementation.
Gippsland Cross Country 2019
L-R: Emily Brabazon, Bridget Cain, Claire Irving, Dylan Dunstall
Thursday 13th June greeted the brave runners from all across Gippsland who came together at Lardner Park for the Gippsland Region Cross Country. Lardner greeted us with a sunny but cold winter’s day, and the head wind on a long uphill section did the runners no favours.
Kurnai had a small but determined group of runners who had qualified for the event after great results at the Wellington Region event held earlier in the year.
2019 Young Victorian Leaders to China Program
On the 16th March, a group of five Kurnai students left for a six-week trip to China as part of the Young Victorian Leaders to China program. The students spent 2-weeks based at the ‘Beijing Language and Culture University’ where they were immersed into Mandarin classes, toured the local cultural attractions, all while living, studying and eating among Chinese students. The students found the language studies to be quite intense.