Kurnai News

Congratulations to our Koorie Support Team, consisting of Marina Cooper, Hollie Johnson, Tre Moffatt, and Hayden Edwards have been shortlisted for the Outstanding Koorie Education category for their commitment and dedication to our Indigenous students and their families.

Kurnai College has recently held a major event to celebrate NAIDOC and recognise the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

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.

During week six of term two, twenty students from the Morwell Campus Year 9/10 Outdoor Education class attended a three-day surf camp at Wilsons Promontory.

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.

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.

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.

On Thursday 11th of May, all Year 11 students attended the Road Safety Expo facilitated by the Gippsland Road Safety Council, TAC, Latrobe City Council, Berry Street, SES, Ambulance Victoria and the Victorian Road Safety Policing Unit. 

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.

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.

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.

Forty-two Year 8 students from Kurnai College, Churchill Campus went to Karoonda Park for their school camp at the end of February.

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.

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

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. 

Dear members of our school community,

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!

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 11/12 students from the University Campus represented Kurnai College at the Wellington District School Basketball in Traralgon. The teams played in a series of round robin games with a chance to progress to Gippsland Finals.

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.

You are invited to our 2023 Parent Information Evening - Wednesday 3rd August.

This evening is for current and prospective families to showcase our college's Year 11 and 12 programs and subjects on offer for 2023 and beyond.

We congratulate Geoffrey Block (“Blocky”) for being announced in the 2022 Queen’s Birthday Honours roll as a recipient of the Public Service Medal for outstanding public service to education in Victoria.

Geoff Block has been a teacher at Maryvale High school/ Kurnai College since 1977.

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.

Churchill Campus -  Wednesday 9th February

Morwell Campus - Wednesday 16th February

University Campus - Tuesday 24th May 

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.

Last Friday, 18 June, 17 girls from Year 8 at Morwell campus participated in a Making Things That Matter one day virtual workshop, facilitated by Aruna and Hanna from Young Change Agents.

Stymie is a webapp, that delivers encrypted, anonymous and confidential notifications and where possible, uploaded evidence including screenshots to authorised recipients about issues of abuse, harm and unacceptable

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

During the second week of the winter school holidays, 16 students from the University Campus enjoyed 6 days of thrilling alpine skiing and snowboarding. The students endured the 5-hour bus drive up the Omeo alpine road to Mt Hotham Alpine resort.

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.