December 2018

Thinking back over the year, 2018 has certainly been a year of action and implementation and certainly a year of many successes for the college.

I want to now take this opportunity to mention two highlights for the college that occurred in the last month.

Naming our Student Teams

Our student teams were born this year and they have already become central to the culture of the school. All three teams have recently been named by students and staff and will now take on historical names of Melton’s past.

I want to publicly acknowledge the work of our Student Leaders and the work of David Gorton, the school’s Engagement Leader, who collectively spent many months consulting our students and staff in the process. In the end the voting process resulted in very clear results for each house. They have done an outstanding job.

From the beginning of next year:

A House is to be known as Lang House, named after the Lang Family. Both Horace and his brother Thomas served in the AIF in World War One. Horace was originally sent to Gallipoli, and was awarded the Military Cross. He was ultimately killed in action at the Bullecourt (France). Horace and Thomas’s father, also known as Thomas was the Headteacher at Melton State School. Both sons are commemorated at the Melton Cenotaph.

B House is to be known as Barak House, named after William Barak. William was originally a tracker in the Native Police Force, who became a Wurundjeri clan leader. He was a politically skilled leader, skilled mediator and spokesperson for his people. Skilled in the arts of diplomacy and friendship, he became known as the King of the Yarra.

C House is to be known as Pyke House, named after the Pyke brothers whose pastoral station was at Toolern Creek which was the foundation of the settlement known as Melton. The graves of the brothers can still be found in the Melton Valley Golf Course. They were considered to be the first European settlers to Melton.

I announced these names publicly for the first time at the college’s recent Award Night and they were very well received. I look forward to seeing our student teams grow and become integral in the way we operate at Kurunjang.

2018 Awards Night

On Thursday 13 December, over 600 members of the college’s community attended the 2018 Awards night where we celebrated over 300 awards being presented to our students.

It was truly wonderful to see so many students, staff, family and friends come together to recognize our students’ achievements.

As a school community it is vitally important that we celebrate our success.

Good schools recognise the outstanding events that students accomplish, both inside and outside of the college. Watching students grow and realise their goals is one of the key reasons many of the staff of the college began working in education, myself included. The recognition of students fosters strong relationships among students, families, the college, and the community and creates a positive school culture where students feel valued.

It is evident to me through my day to day conversations that I have with parents, teachers and students that there is a strong wish between all stakeholders to provide the very best educational experience possible for our students.

The highlights of the year have been many. This array of highlights emphasizes just how diverse our students experience is.

As a sample, since the beginning of the 2018 year we have had the following events:

Open Day in Term 1
Whole school Swimming and Athletics Carnival
Anzac Day, Remembrance Day, Battle of Long Tan Commemorations Ceremonies
Rock Concert, Voice Concert and the Instrumental Music concerts
Year 12 Celebration Day and the Valedictory Dinner
Western Edge Cluster Award Ceremony
Year 9 City Experience
Principals excursions to reward our students who model our values

These events are only a small sample of the diversity of events that we offer.

In addition, our students continue to participate enthusiastically in many extra-curricular activities organised throughout the school year. Programs like Chess club, lunchtime activities, inter-school sport competitions just to name a few.

I would like to thank all members of the college community for their support and work over this year. I hope that you all enjoy a restful and safe Christmas break and a happy New Year.

As always, I am looking forward to 2019.

John Mitsinikos

College Principal

Riding in to VCAL

2019 VCAL Bikes