Principal Report  

Term 1 at Koonung

Thank you to all of our students, staff and families for your outstanding support of our students across all of Term 1. It has been a fantastic, but very busy Term 1 and as we approach the end of term, I am pleased to reflect on the success we have had over the past few months at our College. I am proud of the positivity from our staff and students, and constantly impressed of how our students live our College values, especially in how they demonstrate respect to their peers and staff, as well as their resilience in their learning. Thank you to you, our parents and carers, for your support of the learning of your child and of the College. It is much appreciated. I wish you a great holiday break and look forward to all students returning on Tuesday 22 April. 

Some of the events and activities from a busy Term 1-

We are aware that the first week of Term 2 is a shortened week, with public holidays on the Monday and Friday. If your family is choosing this time to continue holidays, please let us know at the College. 

Building Works

After a significant delay, our Capital Works building project will resume in Term 2. 

This will see the builders moving onto the site and beginning the work in completing our Middle Years building. Our Middle Years building will be extended by adding 9 new learning spaces, a new staff room and break out/flexible spaces for use by our students in Years 7 to 9. 

We anticipate that this project will be completed in Term 1 2026. During the building phase, there will be no disruption to our Curriculum program, but there will be impacts to our operations. This will include closing the carpark accessed via Cairo Road and the changing of rooms for some classes across the College. 

All students will receive a new timetable with the room changes at the start of Term 2.

Year 8 Camp

I also want to acknowledge the success of our first Year 8 Camp since pre-COVID times. It was a well-run three days in which our students were able to build upon connections and friendships that, for many of them, will be lifelong. The camp provided our students with an opportunity to step outside their comfort zones, learn new skills, and develop their teamwork and communication skills. The camp complements the focus in Term 1 to support students to build relationships and connections through the Middle School. 

The focus of the camp was around communication and being a positive member of a team. The theme was based around the popular TV program ‘Survivor’ and students working in 'tribes'. While no students were voted off like in Survivor, instead students engaged in activities where the tribes not only worked together to achieve challenges,  but also had to reflect on their own skills and ability to work in a team.   I am proud of our students for approaching the camp with such enthusiasm and making the most of the experience.

Robotics Club

This term also saw the beginning of our Robotics Club and program. The Robotics Club operates after school every  Monday and is designed to support the increasing passion and interest students have in the field of robotics. The club complements the program in Year 7 Digitech as well as the subject electives in Years 9 and 10. Please see Mr Ghobrial if interested. 

Road Safety around the College

I have previously communicated with all students and families around the importance of road safety before and after school. With 1220 students and surrounded by very busy roads, it is imperative that both our students, families and local community consider the safety and wellbeing of everyone during the busy times at drop off and pick up. 

Of major concern are some of the practices in student drop offs in the morning and pick ups in the afternoon. Students cannot be dropped off by parents in the school grounds including the school car parks accessed from Cairo Road, Box Hill Crescent the old Tennis Courts Staff Car Park. All of these car parks have shared pedestrian walkways, so please do not enter the school grounds for drop off or pick up. Another key concern raised is the significant traffic blocks on Box Hill Crescent at the corner of Belmore Road. We ask families when collecting your child to consider exiting Box Hill Crescent (especially when attempting to access Belmore road) by using the side streets of Benbrook Ave, Arnott St and Cairo Rd. 

Finally, we ask all families to be considerate of our neighbours when dropping off and picking up by not parking across driveways or attempting to undertake three point turns in streets surrounding the College. Please also remind your children to be road safe, including using the supervised crossings available and always giving way to vehicles on roads. 

North East Link Concerns

As you are aware, there is currently significant road works being undertaken on the Eastern Freeway from Elgar Road towards the city. Currently the Valda Wetalnds bridge (also known as the Heyington Ave Bridge) is closed and has been since early March. We have since discovered that the bridge will not be repaired and will remain closed until demolished in August. 

We are attempting to work with the Eastern Bourke to Tram Alliance (EBTA) who are the authority responsible for the freeway works in our area. This includes the provision of a promised bus to ferry students across the freeway every morning and afternoon. At this stage, the bus has not been provided. If this is impacting on your child's ability to travel to and from school every day, please don't hesitate to contact me here at the College. Alternatively, you can contact the EBTA at 1800 105 105 or at the following link: 

Contact us - Victoria’s Big Build

Elgar Road gates

A reminder that the gates at the back of the College on Elgar Road are closed during the school day. This is to ensure the safety of all students and staff as it is now the back of the College. Students who arrive late to school or leave early after being signed out are required to enter/exit the College via the open gates on either Cairo Road or Box Hill Crescent. Thanks for your ongoing support with site safety and security.

Farewells

The end of Term 1 also marks the final day in the impressive career of Penny Lee. Penny has worked in Education Support in Victorian government schools for over 38 years, with 31 years of service to the students and families at Koonung. Penny has undertaken multiple roles at Koonung, including most recently as First Aid Officer and previously as Science Lab Technician. Thank you to Penny for your many years of support for our students and we wish you all the best in your retirement. 

We also congratulate Ross Brisbane and thank him for his work at Koonung. Ross had previously retired after a long career in Education but returned to Koonung in positions including Art and Media and supporting students through the Literacy program. While Ross is moving back into retirement, and we wish him all the best in his retirement, we will still see Ross at the College as he continues to support us when required. 

Other staff who will be finishing their time at Koonung at the end of this term are Amelia Daw who after three years in the Learning Support program, has secured a position with the Department of Defence. Thank you also to Yang Gao, who is moving from our Learning Support team into a teaching position at another school and Ilona McColl who is moving to Scoresby Secondary College in Learning Support. Finally, thank you to Carl Beer who has completed a term of leave replacement in the Mathematics team and has secured a teaching role at Kew High School. Thank you to our retiring and departing staff and we wish you all the best in your future endeavours. 

College social media channels 

The College utilises social media to provide quick updates, interesting events, and lots of photos to our community.  We have one official Facebook page and three Instagram pages for members of our community to follow. 

FACEBOOK

OFFICIAL COLLEGE ACCOUNT

https://www.facebook.com/koonungsecondarycollege/

INSTAGRAM

OFFICIAL COLLEGE ACCOUNT

https://www.instagram.com/koonung.secondary.college/

LIBRARY ACCOUNT 

https://www.instagram.com/ksclibrary/

STUDENT LEADERS ACCOUNT

https://www.instagram.com/koonung_secondary_college/

ALUMNI PROGRAM SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS

The Koonung Secondary College alumni program utilises social media to stay connect with alumni. 

FOLLOW THE ALUMNI PROGRAM ON SOCIAL.

Andrew McNeil

Principal

andrew.mcneil@education.vic.gov.au