SCHOOL LEADERSHIP MESSAGE

PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

The past fortnight has been full of activity at Korumburra Secondary College, with students and staff embracing opportunities for learning, leadership and community connection—both inside and outside the classroom.

Our annual Athletics Carnival was held last week and, despite the storms rolling in and interrupting events mid‑afternoon, our students showed fantastic resilience and school spirit. We carried on wherever it was safe to do so, and students made the most of the day with great participation across all houses. We will be announcing the overall winning house at our next whole‑school assembly.

Year 8 students spent an action‑packed camp at The Summit, where they took part in teamwork challenges, outdoor adventure activities and confidence‑building experiences. Students pushed themselves, supported one another and represented the school proudly throughout the three‑day program.

Our Year 9 Outdoor Education class completed the George Bass Coastal Walk, navigating the rugged coastline and applying their skills in preparation, safety and teamwork. The hike gave students a chance to connect with nature, reflect on their learning and develop key competencies in the OED program.

Year 10 students visited the Korumburra Magistrates’ Court as part of their Legal Studies work. They gained firsthand insight into court processes, legal roles and what happens inside a real courtroom. This experience deepened their understanding of the Victorian justice system and connected theory with real‑world practice.

Last week, staff engaged in a full day of professional learning focusing on Positive Classroom Management Strategies and Active Brain Breaks. These sessions provided practical, evidence‑informed strategies to support student engagement, wellbeing and readiness to learn across all classrooms. Our team continues to work collectively on consistent, school‑wide approaches that help every student feel safe, supported and able to learn at their best.

NAPLAN 2026

Over the past week, our Year 7 and Year 9 students have taken part in NAPLAN practice sessions to help them feel confident and prepared. NAPLAN begins this Wednesday, starting with the Writing assessment.

We encourage students to approach each task with a positive mindset. NAPLAN provides a valuable snapshot in time of literacy and numeracy skills:

• Students who exceed benchmarks may be invited to take part in the Victorian High Ability Program, giving them access to extension learning opportunities across the state.

• Students identified as needing additional support help the school secure targeted funding, enabling us to provide the right interventions and learning programs.

   

NAPLAN at KSC is conducted in students’ usual classrooms and, where possible, with their regular teacher, ensuring the environment feels familiar and low‑stress. Our message to students is simple: aim high, stay calm, and give it your best.

Please send your students to school during the NAPLAN sessions, even if they are not feeling like completing the assessments. We will contact you if there are any concerns once they are here, but with our focus on increasing attendance, it is important that they don’t miss days of school due to NAPLAN. Please contact me if you would like to discuss further.

Attendance Focus

With the Department of Education’s updated attendance codes now in place, families planning an extended holiday during school time are asked to contact the Principal to seek approval. While we recognise the many benefits that family travel can offer, the use of the Family Holiday attendance code on Compass requires Principal approval and an absence learning plan.

The learning plan is provided by the school and is designed to be simple and meaningful. There is no requirement for students to complete formal schoolwork while away. Instead, the plan may include light activities such as keeping a travel journal, practising currency exchange when overseas, or taking a series of photos to share on return.

We appreciate families working with us to ensure attendance is recorded accurately and in line with Department requirements. Let us know if you are considering time away so we can support you with this process.

Our Year to Date Attendance is 88.1% which is still above our target of 84% for this year. I am pleased that our unexplained absences have dropped to 15% from 22% which is well on the way to our target of under 10%. Thanks to all families who are returning text messages or entering reasons for absence on Compass.

Compass Log in

A recent review of Compass activity shows that around half of our families have not yet logged into Compass this year. If you need your password reset, please contact the school office—our IT team can assist you in just a few seconds.

Compass is our key communication platform, and it’s where you can access important information such as learning tasks, attendance, permission forms and student reports. If you need any support getting logged in, please let us know—we’re here to help.

You can now also see updated photos of students on Compass.