Year 9 News

Welcome back to Term 2. I hope everyone enjoyed the holidays but more importantly, it is great to see all students settling back into what is going to be another busy term. 

Top Ten Kpa Receivers Term 2 Week 1-2 

House Championship Update 

Congratulations to Freeman who ended Term 1 on the top of the leaderboard. With the introduction to house games throughout the Relationships & Resilience sessions, will Thorpe, Siddle or Forsyth pip the leaders in the coming weeks? 

Freeman – 493 points

Thorpe – 319 points

Siddle – 269 points

Forsyth – 266 points

Attendance

This year our aim is to improve student attendance rates to an above 95% average. If you student is absent please contact Kurnai’s absence hotline on 5132 3711 or contact Ross Johnson directly via Compass.

Melbourne Discovery Camp

Consent Forms Available on Compass in Week 6

We’re excited to announce that planning for Camp 2025 is well underway! Camp is during the first week of Term 4, Monday 6th  - Friday 10th October.

Students will get the opportunity to explore the city and particpate in a range of activities such as the Queen Victoria Market, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Eureka Skydeck, Yarra River Cruise, Southbank DFO, MCG Tour, Crown Movies, Melbourne Central, and Docklands Ice Skating.

With many students already expressing strong interest, we expect a high level of demand for places this year. Permission forms will be available from Week 6 on Compass, and places will be allocated on a first in, best dressed basis. To secure a spot, both the completed consent form on Compass and deposit must be submitted.

Please note that there are only 60 spots available. Once all spots have been filled, students will be placed on a waiting list.

Students who have not met attendance, LBU, or behavioural expectations have already been omitted from eligibility to attend camp and parents/carers will be notified via email.

Final camp attendance will also be subject to review of each student’s attendance and behavioural data.

We look forward to a fantastic camp experience and appreciate your support in helping us manage the process fairly and efficiently.

Morrisby Interviews 

In week six and seven of Term 2, Year 9 students get the incredible opportunity to complete a Morrisby pro ling session. My Career Insights (Morrisby) is a program for all Year 9 students in government secondary schools. This program will help your Year 9 child to:

•  Learn about what skills and abilities they could bring to a job.
•  Find out about what jobs match their abilities, interests and personality, and the subjects they need for those jobs. As part of the program, your child will:
•  Complete a series of online questions and quizzes (on the Morrisby Pro le website) at school. 
• Receive a Morrisby Pro le Report showing the results from the questions and quizzes, and possible jobs that match their abilities, interests, and personality. 
• Have a 30-minute meeting with a Morrisby-trained Career Practitioner, who will explain the report to your child. Here’s a link to video https://youtu.be/8kZp4w69S2w

Tech School Excursion

This week, our Year 9 students had the exciting opportunity to spend a day at the Tech School, engaging in a dynamic program focused on creating a more sustainable future through renewable energy solutions. Throughout the day, students participated in a range of hands-on activities designed to deepen their understanding of how renewable energy is generated and how we can collectively work to reduce our carbon footprint. The experience culminated in a collaborative challenge where students applied their new knowledge to design and build a model city powered entirely by renewable energy source

Around the Classrooms

Year 9 R&R Update: House Championships Begin!

In Year 9 R&R, we have kicked off our House Championships with the first competition — Riddles! Students showed fantastic teamwork and problem-solving skills as they battled it out to earn points for their houses.

Congratulations to the following teams:

• 9A: Siddle
• 9B: Thorpe / Siddle
• 9C: Freeman / Siddle
• 9D: Freeman

A big well done to Siddle, who were the overall winners for this round with an impressive 104 points! We can't wait to see what happens in the next challenge!

Media Studies

This term in Media Studies, students are diving into the world of 'making media' to build both their creative and technical skills. 

They will have the opportunity to create their own media product, choosing from a short film, music video, podcast, short documentary, or advertisement. Throughout the term, students will explore the full production process, from pre-production planning, to filming and recording, through to post-production editing. We're looking forward to seeing what students create!

Human Powered Vehicles

Last week, excitement and determination filled the air as students from the Year 9/10 Racing Team too their HPVs to the Morwell Go Kart Track for a 24-hour endurance challenge. After months of preparation and teamwork, all four of our HPV teams combined their efforts to achieve an incredible milestone — covering a total of 1,700 kilometers!

The 24-hour event was a true test of stamina, skill, and team spirit. Students rotated through driving shifts, working tirelessly through the day and night to keep their vehicles moving. Each team faced its own set of challenges, from mechanical issues to navigating fatigue, but their perseverance never wavered.

Teachers, parents, and volunteers played a crucial role, offering support by cheering the students on from the sidelines. It was inspiring to see how everyone pulled together, showing resilience, problem-solving, and sportsmanship throughout the entire event.

This challenge wasn't just about distance — it was about pushing personal limits, relying on teamwork, and celebrating the power of human energy and innovation. The students' achievement of riding 1,700 kilometers collectively is a testament to their hard work, preparation, and determination.

Congratulations to all the students involved for representing our school with such pride and passion! We look forward to seeing what the future holds for our HPV teams.

Contact Details 

If you have any concerns regarding Year 9 students, please don’t hesitate to contact me at (03) 5165 0600 or Ross.Johnson@kurnaicollege.vic.edu.au 

Ross Johnson

Year 9 Team Leader