Welcome to Semester 2

Welcome back to all students, staff, and families for Semester 2. I hope everyone had the opportunity to enjoy a restful break and has returned refreshed and ready for another productive and rewarding semester.

As we begin the new semester, I ask all students to recommit to the behaviours and learning habits expected at Kurunjang Secondary College. This means arriving on time and prepared to learn, treating others with respect, following instructions, completing work to the best of their ability, and contributing positively to a calm and purposeful learning environment.

Students must also be active participants in their own learning and education. Learning is not something that is simply done to us; it requires attention, effort, persistence, and a willingness to think deeply. At times, learning will feel challenging—and this is often a sign that meaningful learning is taking place. We encourage our students to be curious, to ask thoughtful questions, to learn from mistakes and to rise to the challenges that learning creates.

A strong education develops through the gradual building of deep and connected knowledge. The more students understand about the world—its history, cultures, scientific discoveries, ideas, language, and literature—the better equipped they are to think critically, make connections, solve problems, and understand perspectives beyond their own. Curiosity is strengthened by knowledge, because the more we know, the more meaningful and sophisticated our questions can become.

Deep knowledge gives students the foundation to grow, succeed and develop as capable, informed, and confident individuals who can understand and contribute meaningfully to world around them.

Our role as a college is to provide high-quality teaching, clear routines, appropriate challenge, and the support students need to succeed. The responsibility of every student is to engage, persist and make the most of each opportunity presented to them. We look forward to working in partnership with families to reinforce these expectations throughout Semester 2.

Rubicon Outdoor School Camps

Our Year 9 students recently attended Rubicon Outdoor School, where learning takes place in the natural environment through activities such as bushwalking, canoeing, rafting, team challenges, and a range of other adventurous experiences.

We trust that our students had a wonderful time, learned more about themselves and their capabilities, and developed stronger connections with other students and staff.

Experiences such as these encourage students to step beyond their comfort zones, build resilience, work collaboratively, and discover what they are capable of achieving.

I would like to sincerely thank Tyler Watt, Rylie Maple, Michael Cristino, Dominic Snape, Vanessa Azzopardi, and Shauldon Huisman for giving their time, energy, and care to support our Year 9 students throughout the camp. Opportunities such as these are only possible because of the commitment of staff who are willing to accompany students and support them beyond the classroom.

Our Year 10 students will attend Rubicon Outdoor School next week. I would also like to thank Allanna Procak, Chris Tremoulis, John Gerohristodoulou, Maria Rogel Favlia, Marie Bagnath, and Andrew Hadden in advance for the important role they will play in supporting our students during this experience.

We wish our Year 10 students and staff a safe, enjoyable, and rewarding camp and look forward to hearing all about their experiences when they return.

Year 10 into Year 11 Course Counselling

Year 10 into Year Course Counselling will take place on Monday 3 August 2026, from 11.00am to 5.30pm.

It is essential that families make a booking and attend this important meeting with their child. Course Counselling is much more than selecting subjects. It is a pivotal opportunity for students, families, and College staff to consider each student's strengths, interests, aspirations, and future pathway.

The decisions made at this stage can influence a student's engagement and success, as well as their future study, training and employment options. Parents and carers play an important role by asking questions, exploring the available pathways, and helping their child make informed, realistic, and appropriately ambitious choices.

I strongly encourage every Year 10 family to make a booking, attend with their child, and take an active role in shaping the pathway their child will follow into Year 11 and beyond.

Student-Free Professional Learning Day

Wednesday 19 August 2026 will be a student-free day. College staff will participate in a full day of professional learning with respected researcher, educator, and author Dr Nathaniel Swain.

We are excited to have Dr Swain work alongside us as we continue our school improvement journey and strengthen a shared vision and language for effective teaching at Kurunjang Secondary College.

The day will focus on helping staff deepen their understanding of responsive teaching within an explicit teaching framework. Staff will explore how teachers can respond to what students know, understand, and can do while maintaining clear, structured, and purposeful instruction.

Importantly, staff will leave the day with practical, evidence-informed strategies that can be applied immediately in classrooms to strengthen student learning, engagement, and success.

We look forward to a positive and purposeful Semester 2 and to continuing our work together to ensure every student has the opportunity—and accepts the responsibility—to learn, grow and thrive.

Welcoming New Staff

We are pleased to welcome several new staff members to Kurunjang Secondary College this semester.

Janine Grubb joins us as our new Enhanced Year 6 to 7 Transition Coordinator. In this important role, Janine will work closely with our partner primary schools to strengthen communication, build a deeper understanding of the students who will be joining our college and support a more informed and successful transition into secondary school.

We also welcome Magda Andrews, our new provisional psychologist. Magda will support students and work with staff to deepen our understanding of how student wellbeing can be supported effectively within an educational setting. Her work will strengthen our capacity to respond to students' needs while supporting their engagement, learning, and development.

Benjamin Guy joins the college as our new Arts and Visual Communication teacher. I am excited to share that Benjamin is already planning a project that will involve students in the design and creation of a mural. This will provide students with an opportunity to contribute creatively to the college environment while developing their artistic skills, confidence, and sense of connection to our school community.

We are also delighted to welcome Pat Lafaele back to Kurunjang Secondary College. Pat has returned to teach Health and Physical Education, and we are pleased to have him rejoin our college community.

We warmly welcome Janine, Magda and Benjamin, and welcome Pat back to KSC. We look forward to the expertise, energy, and opportunities they will bring to our students and wider college community.

Warm regards,

Aylin Gökmen

Principal

Kurunjang Secondary College

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