College News

Message from the College Principal

G’day everyone,

Another busy term is underway and across the College, there is a full program of activities engaging our students. Interschool sport and excursions have all combined to create an active abd rewarding learning environment. These expereinces reflect our commitment to Engagement—one of Kurnai College's four pillars—and highlight the diverse range of opportunities we offer our students to learn beyond the classroom.

Our junior campuses hosted Awareness Days for our local feeder primary schools' Grade 5 and 6 students last week. These were very successful days, with enthusiastic participation and extremely positive feedback from both the students visiting and the primary school staff who accompanied them. It was an excellent opportunity to welcome these  visitors to our learning community and begin developing the Relationships that are so crucial to a smooth and confident transition into secondary school.

As the first semester comes to an end, our students are showing great Work Ethic as they finish off assessments and consolidate their learning. Behind the scenes, teachers are working hard to mark student work and provide constructive feedback before commencing semester reports. For our senior students this time of year also brings exams and the General Achievement Test (GAT), which require good focus and preparation.

Behind all of these activities, the pursuit of Excellence remains a driving force in our classrooms, on the sporting fields and in all learning experiences that we provide.

Let us continue to support one another as we move towards the end of the semester.

Anthony Rodaughan

College Principal 

ANZAC Day

On Friday 25th of April, Student Leaders had the honour of representing Kurnai College at multiple ANZAC services that were held across the Latrobe Valley to pay our respects. 

424SQN Australian Air Force Cadets

Students of the 424SQN Australian Air Force Cadets started the day off at the dawn service at Port Albert before traveling onto the Latrobe Valley to attend services in Yinnar, Churchill, and then Morwell. 

University Campus

College Captains, Mackenzie Batholomew, Sidney Townsend and Declan Lazaris attended the Yinnar service, where the trio laid a wreath on behalf of Kurnai College.

"It was an honour to lay a wreath for our fallen hero’s. An experience I will forever hold close to my heart, forever honouring those who fought for us, for me," said Mackenzie.

Churchill Campus

Churchill Campus  School Captain, Jackson Amos and Vice Captian, Lily Sykes attended the service held in Churchill, where they laid a floral wreath and then addressed the crowd reflecting on the importance of ANZAC day.

Morwell Campus

Morwell Campus School captains, Isabella Laming and Chelsea Parr, accompanied by several of the student leaders from across Years 7-9, attended the service held in Morwell where they laid a wreath on behalf of Kurnai College.

PBS Postcards

PBS postcards are sent out weekly by teachers who identify students who are consistently demonstrating and upholding the identified school values. The four pillars underpin all aspects of our work.

Excellence - "We do the best that we can do"

Engagement - "We actively participate in our own learning"

Work Ethic - "We are committed to working hard"

Relationships - "We value and respect each other"

Design Competition Winners

Students recently drew on their creativity, capturing the school values within an indigenous design to create new images for our PBS postcards. 

Congratulations to the students and their winning designs that arrived from the printers at the end of Term 1!

🎨 Chelsea Parr – Work Ethic

🎨 Anne-Maree Fenton-Harrison – Excellence

🎨 Emalee Gordon – Relationships

🎨 Lily Grimshaw – Engagement

Aspiring Athletes Program

Last week the Morwell and Churchill KAAP students had the incredible opportunity to visit the Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS) — a world-class facility dedicated to nurturing and developing elite sporting talent.

The day began with a guided tour of the VIS training facilities, giving students a rare behind-the-scenes look at where some of Australia’s top athletes prepare and train. From high-performance gyms to recovery and testing areas, the tour showcased the professional environment that supports elite athletic development.

Throughout the day, students participated in a series of high-quality presentations led by experts in sport science, nutrition, and athlete wellbeing. These sessions offered valuable insights into the discipline, mindset, and support structures needed to excel at the elite level of sport.

The visit not only educated but also inspired our students, giving them a unique, behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to reach the top — both on and off the field.

Sports News

Junior Girls Football

The Year 7 & 8 girls took to the field on a beautiful sunny day on Tuesday 6th May to compete in an eventful AFL competition.

The girls were very competitive in their three games. With their best fighting efforts, they won one game and lost the other two.  Regardless, the girls show tremendous sportsmanship and should be proud of the way in which they represented Kurnai College and themselves.  It was a great day for all!!

Music News

Want to learn a musical instrument?

Kurnai College offers students across its three campuses the opportunity to be part of a vibrant and engaging music program.

The program caters for students with mixed abilities and interests, whilst providing numerous learning and performance opportunities.

Specialist instrumental tuition is available for a variety of instruments including woodwind, brass, percussion and stringed.

Learning a musical instrument can help develop a variety of skills, from improving concentration and memory to boosting creativity and self-discipline. Plus, it's a great way to make new friends and express yourself in ways words cannot.

If you’re interested in starting your musical journey or advancing your skills, please see your music teacher, contact your Campus office, or speak to the College Music Coordinator, Mr Chris Gretton to find out more information.

Chris Gretton

College Music Coordinator