Dear Families,

As we come to the end of Term 1, I want to thank our families for your ongoing support in helping make Kurunjang Secondary College a school our community can be proud of – the School of Choice.

At KSC, we are engaged in important work. We are not simply maintaining old habits or accepting what has always been. We are deliberately building a stronger college culture grounded in high expectations, consistency, accountability, and care. This work matters because our students deserve a school experience that genuinely prepares them for success, both now and into the future.

A key part of this work is our commitment to evidence-informed teaching and learning. At Kurunjang Secondary College, we are continuing to strengthen our consistent whole-school approach to instruction so that every student has access to the same high-quality learning, the same clear routines, and the same opportunity to succeed. This is what equity looks like in practice: not lowering the bar, but ensuring every student is supported to reach it.

When teaching is clear, structured, and purposeful, students are better able to engage with new knowledge, build confidence, and experience success. When expectations are predictable and consistent, students feel safer, more settled, and more ready to learn. This is why our work around instructional practice, routines, and readiness to learn is so important. It reduces uncertainty, strengthens focus, and creates the conditions in which students can thrive.

Alongside this, we are also continuing to raise expectations for student responsibility and perseverance. Growth does not come from avoiding challenge. It comes from learning to persist, to respond to feedback, to work through difficulty, and to keep going when something feels demanding. These are not just school expectations; they are life expectations. They are the habits, attitudes and dispositions that will open doors for our young people in the years ahead.

As a college, we will continue to hold firmly to the belief that our students are capable of more, and that they deserve adults who believe this deeply enough to insist on it. That includes expecting students to attend regularly, to be punctual, to come prepared, to wear the correct uniform, and to approach their learning with seriousness and pride. These expectations are not superficial. They are part of building self-respect, belonging, discipline, and confidence. They also reflect our belief that young people should be prepared not only for success at school, but for the broader demands and opportunities of adult life.

Family collaboration is critical in this work. As parents and carers, it is natural to want to protect children from discomfort or struggle. However, one of the greatest gifts we can give young people is not to rescue them from every challenge, but provide the support and encouragement to face challenge well. When school and home, work together to reinforce accountability, resilience and high expectations, students benefit enormously.

These reflections were reinforced for me on Wednesday evening, 25 March 2026, when Ms Ryan, Assistant Principal, Ms Sinclair, Scholarships Coordinator, and I attended the Western Chances Scholarship Award Ceremony at Federation Square.

Western Chances provides extraordinary support to young people in Melbourne’s west, helping highly motivated students overcome barriers and pursue their educational aspirations through scholarships, opportunity programs, and ongoing support. These scholarships are life changing. They provide not only financial assistance, but also mentoring, leadership development and access to opportunities that can shape a student’s future well beyond secondary school.

It was a proud moment to see so many students from government schools across the western suburbs recognised for their effort, achievement, and potential. These young people represented their schools, their families and themselves with pride and dignity.

I would like to warmly congratulate our KSC students who received their official Western Chances Scholarship Awards:

Year 7

Gabriella Benjamin

Kaylee Bowes

Lexi Coe

Ava Walsh

Year 8

Aiden Burgess

Daveenah Leota-Vaetoe

Esha McTaggart

Year 9

Michael Bayles

Elijah Clyne

Noah Dober

Year 10

Makeny Kur

This is a significant achievement for these students and their families. We are incredibly proud of them. Their success is a reminder of what is possible when aspiration is nurtured, effort is sustained, and young people are encouraged to see beyond immediate circumstances to the opportunities ahead. I look forward to seeing even more of our students embrace such opportunities in the future.

Thank you again for your support throughout the term. I wish all families a restful and enjoyable break. For those who celebrate Easter, I wish you a happy Easter. For all families, I hope the holiday period provides time to recharge and enjoy time together.

I look forward to welcoming students back for Term 2.

Warm regards,

Aylin Gökmen

College Principal.

Young Communities - School Holiday Activities