College News 

Message from the College Principal

Hi everyone, our college Principal, Anthony Rodaughan, is currently on some well-deserved long service leave  I am acting principal in his absence and am delighted to share the many events that have taken place or about to happen across our college.

We thank all the incredible staff who have organised and run these events, providing invaluable opportunities for our students.   We also thank the students for the positive manner in which they participate and represent our college. We regularly receive feedback on how well our students engage in these events.  Many of the events will be mentioned throughout this newsletter including the annual History day event held at Churchill Campus and the Year 11 and 12 Market day organised by our VCE VM students.

Last term, students at Churchill Campus participated in the annual History Day event by coming to school in costume, signing up for activities enjoyed during a previous era and eating as a campus at a lunchtime feast.  Additionally, our VCE VM students held their annual market day, raising money for the Churchill Neighbourhood House.

Whilst there are still many weeks ahead in Term 4, we begin to plan for the many ceremonies to recognise our students’ achievements and efforts.  I encourage you all to attend any relevant events and take part in celebrating your child’s accomplishments. Please take note of the key dates section of this newsletter to ensure you are aware of when relevant events are occurring.

As well as concluding classes for semester 2, campus teams are also busy preparing for our Headstart program where we begin preparing students for 2026. This is an important part of our program and aids in a smooth start at the beginning of next year.  

This week, we had our Year 12 Celebration Day. They have finished formal classes and are preparing for their next steps, whether that be exams, joining the workforce, or preparing for further education. A great day was had by all who came dressed in a variety of costumes. They enjoyed a cooked breakfast together before engaging in a couple of hours of fun activities, culminating in a colour run. We will farewell them more formally later in the year.

We wish all our students sitting exams in the next few weeks all the very best.

Finally, as we look ahead to 2026, we are excited to welcome our new Year 7 students during the Orientation Days in December. These days are an important part of helping our newest members of the Kurnai community feel comfortable, connected, and ready for the exciting journey ahead.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank our students, staff, and families for their ongoing support and commitment to our College values. The collaboration across our three campuses continues to strengthen the sense of unity and pride that defines Kurnai College.

I look forward to celebrating the remainder of the year together as we recognise achievements, create lasting memories, and prepare for another successful year ahead.

Cleo Lazaris

Acting College Principal 

100 Word Story Competition

This year, we ran a college-wide competition with the goal of writing a complete story in just 100 words. The students have done incredibly well, with over 70 stories submitted from all year levels and from each of our four campuses.

Several outstanding stories were received this year, and a selection of the submitted stories will appear in this year’s Kurnai Yearbook. All students will receive a copy of the Yearbook in late November.

This year’s winners of the competition are:

1st Place              - Rubi Derbyshire

2nd Place             - Kyal Bennett

3rd Place              - Skylah Russell

3rd Place             - Amy Potts

3rd Place             - Kara Phillips

Congratulations to the winners.

Each student has received a QBD book voucher as their prize. 

As a taster of what is coming in the Kurnai Yearbook, here is Rubi’s winning story.

The Day She Didn’t Come Home

They said Lila was just walking home.

No storm, no traffic, just the long road through the paddocks.

She waved to Mrs. Smith, kicked stones, laughed at magpies. Then—nothing.

Her phone pinged once near the creek, then went silent.

We searched for days. Cops, dogs, even helicopters.

Only thing found? Her necklace, caught on a wire fence like it was placed there.

People said she ran away. But she packed no bag, told no one.

I was the last to see her.

She turned back and smiled, like she knew something.

Then the wind came. And took her forever.

Gumbuya World

Kurnai College's Celebration Day this year will see all campuses come together on Thursday 11th of December to celebrate the year of learning at Gumbuya World.

Students will be transported by bus from their 2025 home campus and will be returned to their home campus by 4pm. Subject to weather conditions, the activities available on the day include unlimited access to waterpark rides, amusement rides (excluding new rollercoasters) and the wildlife park.

Permission forms are now available on Compass. If you are having trouble accessing Compass or need a printed copy of the form, please contact the office. Students, please ensure you fill in your option for lunch on the form.

College-Wide Arts/Technology Night

Please join us for a celebration of creativity and innovation, featuring our talented Arts & Technology students from across the College. The evening will showcase a diverse array of student work, from across all year levels highlighting their accomplishments in Arts, Music, Drama, Media Studies, and various Technology disciplines, including Wood, Metal, and Food.

The event is scheduled for Tuesday 2nd December, 5pm - 7pm at Kurnai College, Morwell Campus. Please come along and support our amazing students and celebrate their success. 

Music News

Music for the Valley

On Saturday, 20th September, Kurnai College proudly partnered with Monash University for a wonderful musical event that brought together around 90 talented musicians from across the region for a truly memorable performance in the Latrobe Valley.

It was fantastic to see the Kurnai College logo proudly displayed on stage, representing our school community with pride and excellence. The event showcased not only the remarkable talent of our students and staff but also the power of collaboration between educational institutions in fostering a love of music and performance.

We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to Monash University and Federation University for their generous support and for helping bring such an exceptional concert to our local community.

Please join us in congratulating our outstanding student musicians — Hayden S (UNI), Ali S (CH), Abigail B (CH), Grace N (MO) and Milla T (CH) — along with past student Lucas, and our dedicated staff Ian Hopkins, Hayden May, Kathryn Sims, Olivia Mitchell, and Michael Brandon for their incredible contributions to this special event. Their talent, hard work, and teamwork made this performance one to remember.

Kurnai’s Got Talent

We’re thrilled to announce that KGT is back for another year! This highly anticipated event provides an incredible platform for students to showcase their talents, compete for exciting prizes, and battle it out for the prestigious title of Kurnai's Got Talent Champion. 

The KGT Grand Final is scheduled for Thursday 13th November, 6pm - 8pm at the Morwell Performing Arts Centre. Please join us for an unforgettable evening filled with talent.

Everyone is welcome, so bring your friends and family to support our amazing finalists!

We can’t wait to see you there! 

Chris Gretton

College Music Coordinator

Sports News

With the beginning of a new term, our students have already continued to proudly represent Kurnai College in a range of interschool sporting events. They’ve once again stepped up with great commitment and embraced the challenges of competitive sport.

Gippsland Athletics

A small but talented group of Kurnai College students competed against the best student-athletes this side of Melbourne's metropolitan areas at the Gippsland Track and Field Carnival at Joe Carmody Reserve, Newborough, late last term, on Tuesday 9th September.

Congratulations to Skylah Russell (YR9), who placed first in the long jump, Lavinia Benson (YR9), who placed second in the triple jump, and Elijah, Clay, Austin, and Tjae (YR9), who placed second in the 4x100m relay.

Skylah has qualified for the Victorian State Championships, which will be held at Albert Park, Melbourne, early next term. We wish her all the best and congratulate all the athletes who have represented Kurnai College this year across various Interschool sporting events.

State Athletics Championships

On Monday, 20th October, Year 9 student Skylah Russell represented Kurnai College Churchill Campus at the State Athletics Championships held at Albert Park. Accompanied by her number-one supporter, Marli Naporowski, Skylah competed in the 15-Year-Old Girls’ Long Jump event.

With great determination and focus, Skylah achieved an impressive personal best of 4.29 metres, securing 7th place overall in the state — a remarkable accomplishment at this elite level of competition.

Throughout the day, both Skylah and Marli proudly showcased Kurnai spirit, cheering on fellow athletes from across the region and celebrating the achievements of all competitors. Their enthusiasm and sportsmanship were a credit to themselves and the College.

Congratulations, Skylah, on an outstanding effort and an incredible result!