Year 9 News

As we move into the final weeks of the school year, we have several key dates and important events coming up. The Year 9 students will soon start discussing pathway opportunities for Year 10, to support their learning goals and career ambitions. This is a great chance to start talking at home about what your student wants their future to look like. We understand that young people don’t always know what they want their future careers to look like but parent involvement in careers conversations is considered one of the most important contributors to motivation, retention and career outcomes

School Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS)

As previous years we will be continuing the use of Kurnai Positive Acknowledgements (KPA’s), it has been fantastic to see students settling back into the Kurnai Learning Community and being acknowledged for their efforts within the classroom. 

KPA Data Term 4 Week 1-3

9A-  230

9B- 114

9C- 130

9D- 109

Top Ten KPA Receivers Term 3 Weeks 1-2 

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. 

Learning Behaviour Updates

LBU’s will be released in week 5 of this term. I encourage you to sit down with your child and review their progress and continue to set goals to help them achieve their own academic success. 

Year 9 Focus

At the beginning of every fortnight, the Year 9 Team implements foci for all year  students. For the final weeks of the term the foci are:

Focus 1 Relationships: Maintain positive relationships with staff and peers. 

Focus 2 Engagement: Completing all set tasks to the best of your ability  

Year 10 VCE Subject Selection & Year 10 Pathways Program

Throughout Term 4 staff from the university campus will be attending the junior campuses to discuss the possibility of students undertaking a VCE subject as part of their year 10 studies.  Students will hear about VCE expectations as well as benefits of undertaking a VCE subject in Year 10. Please see below the advantages for undertaking a VCE subject: Students will be able to experience the senior campus firsth and, which will make the transition from Year 10 to Year 11 much easier. Students will be exposed and prepared for VCE subject requirements the following year. Students will have an opportunity to study a Year 12 subject while in Year 11 which will allow for more flexibility in their final year of schooling. After the presentation, students will receive an application form with the subjects available to choose from in which they will be asked to put in order of preference. The form will need to be signed by parents/guardians as well as teacher approval.

Staff will be also discussing the Year 10 Pathway’s Program with students. The Year 10 Pathways is a program ran out of Kurnai Senior Campus at Churchill. Students will undertake a full classroom timetable with elements of applied learning with a career focus. Students will have the opportunity to work within the community, at local primary schools. Students must submit a formal application and will be required to interview with university staff, Ross Johnson and their parent/ guardian to be considered for the program.

Around the Classrooms

HPV

Students are in their final stages of preparing for the 2024 Energy Breakthrough event. Students have been hard at work putting finishing touches to their vehicles as well as practicing their presentation on the HPV journey that they have taken this year.

Members of the class have also received their racing tops and it is great to see them showing off their hard work.

Outdoor Education

In outdoor education students have been working on swimming and beach safety in preparation for their surf camp in week 4. 

Hands on Learning

With the sun and rain combination that we have experienced lately the Hands-on Learning Team have been hard at work maintaining our fast-growing grass as well and ensuring the school grounds are kept in immaculate condition. 

Contact Details 

If you have any concerns regarding Year 9 students, please don’t hesitate to email me of phone me on 5165 0600 or Ross.Johnson@kurnaicollege.vic.edu.au