Year 7 News

Welcome back to Term 3. I hope everyone enjoyed the holidays, but more importantly, it is great to see all students settling back into the classroom ready for another exciting term. As the colder weather hits sickness comes more prevalent within our school community, if your child is absent due to sickness (or any other reason) please record the absence on Kurnai College's absence hotline at (03) 5165 0600 - option 1 or contact me directly via Compass.

As we move into Semester 2, there have been several staffing changes within our Year 7 team. I am excited to share that I have accepted the role of Assistant Principal, where I will be leading the Junior Sub School (Years 7 and 8). I look forward to continuing to work closely with our students, families and staff in this new position.

We also farewell Denise, who has accepted a position at another college. Denise made a significant contribution to our Disability Inclusion program, and her dedication and advocacy for students will be greatly missed. Maddi Brooks has also departed the College, and we thank her for the positive relationships she built with students and the care she showed throughout her time with us.

Finally, we are pleased to welcome Caroline Brignall to the College. Caroline joins the English Key Learning Department and will be taking over Maddi's classes. We look forward to Caroline becoming part of our school community and wish her every success in her new role.

Attendance

This year, our aim is to improve student attendance rates to an average above 95%. If your student is absent, please contact Kurnai’s absence hotline message bank on (03) 5165 0600 - option 1 or contact Ross Johnson directly via Compass. 

Uniform

As we continue through the colder months, we would like to remind families that students are expected to wear the correct school uniform, including navy blue school pants as part of our winter uniform requirements. Wearing the appropriate uniform helps students stay warm while maintaining a sense of pride and belonging within our school community. If your family requires support in accessing school uniform items, please don't hesitate to reach out to the College. We are here to help and can discuss the support options available.

Top Ten KPA Term 3 Weeks 1-2

Non Core Subjects

As part of our Year 7 curriculum, students participate in a

range of non-core subjects throughout the year. These subjects provide a broad

“taster” of different learning areas, helping students develop new skills and

interests and make informed elective choices in Years 9 and 10.

Students are allocated to these classes through the school’s

overall timetable. Due to the size of our Year 7 and 8 cohorts and classes

operating at or near capacity, we are unable to accommodate requests to change

elective classes. Moving one student can have a flow-on effect across multiple

classes and timetables.

We encourage students to approach each subject with an open mind

and make the most of the opportunities it provides. Engaging with unfamiliar or

challenging learning also helps students develop resilience and perseverance.

With encouragement and support, students can learn that they are capable of

doing hard things and experience the confidence that comes from persisting

through challenges.

Holocaust Museum Excursion

As part of our Year 7 English program, students recently travelled to the Melbourne Holocaust Museum to deepen their understanding of the historical context behind the novel Once by Morris Gleitzman, which we are currently studying in class.

The excursion provided students with a powerful opportunity to connect the events and themes explored in the novel with real-life stories from the Holocaust. Through guided exhibits, historical artefacts, photographs, and personal accounts from survivors, students gained a greater appreciation of the experiences of those affected by this significant period in history.

Throughout the day, I was impressed by the maturity, respect, and empathy our students demonstrated. They engaged thoughtfully with the exhibits, asked insightful questions, and reflected on the importance of remembering the past to help build a more compassionate and inclusive future.

The visit has provided valuable context for our classroom discussions and will support students as they continue exploring the themes of courage, hope, resilience, and humanity in Once. Experiences like this bring learning to life and encourage students to think critically about the impact of historical events on individuals and society.

I would like to thank our students for representing the college so positively and acknowledge the staff who supported the excursion, helping make it a meaningful and memorable learning experience.

Contact Details 

If you have any concerns regarding Year 7 students, please don’t hesitate to email me of phone me on (03) 5165 0600 or Ross.Johnson@education.vic.go.au

Ross Johnson

Year 7 Team Leader