Year 7 News

As we wind up for the year, the year 7’s have been extremely excitable this past fortnight! We have been busy with lots of celebrations, regular discussions about upcoming events, swimming, colour run, and of course all the pupil free days! Meanwhile the year 7 team have been super busy organising special events, upcoming awards, reports and the extra transition events for next year’s cohort.

Passport Program

A huge thank you to Zoey Victor, Samuel Vary, Georgia Lawrie, Eize Klein, Ruby Galetti and Molly Mulder who gave up their time to attend the local primary schools as part of the Passport Transition to High School program. The students did a magnificent job supporting Shelly and the team from the Smith Family as they answered student questions and shared their experiences of transitioning to high school. I was so incredibly proud of our young people who represented our school with pride, which has been the focus for this term!

The Colour Run

On Wednesday 20 November the students participated in their first ever Kurnai College Colour Run, we met down at the oval and ran around the lake before returning to school. It was a lot warmer than people were expecting and again, the staff were impressed with the year 7 student participation, engagement and sense of adventure in this activity. I know whatever challenges lie ahead these guys will tackle it all, with resilience, persistence and pride.

Upcoming Events

On Monday a select number of students will be participating in a campus orienteering program. The students have been selected based on their improved attendance, engagement in school, shown high KPA achievement and have earned a reward. The program will begin after recess and student will return to school for period 5 after a BBQ lunch. The program will only cater for 20 students and these families have been notified via text and compass, with a paper copy of the photo permission form sent home last week.

Next Week/ Week 8 

Classes will be focusing on finishing off assessments, providing feedback and teaching skills that may have been missed throughout the term. On Friday, the year 7’s will be saying goodbye to the year 7 centre and moving into the year 8 locker bay. Students will be moving their belongings and choosing their locker. If students are absent on Friday their locker will emptied and relocated for them. 

Week 9

This will be the week of the new timetable, new team leader, new teachers and new classes. Week 9 the students will be moving into their year 8 classes and groups, they will have an opportunity to preview their 2025 content, skills, lessons and work with the year 8 team. The students have already met with their new team leader for 2025, and they will have an assembly week 9 to discuss the years goals and expectations further.

Transition

Extra Transition for the primary students officially ended today and those that attended have shown an appreciation for the program. I had an opportunity to meet with most of the students at the extra transition sessions and am looking forward to the coming year. On Friday 6th December we will begin our orientation program with the 2025-year 7 cohort with an assembly in the language centre. I look forward to continuing my visits with families and primary schools over the coming weeks, this is a really valuable experience for me and the team here at Kurnai to get to know each of you.

Hot Chip Lunch

This cohort has been marvellous to work with and lead this year, this week we had a celebratory hot chip lunch. I shared with the students their remarkable data and particularly the significant decline in major behaviours this year compared to previous years!

This could not have been achieved without the hard work of all the year 7’s and the incredible support we have received from families. 

Sometimes things happen, sometimes kids and teenagers make mistakes and that’s ok, it’s what is learnt from our mistakes that makes a difference, and these students have made a difference! 

Thanks for an amazing year, this cohort has been an absolute blessing, and I could not be prouder of their achievements over 2024. I wish you all a safe and merry Christmas break.

Erin Gruis

Tear 7 Team Leader