The college, which was established in 1985, is committed to ensuring young people are equipped to meet the social, physical and emotional challenges facing them in today’s society. The school motto is “Leaders in a Learning Community”. The college takes a holistic approach to learning by providing a safe environment that encourages students to be happy and committed to their own learning and to the Melton Community.
Facilities: The college has just completed a self-funded building project extending student access to library resources and providing a modern Careers/Pathways Resource Centre, literacy centre and cafeteria. In addition, the college has a well-resourced technology wing incorporating automotive, engineering, woodwork and metalwork facilities. The college is a leader in the use of computers and information technology, being an accredited E-Learning and Cisco Training Centre, and maintains a state-of-the-art e-learning facility.
Curriculum: The college is committed to demonstrating excellence in teaching and lifelong learning. To achieve this, the college provides high quality educational programs that satisfy the learning needs of all its students. Kurunjang Secondary College provides academic rigour and practical challenges for all students in Years 7 to 12. Students in Years 7 to 10 undertake a program that encompasses English, Mathematics, Science, the Arts and Technology, LOTE (Italian), SOSE and Health and Physical Education. Students in Years 11 and 12 choose from the widest range of VCE, VCAL and VET studies. Kurunjang Secondary College supports and encourages students with exceptional talent to fully develop their potential. Such students may undertake Accelerated Learning in Years 10 and 11 to complete VCE units, university studies while completing their VCE studies, the Advance program, providing students with the opportunity to obtain Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme and Young Ambassador’s awards, and the Formula 1 Challenge, an engineering design project in partnership with Victoria University.
Extra-curricular activities: Student leadership is developed via the college’s Student Representative Council, peer education group and peer coaching programs. A program of community-based projects provides extensive opportunities for students to build relationships with the local community via cross-age tutoring, environmental projects and working with elderly and disabled people. In addition, college-based extra-curricular programs include a Science Club, Reptile Group and a wide range of sporting activities. The college provides music tuition and the opportunity to join the college band, which has travelled both interstate and overseas. The school camps program provides opportunities for students to develop their independent living skills in Years 7, 8 and 10, as does an extensive Outdoor Education program. Students also have the opportunity to further develop their language skills through a trip to Italy.
Student welfare programs: A focus on adolescent health and wellbeing is central to the college pastoral care program. In addition to a pastoral care curriculum in Years 7 and 8 and a college-wide focus on the development of study skills, a home-group program ensures that every student has the opportunity to develop a link with a significant adult during their schooling. The full-time student welfare co-ordinator, vocational education co-ordinator and pathways co-ordinator ensure that the individual needs of all students are supported. A wide range of programs, which include students from local primary schools, support the transition of students from primary school. Such programs include primary students experiencing technology, a literary festival, cross-age tutoring and “Kids in the Kitchen”. In addition, at Year 7, the number of teachers a student encounters is minimised and the majority of studies is undertaken in a designated home room. The college has also led the introduction of the Tribes Pastoral Program in Secondary Colleges in Melton. More than 40 staff members at the school are now Tribes trained and using it in their classroom. Through the Tribes program, students learn to use specific collaborative skills and to reflect both on the interaction and learning that is taking place. The Tribes process not only establishes a caring environment for co-operative learning but also provides structure for positive interaction.