School Community
Bell Times
The General Office or Reception is open from 8:00am to 4:00pm Monday to Friday throughout the school term.
The school day consists of five periods of 60 minutes each per day.
| Morwell Campus | Churchill Campus | University Campus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Period 1 | 8:40am | 8:30am | 8:30am |
| Period 2 | 9:40am | 9:30am | 9:30am |
| Recess | 10:40am | 10:30am | 10:30am |
| Period 3 | 11:05am | 11:00am | 11:00am |
| Period 4 | 12:05am | 12:00pm | 12:00pm |
| Lunch | 1:05pm | 1:00pm | 1:00pm |
| Period 5 | 1:50pm | 1:45pm | 1:50pm |
| School Finishes | 2:50pm | 2:45pm | 2:50pm |
Booklists
Canteen
Guide to Compass
Compass, our school management and communication system, is an essential tool for connecting Kurnai College with students, parents, and carers. It provides a central hub for important information and updates, accessible via a personal computer, tablet, or smartphone app.
Staff, students, parents/carers each have a unique login to the system. We recommend that parents/carers log in at least once a week to stay informed about community events, school news, announcements, and other important details.
Compass serves as the primary communication platform between the College and our community. It allows parents/carers to easily contact teachers, monitor student attendance, access school reports, book student/parent/teacher conferences, pay fees and approve excursions and events.
For guidance on using Compass, please click on the below button.
First Aid
If your child is unwell in the morning, please keep them at home. Students who report to Sick Bay due to illness or injury will be treated. If needed, we will contact their parents, as students are not permitted to make their own arrangements to go home. We can only contact persons who are noted as Parents/Guardians or Emergency contacts of the child’s Compass profile, so it is essential to keep the College updated with current Parent/Guardian and Emergency contact details for Sick Bay situations.
Please inform the College of any ongoing or past health issues or injuries to ensure proper treatment. All students with Anaphylaxis, Asthma, Diabetes, or Epilepsy must provide the school with a current Action Management Plan annually or as updated. If an Action Management Plan has been completed, the relevant medications must be supplied by the parents and kept at the school or with the student. All Action Management Plans are kept in the First Aid Office, and copies are found in the Staff room and other relevant spaces.
Any child requiring medication to be administered at school will need a current Medication Authority Form signed by the child’s parent or guardian. Medication should be in the original packaging, with a pharmacy label stating the child’s name, medication, administration details, and doctor’s details and must be in date. These will be kept in the First Aid office. Please note that any pain relief medication, such as Panadol or ibuprofen, will not be administered at the College, per Department of Education guidelines. Use of pain relief medications will require a doctor’s letter and a completed medication authority form.
All staff in charge of First Aid and Sick Bay are trained in First Aid, CPR, Anaphylaxis, Asthma, and other relevant medical conditions. When Sick Bay is unattended, children are directed to the Advocate’s office for first aid support. Parents are required to sign out their children when collecting them from the Sick Bay or give permission for alternative arrangements to be made.
Laptop Program
In 2014, Kurnai College implemented a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy, requiring that all students have their own laptop for all classes, charged and ready to use.
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) is a strategy that enhances a flexible learning environment, allowing students to leverage their personal technology for educational purposes. At Kurnai College, implementing BYOD not only empowers students by integrating technology they are familiar with into their learning, but also prepares them for the tech-driven world they will enter post-education.
Learning With Technologies (LWT) is our recommended supplier for devices. LWT offers flexible payment options, including lay-by and finance plans, to help families pay the device off in instalments. Alongside the devices, LWT offer additional insurance and accessories that families may choose to purchase with their device. It is strongly recommended that the option for 3-year onsite warranty & insurance is selected during your purchase.
The College has an on-site ICT Support Team that is available during school hours to troubleshoot software issues and to liaise with LWT devices on behalf of families.
More Information – can be found on the ICT portal
Second-Hand Books
Smith Family
The Smith Family is a national, independent charity that works in partnership with schools to support students experiencing disadvantage, with a strong focus on improving educational outcomes and long-term life opportunities. Kurnai College was fortunate to connect with The Smith Family for a pilot program in 2014, which was so successful that the connection continues across the college.
What is The Smith Family?
The Smith Family is a well-established Australian organisation with over 100 years of experience supporting children and young people. Its core purpose is to overcome educational inequality caused by poverty, recognising that education is one of the most powerful ways to change a young person’s future.
Working in communities across Australia, the organisation partners with schools, families and local services to help students stay engaged in learning and successfully complete their education.
How The Smith Family works at Kurnai College
The Smith Family works closely with the schools to identify and support students who may be facing barriers to learning. This support is long-term, evidence-based and tailored to individual needs, complementing the work already happening in classrooms.
Their programs are often delivered in partnership with schools or on school sites, helping ensure students can access support in a familiar, supportive environment.
Key programs and services
The Smith Family provides a wide range of programs that support students at different stages of their education, including:
- Learning for Life Program – their flagship program, offering a combination of financial assistance (e.g. uniforms, books), personal support, and access to learning programs to help students succeed at school
- Learning Clubs – after-school sessions that provide homework help and build literacy and study skills in a safe, supportive environment
- Literacy and numeracy programs – targeted support to build foundational reading and maths skills
- Mentoring and career programs – helping students build confidence, set goals and explore future pathways beyond school
- Transition programs – supporting students moving from primary to secondary school
- Family and community support – connecting families with services and resources to strengthen engagement with education
- Indigenous Advancement Strategy – connecting Indigenous students and families to cultural wellbeing, educational and community opportunities that support all pathways
Impact in schools
Through its partnership approach, The Smith Family helps to:
- Improve student attendance, engagement and confidence
- Build essential literacy, numeracy and study skills
- Provide practical resources and support to reduce barriers to learning
- Strengthen connections between school, home and community
- Support students to complete Year 12 and pursue further education or employment
Supporting student wellbeing and success
The Smith Family’s work complements school wellbeing and teaching programs by providing additional layers of support for students who need it most. By focusing on early intervention and ongoing assistance, the organisation helps students stay connected to school and realise their full potential.
Through strong partnerships with Kurnai, The Smith Family plays an important role in creating equitable opportunities for all students, ensuring every young person has the chance to succeed regardless of their circumstances.
Student Transport/Buses
Country School Bus Network
The Department of Education run a school bus network in rural and regional Victoria providing free travel on approved school bus routes.
Kurnai College offer the following school bus routes :
- Hazelwood North
- Whitelaws Track
- Hazelwood South
- Jeeralang Junction
- Boolarra
- Yinnar
Public Transport
From 1 January 2026, all students aged 18 and under can travel free on all Victorian Public Transport services using a new Youth Myki card. Youth Myki cards can be purchased from staffed train stations for $5.
Latrobe Valley Bus Lines service the Latrobe Valley area. There are 4 Morwell town service runs that students can access to get to and from school. Please contact one of our campus offices for further information on stop locations and times or view bus timetables on the Latrobe Valley Bus Lines website www.lvbl.com.au.
Term Dates
TERM 1
Thursday 29th January to Thursday 2nd April
Monday 9th March – Labour Day Public Holiday
TERM 2
Monday 20th April to Friday 26th June
Monday 20th April – Student Free Day
Saturday 25th April – ANZAC Day
Monday 8th June – King’s Birthday Public Holiday
TERM 3
Monday 13th July to Friday 18th September
TERM 4
Monday 5th October to Friday 18th December
Monday 2nd November – Student Free Day
Tuesday 3rd November – Melbourne Cup Day Public Holiday
Friday 30th October – Student Free Day (Report Writing)
Uniform
Kurnai College has a compulsory uniform for all students in Years 7-10. Uniforms must be worn for all classes, college activities and to and from school.
It includes a summer and winter uniform, as well as a sports uniform.
The uniform sets the tone of the school – within the college and in the community – and should be worn with pride.
In reaching secondary school, students can take on increasing responsibility to ensure their uniform is clean, pressed and ready for each day. They should be responsible for cleaning their own shoes and ensuring their backpacks are packed and ready for each day’s events.
[click here] School Uniforms are now available through your local Lowes store
We ask for the support and supervision of parents to ensure the uniform guidelines are adhered to.
Please see our Uniform Policy for more information located under Our College > Policies & Procedures
