About Us
Community Profile and Staff
Kinross is a growing coastal suburb, located on the coast 35 km north of Perth city. Land values in
the area are relatively high, with residents typically being second and third home buyers. Students
come from a reasonably diverse range of backgrounds including a number of migrant families from
South East Asia, the Middle East, South Africa and the United Kingdom. Parents are employed in a
range of occupations including small business owners and those who are self-employed or work in
trade or professional vocations.
The rate of land sales within the area indicates that the school will continue to increase its
enrolments over the next few years. This, combined with the expansion of East Kinross and the
development of the Burns Beach Estate, has the capacity to change the dynamics of the College
and community expectations.
There is a range of experience and expertise across the staff in each of the eight curriculum
learning areas. Teachers who have been selected have been required to demonstrate their
commitment to providing for the individual progress of every child, as well as their ability to respond
to the ethos and philosophy of our College.
Teachers are encouraged to take on curriculum leadership roles across the school; there
are organisational structures, processes and resources in place that reflect this expectation.
Administration staff undertake curriculum leadership roles in each of the 8 learning areas. The
nature of this role includes the promotion of the learning area, the purchase and management of
resources and profiling of student outcomes, provision of professional development in identified
areas and to enhance the collaborative process already in place. Specific leadership roles have
also been established to provide support across the school in the Student Services field.
Non-teaching roles include a full time Business Manager, Finance Manager, School Officers
(6), Library Officers (1.6), Gardener/Handyperson (2), Home Economic Assistant, Science Lab
Technician and several Education & Special Needs assistants throughout the College. There is also
a full time Chaplain, Student Services Manager, School Nurse and School Psychologist.
Mission
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Kinross College aims:
- To cater for the specific learning and social needs of young adolescents through innovation
and current best practice trends with a core focus on pastoral care and technology.
- To create a learning environment which will prepare students for their future needs, and enable
each student to become productive, interdependent learners for life.
Ethos
The school ethos to be promoted:
- Learning, equity, excellence and care
- Innovation and excellence in education
- Encouraging leadership and interdependence in every child
- Collaborative teaching and learning teams.
Values
The values to be promoted:
- Striving for personal excellence
- Concern for others
- Self-respect
- Community responsibility
- Environmental responsibility.
Kinross Academic Extension Program
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This program is available to selected students in Year 8 and possibly Year 9 in 2011, who
demonstrate superior ability and aptitude in the areas of Science and Mathematics and will provide
an enriched learning environment designed to extend and challenge.
The program itself incorporates a wide range of practical activities, complex problem solving,
model making, excursions, field work, individual and group research and presentations that nurture
the traits needed for one to excel in the Science and Mathematics fields. Topics of study are
carefully chosen to maximise the students further-education opportunities. They are encouraged
to participate in various state and national extra-curricular Mathematics and Science activities
and competitions. The benefits of the program become more fully realised when the participating
students enter Years 11 and 12.
Selection of participants is based on the individuals aptitude and ability as indicated by
standardised testing and information provided by primary schools. While Kinross is a local area
school, students living out of boundary are encouraged to apply. Continuation for students in
subsequent years, will be conditional upon them maintaining high academic performance and
exemplary behaviour.
Students in Years 6 to 10 across the whole College are also invited to participate in Tournament of
the Minds, a competition that fosters creative problem solving skills, whilst working cooperatively
with other students from different year levels.
Our Year 6 and 7 students in the Junior School who have previously been identified for inclusion
in the PEAC Program, continue to do so and other students may be teacher-nominated if they are
considered to be academically talented.
- Performing Arts Theatre
- Design & Technology Workshops
- Visual Arts
- Four Science Laboratories
- Wireless IT
- Food Technology
- Multi Media Specialist Studios
- Cafe
- Two Covered Courts
- Lecture Theatre
Junior School
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Kinross College Junior School offers a unique experience and a wealth of opportunity for students
in the upper primary years. Students work in a community-based environment with a mentor
teacher allocated to their class group. The Mentor Teacher takes an active role in developing a
program to cater for the academic and social needs of each student. The mentor teacher is skilled
in addressing the needs of the early adolescent and helping them to develop skills across the four
core learning areas of English, Mathematics, Science and Society and the Environment.
Kinross College offers specialised learning facilities that are not traditionally accessed in the
primary school environment. Each community has Science, Arts and Media Presentation facilities
that are utilised by staff and students. In addition to these resources, students are able to access
the expertise of specialist teachers to utilise a state-of-the-art performing arts theatre, purposebuilt
wood and metalwork workshops, science laboratories and food technology facilities. The
level of expertise, provided by specialist staff, is superior to those generally accessed by Years 6
and 7 students traditionally they would have to wait until high school to benefit from learning in
specialised environments such as those offered at Kinross College.
The Junior School offers students a genuine sense of belonging, located separately to the
Senior School of Years 8-10 students. Students have the opportunity to take part in whole school
production performances and at the end of the school year a Junior School production whereby
students perform to parents and the graduating group of Year 6 students. The Junior School avidly
participates in the Channel 7 Airwatch program, as well as various Mathematics, English and
Science nationwide competitions.
Our Academic program offers extension classes in Years 6 and 7 in English and Mathematics,
allowing students to work with like-minded peers and be extended beyond the general classroom
program. Students are also able to access the PEAC (Primary Extension and Challenge Program)
outside the school, if selected or nominated to be part of the program for gifted students.
All students are offered opportunities to represent the community and school through specific
leadership roles in areas of House Captains, leading mentor groups, Environmental Leadership
and ICT Representatives. Year 7 students are held in high esteem in the Junior School and as
school leaders, they are given special privileges such as a Graduation and a Year 7 Camp.
Student Services
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The Student Services team is responsible for the health and well-being of students and
encouraging a positive school environment. We provide opportunities for leadership and
participation, in a range of social and extra-curricular activities. Kinross College staff includes the
Student Services Manager, Year Coordinators, Learning Support Coordinator, Psychologist, Nurse,
Chaplain and Junior School Deputies. They provide students with counselling, health and wellbeing
advice, goal setting, course and career advice and mentoring.
Support of students social, emotional health and wellbeing is ensured by providing a safe and
supportive environment. Teachers as Mentors, are allocated a group of students. Mentors foster
mutual respect and fairness through values education. We expect our students to be free from all
forms of bullying and harassment. We actively encourage compassion, tolerance and consideration
for each other. Our approach to bullying is shared problem-solving, focussing on empowerment
and developing awareness of their own rights, as well as their responsibility to respect the rights of
others.
The Student Services team offers additional support through one-on-one counselling, assisting with
goal setting and providing career information and learning support. Our students can talk through
issues and concerns with their Mentor, the Colleges Psychologist or Chaplain. Our community links
also provide the opportunity of involvement in a range of mentoring programs. Some examples are
Shine for girls and Strength for boys, which focus on supporting adolescents needs. We also
have a designated retreat for all students to access at break times.
Kinross College has a house system that aims to enhance College spirit and identity while
providing students with leadership opportunities. Students receive house points for inter-house
competition in sporting, academic and community service activities. The Community Health Nurse
is accessible to students who may be seeking assistance with psychosocial and physical health
issues which may arise in adolescents, within the normal College environment.
The College works in partnership with the Community Health Nurse to develop a coherent and
coordinated approach to address the health needs of students. It is vitally important to have a
health promoting College, involving the entire College community.
The Community Health Nurse is available to make a valuable contribution towards this end. Health
education and health promotion strategies are thereby used to reach all students
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