McKinnon Secondary College
McKinnon Rd
McKinnon 3204
Victoria
Australia

Principal: Mrs Pitsa Binnion

Phone: +613 8520 9000
Fax:+613 9578 9253

Enrolments in 2008: 1451 students (years 7 to 12)

Email: mailbox (Detailed contacts)

School number 01-8125

A.B.N. 73 812 392 628

An introduction to the College

Our Profile

McKinnon Secondary College is a year 7 to 12 co-educational school with a student population of over 1400. The College was founded in 1954 in the south eastern Melbourne suburb of McKinnon. It has developed a proud reputation for academic excellence and instrumental music performance. The college is consistently one of the best-performing non-selective government schools in Victoria.

There are consistently more applications for entry to year 7 than places available. In recent years there have been 100 more applications for year seven than places available. Most students who attend McKinnon aspire to university. Over 50% of our students participate in the instrumental music program.

Our Ethos

A McKinnon education aims to enhance the intellectual, physical, social and emotional development of all students and to develop students' abilities. We strive to maintain a positive, caring and safe learning environment in which all students are provided with the opportunity to achieve success. Opportunities for success are provided within a challenging, comprehensive curriculum and an extensive co-curricular program.

The College actively promotes a culture that encourages and celebrates the pursuit of excellence, that values and respects individual diversity and that encourages participation by all members of the community. Students are encouraged to take pride in themselves, their community, their uniform, and the College. Student achievements are regularly and formally recognised and celebrated in college publications, at formal assemblies, on this website, and at the annual Presentation Night.

Curriculum

• Students study a comprehensive core curriculum in years 7 to 10. The Enhanced Learning Program in Mathematics and Science (ELMS) Program is an enrichment option for selected students in years 7 to 10. In years 9 and 10 the core curriculum is complemented by a range of elective units.
• Details of our curriculum offerings can be found here.
• Year 9 is enriched by the BYTES program and the MERC building.
• Year 10 students explore career and life options in the Get Real programme.
• Successful year 10 students are encouraged to select VCE subjects. Students in the Senior School can choose from an extensive range of VCE studies and can participate in the VCE Enhancement Program or undertake selected university enhancement subjects.
• Rich tasks such as Tournament of Minds, Survivor, McKinno Picatus and Night Of the Notables are included to increase student motivation and active participation in their education.
• Some students undertake university enhancement subjects

Co-curricular activities

The college offers an extensive co-curricular program which promotes leadership, cooperation and teamwork. This program includes academic challenges, performing arts and sport.

A broad and inclusive program includes activities and events such as:

• International Student Programme
• Debating
• Drama Production, Rock Eisteddfod, RockFest
• House Music Festival
• House Sporting Carnivals - Swimming, Athletics, Cross Country
• Interschool Sport
• Music Ensembles
• Music Winter Concert
• Spring Concert
• Peer Support Program
• Science Talent Search
• Subject Competitions & Activities
• Tournament of Minds
• Transition Program
• Year Level/Subject Camps/Tours and Excursions
• Guitar club
• Human Powered Vehicle
• Great Victorian Bike Ride
• Breakfast Club
• Asia Week activities

Student Performance and Welfare

• Student performance and well being is closely monitored and supported by teachers, form teachers, Level Coordinators, Student Managers, Careers Advisors and a full time Student Welfare Counsellor.
• Written subject reports are issued twice a year
• Parent/teacher information evenings for each year level take place twice a year.
• Individual progress reports can be obtained on request and parents are encouraged to contact the College as concerns arise.

Parent Involvement and Communication

McKinnon Secondary College invites you to familiarise yourself with the educational opportunities we provide for your child by contacting the College.

• The College encourages parents to participate at both formal and informal information evenings, parent/teacher interviews, music performances and drama productions.
• Parents have the opportunity to contribute to the school council and council sub-committees.
• We regard communication as a two way process between the family and the college. Avenues for communication exist in the student diary, fortnightly newsletter, post home newsletter, college website and email.
• Telephone enquiries are welcome at all times. (Telephone: 8520 9000, fax: 9578 9253)
• Tours of the College are conducted annually, or on request.
• Newsletters are posted online and parents may choose to receive email notification of new newsletters.
• Email: mailbox or email individuals

Physical Resources and Environment

• An extensive information technology network supports six computer classrooms (including specialist music and LOTE labs), several pods of PC and Macintosh computers, the MERC and the Resource Centre.
• Our music centre includes an auditorium, tutorial rooms, electronic keyboards.
• An assembly hall with a fixed data projector for large assemblies, sport and public events .
• A gymnasium incorporating a basketball court, table tennis area and weights room.
• The student-developed Korean Garden, with waterfall and traditional landscaping, provides a passive recreation area for students.
• Our Year 12 students enjoy the use of a modern and fully equipped Study Centre.
• Students can access specialist staff in the Careers Resource Centre and Student Welfare Lounge.
• A 250-seat lecture theatre.
• The McKinnon Exporation and Research Centre, home of the BYTES program for year 9 and LiveSmart program for year 10.
• The college facilities, gardens and grounds are continually being upgraded and improved.
• We place a strong emphasis on workplace safety for staff and students.
• See Recent Building Works, including the car park, relocated Great Space and canteen, staffrooms, Tech Centre, Theatre and MERC. Soon we will be working on a year 7 complex.

Student Participation and Leadership

Student leadership is promoted through the appointment of:

• school captains
• house music captains
• house sport captains
• form captains
• an elected Student Representative Council.

Useful publications

Fortnightly Newsletters

McKinnon's Acceptable Use Policy

Annual Report 2007 (Word) [Also the 2006 annual report]

Junior Handbook Years 7-9 [2003-2005] (PDF, 330K)

Senior Handbook Years 10-12 [2006-2008] (PDF,510K)

College brochure (PDF, 700K)

ELMS brochure (PDF, 250K)

Music brochure (PDF, 250K)

College Policy Documents

Useful information

Groups related to the college

Ex-Students

Thistlelonians (ex-students association)

Email the Thistlelonians

Send a cheerio to other ex-students

Site Information

This site is maintained by Mark Kelly (kel), Information Systems Manager. Please email to notify me of outdated information or broken pages.

Guidelines for creating web pages for McKinnon's site

Site info, credits, tools

One more time...

McKinnon Secondary College

McKinnon Road, McKinnon 3204

Telephone: 8520 9000

Fax: 9578 9253

Pitsa Binnion, Principal

Email: mailbox