By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
STAYING true to its Wurundjeri namesake ‘the meeting place’, Kambrya College in Berwick was visited by Victoria’s education top dog James Merlino.
The school was buzzing with daily documentary making, camera crews and new academic programs as Deputy Premier and Education Minister Mr Merlino took a walk around the grounds on Monday 5 October.
After hitting what college principal Michael Muscat called “rock bottom” in 2008, the college turned things around in six years.
“We were one of the lowest performing schools in Victoria and now we’re consistently in the top 20 highest performing schools,” Mr Muscat said.
Chosen for its drastic improvements by CJZ Productions, the school has been filmed daily since term one for a series on education which is set to be shown on the ABC.
Mr Muscat said CJZ Productions had researched hundreds of schools around Australia before settling on Kambrya.
“According to what they say they were looking for an average suburban high school that was doing some above average work,” Mr Muscat said.
Mr Merlino will now star in one of the days’ filming after touring the grounds and chatting to staff and students.
Praising the school for its diverse and successful student body, Mr Merlino said the college is outward looking.
“Kambrya College is a great example of how Victorian children are being supported to reach their full potential, no matter what their background,” he said.
Mr Merlino was also enlightened on the college’s Darrabi Year 9 Pathways Program which is designed to re-engage students back into the mainstream Year 10 course.
Parliamentary Secretary to Mr Merlino and Narre Warren South MP Judith Couacaud Graley said Mr Muscat and his team had transformed the school.
“Their students continue to excel and achieve and I was delighted that the minister joined with me to see first-hand what this remarkable school is doing within our community,” Ms Couacaud Graley said.
