Dear Parent, carers and community members,
Welcome to Kuranda District State College's website where you will find an abundance of information and resources showcasing the learning opportunities that the great staff at Kuranda District State College provide your child. We have approximately 350 students enrolled at the College and this number is predicted to grow to over 400 students in the next couple of years.
Being a small P – 12 College we offer a seamless education through the different phases of schooling in the Queensland education system. Although small, we provide big learning and extra-curricular opportunities for all of our students.
We are committed to ensuring that our students have exceptional and unique learning opportunities that will stand them in good stead for when they leave the College to either attend university, TAFE, engage in an apprenticeship or move directly into employment.
Throughout their schooling at Kuranda District State College, students will be taught the Australian Curriculum ensuring that they have opportunities to be engage in rich learning experiences across all of the different learning areas of the Australian Curriculum.
We are committed to ensuring an environment that is conducive to learning and ensuring students experience success with their schooling. Complementing the curriculum offerings, we believe in supporting students by developing their social-emotional capability through our social-emotional learning program and explicitly teaching positive behaviours through our College-wide Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) approach.
On a personal note, 2022 has seen some changes at KDSC. This is my first year as Principal at the College, and we also welcome the return of Mrs Michelle Howe to the role of Deputy Principal (Secondary).
2022 marks 37 years since I started my teaching career. I was born and educated in Gayndah, a small country town in the Wide Bay Burnett region. On completing my university training I started my educational journey teaching at Blackwater followed by Pimlico State High in Townsville in the mid-80s. Since then I have taught or taken on leadership positions at Helensvale State High (Gold Coast); Kepnock State High School (Bundaberg); Hervey Bay State High and Bundaberg State High. My first role as Principal began in 2015 at Tin Can Bay P-10 State School near Gympie.
Both my own education and my early career in the classroom provided formative experiences that have made me passionate and committed to state education and ensuring the best educational opportunities and outcomes are made available to all Queensland students.
I am often asked what brought me to Kuranda. As a secondary trained teacher and administrator, I felt the school provided a logical next step from the P-10 environment at Tin Can Bay. The two schools are very similar in size and face many of the same challenges, and Kuranda gave me the opportunity to add the Senior Schooling string to my bow. It was also a fantastic opportunity to experience this beautiful part of the state!
I feel privileged to have both this opportunity and challenge to lead KDSC in the capacity as College Principal. I am committed to working with staff, students, parents and the Kuranda community to uphold the high expectations and good reputation of Kuranda District State College.
I welcome and encourage parent and community engagement with the school. We have an amazing P & C committee who are very involved in the school and we appreciate their support and contributions through a number of initiatives.
I trust you will find the resources on our website informative and useful. If you have any questions or queries about your child's education or enrolling your child at our College, please don't hesitate to contact us.
Yours in education
Desley Kirby
College Principal