From the Principal

Quality Friends Lead to a Satisfying Life

Welcome back everyone, and a very special welcome to new students and families.

As writer Carl Honore says, 'The great benefit of slowing down is reclaiming the time and tranquility to make meaningful connections - with people, with culture, with work, with nature, with our own bodies and minds.'

 I trust this was part, if not a large part, of your holiday experience.   

One of the four pillars of our Strategic Plan is ‘community’.  It is a word that means a lot to us.  Parents regularly comment that they do not want the School to grow too big, as they want their child to be known and valued. 

Size can affect the quality of ones’ experience of community.  Rest assured that we are very comfortable with our current size of approximately 810 students.  

Many of you will have heard me say before that part of the Kilvington story is to develop a connected community.  We want relationships to blossom between students, parents and staff for the simple reason that, for most people, at the heart of a satisfying life is the quality of their friendships.  

Furthermore, evidence abounds that good relationships keep us happier and healthier.  So the social development and connectedness of students, and other community members, is a key part of a Kilvington education.

We do want to deliver a holistic education, one that values the social, as well as the emotional, physical and mental, development of students.

As always, we are committed to helping our students achieve their academic personal best.  

2017 VCE Results

We were absolutely delighted with the Class of 2017 VCE results.  They were the first main group of coed students to graduate from Kilvington and deserve our congratulations.

• Our Dux scored an ATAR of 99.65.
• 11% of our students were in the top 2% of the State (achieving an ATAR of 98 plus).
• 20% of our students were in the top 5% of the State (achieving an ATAR of 95 plus).
• 50% of students in the top 12% of the State (achieving an ATAR of 88 plus).
• 76% were in the top 25% of the State (achieving an ATAR of 75 plus).
• 22% of Study Scores were 40 plus.
• The median study score was 35.

Class of 2017 Tertiary Course Offers

In 2017, all 83 Year 12 students lodged preferences with VTAC, and all students received a first round offer.

57% of students received their 1st preference, 75% their 1st or 2nd preference and 90% their 1st, 2nd or 3rd preference.  100% of students received one of their first five preferences.  

The range of courses offered was typically diverse, reflecting our student's different interests and talents. 24% of students chose Medicine and Health Sciences, 24% Science/Biological Sciences, 23% Commerce and Business, 15% Arts/Law/Teaching courses.

The most popular destinations are:  41% to Monash University, 17% to The University of Melbourne, 13% to RMIT and 7% to Deakin.    

Parent Satisfaction Survey

Each year Independent Schools Victoria (ISV) survey our parents to gain insight into their satisfaction levels with their experience at Kilvington. These insights allow us to reinforce to staff what we are doing well and address what we can do better.

Almost half of our families completed the survey and revealed that we continue to perform at a very high standard across 10 key domains. These include:

• Academic Program
• Quality of Teaching
• Learning Outcomes
• Pastoral Care
• Discipline and Safety
• Parental Involvement
• Resources
• Transition
• Overall Satisfaction
• Recommend to Others

Findings included:

• Kilvington’s overall performance is consistently above the ISV and Similar School Cluster benchmark across all domains.
• The 2017 Survey has seen improvement across all domains from the 2009 and 2015 surveys.
• The Junior and Senior Schools have improved on the 2015 Survey and are above the ISV benchmark across all domains.
• More parents than ever before are happy to recommend Kilvington to family and friends.
• We received feedback that our buildings could do with some improvement. We are addressing this as part of our medium to long-term capital works program.
• The top six reasons parents choose Kilvington to send their children in order of priority are:
  1. Size of the school
  2. Suited my child’s needs better than other schools
  3. Emphasis on development of morals, values and beliefs
  4. The School’s location
  5. The atmosphere of the School
  6. Academic results.

Sincere thanks to the parents who took the time to complete the survey.

2018 School Leaders 

Congratulations to our student leaders for 2018.

SENIOR SCHOOL

School Co-Captains - Harrison Broughton & Jasmine Fassoulis

School Vice Co-Captains - Aidan McShane & Eve Durand

House Co-Captains

• Barrett - Bryce Jurgensen & Ellie Levina
• Burman - Callum Morgan & Jade Redman
• Fethers - Annabel Hazelbank & Maree Lymbouris
• Fysh - Jemima Price & Chloe Petersen

House Vice Co-Captains

• Barrett - Livinia Bruce & Toby Wrightson
• Burman - Hannah McCorquodale and Mitchell Cole
• Fethers - Jack Kirkham & Elizabeth Yeo
• Fysh - Thomas Robb & Zoe Parsons

Year 9 Leaders

• Barrett - Caitlin Johnston & Miles Nathan
• Burman - Lachlan Cook & Amelia Takle
• Fethers- Nick Brooks & Trisha Mathew
• Fysh - Matt O’Leary & Momoko Hikima

Academic Leaders & Co-Leaders

• English - Elisabeth Yeo & Eliza Wallis
• Science - Jack Kirkham, Zoe Parsons & Livinia Bruce
• Humanities - Eleanor Smith
• Art - Angelina Vadolas
• Languages
  • Japanese – Gabby Lim
  • French – Millie Hogg

Music Co-Leaders - Harry Millikan & Ashleigh McMaster

Technologies - Alastair Locke

Christian Leader - Rachel Cetrola

Debating Co-Leaders - Josh Boghikian & Leanne Chua

Choral Leader - Rachael Martin

Production Leader - Sasha Vulling

Robotics Leader - Lydia Sharpe

Sport Leader - Lachie Pearce

Student Mentor Co-Leaders - Kate Glew and Toby Wrightson

Sustainability Co-Leaders - Lydia Sharpe and Khanishpyar Anand

JUNIOR SCHOOL

Junior School Co-Captains - Hamish McKenzie and Sophie Rudnytski 

Junior School Vice Co- Captains - Sam Pai and Sarah Wynter

House Co-Captains

• Barrett - Greta Saville
• Burman - Darcy Donohue
• Fethers - Ethan Perry
• Fysh - Liam Molloy

Art Leader - Victoria Hu

Music Leader - Edgar Chen

Sport Leader - Abbey Morrow

Digital Technologies Leader - Akeisha O’Neill

Library Leader - Jack Campbell-Manley

Languages - Esther Lucas

Community Justice - James Howden

Staffing Appointments

A number of new staff have been appointed to Kilvington.  In alphabetical order they are:    

Tim Arnold – Dean of Science

• From The Hamilton and Alexandra College where he has been Head of Science and of House.
• Has had experience as Acting Deputy Principal at Brauer College, Warrnambool.
• He has taught Chemistry for 28 years.
• Holds a BSc Hons, Dip Ed.

Andrew Barr – Maths Teacher

• From Brighton Grammar School where he was Head of Maths.
• Is part of the Maths Extension Program at Monash University.
• Has been an assessor for VCAA in Specialist Mathematics.
• BSc Hons, Grad Dip Arts, Grad Dip Ed.

Robert Cavalin – Commerce Teacher

• From Trinity Grammar School.
• VCAA Business Management and Economics Assessor.
• Previous roles include Director of Curriculum and Head of Faculty.
• Holds a Bachelor of Theology, Dip Ed (Secondary), Bachelor of Economics.

Michael Cirillo – JS Teacher – Maternity Leave Replacement

• From Immanuel College, South Australia, where he has taught since 2014.
• Holds a Bachelor of Education (Junior Primary and Primary), Master of Education (Gifted Education).

Campbell Fraser – Accounts Receivable Officer

• From Ashfords Accountants and Advisory where he was the Accounts Receivable Manager for over five years.
• His interests include basketball where he is a basketball referee in the Big V Basketball League.

Gillian Guyton – Replacement Japanese Teacher

• From St Leonard’s College where she has had six years experience as Head of Japanese.
• Holds a Bachelor of Arts, Dip Ed.

Hirian Hinson – Director of Business – Commences 19 February

• From Fintona Girls’ School where he has been the Business Manager/Company Secretary since 2012.  Prior to this he was the Business Manager at St Margaret’s School for five years.
• Member of ASBA where he has been President for a number of years.
• CPA, BBus, Bachelor of Computing (Applications Development).

Dragana Mraovic – Laboratory Technician

• Worked at Cephalon Australia Ltd as a Research Assistant.
• Bachelor of Science Hons La Trobe University (Majoring in Genetics and Microbiology).

Carmel Slater – Head of Keyboard

• From Chairo Christian School, Leongatha, where she was a Piano Teacher.
• Director for various Gippsland musical theatre groups.
• B Mus, L Mus A, A Mus A.

Lauren Smedley – ELC Teacher

• From Gardiner Pre School where she has taught since 2007.
• Shortlisted in the 2011 Australian Family Child Care Awards in the category of: National Accreditation Council Early Childhood Educator of the Year.
• Holds a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education.

Jessica Tham – Junior School Art Teacher

• Joins us from Waverley Christian College.
• Bachelor of Visual Arts/Bachelor of Education.

I thank Lab Technician, Rachel Carmen, for her services to the School.  Rachel resigned late last year to take up a role in the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Deakin University. 

We welcome Dragana Mraovic as Rachel’s replacement. 

Other Staff News

Welcome back to Esther Breckler from maternity leave.

I am pleased to inform you that our School Psychologist, Sally Kenney, is now officially an Educational and Developmental Psychologist; her endorsement was approved just before Christmas.

Congratulations to our Head of Junior School, Sebastian Earle, and his wife Jo, who gave birth to their second child this week. 

I wish everyone a very productive Term 1!

                                 Jon Charlton, Principal