Year of the Mentor

Jon Charlton, Principal

Welcome back to School everyone, with an extra special welcome to our new students and families.

We have decided to call 2020 the 'Year of the Mentor' - for three key reasons:

Pastoral Care Structure

Firstly, given the changes to the pastoral care structure – more leadership positions, more mentors, smaller mentor groups – it is important that we work together to support the pastoral mentors in their efforts to develop best practice in mentoring groups of generally 10 to 12 students.

Our tag line, small enough to care, big enough to excel, resonates strongly in our community. So it is essential that we know and value each student, and celebrate their uniqueness, which means we must be a school strong in relationships.

We are very excited and expectant that the new pastoral care model will take us to another level in delivering on these outcomes.

Collective Teacher Efficacy

Secondly, we want to take further steps in developing and supporting teachers/staff in their mentoring of each other; through increased structured, sustained and supported instructional discussions/meeting times.

The research is clear that when teams of educators/staff, usually faculty-based, come together and share and collaborate together, and develop a belief that together they can make a difference, the impact on student learning and performance is profound. It is called collective teacher efficacy, and we want to get better at it.

Students Mentoring Students

And thirdly, we want to encourage students in their mentoring of each other. The outstanding Class of 2019 VCE results are in part due to the way our students shared, collaborated, worked as a team and mentored each other. We want to see students across the School adopt this mentoring attitude.

Hence, 2020 has been named the 'Year of the Mentor!'

ISV Survey Results

The Independent Schools Victoria (ISV) LEAD Parent and Year 12 survey results were published at the end of last year and the satisfaction ratings were most encouraging - the best I can remember.

Thank you to our parents who participated in the survey. Here is a top level view:

Parent Satisfaction Survey Results

339 Kilvington parents were surveyed; 73% Senior and 27% Junior School.
Comparison surveys: 2015 and 2017.
Best results in overall satisfaction across all domains, and by gender and year level since 2015; above the ISV mean and similar school cluster in 2019.
Best results in the following domains since 2015:

1. Academic Programs

2. Quality of Teaching

3. Learning Outcomes

4. Pastoral Care

5. Parental Involvement

6. Year Transition

7. Recommendation to others

Year 12 Student Satisfaction Survey Results

68 Year 12 students completed the survey.
Comparison surveys: 2017 and 2018.
Best results in overall satisfaction across all domains (except ‘Maintaining Contact’) by gender and year level since 2017; above the ISV mean and similar school cluster in 2019.
Best results in satisfaction from boys across all domains (except ‘Maintaining Contact’) since 2017. Big gains in Teaching Quality, Pastoral Care and Resources.

Class of 2019 VCE results

We were delighted with the Class of 2019 VCE results, which placed Kilvington in the top 20 schools in the State, a marvellous achievement.

Here is a brief overview:

Our Dux, Elisabeth Yeo, achieved an ATAR of 99.75.
7% of our students were in the top 1% of the State (achieving an ATAR of 99 plus).
36% of our students were in the top 5% of the State (achieving an ATAR of 95 plus).
52% of our students were in the top 10% of the State (achieving an ATAR of 90 plus).
24% of study scores were 40-plus.
The median study score was 36.
Perfect scores were achieved in English, Further Mathematics, Geography and Computing: Informatics.

I was also buoyed to receive an email from a family thanking us for supporting their son in terms of his social and emotional development last year. He received a very good ATAR, however his Year 12 was more about his holistic development rather than his academic achievement.

Class of 2019 Tertiary Course Offers

In 2019, 74 of the 75 students (99%) lodged preferences with VTAC, and all received an offer. 57% of students received their 1st preference, 78% their 1st or 2nd preference and 88% their 1st, 2nd or 3rd preference.

The range of courses offered was broad and diverse, reflecting our students’ different interests and talents. 21% of students chose Medicine and Health, 20% Natural and Physical Sciences, 23% Law, Society and Culture, 13% Management and Commerce, 23% Design, Music and Technology.

Class of 2019 Tertiary Course Destinations

The most popular destinations are: 45% to Monash University, 18% to The University of Melbourne, 16% to Deakin and 12% to Swinburne, and 9% Other.

Fires

Naturally our thoughts and prayers are with the people who have lost so much due to fires, as well as with the suffering animals, the fire fighters, and our own community members who have been affected.

Many of us are suffering from trauma as a result of these events. If you or your child have been affected in some way, and there is something we can do to help, please let us know.

We will soon be holding a fundraiser to add to the monies raised so far to help those in need.

Coronavirus

You will have seen communications from us in relation to the Coronavirus which I hope have offered some reassurance around how we are managing the situation.

We are closely monitoring the Government’s position, and will continue to do so and respond accordingly.

Our Kilvington community, especially our Chinese community, is being very proactive to help ensure the safety of all, and we are confident that we are doing everything we can to minimise the risk to your family.

As always, but especially at this time, please encourage your child/ren to practice good hygiene habits.

Staffing Appointments

I welcome the following staff members, in alphabetical order, who joined Kilvington late last year, so are yet to be acknowledged:

We welcome Ms Monique Alexander as a part-time Psychologist to work alongside School Psychologist Sally Kenney. Monique comes from Ruyton Girls’ School where she was the Senior School Counsellor. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours in Psychology), a Bachelor of Science, and a Master of Educational Psychology.

Ms Caitlin Bass comes to Kilvington as a Double Bass teacher. She is a highly experienced professional double bassist, and has taught at Carey Baptist Grammar, John XXII College and the American International School in Vienna. She holds a Bachelor of Music (Honours), a Graduate Certificate of Orchestral Performance and a Master of Arts.

A warm welcome to Mr Christopher Higgins, our new Saxophone and Clarinet teacher. Chris holds a Bachelor of Music (Performance) and has worked at the Saxophone Academy in Sydney as well as Knox Grammar Preparatory School and Roseville College.

Miss Gurmeet Kaur joins us as an English teacher from Fulham Cross Girls’ School in London. She has also taught VCE English and EAL at Caulfield Grammar School and Humanities at Alphington Grammar School. Gurmeet holds a Bachelor of Science in International Relations and History, and a Post Graduate Certificate in Education.

We welcome Kilvonian, Mrs Kirsten Maruff as an English and Psychology teacher. Kirsten comes from Girton Grammar School where she taught VCE Psychology. She has also taught VCE English at Mentone Girls’ Grammar School and Geelong Grammar School, and holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Post-Graduate Diploma of Education.

Ms Iva Roncevic joins us from Yarra Valley Grammar School where she has been working as an English teacher for the past 12 years. She will also be our Debating Coordinator. Iva’s qualifications are a Bachelor of Arts and a Graduate Diploma of Education.

Ms Primrose Tyson, a Science, Biology and Maths teacher, joins us from Alphington Grammar School where she worked for the past eight years.

Prim has been a Biology Assessor for the VCAA, and holds a Bachelor of Science, a Graduate Diploma of Education and a Master of Education. She replaces Ms Alison Kershaw in Term 1 as Alison unfortunately requires further surgery.

Farewells

After seven top class and quality years at Kilvington, Marian La Bas has resigned as the Academic Dean of English and Global Connections Program Director to take up a role at the University of Melbourne as the Education Programs Coordinator for the Asia Education Foundation.

Marian concluded her tenure at Kilvington on 7 February. I sincerely thank Marian for her leadership, teaching, care, warmth and dedication which she has so capably demonstrated in her time with us. I congratulate Mr Philip Theil on his appointment to the role of Acting Academic Dean of English for this year.

We thank our Canteen Assistant, Mrs Despina Stefanou, for her service to Kilvington over the past five years. Despina has decided to resign to spend more time with her family. We wish her all the best.

Other Staff News

Welcome back to Ms Elayne Flanagan, Mrs Esther Linivker and Mrs Georgie Cain, all from maternity leave.

We hope to see Mrs Shauna Kavanagh return in the near future in a part-time capacity.

Congratulations to Mr Paul de Winter, Japanese teacher, who recently completed his Master in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), and also to Ms Maree Locco who completed her Masters of Education.

Former Principal Australia Day Award

Congratulations to former Kilvington Principal, Mrs Di Fleming AM, who has been awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to Australia-Africa relations, and to education.

Di was Principal at Kilvington from 1994 – 2001. Ahead of her time, she implemented laptop computers for Years 7 – 12 at the beginning of 1994, making Kilvington one of the first laptop schools in Australia. Kilvington also became one of the Beta-testing sites for the ‘Schools Net’ program, which was dedicated to successfully integrating the internet into schools.

The School was also Australia’s first wireless school. Many other initiatives were also pioneered by Di. She was one of the instigators of the highly successful Girls Sport Victoria, and she modernised Kilvington’s language program by commencing Japanese classes in 1994.

I look forward to a most positive, enjoyable and rewarding year ahead filled with opportunity and growth.

Calendar

Feb