From the Leadership Team
Principal Jon Charlton with students at the Father's Day Celebrations, September 2017
Volunteering and Community Engagement
Jon Charlton, Principal
I am very proud to be part of such a close-knit School community, where parents generously and continuously volunteer their time to ensure that our students and community have the opportunity to participate in many wonderful activities and events. We are exceedingly lucky to have you.
Community is one of the Four Pillars of a Kilvington Education and is at the heart of who we are and want to continue to be.
Since the release of Ministerial Order No. 870 – Child Safety Standards – Managing the risk of child abuse in schools, Kilvington has continued to update its policies and procedures to help ensure the safety of all children in our care. Understandably, the legislation continues to evolve in order to minimise all risk.
The latest amendment to the Working with Children Act 2005 that came into effect on 1 August 2017 now states that a Working With Children Check (WWCC) is only required when a person is involved in child-related work which involves direct contact that is regular, ongoing and is required as part of their role.
We have also been informed that a person does not legally require a WWCC if their work involves only occasional contact with children and that contact is incidental to their duties.
However, the Kilvington position is, in the interests of the safety and protection of the children in our care, and the complexity of this information, we request that all volunteers have a WWCC.
What does this mean for the Kilvington Community?
If you already have a WWCC and have nominated Kilvington as an organisation that you volunteer for, we will already have your details.
It may be that you have a WWCC because you volunteer at the local netball, cricket or footy club. In this case, you just need to go online to http://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/home/ and update your details. Please add Kilvington as an organisation to your WWCC profile, or provide Jessica Schulz with your WWCC registration details: schulzj@kilvington.vic.edu.au.
If you don’t have a WWCC and enjoy participating in events such as reading with students, helping out in the Library, serving at the Father’s Day breakfast, helping out at the K24 Bake Sale and BBQ, sports events, BBQs or the Mother’s Day and Father’s Day Stall, we ask that you apply for a WWCC.
The PFA has implemented an online sign-up process for all events. Each event’s volunteers are cross-checked with our database to ensure that every volunteer has a WWCC.
How do I apply for a WWCC?
The first step in applying for a WWCC is to apply online: (http://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/home/applications/apply+for+a+check).
There is no cost involved and the check is valid for 5 years.
To apply for a Check, you will need to:
- Fill in the online application form and verify your identity online.
- Check your email inbox for an email from workingwithchildren@smarteform.com.au with instructions on how to finalise your application at Australia Post.
- During your application, please include Kilvington Grammar School on the list of organisations with whom you volunteer
- Attend a participating Australia Post outlet and have your photo taken (at no charge to you). Locate your nearest participating Australia Post outlet below. Locate an Australia Post outlet
- Once you pass the Working with Children Check, the Department of Justice and Regulation will let you know by email and you will receive a card in the mail within two weeks. The School will be notified by mail also, and will update your details on our database.
The Value of Community Engagement
The expectations placed on organisations like schools and other community groups to ensure the safety of the children in our care may seem onerous. And there is the risk that the willingness of parents to volunteer their time will be jeopardised because of this.
I hope that doesn’t happen here. Our students love having adults engaged in their education journey.
Last week I had a student say to his parent that he had had the best day ever. When I asked why, he said it was because I had joined in a soccer game with him and his mates. That just made my day!
It is so important we don’t lose that sense of connection between young people and the adults who care for them.
Lengo Football Academy
On Wednesday 30 August, Emanuel Saakai from Tanzania visited the School to present his amazing story to the Years 10 to 12 students. Recently deceased former Board Member, John Allin, paved the way to this relationship.
Emanuel founded Lengo Football Academy in 2012, a not-for-profit organisation, which seeks to harness the power of football to bring about positive social change and nurture talent.
He established the academy with a passionate commitment and vision to address an important need in Tanzania. Lengo Football Academy in Tanzania offers opportunities for disadvantaged youth, street kids and orphans to better their lives through football.
He provides coaching and training six days a week and assists the young players to gain valuable life skills, an education and provide vocational support as well as provide a professional route for talented new players.
After speaking to the students, Emanuel then coached Kilvington’s Senior Soccer players for a 50 minute session. He was extremely engaging and knowledgeable and passed on some tips and strategies to our players.
Kilvington provided the Lengo Football Academy with a donation of $500 to help support their programs in Tanzania.
You can find out more about them here -
Goldstein Pre-Schoolers get Head Start in STEM
Article adapted from Tim Wilson Media Release
Pre-schoolers in Goldstein will be amongst the first in Australia to be introduced to science, technology, mathematics and engineering (STEM) through a new series of fun, play-based apps.
Tim Wilson, MP for Goldstein, confirmed Kilvington Grammar School, Livingston Kindergarten and Olympic Avenue Kindergarten were part of 100 selected to be part of the Turnbull Government’s innovative Early Learning STEM Australia (ELSA) pilot.
“Congratulations to Kilvington Grammar School, Livingston Kindergarten and Olympic Avenue Kindergarten for being selected in the trial and commitment to introducing their pre-schoolers to new and exciting learning opportunities,” Tim Wilson MP said.
Tim Wilson MP said the first app would introduce the concepts of sorting, ordering, patterns and representations through activities including creating decorations and organising food onto different plates, all within the theme of ‘celebration’.
“With employment trends showing 75 per cent of Australia’s fastest growing careers demand skills in digital literacy and STEM, it is wonderful to see the curiosity of children in Goldstein is being encouraged early in their development.”
Please find full article below.
Teacher Recognition
We are so proud of our Head of Library Resources, Jane Viner, who was awarded the national 2017 Teacher Librarian of the Year Award.
Congratulations Jane!