Languages & Global Connections

Lucie Dickens, Head of Languages and Global Connections 

Bastille Day

On Friday 1 August, our school came alive with the colours, sounds and flavours of France as we celebrated a fabulous Bastille Day, thanks to the hard work and creativity of our Junior French teachers, Christelle Breimeyer and Mackenzie Neale. 

Their dedication and creativity brought students and staff together in a joyful celebration of French culture, filled with music, mime, food and fun activities. The leadership of Year 6 students was also exceptional! Thank you to all those involved for making this day such a memorable cultural experience. 

Here's a reflection of the day from Year 4:

At Kilvington, we celebrated Bastille Day on Friday 1 August with a fantastic day of French fun! A bunch of excited Year 4 students came to school all dressed up in vibrant colours of blue, white and red.

Lunchtime was filled with exciting activities, organised by our Year 6 Language Leaders, including face painting, a photo booth, bracelet-making and much more.

Then we went to the place we had been longing for all day - the CREPE STAND! It was heaven for us kids, with so many flavours to choose from - chocolate, honey, biscoff, sugar and lemon, jam, and maple syrup. Chocolate was a particular favourite among the students!

After lunch, Years 3 to 6 students had an unexpected surprise. We gathered in Dalton Hall for a great performance featuring a professional musician and a mime artist named Jacques. The Hall was full of our dancing and laughter, and even the teachers let out a giggle!

• I really loved the accordionist and the mime, they were so interactive and funny! - Arya Choksi
• What I loved the most were the stalls at lunchtime - they kept us entertained the whole time. My favourite stall was the photo booth! - Elise McGloughlin
• I adored the crepes - they were so delicious I could have had three of them! I thought the day was majestic! - Aryan Ramsurrun
• I enjoyed tasting French cuisine, and it felt good to order the crepe in French! Rayna Desai

Years 5 and 6 NGV French Impressionists Excursion 

Our Years 5 and 6 students recently enjoyed an inspiring excursion to the National Gallery of Victoria, where they explored the world of French impressionist art. 

Surrounded by masterpieces from artists like Monet, Renoir and Degas, students were able to see first-hand the vibrant colours, light and movement that define this iconic style. The experience brought their classroom learning to life and sparked lively discussions about art, history and French culture. 

Throughout the visit, we engaged with the artworks, and discussed impressions and our favourite pieces. We were fascinated by Monet’s use of light and how it transformed ordinary scenes into extraordinary paintings. The trip not only deepened our understanding of Impressionism, but also led to a greater appreciation for art in general. - Maisie Lewicki, Year 6

A big thank you to the Junior French team, Christelle Breimeyer and Mackenzie Neale, who organised such a rich and memorable day – one that truly broadened horizons and deepened our students’ cultural appreciation.

Years 9 and 10 French Trivia Night 

William Walsh, Year 9 French 

Last Friday, Years 9 and 10 students attended French Trivia Night, an annual event organised by the Association of French Teachers in Victoria. It was great to participate in the event with my friends, meet other students learning French, and put our French skills to use! 

Although we didn’t win, we enjoyed trying to figure out the answers. Personally, I liked the questions about French food the best! 

French Trivia Night was lots of fun, and I’d highly recommend it to anyone who loves French or is just interested in honing their skills.

Farewell to our guests from Japan and France

Over the past month, Kilvington has been buzzing with international connections as we welcomed students from two of our valued partner schools in Hiroshima and Toulouse. 

Arriving full of curiosity and enthusiasm, our wonderful visiting students quickly immersed themselves in Australian school life, making new friends, joining classes and taking part in extra-curricular activities. 

Their presence has enriched our community in countless ways. 

Kilvington students had the opportunity to practise their French and Japanese with real native teenagers. Conversations over lunch and in the playground turned into mini language exchanges, with plenty of laughter over differences in slang, food and school traditions. 

We know the friendships and memories created will last well beyond these few weeks.

This experience would not be possible without the generosity of host families and staff, and we thank everyone who contributed. We value these partnerships greatly and look forward to continuing to build on this foundation through future visits and collaborative opportunities. 

Their time here has been a reminder of the richness that comes when cultures meet, learn from each other and share in everyday life.

In their own words, our guests have shared heartfelt reflections on how this experience has shaped their confidence, broadened their horizons and deepened their connection to Australia and its people. Read below. 

Japanese reflections:

French reflections: