Making a difference
Lift with Laughter Day
On Thursday 10 September, Kilvington acknowledged R U OK? Day in our own Kilvington way through Lift with Laughter Day, a celebration of laughter, joy and, most importantly, connection. This day was an initiative led by our Student Leadership Council.
The idea behind the day is simple: creating intentional opportunities for our students and staff to connect. Recent research from Harvard University involving more than 22,000 Australian adolescents found that student flourishing increased most when students laughed with their peers at least once a month, with a 22% increase in flourishing over time. The research also highlighted the importance of playfulness, strong social relationships and humour in the classroom.
And there was certainly plenty of laughter and connection throughout the day! We kicked off with pickleball and breakfast before school, while students welcomed members of our community at the gates with a smile. Students and staff embraced the spirit of the day by wearing joyful accessories, while music and jokes over the PA brought moments of fun and laughter throughout the day.
One of the highlights was our group skipping at recess, where the courts came alive with students of all ages skipping together. At lunchtime, the celebrations continued with a carnival atmosphere, including Zumba, henna and plenty of opportunities to connect. Our Duke of Edinburgh students also put character into action through service, selling baked goods to raise funds for Nepal flood relief.
Importantly, the conversation about connection continued beyond the day. During Mentor, students participated in R U OK? activities, exploring the importance of checking in with friends, noticing when someone may need support and having the confidence to start a conversation.
"It was wonderful to see the Kilvington community come together, step outside the classroom, and share a laugh. To have played even a small part in such a brilliant day is something I'll never forget" - Dash Mathews, Mentor and SLC Leader.
Lift with Laughter Day was a wonderful reminder that connection, character and wellbeing are built through the moments we create together – and sometimes, laughter really is powerful.
Connor's Run
More than 60 Kilvington students and staff took part in Connor’s Run this year, with our first official alumni team also joining the event.
Connor’s Run is an annual event raising funds for the Robert Connor Dawes Foundation, which supports research into childhood brain cancer and aims to improve outcomes for young people diagnosed with brain tumors.
Kilvington is currently the number one fundraising school, with almost $27,000 raised, our highest total ever! Thanks to matched donations, the school has earned both a cape for passing $10,000 and a crown for passing $20,000. Five students also earned the special teal fundraising T-shirt after raising more than $1,000 each.
Beyond the fundraising, nine students volunteered at a water station alongside Ms Karen Bryce and former Kilvington parents Annie Fitzgibbon and Damien McShane, while many more students took part in the run.
Through the school’s Character Program, all Year 10 students are registered for Connor’s Run and have had the opportunity to hear from Liz Dawes, founder of the Robert Connor Dawes Foundation, and Beck Goldstein, a Legacy Ambassador for the Foundation, who generously shared the story of her son Gideon who experienced brain cancer.
A huge thank you to everyone who took part and supported our fundraising, and to Mr French for once again greeting students at the finish line and capturing the day. Year 7 student Lorretta Wise, who volunteers with Southern FM, also interviewed some of our students after the run. Listen to the interviews here.
School Sustainability Festival
Written by Emma Barton, Junior School Sustainability Leader.
On Thursday 3rd September, a group of Grade 5 and 6 students attended the 2026 School Sustainability Festival. The festival brought together schools from multiple councils to encourage sustainable practices and share ideas and successes.
Throughout the day, we participated in workshops including Fairy Penguins, Sustainable Scents, Eco-Critters: Aussie Creations, Up-Cycled Plants, Toy and Clothes Swap, and Nothing Like Nature. We then travelled to the St Kilda Botanical Gardens, where we enjoyed hands-on activities such as Radical Relay, Fabulous Frogs, Plants Through Time, and Super Sorter. It was a fantastic day of learning, collaboration and fun, inspiring us to continue making sustainable choices in our school and community.