In the Know

From the Leadership Team 

Rob French, Principal

Our amazing community

When people speak about Kilvington, they often refer to the strong sense of community that exists in the School. By definition, a community is a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common. 

 

When referring to the Kilvington community, we are bound by much more than simply shared characteristics, or the fact that we happen to be at the same school. There is something unique and, in many ways intangible, in our shared values and the overwhelming support that students offer each other and their teachers. 

 

The fact that our students allow each other to be themselves, embrace diversity and accept differences helps to build the sense of community that is often referred to when people discuss our School.

Alumni connections

It has been great to connect with our alumni members in recent weeks as we hosted a series of peer group reunions. It is evident when listening to them that they also experienced a strong sense of community when they were here at School, and it is evident that a strong and united community has been a hallmark of Kilvington for many years.  

 

All of us at the School today have the opportunity to continue this tradition and leave the legacy of community for those who will follow.

Community Service and Social Justice

The other aspect of Kilvington life that I know has helped to establish our sense of community is the School’s ongoing dedication to community service and social justice. 

 

A community in which people are encouraged to look outwards and strive to make the world a better place will be more nurturing and caring than one where selfishness pervades. 

 

From the School’s foundation in 1923 and the emergence of the motto Non Nobis Sed Omnibus ('not for our own, but others’ good'), this has been a community that has sought to have a positive impact and to improve the lives of those in need.  

 

Coretta Scott King was an American author and activist who, along with her husband Dr Martin Luther King, became a civil rights leader during the turbulent 1960s. When speaking about community, Mrs King said, ‘The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate action of its members’.  By this measure, Kilvington is certainly a great community.

A day in the Kilvington community

A few weeks ago, I spent a whole day marvelling at the wonderful community feeling at Kilvington. Blessed with a beautiful July day, with just a hint of spring in the air, I began the day visiting the Junior School Athletics Carnival.  

 

It was great to see a number of parents supporting their children as they competed in a wide range of events, including several epic tug-of-war battles (with a number of dads becoming involved in the tussles). I was reminded of what we had missed over the last two years, as events such as this simply cannot be replicated in an online school environment.

 

Venturing back to School, I was just in time to partake in the Year 8 Cultural Day lunch in Dalton Hall.  Students had worked in teams to organise three- or sometimes four-course French or Japanese banquets, and the atmosphere in the Hall was magnificent. Again, I took a moment to look around and take in the community feeling that the event had generated.

 

In the afternoon, our Year 7 students presented their Toy Time projects and, once again, it was great to see a number of parents enjoying some of the brilliantly constructed games. As well as being a lot of fun, it was obvious that a great deal of learning had taken place in the construction of the games. There was a superb atmosphere in the Hall as the Year 7 parents played the games.

 

If the day hadn’t been ideal enough, we still had the long-awaited Years 11 and 12 Formal to go to that evening! This time senior students and several of their teachers came together to enjoy each other’s company and revel in this milestone event. 

 

Arriving home that evening, I couldn’t stop thinking about the wonderful community I was lucky enough to be part of and how the entire day had showcased this so clearly. 

STEAM and Library Centre update

The STEAM Centre is certainly taking shape and is literally going up before our eyes. I am pleased to report that the works continue to progress according to schedule and we are looking forward to the building being ready for the start of the 2023 academic year!

Staff news

From the start of next year, we will have several members of staff relinquishing or taking on new roles:

  • Mrs Helen Cole has decided to step away from her role as Head of Mathematics, but fortunately for us, will stay on as a classroom Mathematics teacher.
  • Mrs Kerryn Warburton has decided that the time is right to give up her role as Timetable Coordinator. Again, we are fortunate that she will continue at Kilvington as a PE teacher.
  • Mr Mark Williams has made the decision to step away from the role of Dean of Wellbeing - Fysh at the end of this year.  Once again, we are fortunate that Mr Williams will be staying on at Kilvington and focusing on his teaching of Mathematics.
  • Ms Jessica Chamoff, Academic Dean of Humanities, will be leaving Kilvington at the end of the year to take up a new position at Haileybury College.

I thank Mrs Cole, Mrs Warburton, Ms Chamoff and Mr Williams for their dedicated service to their roles over a number of years. We will formally thank Ms Chamoff for her outstanding work with the Humanities Faculty and wish her well at the end of the year. 

 

As a result of these moves, some internal appointments have been made:

  • Mr Nic Troitzky Pelletier has been appointed as our new Timetable Coordinator, which means he will be stepping down from his role as Dean of Wellbeing - Barrett. 
  • Ms Maree Locco has been appointed as the new Head of Wellbeing - Barrett, and will therefore step down from her role as Academic Dean of Science. 
  • Ms Jacqui Goldenberg will succeed Mr Williams as Dean of Wellbeing - Fysh.

I congratulate these members of staff on their appointments and look forward to working with them in these new roles next year. 

 

As a result of the above movement, we have three exciting opportunities for outstanding educators to join us to lead our Mathematics, Science and Humanities Faculties from the start of next year. Advertising will commence for these positions this weekend.