Principal's Message

Dear Parents, Guardians, Students, Staff and Community Members

What a brilliant term we have all had. It is fair to say that the last few weeks have been a roller coaster of mixed emotions for me as I’ve prepared to depart the college. For those who may have missed my letter earlier in the term, I have recently announced that I am relocating to the North Western Victoria Region to take up a new position supporting the schools across the area. This position will commence at the beginning of Term 2.

Martin McDonald (Assistant Principal), will be the acting Principal for term two. Many of you may recall that Martin led the college during my long service leave for all of 2024. During term two, the South Eastern Victoria Regional office, in consultation with the Kambrya College School Council, will run a formal merit based recruitment process to appoint a new substantive Principal who will lead the college into the future.

Kambrya College has been my home since 2005. It is forever in my blood, and I am so incredibly proud of what it has become. It is with a heavy heart that I prepare myself to say goodbye, but I also rest easy knowing what a fantastic school I leave behind. You all deserve to feel proud of this college. To name just a few highlights, over the last seven years your collective efforts have:

Taken the school from the bottom half of the state to the top 20% of the state when measuring students’ experiences of school and the positive climate.
Increased our positive staff culture from the 60th percentile to the 90th percentile of all state schools.
Significantly improved NAPLAN data that now surpasses all state, similar school and network averages.
Significantly improved VCE results that now rank us as the highest performing non-select entry state school in all of Southern Melbourne, and outperforming many private schools in the district too.
Successfully navigated all of the challenges that have come with increased student enrolments from 1300 students in 2018 to 2400 students in 2024.
Weathered the storm of the COVID19 pandemic together, and enabled the school to flourish under the pressure.
Dramatically improved our infrastructure and facilities, and positioned the College as a highly sought after school in the community.

These achievements have been the result of your collective hard work and cooperation, and I can’t thank you all enough for the support that you have shown to me and the college over the years. I have no doubt that the united efficacy of our staff, students and families will continue to drive the school forward, no matter who sits in the Principal's office in the future.

It has been heart warming and nostalgic for me as I’ve been talking with students, staff and parents over the last week, and I sincerely appreciate all the messages of support. I bid the entire Kambrya College community a very fond farewell, and I wish you all the best of happiness, health and success in the future. It has been an honour and privilege to work with you all.

Yours sincerely,

Keith Perry

Principal