Principal

Aaron Cox

Principal

It is hard to believe we have already reached the halfway mark of Term 4 and, with it, the final stretch of 2026. Our Golden Anniversary year has been one to remember and the first five weeks of this term have carried that same energy into classrooms, camps and concert rehearsals. Our students have settled into the term with focus and purpose and our staff have continued to hold the high expectations that make Kingswood a place where every child can learn and grow. Thank you, as always, for your partnership. It matters more than you might realise.

Looking Back: The First Five Weeks

It has been a busy and productive start to the term. Our Year 3 students headed off on camp in Week 3 and returned tired, happy and full of stories. The weather was kind, the students were wonderful ambassadors for our school and we thank the staff who gave up time with their own families to make the experience possible.

Concert preparations are well and truly underway, with audio recordings completed last week and rehearsals now building towards the main event later this term. We also celebrated World Teachers' Day, a chance to acknowledge the extraordinary commitment of our teaching and education support staff. At Kingswood we say that We are here for the students and our staff live that every single day.

Behind the scenes, teachers have been completing moderation of student writing, reviewing individual learning plans and beginning the careful work of planning class structures for 2027. This planning is detailed and deliberate and every decision is made with the needs of each student at the centre.

Staffing Update – 3C

As many 3C families will already know, Mrs Maddie Christo has commenced family leave. We wish Maddie and her family every happiness during this very special time. We are delighted that Ms Jenna Herbert has joined us to lead 3C for the remainder of the year. Jenna spent a handover week working alongside Maddie at the start of the term, which has ensured a smooth and settled transition for the students. Please make Jenna feel very welcome if you see her around the school.

Farewells at the End of 2026

Each year brings change and while we are always sad to say goodbye, we are equally proud when our staff take up new opportunities. It is a reflection of the quality of people we have at Kingswood and our commitment to Lead the way, not only for our students but for the profession.

Miss Tess Rogers (6R) will be leaving us at the end of the year to take up a teaching position in the Northern Territory. What an adventure! Tess has made an enormous contribution to our senior school and her Year 6 students will be her final, very fortunate cohort at Kingswood.

Ms Elizabeth Rennie and Mr Josh Diamond-Smith will also be departing Kingswood at the end of the year and we wish them both all the very best with their future endeavours.

From our Education Support team, we will also bid farewell to Mandeep and Tarlia at the end of the year. Our Education Support staff provide vital care and support to many of our students, often quietly and without fanfare and we sincerely thank them both.

There will be opportunities later in the term for students and families to thank our departing staff and we will share further details closer to the time. Information about our 2027 staffing and class structures will be shared with families when it is finalised.

Kingswood Is a Non-Political School

With the Victorian state election to be held on Saturday the 28th of November, it is timely to remind our community that Kingswood is a non-political institution. As a government school, we do not show fear or favour to any political party or candidate. We serve every family in our community, whatever their background or beliefs and we are proud to be representative of all Victorians. Our role is to educate, not to endorse, and that principle guides everything we communicate and every activity we host.

School Funding

Families may have seen media coverage about school funding over recent weeks. Victoria was the last state in Australia to finalise its long-term funding agreement with the Commonwealth Government under the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement. That agreement places all Victorian government schools on a pathway to full funding under the national Schooling Resource Standard by 2034.

This is a significant and welcome step for public education and we are genuinely thankful that a pathway to full funding is now in place. Like school leaders right across the state, we would of course welcome that full funding arriving sooner, as the needs of our students are immediate. A number of professional and community bodies continue to advocate on behalf of all government schools and we appreciate their work.

The New Schools Agreement and Changes to Funding Models

A new Victorian Government Schools Agreement, which sets out the employment conditions for teachers, principals and education support staff, has been endorsed by staff this year. Alongside this, there have been significant changes to the way schools are funded.

Our school leadership team is working very hard to interpret and implement these new requirements carefully and correctly. We will do whatever is necessary to ensure Kingswood operates fully within these requirements, while protecting the quality of teaching and learning that our families value. Where any changes are likely to affect families or students, we will communicate with you early and clearly. School Council will also be sharing more with our community about how families can help us sustain the programs and opportunities that make Kingswood special.

Looking Ahead: The Final Six Weeks

The remainder of the term is always full and 2026 will be no exception. Our whole-school concerts for Casts A and B will take place in Week 7 and we cannot wait to see our students shine on stage. True to being A place to shine, it is one of the highlights of our school year.

Teachers will be busy completing end-of-year assessment and writing student reports through late November and early December. Semester 2 reports will be released to families on Thursday 10 December. In the same week, students will take part in our Whole School Transition Day where they will spend time with their 2027 class and teacher, and families will receive their child's 2027 class placement notification. We also look forward to welcoming our 2027 Prep students and their families as their transition program continues.

Our Year 6 students will celebrate the end of their primary school journey with their graduation, a milestone that is always as emotional for staff as it is for families.

The final day of Term 4 is Friday the 18th of December, with an early dismissal at 1:20pm. Further details about all end-of-year events will be shared through Compass, so please keep an eye on notifications.

Thank you for the warmth, trust and support you continue to show our school. Being Connected to community is at the heart of who we are and it is your partnership that makes that value real.

Let's make these final six weeks of our 50th year something special for every child.