From the Leadership Team 

Sebastian Earle, Head of Junior School

Last week, Kilvington Grammar celebrated two important events that characterise the School’s important transition period.

Firstly, earlier in the week we welcomed many new excited students and teachers to our beloved community during our Orientation Days. This also included a healthy number of Kindergarten-aged students eager to start the next chapter of their learning journey in Prep next year.

At Celebration Night last Friday, the School community gathered to reflect on yet another proud year at Robert Blackwood Hall. The evening culminated with the moving farewell song to the Year 12 students who prepare for their next stage of life.

This was a touching tribute to not only the students who worked so hard to finish their VCE, but also to the many teachers and parents who dedicated themselves towards helping them reach this important milestone.

When considered together, both Celebration Night and the Orientation Days symbolise the transitional nature of schools.

Like life itself, the stages of school and student development are in constant change. One minute students are learning to tie their shoelaces and unpack their bags, and the next they are enrolling at university and moving into a share house.

As Principal Jon Charlton reflected during his presentation at Celebration Night, our goal is to imbue in our students the character traits to help them navigate an environment of constant change and growth, including resilience, adaptability and courage.

Whilst we as teachers and parents can become nostalgic, it is a timely reminder as to how communities can be enriched by this perpetual succession. On one hand, we have a solid number of new students joining our community next year. Each new student brings a unique combination of qualities and perspectives to share with the School.

We value this expanding diversity and relish the inherent challenges that come with this change. It can nourish our curiosity and support the development of empathy and understanding. This opportunity enriches our existing students and teachers.

On the opposite end of spectrum, our Year 12 students prepare for life after secondary education. With them they take the knowledge and understandings they have gained whilst at Kilvington and can apply them to their chosen field. We trust their unique abilities and character will enrich those whom they meet and the organisations they join. Needless to say, we wish them well on their endeavours.

As we close in on the end of another successful academic year, students, teachers and parents will naturally reflect on the many achievements of our collective School community.

The last 12 months have been tremendously positive and productive. And we warmly welcome the exciting transition period ahead as this will undoubtedly further enrich our School community.