Current Highlights

From the Principal

Jon Charlton, Principal

At Celebration Night last month, I delivered my final address, one which I hope captured my heart-felt thoughts and feelings as I depart as Principal and begin a new chapter at the end of this year.  I’ve drawn on that address to write my final article for Kilvonian Konnections.

Essentially, I want to say thank you for being such a brilliant community of people. Over the years, so much has been achieved due to the combined efforts of us all – students, staff, parents, the Alumni and Board. 

Collectively, we have transitioned Kilvington from a struggling girls’ school, to the dynamic and flourishing co-educational school it is today. The addition of boys has only enhanced our vibrant community.

When I returned to the School in 2008, prior to it becoming co-ed, I remember one of my first Open Mornings. There I was, sitting uncomfortably in front of only four attendees. It was embarrassing to say the least. Today, we are capping numbers at 200 groups – even in the midst of a pandemic!

The key point is that this incredible achievement has not been about ‘me’, rather it has been a story of ‘we’. Together, as Team Kilvington, we have transformed this community.

Kilvington community, I thank you for your phosphorescence – your spark, light, personality – all of which are a constant reminder to me of your infinite value and intrinsic worth, and the need to treat you with the utmost dignity and respect.

I’ve loved your uniqueness, which has culminated in our incredibly rich and diverse community. Your uniqueness is so energising and life-giving. 

Thank you for wholeheartedly supporting the School’s mission, upheld by four key pillars – Academic Excellence, Character, Care and Community. I’m proud of the part we have played in producing thinking, good, caring, connected and giving people.

One of my life guiding quotes, spoken by Baptist pastor and activist Martin Luther King, is ‘intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education’.  Education is about transforming the mind and also the heart. 

Last year, the pandemic reshaped education, and in future years it will continue to do so, but my hope is that it will make us a better people.  

Moreover, increasingly we will see – with the pandemic adding impetus – less emphasis on narrow NAPLAN or ATAR measures, and more emphasis on the six global competencies often referred to as the 6Cs – Character, Citizenship, Collaboration, Communication, Creativity and Critical Thinking – attributes and skills that are seen as crucial for future employability across industries and countries.

To the Class of 2021 – thank you for your positivity, adaptability, dedication and resilience, particularly in the last two years.  Your efforts have been quite extraordinary.  I wish you every success in the future, and we look forward to celebrating your graduation in 2022.

My sincere gratitude extends to the PFA, its committee and its legendary President, Kirsten Brooks, who is stepping down from her role after nine years of brilliant service. Kirsten and the PFA have worked tirelessly to enrich the lives of us all, thank you. 

One of the main reasons I returned to Kilvington in 2008 was due to the staff. They were, and throughout the years have remained, an incredibly passionate, professional, diligent and selfless group of people – continually going above and beyond to ensure students receive quality teaching, learning and care. We owe much gratitude to the staff.

A final thought - I hope the pandemic will be the making of us. That it will remind us of what is most important in life - ‘we’ is better than ‘I’.  That it will ultimately strengthen us and give us the confidence to achieve even greater things together.

Despite the catastrophic nature and setbacks of World War One and the Spanish Flu, soon after, in 1923, an educator and her daughter dreamt big, worked hard and overcame numerous obstacles to start a small school in Ormond. 

Caroline and Constance Barrett knew hardship, but overcame it and triumphed and today that school - Kilvington Grammar -continues to thrive, nearly 100 years later.  Setbacks do give rise to comebacks. 

I wish new Principal, Rob French, and all within our community every success, love, joy and peace. 

Have a safe and happy festive season!

Non nobis sed omnibus. Not for our own but others’ good. 

National redress scheme

In 2018, in response to recommendations by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, the Australian Government set up the National Redress Scheme. 

The scheme is designed to provide redress to people who have experienced institutional child sexual abuse. The offer of redress can include access to counselling, a redress payment and a direct personal response. 

Last year, the Kilvington Board decided that the School should join the National Redress Scheme in the event that people in our community may need to access its support. At this point of time, the Board is not aware of any such need. In September of this year, our application to join the scheme was approved.   

Organisations who join the scheme are required to provide evidence of their commitment to it through a communications strategy that highlights to key stakeholder groups the opportunity to seek redress. A Kilvington statement about the Redress Scheme can be found here. 

Judy Allen Award 2021 

This year's worthy recipient of the prestigious Judy Allen Award is Christine Welsford.

Six years ago, along with a consistent commitment to volunteering and to the PFA, Christina helped establish Kilvington’s Foodbank Program – a very special and important support initiative for members of the Kilvington community facing hardship.

The Kilvington Cares Food Program delivers meals and care packages to individuals and families in need. It requires managing a roster of 30 plus volunteers, and liaison between cooks, the School and the recipient.

Importantly, it requires compassion, discretion, dedication and brilliant organisational skills, which Christina has in spades.

The value of the program is not only to the individuals and families who are cared for, but also to the volunteers who gain so much from contributing to this outstanding initiative. Around 400 meals and care packages have been prepared by our volunteers since the Program’s inception.

Christina leaves us at the end of this year but her legacy of commitment to care and the community will live on in the Kilvington Cares Food Program.

Congratulations Christina, and thank you.

Celebration Night 

The Kilvington 2021 Celebration Night was held as an online event again this year featuring outstanding musical performances, acknowledgment of 2021 successes and a heartfelt farewell to our Year 12 students. 

You can watch the video of the event here.