In the Know

From the Leadership Team

A Community that Welcomes Includes and Respects

Welcome back to everyone, and a very special welcome to new students and families.  I trust you have had a great holiday break and are ready to embrace the rich array of opportunities that will come your way this year. 

 

A couple of weeks ago, many of us celebrated Australia Day, perhaps some of us sang the national anthem Advance Australia Fair. Our national anthem begs the question, what does it mean to advance Australia fair?  What is a fair Australia? 

 

Part of the answer, which I think we would all agree, is a fair Australia is a place where everyone feels welcome, included and respected.  I think that’s what America stands for too, although with recent developments there, I am concerned.

Last week a cartoon by Ron Tandberg appeared in The Age that caught my eye.  It shows an America with an erected wall, including a Mexican wall.  But Australia is also depicted with a wall, with a couple of Australians commenting, “How could America do that?”  It speaks of hypocrisy. 

 

The sheer number of displaced people around the world, and the resultant humanitarian crisis, is a very difficult and challenging problem to solve.  Throw into this unfolding tragedy the threat of terrorism, and the complexity of the issues only magnifies.  There are no simple solutions.  But I don’t think that building walls is one of them. 

 

The country I want to live is not one that builds walls, rather it is one that tears them down.  The school I want to work in is not one that builds walls either, rather it is one that tears them down.  Advance Kilvington Fair.  What is a fair Kilvington?  One where everyone feels welcome, included and respected. 

 

Our character trait word for Semester One is ‘Courage’.  It takes courage to welcome, include and respect others, but the rewards are boundless - new friends, opportunities, growth, and the deep satisfaction that comes from knowing you have done the right thing.  It takes courage to stand against those who are unwelcoming, exclude and are disrespectful, but fortune favours the brave.

 

We begin 2017 with 795 students enrolled in the School, a new record.  I am confident, given my experience of the Kilvington community, that members will be welcomed, included and respected.   

Class of 2016 VCE Results

I wish to congratulate our Class of 2016 for their outstanding academic results last year, close to the best, if not the best in my Kilvington Principalship.     

  • 24% of our students were in the top 5% of the State (achieving an ATAR of 95 plus).
  • 49% were in the top 10% of the State (achieving an ATAR of 90 plus).
  • Our Dux received an ATAR score of 99.7.
  • 26% of study scores were 40 plus.
  • Our median was 35.

The Class of 2016 certainly reaped the reward for their diligent efforts.   Congratulations to one and all.      

Parent Satisfaction Survey

Each year we survey a random group of parents to gain insight into their satisfaction levels with their experience at Kilvington. These insights allow us to reinforce to staff what we are doing well and address what we can do better.

 

Our 2016 Parent Satisfaction Survey revealed that we continue to perform at a very high standard across the School. Findings included:

 

 

 

 

 

  • The standard of teaching is excellent at Kilvington.
  • Kilvington is an excellent culture in which to learn.
  • My child is happy to go to Kilvington.
  • Building character is an important part of my child’s education.
  • Teachers know and care about my child.
  • I am kept informed about my child’s academic progress.

The survey also revealed areas where we can do better which will be addressed over the year.

 

Sincere thanks to the parents who took the time to complete the survey.

Keeping in Touch with Developments at Kilvington

There are many ways of staying on top of news and events at Kilvington. The Skoolbag application, which can be downloaded from our website (see icon at the top of the Home Page), can be configured to alert you to events relevant to your child’s year level. Please update your settings from last year.

 

OurFacebook Page is another way of staying in touch with events, activities, and news. Go to our website to ‘like’ our FB page,(icon is at the top of the page).

 

The Kilvington website also has a great deal of information and is where you can access the Parent Portal, the 2017 Kilvington calendar and News and Events.

Sport Training

Kilvington’s sport program continues to grow and develop.  Last year teams performed very impressively, with a number going on to win a flag. 

 

I am delighted to inform you that this year sport training will be considerably ramped up for Years 5-12 students, with afterschool year level training sessions offered for all students.