From the Leadership Team
Jon Charlton, Principal
The story of the butterfly
Last week, it was simply wonderful to welcome back our Unit 3 and 4 students and essential worker children. It was lovely to see them smiling and hear their laughter. I look forward to welcoming other year levels back in due course, in what is a complicated mix. Well done if you know which groups of students will return on which days.
The tunnel we are in has been long and dark. With so many twists and turns, it has been hard to see the light at the end of it. But it is there.
Again, I encourage all members of our community to remain positive. A positive mindset makes you happier and in turn makes others around you happier. We can choose how we respond to situations. Our students, staff and parents need our positivity at this time.
AFL win
Congratulations to our long-suffering Demons fans. What a brilliant win. Halfway through the third quarter, some doubt must have been creeping in – positivity may have been waning – but then in the blink of an eye, the game was turned on its head, in an unbelievable burst of play.
Team Captain, Max Gawn, apparently gave a very stirring speech at half-time, invoking the spirit and words of former coach Neale Daniher. Daniher is famous for saying, 'When all is said and done, more is said than done.' Gawn reminded his players that actions speak louder than words, urging his players to ‘walk the talk’.
As we kick off a new term, I thank everyone for their efforts thus far, but implore you to exude positivity, and give your all in walking the talk of a Kilvington education; that is, give your best in living out our values of respect, trust, celebration of difference, care, generosity and high standards in teaching, learning and care.
Events
We have decided to postpone Year 12 Valedictory Day celebrations until after the Unit 3 and 4 exam period. At this stage, it looks like activities will be rescheduled to take place on Thursday 18 November. We eagerly await the opportunity to thank the Year 12 students for their contribution to the School, farewell them in a dignified way, and wish them every success in the future.
This year’s Celebration Night will be greatly modified and delivered remotely on Friday 19 November (TBC) from 7.30pm. This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our students’ achievements throughout the year, recognise the contributions of our School community and farewell our Year 12 students. I look forward to the Kilvington community supporting the occasion. Stay tuned for further details.
Staffing
Garratt Alexander has tendered his resignation as a Kilvington teacher, effective at the end of this year. He has been at Kilvington for seven years and during this time has made a wonderful contribution to the school as a teacher, mentor and Robotics Coordinator. Garratt has also been a fine contributor to a host of other activities.
Garratt has accepted a position at St Margaret’s and Berwick Grammar and we wish him every success.
A special welcome to new staff member Mr Phil Hosking who joins us as a Japanese teacher replacing Mr Paul de Winter. Phil has taught Japanese at Shelford for many years and is a past Kilvington parent.
We welcome back Mrs Pat Lehman who is picking up Mr de Winter’s Geography load.
We also welcome back ELC teacher Mrs Leanne Clinch who will be working in Learning Support this term.
As mentioned in a special email to the community last week, I am delighted with the appointment of Mr Lucas Collins to the position of Head of Junior School at Kilvington, commencing Term 1 2022.
Next year, we will also welcome Mrs Ashleigh Cavalin who will join us as a Years 7 to 12 English teacher. Ashleigh is currently at Balcombe Grammar School where she is the Head of Year 7. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and Education from Monash University.
Another teacher to join our 2022 team is Mrs Antonia Ciarletta. Antonia will join us from Haileybury College where she teaches VCE Biology and middle year’s Science. Antonia completed her Bachelor of Science (Honours – Neuroscience) before completing a Post Graduate Diploma in Education (Biology & Science) from the University of Strathclyde.
School movements
The Library area is now fenced off as the new STEAM/Library build commences. Please note that while students can still be dropped off in the designated area along Leila Rd, they can no longer enter via Gate 2, rather they need to use Gate 1 or 4 instead.
The story of the butterfly
The following story might be familiar to you, but at this most challenging time, is worth another read:
One day, a small opening appeared on a cocoon. A man sat and watched for the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through a little hole. Then it seems to stop making progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could and could not go any further.
So the man decided to help the butterfly; he took a pair of scissors and opened the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily.
But it had a withered body, it was tiny and had shrivelled wings. The man continued to watch because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would open, enlarge and expand, to be able to support the butterfly’s body and become firm. Neither happened!
In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a withered body and shrivelled wings. It was unable to fly. What the man, in his kindness and goodwill, failed to understand was that the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening would have forced fluid from the body to the wings, so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.
Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life.
If we went through life without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not have been as strong as we could have been.
Humans ask for strength – they get difficulties to make them strong.
Humans ask for wisdom – they get problems to solve.
Humans ask for prosperity – they get brains and brawn to work with.
Humans ask for courage – they get obstacles to overcome.
Humans ask for love – they tend to help others with troubles and needs.
Humans ask for favours – they get opportunities.
Humans receive nothing they want, but receive everything they need.
Live life without fear, confront all obstacles and be convinced that you can overcome them.
I wish everyone another resilient and very productive and healthy term.
COVID safety protocols
The School’s COVID Operations Guideand Vaccination Policycan now be accessed via KCEE.