From the Leadership Team
New Administration and Junior School building
Jon Charlton, Principal
Over the past couple of weeks, staff and students have increasingly been occupying and working in the new Administration and Junior School building. It is a super addition to Kilvington’s facilities.
The new reception area and staff office spaces are striking, and we are absolutely delighted with the classroom, conference and breakout spaces available to students – not to mention the new medical, counselling and playground spaces. I look forward to welcoming you to the new building, via Main Reception, when parents are permitted to re-enter the School.
Valedictory Day
With an easing of restrictions a couple of weeks ago, we were able to hold a live at School Valedictory Thanksgiving Service for the Class of 2020, along with some staff attending. Many parents, family members and friends joined us via Teams, as did Senior School students. It was simply wonderful to celebrate together, socially distanced of course, and farewell our Year 12s in style.
At the Service, we congratulated students on reaching what is a significant milestone, their last day of 13 years of formal schooling. We also recognised those students who have been at Kilvington for 15 years – 13 in school and two in the ELC.
In speaking at the Service, I likened their 2020 year to running an 800m hurdle race – unprecedented and extremely challenging. Moreover, the hurdles were different sizes and unevenly spaced, making jumping them even harder. The hurdles included COVID–19 and the health fears and anxieties that came with it, Lockdown 1 and 2 and the associated isolation and disconnection from friends, remote learning, and the loss of opportunity to celebrate a number of Year 12 rites of passage.
I congratulated the students on their attitude and strength of character throughout the year which saw them continually jumping the hurdles that presented themselves. I mentioned that the number of times I had heard them comment, “It is what it is”, or “It’s best to accept the situation and get on with it”, was truly commendable and a testament to their optimism, courage and resilience.
Exams have now started, and we wish them all the best.
Orientation Program
We have commenced our ‘COVID-safe’ 2021 Orientation Program by welcoming our new Prep students into the School this week. The staff were delighted to see our ELC students transitioning into ‘big school’ at Kilvington, as well as meet our new Prep students.
Our Junior School orientation program will be held on Thursday 26 November according to government guidelines.
Our Year 7 Orientation Program will be held on Friday 20 November. Details are currently being finalised and parents will receive information shortly.
Celebration Night
This year, COVID-19 and Government restrictions necessitates a different approach to the way we deliver Celebration Night and celebrate the wonderful Kilvington community.
The 2020 Celebration Night will be streamed via video on Monday 30 November from 7.30pm. Please join us using this link . Feel free to share the link with family and friends.
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Staffing
We say farewell to our Laboratory Assistant Dragana Mraovic. Dragana has been with us for three years and is leaving Kilvington to further her career. We wish her all the best.
At the end of this year, we farewell Junior School teacher Katelyn Haites who has accepted a Deputy Principal position at Clarinda Primary School. We thank her for her contribution over the past two and a half years and wish her all the best in her leadership role.
In a few week’s time, we welcome our new Database Administrator Analyst, Mr Surain Gamage, to Kilvington. Surain has considerable experience working in the corporate world and in education. He joins us from Yarra Valley Grammar where he held a similar role.
We look forward to welcoming Ms Lauren Fellows who joins our Junior School team in 2021. Lauren is currently at Trinity Grammar School where she has been teaching Year 1 since 2018. Lauren has also taught in England having roles such as Head of Drama at Highgate Junior School.
Ms Charlotte Ireland joins Kilvington in 2021. She is currently working at St Finbar’s Primary where she has taught for the past four years, and held roles in sustainability and wellbeing.
We will also welcome Mrs Debra Shipston as a Junior School Science teacher next year. Debbie, as she likes to be called, is a passionate science teacher and has taught at Mordialloc College, Caulfield Grammar and Wesley College.
Congratulations to Esther Linivker on her appointment as Junior School (Prep-2) Pastoral Care Coordinator for 2021.
Also, congratulations to our lovely Nurse, Heidi Boer, who recently became engaged. We wish her and her fiancé, Tom, all the very best.