KNews - Centenary Edition - 2023

100 YEARS OF KILVINGTON

> 2023 Centenary Fair and Open Day

> The Kilvington Staff 100 Club

> Alumni Across the Decades

> 10 Decades of Kilvington School Life

>Principal’s Message

Welcome to this very special centenary edition of KNews. We invite you to join with us to commemorate 100 years of community, relationships and, of course, our outstanding learning and development program.

at 835, demonstrating our unwavering commitment to being an exceptional smaller, co-educational institution of excellence.

ENTREPREUNURIAL SPIRIT

Historically, we have also seen the School trailblaze in other areas.

In the 1990s, we were the first school in Australia to introduce wireless technology into the classroom and one of the first schools to introduce laptops. You will see a snippet of a letter from Microsoft’s Bill Gates on page 18.

A BIT OF HISTORY

In the early 1920s, a young Constance Barrett applied for a tutoring position advertised by a Mrs Fethers and soon recognised a pressing need for a school in Ormond. Lacking formal teaching qualifications, the savvy young Barrett enlisted the help of her mother, Caroline Barrett, who happened to be a teacher at Ivanhoe Girls Grammar School at the time. Both women were incredibly courageous to pursue their dream of opening a school during the aftermath of the Great War, in a world still feeling the lingering impact of the deadly Spanish flu pandemic, all while an economic depression loomed on the horizon.

While Caroline took care of the teaching and the needs of the students’, young Constance negotiated bank loans to support the growth of the school as they continued to move around Ormond to accommodate the growing interest and enrolments.

In 1923, the School opened with two boys and 13 girls, and student numbers grew very quickly. Over the decades, much has changed, yet remained the same. While our student numbers have fluctuated over time, today we have capped our enrolment

providing young people with the skills and opportunities to build a great life and positively contribute to the world around them.

OUR VALUES

In the lead up to our centenary year, we worked with our community to revisit the School’s values. This proved to be an invaluable process as we tested our current values to ensure they were relevant and, more importantly, practised. We also collaborated with our community regarding the possibility of scaling back the number of values that we had.

In 2010, after a period of diminishing enrolments, the School made the courageous decision to transition from a girls’ school to a co-ed independent school. am happy to say that Kilvington could not be in better shape today, thanks to the foresight shown by the Board and Executive at the time.

The qualities of courage, resilience, perseverance and optimism exhibited by Caroline and Constance Barrett have remained the bedrock of the Kilvington culture. In 2015, their historical relevance gave rise to the launch of the School’s highly successful and unique Character Initiative.

EYE ON THE FUTURE

While our centenary provides us with the opportunity to give thanks to all who have gone before us, our 100th year also affords a good opportunity for us to look ahead and set a vision for what we want our school to look like in the future. We know that the one constant will be change, and we want to embrace new technologies and modes of assisting our students with their learning moving forward.

You will see an introduction to our Strategic Priorities in this edition, as we take the strength of our history and plan a future built on an unrelenting commitment to

At the end of this exhaustive process, we landed on the following four values that most keenly reflect the Kilvington culture and spirit: Respect, Curiosity, Perseverance and Compassion These values are displayed throughout the School for our centenary year.

trust you will enjoy taking the journey from Kilvington’s humble beginnings to the progressive and dynamic community we are today.

Happy 100th birthday Kilvington!

I trust you will enjoy taking the journey from Kilvington’s humble beginnings to the progressive and dynamic community we are today.

Constance, John and Caroline Barett, early 1930s

>Celebrating Our Centenary

2023 Centenary Fair and Open Day

We held our hugely successful Centenary Fair and Open Day on Saturday 25 March. The whole School buzzed with activity on the day, with everyone enjoying the vast array of stalls, rides and activities organised by the Parents and Friends Association. To celebrate Kilvington’s 100th birthday, there was a touch of the 1920s, with stall holders wearing ‘Peaky Blinder’ caps, boater hats, and headbands.

Our staff and students did an amazing job of leading school tours and showcasing the different departments of the School such as Sport, Science, Food Tech, Community Services, Global Connections/ Languages, Robotics/Digital Technologies, Performing Arts, and the Year 9 Impact Program. We had almost 600 individuals attend in total, which was a great success! We also had performances by our student musicians to entertain guests and staff volunteering in the Dunk Tank.

THANK YOU TO OUR HELPERS AND STALL COORDINATORS

Events like this require an immense amount of work and effort from a lot of people. We are incredibly grateful to the

generous members of our community who contributed to this wonderful occasion. In the lead-up to the day, we had people making crafts, jams, and relishes. We also had people collecting books, puzzles, and games. Donations of wine and chocolates were being accepted, and stalls were expertly coordinated behind the scenes. On the day itself, we had teams of helpers set up and pack up. Nearly 200 volunteers gave their time and efforts. It was amazing to see this event come together and to see so many happy and smiling faces.

Alison Hamblin (née Stone), Class of 1980

Didn’t Kilvington shine! At her heart are the special people within her walls. Thank you for putting on a brilliant celebration. I know that my father and former Principal, Warren Stone, would have been so thrilled to see how far his beloved Kilvington had progressed since his time (19741993). As an old Kilvonian myself,

I loved experiencing the life of current-day Kilvington in this fleeting, yet heart-warming fashion. Our interactions with pupils and parents were utterly delightful. Thanks for putting on a beautiful celebration.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

Thank you to our sponsors, including Fletchers Real Estate Ormond for sponsoring the Chair-O-Plane ride; Woolworths Glen Huntly for donating all the fruit for the fruit salad cups; Botanical Creations for their partnership on the plant stall; Candy Hair Southland for their partnership on the Crazy Hair stall; and Lamb Weston for donating the chips for the Hot Chips stall.

We also extend enormous thanks to Kilvington’s Chinese community who donated all products and covered all costs for the Yum Cha, Fairy Floss, and Games Corner stalls. We are incredibly grateful for your generosity, support, enthusiasm, and community spirit!

MILESTONES FROM THE PAST 100 YEARS

1929

Mrs Caroline Barrett and her daughter Constance establish the Ormond Girls' School in February, using the facilities of the local Anglican church hall. The School's original enrolment was 13 girls and two boys.

1948

The School is officially opened on 18 May on a new site in Walsh Street, Ormond. To commemorate this new identity, it is renamed Kilvington Girls' Grammar School.

Kilvington is officially opened as a Baptist School on 7 February, and is renamed Kilvington Baptist Girls' Grammar School. Enrolment has grown to 188 students.

1949

Mrs Roberta McKie is appointed Headmistress of Kilvington.

1955

Collard House is officially opened on the current Leila Road, Ormond site on 7 May.

1970 1965

The new classroom wing (named in honour of the Reverend P E Evans) and the new science laboratory (named in honour of Mr F H Swann) are officially opened on 7 October.

The Roberta McKie Library is officially opened. Enrolment is now 384 students.

2004

The Ken Cleghorn Building for Senior School students is opened.

Students commence at our new Early Learning Centre.

1994

1974

1973

Laptops are introduced for Years 7 to 12, making Kilvington one of the first laptop schools in Australia.

2015

2019

Warren Stone retires and Di Fleming is appointed Principal. She drives Kilvington towards becoming Australia's leading school in computing technology.

Dalton Hall is opened.

After a remarkable 25 years as Headmistress, Mrs Roberta McKie retires with enrolments having grown to 529. Warren Stone is appointed Principal.

2021

Kilvington becomes a beta-testing site for the Schools Net program to integrate the Internet into schools. Kilvington becomes the first wireless school. appointed.

2023

Our state-of-the-art STEAM and Library Centre opens.

The Patsy Venn Music Centre officially opens.

Led by Principal Jon Charlton, the first boy enrols at Kilvington heralding the historical transition from a single-gender to a co-educational provider.

The new Middle School Centre of Excellence is opened by the Hon Andrew Robb AO MP, Member for Goldstein. The refurbishment of Science Lab 1 is completed.

The Character Initiative is launched, the first of its kind in Australia.

The Sport Centre is officially opened by the Hon. Tim Wilson Member for Goldstein.

The new Administration building with Junior School classrooms is opened.

The Kilvington Staff 100 Club

Kilvington, like many schools, has staff members who’ve been part of our community for a considerable length of time. As part of our Centenary, we interviewed four of our staff whose collective tenure exceeds 100 years.

Very few businesses remain in operation after 100 years, why do you think so many schools reach this milestone?

I think many schools reach this milestone because they manage to stay relevant. They constantly review and modify their teaching and learning programs and adapt to the changes occurring in the world, so that students are well-prepared for life after school.

HELEN COLE – 33 YEARS (IN TOTAL)

Mathematics Teacher. Previously, Barrett House Coordinator, Covers Coordinator, Years 8–12 Form Teacher, School Musical Co-Producer, Years 9–12 Burman Mentor and Academic Dean of Mathematics. What is the biggest change you have seen throughout your journey at Kilvington?

Over the years, I’ve seen many changes to the School buildings, as well as the impact of computers and the internet to the School. But, one of the most significant changes has been the transformation of Kilvington from a girls-only school to a co-educational institution.

Why do you think you have remained at the School for the time that you have?

I’ve remained at the School because it is a lovely place to work. Kilvington has a caring and embracing culture, which it has managed to maintain throughout all the transitions that have taken place over the years. During my time, I’ve worked closely with a variety of people, and I’m grateful that I’ve been fortunate enough to work alongside many wonderful and collaborative colleagues, particularly in the Mathematics Department. Throughout my teaching journey, I’ve also had the pleasure of interacting with many lovely students, who were (mostly) keen to learn maths!

and have been able to maintain a work-life balance by working part-time. Every principal have worked with has retained the essence of Kilvington, but has also ensured that the School will keep thriving. Very few businesses remain in operation after 100 years, why do you think so many schools reach this milestone?

Schools are a community, and Kilvington has a real family spirit. Schools also have ongoing links, such as former students often choosing to enrol their own children in the school. For instance, I’m currently teaching the children of some of my former students. Many Kilvonians come back to School events too. As staff members, we continuously strive to improve our work practices and uphold the reputation of Kilvington within the wider community.

KERRYN WARBURTON – 35 YEARS

Maths and PE Teacher, Maths Support, Year 7 Burman Mentor and EISM Sports Coach. Previously, Timetabler, Head of PE and Sport, Daily Organiser, Head of Social Service, Acting Head of House for one term (Fethers) and Head of Footy Tipping.

What is the biggest change you have seen throughout your journey at Kilvington?

The biggest change would be the move to co-education, and the school building initiatives which have eventuated as a result of this expansion. An example would be our magnificent Sport Centre, which has been a game-changer for our PE and Sport program.

Why do you think you have remained at the School for the time that you have?

I still enjoy coming to work every day to work with fantastic colleagues and students. I’ve been fortunate to work in a variety of roles

NATASHA

Payroll Officer. Previously, Accounts Payable and Payroll Officer.

What is the biggest change you have seen throughout your journey at Kilvington?

The biggest change I’ve seen throughout my journey at Kilvington is the transition to co-education in 2010. We had to adapt to new management which was quite challenging at the time.

Why do you think you have remained at the School for the time that you have?

The workplace culture at Kilvington is friendly, engaging, collaborative, and supportive. This is why I have remained at the School for many years. I see myself as an integral part of the Kilvington community. Very few businesses remain in operation after 100 years, why do you think so many schools reach this milestone? believe the key to any school’s success lies in employing a great financial management team, retaining talented employees, fostering a culture of innovation, and pursuing long-term goals.

PETER WOOLFREY – 22 YEARS

Maintenance Officer. Previously, Facilities Manager and Gardener.

What has been the biggest change you have seen throughout your journey at Kilvington?

Definitely the change to co-education and the growth that came with that. Compliance and administrative requirements have certainly increased.

Why do you think you have remained at the School for the time that you have?

I enjoyed working at Kilvington from day one, and because of that, the years have flown by. Now I’m too old to know anything else! Having various roles has kept things fresh. Very few businesses remain in operation after 100 years, why do you think so many schools reach this milestone?

I know that Kilvington is fortunate to still be operating as I’ve seen a few schools go down the gurgler in my time. It isn’t a given that independent schools will survive. Schools are a complex beast and complacency is an enemy. Everything, from curriculum to operating costs, needs to be constantly reviewed. Things can go south quickly if open and honest communication and appropriate procedures are absent.

PUSHCHINA – 24 YEARS

Alumni Across the Decades

1940s

Jean Harley

Peer Year: 1948

Podiatrist, Business Owner, School Council Member, 2008 Judy Allen award winner

Back then, coming to School was like visiting my second family, and where I felt a strong sense of belonging, support, and connection. We had really small class sizes which allowed me to form close relationships with my classmates and teachers. have many lovely and cherished memories of that time!

1950s

Wendy Stephens

Peer Year: 1959

Retired Secretary

Kilvington was such a tiny school when attended. It was like a family. Life was simple and our teachers were committed and warm. The highlight of the School was the Science room, and although not academically proficient, I still recall the excitement of exploring Petrie dishes and tubes, with sometimes unexpected dramatic results!

1960s

Deidre Bills-Thompson (née O’Donnell)

Peer Year: 1963

Secretary

I loved attending Kilvington. The environment was kind, which I appreciated even more having had some bad experiences at my previous school. It was made even better by the fact that three of my friends, Jenny, Maree, and Betty, had also transferred to the School. must admit, had my moments of being a bit disruptive at Kilvington – like the day when I took delivery of a black kitten from Denise during class! At School, concentrated on secretarial subjects, such as shorthand and typing. During Year 12, remember using ‘free’ periods to sit in on Science and Art History subjects to hone my shorthand skills.

1970s

Margaret Esakoff

Peer Year: 1970

Glen Eira Mayor and Councillor

My Kilvington journey began in Year 6 and holds a treasure trove of cherished memories for me.

remember the Principal at the time, Mrs McKie, who was very strict about the School uniform, doing regular uniform checks at the gate. For those old enough to remember, the check was for ‘witches britches’. Picture Mrs McKie standing under the old wooden stairs, checking to see that none of her girls were wearing them under their dress/tunic! chose the Commercial course at Year 7 as I really did enjoy the subjects offered and achieved good results.

1980s

Dr Julianne Jacques KC

Peer Year: 1985

Barrister

I had six very happy years at Kilvington. I particularly remember fun times in the debating club, the Year 12 drama production, and wearing crazy costumes to House swimming and athletics carnivals. There might have been some classes in there as well!

1990s

Jane Martino

Peer Year: 1995

Entrepreneur, Investor, Advisor

I took part in everything, from sporting teams and events to debating and musical theatre. also held the position of Burman House Captain in my final year. have amazing memories of my time at Kilvington.

2000s

Carrie Chilton

Peer Year: 2007

UI/UX Designer

I still have many friendships and fond memories from my time at Kilvington. I loved being part of the annual school productions and House Arts competitions – the excitement of rehearsing for weeks and then performing in front of the audience in Dalton Hall was a definite highlight each year!

2010s

Aidan McShane

Peer Year: 2018

Former School Captain, Medical Student

My six years at Kilvington were wonderful. The tight-knit community that surrounded us every day at School made for a fun, nurturing, and welcoming place to be. One of the standout highlights of my time at Kilvington was undoubtedly the House system. I loved being able to socialise with fellow students of all year levels. My teachers, particularly during VCE, were incredibly generous with their time. Their willingness to provide valuable guidance and support was instrumental to my academic engagement and success.

2020s

Sam Clark

Peer Year: 2020

Former School Captain, Science Student

My journey at Kilvington began in 2013. At that time, it was quite thrilling to find that there were only about eight boys in Year 5!

The wonderful friendships formed over the years with teachers and peers were, and still are, a valued part of my life. I gained so much from embracing the small and caring community. I took every opportunity to be involved in a diverse range of co-curricular activities, from music to athletics to robotics, and more! Year 9 was my favourite year, as we had the opportunity to take the train once a week into the city and explore new places. I’d like to thank Kilvington and my teachers for a wonderful education and engaging learning environment.

Science and Technology at Kilvington – Then and Now!

Kilvington has always been a frontrunner in the Science and Technology domain. We were among the first schools to adopt laptops and to embrace wireless technology in the classroom. Today, we are poised to take another leap forward with the construction of our state-of-the-art STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) Centre, which will open for the community at the beginning of Term 4, 2023!

2023 Centenary Garden

We are thrilled to announce the completion of our Centenary Garden. This outdoor classroom and recreational space, which was lovingly designed and crafted by our incredible Maintenance team, opened in May for the use of our community.

With desks that are arranged around raised garden beds, students have the opportunity to learn within a natural environment.

This outdoor setting not only encourages curiosity about the various types of plants in the ‘outdoor classroom’, but also contributes to our Food Technology program. Stay tuned for the internment of our Centenary Time Capsule ... Some quotes from our students about the new Garden space:

• A great place to be on a sunny day. Daniel

• A great place to be in nice weather. Oscar

• A nice change of scenery from the classroom. Great place to enjoy the fresh air. Charlie

• I actually really, really like it. Claire

• It’s very pretty. Aankia

• I like the whiteboard there; it adds an extra dimension. I feel more connected to nature. Veronica

• It has nice scenery; it adds something to the School. It’s relaxing to learn here. Millie

• It looks modern and I like it. It gives us a chance to enjoy nature. Jasper

• It’s really pretty. It’s good to enjoy fresh air in a beautiful environment. Selma

The FH Swann Science building – opened in 1965

Our science labs today

Our new STEAM Centre – opening in late 2023

TECHNOLOGY TRAILBLAZERS IN THE CLASSROOM

A letter to Kilvington from Microsoft’s Bill Gates,1990s Learning how to use a laptop, 1998

Year 3 student using technology, 2023

EMBRACING ROBOTICS AT SCHOOL

Visit by Toshiba to Kilvington, 1995 Kilvington student with robot, 1999

The Kilvington Robotics Program, 2021 INVESTORS IN SCIENCE EDUCATION

We have taken utmost care to ensure the accuracy of the details accompanying our historical School photos. However, if you notice any errors, please let us know, and we will gladly make the necessary corrections.

10 Decades of Kilvington School Life

>Kilvington’s Strategic Priorities

In 2022, the School Executive, in collaboration with the Board of Directors, invited our students, parents and staff to consider Kilvington’s strategic priorities for the upcoming two to five years. The aim of our inclusive process was to gather valuable insights and perspectives from all stakeholders, ensuring that the identified priorities accurately reflect the shared vision and aspirations of the Kilvington community. Ultimately, we managed to identify five strategic priorities, together with their associated key priorities. These priorities will be reviewed annually and modified as required to maximise their impact on our current community and future sustainability.

OUR FIVE STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

1. Inspired Learning Culture

2. Student Character and Care

3. Progressive and Nurturing Workplace

4. Connected and Engaged Communities

5. Future Development and Sustainability

>Academic Excellence and Beyond

Congratulations to the entire Class of 2022. Well done!

EXCEPTIONAL VCE RESULTS

We would like to congratulate our Class of 2022 on their ATAR results. They endured a challenging lead-up to Year 12, with extended periods of online learning and months of uncertainty while undertaking Years 10 and 11.

Nevertheless, this cohort has done incredibly well and maintained a strong sense of unity, steadfastly supporting each other through their final year of school.

Congratulations to the 2022 Dux of the School, Peter Wang, who achieved an

Key Results 8%

• Build relationships with alumni through valuable experiences.

KEY PRIORITIES

• Reduce our carbon footprint and develop and maintain sustainable practices.

• Ensure the School remains financially sustainable.

• Maintain strong enrolments, but ensure the School remains a smaller coeducational, independent school of excellence.

• Deliver on our master plan to build for the 21st Century.

ATAR of 99.75, and also to Hamish Bruce, Melissa Deacon, Sophie Xu, Pia O’Reilly, Grace Kiosoglous and Oliver Miles-Fine for achieving scores over 98. Well done to Peter Wang and Thomas Williamson for achieving study scores of 50 in Further Mathematics. Importantly, 87% of students received their 1st or 2nd preference into their course of choice.

Thank you to our teaching staff across the School for their unwavering support of our students and their dedication to see them achieve to their potential.

our students were in the top 10% of the State

Our median Study Score was 71% School Dux Peter Wang achieved an ATAR of 99.75

Outstanding NAPLAN Results

34

Our 2022 NAPLAN results were once again consistently high across the year levels (Year 3, Year 5, Year 7 and Year 9).

Peter Wang – Dux

socialist movements now play a big part in my life. I’m having the time of my life taking a stand and getting actively involved with causes that deeply matter to me!

What was the biggest highlight of your time at Kilvington?

Most definitely, it was the company of friends and teachers. found great value in the consistent presence of familiar faces every day, as it allowed me to grow closer to my peers and forge meaningful relationships with both them and my teachers.

What did you find most challenging and how did you deal with this?

The routine! The predictability of leaving home and coming to school, only to go back home again, sometimes felt draining. To counterbalance this mundane daily cycle, also made a conscious effort to engage in spontaneous, unplanned, and sometimes crazy activities—within reasonable boundaries, of course!

Do you have any advice for students studying their VCE?

Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where and what are you currently studying?

I’m currently studying a double degree –a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Education, majoring in pure mathematics and minoring in physics. Politics and

What do you think enabled you to achieve such a great result at school?

I didn’t take myself too seriously. I engaged with my passions, or subjects that was amenable to. I also allowed myself to be interested in things beyond high school, such as politics, history and philosophy.

Gemma Craddock – Sport

What was the biggest highlight of your time at Kilvington?

Watching my House (Fysh) win consecutive trophies for House Athletics was a huge highlight, as well as my relay team winning nearly every year at EISM Athletics! This really brought us together as a team. Why do you think you were chosen as a great representative of Sport as well as someone who did well academically?

Truly, find the thing that makes you happy and dedicate yourself to that. If it’s going to the gym, then do that. It can be a necessary and important outlet for you. For me, it was studying socialist theory, reading simple books, and watching silly movies. It gave me something to live for other than school, which could sometimes feel allconsuming! Find outlets to express yourself in ways that are authentic to you.

Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where and what are you currently studying? graduated last year from Kilvington and I’m currently undertaking a Bachelor of Science at Melbourne University. As such, I’ve chosen various subjects in chemistry and biology, as well as French as a fun breadth option. University life is exciting and challenging and an absolute step-up from high school. have to say, making new friends and learning in such an open and independent environment is liberating for me!

What was the biggest highlight of your time at Kilvington?

I can’t encapsulate my highlights into a single event. Rather, what I remember fondly are the cumulative hours I spent with my friends and teachers, especially in Year 12. The lunchtimes, and even the study periods, where we shared our stresses and laughter together made the year so much easier to get through. Potentially cliché as it sounds, truly believe I’ve made friends for life.

Why do you think you were chosen as the Student of Character?

In all honesty, I’m not all that comfortable evaluating myself. But without engaging in too much self-doubt, I believe it’s because I try to act with kindness, care and thoughtfulness towards others as much as possible. also try and do my best in each activity that undertake.

What did you find most challenging and how did you deal with this?

I completely tore my ACL at the beginning of my Year 12, and the doctors told me my

Grace Kiosoglous – Science

wisely, as I needed to do well enough to not have to give up my sport. Throughout the year, made sure to spend enough time studying but also doing a good mix of other activities, such as seeing friends and exercising.

Do you have any advice for students studying their VCE?

recovery would take at least a year. The news that I’d be unable to play sport for the whole of Year 12 devastated me. From carrying my books to class, to helping me hop around on crutches, my friends, family and teachers were instrumental in helping me to maintain my mental health. Their kindness has meant the world to me. Do you have any advice for students studying their VCE?

Please enjoy it. I’m not referring to the dreaded Methods SACs or the repetitive English essays, I’m talking about the people around you. Laugh with your friends, sit next to someone new, help a classmate solve an equation, practice a French oral. The camaraderie is what you’re going to remember, not the score you got on that chemistry test! Take each day as it comes, and don’t forget – the ATAR does not define you. It’s the people whose lives you make brighter that matters.

Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where and what are you currently studying?

Hi everyone. I’m studying Exercise and Sports Science at Deakin University. I’ve been actively participating in athletics since the age of seven, and I’m happy to say that I’m still actively competing today, both at the state and national level for javelin.

Throughout Year 12, even with the heavy workload, remained dedicated and committed to both athletics and my studies. I didn’t let go of either of them but worked to balance them. I believe this is what eventually helped me to succeed at both, as I had to build a lot of different skills in order to do so. At the end of Year 12, I ended up doing better than I’d expected on my ATAR.

What did you find most challenging in Year 12 and how did you deal with this?

Time management was my biggest challenge. Training at an elite level made it even more important that I use my time

Do not stop doing the extra-curricular activities you enjoy. When you start to feel the stress of VCE, you’ll need an activity to escape from the workload, even for a little bit! This will also help you to maintain better mental health. As I mentioned earlier, another important skill is time management. Make sure you learn how to stay on top of your workload as this will help you to feel less stressed and under pressure. Lastly, don’t take each result too seriously. At the end of the day, we can all only do our best!

All the best for your final year of study –hope you achieve your goals and make the most of a year that goes by very fast!

Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where and what are you currently studying?

I’m currently studying a Bachelor of Science at the University of Melbourne. I’m considering pursuing a major in a biologyrelated field, although I’m keeping my options open at this point. I’m also taking a French elective to continue improving the language skills built during my time at Kilvington. I enjoy drawing and painting in my spare time, but university has kept me very busy of late!

What was the biggest highlight of your time at Kilvington?

Questions like this are always so hard to answer. Broadly speaking, the biggest highlight of my time at Kilvington was Year 12. Throughout the year, we engaged in numerous fantastic activities. Simply spending time with my friends in the Treehouse was a lovely experience. I also tried doing new things in Year 12 – one of them being joining the Kadences choir. Despite having no prior interest in singing, I was pleasantly surprised by how much fun it was!

Why do you think you were chosen as a great representative of STEM as well as someone who did well academically?

I did Chemistry, Biology and Mathematical Methods in VCE, so half of my subjects were STEM subjects. I’d like to think was chosen as a representative of STEM because I put a lot of effort into each of these subjects. really loved pursuing knowledge in these subjects, especially Biology. was also one of the Science Leaders at Kilvington in 2021, which was such a valuable experience.

What did you find most challenging and how did you deal with this?

Something I struggled with a lot was dealing with stress. In Year 12, ‘burnt out’ a little bit from the pressure of knowing that all my work counted towards my final score. ended up doing less study than the year before for my Year 12 subjects. While it took a while for me to adjust, I eventually found my footing and just did my best. Don’t take things too seriously in Year 12, just enjoy the ride! Do you have any advice for students studying their VCE?

Don’t be afraid to take the subjects you like doing, even if people tell you not to do them because they’ll get scaled down or because it’s hard to get a good score in them. While it’s important to take subjects you’ll need for later studies, it’s equally important to do subjects you are passionate about. For example, I took Studio Arts even though was most likely to do a science course at university, and think it was one of the best decisions I made. I could’ve had a subject selection of just Maths and Science (and English), to best complement the course I’m doing now, but I’m pretty sure my brain would have broken!

>School Highlights

These stories highlight just a few of the great events and activities happening within our School!

Year 6 ‘Kidpreneurs’

Louise

Hand, Year 6 Classroom Teacher

In our Term 2 HASS Economics and Business ‘Kidpreneur’ unit of work, Year 6 students collaborated in groups to develop and present business proposals to a ‘Shark Tank’ panel consisting of their peers. Demonstrating confidence and powers of persuasion, our budding business people outlined the best aspects of their products to the Sharks, who proved to be probing in their curiosity about each business, as well as decisive yet sensitive with their verbal feedback.

Students were asked to provide feedback on their Shark Tank experiences. Here are some of their comments:

What is the most important element of developing a business proposal?

• Finding the right words and making it sound promising.

Lily-Rose

• Being able to answer questions and fix any flaw. Lucas

What is your best character trait as a business person?

• Creativity, because we need to be creative to develop an idea.

Alice

• Determination, which is important because you don’t want to back away from an idea. Pounny

International Women’s Day Breakfast

What is your best character trait as a Shark?

• Honesty, which is important because if I am not honest, it would be lying. Ella

• Kindness, which is important because when giving feedback you need to be kind. Jerome

What is the most challenging element of developing a business proposal?

• Developing a proof of the concept. Lorenzo

• Learning to accept defeat if your idea falls through. Farees

How was your experience with the Sharks?

• The Sharks were both kind and strict. They gave constructive criticism. Jiawei

• The Shark experience was so good. had fun working with the other Sharks and I would do it again. Alice

We now look forward to moving on to developing our own individual enterprises concept. (Minus the Sharks!).

We held our International Women’s Day Breakfast at Dalton Hall on Wednesday 8 March. This year’s theme was ‘embracing equity’. Sally Kenney, our school psychologist, shared some invaluable insights and data relating to inequity as experienced by Indigenous women. She also discussed other issues that perpetuate disadvantage for all women, including the gender pay gap, the retirement savings (superannuation) gap, and homelessness.

School Co-Captains Diya Matthew and Felix McShane spoke about what International Women’s Day means to them. We also enjoyed musical performances from Year 12 students Renae Bekas and Freya Watters!

Years 3 to 6 Workshops with Project Rockit

Earlier this year, the Years 3 to 6 students participated in a range of workshops with Project Rockit to consider how they can make an impact and bring about positive change in the community. They explored some important topics in these workshops, including how to overcome social exclusion, how to raise awareness of diverse perspectives, how to support and take care of each other, and how to navigate negative online experiences.

Our students demonstrated enthusiasm and thoughtful participation throughout the workshops, contributing their intelligence and insights to the discussions and activities.

Harmony Day and Cut for a Cause

Jacqui Goldenberg, Community Service Program Director

On 21 March, we celebrated Harmony Day, which acknowledges and embraces the diverse cultural backgrounds of Australians. The whole School, from ELC to Year 12, came together to take part in a range of fantastic activities. These included a food drive, Cut for a Cause, a Junior School dance party, and Senior School Battle of the Bands. On the day, the School was awash with the colour orange, which serves as a symbolic colour of Harmony Day.

Our collaborative Harmony Day artwork, which marks the third joint project between the ELC and the Junior School, is currently showcased in the foyer of the Junior School building. All monies raised went to the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC).

Press Club Lunch

Adele Takle, Year 11

On 2 May, a small delegation of Kilvington students represented our School at the Melbourne Press Club Lunch. Our group consisted of three students, namely myself, Elijah Slavinskis from Year 10, Caleb Mendez also from Year 10, and our teacher, Ms. Murr. This event marked the release of the book Pandemedia: How COVID Changed Journalism

The Lunch began with an address from Nick Richardson, CEO of the Melbourne Press Club, who then introduced our main panel of journalists: Rachel Baxendale, Patrick Durkin, Gavin Fang, and Dr Erin Smith. While enjoying crispy-skinned barramundi, we listened to the panel members provide insightful and moving accounts of their experiences as journalists throughout the pandemic, as well as the pandemic’s broader effect on the field of journalism.

After the long discussion between the panelists, it was time for questions from the audience. asked the panel members about their views on Gen Z in the media and journalism. It was heartening to hear their positive and discerning views on our future, motivating me to consider a career in the field!

I’m very grateful I had the opportunity to attend this highly memorable Melbourne Press Club Lunch.

Bionics Institute – Girls in STEM

Louise Macfarlane, Academic Dean of Science

Catholic University). During their visit, they were given a comprehensive tour of the labs and received an in-depth explanation of the ongoing research conducted by the scientists.

The Bionics Institute, an organisation dedicated to solving medical challenges, is actively involved in coordinating the ‘Girls in STEM’ mentoring program. In this initiative, eighteen schools have been invited to select four talented young women with a keen interest in science to participate.

On 3 May, Year 10 students Alessia Di Felice, Claire Yu, Alycia Liew, and Calista Yap had an exciting opportunity to meet with Dr Orly Lacham-Kaplan and Dr Caoileann Murphy from ACU (Australian

Over the course of the next five months, these students will regularly meet with their mentors, delving into the research aspects of exercise and nutrition and exploring their impacts on muscle cells. Through this mentorship program, the students will have the chance to deepen their understanding of these scientific areas.

The program will culminate with students presenting what they’ve learned to the school community, as well as a celebration event at the Bionics Institute on 13 October. These events will offer the students an invaluable opportunity to share their knowledge and experiences with a wider audience and serve as a testament to their hard work over the program!

Year 7 Cultural Day and Languages Assembly

Lucie Dickens, Academic Dean of Languages

Our Year 7 Languages students enthusiastically engaged in a range of fun cultural activities, followed by a special Languages assembly, on 11 May. These activities ranged from a traditional Japanese drumming demonstration to French cooking. It was a wonderful opportunity for our students to interact with native Japanese and French presenters and learn more about the cultures of Japan and France. As they continue to grow as global citizens, these interactions serve as valuable experiences for expanding their cultural knowledge and understanding.

Here are some comments from students about their experiences:

Dan Carroll, Year 7 French

We had the chance to take part in some great activities during Year 7 Cultural Day. The favourite activity by far for French language students was making and eating crepes!

We also played handball and tried a fun French drama activity. After these activities, we had an assembly where current and former VCE language students had conversations with each other in either French or Japanese. It was quite inspiring to see what can be achieved with some practice and dedication. We also talked about the amazing exchange system that Kilvington shares with schools in France and Japan, giving students yet another reason to continue studying a language. Overall, the day was fun and meaningful and something that we all enjoyed.

VCE Art Making and Exhibiting – Rone ‘Time’ excursion

John

Knap,

Art Teacher

During the last week of Term 1, students from Units 1 and 3 of Art Making and Exhibiting visited Flinders Street Station to view an exhibition called ‘Time’ by artist Rone.

In this exhibition, Rone paid tribute to the workers who contributed to the development of Melbourne and Australia as a whole.

Meticulously detailed, each room was transformed into a time capsule, complete with dust, cobwebs and historically accurate publications and machinery.

Josie

Clyne,

Year 7 Japanese

Japanese language students had the chance to explore a range of different cultural activities as part of the Year 7 Cultural Day. First, we made our own shrink-art or ‘shrinkies’ keychain by tracing iconic Japanese characters with Guyton sensei.

Then, we learned the art of Japanese calligraphy with Sano

sensei and Saito sensei, painting the kanji (Japanese language script) for Japan onto a sheet of paper.

Later, the combined Year 7 Japanese classes had a lesson in Japanese drumming (called Taiko) with the group AYA. Overall, it was a fabulous and fun way to learn about and celebrate Japanese culture!

Matched with specially composed soundtracks and lighting, Kilvington students were transported back to the 1930s and 1940s, where workers, regardless of race or background, laboured and toiled in rooms full of typewriters, sewing machines and desks. This is one of the many exhibition visits VCE Art Making and Exhibiting students will experience throughout the year.

Overall, Camp was so enjoyable (and memorable!) that the Year 8s will continue to look back on the experience with happiness and amusement.

Year 8 Camp to Wilson’s Prom

Evie

Ellett,

Year 8

The day of Year 8 Camp dawned bright and sunny. Perhaps too sunny for some students, who’d been forced by doting parents to pack on extra layers – and later on, could be seen sweating away in their trackies and thermals!

Fortunately, our first activity of the day was canoeing. Since there weren’t any instructions from the leaders explicitly stating we couldn’t capsize our canoes, everyone enthusiastically seized the chance to go swimming. That night, the line for the showers stretched all the way down the road!

In the evening, after about 45 minutes of struggling to chop up a vast amount of vegetables, our very healthy dinner took shape. A massive wok held the largest collection of veggies we’d ever seen in one place! In fact, our camp groups were the healthiest on the planet … until … someone whipped out a pack of Oreos!

The highlight of our next day was surfing. The surf was perfect, and the average student only got dumped about five times.

Back at Camp, we all spotted lots of wildlife, including having many up close and personal encounters with them! There was one moment where the campsite was simultaneously filled with the sounds of shrieking birds and shrieking kids, as birds landed on our heads, arms and around our feet. Another time, a group of red and blue rosellas, noticing the opportunity of free food, literally swooped in on the prize!

Although the rosellas were everywhere, the wildlife highlight of Year 8 Camp was definitely the affectionately-named ‘prombats’. For the uneducated, these are the wombats that come out and terrorise campers when the sun goes down. Despite this sounding like a bedtime story to keep children in their tents, the prombats were very real, with multiple cases of snack stealing, tent break-ins and midnight sightings to their name.

Overall, Camp was so enjoyable (and memorable!) that the Year 8s will continue to look back on the experience with happiness and amusement.

Year 11 Camp Jungai

Jacqui Goldenberg, Community Service Program Director

On Wednesday 26 April, John Knap and I took 17 Year 11 students to Camp Jungai, where we camped for three days by the river amidst kangaroos.

During the Camp, we learnt from ‘Aunty’ about various aspects of Indigenous culture, including bush tucker, symbol art, and Indigenous games. We also heard many stories that had everyone hanging on every word! Students canoed, bushwalked, built campfires, completed a high ropes course, and took part in initiative games, all the while preparing their own meals and looking out for each other. When the sun wasn’t shining, it was pouring with rain; but the reflections at the end of Camp told the story of a good time had by all!

Our audience was left spellbound on the night by the variety of performances and the superior skills of our talented Music and Dance students.

>Performing Arts

Annual Jazz Concert

Nicole Bull, Academic Dean of Performing Arts

The Glen Eira Town Hall auditorium was transformed into an intimate Jazz Club on Friday 31 March.

Our audience was left spellbound on the night by the variety of performances and the superior skills of our talented Music and Dance students. The entertainment showcased our larger ensembles, dance troupe, and choral groups, as well as 12 soloists from Years 9 to 12.

The evening had many highlights. Our Music Captain’s rendition of Billy Joel’s Piano Man, complete with the audience singing along, was a fitting end to a wonderful evening of Jazz and Contemporary music.

Thank you to all students and staff who worked tirelessly to present the evening to family and friends!

Oliver! Senior School Production Jack Campbell-Manley, Production Captain

The Senior School production of Oliver!, held at Dalton Hall from 18 to 20 May, was such a great experience. There was incredible energy on stage and behind the scenes every night! The entire cast was in great spirits on Opening Night, with the makeup room buzzing with excitement and brimming with anticipation as we prepared for the curtain to rise.

We all worked hard from the very beginning, with everyone putting 100% of their effort into rehearsals. You could see the bond between all the cast and crew members, with everyone high-fiving each other after each song, sharing food during intermissions, and just chatting with each other. The hard work that everyone put into their characters really paid off.

Some musical highlights include Loretta Pietrosanto’s (Year 9) beautiful rendition of ‘Where is Love’, Rowan Lister (Year 12) and Maya Wimalasundera’s (Year 10) eccentric performance of ‘That’s Your Funeral’, Renae

Bekas’s (Year 12) heartfelt version of ‘As Long as He Needs Me’, and Lila McMahonJohnson’s (Year 9) ‘Consider Yourself’. Avah Quinn (Year 10) as the Widow Corney displayed great vocals and comedic moments in conjunction with her partnerin-crime, Mr. Bumble, played beautifully by Sinclair McClimont (Year 8).

Elijah Slavinskis’s (Year 10) delivery of the jittery, soulful and sympathetic villain, Fagin, was unique and difficult to look away from. A special shoutout to Josh Tighe (Year 11) who was absolutely convincing as a grandfather and statesman!

Overall, the production was a massive and unforgettable success!

Thank you to our teachers, Andrew Johnson (Director) and Melissa Waked (Musical Director), as well as the crew and support staff for their valuable contributions. We all created many special memories from the experience, and personally, cannot wait for next year’s performance!

>Sport Highlights

Junior School

BALACLAVA DISTRICT CROSS COUNTRY

Over 40 students from Years 3 to 6 participated in the Balaclava District Cross Country on Wednesday 17 May. It was a fantastic day where everyone put in their best effort and had fun cheering for their teammates. Kilvington was runner-up in the small school classification. Well done to all the students for their participation and giving their best effort.

Senior School

SENIOR SCHOOL HOUSE ATHLETICS

We had outstanding performances in both track and field at the Senior School House Athletics on 31 March, along with much colour and energy from each of the Houses. Well done to Fysh House who took out the overall results!

BALACLAVA ROUND ROBIN VOLLEY STARS

Ella Spooner and Charlotte Ferguson, Year 6

The magnificent Volley Stars from Years 5 and 6 had a great day at Firbank on 22 March. We loved playing against all the other schools and even made some new friends. We learnt different types of serves, improved in our spiking, and played ten games with no reserves to offer a rest! In the end, we were very happy with the result of 2nd and equal 4th.

BALACLAVA DISTRICT SWIMMING CARNIVAL

In early March, Kilvington fielded a team in the Balaclava District Swimming Carnival and came away with some impressive results. The team was able to work together to win back the ‘Dawn Fraser’ Trophy (awarded to the smaller schools). A fantastic effort from Kilvington!

SENIOR SCHOOL HOUSE SWIMMING

Kilvington students gave their all to earn points for their Houses on 24 February. Well done to everyone who competed in an event, whether it was traditional swimming events, House Cheers, novelty events, or the paper plane competition. There was much spirit and camaraderie on display throughout!

Congratulations to Fysh House for winning the Aggregate trophy.

SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIP COMPETITIONS

The ten best times across all Division 1, 2, 3 Swimming Carnivals qualified students across the EISM for the EISM Swimming Champions Carnival on 27 March. Kilvington had one of the largest representations, with 34 students in attendance. We were also easily the loudest school in the grandstand, with Kilvington students cheering on their peers in the pool!

Select students then went on to participate at the Gold Coast Australian Age Swimming Championships held from 17 to 20 April.

Congratulations to Annie Steele (Year 9), Henry Kiosoglous (Year 10), Liam Molloy (Year 11) and Greta Saville (Year 11) for their fantastic efforts at this competition.

Liam achieved a bronze medal in the 200m freestyle and reached four finals, while Annie achieved a silver medal in the 4 x 50m freestyle state relay and secured a place in the top ten swimmers in four events. Overall, Henry and Greta also performed admirably.

EISM ATHLETICS CARNIVAL

The EISM Athletics Carnival was held on 3 May under wintery conditions, with 87 Kilvington students competing in the Division 1 Championships! Kilvington students showed great tenacity across the track and field events during the rain-interrupted day. We had outstanding relay results along with some fantastic individual performances on the day.

Greta Saville, Year 11

While I didn’t have any personal bests throughout the meet, it was great to try and back up after each race or after a bad event to then try and do well for the next race. I learned a lot of things too.

Liam Molloy, Year 11

It was a great experience to swim at the Gold Coast Australian Age Nationals, not only to swim against the best in Australia, but also to learn some good habits when it comes to competing at this level. It was a rocky ride throughout the competition, but I’m happy to come home with a medal in my last final in the 200m freestyle.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the members of our school community who have dedicated their time, effort and passion to go above and beyond in ensuring the success and enjoyment of events for our families.

>From the PFA

Nadine Power, PFA President

What a bustling and vibrant first two terms we’ve had at Kilvington! The PFA has contributed to so many great events for our school community, including a welcome event for the ELC and Junior School, a welcome event for the Senior School, the Centenary Fair and Open Day, the Staff Thank You Morning Tea, the Mother’s Day Stall and Breakfast, and more.

We have supported many families via our Kilvington Cares program that delivers meals to those in our community who are doing it tough and could use a helping hand. Recipients of this wonderful anonymous service say it’s like receiving a big warm Kilvington hug.

Our secondhand uniform (SHUS) team continue to provide a valuable service for our families by accepting good quality garments and reselling them in a sustainable manner.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the members of our school community who have dedicated their time, effort and passion to go above and beyond in ensuring the success and enjoyment of these events for our families. Your unwavering commitment and hard work have made a world of difference. We also express our sincerest appreciation to our exceptional students, parents, CSRs, donors and supporters, and the entire school community for coming together and making our Centenary school year one to remember!

We cannot wait for the exciting events planned for Term 3, including our Centenary Gala, Centenary Concert, Father’s Day Stall and Breakfast, and more!

>Alumni Highlights

Bianca Lapins, Community Relations Officer

WALSH CLUB LUNCHEON

Our School Centenary year kicked off with a very special Walsh Club Luncheon at The Glasshouse Caulfield. This event was dedicated to students who graduated from Kilvington 50 or more years ago.

Guests were treated to a wonderful presentation by our Junior School leaders, who spoke about the significance of acknowledging past achievements as a means to shape a successful future. The Leaders also delivered handwritten messages to each Kilvonian from current students in Years 2 to 6, expressing gratitude for their unique contributions to Kilvington’s culture and history. This created a wonderful moment for all and bridged the connection between students from the past and present.

It was lovely to hear from Christine Griffiths (née Fewster, Class of 1967) who wrote to thank the maker of her special Walsh Club Centenary Card. She writes:

Hello Elaine,

Thank you for your delightful card. attended the Walsh Club Lunch with another 1967 Kilvonian. A small group from that year still meets up from time to time for lunch or coffee – am grateful for these long-lasting friendships.

Kilvington was a very different school in the 1960s. A new Science lab and library were built and opened in our final year. Until that point, the library consisted of a few shelves of books at the top of the stairs above the office. We had one basic Science room where we had to share a Bunsen burner between two or three students.

Next to the Science room was a multipurpose room that was used as a gym, equipped with a vaulting horse and a few gymnastics rings. We also did Drama and Art in this room – very multifunctional!

Every morning, Years 7 to 12 had assembly in a double room upstairs with a concertina dividing door. After assembly, all the chairs

were packed up, and one room was dedicated to Music, while the other was transformed into a classroom. For sport, we would either play basketball or go to the Council Oval on the other side of the railway to play ‘rounders’ or tennis. For swimming, we would travel by bus to the City Baths or the Olympic Swimming Stadium in the city.

Elaine, I hope you are enjoying Kilvington and all the amazing opportunities it presents. I wish you well in your studies and all your endeavours.

CENTENARY FAIR AND OPEN DAY

It was a perfect sunny day in March when our Kilvington community came together for the Centenary Fair and Open Day 2023. Past, present, and prospective students and families enjoyed the festive atmosphere around the School with numerous rides, activities, food stalls, market stalls, and entertainment throughout the day.

Huge thank yous go to Sarah Lim (Class of 2003), Peter Yu (Class of 2017), Rachel Cetrola (Class of 2018), George Crossingham (Class of 2017), and Ann Cleghorn (Class of 1977) who helped run the Alumni Stall. The team set up the archival display featuring uniforms from the 1950s to today, chatted to past students and families, sold centenary merchandise, and promoted upcoming reunions and alumni events.

40- AND 45-YEAR REUNION AND 30- AND 35-YEAR REUNION

We successfully held the 40- and 45-Year Reunion as well as the 30- and 35-Year Reunion for the respective cohorts in the Kilvington Sport Centre. These events saw a strong turnout, with alumni traveling from regional areas and even interstate to attend.

Thank you to those Kilvonians who made such a special effort to join us and reconnect with former classmates.

KILVONIAN ALUMNI COMMITTEE

Our Kilvonian Alumni Committee has been busy creating more opportunities for our alumni community to connect and stay in touch with each other and the School. A special Centenary Kilvonian Konnections all-peer event is in the pipeline, and the Mentor Matching Program (featuring mentors from our alumni) is going from strength to strength.

Be sure to join the Kilvonian Facebook Group and/or follow us on Instagram to stay connected and up-to-date with alumni news and events. It’s a great way to stay in touch and keep abreast of the latest happenings among our alumni community. We have a full program of reunions and alumni events planned for the second half of the year and look forward to seeing as many Kilvonians as possible.

20- and 25-Year Reunion

(Classes of 2003 and 1998)

Friday 28 July, 6.00 – 8.00pm

Kilvington Grammar Sport Centre

50-Year Reunion

(Class of 1973)

Friday 18 August, 6.00 – 8.00pm

Kilvington Grammar Sport Centre

Class of 2022 Reunion

Thursday 24 August, 4.00 – 6.00pm VCE Study Centre

Centenary Gala

All Kilvonians welcome

Saturday 9 October, 7.00pm – late Merrimu Receptions, Chadstone

Walsh Club Luncheon Peers (pre-1972)

Friday 6 October, 12.00 – 2.00pm

Kilvington Grammar Sport Centre

Kilvonian Konnections All-Peer Event

Wednesday 18 October, 7.00 – 8.30pm

Kilvington Grammar Sport Centre

CENTENARY GALA BALL –SAVE THE DATE!

All members of our greater community are invited to join our Centenary Gala Celebrations! We aim to celebrate this once in a 100-year occasion with great razzle dazzle! The theme is ‘The Roaring Twenties’, and we encourage guests to get in the spirit by dressing with touches from this era or with a full 1920s costume. There will be prizes for the ‘bestdressed’. The evening will include a live band, dancing, entertainment, and lucky raffle. The event will be held on Saturday 9 September from 7.00pm until late at Merrimu Receptions. To book your tickets, go to www.trybooking.com/CJDFN. Please RSVP by 30 August 2023.

If you have any questions, please contact me via lapinsb@kilvington.vic.edu.au.

NEW ALUMNI WEBSITE

We are delighted to announce that we have launched our new Kilvonians online community website –www.alumni.kilvington.vic.edu.au. Following collaboration with and feedback from our alumni, we have created this special website just for you.

On the site, you can update your details, connect with classmates from across the Kilvington network, and stay informed about reunions, events, and news. The website also has a growing list of resources that you can access, including our archives, reunion information, jobs board, and access to the Kilvonian Konnections newsletter. You can even add your own news!

CENTENARY WEBSITE

To learn more about Kilvington’s rich 100-year history, visit our Centenary website – https://centenarykilvington.ptly.com/100 –where you can also view archival photographs and documents and read about some of the incredible things our former students are doing!

Conversations with a Kilvonian

Michelle Crawford (née Sainsbery), Class of 1988, CEO Children’s Cancer Foundation

Michelle Crawford, a member of the Class of 1988, currently holds the position of CEO at the Children’s Cancer Foundation, an Australian charity dedicated to helping children with cancer. Additionally, she serves as a Director on the Boards of both First Nations Foundation and Specialisterne Australia, while also actively participating as a Rotarian.

Michelle holds a Masters in Social Science, a Graduate Diploma in Adult Education, and a Bachelor of Business. We are grateful to Michelle for attending our Centenary Foundation Day Service at St Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne. During the event, she shared how Kilvington’s motto ‘not for our own, but others’ good’ has made a significant impact in her personal life journey.

Q: What have you been up to since leaving Kilvington?

A: It’s hard to believe that it’s been 35 years since I was at Kilvington. Life has been rich and full since that time.

Professionally, a highlight was living in Greenwich Village, New York, for 12 months while working for The Salvation Army. More recently, I had the opportunity to oversee the growth of a domestic microfinance response, which led to a significant increase in access to safe, fair, and affordable credit. My current CEO role is challenging and rewarding in equal measure.

Personally, am married to Alan, a 6’7” Scottish birdwatcher! This hobby takes us to lots of exciting places, both within Australia and around the world. We split our time between our homes in Preston and Hepburn Springs.

Q: What is your favourite memory of Kilvington?

A: I’m getting old, and the memories are fading! do, however, fondly remember the friendships formed, the encouragement of the teaching staff, and the opportunities that the environment offered, truly allowing me to be my authentic self.

‘Non nobis sed ombimus’ our school motto, is a sentiment I strongly identify with as it aligns with my own values. In many ways, it has guided me both personally and professionally throughout my journey.

Q: Any funny stories?

A: Oh dear! Probably more embarrassing than funny … remember taking on the persona of a male teacher (Mr Tudball) and impersonating him, along with impersonating David Attenborough! remember how much fun we had on our last day of Year 12 as we took to the streets as Hares and Hippies and, of course, the mischief we got up to both in and out of the classrooms.

Q: Did you end up where you expected you would when you finished school?

A: I didn’t know what wanted to be when I grew up and, to be honest, I still don’t!

I’ve been fortunate to have opportunities and doors open that I couldn’t have imagined would be possible. The only thing I knew then, and I know now, is that am drawn to work that makes a meaningful difference.

Q: How did your time at Kilvington prepare you for what you are doing now?

A: The encouragement and belief given to me as an individual was very powerful. As reflect, am grateful to teachers who didn’t make me ‘fit a mold’, but rather nurtured confidence in my natural abilities.

I wasn’t sporty, musical, or particularly academic, however this wasn’t seen as a barrier to success at School or my sense of achievement. I enjoyed debating and public speaking, and was given encouragement to pursue further studies beyond school. am, along with my brother, the first generation of my family to attend university, and I’m sure that this was because of the faith that the Kilvington community had in me.

Q: What have been some of the biggest challenges you’ve had to face to get where you are now?

A: Perceptions of others – I have often been told that am ‘too nice’ and, at times, have felt pressured to conform to behaviors that are not authentic to who am. I’ve also encountered the egos of others and the ‘glass ceiling’.

Q: What advice would you give to others who might be faced with similar obstacles?

A: Believe in yourself. Be authentic. Be open to both opportunities and the unexpected.

Q: What has been your biggest highlight so far?

A: Drawing upon my own skills, knowledge, and experience to make a difference, and witnessing the positive impact of my work in the lives of others.

Q: What excites you about the future?

A: Retirement! In all seriousness, I’m thrilled to be able to travel after what has been a very difficult few years during the COVID-19 pandemic. will never take for granted quality time with family and friends.

Q: How did what you learn at Kilvington help make you the person you are today?

A: learnt that sometimes, when others believe in you, it becomes easier to believe in yourself.

Q: Any advice for our current Year 12 students as they embark on the next stage of their journey?

A: Listen and ask questions – there are so many people around you who want you to enjoy life in all its fullness. Be open to possibilities. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. And most of all, remember to have fun!

Q: Finally, what are you passionate about?

A: My faith, family and friends – and making a positive difference 

Listen and ask questions – there are so many people around you who want you to enjoy life in all its fullness. Be open to possibilities. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Have fun!

>Donors and Supporters

We

who made generous donations to Kilvington from November 2022 to April 2023:

Ms Abela & Ms Periorelis

Mr Alame & Mrs Zhang

Mr Andriopoulos & Ms Tsamitrou

Dr & Mrs Bala

Mr Balasubramaniam & Mrs Ranganathan

Mr & Mrs Barnes

Mr Bath & Dr Hubber

Mr Batterham & Mrs Seuret-Batterham

Mr Bays & Mrs Joshi

Mr & Dr Bernard

Mr Bernardi & Ms Bowman

Mr Bhatt

Mr & Mrs Blackmore

Mr & Mrs Blair

Mr & Mrs Bowman

Mr & Mrs Brown

Mr Bryan

Mr Bryan & Ms Hollinger

Mr Casey

Mr Chan & Ms Koh

Mr Channakeshaviah Vijay & Mrs Guruprasad

Mr Chen & Mrs Han

Mr Chen & Ms Zhao

Mr Cheong-See & Ms Zaitman

Mr Cheung & Ms Lin

Mr & Mrs Chiba

Mr Chong & Ms Soo

Mr & Mrs Chow

Mr Clarke

Mr & Mrs Cleeland

Mr & Mrs Cliffe

Dr Close

Ms Cohen

Dr Cooksey

Mr Cooper & Dr Moss

Mr Cooper & Ms Petit

Mr Cuthbert

Mr Cypriotis & Ms Kouroulis

Mr Dai & Mrs Gui

Mr Dang & Mrs Nguyen

Mr Dassanayake & Mrs Goonewardena

Mr & Mrs Deacon

Mr & Mrs Dean

Mr Dehne & Ms Dempsey

Mr Dillon-Shallard & Ms Elliott

Mr & Mrs Dundon

Mr Elliot & Ms Chen

Mr & Mrs Fifoot

Mr Fishman & Mrs Hamilton-Ritchie

Mr & Ms Fisher

Mr & Mrs Frangoulis

Mr Gad & Mrs Nassif

Mr & Mrs Gastevich

Mr Ge & Mrs Yin

Mr Genziuk

Mr & Mrs Geremia

Mr & Mrs Giouris

Professor & Mrs Glazebrook

Mr Glikson

Mr Goodwin & Ms Chan

Dr Gornall & Dr Ardebili

Mr Grenfell & Mrs Manikam

Mr Guo & Mrs Luo

Mr Gupta & Mrs Singhal

Mr Ha & Mrs Trinh

Mr Hall & Ms Lleonart

Dr Halpern & Dr Barkley

Mr Hardy & Mrs Wang

Mr & Mrs Harran

Mr & Mrs Harrison

Mr He & Mrs Li

Mr He & Ms Xu

Ms He & Mr Wang

Mr & Mrs Heggie

Mr Hickman

Mr & Mrs Hoban

Mr Hodgson & Ms Giles

Mr Hoerner & Ms Dwork

Mr Huang & Ms Young

Mr Huang & Mrs Zhou

Mrs Huang & Mr Li

Mr & Mrs Huynh

Mr Jackson-Lyng & Ms McNamara

Mr & Mrs Jenkins

Mr Jia & Ms Li

Mr Jin & Ms Hui

Mr Jin & Mrs Xing

Mr & Mrs Jones

Mr & Mrs Kanapathippillai

Mr Kennedy

Mr Khoo & Ms Joe

Mr Kiosoglous & Ms Simpson

Mr Klarin & Ms Kloeden

Mr & Mrs Knight

Mr & Mrs Kokosoulis

Mr & Mrs Konstantinidis

Mr Kothari & Ms Ajmera

Mr Krischock

Dr & Ms Kwon

Mr & Mrs Lane

Mr & Ms Lane

Ms & Dr Langenberg

Mr Lee & Ms Leow

Mr Lee & Ms Leung

Mr & Mrs Leicester

Mr & Mrs Leighton

Mr Leonard & Dr McIntyre

Mr & Mrs Lewis

Mr Li

Mr Li & Mrs Huang

Mr Lin & Ms Gong

Mr Lin & Ms Lay Mr Lin & Miss Liang

Mr Lin & Ms Shi

Mr & Dr Lindor

Mr & Mrs Linklater

Mr & Mrs Littlewood

Mr & Mrs Litvin

Mr Liu & Mrs Jin

Mrs Liu & Mr Wang

Mr Liu & Mrs Yang

Mr Long & Ms Jiang

Ms Lord Mr & Mrs Louka

Ms Macgowan

Dr Mammen & Dr Lal

Mr Manley

Dr Mathew & Dr Thomas

Mrs & Mr McDonald

Mr & Mrs McKenzie

Mr Morrow & Ms Bradley

Mr & Mrs Moy

Mr Mufic & Ms Tusia

Ms Mulligan

Mr & Mrs Munnerley

Mr Murphy & Ms Weir

Mr Naffine

Mr Nakaseko & Mrs Kim

Mr Nation

Mr Ng & Ms Tang

Mr & Mrs Nguyen

Mr Nguyen & Ms Harris

Mr Northey & Ms Spry

Mr & Mrs Nuth

Mr Oon & Ms Loo

Mr Ou & Ms Zhao

Mr Pan & Ms Huang

Mr Papadopoulos & Ms Van der Geest

Mr & Mrs Parker

Mr & Mrs Parry

Dr Pearce

Mr & Mrs Perry

Mr Pramudya & Mrs Siahaan

Mr Prentice

Mr & Mrs Quinn

Ms & Mr Quinn

Mr Rashidian & Ms Simpson

Mr Reneaux

Mr & Mrs Renowden

Mr & Mrs Rickard

Mr & Mrs Russell

Mr Sadujko & Ms Partridge

Mr Salter & Ms Keir

Mr & Mrs Sammut

Mr & Mrs Sanderson

Mr & Mrs Shah

Mr Shao & Ms Sun Dr & Dr Sheahan

Mr Shen & Ms Liu

Mr & Mrs Sheridan

Mr & Mrs Sherman

Mr Shi & Ms Mao

Mr & Mrs Short

Mr & Mrs Sigismundi

Mr Skinner & Ms Jemali

Mr Speechley

Mr Speechley & Ms Liew

Mr & Mrs Stamenos

Mr Steele

Mr & Mrs Stephens

Mr & Mrs Stevens

Mr & Mrs Strachan

Mr Sun & Mrs Huang

Mr Sun & Mrs Wei

Mr Sun Hing & Mrs Zhou

Mr Tang & Ms Su

Dr & Mrs Tatford

Mr Telfer

Mr Tian & Mrs Cui

Mr Tran & Mrs Nguyen

Mr Trinh & Mrs Nghiem

Mr Tritschler & Ms Duke

Mr Truong & Mrs Bui

Mr & Ms Tucker

Thank you to the following generous individuals and organisations for their time and donations of goods and services to support our fundraising efforts and community events:

Danni Campbell-Manley

Claire Carroll

Rachel Cetrola

Amy Chan

Sen Chi EJ Chong

Diana Chow

Ann Cleghorn

Joan Cleghorn

Mitchell Cole

Julie Colee Ash Cooper

Lou Cooper

Anne Corbould

Madeline Cuthbert

Gabrielle Darvell

Cissy Deng

Fernanda Di Paolo

Fiona Godfrey

Dr Sanjay Goyal

Louisa Graham

Serena Gray

Merilyn Griplas

Amit Gupta

Sukant Gupta

Simon Hall

Tracey Harran

Michelle Harrison

Chuman He

Sarah Helmond

Tatyana Hollinger

Janine Honey

Kieran Hopkins

Alex Hopley

Jing Huang

Scarlett Huang

Mr & Mrs Volakakis

Mr & Mrs Wadhwani

Mr & Mrs Wall

Mr Walsh & Ms Helmond

Mr Wang & Mrs Liu

Mr Wang & Mrs Mochizuki

Mr Wang & Ms Zhao

Mr Wang & Mrs Zhu

Mr Webb & Ms Toomey

Ms Weir

Mr Westaway & Ms Denisenko

Mr & Mrs Williamson

Mr Willim & Ms Simon

Dr Wimalasundera & Mrs Nammuni

Mr Wong & Mrs Chan

Mr Wong & Ms Wan

Mr & Mrs Wotherspoon

Mr Wright Dr Xi & Dr Tang

Mr Xia & Mrs Jiang

Mr Xiang & Mrs Wu

Mr Xu & Mrs Han

Mr Xu & Ms Qi

Mr Xu & Mrs Song

Mr Xuhao & Ms Yang

Dr Ye

Anderson

Megan Andrew

Jenny Araki

Chelsea Arnold

Rachael Baker

Margaret Barkley

Michael Barrett

Anu Basra

Cass Becher

Raymond Becher

Joanne Biggs

Nicole Blackmore

Shawn Blackmore

Joanne Briggs

Lauren Brown

Leonie Brown

Caro Bruce

Peter Burdon

Jason Butcher

Chelsie Dickson

Ann Dillon

Lindsay Donde

Jo Duke

Tania Duncan

Michelle Dunstone

Karin Elliott

Cath Fifoot

Helen Fotiou

Carrie Fowler

Diane Frangoulis

Kelly Gall

Amy Gason

Janine Gastevich

John Gates

Chris Geremia

Lizzy Geremia

Bronwyn Giles

Silvana Glikson

Tong Hui

Lyn Jenkin

Annie Jiang

Li Jiang

Angela Jin

Kim Johnston

Luke Johnston

Sheri Johnston

Neelu Kapoor

Alison Kennedy

Melissa Kent

Magdalen Khoo

Nicole Kindos

Jacinta Knight

Ellis Koh

Vivian Kong

George Konstantinidis

Kelly Konstantinidis

Kathy Kouroulis

George Lane

Serena Lane

Christiane Langenberg

Rebecca Lay

Alexia Le

Wei Lee

Robyn Leicester

Lynda Leighton

Kim Leow

Brenda Leung

Felicity Lewis

Tracy Li

Sarah Lim

Jodie Linklater

Penny Littlewood

Martine Lleonart

Kevin Long

Danielle Longmore

Youstina Louka

Natasha Lowe

Joey Luo

Leto Luo

Natalie Ma

Sonya Macgowan

Scott Manley

Briohny Marshall

Genevieve Martin

Lyndal Matthews

Trinette McClimont

Chris McCurdy

Michelle McCurdy

Mandy McDonald

Michelle McKenzie

Ruby McKinnon

Rebecca McLennan

Wendy McManamny

Wendy McMillan

Sarah McSwiney

Liz Michelini

Megan Moore

Janette Moss

Emily Munnerley

Paul Munnerley

Lucinda Murray

Simone Murray

Charan Naidoo

Lanka Nammuni

Maya Nammuni

Bree Nation

Matthew Nation

Sarah Newton

Lisa Nicholas

Bec Nicholson

Jacqui O’Connor

Megan O’Connor

Amanda Oliver

Tony O’Reilly

Sasha Osowicki

Markus Oswald

Adrian Perillo

Karen Phillips

Joanna Phipps

Alexandra Poles

Nicole Pope

Nadine Power Guru Prasad

Sophia Prentice

Dinh Ptok

Jasmine Ptok

Katherine Ransom

Mark Ransom

Gerri Redgwell

Wendy Ren

Christina Renowden

Maha Rickard

Karen Roberts

Gaby Robinson

Tiffany Rudik

Adrian Russell

Sarah Russell

Tracey Russell

Jacquie Rynn

Shauna Sanderson

Dave Schar

David Scicluna

Rosetta Scicuna

Richard Scully

Jan Seesod

Nadia Seifen

Nicole Seuret-Batterham

Daniel Sey

Georgia Sey

Alan Shanks

Dave Shar

Deb Sheridan

Anouk Sherman

Ada Shi

Morphy Shi

Belinda Sigismundi

Lynda Slavinskis

Peter Slavinskis

Cass Smith

Christie Smith

Fangfei Song

Lena Soo

Meikhaela Spooner

Jane Steele

Eleri Stephens

Lulu Sun

Cynthia Sundoko

Jenna Yan Tang

Melinda Tassone

Brenda Teh

Ginny Telfer

Tracey Thai

Stella Tsamitrou

Danita Tucker

Yvette Tulloch

Joanne Turner

Marnie Turner

Linda Ung

Sally Vanston

Nicole Verginis

Girija Wadhwani

Kitty Wang

Shirley Wang

Georgie Ward

Heather Weerdenburg

Ying Wei Yuan Wen

Janelle Willers

Angela Williams

Neil Wimalasundera

Jenny Wotherspoon

Henry Wu

Maya Wu

Gaye Wymond

Elsa Xia

Ivy Xiao

Andy Xu

Michelle Yang

Elisabeth Yeo

Peter Yu

Dina Zaitman

June Zhang

Annie Zheng

Raymond Zheng

Rebecca Zolotareva

July

TUESDAY 18 Term 3 Commences

FRIDAY 21 Years 11 and 12 Formal

FRIDAY 28 20- and 25-Year Reunion

August

FRIDAY 11 Centenary Annual Concert

FRIDAY 18 50-Year Reunion

WEDNESDAY 23 – FRIDAY 25 ELC to Year 10 Art Show

THURSDAY 24 Class of 2022 Reunion

FRIDAY 25 Father’s Day Stall

September

FRIDAY 1 Father’s Day Breakfast

MONDAY 4 – FRIDAY 8 Kilvington Writer’s Festival

SATURDAY 9 Centenary Gala Evening

TUESDAY 12 and THURSDAY 14 Years 5 and 6 Production

FRIDAY 15 Term 3 Concludes

October

MONDAY 2 Term 4 Commences

FRIDAY 6 Walsh Club Lunch

MONDAY 9 – FRIDAY 13 VCE Art and Design Exhibition

FRIDAY 13 Twilight Open Day

MONDAY 16 ELC Production

TUESDAY 17 Year 12 Valedictory Day

WEDNESDAY 18 Kilvonian Konnections All-Peer Event

FRIDAY 20 5- and 10-Year Reunion

November

MONDAY 6 Mid-Term Break

TUESDAY 7 Melbourne Cup Holiday

THURSDAY 16 Class of 2023 Valedictory Dinner

TUESDAY 21 PFA AGM and Volunteer Thank You Evening

THURSDAY 23 Celebration Night

December

TUESDAY 5 Junior School Presentation Assembly

FRIDAY 8 Year 6 Graduation Assembly

TUESDAY 12 Junior School Christmas Assembly

TUESDAY 12 Term 4 Concludes

The above events in 2023 may be subject to change.

>Key Dates for Your Diary

Kilvington School Fair, 1955