We are coming to the close of another fantastic and full Term 3 at Carey.
At this time of the year we are always thrilled by the performances of our students in the Senior School Play, and this year we were entertained by a hilarious interpretation of Puffs. We have also enjoyed some wonderful music ensemble performances from students from each campus and section of our school, several of which represented Carey with pride and great talent at the Victorian School Music Festival, earning multiple platinum shields, the highest possible award – read more here.
The learning outside the classroom has been in full swing in the last few weeks, with our final Year 10 Zero Journey for the year currently taking place, while our Middle School students have embraced a range of experiential learning programs across our state.
Term 3 is always an intense one for our Year 12 cohort as they complete course material and assessments for both the VCE and IB pathways. We see daily the effort students and staff are investing into striving for their best performances. I congratulate them all on their work and commitment to the learning program and wish them well in the weeks to follow as they prepare for their final examinations.
I also want to take this opportunity to provide some important updates.
Junior School leadership team
Over the first half of this year, we have engaged in a process to redesign the Carey Junior School with a view to developing a more integrated model, whilst still honouring the unique features and strengths of each campus.
Following the announcement of Steve Wilson’s retirement as Head of Junior School, Donvale, after 20 years of distinguished service to our school, we are pleased to announce a new leadership structure and team.
I am delighted to announce that Kylie Baxter, our current Head of Junior School, Kew, will lead the new Carey Junior School. Kylie will guide a leadership team of expert educators who will work across the School’s two junior campuses.
We are pleased to have the opportunity to share more information and introduce the new leadership team to our Junior School parents in an upcoming information session.
The future of the Senior Years program
As we look to the future with a proactive and forward-thinking approach, I am delighted to share that in 2025 we will be embarking upon a review of the Senior Years program. This important work will be led by our current Head of Senior School, Kellie Lyneham, who will be seconded to this project role for the 2025 school year.
During this time, Kellie will also play an important leadership role in the review of our School Management System, which is the tool we use to manage our community database and student records. I will provide more details on this work in January.
I will advise early in term 4 who the successful applicant is to take on the 12-month role of Acting Head of Senior School.
Exciting review of capital works
As mentioned in my July newsletter, following the purchase of 12 Sackville St which adjoins our Junior School Kew car park, we have commenced a new capital works masterplan.
As part of this review, we have made an important decision to pause on the previous plans outlined for the Kew Sports site on Barkers Road, in order to consider opportunities to bring some of these plans for a Sports and Wellbeing Centre back onto our Kew site adjacent to the Kew primary campus.
This will be an important and well considered review and one which we believe will ensure we maximise the fantastic new spaces available to us.
We will provide further updates in due course as we confirm longer-term plans.
APS review
I would like to take this opportunity to provide a brief update on the review of the APS Program. As you may be aware, the Heads and Principals of the 11 independent APS schools have commissioned an external consultant to conduct a comprehensive review of APS Sport during 2024.
The APS program is being carefully reviewed with the intention to make recommendations to the APS schools to improve and enhance the student APS Sport experience. As a school, we are committed to ensuring all students have access to excellent opportunities through the APS program.
A timeline for the conclusion of the review has not been set though we will be sure to keep you informed as we progress through it.
Respecting our neighbours
We have recently received some distressing reports of anti-social behaviour towards residents of the streets surrounding our Kew campus. I would like to remind all members of our community to please be courteous towards our neighbours and obey all council and school parking rules and signage.
In particular, no member of our community should be parking in or across driveways or in no-standing zones during school pick-up times.
We understand this can be a stressful part of the day, but by complying with the rules and signage, we can ensure school pick up and drop off is as seamless and safe as possible.
Have a wonderful and refreshing break and we look forward to seeing you all back in Term 4.
Jonathan Walter
Principal
