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Mr
Jon Charlton
I
was truly honoured and humbled to be inducted as the
9th Principal of Kilvington Girls’ Grammar last Thursday night, and was
most
appreciative of the attendance and support of the Kilvington community,
friends
and family. It was a most uplifting night for me as I committed myself
to leading
this great school in a way that models and encourages standards of
excellence,
compassion, care, discipline and service; and the community committed
itself to
support, strengthen and uphold me as I undertake this responsibility.
To be
inducted by the Rev Alan Marr, Director of Ministries Baptist Union of
Victoria
and to hear guest speaker the Rev Tim Costello, CEO of World Vision
Australia,
was also a highlight as they have both been friends of more than 30
years.
For
those of you who were unable to attend, I have
included some excerpts from my speech.“It is great to be back and part
of the
Kilvington community, a community that has always held a special place
in my
heart, because of its superb positive culture, spirit and soul. As
Principal of this great school, in leading
and serving it with the support of its dedicated and professional
staff, one of
my core convictions will be my constant guide. That is, every
individual is of
infinite value and intrinsic worth, everyone is fearfully and
wonderfully made,
therefore everyone needs to be treated with the utmost dignity and
respect.
Everyone needs to be genuinely respected.
As Principal of this great school,
in leading and serving
it with the support of its dedicated and professional staff, I will
endeavour
at all times to continue to build the Kilvington community as a caring
community, defined by quality relationships.
As Principal of this great school,
in leading and serving
it with the support of its dedicated and professional staff, I am
committed to
ensuring the delivery of an outstanding holistic education. I want
students to
achieve their very best in the academic arena, but also to grow and
mature to
their very best emotionally, physically and spiritually. I want to
remain true
to the commitment of the founders -Caroline and Constance Barrett – who
were
dedicated to a whole education experience, envisaging a Kilvington girl
as one
who had character.
As Principal of this great school,
in leading and serving
it with the support of its dedicated and professional staff, I am
committed to
assisting each student discover who they are and their roles and
responsibilities in the context of the local and international
communities.
I want Kilvington girls to develop
into strong women,
confident, resilient and liberated women, women who are not afraid to
lead. I
am also passionate about Kilvington girls developing a social
conscience and
contributing positively to global issues such as racism,
sustainability, health
and poverty. We live in an unbelievable world, but at a time when it
isn’t fashionable
to consider ourselves as part of something greater.
Individuality is seen as everything.
I am committed to
regularly reminding our community that an appreciation of our own
individuality
is significantly enhanced when we see ourselves as part of something
more, and
give of ourselves for the greater good. As the School motto goes, “Non
nobis
sed omnibus”, not for our own but for others good.”
Jon Charlton
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