Beaconhills College

Josh H will swap his hockey stick for an umpire’s whistle when he heads to Perth

Beaconhills College is proving to be a rich source of hockey and floorball players for state, national and even international competitions.

A number of current and former students have achieved outstanding success in recent tournaments.

In the Australian Floorball Open held at the Gold Coast last school holidays, the Pakenham Floorball Club took two mixed juniors teams, a women’s and two men’s teams to play against other Australian and international teams.

The Under 15 mixed team won the tournament and are now the current Australian Floorball Open champions. Student players included Annie L (Year 9), Emily N (Year 10) and David N (Year 7).
The Pakenham Floorball Club comprises many alumni including Gavin and Ray Staindl, Zanek and Dakoda Shaw and Ryan Alexandrakis, with Gavin, Ray, Ryan and Dakoda representing Australia at the 2014 Men’s World Floorball Championships in Sweden.

Other students selected to play in the Australian Floorball Open were Conor M (Year 10), Ben A and Max H (Year 10) and Mitchell H (Year 6).

Hockey

The Junior State Championships hockey tournament from 30 June to 3 July also saw a number of College students representing their zone. They included David N (Under 13 boys), Emily N (Under 15 girls’ assistant coach), Mitchell C (Under 13 boys), Benjamin B (Under 17 boys), Tristan C (Under 17 boys) Jackson S (Under 17 boys) and Joshua H (umpire).

Congratulations to Mitchell C who made the Victorian Under 13 boys’ team.

Joshua to umpire for Victoria

Joshua H (Year 10) is excited to be chosen to umpire the Under 12s at the Schools Sports Victoria National Championships in Perth from 3-7 August.

Joshua, who has been playing hockey since he was six years old, said he preferred umpiring to playing because it was rewarding and he gets paid!

“Umpiring is rewarding because you get to control the game and you’re always a part of the match – there’s no subbing off or changing half way through the game,” he said.

While the challenges of the job included player ‘back chat’ and making tough decisions on obstruction rules, Joshua said a good umpire should be able to “cop a bit of player anger”.

He said he was happy and excited about going to Perth and hoped the week would be enjoyable and educational.

David N (left) from Year 7 takes on the Redbacks in floorball

Mitchell H, Year 6

Two French students have swapped their summer holidays in France for winter training at the Beaconhills College Tennis School of Excellence.

Nathan Chauveau (Year 12) and Octave Fouquet (Year 10), both from Chinon, are staying with College families while they train with the Tennis School.

They have already claimed their share of trophies after recently competing in tournaments in Pakenham and Traralgon. At the Pakenham tournament held on July 25 at the Regional Tennis Centre, the boys competed against each other in the A grade final, with Nathan winning 8-3.

The duo travelled here with English teacher Christine Jonot, who is also vice-president of the Avoine Tennis Club.

All commented on the very different style of playing tennis in Australia, describing it as competitive and fast-paced.

“We call it the ‘Australian way’,” Ms Jolot said. “You put much more energy into what you are doing on the court.”

She praised the Head of the College’s Tennis School for his expertise, describing him as “an amazing coach”.

Pictured below: Nathan (left) and Octave in a training session on Beaconhills’ new indoor tennis court.

Teeyasha G found the perfect spot for her tree

Prep students enjoyed some lessons about the environment last week as they helped plant 100 native trees at the College for National Tree Day.

National Tree Day and Schools Tree Day is Australia’s largest community tree planting and nature care event, now in its twentieth year.

Berwick Toyota donates the trees to the Berwick Campus each year and staff visit the College to help out with the planting. The trees will add some greenery to the area near the car park above the Junior School.

Green thumbs: Ashley B (left) and Eleanor M

The Masons enjoyed the choir’s performance

Beaconhills choristers have sung their way into the hearts of the Masons, raising $3000 to help the College’s East Timor schools’ program.

The donation followed an invitation to students from the Berwick Campus Senior Vocal Ensemble to take part in a surprise performance at a special Masonic dinner on 15 July at Keysborough’s South Eastern Masonic Centre.

After the choir sang, the First Grand Principal urged the gathering to donate to the East Timor cause in recognition of a “wonderful performance”.

He said donations would support the College’s school building program in East Timor’s Hatolia district, enabling Beaconhills to “help others and make a difference”.

Music teacher Tiffany Farlow said the Masons were incredibly welcoming to students, staff and families on the night and gave some wonderful feedback.

“This has been a huge boost to the students’ self-esteem and we are extremely grateful for the generosity and kindness displayed,” Ms Farlow said.

Students sang ‘The Pool Mashup’ from Pitch Perfect in seven part harmony, ‘Run to You’ by Pentatonix and ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ by Queen. Lucy R also performed some solo items.

“The students are singing some extremely challenging repertoire. I am very proud of the quality of work they are producing,” Ms Farlow said.

The choir comprises Holly N, Aaron J, Aimee A, Bridget L, Laura R, Eleanor R, Chelsea R, Ella M, Curtis M, Samuel L (accompanist), Ashley T and Lucy R.

Youngest team member Olivia C rode well

The Beaconhills equestrian team performed exceptionally well at the Inter-School State Championships held at Werribee from 29 June to 3 July.

Equestrian Co-ordinator Michelle Wong praised all team members for representing the College proudly and said there were some outstanding results:

• Grace C (Year 5) – winner in 60cm Showjumping and overall winner of this class
• Amy G (Year 6) – overall champion. A sensational effort with fourth overall in 90cm Showjumping, first Handymount (most suitable horse), four in Combined Training and sixth in Freestyle Dressage
• Alicia B (Year 12) – second and fourth in 1.05m Showjumping, phase 2.

At just seven years old, Olivia C (Year 2) was the College’s youngest competitor yet still managed some fantastic results despite riding against competitors up to four years her senior.

She came fifth in the Primary Preparatory Dressage on her horse Owendale Nigel, tenth and eleventh on Bazzle (Brandy Hill Park Royal Quest), sixth in the Primary Show Hunter led with Nigel and ninth in the Primary Shown Hunter rider section on Bazzle.

Congratulations also to team members Tyler M (Grade 5), Melissa C (Year 6), Shaylyn M (Year 8).

Year 1 student Caitlyn E loved the Japanese play 

Learning languages is fun, as Junior School students discovered this week during a special Middle School Japanese performance.

Year 6 students presented a play in Japanese to an appreciative audience of Pakenham Campus Junior School students. And while the younger students may not have understood all the words, they certainly picked up on the story.

“It really showed the language is all about communication,” said Middle School Japanese teacher Kellie Ogawa. “Quite often kids and parents think language is boring and this was to show them that it is not!”

Ms Ogawa wrote the play, called Momotaro (The Peach Boy), basing it on traditional Japanese folklore. She said students worked hard since the end of last term and had rehearsed it to perfection.

“They performed it so well and were really excited. I was so proud of them,” she said.

Shiver me timbers! Year 3 students Raine C (left) and Thomas O love the new ship

Ahoy there me hearties!

There’s a good reason to drop anchor at Beaconhills College on Tuesday 18 August for the school’s annual Open Morning – an exciting new pirate ship guaranteed to delight the youngest landlubber.

The ‘Toomuc Treasure’ has anchored in the Pakenham Campus’ Junior School playground and Open Morning visitors are welcome to step aboard during the morning’s activities and tours from 9-11am.

Open Morning is a chance for all to see the College in action, view the fantastic facilities and learn more about the comprehensive academic programs at the Pakenham and Berwick campuses and the Little Beacons Learning Centre.

Head of Junior School Peter Hockey said the pirate ship had learning benefits for children in that it fostered imaginative play, encouraged socialisation and improved physical skills – especially for the younger children – such as climbing, co-ordination and balance.

Designed and built by Blue Leaf Creations, the 10m long ship is decked out with all the pirate essentials, including a treasure chest, barrel, anchor, wheel and of course the famous plank where miscreants can walk off into a sandpit sea. There are also tubular bells and speaking tubes.

After taking it for a test sail, Year 3 student Raine C summed it up in one word: “awesome!”

The pirate ship play area also received a boost with the donation of a life-size rubber crocodile from College contractors 3D Design Group.

If you would like to see more of Beaconhills College’s Pakenham and Berwick campuses on 18 August at Open Morning – or Little Beacons Learning Centre at the Pakenham Campus – register your interest by emailing enrol@beaconhills.vic.edu.au.

Victoria Spicer-Stuart with Paige D (left) and Callum P right

Beaconhills Middle School teacher Victoria Spicer-Stuart is one of only eight Victorian teachers chosen to attend a prestigious Apple Distinguished Educator program in Singapore this month.

The selection is a tribute to Ms Spicer-Stuart’s excellent work in technology teaching. According to Apple, its program recognises education leaders who are “doing amazing things with Apple technology in and out of the classroom”.

“They explore new ideas, seek new paths and embrace new opportunities. That includes working with each other and with Apple to bring the freshest, most innovative ideas to learners everywhere.”

To qualify, Ms Spicer-Stuart had to submit a written application and a video showcasing how she uses technology in her teaching.

She has already successfully designed iTunes U history courses on Shogun Japan and Medieval Europe for Year 8 students. Both have reached number 1 in the world charts – more popular than courses produced by Yale and Stanford universities.

Ms Spicer-Stuart said she was delighted to be among the 52 teachers from across Australia who will attend the Singapore program.

“It should be a chance to collaborate with the best teachers in Australia and learn new and exciting ways to incorporate ICT into my teaching,” she said.