Beaconhills College

The Warragul-based Cruizers Rod and Custom Club have donated $1000 to help buy solar lights for children in the Hatolia district of East Timor, thanks to the initiative of our Food Services Assistant Carol Fletcher.

Carol, a Cruizers club member, was inspired after listening to Beaconhills’ Head of Citizenship and Service, Clare Tuohy, talk at the mid-year Staff Board Dinner about the many charities the College supports. One of those is Solar Buddy, which helps fights energy poverty by distributing solar-powered lights to children in developing countries like East Timor.

“I was so impressed listening to Clare speak of the many charities Beaconhills supports,” Carol said. “Clare’s care, enthusiasm and passion just shone through.”

After approaching the club, Carol said the Cruizers were only too happy to donate proceeds from the annual swap meet to help buy solar lights. Year 10 students from the Pakenham Campus distributed the lights during their trip to East Timor in September.

Food Services Assistant Carol Fletcher (left) presents the cheque from the car club to Head of Citizenship and Service Clare Tuohy

Beaconhills Year 10 students with East Timorese children and their Solar Buddy lights

A picnic in the fresh air and a healthy serve of salad sandwiches last week was a great way for the Little Beacons community to celebrate completing the State Government’s Achievement Program.

Little Beacons is one of just a few early learning centres in the region to complete the six health priority benchmarks; Safe Environments, Sun Protection, Tobacco Control, Physical Activity and Health Eating and Oral Health.

Congratulations to our Pakenham Campus Junior School All Stars basketballers, who made it to a nail-biting grand final game of the Hoop Time state finals at Dandenong.

They lost by just three points with the last shot on the buzzer! We are very proud of their sportsmanship and determination.

Year 10 student Ella Carson’s snap of a Tasmanian Devil made the finals of the 2018 Photography Studies College School Photography Competition, with the theme ‘Home is where the heart is’. Ella’s image was one of 17 selected from 64 entries. Congratulations Ella!

Beaconhills College has joined a Victorian Government initiative called ResourceSmart Schools.

The program will help us further build on our sustainability achievements, by embedding sustainability in everything we do. This includes reducing use of resources like electricity and waste water plus supporting indigenous plants and animals.

Sustainability Co-ordinator Jack Donkers will work with CERES Environment Park to implement the initiative. He said one of the College’s challenges was to reduce the amount of landfill items contaminating our recycling and organics waste.

Next year he will urge the entire College community to join the ‘Take 3 for the Sea’ initiative. Every time you leave the house or office, pick up three pieces of rubbish so they don’t end up in the oceans.

The land adjoining our new Pakenham Campus Year 9 centre (pictured) is already supporting indigenous plants and features a learning circle, small pond and a ‘lizard lounge’ for local invertebrates and reptiles.

Seven bright Pakenham Year 7 students have put their name on the map in the Cardinia Shire, after receiving High Distinctions in the 2018 MapIt! Challenge.

Austin Mills, Joel Carter Ramadge, Tasnia Mostofa, Eva Stickland, Sheridan Poole, Emily Hotchkin and Morgan Stone were among the 20 Beaconhills College students presented with the challenge to improve the liveability of the Cardinia Shire. Student suggestions for the three pronged approach required included building new playgrounds and homeless shelters, improving existing fencing and expanding parkland.

A local charity organisation that Beaconhills College has supported from more than 20 years is under threat of closure.

Pakenham’s 4C’s, which provides emergency relief to families in need, may have to close its doors before Christmas unless it can secure government funding, according to an article in this week’s Pakenham Gazette.

The news coincides with Beaconhills College’s Empty Christmas Tree Appeal and our Christmas Hamper Drive, both intended to provide gifts and non-perishable goods to the 4C’s for distribution.

However, Pakenham Campus Senior Chaplain Rev. Peggy Kruse urged College families to keep donating goods until Wednesday 28 November as donations will still be distributed to families in need in our community (details on how to donate are in the College weekly bulletin notices).

Rev. Kruse said she hoped that 4C’s receive the assistance they need from governments to continue delivering their vital services.

Berwick Campus’ Empty Christmas Tree Appeal gifts go to the Windermere Community Centre and are also distributed to families experiencing hardship, while the campus’ hamper drive will direct donations to the Casey North Community and Information Support Services.

4C’s have set up a GoFundMe page (www.gofundme.com/4CsCrisisCentre)

Berwick Year 8 students are having a brilliant time camping in the Grampians, exploring the rich history of the region by foot, bike and canoe this week.

Fortunately, the wild weather that struck Melbourne avoided our explorers!

Year 5 Beaconhills student Casey de Kock will perform in the Young Australian Broadway Chorus (YABC) production of Les Misérables at the National Theatre in St Kilda, January 18-26, 2019. It is a major achievement for Casey, who was chosen from many young actors who auditioned.

Casey, from the Berwick Campus, will play the role of ‘Young Eponine’ as well as featuring in the ensemble. She played the lead role of Wendy in Beaconhills’ production of Peter Pan Jr last year.

Casey in the role of Wendy in last year’s Beaconhills production of Peter Pan Jr