Beaconhills College

Congratulations to our Future Stars and All Stars basketball teams for their fantastic efforts at yesterday’s Hooptime State Finals. The teams finished in the top 16, and top 20 respectively, out of 4850 that entered the competition.

Year 9 student Moesha Griffin has widened her knowledge of her Samoan heritage after completing her ‘Personal Best’ project at Beaconhills College this term.

Personal Best is a major part of the Year 9 program at Beaconhills and focuses on student-driven projects. Students spend a whole term and many hours creating a significant project that’s their passion.

While some students create artworks, write books, design clothing or even run a marathon, Moesha’s project was to learn a Samoan dance and present a speech in Samoan at the recent Personal Best night.

Now she is inspired to keep learning, to the point where she can have a conversation with her grandpa in Samoan. She is also looking forward to a family reunion in Samoa next year.

Samoan is a first language for Moesha’s mother, but Moesha said her own comprehension had been limited to simple phrases, like “go do the dishes”.

Although she’s not yet fluent, she definitely understands more about the language and culture after finishing her project.

“It makes me feel a little bit more Samoan,” she said.

It’s official. Beaconhills College has largest Scout membership of any school in Victoria.

The November issue of Australian Scout magazine reports that Beaconhills has 94 members, from Joeys through to Rovers, feeding 18 groups in Casey and Cardinia.

The report’s author Bob Taylor AM (Immediate Past Chief Commissioner of Scouts Victoria) said scouting’s adventurous activity program complemented the Victorian school curriculum.

Our Pakenham Campus performing arts department is thrilled to announce that a number of students are nominated for a Youth Lyrebird Award and a Music Theatre Guild of Victoria Award, for their performances in this year’s production of Thoroughly Modern Millie.

Put your hands together for Christina Keen, nominated by Music Theatre Guild for ‘female performance in a leading role’ and the following Lyrebird award nominees; Christina Keen – Best Actress, Kody Haynes – Best Solo Song, Alivia Tankard- Best Ensemble Female Performer, Laura McMahon- Best Comedic Performance, Leo Zhou & Shea Li- Best Acting Partnership, Ned Fillingham- Best Cameo Performance, Ron Flavian- Best Cameo Performance, Jaime McIntosh- Outstanding Dancer, Outstanding Stage Crew- Youth Musical Best Lighting- Youth Musical.

Christina has also been invited to perform at the Guild’s awards ceremony at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Ballarat on 14 December. The Lyrebird awards are at Ringwood on 8 December.

Beaconhills College is proud to introduce our community to the 2020 senior school captains.

Congratulations to Pakenham students Jake Duffus, Chloe Ward, Michaela Franks and Samuel Sail.
Also to our new Berwick captains Jack Burridge, Erin Schubert, Chelsea Magee and Callum Pritchard.

The fine young people selected aptly demonstrate the qualities needed for the responsibility of these positions. Leadership at Beaconhills is focused around service and all of these students completed a rigorous process of application.

Congratulations again to our new captains, we know they will make fantastic role models for our Beaconhills College students in 2020.

Pakenham Campus captains, (l-r) Jake Duffus, Chloe Ward, Michaela Franks and Samuel Sail

Berwick Campus captains, (l-r) Jack Burridge, Erin Schubert, Chelsea Magee and Callum Pritchard

Today Beaconhills College paused remember the end of World War I and pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the line of duty.

There were moving tributes at each campus followed by a minute’s silence at 11am. At the Pakenham Campus service, the names of Diggers from the Pakenham District who died in the Great War were read aloud.

At the Berwick Campus, eight ‘Quilts of Valour’ were presented to special guests; veterans, the widow of a veteran and children who have lost their father or been traumatised through their father’s war service.

Established by Beaconhills teacher Helen Comport, the Berwick-based Quilts of Valour presents handmade quilts to service members and veterans of the ADF in recognition of their sacrifice for Australia while on combat operations. The recognition is also extends to soldiers’ families.

Lest we forget.

Students won gold and silver medals in athletics at this year’s Victorian All Schools Track and Field Championships.

Year 11 student Amiru Chandrasena collected gold in long jump (7.14m) and silver in triple jump. Congratulations also to Cam de Bruin (Year 12) for his gold medal in the mens U20 200m race, running a time of 21.88. Caitlyn McCormick (Year 10) claimed a silver medal in discus and was also fifth in U17 shot put.

Rhianna Clemow (Year 10) placed fifth in the U17 javelin and tenth in the long jump. Well done to everyone who competed.

Gold and silver medals for Beaconhills student Amiru Chandrasena

Caitlyn McCormick won a silver medal in discus