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30-34 Toomuc Valley Rd, Pakenham VIC 3810
92 Kangan Dr, Berwick VIC 3806
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Learning that Matters
The messages that schools convey about their educational philosophy can sometimes appear contradictory.
On one hand, schools will talk about a holistic education – developing the ‘whole child’ – yet hold up their students’ academic successes as the sole measure of success.
At Beaconhills, our aim to develop student reports which more broadly match the stated goals of our College. That means not just academic achievement, although that of course is to be celebrated, but also the qualities embedded in our six pillars of Learning That Matters.
Along with their usual reports, next term parents of Years 5-10 students will receive Beacon Explorers reports, which give teacher observations on the local or global experiences students have taken part in during the year. Whether it’s travelling through East Timor or Vietnam, hiking along the Victorian coastline, the art and Indigenous culture experience in the NT’s Jabiru, or canoeing and bike-riding in Jindabyne, parents can expect to see feedback on their child’s development of attributes such as leadership skills, resilience, empathy or teamwork.
I believe these Beacon Explorers reports, which we will continue to develop, will add a meaningful new dimension to our reporting process. They may also give students valuable information to use as part of future job and tertiary applications.
I look forward to seeing you all in term 4.
The Pakenham Campus senior boys’ footy team had a stunning win yesterday in the SEISA finals, against a combined team from St Paul’s.
The final score was 13.8.86 to 5.5.35 – make us the winners by 51 point winners! Congratulations as well to Cam deBruin, who kicked six goals.
City of Casey Mayor Cr Amanda Stapledon stopped by Beaconhills College Berwick Campus this afternoon as part of her Walk for Disability.
The 14-22 September walk is to raise much-needed funds and awareness for people in Casey who live with a disability, as well as their carers. All proceeds will be donated to Project 28, an initiative by the Wolfdene Foundation that aims to create 28 supported accommodation units by the year 2028.
Headmaster Tony Sheumack, College staff and students greeted Cr Stapledon and her team and students presented her with a bouquet of flowers.
What a stellar performance at Basketball Victoria’s Hoop Time competition last week by our Pakenham Campus Junior School teams!
All three teams made it to the finals, with two teams winning the grand final and now progressing to the next level of competition. Apparently all team members showed great respect to their teammates and opponents throughout the day.
Our Beacon Explorers have had busy first two days in Beijing, visiting the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, the Great Wall and the Summer Palace.
They’ve taken in kongfu and acrobatics shows and had lots of meals in between. Next step was Xian on the train.
The SEISA Spring Carnival last Thursday 12 September produced some champion volleyballers from our Berwick Campus.
The senior boys were undefeated for the seventh year in a row, while the junior boys and junior girls teams both had wins. Congratulations to all teams from Pakenham and Berwick campuses who competed to a high standard.
Year 6 students were privileged to meet Holocaust survivor Joseph De Haan, aged 97, during an excursion this week to the Jewish Holocaust Centre in Elsternwick.
Born in Amsterdam, this amazing man was taken in by family friends and brave Christians from the Dutch underground resistance movement, after the Germans invaded the Netherlands in 1940. He was eventually liberated, but his brother died in a concentration camp and his father and stepmother were murdered in Auschwitz.
Year 11 student Corban Baker may be one of the lucky few blessed with natural sporting ability, but his positive attitude and participation has also helped him win the prestigious Pierre de Coubertin Award.
The award recognises secondary schools students who demonstrate values consistent with the Olympic movement through sporting participation. The Victorian Olympic Council presents the awards.
Corban plays basketball, football and soccer for the College’s Pakenham Campus. Outside school, he plays right back position in soccer for the South Melbourne Football Club Under 20s reserves, a team which recently won the National Premier League title.
It was Corban’s fifth championship in a row with the club, making him the first NPL player to achieve this. He captained the Under 13s, 14s, 15s and 16s sides to victory from 2015-2018 and was one of the youngest players selected in the Under 20s side this year, where he had an outstanding season.
Most parents choose independent schooling in Australia because of the values taught in those schools.
The decisions we make as parents – such as which school to choose for our child – are guided by our own basic fundamental beliefs and values.
In fact, making decisions in life that don’t align with our underlying values can feel very wrong. For that reason I believe it’s important to define and acknowledge your values, individually and collectively.
At Beaconhills College, we are very clear on our core Christian values of respect, compassion and integrity. While the Christian foundation underpins our value base, it has never been a requirement that our staff or students are Christians. Our College community embraces diversity and we welcome students from all faith traditions and those who have no faith. However, we expect all who join our College to respect and honour our Christian values and traditions.
In recent House Church services, Revd Peggy Kruse reminded us all of why Beaconhills College was originally founded; to offer open-entry, lower fee Christian education and values to young people in our region.
The College has developed its values program over its 37-year history, through the RAVE curriculum starting in early learning, experiential learning in Year 9, its citizenship and service program, assemblies and Chapel and House Church services.
As Revd Kruse said: “Values are taught in many ways – not only in RAVE, but in the modelling of both school and family life. The school can only reinforce what is already being taught at home – so it a partnership, that helps to mould and form our children and young people.
“Our values not only shape our own lives, but also those of our families, school and the larger world around us.”
Brave Beaconhills equestrian Poppi Plumb is back competing this weekend after a horrific accident in March at the Grand Nationals in Sydney. Her horse reared up and flipped onto her, crushing her pelvis, and causing a number of other injuries.
But this weekend she is back in saddle at the Royal Adelaide Show, along with other current and former members of the Beaconhills Equestrian team.
Best wishes to Poppi and all the riders this weekend.
Senior footy win
Walk for Disability
Hoop Time winners
Hello from China!
Volleyball wins
Living history
Award for sporting all-rounder
Poppi returns
Year 8s head for the hills
Cosplay heroes
Dancers claim silver
Donations put to good use
Reports that tell the whole story
What are your values?
A commitment to Indigenous education
Help shape our school’s future
Why we value chaplaincy
Recent events in Sri Lanka
A message of hope this Easter
Bushfires: thanks for your support
Bushfire message
Boarding residence now open to local students
Order of Australia medal for College Board Chairman
Welcome to a new school year
1300 002 225 | Int: +613 5945 3001
reception@beaconhills.vic.edu.au
Pakenham Campus
Berwick Campus
Little Beacons
Gate C, Syme Rd, Pakenham VIC 3810