Beaconhills College

The first sod has been turned by some very enthusiastic diggers at the new Berwick Campus Early Explorers site. With the help of a $50,000 State Government grant the space will soon be developed into a natural outdoor ‘classroom’.

Children will use the space, with its wetlands, woodlands, open pasture, a garden with indigenous plants, paths, platforms and sensory spaces, to learn about local Aboriginal culture and heritage and the connections to the land around them.

The Early Explorers program is integral to the curriculum at Little Beacons. Through play, children connect with their land in a way that can’t be done under a roof, or within walls, and they develop a respect for the space.

The Beaconhills College Facebook page has been inadvertently affected by the broader Facebook changes today (Thursday 18 February). We have requested that our page is reinstated. In the meantime, we will continue to post on Instagram and latest news on our College website, along with LinkedIn.

Pakenham Campus 2020 captain Michaela Franks is the latest Beaconhills student to earn a VCE Season of Excellence award.

Michaela will perform at Top Class (Drama) at the Playhouse, Arts Centre Melbourne on Tuesday 9 March.

She said was surprised to receive the award, but delighted the judges enjoyed her solo performance about Irena Sendler. Sendler was a Polish humanitarian and social worker who served in the Polish Underground Resistance during World War II.

This year Michaela is studying a double degree in science and arts at Monash University. She hopes to become either a physiotherapist or a teacher.

The State Government this afternoon has announced a five-day hard lockdown for all of Victoria, including all schools, effective from 11.59 tonight until 11.59pm Wednesday 17 February. This is in response to the new outbreak of the B117 COVID-19 variant.

This means from Monday 15 February until the end of Wednesday 17 February, Beaconhills College students will return to online learning.

Unfortunately all excursions planned for next week will be cancelled, including the Berwick Campus Year 7 camp to the Mornington Peninsula. Staff have encouraged all students to take the learning resources they need home with them, along with any essential items from their lockers.

As per last year’s lockdowns, the College will offer a Blended Learning Program at both campuses from Monday 15 February for children of essential workers and other students who qualify for this program. Little Beacons Learning Centres at both campuses will remain open with normal operations.

The Beaconhills College Board today announced that Tony Sheumack has decided to complete his 24 years as Headmaster at the end of 2021.

Board Chair, Dr David Moseley, described Mr Sheumack as a visionary and inspirational leader who had made an “extraordinary contribution” to the school.

In his letter to parents and staff, he said: “Mr Sheumack’s impact is clearly evident in the sustained excellence in academic results, the quality of our co-curricular and service programs, the strength of our extended leadership team, and the vibrancy of our school community.”

Dr Moseley said the College had benefited from Mr Sheumack’s leadership in the Victorian education community and independent education across Australia.

“Most importantly, Mr Sheumack’s contribution is reflected in the qualities of the graduates from Beaconhills who are well-educated, well-rounded young adults, ready to shape a positive future for themselves and their community.”

The Board will launch a recruitment campaign in coming weeks, with the new appointee starting in 2022, as the College marks its 40^th anniversary.

Paige Johnson was selected to perform her jazz solo in Top Class on Thursday 18 March at the Melbourne Recital Centre.

She completed her VCE VET (Vocational Education and Training) Dance subject last year through Bev Palmer Performing Arts in South Morang.

Paige, who is in Year 12 at the Pakenham Campus, has already had some significant achievements in her dance career, with national titles in jazz, contemporary and tap.

Next year she aims to start a full time course with Patrick Studios Australia with a view to working as a full time dance professional.

Young artists from both Pakenham and Berwick campuses will have their work featured in the annual Emergent exhibition held at Narre Warren’s Bunjil Place.

Maddison Fillingham and Florence Katanha (Year 12 Pakenham), along with Berwick Campus graduates Bree Holyoak and Sharnie Foot have had their works chosen for the exhibition which runs from 20 March to 11 April.

Year 12 student Savannah Day also has the honour of working as a co-curator at Emergent 2021.

A natural outdoor classroom will be built at the new Little Beacons Learning Centre at Berwick, thanks to a $50,000 State Government grant.

The Early Explorers site is based on the design of the Pakenham Early Explorers area. It will be a natural habitat where children can explore and play and include features such as wetlands, woodlands, open pasture, a garden with indigenous plants, paths, platforms and sensory spaces.

As at the College’s Pakenham Campus, children will use the space to learn about local Aboriginal culture and heritage and the connections to the land around them. Head of Little Beacons Vicki Reid said through play, children connect with their land in a way that can’t be done under a roof, or within walls, and they develop a respect for the space.

She said Early Explorers at Beaconhills was an integral part of the curriculum and research had shown that children need more time in the outdoors connecting to nature.

Little Beacons children will enjoy their new outdoor classroom at Berwick thanks to a government grant.