This is a call out to suitably qualified people in our community who would like to be part of the governance of our school.

Last year Beaconhills College adopted a new Constitution to meet the changing complex operating environment, while retaining our heritage and Christian ethos. This was an important milestone in our College’s 39 year history. The change gives parents and members of our wider community the opportunity to be involved in the strategic future direction of our school.

The importance of good governance cannot be overstated. We seek forward-thinking people with a diverse range of skills and backgrounds who wish to serve on a variety of committees where positions may arise from time to time. These include finance and audit, nominations, risk and compliance, property and community engagement.

If you value the importance of good governance and the long-term sustainability of Beaconhills College, we welcome your expression of interest. Apply to David.Young@beaconhills.vic.edu.au.

Welcome to the 2020 school year. January has already delivered its own unique set of challenges, but at Beaconhills College we are raring to go for term 1 which starts in earnest on Monday.

I extend a warm welcome to all our new families who have (wisely!) chosen to join our College community and experience the benefits of a Beaconhills education.

Community is a key word associated with our school. It’s a community that supports each other and those who are less fortunate – in our local region and the wider world. We are compassionate, kind and resilient in the face of adversity.

The first day of school can be exciting for some, or overwhelming for others. I would encourage all of students to look out for your friends and classmates. If you see someone who looks lonely, or isolated, give them a smile. Or just say hello. It could make all the difference.

Best wishes to all students for a wonderful 2020.

Recently communities Australia wide have felt the force of the bushfires, which have ravaged homes, habitats and landscapes. The level of trauma caused is unfathomable, and I struggle to express in words the sympathy and horror I feel for all affected, locally and nationally. I would like to express my deepest condolences.

Thank you to the Beaconhills College community for their enthusiasm and involvement in providing charity for those impacted by the fires. I have heard numerous accounts of Beaconhills families who have contributed immensely in their own ways, and I encourage all of you to continue in these efforts of compassion and community spirit.

A number of students have contacted our Head of Citizenship and Service, Clare Tuohy, asking how they can help and we will be formulating a fundraising response ready for the start of term 1 .

I hope for a year of restoration and recovery, where we can continue to address all aspects of bushfire trauma and continue to reflect on an effective means of fire prevention and preparation as a country – to the best of our ability.

Thursday 12 December is an important day for Year 12 VCE students, when results are released. For many students, the anxious wait is over – and the weight is lifted. Some will be jubilant, others will face disappointment.

At Beaconhills College, our motto is ‘Let your light shine’ and indeed some of our students will shine in their exemplary academic results. We will celebrate their well-deserved successes.
But it’s also important to remember that there are many pathways to success. Ultimately, the most important outcome is the person each student has become. The character and values they take with them into their future lives.

My hope is that a Beaconhills education means that our students graduate with a sense of gratitude, not a sense of entitlement. That they are optimistic about their future, have a strong sense of self-worth, a commitment to service of others, care for the environment and are proud of their achievements – whatever the outcome.

It’s not the beginning, or the end, but just part of the journey.

Let your light shine.

Next year there will be 3 meaningful ways for alumni to not only stay connected with Beaconhills College, but share their personal or professional wisdom with current students:

• Lux Luceat Society Dinners and alumni lectures where current students can hear alumni guest speakers
• Mentoring – a new program where alumni can offer expertise or guidance to students
• Business mentoring – the chance to offer cadetships or trainee opportunities.

Led by our Community Relations Co-ordinator, Alan James, our alumni program continues to flourish. 2019 has been an exciting growth phase for our alumni community, now nudging around 10,000 members.

Last Friday night, I was among the 80 attendees at our final alumni reunion for this year – the Class of 2009. It was a great night and wonderful to see our former students reconnecting with each other and the College.

Beaconhills College reunions at the one, five, 10 and 20 year mark are well underway. Alumni are increasingly part of major community service events such as Relay for Life and other outreach and service programs, for which Beaconhills is well-known.

I look forward to the continued growth of our alumni community in 2020 and encourage former students to connect with us through our Beaconhills Alumni Facebook group, by updating their details on our website or emailing Alan.James@beaconhills.vic.edu.au.

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.

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.”

Beaconhills College is committed to developing a much stronger learning culture around Indigenous education.

Our history did not begin with the settlement of white Australia. But the history I learned at school was very different from the learning we are now embedding in our curriculum – led by our Head of Indigenous Initiatives Lynette George – across all year levels. It’s a work in progress. And we still have much to learn.

The College has a small number of students who identify as Indigenous, but we recognise the big need for all students to learn more about the stories and experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

I am delighted that Little Beacons recently received an $82,000 State Government grant over four years for Aboriginal language holders to deliver the Early Childhood Language Program. This means children in our kindergarten program will learn about the Woi wurrung language when they are out on Country as part of their Early Explorers program. It’s an exciting initiative.

We value our ongoing connections with Wurundjeri elder Murrundindi as well as Indigenous education provider Indigicate. Beaconhills also offers annual Wominjeka Indigenous scholarships to provide educational support to students of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent.

Pictured are some of our Junior School students at the Berwick Campus last Friday enjoying a range of activities for their Connecting to Country Day.

Beaconhills College adopted a new Constitution at its May 2019 Annual General Meeting – an important milestone in the school’s history.

The new Constitution provides a more suitable governance structure while retaining the College’s heritage and continuing Christian ethos.

As a community school, we have many families actively contributing to the rich and varied life of the College, from volunteering in classrooms through to participating in our many service programs.

This Constitutional change presents an opportunity for parents or members of the wider community to be involved in the strategic future direction of the College. We need members of governance with a varied range of skills and interests.

If you would like to learn more, you are invited to attend a Governance Information Seminar at the College’s Pakenham Campus (Global Beacons Centre) from 7-8pm on Tuesday 23 July. RSVP by COB Friday 19 July to Melanie.Thompson@beaconhills.vic.edu.au if you would like to attend.