Beaconhills College

Beaconhills College
Location
Berwick & Pakenham, Victoria, Australia
Information
Type Independent, Co-educational, Day school
Motto Latin: Lux Luceat
("Let Your Light So Shine")
Denomination Anglican, Uniting Church
Established 1982
Chairman L. L. Maghanoy[1]
Headmaster Tony Sheumack
Enrolment ~2,400 (P-12)[2]
Colour(s) Navy Blue & Gold            
Website www.beaconhills.vic.edu.au

Beaconhills College is a co-educational, ecumenical, independent school providing education from early learning to preparatory to year 12. The college has three campuses. Little Beacons Learning Centre and the Valley Campus located in Pakenham and the Village Campus is situated in Berwick, Victoria, Australia.

Beaconhills was established in 1982 by the Anglican and Uniting Churches to serve the education needs of the Christian community in the greater Pakenham area. The College celebrated its silver jubilee in 2007.

Contents

College History

Inception

The idea to establish a local, independent, Christian school was conceived by a group of parishioners at St. John's Anglican Church in Upper Beaconsfield in 1980. By March 1981 a Steering Committee had been established with Mr John McConchie appointed as Chairperson. The Steering Committee called a public meeting at the Pakenham Hall on 11 March 1981 where the proposal to establish an ecumenical, co-educational, low-fee secondary school was ratified in the presence of some 250 people.

In 1981, as the Steering Committee continued to hold public meetings seeking support for the new school, a 13-acre (53,000 m2) site on Toomuc Valley Road, Pakenham was purchased and portable classrooms obtained from St. Catherine's School in Toorak, and Mr Frank Millet was appointed as founding principal. On 3 February 1982 Beaconhills Christian College opened with 34 students and five staff. A dedication service was held at St. James Church on 28 March 1982. Mr Frank Millet led the College as principal until 1988 by which time the College community had grown to include 388 students and a teaching staff of 30. Mr John McConchie, having led the Steering Committee, was Chairperson of the Board until 1986.

Today, Beaconhills College spans three campuses and has over 3200 students enrolled between early learning, preparatory and year 12.[2]

Village Campus

The Village Campus, situated on a 15 hectare site in Kangan Drive, Berwick, opened in 2003 with 356 students and 38 staff members. The initial student cohort spanned preparatory to year 7 and has grown each year in line with the progress of the senior-most students of initial cohort. 2008 marked the first year that the Village Campus offered a full preparatory to year 12 program, accommodating approx 1400 students.[3]

Co-Curricular Activities

Sport

The Valley and Village Campuses compete in inter-school sports with other member schools of the GIS (Gippsland Independent Schools) and SIS (Southern Independent Schools) associations.

House system

The Houses

The eight houses are named after individuals who have made significant contributions to Beaconhills College.[4]

Beaconhills College Senior School Houses
Clark House
  • House Colour:       Maroon
  • History: Clark House is named after Mrs Carole and Mr Neville Clark. Mr and Mrs Clark were actively involved in the early development of the college.
Creese House
  • House Colour:       Royal Blue
  • History: Creese House is named after Mr Nigel Creese. Mr Creese was the second Headmaster of Beaconhills College, and also created the School Motto; Lux Luceat
Leaver House
  • House Colour:       Yellow
  • History: Leaver House is named after The Reverend John Leaver. Rev Leaver greatly inspired and led the early planners of Beaconhills College.
McConchie House
  • House Colour:       Purple
  • History: McConchie House is named after Mr John McConchie. In 1980, Mr McConchie was appointed the first ever Chairman of the College Committee. He was also appointed the first Chairman of the College Board of Directors.
Millett House
  • House Colour:       Sky Blue
  • History: Millett House is named after Mr Frank Millet. Mr Millett was the Foundation Principal of the College.
Rich House
  • House Colour:       Orange
  • History: Rich House is named after The Rev Roger Rich. Rev Rich was the incumbent of the parishes of St John's Upper Beaconsfield and St James, Pakenham during the planning phases and the early years of the College.
Tregoning House
  • House Colour:       Red
  • History: Tregoning House is named after Major Edward Tregoning. Major Tregoning was the College's principal benefactor.
Woods House
  • House Colour:       Green
  • History: Woods House is named after Archbishop Sir Frank Woods. Archbishop Woods was the Patron of the College.

Inter-house Competition

The eight houses participate in inter-house competitions throughout the year. Inter-house activities include:[5]

Uniform

Summer Uniform

The summer uniform is worn in the first and fourth terms. The summer uniform consists of a short sleeve white shirt, and grey pants or shorts for boys or the summer dress for girls.

Winter Uniform

The winter uniform is worn in the second and third terms. The winter uniform consists of a long sleeve white shirt and tie, with grey pants for boys or grey kilt with navy blue stockings for girls.

School Blazer

The Beaconhills blazer is navy blue with the College Crest embroidered in gold on the chest pocket. While the blazer may be worn all year, it is an explicit requirement on formal occasions or when students represent the College in public, including travel to and from the College.[6]

Future developments

Beaconhills has plans to continue development of the Village and Valley campuses over the next five years:[7]

Valley Campus - Planned Developments
  2008  
  • Planned Works: Construction of new Year 10 and Year 12 Centres and renovation of existing Year 12 Centre.
  2009  
  • Planned Works: Construction of Administrative Headquarters and redevelopment of Performing Arts Centre.
  2009  
  • Planned Works: Conversion of existing Administrative Offices for Middle School and Uniform Shop.
  2010  
  • Planned Works: Relocation and removal of portable classrooms and construction of new Middle School building.
Village Campus - Planned Developments
  2007  
  • Stage 5: Construction of VCE Centre and Science Building including 12 classrooms, 4 science rooms, multi-media centre, coffee shop and staff/student facilities. Construction of Visual Arts Centre and classrooms.
  2008  
  • Stage 6: Construction of Human Movement Centre and Food Technology Centre
  2009  
  • Stage 7: Construction of Year 9 Centre.

Alumni

Notable Old Collegians include:

See also

References

  1. ^ Board of Directors (Beaconhills College) (accessed:10-04-2010)
  2. ^ a b College History (Beaconhills College) (accessed:10-04-2010)
  3. ^ Village Campus - Berwick (Beaconhills College) (accessed:10-04-2010)
  4. ^ 2003 Student Record Book, Senior School, Valley Campus.
  5. ^ The Beacon, 2004, Beaconhills College Yearbook.
  6. ^ Uniforms (Beaconhills College) (accessed:10-04-2010)
  7. ^ Home of Beaconhills College - College Developments (accessed:05-09-2007)

External links

Beaconhills | Flinders | John Paul | Maranatha | Nazareth | Padua | St Francis Xavier | St James | St John’s | St Leonard’s | St Peter's | Woodleigh