Dear Parents/Guardians

The end of one season and the beginning of a new one is how I am feeling both personally (and as a school). In this, my final letter as the HCC Head of Campus and the final letter for the year, it is very bittersweet for me to finish my time at HCC.

It has been my privilege and a blessing to have had the opportunity to work at Heatherton for this length of time – having been here for 17 years.

I still remember my first 'office' at the school, a filing cabinet in the library (which is now in my Head of Campus office) as I awaited my shared office in the science lab to be completed. I shared that office with Damian Higgins for a number of years so it is an interesting cycle of events that as he is returning, it is time for me to move to a new season of life. Having come from a 900 student government Secondary College in Dandenong, things didn’t feel like a 'real' school at first. Something that I had to adapt to was how friendly and 'decent' the students were. My gruffness and challenging demeanour needed to change as the balance of time I was able to spend on teaching versus time spent managing/disciplining had truly reversed at Heatherton.

Let me clarify this by saying that teenagers from families of faith are still teenagers with hormones flowing and boundaries required but I do see that our students have such friendliness, decency and respect for others. I will really miss the chats and hellos from our students.

The College has steadily grown over the years and I have worked with so many fantastic teachers and support staff who are good at their craft but critically are people of great faith and character. I will truly miss our morning staff devotions where people have been very real in their struggles, journey, insights and praise.

I have enjoyed and benefitted from the company and privilege of working with so many wonderful families - at times it has felt more like a church community where strong relationships, trust and a shared fellowship with believers has occured as we have partnered in raising your children.

God has shown up in very real ways on so many occasions and guided us through both good times and difficult and challenging times. The knowledge that it is God's school, established with His hand through people of faith and sustained by His grace, has helped me to maintain a positive outlook when things have been very challenging.

I have been very touched and appreciative of the words of encouragement from people in the school community since I announced my intention to finish up – thank you so much for this. I am fully aware that much of what may be credited to me as the Head of Campus is really a result of the diligence, professionalism and care of our fantastic school staff, all powered by God's Holy Spirit.

I do want to acknowledge the steadfast leadership of Peter Cliffe who has been a very steady and reliable leader over all of these years - he is a person of integrity and faith and I feel strongly that God will bless him and guide him in his new role as Principal of Belgrave Heights CS.

Other staff leaving also deserve much celebration, acknowledgment and our gratitude for the impact they have had on our students and culture, in some cases over many years. People such as David Holloway (moving to be the Deputy Principal of Lighthouse CC), Jackie Gupta (Year 10 Coordinator at Hillcrest CC), Pam Sanderson (Avila College), Jeremy Richards (Rivercrest CC) and Julianne Sim (Kooweerup SC), will all be missed by us. Since previously announcing these changes, Cara Leigh has accepted a full-time chaplain/teaching role at Waverley CC. Cara has made a big impression in the lives of many students this year and we wish her well for 2022 and beyond. Two of our Learning Support Assistants, Rene Marshall and Gowrie Devi, are also moving to a new season. Rene, a qualified teacher, has taken on a role as a Grade 2 teacher at Lighthouse CC and Gowrie will be returning to her work as an accountant. They have both been very faithful servants in their work here.

As difficult as it can be when staff move, I do believe that the role of our school is to be a place of growth, equipping and blessing. My intention has been that, whether it be students, families or staff, people will sense God's presence at Heatherton and be impacted positively by the Holy Spirit through our culture and community – we all have a role in being people of blessing, encouragement and grace to others, helping them to grow to in turn bless others. Hence I see that these staff who are moving to a different school, have been blessed and grown through their time at HCC and will now be serving God in a different setting, but still within God’s kingdom. God has and is bringing good people and teachers to replace them.

I want to leave you with some wisdom from God’s word, taken from Isaiah 43: 18 – 19.

God is telling the Israelites;

“Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past.

See I am doing a new thing!

Now it springs up, do you not see it?”

I share this because I have truly felt that, with the news of Peter Cliffe, my own and other staff departures from the school, God is looking to do a “new thing” in and through the College – bringing in a new season of life.

The reasons for staff moving from the College are diverse and with no common reason - this movement is also being experienced across a number of schools and industries and countries (and is being referred to by some as “The Great Resignation”). Staff moving on can feel unsettling but please be reassured that we have many experienced staff in leadership roles still in the school and are blessed to be able to bring in a number of experienced and quality people such as Damien Higgins as Executive Principal, Jason Burgess as the Head of Campus and Angela Landy as the Head of Teaching and Learning. We are close to finalising a number of other positions, as well as providing new opportunities for current staff to step into leadership roles and grow, serve and bless others.

What is critical is that we continue to seek to honour God, to serve him and others as we strive to prepare our students with a strong sense of purpose, Godly character and faith for their journey ahead.

Thank you, bless you and farewell, Heatherton Christian College community.

Phil Eastman

Head of Campus

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