WHAT'S NEW?
RECENT COLLEGE DEVELOPMENTS
KINDERGARTEN PLAYGROUND UPGRADE (WS)
Late last year, the College applied for a grant through the Inclusive Kindergartens Facilities Program, and we were successful!
The grant allowed us to redevelop the outdoor learning areas to include more inclusive features, allowing for a broader range of students to fully participate in the outdoor environment in developmentally appropriate ways. The upgrade includes a particular focus on additional features for those with sensory processing issues or autism. Wheelchair access to the sandpit will also be enabled through the upgrade.
I am pleased to be able to share that the works have been completed and we are extremely happy with the result. It has certainly provided some new opportunities for engagement, particularly in relation to sensory perception and the addition of wheelchair access to the sandpit will be immeasurably helpful for anyone requiring this support. We thank our Property Services team for their support of the project and again, give a special thanks to Sarah, our Coordinator, for her initiative and successful grant application.
The students have already started to explore the new equipment and have loved the new look, feel and even sound of particularly the sensory path as they run along each different pattern and section
JUNIOR PRIMARY PLAYGROUND (NWS)
When school resumes after the pandemic, Junior Primary students will be delighted to see a new piece of play equipment in their playground. The new equipment has been described as ‘an imaginative experience structure that will prompt children to create their own stories’.
Some of our Junior Primary children have already been able to enjoy the new playground equipment whilst attending the on-campus remote learning program.
The equipment was made available through a grant from the Australian Government as part of its Local Schools Community Fund grants program. We are very grateful to the Government and our Federal Member of Parliament, Anthony Byrne, for approving our grant application.
MULTI-PURPOSE SPORTS COURTS (NWS)
The multi-purpose sports courts at the Narre Warren South campus have been significantly upgraded with a new Rebound Ace surface applied together with new line markings for basketball, netball, and tennis.
Before:
After:
MAINTENANCE FACILITY (NWS)
Construction of a new maintenance facility at the Narre Warren South campus have now commenced with excellent progress being made. The concrete slab was poured at the end of April. The new maintenance compound is located near the corner of College Drive and Pound Road.
Construction is anticipated to be completed in September. Following completion, the existing maintenance shed will be demolished in preparation for additional car park works and the signalization of the Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road and Lansell Close intersection (next year).
10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE (WS)
It’s hard to believe it has been 10 years since our Performing Arts Centre (PAC) was built. The College was blessed with a $3M grant from the Building the Education Revolution (BER) Federal Government initiative for Primary Schools. Many alumni will have used this facility and enjoyed being involved in performances, classes, school meetings and even exams in the facility since its completion in 2010. Who remembers that there was a staff car park on this site prior to construction?
The PAC during the construction stage - March 2010
The PAC today - April 2020
I personally have seen many of our amazing, and often award winning musicals, shows and events in this facility. The College has produced many skilled student performers, musicians and artists over the years, who have gone on to be involved in further education in their specific areas and many using these gifts in glorifying God. Here’s to the next 10 years of our Performing Arts Centre!
Mrs Colleen Dunis (Bursar)
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5 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF SECONDARY SCIENCE WING (WS)
What do you get if you mix one part Zoo, one part Museum with a Science Lab? The WCC teachers like to think it creates a fantastic hands-on learning experience. It is now 5 years since the opening of the Science wing extension at WCC Wantirna South campus. Teaching and Lab staff are really grateful for the provision of such excellent teaching facilities that allow us to display the wonders and beauty of God’s creation. The building has transformed the learning experience for students with outstanding equipment and stimulating learning spaces which honours the creative genius of God.
We always enjoy open days when new and current parents come with their children and walk through the building and we love seeing the surprised expression on their faces when they discover a snake. Our 'Genesis Wildlife Club' have several animals carefully housed in the Biology room including Monty the snake, a turtle, green tree frogs, a water monitor, stick insects, yabbies and a variety of fish. Students take great pride in looking after and caring for the animals. The building also allows us to display some incredible equipment, curious artifacts and importantly student models which explains how complex natural phenomenon work.
We thank God for the prayers and generosity of the parents who we serve as teachers in the Science Team at the College.
Mr Mark Chalmers (Head of Science)
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NARRE WARREN SOUTH CLASS OF 2018 ONE YEAR REUNION
On Friday 6th December 2019, the Class of 2018 held its one year reunion. The reunion was well attended by the majority of that year’s cohort, who were joined by several of their past teachers, as well as the Head of Secondary, Mr Stephan Munyard, the Head of Campus, Mr Mark Crnkovic and our Principal, Mr Peter Sheahan.
The event was held upstairs in the MPC, which was festively decorated by Miss Emily Conway, including table tennis and bocce, which provided a great backdrop for the night’s conversations.
The evening began with entrée and cold drinks as staff and students greeted each other. Mr Munyard then opened in prayer, and dinner was served as everyone continued to catch up with each other’s news from the past year. Mr Crnkovic provided a brief report to the students, updating them on things that have happened in the last year at the College. Miss Conway also presented a slide show of the students from their time at the College.
The night was a huge success, evidenced by the way everyone lingered late into the night to talk. Many students enjoyed having a go on the electronic gaming devices that had been connected up to the televisions. It was particularly encouraging to see how the students have grown in their lives and are continuing in their journey of faith in Jesus.
A huge thank you to Miss Emily Conway, our Alumni Administrator, for organizing the event for us.
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NORTH INDIA TRIP - 2019
Last December, a team of students made up of Elim Tai, Seraphina Teo, Mason Aulia, Matthew Sehata, Sheridan Tate, Eunice Ong, Bec Jansen, Rachael Kumar; and staff Hannah Pho, Lachlan Howard, Vanessa Bong, along with Chris and Ravi Stocks went to North India to visit the preschools that our College community has supported over almost a decade. Here are some of the reflections:
Dehradun
It was a cold foggy morning for our long drive to Dehradun in a mini bus. After lunch, we met Brij, who is full of life and passionate about dance. She taught the team the Bhangra in 3 hours. In the evening, we went down to the shops past reams of colourful fabrics and clothing; food smells mingling with incense and garbage. Our students learnt how to cross the road with traffic coming in all directions.
The team took Sunday school at the church and fell in love with the children. Chris gave a message on who and what church is. That afternoon we drove up to Mussoorie, which is at 8000 feet in the Himalayas. We felt the cool air, saw the snow-capped peaks and walked past fir trees.
Jagadiri Preschool, Haryana
We left early one morning for Jagadiri, a few hours along a windy road skirting the foothills of the Himalayas. It is hard to explain what it is like. On entering the village, we drove past tiny shops, people soaking in the pale wintry sun on crowded dirt roads until we reached a gate where the school is. It is essentially a small rented house with a few rooms and a kitchen. The “playground” is the cemented entry just 3 by 4 metres wide.
The preschool children crowded in, excited and happy. We played games, danced and sang. How much happiness can a few songs and some games bring? A LOT! Our students were quite impacted by the size of the malnourished students, the size of the school compound and the willingness of the children to share their food. There was a 16 year old who had begun school for the first time ever and he was so eager to be at school and learn as much as he can. A third of that gypsy community are believers and part of the church.
Schools
Hannah, Lachlan and the students performed, sang and shared openly to two school groups - the Moravian School for underprivileged children and the students at Carman School. The testimonies and performances of our WCC students and teachers were so impactful that the Principal relayed each key message to encourage and exhort the Carman school students.
Grace has cared for 12 girls for the last 15 years. They have been rescued from difficult circumstances. The team spent a day with the young women, playing games, singing, dancing, eating, talking and praying. Vess shared a message which they then spent working on in pairs.
Jakhan & Raipur Preschools
The children are from nearby slum communities of rag pickers and daily labourers. They had so much fun with the children; playing games, singing action songs and telling stories. Lachlan shared an anointed emotional message with the teachers at both schools, whom he also prayed for.
The aim of the schools are to provide holistic development for each child. Most of the children live in high stress situations. As they are poor, they are expected to work and to look after their siblings. They witness or suffer abuse or domestic violence at home. Due to these circumstances, it is important that are shown how to identify and deal with their emotions and feelings as they grow.
The teachers have been trained to help the children name their feelings, which is the first step in helping children to develop an emotional vocabulary. Information about each child is built on by the teacher as she gets to know each child’s strengths, weaknesses, interest, learning style, and their behaviour. Some cases of abuse have been discovered and addressed as recently as three months ago.
Nijaat ('freedom' in Hindi) is a residential rehabilitation centre that seeks to facilitate recovery and reconciliation for substance abusers. Nijaat is tucked away in a small village outside Dehradun with small hills, a river and a view of Mussoorie.
"I hurt with the hurt of my people." Jeremiah 8:21
The consequences of drugs and alcohol abuse ravage those who are affected by it. Fear, anxiety, despair, hopelessness, regret, guilt, pain, sickness, broken relationships, loss of identity, insecurity are all a part of their lives. Recovery is possible with a willingness to want to change past behaviour, a spiritual awakening and the courage to face underlying issues.
We met one man, a University professor, who was filled with regret and sorrow that his drinking had ruined the lives of his wife and only son. His son has never ever smiled or shown any emotion. His wife died without seeing him sober. The team performed and sang. Sheridan shared her testimony and Lachlan shared a message of hope to these broken men. We prayed for them.
Delhi
We attended a church nearby in the morning which was lovely, just worshipping and listening. In the early afternoon we attended a special church service for young people, some attending for the first time. The students led the service. Hannah shared and sang her testimony. Lachlan and Chris shared a message. The celebration ended with a dance party. We prayed, laughed a lot and learnt a lot.
Here is what the team said:
I learnt that there truly is an unfairness to the world and people do not have the same level of privilege that I do. But there are things that we can do to help. I learnt that singing, dancing and play are truly a universal language and that poverty can strip you of opportunities but Christ calls us to reach out our hands and help bring them out of there.
I learnt the importance of education. Every bad thing is for something greater. Your past does not define you but you can make change happen in the future. Meeting the kid who was 16 (my age) really impacted me because it showed me how different our lives are. Driving past their homes was heartbreaking. I think it really gave me perspective and it will be my biggest take away.
Many of the people I met did not choose their circumstances but they chose to be joyful and it teaches me that I must be grateful for what I have and to do everything I can to help others.
It was difficult to comprehend the poverty. Watching elderly people carry heavy carts uphill and families living in poor housing. To hear the children’s stories and to process that. Relating to people in India because our lives are so different. Being tired and sick. Seeing kids our age with so much less.
I will; pray more, complain less, be grateful, evangelise more, support missions, appreciate and not compare, use my gifts for God, spend more time with God, begin my day with Scripture, strive to help others, try not to let little things get me down and listen to other people’s stories.
We saw how great God’s capacity to love is! He loves all people, rich or poor, the same. God is at work all the time. He provides. He is a good, compassionate, patient God.
"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the broken hearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord’s favour has come." Isaiah 61:1-2. God enabled us to speak, testify, sing and perform. We praise God for what He has done!
Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.” Isaiah 6:8
Mr Chris and Mrs Ravi Stocks
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