We believe that every child is special and unique, with individual characteristics, and born with purpose given by God. This belief is born out of a biblical perspective that God created children unique, gifting them with characteristics and potential. This centrepiece is what forms our Heathdale Distinctive. By providing curricular and co-curricular programs of learning and discovery, we support each of our students to find his or her individual, God-given potential. This is achieved through a partnership with parents and staff as we walk together through the educational years. We welcome you to our College and hope that as you journey through this website you will see that God is central to all we do. The staff and I regard it as an honour and privilege to work with the families of the Heathdale Christian College community.
Our focus is upon the development of the whole child. In addition to striving for academic excellence, we also seek to foster the development of character and virtue, encouraging students to stand up for their beliefs with wisdom and discernment. We believe that through partnering with parents, these values and ideals are instilled in our students as they learn under our care and guidance.
As a Christian School, we refer to this as whole child education with academic, spiritual, physical and emotional learning from a Biblical world view. Our well-informed curriculum and co-curricular programs seek to nurture students’ curiosity, awe and wonder. This equips them with skills to learn deeplyand gain wisdom and providesopportunities for them to develop their gifts in order to become who God has called them to be.
We opened our doors in 1982, after years of preparation by Reverend Joe Westlake and a group of dedicated Christian parents. These parents wanted their children taught on the basis of a Christian worldview, where teachers would see them as a parent does; as individuals, each with their own unique, God-given potential. The purpose, mission, values and quality statements of our College were born out of this foundational belief.
We owe our founding families a deep debt of gratitude. We honour those who faithfully heard and responded to the call from God to establish our College. We thank God for His continued and gracious guidance, encouragement and provision in the growth and development of the College over many years.
Learning is at the heart of what we do, each day. Our professionally qualified teachers nurture the students’ natural desire to be curious, explore, play and develop a sense of awe and wonder as they interact with and appreciate God’s world. As students engage in the school programs, they are encouraged to develop wisdom and discernment to equip them to become highly effective learners who may achieve their very best. As a Christian School, our teachers lead devotions at the beginning of every day. These involve prayer, Bible readings and reflection on Biblical truth. Students have opportunities to offer thoughtful comments, raise matters of concern and pray for one another. The excitement of our four-year-old Kindergarten students is reflected through the laughter and chatter you hear as you approach our purpose built Kindergarten rooms.
Their zeal and enthusiasm as they begin their first year of educational influence, outside of their main family, is almost contagious. These young, impressionable little people soak up and grow in the knowledge around them through play and interaction with staff and other students. A healthy learning environment is created where children are loved, cared for and respected as individuals who belong to communities. The children begin to know who they are and what they can achieve by being, belonging and becoming the person God created them to be.
Learning becomes more formal than what is seen in our Kindergarten program. Curiosity continues to be encouraged and nurtured as this is foundational for lifelong learning. The development of strong Literacy and Numeracy skills underpin all areas of the curriculum and are the central foundations on which further learning can be built.
Programs and valuable literacy experiences are integral parts of our foundational skills to teach children to learn, read and decipher the English language. Further specialty subjects of French, Technology, Humanities, Health, Drama, Physical Education, Science, Art and Music are taught. Creativity, exploration and imagination are nurture.
In Years 3 and 4 our students become more independent and more disciplined learners and thinkers as sound work habits continue to be developed. The students are assisted to become responsible, independent learners and develop skills to communicate with others, including teachers and peers, more effectively. Teachers support students to develop their abstract and critical thinking skills in preparation for higher learning, through our core and co-curricular subjects.
As our Years 9 and 10 students enter the Senior School, they experience an increase in the choice and specialisation of their subjects. Adopting a mindset of personal growth and an awareness of personal responsibility for their progress are indicators of a student who is maturing in his or her approach to study.
This is a time for students to begin contemplating their vocational intentions. They are encouraged to consider which subjects interest them and what they would like to pursue in the post-secondary years. To help guide students, our Pathways Coordinator initiates conversations which will continue through to Year 12. To ensure our College Purpose continues to be met through these higher levels, we include three different streams through Years 10 to 12, including VCE, VET and VCAL.
Throughout Years 11 and 12, the students not only begin to focus on their vocational choices but, more importantly, on how they are to become responsible citizens. The years of discovery and refinement of talents and passions assist students with their subject selections. Career counselling further assists them to make informed decisions about their study options within the VCE, VET and VCAL streams.
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