LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN COLLEGE
NEWSLETTER
19 MARCH 2026
Value of the Term - Humility
'Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.'
Philippians 2:3
IMPORTANT DATES
Date | Event |
|---|---|
20th March | Harmony Day & Twilight Multicultural Fair |
23rd March | Sibling & Absentee Photo Day |
24th March | Prep Pyjama Day |
25th March | Prep - 2 House Athletics |
31st March | Prep Funny Hat Day |
2nd April | Student Free Day & Term 1 Concludes |
DEPUTY PRINCIPAL'S REPORT
Humility in Action
In a world that often encourages us to promote ourselves and seek recognition, humility can feel like a countercultural virtue. Yet scripture reminds us that humility is central to the Christian life. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves” (Philippians 2:3). Humility is not thinking less of ourselves but recognising that all we have comes from God and that we are called to serve others.
The evangelist Billy Graham once said that humility is simply recognising that everything we have is a gift from God. Throughout his ministry, he often reminded believers that the goal of the Christian life is not personal recognition, but faithful service.
We see this spirit of humility reflected in many everyday moments within our College community. Staff quietly invest countless hours preparing lessons, supporting students and caring for the wellbeing of our young people. Students demonstrate humility when they encourage one another, participate respectfully in class or step forward to serve in activities across the school.
Ultimately, our model of humility is Jesus Himself. Philippians 2 reminds us that Christ humbled Himself and took on the nature of a servant. As a Christian school community, may we continue to reflect that same spirit; serving one another faithfully and giving glory to God in all that we do.
Yours in His service,
David Holloway
Deputy Principal
New Staff Introductions
Adrian Webster - Head of eLearning & Secondary Maths
Adrian is an experienced educator and mathematics leader, holding a Master of Education (Leadership of Mathematics), a Master of Teaching (Primary), a Bachelor of Arts, and accreditation to teach Religious Education in schools. He has led whole‑school initiatives in Mathematics, STEM, and continuous reporting across multiple campuses, with experience spanning Catholic, independent, and international school settings. Adrian attends Bayside Church in Cheltenham along with his family.
Camille Sarino - Primary Teacher
Camille is an experienced Teacher who brings over a decade of teaching across early childhood and primary settings, including six years in a Christian school in Hong Kong where she taught Grade 2 and served as Year 2 Team Leader. She delivers calm, nurturing, and faith‑aligned instruction with strong skills in differentiation, early and lower‑primary learning, and family communication. She holds a Post‑Graduate Diploma in Education and will complete her Master of Teaching (Primary) in May 2026, transitioning to VIT graduate status. Camille attends Connect Christian Church,
Frankston.
Shivon Abraham - Science Lab Tech
Shivon has a master’s degree in microbiology and hands-on experience across clinical and research laboratory settings. With strong technical expertise, excellent organisational skills, and a deep commitment to safety and precision, Shivon is well‑equipped to support high‑quality science learning. Her collaborative approach, problem‑solving strengths, and dedication to upholding Christian values make her a wonderful addition to our Lighthouse Lab team. Shivon attends St Stephen’s Presbyterian Church in Surrey Hills.
SPORT
CSEN VCE Senior Rally Day
This term students in Year 11 and 12 competed in their first Rally Day of the year! Our College had multiple teams participating in Beach Volleyball, 3x3 Basketball, Tennis and Golf.
We had some great results across the board, and most importantly our students thoroughly enjoyed the day!
Results:
3x3 Basketball
- Boys Div 3: 2nd Place
Tennis
- Boys Div 1: 2nd Place
- Girls Div 1: 2nd Place
Golf
- Boys Div 1: 2nd Place
- Girls Div 1: 2nd Place
Caitlyn Stephens
Sports Administrator
PRIMARY - ELC - Year 2
Teddy Bear Picnic
Our Prep students enjoyed a wonderful Teddy Bear Picnic. The children were excited to bring their favourite teddy bears and soft toys from home to share with their classmates. At lunchtime, the class gathered together for a special picnic. The students enjoyed sitting with their friends while eating the picnic lunches they had brought from home. It was a lovely time filled with conversation, laughter, and friendship.
Portia Martil
Primary Teacher
PRIMARY - Years 3 - 6
Year 6 Canberra Camp - Learning Beyond the Classroom
Our Year 6 students recently returned from an exciting five-day educational tour to Canberra, Australia’s national capital. During the trip, students participated in a variety of educational programs focused on Australia’s history, culture, heritage and democracy.
Students visited several important national institutions including Government House, the Australian War Memorial, Parliament House, the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House, and the National Electoral Education Centre. A special highlight at Parliament House was the opportunity to witness Prime Minister Anthony Albanese presiding over proceedings in the House of Representatives, giving students a rare glimpse of Australian democracy in action.
Students also visited the Royal Australian Mint, where they minted their own $1 coins, and the Australian Institute of Sport, where they learned about the training and dedication required of elite athletes. The trip concluded at Questacon, where students explored science and technology through engaging interactive exhibits, including simulated earthquakes, lightning demonstrations and the famous vertical slide.
There were also many moments of fun throughout the week, including a lively bowling session, an evening at iPlay with dodgem cars, laser tag and arcade games, and the fun-filled Aqua Park, where students had a great time tackling the inflatables as laughter echoed across the water.
After a full and memorable week, students returned home tired but happy, warmly welcomed by their families. The trip was both fun and educational, allowing students to connect their classroom learning with the real places where Australia’s democracy and national life take shape.
The Australian Government recognises the importance of all young Australians being able to visit the national capital as part of their Civics and Citizenship education. To assist families in meeting the cost of the excursion the Australian Government is contributing funding to our school in the amount of $45 per student under the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate program towards those costs. The rebate is paid directly to the school upon completion of the excursion.
Evelyn Siew
Primary Teacher
SECONDARY
Student Leadership Induction Chapel
On the 26th February 2026, we had the privilege of celebrating our Secondary Student Leadership Induction Chapel, a special occasion marking the commissioning of our 2026 student leaders.
Parents and staff joined us as we gathered to recognise and pray over the students who will serve our school community in leadership roles this year. The chapel began with a beautiful time of student-led worship, setting the tone for a meaningful and reflective service.
Students then heard a message centred on the theme of “Leading with HEART”, reminding us that true leadership is not about position, but about posture and character - living out our values of Humility, Empowerment, Authenticity, Respect and Tenacity.
Following the message, our Secondary Captains and SRC representatives were formally inducted. Each student received their badge and certificate before being prayed over and blessed, committing themselves to serve the school community faithfully. The leaders then made a pledge, affirming their commitment to lead with integrity, humility, and courage in the year ahead.
It was a truly special moment for our school community. As parents, staff and students came together in prayer and celebration, there was a strong sense that God was in control of our induction service, bringing every part of the morning together in a meaningful way.
We look forward with great anticipation to the opportunities, initiatives, and positive impact these students will have throughout 2026 as they lead and serve our Lighthouse community.
Congratulations to all of our student leaders.
Mrs. Gosai-Jesudhason (Mrs. J)
Head of Student Leadership
Strategies for Emotional Regulation - Wellbeing Workshop
On 25th February, Year 7 had a toolbox workshop session on Emotional Regulation. These were some of the strategies which were discussed. Mrs. Gonsalves
When Your “Coke Bottle” Gets Shaken
Think of your body like a bottle of Coke. When you shake it, it explodes. In life, stress, worry, anger, sadness, or situations outside our control can “shake our bottle” and affect how we think, act, and feel. The good news is there are simple ways to calm down before we explode.
- Relax Your Muscles - Clench your fists, tense your shoulders and neck, or scrunch your toes in your shoes, then slowly relax them. Tensing and releasing muscles helps your body let go of stress.
- Slow Your Breathing - Try box breathing: breathe in for 3 seconds, hold for 3, breathe out for 3, and hold for 3. Repeat until your heart rate slows and you feel calmer.
- Cool Down - Anger can make your body feel hot. Splash water on your face, hold something cold, or step away from the situation for a moment.
- Use Your Senses - To regain focus, try the 5-4-3-2-1 method: 5 things you see, 4 things you feel, 3 things you hear, 2 things you smell, and 1 thing you taste.
- Take Space - If you feel overwhelmed, take a short break and give yourself time to think before reacting.
If someone else’s “bottle” has been shaken, give them space. When people are upset, they may say things they don’t truly mean.
Learning these strategies can help us stay in control of our emotions and support others when they are struggling.
Mrs. Gonsalves and Lily Vijayapalan
Student Leadership Incursion
Our Secondary Student Leaders recently participated in a full-day leadership incursion facilitated in partnership with Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF). The day provided students with the opportunity to grow in practical leadership skills while learning about the inspiring work MAF does in serving isolated communities around the world.
Throughout the day, students engaged in a range of team-building activities that encouraged collaboration, communication, and creative thinking. Working in groups, they were challenged to problem-solve real-world scenarios and develop solutions that could support and assist communities facing significant needs. It was encouraging to see our student leaders working together, sharing ideas, and supporting one another to reach thoughtful and meaningful outcomes.
Students were also given the opportunity to reflect on leadership within our own school community. Through guided discussions, they explored ideas for initiatives and programs that could positively impact Lighthouse and considered practical ways they might begin to implement these ideas in the year ahead.
The incursion was a valuable experience that helped our student leaders grow in confidence, teamwork, and servant-hearted leadership. We look forward to seeing how these students continue to develop their leadership skills and contribute to the life of our school throughout the year.
Mrs. Gosai-Jesudhason (Mrs. J)
(Head of Student Leadership)
Café Delight – A Fantastic First Run!
We are excited to share that Café Delight officially launched this week, and what a success it was!
A huge thank you to all staff and students who supported the café on Tuesday. We are thrilled to share that the wings were completely sold out, a great indication of the enthusiasm and support from our school community.
A special thank you to our VM students and staff teams who worked diligently, even through their breaks, going above and beyond to ensure everything ran smoothly. Your commitment, teamwork, and willingness to serve others truly made this initiative a success.
As a team, we set out with the vision:
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” – Colossians 3:23
It was encouraging to see our students live this out in a practical way, demonstrating our HEART values through their effort, responsibility, and service.
If you missed out on the delicious food this time, don’t worry, Café Delight will be back! We will be running again on Tuesday, 31st March.
Please note:
· Orders will be taken next week only (23rd Monday to 25th Wednesday)
· Payments will be collected either on the day of ordering or the following day
· There will be no walk-in sales, due to high demand and to ensure all pre-orders are fulfilled
We encourage everyone to get in early to avoid missing out!
We look forward to continuing to grow Café Delight and seeing our students develop valuable skills through this exciting initiative.
Christopher Surendra
Head of Christian Studies
NOTICES
Dear Parents and Guardians,
If you’ve recently changed your phone number, email address, home address, or emergency contact details, please inform us. Keeping your information up to date helps us make sure you receive important school updates and that we can contact you quickly if needed. Please contact the General Office if anything has changed.
Holiday Activities
Where: Various locations across Greater Dandenong and beyond
When: Every school holiday period
Ages: 12–25 years
Cost: Free or low-cost activities