Official opening at Narre Warren North

We have arrived!

And what a story we could tell!  

About the miracle of finding ourselves in possession of such a beautiful site in Narre Warren North, about thousands of hours of meetings to obtain council permission and plan our buildings and facilities, about the hospitality of our hosts in Belgrave for these first three terms whilst we finalised our site, about the generosity of so many families at successive working bees - painting, weeding, planting, cleaning, feeding hungry hordes... And so much more.  In summary - a huge amount of hard work, a truly edifying amount of generosity, and key moments of divine intervention (no doubt, more than we know).

We cannot express how pleased we were to open the school at Narre Warren North for Term 4.  Most importantly, the children are settled and happy - enjoying the playground, the grass and the brand new classroom.

Official Opening - all invited

We would be pleased if you would join us for this celebration.

Date: Saturday 5 November 2016

Address: 20 A'Beckett Road, Narre Warren North

Time: 2-4pm (please arrive at 1:45 for a 2pm start)

The day will include an official ceremony (three short addresses, raising of the Australian flag, a concert by the school children etc) followed by afternoon tea, a jumping castle and face painting for the children.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Information session upcoming

We remind you about our final information session for 2016.  

These sessions are intended to be small and intimate.  We welcome both those who are making their first enquiries and those who are already familiar with the school and would like to know more, or have specific questions they would like to ask.

RSVP via our Contact page.

Tuesday 15 November at 7:30pm
To be held at a family home in Endeavour Hills.

Orientation Day for 2017 Foundation families - Saturday 3 December

The College will host an orientation day for children enrolling at the school in Foundation in 2017 and for their parents.  Invitations for each family will be forthcoming.

This is always an exciting day for our future students, and will familiarise them with the school and their teacher.  The Principal will hold a concurrent information session for parents.

We note that families still considering their enrolment for 2017 are also welcome to attend.

As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact any member of the School Board, or to contact us via our Contact page.

Parenting tips

In a previous update, we announced the extra tab added to our website - "Parenting Tips" - featuring a series of articles with sound advice on a variety of parenting topics.  We intend to include a teaser of one in each email update, with a link to the full article.

The articles are generously provided by Dr Andrew Mullins - you can see more excellent material on his site, Raised to Love: www.raisedtolove.com.

Rafael Pich on Parenting

Rafael, father of 16, spoke twice to the parents of the PARED schools in Sydney during the 1990s. His warmth and advice were unforgettable.

On Family Life

"We need to rediscover intense family life."
Promote common family projects and interests. Share happiness and sorrows. Share the work. Do good deeds together for neighbours.

On Attitudes to Work

"The family is the first school of work."

On giving children responsibilities when they are young

"Children have the right to be taught to solve their own problems."
Beware of raising children who do not have the resilience and responsibility to cope in the adult world. Don't raise children who are "meringues". Be affectionate but demanding on your child at an early age...how ironic for a "monopolistic mum" to do practically everything for her child when young, and then to complain when, as a teenager, the boy or girl doesn't help around the home.

...

For more, including suggestions re friendships, service to others, dealing with things that go wrong, etc see here: www.harkawayhills.vic.edu.au/parenting-tips.html.

Narre Warren North site open for Term 4! and...

We hope this update finds you and your families well and enjoying the glimpses of sunshine, holding promise for the months ahead!

Here is a summary of our many updates this month...

Move to Narre Warren North

Report on Key Parent Function - Dr Gerard O'Shea

Information sessions upcoming

Open Day - Tuesday 11 October

"Save the Date!" - notice of upcoming events...

Fundraising dinner - Saturday 22 October

Official opening of Narre Warren North site - Saturday 5 November

Orientation Day for 2017 families - Saturday 3 December

Parenting Tips!

Move to Narre Warren North

It has finally arrived - the end is in sight!  Buildings are in place (and stable), decking is attached, playground is installed, services are being connected as we write, preparations for the fit out, move and set up are in place. 

The move and set up will take place over the term break, and students will be welcomed on site for the start of Term 4.  Good things come to those who wait!

Efforts for car pooling to Belgrave have been herculean and heroic - each day, only three cars arrive, transporting 13 children.  Whilst parents will no doubt be relieved when the school is closer and transport more straight forward, the children will surely miss the company and play every morning and afternoon has brought!

Report on Key Parent Function - Dr Gerard O'Shea

We enjoyed an excellent key parent function last week by Dr Gerard O'Shea, author of As I Have Loved You, a valuable resource for parents providing a programme for a Christian education in human love and sexuality for children.

The topic and speaker attracted a sell-out crowd and left standing room only!  His presentation was sprinkled with stories from his discussions with his own children - his advice has been family tested and has come up trumps.  Whilst many developments in Australian society leave parents deeply concerned about the education upcoming generations are receiving in sexuality and family, parents left Dr O'Shea's presentation inspired and empowered.  

We are very pleased to be able to offer the opportunity to learn from speakers on such important topics, not only to our own enrolled families but to the broader community.

Information sessions upcoming

We remind you about our upcoming information sessions.  These sessions are intended to be small and intimate.  We welcome both those who are making their first enquiries and those who are already familiar with the school and would like to know more, or have specific questions they would like to ask.

RSVP via our Contact Page.

Tuesday 6 September at 7.30pm
To be held in Berwick.

Tuesday 18 October at 7:30pm
To be held in Lysterfield South.

Tuesday 15 November at 7:30pm
To be held in Endeavour Hills.

Open Day - Tuesday 11 October

We are looking forward to showcasing our school at our next Open Day in October.  Open days at Harkaway Hills College have been scheduled mid-week in order to present to prospective parents an ordinary day in operation. 

Placing a special emphasis on literacy in the junior curriculum, the school is proud to employ the Spalding method, which is so effective in teaching children to read and write - we encourage all families to attend this demonstration in particular.

The Principal, Frank Monagle, will also make a short address, and will endeavour to meet each visitor personally.

Details:
Tuesday 11 October 2016
10am until 2pm

10am - Spalding demonstration
10.30am - Principal's address

Morning tea provided
420 Belgrave Hallam Road, Narre Warren North (entry via 32 A'Beckett Road).

Please register your attendance via our Contact page.

"Save the Date" - big events upcoming...

Official opening of Narre Warren North site - Saturday 5 November 2016 - save the date

All are cordially invited to the official opening and celebation of our permanent site in Narre Warren North - the date is set for Saturday 5 November 2016 from 2-4pm.  

Invitations and further details will be forthcoming.

Orientation Day for 2017 families - Saturday 3 December - save the date

The College has set an orientation day for children commencing Foundation in 2017 and for their parents on Saturday 3 December.

Please save the date.  Further details will be forthcoming.

---

Parenting tips

In a previous update, we announced the extra tab added to our website - "Parenting Tips" - featuring a series of articles with sound advice on a variety of parenting topics.  We intend to include a teaser of one in each email update, with a link to the full article.

The articles are generously provided by Dr Andrew Mullins - you can see more excellent material on his site, Raised to Love: www.raisedtolove.com.

Expectations of responsibility

Accumulated wisdom from parents of young children in the Parents for Education Schools

Foundation (also known as "Preparatory" or "Prep" year)

Care of own belongings

Children should know what possessions they have, where in a general sense those things are and be responsible for them.

Clothing

• A good rule to help children avoid habits of leaving clothes around is ‘always do something with it when it is taken off’… putting it into the drawer, into the washing basket, etc.
• Children should know to fold their clothes. Own laundry control is reasonable.

Room

• Fold PJs and shuffle bed in the morning.
• Put toys away.

School belongings

• Children should be responsible for their important things such as school bag, shoes, uniform, and lunchbox. Unpack bag on arriving home, hand over any notes.

...

For more, including jobs, homework and timetables, hospitality etc for children in Foundation, Year 1 and 2, see here: www.harkawayhills.vic.edu.au/parenting-tips.html.

Parent function - Gerard O'Shea on education in love & sexuality

Information sessions upcoming

We remind you about our upcoming information sessions.  These sessions are intended to be small and intimate.  We welcome both those who are making their first enquiries and those who are already familiar with the school and would like to know more, or have specific questions they would like to ask.

RSVP by visiting our Contact page.

Tuesday 12 July at 7.30pm
To be held in Hampton Park.

Tuesday 2 August at 7:30pm
To be held in Guys Hill.

Tuesday 6 September at 7:30pm
To be held in Berwick.

Key Parent Function - Dr Gerard O'Shea

Topic: Talking with your child about human love and sexuality: Proven approaches for parents.
When: Wednesday 24 August 2016
Where: Waterman Business Centre, Level 1, 64 Victor Crescent, Narre Warren
RSVP: Wednesday 17 August

The College is proud to once again open up our quarterly Key Parent Function for the benefit of other interested families.

Our presenter is the well-recognised author and educator Dr Gerard O’Shea, author of As I Have Loved You.  This much needed resource for parents provides a programme for a Christian education in human love and sexuality during the years of innocence and puberty.

The presentation will provide clear guidelines for parents in providing this education to their children, with proven approaches for progressively building the foundations of sexual integrity.

Gerard O'Shea has spoken on this topic to the parents of PARED schools in Sydney - all agreed it was one of the most practical and important presentations that the parents had received. This vital evening will give you much assistance to talk with your children to counter today's climate of aggressive misinformation about sex and love.

All are welcome - please advertise this event widely.

Open Day - Tuesday 2 August

We are looking forward to showcasing our school at our next Open Day in August.

Open days at Harkaway Hills College have been scheduled mid-week in order to present to prospective parents an ordinary day in operation. 

Placing a special emphasis on literacy in the junior curriculum, the school is proud to employ the Spalding method, which is so effective in teaching children to read and write - we encourage all families to attend this demonstration in particular.

The Principal, Frank Monagle, will also make a short address, and will endeavour to meet each visitor personally.

Details:
Tuesday 2 August 2016
10am until 2pm

10am - Spalding demonstration
10.30am - Principal's address

Morning tea provided

The Open Day will be held at our temporary site in Belgrave.

Please register your attendance via our Contact page.

Site works update

Every day is a new adventure at our site in Narre Warren North!

We had no sooner rejoiced at the placement of the portable buildings onsite than weather played havoc and continues to set back the final works.

Our very patient families will return in the new term to our current site at Belgrave, and we will be eternally grateful for its availability, and how perfectly suited it is to our purposes!


We look forward to seeing you at our information sessions, Open Day or Parent Function with Dr O'Shea.  In the meantime, as always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us via our Contact page.


Board of PARED Victoria

Site works, parenting tips and information session

Our children are well and truly settled into their brand new school, and it is a joy to see them flourishing.  A dream come true!

They recently enjoyed an excursion to Puffing Billy (irresistible, given its proximity to our current site in Belgrave - on a calm day, the puffing can be heard from the playground!). 

Site update

The progress of works on our site at Narre Warren North has picked up pace during May, following the long-awaited sign-off by the local council for our entry point at A'Beckett Road. The portable buildings will arrive in the next fortnight!

We have placed some simple signage at the two entrances - the first showing the work finally commenced to complete the A'Beckett Road entrance, the second the signage at the existing Belgrave-Hallam Road driveway.

The project has been complex, and continues to throw up unforeseeable challenges. In light of this, there is a good chance that the school will continue to operate from Belgrave for a couple of weeks into Term 3. Further, the great variety of machinery operating on site is leaving its impact on the landscape, and given the weather, it may well end up a mud bath!  In order to ensure that the site is safe and suitable for children, all loose ends will be tied up.  

In recognition of the investment that the founding families have made in the school and the interest they have in the progress at the Narre Warren North site, the Board prepared a report on the building works. It gives a great insight into the many facets and intricacies of the project. 

Parenting tips and articles on Harkaway Hills College website

PARED Victoria is proud to present a series of parenting tips, prepared by Dr Andrew Mullins.  

We have added a section to our website to showcase these insightful articles on parenting - and in each of our email updates, we will include a snapshot of and link to a recent post.  The first, entitled "Eleven Parenting Priorities", can be pre-viewed below, and accessed in full from www.harkawayhills.vic.edu.au/parenting-tips.

We are very pleased to have this excellent opportunity to pursue the chief goal of PARED Victoria - which is to support parents in the wonderful and challenging task of raising their children to be men and women of character.

Information sessions upcoming

We remind you about our upcoming information sessions.  These sessions are intended to be small and intimate.  We welcome both those who are making their first enquiries and those who are already familiar with the school and would like to know more, or have specific questions they would like to ask.

RSVP by responding to this email, or contacting any member of the School Board.

Tuesday 14 June at 7:30pm
To be held at the home of Isabelle & Trent Thomas in Beaconsfield (Please note change of venue).

Tuesday 5 July at 7.30pm
To be held at the home of Nick & Isabelle Lawless in Hampton Park.

Tuesday 2 August at 7:30pm

To be held at the home of Damien & Tatiana Burger in Guys Hill.

Key Parent Function - Dr Andrew Mullins - Report

Last month, we enjoyed a wonderful presentation by Dr Mullins on "Raising Great Kids", which served as both the Key Parent Function for enrolled parents, and a parenting seminar for any interested parents in the local community.

Dr Mullins' insights are always practical and inspirational, and were greatly appreciated by the many parents in attendance.

Parenting Tips Preview...

Eleven Parenting Priorities

1.      Be united with your spouse.

Unity between spouses makes parenting more likely to succeed.

"There is nothing better in this world than that man and wife should be of one mind in a house.”

Homer, The Odyssey

"The best thing a husband can do for his children is to love their mother"

Ray Guarendi, Back to the Family

• Parental consistency. Reach decisions you are both happy with.
• Put your spouse on a pedestal in your children’s eyes; back up each other’s decisions.
• Don’t argue in front of kids; make up in their presence if you argue in their presence.
• Listen. Be the first to apologise. Remember: discord leads to depression in children.
• Be honest to yourself about your own temperament and faults. Kids see through hypocrisy. Admire the strengths of your spouse; don’t get fixated on faults.

...

For the full text: www.harkawayhills.vic.edu.au/parenting-tips

In-Home Information Session - Change in date

The next In-Home Information Session will no longer be held on Tuesday 7th June.

It will be held on Tuesday 14th June at 7:30pm at a home in Lysterfield.

If you are able to attend please contact us via our Contact page and details will be provided.

"Raising Great Kids" - presentation for parents of children aged 3-8 - open to all

We enjoyed another Open Day yesterday, and encourage all families intending to enrol for 2017 to return their enrolment forms by next TUESDAY 10 MAY.

As we settle into Term 2 of our first year at Harkaway Hills College, we attach some photos of our students, for your enjoyment.

Key Parent Function - 'Raising Great Kids' - A presentation for parents of children aged 3-8

An essential part of the mission of Harkaway Hills College is to support parents in their role as primary educators of their children.  In pursuit of that mission, the College provides to its enrolled families each term a Key Parent Function - usually a presentation on a parenting topic relevant to the age of their children.

This term, the College is pleased to extend the invitation to those in the wider community who would benefit from a wonderful presentation by Dr Andrew Mullins.  

Dr Andrew Mullins is author of Parenting for Character, and has given many excellent presentations for parents on a variety of topics around Australia and internationally.   He has 36 years of teaching experience - over half of which he served as Headmaster of two PARED schools in Sydney, and for four of which he was also Chair of the Headmasters’ Conference (NSW).  He holds an appointment as Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Notre Dame Australia. His doctorate focuses on the intersection of moral character and neuroscience. We are keeping an eye out for his new parenting website and blog that is about to launch.

He is therefore uniquely and amply qualified to shed light on the capacity that parents have, as primary educators, to frame the character of their children from their earliest years.

Date:  Friday 20 May at 7.30pm

Location: Narre Warren

RSVP: Friday 13 May via our contact page.

All are welcome - please advertise this event widely - it will give many invaluable insights to parenting.

Working Bee - all families welcome

On Saturday 14 May we will be planting 50 trees at our site in Narre Warren North. They will be in pots and this will be a wonderful opportunity for you and your family to plant some trees together. The trees will form part of our landscaping and will be a permanent feature at the school. If you would like to come individually that is also fine.

Date: Saturday 14 May
Where: At the school site in Narre Warren North
Time: 10am - 2pm. Come for as little or as long as you like
What to bring? A packed lunch, gardening gloves and a shovel

For more details contact us.

Information sessions

We remind you about our upcoming information sessions.  These sessions are intended to be small and intimate.  We welcome both those who are making their first enquiries and those who are already familiar with the school and would like to know more, or have specific questions they would like to ask.

For more details and to RSVP please contact us here.

Tuesday 17 May at 7:30pm
To be held in Beaconsfield.

Tuesday 7th June at 7.30pm
To be held in Lysterfield South.

As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Update: "Why Enrol Your Child at HHC in the Primary Years" and Open Day NEXT TUES

Our children were proud to host our ANZAC ceremony last Friday, with an inspiring presentation by former SAS serviceman Kevin Bailey, recital of poetry by the Grade 1s, the Last Post and national anthem, and finally two songs sung loudly and proudly by all of the students.  With a wonderful number of parents and friends in attendance, our classroom was bursting at the seams!  

Open Day - Tuesday 3 May 2016

We are looking forward to showcasing our school at our Open Day next Tuesday.

We have scheduled open days at Harkaway Hills College mid-week in order to present to prospective parents an ordinary day in operation.

We place special emphasis on literacy in the junior curriculum and the school is proud to employ the Spalding method, which is so effective in teaching children to read and write - we encourage all families to attend this demonstration in particular.

The Principal, Frank Monagle, will also make a short address, and will endeavour to meet each visitor personally.

Details:
Tuesday 3 May 2016
10am until 2pm

10am - Spalding demonstration

10.30am - Principal's address

Morning tea provided

To be held on site in Belgrave.

Please register your attendance via email.

Why Enrol Your Child at HHC in the Primary Years

For some families, it is tempting to delay enrolling their child at Harkaway Hills College until the child is approaching secondary school.  There are many different reasons families have for thinking this way, and so Dr Andrew Mullins, the former headmaster of two PARED schools in Sydney, has prepared the following article for families to consider when posing the question:

"What is the best age to enter Harkaway Hills College?"

The earlier the better. Certainly we advise parents not to delay the enrolment of their child until secondary.

There are some very good reasons why PARED Victoria spared no effort to start Harkaway Hills College with the earliest possible year levels, instead of biding its time and commencing with secondary.

Put simply, the primary years are the most important. Psychologists are unanimous in affirming that the years 0-7 are the most formative years in a person’s life.

A really valuable window of opportunity exists with young children for character and faith development. The reality is that younger children are the most receptive to parenting input. Parents at Harkaway Hills College understand very quickly that the school assists them greatly to be more effective in their own parenting. The mentors can greatly assist parents in this vital educational process.

Education is not just a question of developing a child's mind; if that were so, one might think that teenagers, being more capable, are better able to benefit from an enriched educational experience. In fact education of the mind must be complemented by the development of good habits, and these are much more easily acquired in younger years. Aristotle himself wrote, "Good habits formed in childhood make all the difference". Teachers at Harkaway Hills are attuned to forming habits in the primary classroom: habits for example of sincerity, generosity, self control, respect for others, and perseverance at challenging tasks.  Basically, it’s no good having access to great learning opportunities, if you don’t have also have discipline, industriousness, courtesy etc.

Further, important academic foundations are laid down in primary years. Primary children are sponges for learning. Late primary in particular is a very settled time in a child's life, before the hormones of adolescence intervene, and it is a great shame if children are not stretched according to their own capacity. Dr Gerard O'Shea of the John Paul II Institute in Melbourne is adamant that upper primary children respond marvellously to scholastic challenge. It becomes apparent very quickly in secondary if a child has not had the benefit of a sound structure in primary - both in the rudiments of literacy and numeracy, and also in building habits of industriousness.  The curriculum at Harkaway Hills College has been painstakingly developed with these rudiments in mind and together with its human virtues program and unique mentoring system make for an ideal primary school.

Early impressions are powerful – even indelible. It is so important to be focussed on the potential of primary children for character development. Again, Aristotle observed that "We always like best whatever comes first… and therefore youth should be kept strangers to all that is bad, and especially to things which suggest vice or hate. We like best what we first experience". School and home must be determined to take full advantage of this sensitive period of development. If a child is exposed to negative impressions either at home, or at school, or from peers, these impressions can be virtually indelible.

A school such as Harkaway Hills provides somewhat of a homogeneous and consistent environment in primary. A family too is a sheltered environment. A sheltered environment in a period of impressionable growth is not only acceptable, it is a developmental necessity.

Crucial faith development also takes place during late infancy and primary years. This is the time when sacramental programs are imparted to children, and for a family with a Catholic faith, there is no learning more important than to acquire a depth of understanding and of piety. The school cannot replace the home in passing on the faith, but it can reinforce your efforts dramatically.

One further practical advantage of starting at Harkaway Hills College earlier rather than later is that children, generally, adjust more easily to a change of school the younger they are. Children grow with the same group of friends and in a familiar environment. If it can be avoided, it makes little sense to uproot children from their peer group in vulnerable early adolescence.

Information sessions

We remind you about our upcoming information sessions.  These sessions are intended to be small and intimate.  We welcome both those who are making their first enquiries and those who are already familiar with the school and would like to know more, or have specific questions they would like to ask.RSVP via email, or contacting any member of the School Board.

Tuesday 17 May at 7:30pm
To be held in Beaconsfield.

Tuesday 7th June at 7.30pm
To be held in Lysterfield South.

ANZAC Day ceremony - Friday 22 April

You are warmly invited to join our school children in a ceremony to commemorate Australia's fallen soldiers, from conflicts past and present, in anticipation of ANZAC Day.

The ceremony will take place on Friday 22 April at 3pm, at Harkaway Hills College, in Belgrave. Please RSVP here for venue details.

The ceremony will take approx 20 minutes and will include:

• an opening prayer led by Fr Joe Pich, the school chaplain
• an address by Kevin Bailey, former SAS serviceman
• the Last Post and singing of the national anthem 
• a short performance by the children.

Afternoon tea will be provided.

Our speaker, Kevin Bailey, engaged in foundational anti-terrorism work as a member of the Australian SAS.  He followed up this period of service with a most successful career in the finance industry, and a long period of service as Consul for East Timor. He was recently appointed an advisor to the Prime Minister in the area of philanthropy.  He is a wonderful speaker and we look forward to hearing from him on this special occasion.

All welcome- our students have begun their rehearsals and are so keen to share the afternoon with you all!  

This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase our school, our beautiful students and our community.

Harkaway Hills College update: enrolments, information sessions and open day

We would like to update you on a number of important items. 

1. Enrolments for 2017

Round 1 applications for enrolment closed on 22 March. It is very exciting to be planning ahead for 2017!

Our second round of enrolment applications has now opened, in anticipation of our second Open Day on 3 May - see details below.  The closing date for round 2 will be Tuesday 10 May.

We welcome applications from families with children commencing in Foundation, Grade 1 and Grade 2 in 2017.  The PARED model of personalised education, where every student has a mentor from the teaching staff, requires a higher calibre of teaching staff as well as a higher ratio of staff to students ratio - therefore, places are limited to one Foundation class in 2017.

The enrolment process involves attendance at an information session and/or Open Day (at which we will make available information packs and enrolment application forms), and an interview with the Principal. 

We invite all our families, future families, and prospective families to throw all their initiative and energy into promotion of our beautiful new school. We now have something wonderful to show, so don't hesitate to bring friends, family and neighbours to visit. Come on Open Day, or any other day by simply calling the school to arrange beforehand.

Please don't hesitate to contact us for any further information about enrolments.

2.  Open Day - Tuesday 3 May 2016 

We are looking forward to our next Open Day on the morning of Tuesday 3 May.  We have scheduled open days at Harkaway Hills College mid-week in order to present to prospective parents an ordinary day in operation.

We place special emphasis on literacy in the junior curriculum and the school is proud to employ the Spalding method, which is so effective in teaching children to read and write - we encourage all families to attend this demonstration in particular.

The Principal, Frank Monagle, will also make a short address, and will endeavour to meet each visitor personally.

Details:
Tuesday 3 May 2016
10am until 2pm

10am - Spalding demonstration

10.30am - Principal's address

Morning tea provided

To be held at Belgrave.

Please register your attendance here.

3. Information sessions.

These sessions are intended to be small and intimate.  We welcome both those who are making their first enquiries and those who are already familiar with the school and would like to know more, or have specific questions they would like to ask.

RSVP by responding here.

Tuesday 17 May at 7:30pm
To be held at the home of Elizabeth & Daniel Carrick in Beaconsfield.

Tuesday 7th June at 7.30pm
To be held at the home of Ricardo & Maria-Jose Peralta in Lysterfield South.

4. Site Works

Site works and access road are all but done, and demountables will be on site in the coming weeks.  We are also planning for landscaping to be in place prior to introducing the students to their new school!As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us via email.

Harkaway Hills College update - Open Day 15 March, photos of school, info sessions & 2017 enrolments

We made it!  

On Wednesday, 3 February, our school opened!  It's all there - classes, books, pencils, Spalding phonograms, crafts, desks & chairs, students, teacher, mentor meetings - not to mention solidarity amongst the parent community, including some impressive car pooling arrangements! 

No end of working bees and an extraordinary collective effort has given us a beautiful temporary site that the children are loving.  The very first afternoon of school, the site was blessed by Fr Joseph Pich, the school's chaplain, assisted by Fr Simon Grainger, administrator of the Belgrave parish.  

We enjoyed our first Mass as a school community the following Friday, at the nearby parish church of St Thomas More.

Open Day - Tuesday, 15 March 2016

We will hold the school's very first Open Day on the morning of Tuesday, 15 March.  We have scheduled it mid-week in order to present to prospective parents an ordinary day in operation.  

We place special emphasis on literacy in the junior curriculum and the school is proud to employ the Spalding method, which is so effective in teaching children to read and write - we encourage all families to attend this demonstration in particular.

The Principal, Frank Monagle, will also make a short address, and will endeavour to meet each visitor personally.

Details:

Tuesday 15 March 2016

10am until 2pm

10am - Spalding demonstration

10.30am - Principal's address

Morning tea provided

For location details please contact us.

Information sessions

We will hold information sessions in the homes of various families throughout the year.  

These sessions are intended to be small and intimate, and we welcome both those who are making their first enquiries and those who are already familiar with the school and would like to know more, or have specific questions they would like to ask.

RSVP is essential by contacting us.

Monday 7 March at 7:30pm

To be held in Beaconsfield.

Tuesday 5 April at 7:30pm

To be held in Endeavour Hills.

Tuesday 17 May at 7:30pm

To be held in Beaconsfield.

Enrolments for 2017

Enrolments for 2017 are now open!  We are accepting applications from families with children in any of Foundation, Year 1 or Year 2 for2017.

If you are interested in sending your child to Harkaway Hills College, please attend one of the above information sessions, at which we will make available information packs and enrolment application forms.

If you have already attended a previous information session, please request an enrolment application form by replying to this email, or contacting any member of the school Board.

Narre Warren North site update

We have a driveway - our contractors have done a wonderful job, and it is visible from A'Beckett Road.  We have also finished the car park, and the excavation and other work required for the placement of the portable buildings.

Work progressing at the moment includes the entrance across the Council property on A'Beckett Road, which involves a number of different parties, and connection of services.

As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact any member of the school Board, or by contacting us.

Finally, we thank you for your support and for your prayers over the years that have led us to this wonderful outcome - which is really just the very beginning!  

Warm regards

The Board of PARED Victoria