Innovation, Community & Faithfulness at Lakeside College
Lakeside College enters 2026 with a renewed sense of purpose, creativity, and gratitude. This year has already been shaped by many defining moments, two of which we highlight in this feature: the launch of our transformative Innovation Hub and the celebration of our College’s 20th Anniversary. Together, these milestones tell a powerful story of a community committed to nurturing young people who learn with curiosity, serve with compassion, and grow in faith.
Innovation Hub: Where Learners Are Known, Valued, and Heard
Learning has taken on a whole new dimension at our school with the launch of our Innovation Hub. This exciting new space was born from a simple but profound belief that every child deserves the opportunity to learn in a way that is meaningful, hands‑on, and connected to the world beyond our school gates. Whether students are designing and printing with our digital 3D printers, producing content at the podcast station, or working with a wide range of creative, scientific, and material technologies, the Hub invites them to show up as their whole selves and lead their own learning journey.
What makes this space truly special is the depth of thinking it demands and inspires. Students don’t just complete tasks here — they wrestle with real questions, take creative risks, and collaborate to find solutions that matter. Our human centered Design Problem‑Based Learning units, connected to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, give that work a genuine purpose. Students are not learning about the world in the abstract; they are engaging with it directly, developing the critical and creative thinking skills that will serve them well into the future.
This is also a space built for every child. Our diverse community is one of our greatest strengths, and the Hub has been designed to reflect that, drawing out each student’s unique gifts and building confidence through genuine collaboration. At its heart, this space reflects our Christian values of love, service, compassion, and excellence. Through our service‑learning focus, students are encouraged to bring their service heart to everything they do, learning not just with their minds, but with their hands and hearts too.
Lakeside Turns 20: Celebrating God’s Faithfulness and Remarkable Growth
This year, Lakeside College joyfully celebrates a milestone that speaks to the heart of our mission and identity: 20 years of learning in the Lutheran tradition.
Following the tradition of the early German settlers who established the first Lutheran school in our region at Harkaway in 1836, the founding members of Lakeside College set out with both trepidation and a clear goal: to nurture hearts and minds of children.
When Lakeside College opened its doors in 2006, it welcomed just 52 students, a small but hopeful beginning shaped by a community longing for excellent Christian education in Pakenham. Today, two decades on since opening our doors, that vision has flourished into a thriving community of more than 670 students. This extraordinary growth reflects not only population change, but the deep trust families place in the values, relationships, and learning culture of our College.
Despite challenging weather, this month our entire community gathered for a special whole‑school Anniversary Chapel Service, joined by past principals, board members, and special guests who have shaped our story. Together, we reflected on the theme “Great Is Your Faithfulness”, drawn from the well‑known hymn inspired by Lamentations, a reminder that God’s mercies are new every morning.
One of our longest‑serving staff members, Joanne Rothwell, offered a moving reflection on Lakeside’s journey. She spoke of arriving in 2012, when the College had around 250 students, and witnessing its remarkable expansion to more than 670 learners today. She recalled the evolution of the campus, new primary buildings, an expanded VCE center, a dedicated art building, and refurbished learning spaces - each representing opportunity, vision, and care.
But her message was clear: the heart of Lakeside is its people.
Throughout two decades, our community has celebrated academic achievements, sporting triumphs, musical performances, graduations, friendships, and countless everyday moments that shape young lives. We have also walked together through seasons of challenge and loss, supporting one another with compassion and strength as we strive to Learn, Care and Achieve together.
The celebration concluded with student performances, a joyful chorus of Happy Birthday sung by staff and students, and the cutting of our 20th Anniversary cake.
Looking Ahead with Purpose and Hope
As we celebrate these milestones, we are reminded of the heart of our mission: to nurture young people who are curious, courageous, compassionate, and grounded in faith.
The Innovation Hub points us forward toward creativity, problem‑solving, and future‑focused learning. Our 20th Anniversary invites us to reflect with gratitude for God’s faithfulness, sustaining grace and the people who have impacted our lives and shaped the story of Lakeside College.
