Newsletter

Thursday 22nd August is a date the BCC community won’t forget anytime soon. As thirty to forty-metre-high flames surrounded the College and nearby homes, the magnitude of the fire alone spoke of God’s glory. The fire stopping exactly at our boundary fence also spoke of God’s glory. The College experienced firsthand the power of nature and in particular, the physical nature of fire.

The Bible has many references to the supernatural uses of fire. In the book of Exodus, fire is used to indicate God’s power and to guide God’s people. In Leviticus, fire expresses God’s approval and in 2 Kings, it vindicates God’s wrath and transports a servant of God to heaven. In 2 Thessalonians, fire will finally be used to proclaim Christ’s return. In general, fire is often used as a symbol of God’s holiness and radiant glory. This often equates the idea of God’s presence with God’s holiness. God’s presence was certainly evident that day and whilst it can sometimes take an extraordinary event to remind us of His presence, I encourage you to seek and find His presence in the everyday.

I praise God for His obvious protection of this place; I praise God for our prayer Mums who at the start of the year, felt called to leave the Board room and to walk the perimeter of our grounds as they pray; I praise God for our emergency services who willingly fought to protect us; I praise God for the Salvation Army who supported the emergency services; I praise God for Mr Truscott who managed the situation superbly in my absence; I praise God for the many hands that helped protect and did what needed to be done; I praise God for community, our community!

The College is in good hands, it is in safe hands, it is in God’s hands.

To Him be the glory!

Praise Points:

• Protection of our College from the Belmont bushfires, for amazing Fire Fighters and Emergency Services Volunteers.

Please Pray for: 

• Focus Point: Year 12 students as they have completed their Trials and are now focused on the next few weeks – receiving marks back, preparing for the HSC and starting the journey of their last few weeks as students at BCC.
• The staff and our Primary students who are involved in the musical. Please pray that any who are sick will be made well and those who have much to do will have renewed energy and strength. 
• Our Chaplain, Mitch Forbes has the opportunity to meet with parents new to BCC and take them through our Starting Point Program.
• Families in our College who are experiencing challenging times. Please continue to uphold them before God’s throne of grace.
• Sharon and the Board as they lead our College forward. For clarity and wisdom in their decision making.   

Thank you for praying for our community.

Protection from the Belmont Fire 

The hand of God was evident in protecting the College during the Belmont bushfire on the 23rd and 24th August. Starting just before 6pm on Thursday evening, the fire spread quickly North and almost went past the College without impact. However, a wind shift around 10.30pm pushed the fire towards the College with significant smoke and ember impacts on our property. This resulted in the College being closed on Friday.
 
As a College we opened our facilities to the emergency services and had the operational command post set up in our carpark. Fire & Rescue NSW took control of the fire with the support of the Rural Fire Service volunteers. NSW Police had a vital role in managing traffic and people movement. Volunteers from the Salvation Army Emergency Services provided catering for all the meals over two days. Over 50 fire trucks were involved and over 200 people.
 
In recognition of the efforts from our emergency services, the College held a HiVis mufti fundraiser the following week. Over $1,500 was raised to pass onto our volunteer emergency services.  At the assembly on Wednesday afternoon representatives from all the services received huge applause from our combined College community. They certainly felt huge appreciation for their efforts.

Water Safety

Year 6 were given the opportunity to hear from a couple of local lifesavers about water safety and administering first aid. They were taught lifesaving water skills, what to do in emergency situations (following the acronym DRSABCD) and how to administer CPR. 

If anything goes wrong, the Year 6 teachers are certainly in safe hands. 

Primary Takeover Secondary Chapel

Last week Primary School ran Chapel for Secondary School students. The assembly showcased some of the best of Primary’s Term 2 Rise Up afternoons where the kids took over. Secondary School students joined Kindy and Stage One, who led us in worship with actions. Our Primary students spoke about the difference it makes having God in their lives. There was a drama and even a game of ‘Truth or Dare Extreme’! Thanks to the brave students who were involved and to the Secondary students who were such an encouraging audience! 

Volunteers Needed

Every Wednesday from 12.45pm there will be supervision in the BCC Common Grounds Community Garden and we would love your help! Your child is able to join you during their lunch time too.

If there are other days that you are available please call Wendy Abel on 0438 461 949 as she would be happy to accommodate you. 

Volunteers will need to provide the College office with a current Working With Children Check. Please ensure you sign in and out at the College office.

Secondary CSSA Athletics Carnival 

Congratulations to the 16 Secondary students who competed at Sydney Olympic Park in the NSW CSSA Athletics Carnival last Friday.

The following students finished in the top 3 of their events, qualifying them for the NSW CIS Carnival in late September:

Tyler Ford
– 3rd in 14yr Shot Put

Daisyanne Linnane
– 1st in 16yr High Jump

Michellie Robins
– 2nd in 12yr Long Jump, 3rd in 12yr Shot Put

Isaac Smith
– 3rd in 17yr 800m
– 3rd in 17yr 1500m

Cooper Swaine
– 3rd in 14yr Javelin

Noah Edwards (Javelin), Ellie-Sue Lusis (1500m), and Michellie Robins (High Jump) all finished 4th in events, making them reserves for the CSSA team in those events.

Well done to everyone who competed at CSSA. You all did a great job representing our College!

Uniform Change-over Period

As we enter Spring, the last two weeks of term are a change-over period from Winter to Summer uniform across the College. Students may choose to wear either their Winter or Summer uniform from Monday 16th September.  However, it must be one or the other and not a combination of both.