Newsletter

FACTS payment plans are now officially available at Belmont Christian College. This is your chance to make managing your tuition payments easier, with a variety of payment methods and the flexibility to break up your payments into smaller increments. We have recently sent you an email asking you to register for FACTS. This is the College’s preferred payment option, and is where you will view your invoicing for the year.

FACTS will replace BPAY and Direct Debit payment options, as it offers families enhanced flexibility and control over their payment plans. Payment at the office or over the phone will still be available should you wish to make payment that way. If you have any further queries regarding FACTS, please contact our Assistant Business Manager, Michelle Mazzantini on 4922 8314.

Primary Swimming Carnival a Success

What a great day we were blessed with for our Primary Swimming Carnival. The forecast for a big rain event seemed to start in the morning everywhere, except in our area. That truly was an answer to prayer as our carnival was unaffected by the weather, even with the occasional light sprinkle of rain.

With both pools in operation, students could choose to race competitively in the 50m pool, or still earn ribbons and House points in novelty events in the 25m pool.

A big thank you to our Year 8 & 9 helpers who were fabulous on the day assisting with the running of the carnival, and to our Year 11 SLR class who ran the events in the smaller pool and encouraged those that chose the 25m games.

The Champion House for 2020 was Robinson once again! Booth and Robinson swapped leads throughout the day, and whilst Booth received 140 more points overall, Robinson being a much smaller house took the honours in our ‘Points per Person’ system.

Well done to our Age Champions, listed below. All carnival records remained the same for another 12 months.

Belmont Christian College State CSSA Open Mixed Hockey Champions!

Tuesday, 18^th February 9 students represented the College at the State CSSA Mixed Hockey Gala Day at Macarthur regional hockey centre, Narellan. The temperature was extremely hot and so was the competition. Belmont under the Captaincy of Year 12 student Joshua Bruton won all of their round games gaining more cohesion and refinement of their obvious skill as each game progressed.

We played teams from as far north as Tamworth and finished the day playing Illawarra Christian School in the Final. After 5 exhausting games thankfully God blessed us with a small breeze and some cloud cover. The game was locked up at half time 2-2 but our students gave everything they had in the last half to come away victors 4-2 at full time. The team consisted of Joshua Bruton, Kiana Toole, Olivia Hart, Cooper Ashbourne, Ethan Farthing, Rohan Henderson, Sophia Hart, Lucy Marschall and Liam Pickering.

Special Congratulations goes to Joshua Bruton and Rohan Henderson for being selected in the Open Boys CSSA Representative team, we wish them all the best for their upcoming tournament.

Cultivating Curiosity and Wonder

There’s something wonderful about the start of a new year. It holds so much promise and there is a sense of anticipation of what the year will bring, let alone the start of a new decade!

As always, our teachers are continuing to use the ‘Transformation by Design’ model to help us think deeply through how to deliver our curriculum in line with our College Vision and Mission. We look to weave biblical ‘threads’ through our teaching programs so that our students can see God’s handiwork in the topics they are learning.

This year we also have an overarching ‘thread’ for our teaching and learning: Cultivating Curiosity and Wonder. 

God has given us imaginations. Ephesians tells us that God can do even more than we can ask or imagine! Isn’t that amazing to think about!  The ability to be curious and to wonder about things is a gift that God has given us and we want to intentionally ‘cultivate’ that in our teaching and learning more this year.

We want our students to wonder about why the world is the way it is and to be curious about what they might be able to do to help where it’s needed, to change what’s not working, to be signposts to the kingdom of heaven. We want them to sit in their Science lessons and be amazed by the makeup of a cell and wonder about the intricacies of it, or learn complex mathematical problems and wonder about how they could apply those skills to help them solve real world problems. Ultimately, we want that wonder and curiosity to draw them closer toward their creator God. 

I love the way David ponders in Psalm 8- 3 “When I consider your heavens,the work of your fingers the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” [c]

I love how David looks at the world around him in awe and wonder at God and who He is, and it then causes him to look at humanity and be amazed that God would imbue us with such power and position. This process of looking on at the world in amazement and being curious as to why things are the way they are, cause him to begin and end the Psalm with praise – “Lord our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!“

May our learning be filled with curiosity and wonder and may it lead us to understand more deeply the goodness and majesty of our God.

Praise Points
~ We praise God for the new families who are finding their place in our College Community. Please pray that they will experience the ministry of God’s love in their lives.
~ The beauty of our College grounds – a blessing to all of us – every day!

Prayer Points
~ Please pray for families in our community who continue to go through challenging times. Please pray for students who are overcoming challenges every day – that they might be encouraged and supported and celebrated. 
~ For our 2019 HSC students as they step into a new chapter in their lives. Please pray for the provision of work for those seeking employment and for provision and encouragement for those moving into further education.
~ Please pray for our connection points with our students and with families – Playgroup, Primary and Secondary Chapel times, Devotions and Discipleship opportunities in Primary School and our Connect Program with our Secondary students. 

Thank you for praying for our community. 

Praying Parents

Parents are invited to join our prayer group on Mondays at 8:15am and Fridays at 2:15pm at the flagpole near the front gate. If it rains, we will meet in the library. For more information please contact Ang Proctor mailit2us@gmail.com or phone 0409 288 000. Everyone is welcome to join in.

You and your family are invited to the Belmont Christian College Annual ‘Picnic on the Pleasance’ on Wednesday, 26th February from 6pm. This is a fantastic time to come together as a community early in the year to enjoy a good ol’ fashioned family picnic. 

There will be a BBQ, music, student performances, coffee, games, dancing and much more.

Bring your own picnic if preferred or Sausage Sandwiches $3, Cans of soft drink $2, Water $1.50, Coffee and treats are available for purchase.

BYO chairs and rug. We can’t wait to see you there!

Stage 3 (Year 5 and 6) Information Session

The College would like to formally invite you to join us for an Information Session, focusing on Stage 3 (Grades 5 & 6) in 2021. Details and a brief agenda of what will be covered on the evening follows:

Date: Monday, 2nd March
Time: 6:30pm – 7:20pm
Location: Learning Hub Theatre, Belmont Christian College, 65 John Fisher Road, Belmont North
RSVP: https://bcc.nsw.edu.au/information-sessions/

Agenda:
1. Reasons why parents may consider starting their children at BCC in Stage 3 (Grade 5 & 6), compared to a start date of Year 7
2. Longer-term educational and psychological positive outcomes of enrolling your child at BCC at this younger age group
3. Meet the Stage 3 teachers and support staff for 2021
4. Parent/Caregiver Q&A time
5. A brief tour of Stage 3 learning areas

If you have friends or family who are currently considering the schooling of their children around this particular age group, they are more than welcome to attend this Stage 3 Information Session on 2nd of March. 

This event is an open invitation to BCC and non-BCC families. All welcome!

Upcoming College Tour

Our next group College Tour is being held on the Tuesday, 10th March from 9.15am.

If you’re interested in seeing classes in action, exploring the College grounds and having the opportunity to hear from our Principal, Heads of Primary and Secondary and other key staff, then visit our web site to book today bcc.nsw.edu.au/college-tours.

Morning tea provided. All welcome!

Enrol Now

Welcome to 2020! We are so pleased with the exciting opportunities available in our Co-curricular Music this year.

This year our Music Ensembles run at the following times:

• Sax Ensemble– Monday 3:00 – 3:30pm (Band Room- J Block)
• Secondary Musical Band– Tuesday 3:00 – 5:00pm (A4- Secondary Music Rooms)
• Primary Concert Band– Wednesday 7:45 – 8:40am (Band Room- J Block)
• String Ensemble– Wednesday Lunchtime (Primary Music Room)
• Stage 3 Choir– Thursday 8:00 – 8:40am (Primary Music Room)  
• Stage 2 Choir– Thursday Lunchtime (Primary Music Room)  

Please click on the links following to find further Creative Arts information pertaining to our Co-curricular Music Ensembles across the College –Primary Choir, Strings, Primary Concert Band. Also find our Music Tutor contacts and our Instrument Hire Form along with some Hot tips.

To enrol your child in any of our programs, please fill out the google form below…
Primary Ensembles Enrolment: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1x5FQQtISQwHFfSSOxyAIDyo7PKmQAojrzaqsBOmGekg/edit
Secondary Ensembles  Enrolment: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/17GWLKLiuV-Nvrsxi8npur5YcL8STr4GsERdeVhWLOqs/edit
Peter Pan Musical Cast Enrolment: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1ykCLAPdY-i9Tz2T3MLvd62ss47uKPsrL00M0wJwLbPY/edi

Group Keyboard Lessons

Group Keyboard lessons are available for Stage 1 Students.

Lunchtimes on Tuesdays / Wednesdays | 1.10pm – 1.40pm

Cost: $100 for Term, (commencing Week 2)

For more information contact our Music Tutor, De Farthing – 0411 286303 denisefarthingmusic@gmail.com

NSW Creative Voucher Provider

Skoolbag App – School to Parent Communication

Skoolbag is a Mobile App that communicates directly with iPhone, and Android devices. It provides an easy way to tell parents/carers everything they need to know, and it provides parents with the most convenient way to receive school notifications. School newsletters, school notices and alerts are communicated directly to the parent smartphone through the Skoolbag Mobile App.

Get involved with the School Banking Program

Belmont Christian College is excited to offer the Commonwealth Bank School Banking program to all students.

School Banking is a fun, interactive and engaging way for young Australians to learn about money and develop good savings habits. Children who deposit money into their Youthsaver account through School Banking earn Dollarmites tokens, which they can save up and redeem for exciting rewards.

The rewards available during 2020 are:
o Terry Denton’s Activity Book
o Mini Soccer Ball (size 2)
o Treetop Stationery Set
o Treetop Handball
o Tomato Seed Kit
o Magic Mist Drink Bottle
o Emoji Wallet
o Snakes & Ladders Game

All you need to get involved in the School Banking program is a Commonwealth Bank Youthsaver account. You can open an account for your child in one of two ways:
1. Online Visit commbank.com.au/schoolbanking and click on the link to open a Youthsaver account.
2. In branch Visit a Commonwealth Bank branch with identification for yourself and your child, like a Driver’s Licence and Birth Certificate.

If your child has an existing Commonwealth Bank Youthsaver account they can start banking straight away. They just need to bring their deposit in every week on School Banking day using their Dollarmites deposit wallet. School Banking day is TUESDAY. Each week you need to hand your deposit wallet into Mrs Paardekooper at the College office, your wallet will then be returned to your classroom.

If you would like to know more about School Banking, please ask for a 2020 School Banking program information pack from the College office or visit www.commbank.com.au/schoolbanking.

Get ready for The Big Vegie Crunch!

On Thursday, 5^th March at 10 am our College will be joining hundreds of schools across NSW to break the record for the most students crunching vegetables simultaneously.

But we need your help to make it a success!

On Thursday, 5^th March, please pack your child a container of vegetables (not fruit this time) for them to crunch on.

Need some ideas?

• carrot, celery, cucumber – cut into sticks or left whole
• capsicum – cut into sticks or wedges
• corn – raw baby corn spears or a cooked corn cob
• broccoli or cauliflower florets – raw or lightly cooked to keep their crunch
• tomatoes – small cherry tomatoes or a large tomato that can be eaten like an apple
• beans or snow peas – raw or lightly cooked to keep their crunch
• mushrooms – sliced or left whole

Mr Robins –  Vegetable Week School Coordinator

Before and After School Care – OSHC

In response to the needs of our College community, we are excited to announce that a Before School Care program has commenced in 2020. The service will run from 7.00am to 8.40am each school day.

Register, book and manage your Before and After School Care bookings at www.campaustralia.com.au or call the Customer Service Team on 1300 105 343.