Newsletter

Mathletics

Mathletics is a web-based learning program, which integrates home and school learning via the internet. It covers Kindergarten to Year 12 Australian Maths Curriculum and is currently used in over 1300 Australian schools, with more than 40,000 students accessing the site every day. Mathletics is a resource which can cater for your child’s individual ability and progress.

The benefits of Mathletics include:

~ Students are engaged and motivated to learn.
~ Mathletics can be used both at school and at home.
~ Mathletics is perfect for students seeking further extension in Mathematics, as well as those students who would benefit from extra practice to solidify their skills.
~ Mathletics is adaptive, it responds to your child’s individual strengths and weaknesses.
~ Students instantly know if they are on the right track and can work through the curriculum at their own pace.
~ Animated support guides students through concepts. It is like having a maths tutor 24 hours a day.
~ Teachers can view your child’s progress and adapt their work accordingly.

If you would like extra information, or assistance in how to use Mathletics at home with your child, please refer to the website at http://au.mathletics.com/ or contact our Maths Coordinator, Mr Ian Brown at ian.brown@bcc.nsw.edu.au.

Registration and payments can be made by contacting Mrs Deborah Paardekooper at the College Office on 4922 8311 or deb.paardekooper@bcc.nsw.edu.au. A yearly subscription is available at a discounted price of $40. 

Mathseeds

Mathseeds is a comprehensive online mathematics program for children aged 3-9. It offers a huge range of carefully structured lessons and activities that build mathematical skills over a broad range of number, shape and measurement topics. The Mathseeds program is packed full of enjoyable child-focused activities that makes learning a rewarding and meaningful experience. It teaches fundamental concepts in a fun, motivating and engaging way, whilst rewarding children for their efforts.

The benefits of Mathseeds include:

~ A wide variety of lessons and activities that have been created by educational experts. Each lesson is carefully structured to build early mathematical skills.
~ Once a lesson is complete, it can be repeated as many times as needed.
~ Mathseeds provides parents with a simple “dashboard” to show each child’s mathematical progress.
~ Children can progress at their own level.
~ Each child can create their own avatar/online character.
~ Golden Acorns rewards can be used to add items to the child’s online treehouse or avatar.
~ Children love collecting the Pets – a new pet hatches at the end of every lesson.
~ Children receive a certificate after successfully completing the quiz at the end of every map.

If you would like extra information please refer to the website at https://mathseeds.com.au/?_ga=2.131044809.739665369.1583202549-294607997.1583202549.

Registration and payments can be made by contacting Mrs Deborah Paardekooper at the College Office. A yearly subscription is available at a discounted price of $25.

Reading Eggs

Learning to read is one of the most important skills children can learn. ABC Reading Eggs makes the learning to read journey fun, interactive, and highly rewarding for ages 2-13. ABC Reading Eggs were created by a highly experienced team of Australian primary school teachers, writers and developers to help children become fluent and proficient readers. The multi-award winning early learning resource supports your child’s learning to read journey with carefully designed online reading games and activities that are easy to follow, self-paced, and highly engaging for young learners.

~ The lessons use colourful animation, fun characters, songs, and rewards to keep children motivated.
~ The program is completely interactive to keep children on task.
~ When children start the program, they can complete a placement quiz to ensure they are starting at the correct reading level.
~ Parents can access detailed progress reports as well as hundreds of full-colour downloadable activity sheets that correspond with the lessons in the program.
~ The program includes over 2000 online books for kids – each ending with a comprehension quiz that assesses your child’s understanding.

If you would like extra information please refer to the website at https://readingeggs.com.au/.

Registration and payments can be made by contacting Mrs Deborah Paardekooper at the College Office on 4922 8311 or deb.paardekooper@bcc.nsw.edu.au. A yearly subscription is available at a discounted price of $25.

Please visit our Student Reception

At the rear of the College Administration Building, under the weathershed, near the canteen we have our Student Reception. Our Primary and Secondary Administration Assistant’s attend this desk for all student and parent enquiries. For swift processing, we would appreciate if parents collecting children from the College early or signing their child in late could visit this Student Reception. Students awaiting early collection wait in this office. Our sick bay is also located here if you need to collect an unwell child.

If you are aware ahead of time that you will be collecting your child early please email your Primary child’s classroom teacher and/or write a note in your Secondary child’s diary stating the time and reason for collection. If you have last minute messages for your children or other student enquiries please contact:
Primary students: Mrs Debbie Paardekooper on 4922 8311 or deb.paardekooper@bcc.nsw.edu.au
Secondary students: Mrs Kathy Evans on 4922 8312 or kathy.evans@bcc.nsw.edu.au

Praise Points
~ Praise God for the developing CONNECT program in our Secondary School. It is so wonderful to see our young people engaged in a dynamic program that helps them consider the deeper things of faith, beautifully supported by dedicated staff. God is good.  

Prayer Points
~ Please pray for members of our community who are grieving, for those who continue to experience significant health issues and for those who need our deep care and kindness. Please pray that we will be prompted by God’s Holy Spirit to minister to them in spirit-led ways that convey the love and grace of Christ. 
~ Ms Sopher will be away at the Regional Principals’ Retreat this week. Please pray for a wonderful time of blessing and encouragement for her.
~ Our Picnic on the Pleasance on 11th March. For a time of fellowship and blessing.
~ Camps for Years 7-11 in Week 11 of this term. Especially given our CONNECT focus. Please pray that hearts and minds will be transformed through devotional times at Camp, through love and acceptance experienced and through the ministry of grace into their lives. 

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.

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!

You and your family are invited to the Belmont Christian College Annual ‘Picnic on the Pleasance’ on our new date of Wednesday, 11th March 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!

Each year NSW Health works in partnership with schools to offer the vaccines recommended by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) for adolescents as part of the school vaccination program. This year immunisations will be held at the College on Friday, 6th March and Friday, 23rd October. The following vaccines will be offered:
Year 7 – 1 dose Diphteria, Tetanus, Pertussis; 2 doses 6 months apart Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
Year 10 – 1 dose Meningococcal 
 
Parent Information Kits that include an information sheet, consent form and privacy statement have been sent home to parents/caregivers. To consent to the vaccination of your child, please complete the consent form and return to the nurse on the day. 

Entertainment Books Available Now

Entertainment Memberships are now 100% digital. Saying goodbye to the iconic Book wasn’t easy but the new Entertainment Memberships start anytime and are valid for 12 months from activation. Packed with thousands of substantial savings to delight and inspire, an Entertainment Membership is your pass to exclusive offers and quality experiences, activities and benefits. The digital membership is easy to download to start using instantly. New offers are added weekly for ongoing value all year round.

Benefits of the App include:

• User-friendly: Instantly search and redeem offers or check out the Near Me tab to find offers, wherever you are.
• Memberships start anytime: Flexible start date, Memberships are valid for 12 months from when you activate (16 months if you take advantage of the Early Bird offer now).
• New offers automatically added: As soon as we sign a new offer, you get access to it. No more waiting for the next print run!
• Multiple devices: You can still share your Membership with your family. Encourage your partner and kids to download the App so they can access valuable savings when out.
• Convenient: The App means that as long as you have your phone, you have your Membership too (no more lugging around the book).
• Easy gifting: We’ve made it simpler than ever to gift an Entertainment Membership – simply purchase from your chosen fundraiser and the gift Membership will be delivered instantly to your inbox.

For the first time ever you can choose from 3 NEW digital Memberships.

Not your average Holiday Camp!

Your kids will learn to code, create and design their own apps. Available right here at the College during the April school holidays.

22-24 April 2020 | 8.30am – 4pm

NSW Government Creative kids rebate vouchers approved.

Click here for further information and to book: www.codecamp.com.au/belmont

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.

Years 2 – 12 Cross Country Carnival

Once again this year the College Cross Country Carnival will be held on Friday, 27th March at Croudace Bay Park for students in Years 2 -12.

Attendance at this carnival is compulsory for ALL STUDENTS. If your child is absent they MUST provide a valid reason in writing to deb.paardekooper@bcc.nsw.edu.au for Primary students and kathy.evans@bcc.nsw.edu.au for Secondary students.

Students will be transported via bus to the park from 10.45am and return to the College from 1.30pm.

There will be a Sausage Sizzle being held at the Park. College Prefects run the sausage sizzle to raise funds to support representative sports students throughout the year. To pre-order your sausage sizzle please go online at http://www.school24.com.au/ using School Code: 2524963. Please note that orders need to be placed online only by 10am Monday, 23rd March. No late orders can be accepted and no purchases available on the day.

Sausage sandwich $2.00
Soft Drinks $2.00
Water $1.00
Popper juices $1.50

Primary Zone Swimming Carnival

Congratulations to our 32 swimmers who competed at Primary Zone Swimming recently. Over 70% of results from BCC swimmers contained a time that was better than their school time, and for many, the fastest they’d ever gone in their lives.

The day itself was a great day of competition and fun. BCC finished 3^rd overall out of the 14 schools involved and 2^nd in the Challenge Cup, an award based on school size.

Well done to the 13 students who have qualified for NSW CSSA Swimming, and will travel to Blacktown for that event in coming weeks.

Outstanding results for Hamish Rae (Age Champion 11yr Boys) and Appin Paterson (Runner Up Age Champion 10yr Boys) who celebrated the day by taking home Gold and Silver. Isabella Maiden finished 4^th overall in 9y Girls.

Well done!

All Schools Triathlon

Last week several students represented BCC admirably at the annual NSW All Schools Triathlon.

Luke Hall and Lachlan Rae raced the Individual event on Wednesday while 3 teams raced the team event on Thursday.

Well done to all who competed!

It is impossible to escape media discussion about the fast-spreading Coronavirus and if your children haven’t yet begun to ask about it, it is only a matter of time before they do. Many of the stories and rumours that circulate around schoolyards have little to do with the facts. For this reason, it is important to talk to your children, so that you are the source who they turn to, to understand how to be safe and to alleviate anxiety. Ensure that you are well-informed from government sources and do not spread misinformation (https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov). Be truthful but recognise that at different ages, children’s capacity to understand varies. What you say must be age-appropriate. Be reassuring. Even if the virus should spread widely within the community (and we need to be realistic that it may), for most young people, the symptoms are usually relatively mild. Encourage your children to pray for those who are sick. Prayer is not an alternative to healthcare; it is a reminder that this is God’s world and He is in control, even at difficult times.

As a school, we will be preparing for the possibility of an outbreak and following government recommendations and instructions. In the meantime, we will be working with students to train and remind them of the importance of personal hygiene, including handwashing, using tissues and sneezing or coughing into their elbows, not their hands. Please reinforce the same standards at home, so that these become normal practices. Please make sure that you keep your child at home and seek professional advice at the first sign of a fever, cough or cold.

Our message to children is simple. We need to care for one another by looking after ourselves and having good hygiene. We have no control over whether the virus will enter the mainstream community, and therefore worrying about it just makes people sad and anxious. We need to pray that God would be gracious, but remember that grace takes many forms. I do not know what the course of the virus will be, but I am confident in a God who is Lord over all.

Ms Sharon Sopher
Principal