Newsletter

Year 11 and 12 have conducted themselves exceptionally well over this unprecedented period. As well as managing the stress and anxiety caused by the restrictions associated with Covid 19, they have also continued to endeavour to meet the demands of their final years of schooling! As reports are delivered, I would like to commend our Stage 6 cohort for persevering in the face of adversity and uncertainty. Well done.  

For some students and parents, reports can be a time of mixed emotions as plans are either affirmed, re-evaluated or cast into doubt. Even when grades are excellent, high achieving students will often feel the weight of maintaining personal expectations and the pressure of meeting perceived expectations from others. It is easy to be caught up in a sudden flurry of activity to try to fix something, address the opportunities for development or return to maintaining achievement of grades. 

One of the biggest issues we all face is busyness. It stops us from reflecting on the sort of person we are becoming and forces us to focus on an outcome rather than the people around us. Corrie ten Boom put it like this, “If the devil can’t make you bad, he’ll make you busy.” In other words, we can become so consumed with the next thing that we lose sight of our values, desires and beliefs.

Therefore, my encouragement to parents and students in Year 11 and 12 is, when you get your reports, please pause. As you read the reports ask yourselves some questions: Why am I here? Why am I striving for a particular grade? What sort of person do I want to be? How will my career aspirations serve my community and others? If you do this, I’m convinced you’ll find a greater drive, purpose and clarity for the road ahead.

Beginners Free in Term 2 and back 5 days per week

BCC Beginners is a fun, stimulating, nuturing and engaging Pre-Kinder program. Run by fully qualified teachers, on-site at the College with purpose built facilities. We encourage you to share this opportunity to join our BCC Beginners program with your friends and family. 

And we are back 5 days per week! Visit our website by clicking here for more information and to enrol now for FREE in Term 2.

Secondary Virtual X Cross Country

Hear more from our Head of Sport, Mr Mark Hall, as he takes us through BCC’s inaugural ‘Virtual’ Cross Country, happening this week, so don’t miss out. Refer to your email for further information and permission note.

Entertainment Book 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 a new offer is available, 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.

Praise Points

~ We continue to welcome new students to BCC. What an encouragement!
~ The freshening up of paintwork and garden areas that gives our BCC home a sense of new beginnings.

Prayer Points

~ For our School Counsellor, Liz Roberts, as she recovers from surgery following a fall
~ Motivation and encouragement for our Year 12 students as they settle into the flow of their HSC studies
~ Provision for families who are facing challenging times as the result of the financial pressure following the restrictions
~ Protection from illness for students and families during the winter months 

Prayer Requests

In deeply challenging times such as these, we find our rest in the unchanging nature and faithfulness of our Heavenly Father.

As a Christian community we understand the significance and purpose of prayer. It is the heart-beat of our College. Together we boldly pray to our Father, through the work of His Son, in the power of the Spirit.

If you have a prayer request please complete the form here. We would love to pray for you specifically, and for your family, during this time of change.

‘We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express’ Romans 8:26b

Praying Parents

Parents are invited to join our prayer group on Mondays at 8:15am and Fridays at 2:15pm. Due to the COVID-19 crisis we now meet online, rather than at the College. For more information please contact Ang Proctor mailit2us@gmail.com or phone 0409 288 000. Everyone is welcome to join in.

At the moment we are covering the Year 12 students in prayer as they prepare for the HSC and their final months at BCC. COVID-19 has added an extra layer of complexity to their year, but we know that our God is faithful and He has a plan for each of them. We are praying for their studies, but also that they grow in revelation of God’s faithfulness and understanding that when we are weak, He is strong.

If you would like to volunteer to commit to covering two Year 12 students in prayer from now until the end of HSC exams (mid Nov), please email wendy@wendyrobinson.com.au.

Here are some suggestions for what ‘covering the two Year 12 students in prayer’ looks like:
(a) When praying for your own children, include a prayer for these two young people.
(b) Every time you drive into the school grounds, ask for God’s blessing and favour on them (can be prayed in your mind, doesn’t have to be prayed aloud).
(c) Every time you wash your hands, ask for God to give them a sound mind, the mind of Christ, and strength to do each day well.
(d) Ask God to give you a specific scripture to pray for them.
(e) Ask God what He wants you to pray for them.

Keep Informed at the College Website

The College website continues to grow and evolve as a fantastic resource for parents and students. Make sure you take a look at our Community Hub. Why not share the weblink with friends and family and give them a look inside the BCC Community. 

School Holiday Virtual Code Camp

Thank you BCC Community

I watched with anticipation, the return of the whole College community last week. While remote learning was successful, the joy and engagement of having students present has been missing. If it wasn’t evident before, it is now abundantly clear that teaching is fundamentally a relational activity. Where there are no relationships present, the quality of teaching is minimal. Some students will study hard for exams or to get into University or to secure a job, but for most, the key reason for striving is because of the relationships that matter. That will always triumph against any external reward.

When I think about our community and how the breadth of learning is so rich, I put it down to the key relationships that students have with their teachers and with others. Parents also foster that learning relationship at home and in the ways they talk about school and teachers. If you want your child to be a good learner, speak highly of your child’s teacher to your child. Encourage them to value that relationship and the impact that it has in shaping hearts and minds.

There is a lot we have learnt about remote learning and the things we can harness for improved learning experiences. But the central thing that I have learnt is that we learn in relationships together. It is how God made us and the way that He teaches us to be like Christ. The stronger the bonds between teachers and their community, the better the learning will be.

Why not take the time to thank God for our teachers and pray for the relationships that your child/ren will foster with their teacher/s.

Ms Sharon Sopher
Principal

Uniform Shop News

Secondary Uniform Reminders

The information detailed below is a follow-up of previous communication regarding our students being well presented and maintaining high standards in the wearing of their uniform. Please help us by being vigilant in assisting us in ensuring students are wearing the correct uniform well.

1. Boys’ shirts, trousers and ties – our Uniform Policy and Secondary Parent Information Book states that Winter uniform shirts are to be ‘tucked in’. College ties are to be worn as part of the Winter uniform, and there is to be no mix-and-match of Summer and Winter attire.

2. Shoes – Regulation black leather lace-up polishable standard heel school shoes (not high tops, ballet style or buckles). Joggers or cross trainers are only to be worn with the sports uniform.

3. Undershirts – shirts worn under school shirts should not be coloured, patterned or visible.

4. Jewellery – Girls are permitted to wear a watch, a simple ring and only one pair of silver or gold sleepers or studs in their ears. No other piercings are accepted. Boys are permitted to wear a watch, but no other jewellery, including earrings or piercings.

5. Girls’ skirt length – our Uniform Policy and Secondary Parent Information Book states that ‘Skirts are to be knee-length‘ or near knee-length. If your daughter’s skirt does not meet the requirement stated above, please ensure that this is addressed.

6. Makeup & Nail polish – Girls are not permitted to wear make-up which draws undue attention. Only clear, colourless nail polish may be worn.  

6. Sport Uniform on approved days – See table below for Sport Uniform approved days. All other subjects (such as Drama, Photography, and single lesson SLR) should change into Sport Uniform for the lesson and then change back into normal uniform as required unless otherwise specified in subject specific excursion variation information from time to time.

Please visit our website here for Uniform photos, FAQ and further information.

Thank you for partnering with us in our desire for our students to wear their uniform well. The College uniform characteristically unites us as a community. It fosters collaboration and school spirit, and is an outward sign of respect, self-respect, helps develop self-regulation and allows our students to benefit from a positive image of the College in the wider community. 

A message from Busways

School Bus 2641 – PM SERVICE

Due to roadworks on Bungary Rd, Norah Head, Afternoon School Bus 2641 will operate via the following diversion from Tuesday, 9th June 2020.

Departs North Entrance (4:26pm) via Central Coast Hwy (R)Denison St (R)Bungary Rd (R)Soldiers Point Dr (L)Mitchell St (R)Bungary Rd (R)Victoria St (R)Soldiers Point Dr (L)Bungary Rd Central Coast Hwy, then continues as normal to Lake Haven Shops (4:47pm).

Please Note: Bus stop on Bungary Rd between Soldiers Point Dr & Mitchell St will not be serviced while the roadworks are in place.

Busways will provide further notification once advised of a completion date and the service can return to normal operations.

For further information please contact Busways Customer Service on 1300 69 2929. Alternatively visit their website at www.busways.com.au

New Start Date for Term 3

Please note a slight change in term dates brought about by a sudden shift to remote learning at the end of Term 1. As students were learning from home that week, instead of being on site at the College or away on camps, we will bring students back two days earlier at the start of Term 3. Please note that the first day of Term 3 for students is now Thursday, 23rd July. This week will be known as week ‘0’ (zero) and will be a week A. Week 1(B) will start as expected on Monday, 27th July and the last day for Term 3 is the expected Friday, 25th September.

Week 0 (A) – Thursday, 23rd July
Week 1 (B) – Monday, 27th July
Week 2 (A) – Monday, 3rd August etc

For a detailed schedule of 2020 term dates, please go to: https://bcc.nsw.edu.au/term-dates/

Year 11 & 12 Parent Teacher Interviews

Year 11 and 12 Semester One Reports were delivered by email earlier this week.

Parent-Teacher interviews will be held via Zoom meetings on Tuesday, 9th June and/or Wednesday, 10th June, and interview times will be between 3.30pm until 8.30pm with a break from 6.00pm until 6.40pm.

Booking an Interview 
To book your Parent-Teacher Interviews please click here. If you are unable to access via the link, please contact our Secondary School Administrative Assistant, Kathy Evans, at the College on 4922 8312 or kathy.evans@bcc.nsw.edu.au. Booking availability will close from 3:30 PM on Monday, 8th June.

Attending the Interview 
On Tuesday, 9th June the booking page will be updated with weblinks to Zoom meetings for each teacher. To join the meeting just click on the teacher’s name. Each teacher will run one Zoom meeting with a waiting room and you’ll be admitted at your allocated time. An email reminder with the link will be sent out on Tuesday.

If you cannot attend the allocated interview days and times, please contact your child’s teachers directly to make alternative arrangements.

Parents are encouraged to make time to attend a Zoom meeting on either or both evenings so that you can speak to teachers about your child’s progress and ask questions about how you can enable them to do their very best as Stage 6 students. Communication between the College and home is vital as we work in partnership to support students following a period of disrupted learning.

Please Slow Down in School Zones

A reminder to all drivers about our responsibility to be careful when driving in and around school zones, especially coming into and exiting College grounds during current changes to drop-off and pick-up processes. The early pick-up (2.40pm) from the regular pick-up zone will continue till further notice for Primary School students and their Secondary School siblings.

Please refer to last week’s Newsletter and your emails for further information on current drop-off and pick-up arrangements.

Canteen Re-Opens next week

Good news our Canteen will re-open next Tuesday! And we are back with a new improved online ordering system called MunchMonitor. For the remainder of Term 2 purchases will be online only, there will be no cash or EFT over the counter purchases. Orders need to be placed by 9.30am.

Using MunchMonitor Online Ordering
~ You can place orders online up to 4 weeks in advance
~ Top-up your account online using VISA/MasterCard
~ List allergies to alert canteen staff
~ You can order anytime you want using web browsers such as Chrome or Safari on your desktop, laptop, tablet or smart phone.
~ No sign-up fee
~ No transaction fee
~ Give your children Snack Money Allowance, Daily Allowance
~ Ban food items from the menu
~ View what your child has ordered

It only costs $ 3.65 (inc. GST) per school term for a family account. However for this term only the fee will be waived.

If you held an account with our former online ordering system, School24, we are able to transfer the balance of this account over to MunchMonitor. Please register with MunchMonitor and then email canteen@bcc.nsw.edu.au with your name, your eldest child’s name and class and your email address used for your MunchMonitor registration.

Register now with our new Online Ordering System

If you require further assistance call Munch Monitor on 1300 796 190 or email at help@munchmonitor.com. Our canteen staff are also happy to help and can contacted on 4922 8346 and canteen@bcc.nsw.edu.au.