Newsletter

If you have any queries about the College uniform, make sure you visit our dedicated Uniform page on the College website. Alternatively, get in touch with our uniform partner, Alinta Apparel.

Sign in at the Uniform Shop

You are now able to sign in at the Uniform Shop. Using your mobile phone you are able to scan a QR code for quick sign in. We appreciate your cooperation in keeping inline with Covid-19 Government regulations.

January 2021 Uniform Shop Hours

The Uniform Shop will close for the year on Thursday, 3rd December. In January 2021, we will be open for order collection (for lay-by collection, exchanges and late enrolments). January shop hours are:

• Wednesday 13th January 1pm-5pm
• Tuesday 19th January 8am-12pm
• Thursday 21st January 12pm-4pm
• Wednesday 27th January 8am-10am
• Thursday 28th January 8am-11am (back to regular hours)

Full uniform fitting appointments

‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times’. I feel as if this beautifully sums up 2020. 

There has been much disruption and uncertainty and yet there have been wonderful moments of breakthrough and growth. I have enjoyed watching both teachers and students find new and innovative ways to do their work. I have loved seeing people flourish in ways they never thought possible and I have been amazed by the resilience, perseverance and sense of community that has strengthened throughout this time.

While tough times are never fun and we certainly don’t go out looking for them, I am always encouraged by the way God uses those moments to refine us and grow us. He also often showers us with the sweetest of blessings that we may not have recognised had we not been at the end of ourselves. While many are looking forward to saying goodbye to 2020, there is much that has been gained, and I have a deep sense of hope in how God will use our newfound strengths, skills and gifts to further His Kingdom in the coming year.  

Praise Points

~ Our wonderful HSC students finished last week!! We’ve already heard wonderful news of students being accepted for Traineeships, being offered early entry to Uni, and having job offers. It is so exciting to think they are stepping out from us and into the next chapter of what God has in store for them. We will be blessed to touch base with them all at their Formal this week – a time for reflection, affirmation, and celebration!

~ NAIDOC Week – what an amazing time we had last Wednesday afternoon. It’s hard to describe how meaningful and deeply special our NAIDOC Week afternoon session was – for staff and students. 

~ Praise God that our community is continuing to deepen its expression of His Grace and Unconditional Love. 

Prayer Points

~ Many of our Year 10 students are on Work Experience this week. Please pray for protection over them and for opportunities for them to explore new areas of interest and possible options for their future plans. 

~ Please continue to pray for our families who have been affected by cancer, and for families in the midst of that journey, that they might know the blessing of God’s tender love ministering to their deeply personal needs.

~ Mrs Janine Ferreira as she prepares for surgery on her hip in the coming weeks and for Liz Roberts as she is back with us two days a week. Please pray for continued healing and strengthening for Liz. 

~ There are lots of ‘end of year’ activities planned over the next few weeks. We would value your prayer for protection and blessing over our staff and students as they participate in excursions, orientation days, graduations and many other day-to-day events.

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, meeting at the flag pole after signing in at the College office. For more information please contact Ang Proctor mailit2us@gmail.com or phone 0409 288 000. Everyone is welcome to join in.

Keep Informed with the BCC 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. 

BCC also communicates home to parent/caregiver’s via the Skoolbag App. Skoolbag provides an easy and convenient means of communication of essential information including the College Newsletters, notices and alerts which are communicated directly to parents and caregivers through the Skoolbag Mobile App on your iPhone, iPad or Android device. We encourage parents to download the Skoolbag App and check-in to the App on a regular basis for any announcements to keep you informed.

2021 Tuition Fees Calculator

As previously advised there will be no increase to our fees for 2021. The fee schedule used for 2020 will remain the same for next year. We pray that this decision will bless our families who have all faced the challenges and uncertainty of this year. 

To assist with budgeting for 2021 we have a fee calculator available on our College website https://bcc.nsw.edu.au/fees/ 

2021 Term Dates

The 2021 term dates are now available on our website https://bcc.nsw.edu.au/term-dates/

Virtual College Tours

Do you have friends and family who cannot make it onsite to check out the College on a personal face-to-face tour? Maybe you know of folk who are considering a relocation to the Hunter region? Why not encourage them to join our College Registrar, Ms Teena Knott, on a Virtual College Tour. For more details and to book a face-to-face or virtual tour, click here

Parents Directory

Our website now hosts a Parents Directory. The Parents Directory is an up-to-date online directory summarising all of our key communication channels and links need-to-know information between the College and families. Communication between your family and the College forms a crucial part of the education journey. Click here to view the page and keep informed https://bcc.nsw.edu.au/parents/

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.

Primary NSW CSSA Cricket

Last Wednesday, our Primary Cricket team made their way out to Singleton to play against Green Point CC and Carinya CS (Tamworth) for a place in the CSSA final.

On arrival, Belmont CC led the 3 schools in a Remembrance Day service and 1 minute silence at 11am.

The past few years have seen Belmont do well at this level, and it was a confident team that braved the 34 degree heat.

The first game saw us take on Green Point who had earlier in the morning lost to Carinya. They were fighting for survival.

Belmont bowled reasonably well, although a few costly fielding errors allowed Green Point to register a formidable 5/80 off their 15 overs. A disastrous start with the bat was halted by Kingsley Scharfe who belted an impressive 32n.o before having to retire at the 30 mark. Belmont required 27 off the final 5 overs, but struggled to put bat on ball, and finished 16 runs short.

Green Point 5/80 (H. Batchelor 2/6, K.Keast 1/17) def Belmont 6/64 (K.Scharfe 32no, A. Bell 8)

The second game was always going to be tough, with Carinya having comfortably beaten Green Point, and Belmont playing through the hottest part of the day while Carinya rested. Belmont won the toss and batted first, but once again the top order failed, and the order was moved around to give everyone a bat.

Once again, Scharfe was the star with the bat, but when he fell for 15 off 12 balls, the hopes of a large total were dashed. Belmont were bowled out on the last ball of the innings for 57, a total which was going to be hard to defend against a strong Carinya in sweltering conditions.

A positive start with early wickets would not be enough, as Carinya were able to chase down the target with overs to spare, and went on to finish their remaining overs to give others a bat.

Well done to our boys, of which a number of them were playing their first games of cricket.

Carinya 2/79 (A. Bell 1/12)  def Belmont 57 (K. Scharfe 15, A. Bell 7n.o)

Primary Woolworths Cricket Big Bash

All of Years 5 and 6 travelled to Wallsend last Friday to play in the Woolworths Cricket Big Bash. 

Teams were separated into boys and girls and BCC played against other schools from the Hunter zone. 

Whilst scores are kept, the day is played in a non-competitive atmosphere with the focus on participation and fun. 

Our Belmont students displayed brilliant attitudes and were very sporting towards opposition who sometimes needed some assistance. It was pleasing to hear positive feedback from a number of staff members from other schools in regards to the attitudes of our students. 

It was a fantastic day, with a lot of fun and activity for everyone involved. 

Alumni

We are proud of our students past and present and we’d like to highlight the success of some of our Alumni students in the sporting arena.

Focusing on Triathletes, one of our Alumni have gone on to forge a successful career.

Chloe Hartnett attended the College from Years 7 to 12 from 2011 to 2016. During her time at the College she represented the College in swimming, X-Country and Athletics. She represented with distinction in X Country often representing NSW CIS and NSW All Schools at the National All Schools Championships. Chloe took up Triathlon in later stages of Secondary School representing the College at CSSA NSW and NSW All Schools. After leaving the College on completion of her HSC, Chloe went onto train as a Nurse at Sydney’s Avondale College and was selected to represent Australia in the World Standard Distance Championships held in Gold Coast in 2018. She surprised even herself when she crossed the line to sounds of “New World Champion” in the 20-24 years age group. She has since completed her studies working full-time as Registered Nurse juggling her training around shift work and is looking to gain her Professional Racing License in the near future. 

Year 7 2021 Virtual Information Night

Last week we held our Virtual Information Session provided for parents and caregivers of Year 7 students for 2021.

Click on the link below for anyone that missed the Virtual Information Session or for more information on Year 7. Here Secondary School staff present a number of key points relating to Stage 4. We are sure that you will find this session most informative as parents and caregivers begin to prepare for enrolment in Secondary School.

Celebrating Learning in 2020

2020 has been a unique year. As mentioned in previous correspondence, unfortunately, we will not be in a position to run our annual Presentation Night at the Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 

However, please keep an eye out in the final week of Term 4 for a dedicated page on our College website that will celebrate learning and achievement throughout 2020. BCC students have shown great resolve and commitment, despite the many challenges, and we eagerly look forward to sharing these learning stories with you. The web link will be shared throughout Week 8, Term 4

Drama Improvisation Competition

Last Friday, Years 9, 10 and 11 Drama students participated in an improvisation competition. Teams of 3-5 students from each class performed 1, 2 and 3 minute improvised scenes judged by our Drama teachers, Mr Kable and Mrs Stewart. Students’ employed their listening skills, problem solving abilities and creative thinking to create some hilarious and spontaneous performances. After a year of many cancelled Performing Arts nights, it was wonderful to see students smiling and thriving in a safe, fun and supportive environment.

Here are some quotes from participating students:
“Great day, never felt so confident”, “Wish I could do it all again, definitely one of the best school days”, Everyone was so inclusive”.

Music Ensembles 2021

BCC offers a range of excellent extra-curricular opportunities for Primary and Secondary. Parents are now able to enrol their child/ren into one or more of our many Creative Arts Ensembles, including Concert Band, String Ensemble, Secondary Musical and our Choirs. Ensemble enrolment links are found within the relevant information packs below.

For our Music Tutor contact details, click here.

OSHC The BIG Art & Expression Competition