Newsletter

Prayer over 2021 – a year of growth – for our community – in our personal lives, our spiritual walk, and in our expression of His love in and through our lives. And for a flourishing for our students in their endeavours…to His glory.

Prayer Points

~ Year 12 students as they complete their education at BCC and sit their final HSC exams
~ a meaningful closure for Year 12
~ our new prefect body for Secondary
~ return to school for students and staff for safety, protection and trust as different emotions and thoughts regarding the return to school may be encountered
~ protection from COVID-19 for students and staff
~ prayer for those in our community who require healing and comfort
~ prayer for staff for 2022 to fulfill vacancies
~ prayer for the state as we all begin to return to ‘normal’

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

Prayer Warriors

Parents are invited to join our prayer group on Mondays at 8:15am and Fridays at 2:15pm. Meeting at the College flag pole after signing in at the College office. However, due to current Covid-19 restrictions our meetings will be held via Zoom. For more information please contact Wendy Robinson wendy@wendyrobinson.com.au or phone 0409987939. Everyone is welcome to join in.

Current COVID-19 Regulations

As you know, COVID-19 continues to have an impact on our society, and so, maintaining the health and wellbeing of our students, staff and College community continues to be a priority for us all.

Our website will be kept up-to-date with the current COVID-19 regulations. Parents and caregivers will continue to receive all official communication via Skoolbag and email as well.

School Photo Day

School photographs have again been re-scheduled and pending COVID-19 restrictions will now be taken on Tuesday, 16th November 2021 for ALL students.

Please note a reminder of our Summer Formal Uniform requirements for the day:
~ Kindergarten – Year 6 boys are requested to wear short sleeved shirts.
~ Year 7 – 12 girls are requested to wear white striped socks, not stockings.
~ Year 11 and 12 must wear their shirts and blazers.
~ Hair needs to be off the face, tied back or up.
~ Plain surgical studs or sleepers and one watch only.

An envelope has been distributed to students. It is our preference that ordering be completed online to reduce administration and potential security issues related to the return of cash and envelopes. If ordering online is not possible, order envelopes and cash can be returned to the photographer on photo day.

Orders can be placed securely online at www.advancedlife.com.au using our school’s unique 9 digit advanced order code: P5L NEY LXP. Portrait and group package orders are due on photo day. Should you wish to purchase a sibling photograph online, the order must be placed no later than 12th November. Sibling photographs will only be taken if an order has been placed.

Should you have any queries concerning school photographs or online ordering, please email to enquiries@advancedlife.com.au.

ORDER NOW, go to: www.advancedlife.com.au and enter the code: P5L NEY LXP

Preparing for Back to School after Lockdown

Some Suggestions and Bible verses from our College Counsellors that you might find helpful as you begin the conversation about returning are:

1. Remain calm and reassure your child that it is safe to return to school.

“Cast all your anxiety on Him for He cares for you” 1 Peter 5:7

“The Lord is a refuge…a stronghold in times of trouble” Psalm 9:9

~ The decision to return to school is based on medical advice and what is best for the whole community
~ Discuss what your child is looking forward to about returning to school and what they may also be concerned or anxious about – listen attentively to them
~ Understand that some children might find it difficult to separate after being at home for an extended period of time, or they may have mixed emotions about returning to the classroom – this is normal
~ Listen to your child when they return home from school- you may find that they are experiencing a different exhaustion from that of online learning
~ Talk through any changes that may have occurred at school since they were last there eg new COVID-19 rules that might now be in place for protection
~ Try and remain calm as parents to avoid transference of emotions. Help your child to make sense of what they are worried about if they are concerned about coming back to school and talk it through.

2. Re-establish routines in the lead up to school if your child has developed a new habit.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have trouble. But take heart. I have overcome the world” John 16:33

~ The week before try and establish healthy wake up and bed times to cope with the school day
~ Re-establish eating routines that are similar to that of school
~ Re-establish healthy sleeping patterns
~ Pack the school bag the day before and ensure that all school equipment is ready so that nothing is forgotten
~ Check uniforms and have them ready
~ Try and lessen screen time as we emerge from lockdown and return to face-to-face learning
~ Discuss pick-up and drop off expectations if these are different so that children know what to expect
~ Some children may be returning before their siblings – talk through this and how it may impact your family
~ Remember, staff are at the College to help and assist where possible

3. Focus on the benefits of returning to school and being thankful.

~ Being able to have some ‘normal’ routine
~ Being with their friends and their teacher
~ Belonging to a supportive, caring and Christian community
~ Look for new opportunities that may not have previously existed

4. Know who your child can talk to if they are feeling anxious, worried or concerned about coming back to school. A trusted adult at the College can help give extra support that may be needed during this transition time.

“My God will meet your every need out of His riches in glory found in Jesus Christ” Phil 4:19

~ Class teacher
~ Connect teacher
~ Stage Coordinator
~ School Counsellors
~ Learning Enrichment Team

5. Set realistic goals that are achievable and doable.

~ Problem solve together
~ Discuss resilience and coping strategies – highlight their ability to cope with uncertainty and how they have navigated lockdown and its challenges well by drawing on their strengths and what they have learned
~ Actively plan for the future with hope and optimism – create activities to look forward to that provide inner joy and a sense of purpose
~ Look for opportunities to re-engage socially

6. Acknowledge that change is inevitable and certain. COVID-19 and the Delta variant have brought change to all of our lives in the BCC community. Change can also be good, it does not necessarily equal bad, even though it may be challenging and difficult. Discuss the benefits of lockdown and the family being together in your household.

~ Talk about life – there are many things which are out of our control that just happen, both good and bad. What is within your world at the moment that you are able to control? Know that whilst some things feel out of control, God still remains in control and is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.

“Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever” Heb 13:8

“I am the Lord, and I do not change” Mal 3:6.

7. Identify healthy strategies to relax when anxious or feeling stressed.

“And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” Phil 4:19

~ Breathing slowly
~ Reading
~ Exercise
~ Praying
~ Cup of herbal tea
~ Listening to music
~ Self-care and nurture

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; Trust also in me” John 14:1.

Careers Information

Preparing today’s Learners for Uncertainty – A Webinar for Parents

‘Uncertainty tolerance’ (UT), or how we process and respond to unknown or complex situations, is increasingly recognised as an essential workplace skill. Uncertainties in the workplace are ever-present and we’ve seen shared, global experiences of this with the uncertainties surrounding work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Tuesday, 9th November Associate Professor Michelle Lazarus will discuss the impacts of UT on students, and outline some strategies to help parents to support their children to improve their UT to prepare them for their futures in further education and work. Register via this link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1213662242126413580

CSSA Rocket League eSports Tournament

Last week 33 students from BCC played in the inaugural NSW CSSA Rocket League eSports competition. It’s been disappointing to have no sport for the 2nd half of this year, so NSW CSSA arranged the next best thing. An eSports competition.

Rocket League is essentially a soccer game, but you drive cars to kick the ball. 8 Primary teams from BCC, made up of 3 players each from Years 3-6, logged on to compete against 20 other teams from around the state. Once the technical processes were worked through, the players competed in a round robin, before the Top 16 qualified for the Finals. Incredibly 6 of the 8 teams qualified for the finals, however that’s where things got difficult for our teams. Belmont Red (Jordan Steffner, Joshua Foskett, Connor Mullen) and Belmont Yellow (Lachlan Thorpe, Joshua Dalgety, Luke Dalgety) won through to the quarter finals but were unable to go further.  

On Friday, we had 3 Secondary teams play in the Secondary comp, with a huge 47 teams involved. Once again, the competition was fierce, and our teams performed well. The Belmont Battlers (Ethan Farthing, Nicholas Goldsworthy, Colby Robins) won through to Elimination Finals but were controversially unable to get past the first round. The Belmont Strugglers (Owen Irvine, Hugh Brindley, Tom McHugh) stayed in the chat group, helping create friendly games, and encouraging the banter, which won them a major prize at the end of the day for their involvement.

A bit of competition, no broken controllers, and a lot of fun for those that played!

Sport Event Cancellations

As many of you will be aware NSWCIS, NSWPSSA & NSW All Schools Sports Championships for Term 4 2021 have been cancelled. Therefore I’m sure it will come as no surprise that all CSSA State Sporting events in Term 4 have also been CANCELLED.

This also flows down to THACCCSA Zone Events and they too have been CANCELLED.

We understand the disappointment that may follow this announcement, however, as always, the health, safety and wellbeing of all members of the College community was at the heart of these decisions.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue to navigate this challenging time. We look forward to hopefully returning to a full calendar of sport in 2022.

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.

Online Orders Only

Whilst our region is in lockdown our Uniform Shop will be closed on-site. However, online orders are available.

Updated Pricelist

Please find below a copy of the updated pricelist, effective as of 3rd September 2021.

Social Media

Insight into the heart and soul of College life across all grades is best engaged with via our Facebook and Instagram social media feeds. We encourage you to join both groups and stay up to date with the latest from BCC.

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 parents and caregivers 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.

Tuition Fees Calculator

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

2022 Term Dates

The 2022 term dates are available on our website https://bcc.nsw.edu.au/term-dates/

Virtual College Tours Available Now

Do you have friends and family who might be interested in joining our College? 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 virtual tour, click here

Parents’ Directory

We understand that communication between your family and the College forms a crucial part of the education journey. Our website hosts a Parents’ Directory. The Parents’ Directory is an up-to-date online directory summarising key communication channels and links. This includes a live link of key dates on our College Calendar! 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.

OSHC provided by Camp Australia

Belmont Christian College are pleased to offer a Before and After School Care Program on site through Camp Australia. The service is available from 7.00am to 8.40am and 2.50pm to 6.00pm each school day. This service is available for children of ‘authorised workers’ during lockdown.

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. Further information is also available on our website https://bcc.nsw.edu.au/oshc/

Musica Viva Concert

On Monday, our whole Primary School was treated to an online live concert from Musica Viva’s ‘Music in My Suitcase’. The performance was originally organised as an in-school concert however lockdown has impeded the group from travel. Persevering through the setbacks, the group very cleverly arranged a thoroughly entertaining and educational concert. Students learnt about the music of different cultures from all throughout Eastern Europe including songs from Turkey, Macedonia and Greece. Our students were even able to interact with the band through the Q&A and Chat feature on Zoom. What an amazing opportunity for our students to experience the joy that music brings in this difficult time!

Piano Grade Exams

Several BCC students participated in their Piano AMEB grade exams recently. Each student is taught by our wonderful piano tutor, Denise Farthing. Each student has had very pleasing results, congratulations.

1. Charlie Haig: Grade 5 – Result A+ (High Distinction)
2. Phoebe Edwards: Preliminary Grade – Result A (Honours)
3. Bianca Wylie: Grade 4 – Result A (Honours)
4. Cameron Hayward: Grade 2 – Result A (Honours) 

It is easy to rush. Whether it is getting to work, completing an assignment or getting through a weekend with the in-laws, we often try to get through things as quickly as we can. Even Netflix has cottoned on to our desire to get things done and has introduced a double speed option for watching their films and television shows! 

However, it is clear that we often miss important lessons and opportunities for personal growth when we move too quickly. When Israel was experiencing significant change and conflict, God spoke to his people and said, “be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). Rather than rushing on to the next thing and trying to control the outcome of a situation, God  encouraged his people to know that they are, and have always been, dependent on Him.   

With the lockdown ending, it is very tempting to rush back and try to forget the last few months. Most of us have busy schedules with looming deadlines and we all have a desire for things to return to the way they were before. However, it is important to pause and reflect on what has happened: the difficulties and the accomplishments; the tears and the laughter; the tantrums and the cuddles. 

It is important to consider the ways in which God has been in all of these moments and the lessons we can learn from our experiences. 

Be still and know that He is God.