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

~ The HSC exams, for safety and protection against COVID for all students during the coming weeks
~ Safety and protection against COVID for all students and staff
~ The incoming Prefect team
~ The incoming staff for 2022

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. We meet 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.

Created for Community

Over the last few weeks we have been able to have a number of Orientations for students who are moving into the next significant phase of their schooling or joining Belmont Christian College for the first time. What a pleasure it is to welcome people into the BCC community and to help students navigate the significant changes that come with moving into the next phase of schooling. 

If we have been reminded of one important thing over these last 18 months, it’s how precious community is. Not being able to be together in person for long stretches of time has been a challenge for many. So much of what happens here, both inside and outside of the classroom is made richer because of the people we share it with. 

Romans 12:5 tells us that in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. This is such a beautiful picture of community. There are many of us, we are all different, with different strengths and needs, different personalities and interests, but there is something special about when we come together to learn and grow. 

As a staff we have been learning about and practicing ‘collective teacher efficacy’, which is essentially the belief that teachers can more positively impact the learning of their students if they work strategically as a team. When we look at God’s original design for humanity we are not surprised to learn that we are better together. The same also goes for our students. When they support and encourage one another in their learning journey, everybody wins. 

Our desire is that BCC will be a community that is marked by love, acceptance, forgiveness and growth. When others succeed we want to honour and celebrate the way they have used their God-given talents. When people make mistakes, we want to be patient and offer forgiveness that helps to restore relationships. We want to be a community that learns and grows together to help each and every member become all that God has created us to be.

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 will be taken on Tuesday, 16th November 2021 for ALL students. Due to COVID-19 restrictions we are only able to take individual and sibling photos.

ALL students are asked to wear their full FORMAL SUMMER uniform to school on the day. Students in Years 9 and 10 only will need to bring their sport uniform to get changed into after their photo. Any Primary students that normally do PE on this day will do a lower intensity lesson in their summer uniform.

Please note a reminder of our Formal Summer uniform requirements:
~ Kindergarten – Year 12 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 blazers.
~ Hair needs to be off the face, tied back or up.
~ Plain surgical studs or sleepers and one watch only.

Orders can be placed securely online at www.advancedlife.com.au using our school’s unique 9 digit advanced order code: P5L NEY LXP. Photo 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.

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. An envelope has been distributed to students, spare envelopes are available from the College Office.

Please note that due to COVID-19 restrictions class group photos are not able to be taken. Photo packages that include a class photo will instead display individual photos of each student in the class on one page of the photo book.

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

Alphacrucis College

Alphacrucis College is offerring an introduction to Entrepreneurial Mindset Skills at a free Startup Bootcamp in January 2022 to build self-awareness and ongoing self-development. For those that decide to work on Startup, the bootcamp also introduces students to a valuable support network. These new courses are designed and run by Australia’s leading entrepreneaurship educators. Places are limited.

Aible Job Search

AiBLE directly connects employers and candidates, matching what people can do rather than judgement on what they can’t. All types of jobs across all industries and locations: voluntary, graduate programs, internships, apprenticeships, full time, part time, casual, job trials etc. Click here for further information.

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.

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/

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.

On-Site Trading

As of Tuesday, 9th November 2021, Alinta Uniform Shop will return to on-site trading, normal shop hours of:

Tuesday 1pm – 3:30pm
Wednesday 1pm – 3:30pm
Thursday 8am – 11am

For refunds, exchanges, uniform purchases, and uniform fittings, please be advised that they will be available only to fully vaccinated parents/caregivers who are attending the uniform shop in person. Please bring your vaccination certificate and wear a mask.

When visiting the Uniform Shop, please make your way to the Student Reception to sign in first. 

All web and phone orders will be available for pick up from the Student Reception.

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.

Subscriptions Now Discounted

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 their website

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 was 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 their website

Registration and payments can be made by contacting Mrs Deborah Paardekooper at the College Office on 4922 8300 Ext 521 or deb.paardekooper@bcc.nsw.edu.au.

Subscriptions are now available until the end of the year at a discounted price of $35 for both Reading Eggs and Mathseeds. Or if you have already subscribed to either Reading Eggs or Mathseeds you can subscribe to the other for $15 until the end of the year.

2022 Sporting Dates

Our Sports Coordinators are please to provide the current confirmed 2022 College Sporting Dates. As more dates become available the document will be updated on the College Sport website.

Primary Tennis Coaching

Last week some of our Stage 2 and 3 students opted to join in to our after school Tennis program at Mt Hutton Tennis Club. The program, which is funded by a sports grant received by the College, is entirely free and provides students with lessons and a free pack including their own tennis racquet. Stage 2 students visit the club on Thursdays, whilst Stage 3 are on Friday afternoons. There were smiles all round as many of the students were venturing onto a tennis court for coaching for the first time. We hope to receive more funding to provide free after school sports programs again in 2022.

2022 School Travel Applications

Applications for student travel in 2022 are now open.

Students who need an School Opal card or travel pass for 2022 can apply now. A new application will need to be submitted if students are applying for a school travel pass for the first time, or if requesting an additional travel entitlement as a result of a new shared parental responsibility situation (e.g. joint custody).

Students who change address, school, campus location, or who have repeated a year or received an expiry notification from Transport for NSW for school travel entitlement should renew or update details before the end of term 4. This will ensure that the College can endorse applications and current entitlements are updated and remain valid. School Opal card holders will have the changes applied to their existing card.

If a student’s distance eligibility has changed based on their grade the system will automatically update their entitlement if they meet the new criteria. If they do not meet the new eligibility criteria, they will receive an expiry notification via email.

Students who have an entitlement approved under a medical condition that is due to expire will receive a notification advising them to re-apply.

Term Bus Pass holders will receive a notification to re-apply.

Students in the Opal network applying for an Opal card (including a Term Bus Pass) for the first time will receive their Student Opal card at their nominated postal address. Cards will be mailed out from January 2022.

Opal Cards Tap On and Off

Just a reminder, we would like students and families to understand the importance of tapping on and off with their Opal card every time they travel to and from school. When students receive their Opal card, it is a condition of use that students must tap on at the beginning of a trip and tap off at the end of a trip at an Opal card reader. Although school travel is free, this provides NSW Transport with very important information that allows them to better plan bus services for us by helping them to know how many services need to be provided for our College. We do not want any current services cancelled.

Over the holidays we would appreciate if parents could ensure their students have an Opal card and take the time to apply or replace it.

Please click here to apply or replace an Opal card.

Bus Numbers on Opal Cards

To assist us and your child to ensure that your child catches the correct bus home, could we please request you write your child’s bus number in texta on the front of your child’s Opal Card. As well, the best contact parent mobile number would help too, in the case of parents needing to be phoned (this is optional, however). A separate see-through wallet type attachment could be used if preferred. It is most important for your child to be aware and refer to this information when catching the bus.

This information will provide your child, teacher or bus buddy the correct information should your child need assistance quickly, particularly for Kindergarten and Stage One Primary students who may sometimes forget their bus number.

Music Tutors On-Site

This week, many of our Music Tutors were able to resume onsite music tuition as COVID-19 restrictions eased. We are so thankful for the input our tutors have with many of our students across K – 12. They have done an extraordinary job at maintaining music tuition remotely, despite many challenges and changes. Tutors, thank you for the fantastic job you do!