Newsletter

Welcome Back

During our recent Easter break and ANZAC public holiday, the concept of commitment was at the forefront of our thoughts. Easter is a time to remember the ultimate act of love and commitment that Christ demonstrated on the cross for each of us. His selflessness and sacrifice serve as a model for us to follow in our own lives.
ANZAC Day provided us with another opportunity to reflect on the commitment and sacrifice of those who served our country. At BCC, we believe that commitment and sacrifice are fundamental qualities in building a strong and compassionate community. We encourage our students to consider how they can personally demonstrate Commitment to each other, their community, College, Church and family.
Our upcoming musical at the end of the term, is a testament to the commitment of our staff to excellence and creativity as they help students discover their God given gifts and abilities. Our talented students have been working tirelessly to bring you a show that promises to be entertaining, heart-warming, and inspiring. I invite you to join us for the musical and witness firsthand the commitment and talent of our students as they seek to use their gifts to glorify God.
As always, I’d like to thank our dedicated teachers and staff for their hard work and commitment to our College community. I would also like to express my gratitude to you, our parents and carers, for your ongoing support and partnership in the education and growth of our students.

Sharon Sopher
Principal

BCC Prayer Warriors

This year we are privileged to be able to run a monthly prayer morning. It’s a treat to pray for new families, students and staff, share some coffee and cake and enjoy great conversation. Everyone is welcome to join us on the first Monday of each month from 8:45am – 9:30am to pray alongside parents and local churches. Come for a bit, or come for the whole time. 

Please sign-in at the College Office. We meet near the Weathershed in the newly created College Garden. Simply follow the signs. 

For more information or to ask for personal prayer, please email prayerwarriors@bcc.nsw.edu.au.

Check out the prayer focus areas and upcoming dates in the image below. 

Prayer Points

Praise points:

1. For the Secondary School camps and safety of students and most staff (need to keep Ross Urane in our thoughts and prayers).

2. Safety over the holidays.

3. Bringing staff and students back ready for learning for Term 2.

Prayer points:

1. For new students that they may settle in well.

2. The Secondary School musical.

Prayer for HSC Students

It’s that time of year again when we ask to people to volunteer to pray for the 2023 HSC students. Our goal is for each HSC student to have at least one person from the school community committing to pray for them each day from the beginning of Term 3 until when the HSC exams finish on 3rd November. We are asking people to commit to praying for two specific HSC students, the names of whom we will provide to you.

Why start specific prayer in Term 3? Well, in Term 3 the HSC gets more real for the students as they have their HSC trials in August, major works (eg Art and D&T) are due towards the end of August, and Drama and Music performances, along with language oral exams are in September. The HSC exams start on 11 October.

As part of our wider community focus, we also ask that you please pray for the HSC students at Belmont High School. It can be a challenging time for so many young people.

If you are interested in committing to praying for two of our HSC students, please contact us via prayerwarriors@bcc.nsw.edu.au

Upcoming Important Dates

Primary

10.05.23 | Mothers Day Stall
11.05.23 | Primary School Athletics Carnival
12.05.23 | (Kindergarten) Mothers Day Breakfast
18.05.23 | Rise Up!

Secondary

05.05.23 | Tempest Excursion
08.05.23 | Yr11 D&T TAS Excursion
11.05.23 | Secondary CSSA Open Volleyball Gala Day
15.05.23 | Secondary School Athletics Carnival
16.05.23 | Secondary Zone Netball Gala day
24.05.23 | Yr 11 & 12 Parent Teacher Interview

Whole College

09.05.23 | Parent Connect
10.05.23 | College Tour
30.05.23 | Photo Day

Our College Calendar is available on our website where you can be kept up-to-date with events throughout the year. Closer to the event parents and carers will receive communication via the Sentral Parent App and/or email.

Mother’s Day Breakfasts are a special event, and this year we will be putting on a special treat for our Kindergarten mums. This should allow our mums in the BCC community a chance to enjoy a delicious breakfast with their children and also provide an opportunity for us to gather together and celebrate.

This special breakfast will be filled with beautiful and delicious morsels that will make our Kinder Mums’ special day unforgettable. The morning will also be a time to pray together, thank our mums and celebrate the special bond between mothers and children. It will be a wonderful opportunity for us to come together as one family in appreciation of all that our mums do for us. So make sure not to miss out on this amazing event!

We invite you to join us between 7:30 am and 8:30 am on Friday, 12th May 2023 for a Mother’s Day Breakfast like no other. It will be an event that mums, children and students alike will remember for many years to come!

Our Coins for Compassion day in 2022 raised an amazing $10650. Coins for Compassion day is now an important part of the culture at Belmont Christian College as we teach our students the importance of missions and looking out for those less fortunate than ourselves. Our student body, from the youngest to the oldest embrace the day, bring in their coins and enjoy the fun and community on the last day of Term 2.

Last year we raised funds to continue sponsoring our five Compassion children but we were also aiming to raise enough money to open a brand new Compassion project in the Philippines.  We were delighted to receive news from Compassion that a centre opened in October which was fully funded by Belmont Christian College.  Shalom Child Development Centre will give up to 100 children access to education, healthcare, nutrition and spiritual oversight enabling them to potentially break the cycle of poverty that exists within their families.

What an amazing achievement by our students to impact the lives of so many children in need in another country.  We look forward to Coins for Compassion Day on the last day of Term 2 this year and are grateful for the opportunities that this day brings us as a College.

Dear Parents and Carers,

One of our ongoing goals is to continually improve the way we communicate home to you, our parents and carers. It has been greatly encouraging to see many BCC families embrace the Sentral Parent App. You may have already noticed that when we message you via the Sentral Parent App, it also sends that same message to your nominated email address.

We have listened to your feedback and have streamlined how we communicate with you. From today onwards, we will only send major communications to you via the Sentral Parent App. i.e. we will no longer double-up with the same message being sent to your nominated email.

What is changing?

• From today, all major communication pieces will only be sent via the Sentral Parent App.
• We will no longer email you major communication pieces to your nominated address
• Examples of major communication pieces include messages from our Principal, Heads of School, Learning Leaders and upcoming events.

What is not changing?

• Any emails/messages that are specific to your child. e.g. your child’s teacher will still email you on occasion
• Seesaw in Beginners and Primary School
• Social media feeds
• The fortnightly newsletter

I am not yet on the Sentral Parent App. How do I get access?

If you have not already, please download the Sentral Parent App by searching ‘Sentral for Parents’ in the App Store on your smartphone and ensure that notifications are enabled within the App. Set up instructions can be found here. If you have any trouble registering, please email the College on sentral@bcc.nsw.edu.au and our friendly IT department will support you through the process.

Regards

____________________________________________

Leoni McNeill                         Alex Cameron

Secondary School Musical

At BCC, we provide many avenues for students to grow in musical ability and appreciation. We are so excited to share this years’ Musical – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory! Secondary Students have been hard at work behind the scenes preparing and showed their first public preview on Monday 1st of May. This was a great way for friends and families to get a sneak peak at the a real musical rehearsal and for the students to experience a live audience. What an amazing evening and a great way to celebrate the launch of tickets for the Musical – Available now on our website!

Our students were so excited they came together to promote the launch of ticket sales in their own way. Enjoy the student ticket promotion shown at assembly below.

Music Tutors

You may also like to see the details for our wonderful Music tutors here. This includes our new guitar and bass tutor who is excited to take on new students. We have a wonderful tutoring team ready to teach your child one of the following instruments:

• Vocals
• Piano
• Guitar/Bass
• Clarinet/Saxophone
• Flute
• Violin
• Drums/Percussion
• Brass- Trumpet, Trombone

Dear Parents and Carers,

Our Primary School Athletics Carnival (Years K-6) will be held on Thursday, 11th May at Hunter Sports Centre Glendale from 8:20am to 2:40pm. Students are to arrive from 8:20am, and events begin at 9am. 

Our Secondary School Athletics Carnival (Years 7-12) will be held on Monday, 15th May at Hunter Sports Centre Glendale from 8:20am to 2:40pm. Students are to arrive from 8:20am, and events begin at 9am. 

Attendance is compulsory for ALL STUDENTS. For secondary students, carnival participation will be used as part of the Years 7 – 10 PDHPE Assessment. The greater the participation the higher the mark.

If your child is absent they MUST provide a valid reason to the College Office.

We require student helpers, so if your child is not that fond of athletics they can assist with jobs on the day, and their non-participation in events will NOT affect their PDHPE Assessment.

College buses will be running from the College for those who cannot make their own way to and from Hunter Sports Centre. If you wish for your child to catch a College bus, have them place their name on the bus rolls at the Office. There are limited numbers available on the bus. These buses may arrive after the start of the Carnival and will have to leave before the conclusion, so this may affect your child’s ability to compete in events in these time slots. Please consider this if your child is aiming for Age Champion.

Please also note that the finish time for the Carnival is 2:30pm. Please arrange pick up by 2:40pm. If this isn’t possible, please have your child catch the bus back to the College to enable them to catch their normal school bus home.

If your child has to leave early, they must have a valid note signed by their parent/caregiver and report to Mr Cameron and Mrs Evans at the recording desk near the exit.

Cancellation due to inclement weather will be advised through the Sentral Parent App.

NOTE FOR PARKING AND DROP OFF AND PICK UP AT HUNTER SPORTS CENTRE – 2023

There will be no parking available in the direct precinct of Hunter Sports Centre car parking for your event. We strongly suggest that you plan your trip to Hunter Sports Centre well in advance.  

WHERE PARKING IS AVAILABLE – On street parking is available in streets adjacent to Stockland, Glendale (highlighted in yellow) requiring a short walk to Hunter Sports Centre. There is public parking at Bill Bowers Oval, Lake Rd, Glendale (highlighted in red) between 9am and 3pm. Cars are NOT to park on ovals.

PARKING AT STOCKLAND SHOPPING CENTRE – Stockland Glendale’s carpark is for shopping centre patrons only. If you are intending to park at the shopping centre, please support the shopping precinct whilst in the area. Several shops have provided HSC guests with promotional vouchers. Please be considerate of Stockland shoppers and retailers and don’t park in key shop front areas. See attached photo for a suggested location to park.

Where Parking is Not Permitted – The shopping precinct on the Hunter Sports Centre side of the road is privately owned and signposted as NO HUNTER SPORTS CENTRE PARKING. There area is under licence plate camera monitoring and parking fines are issued by the owner. The facility also has boom gates that are locked outside of operating hours.

ENTRY TO THE FACILITY – Entry to the facility for Staff, Children and Spectators will be via the main foyer entry

DROP OFF – With limited parking in the HSC Precinct, it is suggested that when you drop your child off, rather than drive into the centre, drop your child off in the parking small bay area on Stockland Drive and drive off – see attached photo.

Kind regards

_________________________________________

Mark Hall
PDHPE Curriculum Leader | Secondary Sport Coordinator

NSW PSSA Touch Championships

Congratulations to Indi T in Year 6 who has been selected in the NSW CIS Touch team.

Indi will compete at the NSW PSSA Championships at the end of May in St Marys.

A fantastic achievement – Well done!

29th ScoutHike

Layla Wass, Zara Briggs and Teddington Beckett will be heading down to Belangelo State Forest to represent Belmont Scout Group in the 29th ScoutHike.

ScoutHike is the premier annual Scout event and will see them completing a three day hike through the state forest including carrying all their own equipment and food on their back, camping each night in the forest and navigation between stations without the assistance of any adults or scout leaders.  It will test their resilience to the task, leadership skills and patience with each other.

What a great undertaking for these students, please pray for their safety and to ease the worries of their parents while their away.

Tuesday, 30th May 2023

School photographs will be taken on Tuesday, 30th May 2023 for ALL students. A second day for Beginners #2 students and their sibling family photo is scheduled for Friday, 2nd June. We will be taking class group photos as well as individual and pre ordered sibling photos.

ALL students are asked to wear their full FORMAL WINTER uniform to school on the day. Any students that normally do PE on this day will do a lower intensity lesson in their formal uniform.

Please note a reminder of our formal Winter uniform requirements:
~ Kindergarten – Year 12 boys may wear long or short sleeved shirts
~ Kindergarten – Year 12 girls are requested to wear navy opaque stockings, not socks
~ Kindergarten – Year 12 boys must wear their ties
~ Kindergarten – Year 6 girls must wear their bows
~ 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
~ The girls optional pants are permitted

Orders can be placed securely online at www.advancedlife.com.au using the College’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, the order must be placed no later than 28th May. 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. Envelopes are available at the College Office.

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

Attention Parents of Year 11 Students

If your child is in Year 11, now is the time to apply for provisions for HSC exams. Students who experience anxiety, or struggle with reading, spelling or handwriting can apply for provisions such as small group supervision, rest breaks, extra time or a reader/writer. 

These adjustments help students to access the HSC exams on the same basis as students without disability. They allow students to show the markers what they know and can do.

To apply for provisions, BCC submits an online application to NESA. This application tells NESA which provisions a student is requesting and includes recent evidence. Evidence may include medical reports, reading results, spelling results, writing samples and teacher comments.

It is not embarrassing to apply for provisions, and more than 7000 HSC students apply for provisions each year. If you would like to discuss this further, please prioritise contacting Julie Tibbs or Nicole Walters in Learning Enrichment to commence this support process.

Summer to Winter Uniform Change-Over Period

As we finish Autumn, the first two weeks of term are a change-over period from Summer to Winter uniform across the College. Students may choose to wear either their Winter or Summer uniform from Wednesday, 26th April. However, it must be one or the other and not a combination of both.

Students are to be in full Winter uniform from Monday, 8th May.

Please refer to our website for further uniform information.

The following activities and services are offered by external providers which may be beneficial to your family. These services focus on strengthening student wellbeing or academic capacity. While these services are not explicitly from a Christian worldview, they do provide insights based on human wisdom and evidence based research. However, personal discretion as to whether these services align with your own beliefs will be required. Such services are NOT fully endorsed by the College, but are made available for families to make their own judgement and decision. 

e-Safety Commissioner Term 2 Webinars for Parents & Carers

 eSafety Commissioner Term 2 webinars for parents and carers include the following topics…please see attached for the flyer:

•         eSafety 101: how eSafety can help you (24 May)
•         Getting started with social media: TikTok, YouTube, Instagram (3 May, 22 May and 8 June)
•         Online relationships and consent: sending nudes and sexting (25 May and 14 June)
•         Setting your child up for success online (31 May)

Great Mates after school program

 Great Mates is a brand-new program to The Place: Charlestown Community Centre. We are partnering with Well Education and the Department of Education to run an after-school life skills program for young men aged 12-14, focused around taking control of their own emotional, social, and physical wellbeing in a fun and supported environment.  

Great Mates aims to support male youth to develop knowledge, understanding and practices to take control of their own emotional, social, and physical wellbeing in a fun and supported environment. 

A focus on emotional awareness and regulation, resilience, confidence, and self-worth, will provide tangible skills and strategies that our youths can develop to help them manage their own stress, anxiety, worry and general mental health. The program will include several fun physical activities, nutrition information, and family information and support to provide our youths with the best chance at becoming the healthiest versions of themselves. 

Great Mates will be running every Thursday for 8 weeks, beginning on 11^th of May from 4pm – 6pm with all refreshments provided, and thanks to the NSW Government the program is entirely FREE! 

Education Services Australia Careers Webinars

Education Services Australia have lots of exciting events coming up this term, including a webinar not to be missed, featuring Professor Peter Shergold AC. Join us for this informative webinar, as Professor Shergold shares his insights on the progress made over the past three years since the release of the review of the secondary pathways into work, further education and training report.  In particular, Professor Shergold will focus on the critically important role of career guidance in schools and provide some future expectations. In addition, listed below are some of the other exciting events we have coming up for teachers and career practitioners and we encourage you to register for any/all of these free events: https://myfuture.edu.au/assist-others/webinars

The power of workplace exposure – to see what you can be

Tuesday 16 May, 1:00pm (AEST)

In this webinar you’ll hear from some of the CareerTrackers interns and learn how you can support young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to be the change makers of tomorrow.

Managing career uncertainty and anxiety: the power of career conversations

Tuesday 30 May, 1:00pm (AEST)

In this webinar, Dr Jo Gleeson (Monash University), lead author of the forthcoming myfuture Insights Paper ‘Allaying career uncertainty and anxiety: the power of career conversations’, will talk about the findings of her research in this area, and share a questionnaire that can help young people to become more aware of their feelings associated with career decision making.

Professor Peter Shergold AC | Setting future expectations: the importance of career guidance in schools

Thursday 8 June, 4:00pm (AEST)

In this webinar Professor Peter Shergold AC will focus on the critically important role of career guidance in schools and provide some future expectations.

Enhancing the status of VET: Practical strategies for schools

Thursday 15 June, 6:30pm (AEST)

Join Joy de Leo from NCVER and Prof. Stephen Billet from Griffith University, to deepen your understanding of VET, and obtain practical strategies for increasing student interest in VET and shifting preconceived or outdated perceptions of VET in your wider school community.

HSC and Careers Expo 2023

Thursday 1st – Saturday 3rd June 2023, 9:00am – 3:00pm

Are you the parent of an HSC student who is uncertain about their future path? Help them make an informed choice by bringing them along to the HSC and Careers Expo 2023, Thursday 1st June, Friday 2nd June and Saturday 3rd June, 9am-3pm at Royal Randwick Racecourse. For more information, please see the Twitter, Facebook or Instagram – or visit the website: https://www.hscandcareers.com.au/

University of Sydney Year 12 Information Evening

Year 12 students and their parents and carers to attend our Year 12 Information Evening which will be hosted on campus on Wednesday, 24th May from 4pm – 7pm. 

At this event your students will have the opportunity to speak with experts about our courses, admission pathways, study options, scholarships and more. UAC representatives and staff from each of our faculties and schools will be there to give attendees tailored advice. 
Current University of Sydney students and alumni will walk your students through all the relevant information they need from now through to the time they complete their final exams and lock in their university choices.

Places are limited, so please encourage your students to register as soon as possible to avoid missing out!

Event details

Date: Wednesday, 24th May
Time: 4pm – 7pm (AEST)
Location: The Michael Spence Building (F23) 
Corner of Eastern Avenue and City Road,
The University of Sydney Camperdown, NSW 2006
 

Register here

Avondale University Early Admission program

Avondale University are offering an Early Admission program to Year 12 students who want to study in 2023.

Their Early Admission program:
| Gives students the opportunity to secure a place in their preferred study course early
| Is tailor made for them, and
| Ensures peace of mind and improved wellbeing in the lead up to the exams.

In addition to receiving an early admission, a limited number of $2,000 cash scholarships* are available as well as the opportunity to apply for 18 months of FREE on campus accommodation*.

University of Newcastle Workshops & Webinars

The University of Newcastle has a number of upcoming info sessions, workshops and webinars for year 12 students, parents and along with sessions for career advisers and teachers. See the details for each of these below:

Webinars For Students

Parents and Carers Info Sessions

Career Advisers Webinars & Workshop

Exciting opportunity for students to be recognised with a $1,500 grant to pursue their goals in an area they’re passionate about. There are six award categories including technology, entrepreneurship, sustainability, sport and arts. Nominate now for the Edstart Achievement Awards Program at edstart.com.au/award

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.

~ 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.