Newsletter

How Important is the HSC?

As our Year 12 students commence their HSC Trials soon, I’m reminded that for around 90% of students going on to Year 12, the HSC has become a rite of passage in our society; a marker of moving between childhood, with the safety of parents who make many of the decisions, to the freedom and responsibility of adulthood with work and tertiary study that awaits on the other side. It is often treated as the most important year of a person’s life; one that will determine who you are and what you will do with your life.

For Christians, the HSC is neither a destination nor a determinator in life. You will not be judged by God on how well you went in English or Maths. Your life and your future will not be determined by a number on a certificate. Your worth and identity cannot be measured by what university course or apprenticeship you secure.

Confident in the knowledge of an omnipotent God, many Christians are tempted to see schooling as something less important than acts of religious devotion. What they fail to understand is that learning is an act of devotion, when the learner recognises that all wisdom and knowledge stem from our Creator God. For the Christian, exploring Science is to see the fingerprints of God in His creation; to read literature is to revel in the gift of language, from a God who speaks all things into being; to play sport is to rejoice in the bodies that have been created to do amazing feats. For us, there is no part of life where God is not present and has authority.

When students fail to do the best with the abilities that God has given to them, they act as though that is a part of life in which God is not interested. It devalues the wondrous gift that we have been given, that all knowledge and wisdom, gifts and abilities stem from, and point to God.

So how important is the HSC? Very important. Not because of the numbers that it generates but because it provides an opportunity to worship God through the gracious gift of learning.

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:

1. Mental health, physical health and wellbeing of our students

2. Trials for Year 12

3. The last Term for Year 11

4. Friendships for each student at this College so that they feel connected to their school

5. Staffing appointments 

6. New students and families to the College

Praise points:

1. The success of the Secondary musical

2. The holidays that were a change of pace; a time to reflect, connect, refresh and rejuvenate

3. That God has brought us back safely together for the start of Term 3

4. The beginnings of the Primary adventure playground 

5. Year 6 Camp

Prayer for HSC Students

It’s that time of year again when we ask 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 College community committing to pray for them each day from the beginning of Term 3 until when the HSC exams finish on 3 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 (Art and D&T) are due towards the end of August, and Drama and Music performances, along with language oral exams 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

10.08.23 | Zone AFL
15.08.23 | Book Week Parade
17.08.23 | Rise Up!
23.08.23 | Year 4 Sand-dunes excursion
30.08.23 | Fathers Day Stall
31.08.23 | Rise Up!
01.09.23 | Primary School Disco

Secondary

14.08.23-23.08-23 | HSC Trial Examinations
24.08.23 | HSC Showcase
24.08.23 | Secondary CSSA State Athletics Carnival

Whole College

07.08.23 | Parents & Carers Prayer Morning
08.08.23-10.08.23 | Restore Parent Coaching Information Sessions

Save the date

05.12.23 | BCC End of Year Festival – A celebration of learning and community

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.

Belmont Christian College invites all parents or carers and/or grandparents to our ‘Book Week’ celebration on Tuesday, 15 August. We will be having a ‘Book Week’ Parade, whereby guests may visit classrooms to experience fun activities, a Book Fair and Morning Tea.

This year’s focus will be on the 2023 Book Week theme ‘Read, Grow, Inspire’. Students will reflect on stories they have read and shared with others, how reading has helped them grow in their understanding, be inspired, or to inspire others.

Our parents and grandparents often have precious stories and life experiences to share. Telling stories and reading with children can help children grow in knowledge, skill and understanding. They can be inspired, filled with an urge or ability to do, or feel something, especially to do something creative. Further, children can learn an appreciation of and respect for their elders and an awareness of history. Stories about family history and traditions can build a sense of culture, belonging and heritage.

One of the highlights of our day will be a Book Character Parade, which will be held in the College Hall. Students and teachers are all encouraged to participate in this fun-filled event.

Children may choose to represent characters from books that have inspired them and helped them to grow in their knowledge and understanding. Book Character Parades help us recognise and connect with characters and places in stories that exercise our imaginations. They highlight experiences shared, values and attitudes that characters hold, hopes, dreams, aspirations and qualities recognised in them. The sharing of books is an experience to be treasured!

We ask that students choose a book and character that adheres to the Christian ethos of the College and are God honouring. Costumes should be modest and not too scary for younger children. Please avoid sending replica weapons.

Children should come to school dressed as their book character and parade with the book they have chosen. After the parade, students may change into their Sports uniforms to participate in other activities. Alternatively, children may remain dressed as their book characters if the costume is suitable for movement and activity.

This year we will have two groups rotating through the activities. Group 1 includes Kindergarten, Years 2, 4 and 6 and Group 2 includes Beginners, Years 1, 3 and 5. Please join us at the allocated time slots below to match your child’s class.

Group 1 (K, 2, 4, 6)
9:00am – 9.50am  ~  Book Character Parade in Hall
10:00am – 10:50am  ~  Book Fair and Morning Tea in Library
11:10am – 12.10:pm  ~  Classroom visits

Group 2 (B, 1, 3, 5)
9:00am – 9.50am  ~  Classroom visits
10:00am – 10:50am  ~  Book Character Parade in Hall
11:10am – 12.10:pm  ~  Book Fair and Morning Tea in Library

Please do not hesitate to contact your child’s classroom teacher or the Library staff should you require any further information.

Christian schools are different. It’s this difference that is the reason why you choose to send your children to Belmont Christian College. Christian schools also make a difference. According to the Cardus Education Survey, graduates of Christian schools:

● Feel better prepared to find meaning, purpose and direction in life
● Are more likely to volunteer with organisations that help the elderly and care for the environment
● Are more likely to belong to a trade union or political party

This difference isn’t an accident. The gospel shapes our lives with an eternal purpose, transforms our relationships and compels us to love our neighbours (and even our enemies). At the heart of this difference is the authentic faith of our teachers and staff. But some “experts” don’t value this difference. They want to take away the ability of schools like ours to be able to hire teachers and staff who not only believe but also live these life-changing values. In December, the Australian Law Reform Commission will be making some recommendations to the Australian Government that could have big changes to the future of our College.

www.mychristianschool.au

My Christian School is a new grassroots movement of Australians who believe in the difference Christian schools make. Belmont Christian College is a part of this movement and your help is needed to pass on this difference for future generations. Please visit the My Christian School website and sign-up to show your support. Together, we can preserve the precious difference of Christian schools.

For all major announcements regarding College Life, student reports & absences, calendar access, newsletters, excursion permissions, fee payments and much more, the College uses the Sentral Parent App. 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.

HSC Showcase

We are working diligently alongside our students in anticipation of HSC Showcase 2023, which will take place on Thursday, 24 August, from 5:00pm to 8:30pm. The event will be held in the College Library and the Hall, with exhibitions from 5:00pm and Performances from 6:00pm. The students have been putting together some amazing pieces for an evening that promises to be filled with artistic brilliance and exceptional talent.

The HSC Showcase will feature an extraordinary exhibition and performance of HSC Major Works across a diverse range of disciplines, including Drama, Design and Technology, Music, Software Design, Industrial Technology, and Visual Arts. This event serves as a platform for our graduating students to showcase their creativity, dedication, and hard work throughout their HSC journey.

Visit from the Hot Potato Band

We are thrilled to share the incredible experience our students had during the visit of the esteemed “Hot Potato Band” to our campus. This exceptional opportunity allowed our students to immerse themselves in the world of live music and creative expression.

The Hot Potato Band delivered mesmerising live performances, captivating our students with infectious rhythms and energetic tunes. Additionally, they conducted inspiring workshops, where our young talents had the chance to learn about creative expression and crafting a performance.

Our students cherished this amazing opportunity, as it provided them with a deeper appreciation for music and the joy of performing together. The day was filled with laughter, learning, and the discovery of their creative potential.

We are excited to share one of the memorable moments from the Hot Potato Band’s visit in the attached video.

How playing an instrument benefits your brain

On Thursday, 3 August Year 2 participated in an Instrument Trial. This annual event is an opportunity for students to try out the many musical instruments that makeup music ensembles here at the College.

Year 2 were incredibly excited to try the many instruments that they have studied in music class for the past 6 months. There were some loud, excited sounds coming from the Concert band room as students made their best effort to produce a sound for the first time. It will be exciting to see many of these students take up an instrument in the coming months.

To find out how learning an instrument is of benefit to growing children, see the video below.

Primary School AFL Grand Final

Our annual AFL House competition celebrated its 16th year this year and for the first time, the competition was split into separate Boys and Girls groups.

The competition culminated with our big Grand Final on the final afternoon of Term 2, with a good crowd of Primary, Secondary and parents on board to watch and cheer for their chosen teams.

The wind once again was a factor in the games, with teams knowing they had to score some serious points with the wind, and go into defence mode into the wind.

In the Girls competition, the Booth Angels took on the Robinson Raptors. The Raptors held the wind advantage in the first half, but were unable to make full use of their opportunities. 

The Angels held a 7-1 lead, but importantly would have the wind at their backs in the 2nd half. Player of the match, Jessica Culjak was immense in the back line, stopping just about every advance that the Raptors made, while captain Charlotte Campbell was strong, kicking goals at the other end. With the wind against them, the Raptors couldn’t find the extra drive they required, with the Angels going on to win a very defensive game. 

Angels 1.4 (10) def Raptors 0.1 (1)

The Boys game was a bit different with the Cuthbert Cubs kicking themselves to a 14-0 lead at halftime with the wind; a score that at the time, the commentary team felt was probably one goal short of what it needed to be.

Their opposing team, the Booth Ravens, started on the front foot and when they levelled the scores at 14-14 with just minutes remaining, the crowd knew they were in for an exciting conclusion. Player of the match, Josiah Bell kicked his Ravens ahead to lead 20-14 and in the final minute, the Cubs had one last surge into the wind, but couldn’t quite muster the distance. The Ravens held on to an exciting 6 point win. 

Ravens 3.2 (20) def Cubs 2.2 (14).

Senior Boys’ “Two-peat”

A triumphant day for the Senior Boys’ Basketball team, going through undefeated to take out this year’s Zone Carnival for the second consecutive year. In the final, against the much-fancied and much taller Green Point, our tenacity and skill from the three-point line saw us prevail. While all the team performed incredibly well, special mention must go to Kynon Holmes, whose strength at the paint was phenomenal, James Chesterfield, who was a tyrant up and down the court and Cody Hill, whose calm and awareness (with some crucial three pointers in the final) held the team together nicely. Congratulations to the team!

In the Junior Division we weren’t so successful but within both teams’ ranks there is some excellent talent that will grow into the future. Thanks to Mr Urane and Mr Donaldson for their support and encouragement throughout. 

I wish the Senior Boys all the best for the State Finals!

Senior Girls Basketball

Thursday, 27 July Belmont Christian College was represented at the THACCCSA Futsal Gala Day by 2 teams of amazing girls. The senior team competed in Division 1, convincingly winning all of their pool matches . In the final they faced Maitland Christian School . The battle was strongly contested with the game ending locked at 2 goals each. 5 minutes of  extra time followed with shots firing at both keepers, the excitement was palpable, but unfortunately the girls conceded and took home runners up.

The Junior team, also in Division 1, had heavily contested games throughout the pool rounds with some very narrow defeats. The girls’ efforts were rewarded by qualifying for the Semi-Final where they faced Charlton Christian College. The defensive effort by all students was outstanding. However, our shooting radars were not quite on and the girls had a narrow defeat to be eliminated from the competition.

An excellent effort by both teams

Senior Girls – Emma Connolly, Hannah Ramoy, Grace Haub, Naomi Wright, Emily Treloar and Zahli Staunton-Kimberley

Junior Girls – Elli Hungerford, Ella Cook, Bella Kaslik, Matilda Fallon, Zali Power, Georgia Hofman, Savannah Scharfe

A massive thank you to Jay Troyer, Ethan Cowling and Thomas Flanagan who stepped in at the last minute to referee.

National Motocross Champion !!

Congratulations to Amelia Kotze who was recently crowned National Dirt Track 12-16yrs Girls Champion, Well done on an awesome achievement!

On Wednesday, 14 June students participated in the THACCCSA Futsal Gala Day in Maitland. The 2 teams represented the College with great teamwork and intensity. The Junior Boys had mixed results on the day and bowed out in the pool rounds. The Senior Boys played exceptionally well and only lost one game all day. They went on to win the Grand Final by a convincing 3 – 0 scoreline. This is the second trophy the Senior Boys have won this term in football. Well done to all who participated!

An Exciting Holiday

Matilda Holden (Tildi) recently entered a competition to be one of the 23 children named Matilda, that would be chosen to present the World Cup jerseys to the Matildas players.
She was Chosen on Monday, 11 July then she headed to Federation Square, where Tildi had the awesome privilege of presenting one of the Matildas players, Emily Van Egmond, with her World Cup Jersey. Tildi knew that Emily was also a student at Belmont Christian College when she was in Primary School so naturally she was pretty excited!

You may have noticed construction fencing placed at the front of our campus where The Nature Playground construction is well underway. Students are eagerly watching on as their dream of a new set of nature inspired play equipment comes to life. Our students voted on their favourite pieces of play equipment to be included in the new playground and will be coming up with an awesome name for the new play area. Stay tuned for the announcement to come!

Now into our 25th year of partnering with Compassion Australia, the whole College was a buzz with excitement as we celebrated the Annual Coins for Compassion Fundraiser Day. It was all happening! There were stalls, games, food, coin lines, music, live performances and so much more. What a privilege it is to gather in community, led by our awesome BCC students, to support those in greater need than ourselves. These days simply don’t happen without the planning and direction of Mrs Sue Fryer, Mr. Trudi Sanchez and Mrs Nyssa Potapczyk. You don’t do it for the thanks, but we thank you anyway!

When all the coins and donations were counted up our Coins for Compassion Day and the BCC community raised a total of $11,106 for our partners at Compassion Australia. We look forward to hearing how these funds will support those who need it most. What a privilege it is to be involved!

Year 6 have just returned from our annual Canberra Camp. Students were given the opportunity to participate in a variety of educational programs with a focus on Australia’s history, culture, heritage and democracy. It was a jam packed three days of fun, learning and building relationships across the grade. Some of the highlights were a visit to Questacon, The Australian Mint, The National Gallery, The Australian War Memorial, a tour of Parliament House…and of course the Year 6 Lip Sync Battle!

The Australian Government recognises the importance of all young Australians being able to visit the national capital as part of their Civics and Citizenship education. To assist families in meeting the cost of the excursion the Australian Government is contributing funding of $30 per student under the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate program toward those costs. The rebate is paid directly to the school upon completion of the excursion.

Apprenticeship Support Australia Advice for Parents

An Australian Apprenticeship (commonly known as an apprenticeship or traineeship) combines paid on-the-job training with formal study resulting in a nationally-recognised qualification.

There are more than 500 occupations across Australia that offer apprenticeships and traineeships, ranging from Certificate II to Advanced Diploma levels, including traditional trades, as well as a number of emerging occupations in most sectors of business and industry.

The Australian Government even provides funding to eligible Australian Apprentices aimed to assist with the costs incurred whist they are undertaking training!

To find out which career may suit your child head to our free careers advice portal Skillsroad.com.au – Australian number 1 destination for career advice!

myfuture Webinars

These free webinars are a great way to learn about myfuture and other current topics from expert presenters. Register now: https://myfuture.edu.au/assist-others/webinars

Powering the future: Exploring expanding career opportunities in the Clean Energy Sector, Thursday, 24 August 2023 1:00pm (AEST)

As Australia transitions from fossil fuel to clean energy, careers in the energy sector are evolving and expanding. In this panel discussion hosted by Dr Anita Talberg, Workforce Development Manager at the Clean Energy Council, we will hear first-hand from several professionals from diverse backgrounds who are thriving in the clean energy industry.

The role of emotion in career education (for parents and carers) Tuesday 29 August, 1:00 PM (AEST)

Emotions, both positive and negative, are not only a result of educational and work experiences, but also play a vital role in learning and personal development. In education and employment, emotions can either stimulate or constrain thought processes, reflection, and proactive behaviours. Based on the Insights paper ‘How emotions influence motivation and behaviour in career development learning’, this webinar, presented by Dr Michael Healy, will help you understand how different emotions might affect your child’s career development in different ways. He will provide advice on how you can recognise and respond to different career-related emotions that your child might be experiencing.

Coping with emotional challenges in career development – R U OK? Day 2023, Thursday, September 14 1:00pm (AEST)

Young people face uncertain employment pathways in their futures, and often feel enormous pressure to make the “right” career decisions to ensure success. Many typical career development tasks and situations can trigger or worsen stress and mental ill-health. In this webinar, the teams from the Student Wellbeing Hub and the myfuture career information service will join in a discussion about how career development influences, and is influenced by, wellbeing and emotional resilience. Coinciding with R U OK? Day 2023, they will share practical tips and resources for educators and parents to help young people cope with the emotional challenges that are so central to career development learning.

Register now: https://myfuture.edu.au/assist-others/webinars

Sydney Careers & Employment Expo

Sydney’s New Careers & Employment Event will open on September 8 & 9, 2023, at the Hordern Pavilion, Moore Park. The Expo will showcase over 100 organisations and employers with career opportunities for all ages.  Entry’s Free.

The event is for school students, parents, teachers, graduates, job seekers, people looking for courses and workers seeking new opportunities.

The Expo is packed with Free advice, you can…

• Talk with over 100 Training Organisations & Employers
• Gain Free Career Advice
• Discover Jobs of the Future
• Talk with Leading Organisations about Training & Apprenticeships
• Experience the Free Career Seminars
• Learn how to write a Winning Resume

 If you are looking for a job, career change, courses or you are a school student looking for a career path, you can’t afford to miss the Expo.

Friday, September 8 2023 – 9am to 3pm
Saturday, September 9 2023 – 9am to 4pm

Hordern Pavilion, Moore Park

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.

Uniform Shop Price Updates

The uniform shop will see a price rise from 4 September so get in quick and purchase or lay-by at current prices.

For a limited time only, we are offering epic discounts on our popular Multi City Membership

• Save $20 on 12 month Multi City Memberships.
• Save $50 on 24 month Multi City Memberships

Whether you’re looking to save on the finer things in life or simply access the sweetest deals across Australia and New Zealand, unlock around 8000 offers with a Multi City Membership to The Entertainment App!

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.