Newsletter

I have been prayerfully inspired to share some of the inner workings of the Learning Enrichment team and the blessings happening within this part of the College. In all areas of Belmont Christian College, we look to our Lord for opportunities that grow our students holistically in skills and understanding. “For I know the plans I have for you’, declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11. We recognise our students have talents to be nurtured and struggles to be supported and I’d like to share how the aides within our LE team are specially equipped to do that.

Our team of aides are an integral part of this faculty and constitute a multitude of talents, grounded in always looking to God in everything they do. Within our team, we have a Dr of Science who both supports extension delivery with ease and consolidation of learning in the regular classroom, a commercial editor who provides support with writing extension and feedback, several aides experienced and trained in behavioural management, 2 mental health specialists with experience in crisis intervention, and several trained teachers who felt led to work as aides, including one literacy specialist teacher and a trained special education teacher. We also have a physiotherapy student, an IT and film professional, extensively trained TAFE aides, and aides with years of parenting experiences. All our aides have a level of in-house OT and psychology training, and we have aides with too many literacy specialities to mention.

I don’t mention these skills within our aide team to brag about my colleagues, rather to share the knowledge of the unbelievable blessings bestowed upon the College. A couple of years ago, we were stretched in all directions, and looking to be everything to everyone. Yet, every time we identified a specific and ongoing area of need, we were blessed with experts who could not only fill a gap but exceed our wildest expectations with their talents.

This just doesn’t happen without God steering our ship and we are eternally grateful for Him having us included on this journey. So, with International Teacher Aide Day occurring over the last month, it is great ‘God-timing’ as usual, with His suggestion to talk about some of my colleagues, as it allows us to shine a light on the blessing of these good and faithful (and sometimes invisible) servants. Hopefully this little peek into the beauty and glow of the aides within our team whom I get to sit alongside daily, warms your day as it does mine. Happy reading!

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. HSC students – For the energy and capacity to study and finish well over the next couple of weeks as they sit their exams

2. The celebration of Year 12 and the end of their schooling – The Year 12 Formal, and final academic accolades

3. Prayer for those community members who are presently unwell, and for their families

4. For new families and students who have started at Belmont Christian College

5. For staff and students to finish the year well and to honour God in all that is done at BCC

6. Camps that are occurring this term – for fun, safety and protection

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 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.

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

24.10.23 |CSSA Cricket
30.10.23-1.11.23 | Year 5 Camp Bathurst & Katoomba
30.10.23 | Kindergarten Orientation Morning
31.10.23 | Primary CSSA Tennis

Secondary

30.10 – 3.11.23 | Year 11 Hospitality Work Placement
31.10.23 | Year 11 Society & Culture Library Excursion
3.11.23 | Year 11 Society & Culture PIP HSC Study Day
6.11.23-8.11.23 | Year 12 2024 Camp

Whole College

31.10.23 | Cybersafety Parent Info Session with Susan

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.

A Celebration of Learning & Community

BCC families are invited to participate in the Christian Schools Australia Christian School Community Profile Survey.

The survey is being conducted amongst all families with children enrolled in participating Christian schools across Australia. It is designed to assist schools in gaining an understanding of parent’s:

– choice of school, 

– satisfaction with their children’s learning, 

– engagement in the school community and;

– general background. 

BCC will use the survey results to help gain a better understanding of our community and to inform and direct future school planning and improvement strategies.

Please be assured that your responses are completely confidential.

– The survey will be conducted online and should take no more than 15-20 minutes to complete

– The survey will be open up until Friday, 3 November 2023.

Please check your Sentral Parent App to access the survey link.

Any questions, please contact david.gray@bcc.nsw.edu.au 

Below is some useful information to assist with student travel enquiries.

Students who need a School Opal card or travel pass for 2024 can apply here. A new application will need to be submitted if they are applying for the first time, or if they are requesting additional travel entitlement because of new shared parental arrangement (e.g. joint custody).

Students who change address, school, campus location, have repeated a year or received an expiry notification from Transport for NSW for their school travel entitlement should renew or update their details before the end of Term 4. This will ensure that schools can endorse applications, and entitlements remain valid for the start of the 2024 school year. School Opal card holders will have the changes applied to their existing card.

For more information and additional actions such as updating details download the 2024 School Travel Guide.

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.

We had a bittersweet celebration at the end of last term. In saying farewell to Mrs McNeill, her final official act was to open and name our new nature playground – Poppet Park! Students have already been thoroughly enjoying the playground which has become an eye-catching highlight of our campus.

Celebrating Exceptional Student Achievements

We’re proud to announce the remarkable achievements of two of our HSC students, Hugh Brindley and Owen Irvine, whose dedication and talent have earned them prestigious nominations.

Hugh Brindley: Hugh has received a well-deserved nomination for ENCORE. This program recognises outstanding performances and compositions in HSC Music examinations. Hugh’s drum performances submitted to NESA have been celebrated for their emotive depth and artistry.

Owen Irvine: In the realm of design and technology, Owen Irvine’s Major Design Project has secured a nomination for the Shape exhibition. This annual event showcases exceptional Major Design Projects. Owen’s project, a communication tool for his hearing-impaired grandfather, exemplifies his talent and commitment to creating positive change.

These achievements wouldn’t have been possible without the invaluable support of our dedicated teachers, Rochelle Scoular, Joel Proctor and many others, who guided our students on their journey.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Hugh and Owen for their outstanding accomplishments. Their commitment and hard work are a source of inspiration.

Explore Their Works and More:

To see the exceptional projects of our Year 12 students, including Hugh’s drum performance, visit the Learning Highlights on our Learning page. These works represent the creativity, talent, and dedication of our students, and we are proud to showcase them.

Primary NSW CIS Athletics

9 students represented the College at the end of last term in the NSW CIS Athletics Championships. Just getting to this level is an outstanding achievement and the competition is always at a very high level.

Mya Terbeeke continued her outstanding athletics performances, claiming a Silver Medal with a Personal Best Jump in the 12yr Long Jump. Kari Croxford also jumped well in the same event, finishing 5th.

Lachlan Altstadt (Long Jump) and Zirk Lombard (Discus) both did well in their events, although they came away a little disappointed with their results after recording shorter distances than their previous carnivals.

Our Junior Boys Relay team were rocked the day before the carnival with an injury to their anchor runner, with Zirk stepping in to help the team finish 1 second faster than their CSSA time.

Our multi-record breaking Senior Girls team (Mya Terbeeke, Indi T, Charlotte Campbell, Kari Croxford) were outstanding once again, running 1.3 seconds faster than their record CSSA time a few weeks earlier, and finishing 2nd overall.

The girls team, along with Mya in the Long Jump will compete in NSW PSSA State Championships next week.

Primary Zone Basketball

Belmont sent 4 teams to Zone Basketball once again this year and once again all 4 teams competed with positive sportsmanship and to a high standard.

All 4 teams qualified for the semi-finals, demonstrating the strength and skills of Basketball in the Primary School, even though only around 3 of the 24 players actually play competitive basketball outside of school.

After finishing 1st and 2nd in their pools respectively, the Junior Boys and Senior Girls went down in their Semi-Finals in very tough games.

The Junior Girls’ was a re-match of their first pool game where they drew with Taree. Down by 2 at the half, they couldn’t find a way to stop a few of the opposition players who really stepped up to bring their team home in the 2nd half.

The Senior Boys Final was a fantastic match. Belmont led by 4 points for most of the game, until inside the final 2 minutes, when a few costly turnovers handed the ball to Tamworth who capitalised on our mistakes to tie the game.

The Final went into a 2 minute overtime, with Tamworth scoring the only basket in a period where open shots were hard to come by.

Well done to our players, with the vast majority of them experiencing competitive Basketball for the very first time.

Amelia Kotze Motocross

Congratulations to our resident Motorcross Champion Amelia Kotze in Year 9. She recently stepped up into the 250 class and competed in the Country Vs Coast Cup finishing 1st in the 250 19/19 class, 1st in the 250 Girls Class, and 2nd in the 85cc Class. We pray for safety and continued success in the up-and-coming Victorian and Queensland State Championships and we look forward to hearing about her continued endeavours. 

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. 

Christmas Celebration with Variety Children’s Charity

🎄 Join Us for our Annual Christmas Celebration with Variety Children’s Charity! 🎄

Variety – the Children’s Charity NSW/ACT is delighted to invite you to our annual Variety Kids Christmas Party!

When: Thursday, 7 December 2023
Time: 3pm– 7pm
Location: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle

This year’s event will be the most magical one yet, filled with festive fun and exciting activities. Here’s a glimpse of what you can expect:

Quiet Hour (3-4 PM):
An exclusive hour dedicated to children with sensory processing issues, providing a calm and comfortable environment.
A visit from our gentle and understanding Quiet Santa.
Please note: Quiet hour is reserved for 100 kids maximum.

Christmas Party (4-7 PM):
Arts and Craft stations to let your creativity shine.
A visit from Santa himself.
Face and glitter painting to transform into your favourite holiday characters.
Inclusive sports for everyone to participate and have fun.
Stage entertainment that will keep you entertained and captivated.
Karaoke for those who love to sing their hearts out.
Amusements and roving characters to add to the festive atmosphere.
Plus, many more surprises and delights!

Tickets are limited, so please RSVP by Thursday, 23 November to secure your spot.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to reach out to Georgia Kelly at events@varietynsw.org.au.

Here at Variety, we are committed to ensuring that every child, regardless of ability or background, can experience the magic of the holiday season. We look forward to sharing this special day with you and creating cherished memories that will last a lifetime.

Warmest regards,

The Variety NSW/ACT Team
Register Here

Parents, how to help your Year 12 student

Below is a link to an article in the Eternity News magazine that was written by a Deputy Principal. He addresses a parent’s vital and stabilising role for their young adult as they finish up Year 12 and sit the HSC. It’s an important but challenging position, which can help your son/daughter to survive, and even thrive, in the months ahead.” Read more at Eternity News: https://www.eternitynews.com.au/australia/parents-how-to-help-your-year-12-student/ 

University of Newcastle Year 12 Leaders, Athletes and Performers Adjustment Points

Exceptional athletes, performers, artists and leaders with proven experience can gain up to four adjustment points. To apply, you must first submit your UAC application, and then complete an online Elite Athlete Form or Leaders and Performers Form (please see Mrs Carter). 
Applications for Leaders and Performers must be submitted no later than Semester 1, 31 October or Semester 2, 31 May.

LEADERSHIP CRITERIA

• Duke of Edinburgh Gold
• Duke of Edinburgh Silver
• Duke of Edinburgh Bronze
• King’s/Queen’s Scout Award
• King’s/Queen’s Guide Award
• Member of the Y NSW Youth Parliament
• Member of the Australian Defence Force Cadets
• Young Endeavour Youth Development Program
• High School Captain
• High School Vice Captain

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA (Music, Drama Speech and Dance)

• AMEB Diploma (AMusA) or Licentiate Diploma LMusA)
• AMEB Speech and Performance Grade 4 Exam (satisfactory or higher)
• AMEB Music Grade 8 Exam (satisfactory or higher)
• ABRSM Grade 8
• AMEB Certificate of Performance (CoP) for Music
• AMEB Certificate of Speech and Performance (CSPA)
• AMEB Certificate of Voice and Communication (CVCA)
• Major role in professional theatre, television or film production
• Member of Australian Youth Orchestra
• Member of National Youth Choir
• Representative in High School debating competitions
• Demonstrated volunteer or community service

DEFINING ELITE ATHLETES
For athletes and coaches to access the support identified within the guiding principles of the Elite Athlete Education Network, they must be identified and recognised, or be a member of one of the following organisations as an ‘elite athlete or coach.’

• Australian Institute of Sport
• State Institutes or Academies of Sport
• AFL Players’ Association
• Australian Cricketers’ Association
• Rugby Union Players’ Association
• Rugby League Professionals’ Association
• Australian Basketballers’ Association
• Australian Professional Footballers’ Association
• National squad members from Sport Australia funded sports
• Senior/head coaches from state and territory institutes/academies of sport, national teams from Sport Australia funded sports or participating professional sports.

Applications for Semester 1 2024 close at midnight on Sunday, 5 November. Successful applicants will be sent confirmation of status as an Elite Athlete and details will be provided to the University of Newcastle admissions team. https://www.theforum.org.au/elite-athletes

Scholarships for women aged 18 – 20, studying a STEM related degree 

Our TAFE 2 Uni pathway is becoming increasingly popular as a non-ATAR option, and we invite you and your students to find out more.

Hear from Admissions Team and a current Student Ambassador about their personal journey and experience as a TAFE 2 Uni success story.  

Register now to join our recorded webinar via zoom:

Date: Thursday, 26 October 2023

Time: 5:00pm – 6:00pm

Register >> www.newcastle.edu.au/tafe 

Scholarships for women aged 18 – 20, studying a STEM related degree 

Applications Open:

Friday, 15 December 2023

To help provide opportunities for young women, last year we launched our Women of STEM Scholarship for women aged 18-20 who are entering their first year of a STEM degree at university.

The Women of STEM Scholarship is a national program and provides women with financial grants of $5,000 per year for the life of their degree, up to a maximum of 5 years . This year we have awarded scholarships to three exceptional female students.

Learn more

Applications Close:

Friday 16 February 2024

MBA Scholarship Program 2024 -2025

MBA Scholarship Program 2024 -2025

MedEntry is running a free, interactive, online webinar for careers advisors, parents and students. The session will cover pathways into medicine/dentistry, prerequisite subjects, how to prepare for UCAT & interviews (including free resources for students), and a Q&A session. 

The webinar will be run by Dr Ray Boyapati (Gastroenterologist at Monash Health and Director of Education at MedEntry). A similar session which was run last year was very well received by attendees. 

Date and Time: Monday, 6 November 2023 from 7:30-8:30pm AEDT (Melbourne / Sydney time). Please click here to register. All registrants will receive a link to the recording in the event you are unable to attend.

Thank you, and we look forward to seeing you there!

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.

Year 10 Blazer fittings for next year

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.