Newsletter

In the book of Nehemiah, we find an inspiring story of a man who rallied his community to rebuild the walls of his city. With faith and determination, they transformed their surroundings, and in doing so, strengthened their faith in God. Similarly, here at Belmont Christian College, we are on the brink of exciting changes that will help us continue to deliver quality Christian Education by enhancing our facilities to better serve our students and community. We believe that these improvements align with God’s will for our College, and we are guided by His word to pursue these projects.

One of the imminent projects is the improvement of our roads. The current traffic situation we experience almost daily is frustrating for everyone. With the proposed plans we are confident that we will significantly reduce congestion in the local area and assist in a more streamlined pickup process in a way that improves safety for our students. We are working closely with Council to ensure that we have addressed all the concerns of our local community. In addition, this project will deliver playing courts with an all-weather service to allow our sporting program to be delivered onsite.

Plans are now in the final stages of preparation to allow submission of a development application to deliver the first stages of the major hall project. The new hall will be a place of learning, playing, performing, and community activities, serving as a powerful resource for shaping the hearts, minds, and bodies of our future generations. Initially this building will provide a multi-purpose hall suitable to sporting activities and large gatherings, as well as specialist performing arts spaces. Future stages will expand versatility of the project.

The Bible reminds us of the importance of stewardship in 1 Peter 4:10, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” Our College is a gift from God, and we have a responsibility to be faithful stewards of this gift. By improving our facilities, we are not only serving the current generation but also laying a strong foundation for the generations to come.

In Proverbs 16:3, we are reminded to commit our plans to the Lord, and they will succeed. We invite you to join us in prayer and support as we move forward with these exciting plans.

Bill Truscott
Business Manager

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 as they prepare to leave BCC and begin a new season of their lives

2. Year 4 Camp

3. Recruiting of staff for 2024

4. Students and families who are struggling either with their mental, physical or psychological health

Praise points:

1. HSC exams have finished

2. Year 5 Camp

3. Remembrance Day service

4. Growth of the Prayer Warrior group

5. New staff at BCC

Upcoming Important Dates

Primary

20.11.23 | Primary CSSA Stage 2 Basketball
23.11.23 | Year 1- Year 6 Orientation Day New Students
29.11.23 | Year 6 Graduation Assembly
30.11.23 | Year 3 Celebrations Excursion
01.12.23 | Year 6 Revolution Excursion

Secondary

20.11.23 | Year 7 Experience Afternoon
22.11.23 | Year 12 Formal
22.11.23 | Secondary Super 8’s Cricket
29.11.23 | Year 9 Geography Excursion
30.11.23 | Year 10 Dinner
30.11.23 | Christmas Chapel

Whole College

05.12.23 | BCC End of Year Festival – A celebration of learning and community
07.12.23 | Last day Students

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

Attention all Primary School parents and carers!

We are currently gathering feedback from our Primary School parents regarding a new program we plan to launch in early 2024, known as ‘BCC Grade Parents‘. 

In summary, the BCC Grade Parents program is designed to provide BCC parents with an official opportunity to support the grade that their child currently resides in, working alongside the College. As a start, each Primary School class would have one BCC Grade Parent representative, for a total of either two or three BCC Grade Parents per grade, depending on how many classes there are in that particular year. 

BCC Grade Parents would work closely with myself in my role as Director of Mission & Community for the year in question. Where appropriate, we would be in contact with the classroom teacher. 

Examples of what it may look like to be a BCC Grade Parent in the day-to-day includes, but is not limited to:

– Alongside staff, support and welcome new families into the College

– Help support the College with any big announcements and getting the ‘word around’.

– Meet up with other BCC Grade Parents in your child’s year, acting as a conduit to families in that grade

– Possibly organise dinner or lunch outings with other grade families a few times each year, especially as a new year commences

– Alongside the College, help organise crisis support food rosters as necessary and direct families from your child’s grade towards our BCC Community Hardship Fund

– Within your child’s grade, advocate parent attendance at College events such as the End of Year Festival, Musical, Rise Up etc.

– Get involved and help build the team with parent organised College events e.g. Primary School Disco

– When encouraged, ‘rally the troops’ to serve across the College e.g. book laminating, exam support, musical support etc.

– Where appropriate, share prayer points relevant to the grade in question with our College Prayer Warriors team. prayerwarriors@bcc.nsw.edu.au

– Consider what it might look like to support and encourage participation in a grade based social media page e.g. Facebook

BCC Grade Parents will serve on an annual basis, ensuring the role is regularly shared around. BCC Grade Parents will gather onsite face to face with the Director of Mission and Community twice per year in support of your role, and we will have a celebration morning tea to thank all BCC Grade Parents at the end of Term 4 each year.

Today is an open to invitation to all current Primary School parents in Beginners through to Year 5 to express their interest in this new BCC Grade Parent program for 2024. If the above interests you at all, please follow this LINK to indicate that you would like to be considered to become a BCC Grade Parent in 2024. Please note that our intention is to further grow the program into Secondary School once it has embedded into College life. 

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to pop them in the Expression of Interest form or email me directly at david.gray@bcc.nsw.edu.au

From our Head of Secondary, Alex Cameron

In the wake of hearing from Susan McLean and her informative Cyber Safe Parenting session, it struck me that there were so many areas that we as parents and school staff need to address. As Susan described the dangers and pitfalls, I found myself making basic notes in the form of personal challenge statements, or ‘Will you?’ statements. Will you join me in challenging my own complacency by committing to considering these statements below, changing the behaviour of ourselves and our kids? 

Will you take seriously the minimum ages of online apps or platforms?

Will you collect your child’s passwords?

Will you challenge adolescent logic (illogical thinking) by not engaging in it yourself?

Will you intervene with the most dangerous platforms for kids, to be that person who says ‘no’ to such platforms as Discord, Snapchat and TikTok,

Will you stop your kids taking devices into bedrooms and bathrooms?

Will you help to stop first exposure to pornography to non or never exposure, which normalises non-consensual behaviour?

Will you be the non-anxious presence for your children, so that they can talk to you about anything, by not freaking out when they need to talk?

Will you have crucial conversations about relationships, at the appropriate age and stage, in the car?

Will you commit to a balanced approach for screen time for yourself and your kids?

Will you consider a digital sabbatical: 1 hour a day, 1 day a week, 1 week a year?

Will you do a risk assessment before allowing your kids to play a game?

Will you monitor your child’s internet search content and limit app access, utilising the right setup parameters, avoiding anonymous apps?

Will you stay up to date with the office of the eSafety Commission’s updates regarding dangerous apps?

Will you commit to using the inbuilt parental controls in the devices in your household including mobile devices and actioning controls and time limits on your modem?

Will you commit to ongoing learning?

Will you check out ‘incharge’ boxes to lock away devices at night?

Will you commit to not being a ’40 year old best friend’, setting your expectations high?

Will you follow Susan McLean – cyber safety expert on Facebook or check her website?

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.

BCC student Ella Betterridge’s script selected for One Act Play Festival

Exciting news from BCC’s Secondary School Drama department! Ella Betterridge from Year 10 has penned a script that’s set to shine at the upcoming ‘One Act Play Festival’. Ella’s talent stood out amongst both international and national playwrights. Join us in celebrating this fantastic achievement as we expectantly await to watch Ella’s script come alive on the stage next April! Hats off to Mrs Naomi Stewart for her guidance and support of our Drama students.

Primary Students Surprise and Delight Office Staff

Office staff were treated to a surprise performance from some very talented students. This variety of violining virtuoso’s delighted Office staff and passers by. Check out some of the performance below:

BCC’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” nominated for CONDA Awards

Belmont Christian College’s production of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” was nominated for three prestigious CONDA awards at the Civic Theatre this week. Director Naomi Stewart was recognised for Excellence, as was Emily Shield for Excellence in Music or Vocal Direction. The crowning nomination was “Best Production 18 and Under,” highlighting the talent and dedication showcased by the entire team. Congratulations to everyone involved! This recognition is a testament to the hard work, commitment, and outstanding performance skills exhibited by our students. We celebrate this collective achievement and look forward to continued excellence in the Arts at BCC.

Primary CSSA Basketball

Our Primary Senior Boys Basketball team travelled to Penrith this week to compete in the NSW CSSA Basketball competition. 

This team is half made up of the boys that were State Runners Up last year as Juniors.

Going in to this competition without star guard, Asher Lincoln, the team knew they would have to step up and play a stronger game than they did a few weeks ago when they lost the Zone Final in overtime.

They certainly did that, with a convincing 15-5 win over Penrith, and followed that up with a 26-4 win over Greenacre.

Coaches Mr Morrison and Kynon Holmes (Yr 10) had the team ready to go for their third game, which was literally a Quarter Final against Northern Beaches, the side that beat them in the Junior Final last year.

Unfortunately for our side, the opposition had some tall and experienced players that were able to out-muscle our side and come away with the win.

We finished 2nd in our pool, which unfortunately wasn’t enough to get through to the Semi-Finals.

Well done to our boys for their achievements and teamwork over the past few weeks in the two Basketball competitions.

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. 

Attune Health Centres Wellness Wednesday

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

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

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.