Newsletter

We’ve just passed Easter weekend, one of the most significant dates in the Christian calendar. While much attention is paid to Good Friday, and Resurrection Sunday, we often don’t think much about the silence of what some traditions term ‘Holy Saturday’. But take a minute to empathise with the followers of Jesus in that moment. Everything they’d hoped for, the long-awaited coming of the Messiah, the establishment of a new Kingdom, all the incredible things they’d seen over the last three years – all of it ended in apparent crushing defeat. I’m certain they would have felt hopeless, shattered, and scared. Whilst we know the ending to that story, the followers of Jesus had no idea that hope was just a day away.

I think Holy Saturday can speak to us today. Something I’ve noticed more and more over my years of teaching is a hopelessness creeping into the edges of younger generations. It’s all too easy to give up, to see all the dark things in the world and become convinced that we are incapable of making change, and that the world is doomed regardless of what we do. Whilst Gen Z and Gen Alpha certainly aren’t the first generations in history to experience this challenge, combining it with a perpetually scrolling social feed of negativity is compounding the effect. Even Christians can sometimes be caught up in this kind of historical nihilism, a kind of ‘bunker down and wait it out’ mentality.

We should certainly examine our culture from a critical lens, and challenge the ways in which our world perpetuates injustice, cruelty, and darkness. But in doing so, it’s tempting to become hopeless, especially in a digital and globalised world where the worst parts of humanity are splashed across our social media feeds. Confronted with so much darkness, so much chaos, so much fear, it is all too easy to become drawn into the vortex ourselves and give in to paranoia and nihilism.

But fear is not the answer. After all, God is love, and “there is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear”, as the writer says in 1 John 4. For a follower of Jesus, it’s important to remember that no matter how the world is, hope is on the way, and it’s my job to engage fully and deeply with our world in order to play my part in setting things right. No matter how dark Saturday might be, Sunday’s coming, and there’s a beauty in holding on to hope even when hope is hard to find. Perhaps, then, the silence of Saturday could instead be an inhaled breath, one held for the hope that’s just around the corner. Or maybe, just maybe, I could see that this hope is actually already here.

BCC Prayer Warriors

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:

Protection and Enjoyment During Secondary Camps in Week 11:
We lift up the upcoming school camps scheduled for Week 11. We ask for God’s divine protection to encompass every student and staff member involved. We pray for moments of joy, fellowship, and spiritual growth during these camps. May the activities planned be filled with excitement, learning, and bonding experiences, fostering lifelong memories and friendships.

Deputy Principal and Business Manager’s Start: We uplift our new Deputy Principal and Business Manager as they prepare to join our College community in Term 2. Grant them a smooth transition, wisdom in their roles, and favour with their colleagues. May they find fulfilment and success in their new positions.

Treating Students and Others with Kindness: Instill in us a spirit of kindness, compassion, and empathy towards all those we encounter within our College community. Help us to see each child, parent, and colleague through your eyes, and to extend grace and understanding in every interaction. May the Holy Spirit work through our teachers, enabling us to support our students with love and kindness. May His presence be felt in our classrooms, bringing comfort, encouragement, and hope to all who enter.

Agile Strategic Planning: Grant us wisdom as we engage in strategic planning for the future of our College. Help us to adapt and innovate, to anticipate challenges and opportunities, and to make decisions that will lead to the growth and flourishing of our educational community. May our plans be aligned with your will and guided by your wisdom to grow student’s up in Christ.

Upcoming Important Dates

Primary

08.04.24 | Year 3 Sydney Zoo Excursion
08.04.24 | Year 6 Excursion China Town
29.04.24-01.05.24 | Year 6 Camp
08.05.24 | Mother’s Day Stall
09.05.24 | Primary Athletics Carnival
10.05.24 | Kindergarten Mother’s Day Breakfast

Secondary

08.04.24-12.04.24 | Year 12 Half Yearly Exams
09.04.24-12.04.24 | Secondary Camp Week
29.04.24 | Year 11 Construction White Card Training
02.05.24 | Secondary Zone Netball
03.05.24 | Year 12 HSC Music Conservatorium Visit
06.05.24-07.05.24 | Secondary CIS State Swimming Carnival
22.05.24 | Secondary Athletics Carnival

Whole College

15.04.24-26.04.24 | School Holidays
25.04.24 | ANZAC Day

SAVE THE DATE

03.12.24 | End of Year Festival

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.

Our Kindergarten mothers/carers are invited to a special breakfast with your Kindergarten child held at the College on Friday, 10 May.

Primary School Mother’s Day Stall

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 are pleased to have many new staff that have recently joined us here at the College. Over the term you will have the opportunity to learn more about them in our Newsletter.

You may also like to read the Our People page on the College website to find out a little more about all of our staff.

Introducing…

Mr Elijah Roussos – Primary Teacher

Tell us about your photo.
Surfing is the activity I am constantly drawn to. Whether I only have 10 minutes to paddle out and catch one wave or I’m catching tiny waves with one of my daughters, I want to be in the ocean riding waves. Immersed in God’s creation.

What church do you attend?
Charlestown SDA

What church ministries excite you?
I really enjoy being a part of the worship team at church.

What makes you look forward to working at BCC?
Working with Christian colleagues that love life and love teaching.

Mrs Mari du Plessis – Food Tech Aide

Tell us about your photo.
My prop is little figurines that represent my family. I really love being married to my husband and being a mum to my two sons. I find so much joy and fulfilment in my relationships with them and I deeply appreciate the blessing of having them around me.

What church do you attend?
C3 Church Victory

What church ministries excite you?
I enjoy making people feel welcome and loved, so anywhere from helping at the Kids Church sign-up desk, welcoming new people or serving tea and coffee are usually where you will find me.

What makes you look forward to working at BCC?
I love how friendly and loving the staff is towards each other as well as the students. It is such an encouraging and uplifting community to be a part of.

Mrs Samantha Ferguson – Secondary Teacher

Tell us about your photo.
My passion for devouring the pages of a good book has been a constant source of joy and excitement since my teenage years. My love of reading lies in its ability to transport me beyond the confines of reality, granting a temporary escape where imagination reigns supreme.

What church do you attend?
Currently looking

What church ministries excite you?
My excitement for Youth ministries stems from the immense value I feel when contributing to the spiritual growth of young minds. Youth ministries engage with children and teenagers, guiding them to know God, and helping them discover the strength and direction He can offer in their lives – how powerful is that!

What makes you look forward to working at BCC?
The school’s focus on developing authentic and meaningful relationships with students.

Year 11 Society and Culture Incursion – Give Freedom International

In an exclusive interaction, our Year 11 Society and Culture students had the privilege of meeting Kath Kable, Managing Director of Give Freedom International, alongside Dr. Rajendra Gautam and his wife, Sarah. 

Dr. Gautam and Sarah work tirelessly on the front lines of human trafficking in Nepal, rescuing and rehabilitating over 66,000 people to date. Their organisation, 3 Angels Nepal, encompasses a school, vocational training, women’s safe haven, children’s homes, and a community radio station. As a Newcastle-based charity, our students were excited to learn about their mission and Rajendra’s inspiring personal story of hope through times of adversity. This incursion was invaluable in helping raise awareness about the many critical and contemporary issues that exist globally today and gave our students the opportunity to assess how these issues relate to them personally and within their unit – The Social and Cultural World.

Primary CIS Swimming

Our Primary aged swimmers finished their swimming campaign last week at the NSW CIS Carnival at Homebush. We had 9 students represent the College at the carnival and each gave their all at the event.

Most of the times swum by our studnets at this event were their fastest of the year. Congratulations to our swimmers!

NSW Schools Mountain Biking

Lincoln Baker, Xavier Griffiths (Secondary) and Ezra Cole (Primary) competed in the NSW Schools Mountain Biking Cross Country (XCO) and Funduro events last week.

The trio took on a very muddy Glenrock MTB course in a very competitive event and performed well on the day. 

Suffice to say their riding kits needed some serious soaking after the event!

Uniform Shop Closed April School Holidays

The Uniform shop is closed during the April School Holidays. Any orders that are placed online during the School Holidays will be packed and posted out on the first day the uniform shop reopens for Term 2. We encourage parents to purchase any uniforms they require before school holidays commence or when the uniform shop reopens 1pm Tuesday, 30 April 2024.

Summer to Winter Uniform Change-Over Period

As we finish Autumn, the first two weeks of Term 2 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 Monday, 29 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, 13 May.

Note that if boys choose to wear the ‘new style’ All-season Shirt, the shirt must be worn tucked in with a tie. 

Please refer to our website for further uniform information.

The following activities and services are offered by external providers and 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. 

Good for kids good for life

University of Newcastle Student/Parent Webinars

2025 Joint Medical Program Info Session Webinar 

Date: 8 May 2024 

Time: 6:30pm  

Register Here 

The Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine (The JMP) is an innovative five-year degree delivered jointly with the University of New England and supported by Hunter New England Local Health District and Central Coast Local Health District. Join us for an info session to hear from Joint Medical Program academics and current students about the program, admission requirements and much more. 

TAFE to Uni Webinar 

Date: 22 May 2024 

Time: 5:00pm 

Register Here 

Interested in taking your studies to the next level? Join us online to learn why TAFE and vocational qualifications are an excellent and popular pathway into the University of Newcastle. Tune in to meet our admissions staff and student ambassadors. You will learn about what it’s like studying at our University, TAFE and other vocational qualifications entry pathways, how to apply, scholarships, jobs on campus, support and services and more! 

Y10 Subject Selection Webinar – Parents and Students 

Date: 29 May 2024 

Time: 6:00pm 

Register Here 

Our student ambassadors will share key subject selection information and share their stories and experiences with subject selection and transition to University studies. 

Mid-Year Info Session 

Date: 5 June 2024 

Time: 5:00pm 

Register Here 

If you have questions about studying an undergraduate with us from Semester 2, we’re here to help! We’re hosting an online info session and invite you to join us. If you’ve recently had a gap year, completed TAFE or similar or have been working and are looking to retrain or make a career change, this session provides you with a number of opportunities to learn more about studying at the University of Newcastle. 

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Central Coast and Newcastle Parent and Carers Info Sessions 

We invite parents and carers of Y12 students to join us this year for our face-to-face Central Coast and Newcastle Parents and Carers Info Sessions.  

Parents and Carers will have the opportunity to hear from knowledgeable university staff and current students, covering a range of different topics to assist you in supporting your child through their transition from high school to university including entry schemes and pathways to university including our Early Entry Program.  

You’ll also have the chance to hear from current University of Newcastle Student Ambassadors about their first-hand experience transitioning from school to university, student life, support services and much more. 

Please see below dates, locations and registration links. Please share information about our Parents and Carers Info Sessions with your students and school community.  

Griffith University Tertiary Prepatation Workshop

Monday, 24 June – Friday, 28 June 2024

Get ahead of the audition process for Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University.

Tertiary Preparation Workshop (TPW) participants have the opportunity to learn more about requirements for tertiary entry, skills required for auditions and interviews, tools for enhancing executant skills, and theory and aural fundamentals. There will also be sessions on overcoming stage fright, warm-up methods, practicing effectively and introductions to tertiary courses – My Life as a Musician and Exploring Music.

TPW is open to students in years 9 – 12, and adults, who are considering auditioning for a tertiary music institution.

Parents and caregivers will also be given the opportunity to join Queensland Conservatorium Heads of Area as they discuss the Bachelor of Music degree and the future of the working life of a musician.

TPW 2024 Schedule

TPW 2024 includes practical sessions in the following:

Classical: Winds, Strings, Brass, Percussion, Guitar, Piano, Voice

Jazz: Winds, Strings, Brass, Percussion, Guitar, Piano, Voice

Popular Music: All Instruments and Voice

Composition: All genre

Important Information

Dates: Monday 24 June to Friday 28 June 2024

Venue: Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, 140 Grey Street, South Brisbane

Fees: $515 incl GST

Schedule: 2024 Program Information

Contact: open-conservatorium@griffith.edu.au for more information.

REGISTER NOW

Support a cause that’s meaningful to you by purchasing a Membership to The Entertainment App and receive a bonus extension of up to four months!

Purchase a 12 or 24 month Single City Membership and receive a bonus two months.

Purchase a 12 or 24 month Multi City Membership and receive a bonus four months.

20% of each Membership purchase will go directly to your chosen Fundraiser.

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.

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~ 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.