From our Learning Enrichment Coordinator, Mrs Nicole Walters
Dear BCC Community,
I hope everyone has had a blessed year so far and this finds everyone well and rested, looking forward to the remainder of the year with hope and joy.
I wanted to share a reflection that has deeply impacted my perspective, in hopes that it might resonate with others within our community. Towards the end of last year, I had the opportunity to attend ‘Showcase’, an evening of senior student major works. It was an exhibition of physical objects our seniors had designed and produced, as well as the culmination of their dramatic endeavours for the HSC. This event provided a wonderful insight into the classroom experiences and the array of choices students have, not only during their senior years but also throughout their secondary education leading up to the HSC.
During this evening, I was surprised at the appreciation students expressed for my presence. I realized that, apart from the staff, most attendees had a student presenting or performing. This led me to contemplate the value of such events not only for the students themselves but also for the wider community at BCC, particularly younger students and their families. “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it.” 1 Corinthians 12:26. We are all acutely aware of expectations the secular world projects onto our students’ lives at every opportunity and from multiple angles and platforms. Being a part of a Christian community within which we celebrate our students, can provide a balance to this.
When children and young people feel supported in their education, we understand they are more inclined to take academic risks, thereby developing their capacity, experience, and knowledge. Our BCC community, comprising educators, parents, and students, excels in fostering confident learners. Embracing new experiences also aligns with our commitment to Christian service, a value we instil in our students for their present and future lives.
Throughout the year, our College hosts numerous events celebrating student achievements and service, similar to Showcase. “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” Hebrews 13:16. If you have attended any of these events, thank you. If not, please consider this your invitation. Bringing a young person to witness senior achievements can foster a sense of belonging and inspire them to set their own goals. Similarly, having our wider community attend events where students are not directly involved, such as musical showcases, strengthens bonds and greatly encourages those who are performing or serving.
In closing, as a parent of 4, I understand that time is tight and there is always something more that needs to be done. This is not to say we need to do more, or be better, it is rather, to highlight your attendance is valued at these events and if you have ever wondered if it would be suitable that you attend (like I sometimes did as a parent), please know it would not only be suitable, but very much appreciated.
Wishing you all a blessed week ahead.
Nicole Walters
Learning Enrichment Coordinator
Prayer and Praise
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 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:
- School Commemoration – Amelia Kotze: May God comfort all who gathered to remember Amelia Kotze this Wednesday, bringing peace and solace to their hearts. We thank God for the impact she had on our school community and the many lives she touched. God, as we share memories of Amelia, help us to honor her legacy. May her contributions to our school be remembered and cherished. Let Amelia’s life inspire us to live with compassion and dedication.
- Secondary students completing assessments: We pray for our secondary students as they complete their assessments. Grant them the wisdom and understanding they need to showcase their knowledge and skills. We ask for your strength and endurance for our students. Help them to manage their time effectively and to stay focused and determined throughout the assessment period.
- Teachers completing reports: May God grant teachers the wisdom and clarity they need as they complete their reports. We ask for your strength and endurance for our teachers as they finish their reports. Give them the energy and perseverance they need to complete their tasks diligently.
- Coins of Compassion (Week 10, Friday): Pray that students develop empathy and understanding for poverty. May the day be one of unity and generosity, raising significant funds for the cause.
- Mueller College Worship Tour: Pray that their tour continues to bless other schools and students. May the seeds planted in the hearts of our students grow, prompting meaningful conversations and leading to a deeper faith.
Prayer for HSC Students
It’s that time of year again when we ask people to volunteer to pray for the 2024 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 8 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 14 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
21.06.24 | Kinder Excursion to Oakvale Wildlife Park
26.06.24 | Term 2 Formal Assembly
01.07.24 – 05.07.24 | Year 5 Camp
04.06.24 | Year 2, Year 3, Primary Ensembles Excursion to The Lion King Jnr
Secondary
27.06.24 | Zone Boys Futsal Gala Day
27.06.24 | Zone Girls Basketball Gala Day
04.07.24 | Year 12 University of Newcastle Careers Advisor’s Workshop
Whole College
05.07.24 | Coins for Compassion
06.07.24 | School Holidays
29.07.24 | Back to School
Save the date
12.09.24 | Primary Show
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.
Coins for Compassion Day
We are excited to be holding another Coins for Compassion day on Friday, 5 July. The day will be similar to those in the past with the Primary School having a class competition for the longest line of coins and the Secondary School holding a Fair with Connect groups running stalls. The day is mufti and is a great way to end the term.
As a College, we sponsor six children through Compassion Australia, a Christian international development organisation that supports children living in poverty. We desire that students at Belmont Christian College develop compassion and concern for children living in poverty around the world.
Over the years, we have raised $50,000 for the sponsorship of our children and the work of Compassion. Our College staff sponsors Byron from Uganda, and the student body sponsors Chepkemoi Ruth from Kenya, Dodong from the Philippines, and Petrha, Stevi, and Chanda from West Timor.
This year, we are endeavouring to raise $5,000 to sponsor our children for the next twelve months and provide family gifts for each family. We also aim to raise an additional $5,000 to contribute to Compassion‘s ‘Poverty Stops With Me’ challenge.
Primary School students can to pre-order their lunch. The children are able to purchase a meal deal with a sausage sizzle, drink and small packet of chips. Orders can be made through Munch Monitor by clicking here.
Secondary students will have a range of food options to purchase on the day from stalls.
Please note that the canteen will be closed on Coins for Compassion Day.
We encourage parents and our community to come along side our students in raising funds for Compassion Australia. Donations can be made directly through our website on the Coins for Compassion Donation Page.
Support Ronald McDonald House through Learning Enrichment
In preparation for the upcoming Ronald McDonald House Charity Dinner (5.30pm – Friday, 16 August 2024), Primary students from our Learning Enrichment Program are actively engaged in a range of purposeful activities this term. Under the guidance of Mrs Walters and her team, the students are meticulously gathering donations, organising a series of fundraising initiatives, and curating unique items for the charity auction.
Some tickets are still currently available.
We’d like to thank those who have already supported this year’s dinner by donating items for our silent auction or funds for Ronald McDonald House:
The Little Garden (Jessica Lumley)
Maureen Bullock
LR Hair Dressing (Lea-anne Ribeiro)
Baker Love Lawyer
Estetiko Skin and Laser (Amy Lennox)
Steve Walters
Petstock
Caves Beach Butchery
The Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Jets
Thank you to these donors, your generosity will undoubtedly contribute to surpassing last year’s success, allowing us to make an even more substantial impact on the lives of those in need.
Together, let us continue to provide vital assistance to the Ronald McDonald House Charities.
To donate items for the silent auction please contact our student representatives charitydinner@bcc.nsw.edu.au
Sponsorship of the event or donations to Ronald McDonald House can be made directly through our site here:
BCC Business Directory
Our Parent’s Business Directory is available on the College website via the Community Hub. It is so great to see many BCC parents get on board with this initiative and share their business details with the wider BCC community.
If you are keen to join this Business Directory, which is exclusive to current BCC parents, please enter your business.
Restore Parent Coaching Information Sessions
The College continues to partner with Restore Parent Coaching, and we encourage BCC parents and carers to investigate further by attending a free online information session with Shelby and Lil. There is a Zoom session coming up next on Tuesday, 13 August from 7:30pm. If next week does not suit, there are other dates available in the RSVP link below. Both Shelby and Lil would love to meet you and offer their support as you do the journey with raising your child.
Download the Sentral Parent App today!
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.
Sport News
Aerobics
Our 4 Primary aerobics teams travelled to UNSW last weekend for the NSW State Aerobics Championships.
The girls have put in many hours of work since the start of the year and this was sure to be a big test. The State competition is growing with more teams now vying for coveted entry spots at the National competition later in the year on the Gold Coast.
The ‘Superstars’ (Yr 1) and ‘Backstreet Girlz’ (Yr 5) both finished 2nd, booking their place up north with silver medals in their respective competitions.
The ‘Thunderbolts’ (Yr 5/6) finished 5th and the ‘Galaxy Girls’ (Yr 1) were 6th in their events.
Well done to our aerobics girls for all your hard work!
CIS Cross Country
Six Primary students and one Secondary student braved the conditions back at the Sydney Equestrian Centre for the NSW CIS Cross Country Championships after their success at CSSA the week before. Just getting to this level is an outstanding achievement.
Skye Porter, Mia Porter, Zirk Lombard, Jade Reeves, Miriam Meier, Louella Scharfe, and Violet Burgum ran in rain and mud over a testing course of concrete, dirt and hills.
Three of those students will go on to the NSW PSSA All Schools carnival next month with Jade Reeves winning the Senior Girls Multiclass event and Skye Porter finishing 6th in the 10yrs. Twin sister Mia Porter finished agonisingly close in 7th position, just 3 seconds behind Skye, giving her the position of first reserve for PSSA. Violet Burgum finished 4th in under 14 Girls.
Congratulations to our Cross Country runners.
Girls CSSA Soccer
After winning the Zone competition a few weeks ago in Taree, our Primary Senior Girls played in the NSW CSSA finals last week down in Castle Hill. The girls were exceptional in their gameplay, finishing 2nd in their pool and qualifying for the semi-finals. After a draw and a loss, Belmont had to win their final game against Tyndale to qualify for the knockout rounds and that’s what they did, with a hard fought 1-0 win putting them through.
In a physical semi-final, our girls went down 3-1 to eventual winners, Mamre, but came away having had a great day and giving their all.
Awesome job girls!
Primary Girls Netball Gala Day
We are thrilled to share the achievements of our Primary Girls Netball teams from the recent Netball Gala Day! Both our Senior and Junior teams displayed remarkable skill, determination, and sportsmanship throughout the event.
Our Senior team had an outstanding day, going undefeated and showcasing their exceptional teamwork and talent. Their hard work paid off as they clinched the grand final with a decisive 15-4 victory. It was an impressive performance, and we are incredibly proud of their accomplishment.
The Junior team also had an incredible run, remaining undefeated throughout the day. Their journey to the grand final was marked by resilience and enthusiasm. In a nail-biting final match, they played their hearts out but narrowly missed the win, with a final score of 16-14. Despite the loss, their effort and spirit were truly commendable, and they have set a high standard for future competitions.
Creative News
Primary Show Auditions
Our Primary Show Auditions for ‘The Primary Show – Light’ are underway, and the talent and enthusiasm from our students have been truly inspiring! Held each Wednesday lunchtime from Week 5 to Week 10 in the Hall, these auditions have seen a wonderful array of performances, all celebrating our theme of ‘Light’ (He is the Light, My burden is light). It has been heart warming to watch our young performers courageously step forward to showcase their gifts.
Parents, you would be proud to see the quality of performances your children have put on. From heartfelt singing to creative skits, each act has brought joy and excitement to our lunchtime audiences. The students have not only entertained but also embodied the spirit of our theme in such a meaningful way.
As we build up to our primary show night we want to extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the performers for their hard work and dedication.
Mueller College Visit
Recently, Belmont Christian College welcomed Mueller College from Queensland as part of their inspiring worship tour. This event was a fantastic opportunity for our students to engage in meaningful worship and fellowship with their peers from across the nation.
The day started with an incredible chapel service led by Mueller College students. Their powerful message of faith deeply resonated with our students, encouraging them to reflect on their own spiritual journeys. The worship music was equally moving, filling the room with an uplifting spirit that brought everyone closer together.
After the chapel service, our students had the chance to participate in various breakout workshops. These sessions were designed to deepen their understanding of faith and community, offering hands-on activities that were both fun and educational. From small group discussions to interactive sessions, our students were fully engaged and eager to learn.
We are truly grateful to Mueller College for visiting and sharing their passion for worship with us. Their dedication and enthusiasm left a lasting impact on our students, who greatly benefited from this enriching experience. We look forward to future opportunities to connect and grow together in faith. Thank you Mueller College for an unforgettable day of worship and fellowship!
Parent/Carer Information and Support
Future Choices Transition Expo
Careers News
Griffith University Tertiary Preparation 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.
2024 Apprenticeship/Traineeship & Jobs Expos
Central Coast Apprenticeship/Traineeship & Jobs Expo
Tuesday, 13 August 2024 – 3pm to 7pm
Mingara Recreation Club, 12/14 Mingara Dr, Tumbi Umbi NSW
Newcastle & Hunter Apprenticeship/Traineeship & Jobs Expo
Tuesday 20, August 2024 – 3pm to 7pm
NEX – Newcastle Exhibition & Convention Centre, 309 King St, Newcastle West NSW
Fundraising with Entertainment Book
Entertainment Book Available 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.
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