From our Deputy Head of Secondary, Mrs Brooke Robins
Recently, members of our Wellbeing team attended the AIS Wellbeing Conference, where Dr. Paul Fung, a psychiatrist, shared a profound analogy about life. He compared life’s journey to the game of Snakes and Ladders, illustrating how we navigate through challenges and successes.
In this analogy, the ladders represent the positive moments in life—times of progress, joy, and achievement—while the snakes symbolise difficulties that may leave us feeling as though we are moving backward or struggling to find direction. Naturally, as humans, we strive to avoid the ‘snakes’ and seek to climb the ‘ladders.’ However, just like in the game, the key is to keep rolling the dice, persevering through hardships, and embracing the journey. Ultimately, by the grace of our Lord, we continue forward and find our way.
As we approach the holidays and prepare to celebrate Easter, I find myself reflecting on the life of Jesus. The journey of faith, much like Snakes and Ladders, has its trials and triumphs. Easter reminds us of the ultimate hope found in Christ’s resurrection. Despite the struggles we face, we are reassured that there is a greater reward waiting for us in the presence of our Lord. This gives us confidence and peace, knowing that our faith anchors us through the ups and downs of life.
I’m Praying all of our BCC families experience a blessed holiday and Easter season filled with reflection, renewal, and hope.

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 Tuesday 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.
Thanks to Wendy for the nice reminder that prayer is about relationship, it is not a ritual …. “As we pray “Our Father in heaven,” God answers by imparting a childlike love and trust to our souls. When we address God as Father, every prayer transforms from ritual to relationship.” How beautiful is that picture of us calling on our Heavenly Father, and in response to that acknowledgement, He floods our souls with love and trust in Him.
Check out the prayer focus areas and upcoming dates in the image below.
Prayer Points:
- Guidance and blessings for leadership: We give thanks to God for the
exceptional leadership that has been guiding our strategic plan in such a
collaborative manner, involving staff and the community to define our College’s
purpose, values and behaviours. Pray for continued blessings on the executive
staff as they lead and direct our school in a way that honours God’s kingdom. - Musical rehearsals: Pray for energy, focus, and enthusiasm for all students and staff involved in the musical. Pray for smooth rehearsals, creativity, and teamwork as they prepare. May God bless their efforts, build their confidence, and use this production to bring joy and connection within the College community.
- Planning camps: As preparations for upcoming College camps continue, pray for wisdom in decision-making, ensuring safety, engagement, and a strong sense of community. Pray that these camps will be opportunities for students to grow spiritually, socially, and personally.
Upcoming Important Dates
Primary
07.04.25 – 09.04.25 | Yr5 Camp
09.04.25 | Yr6 Excursion to Chinatown
10.04.25 | Primary Easter Celebrations
28.04.25 – 30.04.25 | Year 6 Camp
Secondary
07.04.25 – 09.04.25 | Yr11 Camp
09.04.25 – 11.04.25 | Yrs 7-10 Interest Based Camps
16.05.25 | Yr7 & Yr10 Vaccinations
Whole College
12.04.25 – 27.04.25 | School Holidays
25.04.25 | ANZAC Day (Offsite)
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.
ANZAC Day
Each year, many schools and community groups in our region participate in the ANZAC Day march beginning at High St, Belmont and continuing to the official ceremonies at Cullen Park.
Please join many of our College staff, students and families as we mark this important day.
Students should wear their formal Summer uniform. Be sure to bring a hat and drink bottle as students will be standing for a significant amount of time in the sun.

Celebrating Mother’s Day at BCC
Mother’s Day is a special time at Belmont Christian College, and our celebrations kick off with the Primary School Mother’s Day Stall on Tuesday, 6 May. Students from Kindergarten to Year 6 will have the opportunity to choose a special gift for their mums. This is just the beginning of a wonderful week of appreciation, leading up to our College-wide Mother’s Day event on Friday. See the flyer attached for more details!

Year 1 Vision Screening
Each year the College partners with Eyecare Plus Belmont to perform vision screening for Year 1 students. This will be happening on Tuesday, 13 May.

Playgroup moving to Wednesdays
We would like to inform our Playgroup families that, starting in Term 2, Playgroup will be moving from Thursdays to Wednesdays.
Next week (Week 11), Playgroup will still run on Thursday as usual. The change to Wednesdays will take effect from the beginning of Term 2.
We look forward to continuing to provide a welcoming and engaging space for our families and little ones. Thank you for your understanding, and we can’t wait to see you on Wednesdays next term!

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
CSSA Duathlon & Triathlon
Last Friday, 40 Primary and 16 Secondary students travelled to the International Regatta Centre in Penrith to compete in the NSW CSSA Duathlon (Yr 3/4) and Triathlon (Yr 5-12).
Triathlon students could elect to compete as an individual, doing all three disciplines, or as a team, focusing on just one aspect of the race. Two students (Lucy Jack and Syanna Unwin ) did both!
It was a huge day with students from all over NSW, from different school sporting bodies competing – many in their first Duathlon/Triathlon.
Congratulations to Zirk Lombard, who was the overall Primary boys winner out of 24 entrants, competing in his first ever individual triathlon.
Our Primary girls team consisting of Keeley Frost (Swim), Elysia Terbeeke (Bike), and Mia Porter (Run) were the overall champion girls team out of the 41 teams competing.
There was a thrilling sprint finish in the senior boys event, with Archie Bell (Run) overtaking his rival in the final metres of the race to gain a bronze medal for his team, along with Liam Boyce (Swim) and Joshua Ellem (Bike)
Secondary CSSA NSW State Swimming
Congratulations to all students who attended the CSSA NSW State Swimming Championships. All students represented the College with distinction, displaying excellent attitudes throughout the day, supporting and encouraging each other no matter how their own individual races panned out.
State Age Champion
Taylor Dolph – 12 Years Girls – Age Champion !!!
Blair Gillon – 13 Years Boys – 2nd Place
Liam Boyce – 17 Years Boys – 3rd Place
Individual Results
Estella Bonsor – 17+ Years Girls 200IM 3rd Place
Liam Boyce – 17 Years Boys 50m Butterfly – 3rd Place, 17+ Years Boys 200m Freestyle – 3rd Place, 17 Years Boys Backstroke – 2nd Place
Taylor Dolph – 12 Year Girls – 50m Freestyle, 50m Butterfly, 100m Freestyle – 1st Place 50m Backstroke – 3rd Place
Blair Gillon – 13 Years Boys – 50m Freestyle 3rd Place, 50m Butterfly – 1st Place, 50m Backstroke – 2nd Place,
Skylar Moore – 14 Year Girls – 12-14 Years Girls 200m IM – 3rd Place
Hamish Rae – 16 Years Boys – 100m Freestyle – 3rd Place, 15-16 Years 200m Freestyle – 3rd Place

Creative News
Year 11 Art Excursion
Year 11 enjoyed the latest display of exceptional Year 12 HSC major works through the “Art Express” exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW in preparation for their own Body of Work which they will undertake for their Stage 6 Visual Arts course. It was inspiring to see the skills and mediums used, as well as the concept behind each artwork.
Tutor Profile – Meet Maddison Watts (Maddie)
Maddie has been teaching vocals at Belmont Christian College for 8 years; a renowned vocal coach for 11 years (with expertise in Musical Theatre), and has been singing herself for over 22 years.
Her education in Music is vast, including a Bachelor of Music Majoring in Voice at the Newcastle Conservatorium of Music, a Diploma in Musical Theatre at Brent Street, and completing Classical Grade Exams through the Trinity Guildhall Examinations.
Maddie is regularly involved in Musical Productions around Newcastle, both as a performer and in production roles including Director, Choreographer, Musical Director and Vocal Coach.
What do you love about being a vocal coach?
“I love getting to share the joy people find in music as well as making sure that people enjoy using their voice! Whether it’s just having fun or there are driven goals, I love the lightbulb moment when a concept or even just a note clicks into place.”
What do you hope your students may be able to get from learning how sing well?
“Singing is such a personal thing that a lot of people struggle to express. So many students come to me just wanting to gain confidence. This is a big goal that I really enjoy witnessing people achieve.
I also really strive for students to gain a deeper understanding of music and the way it communicates story and emotion. There is always some kind of storyline to a musical piece, and I really enjoy helping students discover this.”

Welcome to Wonderland – Our Secondary School Musical is almost here!
Get ready to step through the looking glass into a world of wonder, imagination, and theatrical magnificence! We are thrilled to invite you to our highly anticipated Secondary School production of ‘Alice in Wonderland’—a spectacular musical adventure that promises to captivate audiences of all ages.
This isn’t just any school production—it’s a testament to the dedication, creativity, and talent of our incredible students. From the whimsical costumes to the enchanting music, every detail has been carefully crafted to transport you into the topsy-turvy world of Lewis Carroll’s beloved tale. Our performers and stage crew have worked tirelessly to bring this classical story to life, and your presence and support would mean the world to them.
But this show isn’t just for the young—it’s for the young at heart, too. Alice in Wonderland is more than a children’s story; it’s a journey of curiosity, self-discovery, and embracing the joy of the unexpected. In a world that often demands structure and seriousness, this is an opportunity for all of us—adults included—to reconnect with our sense of wonder, whimsy, and playfulness.
Join us for an evening (or afternoon) filled with laughter, music, and pure theatrical joy. Let’s celebrate the incredible work of our students, immerse ourselves in the experience of live performance, and, just for a little while, believe in the impossible.
Performance Dates & Venue:
Wednesday, 4 June – 7pm
Thursday, 5 June – 7pm
Friday, 6 June – 11.30am
Friday, 6 June – 7pm
Saturday, 7 June – 1.30pm
Saturday, 7 June – 7pm
Venue: Warners Bay Theatre
Tickets: Available on the BCC Website – from Wednesday, 30 April 2025
We can’t wait to welcome you down the rabbit hole!
Secondary School Musical Sponsors
We are currently seeking sponsors for our Secondary School Musical. This is a wonderful opportunity for our BCC Business community to get involved and be a part of the magic! We are offering a compelling sponsors package including inclusion in our promotional material before and during the Musical, on signage, programmes and across our campus. More information can be found on our website-
https://bcc.nsw.edu.au/support-our-community/
Thankyou to our sponsors Knight Frank Newcastle, Bakers Delight Waratah and MPC Consulting Engineers who have already jumped on board!



College News
Exciting News – MathsHub is Here!
We are thrilled to introduce MathsHub, a new initiative that supports Secondary School students in their Mathematics learning.
MathsHub will be open every Wednesday at lunchtime in S3, where a Maths teacher will be available to assist students with:
✓ Homework and classwork
✓ Revising tricky concepts
✓ Asking any Maths-related questions
There’s no need to sign up—students can simply drop in whenever they need support. This is a great opportunity for students to strengthen their understanding and build confidence in a supportive learning environment.
We encourage all Secondary students to take advantage of this valuable resource!

Celebrating Pi Day at BCC
On March 14, we celebrated Pi Day with excitement, learning, and a touch of mathematical fun! The day was filled with engaging activities, including our special Pi Day greeting and interactive maths challenges that had students thinking outside the box.
We were honored to welcome Dr Scott Sciffer from the University of Newcastle as our guest speaker. Dr Sciffer, a passionate advocate for mathematics and education. He shared fascinating insights into the beauty and significance of pi, inspiring students and staff alike.
One of the highlights of the day was an incredible achievement by Joshua Ellem in Year 11, who recited a record-breaking 265 digits of pi from memory! This impressive feat left everyone in awe and showcased the power of dedication and mathematical passion.
A huge thank you to all the students and staff who participated with enthusiasm. Pi Day was a wonderful reminder that maths is not just about numbers—it’s about curiosity, creativity, and having fun along the way!
Alinta Uniform Shop Holiday Hours
The Uniform Shop’s final day of trade for Term 1 is Thursday, 10 April. All orders placed after this date during the holiday break will be dispatched or available for collection from Thursday, 17 April.
Normally the uniform shop isn’t open these school holidays, however they will trial opening due to the change over to winter uniform in Term 2. The uniform shop will be open 1 day per week for a few hours. We encourage parents to start to visit the uniform shop now in Term 1 to purchase winter uniforms.

Careers News
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.
NSW Mining Careers Dinner

LAT Plus Law Accelerator Program

Parent/Carer Information and Support
SWAP IT – Everyday in a lunch box

Good for Kids Good for Life

Fundraising with Entertainment Book
Entertainment Book Available Now
Support a cause that’s meaningful to you by purchasing a Membership to The Entertainment App.
20% of each Membership purchase will go directly to your chosen Fundraiser.
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.