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:

• A New Year at BCC: As we begin 2025, we pray for a year filled with growth, joy, and opportunities for students and staff to flourish. We pray for new families joining BCC to feel welcomed and supported. May God guide our College community, strengthening relationships and inspiring learning in all we do.
• BCC Families who are grieving: We pray for those in our community who are grieving. May they experience the comfort of the Holy Spirit and be surrounded by the love and support of family and friends during this time.
• Staff Commissioning Service: As our staff gather to dedicate the year ahead, we pray for encouragement, unity, and a renewed sense of purpose. May they be equipped and strengthened for the year of teaching and service ahead.

Primary

12.02.25 | Primary Meet the Teacher Night
21.02.25 | Primary Zone Swimming Carnival

Secondary

14.02.25 | Yr11 & 12 Drama Excursion to Sydney Theatre Company
05.03.25 | Secondary Zone Swimming Carnival

Whole College

12.02.25 | Staff Commissioning Service

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.

What is my prop all about?
I love supporting our National Rugby team, The Wallabies and watching each of their games with my wife and children.

What church ministries excite me?
Connect groups and Bible studies excite me. They are such an integral part of the church, helping connect people whilst they grow in their knowledge of The Word of God.

What does a lazy afternoon look like for me?
Pottering around the garden and chilling in the pool with my family as the sun sets.

The best thing about working at BCC is…
Working in a community that centres itself around Christ.

What is my prop all about?
I love spending time with family and friends! Having a laugh while playing cards and board games creates a great space for this. I may also be a little competitive!

What church ministries excite me?
I’m so passionate about teaching children God’s word and helping them explore how much God loves them! I enjoy co-leading our 1-5 year old department at church. I also host a ladies life group and love connecting with them regularly.

What does a lazy afternoon look like for me?
A walk or a swim at the beach, or relaxing in the backyard. I love enjoying God’s creation!

The best thing about working at BCC is…
The atmosphere and God’s presence in the College. I love the staff and students and sharing our faith!

What is my prop all about?
Rick Riordan’s “Percy Jackson” series are my earliest and fondest memories of reading. They were the first domino to fall, resulting in my vocation as an English teacher and novelist.

What church ministries excite me?
Small groups are the underrated backbone of the modern church, empowering fellowship and discipleship in these industrial times.

What does a lazy afternoon look like for me?
I may be found reading a novel, writing a manuscript, or producing a song.

The best thing about working at BCC is…
Being supported to instil Christ-centred values and understanding in young people. Inviting them to experience Christ’s love and supporting them to grow as Jesus’ disciples.

Over the last three years the College has seen a significant increase in the number of requests from families for external therapists to come to the College to deliver intervention for their child during the school day. This includes speech therapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, physiotherapists and, in some cases, academic tutors. The introduction of NDIS funding and better identification of individual student need has contributed to this growth.
 
The College acknowledges the very important work that these therapists do to support our students, and we genuinely value the therapy they provide. We know that it sets our students up for success in both the classroom and at home. The College has always endeavoured to support our families by allowing therapists access to College facilities during the day. Unfortunately, as the College has grown with two additional classes in 2025, we have less and less spaces available for this to occur. Coupled with that, the increased number of students across the College coming out of class to participate in these interventions is beginning to cause major disruptions to our core work of teaching students the curriculum and is creating additional administrative work for our office staff.
 
As a result of this, our capacity to assist families is now under immediate review as we seek to determine whether we have suitable spaces available and at which times during the day. At present, we are unable to accommodate all requests from families for a therapist or academic tutor to come into school. We may have some capacity to accommodate a small number of requests, but parents are advised that we can offer no guarantees. For those parents whose children access the support of external providers, please contact them as soon as possible to discuss alternative service delivery outside of the College. 
 
If after these conversations, there are limited options for alternative service delivery for your child, you may apply to have therapy continue at school (see attached form). The College’s Learning and Support Team will review all applications and will offer places based on those with the greatest need. Applications will need to be completed and returned to the College by 4pm on Thursday, 20 February. Applications received after this will not be reviewed. 
 
We understand and acknowledge that this may cause some families concern, given that previously the College has been able to support the delivery of these services. Please understand our circumstances have changed whilst the demand has also increased. We thank you for your understanding and appreciate your cooperation to seek alternative service delivery arrangements. If you have further questions, please email college@bcc.nsw.edu.au
 
Yours sincerely,
 
Sharon Sopher
Principal
David Holland
Deputy Principal

As families work with medical professionals such as paediatricians, psychologists and speech therapists it is quite common for families to seek the support of teachers with completing screening assessments. If this occurs and a child’s medical professional needs a teacher assessment completed to assist them, please send the information to the College email  marked ‘Attention: Head of Student Learning and Support’. The Learning Support Team will determine the most appropriate teachers to complete the assessments and oversee that each is completed in a timely manner. Please do not send these assessments directly to students’ class teachers. 

College Office Hours 
The College Office hours are 8am – 4pm weekdays. 
 
College Office Contacts 
Our Administration Team can be contacted by phoning the College on 4922 8300 and following the prompts or by using the email format firstname.lastname@bcc.nsw.edu.au. 
Primary Administration Assistant: Mrs Debbie Paardekooper – Primary enquiries & absences
Secondary Administration Assistant: Mrs Kathy Evans – Secondary enquiries & absences
Registrar: Ms Teena Knott – Enrolment enquiries 
Receptionist: Mrs Laura Ioannides & Mrs Nimali Vippond – payments, general enquiries 
 
Bus Transport 
A range of buses service the College. Information on the catchment area, routes and timetables can be found by visiting our Transport page on our website. 
Bus pass applications and updated information need to be completed online. The application will be endorsed by the College and then the Opal Card is mailed directly to the address provided on the application. 
 
Medical Action Plans 
If your child has a medical action plan, please contact the Administration Assistant for your Primary or Secondary school student at the College Office so that the management plan can be implemented or updated for your child. 
 
Manage Your School Fees 
Belmont Christian College uses Sentralpay to manage school fees. 
School fees statements and further information have been emailed this week allowing you to register and set up your payment plan via the Sentral Parent Portal.
For further information on fees and payment options you can visit our website, or email College@bcc.nsw.edu.au
 
Parent Volunteers 
Parents/Carers have many opportunities to assist the College in a variety of ways. Opportunities for parent/carer help include sports coaching, community garden, reading groups, stalls, camps and excursions. Notices requesting help regularly appear in the College Newsletter. 
Please note that all volunteers who assist at the College must read, complete & return the Volunteer Induction Handbook, which is available at the Office or from classroom teachers, prior to being able to volunteer. When volunteering, parents need to sign in and out at the College office.
 

Parenting is one of life’s most challenging journeys, particularly in today’s changing society and tech-evolving world. We want the best for our children and all need some help along the way. Restore Parent Coaching is based around a framework using resources created by psychologist Dr. Jenny Brown (Ph.D.) to help parents navigate their particular needs. You may just want to gain some fresh insight, or have a specific issue to explore. 

A key theme is the idea that we cannot actually change our children, but we can change ourselves. Our responses towards our children have a profound impact on their reaction, which can promote positive outcomes and strengthen connections in your family.
 
As a coach, I desire to equip parents with the tools, knowledge and opportunities for powerful parenting. I am keen to come alongside you to support and collaboratively discover new possibilities, creating a platform for your family relationships to flourish. 
 
I will be visiting BCC on Wednesday, 12 February at our Primary School Meet the Teacher Evening and am looking forward to meeting you. In the meantime, I encourage you to visit my website or contact me using the details below.
 
Shelby Brown 
0423 933 102
restoreparentcoaching.com.au
 

Last year, we launched a new initiative called Primary School Grade Parents, where a small number of parents in each grade further supported the growth of community across the Primary School . 
 
We are continuing our Primary School Grade Parent program in 2025. You can find out who your grade parents are by clicking on this link HERE.
 
If you are interested in becoming a Primary School Grade Parent in the future, with a few spots still available for 2025, and wish to find out more about this College initiative, then please feel free to express your interest HERE. 

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.

The excitement is building as we prepare for our upcoming Secondary School musical, Alice in Wonderland! With the curtain set to rise soon, we’re diving headfirst into costume creation—but we need your help to make the magic happen.
 
We are looking for parent helpers with sewing/crafting skills (all levels) to assist in bringing our characters to life through their costumes. Whether you can whip up a garment from scratch or just help with simple alterations, your contribution will be greatly appreciated.
 
Details:
What: Sewing/crafting costumes for Alice in Wonderland.
When: Sewing/crafting will take place at home, with all resources provided (packs for each costume will be distributed. For example, you might get a waistcoat pack with 5 waistcoats to embellish).
Timing: Costumes will be handed out in Week 6, Term 1, and we ask that all completed costumes be returned by Week 11, Term 1.
Experience: All skill levels welcome! We’ll provide guidance, patterns, images and materials.
How to Get Involved: Please email kate.donaldson@bcc.nsw.edu.au or call 49228300 during office hours by the end of Week 4 to express your interest.
 
Your support will help ensure that our students shine on stage in costumes as whimsical as the story itself. Thank you in advance for your time and talents!
 
Sincerely,

Kate Donaldson
 Creative Arts Curriculum Leader / Musical Producer

The Secondary Swimming Carnival kicked off Term 1 with a mix of competitive races, fun events, and plenty of energy in and out of the pool. Despite a few unexpected technical challenges, the day ran smoothly thanks to the incredible efforts of staff and students. From fierce relays to spirited house chants, the community came together to make it a fantastic event.

A special thank you to Mr Hall and his team for their leadership and grace under pressure, ensuring a successful day in the heat. Results will be available shortly, and in the meantime, check out some photos from the carnival!

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.

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.