Senior

School

Weekly

A Message from our Head of Senior School

Mrs Ramadan

Peace and blessings,

Happy New Year. It is wonderful to see our students return

motivated, full of energy and ready to commence their academic

year.

I've spent the last few days catching up with parents and it

seems that most of us, including myself, at some point worry

about our children either in a new grade, new school, or first day

of High School. If you are a parent of an anxious child, you’re

most certainly not alone. Though it’s helpful to know, we

understand that it doesn’t make the challenging role of parenting

an anxious child any easier. While at first parenting an anxious

child can feel overwhelming and difficult, I'd like you to take a

moment to recognise that you, and your family have been

presented with an opportunity. The opportunity at Bellfield

College joined by a community, guided by the values and role models

of Ahlul Bayt (as) and God willing together we have embarked on

a journey filled with much love, support and adventure!

Establishing new relationships, and strengthening existing

relationships is critical for your child's education. Please take time

to read the initiatives across, Well being, Friday sports, Extra

Curricular, Careers, STEM and English.

Our Parent Information Evening is a compulsory event for

parents and attendance is encouraged for at least one parent.

The evening aims to involve parents in their child's journey at

Bellfield College and provide communication regarding online

homework systems, Sentral parent portal tools, assessment and

reporting procedures, and academic programs.

In this edition of the Senior School Weekly, I have included an

article from Parenting Expert Michael Grose, "Talking to kids

about the Australian Bushfire crisis".

Enjoy!

Term 1, 2020

Swimming Carnival

Years 3-12

Monday 3rd

February 2020

Tafe NSW

Year 11 and Year 12

Incursion on

campus

Wednesday 5th

February 2020

Coming Up….

Parent

Information

Evening

Year K to 12

Thursday 13th

February 2020

from 6.30pm in

the College Library

Things to come…..

Bellfield College

HSC 2019 On behalf of the staff of Bellfield College I

congratulate our 2019 Year 12 students on their

accomplishments. The year 2019 was a

wonderful year and our students all worked

extremely hard, the outcome of which can be seen

in their HSC results. I am impressed with their

overall results, however I am equally impressed

by their positive work ethic and dedication to the task at hand.

We had a total of 42 students, of these students 18 completed the HSC in 2019. Below is a summary of results

for each subject according to the Top 2 Bands.

• Top Mark – Zainab Mohammadi, 94 in Standard Mathematics II

• Band 5 Achievers - Mariam Chebli, Issra Hassan, Sadaf Hazara, Layal Ibrahim, Fatima Toufaili,

Rooman Ahmadi, Ali Gharib, Nour Hariri, Leyla Kukuljac, Zainab Mohammadi, Zeid Noun, Issa Wacha-

Hassan

• Band 6 Achievers - Mariam Chebli, Sadaf Hazara, Zainab Mohammadi, Zeid Noun, Rida Saif

• NSW Distinguished Achievers - Mariam Chebli, Sadaf Hazara, Zainab Mohammadi, Zeid Noun, Rida Saif

Zeid Noun Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Psychology, Macquarie University

Zainab Mohammadi Bachelor of Engineering, University of Technology Sydney

Sadaf Hazara Bachelor of Psychological Science, University of New South Wales

Nour Hariri Bachelor of Construction Project Management, University of Technology Sydney

Mariam Chebli Bachelor of Science / Bachelor of Education, University New South Wales

Rooman Ahmadi Bachelor of Policing, Western Sydney University

Alina Jafar Bachelor of Computer Science

Fatima Al Alawi Bachelor of Bio Medical Engineering, University of Technology Sydney

Ali Al Haary Bachelor of Health Science, Western Sydney University

Hassan Rachid Bachelor of Arts pathway to teaching Secondary, Western Sydney University

We remain focused on driving whole-school improvement ensuring consistency across our teaching and learning

framework through peer coaching and student support programs including HSC Club, HSC Tutor and Stage 6

Mathematics workshops. These programs are developed using explicit data driven practise to identify students’

learning needs, developing learning targets and monitoring progress.

We are committed to creating an environment that promotes learning and high levels of student engagement,

promoting a positive learning culture where students are engaged in school and value their outcomes. Our 2020

academic program is supported by a solid cultural, sporting and co-curricular framework, as students across the

College are developed in music, drama, sporting activities, visual arts, public speaking, debating,

community and environmental committees. We also look forward to strengthening partnerships

with local universities for students and parents to help raise expectations about future study.

We congratulate each and every one of our students and wish them the very best in their future

endeavours.

PHONE FREE SCHOOL

MOBILE PHONE PROTOCOL

GIRLS BOYS

Students are provided the opportunity to hand in phones every morning at roll call.

If a mobile phone is seen, heard or used during school hours they will be confiscated

immediately and held on campus for 2 weeks.

All students are aware of the 2-week protocol.

Students late to class will receive an Afternoon Detention. Late to class can be defined simply as

‘wrong place, wrong time’. If a student is late to class / truant an entire period they are

marked as absent on the Sentral roll marking system. This is then followed up by the class

teacher and the Pastoral Care Coordinator the next day. Continued late to class / truancy may

result in further action being taken.

Homework is sent home every night. Please contact your child’s class teacher for any concerns.

Senior School Uniform - Black Leather Shoes

Black leather shoes are compulsory due to safety reasons. Students should not wear boots,

trainers, party shoes or ‘casual’ footwear, such as ‘Raybans’ or ‘Converse’. Trainers/Sports shoes

are only permitted on sports days. Sports uniform is only permitted on Sports or PE days.

Accessories (such as bangles or rings), nail polish, earrings or nose rings are also unacceptable.

Younger girls may only use white or natural hair colour ties/headbands/clips.

SPORTS at BELLFIELD Friday sports has been a successful initiative at Bellfield College. This has given the

students an opportunity to experience various sports played within various cultures. In

2020, students will experience a diverse range of internal and external sports.

Term 1 and Term 4

Sport Venue

Softball Bellfield College

Yoga Bellfield College

Volleyball Bellfield College

European Handball Bellfield College

Touch football Bellfield College

Ninja warrior (External) Burns Outdoor Obstacle Training

25 Dwyer Rd, Bringelly NSW 2556

Basketball (External) Michael Clarke Leisure Centre

2 Margaret Dawson Dr, Carnes Hill NSW 2171

2020 School Fees will be posted out on Monday 3rd February 2020.

Parents are to contact the accounts department should their invoices not be

received by Friday 8th February 2020.

Term 2 and Term 3

Through involvement in various sports students will learn new motor skills, improve their

fitness and most importantly, enjoy being part of a team environment.

Mr. Akil

Head of PDHPE

Sports Coordinator

Sport: Venue :

Soccer Bellfield College

Oz-tag Bellfield College

Netball Bellfield College

Kickball Bellfield College

Basketball/Handball Bellfield College

Rock Climbing (External) Unit 3/16 Borec Rd, Penrith NSW 2750

10 pin bowling (External) 11 Hollylea Rd, Leumeah NSW 2560

Dear parents and friends,

Welcome to 2020. Our department is eager and ready to take on the academic year. We have

some exciting units planned for Term One and interactive assessments to prepare for over the

course of the 11 weeks.

In English we begin the year completing a close study of text where students will be required

to read a complete novel. Some of the selections include; I am Malala, Holes, Miss Peregrines

Home for Peculiar Children, The Boy in Striped Pyjamas, To Kill a Mockingbird and Jasper Jones.

In Arabic, students will be completing units based on their holidays, family and meeting people.

They will learn to communicate with one another using the correct grammar and write using the

conventions of Arabic script. Their assessments will be testing spoken Arabic skills, we encourage

you to converse with your children in Arabic at home to build their confidence and pronunciation.

In Creative Arts, students will be studying a mix of Visual Arts and Music. Visual Arts is a

practical course with many interactive tasks completed in class. Music is also interactive and

most of the theory content will take place within allocated lessons. Students will have the

opportunity to showcase their creative skills during key school presentations over the course of

the year.

If you would like more information about any of the above, our teachers are ready to meet you

and discuss your questions at our upcoming Parent Information Evening this term. I look

forward to seeing you there.

Miss A. Balloot

Head of Department

CA.L.E

NEWS It has been pleasing to see our secondary school students engage so enthusiastically with the STEM

faculty. I’m particularly amazed by the curiosity demonstrated by a new year seven students. For

them, each day has a great new experience.

Our year 7 to 10 classes for science study science in context.

Year 10 are currently studying the unit “Contagion” which fits perfectly with the recent events

concerning the Carona Virus. Expect to have questions around the dinner table relating the spread of

the disease.

One Year nine science class was shocked to hear of their teacher’s addiction to DiHydrogenMonOxide

(DHMO). Students were saddened to receive the news that the teacher’s dependence on DHMO was

so great that he would not be able to survive if he was restricted from access to the chemical over

three days. DHMO is of course the life-giving liquid we commonly refer to as water or H2O.

Students researched the characteristics of the chemical and found that it was a clear colourless,

odourless liquid at room temperature. In its solid form, it was known as “ice”.

Other lesser-known facts about DiHydrogenMonOxide include it being the major component of acid rain.

Highly toxic if you breathe it in.

It is also used as a cooling agent in Nuclear reactors.

Dr Ken Silburn

Bellfield College will be participating in the Western Sydney University's Kirby Cup. This

prestigious competition consists of students from Bellfield College competing as a legal team

and arguing a hypothetical legal case.

This form of debating and arguing was initially developed as a means of training young

barristers about legal process, advocacy and persuasion. This is an important part of the

curriculum within the School of Law at Western Sydney University, providing students with the

opportunity to develop skills in appellate (as compared to trial) advocacy in real courtroom

settings.

Bellfield College will partner with The School of Law of Western Sydney University to

participate in the Kirby Cup of 2020.

WHAT DOES YOUR FUTURE LOOK LIKE?

ARE YOU READY? It's never too early to start looking into your future!

Job Jump is an online service for Bellfield College students and their parents.

A platform where no matter what you decide on doing, there will be a pathway for you. The resources listed on this website will give you

every bit of information, every contact, every course and every bit of inspiration you need to start moving forward on your career pathway!

Register by the 14th of February and be in the draw to win a mystery prize!

Visit https://www.jobjump.com.au/

Registration Tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfRWd_u-

g1U&feature=youtu.be

School: Bellfield College Password: bellfield

Ms. Haidar Careers Advisor

All about Job Jump – what are you in for?

• The most advanced, comprehensive digital ATAR and

University Course sorter that works hand in hand with the UAC

Handbook making life now a breeze for students and you to

search for their chosen courses.

• Australia's most advanced individual student Resume Builder

that incorporates a destination planner. Fast and easy to use

across 130 Career options.

• Fast Undergraduate scholarship sorter across all NSW Universities.

• 112 different careers destination planning packages, each one with class activities.

• Detailed career information on over 1,200 careers all

categorised for you into their career 19 fields.

• Fast Adjustment Factor finder, Overseas Exchange,

Accommodation across all Universities in NSW.

• Interactive yearly calendar across all news items which can

be personalised to one's careers of interest.

• Universities Open Days listing and links.

• Alternative entry to University across all NSW Universities.

• EAS information and School's Recommendation Scheme.

• Fast and easy to use directory of the top 140 sites Careers

Advisers & students need all in one place.

• TAFE courses for students' selected careers and the job

vacancies for all 112 careers based on your school locality.

• Year 10 subject selection advice across 112 careers.

• Earnings across 300 careers.

• Fast and accurate Find my Career quizzes.

• Hobby projects across 112 careers to inspire and engage students in their career.

• Gap and Volunteering opportunities......... and much more.

A Word from College Chaplain Character Strength: Heros

Fatimah Merhi: Kindness

When one acts kindly towards others, the benefits go both ways. Small, thoughtful acts

– like helping, sharing, listening, or teaching – can change both how you are perceived and

how you see yourself. When children are encouraged to be kind, their peers want to spend

more time around them. Not only does kindness strengthen social relationships, but it also

can show that one’s choices have an impact and that one has valuable skills. In short,

being kind to others is also being kind to oneself.

Islam teaches us to be kind and help each other out as much as possible. It highly

recommends feeding the poor, teaching the illiterate, and just brightening up each other’s

days with a smile. Fatimah Merhi exemplified this honorable trait on the first day of

school by extending a helping hand to one of her classmates that was struggling. Well done

Fatimah! Keep showing us the Bellfield Spirit.

Shaykh Hamid Waqar

Talking to kids about the Australian bushfire crisis

This Australian summer is a bushfire season like no other. It feels as if the whole country is burning. Landscapes the size of European countries have been burnt. Evacuees from bushfire zones are measured in the hundreds of thousands; the loss to livestock and native fauna is now in the tens of millions, and the losses to homes and to people’s livelihoods continues to grow by the day. The scale of these fires is difficult to comprehend however their impact is evident for everyone to see – shock, anxiety, sadness, fear and anger are some emotions on display. Here are some guiding principles to help ensure your child is not unduly stressed by this bushfire catastrophe: Ensure feelings of safety Children can be faulty interpreters of information so be prepared to assist them to process what they see and hear. For instance, some children may see the current smoke haze that’s covering much of our southern cities and believe the fires are close at hand. Alternatively, they may discern through the constant images of fire through the media that the fires are closer to them than they really are. Help children understand the reality of the situation in a level manner without underplaying its impact on others. Communicate at your child’s level When talking about the bushfires use language and concepts that are easy to explain and also easy for your child to understand. A six-year-old may be satisfied knowing that a large fire is burning a long way away however a sixteen-year-old may want to know about weather patterns, fire zones, watch and act scenarios are other higher level concepts before they can feel safe and secure. Monitor the media your children access Children under the age of six can be frightened by images and stories they see and hear on the TV news so it’s probably best to keep the TV turned off at news time. Older children and teens are more able to cope with disturbing images but they may not fully understand what they see. They also generally want to know what’s happening and can feel more of a sense of control when they can learn first hand the latest fire news. Common sense and sensitivity are your best assets when it comes to monitoring children and the media. Monitor your own responses Children and young people usually take their cues from their parents about how they should react to a wide range of events including natural disasters so be aware of your own responses to the fires. Generally, children feel safe and secure when their parents are calm and in control so keep a lid on those high emotions when you’re around kids. Take action Helping others overcomes our feelings of helplessness in the face of tragedy or catastrophic events. Look for ways that kids can help whether it’s donating some pocket money to one of the various bushfire appeals, helping one of the many localised action groups that have sprung up everywhere or even assisting you to minimise the possible impact of bushfires in your own community. Teach anxiety management techniques The magnitude of the bushfires can be the cause of anxiety for many children. Introduce your child or young person to anxiety management techniques such as deep breathing, mindfulness and other simple relaxation techniques. Remember that being close to someone who makes them feel safe can also lower a child’s anxiety. Times like we are experiencing now can be difficult for everyone. By using these principles you can help your child feel safe and reduce the likelihood of anxiety and distress in this increasingly difficult summer.

Michael Grose