Term 3 - Week 6 l August 2021
SENIOR SCHOOL WEEKLY
Parent Teacher PHONE Interviews – Monday 13th September 2021 4:15pm to 8:30pm (Bookings open Monday 23rd August at 9:00am)
Page | 1
Imam Hussain & Lady Zainab Hussain: “O Zainab, can you see the light of God in the eyes of the orphans?” Zainab: “O Hussain, can you hear the speech of God in the cries of the oppressed?” Hussain: “O Zainab, can you envision a universal legacy beyond a historical tragedy?” Zainab: “O Hussain, can you sense the courage to voice a timeless message?” Hussain: “O Zainab, can you see how our caravan treads a long path to an everlasting destiny?” Zainab: “O Hussain, can you hear the calling of Ashura in the story of humanity?” Hussain: “O Zainab, every day is Ashura and every land is Karbala!” Zainab: “O Hussain, Ashura is the torch of our vision.” Hussain: “O Zainab, Karbala is the voice of our mission.”
Our sincerest condolences to the Imam of our time, Imam al-Mahdi (ʿaj), the Muslim community, and all of humanity on the commemoration of Imam Ḥusayn’s tragedy and legacy. In remembrance of Imam Hussain and Lady Zainab, the IHSAN Department would like to thank our parents, staff and students for working together to enlighten our lives with the virtues of Ashura while empowering each other to voice Imam Hussain’s universal message in every area of our education and character formation at the College and beyond. Warm regards, Mohamed Wehby Director of IHSAN Page | 2
Human Society & its Environment STUDIES OF RELIGION – Year 12 Ever wondered what a classroom full of teenagers speaking about inner and world peace looks like? Wonder no more, welcome to our studies of religion class! For the last couple of weeks, we have delved into complex and dynamic topics stimulating the young minds of the future. We have examined how to achieve a sense of peace through sacred texts, principal beliefs as well as exploring the concept of world peace.
Page | 3
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Year 7 Technology students have been conducting investigations on the management of environments, such as farms and plantations (Agriculture food and fibre production) and the use of resources produced and harvested to sustain human life (Food Technologies). Students researched about the processes of food and fibre production and investigated the innovative and sustainable supply of agriculturally produced raw materials. Students gained knowledge and understanding of managed systems that produce food and fibre through designing and producing solutions. The students have started working on their assessments of repurposing recyclable items to make a ‘growing vessel’. The students are enjoying their practical google lessons seen in the attached images as they work safely to make a self-watering system. Looking forward to seeing their end product. Well done year 7, keep up the good work. Kind regards, Mrs Hijazi
Page | 4
Celebrate Keep Australia Beautiful Week by taking the pledge to refuse single use plastic. Here are some simple swaps you can make.
Page | 5
Sport @ Bellfield College PDHPE Promoting healthy eating habits during online learning Is your kitchen doubling as the school canteen? We feel your pain! It is extremely challenging preparing meals and snacks to keep your kids energised and focused for online learning without feeling like you are in the kitchen all day. During online learning it is more important than ever to try and keep your child’s energy sustained in order to avoid the ‘Zoom Gloom’. Everything your child eats and drinks is extremely important for their cognitive health and their ability to stay focused. Here are some nutrition tips to help your children succeed during online learning: Meals and snacks should incorporate fat, protein, carbohydrates and fibre in order to provide quick and long-lasting energy until their next snack or meal. Aim to include vegetables, fruit, and wholegrain foods in all meals. Schedule your meals and snacks- Our school runs on a schedule and home schooling should be the same way. Having a structure and routine will also help with the pressures and anxiety that both the children and parents may feel during these difficult times. Start the day with a balanced breakfast – students tend to focus and behave better if they have eaten breakfast Try to feed your kids every two to four hours; more frequently for younger children or light breakfast eaters. Help your child access the right types of foods- Put fruit in a large bowl that is the very first thing children will see and is easy to grab quickly. You can also cut fresh fruit and vegetables and put in see-through containers in the fridge on lower shelves. If you put it where they see it, they’re more likely to eat it. Try and set ground rules about how many snacks are eaten during the day- being home all day, the snack pantry is super tempting which may lead to children over snacking. Aim to make those snacks balanced and healthy. Keep your children constantly hydrated throughout the day – students should keep a water bottle next to their desk and reminded to drink between classes. Make time for movement and play While eating is important, sleep also plays a big role in your child’s concentration and mood levels. Try and re-establish rules about screen and bedtime. Page | 6
10 steps for family wellbeing
Page | 7
Creative Arts, Languages and English Week 6 - Music Here we are in week 6 of our online school program. I must say it is really nice to see students cueing up online a few minutes before start time for each lesson, and for them to be so polite and enthusiastic in light of our current situation. We must make the best of it, and it certainly gives us a different perspective on education and in some ways, day-to-day life as well.
Music students have been studying music theory and appreciation and we have seen some excellent work coming into our central learning portal CANVAS! During a period like this we recognise that it is important to be adaptable and to take advantage of the tools and resources available in the online format.
Our music program lives on CANVAS to a large extent with many of the resources needed for music study being available online. There have been some notably good submissions of work received so far this term as we work our way through the curriculum! Students enjoy a variety of tasks that includes writing, listening, research, music technology and online quizzes.
Page | 8
The program has been modified to allow for the fact that we are unable to use instruments or do some of the group class activities that we would usually be doing at school. That said, we are able to collaborate online in different ways and the focus of our study has been to take advantage of the tools available.
Students have been exploring music-publishing software, which can be downloaded for free and will work towards some interesting projects using this technology as the rest of the year unfolds. I can sense the excitement in some of our students when they realise that they can make their own music, and begin to understand the odd grids of lines and dots, which was before, a bit of a mystery to many!
I believe in giving every child the chance to explore the world of music and their own sense of creativity. The arts can be a very personal field of study and I think that it is everyone’s right to have the chance to create, explore, play, succeed and fail. After all, it’s all in the name of learning and growth - and having the chance to participate.
Page | 9
Scholarships and training programs NSW Health nurtures the growth of a local health workforce to meet future needs While University study is mandatory for certain health and professional roles, there are other training pathways for a range of other roles at NSW Health. Vocational Education and Training courses (VET) for example are offered by Registered Training Organisations and include study options that can be done while undertaking high school studies via the VET in Schools or School-based Apprenticeship or Traineeships (SBAT). NSW Health is committed to supporting the growth of the Aboriginal health workforce to make sure health services are culturally safe for Aboriginal people and communities to access and use. Development of the rural and regional health workforce is also a priority. Scholarship and training opportunities on offer to support the growth of the local NSW Health workforce include: • HETI Scholarships and grants in medical, allied health, mental health and clinical placements
• • • • • • • • •
nursing and midwifery scholarships and financial assistance, includes Aboriginal cadetships and scholarships training programs to support the development of NSW Health's Aboriginal staff NSW Health Aboriginal Allied Health Cadetship Program, contact MOH-Cadetship@health.nsw.gov.au Bush Bursaries and Country Women's Association Scholarships Rural Resident Medical Officer Cadetship and Rural Resident Medical Officer Cadetship for Indigenous Students HETI People Management Skills Program NSW Biostatistics Training Program NSW Public Health Training Program HETI courses and programs
https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/careers/students/Pages/default.aspx
Page | 10
Awkward Thirteen Thirteen is a pivotal age. It has been described as an age of rebirth where the teen takes over from the child. This age group often needs a lot of support and responds well to confident, firm parenting. Your 13-year-old needs a mix of understanding, guidance, boundaries and nurturing to help them navigate this potentially tricky time in their lives. They need to be able to depend on you to be there for them, just as when they were an infant. Here are 10 things to help with parenting this turbulent age.
Watch for the swings Your 13-year-old may swing between periods of great dependence on you and bouts of surprising competence and independence. These swings can be unpredictable and confusing for parents. One moment your young person is telling you that they don’t need to be reminded to, say, take their sports uniform to school. Then the next minute they’re giving you lip for not taking enough interest in what they do. As a parent, it helps if you can stay out of arguments and reinforce that you are always there to help and support them.
They wear two faces Thirteen-year-olds may also waiver between being a child and a fully-fledged teenager. They may play with toys from childhood while at the same time experimenting with cigarettes or spending time with older kids. This is a very topsy-turvy year. Allow your young person to be child-like at home, but also accept the fact that they want to act like a teenager when in public. Also be prepared to be firm about the appropriateness and safety of their behaviour when they are not with you. The use of behavioural consequences is an essential discipline and safety strategy to use right now. Continue to ingrain the idea that better and more responsible behaviour means they will be trusted with more freedom.
Girls can regress more than boys We know that a 13-year-old’s brain is being completely rewired – it is literally rebuilding itself. This helps explain why many at this age become baby-like, disorganised and moody. it seems a little worse for girls than boys overall. You may discover that your daughter (but possibly also your son) is a little cuddlier and wants to stay closer to you than in previous years. At the same time they can be more argumentative and difficult than in the past. Enjoy the opportunity to be close as this may be the last year you both experience intimacy of this kind.
Boys can challenge their mothers Some mothers may experience a challenge to their authority at this age, if it hasn’t happened before. It’s a time to stand firm, take no nonsense, while at the same time being kind to them and nurturing your young one.
Page | 11
Be prepared to be the bad guy Thirteen can be an age of great risk, so they need parents who they can depend on to set firm boundaries and look out for their safety. They may even blame you for not being allowed to go out or do what they want, especially when they see some of their age-fellows being granted all kinds of liberties. But it’s okay to take the fall and be the villain sometimes to keep your young person safe.
They’re very sensitive to criticism Your 13-year-old will probably be very sensitive to criticism, so be careful to frame your advice and feedback in a way they would be receptive to. Well-meant feedback can easily be misinterpreted as a personal attack. Your young adolescent may have difficulty working out whether criticism is real or perceived. It can help to remind them to think a little more objectively about how others act at times, and why they say what they say – what may seem like an insult from a peer could just be thoughtlessness.
Make sure you spend time together Make sure you create opportunities for them to have one-on-one time with you, and also to spend time together as a family. Fun is an important antidote to anxiousness and uncertainty, and it also brings people together. You’ll find your 13-year-old will be receptive to any fun that doesn’t put them on the spot or make them feel embarrassed. This is also an age where you may find yourself having tougher negotiations on which family traditions they can be excused from attending. They will appreciate these little freedoms as recognition of greater maturity. However, sharing family meals together should be non-negotiable. There is a high correlation between good teenage mental health and those who share at least six mealtimes with their family each week.
Get the parenting mix right You need to know when and where to be the good cop and the firm cop. You also need to be able to take some of the heat and endure the temper tantrums of early adolescence that may come your way. Share the good cop, bad cop role if you are in a couple relationship. If you are raising kids on your own cut yourself some slack as you can’t be all things to your child. Pick a role to play primarily and then be prepared to cross over to other (good cop/bad cop) role when needed. Enjoy this fascinating, dramatic and important year. They’ll only turn thirteen once! Michael Gross
Page | 12
Wednesday 18th August 2021 Term 3 - Parent Teacher PHONE Interviews – Senior School Asalaamu Alaykum, Monday 13th September from 4:15pm to 8.30pm Families are the first educators of their children and they continue to influence their children’s learning and development during the school years and long afterwards. We ask parents to partner with us and support their child and the College by making themselves aware of their child’s progress at school and be open to a mutual sharing of information. We expect the results of this effort will be significant. • • • • • • • • •
• • • • •
Parent teacher phone interview may be booked for Monday 13th September. Bookings open from 23rd August. Subject teachers will discuss your child’s individual academic and social progress in the classroom You will have the opportunity to view and discuss your child’s report Phone interviews replace face to face interviews Interviews are set for five-minute intervals (5 minutes per child) Interview times are booked as per previous years using your access key via the Parent Portal or by downloading the Sentral App. Parents may contact the administration office for support with bookings or to obtain access key information Teachers will call parents / carers who have registered their preferred time via the booking system only Academic reports will be uploaded to the Parent’s Portal on Sentral. This will be the only place to access the reports and they will not be emailed separately. A WhatsApp message will be sent to confirm they have been uploaded to the portal See attached instructions on downloading the Sentral App to secure a booking Access to register our Parent Portal here: https://bellfield.sentral.com.au/portal2/register You must use a valid email address to create your username Bookings will be made online at https://bellfield.sentral.com.au/portal2/login using your access key or via the Sentral App. The parent portal will close Monday 13th September at 12.00pm All fees must be paid up to date for reports to be released
One parent/carer from each household is expected to participate in Parent teacher phone interviews as per the Parent Agreement and Enrolment Application. As with any parent teacher evenings we expect there may be delays, we thank you for your support and co-operation with staff members. Kind regards, Ms Mouina Ramadan Head of Senior School
Page | 13
Booking Parent Teacher Interviews Please download the Sentral for Parents app from App Store or Google store. Enter the name of the college (Bellfield College) and Click ‘Next’.
To Login: Enter your username (email address) and the password that you have used for Sentral Parent Portal. Then click ‘Log In’.
Page | 14
1. Click ‘Interviews’
2. Click ‘Select Timeslot’s
3. Select the times available for each teacher then click ‘Save Bookings’ at the bottom of the page.
Congratulations! You have now booked your times in for parent teacher interviews. A confirmation email will be sent to you providing the details of the interview.
Page | 15
Parent Communication - Sentral Parent Portal Bellfield’s Student portal is a one-stop shop for everything. Students can access the portal using their school logon, which gives them access to their timetable, assessment marks, attendance history and reports from anywhere at any time. In addition, the parent portal provides parents with 24/7 access to their child’s data. Parents can log in to access their child’s reports, attendance and welfare details as well as updating family contact details. Furthermore, if you are a parent and want to see your child’s records, contact the college and you will be given an access code for the parent portal, which you will use to access your child’s data. You can access the portal here: https://bellfield.sentral.com.au/portal
Please download the Sentral for Parents app from App Store or Google store. Enter the name of the college (Bellfield College) and Click ‘Next’
Parent Communication - WhatsApp Save the college mobile number:
0430 842 666
Page | 16
Ms Mouina Ramadan Head of Senior School mouina.ramadan@bellfield.nsw.edu.au
Ms Mariam Bazzi HSIE/English mariam.bazzi@bellfield.nsw.edu.au
Ms Zeinab Rammal HSIE/English zeinab.rammal@bellfield.nsw.edu.au
Miss Ayah Balloot Head of Department – CA.L.E ayah.balloot@bellfield.nsw.edu.au
Mr Mohamed Mohamedali HSIE mohamed.mohamedali@bellfield.nsw.edu.au
Ms Chanel Jbarah HSIE/English chanel.jbarah@bellfield.nsw.edu.au
Mr Wassim Hijazi Head of Department – HSIE wassim.hijazi@bellfield.nsw.edu.au
Mr Ali Fawaz HSIE/English ali.fawaz@bellfield.nsw.edu.au
Mr Owen Gates Science and Mathematics owen.gates@bellfield.nsw.edu.au
Mr Hussein Akil Head of Department – PDHPE hussein.akil@bellfield.nsw.edu.au
Miss Monika Kumar HSIE/English monika.kumar@bellfield.nsw.edu.au
Mrs Zahrah Shaddad PDHPE zahrah.shaddad@bellfield.nsw.edu.au
Dr Abdi Ali Head of Department – STEM abdi.ali@bellfield.nsw.edu.au
Mr Mahdi Hussain English mahdi.hussain@bellfield.nsw.edu.au
Mr Mustapha Khalil Mathematics mustapha.khalil@bellfield.nsw.edu.au
Mr Javid Karimi Mathematics Coordinator javid.karimi@bellfield.nsw.edu.au
Ms Riem Derbasi English and Learning Support riem.derbasi@bellfield.nsw.edu.au
Miss Staphanie Laguna Science and Mathematics stephanie.laguna@bellfield.nsw.edu.au
Mr Moustafa Nehme Year 7 Year Advisor moustafa.nehme@bellfield.nsw.edu.au
Ms Maysaa Balhas Arabic and Languages maysaa.balhas@bellfield.nsw.edu.au
Mrs Shweta Sharma Science and Mathematics shweta.sharma@bellfield.nsw.edu.au
Ms Chanel Jbarah Year 8 Year Advisor chanel.jbarah@bellfield.nsw.edu.au
Mrs Sasha Hayes Visual Arts sasha.hayes@bellfield.nsw.edu.au
Mrs Marwa Hijazi Science and Mathematics marwa.hijazi@bellfield.nsw.edu.au
Mr Mahdi Hussain Year 9 Year Advisor mahdi.hussain@bellfield.nsw.edu.au
Mr Matthew Kent PDHPE matthew.kent@bellfield.nsw.edu.au
Mrs Rana Chebli IST / Arabic Teacher rana.chebli@bellfield.nsw.edu.au
Miss Zeinab Rammal Year 10 Year Advisor zeinab.rammal@bellfield.nsw.edu.au
Mr Andrew Smith Music Teacher andrew.smith@bellfield.nsw.edu.au
Mr Mark Pardi Technology Teacher mark.pardi@bellfield.nsw.edu.au
Mrs Shweta Sharma Year 11/12 Year Advisor shweta.sharma@bellfield.nsw.edu.au
Ms Aspasia Zakos HSIE/English aspasia.zakos@bellfield.nsw.edu.au
Mrs Fatima Dirani Learning Support Teacher fatima.dirani@bellfield.nsw.edu.au
Br Mohamed Wehby Director of IHSAN mohamed.wehby@bellfield.nsw.edu.au
Page | 17