Welcome to our first newsletter for 2026.

A special welcome to all our new families and to those joining us from the ELC into Reception. We are so glad to have you as part of our learning community. We have been very grateful for the milder temperatures this week and we’ve had a wonderfully settled start to the year, and we feel a strong sense of anticipation and hope as we learn together in 2026.

While the new Sports Centre will have its official opening later this year, we are already very excited to be using it. Our Sports Department have enjoyed setting up a variety of activities, including, climbing on the bouldering wall, basketball, soccer, dance and many other physical activities. The outdoor court is also available during play times.

We are delighted to announce that the Sports Centre will officially be called the Wyten Sports Centre, in recognition of the service of Peter Wyten, who retired as our Groundsman in 2025. Bethany Christian School began in 1981, and Peter and his family have been an integral part of the school’s story from the early days. Peter served on the School Council from 1982 and, together with Cheryl—who continues teaching Year 4—their nine children attended Bethany. Peter has served as a volunteer, staff member, and now grandparent.

We are deeply grateful to God for Peter and for the many people who gave generously of their time and resources in those early days to build a Christian school with a strong foundation—one we continue to build upon today.

Reception Students – A Lovely Start
Our Reception children began on Tuesday so parents could enjoy and celebrate this special milestone. For the next four weeks, Receptions will stay home on Wednesdays for a rest day. With so many new experiences and routines to learn, this rest is important for their wellbeing. It has been lovely to catch up with many families and to see how calm and settled the children are in the classroom and in the yard. First‑day school photos will be shared via an email link.

Community Chapel – Sunday 8 February
You are warmly invited to our Community Chapel in the Performing Arts Centre at 10:00am. This is a time to gather, celebrate, and ask for God’s blessing over our school year. This event is hosted by Bethany Church, who meet here every Sunday. You and your family are welcome to attend any week and we would love to see you there.

Meet the Teacher – Wednesday 11 February
Next Wednesday we will hold our annual Meet the Teacher evening. This is a great opportunity to connect with your child’s class teacher and to learn about:

Class routines, Expectations, Communication and helpful information for a smooth year ahead.

To support families with multiple children, we are running two identical sessions:

Session 1: 5:30 – 6:00pm
Session 2: 6:30 – 7:00pm

Both sessions will be held in your child’s classroom. We look forward to seeing you there!

Cross Country – Friday 13 February
Students in Years 3, 4, 5 & 6 will participate in our annual Cross-Country event. Families will receive an email with House group details, online timetable, and other important event information. The event will be held in the Fairbanks Drive Reserve. Please drop off your children at school as normal, then enter the reserve from the rear of the school. This means you do not need to sign in at the office.

Upcoming Events
Please check the calendar of events on our website and add important dates to your calendar. Highlights include:

• Athletics Carnival (Primary)
• Year 5 Camp
• Parent‑Teacher Interviews
• Easter early dismissal

Communication – Email, BCS School App & Toddle Family App

We will continue to communicate with you via email, the BCS school app and the new Toddle app. The BCS school app will be used for whole school information, broadcasts, newsletters, absentees and excursion permissions. The Toddle app will be used for student learning, including classroom communication, 1 on 1 parent/teacher messages and well-being records. Please respect teachers working hours. Teachers will not be expected to read or reply to messages outside of these hours. (Teachers will aim to reply within 48 hours, the main expectation of our staff is to be present in the classroom).

If you need help accessing our BCS school app or if your contact details change, please contact the office. We are always happy to help. Click here to view the instructions for getting these apps set up on your phone >

We appreciate the way families are helping to make school pick‑ups smooth and safe. Your support makes a real difference.

Thank you again for partnering with us this year—we look forward to a wonderful 2026 together.

Wendy Matear
Principal