“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” John 3:16

Teaching Our Children about Forgiveness

In the Bible, forgiveness is a prominent theme and something Jesus commands us all to do. Therefore, it’s an essential concept to teach our children. Yet, the act of forgiving does not come easy. Far too often, people hold it against those who have wronged them. However, choosing forgiveness over anger and resentment is liberating. It also restores us in relationships and community with one another.

Reflect Upon the Forgiveness Offered to Us Through Jesus

Understanding and accepting the fact that Jesus paid the ultimate price for our sins on the cross, so we might have a relationship with God, allows us to develop an ‘attitude of forgiveness’. God graciously develops this attitude in us, which then leads to a change in our behaviour towards others.

Teach Children that Forgiveness is Something Jesus Commands Us to Do

The best reason to forgive is because Jesus commanded us to forgive. We learn from Scripture that if we don’t forgive, we will not be forgiven.

“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew 6: 14-16

Demonstrate Forgiveness to Our Children

When children hurt each other in some way, the School seeks to restore relationships and, in the process, encourages forgiveness towards one another. (Keep in mind that offering forgiveness is not the same thing as excusing bad behaviour. It merely creates a healthy atmosphere for discussing, correcting and fixing that behaviour.)

“Be kind and compassionate to another, forgiving each other, just as Christ God forgave you” Ephesians 4:32

Teach Children the Consequences of Choosing Not to Forgive

We also know it is important to help children understand that holding onto hurt, anger and resentment can lead to ongoing issues. In fact, forgiveness releases us from heavy burdens and assists us to understand the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. This then allows us to be strengthened in our relationships with one another.

“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 3:13

Thank You to our Volunteers!

“Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. On Him God the Father has placed his seal of approval”.

John 6:27

 Volunteers are a key part of our school community and provide benefits at all levels. Examples of how volunteers collaborate and serve at CCS include:

• Help with reading,
• Attending and helping at carnivals,
• Providing food and gifts for fundraising,
• Gardening,
• Help with sports teams,
• Mothers’ and Fathers’ Day stalls,
• Working Bees,
• Decorating for major events,
• Participating in Beef Week stall
• Assisting with productions and performances,
• Art,
• Library work,
• Assisting with the canteen, and the list goes on.

Our volunteers enrich students’ learning experiences in so many ways. They are part of the everyday scenery in our school. Their mere presence speaks volumes to our students and to the staff. We are a better school because of our volunteers. The biggest benefit our volunteers bring is that our students see that adults who are able to spend time during school hours add value to their education. They see volunteering for what it truly is: a way to enrich the education of their children.

The staff and students thank all of our volunteers and greatly appreciate everything that they do in the classrooms and behind the scenes. If any parent, grandparent or friend of the School would like to join the band of volunteers, I am sure that there are many activities in which you could help.

Join Our P&F Committee!

Casino Christian School warmly invites parents and carers to be part of our Parents & Friends (P&F) Committee. The P&F plays an important role in supporting our school community through fellowship, fundraising, and helping create great opportunities for our students.

Whether you can offer ideas, lend a hand at events, or simply attend meetings and share your voice, your involvement is valued. It’s also a wonderful way to connect with other families and be part of the life of our school.

If you are interested in joining or would like to learn more, we would love to hear from you! Please contact pandf@ccs.nsw.edu.au or come along to our next meeting.

Together, we can make a positive difference for our students and school community.

Student Representative Council

In Week 5 we held our first SRC meetings for 2026.

Primary and High School joined for a 20 minute meeting at lunch time. It was such a beautiful time of cross year level collaboration and discussion. We are really proud of the students for taking on leadership roles in their small groups, giving everyone a voice and having a very positive and joyful tone!

Then in Wellbeing our High School group met for their first official meeting. It was great to see the students nominate themselves for jobs in the committee. Again, this was a very productive and supportive space and everyone was polite, excited for 2026 and inspired to help our school Honour Christ and build community.

It is a great honour to help lead this team this year.

J Nott and K Frahm

School Swimming Carnival Age Champions

 Zone Touch Football Competition (Ballina) – Tuesday 3rd March

What a fantastic day we had at the Zone Touch Football Carnival on Tuesday 3rd March. Our students represented the school with outstanding effort, enthusiasm and sportsmanship. They competed strongly all day, supported one another, and showed great resilience — it was no surprise they were absolutely exhausted by the end of a big day of touch football!

Our teams achieved some excellent results across all divisions:

• Opens Girls – 4th

• Opens Boys – 5th

• U15 Girls – 4th

• U15 Boys – 7th

• Primary Girls – 5th

• Primary Boys – 6th

We are especially proud of the following students who were selected to represent the North Coast at State Touch Football:

• Aden Simpson (Opens Boys)

• Bridie Chaffey (Opens Girls)

• Paige Fraser (Opens Girls)

• Jordan Fraser (U15 Girls)

• Sofia McPherson (U15 Girls)

• Layla Foster (U15 Girls)

Congratulations also to the students selected as shadow (back-up) players:

• Hannah Robinson (Opens Girls)

• Liam Francis (U15 Boys)

• Sophie Jarrett (U15 Girls)

To have so many students selected for North Coast teams is a tremendous achievement and a reflection of both their individual talent and the strength of our touch football program.

We would also like to sincerely thank Al Kirchen and Eddy Boston, who are NSW-level coaches, referees and selectors, for generously giving their time and expertise to assist in selecting our North Coast teams. Their professionalism and experience greatly enhance the quality and integrity of the selection process.

Most importantly, our students performed and behaved exceptionally well throughout the entire carnival. They were respectful, coachable and competitive in the best possible way — a credit to themselves, their families and our school community.

A sincere thank you to Mr Ludwig, Mr Matthews, Mrs Coulter, Mr Coutts, Mr Young and Mrs Oosterbeek for giving up their time to attend the day and carry out their roles so professionally. Your support of our students is greatly appreciated.

D. McPherson
Sports Coordinator

Pi Day – Monday 16th March

Rotary Exchange Program 2026

Each year, Rotary Australia supports students aged 15-18years old, to have the opportunity to participate in a 12 month exchange program.

For a truly amazing, life-changing experience, there is nothing like the long-term exchange. Students spend a year in another country, becoming fluent in the language and immersed in the culture, and developing friendships that will last a lifetime. Each student will likely have more than one and usually up to three or four host families through the year, to broaden the experience and see the variations that exist in all cultures.

This year, one of our CCS students, Makayla, has headed to Finland for a long-term exchange program with Rotary, and we are excited to hear about her experiences when she returns!

As some of our community may be aware, we have the pleasure of Gabriel joining our Year 11 cohort in 2027. He has been placed here as part of the Rotary Exchange Program. Gabriel has joined us, having travelled from Brazil. He has already embraced school life here at CCS as he forms friendships and embraces experiences within the local community.

Currently, Gabriel is being hosted by a family within the school. The Rotary Club of Upper Richmond is looking to secure 3 or 4 more host families for Gabriel over the next 10 months until January 2027. If you are interested in hosting Gabriel feel free to reach out to Narelle Oomen (Secretary) on 0408 449 298.

The host family application is here: https://yehub.net/cgi-bin/A64_get.cgi?pgid=aphf1

Kindy for 2027 Information Night 

On Tuesday 24th March we are inviting prospective parents and caregivers, to join us for the Kindergarten Information Evening from 6-8pm. This is an opportunity to learn about our Kindergarten and Transition to School programs for students commencing in 2027.

If you would like to join this event, you can RSVP by clicking the link below:

https://ccs-au-nsw-739.app.digistorm.com/forms/kindergarten-2027-info-night

Far North Coast Soccer Gala Day – Wednesday 4th March 2026

On Wednesday 4th March 2026, a group of our enthusiastic primary students proudly represented Casino Christian School at the FNC Soccer Gala Day held at Colley Park. The day brought together schools from across the Far North Coast region for a fantastic celebration of sport, teamwork, and friendly competition.

Our students displayed excellent sportsmanship, determination, and teamwork throughout the day. Each match provided opportunities for players to build their skills in passing, communication, coordination, and strategic play while encouraging one another on the field.

It was wonderful to see students supporting their teammates, showing resilience in challenging moments, and celebrating each other’s successes. The players represented our school with pride, demonstrating positive attitudes and respect towards opponents, referees, and other schools.

Beyond the results on the scoreboard, the Gala Day was a valuable experience for our students. Events like this help develop confidence, perseverance, and collaboration, while also encouraging students to enjoy being active and engaging with the wider school community.

A big thank you to the staff and supporters who helped make the day possible, and congratulations to all students who participated. We are incredibly proud of the way you represented CCS both on and off the field.

Year 7 for 2027 Information Night 

On Wednesday 1st April, we are inviting current and prospective parents and caregivers, to join us for the Year 7 Information Evening from 6-8pm. This is an opportunity to explore starting High School at CCS, for students commencing in 2027.

If you would like to join this event, you can RSVP by clicking the link below:

https://ccs-au-nsw-739.app.digistorm.com/forms/year-7-2027-info-night

Wet Weather Sport  Year 7 to 10

There are quite a few secondary sport days throughout the year that are generally cancelled due to wet weather. It would be fantastic if students could still participate when it is wet. In order to do this, we need parental approval and a guarantee that students will bring to school a spare school uniform to wear after sport is finished.

In order for your child to participate in sport during wet weather they will need to wear their sports uniform to school with their school shoes. They will also need to bring the following items to school in a bag:

• Change of clothes to get wet and muddy (they must be appropriate, or you won’t participate)
• Football boots or joggers (to use during sport)
• Towel
• Water bottle & hat

They will only be allowed to participate in wet weather sport if they bring the above items.

Please see the link for more information – Sport Wet Weather Note 2026

D. McPherson

Sports Coordinator

State Swimming Carnival

We are excited to announce that Annemarie Spicer and Torah Coughran have qualified for State Swimming in the following events:

We wish them safe travels, and good luck on the day! We look forward to sharing the results.

CSSA State Touch Football Day

We have a number of students selected to represent CCS and North Coast Christian Schools Sports Association in Touch Football at the NSW CSSA Championships, to be held at the Kingsway Playing Fields in Werrington (Sydney) on Friday 20th March.

We wish them safe travels, and good luck on the day! We look forward to sharing the results.

Staff Vs Students Touch Football Game

This event is a fantastic way to build community within our school!

When: Tuesday 31 st March (week 9)
Time: Lunch time (extended into Well-Being) – 1.00pm to 2.00pm
Format: Staff / Parents vs Mixed Senior Students 

School student travel information for parents and students

School Travel Passes

Applications are now open for 2026 School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS) travel.

Students in the Opal network applying for an Opal card (including a Term Bus Pass) for the first time will receive their School Opal card at their nominated postal address from mid-January 2026.

Students who require a School Opal card or travel pass but have not yet applied need to apply for a new card or update their existing card as soon as possible. Students who receive a notification that their School Opal card is expiring need to re-submit their details. 

If a student has lost their School Opal card, they will need to apply for a replacement card. Note: a new card will not be issued if an existing School Opal card is updated online – you must submit a replacement application if a School Opal card is lost.

In the Opal network, students should travel with a Child/Youth Opal card until they receive their valid School Opal card. If outside Greater Sydney, parents should contact their local bus operator to discuss their travel needs.

Students living in rural and regional areas will receive their travel pass from their nominated transport operator. It may be issued via their school or be sent directly to them at home. Note: some rural and regional operators do not issue travel passes. Students/parents should confirm with their nominated operator if they do not receive a pass.

Terms of Use

Students using School Opal cards must tap on and tap off in line with the Opal terms of use.

This includes travel within the approved times between 6.30am and 7.00pm from Monday to Friday on school days only. Students must use their Child/Youth Opal card for any travel outside these times.

All students are required to comply with the Student code of conduct. The code of conduct aims to ensure the safety and well-being of school children and other passengers. It is important that parents ensure their child is aware of this, as failure to comply with the code of conduct can result in a suspension from travel.

Premiers Reading Challenge 2026

Week 8 (B) – 23rd – 27th March

Monday 23rd

Mathshelp – Lunchtime in G3

Yarn Circle – Transition Room

Tuesday 24th

Yr5/6 Boys Bible Study – Lunchtime Yr6 Room

Yr7/8 Mixed Bible Study – Lunchtime G2/3

Secondary State Swimming – Sydney

Kindy Information Evening – 6-7:30pm

Wednesday 25th

Yr3/4 Boys Bible Study – Lunchtime YR3 Room

Yr3/4 Girls Bible Study – Lunchtime Yr4 Room

Yr5/6 Girls Bible Study – Lunchtime Yr6 Room

Yr9/10 Mixed Bible Study – Lunchtime G1

Thursday 26th

Yr11/12 Mixed Bible Study – Lunchtime A12

Friday 27th

Casino Tennis Club

Tennis coaching programs are available after school at Casino Tennis Club on Monday and Wednesday afternoons from 3:45pm.

Coaching is performed by qualified Tennis Australia coaches and lessons are available for ages 4 – 17 years.

There are programs for beginners through to advanced players as well as cardio tennis programs available for adults. Come and join our family friendly club by contacting Trent on 0499 743 095.