In 2021, a former UK Supreme Court Justice, Lord Sumption, sparked a heated debate when he suggested that he did not accept the premise that ‘all lives are of equal value.’ While this statement feels jarring to most of us, it forces us to ask a vital question:

Where does our value actually come from?

At Casino Christian School, we answer this by building on a phrase that sits at the heart of our community: Everyone Matters. This isn’t just a catchy slogan; it is a deep conviction that every person possesses a God-given value and dignity that is completely independent of their performance or status.

If we look only at our biology, the answer is difficult to find. Science confirms that we are incredibly diverse – each of us is shaped by a unique genetic code and vastly different capabilities. Biologically, we are not ‘equal’ in our talents or traits; we are all uniquely different.

As author Glen Scrivener humorously points out, humans share about 40% of our DNA with bananas. While that is an interesting fact, it tells us absolutely nothing about our worth. DNA is simply a biological blueprint; it doesn’t provide a moral reason to treat one another with dignity. If we were just a collection of cells, why should one person matter more than a piece of fruit?

The reason our society – our school – believes in the total equality of every person is actually rooted in an ancient story. It is the conviction that our value is not a sliding scale based on how smart, athletic, or useful we are. Instead, it is a fixed reality because of who made us. The Bible describes our beginning this way:

‘So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.’ – Genesis 1:27

Respect – Valued and Modelled

At CCS, our foundation is built on this truth: We believe that every single person is infinitely valued because God made them. This year, we will continue to place our attention toward this fundamental belief through our Vision Project values of Compassion, Integrity, Respect and Responsibility – and will be focusing on the fact that Respect is Valued and Modelled. 

This project is an explicit focus on guiding students to think respectfully about others. We believe that when we intentionally focus on the inherent value of the person standing in front of us – whether a peer or an adult – it shapes our internal mindset. This respectful way of thinking then naturally shows in the way we act, the way we speak, and the way we care for both people and our environment.

While daily experiences and feelings may change, they never diminish our true value, underlying worth. By continuing this focus this year, we are training ourselves to look past outward appearances and differences to see the incredible value in every individual. 

When we truly believe that everyone matters, respect becomes the only natural way to treat one another. 

SRC – Guess and Connect

Waste To Art Competition

The competition invites artists of all ages to reimagine waste by turning discarded items into meaningful works of art. The competition is help raise awareness of the imortance of sustainability in our lives.

So, whether it’s a striking gown made from old curtains, or a portrait using bottle tops the goal is to inspire people to see value in things we usually throw away.

That could mean donating, reselling, repairing, upcycling, or recycling

We’re looking for standout creations that inspire others to see value in the things we often throw away.

Please see Mrs Wade for any questions.

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.

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

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 Championships – March 24th March

Congratulations to Torah Coughran on attending the State Swimming Championship in Sydney! What a phenomenal effort to achieve the following results across so many events in one day:

50m Freestyle: 8th

50m Butterfly: 5th

50m Breaststroke: 5th 

50m Backstroke: 8th

100m Freestyle: 11th

First Try Sports Program – Yr 7&8

This term, our Year 7 & 8 students have been taking part in the First Try Touch Football program. This is a program run by NSW Touch Football Association.

Touch Football is easy to learn and a game that anyone can play, regardless of age, gender, experience, or ability. With a low risk of injury, Touch Football is one of the most popular sports in schools and allows family, friends, and new friends to come together in a safe, healthy, and social environment. If your student has enjoyed this program and is looking for some more information on local touch football competitions please see the information below.

Ballina Touch Association – Ballina Bull Sharks

Kyogle Touch Football | Facebook

Lismore Touch Association | Facebook

For local competitions in your area, please check out our Find A Competition webpage.

Please feel free to reach out or visit our website at NSWTouch.com.au for more information.

Staff Vs Students Touch Football Game – Tuesday 31st March 2026

Next Tuesday, we have our first Staff/Parents Vs Students sport event for the year! This event is a fantastic way to build community within our school!

The annual Staff/Parents vs. Senior Students Touch Football Game will take place on Tuesday, March 31, from 1.00 PM to 2:00 PM on the school oval.

Referee: Al Kirchen – High-level referee
Cost: $2 per player (to cover referee travel)

Game Rules:

• Standard Touch Football rules apply with some exceptions.
• We’ll play 8-a-side (instead of the usual 6 if we have a lot of numbers – more game time for everyone is better).

What to Bring:

Boots (can borrow from the sports shed)
Change of clothes
Towel (if needed)
Water bottle
Sunscreen
$2 coin for referee’s travel expenses

Yr9 & 10 PASS/ Yr11 & 12 SLR Water Games & Inflatable Excursion
Friday 24 th April, 2026

On Friday 24th April 2026, the senior SLR class and the PASS elective class will be travelling to Lismore Memorial Baths.

An important component of these subjects is promoting learning through
movement by experiencing physical activities that are not usually done in school sports or PE.

The Year 9 & 10 PASS class have been completing a unit on “Physical Activity and Health” and the Year 11 & 12 SLR class have been completing a unit on “Aquatics and Healthy Lifestyle”. This excursion directly relates to key components of each unit. The aim of this excursion is to play water games using a giant inflatable and
the medium-sized pool at the Lismore Memorial Baths.

Please complete and return the following:
1. Permission note
2. $25 payment

Permission Note Water Games & Inflatable

All forms and payment are due by Thursday 2nd April 2026.

For more information, contact Mr D McPherson – dmcpherson@ccs.nsw.edu.au

Premiers Reading Challenge 2026

School Holidays – 3rd April to 19th April

Students Return – Tuesday 20th April

ANZAC Day Public Holiday (No School) – Monday 27th April

Week 3(A) – 4th – 8th May

Monday 4th

Tuesday 5th

Yr5/6 Boys Bible Study – Lunchtime Yr6 Room

Yr7/8 Mixed Bible Study – Lunchtime G2/3

Wednesday 6th

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 7th

Zone Soccer – Kingscliff

Yr11/12 Mixed Bible Study – Lunchtime A12

Friday 8th

 Mother’s Day Event – TBC

School Photo Date:

Tuesday 12th May