Thrive Newsletter Term 2 Week 6
Let’s talk about Sex – Or More Importantly, Let’s Talk About Sexting!
Within the framework of a biblical worldview, sex is viewed as a beautiful and intimate expression of love and unity between a married couple, designed to strengthen their bond and reflect the divine love that God has for humanity.
The Bible affirms the sanctity of marriage and emphasizes the importance of sexual intimacy within the context of this covenant relationship. In the Book of Genesis, it is written, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24, ESV). This verse underscores the profound unity and intimacy that marriage entails, including the physical aspect of becoming “one flesh.”
Moreover, the Bible celebrates the beauty of marital intimacy and encourages couples to enjoy the gift of sexual pleasure within the boundaries of marriage. The Song of Solomon, also known as the Song of Songs, is a poetic depiction of love and desire between a husband and wife, celebrating the physical and emotional intimacy they share.
While Christianity upholds the value of sexual purity and fidelity within marriage, it does not shy away from acknowledging the reality of human sexuality and desires in this fallen world. Instead, it provides guidance on how to honour God with our bodies and relationships, recognizing that acts around sex are a sacred expression of love and commitment that reflects Gods design for human flourishing. We believe it is a great gift from God!
And as a school, we refuse to shy away from having the difficult discussions with our students and preparing them for life in any realm, including having meaningful, fulfilling and healthy relationships. Our young people today face challenges we never knew or had to understand around all their relationships. One of the areas that we are seeing more and more negative effects on students across all cultures and backgrounds are around “sexting.”
Alarmingly, when we encounter or discuss sexting with students, most parents are unaware of what their teen is doing or the risk their young children are being exposed to. Apps like Snap Chat, Photo and Instagram give a sense of anonymity but we know that anything posted on the internet is recoverable. May I take this opportunity to encourage you to revisit your teenagers social media access and histories, if you have not already done so. According to Police, this is not an “invasion of privacy” but responsible parenting.
So what is sexting?
Sexting refers to the act of sending, receiving, or forwarding sexually explicit messages, images, or videos via digital devices, including smartphones, social media platforms, and messaging apps. It encompasses a wide range of behaviours, from consensual exchanges between peers to non-consensual sharing of intimate content without the sender’s consent.
What you may not know, that the initial conversations and sharing start very innocently, and the requests become more and more explicit in their nature. These images are then sometimes used to blackmail other students or shared to embarrass, harass or bullying students.
What about in Australian Teens?
In Australia, 1 in 3 young people aged 14–17 years have had some experience with sexting. Teens were also 3 times more likely to be asked for a nude than to actually send one and most alarmingly more than half of those requests came from someone the child/teen did not know in real life.
Below is some data for Australian teens aged 14 – 18 from 2021, and unfortunately, the rates have only increased since then.
Does sexting affect boys and girls differently?
Research suggests that sexting behaviours may vary between genders, with boys more likely to initiate sexting compared to girls. However, girls often face disproportionate consequences, including cyberbullying and reputational harm, as a result of sexting incidents.
Legal Implications!
There are often legal repercussions for sexting. Specifically, the law in NSW says that “while you are under 18, you aren’t allowed to consent or give permission to ask for, take, send or keep sexy pics”. We are legally obliged to report these incidents as mandatory reporters for child safety.
Psychological Effects!
Sexting can have profound emotional and psychological effects on teenagers, ranging from feelings of guilt and shame to anxiety and depression, and victims of non-consensual sexting may experience trauma and distress due to the violation of their privacy and loss of control over their personal images.
Through education, awareness, and support, we can empower adolescents to navigate the complexities of sexting and safeguard their well-being in an increasingly connected world. We seek for our students to grow in their compassion, integrity, respect and responsibility both in real life and online.
In essence, Christians believe that sex is a gift from God to be cherished and enjoyed within the context of marriage, serving as a means of deepening intimacy, strengthening the marital bond, and reflecting the divine love and unity between Christ and the Church. We want our students to have safe, fulfilling and healthy relationships with each other in every realm of their lives, and seek to educate them to live in ways that honour Christ, build healthy communities and grow in grace and knowledge.
School Updates
Lion King Musical – Choir
Our musical production of The Lion King is well underway! Mrs Coulter & Mrs Watson are putting together a choir to support our lead roles in some of the songs that require extra voices. If you are a High School Student, Upper Primary Student or Parent or Grandparent we invite you to come and be part of this production.
Practice will be held in the MPC Lunchtime (1.00-1.40 pm) on Thursdays.
If you are a parent or grandparent wanting to join us please complete the Volunteer Agreement here School Volunteer Agreement March 24 including a Working With Children Check number. If you don’t have a WWCC you can easily apply for one for free as a volunteer by clicking on this link https://wwccheck.ocg.nsw.gov.au/Apply
For more information or if you have any questions please contact Mrs Coulter ccoulter@ccs.nsw.edu.au or Mrs Watson awatson@ccs.nsw.edu.au
Athletics Carnival – Helpers Needed!
The Athletics Carnival is coming up! We need parent helpers for both the primary and secondary carnivals. If you are able to give some of your time to assist in any way please fill in this form Athletics Carnival Note (1) and email it directly to our Sports Coordinator David McPherson dmcpherson@ccs.nsw.edu.au
Open Afternoon
Thank you to our SRC, Senior Students and Staff who helped with our Open Afternoon last Thursday. Our staff put out some fabulous displays in their classrooms showcasing our student’s work. It was a great afternoon!
Canteen
The canteen is now trialling an Eftpos facility. Eftpos will be available to High School students only at this stage.
Information about NCCD (Nationally Consistent Collection of Data
Did you know??
We have set up a dedicated email address where you can send your compliments or concerns. If you want to express your appreciation or acknowledge the outstanding performance of one of our staff members, feel free to send us an email. You can also provide us with feedback about what you like about our school and what we are doing well. In case you have any suggestions for improvement, please let us know, so we can take the necessary steps to enhance our school. Email: feedback@ccs.nsw.edu.au
Early Departures or Late Arrivals
We appreciate that there may be times when students may need to leave early or arrive late to school. If a parent or guardian cannot come to the office to sign them in or out of school please send a signed written note, email, phone the office or use the School Stream app to inform us via the Absentee Form. This helps us keep our child safe obligations and identify truancy behaviours.
Students will not be permitted to leave the school grounds if a parent/guardian is unable to be contacted or a if note has not been provided.
School Safety
We have implemented some measures in our school for the safety of students, parents and visitors. These are specifically for anyone entering the school grounds either as a visitor or if a student is being picked up.
As per our policy, all parents and visitors who come to the school for any reason are required to report to the office and sign the Visitor register. The only exemption to this is school assemblies which we do not require sign in.
If you need to collect your child early, please report to the office directly. One of our office staff members will either call your child to the office if it is appropriate, or they will go and collect your child from their classroom. Parents are NOT permitted to go to the class to collect students, staff MUST do this. This is specifically for child protective reasons.
If you know in advance that you will need to collect your child early on a particular day, please inform our office staff in the morning. This will help us make arrangements with your child’s teacher to have your child ready at the desired time for you to collect from the office.
If you require any further information on this please don’t hesitate to contact the school. We thank you for your cooperation in helping keep our children and school community safe.
Meeting Teachers and Support Staff
At CCS, we place great importance on maintaining open communication with our students and their families. We encourage regular contact throughout the academic year, in various ways, and want to be available to meet with you as necessary.
However, please note, that we generally require all visitors to schedule an appointment ahead of time to meet with any of our school staff members unless it is an emergency, as they are usually very busy during the day caring for our wonderful and important students.
Usually, Teachers, Executive Team Members or Support Staff are not available during school hours to chat, so making an appointment in advance means we can more fully understand, or attend to any concerns or queries. Please contact the office via email admin@ccs.nsw.edu.au or phone 6662 5599 to arrange a mutually convenient time.
Camp Payments
SNOW CAMP – STAGE 4 (YEAR 9 & 10) 18th to 22nd August
If you have opted for the instalment plan the due dates are below.
Instalment plan payments due:
- 12th April $400
- 31st May $400
- 5th July $500
Wellbeing
Teens and social media use: What’s the impact?
Social media is a term for internet sites and apps that you can use to share content you’ve created. Social media also lets you respond to content that others post. That can include pictures, text, reactions or comments on posts by others, and links to information.
Online sharing within social media sites helps many people stay in touch with friends or connect with new ones. And that may be more important for teenagers than other age groups. Friendships help teens feel supported and play a role in forming their identities. So, it’s only natural to wonder how social media use might affect teens.
Social media is a big part of daily life for lots of teenagers.
How big? A 2022 survey of 13- to 17-year-olds offers a clue. Based on about 1,300 responses, the survey found that 35% of teens use at least one of five social media platforms more than several times a day. The five social media platforms are: YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat.
Social media doesn’t affect all teens the same way. Use of social media is linked with healthy and unhealthy effects on mental health. These effects vary from one teenager to another. Social media effects on mental health depend on things such as:
- What a teen sees and does online.
- The amount of time spent online.
- Psychological factors, such as maturity level and any preexisting mental health conditions.
- Personal life circumstances, including cultural, social and economic factors.
Here are the general pros and cons of teen social media use, along with tips for parents.
Healthy social media
Social media lets teens create online identities, chat with others and build social networks. These networks can provide teens with support from other people who have hobbies or experiences in common. This type of support especially may help teens who:
- Lack social support offline or are lonely.
- Are going through a stressful time.
- Belong to groups that often get marginalized, such as racial minorities, the LGBTQ community and those who are differently abled.
- Have long-term medical conditions.
Sometimes, social media platforms help teens:
- Express themselves.
- Connect with other teens locally and across long distances.
- Learn how other teens cope with challenging life situations and mental health conditions.
- View or take part in moderated chat forums that encourage talking openly about topics such as mental health.
- Ask for help or seek healthcare for symptoms of mental health conditions.
These healthy effects of social media can help teens in general. They also may help teens who are prone to depression stay connected to others. And social media that’s humorous or distracting may help a struggling teen cope with a challenging day.
Unhealthy social media
Social media use may have negative effects on some teens. It might:
- Distract from homework, exercise and family activities.
- Disrupt sleep.
- Lead to information that is biased or not correct.
- Become a means to spread rumors or share too much personal information.
- Lead some teens to form views about other people’s lives or bodies that aren’t realistic.
- Expose some teens to online predators, who might try to exploit or extort them.
- Expose some teens to cyberbullying, which can raise the risk of mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression.
What’s more, certain content related to risk-taking, and negative posts or interactions on social media, have been linked with self-harm and rarely, death.
The risks of social media use are linked with various factors. One may be how much time teens spend on these platforms.
In a study focusing on 12- to 15-year-olds in the United States, spending three hours a day using social media was linked to a higher risk of mental health concerns. That study was based on data collected in 2013 and 2014 from more than 6,500 participants.
Another study looked at data on more than 12,000 teens in England between the ages of 13 to 16. The researchers found that using social media more than three times a day predicted poor mental health and well-being in teens.
But not all research has found a link between time spent on social media and mental health risks in teens.
How teens use social media also might determine its impact. For instance, viewing certain types of content may raise some teens’ mental health risks. This could include content that depicts:
- Illegal acts.
- Self-harm or harm to other people.
- Encouragement of habits tied to eating disorders, such as purging or restrictive eating.
These types of content may be even more risky for teens who already have a mental health condition. Being exposed to discrimination, hate or cyberbullying on social media also can raise the risk of anxiety or depression.
What teens share about themselves on social media also matters.
With the teenage brain, it’s common to make a choice before thinking it through. So, teens might post something when they’re angry or upset, and regret it later. That’s known as stress posting.
Teens who post content also are at risk of sharing sexual photos or highly personal stories. This can lead to teens being bullied, harassed or even blackmailed.
Protecting your teen
You can take steps to help your teens use social media responsibly and limit some of the possible negative effects.
Use these tips:
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Set rules and limits as needed. This helps prevent social media from getting in the way of activities, sleep, meals or homework.
For example, you could make a rule about not using social media until homework is done. Or you could set a daily time limit for social media use.
You also could choose to keep social media off-limits during certain times. These times might include during family meals and an hour before bed.
Set an example by following these rules yourself. And let your teen know what the consequences will be if your rules aren’t followed.
- Manage any challenging behaviors. If your teen’s social media use starts to challenge your rules or your sense of what’s appropriate, talk with your teen about it. You also could connect with parents of your teen’s friends or take a look at your teen’s internet history.
- Turn on privacy settings. This can help keep your teen from sharing personal information or data that your teen didn’t mean to share. Each of your teen’s social media accounts likely has privacy setting that can be changed.
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Monitor your teen’s accounts. The American Psychological Association recommends you regularly review your child’s social media use during the early teen years.
One way to monitor is to follow or “friend” your child’s social accounts. As your teen gets older, you can choose to monitor your teen’s social media less. Your teen’s maturity level can help guide your decision.
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Have regular talks with your teen about social media. These talks give you chances to ask how social media has been making your teen feel. Encourage your teen to let you know if something online worries or bothers your teen.
Regular talks offer you chances to give your child advice about social media too. For example, you can teach your teen to question whether content is accurate. You also can explain that social media is full of images about beauty and lifestyle that are not realistic.
- Be a role model for your teen. You might want to tell your child about your own social media habits. That can help you set a good example and keep your regular talks from being one-sided.
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Explain what’s not OK. Remind your teen that it’s hurtful to gossip, spread rumors, bully or harm someone’s reputation — online or otherwise.
Also remind your teen not to share personal information with strangers online. This includes people’s addresses, telephone numbers, passwords, and bank or credit card numbers.
- Encourage face-to-face contact with friends. This is even more important for teens prone to social anxiety.
Talk to your child’s healthcare professional if you think your teen has symptoms of anxiety, depression or other mental health concerns related to social media use. Also talk with your child’s care professional if your teen has any of the following symptoms:
- Uses social media even when wanting to stop.
- Uses it so much that school, sleep, activities or relationships suffer.
- Often spends more time on social platforms than you intended.
- Lies in order to use social media.
Your teen might be referred to a mental healthcare professional who can help.
Raising Healthy Minds
Do you have a question about your child’s
emotions, behaviours and wellbeing?
The Raising Healthy Minds app is a FREE, personalised pocket resource to help you raise confident, resilient children. Co-designed with parents and experts and funded by the Australian Government, the app offers a mix of quick-read articles, videos and animations designed to support your child’s social and emotional wellbeing from birth to age 12.
Download from Google Play or the App Store or go to raisingchildren.net.au/rhm to learn more and raise a healthy mind 
Primary News
Beef Week Parade
Thank you to all our Primary students, their families and Mrs Stevenson with the Tumble Monkey’s Families who came along to participate in the Beef Week Parade! Everyone looked spectacular in their 80’s & 90’s disco-themed costumes!
Year 6 Poems
Year 6 read and analysed Shaun Tan’s The Red Tree which was a poem about a sad and lonely girl. They experimented with making their own poems exploring an emotion. The Grade 6’s discovered that the darker emotions were easier to write about. But they also wanted to let our audience to know that there’s always light in the darkness!
Sports News
State Cross Country Results
On Friday 31st May we had 10 students from Primary and Secondary travelled to the Sydney International Equestrian Centre to compete in the CSSA State Cross Country. Our students completed their events with very pleasing results. Some students also travelled with Summerland Christian College and enjoyed some Sydney sightseeing!
Results
Tessa Ranger Primary Girls 8/9 Time: 12:35.5 Place: 112
Lydia Daley Primary 8/9 Girls Time: 12:55.5 Place: 129
Isla Hannigan Primary 8/9 Girls Time: 14:36.3 Place: 172
Sharlotte Sonnex Primary 10 Girls Time: 14:17.5 Place: 155
Bradley Newby Primary 10 Boys Tiime: 09:52.3 Place: 59
Jack Rixon Primary 11 Boys Time: 15:48.4 Place: 113
Bella Mines-Salvat Primary 12/13 Girls Time: 19:22.9 Place: 101
Cross Country Age Champions
Congratulations to our Cross Country Age Champions for 2024!
School Athletics Schedule 2024
~ TERM 2 ~
Friday 31st May – Week 5
- Secondary (1.40pm – 3.00pm): Javelin (boys) and Discus (girls) Event (Year 7 to 12).
- Primary will do discus during their sport or class-time.
Friday 7th June – Week 6
- Secondary (1.40pm – 3.00pm): Javelin (girls) and Discus (boys) Event (Year 7 to 12).
- Primary will do discus during their sport or class-time.
Wednesday 12th June – Week 7
- 1.40pm – 2.05pm: House Meetings (Elliot to Library / Taylor to D9 / Liddell to A11).
Tuesday 18th June – Week 8
- Secondary Athletics Carnival at CCS (12 years and over in 2024).
Wednesday 19th June – Week 8
- Primary Athletics Carnival at CCS (8 years and over in 2024).
- Infants Athletics Novelty Events at CCS (7 years and under in 2024).
~ TERM 3 ~
Wednesday 7th August – Week 3
- Zone Athletics Carnival in Coffs Harbour
Friday 23rd August – Week 5
- Primary State Athletics Carnival in Sydney
Thursday 29th August – Week 6
- Secondary State Athletics Carnival in Sydney.
For more detailed information including the Carnival Schedule for Primary and Secondary take a look at the note in the link below.
Uniform Shop
All uniform orders must be paid at the time of purchase either in person or over the phone, we are no longer able charge uniforms on family accounts. We appreciate your understanding.
Uniform shop hours are:
Mondays 8-11
Wednesdays 1-4
Uniform orders can be made at any time via the School Stream app or by filling out the uniform order form and returning it to school.
Uniform Order Form – February 2024
Library News
Book Club Issue 4 is out now! Orders are due back on the 19th June. Order online with this link https://mybookclubs.scholastic.com.au/Parent/Login.aspx or fill in the order form at the back of the catalogue and return it to the Library.
You can also view the online catalogue here https://mybookclubs.scholastic.com.au/Parent/Login.aspx
Upcoming School Events
Term 2
Week 5 (A) 27th to 31st May
- Wednesday 29th – P&F Meeting 6 pm
- Thursday 30th – Open Afternoon 3.30 – 6 pm
- Friday 31st – Primary Assembly 9am
- Friday 31st – State Cross Country Sydney
Week 6 (B) 3rd to 7th June
- Tuesday 4th – Year 7 Vaccinations
- Thursday 6th – Stage 2 (3&4) Camp Out
Week 7 (A) 10th to 14th June
- Monday 10th – Public Holiday – No School
- Tuesday 11th – CSSA Secondary State Gymnastics Sydney
- Thursday 13th – High School Assembly 11 am
- Friday 14th – Primary Assembly 9 am
Week 8 (B) 17th to 21st June
- Tuesday 18th – CCS Secondary Athletics Carnival
- Wednesday 19th – CCS Primary Athletics Carnival
Week 9 (A) 24th – 28th June
- Wednesday 26th – P&F Meeting 6 pm
- Friday 28th – Primary Assembly 9am
Week 10 (B) 1st – 5th July
- Tuesday 2nd – School Photo Day
- Thursday 4th – Kindergarten 100 Days of School
- Friday 5th – NAIDOC Assembly
School Holidays 8th to 19th July
Term 3
Week 1 (A) 22nd – 26th July
- Monday 22nd – Pupil Free Day
- Friday 26th – Primary Assembly 9 am
Week 2 (B) 29th July – 2nd August
- Wednesday 31st July – P&F Meeting 6 pm
Week 3 (A) 5th – 9th August
- HSC Trial Exams 5th-16th
- Book Fair 5th-8th
- Wednesday 7th – Zone Athletics – Coffs Harbour
- Thursday 8th – Parent Teacher Interviews
- Friday 9th – Zone Basketball – Port Macquarie
- Friday 9th – Primary Assembly 9 am
Week 4 (B) 12th – 16th August
- Book Week – 12th-15th
- HSC Trial Exams 5th-16th
- Wednesday 14th – Book Week Dress Up Day
- Wednesday 14th – Grandparents Day
Week 5 (A) 19th – 23rd August
- Stage 5 (9 & 10) Snow Camp 18th-22nd
- Friday 23rd – Primary State Athletics – Sydney
- Friday 23rd – Primary Assembly 9 am
Week 6 (B) 26th – 30th August
- Tuesday 27th – Year 7 & 10 Vaccination Catch Up’s
- Wednesday 28th – P&F Meeting 6 pm
- Thursday 29th – Fathers Day Celebration
- Thursday 29th – Secondary State Athletics – Sydney
Week 7 (A) 2nd – 6th September
- Hospitality Work Placement 2nd-6th
- Friday 6th – Primary Assembly 9 am
Week 8 (B) 9th – 13th September
- Friday 13th Zone Netball & League – Ballina
Week 9 (A) 16th – 20th September
- Kinder to Year 3 Swimming – GSAC
- Year 10 Work Experience 16th – 20th
- Stage 3 (5&6) Camp Lennox Head 18th – 20th
- Friday 20th – Primary Assembly 9 am
Week 10 (B) 23rd – 27th September
- Friday 27th – Last Day Term 3
School Holidays 30th September to 14th October
Community Events
Kyogle
Casino
