Thrive Newsletter Term 4 Week 9
All In The Name of Jesus
As the year closes and we look forward to the Christmas holidays, we are reminded of the significance of this time, the birth of our Saviour Jesus and the wonderful names and titles that Jesus holds. It’s an opportunity for us to consider who Jesus was, is now and who He is in the future. Let’s take a moment to reflect not only on both the historical
narrative of Jesus birth, but also the eternal importance of Jesus Christ.
Names of Jesus: Throughout Scripture, Jesus is given many names and titles that describe His divine eternal nature, His mission, and His relationship with us. Each of
these names reveals something precious about Him. Here are just a couple:
1. Emmanuel – “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). At Christmas, we celebrate the profound mystery that God came to dwell among us as a human being. Jesus is Emmanuel, bringing the love and presence of God into the world.
2. Wonderful Counsellor (Isaiah 9:6). Jesus, in His wisdom, guides us through life’s challenges, teaching us how to live, love, and forgive, and offering us His counsel and comfort through His Word.
3. Mighty God (Isaiah 9:6). Jesus is not just a teacher or a prophet; He is Almighty God, with all the power and authority of Heaven. He was at the beginning when God said let US make man in OUR image.
4. Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Jesus came to bring peace, not only between us and God, but peace in our hearts, freeing us from the burden of our failures, in our relationships, and in the world.
5. The Lamb of God (John 1:29). Jesus was sent to take away the sins of the world, through His sacrifice on the cross. His humility, His love, and His willingness to die for us are the greatest acts of grace, the world has ever seen.
Christmas is a reminder that Jesus came to earth as a child, born in humble circumstances, to bring salvation to all. But don’t forget – Jesus didn’t just come as a baby; He is the eternal Son of God, the world’s Saviour. His birth in Bethlehem was the continuation of God’s amazing plan to redeem us from sin and give us eternal life, as promised throughout history.
Be encouraged this Christmas, that Jesus is still with us today through the Holy Spirit and His words. As we celebrate His birth, let us also celebrate His ongoing work in our lives, bringing us back to life from death, restoring us, teaching us, comforting us, and empowering us to live as His disciples.
But who is Jesus Is in the Future: As we reflect on who Jesus is, we must also look forward to the future. In the book of Revelation, we see Jesus in His glory, not as a humble child in a manger, but as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords with all of mankind at his feet.
In Revelation 1:12-16, we see a powerful vision of the risen Christ:
- The Alpha and the Omega (Revelation 1:8, 11). Jesus is the beginning and the end of all things, eternal and unchanging. Fully worthy and he sustains all things.
- The First and the Last (Revelation 1:17). Jesus holds the future in His hands, and He is sovereign over all creation.
- The Son of Man (Revelation 1:13). Jesus, in His full glory, reveals Himself as both fully divine and fully human, the One who understands our struggles but reigns with all power. We can turn to him and know him fully.
Jesus, as described in Revelation, is full of majesty, power, and authority, not just as a meek baby in a manger. He is the one who will return to judge the world, to make all things new, and to reign forever. We look forward to that day with hope, knowing He has promised to make everything right. All of us will stand before him.
No good deed, or a life lived well is the answer here. Only the Blood of Jesus can rescue us from judgment. But what good news this is. You don’t have to be perfect to come to this kingdom or wait until you are worthy. Simply turn to him and accept the love that is already yours. He knows all your faults and yet, incredibly still he calls us to come. I pray you hear that call today if you do not yet know the peace and contentedness of a life with Jesus as Saviour.
As we close this year and celebrate break for Christmas, let’s remember that Jesus is not only the baby in the manger but the King who reigns forever. He is with us now, and He will come again in glory. Let’s live this Christmas with hearts full of gratitude for His love, His sacrifice, and His promise for the future.
May this season be filled with peace, joy, and the assurance that the One who came at Christmas is the One who will make all things new. Merry Christmas to all of you!
Faith Hull
Principal
Primary Staff Announcements for 2025
At CCS Primary, we are very blessed to have a brilliant team of educators who are passionate everyday about teaching and nurturing our students. Our students are blessed to have teachers who are committed to our school’s vision to honour Christ, build community and grow our students in grace and knowledge.
Firstly though, we need to sadly announce some farewells from our team.
Mrs Jessica Bryant (formerly Miss Egan), will be heading to Sydney next year with her husband. They will be commencing full-time ministry study. We are immensely grateful for Mrs Bryant’s contribution to our school. She has exemplified quality teaching and has a true gift in connecting to students and learning how to meet their needs.
Miss Blackhall will be heading to Geelong next year to be reunited with family and friends. She has been an outstanding member of our team and we are grateful for the many ways she has contributed to our school this year. Miss Blackhall has made a strong impact on our community and has enriched our school.
Mrs Crowther will be stepping down from permanent work. We have loved the enthusiasm she has brought to our workplace and to our classrooms. We have been blessed by her heart and passion to engage with students and support them in every way possible.
With this in mind, we would like to welcome:
Miss Alicia Roache – Miss Roache has been a part of the Casino community for many years and has a passion for children and young people. We are excited to be welcoming her to CCS Primary and are looking forward to the heart, passion and experience she will bring.
Mr David Crowther will be joining our teaching team on a full time basis in 2025. It has been great to get to know Mr Crowther this term. He brings a wealth of early childhood teaching experience and heart for the Gospel and young children. We’re glad he is joining our team.
We are also announcing a new role in 2025 – Head of Learning – Primary. This role will be
undertaken by Mr Frahm. In this role he will support the on-going success of CCS Primary with input in administration, welfare, and sport coordination.
Mrs Coulter is very pleased to be continuing be lead the CCS Primary Team as Deputy Principal – Primary in 2025
CCS Primary Teaching Team
Miss Goodacre – Kindergarten
Mrs Thompson (formerly Miss Allen) – Year 1
Mr Crowther – Year 2
Mrs Filmer – Year 3
Mrs Ranger – Year 4
Mr Frahm – Year 5 and Head of Learning
Miss Roache – Year 6
Mrs Livingstone – Primary RFF (K-4)
Mr Spriggs – Chaplain
Mrs Kemsley – Learning Support Leader Primary
Mrs Coulter – Deputy Principal – Primary
We are ending this year grateful to God for His blessings over our school and are heading into 2025 with confidence and excitement.
Secondary Staff Announcements 2025
At CCS we are very blessed to have a brilliant team of teachers who are committed to our School’s vision to honour Christ, build community and grow our students in grace and knowledge. As we head towards the end of another full and busy year, our thoughts turn to 2025! With this in mind, we are excited to make a number of staffing announcements for the coming year.
Before we announce some exciting new additions to our team, however, it is firstly with sadness that we announce the farewell of Mr Juozapaitis has made many wonderful contributions to our school over the past 7 years, and especially in the last two years, in his role of Head of Secondary (along with Mr Lake). Mr Juozapaitis will be moving to South Australia to be with family, and will be greatly missed by parents, students and staff alike.
Joining our Secondary Team in 2025 are three new teachers and the return of a familiar staff member:
Mr Jason Convery – Mr Convery is an experienced teacher with qualifications in both Primary and Secondary schooling. He is a long time member of the Casino community and is looking forward to joining our team and bringing his faith more fully into his teaching. Undoubtedly, Mr Convery will bring his passion and experience as he teaches primarily in our Secondary English classes.
Mr Joshua Matthews – Relocating from Newcastle, and with family connections in the Northern Rivers, Mr Matthews is HSIE specialty teacher and has training in architecture and Christian Ministry. He is dedicated to sharing the Gospel with young people and is excited about new opportunities in our community.
Mrs Jennifer Tessemer – Mrs Tessesser is a highly qualified Mathematics teacher who loves the Lord and is excited about sharing her faith openly at school. Her eldest daughter is also beginning Kindy next year and we are excited about all that she will bring to our team.
Also returning in 2025 is Mr John Woolley. We are excited to have Mr Woolley rejoin our Art and CAPA team. He brings a wealth of experience and a passion for our community that we are grateful for.
As we continue to grow, we are excited to also announce a growing leadership team. In 2025 we are pleased to announce three new Head of Learning roles in the secondary (and one in Primary School).
Our Heads of Learning will lead in particular stage and faculty areas:
- Mrs Jacqui Nott – Stage 4 & PDHPE, CAPA and Enrichment
- Mrs Samantha Boland – Stage 5 & Humanities
- Mrs Kendal Bryant – Stage 6, VET & STEM
Continuing in their leadership roles are:
Mrs Samantha Jackson – Learning Support Leader
Mr McPherson – Sports Coordinator
Mr Wade – IT Coordinator.
Mr Lake will continue to lead the Secondary School in his role as Deputy Principal – Secondary. Mrs Coulter will lead CCS Primary as Deputy Principal – Primary.
As a school, we are God for His blessings. We are excited to be heading into 2025 with an expanding teaching and leadership team. This further adds to our confidence and enthusiasm for the new year.
Staff Farewells
Thank you for your time here you will all be missed dearly!
Mr Wyndham
Mrs Josephine Lake
Mrs Jessica Bryant
Mrs Kira Crowther
Mr Juozapaitis
Miss Mekah Blakhall
Get to Know Our New Staff!
Mr John Woolley
Secondary Teacher – Art / CAPA
‘I’m very excited to be re-joining the CCS community in 2025. My relationship with Jesus is central to my life and teaching; I try to reflect His love and creativity in all I do. I attend Ballina Uniting Church where I’m involved in various ministries, including Lunch With Punch and Church Council. At home, I have a beautiful American Staffordshire Terrier named Moses, and my family is my greatest blessing—they inspire me to do my best as a husband and father. For fun, I enjoy hiking and last holidays completed a 220K trek around Annapurna in Nepal. I’ve been teaching for many years, and I enjoy engaging students through various art and music programs. Next year at CCS, I’m looking forward to creating meaningful connections with students and colleagues and creating an environment where learning is joyful, collaborative, and centred around faith in Jesus.
Mr Jason Convery
Primary & Secondary Teacher
Hi, I’m Jason Convery, and I’m thrilled to be joining Casino Christian School in 2025! I’ve lived in Casino most of my life and love the strong sense of community our small town offers. My wife, our two daughters, and I are active members of St. Mark’s Anglican Church. When I’m not teaching, I enjoy spending time outdoors, especially at the beach. Over the past five years, I’ve worked in local schools and am qualified to teach both primary and secondary students. I look forward to getting to know the school community and starting this exciting new chapter.
Mr Joshua Matthews
Secondary HSIE Teacher
Having recently moved up to the Northern Rivers from Newcastle, Josh is a passionate history and geography teacher with an interest for inspiring curiosity about the world. Josh has a heart for young people finding their purpose in Jesus, through understanding the bible and coming to know the life-changing message of Jesus’ death and resurrection. When not in the classroom, Josh loves exploring new places with his wife, spending time with friends and family, and savouring a perfectly brewed cup of coffee.
Mr David Crowther
Primary Teacher
Mr Ian Coutts
Literacy Teacher
Hi. My name is Ian Coutts, and I’m excited to be joining the Casino Christian School community next year. As a teacher, I’m passionate about building positive and supportive relationships with students and encouraging them to grow not just in their understandings, but also in their knowledge and love of God. I’m looking forward to getting to know the students, staff and wider school community, and see how I can be a part of the team in helping your children grow in their God given gifts and abilities. See you in 2025!
Miss Alicia Roache
Year 6 Primary Teacher
Hi, I’m Alicia. I have been a teacher for four years and absolutely love what I do. I have a wonderful family, including a younger brother. I also have a border collie named Milo, who keeps me on my toes. For fun, I enjoy taking Milo for walks or to the park, camping, and spending time with friends. I am so excited to start at Casino Christian School and can’t wait to meet everyone!
Mrs Jennifer Tessmer
Secondary Mathematics Teacher
Mrs Sara Mackay
Student Learning Support Officer
Sara is excited to return to Casino Christian College, where she can continue guiding students in their walk with Christ. As a dedicated mother to a one-year-old, she balances her love for family with her passion for mentoring. In her free time, Sara enjoys relaxing at the beach.
Mr Ezekiel Gray
Student Learning Support Officer
Ezekiel is excited to be joining the CCS team in 2025 and is looking forward to being able to assist students in their learning and growing in their love for Jesus.
School Updates
Semester 2 Reports
On Tuesday the 10th of December Semester 2 Student Reports were sent home with the youngest member of the family. If students have not collected their reports they will posted to the home address on file.
A copy of Student Reports will be emailed to caregivers early next week. Moving forward emailing will be our standard method for distributing Student Reports.
2025 Term Dates
2025 Uniform Shop Opening Hours
The Uniform Shop is now closed and will re-open on the 21st, 22nd & 23rd of January from 9 am to 4 pm.
Usual hours will commence with the beginning of school term on Monday 3rd February.
Normal hours of operation (during school term)
Monday 8-11 am
Wednesday 1-4 pm
Orders can be placed on the School Stream App or by completing the CCS Uniform Order November 2024 and return it by email to uniform@ccs.nsw.edu.au
Richies Community Benefit Payments
Did you know that you can nominate our school for Ritchies Community Benefit Payments! Just download the Ritchies Card app, or register a card online, and nominate Casino Christian School!
Primary News
Year 6 Graduation
On Tuesday the 10th of December, we celebrated the conclusion of Primary School for our Year 6 students! It has been wonderful watching them learn and grow and we look forward to seeing most of them continue on with us at CCS but for those who are moving on we pray only good things for your future.
End of Year Celebration Assembly
Our Primary Celebration Assembly was held at CCS last Thursday night. It was a fabulous night showcasing each class’s talents and individual student achievements.
We congratulate the following who were presented special awards on the night.
Kindergarten
Gracie Ranger – Academic Achievement Award
Felicity Duley – Commitment to Learning
Dakoda Wall – Values Award
Year 1
Jimmy Rixon – Academic Achievement Award
Eli Skinner – Commitment to Learning
Abby Phillips – Values Award
Year 2
Amelia Duley – Academic Achievement Award
Saxxon Boland – Commitment to Learning
Xaviera Ivanusa – Values Award
Year 3
Alexander Mayer – Academic Achievement Award
Amelia Webb – Commitment to Learning
Nate Sonnex – Values Award
Year 4
Charli Gardiner – Academic Achievement Award
Mahayla Ivanusa – Commitment to Learning
Ezekyel Larcome – Values Award
Year 5
Dean Jarrett – Academic Achievement Award
Aleah Penman – Commitment to Learning
Zamira Wade – Values Award
Year 6
Zoe Stapleton – Academic Achievement Award
Kailey Cole – Commitment to Learning
Addison Lane – Values Award
Presbyterian Leadership Award
Frankie Benn-van Beers
School Values Awards
Tully Benn-van Beers – Compassion
Xaviera Ivanusa – Integrity
Rosalie Wade – Respect
Alexander Mayer – Responsibility
Marlee’s Cleaning Award “Best and Farest in Sport”
Mikayla Hartley
Xavier Barton
Sports Champions
Jack Rixon
Bella Mines-Salvat
Ace Williams
Tessa Ranger
Taylor House Captains
Aidan Cowan
Elijah Behan
Liddel House Captains
Lola Watson
Kaelan Boland
Elliot House Captains
Archer Thomas
Jaxyn Moore
Student Council Representatives
Sharlotte Sonnex
Zamira Wade
Vice Captains
Jack Rixon
Patrick Coulter
School Captains
Dean Jarrett
Molly Duncan
Premier’s Reading Challenge
Certificates have gone home for the Premier’s reading challenge and CCS congratulates all those who participated. A special thank you to Miss Goodacre for helping the whole Kindergarten class complete the challenge
Newcastle Permanent Maths Competition
CCS congratulates all of Year 5 and Year 6 for entering the Newcastle Permanent Maths competition. Certificates have been sent home and some students performed highly.
Secondary News
High School Celebration Assembly
Our High School Celebration Assembly was held on Monday 9th of December. It was great to see some of our music students perform and celebrate our Award Achievers!
The following students received awards.
Year 7
Sophie Jarrett – Academic Achievement Award
Elisha Roy – Commitment to Learning
Aria Coughran – Values Award
Year 8
Elijah Filmer – Academic Achievement Award
Noah Blunt – Commitment to Learning
Elijah Filmer – Values Award
Year 9
Rachael Humphrey – Academic Achievement Award
Rachael Humphrey – Commitment to Learning
Jacoby Kelly – Values Award
Year 10
Zanthia Filmer – Academic Achievement Award
Danni Webb – Commitment to Learning
Aden Simpson – Values Award
School Values Awards Stage 4
Jacob Boag – Compassion
Sophie Jarrett – Compassion
Angus Eichorn-Clark – Compassion
John Edwards – Integrity
Abbie-Gayle Dein – Integrity
Aria Coughran – Integrity
Elly Huntley – Respect
Emily Murphy – Respect
Elijah Filmer – Responsibility
School Values Awards Stage 5
Samuel McCabe – Compassion
Jacoby Kelly – Integrity
Aden Simpson – Respect
Charlize Filmer – Resposibility
Isabelle Ford – Responsibility
Presbyterian Trustee Award
Katie Zeiler
Sports Champions
Darcy Watson
Makayla Kemsley
Patrick Murphy
Jaime McCabe
Angus Gibson
Madison Steele
Marlee’s Cleaning Award – “Best and Fairest in Sport”
Jackson Strahan
Torah Coughran
Taylor House Captains
Ethan Saad
Phoenix Warren
Liddel House Captains
Jackson Strahan
Bridie Chaffey
Elliot House Captains
Sam Rixon
Jaimie McCabe
Angus Gibson – Cookery Competitions
On Tuesday, 12th November, Angus Gibson competed in the VETiS Worldskills Cookery competition in Port Macquarie. This competition is a bit like Masterchef for VET Cookery students! He had a set time to create the dishes, and some constraints around the dishes, but he had to write his own workflow plan and recipe.
These photos show the dishes he had to create, a Warm Chicken Salad, and a Dessert using Choux pastry and Chocolate.
He received good feedback from the judges on the day of the competition, has been invited to compete at the National Championships for Worldskills for Cookery in Brisbane in June next year!
Angus has also been undertaking residential training at the Le Cordon Bleu School for Cookery in Sydney. While he was there Angus won “Best Cuisine Award” out of several hundred students. Well done Angus!
Kai Dein – Nursing
Congratulations to Kai Dein from Year 11 who was entered into Worldskills for Human Services – Nursing by TAFE NSW. Kai achieved second place in the regional competition with only one mark away from equal first in the region!! Well done Kai!!
Community Information
