ST FRANCIS College has laid down two important messages to its students and staff.
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The school has participated in R U OK? Day activities, as well as raising awareness of homelessness issues by hosting a sleepout at the college.
R U OK? Day was organised by students, with activities including a day without mobile phones, ideas on how to start a conversation with someone, entertainment, message writing and more.
Staff also joined in, with the digital detox of a day without phones declared a success.
"Many students have spoken to me about the fact they actually had deeper conversations with their friends (during the day without their phone)," college principal Seb Spina said.
"The digital diet worked for them. "Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and other social media applications are pretty amazing. They're not evil and they're definitely not going away."
While Mr Spina acknowledged these platforms have a place in society, it is well-known they can often be used by people of all ages as a way to bully or target people.
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Mr Spina encouraged parents to have a chat with their children about social media and its implications.
He said R U OK? Day was an important part of the college calendar every year and said the message was one that resonated with students and staff alike.
The college has also been doing its part to raise awareness of homelessness in Leeton shire.
St Francis year 12 leader and teacher Clare Vant organised for a sleepout to be held at the school.
Fourteen students joined Mrs Vant and Mr Spina in "sleeping rough" to raise awareness of youth homelessness in the college hall.
A total of $828 will be donated to Father Chris Reilly's Youth off the Streets program.
There was strictly no food or technology between 8:30pm and 7am as part of the event. The following morning a hearty breakfast was prepared for the participants in the boarding school.
Mr Spina said the college prided itself on promoting the important messages behind R U OK? Day and the sleepout.
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