Week 10, Term 1, 2025 | Friday 4 April

As we come to the end of our first school term of 2025, I feel a great sense of pride in what we managed to cram into 55 school days. I say 55, because Saturday sport for most families is part of our weekly schedules. We have also had the first of our House Chapel services, which occur on Sunday, this term.

They say that busy kids are happy kids, and I believe this to be true on many levels. Some “down time” for rest, relaxation and connection with loved ones is important for wellbeing, however, too much “down time” can be dangerous and invites the twin risks of too much screen time and dislocation from the family unit at large.

Across those 55 days of Term 1, major assessment periods have come and gone; training sessions, matches, wash outs, service and volunteering, outdoor education, and rehearsals and concerts have been a reality for many. The extra hardship for hundreds of our families cleaning up after the cyclone and enduring repairs to their homes and businesses is also not lost on me. Term 1 has been a lot!

I congratulate our 1^st XI Cricket Team who have won their first TAS premiership since 2005. Despite the disruptions from ‘wash-out’ rounds, our 1^st IV Tennis and 2^nd IV Tennis teams also secured premierships this year. The concert season for Music produced some of the best ensemble music played and heard at Canterbury in our College’s 38 year history.

I wish all our families a blessed Easter holiday period. In Term 2, I will be taking extended sabbatical leave. This will be my first extended leave since I commenced at Canterbury in 2019. Meagan King will be Acting Principal during Term 2 and Nick Stansbie will add Acting Deputy Principal to his Head of Senior School duties. There will be no other staff changes required.

I will see you in Term 3 (with some cameos at Saturday sport, Friday Night Rocks and UN Day in Term 2 most likely!) and wish our staff, students, and parents all the best for the holidays and Term 2.

As Term 1 comes to a close, we reflect on a busy and rewarding start to the year. Students and staff have worked incredibly hard, and the upcoming break is well deserved. I am so grateful for the positivity of our school community and impressed by the positive outcomes we have achieved this term.

A highlight of this final week has been the much-anticipated Year 12 Formal on Wednesday 2 April. Our senior students celebrated in style, marking a milestone in their final year of school. The evening was filled with laughter, music, and memories that will last a lifetime. It was wonderful to see the students come together, dressed to impress, and enjoy a night of celebration with their peers and teachers. I particularly commend our students on the formal committee, who were a key part of the success of the evening.

On Tuesday 1 April our Year 7 students engaged in their Thrive day. This was an incredible opportunity for these students to build connections in their cohort and to ‘test run’ some valuable leadership and teamwork skills. They worked with a group called ‘Character Builders’ and I am pleased to say I was very impressed with the level of engagement from all the students. They represented themselves and our college well.

We wish all our students and families a restful and enjoyable break. Term 2 will bring new opportunities and challenges, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back refreshed and ready for another great term! I also remind families that Term 2 sees us transition to our winter uniform, which means all students will be required to wear their blazers to and from school every day. Please make sure these are ready to go for day 1 of Term 2.

TAS Trimester 1 Summary

The Trimester 1 TAS Sports culminated in four premierships (Boys Cricket: First and Seconds, Girls Tennis: Firsts, and Basketball: Shield Year 7 Blue). Whilst the ‘wash-out’ rounds impacted our predicted results, our teams have placed 3^rd overall in the cricket program, and 2^nd overall in the tennis program. From thrilling victories to tough losses, every team has shown resilience, teamwork, and passion. Watching the growth of players, both on and off the field, and the camaraderie built throughout the season is a testament to the unwavering support shared among teammates, coaches, and families.

As we look ahead, to the Trimester 2 sports, lets continue to carry this positive energy forward.  Congratulations to everyone for their hard-work, dedication, and sportsmanship, and for embracing the challenges and triumphs.

The Trimester 2 sports: Girls – Hockey and Netball, Boys – Rugby and Tennis, and Carnival Sport – Cross Country, are in the final stages of their pre-season preparations. Please ensure you have joined the My CC: Senior School Sport Page and the individual Trimester 2 sport pages to ensure you receive all relevant information for training and fixtures.

Recently in the media, there has been significant coverage relating to the concerning data on drowning rates in Australia over the 2024-2025 summer (Brown, 2025). The Guardian has adding to the conversation suggesting a range of factors contributing to a decline in swimming ability and water safety skills. The Royal Life Saving Australia has indicated that almost half (48%) of students in Year 6 are not able to float, or tread water for two minutes, or swim continuously for 50 metres (Close-Brown, 2025). Moreover, the data also shows a distinct correlation between poor participation in school Physical Education swimming lessons and, Learn to Swim Programs. Hence, this decline in student’s ability be water safe, both in the pool and other aquatic environments, has significant contributed to rise of drowning rates in Australia (Close-Brown, 2025).

Learn to swim programs are fundamental in fostering confidence in water, enhancing water safety and promoting survival skills. At Canterbury, we support our community by offering discounted rates to our families to participate in our Tiny Taipans Learn to Swim classes. We understand and value the importance of students having confidence not only in the water, but also in their ability to demonstrate water safe practices. Learn-to-swim programs offer Australian children essential skills and lifelong benefits, and obviously reduce drowning risks, both to themselves and those around them. In a country surrounded by water and known for its beach culture, water safe practices represent a critical skillset. Swimming fosters physical fitness, coordination, and motor skills while promoting water confidence and safety. It also supports mental resilience and encourages social bonding through shared learning experiences and water play. Ultimately, these programs help children thrive physically, emotionally, and socially, ensuring they can enjoy Australia’s aquatic environments safely and confidently.

Swimming is a critical part of the HPE curriculum at Canterbury, and we encourage all to participate in our year-round programme through our Tiny Taipans Learn to Swim and Squad Program.

References:

Brown, A. (2025). ‘This is Australia, we’re surrounded by water’: how a nation of strong swimmers is losing its way. The Guardian Australia.

Close-Brown, E. (2025). Nearly half of Australia’s year 6 students can’t swim 50 metres of tread water for two minutes. The Guardian Australia.

Embracing the Spirit of Easter

Easter is not only a time of celebration but also a call to action. It is an opportunity to reflect on the blessings in our lives and extend generosity to those who need it most. Acts of kindness, no matter how small, can have a profound impact. By giving to others, we embody the spirit of Easter and follow Jesus’ example of love and service.

Canterbury College has embraced this spirit by partnering with Anglicare to provide Easter themed donations for children in foster care. Leading this initiative with dedication and compassion, our Year 6 students have worked hard to assemble baskets, package donations and share the service initiative with our community. We were so proud to present the donations to Brooke Miles, Anglicare’s Co-ordinator of Foster and Kinship Care at our end-of-term chapel service.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to our generous community for their contributions—your kindness and support will bring joy and comfort to children who need it most, reminding them that they are valued and cared for.

Our College Easter Service reminded us of the love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. As we celebrate His resurrection, we are called to extend kindness to others.

The Bible teaches us in Acts 1:11 (NIV):

“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

This passage reassures us of Christ’s promise to return and encourages us to live in His love, sharing that hope with others.

This Easter, let us come together as a community to make a difference. Whether through donations, acts of kindness, or words of encouragement, every gesture matters. Thank you for your generosity, and may this Easter bring peace and joy to you and your loved ones.

More info: MyCC News | Website News

As we prepare for the Easter celebration, we are reminded of how far we have come in our Lenten journey. This year’s journey to the foot of the cross on Good Friday has been filled with prayer, fasting, and giving. Students have spent time in chapel this term reflecting on and understanding the opportunities that the Lenten journey presents for us to become better people.

Before we break open the eggs and celebrate new life, we should take a moment to remember the sacrifice we witness during Holy Week. At our end-of-term Easter service, we have reflected on this sacrifice from God and the love that flows from it. In response to this love, we have seen great generosity from many families towards our Easter appeal this year. It was wonderful to meet with Brooke from Anglicare and hear about where our gifts are going and the significant impact, they will have on families in need this Easter

Thank you to everyone for your stewardship. I pray you all have a Happy and Holy Easter.

HE IS RISEN

Year 2 CaRE

Over the past few weeks, the Year 2 cohort has been learning about the importance of making positive choices when navigating friendships and conflicts. Using the Bridge Builders program, students have explored different strategies to respond to challenging situations, including recognising their feelings, calming down, and making a choice that helps resolve the problem.

Students have been learning that they have the power to choose how they respond to conflicts. They have practised strategies such as asking someone to stop, ignoring and not reacting, and using calming techniques when emotions feel overwhelming. Through role-playing activities and discussions, students are building confidence in using these strategies both in the classroom and the playground.

By embedding this common language across the Junior School, we are supporting students in developing problem-solving skills and fostering a respectful and inclusive environment. For more information on the Bridge Builders program and strategies you can reinforce at home, please refer to the parent resources available through your ELC-Year 2 Parent Bridge Builders login.

From the Year 2 teachers

Monique Charlton

Alesha Anderson

Roohee Ali

Tammi Cooper

Year 1 RaVE

Our Year 1 students have been enthusiastically exploring the Easter story during their Religious and Values Education (RAVE) lessons. Over the last few weeks of term, the children have delved into the rich symbolism and significance of Easter, focusing on key elements such as the cross and the events of Easter Sunday.

Through engaging activities and discussions, the students have learned about the importance of the cross as a symbol of sacrifice and love. They have also explored the solemnity of Good Friday, understanding it as a day of reflection on Jesus’ crucifixion. Most importantly, the children have celebrated the joyous occasion of Jesus rising on the third day, recognizing it as the true meaning of Easter. The students will continue to explore their understanding during our Easter Chapel on Thursday with Fr Dan. We are proud of their curiosity and thoughtful reflections, and we encourage you to continue these conversations at home.

From the Assistant Head of Junior School P-3

Brittany Sinclair

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