Week 6, Term 2, 2025 | Friday 30 May

Have Your Say + Get Involved in UN Day

As we head into a busy and exciting time in the life of our College, I have two important opportunities where your voice and involvement can make a difference.

Parent Survey – Now Open
We’re always looking for ways to strengthen how we connect and communicate with our families. Your feedback is incredibly valuable in helping us improve.
The survey is short, completely anonymous, and only takes a few minutes to complete – but the impact of your insights is lasting.
Please take a moment to share your thoughts by May 2025.

▶ Access via MyCC – Parent Survey

UN Day – Food Stall Expressions of Interest
One of the most anticipated and vibrant events in our calendar, UN Day (Thursday 20 June), is a celebration of our rich cultural diversity, and we would love for you to be part of it!

If your family would like to contribute to a food stall, sharing a dish that reflects your cultural heritage, it’s a wonderful way to contribute to the day and create meaningful memories.

To ensure the safety and success of the event, all families providing food are asked to:
– Complete a free online food safety course by Monday 9 June
– Submit a food information form for each item being served

▶ Access via MyCC – Food Stall Requirements

▶ Watch: Food Stall Explainer Video

Thank you for the many ways you support our community – from sharing your perspectives to celebrating what makes us unique.

On Tuesday morning, our Year 12 students came together to mark a significant milestone – 100 school days remaining until their final graduation at Canterbury. The occasion was celebrated with a special morning tea and a visit from two inspiring Old Collegians: Jack Henry (Class of 2023) and Sophie Matheson (Class of 2019). Both alumni shared valuable reflections on their own final days at Canterbury and offered heartfelt insights into life beyond school.

As a community, we’ve placed a strong focus this year on Rites of Passage – those key moments that symbolise transition and growth. This 100-day celebration was one such moment, a pause in the busyness of school life to reflect on how far these students have come, and to look ahead to the exciting (and sometimes daunting) final stretch of their school journey.

Our current Year 12 cohort has sometimes been described as “cruisy.” It’s a word that reflects their calm, steady approach and ability to handle challenges with maturity. But it’s also a reminder that coasting too comfortably through these final months might mean not getting the very best out of themselves and missing out on chances to connect, contribute, and truly make the most of their final experiences at Canterbury.

Students were encouraged to be fully present in the months ahead. Whether it’s finishing an assignment with pride, pursuing a job or apprenticeship lead, training with purpose, attending university open days or preparing for final exams – every effort matters. They were also reminded not to overlook the smaller moments: being fully involved in all Canterbury events or simply getting to know their fellow students better.

This celebration was more than just a countdown. It was a call to action. A reminder that these final days are not just about academics, but about finishing well – finishing with energy, pride, and a sense of fulfilment.

There are still 100 days to go. Let’s make every one of them count!

More info: MyCC News | Website News

Supporting Your Child in Preparing for Assessment

From the early years of Junior School, teachers often talk to students about effective study habits, time management, and emotional resilience in the lead-up to assessment tasks. When these messages are reinforced at home, students are more likely to feel supported, confident, and prepared. Here are some practical ways parents can help:

1. Establish a routine: Work with your child to create a consistent homework/study schedule that includes regular breaks, meals, and sleep. A predictable routine helps reduce stress and builds focus over time.
2. Create a positive environment: Set up a quiet, well-lit space with limited distractions and that is close enough to monitor and support their progress. In the setup, have your child select the materials they will require to complete their homework and study. Encourage teenagers to hand their phone into you for homework/study sessions that can then be accessed for short breaks or as a reward at the end of the session.
3. Encourage active learning: Support your child in using effective strategies including retrieval practice that I discussed in my last article. These strategies help deepen understanding and improve recall.
4. Promote time management: Help your child understand theirs (and the family’s) schedule to identify when they can set aside time to complete homework and assessment preparation. Creating a planner that includes all commitments and scheduling in blocks of time for these tasks each week can support them in looking ahead. A calendar that includes due dates, in a visible location, is also supportive.
5. Provide emotional support: Normalise feelings of nervousness when exams are approaching. Offer help when needed and communicate with teachers if you notice signs of increased stress or difficulty.
6. Encourage healthy habits: This is more challenging for parents of teenagers, especially as you provide opportunities for more independence. Quality and enough sleep, healthy meals and physical activity play a big role in mental performance and emotional balance.

By working together, we can empower your child to approach homework and assessments with confidence, resilience, and the assurance of a strong support system.

The Joy of Learning

The joy of learning is a deeply enriching experience. It’s the spark of curiosity ignited when we encounter something new, the thrill of discovery as we connect ideas, and the satisfaction that comes from mastering a skill or understanding a concept. Learning opens doors—not just to knowledge, but to new perspectives, opportunities, and personal growth.

Throughout this term, students in the ELC and Junior School at Canterbury have been discovering the love and joy of learning in a wide variety of ways. Our ELC have been learning about Nursery Rhymes; singing and exploring the different vocabulary used in some very well-known nursery rhymes. Students from year 3 to year 6 have been working very hard in their HPE lessons, in an aim to master the skills required for their Athletics Carnival in week 6. Our year 5 and 6 students have definitely been demonstrating a joy of learning through our SPARK program. Whether that is found through exploring alternate modes of transport with wind powered vehicles or film canister rockets or by creating an augmented reality word of biodiversity.

In what ways has your child been experiencing a joy of learning? I encourage you to initiate that conversation.

Entrepreneurship at Canterbury College

At Canterbury College, we are proud to nurture the next generation of creative thinkers and innovators with our curriculum and co-curricular entrepreneurship programs.

Year 8 BEE – Mother’s Day Markets

Our Year 8 Business, Economics and Entrepreneurship (BEE) students brought energy and creativity to their Mother’s Day Market Stalls. From idea generation to production, students ran their own mini-businesses. The event was a tremendous success, with most stalls completely selling out!

Start Up: Turning Ideas into Action

Year 10 Start Up is a real-world curriculum subject that empowers students to develop enterprise skills by building their own businesses. With a strong focus on both entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship—the ability to drive innovation within an existing organisation—students learn to explore possibilities through curiosity and creative thinking.

Year 10 students are seeking feedback on their businesses and products. We warmly invite parents, families, staff, and industry partners to attend their Start Up Showcase on 16 June at 9:00am. Students will launch their businesses, sell their products, and receive real-time feedback.

Please RSVP to attend this event.

Young Business Leaders Co-Curricular Program and Showcase

Canterbury College is proud to host the Young Business Leaders Showcase, a co-curricular program featuring students from five local schools. This exciting event, held on the 16 June, will include market stalls, product launches, and business pitches from participating students.

Special guest speakers include Logan City Council Mayor Jon Raven and Queensland Small Business Commissioner Dominique Lamb. The program is delivered by BOP Industries and proudly sponsored by Beenleigh Quota and the Beenleigh Yatala Chamber of Commerce.

Celebrating Student Entrepreneurs

We are thrilled to celebrate the recent outstanding achievements of some our young entrepreneurs:

• Ashutosh Vaitha (Year 11), CEO of Ashan Industries, was recently recognised as a semi-finalist in the Channel 7 Young Achiever Awards for his innovative business efforts. Congratulations, Ashutosh!
• Koby Morse and Lochlan McDougall (Year 10), co-founders of KBPCS, have just been announced as winners in the Australian School of Entrepreneurship’s Community Innovation Forum! They have secured a $5000 scholarship and a place in a specialised holiday workshop to further develop their tech business and leadership skills. Congratulations, Koby and Lochlan, on this outstanding achievement!

The Art of Estimation

In Year 3 Mathematics, students have been focusing on the concept of estimation, beginning with the fundamental skill of rounding numbers. Leveraging their understanding of place value, students have mastered rounding numbers to the nearest 10 and 100. Through engaging games, they practiced rounding two- and three-digit numbers, learning when to round to 10 and when to round to 100. This practice has significantly enhanced their overall number sense, with number lines serving as a valuable tool for determining answers.

Building on this foundation, students connected their rounding skills to the previous unit on money. By integrating these concepts, they learned to estimate values effectively. Using a fictitious rewards catalogue, students estimated potential purchases with varying amounts of ‘Reward Money’. It was inspiring to observe their mathematical skills being applied to real-world scenarios and to engage in discussions about how these skills could be beneficial in their future lives.

Written by the Year 3 Team

Judith Kelmanson

Keeyarna Hayes

Rachael McCoy

Robert Ashford

Year 12 Visual Art Students Embrace Sustainable Creativity at Reverse Garbage
On 26 May 2025, Year 12 Visual Art students visited Brisbane’s Reverse Garbage Co-op to kick off Unit 4: Art as Alternate. This unit encourages students to explore non-traditional, eco-conscious artmaking. During a hands-on workshop, students worked with found objects and alternative materials, gaining insights that will shape their final artworks and deepen their understanding of sustainable practices in contemporary art.

3D Printing and Laser Cutting Ignite Innovation in Year 8 and 9 Design
Year 8 Design students are bringing creativity to life with new 3D printers, designing custom plant pots that blend function and aesthetics. Projects include self-watering systems and character-inspired designs, encouraging critical thinking and sustainability.

Meanwhile, Year 9 students are mastering laser cutting, using Illustrator to design and produce intricate clocks. Both year levels are learning through prototyping, testing, and refining their ideas and developing through real-world design and engineering skills. “The engagement has been incredible,” says Design teacher Mrs Roos. “Students are thinking like designers and engineers.”

Canterbury Dancers Inspired by QPAC’s Blue and Preparing for United Nations Day
The combined Year 9 and 10 Dance class, led by Mrs Cathy Brown, recently attended Blue at QPAC—a contemporary performance exploring identity and emotion. The experience sparked deep reflection and inspired students as they prepare for Canterbury’s United Nations Day celebration. This year’s performance features a fusion of global dance styles, with students contributing choreography influenced by their cultural backgrounds. Rehearsals are building excitement for a performance that promises to be both technically strong and culturally rich.

Building Skills and Legacy in the ANZAC Garden
Students in the Building and Construction Skills subject are enhancing Canterbury’s ANZAC Garden by replacing old seating with newly built concrete benches. Building on last years’ experience creating pavers, students are applying skills in measuring, mixing, and formwork under the guidance of Mr Warren Musk. This project not only develops practical skills but also leaves a lasting legacy, reinforcing the value of hands-on learning and community contribution.

Senior Music Students Explore Hans Zimmer’s Genius at QPAC
Senior Music students recently attended Art of the Score: The Music of Hans Zimmer at QPAC, performed by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. The concert featured iconic scores from Inception, The Lion King, Pirates of the Caribbean, and The Dark Knight, offering students a deeper appreciation of Zimmer’s compositional style. Guided by Dr Katrina Peddell, students connected the live performance to their classroom studies, analysing motifs, instrumentation, and emotional impact. The experience enriched their understanding of film music and inspired their own creative work.

Art Club: A Creative Space for Young Artists
Canterbury’s Art Club, open to Years 7–10, offers a relaxed environment for students to explore visual arts beyond the classroom. Led by Ms Steer and Ms Kruttschnitt, the club meets weekly in the Senior Visual Art Studio. This term, students are working on personal projects for an upcoming exhibition, experimenting with painting, drawing, and mixed media. The club fosters creativity, friendship, and a sense of pride in artistic expression.

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2025 United Nations Day

More Info: Save The Date | Register your Expression of Interest | Food Stall Requirements