Week 9, Term 4, 2025 | Friday 5 December

Another Year of Joy, Growth and Improvement

As we reach the close of another remarkable year at Canterbury, it’s a perfect moment to pause and reflect. 2025 has been a year of learning, achievement and connection. From the classroom to the stage, the sports fields to service projects, our students have embraced opportunities to grow and shine. We embrace Term 4, with its season of farewells, concerts, awards ceremonies, graduations and rites of passage. It is a special time to witness in a school.

Thank you to our dedicated teachers and staff for giving so much of yourselves, and to our families for your trust and partnership. Together, we strive to create a community where every student feels seen, valued and supported.

Christmas reminds us of something profound. Whether we celebrate as Christians, follow another faith, or simply enjoy the traditions of the season, this time of year speaks to values that unite us: kindness, generosity, gratitude and family. For us at Canterbury, our Anglican heritage calls us to a spirit of reconciliation and hospitality as we celebrate the birth of Jesus – a message of peace and love that inspires us to open our hearts and seek harmony in our community.

Beyond sporting premierships, record ATAR and NAPLAN results, astonishing music and dance performances and a world of community service and social justice initiatives, Canterbury strives to be a place where everyone can belong and thrive.

Looking ahead, 2026 promises to be the best year in Canterbury’s history. We will begin the year with close to 1,700 students from Kindy to Year 12, a testament to the trust families place in our school. Our academic aspirations are high, our sporting performance aspirations are high, and every year we seek to make Canterbury just a little better than it was the year before. Our students and families deserve an ambitious trajectory for the school, and we are committed to delivering on that promise.

Across our Four Dimensions – Academics, Sport, Performing Arts and Character, Leadership and Service – we are aligning every part of student development to our ambition to be known as Queensland’s leading coeducational independent school.

As we head into the holidays, may this season bring peace and happiness to every home. From all of us at Canterbury, we wish you a joyful Christmas and a bright, happy new year. Safe travels, and we look forward to welcoming you back in 2026.

This week has been a very special one for our Junior School, filled with both excitement and also touched with a little sadness. On Tuesday we opened our doors to many new students who are joining our community for the first time, while, at the same time, we said farewell to our wonderful Year 6s as they get ready for their next big adventure in senior school.

On Tuesday morning, our new students and their families were greeted by friendly faces, helpful buddies, and plenty of smiles. Teachers took extra time to help them feel settled, meet a few friends and give them a taste of what being a Canterbury student is all about.For their families, our Orientation Day was an opportunity to meet the Junior School leadership team and find out a little more about the programs offered in the Junior School along with the practicalities of settling their children into a new school.

For our current students, Tuesday morning was all about finding our their 2026 teacher and learning about some of their peers that would be in their class next year; a pretty exciting day for everyone.

At the same time, we have been celebrating our Year 6 students, who have been leaders and role models. Whether helping younger students, participating in school events, or showing kindness in everyday moments, they have made a lasting impact. This week, we have enjoyed hearing their favourite junior school memories, cheering them on in their final activities, and reflecting on how far they have come. The Year 6 Celebration Evening on Wednesday was a lovely culmination of their time in the Junior School.

To all our new students: welcome! To our Year 6 students: thank you and good luck. To our Junior School community, I thank you for your ongoing support for our work and of our teachers and the amazing work they do with your children. I hope you have a relaxing break over the festive season and I wish you all the best for the New Year.

Celebrating a Year of Excellence in Co Curricular Sport at Canterbury College

Co curricular sport is an integral part of life at Canterbury College, enriching students’ wellbeing, learning, and personal growth. Through participation, students develop healthy, active habits while strengthening essential skills like teamwork, communication, and resilience – all qualities that reflect Canterbury’s core values.

Sport provides practical opportunities to live out the values of Integrity and Respect, whether through fair play, sportsmanship, or commitment to the team. Through team training and competition, we foster Scholarship, encouraging discipline, effort, and continual improvement. Students build community as they form friendships across year levels and contribute to the vibrant school spirit seen in weekly fixtures and Carnivals. Our teams demonstrate compassion in action as they support one another and showcase acts of encouragement towards their teammates.

At Canterbury College, co curricular sport is more than an activity. It is a meaningful extension of our values and a vital part of developing confident, connected, and capable young people. This year, our students demonstrated these values with outstanding results across a wide range of sports.

Athletics saw Canterbury crowned Champion School and Champion Girls School, setting a superb tone for the year. In Basketball, both the Girls First V and Girls Year 10 teams secured impressive third place finishes.

Cricket delivered remarkable success with the First XI and Second XI winning Premierships, alongside a strong third overall finish. Netball was another standout, with Premierships for the First VII, Seconds, Year 8, and 8B, and additional top three finishes across Years 7 to 10.

Rugby produced further highlights, including the First XV placing second, and both the Year 7 8 A and B teams winning Premierships. In Tennis, the Girls First IV claimed a Premiership, supported by multiple top three finishes across girls’ teams, resulting in Canterbury placing second overall Girls Champion School. The boys also performed strongly, with the Second IV placing second and the Third IV placing third. Volleyballadded to this success with the Girls Firsts placing second, Girls Seconds placing third, and both the Girls Year 10 and Boys Year 10 Team securing a third place finish.

Our eSports program continued to grow in strength and reputation, with Canterbury crowned TAS Rocket League Champions and achieving national success as National Fuse Cup Rocket League Champions.

Off the field, our Debating program celebrated its most successful season yet, with five teams reaching the finals, and two progressing to the third round, highlighting excellence in communication, critical thinking, and collaboration.

As we reflect on 2025, we are deeply grateful for the dedication of our students, coaches, and families who made this year’s programs such a success. Their commitment and enthusiasm have strengthened our sporting culture and created countless moments of achievement and joy.

Looking ahead to 2026, we aim to strengthen connections within our sporting community, maintain high participation levels, and continue elevating the success of our programs.

Performing Arts: 2025 Year in Review 

As we close out 2025, we reflect on a year of rich experiences and achievements across music, dance, and theatre. From music and dance to drama, our students embraced every opportunity to perform, learn, and grow, and their passion to shine on the stage has been truly inspiring. 

The Autumn, Winter, and Spring Music Festivals brought together ensembles from Junior and Senior Schools, including bands, choirs, strings, and chamber groups. These events also featured the Year 3 String Immersion Program and the Years 5 and 6 Band Immersion Program, giving younger students valuable performance experience. 

The annual Dance Spectacular showcased creativity and technical skill from our youngest dancers in Prep through to Year 12. Theatre students engaged in The Scene Project, hosted by Queensland Theatre at Kingston Butter Factory, and Canterbury Theatre returned with its Fly-In Fly-Out production. The Junior School delighted audiences with its production of the Disney musical, Frozen KIDS, while the Festival of Voices Tour to Tasmania gave our Cantabile choir the chance to perform on the national stage and explore the sights of Hobart. 

Throughout the year, Studio Music and Dance Recitals highlighted students in the Studio Tuition Program. Our Music Showcase at Customs House and Annual Soloists Evening celebrated our most advanced musicians. Popular events such as Friday Night Rocks and regular Loud Lunches added vibrancy to campus life, and Jazz in Nabei featured our Big Band in a lively outdoor setting for Junior School students. 

Our ensembles achieved excellent results at eisteddfods, and we recorded the highest number of students completing music and dance exams to date. Many students also participated in programs such as SHEP, extending their experiences beyond Canterbury. 

Thank you to all students, families, and staff for supporting Performing Arts throughout 2025. We look forward to an even more inspiring 2026!

As we journey to the end of yet another fruitful year together, I am reminded of the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:14: “You are the light of the world.” In a world that often feels uncertain and hurried, these words call us to live with hope, kindness, and courage. Each of us has the opportunity to shine God’s light onto others through our actions, our words, and the way we care for one another.

At our college, we are blessed to be a community that values Integrity, Respect, Gratitude and Effort. These are not just ideals; they are lived out daily in classrooms, on the sports field, on the stage, and in the quiet moments of friendship. I encourage you to take time over the break to notice the ways God is at work around you – perhaps in a smile offered to someone who needs encouragement, or in the joy of learning something new.

As we approach the season of Advent, let us prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ. Advent is a time of waiting, but it is also a time of active hope. A time to ask ourselves the question – How might I bring hope to others in a practical way? A kind word, a helping hand, or a prayer for someone in need, they can all make a world of difference.

And as we move from Advent to Christmas, I pray it might be a time of joy, of giving, and of gathering with those you love. Whether you celebrate Christmas for its spiritual significance, its cultural traditions, or simply as a time to rest and recharge, it offers us all a chance to slow down and appreciate what truly matters.

May you, your family and friends have a happy and Holy Christmas.

Happy Birthday Jesus!

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