CCPS Student News Episodes
In celebration of International Women’s Day, a whole school assembly was held to pay tribute to the outstanding accomplishments of women in our community and beyond. A panel of three extraordinary women were invited on stage to share with the school community their personal journeys and insights on how they aim to inspire others.
Guest Speakers
Our panel of guest speakers were Annabelle Henzell, Lizzie Henebery, and Year 4 student Claudia McMahon.
Annabelle Henzell shared her vibrant career journey in the energy and resources sector, where she utilised her expertise in Chemical Engineering, Finance, and CFA. Her roles spanned crude oil refining, hydrocarbon supply chain optimisation, mining industry procurement, and the recent venture into commercialising carbon capture and storage projects. Annabelle highlighted the challenges of balancing her professional career with raising three young sons while currently on parental leave.
Lizzie Henebery, an acclaimed marketing and communications professional, presented her extensive experience as the Director of Sunny Comms. Lizzie excels in brand and communication strategy, content writing, public relations, and social media. Her passion for community engagement is evident through her role in the executive committee of the Sunshine Coast Business Women’s Network, where she collaborates with businesses nationwide and supports charities through fundraising events.
Claudia McMahon, a dynamic Year 4 student, brought a youthful perspective to the event. Expressing her love for reading and spending time with family and friends, Claudia demonstrated a keen interest in questioning and exploring the world around her.
The panel discussion was led by Head of Senior School, Nathan Reynolds. Nathan initiated the conversation by delving into Claudia’s love for reading and her distinctive approach to learning.
Annabelle Henzell shared her personal journey in the realms of engineering and chemical sciences, emphasising the significance of following your passions, even if you are unsure of the path ahead.
Lizzie Henebery discussed how her passion for reading, writing and love for words led to a career that brings her enjoyment and purpose. She spoke about the importance of finding joy in what you do and finding a way to create a fulfilling career by leveraging your innate talents. Meaningful work can be attained by aligning personal passions with professional pursuits.
The speakers encouraged the audience not to be afraid of trying new things and to embrace the evolving landscape of career possibilities. They highlighted the significance of leaning into one’s strengths, even when faced with uncertainties about the future.
The guest speakers were asked who they look to for inspiration. For Claudia it is her mum and teacher Ms Bennett. Annabelle said she loved meeting new people and drew inspiration from everyday people in the community and that we can all learn from our peers. For Lizzie, it is the local heroes she meets through a podcast that she co-hosts the Sunshine Coast Business Women’s Network as well as her business partner.
When it came to perseverance and GRIT Claudia recounted a personal story of overcoming a challenging hike, showcasing the resilience necessary to overcome obstacles.
Claudia’s advice to tackling challenges and difficulties was to keep going and activate the “positivity switch.” Annabelle said when faced with difficulties it was important to simply show up and confronting challenges head-on, while Lizzie advocated for stepping forward with courage before gaining confidence. She highlighted the importance of trying, even when uncertain about success, as it leads to gaining confidence through the journey.
We are excited to announce that the Year 9 and 10 Media Arts students have collectively taken on the mantle of a fully fledged news broadcasting team: CCPS News. Throughout the term, students will be releasing episodes about different events happening in both the Junior and Senior Schools.
This project will form the students’ assessment for the term, offering them an excellent opportunity to take charge of their learning. Students will have the freedom to choose their roles in the team, from props and costumes to scriptwriters, camera operators, and editors – or a combination of all of them.
We hope that this project will provide an engaging and unique learning experience for our students, and we look forward to sharing the CCPS News episodes with the wider school community on a semi-regular basis.