Caniaba Public School is small by anyone's standards, 2023 had 34 enrolled students. When you look at what the students and teachers achieved this year, you have to acknowledge they have punched well above their weight.

Relieving Principal Penny Sweeney said that Caniaba's achievements were across three fields, academia, sports and the arts.

"The versatility stands out to me. The fact that we had academic success, sporting success and creative arts success. I think that's a really important point, it wasn't just in one area. So I think it was about the opportunities that were provided."

Not many schools can claim a World Champion Dancer as one of their teachers.

Kim Vidler managed to claim that throne in 2023 with other participants from the Lennox Beach Line Dancers.

"We travelled over to the UK to perform at the World Dance Championships and came away with lots of world titles. I coach a group of fifteen kids that we took over for the worlds and we came home with multiple world titles."

The dancing is classified as Line Dancing, however, it has an influence of ballroom dancing as well. So, classics like The Waltz, the cha-cha as well as west and east coast country style dancing and nightclub.

"We got two world titles for group routines. I won a world title for my solo (dance), we had two world titles in the partners and then another two world champions in solos as well as me. So, seven world titles in total," Kim said.

That was the most successful team from Australia to go to the world championships, so a huge achievement from Kim and the group of fifteen that travelled to the UK.

Kim teaches dance at Caniaba Public as part of the curriculum as well as part of the school concerts throughout the year and entry in the annual Performing Arts Festival.

Penny said the next achievement was when Noah Greensill won Best Film in the Northern Rivers Film By Festival.

"It is a Department of Education arts unit initiative, so it goes across the state. All different regions have their own film festivals and the Northern Rivers Film Festival was created about two to three years ago by Bill Dempster at Eureka, and our school this year won the best film of the region."

(Noah Greensill with his award)

"It was beautiful. It was a film called Passing Time. It was about a war veteran sitting in a nursing home thinking about all his most treasured times and there are transitions in between and then eventually he's back with his family and his son comes in and speaks with him."

"It was written by Noah, Year 5 and 6 students starred in it and it was directed and edited with the kids taking different roles."

Sporting success has also been achieved by Caniaba Public School.

Chloe Nilon said the PP5 Relay team was the result that stood out most in 2023. PP5 means the relay team competed against other schools in NSW of the same size.

"They're a team of four boys, Quin Fisher-Nichols, Rory Whitten, Corey Daniels and Tyler Kyle competed at the NSW PSSA Athletics Championships in late October Homebush in Sydney."

(Rory Whitten, Tyler Kyle, Quin Fisher-Nicholls and Corey Daniels in Sydney at Homebush)

"They came first in their heat, then second in the semi-final which meant they qualified for the final where they finished fifth."

"It was a really good experience for them. They had never been to a Sydney athletics track before and had the option to use things they had never used before like starting blocks.

"It was a fantastic achievement that the students at Caniaba were able to watch via a live stream through the NSW School Sport Unit. The school watched the heat that they won and they just erupted, it was something I will remember forever."

Quin was at Caniaba Public yesterday and said it was his first flight.

"That was pretty cool. We had never run on a proper athletics track before so it was good to get a practice run on the track."

"It was pretty exciting when we won our heat and knowing that the school was watching and we got these little badges that said finalist," Quin explained.

The academic success came from Year 5 student Rocco Pearson.

"He's a real mathematician. He's brilliant actually," Penny enthused, "He got the district award for the state-run competition for Newcastle Permanent Maths Competition. There's something like 20,000 students that sit this exam and he's one of only four from this region to receive a High Distinction."

In Lismore, we love an underdog and as you have read, the Caniaba Public School students have definitely punched above their weight in 2023 thanks to a talented, dedicated group of teachers and a committed P&C.

Roll on 2024.

The school was founded in 1912 and can cater for 51 students so there is plenty of room for more enrolments in 2024 which are open now, click here.

You can view the Caniaba Public School website here.