Canterbury Boys High School...

GRADUATE teacher Polly Dunning has only been in the job for three months but yesterday her admiration for Oprah Winfrey produced a $1 million windfall for her school.


The self-confessed "Oprah tragic" wrote to the queen of talk suggesting her students were more interesting to visit than Australia's most famous tourist spots.

And Canterbury Boys High School hit the jackpot when Oprah, at her Opera House extravaganza yesterday, promised every student and teacher at the school a laptop computer.

Ms Dunning's inspirational letter to the Oprah show also secured a surprise visit to the school by rap superstar Jay-Z, who urged the boys - including several refugee students - to believe in themselves and grab life's opportunities.

Yesterday up to 400 students and teachers from the school attended the Oprah show and went wild when she announced the computer gift for the school. "I said it would be great for Jay-Z to see a multicultural school. I wanted to show him Canterbury Boys High School," said Ms Dunning, 22. "I didn't think anything would happen and then I received a voicemail message from the [Oprah] show producers."

As the school celebrated one of its biggest days, principal Leslee Mitton said everyone was "gobsmacked" by the gift.

"It's like dropping a pebble into a stream. The ripples will be felt for quite some time," she said.

"It will hit home when the computers arrive in January."

Winfrey joked: "Now there's no excuse not to do your homework."

Footage from Jay-Z's visit was shown on big screens.

"It was great," he told Winfrey. "I see myself in their eyes, people from difficult circumstances. I believe in opportunities."


This is from the Sydney Daily Telegrapgh Wednesday 15th Dec 2010...

Ben has just completed Year 9 at CBHS, he though wasn't there for the big announcement, he preferred to stay at home enjoying a jarmy day...

It is great news for the school and the boys have been buzzing ever since Jay-Z payed them a visit...