The ACE Project is our innovative “think-tank” enterprise experience, which was enjoyed by 48 year 5 students from Pimpama State School, Ormeau State School, Picnic Creek State School and Coomera Rivers State School, 17 year 11 students from Pimpama State Secondary College and 5 student leaders from Griffith Business School. 

ACE represents Adaptability, Creativity and Enterprise.  Modern businesses not only have to adapt to change, but instigate it, to innovate for future success. Creativity is at the heart of innovation, and is the most powerful competitive advantage a business can have. Being enterprising and entrepreneurial involves spotting an unexploited opportunity and using initiative and a proactive approach to make the most of it. To develop these capabilities, the students participated in a two day challenge. They worked in mixed teams to create a new product idea for the Cheesecake Shop.

The teams came up with some fantastic ideas including “cake train” based on the sushi train model, “glow in the dark cake pops” and “edible everything” (packaging, candles, serving utensils) to avoid any clean up or waste after a party! They had an incredible experience which we would not have been able to do without sponsorship from Paradise Point Community Branches Bendigo Bank, Gold Coast Trophies, Tribal Sport, The Cheesecake Shop Oxenford, Griffith University, Councillor Cameron Caldwell and Michael Crandon, MP.

Here's a special recount by two of our students, Abbey and Hannah:

We were lucky to be selected with  8 other students from Year 5 to participate in the ACE Project and represent Coomera Rivers.  This event was held at Pimpama State Secondary College over two days with the purpose being to experience how to run an enterprise and learn entrepreneurial skills.  We were joined by Year 11 students from Pimpama SSC who helped guide us through the activities.

We learned how to use the SCAMPER model to redesign chocolate mud cake.  SCAMPER is an acronym for:

Substitute
Combine
Adapt
Modify, magnify and minimize
Put it to other uses
Eliminate
Reverse

Our group won The Best Video award and The Best Teamwork Award for our edible packaging and utensils – “If you can’t eat it, you don’t need it!”  Overall it was a really fun day and we enjoyed working with students from other primary schools, former CRSS students and most of all, the food was great!

By Abbey and Hannah

Here’s what the rest of our peers thought:

Alexie - I like I got to meet new people and I loved the food expecially the cake!
Oliver P - I liked that I got to make new friends and it was very hands on.
Summer - I liked creating the products and making new friends with other schools.
Sebe - I liked being a businessman and I liked working with my mentors.
Ruby - I loved the food and working with my mentors.
Kade - I liked the writing the pitch and drawing the designs.
Oliver S - I liked making the video and making new friends.
Henry - It was fun winning and eating cake.
Hannah - I enjoyed doing the hands-on activities and using teamwork which is the award my team won.
Abbey - I liked seeing some of my old friends at different schools and getting to know the people at Coomera Rivers.