Message from Michele Marquet
Dear P-Y6 Parents,
A very warm welcome back! It has been fantastic to see our students and families back at School after the winter break.
Next week, our five-year PYP Evaluation Visit will be held. Two representatives from the IBO will meet with staff, students and parents to discuss the feedback gathered during our self-study process this year and look for future directions.
Yesterday, we held our Founders’ Day Assembly. Mr Nicholas Sampson attended as our guest speaker and he provided an interesting perspective on how Cranbrook has evolved, but also remained the same in the ways that really matter. We remembered the individuals who founded our School, reflected on the values they held dear and considered how we can use those principles to help us look to the future with confidence. It was an excellent way to start the term.
CETOP WEEK
CETOP is a not-for-profit organisation made up of staff and families associated with Cranbrook that supports communities in Ladakh, India (SS) and Nepal (JS). In Nepal, the Junior School supports work in the areas of dental health and education. Since 2011, we have conducted nine trips to Nepal with Y6 students accompanied by one of their parents. It is exciting that our trips to Ladakh and Nepal are now able to start again.
In Week 3 this term, we are hosting a CETOP Week across the entire school to increase awareness about CETOP, collect toothbrushes for our next Y6 trip to Nepal (end of Term 1 2024) and raise some funds for the work of CETOP generally.
Sausage Sizzle
On Thursday, 3 August (Y3-Y6) and Friday, 4 August (K-Y2), we are holding a sausage sizzle for our students. For $5, students will receive a sausage, bread (normal/gluten-free) and an icy block. Dietary needs will be provided for and families will receive an order form via email early next week explaining the options and how to order and pay.
Toothbrush Collection
We are excited to announce our ambitious goal of collecting 500 toothbrushes before Wednesday, 30th August. The toothbrushes will be donated to CETOP and delivered during our next Y6 trip to Nepal (end of Term 1 2024) to help promote oral hygiene in Himalayan communities. If we achieve our target of 500 toothbrushes in time, all students will be rewarded with a fun-filled event on Friday, 15th September. The event will include options like wearing silly socks, bringing your own hat (BYO hat), or participating in a crazy hair day! The final number of brushes and end of term event details will be officially announced during Week 8 Assembly/Chapel. We look forward to seeing our Cranbrook community come together and contribute through service in this practical way.
Staff News
Year 6W Class teacher and Year Level Coordinator, Mr Scott Wells, will be leaving us at the end of next week. Scott, his partner Dionne Jones (one of our St Michael’s Pre-school teachers) and baby, Alfred, are returning to the UK. Scott will be taking up a promotional position at a group of Academy Schools. We thank Scott and Dionne for their dedicated and passionate work with our students over the past 5 years. We wish Scott, Dionne and Alfred the very best as they start life back in the UK.
We welcome Mr Etiosa Okunbor, who will take up the role of 6W Class Teacher for the remainder of the year. This year, Etiosa has been teaching across all year levels at Cranbrook. An experienced primary classroom teacher, he taught in Sydney, the UK and the Northern Territory before joining us in the Junior School.
We welcome Mrs Kate Stead back to Cranbrook as 2R Class Teacher during Mr David Holmsen’s long service leave; Miss Catherine Stamp as 1W Class Teacher during Mrs Chloe Jennings’ maternity leave and Miss Rebecca Armstrong as Art Teacher during Mr Christian Bonett’s term of leave. We wish David, Christian and Chloe the very best for their periods of leave.
Kind wishes,
Michele Marquet
Head of Junior School