Message from Michele Marquet

Dear Parents,

Term 4 continues to race past with boys commencing their final unit for the year and preparations for our end of year activities are well underway.

This week, K-Y6 families will have received their invitation to the Junior School Prize Giving, which is being held on Wednesday, 7 December at 10am. For the first time in two years, all students will be able to attend this event and families are welcome to attend as well. Communication to the families of prize or award winners is not made until the end of the week prior to Prize Giving. Junior School boys should attend school as normal from the start of the day (drop off from 7:45am), wearing full summer uniform (no sports gear should be worn on this day) and they should bring their normal recess. Parking for families attending is best sought at Lyne Park, Rose Bay Ferry and Manion Road Car Parks. This event will conclude at approximately 12pm – 12:15pm, when the students will head home for the Christmas holidays accompanied by their parents. We will also run a carline at that time if parents need to collect their sons.

Many beautifully written acceptances to the Y3-Y6 Christmas Lunch have been posted in our special red post-box in Reception. I look forward to reading a RSVP from every boy in Y3-Y6 as the excitement builds for the Christmas Lunch in a few weeks’ time. Boys should also be planning their special Christmas Hat to wear on the day. Parents can read further information about the lunch via the Operoo note sent recently to their inbox.

Once again, the end of year is approaching and many parents and children start thinking about what will happen at school in the year to come.

A successful transition to the next grade – whether it is into Year 1, Year 3 or moving up to Year 7 in the Senior School – can be greatly assisted by parents. Today, the Junior School boys visited their 2023 year level area or, in the case of Year 6, toured the Senior School. Next year’s Kindergarten boys also spent two mornings last week visiting the Junior School as part of their transition programme. These visits allow the boys to see what it is like, talk with current teachers of the next grade and ask questions they might have, before ‘moving up’ in 2023. They are part of helping our students manage the challenges that change naturally brings.

Parents can assist their child to make a successful transition in a number of ways:

• Remember that as parents, we are trying to assist our sons to manage their feelings of concern by putting them into perspective, rather than trying to fix the situation so there is nothing for our sons to worry about.
• Children pick up signs of anxiety in their parents very quickly, so try to be positive about the move into a new year level.
• Allow your child to express concern if they should feel it – but don’t ask them if they are worried about the new teacher or the new class!
• Highlight positives about growing up and confirm your belief that your son will manage well.
• Remind your son that nervous anticipation is often much worse than the actual thing, that it is normal to feel a little anxious about an upcoming change and there are ways to manage that feeling, for example, through positive self-talk where we remind ourselves of the facts of the situation.
• Don’t initiate conversation about the move too much – otherwise they will think there is something to worry about!
• Talk to your son about the things they will be able to do in the following year e.g. Year 1 boys can choose new after school activities; Year 6 boys take on key leadership roles in the Junior School and Year 3 boys start playing team sports and have even more after school activities from which to choose!
• Remind your son that some of the boys from his current class will be in next year’s class – but having new boys in it will mean he can make even more friends.
• Remind your son that if there are problems when he moves, that he will face those with your support to cope with those challenges. Remind him of previous successes with dealing with issues in the past as an indication of being able to address problems and move on.

Things do change every year at school but coping with change is an essential life skill. Helping your boys believe they can manage admirably, then praising them when they do, is a great gift to give them as a parent. If you are concerned about any aspect of their transition to the next grade, please talk with your son’s class teacher.

Head of Sport/PDHPE, JS: Mr James Roughan

Cranbrook Junior School is excited to welcome James Roughan as our new Head of Sport/PDHPE, JS from 2023.  Mr Roughan hails from Christchurch, New Zealand, where he captained representative rugby teams and played for New Zealand at University level. He studied education at the University of Canterbury before moving to Auckland to teach at Rosmini College, as the Maori Dean and Head of Maori Studies. In this position, he focused on creating programs to improve educational experiences and outcomes for Maori students. Mr Roughan then moved to Mulgrave Independent School in Vancouver, Canada as a physical education teacher and the First XV Head Rugby Coach.

In 2018, Mr Roughan was promoted to Athletic Director at Fraser Academy where he was instrumental in organising educational programs and sport tours for the Alpine ski, basketball and rugby teams to USA and Canadian Schools and Universities. He is a passionate educator with a strong focus on mental health and improving student wellbeing through participation in physical activity. When not at work you’ll find James learning Spanish, camping with friends, finding the next surf break or trying to perfect his sourdough pizza starter. 

Mr Roughan is looking forward to joining the Cranbrook community and working with our teachers and students to create a world class school which encourages and enables all of our students to fulfil their potential. 

Director of Educational Psychology, JS: Mr Campbell Jensen-Robilliard

We are excited to welcome Campbell Jensen-Robilliard as our new JS Director of Educational Psychology from 2023. Campbell was most recently Preparatory School Psychologist at Newington College for nine and a half years. Prior to this appointment, Campbell worked as a school counsellor in the Department of Education supporting schools for children from refugee backgrounds, and children with intellectual and physical disability.

Campbell’s studies include undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in psychology, a master’s degree in teaching, and he is currently completing an MSc – Organisational Psychology through the University of London. In his leisure time, you’ll most likely find Campbell either sitting at a piano or spending quality time with his 11-month-old daughter.

‘I strongly believe that psychologists and mental health practitioners can, and should, operate further upstream such that their reach encompasses entire populations. I am excited at the prospect of working proactively and universally at Cranbrook School and to develop and strengthen the mental health and wellbeing of its students.’

Campbell will work closely with all the JS staff to build wellbeing resilience for every child at the Junior School, as well as establish the care needed for those students requiring higher levels of support.

We know you will warmly welcome both Campbell and James to Cranbrook.

Upcoming Events & Important Dates

• Y2 String Concert – Friday, 11 November, 11am – 12noon
• Y3 2023 Parent Information Session – Thursday, 17 November 8.30am – 9.30am
• Y2-Y6 Swimming Carnival – Friday, 25 November (all day)
• K-Y2 Carols Service – Wednesday, 30 November 5pm
• Y3-Y6 Christmas Lunch – Thursday, 1 December 11am
• K-Y2 Family Christmas Activities – Monday, 5 December
• Y6 Valedictory Service – Tuesday, 6 December 11am
• Y3-Y6 Carols Service – Tuesday, 6 December 5pm
• Last day of classes – Tuesday, 6 December
• P-6 JS Prize Giving – Wednesday, 7 December 10am

We hope all our families have a wonderful week.

With thanks,

Michele Marquet