Message from Michele Marquet
Dear Parents,
We approach the final week of school after a wonderful term where we were able to hold so many events we have missed over the last few years. Last week, we celebrated with our Year 6 boys who presented to their families their individual inquiries into their chosen issue at this year’s Exhibition. It is always an amazing experience listening to the boys speak so eloquently and passionately about an issue they have investigated, considered and reflected upon with such care. They have done a most impressive job!
Over the last week, our students also enjoyed the fun of the Staff Christmas Play, the wonder of the K-2 Carols Service at All Saints’ Anglican Church and the excitement of our Y2-Y6 Swimming Carnival held at SOPAC, expertly organised by Mr Hart. Today, our Y3-Y6 students were able to take part in the annual Christmas Lunch, held for the first time in three years. What an amazing job was done by our parents, who were 80 strong in number, expertly organised by Nonie Elliot and Angelique Haritos, both of whom ensured the day ran like clockwork. Enormous thanks to our JS Admin Team who did a phenomenal job of organising this event: Robyn Booy, Gaia Tedeschi, Jill McPherson and Annabel Boyd.
Next Monday, K-2 boys can look forward to their special Christmas Activities, and on Tuesday, Y3-Y6 will enjoy their Carol Service at St Andrew’s Cathedral (starting at 5pm). Also on Tuesday, commencing at 11am, we will hold the Year 6 Valedictory Service to say farewell to our oldest students, as they complete their Junior School journey and head off to Senior School. In between all these special events, normal lessons in all areas will continue to occur until the end of the term. It is a busy end of term!
Prize Giving Details
This year’s JS Prize Giving will be held in the JS Gym on Wednesday, 7 December commencing at 10am. Students 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 bringing their normal recess. Prize Giving will conclude at approximately 12pm, when all students in attendance at School will be taken home by parents attending the Prize Giving or should be collected from carline from 12:15pm onwards by parents/carers and will then head home for the Christmas holidays. Parents of students in Kindergarten – Year 2 are welcome to attend the ceremony, but there is no compulsion.
Staff News
We want to let our families know that Miss Rebecca Grose, Y3 Class Teacher, will be leaving us at the end of this year to join the staff of Kambala. We thank Bec for her diligent and caring work with our students in various roles over the past 5 years and wish her the very best as she takes up new professional challenges.
Mr Ian Pollock, who has been on long service leave during 2022, has let us know that after nearly 30 years of teaching, he has decided to retire. We thank Ian for his dedication to his students over many years and his collegiality with all the staff. We will miss him, but wish him a long, happy and healthy retirement with his family.
We also farewell Mr Neil White from Cranbrook after almost 12 years. Neil has been a wonderful Coordinator of our Pre-schools recently, as well as fulfilling many other roles during his tenure. We thank him for his good humour, genuine rapport with children and the sharing of his teaching expertise over many years. We wish him the very best as he takes up an Assistant Principal’s position at a local public school. We know he will do an outstanding job.
One of our Junior School Nurses, Mrs Ailsa Hosking, will be leaving us at the end of the year. We thank Ailsa for her care of all our Junior School students and staff over the last few years and wish her well as she pursues other opportunities. We are delighted to announce that Miss Jessica O’Hara will be commencing in 2023 as our JS full-time nurse.
Current Address & JS Office Holiday Closure
As we head towards the end of the year, it is most important that the School has your up-to-date address on our database. If your mailing address has changed recently, please email our Office Manager, Jill McPherson jmcpherson@cranbrook.nsw.edu.au and familyupdates@cranbrook.nsw.edu.au, so these details can be updated before reports, class allocations and start of year information are posted out. Please remember that the Junior School Office is closed over the holiday period from 14 December 2022 until 27 January 2023.
Reports, Class Allocations and Start of Term Information
Parents are reminded that their son’s 2022 Semester 2 report, 2023 class allocation and information about the start of 2023 will be sent home via mail during December.
Lost Property & Haircuts
Before the holidays commence, please check your son’s uniform items to ensure he has not accidentally acquired something that belongs to another boy. Caps and sunhats particularly seem to move around the boys. Returning these items to school before the end of term will assist us to give them back to their rightful owner. The end of the holidays is a good time for the boys to have a haircut. Hair length should be above the collar of the boys’ shirts.
We wish all our students and families a safe and happy Christmas and a relaxing holiday, and we thank them for their wonderful help, unstinting support and kindness throughout this past year.
With thanks,
Michele Marquet