Message from Michele Marquet

Dear Parents,

We hope all of our families have enjoyed a relaxing summer holiday. We warmly welcome families new to Cranbrook and look forward to getting to know our new students and their parents. For anyone who might have missed the communication sent last week, it can be found here. It outlines important information for all families as their children return to School.

Over the holidays, various works have been conducted on the Junior School site including important steel rectification work (to be completed by the end of the first week of term); the reorganisation of spaces within the Junior School Music zone to help expand our Music Team’s capacity to conduct more instrumentalist lessons (to be completed mid-February); replacement of carpet in the iCentre and substantial enhancement of garden beds alongside the driveway and tennis courts. The native plantings utilised were provided through a generous Woollahra Council grant.

A reminder that all individual instrumentalist lessons, Music Ensemble rehearsals, optional co-curricular activities and before and after school summer sports training commence in Week 2 (starting Monday, 5 February).

We also look forward to seeing one representative from each family at our 2024 Parent Information Evening on Thursday, 1 February (5pm – 6:30pm), in the JS Gym and respective Year Level Piazzas.

We hope that 2024 will be exciting and rewarding for our whole Cranbrook community. The staff and I are very much looking forward to seeing all the students and their families on Tuesday, 30 January (St Michael’s & St Mark’s Pre-schools 3 & 5 Day Groups and Y1-Y6) or on Thursday, 1 February (St Michael’s Pre-school 2 Day Group and Kindergarten).

With thanks,

Michele Marquet

Dates for your diary

Please follow this link to the Term 1 Key Events for families.

CSPA Whole School Welcome Drinks – Thursday, 8 February

The CSPA warmly invites all Pre-School, Junior and Senior School parents to welcome in the New Year and bring the parent community together to celebrate on the Governor’s Ballroom terrace. This event provides a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with old friends and meet new families across the school.  Rest assured there will be clear signage to guide you to find other parents in your son’s year groups.

When: Thurs 8 Feb 2024 6.30pm – 8.30pm

Where: Mackay Lawn (adjacent to the Memorial Chapel, Cranbrook Senior School Campus)

RSVP: 1 February 2024

Please follow this link to book your tickets now!

Save the date: Family Fun Day for CETOP

Please save the date for a Cranbrook CETOP and CSPA Family Fun Day event on Sunday, March 17, 2024! This exciting day promises a blend of delicious food, exhilarating fun and a chance to interact with furry animals. Bring your family and friends for a day filled with joy, laughter, and community spirit as we come together to raise funds for CETOP’s initiatives in Nepal and Ladakh. Mark your calendars for this unforgettable Cranbrook event!

Pre-school News

Important dates for our Pre-school families include:

• Pre-school Orientation Day is on Monday, 29 January.
• Term 1 begins on Tuesday, 30 January for St Mark’s and St Michael’s 3 and 5 Day Group children and Thursday, 1 February for St Michael’s 2 Day Group children.

We would also like to invite our Pre-school families to send a representative to join us for their relevant Parent Information Evening:

• St Michael’s:       Wednesday, 7 February 6pm-7pm
• St Mark’s:            Thursday, 8 February 5pm-6pm

Sport – Term 1 Reminders

A reminder to all JS students that they should come to School dressed in their PE uniform on their designated PE day.

It is important that all students are prepared in Week 1 for PE, as Year 3-6 will be completing their 1200m run in preparation for the upcoming Cross Country Carnival.  

Parents with students in Y3-Y6 are reminded that the first round of Summer Sport Saturday fixtures is at the end of Week 2 on Saturday, 10 February.

Please remember that your son’s Sports team and fixture information (including times and venues) is sent out via the Cranbrook Parent App.

Please ensure you have downloaded the App onto your mobile phone. Follow this link for instructions, if needed.

Junior School Music News – Term 1

A very warm welcome to you all, particularly new parents to the Junior School. Music in the Junior School plays a very important role in developing the whole-child and our dynamic Music Program provides a vast array of curriculum and performance opportunities to stimulate creativity, ways of thinking, enhance a sense of community and improve well-being in every child. We look forward to fostering your son’s participation and engagement over the course of the year.

Co-curricular Music and Instrumental Lessons 2024

If your son was in a music group for 2023, such as Chamber Choir, JSSO or Concert Band, we assume that he will continue in this group in 2024 unless we are otherwise advised. Please note: Co-Curricular Music ensemble rehearsals and private instrumental lessons commence in Week 2.

How do I enrol my son for private instrumental lessons?

To enrol, please go to the Operoo App and complete the “Learning an Instrument” form found in the “Form Library.” Further questions can be directed to our Music Administrator, Sandra Trew, who rosters and coordinates these lessons: strew@cranbrook.nsw.edu.au

Auditions for Chamber Choir and Cranbrook Voices

All of Year 3 and all new boys to the School (in Years 4 to 6) will be auditioned for a potential place in the Chamber Choir. A letter of offer will be given to those whose audition was successful.

Boys in Year 5, whom are currently in the Chamber Choir, qualify to audition for a potential place in Cranbrook Voices. Auditions for Voices will take place in the first two weeks of Term, during class or after our first Chamber Choir rehearsal. An email will be sent to parents if their son’s audition was successful.

K-6 Music Morning Concerts

This year, in place of Lunchtime Concerts, we will hold Music Morning Concerts on certain Fridays from 8:00am to 8:30am in Music Room 1. These concerts are open to boys in K to 6 who have a piece at performance standard, regardless of level, to perform. It’s always wonderful to hear their great work and witness our students’ progress in an encouraging environment. Instrumental teachers sign up their students, as appropriate, and you will receive an email from me with an invitation to attend should you like to hear your son perform. Please click attachment for more information.

JS Music events – Term 1

Please click here to see the comprehensive list of JS music events for Term 1. More information will be provided regarding these specific events as the term progresses.

We look forward to wonderful music-making in 2024!

Warmest wishes,

Peter Fox
Head of Music, JS