Message from Michele Marquet

Dear Junior and Pre-School families,

It was a very busy first week back! Our Year 6 students earnestly embraced their leadership roles in a lovely service yesterday, promising to serve their school, their peers and their community with integrity. We were delighted to welcome those of you able to join us for the Parent Information Evening last Thursday and those who came along to hear Dr Judith Locke today. We highly recommend Judith’s books, The Bonsai Child and The Bonsai Student, which both provide practical, hands-on ideas about how we can best support our children on their journey to becoming independent, resilient people who can, indeed, positively contribute to society and our world.

This weekend brings our first round of the Summer season sport. Please see the Sport tile on the Cranbrook Parent App for your son’s relevant fixture.

From next week, our parents will be meeting their son’s teacher during parent-teacher interviews. These meetings are an excellent opportunity for parents to give teachers background information about their son and for teachers to indicate how each boy has started the year. Through these meetings, teachers and parents will start to build vital relationships that can so positively support our boys to be successful learners.

We look forward to a happy and productive Week 3!

Kind wishes,

Michele Marquet

From the Deputies

Y6 Camp
In Week 4 (starting Monday, 19 February) our annual camp for boys in Year 6 takes place at Somerset on the Colo River. Please check the Parent Camp Information Letter found in your son’s tab for additional information. If your son requires medicine to be administered whilst on camp, please complete the relevant form as soon as possible, returning it to your son’s teacher. The medicine should be brought to School on the first day of camp by a parent and then be given to your son’s teacher.

Dates for your diary
Please follow this link to see an overview of some of the planned events for this term. We are looking forward to catching up with many of you over the next few weeks.

CSPA CJS 2nd Hand Uniform Sale

When: Friday, 16 February 8.30 – 10.30am

Where: Junior School Undercroft

This sale is taking place during the JS Cross Country Carnival, to help families take advantage of the time and location!

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!

Cranbrook Bus

Dear Parents

The booking links for the 2024 subsidised Cranbrook private bus services are now available. Please use the link below if you wish to purchase a bus pass for your child.

Eastern Suburbs – Cranbrook Junior School Students only – click here.

Eastern Suburbs – Cranbrook Senior School Students only – click here.

Inner West – click here.

North Shore – click here.

Please note that our pricing structure has changed and the minimum period that a bus pass can be purchased for is one semester. The price for a semester pass is $1,034, or you can purchase a discounted annual pass for $1,965.

The 2024 Bus Schedules are attached for your information.

For public transport information, including how to apply for a School Opal Card, please refer to the Transport Information website.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in contact with us.

Kind regards

Cranbrook School

Reminder regarding PE Uniforms

In Term 1, students may wear their PE uniform to and from school on these days each week:

K-2

on the day their class has a timetabled PE lesson and on Thursdays for fundamental movement.

K-Y2 students should preferably wear their House T-shirt on Thursdays and on the day they have a PE lesson along with their PE shorts. The PE polo shirt may also be worn as an alternative, if the House T-shirt is not clean. The House T-shirt helps our younger boys identify with their House and assists with building House spirit.

Y3-Y6

on the day their class has a timetabled PE lesson.
on the day they have their sports team training session either before or after school (basketballers may also bring their training shirt).
on Fridays for their Sports lesson after lunch.

Saturday Sport Fixtures (Y3-Y6)

This weekend sees the first round of fixtures for Years 3-6. We are holding the Y3-Y6 Cross Country Carnival on Friday next week, 16 February. A letter from Head of Sport, JS, James Roughan, was sent out to families last week, outlining how this event will be organised. We look forward to seeing many families on the day.

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