Currently, 24 of our students from Years 5 and 6 are attending our inaugural JS Art Camp at beautiful Bundanon. Having submitted a portfolio of work, the students have been selected to attend and participate in art making experiences within an inspiring landscape. The Bundanon educators, together with our own Cranbrook staff, will offer our attending students opportunities to explore a series of challenges to develop their art skills and conceptual understanding.
Mother’s Day We are looking forward to welcoming all our guests at next week’s K-Y6 Mother’s Day Activities (Friday, 12 May 7.30am – 8.30am). On this day, our students will take their guests around our site to attend several activities together.
Important Reminder: As mentioned in our Mother’s Day invitation:
There is no internal carline running next Friday morning, due to the Mother’s Day activities;
There are no optional co-curricular activities or sports training before school;
If attending the Mother’s Day activities, it is easiest if the guest and child are dropped off and they walk into school; or the guest parks in Lyne Park or Norwich Rd (not in Elanora or Iluka Streets);
Boys without a guest attending can be dropped at the Reception Gate.
Developing Organisational Skills One of the biggest challenges for many boys as they grow up is around the area of organisation. Many boys struggle with being organised, but these executive functioning skills are vital to foster and develop because they can impact a child’s ability to make the most of every learning opportunity and they are essential for managing our lives as we move into adulthood. Being organised is built on habits being developed over time – sometimes that takes quite a while to build!
Below are some hopefully helpful tips to assist boys embed good organisational habits:
have your son pack his school bag the night before and as he gets older to use his diary timetable to help with this task;
have your son unpack his bag when he arrives home – have a routine that helps him deliver the items to their right place at home – just as we try to instil at school our morning routines;
support the process of your son learning to pack his bag independently – first, he sees what to do from your modelling, then he does it with you for a while, before he does it on his own with you only checking;
have a place he always leaves items that need to go to school the next day (especially those that won’t fit in his bag);
occasionally reward your son for remembering to do something/taking an item without a reminder;
explain that if he forgets items (e.g. instruments/sports gear etc), you cannot bring them to school – frequently, the inconvenience or consequence of not having the item is needed to help your son learn to remember and embed the habit;
encourage him to have regular jobs (chores) at home that help your family’s life run smoothly and reward your son for doing them without being asked (e.g. making his bed; clearing or setting the table for a meal; unpacking the dishwasher; taking the rubbish out).
Young boys often lose things, leave them behind or forget where they last left them. This can be a big frustration for families. It really assists if every item your son brings to school is clearly named. If it is named, it is far more likely the item can be returned!
Kind wishes,
Michele Marquet
STANSW Young Scientist Competition
Mr Botto is excited to announce that Cranbrook Junior School will be allowing students from Y3-Y6 to enter the Young Scientist Competition for the first time.
What is the STANSW Young Scientist Competition? Young Scientist is a major project of the Science Teachers’ Association of NSW (STANSW). It is an annual curriculum-based STEM initiative that inspires authentic student investigations and inventions in science and technology. The competition aims to nurture creativity, innovation and problem-solving skills, and recognise and celebrate the achievements of young scientists.
Students conduct a scientific investigation and/or design and build a model of an innovative device or application over three months. They then share their findings in a written report. Schools are then invited to submit their best entries for judging at the state-wide Young Scientist Awards, which celebrates student achievement with many awards and prizes available. Students will meet with Mr Botto once a week at either recess or lunch to discuss where they are up to in their process and get feedback, guidance and advice on their project. Students are to then spend afternoons and weekends slowly working on their experiments, designs and logbooks at home each week.
The due date for completed project is Friday, 18 August.
The majority of the work done for students Young Scientist entries is done at home. Although an individual student project, this means parents need to be aware and involved in certain aspects of the competition. If you feel this competition is something your son would like to compete in, please ask him to grab a form from Mr Botto at one of the recess or lunch meetings, so you can sign and return the permission slip alerting us of your parental permission.
Although a big commitment both in time and in effort, this competition is a great opportunity for students to go beyond the classroom and explore their own interests in the science and technology fields.
Pre-Schools’ Update
Dear Parents,
Welcome back to Term 2. The children have settled back into Pre-school fantastically and it has been wonderful to see their smiles.
As you may have been aware, St Michael’s had a visit from the Department of Education for their Assessment and Ratings in March 2023. St Michael’s Pre-school would like to share with our families that their overall assessment is ‘Exceeding National Quality Standards’ in all seven quality areas. We are beyond proud of the team at St Michael’s, their continuous hard work and dedication shone through to show what a professional and all-rounded quality Pre-school they are.
We are excited for the upcoming term with lots of planned excursions and activities.
Staff News:
Pre-school would like to congratulate Stephanie (St Michael’s 5 Day Teacher), on the announcement of her pregnancy. Stephanie will go on maternity leave mid Term 3.
Dionne who went on maternity leave during Term 1 welcomed her first child last week, Alfred Carter Wells. On behalf of myself and the Pre-school team, we send congratulatory wishes to Dionne and Scott.
Kind regards,
Abigail McFarlane
Dates for your diary
The Term 2 Events Overview for Parents has been loaded onto Cranbrook Connect and can be viewed here.
Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea
We are so excited to announce that the Cranbrook Junior School Biggest Morning Tea for the Cancer Council site is now Live!
Check out the huge range of items that have been so kindly donated and sourced by our school community. Start bidding now but be sure to check it regularly to ensure you don’t get out-bid! There is everything from hotel staycations, kids clothing, jewellery, Pilates sessions, beauty products, dining vouchers, sporting activities and much, much more.
Purchase your entry ticket to the morning tea, which is being held on Friday 26th May, from 8am at Empire Lounge (Lyne Park). Join us for your morning coffee and a delicious morning tea while outbidding your friends in the auction.
This year, we have 2 amazing mums touched by cancer that will be our guest speakers to share their journey. So please join us in support of this amazing and much needed cause.
We are now calling for any bakers that would like to donate something for the morning tea. Please get in touch!
Lastly, if you wanted to donate something it is not too late!
Please contact Amanda Smits on 0415 646 935 or Daphne Hedley on 0400 849 340
Debating News
Last Friday night, our Primary ISDA Debating teams both ended the season with a hat trick win. Congratulations to both teams. We thank the debating coaches and manager, Ms Light, for their commitment and expertise in supporting these students throughout this Term 1 competition involving students in Years 5-12 across Sydney Independent Schools. We look forward to many of these students returning to participate in the International Debating Championship later in the year.
We now welcome our IPSHA debaters to the Junior School’s inter-school debating programme and wish them well in their upcoming debates with local Eastern suburbs schools.
Cranbrook School App
If you have not already done so, please download the Cranbrook Parent App. This will be vital to do for parents in Y3-Y6 particularly, as important information about weekly sports fixtures will be coming via this app from now on. As more elements of the app are developed, parents in K-Y2 will find the absence tile and the optional co-curricular components very helpful as well.
To access the app Click hereto view the information on how to download this app from the App Store.
Username and password discovery Click here to view information on how to access your username and password to enable access to the app.
Please remember to check your spam/junk email folder as sometimes codes and password resets can be sent there.
Junior School Parents If Junior School families have difficulties downloading the new Parent App, please contact the Junior School Reception on 9327 9100.
Learn to Swim Programme
Cranbrook’s Learn to Swim programme is pleased to announce that new spaces are now available for immediate enrolment. The programme has been designed to cater to swimmers of all ages and abilities, from beginners aged from 6 months to more advanced swimmers who want to refine their technique and become stronger and more confident in the water. If you are looking to enrol your child in a swimming programme, now is a great opportunity through the quieter season where you may receive more active learning time.
To make things even easier for parents and guardians, we have also introduced an online enquiry system for assessments. Our Learn to Swim team will get back to you with a response regarding the next available time slots for assessments. The assessments will ensure your child’s swimming ability is matched to the appropriate class based on their needs.
Cranbrook’s Learn to Swim pool will remain at 31 degrees Celsius all winter. This ensures that swimmers can enjoy the water in a comfortable and safe environment, even on the coldest days of the year. Our experienced instructors are passionate about teaching children to swim, and we use a range of techniques and tools to ensure that every child receives the support and guidance they need to progress. We believe that swimming is an essential life skill that every child should learn, and our Learn to Swim programme is an excellent way to achieve this goal.
Further to the School’s thorough community engagement programme and resulting decision by School Council last year to enrol girls into the Senior School from 2026, we are currently preparing a Development Application for submission to Woollahra Municipal Council to increase the enrolment cap at our Bellevue Hill campus from 1339 to 1600. This planned increase will come into effect from 2026 and will provide sufficient capacity to accept girls into the Senior School offering a fully coeducational environment across all year groups from 2029.
In 2018, the School took the important decision in its State Significant Development Application, approved in 2019, not to seek an increase in the Bellevue Hill campus cap until it had an opportunity to assess the impact of providing an additional 124 parking spaces on site and a Kiss & Drop facility through the revitalisation of our Senior School campus. Both the car park and Kiss & Drop have met their respective design intents and importantly have improved traffic management around the site. There is, however, an increasing demand for places at schools like Cranbrook in the eastern suburbs. Additional places at schools in the eastern suburbs, coupled with Cranbrook School enrolling girls in 2026, will satisfy some of this demand and mean that there will be further choice for local families.
If you have any queries regarding the changes to the School’s enrolment cap please email Cranbrook@cranbrook.nsw.edu.au. We welcome your feedback and are, as ever, grateful for your support.
Years 3-6 Sport News
Please note that from this week, all information regarding your son’s sport team and weekend fixture will now be sent ONLY via the Parent App. Team Managers will not be sending out a weekly email.
General details about each sport can be found in your son’s Year Level tab on Cranbrook Connect.
The first round of Winter Sport (Years 3 – 6) was held last Saturday (29 April).
Little League Sports Report
I am delighted to report on the impressive performance of our winter sports teams in Round 1. Our boys showed remarkable skill and determination in rugby and football, delivering strong performances across all grades.
The boys displayed excellent character, sportsmanship and teamwork not just in rugby and football, but also in tennis and multisport. It was a joy to see them support and encourage each other both on and off the field.
I am incredibly proud of our boys for representing Cranbrook so well and for demonstrating the values of our school community. I look forward to seeing them continue to excel in the remainder of the winter sports season.
Our boys must continue to train hard and push themselves to improve in all areas of their respective sports.
As we look forward to Round 2 and beyond, I urge our athletes to maintain their focus, discipline and commitment. With dedication and perseverance, they can continue to improve.
Yours in Sport,
James Roughan
Head of Junior School Sport & PDHPE
Gold Coast Football Tour
During the school holiday, the Year 4/5 boys’ football team from Cranbrook Junior School had the opportunity to compete in the TSS Gold Coast Football Cup. This tournament brought together some fantastic footballers from schools and academies across the Gold Coast and Sydney region, including TSS, Magic United, Mongo Football, Burleigh Heads, Coomera Colts, and St Andrews.
Despite facing tough competition, the Cranbrook Junior School team showed great sportsmanship, teamwork, and growth throughout the tournament. Despite the team experiencing a couple of early losses, they were able to regroup and demonstrate remarkable resilience and team cohesion as the tournament progressed. This growth was evident in their performances on the field as they secured three consecutive victories in the later stages of the competition, showcasing improved teamwork and individual skill. The boys should be proud of their ability to bounce back from early setbacks and demonstrate progress throughout the tournament.
The boys not only demonstrated Cranbrook’s school values on the pitch but also carried them off the field, exhibiting sportsmanship, respect, and enthusiasm towards their opponents and officials. Overall, the TSS Gold Coast Football Cup provided a fantastic opportunity for the team to demonstrate their outstanding efforts. The boys have set a high standard for future Cranbrook Junior School teams and should be proud.
Armidale Tour
The Year 6 rugby team recently travelled to Armidale to participate in the TAS tournament, competing against some of the best players in their age group across Australia. Although they did not secure any wins, the boys showed tremendous dedication, effort, and sportsmanship throughout the tournament. The teams they played against were Flinders Rugby Club, South Toowoomba JRUC, St Aloysius College, St Patrick’s College, and St Pius College.
Carter M was chosen as the team’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) for his hard running and determination, which contributed significantly to the team’s overall performance. The team had a close game against St Pius College, with a dominant second half. In their last game against South Toowoomba JRUC, they demonstrated excellent skills and sportsmanship, displaying their growth and development as a team throughout the tournament. Mention must also go to Oliver H, Hughie W and Xavier M from Year 5, who played some outstanding rugby over the weekend. Overall, the Year 6 rugby team represented their school with pride and distinction, leaving a lasting impression on all who witnessed their efforts.
Football Round 1
Year 6A Football
Cranbrook School’s 6As secured a well-deserved 2-0 victory against Mosman Prep in their football fixture. Miles M and Luca C scored the two goals that gave their team the lead. The team’s defensive display was particularly impressive, with Thomas A and Emile G putting in solid performances to ensure Cranbrook School’s first clean sheet of the season. Overall, it was a fantastic team effort and a great result for the Cranbrook School 6As.
Year 6B Football
In a tough match against Mosman, Cranbrook’s 6Bs suffered a 5-1 defeat. Despite the result, Patrick G managed to score a fantastic goal, displaying great skill and determination. Meanwhile, George A gave an outstanding effort, showing immense dedication to the team’s cause. Despite the loss, Patrick G was awarded the Man of the Match title for his impressive performance.
Year 6C Football
Year 5A Football
Cranbrook School’s 5As put on a dominant performance in their football fixture against Barker, securing a resounding 7-2 victory. Kaspar B, Rhidian S and Kiran J were among the goal scorers for Cranbrook. Rhidian S stood out for his quick ball movement and distribution, while Felix S was outstanding with his commitment, growth of confidence and ability to win tackles.
Year 5B Football
Cranbrook School’s 5Bs played a thrilling football fixture against Barker, with the match ending in a 3-3 draw. Mathew Z, Sebastian F and Hugo S were the goal scorers for Cranbrook. Mathew Z stood out for his tenacity and scoring an excellent goal, while Sebastian F showed growing confidence and attacking threat throughout the game.
Year 5C Football
Cranbrook School’s 5Cs had an impressive performance in their football fixture against Barker, securing a 3-1 victory. Alec R scored two goals and Ryan M scored one. Alec R stood out for keeping width and listening to his coach, while Balthazar R was outstanding in midfield with his reading of the game and breaking up play.
Year 4A Football
In a thrilling match against Knox, Cranbrook School’s 4As emerged victorious with a 4-1 win. Alexander R was the star of the show, scoring two crucial goals, while Santiago D and Hugo L also found the back of the net with one goal each. Freddie F put in an outstanding effort throughout the game, displaying exceptional ball control and working tirelessly to secure the win for his team. Overall, it was a great team effort and an impressive performance from the Cranbrook School 4As.
Year 4B Football
Cranbrook School’s 4Bs secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Knox in their football fixture. George Y scored the crucial goal that sealed the win for his team. Xavier L played an important role as the team’s leader, communicating effectively and working hard in midfield. Henry H was outstanding in goal throughout the game and contributed in midfield towards the end of the match. It was a fantastic team effort from the Cranbrook School 4Bs, and a well-deserved win.
Year 4C Football
Cranbrook School’s 4Cs put on a dominant performance in their football fixture against Knox, securing a resounding 13-0 victory. Sebastian R was the standout goal scorer of the match, netting an impressive eight goals. However, it was Tully S who caught the eye with his outstanding all-round performance. Tully ran hard from defence to attack, making crucial interceptions and providing important assists, and was a key contributor to his team’s success. Overall, it was an excellent team effort from the Cranbrook School 4Cs and a well-deserved win.
Year 4D Football
Cranbrook School’s 4Ds put on a dominant display in their football fixture, securing an impressive 7-0 victory over Scots. Leo M was the standout player of the match, scoring an incredible five goals and demonstrating his exceptional finishing ability. Jonathan K also contributed with two goals, and the team put in a fantastic performance overall. Leo M was deservedly named the man of the match for his outstanding work ethic and impressive goal-scoring prowess.
Year 3A Football
Cranbrook School’s 3As put on a dominating performance against Kings School, winning 13-3 in a one-sided affair. The goal scorers included Charlie B, Trystan A, Louis B, Teddy B, Harvey C and Eddie C, with each player making a valuable contribution to the team’s success. Trystan A was named the player of the match for his exceptional defending and impressive passing range, which helped his team maintain their momentum throughout the game. It was a great team effort from the Cranbrook School 3As and a well-deserved victory.
Year 3B Football
Cranbrook School’s 3Bs put in a spirited performance against Kings, securing a hard-fought 2-1 victory. Woody V H W was the hero of the match, scoring a fantastic goal to give his team the lead. William J also played a key role in the victory, putting in a solid defensive display and playing a crucial role in keeping the ball in the opposition’s half. Overall, it was a fantastic team effort and a well-deserved win for the Cranbrook School 3Bs.
Year 3C Football
Cranbrook School’s 3Cs secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Redlands in their football fixture. Archie S was the standout performer of the match, scoring both goals for his team. Bond M and Teddy A put in outstanding performances in defence and both boys even nominated themselves to be goalkeeper, with Bond in the first half and Teddy in the second half. It was a fantastic team effort from the Cranbrook School 3Cs, and a well-deserved win.
Year 3D Football
In a recent junior school football fixture, Cranbrook School’s 3Ds took on Redlands and won 5-1. Thomas C played a great game, showing skill and finesse all over the pitch. Meanwhile, Oliver B put in a fantastic effort and was a key part of the team’s success. It was a great performance from the whole team and a well-deserved victory for the 3Ds.
Year 3E Football
Cranbrook School’s 3Es had an excellent football fixture against Kings, winning 4-1. Kai J and Emilio I were the standout performers, showing great skill and determination throughout the game. Their hard work paid off with a well-earned victory for the team. Overall, it was a fantastic effort from the Cranbrook School 3Es and a great display of teamwork.
Year 3F Football
Cranbrook School’s 3Fs put on an impressive display in their football match against Kings, securing a well-deserved 3-0 victory. Liam C and Neil M scored two great goals between them, while Liam was the standout performer of the match. Liam’s relentless effort in both defence and attack proved crucial for his team, and he played a pivotal role in securing the win. Overall, it was a fantastic team effort and a great result for the Cranbrook School 3Fs.
Rugby Round 1
Year 6A Rugby
Cranbrook 6As rugby team secured a dominant victory against Riverview with a final score of 50-5. The team showcased their attacking prowess with six tries scored by Michael I, Aidan M, Jake C, Steven H, David A, and Carter M. Costa V’s exceptional leadership and defensive skills were instrumental in securing the win, while Ollie K’s playmaking abilities helped set up numerous tries. Overall, it was a convincing performance by Cranbrook 6As.
Year 6B Rugby
The Cranbrook 6Bs rugby team recently played against St. Augustine’s and Scots, with Rahul W, Heath C-G, Rocco U, and Elvis L scoring impressive tries. It was also noted that Elvis L, who was playing his first game for Cranbrook, put in a commendable effort throughout the fixtures. The team’s overall performance was commendable, and the players showed great sportsmanship and skill on the field.
Year 5A Rugby
In a closely contested match, the Cranbrook 5As rugby team suffered a 21-7 defeat to Scots. Despite a valiant effort, the 5As were unable to match Scots strong offensive game. Sebastian D managed to score a try, with great support from Henry C-S in his ball carrying efforts. However, it wasn’t enough to secure the victory in the end.
Year 5B Rugby
In their recent rugby matches against Waverley and Scots, the Cranbrook 5Bs rugby team had an impressive showing, with several players scoring tries. Among the try scorers were Samuel S, Jack R, Louie B, Jack E, William H, and Tomek O. Samuel S stood out in particular with his exceptional game sense and skills, making a significant contribution to the team’s success. Overall, it was a strong performance from Cranbrook 5Bs.
Year 4A Rugby
In a dominant performance, the Cranbrook 4As rugby team secured a resounding victory against Tudor House with a scoreline of 56-5. James C, James M, William S, Oliver S, and Frederick H were among the try-scorers for Cranbrook, showcasing their offensive prowess throughout the match. Meanwhile, Julian D’s tireless efforts were integral to the team’s success, while James C’s impressive playmaking and William S’s lightning-fast speed left the opposition struggling to keep up.
Year 4B Rugby
In their recent matches against Knox and Coogee Prep, the Cranbrook 4Bs rugby team unfortunately suffered defeats in both games. Despite the losses, Will A stood out with impressive runs on the field, while Josh M showcased great speed. Although the team did not secure a win, the performances of these individual players are certainly worth recognizing. Despite the challenges they faced on the field, the team never gave up and continued to push forward until the final whistle.
Year 3 Red Rugby
The Cranbrook 3 Red rugby team secured two impressive victories in their recent matches, defeating Kings 40-0 and Scots 70-0. The team’s try scorers, including Ben H, Luca M, Wills O, Sebastian S, and Wolf T. All players demonstrated exceptional skill and teamwork throughout both games. The entire team should be commended for their outstanding efforts on the field.
Year 3 White Rugby
Cranbrook 3 White rugby team had a tough outing on the weekend against Grammar St Ives and Newington Wyvern, suffering defeats of 15-5 and 30-5 respectively. Despite the losses, Eric L-F emerged as the standout player in both fixtures, showcasing his skills and tenacity on the field. Despite the results, the team should be commended for their efforts and perseverance in the face of challenging opposition.
Tennis Round 1
Saturday marked a welcome return to winter tennis. It was a pleasure to see new faces join us as tennis continues to grow. Players engaged with a mix of targeted drills to improve and strengthen stroke skills. The coaches emphasised the importance of improving footwork. Many thanks to the parents for ensuring your son was dressed in full uniform.
Multi-Sports
The winter multi-sports squad started the season in a positive fashion. Boys worked purposefully in the skill session, developing their ball control, and passing technique. The modified games on Friday and Saturday produced some entertaining and brilliant passages of play! Hugo C-B scored a long-range howler smashing a shot into the left-hand corner of the net and Amiel B was energetic as always controlling the midfield. Jack F and Kingston T were outstanding in defence.
What an exciting musical term we have ahead of us! The highlight will be the Junior School Showcases on Wednesday, 14 June. We can’t wait!
Date
Event
Time
Thursday 18 May
Music Soiree Music Room 1
6pm-7pm
Wednesday 14 June
JS Showcase K-2 performance Gym
1.30pm-2.45pm
JS Showcase 3-6 performance Gym
6.30pm-8pm
Tuesday 20 June
SS Showcase rehearsal Town Hall
TBC
SS Showcase performance Town Hall
7pm-9pm
Optional Co-Curricular Important News
Please remember that there are no optional co-curricular activities before school on Friday, 12 May due to our Mother’s Day activities. Afternoon co-curricular activities will take place as normal.
