On Friday 1 November (All Saints Day) there will be a community prayer morning with Mr Noble for any parents, carers or staff in our JS community. It will be held from 7:45am in Music Room 2 on the Junior School Campus. It is an opportunity to spend time in prayer for each other and the school. We run prayer meetings the first Friday of each month during term time.
Dear Parents,
Last Friday, the Senior School’s Musical, Little Shop of Horrors, started its glorious run and what a joy it is! It is a truly impressive collaboration between our Music and Drama departments, as well as our stage performers and background crew, not to speak of the special relationship that builds between audience and performers on any given night.
We often talk about teamwork being something that our children can learn via playing a team sport, which is undoubtedly true. But we can certainly learn those same invaluable lessons through engagement in the Arts.
Participating in an ensemble production takes skill far greater than just memorising your lines or music. You have to learn how to work with one another, to be generous and flexible, able to pivot in the moment to ensure the performance is a success. Fast forgiveness of errors and creativity to cover mistakes are skills that every performer has to hone regularly, for themselves, but more importantly for their fellow cast or orchestra members. The performance as a whole is more important than the individual. Cast, crew and musicians are always aiming for a certain synergy and synchronicity that will elevate the performance to something beyond technical accuracy and towards genuine artistry.
Juggling the workload to prepare for a full-scale performance while making sure class work and other commitments are maintained takes organisational and, occasionally, top notch negotiation skills. Students need to exercise patience, forbearance and kindness – both with themselves and others!
Our cast, crew and orchestra and the extraordinary staff who have guided them in this journey deserve our unstinting thanks and praise. It is wonderful to see so many of our students fully engaged in such an enterprise, thrilled to be part of the performance, but also practising beneficial skills for life.
I hope many of our families are able to attend one of the final few performances, tickets are available here, and enjoy the magic created by our very talented students and staff.
Best wishes
Michele Marquet
Acting Head of School
Dear Junior and Pre-school families,
As we approach the end of October, I’d like to take a moment to acknowledge some recent highlights and share important updates with you.
World Teachers’ Day 2024 – Friday, 25 October
Tomorrow, we join the global community in celebrating World Teachers’ Day. It’s an opportunity to recognise and express our gratitude for the hard work and dedication of our teachers at Cranbrook Junior School and Pre-schools. Our teachers go above and beyond each day, nurturing and guiding our Cranbrook students with care, passion and commitment. I encourage you to take a moment to thank the wonderful educators who make a positive difference in your children’s learning journey.
Walk to School Days
A reminder that our Junior School Walk to School Days continue every Tuesday and Thursday. It has been wonderful to see so many students embracing this initiative, enjoying fresh air, exercise, and a great start to the school day. We encourage all families to participate whenever possible. It’s a fun and healthy way to connect with the community!
Updated Junior School Events Overview
Please refer to the updated Junior School T4 Event Overview link for minor amendments to times and dates for upcoming events. We appreciate your flexibility and understanding as we make these adjustments.
2025 House Prefects Visit
On Monday, we had the pleasure of welcoming the 2025 Senior School House Prefects to the Junior School. It was a fantastic opportunity for our Year 6 students to meet and be inspired by the older leaders of our Cranbrook community as they prepare to make the move to the Senior Campus. The Prefects shared their experiences, offered guidance, and connected with our students, fostering a sense of unity and school spirit. There was also a significant display of House spirit on Dangar Oval! We thank them for their time and leadership as they commence their new responsibilities as leaders of Cranbrook. Please follow this link to view the photo gallery.
Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events.
Warm regards,
Richard Baker
Acting Head of Junior School
Dear Parents and Carers,
The Cost-of-Living Crisis
In our ever-changing economic landscape, parents and caregivers are increasingly faced with the task of broaching the subject of growing expenses with their children. While the instinct may be to shield young people from life’s challenges, there’s a growing belief that addressing real-world issues, including financial uncertainties, can actually foster resilience and understanding. Striking a balance between protection and education is crucial for those looking to empower their children.
To effectively introduce the topic of finances, we need to be mindful of the timing and setting of the conversation. Using straightforward, age-appropriate language helps maintain transparency, and openly discussing adjustments to the family budget can carry significant weight. By encouraging children to participate in finding creative ways to save and make thoughtful spending choices, parents can nurture a sense of responsibility.
A special report from SchoolTV delves into the strategies parents can employ to broach the topic effectively, offering insights on timing, language, transparency, and the nurturing of crucial values during these discussions.
Follow this link to view the Special Report.
Dear Families,
We’re delighted to share that the children have settled in beautifully and are embracing the learning opportunities this term brings. We’re excited to welcome Miss Boniface, affectionately known as “Miss B”, who will be joining our St. Marks and St. Michael’s 3 and 5 day groups for Drama. Her work across both Pre-schools this term will enhance our current unit of inquiry, and the children are already thrilled about it!
We have a range of engaging incursions planned, so please make sure to check Operoo for all necessary e-forms and authorisations.
Upcoming Events:
Kind regards,
Abigail McFarlane
Pre-schools’ Coordinator
School Travel Passes
Applications are now open for 2025 School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS) travel.
Students in the Opal network applying for an Opal card (including a Term Bus Pass) for the first time will receive their School Opal card at their nominated postal address from mid-January 2025.
Students who require a School Opal card or travel pass but have not yet applied need to apply or update their details as soon as possible.
In the Opal network, students should travel with a Child/Youth Opal card until they receive their valid School Opal card. If outside Greater Sydney, parents should contact their local bus operator to discuss their travel needs.
Students living in rural and regional areas will receive their travel pass from their nominated transport operator. It may be issued via their school or be sent directly to them at home. Note: some rural and regional operators do not issue travel passes. Students/parents should confirm with their nominated operator if they do not receive a pass.
Terms of Use
Students using School Opal cards must tap on and tap off in line with the Opal terms of use.
This includes travel within the approved times between 6:30am and 7:00pm from Monday to Friday on school days only. Students must use their Child/Youth Opal card for any travel outside these times.
All students are required to comply with the Student code of conduct. The code of conduct aims to ensure the safety and well-being of school children and other passengers. It is important that parents ensure their child is aware of this, as failure to comply with the code of conduct can result in a suspension from travel.
As part of our unit of inquiry, Sharing the Planet, Kindergarten became Habitat Explorers at Centennial Parklands. This workshop piqued the boys’ curiosity and ignited their enthusiasm. They explored the lives of Centennial Parklands animals, investigating how they grow and interact with other plants and animals, as well as what their habitats need for survival. A wonderful time was had by all – we have many enthusiastic nature lovers and future park rangers!
It was a fantastic week of sport for Cranbrook Junior School, with students giving their all across a range of activities. In tennis, the A Team faced Barker in a competitive match, and though the team narrowly lost, they displayed great resilience and determination. The B Team, meanwhile, secured a decisive 11-1 victory over Grammar Edgecliff, showcasing strong doubles play and excellent sportsmanship.
Cricket saw a successful weekend as well, with Year 6A gaining valuable experience on turf at Dangar and Will W earning selection for the NSW U12 team after a stellar performance in the CIS tournament. The sailing program kicked off with exciting practice races, and our basketball teams continued to shine, with dominant wins across both Year 3/4 and Year 5/6 competitions.
We also wish our students competing in the NSWPSSA Athletics Championships this week the very best of luck. Special mention to Will S in the 11 years 100m, as well as our senior relay team: Sebastian D, Oscar R, Jasper M, and Will S. We’re all excited to see their hard work and talent on display.
Yours in Sport,
James Roughan
Head of Sport & PDHPE
Tennis
A TEAM vs Barker
4-8 (lost)
On Saturday, October 19th, Cranbrook excitedly kicked off the second half of the tennis season with their first match against Barker. Despite the looming threat of rain, the students put forth their best efforts but ultimately fell short, losing 4-8 in matches, although they won 35-33 in games.
Match highlights included Ricky C, who, despite being in Year 3, managed to win his singles match 3-2. He landed several important serves to win key points and showcased his agility by running down every ball. His partner, Jayden B, also put up a fierce fight in both doubles (3-4) and singles (2-3) matches against Barker, demonstrating the enthusiasm and determination that all tennis players should strive for.
Riley T and Blake H nearly secured a win in doubles against Barker’s No. 1 and No. 2, showing resilience as they came back from a deficit. Josh M played against Barker’s No. 5 and won decisively, utilising long, deep forehands to push his opponent back and drop the ball short, showcasing a masterclass in tactics to win 5-0.
Niko D, playing up a position, highlighted the team’s depth and strength. In a friendly match against the No. 1, he managed to win several rallies with his developed forehands, giving Barker a tough challenge. Shai L and Matthew Z displayed excellent teamwork in doubles, fighting back from tough positions to secure key games for Cranbrook.
Although the outcome favoured Barker that day, it was a strong start for the team as they embark on the new season.
B TEAM vs Grammar Edgecliff
11-1 (win)
Saturday saw the B team play Grammar Edgecliff away at Rushcutters. The students got off to a great start with the team winning three out of the four doubles matches with special mention to Hugo B & Rory M playing an outstanding doubles match. Nate S-W & Tomek O played a great game with great tactical awareness to win 6-1 in their doubles.
Harvey C brought his A game to his singles match to win 5-0 in style along with George Y also putting in a solid performance.
The Cranbrook coach was extremely impressed with the boy’s tennis as well as the sportsmanship and how polite the students were to their opponents. It was also great to hear that all the students were keen to do the post-match speech too.
Well done to both teams on a good start to the Summer season. We have a very strong depth in our teams with many players in development group who are all keen and working extremely hard to move up.
Ben Higgins
Head of Tennis
Cricket
It was a lovely weekend to play cricket and a positive start to the second half of the cricket season with only one loss which occurred in the Year 3A game. Year 6A played on turf on Dangar which was a great learning experience. Most teams had dominant victories apart from the Year 4 A who won a close game by 6 runs.
Year 4
Year 5A
Year 5B
CIS cricket
Last week the Prep School CIS team headed to Armidale for the NSW Schools festival, and we had two students representing Cranbrook in the CIS team – Jimmy C and Wiil W. Both Jimmy and Will had a great week away of playing tough cricket on grass. Will Watson scored a 50 and took 4 wickets in a game. His strong performances lead to him being selected in the NSW U12 team which is an outstanding effort.
Ben Staunton
Head of Cricket
Sailing
Saturday saw the first of our weekend sailing sessions, with the students rolling into the shed bright an early for a great session on the water. Year 4 and 5 got out with our race group doing some races against Scots College as a practice fixture before we head into the summer rounds from next week. They performed well, and it was a great hit out for our group who head to Canberra for the first major regatta of the season next weekend.
Year 6 had a brilliant session, fully integrating into the senior school group that they will be joining from Term 1 2026. In a first for our sailing program, they will be mentored by our older sailors and compete in an interschool competition with Scots, Ascham, and Sydney Students HS. The students dropped seamlessly into the group. I look forward to watching them develop over the next 6 months.
Tom Brewer
Head of Sailing
Basketball
The Junior School basketball teams had an eventful weekend, with a mix of hard-fought wins and close losses. In Year 5/6, the A team pulled off a strong 45-37 victory against St Aloysius, thanks to Sebastian D’s dominance on the boards, while Ollie H and Kiran J anchored the defence. The B team followed suit with a 28-16 win, driven by Henry C-S’s standout performance on both ends, alongside Jacob B and Spike T’s unstoppable play. Despite narrow defeats, the C and D teams showed immense energy and determination, with Gus T’s relentless hustle and Austin M’s sharp shooting for the C team, and Hugo S leading the D team with impressive defence. Although the E, F, G, and H teams faced tough losses, players like Charlie D, Liam S, Jonathan H, and Rafferty L displayed resilience, continuing to develop their skills and teamwork.
Meanwhile, the Year 3/4 teams delivered a dominant showing against Kings. The A team secured a 45-30 win, with Wolf T’s aggressive offense leading the charge. The B, C, and D teams also claimed solid victories, showcasing excellent teamwork and strong defence throughout. In the Blue 1 team’s 42-2 win, Michael L and Bailey K put on a scoring masterclass, while James A excelled on defence. Bear and Sebastian G’s relentless play helped the Blue 2 team to a 16-11 win. The White 1 and White 2 teams capped off the weekend with their own victories, playing strong defence and showing continuous improvement as they controlled their games.
Year 3 & 4A
Year 3 & 4B
Year 3 & 4 Whites
Year 5 & 6 A-Ds
Basketball C & D
Water polo
Year 5 & 6
Multisport
Dear Families,
Please find below, a list of Term 4 music events to note in your diary. As you can see it is going to be another busy term and we can’t wait to see many of you at these upcoming events.
| FROM THE START OF TERM 4 |
| Private instrumental lessons and Co-Curricular music ensemble rehearsals commence. |
| WEEK 4 |
| Thursday, 7 November – 6:00pm to 7:00pm JS Music Soiree, Music Room 1 Friday, 8 November – 10:30am to 12:10pm Y2 String Program Dress Rehearsal, JS Gym side A |
| WEEK 5 |
| Tuesday, 12 November – 1:30pm to 3:00pm Y3 Instrumental Program Dress Rehearsal, JS Gym side A Friday, 15 November – 11:00am to 12noon (parents invited) Y2 String Program Concert, JS Gym side A |
| WEEK 6 |
| Tuesday, 19 November – 2:00pm to 3:00pm (parents invited) Y3 Instrumental Program (Strings/Wind, Brass, Percussion) Concert, JS Gym side A Thursday, 21 November – 2:00pm to 3:00pm JS Chamber Choir (Y5&6 members only) to Goodwin Village |
| WEEK 7 |
| Tuesday, 26 November – 5:00pm to 6:00pm K-2 Carol Service, All Saints’ Woollahra Wednesday, 27 November – Pre-school Christmas Concert SMI 3 Day Group – 9:30am Friday, 29 November – Pre-school Christmas Concert SMI 2 Day Group 9:30am SMA 5 Day Group 12:30pm |
| WEEK 8 |
| Tuesday, 3 December – 5:00pm to 6:00pm Y3-Y6 Carol Service, Vicars Centenary Hall (SS) Thursday, 5 December – Pre-school Christmas Concert SMI 5 Day Group 12:30pm Friday, 6 December – 1:45pm K-Y6 Combined Assembly (Y6 Valedictory Service), JS Gym Cranbrook Voices (Y5) |
| WEEK 9 |
| Wednesday, 11 December 10:00am to 12noon K-Y6 JS Prize Giving, JS Gym |
Best wishes,
Peter Fox
Head of Music, Junior School
Last chance to see Little Shop of Horrors. Click here to book your tickets.
