Next week, Friday 3 November, there is a prayer morning with Mr. Noble for any parents and carers in our JS community. It will be held at 8am in Music Room 2 on the Junior School campus. It is an opportunity for parents to come and spend time in prayer for each other and the school. We run these on the first Friday of every month during term time.
Dear Parents,
It is almost the end of Week 3 already! Thank you to the amazing CSPA team of P-Y6 Class Reps with Vice President JS, Angelique Haritos, and President, Sam Roberts, who organised a wonderful Drinks on the Drive last Friday evening. The weather was kind, the food plentiful and the drinks flowing for a lovely evening for our P-6 families. For the first time in 7 years, we were able to gather in this way and strengthen those vital relationships that underpin our school community.
Tomorrow, Friday 27 October, all our students are invited to bring in a gold coin or note to support the work of CETOP in Nepal and to wear crazy socks, as well as attend the annual Staff and Teachers Basketball Game in the Gym at lunchtime. The staff-student game is a reward for our JS students who collected more than 500 toothbrushes for Nepal last term.
Today, we welcomed back the ‘Courage to Care’ group who presented a workshop for our students in Year 6. Our Year 5 students will also have this group come to speak with them in the weeks ahead.
This powerful experience promotes acceptance across society through:
The boys were mesmerised by the films and stories as the guest speakers recounted powerful narratives of rescuers and the people they saved – ordinary people performing extraordinary acts of courage.
The second part of the morning was a workshop where the students were encouraged to reflect on their own lives and how they can be ‘upstanders’ in their own world. By highlighting the extraordinary acts of ordinary people who intervened to save others, the survivor speaker stories show our students that they too can be ‘upstanders’ – in our school and in the wider community. As we look around the world at the moment, we certainly need people who can do just that.
Staffing News
I am pleased to let our families know that Head of Music Education, JS, Mrs Jane Holmes à Court is making pleasing progress and is steadily recovering. She will be on leave until the end of 2023.
Upcoming Events & Important Dates
We hope all our families have a wonderful week.
With thanks,
Michele Marquet
Children are frequently exposed to distressing news through the 24-hour news cycle and social media. These experiences can provoke anxiety, especially in young minds still forming their worldviews. Parents and caregivers should be mindful of overexposure to such content as it can lead to symptoms similar to post-traumatic stress disorder. Children’s responses to trauma can vary, from being strong emotional reactions to being indifferent. It can leave an emotional imprint that can affect a child’s behaviour and perception of danger.
Children need reassurance about their safety as they navigate uncertain times. Tailor conversations to your child’s age and emotional maturity. Younger children benefit from simplified explanations focusing on peace, empathy, and cooperation, while older children can delve into historical events, root causes of conflict, and the complexities of international relations.
Before discussing these topics with your child, it is also important to assess your own emotions and comfort level. By staying calm and providing physical comfort will help your child regulate their own emotions. In challenging times, compassionate adults play a crucial role in helping children cope with anxiety and providing hope and understanding in our complex world.
This Special Report provides guidance on how to tackle this difficult topic and helping children understand there is still hope in our complex world. Please take a moment to reflect on the information offered, and as always, we welcome your feedback. If this raises any concerns for you, a loved one or the wellbeing of your child, please consider seeking medical or professional help.
Here is the link to your special report https://cranbrook.nsw.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-discussing-war-conflict
The Term 4 Events Overview for Parents can be found here and on Cranbrook Connect.
Parents of boys in Year 5 2023, who may be interested in applying for a Senior School scholarship for their son, should read the Scholarships 2025 information available now via this link.
Starting this term, Junior School families whose children have a Learn to Swim lesson after school (i.e. lessons that commence before 4:15pm) will be able to book a seat for their child to travel on the Inner West bus that goes directly from inside the Junior School to the Senior School at the end of the school day each day of the week.
Students will be dropped off near the AFC and then walked from the bus to the pool by AFC staff and supervised while they get ready for their lesson. Parents can meet their sons at the pool. For ease when changing, it would be best if students with lessons wear their swimmers under their school uniform. Please email bus@cranbrook.nsw.edu.au if you are interested in booking a bus spot for your child and we will send a booking link once it is available. The cost is $100 per term.
We are also pleased to let parents know that if they prefer to pick up their child in carline or if their child has swimming lessons a little later in the afternoon, they can now make use of the school carpark next to the pool after 3:30pm to park during the LTS lesson.
We hope these new opportunities assist with the busyness of the traffic near the AFC in the afternoons.
The Cranbrook community is invited to get behind the annual Anglicare Toys ‘n’ Tucker again. Donations assist those in our local communities who would otherwise go without.
Please, no second-hand gifts, chocolate, or anything else that can melt. Bring your unwrapped gifts and donations to your year level piazza. The final date for your donation is the day of our Christmas Lunch on Thursday, 30 November.
We are all looking forward to our annual Y3-Y6 Christmas Lunch in the Junior School Gymnasium. Next week, our students in Years 3-6 will receive their personal invitation from Mrs Marquet to attend the lunch, to be held on Thursday, 30 November. Y3-Y6 Students should handwrite an acceptance to attend the lunch and post it in the red ‘Christmas Lunch’ Post Box located in Reception. Students should remember to bring their handmade hat creations to school to wear on the day.
There is also a separate consent form for parents to sign which will be sent via Operoo shortly. In the coming weeks, our CSPA Vice President for Junior School will reach out to our families to ask if they would like to help with this event.
This year, with so many worrying things happening around the world, we have opted for a simpler lunch menu which will come at a lesser cost, and we will still have all the fun activities we usually do as part of the lunch. We will be asking every Y3-Y6 student to consider what small jobs at home they could do to raise some money to donate to children in some of these overseas places so that they may experience some joy too. We hope the boys can feel happiness in knowing they have actively done something to help other children who are not living in such a peaceful and safe part of the world. Donations are, of course, entirely optional, but it would be wonderful, as a whole community, to collect a sizeable amount for a worthy cause. Details about what the boys will need to do and how donations can be made will be explained further in the parent note on Operoo.
During the lunch, the students have the opportunity to meet staff from across the entire School, especially those who work in ‘behind the scenes’ roles. This can help our students come to appreciate how all these people work together to provide the wonderful education they are so fortunate to receive. The lunch is one way the Junior School staff and students say thank you to the many people who work at Cranbrook in non-public roles, but without whom we could not function!
We also ask our students to bring in a donation of non-perishable food and/or children’s gifts for Anglicare (Toys’n’Tucker). Information about this has already been shared in our newsletter.
On Wednesday, 6 December, students in K-2 will enjoy special Christmas Activities and their parents are invited to come onto campus at the very end of the afternoon to collect their sons in person from their classrooms. Details about this lovely event will be sent home in the coming weeks.
To access the app
Click here to 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.
Common Issues
1 – If you can’t log on
You cannot use your username and password for Cranbrook Connect. You must follow the exact steps for setting up a new username and password: https://www.cranbrook.nsw.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2023_How-to-log-in-to-Parent-App_v4-1.pdf
2 – If none of the teams and fixtures are loading for your son
If you have logged on with your child’s school email address, you will not get any relevant information. The app will work, but with none of your child’s data. You will need to delete the app and start over again. Follow the steps above to set up a new username and password.
3 – If you cannot download the app Both Android and iPhone users can both download the app. If you are having trouble accessing it, the app has been created by Digistorm, which you can add into the search box.
I am thrilled to congratulate our boys on yet another strong round of sports. Our basketball teams secured some impressive wins, showcasing their dedication and skill on the court. The cricket teams displayed outstanding performances, with special mention to Emile G for scoring a brilliant half-century. Additionally, our tennis teams demonstrated remarkable grit in the face of tough opponents.
As we celebrate these achievements, let’s remember the importance of staying focused during both training and games. Keep pushing your limits, boys, and let our hard work and sportsmanship show through in the remainder of the summer season.
Yours in sport,
James Roughan
Basketball
Basketball Year 5/6 As
In the 5/6 As match, Cranbrook faced a 60-42 loss to Mosman Prep, with Jamie R top-scoring with 10 points. Jamie P’s excellent defence, Van G’s game control, and Loic B’s strong debut in the As were noteworthy.
Basketball Year 5/6 Bs
The 5/6 Bs achieved a thrilling 40-38 victory over Mosman Prep. Charlie R and Harry R scored 7 and 10 points, respectively. David A played a great game on both ends of the court, while Charlie R’s game sense in the crucial moments helped secure the win.
Basketball Year 5/6 Cs
Despite a 22-18 loss to Kincoppal, the 5/6 Cs had standout performances, with Raphael G top-scoring and showcasing exceptional work inside the paint, including clinical layups. The team also displayed strong rebounding and boxing out.
Basketball Year 5/6 Ds
The 5/6 Ds secured a resounding 30-11 victory against Kincoppal, with Jacob B top scoring. Jacob not only couldn’t miss a shot but also acted as a team leader, helping his teammates understand the importance of using the sideline as a defensive trap.
Basketball Year 5/6 Es
The 5/6 Es won 24-18 against Coogee Prep, with Ryan H top-scoring thanks to outstanding shooting. In his first-ever basketball game, Austin M demonstrated great scoring ability and teamwork.
Basketball Year 5/6 Fs
The 5/6 Fs delivered an impressive 52-2 victory over Coogee Prep, with Elvis L scoring 20 points and showcasing amazing shooting and teamwork from all players. The Fs should be proud of their performance on the weekend.
Basketball Year 5/6 Gs
In a competitive match, Basketball 5/6 Gs faced a 6-14 loss to Newington Wyvern, with Nicholas P top-scoring. Nicholas displayed exceptional performance on the rebounds and never gave up.
Basketball Year 5/6 Hs
The 5/6 Hs encountered an 8-13 loss to Newington Wyvern, with Kyran D top scoring. The team demonstrated improved rebounding and hustle around the court, even in the face of a challenging outcome.
Basketball Year 3/4 As
The 3/4 As faced a tough challenge, suffering a 28-4 loss to Trinity. Frank T managed to score 4 points, but the opponent proved too strong. Despite the outcome, Will S’s relentless defensive efforts were noteworthy as he tried to rally the team. In the end, Will’s defensive tenacity helped limit Trinity to only 10 points in the second half.
Basketball Year 3/4 Bs
In a closely contested match, the 3/4 Bs secured a hard-fought 24-21 victory against Trinity. Xavier L was the top scorer with 8 points. A standout player in this game was Wills O, who made his debut in the Bs and proved his worth with tenacious play under the basket. He played a crucial role as a defensive sub at the end of the game, helping the team move the ball up the court when the game was at its closest. Wills’ passion and determination earned him the well-deserved outstanding performance award.
Basketball Year 3/4 Cs
The 3/4 Cs encountered a tough challenge, losing 22-5 to Newington. Leo R contributed 4 points and showcased great intensity throughout the game. Additionally, Oliver S made several significant defensive plays to keep the team competitive.
Basketball Year 3/4 Ds
In a closely fought match, the 3/4 Ds narrowly lost to Trinity Grammar with a final score of 24-25. Col O was the top scorer with an impressive 9 points. Louis B received recognition for his consistent effort on defence, ensuring that everyone was marked and contributing to the team’s overall performance.
Basketball Year 3/4 Blue 1
The 3/4 Blue 1 secured a well-fought 19-14 victory over Newington Wyvern. Trystan A, Jonathon H, and Thomas C each contributed 4 points, while Hugo C’s exceptional defensive pressure led to numerous key turnovers, helping the team secure the win.
Basketball Year 3/4 Blue 2
The 3/4 Blue 2 triumphed in a close match, winning 16-13 against Newington Wyvern. Harrison H stood out with 5 points, and Teddy A demonstrated great effort and dribbling skills.
Basketball Year 3/4 White 1
On Saturday the 3/4 White 1 emerged victorious with an 18-10 win over Trinity. Wren L led the scoring with 8 points, and Remi G displayed great hustle and effort on defence, contributing to the team’s success.
Basketball Year 3/4 White 2
The 3/4 White 2 secured a dominant 10-2 victory against Newington. Five players contributed 2 points each, with Alex P demonstrating excellent ball-handling, William J delivering solid defence, and James A scoring an important basket.
Cricket
Cricket 6 As
Cranbrook 6A won 6/121 to 6/107 against Trinity. Emile G was the star performer, contributing an outstanding 51* runs and taking 3 wickets. Emile’s performance was truly remarkable, culminating in a six off the last ball to bring up his half-century. He also bowled effectively, dismissing two players at the end of the match. Emile was deservedly recognized as the Man of the Match for his all-round performance.
Cricket 6Bs
BYE
Cricket 5As
Cranbrook 5A emerged victorious against Grammar with a convincing win, with a score of 102-40. Alistair M had a great game take 3 wickets for only 4 runs. James Cowan was the standout performer, contributing 28 runs in just 12 balls and taking a wicket.
Cricket 5Bs
The 5B secured a win with a score of 95 to 74 against Sydney Grammar Edgecliff. Otto scored 19 runs off 11 balls, and Oliver F and Oliver D delivered excellent bowling performances, with figures of 1/4 off 2 overs and 1/6 off 2 overs, respectively. Charlie was on a hat-trick ball in his first over, where he managed to take 2 wickets for just 6 runs.
Cricket 4As
The 4A secured a win against Knox Junior School, with a final score of 3/94 to 8/86. The top run-scorer was Sebastian R with 22 runs, while Leo S was the top wicket taker with figures of 2/0 off 2 overs. The entire team had a great game, but special recognition goes to Leo S for his outstanding figures, Sebastian R for scoring the most runs, and Julian D, who performed excellently with the bat, ball, and gloves.
Cricket 4Bs
Cranbrook 4B faced a challenging match against Scots, where the opponent scored 120 without losing a wicket, and Cranbrook managed to score 7 runs. Lucas S bowled a maiden over with no runs scored, and Jack L showcased significant improvement in his batting performance, contributing runs for the team.
Cricket 3As
Cranbrook 3A secured a victory against Grammar Edgecliff, with a score of 132 to 88. Harry P played a pivotal role with 17 runs and remarkable bowling figures of 4/2. Nathan S, making his debut in the 3As, impressed with a wicket maiden and two scorching boundaries, contributing significantly to the team’s success.
Cricket 3Bs
Cricket 3B Loss 21 (111/3) beats 104 (89/2) Coogee Prep. Top Run scorers: Sam Y with 21 runs and Otto H with 20 Runs. Oli B took one wicket with a beautiful ball dismantling the batsman’s stumps. Sam Y had a moment of brilliance, quickly fielding the ball hit firmly by the batter to then back his efforts up with a terrific direct hit run out.
Cricket 3Cs
A beautiful sunny morning saw the Year 3 cavaliers take on the mighty Grammar from Edgecliff. Asked to field first the boys were full of energy and set about their work. Beckett C was the star with the ball as he conceded only 2 runs off his two overs and Henry S and Harry M both took a wicket each.
Set a target of 76 the team approached in a positive manner with all pair scoring 20 runs or more. We only lost one wicket in the whole innings but with aggressive running and some brilliant striking the boys were able to score boundaries on a regular occurrence and taking the victory by 31 runs.
Multi-Sports
The boys had a special guest on Friday morning from the Director of Cricket, Mr Ben Staunton. Mr Staunton put the boys through a series of cricket skill activities which the boys thoroughly enjoyed. This week, special mention to Alex F, Edward T and Jack F on exceptional catches. Henry M continues to set a high standard in fielding and Wisdom X hit a few scorching hits during his batting time.
Tennis
Tennis Bs
In a closely contested tennis match, the Tennis Bs faced a loss by games, with a score of 31/37 against Grammar. Despite the loss, the standout performers of the day were undeniably Alex T and Riley T. They displayed exceptional skills and outstanding performance in both singles and doubles, showcasing their dedication to the game.
Tennis Cs
The Tennis Cs encountered a challenging match, resulting in a loss with a score of 26/42 against Scots. A special mention goes to Hugo C-B, who delivered an outstanding singles performance, demonstrating his skill and determination on the court. Despite the overall outcome, Hugo’s exceptional play was a bright spot in the match.
Tennis Development
Our development group has made impressive strides in enhancing their match-playing abilities and refining their game-winning tactics. The commitment and hard work of our boys have resulted in significant improvements, making them more formidable players on the court. Their growth in match strategy and tactical prowess promises an exciting future for our group. Well done boys!
Water Polo
In a challenging water polo match, our team faced a loss with a score of 25-2 against Scots Gold. This season, our team has moved up a division, and the players are putting in tremendous effort to adjust and improve. Sam S and Felix C showcased commendable determination in the match, with Sam S making an impressive contribution. Despite being only his second game of water polo ever, Sam managed to score an amazing first goal, highlighting the team’s dedication and willingness to push through tough challenges.
Sailing
Year 4 recently completed an inter-comp mini race day in sailing, and it was an incredible achievement with everyone winning a race. This success is particularly noteworthy considering the new skill they’ve been learning during the session. A special mention goes to Marcus R, whose outstanding commitment and performance were truly exceptional and played a pivotal role in the team’s success.
Please send any queries to Annabel Boyd via jscocurricular@cranbrook.nsw.edu.au.