This week, our Y6 students experienced some mixed weather at their annual camp in the beautiful surrounds of Camp Somerset on the Colo River. Nevertheless, reports on their enjoyment levels suggest they had a fabulous time! Our Year 4 students head to Waterslea on the Shoalhaven River on Monday for their annual camp. Next term, students in Years 3 and 5 will have the opportunity to go to camp in the Blue Mountains and at Port Hacking, respectively.
Our camps can help our students to forge stronger friendships, assist new students to find their place in our School and aid our teaching teams to strengthen their relationships with the entire year group. They are memorable experiences and careful planning has gone into the various activities that are on offer at each site. It is always great to see our students on return: often quite tired, but with smiles! We thank the accompanying staff who worked so hard to ensure they all had a safe and wonderful experience.
The term continues to be a busy and varied experience for all of our Junior School students.
Kind wishes,
Michele Marquet
Becoming a Member of Cranbrook School
Cranbrook School is a public company limited by guarantee which was established to provide students with a well-rounded, liberal education based on Christian beliefs.
It is governed by the School Council in accordance with its Constitution and has a membership comprised of eligible persons who have made significant contributions to Cranbrook or who are key stakeholders in its mission.
Parent of students in Kindergarten to Year 12 attending Cranbrook are eligible to become a Member of Cranbrook School for so long as they have a child attending the School.
The Members of Cranbrook School play an important role in the governance of Cranbrook. Being a Member entitles you to attend and vote at general meetings of Cranbrook School. This includes attending and voting at the Annual General Meeting, where the matters considered include receiving the statutory financial reports and electing members of the School Council.
If you are not already a Member of Cranbrook School, and wish to become one, please indicate your willingness to do so by completing and returning the application form which can be found on Cranbrook Connect here.
Applications are subject to approval by the School Council, and will be considered at the next possible School Council meeting after receipt of your completed application.
We encourage you to apply to become a Member of Cranbrook School and to take up the opportunity to contribute to the governance of the School.
If you have any questions regarding membership of Cranbrook School, please contact Sarah Deveson, Company Secretary, by email on councilsecretary@cranbrook.nsw.edu.au.
Geoff Lovell Nicholas Sampson President of School Council Headmaster
Year 4 Camp
Next week, our annual camp for students in Y4 takes place. Please check your son’s year level tab on Cranbrook Connect for additional information.
If your Year 4 son requires medicine to be administered whilst on camp, please complete the relevant form by tomorrow, 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.
Save the date: Family Fun Day for CETOP
Please save the date for a Cranbrook CETOP and CSPA Family Fun Day event on Sunday, 17 March 2024from 10am to 2pm! 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!
FAMILY FUN DAY ART COMPETITION We invite aspiring artists to channel their imagination and create an artwork to illustrate the differences or similarities between Nepal and Australia.
We encourage you to explore these two diverse nations. Whether it’s the intricacies of architecture, the vibrancy of wildlife, or the rich tapestry of cultural traditions.
You will need to conduct some research on CETOP and the School’s connection to Nepal. This may be through conversations with family members who may have personal experiences to share, information you may find online; click here or for more personal inspiration, reach out to Mr Bonett, Ms Boniface, Mrs Koika-Cellini, Ms Light, or Miss Hewett who have lived experiences of Nepal and are ready to share their insights.
Unleash your creativity, embrace the challenge and let your artistic expression tell a visual story that transcends boundaries. Join us in celebrating the kaleidoscope of Nepal through the lens of your unique artistic vision.
Free to enter with purchase of a ticket for the CETOP/CSPA family fun day. Competition is open to all mediums. Age (Year level) categories: K-2 / 3-4 / 5-6
Winners announced at the event – Great prizes to be won!
Entries to be submitted by 16 March – please take entries (with your name and class on the back) to the JS Drama Room by this date.
Pre-Schools’ News – Week 4
Dear Families,
What a marvellous week it has been across our Pre-schools: St. Mark’s and St. Michael’s. Our children in both the 5-Day and 3-Day Groups took part in their first incursion of the year, ‘Harold’s Big Feelings.’ This engaging experience delved into crucial aspects of emotional literacy, regulation, friendship and the importance of seeking help.
We are thrilled to extend a warm welcome to the new children and families joining our 2-Day Group, which continues to grow throughout the term. This is an exciting time, as these young learners take their initial steps in their educational journey. It’s a joy to see them meet their teachers and begin forging new friendships, laying the foundation for a fulfilling and enriching experience ahead.
Upcoming Joint Pre-school Event:
We welcome all our Pre-school families to come along and be part of an important event.
Clean Up Australia Day – Sunday 3 March, 9am-10am, Steyne Park & Double Bay Beach.
Please be aware, children must be supervised at all times by Parents/Carers.
A sign-up sheet will be at the sign-in area the coming week.
Kind regards,
Abigail McFarlane
Dropping Off Items Forgotten By Your Son
If your K-Y2 son has accidentally forgotten an important item (such as a musical instrument needed for a lesson) and you wish to bring it into school for him for any reason, could you please leave the item on the table provided outside their piazzas, rather than taking it inside. During Periods 1 -3 the piazza is a learning space and the boys are easily distracted by people popping in. We thank you for your help with this, so that all the students can make the most of their learning time.
Year 3 History Talk
The current Year 3 unit has our students investigating Cranbrook’s history as part of their inquiry. The cohort travelled to the Senior School recently and were engrossed by legendary Cranbrook History Teacher, Dr David Thomas, as he gave an entertaining history of the school.
Little League Summer Sport Reports Round 2
The Cross-Country Carnival held on Friday morning was an excellent event, with students showcasing exemplary sportsmanship and House pride throughout the event. It was a true display of Cranbrook spirit as our young athletes competed with determination, cheered on their peers, and embodied the values of teamwork and perseverance.
We were honoured to have the Franks family in attendance, who added a special touch to the event by presenting the Ben Franks Trophy to this year’s deserving winner, Oliver Fyfe. Their presence served as a poignant reminder of our School’s rich history and the importance of giving our best effort in all our pursuits, both on and off the field.
In Saturday sport, our outdoor teams were eager to make up for the cancelled fixtures in Week 1, and they did not disappoint. The 6A cricket team, donning the baggy blue for the first time, secured a victory over Riverview. Meanwhile, our Year 3 cricket teams faced Sydney Grammar St Ives, with both the B’s and C’s teams emerging victorious.
Water Polo continued its dominance with a strong performance against Waverley, while Basketball enjoyed a successful weekend, winning 14 out of 16 fixtures. Although the 6A’s Basketball team faced a tough challenge against Mosman, they gained valuable lessons from the experience.
After being rained out last week, our Tennis teams bounced back with impressive victories against Trinity and Barker. Our Sailing team continued to improve their skills, although, they dealt with challenging conditions again, due to a lack of wind.
Overall, it was a weekend filled with outstanding performances, teamwork and sportsmanship across all sporting disciplines. We commend our students for their dedication and commitment, and we look forward to more exciting moments as the first half of summer sport continues this week.
Yours in Sport,
James Roughan Head of Sport & PDHPE
Cross Country Results
Ben Franks Trophy winner – Oliver Fyfe
Under 12’s 1st – Oliver Fyfe 2nd – Oscar Rouse 3rd – Kaspar Buck
Under 11’s 1st – Freddie Frain 2nd – Jerry Watson 3rd – Xavier Lee
Under 10’s 1st – Eddie Crocker 2nd – Hugo Croft 3rd – Teddy Bentvelzen
Under 9’s 1st – Paulie Landman 2nd – Samuel Partington 3rd– Otto Buck
Under 8’s 1st – Harry Whalley 2nd – Zachary Prodromou
Basketball
Basketball Year 5/6 A-D
Basketball Year 5/6 Gs and Hs
Basketball Year 3/4 As
Basketball Year 3/4 Bs
Basketball Year 3/4 Cs
Basketball Year 3/4 Ds
Basketball Year 3/4 Whiteand Blue
Cricket
CricketYear 5 As& Bs
Cricket Year 6 As
Water Polo
Year 5/6 Water Polo
Cranbrook Swim School Assessment Session
We are delighted to invite you to the Cranbrook Swim School’s open assessment session on Sunday 25th February, from 12:30pm to 2:30pm. You are welcome to attend at any time within the 2-hour period.
Please note that there is no need to book for a specific time; assessments will be conducted on a first come, first served basis. We kindly ask for your patience as we aim to provide each student and family with a thorough assessment.
Our friendly Swim School Staff will require no more than 5-10minutes per student and family to conduct the swim assessment, provide feedback, explain the Swim Program, and assist with bookings if you choose to enrol.
Important information
If your child is aged 5 or 6 years old with no previous swimming experience, Level 1 is our first school age beginner level. This is the appropriate skill and aged specific level for your child. No pre assessment is required for this level. You are welcome to enrol your child into a Level 1 class via our Cranbrook Learn to Swim Website.
If you’re your child is over the age of 6 years old, can swim independently on their own learning Freestyle and Backstroke, we welcome you to attend this free assessment session to determine the level which best suits your child.
What to bring:
We ask for students arrive in their swimwear ready to be assessed to ensure a smooth and seamless process.
Googles
Towel
If you require any further information regarding the assessment session or need assistance with a booking, please don’t hesitate to contact the Swim School via learntoswim@cranbrook.nsw.edu.au
We look forward to welcoming you to Cranbrook Swim School.
2024 Snowsports Information Evening
Dear Cranbrook Snowsports Parents and interested families,
It is hot and muggy outside this afternoon, but it is time to start thinking about getting to the SNOW!
We will be holding a K-12 SnowsportsInformation Evening on Tuesday, February 27th, at 6:00pm in the Year 5 piazzaat the Junior School (6 Kent Road). This information session is for any families across Kindergarten to Year 12 who may be considering joining Snowsports in 2024.
All three Interschools events this year are at Perisher, so book your accommodation now! 16 – 19 July 2024 – Sydney Snowsports Interschools Regional Championships (Perisher) 19 – 23 August 2024 – Snowsports Interschools State Championships (Perisher) 3 – 8 September 2024 – Australian Interschools Snowsports Championships (Perisher)
The EPIC Australia Pass is on sale until February 28th – so if you have not booked it yet, hurry! Only $49 down to hold it. Book here.
Please see the Snowsports Handbook hereand for 2024 online entry, fill in this form here.
With thanks,
Genet
Junior School Music News – Term 1
I’m delighted with how our Junior School boys have sprung back into action, musically. Co-Curricular music rehearsals are now in full swing and there has been a hive of activity in our music studios with instrumental lessons. Please click link for photos of first week rehearsals.
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 Congratulations to the boys who have been offered a place in the Chamber Choir (Y3-6) and Cranbrook Voices (Y5-6). It was an extremely competitive process with most students keen to be offered a place. How wonderful to see we had a 100% ‘take-up’ for both Chamber Choir and Voices. I understand there are some disappointed students who were not offered a place at this stage, so I encourage you to please continue to work with your sons in managing their disappointment. All boys at Cranbrook are involved in a rich choral programme through their Year Level Choir and we keep a keen eye on students who could qualify for one of the auditioned choirs at a later stage.
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.
Junior School Music Soireé On Thursday, 21 March there will be a Junior School Music Soireé held in Music Room 1 from 6:00pm to 7:00pm. This event is for more accomplished instrumentalists and vocalists in Years 3-6 who are well prepared and can perform with polish and regard to the musical style. Your son’s instrumental teacher (or Mr Fox) will send home a Soireé form should they feel this event is suitable for your son. Please note: this event is also open to students who have private instrumental lessons outside of the School. Please clickattachment for more information.
JS Music events – Term 1 Please click hereto see the comprehensive list of JS music events for Term 1. More information will be provided regarding these specific events as the term progresses.
Warmest wishes,
Peter Fox Head of Music, Junior School
2024 NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge
The 2024 NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge opens this Monday, 26 February.
The Challenge aims to encourage a love of reading for leisure and pleasure in students, and to enable them to experience quality literature. It is not a competition but a challenge to each student to read, to read more and to read more widely.
Students are supported in their weekly Library sessions to access a range of picture books and novels across all challenge levels. Parents are also welcome to borrow additional books after school with their sons.
All students will receive their login details via a sticker in their diary next week. Please note that usernames and passwords are the same as previous years.
Further instructions for logging in, entering student records at home and challenge rules may be found here.For further information please contact Mrs de Wit in the iCentre: edewit@cranbrook.nsw.edu.au
Happy reading!
Ms Light and Mrs de Wit
Optional Co-curricular
Optional co-curricular groups are now underway for Term 1. Students may bring a small healthy afternoon snack to eat at the start of their co-curricular activity, if needed.
