Message from Michele Marquet, Acting Head of School
Dear Cranbrook families,
It is hard to believe that we are more than halfway through Term 2! Life across all our campuses continues to be busy and filled with an amazing variety of experiences and activities in which our students may participate. The range on offer is a key way we endeavour to honour and celebrate our students’ individuality.
Last week, the Junior School students thrilled their families with performances at the K-Y2 and Y3-Y6 Music Showcases. Last night, we held a Music Soiree with some of our Senior School students, whilst rehearsals are in full swing across Y3-Y12 for Threads, the upcoming Gala Concert at the Town Hall. This week, our Y3 and Y5 students enjoyed their annual camps, an opportunity to build stronger friendships and challenge their physical risk-taking skills, while Y6 headed to Canberra as part of their inquiry into government. Many of our Junior School and Senior School Debating Teams have enjoyed success making it into the final rounds of various competitions. Auditions are underway for the next Senior School musical, and the cast and crew of the Junior School play production continue rehearsals with enthusiasm. Our students lead busy lives!
With a multitude of different groups and activities running, there are many ways for our students to explore particular interests and passions. We actively encourage participation in a variety of pursuits, drawn from the Arts, the physical and academic domains. It is not necessary to excel at every activity or interest, but rather to foster a genuine and respectful appreciation of these various areas. Breadth of interests is one the best approaches to developing balanced, well-rounded humans.
As students move from childhood into their teenage years, it is vital that as they explore who they are, the adults in their world continue to help them to see beyond our natural tendency to overly focus on those who are most like us, and to only welcome and embrace them. Difference should engender curiosity not derision, something that students between Y5 and Y9 can sometimes find exceptionally challenging. This can be because they are in the peak developmental period for comparing themselves to their peers. It is important we help our children learn to be comfortable in how they are different, as well as how they are similar to others and to extend that acceptance to their peers and others. Thank you to our many families who engage in those challenging conversations that help children develop a respectful attitude to other people, no matter who they might be. This joint work between school and home is some of the most important we can do together. It underpins the ongoing development of character which has at its heart respect.
At different points in your child’s journey to maturity, there can be challenging times. If you ever wish to discuss your child’s development of respect for self or others, please reach out in the first instance to your child’s class teacher (P-Y6) or Head of House (Y7-Y12); our Pre-School Co-ordinator (Abigail McFarlane) for Pre-School students; Deputy Head of Student Wellbeing (Grant Andrews) for Junior School students or Director of Student Wellbeing (Angelique Sanders) for Senior School students.
We look forward to the exciting final month of the term.
Kind wishes,
Michele Marquet Acting Head of School
Message from Grant Andrews, Acting Head of Junior School
Dear Parents and Carers,
Music Showcases I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Mr Fox, Mrs Holmes à Court, Ms Chan, Mrs Trew, Mr Hentschel and Mr Hayles and supporting staff for the wonderful showcases last Thursday. The students are to be congratulated on their beautiful singing and remarkable musical performances. Thank you to the families who joined us in celebration of the outstanding achievements of the Music Department and their students. We are looking forward to the Gala Concert:Threads on Monday, 24 June: 7pm – 9pm at Sydney Town Hall. Please read the Music section for more detailed information.
Camps A big thank you to our Staff for their dedication and commitment to ensuring this week’s Year 3 and Year 5 camps were enjoyable experiences for our students. Camps, especially in the primary years, play a crucial role in building resilience, fostering cooperation and enhancing social skills. They provide opportunities for children to face and overcome challenges, boosting their confidence and adaptability. Moreover, camps encourage teamwork and collaboration, helping students develop stronger interpersonal relationships and a sense of community. Please see the photo galleries from both camps in the News section.
Y3-Y6 Athletics Carnival On 20 June, our Y3-Y6 students will be participating in their annual Athletics Carnival to be held on Dangar Oval. Please follow this link for more detailed information about this event. The Programme of Events is available to view here.
We wish everyone a restful long weekend.
Grant Andrews Acting Head of Junior School
From the Deputies
Dear Families
CJS Clothing Donations (in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Rose Bay) The winter chill is upon us and we can dress warmly to protect ourselves from the cold. However, some people in Australia don’t have this privilege and this is where Cranbrook and the Rotary Club are going to help!
From Tuesday, 11 June – Friday, 14 June, students are encouraged to donate items of clothing, such as jackets, jumpers and trousers in ‘good’ or ‘as new’ condition and in any size. Please deposit them in the buckets in the piazzas by Friday, 14 June.
These clothes will be gathered by the Rotary Club and sent to The Smith Family, an Australian children’s charity that helps underprivileged children in our country. A big thank you to Alexander Pontifix (Year 6) who has led this initiative.
Pre-schools’ News – Week 6
Dear Families,
We hope you’ve been staying warm during these colder days! As winter sets in, please ensure your children are dressed in their winter uniforms and bring their coats, so they can enjoy outdoor play, come rain or shine.
This week, at St Michael’s Pre-school, has been nothing short of exciting! Our 5 Day Class and 3 Day Class embarked on an adventure to Bush School in Centennial Park. The children had a blast exploring, building and playing freely in the great outdoors.
Our 2 Day Class had an amazing time with Australian Wildlife Displays, a hands-on incursion that allowed the children to get up close with native animals. They eagerly asked questions and shared the fascinating knowledge they’ve gained this term.
This week, at St Mark’s, our teachers introduced an exciting new addition: a composting bin! Each week, a group of enthusiastic Eco Warriors takes charge. The whole class collects food scraps in tubs, and then our Eco Warriors help add them to the compost bin and turn it once a week. It’s a fantastic class project and an excellent learning experience that complements our unit of inquiry, Sharing our Planet.
Upcoming Events: St Michael’s Pre-school (5 and 3 Day Group) 10am on Tuesday, 11 June, Police Visit Incursion.
St Mark’s Pre-school 10am on Friday, 14 June, Fire Visit Incursion.
Kind regards,
Abigail McFarlane Pre-schools’ Coordinator
Year 3 Camp Springwood Gallery
Year 5 Camp Deer Park Gallery
JS Community Prayer Morning
Tomorrow (7 June), there will be a Community Prayer Morning with Mr Noble for any parents, carers or staff in our JS Community. It will be held at 8am in Music Room 2 on the Junior School campus. It’s an opportunity to spend time in prayer for each other and the school. We run prayer meetings on the first Friday of each month during term time.
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 President of School Council
Debating News
Last Friday, Cranbrook fielded four teams in the ISDA Debating Semi Finals held at Ascham and St Aloysius. Successfully progressing through the seven rounds, and Octo and Quarter finals, we congratulate our Primary B, Years 8, 9 and Senior A teams for reaching the top four in their divisions from 32 schools across Sydney. This is a first for our Primary team: Leonardo Buchanan, Mason Pun, Kyran Diec, Xavier Lee and Harry Dickson, ably supported by teachers Ms Light and Miss McKendry. It was also wonderful to see so many past Cranbrook Junior School debaters represented in the Senior School teams.
We congratulate these teams for this fantastic achievement, and whilst our Primary B team narrowly missed the Grand Final in their debate against SCEGGS, we are thrilled that our Senior A’s will debate Sydney Grammar in the Packer Theatre on Friday, 14 June at 7:15pm. Families are welcome to attend.
Little League Winter Sport Round 5
Round 5 at Cranbrook was marked by the IPSHA Indigenous Round, providing a meaningful experience for our students. Each fixture commenced with an Acknowledgement of Country, respectfully read by a player from the home team. This initiative offered a valuable opportunity for the students to honour Indigenous heritage and foster a deeper understanding of our shared history. The students relished the chance to compete, especially as they will be having next weekend off for the King’s Birthday. They are eager to make the most of their time on the field and are performing well across all sports.
Yours in Sport,
Mr James Roughan Head of Sport & PDHPE
Rugby
We had another great week of training last week, and thankfully our games on Saturday were finished before the torrential rain came in. The coaches are working hard to provide as many game-realistic learning experiences within training, and we are seeing that come to life on Saturdays. Thank you, coaches!
Results:
Year 6A – Year 6 continues our undefeated season, knocking off Knox 15-39. Spreading the ball was a critical skill the team excelled at. Almost all our tries came from the wing. We also did well protecting the ball in the rucks, with much better placements being a focus all week. However, we failed to counter ruck, especially when Knox was 5m out from their try line. This week’s focus should be on how to form a maul and stepping back on the inside of defenders (we had 3 tries disallowed, 2 of which were from stepping out).
Year 6B – The Year 6B’s ventured to Koola Park for 2 fixtures in their 7s comp against Coogee Prep and Knox Grammar School. Due to a hard-running performance from Coogee Prep, Cranbrook went down 13 tries to 2, with tries from Tomek O and Lachie E. Despite the loss, the mighty B’s bounced back with a stellar performance against Knox Grammar School, winning 25-20 with tries from Lachie C and Louis B. The students really put the tackling practice from the week into their game, holding out Knox on the final play to record a famous victory against their fellow CAS Competition.
Year 5A – 46-5 against St Aloysius. Despite the eventual one-sided scoreline, the Year 5A’s faced a tough opponent in St Aloysius. The message to Cranbrook in training all week was connection and alignment in defence. Alo’s put this to the test from the very first whistle with some big runners testing the ‘Brook’ line. Some tough tackling from Henry W and Barnaby W, coupled with some exceptional rucking from Col O, meant that the home side was unable to trouble the scoreboard. Cranbrook were masters of counterattack, with Frank T and William S both bagging hat tricks. A special mention to Xavier M, who filled in at fly half on the day, ensuring that the attack and shape went well.
Year 5B – Year 5B’s had a 6-6 draw against Grammar and a 4-3 win against Scots. It has been good to see the boys improving each week. Gus T’s strong and powerful running was a big factor in the boys remaining undefeated for the year.
Year 4A – 49-0 Win vs Trinity College. We fielded 10 players on Saturday who worked really hard on trying to get better with their passing to use everyone across the field. The game was lopsided, with Trinity fielding a team in their first year of rugby. We adapted the game with constraints on the boys and more Trinity players on the field to increase the pressure and ensure we continued to develop our skills. The highlight of the game was from the first kick-off with a quality chop tackle and a well-executed jackal. This led to the first try in a great display of the skills the boys are working hard on at training.
Year 4B – The Year 4 sevens team started the day against Sydney Grammar and looked defensively strong through the middle, with Harry and Bailey standing out. However, it was not enough to stop Sydney Grammar, losing 4-6. We then took a 20-minute break before going against a strong Newington side. Theo C’s excellent running game paired with Harry M’s tenacity in defence kept Cranbrook in the game, but it was not enough, losing 8-5.
Year 3 Red – Both games recorded a loss, 6-2 in the first game and 5-4 in the second. The red team first took on a strong Scots side, with Xander N stepping up into the team, which was a man down, and proving himself to be a menace to the Scots defence. Some great runs by Gabriel V and Teddy H had the boys in the fight early; however, a late run of tries saw the red team fall to their Bellevue Hill enemies in a physical battle. Game two against Grammar was a back-and-forth duel, with Flynn S and Sandy D carving up their defence early. The boys took a two-try lead into the half, but a strong comeback saw Grammar claw their way back, winning by a try in the dying minutes.
Year 3 White – The Year 3 White 7s team had impressive matches against both Scots and St Aloysius, securing victories in both games. Our focus on securing the ball at ruck time and executing low chop tackles paid off as our defence was stellar, with minimal missed tackles and turnovers. Next week, we aim to improve our ball movement by passing it along the line to exploit space better, as we noticed some isolated runners. A standout moment was Ben M’s incredible performance, scoring two pitch-length tries that lit up the game.
A Reminder: Our Monday morning sessions are open to all junior rugby players. We have 3 experienced coaches working with them every week on their fundamentals. Enjoy the weekend off for King’s Birthday. Games will recommence the following weekend.
Peter Dumbleton Head of Rugby
Rugby Year 6
Football
Year 6: Our Year 6 teams faced off against Trinity in a series of closely contested matches. The A team played a thrilling game, resulting in a 1-1 draw, showcasing their resilience and teamwork. The B team secured a convincing 5-1 victory, demonstrating their strong offensive skills. Meanwhile, the C team, despite a spirited effort, fell 2-4 in a competitive match.
Year 5: Year 5 took on St Augustine’s. The A team emerged victorious with a 2-0 win, thanks to their solid defence and strategic play. The B team battled to a hard-fought 3-3 draw, reflecting their determination in a tight match. The C team narrowly lost 1-2, but the D team concluded the day with a commanding 6-1 win, showcasing their teamwork and precision.
Year 4: Our Year 4 teams faced local rivals Scots College and delivered a series of impressive performances. The A team put on a spectacular show, winning 9-0, while the B team secured a close 3-2 victory. The C team dominated their match with a 9-1 win, and the D team followed suit with a 6-1 triumph. To cap off a perfect round, the E team clinched a 1-0 victory, making it a clean sweep for Year 4.
Year 3: The Year 3 A/B and E teams had byes this week, but the C and D teams took on Santa Sabina College. The C team secured a thrilling 4-3 win, and the D team achieved a remarkable 8-0 victory, showcasing their offensive strength and teamwork.
With five rounds completed, the Junior School football program is hitting its stride, reflecting the dedication and hard work of all the players. We congratulate everyone for their commitment and look forward to more exciting matches in the coming rounds.
Ben Rollison Head of Football
Football Year6
Football Year5As
Football Year5Bs
Football Year5Cs
Football Year5Ds
Football Year 4
Football Year 3
Tennis
The players have been practising serving and continued playing tournament singles against each other. These matches give the students opportunities to combine the skills and shots they have practised at training. The coaches have seen pleasing improvements in the length of rallies and the competitiveness of their matches.
Ben Higgins Head of Tennis
Multi-Sports
In round 5 of Multi-Sports, the focus was on accuracy, with students continuing to work on their spacing during indoor football games. They also refined their kicking and catching skills, showing significant improvement. Harry D stood out as the player of the week, recognised for his exceptional efforts and commitment to the training sessions.
Josh Cohen Assistant Head of Sport & PDHPE
Music News – Week 6
Dear Families
Please find below, important information about the forthcoming Gala Concert at the Town Hall: Threads (Our JS Chamber Choir, Cranbrook Voices, JS Concert Band, JSSO, Mezzo Strings, JS Guitar Ensemble and all Year 6)
Monday, 24 June: 7pm – 9pm at Sydney Town Hall
Rehearsals at Town Hall during the day (a letter with further details and permission slip will be sent to you on Operoo shortly. It will also detail who is required for a rehearsal on Sunday, 23 June, at the Senior School campus)
6:15pm students meet teachers outside in St Andrew’s Square
Students to wear school uniform (shirt, short, tie, socks and black shoes – no jumpers, blazer or cap)
At the conclusion of the concert, teachers will release JS students to their parents from the Main Foyer. Instrumentalists will make their way to the foyer via the Marconi Room to collect their instrument, under staff supervision.
Tickets will be available soon. We hope to see many of you there!
Please view the photo gallery from last week’s fabulous JS Showcases here.
