It has certainly been the case of ‘music to my ears’ in the past fortnight as Cranbrook students of all ages have performed on various stages with distinction. I was fortunate to attend the AMPED contemporary music concert and the Junior School Gala Music Concert in recent days, noting the K-2 Concert took place on the same day as the Years 3-6 concert.
Marrickville was rocking as more than 35 bands made up of Senior School students took to the stage over a four-hour period at The Factory, a venue perfectly set up for such events for the annual AMPED concert. While the musicianship was outstanding, it was the confidence of the band members, particularly the singers, which impressed. The support from the students in the ‘mosh pit’, especially the senior boys, was equally noteworthy – loud, positive and sustained which gave extra affirmation to the boys on stage. It was indeed a memorable event, as was the Junior School Music Concert last week. Performance after performance showcased the talent of the Junior School boys. The choral pieces just kept getting better each time they took to the stage and the orchestra and band items were uplifting. I love seeing enthusiastic children mastering challenging pieces set by supportive teachers. The Junior School was a joy to watch just as I am sure it was to be a performer.
Decision fatigue
From my address at this week’s Senior School Assembly:
How many of you have a routine for what you eat for breakfast, especially on school days? That is, you eat the same thing each morning, meaning you do not have to make a decision about whether to have cereal, fruit, toast, eggs, smoothie, whatever.
I read an article recently in which the author said he has had the same breakfast for past 40 years – that is a bit extreme, I know, but the point he was making is that having to make a decision about what to have for breakfast drains what he calls our ‘cognitive tank’ and disrupts our ability to make good decisions, important decisions later in the day.
He refers to members of his family wandering aimlessly around the kitchen, contemplating what to eat. Some even open the fridge, have a look, close it, go to the cupboard then return to the fridge for another look, in case their standards may have slipped. (sound familiar?)
More importantly, he adds the practice of grabbing our phones as soon as we wake up, scrolling one way or the other making decisions whether to like a post, comment on a photo, delete that email, respond to that text, accept a request, etc. They all involve having to make a decision, some simple, some not so straight-forward.
He calls this decision fatigue, which can impact your stress levels as well as your ability to make clear rational decisions later in the day. To avoid this, he says, establish as many habits as possible such as what to have for breakfast. Having a school uniform, for example, negates the need to decide what to wear to school. And that is good.
So, apart from the breakfast decision, the advice is to stay off your phone for the first hour of the day, you will find your imagination comes alive with fresh ideas and the ability to make important decisions later in the day. Perhaps even what to buy at the Hive…try it for a few days.
Enjoy the long weekend.
With good wishes
Stuart Meade Acting Head of School
Non-Government School Census – Privacy Collection Notice
Please click here to view the Non-government Schools Census Collection Notice 2025.
Message from Michele Marquet, Head of Junior School
What a superlative afternoon and evening we enjoyed last week at our annual Junior School Music Showcases. The boys’ performances in both voice and instrumental items were wonderful. Their dedication in practice resulted in excellence and we are very proud of them all. Enormous thanks must go to our truly outstanding Music and Drama teams, including Mr Peter Fox, Mrs Jane Holmes a Court, Miss Fiona Chan and Miss Sophie Boniface, ably assisted and supported by Ms Sandra Trew, Mr Anthony Pasquill, Mr Martyn Hentschel and Mr Christopher Hayles, as well as the full music instrumentalist staff. Thank you to the families who joined us in celebration of the outstanding achievements of the Music Department and their students.
A gallery from the performances can be viewed here.
We are looking forward to this year’s Gala Concert:Fundamentalon Monday, 16 June: 7pm – 9pm at the Sydney Town Hall. Please read the Music section for more detailed information. Tickets can be purchased here.
Sport Next Tuesday, 10 June, our Y3-Y6 boys are looking forward to their annual Athletics Carnival to be held at SOPAC. All Y3-Y6 boys must be at School by 7:50am. Please follow this link for more information about this event. The order of events is available to view here and the programme is here.
Families in Y3-Y6, please remember that there are no scheduled sports fixtures this weekend (7 June). We hope everyone enjoys a relaxing long weekend. The last fixture for the term is in two weeks’ time (Saturday, 21 June). Training continues until the end of the term. There are three Saturday fixtures in Term 3 to complete the winter season.
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 view the Y3 photo gallery here. Photos from the Y5 camp will be shared next week.
We wish everyone a restful long weekend.
Kind wishes,
Michele Marquet Head of Junior School
From the Deputies
Dear Parents and Carers,
Please read this important information.
Carlines We greatly appreciate that most of our parents follow our carline guidelines with thought, care and consideration for other users of local roads. However, sadly there have been occasions when these guidelines have not been followed, and we are receiving a number of complaints from our neighbours in Kent Rd and Iluka St. We ask all parents or carers who collect or drop off children at our school to ensure they are very familiar with carline procedures and follow them, so carlines run as smoothly as possible for all.
A reminder that we ask parents to NOT arrive in Kent Rd early for their child’s carline, as these cars block Kent Rd or clog up the carline internally, slowing down the movement of the year levels whose carline is running. Please also do not drop off your son or park in Iluka St, Elanora St or Manion Rd, as Cranbrook is conditioned by Woollahra Council to not permit this as a vehicular drop off zone or parking area for parents bringing their children to school. Recently, we have received complaints about parents regularly do this. These behaviours bring our School’s good name into disrepute, and we ask for your full support to show respect for and maintain excellent relationships with our valued neighbours.
Morning Carlines If parents bring their child to school for an early start co-curricular activity, they should drop him off at the Reception gate.
No cars should wait in the driveway for the carline gate to open prior to 7:40am.
Parents should park elsewhere and bring their son into the school if they arrive early or drop them at the Reception gate.
There is no supervision of the playground prior to 7:45am. Please do not drop off your child earlier than 7:45am unless they are taking part in a co-curricular activity.
We ask our parents to please follow these guidelines, so we can help the flow of traffic on Kent Road for our neighbours and other road users.
Afternoon Carlines Recently, the School has received several complaints from our neighbours about parents collecting their sons from Iluka St/Manion Rd. Please do not use this area for collection.
Please do not enter Kent Road early for your son’s carline, as this will block the road for other users.
If you need to collect your child in the carline, please arrive at the indicated time for his year group and not before:
For Kindergarten, please come to carline at 2.50pm.
For Y1 and Y2, please come to carline at 3.00pm.
For Y3 and Y4, please come to carline at 3.10pm.
For Y5 and Y6, please come to carline at 3.20pm.
We thank those parents and carers who always follow the carline guidelines, even when traffic conditions make that difficult or challenging, and we are grateful for their patience and assistance in helping the School to be a good neighbour.
Kind regards Grant Andrews, Richard Baker and Genet Erickson Adam
Pre-schools’ Update – Week 6
Dear Pre-school Families,
We have had another joyful and productive week at Pre-school! The children continue to grow in confidence, curiosity and connection as they explore their world through play, learning and friendships.
On Friday, we are excited to welcome a special Aboriginal Experience Incursion for our 2-day class at St Michael’s, where the children will engage in storytelling, music and cultural learning. This enriching opportunity supports our commitment to acknowledging and learning from the oldest continuing cultures in the world, while building connections with the wider community.
As some families may be aware, each Monday we are fortunate to welcome two student volunteers from Ascham School to each of our Pre-school campuses. These students will spend a couple of hours engaging with the children alongside the teachers and experiencing Pre-school life. We are grateful for this growing relationship with the broader community and look forward to the positive contributions of our Ascham visitors.
A reminder for families of the St Mark’s and St Michael’s 3 day and 5-day groups.
Upcoming Excursion – Vaucluse House
Excursion Date: Wednesday, 11 June 2025 Arrival Time: Please arrive promptly at 8:45am, as usual. Return Time: We will return to Pre-school by 2:30pm – collection will be at the normal time.
What to Bring:
Morning tea and lunch in separate name-labelled ziplock or paper bags
A name-labelled water bottle
A raincoat, in case of wet weather
If you have any questions about the excursion, please don’t hesitate to contact your class teacher.
Kind regards,
Abigail McFarlane Pre-schools Coordinator
JS Showcase Photo Gallery
Year 3 Camp Photo Gallery
Year 3 enjoyed a wonderful time at Blue Gum Lodge in the Blue Mountains. They showed great teamwork whilst rock climbing, catapult building, bush walking and cooking damper. Even the food was delicious! It was a fabulous introduction to Cranbrook’s Outdoor Education Program.
Day 1
Day 2
Little Leagues Report – Round 5
It was another jam-packed week of Cranbrook sport, full of hard work, tough matchups and well-earned celebrations as our students continue to go from strength to strength throughout the winter season.
Some highlights from Round 5 include a rugby double-header against Tudor House in the Southern Highlands, where our Year 4 and Year 5 teams both came away with impressive victories. The 4E football team delivered an inspirational team performance to defeat our neighbours, Scots, and our 6A football team secured a hard-fought win against Newington.
Looking ahead, we have a break from Saturday sport due to the King’s Birthday long weekend, followed by the Year 3–6 Athletics Carnival on Tuesday, 10 June at the SOPAC Warm-Up Arena. This event is a fantastic opportunity for students to get involved in our wider school community and proudly represent both themselves and their House.
A few key reminders for the day:
Cranbrook Junior School Gates will open at 7:30am for school drop off.
Students must be dropped at school by 7:50am to allow for timely departure to the venue.
There will be no lunch orders available on the day for year 3-6 students, so please ensure your child brings a packed lunch, snacks, and a water bottle.
All co-curricular activities and after-school sports training will continue as normal at the conclusion of the carnival.
Yours in Sport
Mr James Roughan Head of Sport and PDHPE, Junior School
IPSHA Football and Rugby trials
This week, five Junior School students represented Cranbrook at the IPSHA Football Trials. All five progressed beyond the first round of selections, with Hugo L, Oliver P, and Santiago D playing in the final game to decide the team. Out of 120 triallists, only 12 students were selected, and we are thrilled to announce that Santiago D and Oliver P were named in the final IPSHA team, making Cranbrook the only school to have two students selected. IPSHA Football Trials Representatives: Hugo L, Santiago D, Oliver P, Minato Y, Teddy B.
On Tuesday, we also had six students participate in the IPSHA Rugby Trials, the first step in the selection process for the CIS Rugby Team. It was a strong showing from Cranbrook, with all six students successfully progressing through to the CIS trials.
CIS Rugby Trials Representatives: Jimmy C, Archer H, Henry W, William S, Jasper M, Col O
Football
Round 5 of the IPSHA season saw our Junior School footballers take on some of their toughest opponents yet—and the Cranbrook players certainly rose to the challenge. It was a weekend of exciting football, skillful play, and sportsmanship across all grades. A special thanks to all families and community members who attended our Football Function on Friday. Your support means so much to the players and the program, and we hope you enjoyed the evening as much as we did.
6As – 2–0 Win vs Wyvern Prep In their toughest test of the season so far, the 6As put in a composed and mature performance against a highly talented Wyvern side. The match featured several players who had just made the IPSHA representative squad, and the intensity reflected that standard. Bobby continued to prove that heart and determination outweigh size, while Lucas led the line with energy and class. Off the back of a strong showing in the Cranbrook Football Launch match against the 7As, the students showed great physical and mental resilience to back up with another win. The future is bright for this group.
6Bs – 2–1 Win After conceding an early goal, the 6Bs responded brilliantly. The defence became a fortress, with Tully covering every blade of grass. Henry brought the game level with a clinical finish, and Leo sealed the comeback with a decisive back-post goal, assisted by relentless midfield play and Joe’s impactful second half. A true show of resilience and team spirit.
6Cs – 4–2 Win The 6Cs made it three wins on the trot with another commanding performance. Julian and Jamie were outstanding on the wings, constantly creating chances. Jamie got things rolling with a tidy finish before Henry closed out the match in style with a top-corner screamer. The players’ fluent passing and positive intent were a joy to watch.
6Ds – 6–3 Win In a high-scoring affair against Newington, the 6Ds delivered their most complete performance yet. Sascha and Jai were electric on the wings, Leo (“Bubbles”) was the midfield maestro, and Ollie’s pressing from the front led to several turnovers. Solid defending from Jack, Tobi, Alex, and Josh, plus some sharp keeping from Carlitos, rounded out a full-team effort. MOTM: Bubbles.
5As – 3–1 Win The 5As controlled the match from start to finish, dominating possession and attacking play. Harvey was a rock at centre-back, and Louis dictated the tempo from right back. Woody was a menace on the wing, dribbling past defenders at will and scoring a well-earned goal.
5Bs – 2–0 Win Another solid display from the 5Bs. Wren put on a dribbling clinic, reminiscent of Neymar, while Alex commanded the defence with great presence. The team continues to build momentum with clean sheets and creative football.
5Cs – 1–0 Win The 5Cs deserved their narrow win, having been the stronger side throughout. Emilio led the line with strength and creativity, and his persistence paid off as he helped secure the crucial goal.
5Ds – 0–2 Loss Despite the scoreline, the 5Ds dominated large portions of the game after conceding twice early. Countless chances came and went, but the students never dropped their heads. Hunter earned Man of the Match with a composed and commanding display at centre-back.
3As – 6–1 Win A season-best performance from the 3As, who could’ve easily scored more than six. After being denied by some excellent Barker goalkeeping early, the players found their rhythm and scored five in the second half. Their passing and movement were a highlight, with Tom and Harry showing remarkable maturity on the ball.
3Bs – 10–0 Win The 3Bs were in ruthless form, dominating from start to finish. James, Nathan, and Hugo led the charge with sharp passing and spatial awareness. Even with a five-pass rule and numerical disadvantage late in the match, the Cranbrook players continued to impress.
3Cs – 9–1 Win A strong performance highlighted by positional discipline and passing combinations.
Charlie delivered a brilliant assist, while Jake netted five goals in a standout performance. Oscar also contributed strongly to the team’s commanding win.
3Ds – 3–3 Draw An exciting end-to-end contest saw both teams trade chances. Angus scored all three goals with great finishes, while Clinton was solid at the back. The team’s work on structure and positional play at training is starting to pay dividends.
Well done to all players and coaches for their efforts this round. The Cranbrook spirit and quality of football on display continue to impress each week. We look forward to building on this momentum in the rounds to come.
Ben Rollison Head of Football
Rugby
Year 3 Our Year 3 teams experienced mixed results at Koola Park, but there were plenty of positives to take away from the day. Across the board, Cranbrook displayed exciting attacking flair, crossing the line for some outstanding tries. Marcel and Cooper were standout performers, consistently impressing with their skill, effort, and game awareness.
Year 4 The Year 4s delivered a much-improved performance this week, particularly in defence. Their tackling and physicality were a noticeable step up, showing growing confidence and commitment. While passing remains an area to refine—especially when looking to exploit space out wide—the team’s overall performance was very encouraging. Special mentions go to Sandy for his all-round effort and Xander, who slotted all his conversions with precision. Final score: Cranbrook 35–28 win.
Year 5A The Year 5As played an exceptional game of rugby on the weekend against Tudor House. Even in cold conditions, our players came out firing, with strong ball-running from the forwards being a key highlight. This was complemented by some brilliant individual performances in the backline, including a full-field try from kick-off and some excellent ball movement. The team was asked to focus on two key objectives: intent in contact and securing our own rucks. Both were executed extremely well, making it a great day on the park.
Year 5B In their first game, Cranbrook faced a tough Redfield side who scored some early tries. However, led by Harry in the second half, the team fought back strongly, eventually going down by just one try. Our players carried that momentum into the next game against St Pius, scoring some brilliant tries and finishing with a hard-fought draw.
Year 6A Cranbrook 0 – 32 Riverview. Although the final scoreline was one-sided, Cranbrook produced one of their best performances of the season against Riverview. Injuries and illness meant the Year 6 side started the game with only 14 players. Despite this, Cranbrook immediately began to dominate the ruck area, winning turnover after turnover. Riverview’s pace in the backline proved decisive, as quick ball movement saw them score two tries on the break. Cranbrook’s attack looked much improved this week, and the players will feel unlucky not to have crossed the try line at least once.
Year 6B The 6Bs had a 4–4 draw against Waverley and a 7–2 win against Scots. The second victory was particularly impressive, given we had only six players to their seven. A great performance from Marcus.
Peter Dumbleton Head of Rugby
Tennis
On Saturday at Lyne Park, our junior tennis session focused on match play, with an emphasis on cross-court points to help players develop better angles and maintain effective height over the net. This tactical exercise improved shot selection and consistency under pressure. Two players stood out this week: Lachy E made an inspiring return from injury, showing determination and strong effort throughout. Magnus M had an excellent day, displaying solid technique and strategy to win most of his matches. The group continues to show great improvement and enthusiasm in competitive scenarios. Well done to all players.
Ben Higgins Head of Tennis
Multi-Sports The Multi-Sports team enjoyed a dynamic and engaging Round 5. The morning began with Survival Tag as a warm-up, followed by a fun and skill-building session of Frisbee Golf. The group then divided into three teams to play Indoor Football. Throughout the games, there was excellent use of spacing and teamwork, with all participants showing strong sportsmanship and a positive attitude. Congratulations to Edward T and Jack F, who were named the players of the week for their impressive efforts and team contributions.
Josh Cohen Assistant Head of Sport and JS PDHPE Teacher
JS Music Update – Week 6
Dear Families
A reminder about the upcoming Gala Concert at Town Hall: Fundamental (our JS Chamber Choir, Cranbrook Voices, JS Concert Band, JSSO, Mezzo Strings, JS Guitar Ensemble and all Year 6 will participate)
Monday, 16 June: 7pm – 9pm at Sydney Town Hall
Rehearsals at Town Hall during the day (a letter with further details and permission slip has been sent via Operoo. It details who is required for a rehearsal on Sunday, 15 June, at the Senior School campus)
6:15pm students meet teachers outside in St Andrew’s Square
Students wear school uniform (shirt, short, tie, socks and black shoes – no blazer, jumper 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
