Grandparents’ Day
Grandparents Day Invitation and Map.
Please click here to view the Grandparents’ Day letter.
Please click here to view the parking map.
Message from Michele Marquet, Acting Head of School
Dear Parents and Carers,
As we approach the final few weeks of Term 1, I would like to acknowledge the phenomenal effort and dedication shown by all our students, staff and families since the start of this term.
At our recent Open Days, in both the Junior School and Senior School, I mentioned to our guests that I am always reminded of how our students truly live out the ideal of a liberal education. In a world that increasingly encourages us to specialise early, our students model our School’s philosophy that a better preparation for whatever the future may hold involves genuine breadth of engagement across all areas of learning and life. That participation in a range of pursuits both in and out of the classroom is the surest pathway to becoming a well-balanced, well-rounded and interesting human being. There is increasing evidence that learning in one area can be helpful in another discipline.
The relationship between Music, Maths and comprehension, is a well-known example. The more we learn about the way our brain works and how we learn, the clearer it is that the impact of learning how to do one thing or about one thing, is not a discrete experience that has no impact on anything else. Breadth allows the development of those inter-personal skills so highly valued by our future work world and ensures an understanding beyond a narrow field of interest. Cranbrook will always advocate for breadth with depth; in other words, a liberal education – broadly educated humans have an appreciation and knowledge of many areas of learning and that is what our world still needs. The understanding of many disciplines is one of the best gifts we can give our children and the surest foundation for success in a future world we cannot fully predict. There is no doubt that our staff’s stupendous efforts above and beyond permit these experiences to take place and support our students in their explorations across so many domains.
This past week has been an example of our students living out this liberal ideal facilitated by talented and passionate staff: a veritable creative powerhouse of activity! Tuesday evening’s Scholars’ Concert was a superb demonstration of talent and enthusiasm, as our young and gifted musicians participated in a truly inspiring concert showcasing their hard work, talent and dedication, as well as highlighting the superb skills of all our music educators at Cranbrook. Last week, the performances of the cast and crew in The Visit were outstanding. The use of space, the way different characters commanded the stage and drew the audience into the storyline was so impressive. Again, all credit to the students who participated and the staff who helped prepare and guide the development of the show. The breadth of our students’ school experience was in evidence at these events, but also across a fine Summer Sport season, which has now come to a close. Outstanding engagement was there to see every week across a wide range of sports, including Rowing, Sailing, Basketball, Tennis, Water Polo, Cricket and more – and the commitment of the students to represent their School each weekend, whether in Year 3 or Year 12 was wonderful to observe. We look with eager anticipation to the CAS Swimming Carnival tonight. Over the past few weeks, with guidance and support from their talented coaches, we have seen our debaters from Junior and Senior Schools take on the challenge of shaping arguments to persuade and convince against a wide variety of schools, with some outstanding results.
Our campuses are such busy, lively places and I so enjoy seeing our students totally engaged in classes, events, sports matches and activities first-hand. We look ahead this Sunday (16 March, 10am – 2pm) to a wonderful Family Fun Day at Dangar in support of CETOP and the Year 6 annual trip to Nepal where families, students and staff come together to support such a worthy cause.
Michele Marquet
Acting Head of School
Message from Grant Andrews, Acting Head of Junior School
Dear Families
It was a pleasure to welcome a large number of prospective families to our Open Day this week and to provide the opportunity for them to see ‘business as usual’ and experience a sense of who we are. I am always so proud of our Year 6 Event Leaders who speak so openly and honestly about the School in such a respectful and authentic manner. It takes a great amount of courage to speak and interact with visitors and our students truly rose to the challenge with integrity and courage.
This week, the Senior Leadership Team were delighted to host a sausage sizzle for our new students. It was wonderful to hear from them about their first few weeks at Cranbrook; the experiences they have enjoyed so far and the friendships they are forming. Our thanks to all CSPA reps and families who have gone out of their way to welcome newcomers (both parents and children), to help them feel connected. Your warmth, kindness, support and enthusiasm are part of what makes Cranbrook such a wonderful community.
NAPLAN is well underway in Years 3 and 5 and will continue into next week. Our students have been incredibly well-prepared for this assessment process by the teaching teams, and we are thrilled to see them engaging with diligence and taking it in their stride. Whilst standardised testing provides us with valuable data to consider alongside numerous other assessment data points regarding academic progression, it is not a measure of kindness, respect, innovation, integrity, patience, grit, compassion and, above all, character. We are so proud of the students’ engagement, effort, encouragement and support of each other.
I look forward to seeing many of you at our CETOP Family Fun Day, this coming Sunday. I encourage families to pre-register their dogs before 6pm tomorrow, for the Pet Judging Competition, by scanning the QR code on the CETOP poster below. A special mention goes to Sophie Boniface for her incredible efforts and time in organising this fundraising event. I am enormously grateful to the numerous parents who have also been involved with the organising of this event and to the Junior School Staff for their show of support. I’ll be ready and waiting to be dunked at the Dunk the Teacher station!
Grant Andrews
Acting Head of Junior School
From the Deputies
Dear Families,
We are very much looking forward to our annual Grandparents’ Day on Wednesday, 26 March: Kindergarten – Year 2 from 9:45am to 11:30am and Year 3 – Year 6 from 11:15am to 1pm. If your sons’ grandparents are unable to attend on the day, they are very welcome to bring someone else who is special in their lives. Please click on this link to view the invitation that was sent out to families.
The NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge has begun with great gusto in the Junior School. Please see this week’s iCentre News for participation details here.
Last week, we celebrated International Women’s Day by recognising the incredible women who make our School a world class place to learn. Students from Kindergarten to Year 2 created portraits of the women who inspire excellence and who honour their students’ individuality every day.
Kind regards
Mrs Erickson Adam, Mr Baker and Mrs Brodie
Pre-schools’ News – Week 7
Dear Families,
This week, we have been embracing the magic of play! At this stage of development, children learn best through hands-on experiences, exploration, and imagination. Play-based learning is not just fun, it helps develop essential skills like problem-solving, creativity, social interaction, and even early literacy and math concepts.
Alongside play, early literacy experiences, like reading books and singing nursery rhymes, play a crucial role in language development. Reading together builds vocabulary, sparks imagination, and fosters a lifelong love of learning. Nursery rhymes, with their rhythm and repetition, help children develop early literacy skills, memory, and even social confidence. Singing and rhyming also strengthen listening skills and make learning fun.
At Pre-school, we’ve been enjoying interactive story times and lots of singing! We encourage you to continue this at home by reading together daily and singing favourite rhymes, your child will love it, and these simple moments will have a lasting impact.
Week 8:
- Tuesday, 18 March: St Michael’s 5 and 3 Day Group Photo Day
- Wednesday, 19 March: St Mark’s Photo Day
- Thursday, 20 March: St Michael’s 2 Day Group Photo Day
Week 9:
- Monday, 24 March: St Michael’s 5 Day Group Grandparents Morning (8:45 am – 9:15 am)
- Tuesday, 25 March: St Mark’s Grandparents Morning (8:45 am – 9:15 am)
St. Michael’s 5 and 3 Day Group Church Visit - Wednesday, 26 March: St Michael’s 3 Day Group Grandparents Morning (8:45 am – 9:15 am)
St Mark’s Church Visit - Thursday, 27 March: St Michael’s 2 Day Group Church Visit
- Friday, 28 March: St Michael’s 2 Day Group Grandparents Morning (8:15 am – 9:15 am)
Kind regards
Abigail McFarlane
Pre-schools’ Coordinator
Orientating Ourselves for Coeducation
The past week our first two coeducational cohorts have been busy orientating ourselves.
Last week some of our current Year 10 students joined our incoming girls for pizza and watching the Senior Production “The Visit”. This was a great opportunity for students to get to know each other and ask questions about the coeducation transition.
In April we will be hosting a multi sports event for some of our year 10s and incoming girls, ensuring that all Year 10s will have coeducational opportunities throughout the year.
On Monday we had our first of the “long orientation” activities for Year 7, 2027. Groups of Cranbrook Junior School students, incoming boys, and incoming girls worked together in fun activities. The students were introduced to Cranbrook’s fiercest house competition – Bin Ball – by Head of the Senior School Mr Meakin and got to know each other through a game of Human Bingo run by Ms Nilon. We were also assisted by many of our IB Diploma students who brought energy and great leadership to the event. Thank you to all the students who assisted.
On Wednesday afternoon we hosted a Year 7, 2026 event with our second Colourbeat dance workshop, which meant students were working in teams again to choreograph some moves. For our Year 7, 2026 cohort, we are continuing with these events throughout the year before the formal Year 7 Orientation activities will commence.
For our current Year 6 students, I am working with Mr Andrews, Mr Jensen-Robilliard, and Mr De Brun on ensuring our student wellbeing program is focused on coeducation preparation. This will commence with a survey of all Year 6 to understand how prepared they feel and what they might be looking forward to, as well as perhaps hesitant about coeducation. The results from the survey will inform what we focus on this year for Year 6.
Daisy Turnbull
Director of Coeducation and Academy
CETOP/NEPAL Family Fun Day
The Cranbrook CETOP Family Fun Day is back on Sunday, 16 March 2025! This exciting day promises a blend of delicious food, exhilarating fun, pet judging AND a chance to DUNK your TEACHERS. 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!
Click here to view the flyer. Click here to buy tickets. Click here to view the Map.
Click here to view schedule.
Term 1 Events Overview
The Term 1 Events Overview can be found on Cranbrook Connect and here.
Sport Reminder
Please remember that your son’s Sports team and fixture information (including times and venues) is sent out via the Cranbrook Parent App.
Please ensure you have downloaded the App onto your mobile phone.
Little Leagues Report – Round 4
It has been fantastic to witness the progress across all sports as we round off the first month of summer fixtures, students are continuing to refine their skills and strengthen their team cohesion. With just two rounds remaining, now is the time to dig deep and finish Term 1 sport on a high. As the summer season wraps up, the focus shifts to maintaining effort while gearing up for the challenges of the winter season. Let’s make the most of these two final matches and continue to carry this momentum forward.
Yours in Sport
James Roughan
Head of Sport & PDHPE
Tennis
Junior Tennis B’s Report:
Cranbrook Juniors B played this Saturday at the Dangar courts against Wyvern School.
All eight of our young players demonstrated an impressive understanding of doubles tactics. The net game from Henry W and Eric R was just spectacular. They were also very strong in their singles, not giving up a single game. Harvey C returned to form after a few weeks of not being at 100%, performing exceptionally well by winning both his doubles and singles matches. Similarly, Leo S played a very smart game with almost no unforced errors, winning both his doubles and singles matches with a score of 5-0, not giving his opponent many opportunities. Leo M had the closest singles match of the day against a very strong player. He fought for every single point, engaging in long rallies and ultimately winning 3-2 with a sudden-death point. Unfortunately, our top two players, Jonathan K and Henry R, lost their singles matches against tough opponents, but they showcased an entertaining and competitive doubles match. The Player of the Day award goes to Nathaniel S-W, who excelled in both his doubles and singles matches. He consistently chose the right shots and led the rallies like a professional. Congratulations to all the players for their efforts!
Ben Higgins
Head of Tennis
Basketball
The 5/6A game was an exciting and hard-fought match that ended in a draw. After being out-rebounded in the first half, the team showed remarkable determination, effectively boxing out opponents to gain more control in the second half. Well done to Alfie, who proved he belonged in the A team with an outstanding all-round performance.
In a hard-fought comeback victory, the 5/6B team showcased their fitness, battling to take control. Well done to Minato for his strong rebounding, while Ben and Wills displayed great teamwork, passing the ball into space. The team will focus on improving layups and open shots in future games.
The 3/4 White 1 and 3/4 White 2 games were both close and exciting. In both games, Cranbrook fought hard to the end but ultimately fell short. The White 1 game went down to the wire, with Cranbrook 9 – Scots 11, as Wynn A and Marcel M gave their all. The White 2 game saw both teams playing skilled basketball, with Cranbrook 6 – Scots 11. Leo W and Hugo C showed their competitive spirit throughout the game.
Stephen Whitehead
Head of Basketball
Basketball Years 5 and 6
Basketball 3s Whites
Basketball Years 3 and 4 Blues
Water Polo
Jnr B vs Riverview – Draw 6-6
Cranbrook’s Junior B team came up against Riverview for their fourth game of the season. In a tough, even contest, the lead changed many times. Riverview won the 1st quarter 1-0 before Cranbrook fought back to take the 2nd quarter 2-1 through goals from Louis B and Jack T-B. The 3rd quarter saw Cranbrook take the lead with another 2-1 quarter, with goals from Bond M and Ned V. The last quarter saw another two goals from Henry H and Woody VH-W, as Cranbrook maintained the lead until Riverview came home strong with three late goals to force a 6-6 draw. It was a much stronger performance than last week, and the Cranbrook students tried hard from start to finish.
Jnr A vs Riverview – Loss 6-8
Cranbrook’s Junior A team came up against a strong Riverview side. Riverview initially looked like they would run away with the game after leading 3-1 at the end of the 1st quarter, thanks to one very fast and skilled player who scored all three goals. However, Cranbrook regrouped and shut him down in the 2nd quarter, tying the quarter 2-2. In the 3rd quarter, Cranbrook kept the pressure on and won the quarter 2-1, making the score 5-6. Despite a strong effort, Riverview won the last quarter 2-1, securing an 8-6 victory. It was a high-quality game, with Thomas C and Xavier L each scoring twice, while Xavier M and Henry H added one goal each. The team has now won two and lost two in the A division—keep up the good work!
Gregory McFadden
Head of Water Polo
Cricket
The Junior School cricket teams had a fantastic weekend, with many securing well-earned victories. The weekend kicked off in style with a wonderful cricket lunch on Friday afternoon. A huge thank you to everyone who attended and supported the event at the Royal Yacht Club, with special appreciation to Meg and Aidan Tudehope for their outstanding efforts in putting it all together.
On the field, the 6A team set the tone early, with Will W launching four sixes before falling while attempting a fifth. All A teams across the age groups secured wins, except for the mighty Year 4s, who narrowly lost to Grammar in a closely contested match. The Year 3 teams dominated their fixtures against Shore, while the Year 5 A and B teams pulled off hard-fought victories, providing a great boost to their confidence. Overall, it was a strong showing, and we look forward to carrying this momentum into the next round.
Ben Staunton
Head of Cricket
Cricket 3As
Cricket 3Bs
Cricket 3Cs
Cricket 4Bs
Cricket 4Cs
Cricket Year 5
Cricket Year 6Bs
Sailing
Saturday saw a great breeze for the Cranbrook sailors. After a week at camp for some year groups, it was great to see the enthusiasm return. Students rigged their boats and launched onto Rose Bay, eager to refine their skills. This week’s focus was on maintaining balance depending on whether they were sailing upwind or downwind, as well as improving their sail set.
Tom Brewer
Head of Sailing
Multi-Sport
In Round 4, the boys continued to strengthen their hand-eye coordination while discussing the importance of positive team talk to motivate teammates. They played Noodle Basketball, focusing on evasion skills and improving their basketball shots. Throughout the game, students demonstrated great teamwork and sportsmanship, encouraging each other to perform their best. All students performed excellently, and we are excited for the next round!
Tommy Taylor
Multi-Sport Coach & PDHPE Teacher
JS Music News – Week 7
Our Music Department continues to flourish with a number of exciting events lined up over the course of this term. Please read below, to find out more about our upcoming Music events.
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 students 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 here 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 click here for more information.
JS Music events – Term 1
Please see the updated list of JS music events for Term 1 here. More information will be provided regarding these specific events as the term progresses.
Warmest wishes,
Peter Fox
Head of Music, Junior School
NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge
The 2025 NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge is now open!
All students have received their login details via a sticker in their school diary. Please note that passwords are new for 2025.
Further instructions for logging in, entering student records at home and challenge rules may be found here.
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.
For further information please contact Mrs de Wit in the iCentre: edewit@cranbrook.nsw.edu.au