Sport Holiday Camps 2025
Click Here for information regarding 2025 Soccer Holiday Camp
Click here for information regarding 2025 Rugby Holiday Camp
Pro Performance Holiday Cricket Camps
The Team at Pro Performance Cricket are excited to announce our upcoming T20 Smash Cup Tournament & Holiday Cricket Camps. We offer intensive individual and group skill development for our players across all facets of the game. With an excellent coach to player ratio, and a focus on a positive and fun environment it’s a perfect opportunity for the kids to enhance and develop their games while having heaps of fun, making new friends and taking their game to a new level.
Pro Performance Holiday Cricket Camps info and Booking link: https://properformancecricket.com/about-us/cricket-camps/
T20 Smash Cup Booking info and Booking Link: https://properformancecricket.com/t20-smash-cup/
Thanks again so much as always and we hope to be able to help many of your keen young players.
Message from Michele Marquet, Acting Head of School
Dear Parents and Carers,
In recent Link messages, I have been speaking about the importance of the partnership that needs to exist between school and home, and how vital it is that these interactions are based around respect on both sides: a valuing of the intimate knowledge a parent holds of their child and childhood developmental pathways and subject expertise that a teacher possesses as a professional.
The exchange of these perspectives can make for robust conversations at times, but when we remember that families and teachers are on the same side, the side that wants what is best for the student, then we are on the way to being able to truly listen to each other and find a way forward.
When we get this right, it builds trust on both sides and enables us to make the very best decisions for the child, both now, but most importantly for their long-term journey into adulthood. We always need to consider the bigger picture of what prepares them best for life beyond just the immediate.
I am so grateful for the many parents who work collaboratively with our staff, around layered issues frequently involving their child’s wellbeing and peer relationship challenges. It always impresses me enormously when a parent can see an issue not just from their own child’s perspective but from others involved as well – and how they can use that understanding to help their child grow as a person, through reframing the child’s perspective to be more balanced, broader and accurate.
With multiple students, differing perspectives and concerned families, grappling with, and navigating these situations with fairness, care and wisdom is undoubtedly difficult at times. Such complex situations require enormous amounts of time and effort to move forward. I am also incredibly grateful for the dedication and commitment of our Wellbeing Team across the School, particularly Grant Andrews, Heather Brodie, Campbell Jensen-Robilliard and Abigail McFarlane, along with our extraordinary Junior School and Pre-school Class Teachers and Educational Development Teachers, our School Nurse, Jess, and the many Specialist Teachers, who carry the burden with positivity, resolve and a genuine love of the students in their care.
A reminder that our staff always endeavour to respond in a timely manner to families who email them. For their wellbeing, our staff are encouraged to disconnect and so, will usually not respond to evening or weekend emails at these times. They will reply as soon as practicable on their return to work.
We look forward to another week of productive learning and engagement.
Michele Marquet
Acting Head of School
From the Health Centre
Dear Families
Please be aware that NSW Health have released an alert for measles in Sydney with reported cases in Randwick, Maroubra and the International Airport.
Further information can be found by following the below links:
Kind regards
Nurse Jess
Message from Grant Andrews, Acting Head of Junior School
Dear Families,
An incredible show of community support was enjoyed by all last Sunday at the CETOP Family Fun Day. Thank you to our staff and families who contributed to the success of the day in support of such a wonderful cause – I certainly had fun! Spot the photo of me being dunked in the photo gallery below.
I look forward to attending the Music Soiree tonight and hearing some of our young musicians perform. A reminder to all attending parents that this is from 6-7pm in Music Room 1. We are so fortunate at Cranbrook that our students are able to experience the highest calibre of tuition in Music, and I have no doubt that tonight’s performance will reflect and celebrate the countless hours of tailored instruction, practice and encouragement.
Best wishes to our ISDA Debating Squad for Round 6 tomorrow. We are so proud of your achievements so far and acknowledge the hard work and preparation that you put into honing your skills and working in collaboration with one another.
Next week, we look forward to welcoming grandparents on site for Grandparents’ Day. This is always such a special and memorable time and it is one of our favourite events on the calendar. Students are very busy making final preparations towards being attentive, informative, kind and respectful hosts. Information confirming parking and drop-off/pick-up arrangements for the day will be sent out early next week with consideration of the weather forecast.
Harmony Day Friday, 21 March – Wear a splash of orange!
Harmony Week is about inclusiveness, respect and belonging for all Australians regardless of culture or linguistic background. Tomorrow, we invite our students to wear a splash of orange to school to show their support for cultural diversity and an inclusive Australia. Orange is the colour chosen to represent Harmony Week. Traditionally, orange signifies social communication and meaningful conversations. It also relates to the freedom of ideas and encouragement of mutual respect.
Words and actions delivered without thought or kindness can hurt and impact everyone in different ways. What might seem like a small or insignificant comment to one person can make someone else feel deeply upset, offended or anxious. Everyone experiences hurt differently and it is important to remember that words and actions can have a lasting effect. At Cranbrook, we expect and model respect and aim to create a positive environment where everyone feels safe and valued. We encourage students to speak up with courage when sharing their perspective.
Please take note of these dates for Y3-Y6 Sports Training:
Friday, 28 March (1:30-3:10pm) – Winter training begins.
Monday, 31 March and Tuesday, 1 April (3:10-4:10pm) – After school Winter Training commences.
There is no after school training on Monday, 24 March and Tuesday, 25 March (Week 9).
We look forward to another busy and productive week.
Warm regards,
Grant Andrews
Acting Head of Junior School
From the Deputies
Dear Families,
Calling All Grandparents!
Get ready for an unforgettable morning at the Junior School! Yes, it is that magical time of year again. Grandparents’ Day is on Wednesday, 26 March 2025.
We want to celebrate you: the storytellers, wisdom-sharers, cookie-bakers and taxi drivers of our amazing families.
Here is the important info:
Kindergarten – Year 2: 9:45am to 11:30am
Year 3 – Year 6: 11:15am to 1:00pm
Join us for a heartwarming day full of love, laughter and maybe a few proud tears.
We can’t wait to see you there (and neither can the students… they have been practising their best hugs)!
Kind regards,
Mr Baker
Deputy Head of Staffing and Operations
Pre-schools’ News – Week 8
Dear Families,
This week, we had the privilege of celebrating Harmony Day across both St Mark’s and St Michael’s Pre-schools. It was wonderful to see the children actively participate by wearing orange or their cultural attire and engaging in meaningful discussions about the significance of Harmony Day as a class.
We would also like to extend our thanks to the parents of St Michael’s who came in and read a story that holds special meaning to them and their family. This gesture truly enriched the experience and highlighted the importance of cultural sharing within our community.
At Pre-school, we place great value on fostering a strong connection between home and school. Your support in these celebrations plays an integral role in creating a warm, inclusive environment for all our children.
Additionally, as we continue to focus on the developmental milestones of our children, we want to emphasise the importance of building fine motor skills as a foundational step toward writing. Activities that help strengthen hand muscles, hand-eye coordination and finger dexterity are essential for future writing development. We encourage you to engage in activities at home, such as drawing, cutting and threading, to further support the growth of these important skills.
Upcoming Events:
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
Term 1 Events Overview
The Term 1 Events Overview can be found on Cranbrook Connect and here.
Safety First!
It is wonderful to see so many students and families making use of alternative methods of transport to school and enjoying some exercise and vitamin D in the process. Please remind your sons that if they are riding bikes, scooters or e-scooters on footpaths in the neighbourhood, to please be mindful of other pedestrians, travel at a safe speed and to be vigilant when crossing driveways, particularly on Kent Rd. All bikes and scooters should be dismounted on entry at Kent Road gates and walked into school, to be properly parked in the bike racks located near the turning circle. Similarly, no scooter or bike should be mounted until exiting the Kent Road gates.
Due to recent challenges with morning traffic, we understand that morning carline can sometimes be a slow process. A reminder that any parent dropping off on the K-2 side should wait until they reach the numbers 1-6 before letting a child out of the car. No child should be exiting their car and walking alongside the driveway unless accompanied by supervising carline staff. The safety of our students is paramount and we thank you for your understanding and compliance in this matter.
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 5
As we approach the final rounds of Term 1 Saturday Sport, it has been fantastic to see our students giving their best each weekend. Round 5 saw some hard-fought performances against high-quality opposition. I enjoyed watching the Year 5/6 A Basketball team go back and forward with Trinity in what was a tough battle. Although Trinity came through with the victory, Cranbrook pushed them the whole way and played some excellent basketball. It was great to see some of our junior cricket teams playing on Hordern, Liam E will remember the day fondly having bowled a superb hat-trick.
With just one round to go, I encourage all students to stay focused and finish the summer season on a high. Round 6 is the final opportunity to showcase the progress made this term, so let’s give our best effort and represent Cranbrook with pride.
Upcoming Key Dates – Winter Sport Training
Friday, 28 March (1:30-3:10pm) – Winter training begins.
Monday, 31 March and Tuesday, 1 April (3:10-4:10pm) – After school Winter Training commences.
There is no after school training on Monday, 24 March and Tuesday, 25 March (Week 9).
Yours in Sport,
James Roughan
Head of Sport & PDHPE
Tennis
Cranbrook As faced a challenging match against a very strong Scots team.
Unfortunately, our first and last doubles teams struggled against two highly competitive opponents. However, Josh M and Hugo B delivered an exceptional performance in doubles, losing a close match 3-4, with almost no unforced errors.
Josh L showcased an outstanding net game with impressive reactions, and Santiago D did a great job keeping the opponents away from the baseline, though they also lost in a tight match 3-4.
In singles matches, we saw strong performances from George Y and Santiago D, both narrowly losing their matches 2-3.
The victories of the day came from Hugo B and Ricky C, who both won their matches 3-2 in highly competitive games.
The Player of the Day award goes to Hugo B, who demonstrated a fantastic understanding of the game and maintained a very professional attitude on and off the court.
Cranbrook B
Cranbrook Bs against Scots began with a dominant display of hardcourt tennis, with Jonathan S and Henry R showcasing their doubles craft and confident net play in a 5-2 win. Likewise, Henry W and Leo S hustled up and down the court, navigating unexpected drop shots from Scots and clinching a 4-3 victory.
Nathaniel T, Eric Z, Leo M, and Harvey C faced hard-hitting baseline players, which made it difficult to work their way into points. However, our players were quick to adapt, using angles and pace to secure important games for the team.
In singles, both Henry R and Henry W hustled in the heat to win 5-0, and they then supported Leo S and Leo M in their matches, providing a final push to victory. This fixture proved to be physical, with plenty of vertical and lateral court coverage. The Bs won 9-3 overall in sets and should be pleased with their performances.
Ben Higgins
Head of Tennis
Cricket
The Junior School cricket program celebrated a special milestone as the Year 5A team played on Hordern Oval for the first time—a memorable occasion made even more special by Liam E’s incredible hat-trick. With the big scoreboard lit up, the atmosphere was electric. It was a closely fought contest, but too many soft dismissals meant the students were always playing catch-up.
The Year 4A secured a thrilling 9-run victory over Barker in another nail-biter, while the 4 Blue and Red teams had exciting matches against St Aloysius. The standout feature of these games was the students’ outstanding fielding, with multiple direct-hit run-outs showcasing their sharp reflexes and awareness.
The 6A team faced a tough challenge against a dominant Riverview side, suffering a heavy defeat. Despite the talent within the squad, the opposition took control early and proved too strong on the day.
The Year 6B and Year 3 teams also had eventful matches, rounding out another exciting weekend of cricket. Looking ahead, next Saturday marks the final round of fixtures for the term. It will be a special occasion, with the Year 6A, Year 4 Red & Blue, and all Year 3 teams set to play on Hordern Oval, a fantastic experience for both the students and their parents.
Ben Staunton
Head of Cricket
Cricket Year 3As
Cricket Year 3 Bs
Cricket Year 3 Cs
Cricket Year 4 Bs
Cricket Year 4 Cs
Cricket Year 5
Cricket Year 6As
Cricket Year 6Bs
Basketball
The 5/6 C’s won a nail-biting game winning 27 – 26. The team played great defence, getting many steals and blocks. Charlie D and Heiji C scored many points, assisted often by Sung H’s pin-point passes. The 5/6 D’s had an impressive win on Saturday. The team passed the ball really well, finding each other all over the court. Col O and Aiden G made some difficult shots, scoring many points; winning 20-9. The 5/6 A’s were involved in a very competitive game played at an extremely high level. Defensive efforts from William S and Luca M helped the team stay within reach of a comeback. Unfortunately, the oppositions defence pressure resulted in a few consecutive baskets in the second half; losing 39-45. The 5/6 B’s found themselves in a fast paced and competitive match but fell short losing 25-33. Well done to Charlie D for stepping up and providing outstanding support on the defensive end. Ben H kept the game within reach with high percentage shooting and movement off the ball.
Stephen Whitehead
Head of Basketball
Basketball Year 3 and 4 Blues
Basketball Whites
Water Polo
Juniors Bs – Win 14-3
Cranbrook’s Junior B team headed into their second-last game of the season against St Aloysius B’s. The students aimed to play end-to-end water polo while ensuring safe passes. They got off to a quick start, going up 4-1 in the first quarter by utilising their speed and capitalising on counterattack opportunities. The momentum continued into the second quarter, pushing the score to 6-1. After halftime, the students extended their lead, finishing with a commanding 14-3 win.
Throughout the game, Cranbrook demonstrated impressive attacking decision-making. However, the highlight was their defensive effort, consistently staying goal side and covering players near the goal.
Goal scorers:
Henry H 4, Bond M 3, Woody VHW 2, Ned V 2, Theodore C 1, Jai H 1, Ziggy S 1.
Juniors As – Loss 4-9
Cranbrook’s Junior A team also faced St Aloysius A’s. In a close first quarter, the students trailed 2-3 after conceding a late goal. The second quarter was goalless, leaving Aloysius ahead 2-3 at halftime.
Aloysius came out strong in the third quarter, scoring 4 unanswered goals. Cranbrook rallied in the final quarter with 2 more goals, but Aloysius matched them, resulting in a 9-4 loss.
Despite the scoreline, this was one of the team’s best defensive games of the season, as they consistently stayed goal side and quickly transitioned back on defence. Heading into their final game, the focus will be on improving ball protection and spreading out more in attack.
Gregory McFadden
Head of Water Polo
Sailing
Under overcast skies, the wind was very light. Once again, the students had to focus on balance and sail positioning depending on their direction. It was great to see the support and encouragement from each student.
Tom Brewer
Head of Sailing
JS Music News – Week 8
Term 1 has been flying by and it has been wonderful to have witnessed so many performances so early in the year. Junior School String Orchestra (JSSO) gave a very energetic, tight and polished performance at Assembly in Week 5 with Sword Dance, a traditional folk song. Well done to Mr Hentschel and the ensemble members for getting this to performance standard so early on!
In Week 6, our open classes for the Year 2 String and Year 3 Instrumental Programs were very well attended and we thank you for supporting your sons and staff by attending these sessions. We look forward to you seeing how much they will have improved when we invite you back for their instrumental concert in Term 4.
Over 50 students have played or sung solos in our Music Morning Concert series held over the last two Fridays. These have been a great success and have proven to be a very pleasant start to the day.
Tonight, we have over 20 students performing in the Junior School Soirée. I know this will be a resounding success as these students have been diligently practising and working towards performing with expression and a real regard to the musical style. So much variety of tone colour and genre, with instruments from every instrumental family as well as vocalists!
AMEB music examinations 2025
Cranbrook Music Department will be hosting AMEB music examinations in Term 3, on 11, 12 and 13 September. Should you wish to sign up your son for a music examination, this needs to be done through your Cranbrook instrumental tutor as soon as possible. If you have an external teacher and would still like to sit an examination at school, please email Mr Hentschel at MHentschel@cranbrook.nsw.edu.au by the end of next week (Week 9), including details of the instrument, grade number and examination type.
Looking ahead…
WEEK 8
- Thursday, 20 March: 6:00pm to 7:00pm JS Music Soirée – Music Room 1.
WEEK 9
- Monday, 24 March: 6:30pm Easter Concert – Vicars Centenary Hall, SS Cranbrook Voices perform. Rehearsal after school at SS. An Operoo note has been sent to families.
- Wednesday, 26 March: 10:00am – 1:00pm Grandparents’ Day K-6 Music performances during Assemblies – JS Gym.
WEEK 11
- Wednesday, 9 April: 9:15am Thanksgiving Assembly in recognition of Mrs Marquet’s time as Acting Head of School – Vicars Centenary Hall, SS. Cranbrook Voices perform. Rehearsal before school at SS. An Operoo note will be sent shortly.
- Wednesday, 9 April: 12noon K to Y6 Easter Service – Chamber Choir & Cranbrook Voices sing items – JS Gym.
Looking a little further ahead…
In Term 2, we will be in for a musical extravaganza with our Junior School Showcase taking place in Week 5. Every student in the Junior School performs at this event! Please mark this date in your diary. It is known as a true highlight of the year as each Year Level Choir, auditioned choir and instrumental ensemble takes part.
- Thursday, 29 May K-2 Showcase Event 1:30pm – JS Gym and Y3-6 Showcase Event 6:30pm – JS Gym.
Best 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