Message from Grant Andrews, Acting Head of Junior School
Dear Parents and Carers,
Last Thursday, we held the K-2 Athletics Carnival on Dangar. It was a joyous and vibrant event that truly showcased our strong community spirit. The young athletes displayed impressive sportsmanship, cheering each other on with enthusiasm and camaraderie. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated staff, especially Mr Roughan, Mr Cohen and Mr Taylor, as well as the Year 5 helpers, whose efforts made the day run smoothly and successfully. A special thank you also goes to the parents for their enthusiastic support and attendance, which added to the day’s warm and festive atmosphere.
It was a joy to see our Y3-Y6 students participate in their Athletics Carnival today and we will share details and photos from the day in next week’s newsletter.
Staff News After 10 years as one of our multi-talented Junior School Visual Arts Teachers, Christian Bonett has decided it is time to leave us and engage more fully in his own successful professional career, both as a painter and ceramicist. We thank him for his dedication over many years and for sharing his enthusiasm for creating art and his deep knowledge of the artistic process with so many of our students. Christian has encouraged and inspired many a Junior School art student, so we are pleased that after some travel in Semester 2, he plans to return to continue his optional co-curricular ceramics classes in the Junior School in 2025.
Kind regards,
Grant Andrews Acting Head of Junior School
From the Deputies
We are delighted to announce the winners of the BEE Colouring Competition. The two winners, Hector Retief (Year 2) and Rafael Karpin (Year 4) will be presented with certificates next week. They will each play a role in a small ceremony, when the hive arrives at school.
We congratulate all the students who entered the competition, many of whom will receive Highly Commended certificates.
Council Update
Dear Parents,
We are delighted to provide you with this update from the School Council, with the objective to provide regular and transparent communication about our ongoing activities through Link and on Cranbrook Connect during this time.
At the School’s AGM last week, which was attended by approximately 60 people, I expressed gratitude to my Council colleagues for their commitment to serving Cranbrook, which is done in a voluntary capacity, and for their unity of purpose over recent months. Council has met 30 times this calendar year to navigate the School through this period. We also welcomed the Rev’d Antony Weiss who was elected to Council at the AGM, as one of the two Anglican clergy representatives. Antony is the full-time resident Chaplain of St Paul’s College within the University of Sydney and was previously a long-serving master at SHORE.
Amongst other things, I reported at the AGM that, further to the School’s new masterplan approved by the School Council in 2023, we are now working through the design process for some of the additional facilities contemplated under the masterplan and for coeducation at Cranbrook. The Building & Development Committee met this week to progress this. There was also an update on the School’s new Strategic Plan, that we will release to the School community.
Once again, we encourage parents to apply to become Members of Cranbrook School, as an opportunity to contribute to the governance of the School.
We have been pleased with the progress on coeducation as monitored through our participation in the Coeducation Steering Committee. We have helped facilitate presentations of the new uniform to the CSPA enabling feedback from the Senior and Junior School communities through this channel.
This week, we again joined staff members for lunch at the School. This is an initiative we started earlier in the year to enable staff to have informal and direct access to Council members in a two-way exchange for learning. Being close to our staff community is very important to us and we are grateful to be able to continue this engagement.
The external review process instigated earlier this year is progressing and Your Call has received a number of reports from members of the School community, including positive expressions of support. While these reports vary in complexity and some concern historical matters, many matters have now been closed; with all others being actively attended to. Along with Mrs Marquet and the Vice Presidents of Council, Amelia Hill Salter and James Sheller, I have been participating in weekly meetings with the School’s external advisors on the review process. We are committed to keeping the School community informed as we move through this.
We again take this opportunity to recognise Mrs Marquet’s generosity of spirit in taking on the role of Acting Head of School earlier this year and thank her for all her hard work in difficult circumstances. We have now commenced the search for a permanent Head of School and more details about this process, including consultation, will be made available very shortly.
We welcome feedback as we continue to serve the best interests of the School. Please feel free to do so via the Council Secretary email address: councilsecretary@cranbrook.nsw.edu.au
Finally, we take this opportunity to wish all families a restful and well-deserved mid-year break.
Kind regards,
Geoff Lovell President of Council
Pre-schools’ News – Week 8
Dear Families,
As we approach the end of this term, we take this opportunity to reflect on the wonderful progress and experiences your children have had in our Pre-school. Alongside sharing their Developmental Summaries and Portfolios over the coming week, we would like to provide some curriculum updates and reminders about what our Pre-school programme entails.
Our dedicated teachers have worked diligently to create a thorough and well-thought-out programme that engages, supports and develops each child, both as an individual and as a member of the class. We are excited to share that from February 2024, we commenced implementing the Early Years Learning Framework Version 2.0 (EYLF V2.0). This updated framework builds upon the strong foundations of the original EYLF and introduces several new focus areas designed to further enrich your child’s early learning experience. We strongly believe that these updates fit brilliantly within our units of inquiry, as an International Baccalaureate (IB), Primary Years Programme (PYP) Pre-school.
New Focus Areas in EYLF V2.0
Sustainability and Environmental Awareness:
Objective: To encourage children to explore and understand their relationship with the natural world.
Activities: Nature walks, recycling projects, and discussions about sustainable practices.
Digital Literacy:
Objective: To integrate age-appropriate technology use to support learning and creativity.
Activities: Digital storytelling, interactive educational games, and basic coding exercises.
Cultural Competence:
Objective: To emphasise respect and appreciation for diversity.
Activities: Learning about different cultures, languages, and traditions through stories, music, and art.
Wellbeing and Mindfulness:
Objective: To promote physical, emotional, and mental health.
Activities: Incorporating yoga, mindfulness exercises, and discussions about feelings and healthy habits into the daily routine.
STEM Education:
Objective: To foster curiosity and critical thinking through science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Activities: Hands-on experiments, building projects, and exploratory play.
Recognising our children as competent and capable learners who have rights and agency, the EYLF Framework lays a solid foundation for the holistic development of our students, in conjunction with the PYP Framework. Play-based, inquiry learning in our Pre-schools provides learners with stimulating and appropriate curriculum, acknowledging that young learners are intelligent, resourceful and creative individuals who grow, develop and learn at different rates.
Kind regards,
Abigail McFarlane Pre-schools’ Coordinator
Games for Moh Fundraising Event
Our recent “Games for Moh” fundraiser raised over $1,450. For a $5 wristband, students enjoyed unlimited access to a variety of games, including Basketball Slam, AFL/NRL Pass, Baseball Blast, and Astro Flyer. The event was made possible by the hard work of our Community Service Representatives and teachers, who set up and supervised the game stations. Money raised goes towards supporting our World Vision-sponsored child, Moh Nur, and his community in Indonesia. A massive thank you to the Cranbrook families for their ongoing generosity and support.
Community Service Committee
Year 1 Drama excursion: Stories from Reef – Opera House
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
Little Leagues Winter Sport Round 6
Despite the challenges posed by the weather over the weekend, I am pleased to share some updates from our recent sporting events at Cranbrook Junior School.
Unfortunately, due to torrential rain, all scheduled games for the weekend had to be cancelled, except for the Year 5 football match which took place on the Woollahra 1 turf. Our Year 5 teams seized the opportunity and delivered outstanding performances against Sydney Grammar.
On a brighter note, we had a fantastic day last Thursday at the K-2 Athletics Carnival. It was heartwarming to see all our students participate with such enthusiasm and display their sporting prowess across the 9 athletics stations. The event was a true testament to the spirit of sportsmanship and camaraderie that we strive to cultivate at Cranbrook Junior School.
I would like to extend a special thank you to all the parents who attended the Athletics Carnival. Your support and encouragement are invaluable to our students. The highlight of the day was undoubtedly the parent versus children tug-of-war, where competitive spirits ran high and there was plenty of laughter. We look forward to the last weekend of winter sport before the school holiday break.
Yours in sport,
James Roughan Head of Sport & PDHPE
Football
Despite adverse weather conditions forcing the cancellation of all other sports activities, we were thrilled that our Year 5 football matches could proceed as scheduled against Sydney Grammar. Our young athletes made the most of this fortune with strong victories in all four games.
Our Year 5 team displayed exceptional skill and teamwork, achieving victories across the grade against Sydney Grammar. The A team particularly stood out with their impressive passing and cohesive team performance. Their decision-making in the attacking zone is an area for continued focus.
In addition, the C team demonstrated outstanding commitment on defence, rising to the challenge in every instance and showcasing resilience throughout the games. Both the B and D teams exhibited fluid ball movement, highlighting their growing understanding of positional play and tactical awareness on the field.
Ben Rollison Head of Football
Year 5 Football
Multi-Sports
In round 6 of Multi-Sports, students continued to develop their striking skills with great enthusiasm. Sportsmanship and effort in indoor football reached an all-time high, showcasing their dedication and teamwork. This week’s standout player was Sebastian G, recognised for his outstanding performance and spirit.
Josh Cohen Assistant Head of Sport & PDHPE
Paul Kelly Cup
Paul Kelly Cup. The boys showed phenomenal enthusiasm – many of whom were playing AFL for the first time. The C’s, made up entirely of Year 5’s, faced tough opposition who were at times bigger and stronger, but that didn’t deter their consistent determination and willingness to persevere, a credit to those Year 5’s. The B’s brought that same energy equally. Despite starting off on the back foot, they showed great fight and rallied to dominate the last fixture! We’re poised for a very strong team next year.
Finally, the A’s were clinical in the pool matches. Some brilliant individual performances, coupled with strong team play, meant they only conceded 1 point across 3 games. Unfortunately, they narrowly fell short in the semi-finals by a point. A heartfelt congratulations to those Year 6s who played their final Paul Kelly Cup, and we look forward to seeing your involvement at the Senior School level next year.
Ed Procter Coach
CIS Golf Congratulations to Riley T for achieving a remarkable Top 10 finish out of 24 competitors at the NSW CIS Golf Championships, enduring challenging weather conditions at Belmont Golf Course. Riley’s resilience and pride in competing reflect a valuable experience gained from this year’s championship.
We are very excited about the upcoming Gala Concert on Monday, 24 June, 7:00pm – 9:00pm at Sydney Town Hall:Threads. Our JS Chamber Choir, Cranbrook Voices, JS Concert Band, JSSO, Mezzo Strings, JS Guitar Ensemble and all Year 6 are performing at this event.
Please find below, important information in preparation for this event:
Daytime rehearsal at Senior School campus – Sunday, 23 June
A letter with further details about this rehearsal has been sent to families via Operoo. It details timings and who is required at this rehearsal. Students may wear plain clothes.
Daytime rehearsal at Sydney Town Hall – Monday, 24 June
Please refer to your Operoo note, especially the Guitar Ensemble students as they are to be dropped by their parents directly to Town Hall steps (George St) to meet Mr Andrews at 8:30am.
All other performers are being bused from the Junior School to Town Hall. All students will return by bus to the Junior School during School hours.
Evening Performance at Sydney Town Hall – Monday, 24 June
Please refer to your Operoo note. Main details are below.
KEY PERFORMANCE DETAILS
Uniform: Performers are to wear long sleeve blue shirt, shorts, tie, school socks, black shoes. NO blazer or cap.
Transport: Parents to transport their sons to and from the Town Hall.
Arrival time: 6:20pm – ALL Junior School Performers meet the Junior School Staff outside the St Andrew’s Square side entrance, ready to be escorted to the Marconi Room inside the Town Hall.
Start time: 7:00pm – Concert commences.
Finish time: 9:00pm – Concert concludes. Teachers will release JS students to their parents at the Main Entry Foyer, under staff supervision. Instrumentalists will collect instruments and music (from the Marconi Room) before meeting their parents.
