What a wonderful attention-seeking headline. I came across this article in the New York Times recently which suggests that “busyness has become an unhealthy status symbol, leading to burnout, anxiety and other stress-driven ailments”. The author Olga Mecking asks “What can we do? Follow what the Dutch call ‘niksen’. Essentially, niksen is the art of doing nothing: not meditating, not eating healthily, not being mindful but simply being idle. The upside of conscious boredom? Here’s the kicker…it can lead to daydreaming, which in turn drives creativity and increases focus”.
According to research from the University of Chicago and Ohio State University “Creative genius is not only for whippersnappers. There are two kinds of peak creativity, and they reach full bloom at different times in a person’s life. There are the conceptual innovators among us, typically younger (under 30 years of age) people who set their sights on challenging conventions with fresh ideas. And then there are experimental innovators who use their deep experience to test out new ideas and form unexpected connections over time. These types reach the apex of their creativity in their 50s”
So, what do we make of all this…well, next time you see your child staring out the window, go easy on them, they may well be in a creative moment. And for those “experimental innovators” among us, there is a place for us too as we reach the pinnacle of our creative powers – bring it on.
Bring on the break
As we move to the final days of the term, a well-deserved break awaits. One of my favourite moments of the past nine weeks was the Fundamental Music Concert on Monday evening at the Sydney Town Hall. As I said on the night, I have seen a few music concerts in my time but never have I experienced a performance of such sustained excellence as we witnessed on Monday. Simply awesome!
My best wishes to the students on the rugby tour to Fiji, the Oxford Study tour to the UK, the tennis trip to the USA and to the sailors who are competing at the national championships. My sincere congratulations to all students who have accepted a challenge, performed with distinction in some area of endeavour, tried something new or were involved in something bigger than themselves this term.
With good wishes
Stuart Meade Acting Head of School
Message from Michele Marquet, Head of Junior School
Dear Parents and Carers,
Term 2 is rushing rapidly towards an end and this weekend will see the last sports fixtures for Years 3-6. Our students will be busily engaged in their learning right up until the last day of term (Friday, 27 June). Yesterday, Year 1 attended a special Drama performance created for them by our Y9 students and our Y4 students enjoyed an Aboriginal education incursion earlier in the week related to their current unit of work. Tomorrow, Year 1 welcome families to their learning showcase and some of our Year 6 students will attend a Leadership Forum hosted by local member, Allegra Spender.
On Wednesday, 25 June, K-6 students will attend their final assembly for the term. The assembly will run from 12.30pm-1pm and it will no longer be a French-led assembly, and no awards will be presented. Families are welcome to attend.
Y3–Y12 Music Showcase: Fundamental Last Monday night at Fundamental, the superb Music showcase, at the Sydney Town Hall, we were able to experience the joy of coming together as a whole school community. The Junior School students’ performances, vocally and instrumentally, individually and in combined items, were breathtakingly beautiful. Once again, our heartfelt thanks must go to our truly outstanding Music staff, led by Philip Beverley, Head of Music P-12, who inspire and allow these talents to flourish and be shared. We extend enormous thanks to our phenomenal Junior School Music staff, led by Peter Fox, Head of Music, ably supported by Jane Holmes à Court and Fiona Chan, as well as a huge team of talented Music tutors, who have nurtured our talented young students.
End-of-Semester Reports Semester 1 academic reports will be sent to families early in the holidays, via email. These reports complement the information already shared with families this semester, through the end of unit progress reports and parent-teacher meetings.
The Kindergarten end-of-semester report will give a global picture of your child’s progress over the semester and include indications of how frequently his work habits are being displayed independently. A general comment from the class teacher is also included.
The Years 1-6 end-of-semester report provides a global picture of your child’s progress in all subjects over the semester. The reports will indicate at what level he is showing secure mastery of the relevant outcomes, concepts, content and skills taught. How frequently he independently applies pertinent year level work habits is indicated. A general comment from the class teacher is also included.
Year 1 families, and any other families in other year levels who are new to the School, may like to attend our parent engagement session in Week 1 of Term 3.
Date:
Thursday, 24 July 2025
Time:
5pm – 6pm
Location:
Year 1 Piazza
Audience:
Year 1 parents and any new Y2 – Y6 parents
Topic:
‘What Does This All Mean? Understanding Your Son’s School Reports’
We wish everyone a restful weekend.
Kind wishes,
Michele Marquet Head of Junior School
From the Deputies
Dear Families,
Swimming Goggles Donations
Like many of our families, one of our Year 3 students, Benson Wells, will be travelling with his family in the upcoming holidays. The Wells family will be joining an outreach trip to Fiji where they will be engaging in a variety of service activities to help locals there. They are keen to take over some swimming goggles because often the local children do not learn to swim, as they are scared of what is in the water, but with goggles it helps them to see and feel comfortable putting their head under the water.
If you have swimming goggles that are no longer needed, could you please send them to school before Wednesday next week and either drop them off in Reception or in the Year 3 piazza?
Whilst in Fiji, the family will also be involved in teaching sailing to local children, to assist them to get jobs in local resorts, and will be visiting a school for students with disabilities to pass on some equipment.
Kind regards Grant Andrews, Richard Baker and Genet Erickson Adam
Pre-schools’ Update – Week 8
Dear Families,
As we approach the end of Term 2, it is a great time to begin gathering your child’s belongings – such as sunhats, water bottles, jumpers and coats to organise, label and prepare for Term 3.
The upcoming holiday break is also a good opportunity to attend to any uniform needs and haircuts, helping ensure a smooth and confident start to the new term. Additionally, involving your child in simple household tasks over the break can be a great way to support the development of their self-help and independence skills.
During the final week of Term 2, you will receive your child’s learning portfolio. We encourage you to take some time to read through and reflect on the learning journey they have undertaken so far this year. Once you’ve had a chance to review it, please return the portfolio to your child’s class teacher.
Portfolios will remain accessible in the classroom throughout the year for both parents and children to revisit. If you would like to view them at any time, please feel free to speak with your child’s teacher. A final copy of the portfolio will be sent home at the end of the year.
A gentle reminder: If your child is unwell or showing signs and symptoms of being unwell, please keep them at home to rest and recover. This helps to minimise the spread of illness to their friends and teachers and ensures a healthier environment for everyone.
Kind regards,
Abigail McFarlane Pre-schools Coordinator
Cranbrook Clothes Drive in collaboration with the Wayside Chapel (Monday 23 June – Thursday 26 June 2025)
Most of us have what we need to keep warm in the winter; however, some people in Australia don’t have this same privilege and this is what Cranbrook is going to help improve that situation:
From Monday, 23 June to Thursday, 26 June, you can bring in jumpers, long pants and/or coats in good condition, in any size. Deposit them in the buckets in your Year Level piazza for collection on Friday by the Community Service Representatives.
These clothes will be given to the Wayside Chapel where they will be distributed to those in need. Together, we can be the ones to make a difference!
Jerry Watson, Year 6.
Little Leagues Report – Round 6
It was an extremely busy and exciting week for Cranbrook Junior School Sport. The highlight was the Year 3–6 Athletics Carnival held at SOPAC, where students showcased tremendous enthusiasm and athletic talent across all events. Meanwhile, our Paul Kelly Cup AFL team performed superbly to reach the regional finals, narrowly going down in the semi-final to the eventual tournament winners.
A strong Cranbrook contingent also represented the school at the Cross Country Championships held at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre achieving some solid results.
Saturday Sport continued to deliver exciting moments across rugby, football, tennis and multi-sport. From hard-fought matches to dominant displays our students are all showing growth in their endeavours across our winter sports.
Yours in Sport,
James Roughan Head of Sport and PDHPE
CIS Cross Country
The recent Combined Independent Schools (CIS) Cross Country Championships took place on Thursday, June 12th at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre. Cranbrook Junior School students performed admirably, a testament to their dedication and preparation.
Samuel P placed 17th in the 10s category.
In the 11s category, Eddie C (21st), Teddy B (22nd), Hugo C (24th), and Louis B (59th) all ran with determination.
Freddie F earned an impressive 28th place in the 12/13s category.
Each student contributed to a strong Cranbrook presence at the championships. Congratulations to all involved on an excellent cross-country season.
Kurt Fryer Cross-Country Coach
Paul Kelly Cup Regional Finals
Last Wednesday, 15 Year 5 & 6 students travelled to Lane Cove for the Paul Kelly Cup Regional Final. Having won the Local Day in Week 9 of Term 1, the team has shown great dedication, showing up for weekly training in preparation for this event. Up against schools that play AFL, we knew that the games would be a challenge. Our students’ improvement was clear for all to see, as we won our first 2 games, 19-7, and 21-3. Going into our 3rd pool stage game, and having already secured our spot in the semi-final, it’s fair to say some complacency set in. After a very sluggish first half, we were down by 3 goals at the break. The team knew this was far from their best performance and came out firing in the second half. A brilliant fight back ended with a draw; 21-21, but to us, it felt like a win! We went into the semi-final with rediscovered confidence.
The semi-final was, as expected, a closely fought contest. The lead constantly see-sawed, and despite a late Cranbrook surge towards goal, our opposition was ahead when the final whistle blew, 26-32. A bitter-sweet finish, as we’d improved so much, and performed so well against strong opponents, but fallen just short. The students were disappointed, but should certainly hold their heads high for their outstanding commitment in the past months, and their impeccable sportsmanship on the day.
Eddie Lewis Head of Sports Operations P-12
Rugby
Year 3 The Year 3 Sevens teams faced close contests at Koola Park. Despite the challenges, the teams emerged victorious and showed clear improvement with each match. The benefits of focused defensive training during Friday’s session were evident on the field.
Year 4A The Year 4A team met a strong St Patrick’s outfit. A slow start impacted the early stages of the game, resulting in early tries due to missed tackles and errors. While the second half saw better execution, it wasn’t enough to turn the result around.
Year 5A The Year 5A side took on a formidable Waverley team. Ben H opened up the match with excellent attacking play, stretching Waverley’s defence, while Bond M made his presence felt with some strong tackling. Despite these efforts, Waverley proved too strong on the day.
Year 5B Cranbrook’s 5Bs had a fantastic start with a solid win over Riverview, driven by key contributions from Will and Sam. In their second match, they secured a well-earned draw against a strong Trinity team, capping off a successful day of rugby.
Year 6A Score: Cranbrook 7 – Waverley 21 Cranbrook put up a spirited effort against Waverley at home. Inventive play from James C led to a try by William. However, Waverley capitalised on gaps in the defence to take control. Improving line speed on defence will be a focus in upcoming training sessions.
Peter Dumbleton Head of Rugby
Football (Soccer)
Year 6
6A – 4-0 Win vs Sydney Grammar Despite the strong scoreline, the team fell short of their usual high standards. Nonetheless, there were positives, especially in ball movement, use of width, and strategic play that will be vital as they transition to 11-a-side football.
6B – 3-1 Win With only one substitute, the 6Bs played with tremendous energy. Henry opened the scoring with a superb strike, while Jayden and George controlled the midfield. Strong defensive work from Charlie and Sung, combined with Will’s goalkeeping, sealed the win.
6C – 7- 0 Win A dominant performance from start to finish. Henry led with clinical finishing, supported by Julian and Jamie’s creativity. Special mention to Will W, who moved outfield late in the match and celebrated two goals in style.
Year 4
4A – 3-1 Win After conceding early, the 4As responded with intelligent and composed play, creating numerous chances and finishing strongly.
4B – 5-0 Win A commanding win highlighted by cohesive team play and a sensational long-range goal from Ricky.
4C – 4-4 Draw A dramatic contest saw the 4Cs come from 2-0 down to lead 4-2, only to concede two late goals. A spirited and skilful performance throughout.
Year 3
3A – 10-0 Win Another polished display extended the team’s winning streak. Will led the charge with smart link-up play. When Barker added two extra players in the second half, Cranbrook lifted their intensity in response.
3B – 10-0 Win With only five players available, the 3Bs delivered an outstanding performance. Hugo starred with a hat-trick, while Oli and Xavier from the C team contributed impressively.
3C – 13-0 Win A commanding performance led by Oli (6 goals), Xavier (3), and Freddie (2). The team controlled the match throughout, with the mercy rule eventually invoked.
3D – 2-0 Win A tighter match saw Cranbrook break the deadlock in the second half with goals from Julius and Angus. Strong opposition goalkeeping kept the scoreline close, but Cranbrook were deserving winners.
Ben Rollison Head of Football
Tennis
This week’s focus in the Winter Junior Tennis program was on developing tactical awareness and consistency. Players worked on cross-court rally drills, directional changes, and height variation using butterfly drills to build adaptability.
Serving was a major component, progressing from short to full-length serves to build power and precision.
Saturday match play continues to offer valuable opportunities for students to apply their training under pressure.
Special Mentions:
Avery T – Undefeated in the internal round-robin tournament.
Orlando F – Recognised for exceptional focus and discipline during training.
Both students have shown excellent progress as part of a growing group demonstrating strong improvement and commitment.
Ben Higgins Head of Tennis
Multi-Sport
Round 6 was full of energy and skill-building. The session began with evasion-based tagging games, enhancing agility and spatial awareness, followed by striking drills focused on timing and coordination. To close, a fast-paced Numbers Indoor Football match encouraged teamwork and quick decision-making.
Player of the Week: Sam H, for his consistent effort and positive attitude throughout the session.
Josh Cohen Assistant Head of Sport & PDHPE Teacher
Spring Festival – Y3 to Y6 Music Eisteddfod
Originating in Wales, an eisteddfod is a competitive festival of arts. As part of the Spring Festival, the Cranbrook Junior School Eisteddfod has been designed for boys in Years 3 – 6 to showcase a performance on piano, strings, woodwind, brass, percussion, guitar and voice.
This year’s Eisteddfod will be held on Thursday, 28 August 2025 (Week 6). It will be judged by external adjudicators who will write an encouraging report on the students’ performances, give feedback and award grades of achievement. Parents and friends are encouraged to attend to listen and support the boys.
Please clickhere for more information and the entry form.
The JS Music Department
Term 3, 2025 Activity Selection
Dear Families
Please note: The Term 3 Optional Co-Curricular Activity Selection will be OPEN today Thursday, 19 June at 6pm.
If you have any queries please email Annabel Boyd: jscocurricular@cranbrook.nsw.edu.au
