Angelique Sanders, Director of Student Wellbeing

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

At Cranbrook we strive to create a positive and supportive environment where every student feels safe and respected. A key part of this is empowering students to report incidents of unkind or harmful behaviour when they occur.

Unfortunately, the idea of “snitch culture” often discourages students from speaking up. Snitch culture views reporting other students poor or unkind behaviour as a betrayal rather than an act of courage, leading to harmful behaviours going unaddressed. This silence can make students feel isolated and unsafe, allowing problems to grow.

Encouraging students to report to trusted adults is about building a culture of bravery and support, not snitching. Reporting helps protect everyone’s well-being and contributes to a kinder, safer school environment. It also fosters important life skills such as empathy and self-advocacy. It’s about modelling and expecting respect, one of our core values.

Here’s how you can support your son:

• Reinforce that speaking up is an act of courage.
• Let your child know that their teachers, Mentor or Heads of House are here to help them work through issues.
• Remind them that reporting helps protect everyone.

We are working hard to build social and emotional skills in our young people and having the courage to call out bad behaviour is a vital life skill.

As we approach the end of the term and students start to feel tired, please encourage your son to maintain his efforts and finish strong, rather than letting his standards drop.

Angelique Sanders
Director of Student Wellbeing