Angelique Sanders, Director of Student Wellbeing/Acting Deputy Head of Senior School

Welcome to our all our new parents, be it in Year 7 or other Year Groups.

Over the last year we have been strengthening our whole school wellbeing approach, working collaboratively across both the Junior and Senior School. We have clarified what wellbeing at Cranbrook means through building on the strength of our motto-To be, rather than to seem to be. In order To Be, our students need to feel good and function well. To do this we have defined wellbeing as:

To Be Courageous

To Be Balanced

To be Connected

To BE you

This term our focus is on being courageous, as we look forward to new beginnings and fresh starts. Each year is a chapter in your child’s life, so if last year was a bit rocky, encourage them to begin a new chapter and to show courage To Be the person they would like to be.

Year 7 will take part in a 3-day orientation programme to ease them into Senior School, led by Mr Matt Banes, our Acting Dean of Students 7-9.

Year 11 will have a 2-day orientation programme led by Ms Elizabeth Flecther, our Acting Dean of Students 10-12. This will include an exciting new workshop – In Her Shoes, run by Tomorrow Man/ Tomorrow Woman. As this year group will be our student leaders in our first year of coeducation this is a vital workshop to enable them to gain different perspectives.

Year 12 had their final Tomorrow Man workshop today – Write your own Code, where they had the space and time to consider what type of adult they want to become.

A reminder of our new technology policy. Mobile phones and smart watches are to be switched off and in lockers during the day. If they are found using their phone, it will be taken from them and they will have to collect it at the end of the day and will receive a half hour detention. We are aiming to break some ingrained habits, so your support with this is appreciated. If you need to urgently contact your child, please call Senior School Reception on 9327 9000 and they will assist you.

We are aware that some students are experiencing distress over events in our community, so if you are concerned please reach out to their Head of House and Mentor who can provide them with additional supports, including referring them to other wellbeing staff who might be able to provide further advice. As always, the wellbeing of our students is central to all we do. I would encourage you to use this as an opportunity to help develop your child’s critical thinking skills by allowing space for them to speak to you about what they may have read or seen on their feeds, or what they hear others say. As parents, you might ask questions like such as, where did you read that, who said it, what was the context and how do you feel about it? This can help your child work through what they are seeing and hearing in a safe and supportive way.

Angelique Sanders
Director of Student Wellbeing/Acting Deputy Head of Senior School