Michele Marquet, Acting Head of School

Dear Cranbrook families,

As mentioned in this newsletter earlier this term, we have been undertaking a broad survey of our culture to increase our understanding of the experience of our students, staff and families, so that we reflect a welcoming environment to all, and provide the very best opportunities for our community to experience a respectful and exciting environment for learning. We want to further embed effective ways we can offer the right opportunities to help everyone feel a genuine sense of belonging.

As a school, we are looking at ways we can better provide avenues for our students to share with us how they are travelling at school. Helping students have appropriate methods to express their views and reflections are vital. Their voices can powerfully inform how we modify our wellbeing programmes and address any potential issues amongst cohorts in a timely and effective way.

Each term, students in the Senior School are encouraged to complete a wellbeing survey that allows them to share their perspectives on how they are travelling, plus respond to some changing key questions to garner feedback from our students on issues or things happening at school. Our Director of Student Wellbeing oversees this student engagement survey and tracks responses for individuals as well as trend data which can be used to inform adjustments to our Student Wellbeing Programme. In future, we plan to share regularly some of the key learnings from this survey with our community via the Link.

In Junior School, we also gather information about student wellbeing and perceptions via a number of surveys. Our Years 3-6 students participate in a playground survey which helps staff better understand concerns they might have and also what aspects of playtime they really enjoy. We use this information to make changes to our Student Wellbeing Programme and also better inform how we oversee the daily playground experience. Additionally, we conduct the RADAR mental health risk survey with these year levels with parental permission. This survey allows us to see how a child perceives their friendships, learning and level of connection. We share the results of this survey with families. Currently, we are exploring providing a continuously available method for our students to be able let their teachers know a concern they may have. Most students of primary school age will approach a teacher directly, but sometimes that may be daunting, so another method can help those wanting their teacher to know something important. This information can help our staff better care for their students and help build student skills in using their voice with respect.

We are about to move into our second phase with the Staff Culture Survey. All staff have been invited to share their perceptions, experiences and observations via an external, confidential survey. We now move to inviting some staff, past and present, to participate in facilitated focus groups run by the external agency conducting the broader culture survey. We look forward to learning more about our school, reflecting and then sharing ideas about how we can bolster Cranbrook for the years ahead.

Recently, nearly 50 staff leaders from across the whole school, Pre-School to the Senior School, participated in a training seminar about how we can better create a respectful, safe and inclusive environment at Cranbrook. The course unpacked for us the elements of a positive and safe environment for all. We will be following up this course with workshops for the leaders to help hone the skills needed to care for all our staff and students in a changing world and to share ideas for how we can continue to foster a positive and welcoming school.

As previously mentioned, the School values feedback from all members of our community and we are eager to hear from our parent community about their experiences and what they value about Cranbrook. Next term, we will be conducting some research with parents to gain their perspectives. By better understanding what all members of our community value and experience as part of our school, we provide an exciting opportunity to reflect, learn and bolster Cranbrook for the years ahead.

Last week, there was some reporting in the media around a Federal Department of Education request for information from our School. I am pleased to let families know that by the end of last week the final tranches of material were submitted to the DoE. We have been fully cooperating with the Department throughout this process and will continue to do so.

Kind wishes,

Michele Marquet
Acting Head of School