Senior School Link – Week 1, Term 4 2024 - 17 October 2024
Michele Marquet, Acting Head of School
Dear Parents and Carers,
A very warm welcome to Term 4! I hope students, families and staff enjoyed some rest and relaxation over the recent holiday period. It has been wonderful to see students back on campus in full force. Day 1 brought much rain, but it did not dampen the enthusiasm of the students on seeing each other and catching up with staff.
Yesterday, we inducted the new 2025 Senior School prefects. It was a joyous occasion. It gave us time to reflect on what their leadership might look and feel like, and consider what great leadership really entails. All our school leaders were encouraged to strive to live out a servant model of leadership, considering what is best for the group above themselves, and thinking less about the title and badge, and more about how they can serve the community. We look ahead to their positive, enthusiastic and inclusive leadership of the School.
As we enter the final term of the year, it is with an eye to the many events planned to celebrate our students’ learning both within the classroom and in the co-curricular sphere. We encourage our students to continue to take up every opportunity to engage with others and to actively participate in their learning in class as well as in activities and events. We look forward to a busy, productive term full of learning and celebration.
Kind wishes,
Michele Marquet Acting Head of School
Prefect Induction Service Photo Gallery
Daisy Turnbull, Director of Coeducation and Academy
Dear Parents and Carers
Term 4 will be a fast moving term with a lot of coeducational events and opporturnities for our students. On 12 November some of our Year 5 students will be part of the Year 7 2026 long orientation with a session run by our 2025 prefects on leadership. The Year 7 2026 long orientation programme has meant that current Cranbrookians, and enrolled boys and girls for 2026 have been able to get to know each other and the School as we prepare for the first coeducational cohort.
Interviews are underway for Year 7 2027, and we will be holding a similar programme for that cohort as well starting at the beginning of 2025.
We have started enrolling girls for Year 11 2026 and are excited by the response. We will be inviting the incoming female Cranbrookians to events throughout the school year this and next year to ensure they are part of the very important process of subject selection and academic transition that we undertake with our Year 10 students. Year 11 2027 enrolments will commence in Term 2 2025.
For our current students we are holding coeducational events this term including an SRC hosted mixed volleyball tournament for Years 7 – 9 at the end of November, the SRC representatives will communicate with students about this in the coming weeks. We also have our Year 9 Ceroc Dancing day with Ascham later in the term which is a great opportunity to learn new skills and make new friends. We continue to look for coeducational opportunities for our students throughout the year. As part of our transition to coeducation I have been spending time in each House group to get to know the culture and experience of students in these Houses, especially focusing on our first Year 11 cohort. It has been great getting to know the students and working with house mentors over the past term.
Daisy Turnbull Director of Coeducation and Academy
Bob Meakin, Deputy Headmaster & Head of Senior School
Dear Parents and Carers,
A warm welcome back to Term 4. The holidays were a busy time for many students and staff, with various tours, camps, and study programmes as well as the rehearsals for the upcoming production of Little Shop of Horrors.
I would like to thank the students and staff who gave so much of their time over the break, especially those who went on the CETOP Tour in Ladakh, the Water Polo Tour to the Gold Cost, Sailing in New Zealand, and various sporting fixtures.
Yesterday, we inducted our new Prefects for Term 4 2024 – Term 3 2025. It was great to have their parents join us to celebrate their appointment and the various addresses in assembly were focused on servant, leadership, and service driven initiatives for these incoming Prefects. I did make the point that it is the entire Year 12 that leads the student body of the School; their example, their actions and interactions will drive the culture and inclusive community for the whole School and as I look at this Year Group, I do feel we are in good hands. A particular congratulations to Huon Groves (Senior Prefect), Matthew Downes (Second Prefect), Felix Malcolm (Student Head of Academics), Noah Teitler (Student Head of Co-curricular), Sam Collison (Student Head of Community). I am sure that these students will lead the team superbly.
A reminder that our new Year 12 parents and students are invited to a Curriculum Parent Information webinar, starting at 6pm tonight. I look forward to welcoming and imparting some tips for the Year 12 students for their year ahead.
Very best wishes to the staff and students involved in the Little Shop of Horrors musical which opens tomorrow, Friday 18 October.
Finally, this is a nine-week busy term with much to do. I reminded students that Term 4 is a crucial term in the academic year and is not simply a few weeks tagged on to the end of three busy terms. It is as long as Term 3 and has as much academic rigour, assessments, co-curricular commitments as in any other term throughout the year. I also urged the students to give their best efforts throughout this term.
Have a great week.
Best wishes,
Bob Meakin Deputy Headmaster & Head of Senior School
Hannah Thomas, Director of Professional Learning
On Monday 14 October, our Senior School teachers came together for an immersive professional learning experience, informed by our identity as an IB Continuum school. We gathered to explore innovative strategies to integrate the IB Approaches to Teaching into our practice, reinforcing our commitment to inquiry, collaboration, critical thinking, and fostering international-mindedness.
The words of the esteemed educator John Dewey, “If we teach today’s students as we taught yesterday’s, we rob them of tomorrow,” guided the session. This sentiment lies at the heart of the IB Approaches to Teaching, which are more than a set of strategies—they represent a philosophy that inspires student-centred learning, promotes conceptual understanding, and encourages interdisciplinary collaboration.
The day began with an interactive introduction to the Approaches to Teaching, facilitated by our DP Coordinator, Nick Hanrahan, which gathered valuable data on teachers’ perceptions of and confidence with integrating these approaches. Following this, teachers became “students” in a mini-lessons carousel, experiencing first-hand how these approaches can enhance engagement and deepen learning. We participated in lessons delivered by our talented colleagues—Stephen Henriques, Ryan Taylor, Rhys Briscoe-Hough, Luke Wilson, Kate Stewart, Fabian Navarro, and Pru Schiffman—each showcasing various approaches, including teaching based on inquiry, experiential learning, problem-based learning, teaching focused on conceptual understanding, teaching developed in local and global contexts, and teaching centred on effective teamwork and collaboration, all of which offered practical strategies to apply in our own practice.
We concluded with a reflection, guided by MYP Coordinator, Erin Munn, that considered how we can continue to enhance our teaching practices in alignment with the IB philosophy, building on what we experienced during the day.
A special thanks to Nick, Erin, and all our colleagues for making this such a valuable and dynamic learning experience. It was a true demonstration of the power of collaboration and the transformative impact of the IB Approaches to Teaching.
Hannah Thomas Director of Professional Learning
Adrian Harrison, Director of Curriculum and Academic Operations
ICAS results 2024 ICAS is an academic competition that challenges students and recognises their achievements in core subjects such as English, Maths and Science. Congratulations to all students that participated last term. Your certificates will be posted to you in coming weeks. Special commendation to the following students who received a High Distinction in various subjects, placing them in the top 1% of all candidates, a tremendous achievement.
Year 7
Ian, Wu
Mathematics
Year 8
Finn, Dusseldorp
Writing
Year 9
Nicholas, Long
Mathematics
Year 9
Simon, Tesvic
Mathematics
Adrian Harrison Director of Curriculum and Academic Operations
Matt Grice, Director of Sport
Dear Parents and Guardians,
I’d like to welcome back all students and parents for the start of a busy Term 4. Congratulations to all the Athletes and staff who competed at the CAS Athletics Championships held at the end of Term 3. It was a fantastic team performance along with many tremendous individual results.
Our amazing Head of Athletics, Miss Amy- Leigh Williams writes:
I am excited to share some fantastic news from our recent athletics events. Several of our talented athletes have not only excelled in their performances but have also broken and set new Cranbrook School records.
These outstanding achievements reflect their hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence. We are so proud of our athletes for pushing their limits and reaching new heights!
Congratulations to our record-breakers.
🏅 Thomas Dawson U16 110m Hurdles – 15.13s (Previous record was 15.19 O. Patterson 2022)
🏅 Zac Crowe Opens 110m Hurdles – 15.35s (Previous record was 16.1 O.C.Courtney 2010)
🏅 Justin Barta, Jaxson Allen, Tex Christensen & Harrison Scriven Opens 4 x 100m Relay – 43.20s (Previous record was 43.99s A. Kemp, V Alves, J McElroy & S Solomon 2009)
I am also thrilled to announce the remarkable achievements of our athletes at the NSW All Schools Championships this past weekend! Each finalist performed exceptionally, placing in the top 15 in the state, showcasing their dedication and talent. Their hard work and determination have truly paid off, and we couldn’t be prouder of their accomplishments. Let’s celebrate their success and encourage them to keep striving for excellence!
Standout Performances;
Thomas Carrano – 12-14yrs 100m T/F41 – 1st
Thomas Carrano – 12-14yrsyrs 200m T/F41 – 3rd
Tyrese-Lloyd Owusu – 13yrs Long Jump – 3rd
Tom Dawson – 16yrs 110m Hurdles – 3rd
Harry Keats – 14yrs 400m – 3rd
Charles Carrano – 13yrs 80m Hurdles – 4th
Zac Crowe – 17yrs 100m Hurdles – 5th
Thomas Carrano – 12-14yrs 800m T/F41 – 5th
Congratulations to the below athletes on their performances in the following events;
Andrew Carrano – 16yrs 110m Hurdles & 100m
Harry Keats – 14yrs 100m &200m
Charles Carrano – 13yrs 100m, 200m &Long jump
Callum Forato – 17yrs 1500m
Edwin Alder – 14yrs 800m &1500m
Henry Roberts – 15yrs 1500m
Huon Groves – 17yrs 1500m
Joseph Landman – 12yrs High Jump
Liam Crowe – 15yrs 800m
Rohan O’Donnell – 16yrs 800m
Zac Crowe – 17yrs High Jump
Aarya Mistry – 15yrs 2000m Steeple
All our Cranbrook athletes performed amazingly well over the weekend, with all finalists finishing in the top 15 in the state! A fantastic achievement for all our athletes!
A massive thank you to all who were involved in the numerous holiday activities, including our inaugural Water Polo tour to the Sunshine Coast.
Cranbrook Sailing took a team to New Zealand to compete for Australia in the Interdominion Championships.
Rowing took a 55-strong group to Berry for an intensive training camp….
Our top squads’ held preseason training sessions and our Sport Holiday Camps that were attended in records number. It was fantastic to see so many students so active in their holiday break. Well done to everyone who got involved.
I’d like to congratulate the follow students who have been announced as leaders of their summer sports for the 2024/25 season. Your dedication, hard work, and passion for your respective sports have not gone unnoticed, and this achievement is a testament to your commitment and leadership qualities at Cranbrook.
Summer Sport
Captains
Vice – Captains
Athletics
Julian Kelly
Co-Vice Captains: Matt Radvin and Charlie Swain
Basketball
John Dulhunty
Noah Doherty
Cricket
Oscar Wright
Tim Molnar
Rowing
Edward Williams
Edward Hartwright
Sailing
Spencer McKay
Henry Myers
Swimming
Matt Alexiou
Tate Siriani
Tennis
Oliver Berger
Wentworth Twaits
Touch Football
Nick Clemson
James Jackson
Volleyball
Co-Captains: Ethan Jennings and Oliver Da Silva
Water Polo
Co-Captains: Felix Sheldrick and Ethan Negrin
We look forward to a big weekend of sport this weekend as we launch into the summer season. The majority of sports have trial matches before the CAS season kicks off next week. Well done to out 1sts Cricket team who started their season in style against Barker scoring 235 runs on the first day of their two-day match.
Basketball launch their season this evening from 4:15pm as they host Sydney Grammar in the Bounce Cup – they would love a home crowd to support them.
Cricket will also host a Launch event on Hordern to celebrate the opening of the Hordern Cricket Pitch – please find details here.
The Lewis Report. September Holidays
The school holidays were once again used as a great opportunity for development, performance, and practice for our students across a range of sports. Our basketballers have been training very hard and competed in the NBA Sydney Schools Shootout. Our cricketers had several practice matches, which included the first games back at Hordern! Training camps provided our rowers, tennis, and volleyball players with much needed skill refreshers, whilst our water polo students travelled to the Sunshine Coast to play a variety of new opponents.
Having finished second at Nationals in July, our 1st VI sailors qualified to compete in the Interdominion Championships, representing Australia against New Zealand. I was fortunate enough to join them on their trip to Auckland in the third week of the break. It was a brilliant tour, and our students represented not only the school, but the country with pride and sportsmanship in a range of conditions.
Below is a report from Spencer McKay, Captain of Sailing.
Over the October holidays, the 1st sailing team travelled to Auckland, New Zealand for the School Sailing Interdominion Championship, which hosts the top 3 open and female teams from Australia and New Zealand. The team arrived 2 days before the regatta began for some training in what were unfamiliar boats to us. Familiarising ourselves with the boats would be crucial to being able to execute in our racing against the polished Kiwi teams. After 2 days of windy training, the team was set for the championship, however, the forecast was suggesting light winds for 2 of the 3 days of the championship. These first 2 days of racing brought a very light fickle offshore wind that provided difficult conditions to race in, with large shifts in the wind creating a sense of unpredictability. Although being strong on the strategic side of the racing, the limited days of training in the new boats led to a lack of precise execution under pressure, unfortunately resulting in some simple errors and losses. However, the team showed good progression throughout the regatta, breaking the undefeated Auckland Grammar’s winning streak and stringing together multiple solid wins in a row. Although the boys put together some decent races against the top teams from Aus and NZ, the unfamiliarity in these new boats was evident in our inconsistency. The boys should hold their heads high racing in what is the pinnacle event in school sailing.
We are now straight back into training for the State Championship in Term 1 and will be aiming to retain the state title for the 3rd year in a row.
Please find the Term 4 Co-Curricular and Sport Timetable here.
A full outline of this weekend’s fixtures can be found here.
Looking forward to seeing everyone around the grounds this weekend.
Matt Grice Director of Sport
Phil Beverley, Director of Music
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
Performance Plus Keynote – Pathways I am thrilled to begin this term with an invitation for all music students to attend our final Performance Plus Keynote Address for the year. The theme is Pathways.
Date: Monday, 21 October Time: 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm Venue: Orchestra Room
For this event, we will be welcoming three wonderful guests for a panel discussion: Associate Professor Vladimir Gorbachfrom the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Old Cranbrookian Paul Nicolaou, and musician, actor, writer, and comedian Tim Minchin.
All three panelists have varied ways through which they’ve realised their artistic passions. This event is a must if you are curious about unveiling the steps that could be ahead if you are thinking about studying and performing music beyond your years at Cranbrook.
Little Shop of Horrors is sure to wow crowds over the next week and a half. Don’t forget to book your tickets and secure a seat. This is one show not to be Little Shop of Horrors (humanitix.com)
A new Addition to the Team This week, we officially welcome the newest member of the Cranbrook Music Department, Anthony Pasquill. As the Head of Choral and Piano, he will oversee instrumental lessons in these two essential fields as well as serve as the School’s Accompanist and Choral Director P-12, giving shape and direction to the choral programme as a whole.
Mr Pasquill was listed by Limelight magazine as a Rising Star in Australia’s choral scene, and has worked with some of today’s leading conductors, preparing choirs across the UK and Australia. As well as working with young musicians, Mr Pasquill is also heavily involved in the Sydney choral scene as a conductor and has worked with some of Australia’s finest professional choirs and orchestras including the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
He was the Artistic and Musical Director of Bel a cappella having led the ensemble for 14 years and toured Europe twice, pushing the boundaries of choral music with music by MacMillan, Jackson, Twist, Rautavaara, Tormis, Chance, Shaw, Schnittke and other composers.
Year 12 Music complete Year 12 exams are now complete for Music and although they await the results with great anticipation, I would Like to acknowledge the Exceptional work of Wesley Woodhouse and Harry Tennant who both received performance nominations for Encore. This is a good sign of things to come. Congratulations to you both Harry and Wes. For many of this year’s cohort, I’m confident that this is just the beginning of their musical journey. Well done to all.
Goal Setting for the future Now is the time to discuss with your music tutors your musical goals for the coming year. Cranbrook will host AMEB examinations again in Term 3, 2025 and preparations for this should start now. In the coming few weeks please discuss which grade you might sit and purchase original copies of all music that you will need. Preparations need to be well underway before we break for Christmas if you are ambitions for a high level mark. Cranbrook Music Department will be taking AMEB enrolments in the second half of Term 1, 2025. Whether exams are a goal or just a Lunchtime concert performance, goal setting is essential in ensuring progression and engagement with music making.
Lastly, I’d like to reflect on the incredible work of so many students over the course of this year. From our Easter Concert in term One and the incredible talent on display at AMPED and the Spring Festival, to the massed involvement and breadth of musical passion on display at the Sydney Town Hall, thank you for keeping music a part of your child’s life. Your constant encouragement and support at home helps them strive to succeed that little bit more. This really does filter through all they do. It encourages the very best in them as individuals and helps make a positive and impactful contribution to our community.
In recognition of the success of our Town Hall Concert please enjoy these short excerpts from our Town Hall Concert THREADS. I look forward to welcoming you to a music event in the coming weeks and months.
On 24 October Cranbrook will be taking part in an epic 21km walk from Bondi to La Perouse to help raise awareness and funds for 13 different charities across several sectors including mental health, cancer support, families, the environment and Indigenous charities, who do incredible work locally and further afield.
We are delighted to be supporting Cranbrook Old Boy Geoff Coombes AOM and his Stryde4 charity. Geoff has previously raised an incredible $130 million for Tour de Cure since 2007. The event promises to be an exciting one with all students and staff invited to participate in the walk itself along with several activities along the way including treasure hunts, ice baths and lawn bowls.
The day will be an opportunity for us to connect with our chosen charities, each other, and the wider community as we walk in Houses throughout the day. We look forward to seeing you on the day and being able to report back about the success of the event.
NSW Public Health has issued an alert to advise of an outbreak of gastroenteritis from Rotavirus and Norovirus throughout the state over the past few weeks. Symptoms of gastro include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, headaches and fever. The washing of hands with soap before eating and after going to the toilet is an effective preventative measure as well as not sharing water bottles or utensils/food at school. NSW Health also ask parents to keep their student at home until48 hours after the last symptom has passed. If you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to email the nurses at HealthCentre@Cranbrook.nsw.edu.au.
Articles of Interest
A round up of articles to read curated by the boarding staff;
Changes to Public Transport: Message from Transport for NSW
Transport for NSW is making adjustments to the public transport network to connect the new Sydney Metro City & Southwest with Sydney’s trains and buses.
Some changes are already in place including the North and Northwest bus changes on 4 August and Sydney Metro from Chatswood to Sydenham which opened on 19 August.
Transport is preparing to make permanent adjustments on the train and the regional outer metropolitan bus network from 20 October 2024. View the Rail Timetable Fact Sheet here.
The changes will support the final conversion of the T3 Bankstown Line between Sydenham and Bankstown to Metro operations and respond to the introduction of Metro services from Chatswood to Sydenham.
This change will occur during the NSW Higher School Certificate so we therefore encourage students to familiarise themselves with what this may mean for travel to and from school before that date by visiting transportnsw.info
When the train timetable changes, some of the usual transport connections may also change. The Transport for NSW Trip Planner will be updated before the changes take effect.
The Cranbrook School Parents Association (CSPA) is a not-for-profit association of all Cranbrook parents run by an elected committee of Year Representatives, General Committee Members and the Executive. The primary role of the CSPA is to support Cranbrook School, particularly the parent community, fostering goodwill and creating a community that is inclusive and welcoming to all. We are seeking nominations from parents across the whole school community for volunteer roles on the CSPA Committee.
To find out more information about the CSPA, what we do, the Constitution and lots more, please go to Cranbrook Connect Parents Association – Cranbrook Connect
If you are interested in joining our Committee, either as a Year Representative or on the Executive Committee please fill out a nomination form attached and send it to the CSPA secretary (cranbrookspasecretary@gmail.com). Nominations for positions close on Friday 18 October 2024 ahead of the CSPA AGM on Monday 18 November 2024 at which the 2025 Committee will be elected.
The CSPA AGM will be held on Monday 18 November 2024 at 7.00 pm in the Nugent Boardroom, Senior School, followed immediately by the CSPA Term 4 Meeting.
