Michele Marquet, Acting Head of School

Dear Families & Carers

Cranbrook has always espoused a belief in the intrinsic value of a broad and balanced education. Families and staff alike derive so much joy from seeing students engage in a wide range of experiences, from the academic pursuits of the classroom, to the physical and mental challenges of a range of sports, as well as the creative and uplifting opportunities provided across so many domains of the arts. This breadth feeds our souls and helps to foster the development of young people with wide interests, balanced perspectives and an appreciation of those with skills and interests different to their own.

As we put together our end of term overview, it is wonderful to see the range of activities and events that students have participated in this past term is broad and impressive. I hope you enjoy this snapshot of life on our campuses this term.

The staff and I wish all our Cranbrook families a relaxing and safe holiday. We look ahead with eagerness to Term 2.

Kind wishes

Michele Marquet
Acting Head of School

Matt Grice, Director of Sport

Dear Parents and Carers,

Congratulations to our recent Summer Sport Colours and EQV Awards recipients.

We also wish our Cranbrook Football Team the best in their CIS Plate Cup fixture this Friday against Newcastle Grammar School.

With the term break upon us – I would like to wish our students, families, colleagues and staff a great term break – we look forward to seeing you back on field in Term 2.

Don’t forget to check out the Holiday Sport Camps and training sessions that are on offer over the term break – it’s not too late to register and join in, see the details below. 

The holiday schedule can be found here.

Matt Grice
Director of Sport

Angelique Sanders, Director of Student Wellbeing

Dear parents and care givers,

As we wrap up Term 1, we want to extend our appreciation for your unwavering support and partnership. This term has had its challenges however our community is strong and our students are what make us the great school that we are.

Encouraging your sons to reflect and learn from this term’s experiences, including both their successes and the valuable lessons learned from any challenges faced is a vital part of their development. This reflection is crucial for their personal and academic growth and was the basis of our Second Head Prefect Angus Malcom’s address in assembly on Wednesday.

The holidays are an essential time for students to rest and recharge. Year 7 have had a fabulous start to Senior School, but I can see that they are exhausted. Our Year 9’s will return from CITF with many stories to share and most likely a desire to sleep for a few days. Our Year 11 and 12 cohorts have been working extremely hard and deserve the time to rest and recharge.

While enjoying the break, we also encourage students to think ahead to the next term. Setting goals now can help them return with a clear focus and renewed motivation.

We look forward to welcoming our students back next term, ready for new challenges and achievements.

Angelique Sanders
Director of Student Wellbeing

Bob Meakin, Deputy Headmaster & Head of Senior School

Dear Parents and Carers

Yesterday’s Assembly saw the honouring of the Head of School’s Academic Effort Awards with numerous students receiving 100% effort levels on their reports, which is incredibly impressive.  I would like to commend Year 7 in particular for a wonderful first term at the Senior School where so many of these students were on the Honours List. 

We also honoured our Summer Sport Colours recipients.  These are students who have achieved at our highest level in First Teams in various Summer sports.  EQV badges for successful teams will also be distributed tomorrow in House meetings.  All in all it has been a tremendous Summer of sport and students were thanked for their contributions across Term 4 2023 and Term 1 2024. We also congratulated Walter Heeley from Year 8 who won the NSW State Optimist Sailing Championship Grand Prix for Under 15 years sailors.  This is a tremendous achievement. Well done Walter!

We also heard from our President and Secretary of the SRC, Sam Collison and Matthew Downes.  The two leaders spoke extremely enthusiastically about the purpose of the SRC, and students have been encouraged to give feedback to the various House representatives on suggestions for a better school.  Thank you to Sam and Matthew for their efforts representing the student body.

We are receiving a number of questions about the internal car drop off zone around the collection of students at the end of the school day and after co-curricular activities.  The internal car drop off zone is open after school and remains open until 6pm for students to be safely collected. Please use this facility rather than collecting students in other locations around the School, especially avoiding the entrance to the AFC car park which is often congested due to swimming activities.

Finally, I would like to wish everybody a wonderful holiday break, which I hope will be refreshing for all.  I look forward to welcoming students back on Tuesday 30 April.

Warmest wishes

Bob Meakin
Deputy Headmaster & Head of Senior School

Nick Jolly, Director of Academics / Deputy Head of Senior School

Dear Parents and Carers,

At the end of this term and start of next term, parents can expect to receive the following:

Year 7-10: Progress Report (Attitude and effort ticks only)

Year 11 HSC : Full Report

Year 11 IB Diploma : Progress Report

Year 12 HSC: Full Report ( after the start of Term 2)

Year 12 IB Diploma: Full Report (after the start of Term 2)

A reminder that parents in Year 7-10 will now receive a Progress Report that has Attitude and Effort ticks only.  The most comprehensive feedback is on offer on full semester reports and on Canvas through our Continuous Report. 

To access the Continuous Report on Canvas, remember to use your school registered email: https://cranbrookau.instructure.com/login/canvas. The first time you log in you will be required to select Forgot password. You will then be sent a link to your email to create your own password. Please note the parent ‘how to’ guides found here: https://cranbrookau.instructure.com/courses/3277 . 

Head’s List of Academic Attitude and Effort

We were a little delayed this term, however students who placed on the ‘Head’s List’ from Term 1, 2023 received their certificates from Housemasters recently. For new and Year 7 families, allow me to explain the Head’s List. Every school term we use data from school reports to produce the Head’s List of Academic Attitude and Effort. The data is drawn from attitude and effort ticks on school reports. As its name would suggest, the list is based upon attitude and effort only, and not achievement. Therefore, any student can be placed on the list! Last term we had 368 students from Year 7-11 on the list. So, approximately 37% of all students. This is a brilliant number, however, I would love to see it go higher! The Head’s List is a realistic target for all students; I would encourage you to have a conversation with your child/ren about setting this as a goal each term.

Year 9 and 11, 2025 Subject Selection

The focus for Year 8 and especially Year 10 students and families in Term 2 is very much on curriculum and subject selection for next year. I will write to families early in Term 2 explaining the process and events involved. Do, though, start the conversations at home about subject selection for next year.

I wish all in the community a restful school holiday period. See you in Term 2.

Nick Jolly
Director of Academics / Deputy Head of Senior School

Daisy Turnbull, Director of Coeducation and Academy

Dear Parents and Carers,

It has been an incredibly busy term for coeducation at Cranbrook. In Week 5, we hosted an afternoon tea for our incoming Year 7 students, including some of our Year 5 Junior School students, incoming boys and incoming girls. The students were led by our current SRC representatives and learnt the basics of Bin Ball, as well as getting to know each other with some physical bingo.

In Week 10, we hosted the Young Change Agents Academy of Enterprising Girls workshop with over 50 female students from Years 5 – 9. The students were tasked with coming up with a social enterprise idea that solves a problem in their community. From food to a robot delivery service, to banning social media and dog friendly green spaces, the girls showed how effective they can be in solving problems for the future, working as risk takers, thinkers, inquirers, open-minded people, communicators and in a very short amount of time with only a few dozen Taylor Swift mentions throughout the day!

On Monday this week, we hosted Year 10 Kincoppal Rose Bay for the students to listen to Katrina Marson speak on the topic of Relationship education: what’s the point? In this interactive session, Katrina worked with students on the topics of consent, communication and boundaries. Sessions such as these are very important for our students, and even more so to be having the conversation with girls, rather than only hearing half the story, for half the room. 

We have also held information sessions for parents and at the start of Term 2, we will be holding an open evening for Year 9 girls to commence the enrolment process for Year 11, 2026. If you have any questions regarding coeducation, please do not hesitate to contact me or Meredith Stone, Director of Admissions. 

As Cranbrook readies for coeducation, work is being done across the school to ensure holistic preparation. This is being overseen by the Coeducation Transition Committee which includes senior leadership staff and some council members. The committee is divided across fourteen workflows from curriculum and sport to facilities and policies. Over the coming weeks, I will take you through some of the preparation happening in each of the workflows run by the Coeducation Transition Committee.  

The first area which is fundamental to the coeducation transition is our curriculum. As an IB continuum school, all students study the NESA curriculum through the lens of the Middle Years Programme. It is important to note that the vast majority of IB Schools are coeducational.  

Cranbrook will be introducing new curriculum courses in 2025, the year before girls start. We will be looking at the potential of offering HSC Dance and, in time, HSC Food Technology as well, but the latter requires specific learning spaces. Within the IB Diploma Program, we will be offering a World Religions course that aligns with the HSC Studies of Religion course.   

Work is underway in all faculty areas where programmes are being reviewed and where there is a need to refine or rewrite, we are implementing them for 2025. For example, in English, the new and streamlined Stage 4 and Stage 5 Curricula has allowed for opportunities to focus more on an increased number of perspectives that reflects the essential knowledge, understanding and skills that students are expected to learn through the study of a wide range of literature. In Year 7, the students focus on ‘Unleashing Creativity’ in their opening unit, before they explore ‘A Hero’s Journey’ through close studies of The Hunger Games and Book of Dust. Each term brings an increase in rigour through the type of texts studied, but also the concepts and values evident within said texts. From ‘First Nations Stories’ to ‘Overcoming Adversity’ in Year 8, to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and Orwell’s Animal Farm in Year 9, progressing towards the exploration of Macbeth in Year 10, along with a relevant and important ‘Politics and the Media’ unit, the students at Cranbrook are able to draw practical connections between their studies and the real world, preparing them for success in further study and in life. 

It is important to note that Cranbrook already has a broad range of subjects studied and our units of work reflect the world we live in, not the microcosm of a single sex school. So, while we are updating programmes, we recognise that we are already in a more gender inclusive space for many of our subject offerings. 

Daisy Turnbull
Director of Coeducation and Academy

Peter Young, Director of Students

Dear Parents and Carers,

On Friday afternoon Cranbrook will be hosting a range of activities for the students and staff to participate in on the oval. These activities will include classics such as golf chipping, mini football, archery, pickleball, and many more. As well as newer additions including netball and ultimate frisbee, and for the very first time we’ll have an inflatable obstacle course!

Attendance is compulsory for all students in Years 7, 8 , 10 and 11 and exemptions will only be granted in exceptional circumstances.

Lunch: Lunch will be held during period 4, with activities starting at 1pm. The canteen will be open during this time and at recess as normal.

Clothing: PE uniform – House Sports uniform or PE Uniform and runners.

Epi Pen: It is a requirement for students to bring their own Epi Pen. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me via pyoung@cranbrook.nsw.edu.au or call me on 02 9327 9510.

Kind regards,

Peter Young
Director of Students

Year 11 Photography Excursion

As part of their studies in framing the shot, Year 11 Photography students recently captured the vibrant energy of Bondi Beach through their camera lens. The purpose of this excursion was to give students the opportunity to practice and test their photography skills as part of this term’s assessment task on the theme of ‘The Decisive Moment’. As quoted by the master for the decisive moment, Henri Cartier-Bresson states, “Photography is, for me, a spontaneous impulse coming from an ever-attentive eye which captures the moment and its eternity.” For our students, their results are testament to their studies in the decisive moment.

Julian Wrigley
Visual Arts Teacher

Hannah Thomas, Director of Professional Learning

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

This week saw the launch of Cranbrook Senior School’s Peer Coaching Programme. This pilot initiative aims to measure the impact of coaching as a professional learning tool to enhance teacher innovation through solutions-focused conversations.

In the first phase of this programme, 12 Senior School leaders and mentors participated in Growth Coaching International’s ‘Introduction to Leadership Coaching’ course, which provides a grounding in all three elements of effective coaching practice: the GROWTH conversational framework, the key coaching skills and the coaching Way of Being. These practical workshops, facilitated by Sonja Stubbs-Mills and Debbie Lowe, gave trainee coaches the opportunity to apply these elements in a range of conversational contexts.

The next phase of the programme will involve participants coaching a designated conversation partner, a Senior School teacher who is completing an action research project as part of the Cranbrook Teacher Inquiry Group 2024. This series of coaching conversations will occur across Terms 2 – 4, with both coaches and coachees measuring their progress towards a self-determined success descriptor.

Throughout the pilot programme, the peer coaches will continue to develop their coaching skills through ‘triads’ sessions, in which groups of three participants take it in turns to adopt the role of coach, coachee and observer, observing each other’s practice and receiving feedback on their own coaching style. They will also be offered the opportunity to be coached by Caroline Usasz, a Senior School English teacher and professional coach, who has led and embedded professional coaching practices within teams to develop cultures of positive conversations that empower staff and students.

Warm Regards

Hannah Thomas
Director of Professional Learning

Notice of CSPA Meeting

CSPA Term 2 Meeting to be held on Wednesday 8 May at 6.30pm in the Governor’s Ballroom.

Please view the agenda here.

Oratory Article

Cranbrook’s recent Model United Nations Day

On Thursday 28^th March, Cranbrook hosted its first inter-school Model United Nations event for 2024. St Catherine’s, Shore, Rose Bay Secondary, and Sydney Boys High School joined our students for a day of mock Security Council debates on the questions of whistleblowing and violence in Papua New Guinea. The first resolution focused on general protections for whistleblowing in the public interest and encouraging nations to review their laws and regulations to address instances of corruption. The second resolution was more region-specific, with students delving into current internal tensions and socio-economic challenges faced by one of our closest neighbours.

Students worked in mixed-school teams, which provided them opportunity to catch up with friends from other Model UN events and to meet new peers. By the end of the day, every Cranbrookian had been introduced to at least one or two students they’d never encountered through other school activities.

The day’s debates were separated by a special guest speaker visit from Hollie Johnston from Red Cross International. Having had the pleasure of her experience and expertise at a senior talk last year, she returned to facilitate a dialogue and small workshop on humanitarian law and how Red Cross supports countries to determine appropriate and inappropriate targets during conflicts, striving to protect civilian lives and livelihoods as much as possible. It is terrific to have such opportunities to engage with individuals working in government and non-government careers in international affairs, and we look forward to continuing providing our students with guest speaker visits in the coming terms.

Competition Debating

Last Friday night was our final preliminary round of the ISDA Competition. We had wins for our 8s, 10s and Senior As – all of whom are now guaranteed a place in the out-rounds next term! With the 9s out on CITF and some make-up debates for us and other schools, we will be able to confirm whether other Cranbrook teams will also proceed to finals. Exciting times ahead!

See below the ISDA topics, for which Cranbrook was affirmative in all debates:

See below the updated tally:

Eastside debaters went up against SCEGGS Darlinghurst, taking us over the halfway mark of this competition’s preliminaries. We had wins for our 7s, 10s, and 11s. Many teams now sit on 3 wins from 5 rounds, which is looking promising for finals contention next term.

See below the Eastside round topics:

*Information slide: The X Party ran for government in Spain, in 2014. The party had no policies, but instead promised to act in parliament entirely based on the citizen’s wishes as indicated through a direct voting mechanism. Citizens would vote on policies via an app and the party would have raised bills based on popular citizen suggestions on the app.

See below the results for Cranbrook:

AMEB Voice and Communication commences

Last Friday also saw the commencement of the AMEB Voice and Communication syllabus for Years 7-8 students who had recently signed up. This trailblazing group met with Voice coach Ms Caroline Usasz after school, where she introduced the syllabus and spoke more about what it entails. Students gained deeper insight into the formal external exams involved and the sorts of activities they will need to prepare for. Friday was also an opportunity to get to know students, to talk and to explore their own voices.  This was facilitated through practical activities and games as individuals and small groups. By the end of the session everyone had spoken at length.   

Voice and Communication students will spend Terms 2 and 3 preparing for their first formal exams in September of this year, with students able to progress up a series of ‘grades’ that can culminate in achieving a Certificate of Voice and Communication – a useful qualification to have on a CV and which demonstrates capability in speaking confidently and with clarity in a range of contexts.

Public Speaking

This term’s Public Speaking on Mondays has seen record numbers of students in attendance and healthy interest in the external competitions on offer. Our new coach, Luisa, has been instrumental in encouraging students to acquire knowledge and skills in a supportive environment, from the nature of good storytelling, to the art of rhetoric, to successfully engaging in impromptu dialogue. She has also worked closely with competition students, who we recently reported found great success at this year’s Rostrum heats. Next term we also look forward to cheering on students entering the annual Lawrence Campbell, Junior Speaking, and Plain English Speaking competitions.

On Monday, students rounded off the term with an entertaining internal competition based around the Gruen Transfer ‘Sell the Unsellable’ concept. Teams of two or three students applied what they have learnt this term to persuading specific target audiences to accept something. Topics ranged from selling a Donal Trump 2024-28 presidency to Democrats, to popularising mosquitoes as household pets, to holidaying in the most boring town in the world. Teams were evaluated on their creativity and uniqueness, structure and flow, consideration of target audience, and persuasiveness and clarity of expression. Ultimately, two students – Louis Mak and Thomas Nguyen – won the event with their nuanced and humorous selling of the idea that the Earth is shaped as a pear.

Upcoming oratory events

So ends what has been an incredibly full and fulfilling first term to 2024! Our programmes return after the holidays:

• Australia vs USA Policy Debates online on Monday 29^th April
• AMEB Voice and Communication on lunchtime Tuesday 30^th April and after school on Friday 3^rd May
• Model UN on lunchtimes Wednesday 1^st, Thursday 2^nd, and Friday 3^rd May
• Mock Trial, Mooting, and Social Debating on Thursday 2^nd May
• ISDA make up debates and Eastside R6 vs SGHS (both at Cranbrook) on Friday 3^rd May
• Lawrence Campbell Oratory Competition (at Scots College) on Friday 3^rd May
• Public Speaking on Monday 6^th May

Oratory programmes above are fully subscribed for Semester 1

There has been a lot of recent interest in participating in one or more of our oratory programmes listed above. However, close date for sign-ups have long passed and we are presently fully subscribed across all debating, public speaking, and Model UN. We are therefore unable to accept new enrolments. However, students keen to gain access to our resources and prepare themselves for Semester 2 sign-up are welcome to reach out to me (note, we only accept expressions of interest from students directly). Sign-up for Semester 2 offerings will circulate via student email in mid-June.

Contact

Should you or your son have any further questions about any of Cranbrook’s oratory programmes, you are welcome to reach out to the Head of Oratory and Student Journalism, Mr Benjamin Smith, at bsmith@cranbrook.nsw.edu.au. In the first instance, students should be making contact about getting involved.

Essential information and highlights for parents will be posted here on Cranbrook Connect as part of the Thursday Link. Students involved in oratory programmes will receive updates via their respective Canvas or TEAMS channels.

Benjamin Smith
Head of Oratory and Student Journalism

Mother’s and Carer’s Day Breakfast

Dear Cranbrook Mothers and Carers

The Cranbrook School Parents’ Association (CSPA) is pleased to invite you and your son/s to a breakfast at the Senior School, honouring mothers, and carers of our Year 7 to Year 12 students.

Join us on Wednesday 8 May 2024 from 7.15am until 8.20am (Year 7 and Year 12 parents are invited to stay longer if time permits) on the Mackay Lawn and surrounding terraces (atop the Vicars Centenary Building).

Parking is available in surrounding streets. Please contact us directly if you require special parking.

Should you wish to attend and for catering purposes, click here to RSVP.  

For all enquiries, please contact the Development & Community Office on (02) 9327 9409 or via email Foundation@cranbrook.nsw.edu.au

We very much look forward to seeing you there.
 
Samantha Roberts
President
Cranbrook School Parents’ Association

Articles of Interest

Please find articles of interest below compiled each week by members of the boarding staff team.

Podcast:  The Get Down – Youth Athletic Development (Nathan Parnham)

Why I’d rather my kids smoked ciggies than used a smartphone

Creative kids are confident kids. Experts explain why

From ‘Fiction Fanatic’ to ‘Book Abstainer’: which type of reader is your teenager?

We teach school kids about safe sex. We need to teach safe sexting too

Going on a road trip? These games will help you pass the time

All best,

Matt Banes

CRU Camp

Don’t miss out on a CRU Camps for K-Y12! Choose from residential activity camps, HSC & IB study camps or daytime-only camps, all with fantastic activities like sailing, horse riding, rock climbing, archery, canoeing, abseiling, cooking, Year 12 study, plus new friends, engaging Bible talks & more! For more info or to register, visit crucamps.com.au ‘CRU Camps’ is a division of the Crusader Union of Australia which has 90 years’ experience running safe, Christian camps for kids.

NBA Basketball Flyers

Access the Term 1 flyer here.

2024 Cranbrook Snowsports ENTRY Flyer

Click here to register by the 10 May.

Becoming a Member of Cranbrook School

Cranbrook School is a public company limited by guarantee which was established to provide students with a well-rounded, liberal education based on Christian beliefs.

It is governed by the School Council in accordance with its Constitution and has a membership comprised of eligible persons who have made significant contributions to Cranbrook or who are key stakeholders in its mission.

Parent of students in Kindergarten to Year 12 attending Cranbrook are eligible to become a Member of Cranbrook School for so long as they have a child attending the School.

The Members of Cranbrook School play an important role in the governance of Cranbrook. Being a Member entitles you to attend and vote at general meetings of Cranbrook School. This includes attending and voting at the Annual General Meeting, where the matters considered include receiving the statutory financial reports and electing members of the School Council.

If you are not already a Member of Cranbrook School, and wish to become one, please indicate your willingness to do so by completing and returning the application form which can be found on Cranbrook Connect here.

Applications are subject to approval by the School Council, and will be considered at the next possible School Council meeting after receipt of your completed application.

We encourage you to apply to become a Member of Cranbrook School and to take up the opportunity to contribute to the governance of the School.

If you have any questions regarding membership of Cranbrook School, please contact Sarah Deveson, Company Secretary, by email on councilsecretary@cranbrook.nsw.edu.au.

Geoff Lovell                                                                                          
President of School Council