Phil Beverley, Director of Music

Dear Parents and Caregivers

Welcome to another exciting year of Music at Cranbrook. Wednesday morning saw the first ensembles hit the ground running. Concert Band, Bellevue Strings, Sinfonia and Rock Bands and on Thursday, Choir, all beginning at 7am in their various venues. It was a real buzz to see so many happy smiling students and a real joy to introduce our newcomers from Year 7 to the ensemble programme. All ensembles are up and running next week, together with instrumental lessons which are published through Clipboard and available for view either through the Digistorm App or for students, directly through the Clipboard Portal using their single sign on.

Mr David Russell has served our community with passion and verve over the past 5 years. Mr Russell’s impact has been significant across a vast range of areas of the Cranbrook community. In true Cranbrook spirit, David threw himself into everything, including sports coaching, CITF and his pastoral care work in both Day Houses and Boarding. In addition to his core business of being an exceptional teacher of Curriculum Music and Religious Studies course 7-12, David’s incredible work in bringing Musical Theatre back to life at Cranbrook as well as the exponential growth of the Contemporary Music Programme have helped promote an essential part of music making for hundreds of our students. It came as no surprise that he leaves us to lead a department of his own. I have no doubt David will make his mark as an educational leader at his next School. David, we thank you for your passion, good humour, and immense dedication you’ve shown through the example you’ve set in all you’ve done at Cranbrook. We thank you and wish you well on your next adventure.

Warm Regards

Phil Beverley
Director of Music

Three Islands Classic

The Old Cranbrookians’ Association is proudly supporting the Three Islands Classic (3IC), to be conducted as usual on Sydney Harbour. It’s open to all who are owners or skippers and can beg, borrow or by other means produce a keelboat for the day!

The event will be held on Sunday 30 March 2025 and will commence at 11am with most yachts sailing for approximately one and a half hours. Arrival at Royal Australian Naval Sailing Association (RANSA) will then be around 1pm for an award ceremony at about 2pm.

Cost: $70 to cover the cost of running the 3IC, the use of the venue at RANSA for the post-race raft, TryBooking fees and trophy regeneration.

To register and pay, please click here.

For all enquiries or if you’re just keen to be part of a crew, please contact Rebecca Curran in the Development Office on +61 2 9327 9409 or email alumni@cranbrook.nsw.edu.au

Brook Day: The student Co-Curricular & Sport Student Expo event

Brook Day 2025 launches the Co-Curricular & Sport Programme for Term 1.

The annual student Expo event is always a big hit and this year was no different. Students from Year 7 through to our seniors in Year 12, were keen to check out exactly what is on offer this term and not miss out on a spot…or a lolly or two!

The event showcases Cranbrook’s diverse range of activities and clubs – with something to suit everyone’s interests and hobbies. The benefits for students’ engaging in co-curricular programmes are well documented – active participation strengthens personal development and enhances social connection, not to mention the lifelong friendships and shared community that are frequently formed.

Our Chess stand is always well attended with eager students looking to take on the Senior Students over hotly contested chess matches. Our Senior, Intermediate and Junior teams take on Barker College in Round 1 of the CAS Competition this Friday.

The Debating and Oratory programmes proved ever popular with a huge 90+ students taking part in the Debate Trials this Friday night for a spot on the Competition Debating Team.

For many of our Arts, Drama, STEM and Clubs – the sessions will kick off from Week 3.

A quick thank you to all our student leaders and staff who give their time, expertise and passion in every area of our Co-Curricular Programme.

Michele Marquet, Acting Head of School

Dear Parents and Carers

Our first full week of classes has brought a palpable buzz and busy atmosphere across the School. Sport and co-curricular activities are getting started and our campuses are really coming to life.

New students at Pre-School, Junior School and Senior School are also starting to settle into routines and find their way about the campuses.

This term’s wellbeing theme across the whole School is ‘to be courageous’. Every year, as students move up a year level, take on new opportunities, and meet new teachers and peers, they have opportunities to practise what it means to be courageous. Our new students and staff to Cranbrook or students who are moving from one of our campuses to another, no matter what their age, will be acutely aware of this!

In student wellbeing classes, Assemblies and other events, we are considering what it really means to be courageous in different contexts. We hope through these discussions, our students come to understand what true courage looks like and how it can positively shape your character and prepare you for challenges that lie ahead.

Although many people believe courage is an absence of fear, in reality, it involves facing fears head-on and not avoiding them. Bravery is not about never feeling afraid – but rather about how we act when we may feel scared or frightened and how in the moment when we are feeling afraid, we chose to act. Brave actions are not about recklessness or unsafe risk taking, but rather will consider the consequences of our actions.

In times past, courage and bravery were associated with physical feats. This can still be true, but in our era, facing our fears can be just as much about standing up for what we believe is right, despite opposition or danger, as showing strength and heroism physically. Fear can actually drive our determination to act and to be courageous – pushing us beyond our usual limits and inspiring positive change.

Courageousness and bravery are about weighing risks and deciding something is worth standing up for or fighting for, even when outcomes are uncertain or frightening. To face one’s fears, we need to start to make brave choices in our everyday life and that is what we hope to help our students to recognise.

The key points above and the following tips are taken from the blog, Courage is not the absence of fear: Understanding the essence of bravery.

Practical tips for embracing courage

Acknowledge your fears and confront them head-on. Ignoring or suppressing fear only gives it more power over you.
Cultivate a growth mindset by viewing challenges as opportunities for personal development rather than obstacles.
Surround yourself with supportive and encouraging individuals who uplift and inspire you to be brave.
Practice self-care to maintain emotional resilience, such as meditation, exercise, and sufficient rest.
Set small, achievable goals that gradually push you out of your comfort zone, building confidence with each accomplishment.
Seek constructive feedback from trusted mentors or peers to gain valuable insights and improve your approach to overcoming fears.
Take decisive action despite lingering doubts or uncertainties; small steps forward can lead to significant breakthroughs in courage.

We hope all our families enjoying a productive and happy week ahead.

Kind wishes

Michele Marquet
Acting Head of School

Articles of Interest – Week 2

A round up of articles to read;

How to talk to your teenager about pornography, according to experts.

Blog: Courageously Unbothered: Let Them and Move On

DeepSeek, Nvidia and the AI race that’s shaping the future

Ted Talk: Courage, the most important virtue

Colman Noctor: How to negotiate house rules with your young adult child

All best,

Mackenzie Pedersen

Adrian Harrison, Acting Director of Academics

Teaching and learning
It has been an absolute pleasure to see students fully engaged in their lessons, with learning back in full swing. This now includes our new Year 7 students, who have successfully completed an in-depth orientation programme. During one session, they were asked to write down on a Post It the subjects they were most excited about, with responses including ‘Science,’ ‘Maths,’ ‘D.T.,’ ‘English,’ ‘P.E.,’ and ‘Reading’—a wonderful reflection of their diverse interests.

Additionally, they were invited to name someone who had been particularly kind and supportive during their first few days. As expected, many mentioned ‘mentors,’ ‘Heads of House,’ and ‘peer supporters,’ but it was heartwarming to see several students also recognise ‘Mum and Dad.’ It’s great to know they feel supported from all sides.

We look forward to welcoming you and your child to our Year 7 Curriculum Information Webinar next Monday 10 February. A separate invitation has been sent with further details.

Head’s List for Outstanding Attitude and Effort
The Head’s List is a longstanding Cranbrook tradition, celebrating students who consistently put forth their best effort in every lesson. Based on the 2024 end-of-year reports, we are proud to announce that over 400 students made the list—a new record!

During our recent school assembly, we recognised those who achieved 100% ‘Consistently’ ticks on their reports. We encourage all students to aim for a place on the list, and for those already on it, to strive for the 100% achievement.

Upcoming Academic events

Thursday 6 February
Year 9 Curriculum information webinar – 5.30pm
Year 11 Curriculum information webinar – 6.30pm

Monday 10 February
Year 7 Curriculum information webinar – 6pm

Wednesday 12 February
2024 Scholars Assembly – 10.25am
Year 10 study skills webinar with Dr Salter – 6pm

Have a great week.

Best regards,

Adrian Harrison
Acting Director of Academics

Bob Meakin, Deputy Headmaster & Head of Senior School

Dear Parents and Carers

We commenced Week 2 with Year 7 concluding their orientation programme. I do hope this has assisted our new Year 7 students to settle into the requirements of Senior School life. I would like to commend our Year 10 Peer Support Leaders and the Year 12 Prefects for their assistance in making our new Year 7s feel completely at home.

A reminder to Year 9 and Year 11 parents that there are Curriculum Information webinars this evening. The Year 9 commences at 5.30pm and Year 11 commences at 6.30pm. These are short webinars but hopefully they provide all the information required as the students commence Stage 5 and Stage 6, respectively.

A reminder to parents that if there are any issues, they are to contact their son’s Head of House in the first instance and if the matter is serious, please feel free to contact Mr Matthew Banes for students in Years 7-9 and Miss Elizabeth Fletcher for Years 10-12.

It is great to see our new Cricket nets in full use this term on Hordern Oval. We are now the proud owners of a superb digital scoreboard which will now be used for all matches on Hordern Oval.

Finally, it was wonderful to see so many students at our Brook Day last Friday in the Vicars Centenary Hall. This is where all Co-Curricular activities were showcased to the students, and it was wonderful to see so many Year 7s committing to various clubs and activities going forward.

A reminder for our Year 7 parents that there is a Year 7 Curriculum Information Evening webinar at 6pm and a Foundation Welcome to Year 7 and new parents function on the Mackay Lawn and Governor’s Ballroom on Thursday 13 February commencing at 6pm.

Have a great week.

Bob Meakin
Deputy Headmaster & Head of Senior School

Hannah Thomas, Director of Professional Learning

AI is reshaping education before our eyes, and as teachers, we’re at the forefront of both its opportunities and its challenges.

Last year, Cranbrook School teachers explored how AI can help us work smarter, not harder in teaching and learning. In yesterday’s PD session, we took that conversation further—focusing on one of the most pressing issues in education right now: AI’s impact on academic integrity.

In February 2023, Australia’s Education Ministers recognised generative AI as a national education priority, emphasising the need for schools to balance innovation with ethical responsibility. With concerns around assessment integrity growing, a strategic approach has never been more important.

Yesterday’s ‘Academic Integrity and AI’ session, expertly facilitated by Adrian Harrison and Tara Schmidtke, provided teachers with clarity and practical strategies to support students in demonstrating academic integrity, while making informed decisions about AI use in assessments. This included the use of an innovative framework and template created by Simon Hamblin for reviewing and clarifying acceptable AI use within each assessment notification.

Thanks to Adrian, Tara and Simon for providing teachers with actionable insights and a clearer roadmap for integrating AI responsibly into assessments.

Hannah Thomas
Director of Professional Learning

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

Goal Setting and Student Wellbeing Programme (SWP)
This Wednesday marked the first SWP session of the term, offering students across most Year Groups the opportunity to set their goals for Semester 1. They were encouraged to set an academic, a co-curricular, and a personal goal, which will be monitored by their mentors. Achieving these goals can build confidence, provide a sense of accomplishment, and enhance motivation. However, not meeting a goal is equally important, as it provides valuable learning experiences. Students receive support to understand the reasons behind their setbacks and to problem solve for future success.

Student Wellbeing Programme Themes for Term 1:

Year 7: Courageous Beginnings
Year 8: Navigating Change
Year 9: Stronger Together
Year 10: Finding Your Voice
Year 11: Unlocking Potential
Year 12: Staying Strong

These themes align with our Term 1 focus, To Be Courageous, and aim to support students in various aspects of their personal and academic lives.

Safer Internet Day
Mark your calendars for Safer Internet Day on Tuesday 11 February. Explore helpful resources on the eSafety Commissioner site and School TV. We all play a part in making the internet a safer place for everyone.

For your information:
The NSW Jewish Board of Deputies is hosting a community webinar on Sunday evening to address the issues of antisemitism ͏and security for Jewish school students.

Should anyone be interested please RSVP HERE.

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

Matt Grice, Director of Sport

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Saturday saw the majority of our summer season teams in trials and practice for CAS Round 6 starting this week. The Water Polo community were straight into it though, as they started the combined CAS/GPS competition. Due to our fantastic results in Term 4 all our teams have made it into the top tier competition for the 1^st time in Cranbrook’s history! A tremendous achievement for our Water Polo community. Our 1sts and 2nds had narrow defeats against Knox, while our 3rds, 15Bs, 14As and 14Bs all had strong wins.

Our rowers have been working hard over the weekend and holidays in preparation for this week’s state championships at Penrith. We wish them all the best and look forward to another successful campaign.

It was fantastic to see our new Year 7 students dive into their first Saturday sport experience over the weekend! This marks the beginning of an exciting journey for them. Over the next six years, these students will not only develop their skills but also form strong friendships with their teammates. They’ll create countless memories filled with fun, laughter, and teamwork, and we hope to see them achieving great success along the way.

We’re excited to support the class of 2030’s ongoing growth as athletes and look forward to seeing all they will achieve in the year ahead and beyond.

(Year 7 first week of Cranbrook Sport.)

To Note:

We have 5 weeks until the CAS Swimming Championships. For those students interested in the 2024 Cranbrook CAS representative swim team selection or have any questions regarding selection or swimming at Cranbrook, please email: Daniel Arnamnart, Head of Aquatics – darnamnart@cranbrook.nsw.edu.au

Save the Date: Summer Sports Awards, Friday 14 March 2025 – more details coming soon

This weekend’s fixtures here.

A reminder that Clipboard shows your sports and co-curricular training sessions as well as fixtures – it will also notify of any venue changes or updates.
The T1 2025 Co-Curricular and Sport Schedule can be found here.

Sports Resources – contain essential information regarding sports events, schedules and important updates for the year ahead

2025 Sports Welcome Booklet
2025 Sports Calendar

The Lewis Report: CIS non-Cranbrook sport nominations.

If your child participates in any of the following out-of-school sports and is interested in being nominated to represent Cranbrook in the CIS team, please encourage them to see Mr. Lewis in his office (Level 2, VCH) to discuss further details.

The sports available for nomination are as follows:

CIS Golf (handicap of at least 14)
CIS Touch Football (U15 and Opens)
CIS Hockey (Opens)
CIS Triathlon (team & individual)
CIS Rugby League (U15 and Opens)

Please note that there is a CIS levy for students nominating to attend a trial, which will be passed on to the nominated student’s parent or carer. The levy fee is approximately $35 for any trials attended at the CIS level.

If your child is successful in making it to a CIS team, there will be an expectation to purchase the team uniform. Additionally, parents and carers will be responsible for transporting their child to the competition.

Should your child be selected, parents/carers will also need to seek leave from school for the event through their Head of House.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please do not hesitate to contact me directly at Elewis@cranbrook.nsw.edu.au.

Looking forward to seeing everyone around the grounds this weekend.

Matt Grice
Director of Sport

NBA Basketball School Term 1

The NBA Basketball Term 1 program starts on Tuesday 4 February.

To register, click here.

Cranbrook Bus

Cranbrook School offers the following subsidised private bus services to students from Monday to Friday during the School term.

For a Semester 1 bus pass, the price is $1110 per student or you may purchase an annual bus pass at a discounted price of $2105 per student.

Please use the Humanitix links below to purchase a bus pass:

Eastern Suburbs – click here.
Inner West – click here.
North Shore – click here.

For public transport information please refer to the Transport Information website.

The bus schedules can be found on Cranbrook Connect here.

If you have any questions, please contact bus@cranbrook.nsw.edu.au

2025 Language Trip to Tahiti

An information meeting will be held on Thursday 20 February at 6pm in F3.1 for parents and students of Year 9 to Year 11 interested in the 2025 Language trip to Tahiti.