Senior School Link – Week 2, Term 2 2025 - 8 May 2025
Stuart Meade, Acting Head of School
It is a pleasure to be back at Cranbrook, albeit it for this term only prior to Dr Johnstone commencing. Having spent sixteen years here in two iterations, including six as Deputy Head from 1997-2002 along with a few weeks last year, I have great affection for the place and look forward to being part of the community in the coming weeks.
Speaking of Dr Johnstone, the Year 12 students were fortunate to share lunch with her last Friday before the Prefect body had a Q&A session with her. She was impressed with the insightful questions asked and the ‘positive vibe’ as she called it that came from the senior students. That may have been in part because they were collecting their Year 12 jerseys, but I know they were also genuinely interested in finding out her thoughts and ideas on all things Cranbrook.
Quite a few of the questions were around school culture – “What was it like at her current school, Ravenswood?”, and she asked the boys what it was like here. To my mind, in a school, culture is king. In its simplest form, culture can be defined as “how we do things around here”. In the Senior School Assembly this week, I asked the boys to reflect, individually or in mentor groups or classes, how would they describe the student culture here and what part are they playing in that? Representing the School in sports or other activities is one part; helping a friend, engaging in something which has a positive impact on others or contributing to something bigger than yourself are parts of the culture piece that underpins so much of what goes on here.
From a person far wiser than I am, Professor Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, said “It is our choices, Harry, that show who we truly are, far more than our abilities.” Guiding our students to make wise and informed choices is vital and the partnership between home and school in this space is central to it all. It is worth the time and effort.
It is wonderful to have the students back on campus for a new term. I am enjoying the many events and activities currently taking place: sport, music, drama, academic achievement, service activities, social events – the opportunities are endless. And to see the large crowd at the CSPA Mother’s Day breakfast this week was further evidence of the strength of the partnership mentioned above. Thank you to Angelique Haritos and her team for their organisation of this event.
I am looking forward to seeing all that unfolds in the weeks ahead and I wish all families an enjoyable term.
With good wishes
Stuart Meade Acting Head of School
Bob Meakin, Head of Senior School / Deputy Headmaster
Dear Parents and Carers
Yesterday morning the CSPA hosted the annual Mother’s Day Breakfast at the Senior School. It was a tremendous family atmosphere, and it was great to see mothers and sons enjoying a hearty breakfast together. Sincere thanks to all those who attended.
In yesterday’s Assembly, our Winter Sports Captains were announced by our Director of Sport, Mr Matthew Grice. We also celebrated the School Sailing Teams State Championships, where both Cranbrook’s 1sts and 2nds Sailing crews made the State Finals, with our 1sts narrowly beating the 2nds for the State title. The trophy was awarded to Spencer McKay with huge applause from the School. Tane Firth, Student Head of Library delivered a rousing speech that was exactly one minute long to promote the Battle of the Books between Cranbrook and Ascham. This event commences on 23 June, and we look forward to Tane leading the charge in that competition. We also heard from Felix Malcolm, our Academic Senior Prefect who celebrated many students’ progresses in a wide range of subjects. Felix has done a fantastic job in promoting the Academic life of the School across all Year Groups. We also received an update on coeducation from Ms Turnbull and two students from the Coeducation Committee, Max Scales and Slade Keating, who delivered informative speeches on the work of the committee.
Next week is National Boarding Week, Hugo Andreas and Archie McConnochie promoted this to the School and invited students and staff to tour our Boarding Houses next Wednesday.
Congratulations to Perkins House for their Courage video which took out the Inter-House video competition and sent a strong theme of ‘having a go and improving’. We also heard from our Acting Head of School, Mr Stuart Meade about efforts across all areas of the school community for the term ahead.
A reminder to Year 11 parents that Parent / Teacher evening is next Monday, and I hope this evening goes well for families. Year 10 families are also encouraged to attend the Year 11 2026 Subject Selection webinar on Wednesday 14 May.
Have a great week.
Best wishes,
Bob Meakin Head of Senior School / Deputy Headmaster
Adrian Harrison, Acting Director of Academics
Last Friday we got a snapshot of what co-educational life will look like at Cranbrook. Our Year 12 IB Diploma students had the privilege of hosting contemporaries from Monte Saint Angelo. The girls form North Sydney joined us for multiple sessions focused upon their Extended Essay’s. The ‘EE’ is part of the IB Core and is a 4000-word essay on an area and subject of the student’s personal interest. They are provided with an in school mentor who guides them through the ideation and writing process in the development of this significant body of work. This combined workshop gave students a chance to test their essays, the hypothesis and the arguments contained within in a collaborative a purposeful way. Focused lectures were offered by staff of monte and Cranbrook and this served as excellent preparation for student’s initial drafts that were submitted this week. A huge thank you to Ms Tara Schmidtke and Mr Nick Hanrahan for their facilitation of this afternoon.
A reminder about our upcoming Year 10 (Year 11 2026) subject selection webinar Wednesday 14 May. This webinar link will be sent separately and will be recorded and shared for those families unable to attend. Should you have any enquiries please reach out to @Bec Karp who will be able to assist. We look forward to seeing many of you there.
Best regards,
Adrian Harrison Acting Director of Academics
The IB Continuum Advantage: Why the IB Diploma Programme Delivers More Than Just Results
Term 2 is a consequential but genuinely exciting one for Year 10 students who must, by term’s end, make a decision about which academic pathway to follow in their senior years of schooling: the IB or the HSC.
In making these decisions, students are often encouraged to reflect on the subjects they enjoy or have performed well in. But it is also important that students start to look forward and consider how to best position themselves for the complex, fast changing and globalised world that awaits them beyond the school gate.
Since its inception in the late 1960s, the IB Diploma Programme has been developed and optimised to prepare students for such a world. In fact, research consistently highlights the benefits of the IB Diploma Programme (DP) across a range of educational contexts. DP students demonstrate high levels of critical thinking and 21st-century skills such as leadership, time management, and global-mindedness. They also show great awareness of civic structures and are more engaged in global issues.
In terms of university readiness, research also shows that DP students are likely to enrol in top institutions, persist into their second year, and perform well academically, often feeling very prepared for research and academic writing. The programme’s core components—Theory of Knowledge (TOK), the Extended Essay (EE), and Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS)—contribute meaningfully to students’ development as independent thinkers, capable researchers, and reflective collaborators.
As members of an IB Continuum school, Year 10 students at Cranbrook who opt for the Diploma Programme will also be at a considerable advantage when they commence studies next year. It has been shown that students who complete the Middle Years Programme (MYP) often transition more smoothly and successfully into the Diploma Programme (DP). They also achieve higher overall DP scores and stronger results across disciplines such as languages, mathematics, and individuals and societies. MYP students are also more likely to apply higher-order thinking skills—like critical and analytical reasoning—and demonstrate greater international-mindedness, civic awareness, and collaboration skills. These qualities align with the goals of the DP and support confidence, engagement, and academic resilience in senior and tertiary studies.
Parents and students interested in the Diploma Programme are invited to further consult the IBO’s public website and to keep an eye on the international press (see below), which is increasingly speaking to the benefits of, and demand for, the rigorous and holistic education the IB Diploma offers.
This week Slade Keating, Max Scales, and I spoke at Senior School assembly on the coeducation transition. I spoke very briefly about the questions students are often asking and confirmed some details you have all read and heard before:
We will have around 30% girls in Year 7 2026
There will be girls in all the day houses from 2026
The boys will continue to compete in the CAS competitions, and girls will be part of the ISA competition
Below are the speeches Slade and Max gave, which I think speak far more importantly to the culture the students are leading towards coeducation. Please remind your sons that if they have any questions regarding coeducation they can ask their mentors, Heads of Houses, myself, or attend the Student Coeducation Committee on Monday Week A lunchtimes on Level 5 of the Senior building (Year 11 College).
Slade Keating’s Speech:
My name is Slade Keating, and I am a representative of the Coed Committee…
What is the Coed Committee? – put simply: Ms. Turnbull, and a handful of dedicated committee members regularly engage in the topic of next year’s coeducation and what we can do to make the transition as seamless as possible.
We’re at a significant moment in our school’s history. In just two terms, Cranbrook will welcome girls for the first time since our founding. Naturally, a lot of questions have come up: What’s it going to be like? How Many girls are allocated per house? What will sport and co-curricular look like? Can boys play netball as well? And so much more…
These are valid questions. So lets keep asking. Let’s talk about these things now, so by the time, next year rolls around, we’re not caught off guard. We’re ready, ready not just to welcome new students, but to show who we are by how we keep traditions, and how we are going to build new ones.
I understand the nerves and the initial concern that school life might change. but let me offer you this perspective: Cranbrook’s strength has never come from staying the same – it’s come from evolving, while keeping our core values at heart. Not letting facility changes, media interruptions or any other external factors affect what makes our school special.
Before I came to Cranbrook – I went to a coed school in London. And what I learned is this…the nerves fade pretty quickly. In just a few days you come to realise…
Fellowship doesn’t divide – it multiplies.
Friendships aren’t limited by gender – they grow.
And soon, it just feels normal.
There is so much to look forward to, not just next year but the terms to come. I invite you all to get involved and come along to the coed committee on Monday Lunch in S5 . Make your voice part of this new chapter and share your ideas, hopes and proposals.
Because the future of Cranbrook isn’t going to be led by a few prefects or year 12s – it’s about all of us, together.
Keep what’s great, build what’s missing.
Thank you.
Max Scales’ Speech:
For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Max, and I’ve been part of the Co-Ed Committee this year. As Slade had already touched on, we have been working quietly in the background helping prepare the school for this shift next year, and today, I just wanted to share a few thoughts of mine and offer a perspective as we get closer to this new chapter, in the hopes that some of you will want to share your thoughts with us as well.
Change is something that we have been focusing very heavily on, and one of our biggest realisations – and this may sound obvious – is that change can sometimes not come naturally to people, and I want all of you to know that that is completely okay. Sometimes we may find ourselves opposing change because it’s far easier to want to remain where we are and in what is comfortable for us.
As I’m sure all of you know, that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth it. If we cling too tightly to what we know, we risk missing out on who we could become. I hope that you will see this exciting opportunity for a chance to evolve, to adapt, and to move forward.
I spent time at a co-ed school on exchange last year, and what stood out to me the most wasn’t how different it was, but rather how normal it felt and learning alongside new and different people didn’t divide us but actually brought us closer together.
There is a philosophy that I think we can all gain something from by implementing it into our lives, which goes far beyond just the change next year. And that is to be like water. But why am I using such a basic element of our life to explain to you how to go about navigating change?
It is for one simple reason. Water does not resist; it adapts. It flows around obstacles and it takes the shape of whatever container it’s in — not because it’s weak, but because it’s flexible and strong in its own way.
In life and especially with this change, I encourage you to be open, responsive, and unafraid to shift. Do not fight or resist obstacles, but rather be fluid, adaptable and have that unique but powerful ability to change no matter the time or the situation, just like water does.
If you have any questions or comments, please approach us;. Or come to S5 on Monday, week A, at lunch if you feel like having a chat with us – we would love to hear your thoughts.
Daisy Turnbull Director of Coeducation and Academy
‘Museum of Persepolis’ Exhibition
At the end of Term 1 the Year 11 IBDP English A students hosted the ‘Museum of Persepolis’ exhibition as a conclusion to their study of the graphic novel memoir ‘Persepolis’ by Marjane Satrapi. The students worked collaboratively in small groups to produce a museum audio guide, showcase their knowledge and understanding of both contextual and symbolic meaning within the text. In true IB style, students were tasked with a ‘real life scenario’ to choose an artefact from the text, create an audio script and recording showcasing the stories of human experiences during the Iranian Revolution (circa 1979-1990). Their script had to explore the significance of the artefact within the text, exploring evidence from the graphic novel. The task outlined The Museum of Persepolis as having the primary purpose to inform of the differing experiences of individuals during the overthrow of the Shah and uprising of Islamic theocratic leader Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini. The students also had to include information to explore a further secondary purpose of analysing the effect of social, historical and cultural context on individual’s personal experiences.
The Cranbrook English department has a commitment to developing student understanding through inquiry based, independent learning to empower every student, regardless of ability. This short IBDP project allowed the students to showcase their learning creatively, and has helped them engage with Global Issues that are at the heart of the English curriculum. The students will now develop these ideas into practice Individual Oral activities to help prepare them for their Internal Assessment later this year.
Carline Usasz Assistant Head of Department – English (Stage 6)
Angelique Sanders, Director of Student Wellbeing/Acting Deputy Head of Senior School
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
We heard some very powerful messages in Assembly this week. Representatives from our Student Co-Ed committee, Slade Keating and Max Scales, shared with the student body what they have been working on as part of the transition. Slade spoke about his time on exchange at a Co-Ed school made him realise just how normal it felt to be learning alongside girls. Max spoke about how humans can either fear change and the unknown or embrace it as an inevitable part of life. He acknowledged that there may be students who are fearful of the change to our school community, but he used Bruce Lee’s quote, “Be like Water,” to illustrate to the students that flexibility enables us to adapt, thrive, and seamlessly flow with changes, shaping ourselves to fit any situation. It was a good reminder for our young people that when they face new challenges or changes, they have the choice to either become stuck and cornered by obstacles or to find ways to be flexible and flow around them.
Elizabeth Fletcher, our Dean of Student Years 10-12 also reminded the students as we embark on Term 2, to remember the power of building and maintaining relationships; between themselves but also with their teachers. Good, strong relationships create a supportive environment that encourages collaboration, trust, and a sense of belonging. These connections help students feel more engaged and motivated, leading to improved learning outcomes and overall well-being.
As we prepare for our Co-Ed transition along with focusing on building and fostering relationships, please explore these valuable resources on SchoolTV. They offer guidance on how you can continue the conversations at home, that we are having daily at school.
Angelique Sanders Director of Student Wellbeing/Acting Deputy Head of Senior School
Matt Grice, Director of Sport
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Cranbrook’s 1st, 2nd, and 3rd sailing teams competed over the weekend at the State Sailing Championships, held at Georges River Sailing Club. The competition has become one of the highlights of the school sailing calendar, and for the past four years, the final has been a tightly contested battle between the Scots 1sts and Cranbrook 1sts. This year, however, history was made. Our Cranbrook 2nds delivered a sensational performance, knocking out the Scots 1sts in a dramatic semi-final. This remarkable achievement set up an all-Cranbrook final for the first time in the competition’s history.
In the final, our 1sts narrowly edged out the 2nds in a thrilling and highly competitive series of races. Both teams are to be commended not only for their exceptional sailing but also for their outstanding sportsmanship and conduct throughout the event.
Meanwhile, our 3rds also had a fantastic regatta, finishing a very respectable 7th place in a strong field.
A huge congratulations to the entire Cranbrook sailing community for their hard work, determination, and richly deserved results. It was a weekend to remember!
A quick shout out to our Head Groundsman Matthew O’Brien and his team for all their hard work over the break with all of our fields. Hordern certainly looks amazing at the moment! Rain unfortunately did cancel quite a few matches on council grounds but a huge thank you to Mr Lewis and Mr Roughan for their help at 6:00am Saturday morning, removing covers and water off Dangar and Hordern to get them ready for the day’s play.
Last Saturday marked the beginning of the CAS Competition for most of our Winter sports, with rugby beginning its trial matches. Football kicked off the season with a challenging fixture against a strong Barker side. The 1st XI faced a tough loss and will be working hard this week to regroup ahead of their upcoming match against Trinity. The 2nd XI also suffered a narrow defeat, conceding an injury-time goal in what was a highly entertaining and closely contested match.
Our Year 7 Football teams had a fantastic start to their winter season, achieving victories across all grades—a tremendous achievement that sets a positive tone for the term ahead.
A big congratulations to the Volleyball program, which started the season with a bang. All Opens teams—1sts, 2nds, 3rds, and 4ths—secured emphatic 3-0 victories against Barker, showcasing depth and strong preparation across the board.
Rugby took on GPS powerhouse Riverview in trial matches. Once again, our Year 7 students led from the front, demonstrating grit and competitiveness in their games. A special mention goes to Mr Meakin’s mighty 3rds, who pulled off a thrilling win with a try in the final play of the game.
The Mighty 3rd XV
Earlier this week, Cranbrook sent a team of 12 students to the CIS Swimming Championships held at Sydney Olympic Park on Monday, 5 May, and Tuesday, 6 May. Over two days of strong racing, our students delivered an extraordinary set of performances, breaking 10 School Records, 3 CIS Records, and achieving 11 Gold, 2 Silver, and 4 Bronze medals—our best CIS result ever. This resulted in 7 students qualifying for All Schools. We extend our congratulations to Year 7 Student Thomas Penny , who was awarded the male swimmer of the meet. Well done to all involved.
With the Winter Season officially underway, we recognised and celebrated the 2025 Winter Sport Captains at the Whole School Assembly. These students will guide their teams and their sports through the season, celebrating victories and performances and supporting their teams through the challenges that lie ahead. Congratulations to you all.
2025 Winter Sport Captains:
Sport
Captain
Vice-Captain
AFL
Edward Neal
Co-Vice Captains: Jack Tremain and Noah Doherty
Cross Country
Huon Groves
Football
Shannon Selby
Ben Olschewski
Rugby
Co-Captains: Baxter Torrance and Jack Weeks
Snow Sports
Co-Captains: Sach Edwards and Elliot Roberts
Winter Tennis
Oliver Berger
Wentworth Twaits
Winter Volleyball
William Rowe
Charles Cox
Lewis Report: AFL 1st XVIII
Round 1 of the 2025 Winter season saw our 1st XVIII AFL side take on St Aloysius on Saturday afternoon. A week of rain meant the fixture was rescheduled from Friday night to Saturday afternoon. The sun was shining and the field was set for a great game of Aussie Rules.
Our team came out strong, scoring the first goal of the match. St Aloysius quickly replied with a goal of their own, and it was tick for tack for the rest of the quarter. Eddy Chubb put 2 through the middle to give Cranbrook a 21-13 lead at quarter time.
The second quarter saw new skipper Ed Neal score as well as Oscar Wright continuing to present well in the forward line. Despite full back, Ben Nahlous’ locking down his opponent, St Aloysius managed to bring their deficit back to 2 points; 41-39 at half time.
The third quarter started with St Aloysius taking the lead for the first time as they kicked an early goal. Cranbrook responded well, and Slade Keating’s midfield pressure kept our opposition goalless for the remainder of the quarter. Offensively, young gun Matthew Davey consistently led well, giving our backs and midfielders options all over the ground. Our 1sts managed to extend their lead to 54-47 at the final break.
It all came down to the fourth quarter. An early goal for debutant Maddox Whitby possibly made us too complacent as we then allowed St Aloysius to swing the momentum back in their favour. Our opponents scored 3 unanswered goals to match our score and then take the lead. With 8 minutes remaining and the score sitting at 62-67 we managed to get the ball into our forward line. The ball was hotly contested for the rest of the quarter. Despite our best efforts, the ball pressure was too much for us as we managed just 2 more behinds. Final score 63-67. A tough loss but plenty of positives to take from an extremely tight game.
Eddie Lewis, Sport Operational Coordinator P-12
Please download the upcoming weekend’s fixtureshere.
To Note:
The T2 2025 Co-Curricular and Sport Schedule can be accessed here.
Sports Resources – contain essential information regarding sports events, schedules and important updates for the year ahead
Looking forward to seeing everyone around the grounds this weekend.
Matt Grice Director of Sport
CIS Swimming 2025
Cranbrook sent a team of 12 students to the CIS Swimming Championships held at Sydney Olympic Park on Monday, 5 May, and Tuesday, 6 May.
Over two days of strong racing, our students delivered an extraordinary set of performances, breaking 10 School Records, 3 CIS Records, and achieving 11 Gold, 2 Silver, and 4 Bronze medals—our best CIS result ever. This resulted in 7 students qualifying for All Schools.
Day 1 The first session took place on Monday evening, beginning with the 50m Freestyle. Cranbrook started strong with Aodhan Taylor (Year 7) and Thomas Penny (Year 7) representing us in the first event, the Men’s 12–13 Years 50m Freestyle. Both students swam personal best times, each finishing under the school record by nearly a second, with Aodhan placing 2nd in 26.53 and Thomas placing 3rd in 26.59.
Noah Kemp (Year 9) was next up in the Men’s 15 Years 50m Freestyle, placing 7th in 25.38, narrowly missing the school record. Oliver Minning (Year 12) closed out the 50m Freestyle events, finishing 6th in the 17 Years age group with a time of 25.01.
Our medley relays followed, beginning with the 12–14 Years Medley Relay team: Thomas Penny (Backstroke), Carter McGee (Year 8 – Breaststroke), Aodhan Taylor (Butterfly), and Charlie Roberts (Year 7 – Freestyle). The team raced well to finish 6th, positioning themselves strongly for 2026, with three of the four swimmers aged only 13 in a field dominated by 14-year-olds.
In the Open Medley Relay, Tate Sirianni (Year 12 – Backstroke), Aidan Park (Year 9 – Breaststroke), Matthew Alexiou (Butterfly), and Oliver Minning (Freestyle) delivered an outstanding performance. Tate led off with a 27.38, putting the team in 1st. Aidan, stepping up from the 15 Years age group to race in the opens, split a 30.50 to hold the lead. Matt swam a strong butterfly leg, followed by Oliver, who split a full second faster than his individual 50m Freestyle to secure 3rd place in 1:48.73—smashing the school record by 4.26 seconds.
Thomas Penny, in his third race of the night, won the 12–14 Years 200m Individual Medley by over four body lengths in 2:18.49, improving his own CAS-set school record by 0.91 seconds.
The 12–14 Years 4x50m Freestyle Relay saw Aodhan Taylor lead off, touching first. Carter McGee and Charlie Roberts followed with strong second and third legs, and Thomas Penny anchored with a blistering 25.5 split. The team finished 4th, narrowly missing All Schools selection—another dominant effort from a team of 13-year-olds racing up an age group.
We ended Day 1 with the All Age 6x50m Relay: Felix Freiman Yr 7 (12), making his representative debut after a late change in the 12 years age group, Thomas Penny (13), Carter McGee (14), Noah Kemp (15), Jack Charles (16), and Matthew Alexiou (17). Despite two late Cranbrook withdrawals in the 12 and 16 age brackets, and unable to race a full strength team, they finished 5th.
Day 2 Back at Olympic Park early Tuesday morning, the day started with the 200m Breaststroke. Jack Charles, returning from two weeks of illness and unable to train leading into the event, finished a respectable 5th.
In the 50m Butterfly, Aodhan Taylor (Year 7) claimed gold and broke the CIS and school records with a time of 26.81, bettering the previous CIS mark by over half a second. Due to combined age groups at CIS in the 100m races, Aodhan was unable to swim his preferred 100m Butterfly, but his personal best earned All Schools selection for this event.
Noah Kemp also competed in the 50m Butterfly, winning bronze and qualifying for All Schools with a new school record of 26.80—missing 2nd place by just 0.01. Swim Captain Matthew Alexiou also raced in the 50m Butterfly, in his final individual school race, placed 4th in 26.40.
Noah Kemp then swam the 100m Freestyle, finishing 4th in a near personal best of 54.85, and went on to win gold in the 50m Backstroke, breaking the school record with a time of 28.99.
Thomas Penny had an intense Day 2 schedule, racing seven individual events—more than any other competitor at CIS. Tom competed in a tough age category, having to race the 14 & Under students in the 100m and 200m races (to be separated for All Schools). Thomas started the day with the 200m Freestyle in a School Record time of 2.00.42, Tom showed his skill and raced well above his year by controlling the 1st 100m of the race before storming off in the 2nd 100m putting more than 4 body lengths on 2nd place. Tom went on to win another Gold in the 100m Backstroke in a 1:04.16, winning by 2 body lengths.
Later in the day Tom had a hard-fought battle in the 100m Freestyle, finishing in 2nd place to a Scots student, with both students swimming under the CIS record time. This didn’t hold Tom back, next race he went head-to-head with the same Scots students but claimed gold in this race, the 50m Backstroke in a new CIS and School Record time of 29.75. Completing the trio of golds Tom went on to win Gold in the 200m backstroke, claiming victory in the 50,100 & 200m Backstroke events. Tom finished the meet with 5 Gold, 2 Silver and 2 Bronze medals, as well as 2 CIS Records.
Tom wasn’t the only Cranbrook student to win a trio of Golds in the Backstroke. Tate Sirianni, the Vice-Captain also won Gold in the 50m, 100m and 200m Backstroke events. Tate was battling illness leading into the meet but still managed to break the CIS and school record in the 100m Backstroke in a time of 57.75. Tate also broke the School record in the 50m Backstroke and missed the 200m CIS record by .03 of second, which is held by Cranbrook swimming coach Scott Swinburn. Tate also claimed silver in the Opens 100m Freestyle.
Also in the 100m Freestyle, Carter McGee placed a respectable 5th place in 58.85—his first time under 59 seconds.
Ollie Minning raced his 2nd individual race of the meet and finished in 6th place with a personal best time of 28.84, which equalled the school record before Tate Sirianni broke it the next heat.
Aidan Park swam a blistering 50m Breaststroke in 30.16 to win gold, defeating the Knox swimmer for the first time. He narrowly missed the school and CIS records—set by Nicholas Stoupas in 2023—by just 0.10. Although Aidan didn’t swim his preferred 100m Breaststroke at CIS due to age groupings, he qualified for All Schools based on his personal best. Overall this marked Cranbrook’s best ever performance at the CIS Swimming Championships with 7 students qualified for the All Schools championships on the 22nd and 23rd of May. Additionally, 10 more Cranbrook Aquatic Swim Club students represented their schools at CIS. Among them, 2 broke CIS records and 6 progressed to All Schools.
Daniel Arnamnart Head of Aquatics
NBA Basketball School Australia Camp 2025
Click herefor information regarding 2025 NBA Basketball School Camp.
Phil Beverley, Director of Music
Dear Parents and Caregivers
Performance Plus Value Add This term’s Performance Plus masterclass was unique, flipping the learning in more ways than one. The dynamic trio of Mr Martyn Hentschel, Mr Christopher Hayles and Mr Anthony Pasquill were given the task of executing the music in the way our students wanted. Led by Dr Elizabeth Scott who worked with the students to ensure the staff were kept on their toes, and enhancing the way in which we think about preparation for performance. Taking a step back and looking at the intent of what students are going to do on stage adds such a rich character to their final performance.
Elective Music on Excursion On May 6th, Year 10 students embarked on a cultural and musical excursion to the Sydney Conservatorium of Music for a practical Balinese Gamelan workshop. After a scenic ferry ride and walk from Circular Quay, we were welcomed by the vibrant sound of a trumpet before diving straight into the workshop. Led by instructor Belinda Smith, this workshop introduced us to the rich traditions and cultural background of Gamelan music and its unique set of instruments, in which we learned how to play. As an ensemble, we all shared the equal struggle of learning the interlocking rhythmic patterns that are so prominent within Gamelan music–challenging at first, but ultimately a fun and rewarding experience that allowed us to have better adaptability, hand coordination and a better overall understanding of how the textural layers are present but different from western, jazz or classical music that we were so familiar with. This hands-on workshop ties in perfectly with our topic “Music of Culture,” aiming to understand the different musical structures and elements of many other cultures and expressing these through our personal choices as composers when we will make our own Gamelan-inspired pieces of music. This day offered many valuable insights into the cultural and textural elements of Gamelan music, making it both an educational and memorable experience. Ming Zhang Music Elective Student Year 10
Schedule of Key Music Events
Week 4: Wednesday 21 May
Jazz Night – (6.30pm – 9pm) Packer Theatre
Week 5: Monday 26 May
AMPED – “She Will Rock You” two shows (6pm and 7.30pm – until 9pm) The Factory Theatre
Week 6: Wednesday 4 June
Soirée – Orchestra Room (6.30pm – 8pm)
Week 8: Monday 15 June
Showcase Concert – (7pm – 9pm) Sydney Town Hall
Week 8: Thursday 19 June
Krokodiloes (6.30pm) Theatre
Warm Regards
Phil Beverley Director of Music
Kip Williams Earns Tony Nomination for Best Direction of a Play
In a landmark moment for Australian theatre, Kip Williams (OC 2004) has been nominated for Best Direction of a Play at the 2025 Tony Awards. The nomination honours Williams’ visionary direction of “The Picture of Dorian Gray“, a production that has captivated Broadway audiences with its bold fusion of live video, dynamic staging, and emotionally resonant storytelling.
Williams, widely regarded as one of Australia’s most innovative theatrical talents, has consistently pushed the boundaries of traditional stagecraft. His signature style—seamlessly integrating multimedia and live performance—has drawn acclaim both at home and abroad. “The Picture of Dorian Gray” marks his Broadway debut, bringing his distinctive creative voice to one of theatre’s most prestigious stages. The Tony Awards, widely considered the highest honour in theatre, will be presented on June 8, 2025 at Lincoln Center in New York City.
Whether Williams takes home the coveted trophy or not, his nomination already stands as a significant cultural milestone—one that bridges continents and showcases the power of daring, imaginative storytelling, and the pathway that Cranbrook Drama offers our students.
Andrew Benson Head of Drama
ScreenshotScreenshot
Linking Learning to Action
This week Nick Hanrahan and Aaron Nolan led an insightful and inspiring session for Cranbrook School’s Diploma Programme teachers on ‘CAS and the IB Curriculum: Linking Learning to Action’.
The session powerfully reinforced the International Baccalaureate mission by reminding us of our responsibility to nurture caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world. It highlighted the importance of lifting the core and integrating it meaningfully across disciplines.
Nick’s presentation helped us see CAS as an opportunity to connect academic learning with purposeful action through creativity, activity and service.
Aaron then supported teachers collaborating in subject groups to identify real world issues linked to their units and explore meaningful CAS connections. For example, the Language and Literature team discussed using a global issue from a core text or explored in a student’s Individual Oral as a springboard for a picture book project. Students could create a picture book that communicates that global issue in an age appropriate way for primary school children, then volunteer to read and donate their books to the school.
Thank you Nick and Aaron for showing us how authentic CAS links can deepen student engagement and connect classroom learning to the world beyond school.
Mackenzie Pedersen Science Teacher, Resident Tutor and Assistant Head of Science
Chaplain’s Note
Leadership through service has been an aspiration of our school from its very beginning, and to illustrate this I thought I would share with you the story of a family whose service and sacrifice exemplify such aspiration and the character of our school.
One of our Founders was Reverend Edward Howard Lea, the rector of St Mark’s Anglican Church, Darling Point. It was at his house that the first meetings took place for the founding of our school. Edward Howard Lea was a man of vision and service. Cranbrook was not the only institution he played a part in founding. He served on a council for fulfilling the spiritual needs of people in the bush, and he would be the first to radio broadcast a church service to do so. He also helped establish St Luke’s hospital in Potts Point, which, like Cranbrook, remains in operation to this day.
It was said that he was a person of ‘dignity, which was wedded to a warm and generous nature, an engaging charm, and a capacity for unflagging zeal not only in the interests of the Church, but in the wider needs of the community’. His was a life of service, of which we are in part the beneficiaries.
Which brings us to his son, Reginald, who attended the school his father had helped found. Reginald John Howard Lea was born in December 1915, so was 2 ½ years old when our school was founded in 1918 and may have been playing at the feet of those who planned it as they thought of future students like him one day coming here. After graduating from Cranbrook, he studied Arts and Law at Sydney University and at 20 joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 1935.
Sadly, six years later, in June 1941, during WW2, he would be killed in air combat above Syria, providing air cover to soldiers like my grandfather who was fighting in the Australian 7th Division there. Reginald is remembered on our Honour Roll which overlooks the Mackay Lawn, in the Book of Remembrance at Sydney University, the Australian War Memorial WW2 Honour Roll and the Beirut War Cemetery.
Jesus, before his own death, said to his disciples, “My command is this: love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:12-13). Loving service, whether of country or community, does not require death, but it does involve sacrifices. These may be in time, energy, interest and/or resources.
When we are more mindful of the sacrifices others have made in our service, I hope that it will help us to be more motivated and generous in our service of others in turn.
At the Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park there is an installation which includes dirt from the various battlefields where Australian servicemen have fought and died. Surrounding this floor installation is a circular wall with soil from communities all around our state. It is a reminder that it was ordinary people, from ordinary places who were prepared to make extraordinary sacrifices in the service of others.
To be a school which aspires to leadership through service, we would do well to remember those who have given of themselves for our flourishing, people like Reverend and Reginald Howard Lea, people like our mothers! God himself sets this example for us in his own sacrifice and says to his followers, ‘love each other as I have loved you’.
So, embrace and commit to the service opportunities you have here at school. Make them a habit now for your life beyond it, that you might be known as one who seeks to serve rather than be served. For this is what true leaders do.
Rod Farraway Chaplain
Baptism and Confirmation 2025 – Expressions of Interest
In the Anglican Church, Baptism is the sacrament that welcomes individuals into the Christian faith, signifying rebirth and the washing away of sin. Confirmation, which typically follows Baptism as a child, is a reaffirmation of a person’s faith and their commitment to Christ, often involving a bishop. It’s a time for individuals to publicly affirm and be encouraged in their faith as they live out their Christian walk.
At Cranbrook our custom is to hold a Baptism and Confirmation service in Term 3, after a time of preparation. If you would like to enquire more about this service, please contact Rev Farraway.
The Sacred Veil – The Choir of St Paul’s College at Cranbrook Memorial Chapel
Experience the Choir of St Paul’s College—praised for its “faultless performances” and “exquisite musical beauty” (Canberra CityNews)—in a presentation of Eric Whitacre’s deeply moving work, The Sacred Veil. Following their win at the 2024 International Christian Choir Competition and successful international tour, the Choir brings this contemporary choral masterpiece on Saturday 17 May at 3pm in the Cranbrook School Chapel.
Composed in collaboration with poet Charles Anthony Silvestri, The Sacred Veil is a meditation on love, loss and the fragility of life. The Choir will be joined by pianist Anthony Chen, and Sydney Symphony cellist Christopher Pidcock. Don’t miss this powerful musical experience from one of Australia’s leading choirs.
Run (or walk) to save a baby’s life – in the CITY2SURF – 10 August
CITY2SURF – RUN TO SAVE A BABY’S LIFE!
Calling all students, parents, siblings, friends, staff to join the Cranbrook team in the City2Surf in support of charity Running for Premature Babies on 10 August.
