Senior School Link – Week 2, Term 3 2025 - 15 May 2025
Bob Meakin, Head of Senior School / Deputy Headmaster
Dear Parents and Carers
A special thank you to all the Year 10 parents who joined the Year 11 2026 subject information webinar last night. I now encourage students to discuss their options with you, their mentors, and other relevant staff. The first decision is whether to follow the IB Diploma or the HSC pathway. After that, subjects often fall into place quickly.
I also hope that Monday’s Parent & Teacher Evening for Year 11 was useful. For many courses, Year 11 is key as so much content is covered in the first two terms and if students are struggling then they should book an appointment with Mr McDonnell in the Year 11 College.
Car Line Firstly, thank you to all parents who are using this facility rather than dropping students off in the streets surrounding the School. The car line works extremely well in the mornings for drop offs, but the afternoons are creating some real challenges. Can I please ask that you do not arrive early and park in the drop off/pick up bays. This creates congestion once these bays are full which then flows out onto Victoria Road for other cars and buses. If your child is not there when you drive through, please exit the car line and go around again. It is important that the traffic flows, for this to be safe and efficient.
Winter Sport is now in full flow. A reminder that all students should be in Cranbrook uniform (sports uniform or school uniform) on Saturdays, even after their fixture has finished. Good luck to all teams for this Saturday.
Next week our Year 7s (parents and students) will be welcome at the Year 7 Study Skill session. This is online from 6pm. On Wednesday we are treated to a musical Jazz Night in the Packer Theatre from 6.30pm.
Best wishes for the week ahead.
Bob Meakin Head of Senior School / Deputy Headmaster
Adrian Harrison, Acting Director of Academics
Good Afternoon
We had the pleasure of hosting both current and future Year 11 for the first session of our subject selection information series. Thank you to all current and future students who joined us. We will be hosting our follow up Q&A session on 28 May at 6.30pm.
On 28 May we will also be meeting with our current Year 8 students at 5.30pm regarding their subject selection process for Year 9 in 2026. This webinar will go through the curriculum offerings for next year and aid in their choices of elective subjects. Students will be looking to select two new subjects for their 2026 pattern of study.
Finally, a reminder that we will be hosting our Year 7 Study Skills evening with Dr. Prue Salter on Monday 19 May from 6pm-7.30pm. This may also be accessed by Year 8 who may have missed this last year or would like a refresher. This session is for BOTH parents and students.
Looking forward to seeing of many of you there as possible.
Best regards
Adrian Harrison Acting Director of Academics
Daisy Turnbull, Director of Coeducation
Senior School Study Centre
This term we have updated the Study Centre programme in the Senior School to make it a free service for all students in Years 7–10 from 3.30pm–5pm, Mondays to Thursdays. This will allow students to attend as a drop-in basis, or a weekly session. Senior School staff will be supervising and available for help with homework and organisation.
If you would like your child to attend Study Centre on a regular basis you can register them here. There is also the option to have an extended Study Centre time until 6.30pm for a fee of $30, but this requires at least 5 students to register for it to be viable. Please email dturnbull@cranbrook.nsw.edu.au with any questions.
Daisy Turnbull Director of Coeducation
Angelique Sanders, Director of Student Wellbeing/Acting Deputy Head of Senior School
Dear Parents and Caregivers
Our Student Wellbeing Programme had a focus on friendships this week. Our Year 11s prepared scenarios to work through with Year 9 on how to manage situations when they may issues arise within friendship groups in and out of school. This was also a great opportunity for them to show leadership within their House.
Year 7 discussed both the positive and negatives impacts of peer pressure and comparing yourself to your friends, people of influence around you, or with people you see on social media can have. Our Year 8 and 10 cohorts had year level meetings. The process for Year 11 2026 was outlined to students, which was followed by the webinar last night for parents of current students as well as our incoming students in 2026.
Finally, Year 12 had the change to speak about what they might like to do in the year after school. They have so many choices and this can be daunting. These two articles may be helpful when having discussions with them about their options.
Angelique Sanders Director of Student Wellbeing/Acting Deputy Head of Senior School
Matt Grice, Director of Sport
Dear Parents and Guardians,
It always seems impossible until it’s done. Nelson Mandela.
It can be a hard slog at times in the sporting world and it’s easy to forget that a week is indeed a long time in sport. Last week the Football Club had a tough week against Barker in the 1sts and 2nds, this week we played the much-fancied Trinity team away. TGS 2 has been a bit of a sporting graveyard for us over the last few years as we have struggled to adjust to their synthetic pitches. This year, however, both 1sts and 2nds came away with fantastic wins to firmly kickstart our seasons. The 1sts and 2nds footballers have showed great resilience in the last two seasons and their ability to focus and work on a common goal after a loss is to be commended. We had some fantastic results all the way through the football program on Saturday and the whole program should be commended for their continued hard work.
Special mention this week to the 2nds Tennis and 2nds Volleyball for their great wins, the 6ths, 5ths and 4ths Rugby for getting it done on Newington main, the 10Bs Football for remaining undefeated, and lastly to the 16Bs Rugby… If you didn’t see it, you wouldn’t believe it.
The AFL 1st XVIII enjoyed their first fixture played on their new home ground, Dave Phillips South and will celebrate their Season Launch event at SWANS HQ this evening.
We look forward to celebrating the opening events for Rugby this Friday and Football later in the month.
This week sees the CAS competitions merge for Rugby, Football, Tennis and Volleyball as we all take on St Aloysius away. It should be a fantastic round of sport, and we look forward to the challenge.
Mr Dumbleton working through his secret set plays with Year 8 Rugby
Looking forward to seeing everyone around the grounds this weekend.
Matt Grice Director of Sport
Round 2 Football Report
Cranbrook vs. Trinity Grammar School A busy day of football saw our teams take on Trinity, with mixed results across the board. Here are the highlights:
1st XI: A hard-fought 2-1 win, with Tom Melhuish and Lachie Zhang scoring crucial goals
2nd XI: Also secured a win, 2-0
Year 7A: Remained undefeated with a 2-2 draw
Year 8A: Stayed unbeaten with a win
Year 10B: Impressive 4-goal win, a great performance from the team. And are also undefeated over two fixtures
Match Report: Cranbrook 1st XI 2 defeated vs. Trinity 1 Cranbrook’s top team bounced back with a thrilling 2-1 win against a strong Trinity team. Tom Melhuish and Lachie Zhang scored crucial goals, each finding the net once to seal the victory. Trinity pushed hard, scoring a late goal to make the game tense, but our boys held firm for a great result. A well-deserved win for the team!
Mr Ben Rollinson Head of Football
Match Report: Cranbrook 2nd XI 2 defeated Trinity 0 I’m picking up what Trinity Grammar School is putting down, a bit of Palm Springs Mid-Mod vibe. Blazing hot, a gigantic expanse of astroturf, they just need to add some pastels to break up the white, some white for the pastels to break up, a swimming pool with a diving board, Old Blue Eyes, some succulents, and a place for guests to warm up before matches. Midweek Coach Conor Quilligan and I revealed that we have a hive mind. One half of the hive mind was not having a bar of it when some of our charges arrived late. Disappointed with themselves, the boys pulled their corridor warm up together and began the game brightly. Meanwhile, the Ernie side of the hive mind tried to cheer up the Bert side. Speaking of sides, the left side of the Cranbrook 2nd XI was on from the get go, with beautiful passing exchanges involving Harry Sewell, Harry Golovsky, Kai Crotty and Zac Yaffa. To me this was Harry Wilkcockson’s best ever performance in the 2nd XI, which is saying something. Throughout the game, he ran the back line, read the ball beautifully, made fierce tackles, intercepted, recovered, and played the most beautiful diagonal ball to Ayrton Plamer. Defensively we were superb all day. Andrew Skamvougeras is tenacious, both in terms of his aggressive press, but also in his recovery runs. Counterattacking and sitting in a low block was Trinity’s game plan, and so it was fortunate that Jordi Singh, Harry Wilcockson, Kai Crotty, Andrew Skamvougeras and Harry Sewell were so adept at dealing with the long ball. I should note that Jordi Singh, is dominant in the air. While the opposition’s defensive shape was difficult to breakdown, we almost scored when Zac Yaffa’s little chip over the keeper was cleared off the line. Don Dyer nearly scored on a number of occasions. But the ball does favour the striker on TGS 2 because the surface is so hard and slick, that a bouncing ball always runs through to the goalkeeper. On a grass pitch, Don would have scored three, but even so, his physical play occupied all three of the Trinity centre backs.
Making his 2025 debut was Eric Chen. Eric, of course, made a cameo last year, and shapes to be one of those players who manages the School’s highest sporting accomplishment in three separate years, playing for the 2nd XI. He was confident with his hands and distributed the ball very well.
It’s safe to say that we dominated the midfield through the fierce tackling of Harry Golovsky and Lachie Read, and good thing it was too. The ice rink that is TGS 2 makes transitions pretty scary, so holding the midfield and counterpressing is very important, so that our players don’t have to try to turn around. Lachie coped a knock, consequently Luke Brady moved into the midfield. While everyone else was slipping and sliding, Luke looked so comfortable on the ball, playing o jogo bonito, one touch, triangle, diamonds, you name it. Our first goal came from a brilliant run and cut inside by Zayah Askaro, who shifted the ball to Ayrton Palmer. Slippery surfaces are no problem for the Rain King, Ayrton Palmer who cut to the inside and his shot was blocked, but Zayah had continued his run and was able to slot the deflection home. It was a very good goal, which showed the dynamism of both players. In fairness, Trinity had moments, but Luca D’Alisa, who is in Year 9, YEAR 9 PEOPLE! and making his third 2nd XI appearance was positioned to deal with forward balls. In one key moment, Luca’s headed clearance in the centre of the pitch saved us from real trouble. He claimed bouncing balls and made a couple of routine saves, but his command of the pitch is absolutely unreal.
Speaking of young players, in Year 10 George Poulos has achieved something his brother never could. He played a CAS game for the 2nd XI! George’s intensity, competitiveness, and quality on the ball added the cutting edge we needed to break down Trinity’s defensive shape. Sure enough, the second goal came from a defensive header by Luke Brady who nodded it to Zayah Askaro, who knocked it wide to George Poulos, who played a beautiful through ball to Zayah. Zayah cut inside the final defender and with his left foot placed it in the top right corner. What a goal! What a performance! Dominant from the beginning, the balls were well worth their 2 goal win. And by the end of the game, all was well in the hive mind.
Mr Anthony Bray 2nd XI Coach
Phil Beverley, Director of Music
Dear Parents and Caregivers
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.
We were thrilled to Have Marcus Chun work with some of the JS Guitarists on the Combined Guitar item for this year’s Whole School Showcase Fundamental. Preparations are well underway and there is a real buzz about both campuses as we work towards a series of important performance events including, Jazz Night, AMPED!, Town Hall Showcase and finishing with a charity concert featuring the Harvard Krokodiloes. See the schedule of event below for more details of each event.
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 Gala Concert – (7pm – 9pm) Sydney Town Hall
Week 8: Thursday 19 June
Krokodiloes (6.30pm) Theatre
Warm Regards
Phil Beverley Director of Music
2025 National Drama Conference, Invigorate
Over the weekend, Brooke van Aalen had the privilege of representing Cranbrook School at the 2025 National Drama Conference, Invigorate, in South Australia. Brooke van Aalen is the Assistant Head of Drama at Cranbrook School and was previously the President of Drama West when she worked in Perth, Western Australia. Brooke studied a Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Drama at Edith Cowan University in Perth and has recently achieved her Graduate Certificate in Cognitive Psychology and Educational Practice moving into Masters study from Flinders University, Adelaide. As a faculty and a school, we are excited to have Brooke present her academic and creative practice to the Drama community not only at Cranbrook but across Australia,
Brooke led a 90-minute workshop on fostering empathy and understanding through Process Drama before transitioning to scripted work, focusing on Jack Davis’ Honey Spot and the perspective of First National perspectives. Her session featured practical exercises, curriculum mapping demonstrations, and the integration of ICT—developed in response to the rapid evolution of curriculum delivery in a post-COVID education setting. This practical workshop explored a mystery-filled process drama unit that Brooke developed for middle school students as a tool to playfully introduce the elements of drama and a vehicle to unite students by engaging with the perspectives, thoughts, and feelings of others; empower students from diverse learning backgrounds and utilise it as a preface to exploring First Nations perspectives in drama programs.
Andrew Benson Head of Drama
Cranbrook Teachers Talking Teaching: From Inquiry to Impact
This week’s Cranbrook Teachers Talking Teaching (CTTT) session, From Inquiry to Impact: Connecting Thinking, Service, and Scholarship, was co-presented by Nick Hanrahan and Erin Munn, following their recent attendance at the IB Global Conference in Singapore. The session provided a thought-provoking exploration of how learning, when grounded in the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), can empower students to think critically, act ethically, and develop agency.
Nick opened the session by highlighting that educators must ensure that all students acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to promote sustainable development. Rather than treating the SDGs as an add-on, he urged teachers to embed them meaningfully into curriculum design, encouraging deep, reflective, and action-oriented learning.
Using the 5Ps of Sustainable Development (People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, and Partnership)Nick demonstrated how a range of subject areas can be used as entry points for interdisciplinary learning. Examples included carbon audits in Environmental Systems and Societies, global nutrition campaigns in Science and the Arts, and mock UN assemblies on digital rights in Global Politics and History.
He also introduced the CRAFTS model (Higgins & Calvert, 2024), a six-stage process for co-designing curriculum with students around sustainability themes. The model supports teachers in building units that are theoretically aligned with the SDGs, grounded in active pedagogy, and responsive to student feedback and reflection.
Erin followed by sharing two school-based models of Interdisciplinary Unit (IDU) design within the IB Middle Years Programme.
The first case study focused on place-based IDUs, where students collaborated with teachers to design units around fieldwork experiences in Zhangye and Yunnan. These units were linked to real-world challenges and aligned with specific SDGs. For example, students explored food sustainability through scientific investigations, promoted eco-tourism through design and economics, and examined gender equity through performance and social research. This approach allowed students to co-construct inquiry questions, shape assessment tasks, and apply disciplinary knowledge in authentic, contextualised ways.
The second case study highlighted a model where one IDU period per cycle is reserved for mini-courses driven by teachers’ passions and areas of expertise. These interdisciplinary electives offer students choice and exposure to diverse themes such as civil rights movements, Gothic literature, Asian cinema, and applied architecture. This flexible structure fosters creativity and cross-disciplinary thinking, and allows students to engage with topics that matter to them in meaningful ways.
The session offered a valuable reminder that IDUs are more than a curricular requirement. When designed with intention, they become opportunities to dissolve disciplinary boundaries, deepen student inquiry, and equip learners to navigate and influence the world beyond the classroom.
Hannah Thomas Director of Professional Learning
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.
Mackenzie Pedersen Science Teacher, Resident Tutor and Assistant Head of Science
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.
Select the pink JOIN TEAM button and then register, ignoring the message about contacting the Team Captain.
(If you’re not sure which Start Wave to choose, consider joining the YELLOW group which is for joggers or walkers wanting to have a good time!)
All participants receive a free shirt. Fundraising is OPTIONAL. Raise $300 to have your race entry REFUNDED.
The event is selling out fast. Register now to avoid missing out!
Click hereto learn more about Running for Premature Babies.
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.
