Stuart Meade, Acting Head of School

Valuing the Experience

There is no doubt that we have reached a new paradigm in the world of independent school education. Increasing volatility in the world economy has many families looking more carefully at how and where they spend the dollars earmarked for their children’s education. I believe it is the responsibility of leaders and teachers at Cranbrook to make a compelling case so that students and their families want to be part of a vibrant, challenging and relevant school community.

To my mind, the idea of students feeling engaged with their ‘tribe’ refers to the more global but less measurable notion of culture. Why do our students embrace what is on offer? Peer pressure may have something to do with it, extrinsic reward may be a motivating factor, but these are not sustainable. There must be something else. The underlying culture where students want to belong, want to contribute, and want to achieve is stronger than just about anything else we hold up as compelling reasons to attend Cranbrook.

I like the phrase Valuing the Experience as the mindset required to get the most from time spent at a school like Cranbrook. What does Valuing the Experience look like; for our students it is the experience that your parents, grandparents, perhaps your extended family have given you to attend Cranbrook School. The Statement of Intent could read:

• I would get to school on time; no, before time and be organised and ready for the day. I would do this myself without prompting from my mum or teachers.
• I would only be away from school because I was too sick to get out of bed.
• I would beg my family to take their holidays in the holidays.
• I would seek opportunities both in and outside the classroom.
• I would explore the way/why we did things at the school because I value this school and I want it to be better for everyone.
• I would try hard, not just at times when things are easy, but all the time.
• I would show respect to those who have given me this opportunity and also to those who are integral to making it happen.

With a positive approach in all these areas I would become a more balanced person:

• More resilient because I pushed through the tough times.
• Better educated – with this, the world will be an exciting opportunity for me.
• Proud that I have helped the school be a better place for those who follow.
• Understanding the importance of trying hard, of finding a way and of measuring my success against my effort and not my result.
• I will have many friends for life.
• I would be proud to be a Cranbrookian

Easier written than done, no doubt; however, through each student’s commitment and enthusiasm combined with the guidance of dedicated teachers and love and support at home, it is eminently achievable.

I am enjoying the busyness of each and every week and to see so many in our community ‘value the experience’.

With good wishes

Stuart Meade
Acting Head of School

Bob Meakin, Head of Senior School / Deputy Headmaster

Dear Parents and Carers

In yesterday’s Assembly, we honoured our Years 7 and 8 Da Vinci Decathlon competitors. This is an Academic Ten Discipline competition, including subjects English, Maths, Science, Creativity and Engineering. Our Year 8 achieved a 1^st place in Creative Producers and a 3^rd place in English. Our Year 7s did exceptionally well, winning Creative Producers and Engineering. They also finished 3^rd in Science and Mathematics earning them a 3^rd place overall.

Congratulations to the following students:

Year 7

Alexander Mano

Angus Dawson

Alexander Pontifix

George Fyfe

William Holt

Alex Cao

Kyran Diec

Max Howard

Reserves:

James Mitchell

Charles Laing

Year 8:

Max Khan

Moses Lee

Ian Wu

Alex Kitto

Thomas Altundag

Julian Gan

Darren Cai

Carter McGee

Reserves:

Justin Wang

Miles Murphy

We also honoured the students who achieved 100% Effort and Attitude grades on their Term 1 Report, even though there over 100 of these students, Mr Harrison called them all out by name to celebrate this wonderful achievement. Many student leaders presented, including D’Arcy Richardson who promoted some significant musical events, including the Music Showcase at Town Hall in the final week of term, as we well as promoting inter-House Debating. Mr Banes spoke on ‘Balance’ which is the pastoral theme for the term and Mr Stuart Meade, our Acting Head of School who reinforced a safety message for our senior students and the potential tragic consequences of poor choices when socialising.

Congratulations to our Year 7 students who participated in the Inter-Disciplinary Unit with TAS and PDHPE, which culminated in the making of some delicious smoothies just prior to lunch today. There was a lot of creativity, a lot of noise and a lot of fun.

Y7 IDU

Next Wednesday sees Subject Selection evenings for our current Year 8 students for their subject electives in Year 9 2026. I encourage all Year 8 parents and students to attend this webinar (commencing at 6pm) to ensure they have the correct information before making their choices. There is also a follow up Q & A Webinar for our current Year 10 students (Year 11.2026), which commences at 7pm.

Due to the very heavy rainfall this week, may I ask that parents please check the Cranbrook app before Saturday sport to ensure that fixtures are going ahead before leaving home. As you will be aware, many schools use off-site facilities and grounds, and these are often closed earlier than school grounds.

Best wishes for the week ahead.

Bob Meakin
Head of Senior School / Deputy Headmaster

Adrian Harrison, Acting Director of Academics

Parent Teacher Interviews Years 7 – 10 Friday 6 June.

Years 7 – 10 families should have received an invitation (from edval.com) to book in for parent teacher interviews. These will be occurring online via Microsoft Teams on Friday 6 June. There will be no classes on this day for Years 7 – 10. Should you have any queries please contact @Anna Andonovski for assistance.

Years 11 and 12
During the parent teacher interviews for Years 7 – 10 , there will be no formal lessons for Years 11 and 12. Both colleges will be open with external tutors available for student’s who wish to use them. In addition, there will be a range of workshops. More information regarding this schedule will be sent in the lead up. Attendance on this day is optional for Years 11 and 12.

Gifted Awareness Week

Next week is Gifted Awareness Week, a time to recognise and celebrate the unique strengths and potential within our school community—especially in students who think, learn, or create in ways that go beyond the expected. But giftedness isn’t only about academic performance. It can show up in creativity, leadership, ethical thinking, or a passion for justice. As an IB school, we strive to develop the whole person, and that means recognising all kinds of giftedness—not just those that appear on a report.

Gifted Awareness Week is a reminder that every learner deserves the chance to be stretched—not stressed—and supported to reach their full potential.

There are many programmes that run throughout the school aimed nurturing these skills. One of these is the Da Vinci Decathalon.  This is an academic competition for students, mirroring the Olympic Decathlon, where teams compete in ten disciplines across various subject areas. It challenges students’ abilities in subjects like art, science, engineering, and ideation. The competition emphasizes problem-solving, teamwork, and creativity, with the goal of celebrating the academic strengths of gifted students. 

We commend the following students who represented the school in the 2025 competition against 100 other schools!

da Vinci Decathlon Teams (2025)

Congratulations to:

Year 8 for achieving:

• 1st Place – Creative Producers
• 3rd Place – English

Year 7 for achieving:

• 1st Place – Creative Producers
• 1st Place – Engineering
• 3rd Place – Science
• 3rd Place – Mathematics
• 3rd Place Overall (Bronze Medal)

Head’s List

In Assembly this week we also celebrated those students who had made the Head’s list for Outstanding Attitude and Effort (the ‘Head’s List’). This list Is derived from the recent school reports and is not based on academic achievement, but rather upon a student’s attitude and effort. Every student, not matter of their ability is capable of being on this list as it is a reward for consistency and effort. Congratulations to all those who made the list, they will receive their certificates in through their houses.

Year 7 Study Skills Evening

Thank you to those who were able to join us. If you missed the study skills evening this week, or felt there was too much to absorb in one go we have arranged for our families to access a filmed version of Dr Salter’s Year 7 study skills session for the next 3 weeks. Families can review the concepts covered, as well as access lots of useful handouts and planners.  

The link to access the session from can be found here
Username: cranbrook7
Password: expires22june

On this page you will find:

• Pre-recorded videos of Steps 1-4 covered at the evening
• Video of Step 5 and how you can watch this step again anytime this year through the ELES website
• A link to the handout and slides so you can download them
• A link to things like term planners, weekly planners and other things recommended in the session
• The login details for the Study Skills Handbook and a page to download so you can keep accessing this site

Please take advantage of this opportunity to embed the strategies to become a more powerful learner before access ends on Sunday 8 June. Extensions will not be possible.

STUDY SKILLS HANDBOOK WEBSITE: Remember too that you have access to the Study Skills Handbook website, where students can target skill development across many areas:

Go to www.studyskillshandbook.com.au click on login:
Username: cranbrook@studysamurai.com
Password: Cranbrook1918

Click on Things to Print, and you will also find Term Planners and Weekly Planners etc. on this page.
You can also access the Study Samurai Library through this link which has additional video lessons on study skills, mindset and wellbeing.

TAKE YOUR TIME: Do not try and implement or absorb everything at once. Once a week or every fortnight, sit down together and work systematically through the booklet and slides again. Each week choose a focus area. Check your action plans and tick off the things you have under control.

Best regards,

Adrian Harrison
Acting Director of Academics

From Inquiry to Impact: The IB Diploma Core and Learning for a Changing World

At the heart of the IB Diploma Programme lies the DP Core, a trio of experiences that develops not only academic excellence but the capacity to think critically, act ethically, and contribute meaningfully to the world. Comprising Theory of Knowledge (TOK), the Extended Essay (EE), and Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS), the DP Core equips students with the real-world skills they need to thrive in a complex, rapidly changing global landscape.

Learning with Purpose

The Core encourages students to move beyond content mastery to inquire, reflect, and act. Through the Extended Essay, students pursue an independent investigation into a topic of personal interest, whether exploring global food insecurity, the ethics of gene editing, or local urban planning. These essays allow students to apply the concepts, methods, and skills from their subjects to real issues that matter, giving them a taste of authentic research and university-level thinking.

In the CAS programme, students put values into action. Kevin Chu, for example, recently contributed to a Sustainability Panel at St Catherine’s School focusing on strategies for managing waste in schools and mobilising school communities to commit to sustainability goals. Andrew Carrano is volunteering at Our Big Kitchen, where he will help prepare meals for people experiencing homelessness. Inspired by the IBO’s Global Youth Action Fund 2025, Plai Garnjana-Goonchorn, and Mickey Chen have commenced a CAS project that involves reaching out to support and collaborate with Thai students in Bangkok who face barriers to higher education due to limited English proficiency, particularly in preparing for the IELTS exam. Through this student-led tutoring initiative, they aim to build meaningful partnerships and provide targeted assistance that empowers other learners to pursue university opportunities and achieve their academic goals.

Thinking Critically, Reflecting Deeply

In Theory of Knowledge, students learn to question the foundations of knowledge itself. Why do we trust scientific models? How do cultural perspectives influence historical interpretation? TOK develops the capacity to analyse how knowledge is constructed, fostering intellectual humility and the ability to evaluate claims in an age of information overload.

Throughout the Core, reflection is central. Whether through a TOK journal, CAS portfolio, or EE supervisor meetings, students are continually asked to examine their learning, choices, and growth. This habit of critical reflection builds self-regulation, metacognition, and resilience, skills essential for lifelong learning and leadership.

The Extended Essay: A Capstone for Inquiry and Purpose

The Extended Essay (EE) serves as a capstone to the IB learning experience, offering students the opportunity to engage in a sustained, independent research project on a topic of personal significance. More than an academic exercise, the EE challenges students to bring together the knowledge, skills, and values they’ve developed across the Diploma Programme — from critical analysis and ethical reasoning to curiosity and perseverance.

Whether exploring questions in global politics, environmental science, literature, or economics, students often use the EE to investigate real-world problems and reflect on their place within them. Many choose topics that align with their passions or point toward future academic and career interests, making the EE not only a rigorous piece of scholarship, but also a meaningful step toward lifelong learning and purposeful action.

Connecting to Global Challenges

The Core is also a powerful platform for engaging with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These global goals, ranging from climate action and quality education to gender equality and reduced inequalities, serve as a framework for many student projects and inquiries.

By embedding the SDGs into academic and co-curricular learning, the IB Core programme will develop globally minded learners who understand the challenges facing the world and are empowered to contribute to real solutions.

Preparing for the Future

The IB Core is not simply an “add-on” to the academic programme—it is the engine that drives the IB’s and Cranbrook’s vision of education for a better world. It connects disciplines, fosters empathy and ethical reasoning, and challenges students to move from inquiry to impact.

As our students prepare for university and beyond, the Core ensures they do so not only with knowledge, but with the critical thinking, compassion, and courage to use that knowledge wisely.

Nicholas Hanrahan
Head of IB Continuum and Diploma Programme Coordinator

Daisy Turnbull, Director of Coeducation

Talking about Coeducation at home and at School

Dear Parents and Carers,  

This week has been full of so much excitement behind the scenes. On Tuesday, we had the photo shoot for our new Pre – Year 6 uniform, including the coeducational uniforms for our Preschools St Michael’s and St Mark’s. I’d like to say a huge thank you to the students who modelled the new uniforms for us, and I am very sorry you couldn’t keep all the items!  

It was a funny experience on Tuesday morning chatting to our St Michael’s students briefly about the new coeducational uniform, because for St Michael’s and St Mark’s, coeducation is all they know! While the photographers and half a dozen extra adults in the room was a bit of change for the students, the presence of the girls definitely was not. This made me think how normal coeducation is for most of us throughout our lives. Whether it was during Pre-school years, at home with siblings and parents, at a lot of the primary schools our students come from, in co-curricular activities on the weekend and, of course, life after school.  

While it is very easy for anything new to be scary, we can often lean into being more scared than excited. This year, groups of staff across faculties and Heads of Houses have visited other coeducational schools to learn from their experiences. We learn so much from these observations, but more than that, staff learn how a co-ed setting in many ways is not that different. Teaching is teaching. Students are students. The overwhelming normality of it becomes clear. Many of the conversations we are having in House mentor time are around the culture of our Houses, and how to build and add to them, rather than take away. This has led to really fruitful discussion in which our students have been engaging wholeheartedly. 

At home, it can be a great opportunity to talk to your children about how normal coeducation is. Whether you are speaking to them about your own experiences at school, university or at work, small conversations that normalise coeducational environments and interactions will help promote excitement rather than fear.  

It can be great to ask questions around what your child knows or maybe doesn’t know – for example:  

• How many girls do you think will be in each House group? (around 5 in each Year 7 mentor group and 3 – 4 in each Year 11 mentor group) 
• What are you looking forward to in class?  
• How will you feel if there are girls in your House but not in your year group yet?  
• What do you think will change at School?  

• What do you want to keep the same?  
• What are some things you could do to help a new student (boy or girl) feel welcome in your House or class?

• What do you think it will mean for when you finish school?  
• What is something you might be nervous to ask your teachers or friends about next year?

They may not know all the answers, but hopefully these conversation starters help at home to open up the dialogue about the excitement of next year.  

Daisy Turnbull
Director of Coeducation

Matt Grice, Director of Sport

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Do the best you can in every task, no matter how unimportant it may seem at the time. Sandra Day O’Connor

Once again, last week’s weather brought more rain than many of Sydney’s ovals could handle, which unfortunately led to the cancellation of several fixtures. This was especially disappointing given that Saturday turned out to be a beautiful day.

A big thank you to Mr Uncles, Mr Fryer, Ms McCabe, and all the staff who helped run the Cross-Country event on Saturday. It was a very successful day, and we truly appreciate all the forward planning and hard work that went into making the event run so smoothly. It was great to see white singlets running side by side with a great display of camaraderie throughout the morning. In the Juniors, we had Carter McGee and Hugo Fowler running side by side, working with each other for the entirety of the race. Max Mills had another great showing in the Intermediates, placing 9^th – the Milkman is skyrocketing through places each week. The Opens racers weren’t stoked to hear that, after some dodgy course laying, they’d be running 8.5km, as if 8km wasn’t long enough. Michael Still, Loki Leibert and Theo McGrath were clinical in getting it done regardless, crossing the line in unison.

This week saw Cranbrook take on St Aloysius across most of our winter fixtures. I’d like to thank St Aloysius for being such gracious hosts. Cranbrook secured strong wins in the 1st teams for Rugby, Football and Volleyball, while St Aloysius were well-deserved winners in the 1st Tennis fixture. Across the board, there were many outstanding performances throughout the day, with Rugby being particularly impressive, losing only one match across all teams.

A big congratulations to Shannon Selby and Zac Crowe for their selection in the CAS 1st Football team.

Picture perfect day at College Oval

A special thank you goes out to our amazing Rugby and AFL supporters’ groups for organising their respective season openers last week. Both events were extremely well attended and provided a fantastic way to officially kick off the winter season. We look forward to the Football season opener next week

All our sports teams are incredibly grateful for the tireless efforts of our wonderful supporters’ groups. From organising events to running weekly BBQs at various locations around the school, their behind the scenes work does not go unnoticed. A big thank you from our staff and student body for everything they do.

This week, Cranbrook takes on Knox in a highly anticipated round of winter fixtures, with Open matches being played at home. We would love to see as many supporters as possible on Saturday, cheering on our teams across all sports. Your presence makes a real difference and helps create a vibrant, encouraging atmosphere for our players. Let’s get behind our teams and make it a memorable day of school spirit and sportpersonship.

Looking forward to seeing everyone around the grounds this weekend.

Please download this weekend’s fixtures here.

The Lewis Report, by Eddie Lewis

After a week of rain forced the cancellation of many fixtures, the sun came out for what was set to be a stunning day of Saturday sport. Rugby’s trial rounds are now over and for rest of Term 2, their fixtures will align with Football, Tennis and Volleyball. This meant that St Aloysius’ College Oval hosted both Football and Rugby on Saturday. Too hard to pick a favourite game of the round, I’ve chosen two: the 1st XI Football, and the 16A Rugby.

After a courageous win last week against Trinity, our 1st XI came into their game with confidence. This time last year saw our team win 2-1, and we sought to repeat or improve this. Our hopes took an early hit, as St Aloysius found the back of the net first. It was clear we weren’t playing to our full potential, as targets were missed and corners went untouched. That was until Zaya Askaro made an impressive shot that beat the keeper and levelled the scores just before half time.

An inspiring address from Coach Rollison had our team looking much stronger, faster, and more skilful in the second half. We built the pressure on our opponents with several strong attacking plays, before Jamie Samios put the icing on the cake to bring the score to 2-1. Another victory for our mighty 1st XI, congratulations team.

Once the football goals were moved off the field, it was time for our 16As to continue Cranbrook’s winning streak. Much like the footballers before them, our team took a while to get going, with dropped balls and line out infringements making for a whistle-heavy first half. We did manage to get over the line once in the first half, but we knew it should’ve been more. At half time Coach Grice and Coach Pyle fired their troops up, and made a simple request: respect the ball; catch it, secure it, and carry it. Our 16As took on board this message and we managed to get over the line twice more. Left winger Luke Cassidy showed off his speed and agility as he turned several opposition defenders inside out. Meanwhile on the other wing, Harry Middleton gave not one but two St Aloysius defenders a ‘don’t argue’ on his way to the line. A great result for our up and coming 16As, and a huge turnaround from losing last year. End score: 17-0.

Score Summary

Saturday 17th May vs St Aloysius 

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

• 2025 Sports Welcome Booklet
• 2025 Sports Calendar

Looking forward to seeing everyone around the grounds this weekend.       

Matt Grice
Director of Sport

Round 3 Football Report

Round 3 Cranbrook vs. St. Aloysius

Saturday Results:

With all of Year 7 and most of Year 10 fixtures unfortunately cancelled, it was a quieter Saturday
for Cranbrook Football – but there were still some exciting matches and strong performances
across the board.

The day kicked off with our Year 10A team, who, despite a host of injuries and going 2-0 down
early, showed great character to fight back for a 3-3 draw.

The 8A team continued their outstanding undefeated run, recording a 5-3 win. Their attacking
flair remains a standout feature this season.

Our 9A side delivered a much-improved performance, showing better structure and intensity.
However, despite their efforts, they narrowly went down 0-1 in a tight contest.

Meanwhile, the 10E team secured a convincing 3-0 win over Joeys B team, delivering one of the
day’s most dominant performances with a strong all-round effort.

A big congratulations to Shannon Selby and Zac Crowe for their selection in the CAS 1st
Football team.

Match Report: Cranbrook 1st XI 2 defeated St. Aloysius 1
The 1st XI took on St Aloysius in a tightly contested fixture that tested our composure. It was far
from our most polished performance, particularly in the first half, where we struggled to find
rhythm. Holding onto the ball for too long and forcing play through congested areas led to
repeated turnovers, allowing St Aloys to control the momentum early on. Their pressure was
rewarded with a well-earned goal that put them ahead midway through the first half.

However, our response was immediate. A swift counter-attack led to Zaya Askaro finding the
back of the net after some confusion in the oppositions box, with a composed finish to bring us
level at 1-1 before the break.

The second half saw a much-improved showing. We moved the ball with greater intent and
created a number of promising chances, showing far better structure in our build-up. Despite
sustained pressure, the breakthrough didn’t come until late in the game.

With just 10 minutes remaining, substitute Jamie Samios stepped up in spectacular fashion.
Picking up the ball outside the box, he unleashed a thunderous strike that sailed past the
keeper – a stunning goal that proved to be the winner.

While the performance left room for improvement, the team showed resilience and found a
way to secure the result. A 2-1 win, thanks to moments of individual brilliance and a much
stronger second half.

The focus now shifts to next week’s crucial fixture against Knox – a key match that will demand
a complete performance from start to finish.

Ben Rollinson
Head of Football

Match Report: Cranbrook 2nd XI 0 lost to St. Aloysius 3
Ooff! Wasn’t expecting that, but then again, nor was Iron Mike Tyson, undisputed champion of the
world when he was knocked out in the 10th round by 42-1 underdog James Buster Douglass in the
Tokyo Dome in 1990. There was some pretty early play with a beautiful diagonal ball by Luke Brady
to Ayrton Palmer who chested it down Zac Yaffa. And when Harry Wilcockson shifted the ball wide
to Kai Crotty who switched play to Jordi Singh who played another brilliant diagonal (I need a new
thesaurus because this one is terrible and it’s terrible) to the monumental artist and man of the
people, Henry Moore. We almost scored after Henry Moore’s superb free kick was taken down by
Luke Brady, who turned and found Jordi Singh, whose shot went just over the bar. Had that gone it
in, who knows? But the reality is that St Aloysius was jabbing effectively, and we were on the
backfoot, and just like Mike Tyson’s corner men, Coach Conor and I had no answers.

There was some smart defending by Harry Sewell and excellent defensive headers by Jordi Singh.
Eric Chen fielded a few tricky shots, and while they had the better of the game, they also didn’t have
a lot of chances. Lachie Read was determined in the middle of the park, and Harry Wilcockson’s
cover play was excellent. Nevertheless, we just weren’t there and they deserved their two-goal lead
at half time.

After half time, we started better, and some lovely one touch play involving George Poulos, Jamie
Samios, and Lachie Read led to a shot over the bar by Zac Yaffa. Five minutes later, we shifted to 4-
2-4 as we chased the game, and we looked the more likely to score, Ayrton Palmer and Don Dyer
gave us forward movement, but the ball just wouldn’t fall for Don. On a side note, Don fills up the
water bottles which I respect. It’s a simple act but it says a lot about the man. Lachie Read exchanged passes with Harry Golovsky, and Jamie Samios, who played in Zac Yaffa, but still no joy. Similarly, the creator of Recumbent Figure 1938 and Reclining Figure 1939, Henry Moore (nothing wrong with his thesaurus), cut back onto his right and shot just wide. Against the run of play Aloys iced the game in the 10th Round, with a third. The champions tried to find their feet but the ref counted us out. We could pretend it was one good shot, but the reality is they really deserved their win, just as Buster Douglass did.

There’s a great deal we can learn from this game, and as I always say if you can’t deal with defeat,
don’t compete. Finally, and just because I like it, after the fight in the Tokyo Dome when Buster
Douglass was asked how he was able to defeat such a fearsome opponent when no one gave him a
chance he responded, “because of my mother…God bless her heart.”

Anthony Bray
2nd XI Football Coach

Running Lines: Volume 1 2025

After a disruptive week of heavy and persistent rainfall, the sun came out early Saturday morning. The group of rugby boys donning the Cranbrook rugby jersey were ready to give it their all in our opening CAS fixture against St Aloysius.

Our results were:

• Player of the Day: Junior Teams (13s, 14s & 15s)- Harry Keats (15A)
• Player of the Day: Senior Teams (16s & Opens) – Otto Cumming (16A)
• Rugby All Rounder of the Day (for effort/attitude on and off the field) –
  Lachlan Scott (2nds Captain)
• Team of the Day- 15A

After our parents and rugby community supporters enjoyed a very successful rugby lunch on Friday, it was time for our boys to get their weekend enjoyment in. Some great support field side from our parents with sunnies on, not only for the sun that eventually came through after a rather gloomy week.

As the results above suggest, Cranbrook enjoyed being on top of the scoreboard in most of the fixtures. Our Under 14A’s remained positive throughout their fixture and never dropped their heads as they were always chasing the game. They need to stay motivated and need to start learning the game in more detail. Watching televised games/other teams/their own games on Hudl will springboard their rugby IQ.

The team of the day: under 15A’s
The 15As had a brilliant weekend after a dominant 26-0 win over St Aloysius. Seb Gray and
Jonny Yetton controlled the game superbly, distributing the ball with precision and setting
the tempo throughout. Harry Keates lit up the field with his electrifying pace, crossing for
two outstanding tries, while Tristan Atkin anchored our defence with some brutal and
relentless tackling. A complete team effort with standout individual performances. Well
done boys.

The 16B’s also had the time of their lives scorring multiple tries from all over the park.
Cometh the hour, cometh the Man. James Horton. This loose head prop challenged Mr
Dumbleton to a sprint off during the weeks practice, leaving Sir in his dust (or in this case
water splash). There is no need for a prop forward to posess this amount of speed. James
lands the ball in his hands on his own 22. Pass..no, Kick..no, to the try line we go. An 80
metre sprint to the try line by the big man saw an elated team celebrating this moment of
brilliance.

The 1st and 2nd sides got back onto winning ways after some physical battles in their trial
games. A much needed confidence boost for this group. Over a hundred points scored
between the two teams really displayed the flair that these two teams played with.
Defensively, the two teams were rock solid, and managed to hold of the Aloy’s attack, many
times on their own goal line. Some discipline issues saw the 1st team receive two yellow
cards in close proximity of each other. Whils defending with 13 players on the field for a
period of time shows the defensive effort put on by the boys. As large as the score margin
is, the 1st side certainly left a few tries out there from some careless errors and lineout
issues. These boys will no doubt brush up on these in the week ahead of their next fixture.
Well done to all the boys who took to the field this weekend.
Our next challenge is Knox Grammar at Home. We look forward to huge support for our
boys based on their round 1 efforts.

Brent Crossley
Master in Charge of Rugby

Cranbrook’s Own Joins the Australian Kelpies Men’s Netball Team for 2025 UK Tour

We’re proud to announce that Jack Vandervelde, a valued member of Cranbrook School’s teaching staff, has been selected to represent Australia in the national men’s netball team, the Australian Kelpies, for their upcoming 2025 UK tour.

While netball might not be the first sport that comes to mind for men in Australia, it’s a rapidly growing game and Mr Vandervelde is helping to lead the charge.

His journey began just a few years ago in 2019, when he joined a mixed netball team at Macquarie University. “We ended up winning the National University Championships that year,” he recalls. “ I came from a basketball background, and with both my parents playing netball at a high level, I sort of picked things up pretty quickly.”

From there, he earned a spot in the NSW Men’s Netball program and, by 2023, was called up to the Australian Kelpies. His commitment, both on and off the court, reflects a deep passion for the sport.

Being selected to represent Australia is no small feat. The lead-up includes months of training, intense national competitions, and a rigorous selection camp held at the AIS in Canberra. “That camp is self-funded too, which just adds to the level of commitment and passion from everyone trying out,” he says. 

Looking ahead to the UK tour in 2025, Mr Vandervelde is driven to help elevate the profile of men’s netball internationally. “The UK tour is all about putting men’s netball and the Kelpies brand on the international map. As a team, we aim to be clinical, unbreakable, and professional. These are the values we live by, on and off the court. We’re coming off a 4–0 series win against the New Zealand Netblacks, so we’re definitely looking to keep that momentum going in the UK.”

Despite the demanding schedule of training, matches, and travel, he continues to dedicate himself to his teaching role at Cranbrook. “ Teaching gives me so much purpose. Getting to inspire young students every day really drives me, and it keeps me disciplined and organised in all areas of life. I want to give my best both in the classroom and on the court.”

He’s also committed to fostering the next generation of male netballers, recently taking on a coaching role with the Sydney Basin team for the NSW Netball Primary All Schools Boys 12 & Under competition. “It’s such a great way for boys to get involved and see what the sport has to offer!”

When asked what advice he would give to boys or young men looking to get into netball, his answer is simple: “Just give it a go! I’ve met some incredible people through netball, and I know I’ve made mates for life. The men’s game is growing fast, and there are so many exciting opportunities popping up, especially for younger boys. Local clubs are starting to really get behind the men’s space, and that’s thanks to all the amazing work being done behind the scenes by athletes and coaches.”

As someone who came to netball later in life and rose quickly through the ranks, Mr Vandervelde has a clear vision for the sport’s future.

“The future of men’s netball is seriously exciting. It’s actually one of the fastest-growing sports for males in Australia right now, which is amazing to see. I love that young boys are starting to see netball as something they can really pursue. One day, I’d love to see it become a full-time career path for men, with proper funding, income, and opportunities to play and showcase our game on the world stage.”

He acknowledges the lingering stereotypes around the sport. “I still get asked, “Wait, men play netball?”, which is fair enough, we’re still new to the international scene, but I really want to help change that perception.”

Through his work on the court, in the classroom, and with junior teams, Mr Vandervelde hopes to help pave the way for future generations. “For me, it’s all about legacy, paving the way for the next generation and helping build something we can all be proud of.”

At Cranbrook, we are incredibly proud of Mr Vandervelde, not just for his selection to the national team, but for his integrity, passion, and commitment to inspiring young people through education and sport. We’ll be cheering him on every step of the way.

Phil Beverley, Director of Music

Dear Parents and Caregivers

Jazz Night

Last night, over 40 students took to the stage to present an evening of jazz music. The programme featured everything from iconic tunes by the Count Basie Orchestra to more contemporary pieces like Viva La Vida arranged for stage band. Select senior students also showcased their talents by performing their own arrangements—ranging from Kurt Rosenwinkel’s Minor Blues to classic standards like You Can’t Take That Away from Me. Interspersed throughout the evening were short “jazz noodles” that highlighted the improvisational spirit and creativity inherent in this genre. All original tunes composed and arranged for developing musicians by our very own Christopher Hayles.

The entire night was filled with energy and exuberance, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the amazing staff with whom our students have the privilege of working each and every day. Their enthusiasm is truly infectious, and it shines through every time our students take the stage.

Cranbrook Piano Initiative (CPI)

The Piano Club was the brainchild of Kevin Chu (Year 11, Northcott), who sought to engage others in all things piano. He founded a club where pianists could explore the instrument not only as soloists but also in ensemble settings for four and eight hands. The ultimate goal is to encourage young pianists to share their skills through acts of service. This entirely student-led initiative meets regularly and recently performed at Woollahra Council’s National Volunteer Week celebrations. Congratulations and well done to Leo Pennington, James Zhang, Cameron Lu, Ian Wu, Andrew Nguyen, and Kevin Chu—as well as to all the members, and most importantly, to those individuals who give their best in service to others. A special thanks goes to Anthony Pasquill for his incredible behind-the-scenes work in facilitating and supporting these passionate and dedicated students.

She Will Rock You: AMPED!2025

We still have a few tickets left for AMPED! this coming Monday night. The Rockers are ready to take the stage and Marrickville by storm. Two different shows one commencing at 6pm, the other at 7:30pm. Click here for tickets.

The Food truck and some pre-show performances will be from 5pm at the Marrickville Factory Theatre. I can’t wait to see you there.

Check out the schedule below for upcoming events.

Schedule of Key Music Events

Warm Regards

Phil Beverley
Director of Music

Perkins House Theatre Sports

Perkins House Triumphs in Thrilling Theatre Sports Inter-House Competition

Laughter echoed through the Packer Theatre last week as students from all Houses took to the stage for this year’s Theatre Sports Inter-House Competition. After an afternoon packed with quick wit, big characters, and boundless creativity, it was Perkins House that emerged victorious, claiming the top spot with their high-energy performances and outstanding teamwork.

Theatre Sports is a form of improvised theatre that challenges students to think on their feet, work collaboratively, and trust their instincts. Teams compete in a series of games that require them to invent scenes, characters, and dialogue in the moment—often with hilarious and surprising results. This year’s games included favourites like “Death in a Minute,” “Expert Double Figures,” and “Space Jump,” each showcasing the students’ creativity and courage.

What makes Theatre Sports so unique—and so valuable—is that it combines learning with laughter. Students develop confidence, communication skills, and spontaneity without the pressure of scripts or rehearsals. It’s a powerful reminder that learning can be dynamic, engaging, and most of all, fun.

A big thank you to all who participated, supported, and cheered from the audience. Congratulations once again to Perkins House for their outstanding victory and to all teams for making the competition such a memorable and joy-filled event.

We can’t wait to see what next year brings!

Andrew Benson
Head of Drama

The Coed Student

“Know thy student.” This guiding principle framed The Coed Student, our recent professional development session at Cranbrook School, as we prepare to welcome coeducational cohorts in Year 7 and Year 11 from 2026.

To open the session, Stuart Meade, Acting Head of School, shared his reflections on the opportunities and challenges of coeducation. He emphasised that this transition is not only an exciting step for Cranbrook but also an incredibly positive one—anchored in our values and our commitment to building a more inclusive and dynamic learning environment.

Building on this foundation, Margaret Nilon led a reflective and practical session focused on supporting the social and emotional wellbeing of our new cohorts. She highlighted three key strategies:

1. Recognising possible challenges in peer relationships and addressing concerns proactively,
2. Creating safe, inclusive spaces in and around House areas, and
3. Encouraging open communication and regular check-ins with students to monitor their experience.
   Following this, staff worked in House groups to explore what these strategies could look like in practice—and to identify what they would need to make them successful.

To round out the session, Daisy Turnbull, Director of Coeducation, presented a series of realistic, thought-provoking scenarios. These ranged from uniform expectations and peer dynamics to lunchtime supervision and duty of care in shared spaces. The scenarios generated rich discussion, encouraging staff to think practically and collaboratively about how to ensure all students feel supported, safe, and known in a coeducational setting.

Looking ahead, we’re excited to continue these conversations in Term 3’s session on The Coed Classroom, as we work together to shape a school culture where every student feels a deep sense of belonging.

Hannah Thomas
Director of Professional Learning

Year 7 & 8 da Vinci Decathlon Results

Dear all,

I’m delighted to share some exceptional news from today’s Year 7–8 da Vinci Decathlon event. With over 200 teams competing from schools across NSW, our students achieved some outstanding results:

Year 7

• 1st Place – Creative Producers
• 1st Place – Engineering
• 3rd Place – Science
• 3rd Place – Mathematics
• 3rd Place Overall (Bronze Medal)

Year 8

• 1st Place – Creative Producers
• 3rd Place – English

Given that most schools failed to secure just one podium finish, these results are extremely impressive. Notably, Cranbrook School was the only school to achieve dual first-place finishes within the same discipline – a remarkable accomplishment. Many teachers were congratulating our students as they exited the competition hall. So please be sure to congratulate them also if you see these students at school this week:

Year 7:

Reserves:

Year 8:

Reserves:

Kind regards,

James Adams
High Potential Coordinator/Head of Oratory

Articles of Interest – Term 2 Week 4

Please find the articles of interest below.

Teenagers who sleep longer and earlier are likely to do better at tests, study finds

Gen Z men more likely to believe in traditional gender norms, new research finds

There’s a mental health crisis gripping kids today, but the way out is a job for all of us

How to tell when your teen’s exam stress is out of control – and how to help

Teens have an attention span of 14 minutes, could this dumbphone help?

Mackenzie Pedersen
Science Teacher, Resident Tutor and Assistant Head of Science

Year 11 Chemistry’s Excursion to ANSTO

Year 11 HSC Chemistry students, along with their teachers Mr Douglass and Miss Della Mura, had the exciting opportunity to visit Australia’s Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO). The day started with an engaging lecture about ANSTO, its research and general nuclear chemistry. There was even a demonstration on measuring the radioactivity of various objects and radioactive samples. After the students explored the activities at the Discovery Centre, they journeyed into the main facility centre which the bus and passengers had to be approved by the Australian Federal Police. No phones or smartwatches allowed into this area!

The students toured around some of the facilities. They observed the staff in the Nuclear Medicine office where the radioisotope molybdenum-99 is manufactured. This resource decays to form technetium-99m, which is delivered to medical practices across Australia and the world. They also had a look into the Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering. The instruments are named after some of our Australian animals! They walked past the nuclear reactor, called OPAL and were able to view in real-time on screen, inside the reactor.

Overall, it was a very insightful day. Thank you to all of the staff at ANSTO for providing this experience for our students.

Rhys Briscoe-Hough
Assistant Head of Department – Science

VET Construction – Building Real-World Skills

As part of the HSC curriculum, students at our school have the opportunity to choose VET Construction, a two-year course offered across Years 11 and 12. This course is ideal for students who enjoy practical, hands-on learning and are interested in a career in the building and construction industry.

VET Construction blends classroom-based learning with valuable industry experience. A key component of the course is Work Placement, where students gain real-world exposure by working alongside construction professionals on active job sites.

In Week 2 of this term, our Year 11 VET Construction students completed their first Work Placement, fulfilling the required 35 hours for the year (with another 35 hours to be completed in Year 12). During their placement, students gained hands-on experience and developed a wide range of skills including site preparation, tool handling, effective communication, and workplace safety practices.

Not only does VET Construction contribute towards the HSC, but it also offers students the opportunity to achieve a nationally recognised qualification – giving them a strong head start in the workforce or further trade training.

If your child enjoys building, problem-solving, and learning in a real-world setting, VET Construction could be the perfect fit.

Thomas Freeland
Assistant Head of TAS, VET/TVET Co-ordinator and TAS Teacher

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.

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.

To join click HERE.

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 here to learn more about Running for Premature Babies.