Join us for another unforgettable Gala Concert showcasing the extraordinary talents of our Junior School and Senior School musicians. Get ready for a night filled with awe-inspiring performances and a vibrant celebration of music at Cranbrook.
Tickets can be booked here.
Cranbrook at the Harvard Sydney Model UN Conference
Over four days from Thursday 6 to Sunday 9 June, Cranbrookians Plai Garnjana-Goonchorn, Alex Hong, Oscar Deutsch, Daniel Li, and Gus Robinson attended the Harvard Sydney Model UN Conference at the University of Technology. The conference attracted interest from all over Australia, New Zealand, and even as far away as Brazil, with student delegates forming various committees that would craft and debate important resolutions. The committees that met included:
Cranbrook’s delegation was the Russian Federation, which gave it clout as a ‘P5’ member of the UN Security Council but also presented some challenges when working with other countries in committee rooms. Over the course of the conference, delegates helped to ideate and form language that would eventually transform into significant resolution documents that they then had to revise and refine through the experience of negotiating. Mimicking real life dealing in international relations, negotiations often spilled out into the corridors and during breaks.
Gus Robinson shares his reflections of the four days spent at UTS:
“Being a member of the Social, Humanitarian and Cultural committee, it was my job to thread the needle between catering to the naturally progressive stance of many members of the committee, and accurately representing the position which the Russian Federation might take in regard to propositions brought forward by the different Blocs. Moreover, it was the obscure nature of many of the issues I found myself dealing with, that proved to be the most engaging aspect of my four days at the conference, allowing me to come out of the process feeling as if, despite all the compromise and backroom dealing between members, our committee had accomplished something worth celebrating.”
Student Head of Model UN, Alex Hong, recounts how MUN events are more than just tough negotiations, they’re a lot of fun with plenty of comic moments:
“I represented the Russian Federation in the second committee of the UN General Assembly, Economic and Financial matters. My committee focused on the role of technology in the world economy, and how we could more equitably distribute it. The most memorable moment, and my favourite memory, was probably running around on the last day feeding all the Harvard facilitators Vegemite. I had the (somewhat unfortunate but self-inflicted) role of demonstrating eating a spoonful of Vegemite and must have ended up having at least 7 or 8 in the span of a couple of minutes. Overall, it was a great experience, that was guided but allowed my fellow delegates and myself to decide the issues we wanted to tackle and how we would do so.”
Numerous friendships were made during the conference, which is perhaps the most valuable benefit in students attending such events. During the closing ceremony, during which Cranbrook received two outstanding delegate awards, the General Secretary of Harvard MUN noted that the relationships forged through MUN is invaluable and that many people she has met over the years have been instrumental in her growth and personal successes. Harvard MUN students were terrific ambassadors for their institution and country, providing lively socials on the Friday and Saturday evenings, and being open to talking about the American college experience.
While long days, conference events are well worth students’ time and we will continue to promote opportunities as they arise.
International Relations guest speaker visit
On Wednesday afternoon, students involved with Model UN and Debating were invited to hear from Dr Charlie Garnjana-Goonchorn, the Deputy Consul General in Sydney for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Thailand. He presented on the topic of Multilateral Negotiations: Principles and Real World Tips. Students who attended learned about hard vs soft bargaining, principled negotiation, and being situationally aware when going in to deal with others. Drawing on his work at the United Nations, Dr Garnjana-Goonchorn also applied theory and practice to everyday life experiences, providing helpful guidance for successfully managing group negotiations in a variety of circumstances. Our thanks to Dr Garnjana-Goonchorn for his time, insights, and for the engaging presentation and Q&A opportunity.
ISDA Grand Final at Cranbrook this Friday 14 June
We wish our Senior A debaters good fortune against Sydney Grammar in the Grand Final of the ISDA Competition, hosted out of Packer Theatre this Friday night:
Free tickets for this debate ‘sold’ out in just over 24 hours last week. Due to capacity limits, if you do not have a ticket we unfortunately cannot grant entry on the night.
Competition Debating remaining this term
Competition debating continues until the penultimate week of Term 2:
| Week | Date | Debating that night |
| 7 | Friday 14 June | CAS trial debates (3.30-6.15pm) and ISDA Grand Final (Home) |
| 8 | Friday 21 June | CAS pre-season training evening |
| 9 | Friday 28 June | No debating due to end of Term 2 |
Term 3 competition debating dates will be confirmed next week.
Public Speaking Showcase
Family and friends of students involved with our Monday afternoon Public Speaking Club are invited to a small showcase of speeches developed this term between 6-8pm on Tuesday 18 June, hosted in the Mansfield Room. Click here to indicate attendance.
Upcoming oratory events
Annual House Debating Competition finalists
House Debating continues into the Semi Final and Grand Final rounds over the coming week. In the junior division, the following houses face off this Friday lunchtime:
| Houses | Sides |
| Davidson | Affirmative |
| Hone | Negative |
| Chelmsford | Negative |
| Perkins | Affirmative |
Their topic is: ‘Alex is a Year 12 student in Mr Johnson’s History class. At the start of the lesson the day before a big examination, Alex challenges Mr Johnson to a game of Fortnite with the class. As Mr Johnson, this house would agree to play Fortnite instead of teaching the planned lesson.’
In the senior division, powerhouses Strickland and Northcott will oppose each other in the Grand Final next Wednesday lunchtime! Their final topic: ‘That, as the Australian government, this house would launch a military strike against the aliens. Three days ago, an enormous alien ship appeared over Sydney, casting a shadow over Double Bay and Point Piper, and sending waves of panic through the population. The appearance has provoked curiosity from other cities and nations, none of which have ships hovering above. Authorities have scrambled to understand the extraterrestrial visitors’ intentions. The ship remains ominously silent, neither attacking nor communicating. As anxiety grows, the Australian government faces a critical decision.’
It’s sure to be an out-of-this-world event and we expect both houses will fill Packer Theatre to capacity.
Oratory programmes sign up for Semester 2 now open
Students interested in signing up for one or more oratory programmes on offer for Semester 2 have received an email inviting them to sign up. Programmes on offer include:
There will also be additional opportunities to participate in debate training workshops and external competitions throughout Semester 2, including the International Debating Championships in Term 4. Details will be passed onto students directly and published in these weekly updates. Please note that we do not accept parent sign ups on behalf of students.
Contact
Should you or your son have any further questions about any of Cranbrook’s oratory programmes, you are welcome to reach out to the Head of Oratory and Student Journalism, Mr Benjamin Smith, at bsmith@cranbrook.nsw.edu.au. In the first instance, students should be making contact about getting involved.
Essential information and highlights for parents will be posted here on Cranbrook Connect as part of the Thursday Link. Students involved in oratory programmes will receive updates via their respective Canvas or TEAMS channels.
Benjamin Smith
Head of Oratory & Student Journalism
Please find below this week’s articles of interest from the boarding staff:
Port Macquarie men’s group Self Seen uses breathwork, ice baths to improve mental health
Why Nedd Brockmann wants Aussies to get out of their comfort zone
Ryan Holiday: Do modern-day Stoics make the best leaders?
Health and education leaders unite to push for vaping reform
Podcasts: Australian Men’s Health
All best,
Matt Banes
As our students’ online presence continues to grow, we are faced with new challenges and potential online risks that could impact your child’s safety and well-being. We want to assure you that we take these matters very seriously and are constantly seeking ways to ensure our students’ online safety. We are thrilled to announce our collaboration with Qoria and their Linewize portfolio of products, which will enhance our commitment to digital safety and well-being.
In the upcoming weeks, we will extend an invitation for you to join us in this initiative. We will provide you with resources and tools to help you better comprehend and participate in your child’s digital journey. This includes access to the Qustodio parent app, which will allow you to:
• Temporarily disable internet access on your child’s school device (outside of school hours) via your app.
• Receive summary reports of your child’s online activities outside of school hours.
• Access detailed Timeline reports of your child’s online activities, including search terms and videos.
• Obtain expert advice on online safety directly through the app.
This service also enables you to safeguard one personal device (such as phones or iPads) per child attending our school.
Please note that for any BYO devices or school learning devices that do not leave the school premises, parents will not have oversight or control of these outside of school. However, we strongly encourage parents to link to their child’s school account to avail the offer of protecting one personal device for each child enrolled in our school.
Furthermore, all school-managed student learning devices will be equipped with a basic level of content filtering. This should prevent access to harmful or inappropriate websites, ensuring that your child’s learning device is safe and ready for learning.
We are enthusiastic about this new initiative and your involvement in fostering a culture of online safety and well-being for all students. This will empower each child to navigate their digital journey successfully. You will shortly receive information on how to set up your Qustodio parent account.
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact the ICT service desk.
Cranbrook School is a public company limited by guarantee which was established to provide students with a well-rounded, liberal education based on Christian beliefs.
It is governed by the School Council in accordance with its Constitution and has a membership comprised of eligible persons who have made significant contributions to Cranbrook or who are key stakeholders in its mission.
Parent of students in Kindergarten to Year 12 attending Cranbrook are eligible to become a Member of Cranbrook School for so long as they have a child attending the School.
The Members of Cranbrook School play an important role in the governance of Cranbrook. Being a Member entitles you to attend and vote at general meetings of Cranbrook School. This includes attending and voting at the Annual General Meeting, where the matters considered include receiving the statutory financial reports and electing members of the School Council.
If you are not already a Member of Cranbrook School, and wish to become one, please indicate your willingness to do so by completing and returning the application form which can be found on Cranbrook Connect here.
Applications are subject to approval by the School Council, and will be considered at the next possible School Council meeting after receipt of your completed application.
We encourage you to apply to become a Member of Cranbrook School and to take up the opportunity to contribute to the governance of the School.
If you have any questions regarding membership of Cranbrook School, please contact Sarah Deveson, Company Secretary, by email on councilsecretary@cranbrook.nsw.edu.au.
Geoff Lovell
President of School Council
On Wednesday 12 of June, Paul Bramble who works as an urban guide for Rough Edges in Darlinghurst came into SWP to talk to Year 11 about his lived experiences of homelessness: he detailed early childhood memories from foster care, onto his troubled teenage years, through to his time living in psychiatric facilities, on the streets, and in spite of this, his remarkable turnaround to his proud life today.
In many ways, our cohort went through the journey with Paul. He presented and spoke in a tone with relatability, enforcing such shocking insight, and vulnerability, causing particular empathy. These tied to his messages underpinning his story: in his words, what matters is how you deal with curveballs, and you must always conduct yourself with empathy. A particularly poignant slide depicted his psychiatric equipment, including a walking stick, medication and leg sleeves, yet amongst these lay a cheap second-hand camera, with which as a coping mechanism, as he would derive enormous pleasure taking simple snaps of trees (harshly critiqued!), finding beauty in a world that had treated him so harshly. Of course, the significance of this is so poignant given he also works as a professional photographer.
On reflection, Paul’s authenticity was immediately established prior to his speech, as he eagerly downloaded a mental health app, an ad for which was displayed on the Cranbrook guest bathrooms, readying himself for the next curveball, and showing empathy for himself and others. Paul clearly lives and breathes what he presents.
Felix Malcolm
Year 11 Student
Year 11 Photography students had the opportunity to witness the spectacular light displays at Vivid Sydney 2024, capturing them with DSLR cameras. Guided by their teacher, Mr. Wrigley, the students skillfully adjusted their camera settings to record the vibrant coloured lights through varying exposure times. As they immersed themselves in this captivating experience, their photographs improved remarkably. Here are some examples of their work from this exciting event.
Julian Wrigley
Visual Arts Teacher
In the next in our Resonate series, Simon Hamblin, Digital Learning and History teacher introduces us to the possibilities of AI. When Chat GPT was first released in 2022 many people were concerned that Artificial Intelligence would be used by students as another plagiarism tool. Discussions in the education industry mainly centred around how to create AI-resistant assessments and how to ban its use in schools. As a Digital Learning and History teacher, Simon was intrigued not by the potential drawbacks, but by the immense possibilities AI could offer to improve the classroom experience.
Read more below.
Dear Cranbrook families,
As mentioned in this newsletter earlier this term, we have been undertaking a broad survey of our culture to increase our understanding of the experience of our students, staff and families, so that we reflect a welcoming environment to all, and provide the very best opportunities for our community to experience a respectful and exciting environment for learning. We want to further embed effective ways we can offer the right opportunities to help everyone feel a genuine sense of belonging.
As a school, we are looking at ways we can better provide avenues for our students to share with us how they are travelling at school. Helping students have appropriate methods to express their views and reflections are vital. Their voices can powerfully inform how we modify our wellbeing programmes and address any potential issues amongst cohorts in a timely and effective way.
Each term, students in the Senior School are encouraged to complete a wellbeing survey that allows them to share their perspectives on how they are travelling, plus respond to some changing key questions to garner feedback from our students on issues or things happening at school. Our Director of Student Wellbeing oversees this student engagement survey and tracks responses for individuals as well as trend data which can be used to inform adjustments to our Student Wellbeing Programme. In future, we plan to share regularly some of the key learnings from this survey with our community via the Link.
In Junior School, we also gather information about student wellbeing and perceptions via a number of surveys. Our Years 3-6 students participate in a playground survey which helps staff better understand concerns they might have and also what aspects of playtime they really enjoy. We use this information to make changes to our Student Wellbeing Programme and also better inform how we oversee the daily playground experience. Additionally, we conduct the RADAR mental health risk survey with these year levels with parental permission. This survey allows us to see how a child perceives their friendships, learning and level of connection. We share the results of this survey with families. Currently, we are exploring providing a continuously available method for our students to be able let their teachers know a concern they may have. Most students of primary school age will approach a teacher directly, but sometimes that may be daunting, so another method can help those wanting their teacher to know something important. This information can help our staff better care for their students and help build student skills in using their voice with respect.
We are about to move into our second phase with the Staff Culture Survey. All staff have been invited to share their perceptions, experiences and observations via an external, confidential survey. We now move to inviting some staff, past and present, to participate in facilitated focus groups run by the external agency conducting the broader culture survey. We look forward to learning more about our school, reflecting and then sharing ideas about how we can bolster Cranbrook for the years ahead.
Recently, nearly 50 staff leaders from across the whole school, Pre-School to the Senior School, participated in a training seminar about how we can better create a respectful, safe and inclusive environment at Cranbrook. The course unpacked for us the elements of a positive and safe environment for all. We will be following up this course with workshops for the leaders to help hone the skills needed to care for all our staff and students in a changing world and to share ideas for how we can continue to foster a positive and welcoming school.
As previously mentioned, the School values feedback from all members of our community and we are eager to hear from our parent community about their experiences and what they value about Cranbrook. Next term, we will be conducting some research with parents to gain their perspectives. By better understanding what all members of our community value and experience as part of our school, we provide an exciting opportunity to reflect, learn and bolster Cranbrook for the years ahead.
Last week, there was some reporting in the media around a Federal Department of Education request for information from our School. I am pleased to let families know that by the end of last week the final tranches of material were submitted to the DoE. We have been fully cooperating with the Department throughout this process and will continue to do so.
Kind wishes,
Michele Marquet
Acting Head of School
Dear Parents and Carers
I would like to thank all parents for their engagement at the Year 7 to Year 11 Parent/Teacher Day last Friday. This was a trial day, and we would love your feedback by answering a quick survey by clicking on the link below:
https://forms.gle/3HdXJwvrz8txJ5i49
Parent/Teacher interviews are a formal way to receive feedback and for parents to express any concerns or issues on behalf of their children. However, there are always opportunity for parents to communicate any issues with the School via the Student’s Head of House or specifically with the class teacher via email. It is often these informal communications that assist students the best and help the staff to understand if there are any issues or tensions. The day itself ran very smoothly from a school point of view, even though many staff had more than 60 interviews throughout the day which took a lot of preparation prior to last Friday. We appreciate any feedback you can offer as parents.
I would like to wish all of our junior dramatists the very best for their short play production; this will be held in the John Gaden Studio and Drama Performance Rooms from 6pm.
This weekend sees a full round of sporting fixtures resume and I hope that all families enjoyed a restful long weekend last weekend.
Have a great week.
Best Wishes
Bob Meakin
Deputy Headmaster & Head of Senior School
Dear Parents and Carers,
A reminder to Year 8 and 10 families of our Subject Information Fairs for students and parents next Monday the 17 June:
Year 8 (for Year 9 study, 2025):
Vicars Centenary Hall from 4pm-5pm
Year 10 (for Year 11 study, 2025):
Vicars Centenary Hall from 5.30-7pm
I look forward to seeing you there if you can make it.
Have a great week.
Nick Jolly
Director of Academics / Deputy Head of Senior School
Dear Parents and Carers,
As part of the IBDP CAS project, three Year 12 students planned and led an insightful SWP session for Year 7 students this week. The session focused on crucial topics such as internet safety and identifying scams. They also shared vital information on sextortion and provided guidance on what students can do if they find themselves in a difficult situation. The students then had the opportunity to discuss this further with their Mentor.
Year 9 students had the opportunity to hear from a panel of Year 12 students on a variety of topics, including managing workload, hopes and plans for post-school life, and ways to stay engaged while at school. This session was organised and implemented by the newly formed Student Wellbeing Committee. The impact of the student voice in delivering important information cannot be underestimated, and increasing student agency is the kind of role modelling we aim to promote. By empowering our students to take on leadership roles and share their experiences, we are fostering a supportive and proactive school community.
Angelique Sanders
Director of Student Wellbeing
Dear Parents and Guardians,
I hope everyone had a relaxing long weekend.
Congratulations to Huon Groves and Thomas Altundag who both gained selection to NSW All Schools Cross Country by placing in the top 10 runners for CIS in their age groups. Julian Kelly came 12th and will therefore be a reserve. Huon won the U17s race outright. Cranbrook also placed first as a school in the U17s race represented by Huon Groves, Julian Kelly, Matthew Radvin and Max Shabat.
Concussion Protocols
This year Cranbrook and the other CAS schools adopted the “Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) new Australian Concussion Guidelines for Youth and Community Sport, which were released on 1 February 2024.
The Australian Concussion Guidelines for Youth and Community Sport have been designed to provide clear and consistent guidance on concussion for parents, teachers, coaches, sideline staff and others involved in youth and community sport.
These guidelines provide information on how to recognise and manage concussion from the time of injury through to a safe return to education, work and playing sport. This information is intended for the general public and for individuals participating in youth (those aged under 19 years) and community sports where healthcare practitioners are less likely to be available to diagnose and monitor symptom progression of individuals with concussion.
Please download the Cranbrook and AIS Concussion guidelines here. If you have any questions around concussion, please don’t hesitate to email Cranbrook’s Head of Athletic Performance. Paul Hallam. Phallam@cranbrook.nsw.edu.au
Please download this weekend’s fixtures here.
We wish to provide a gentle reminder to all families regarding our attendance policy for School Sport:
The full Term 2 Co-Curricular and Sport Training schedule can be found here.
With the term break fast approaching, please find below a number of camps available. The July Holiday Training Schedule can be found here.
Rugby Camp: https://events.humanitix.com/cranbrook-rugby-holiday-camp-june-2024
Football Camp: https://events.humanitix.com/cranbrook-football-holiday-camp-july-2024
Tennis Camp: https://events.humanitix.com/cranbrook-tennis-tournament-july-2024
Basketball Camp: https://events.humanitix.com/cranbrook-senior-school-basketball-camp-july-2024
We look forward to seeing everyone around the grounds this weekend!
Matt Grice
Director of Sport
The Cranbrook Short Play Festival features Year 7 and 8 students performing Apostrophes by Bradley Hayward and 40 Plays in 40 Minutes by Kamron Klitgaard. The plays, performed back-to-back in the John Gaden Studio and Drama Performance Room, offer a unique experience as the audience moves between spaces to watch both performances. Our Year 10 students are assisting Cranbrook Drama staff in directing, designing, rehearsing, and editing, helping their peers create and perform the productions.
Book your tickets here.
Andrew Benson
Head of Drama (Acting)
