Senior School Link – Week 8, Term 3 2024 - 12 September 2024
Insights from the 2024 EduTech Conference
“We surpass the AI by standing on its shoulders.” Boris Steipe, Associate Professor pf Molecular Genetics at the University of Toronto
Inspired by their experience at EDUtech Australia, Tara Schmidtke and Simon Hamblin recently shared their top insights from the conference with Cranbrook School teachers at CTTT.
Artificial Intelligence was a significant focus, and the session emphasised the importance of keeping the human in the loop when using AI tools: contending rather than avoiding the valuable struggle involved in completing meaningful work.
Another key insight was the importance of transparency around teacher usage of AI (frequently a dirty word in education), to normalise the usage of these tools, build credibility around quality AI-assisted output and model best practice for students.
As 90% of EduTech products will have an AI feature by 2026, it is vital that teachers support students to develop AI literacy so they can confidently navigate this new frontier.
Hannah Thomas Director of Professional Learning
Michele Marquet, Acting Head of School
Dear Parents and Carers,
At school, we strive to help our students to build a character that embodies the values that define a Cranbrookian: individuality, excellence, respect, global-mindedness and service. Individual Cranbrookians will live out those values in unique ways, such as our guest speaker at last week’s Assembly, Geoff Coombes OAM, who shared his story with the students about how he started a charity that raised $130 million for cancer research and is now working on a new fundraising initiative, Stryde4. The School’s values are qualities we want each student to develop within themselves now and then take with them when they leave school, into whatever careers they may pursue, wherever in the world they live and work.
Recently, we have been thinking about how we might celebrate individuality and have noted how it intersects with another value – respect. Respect also underpins a third value important to our School: Service.
Service requires us to put others at the centre of what we are doing – to give them a value equal or greater than we might give ourselves. This area of character development emphasises placing someone else’s needs above our own and giving our time, our words, our skills and talents, for the good or benefit of someone or something else. In this moment, we reshape our world view a little, and we are no longer the only person in the centre.
Of course, the irony is when we do this, what we get back personally is far greater than what we ever give. How it makes us feel to have genuinely helped someone else, to have played a part in something bigger than ourselves, fills our souls like nothing else. It is the ultimate reward. But in some ways, moving ourselves from the centre of our world is not how many people naturally operate. Cranbrookians, however, have always been prepared to craft a different path. We’re proud to have witnessed those who have had the guts to consider more than just their own needs and wants. I have known thousands of young Cranbrookians during my time and the best of them have shown the courage to not be bystanders, to step up and look for ways to grow into the kind of human that thinks about others and their needs, just as much as their own. They worked out that standing apart from others in this way was an intrinsic part of living out the motto, To be, rather than to seem be. And they understood something really significant: that when we chose to serve, it can be a powerful change agent in the lives of others, but also for shaping who we are as people.
So many of our students already engage in acts of service. Every term, stories of initiatives led by our students are shared with me – from those participating in the Kids Giving Back sessions, to students running a huge variety of activities to raise funds for CETOP or other causes close to their hearts. They volunteer in impressive numbers and think up creative ways to interest their peers in the various causes they might be promoting.
At Assembly, we challenged those yet to embrace service as a mode of operating to look for opportunities and grab them, to take up the chance to serve others by putting their needs above their own wants.
We want all our students to take the time to think about the impact of their choices on others: choosing to contribute in ways that are positive and uplifting, not just for them as an individual, but in a way that will have that kind of impact on the lives of others. We know that it will change them for the better. Our character is shaped by the many thousands of decisions we make over time. The opportunity to act differently, to be different, happens in quiet unseen moments just as much as when our actions are on public display. Building a character to be proud of is done, in part, by leading through service to others. It is exciting to see our students take up that challenge and be supported by our families in this vital area of character development.
Staff News
After over 8 years at Cranbrook, Nick Jolly, Director of Academics/Deputy Head of Senior School, has let the School know that he will be leaving mid-Term 4 to take up a new post at Reddam. He will join the staff of their new North Shore campus as Deputy Head. We congratulate Nick on this appointment and thank him for his significant contribution to the shaping of teaching and learning at the Senior School. We wish him the very best for the future.
Adrian Harrison, our current Director of Curriculum will be the Acting Director of Academics from Week 5, Term 4, while the recruitment process for a permanent replacement is underway.
Angelique Sanders, our current Director of Student Wellbeing, will be the Acting Deputy Head of the Senior School during the same period.
Kind wishes,
Michele Marquet Acting Head of School
Supporting High Potential and Gifted Students: Insights from Cranbrook School’s Professional Learning Session
This week, Cranbrook School teachers facilitated an enriching CTTT session focused on ‘Supporting High Potential and Gifted Students’. Drawing from UNSW’s mini-COGE course, our educators shared invaluable insights and strategies to better support these exceptional learners.
Cáit Mullooly kicked off the session by discussing environmental factors that impact the development of giftedness. She highlighted the pivotal role of teachers as catalysts in accelerating students’ gifts, and emphasised the importance of identifying and adequately challenging gifted students to prevent underachievement.
Nick Tsoukatos built on this by advocating for the replacement of ordinary classwork with extension work, rather than delaying extension work until core content is completed. He stressed the importance of running pretests at least two weeks before a new unit to adapt the program for students who demonstrate mastery of core content. Using strategies from The Williams Model (1993), such as ‘Attribute Listing’ (which involves the skill of analysis, requiring students to list the attributes of or list the properties of something), Nick provided examples of how he had challenged his high potential Year 9 students.
Caroline Usasz developed this focus on strategies for differentiation by exploring how Universal Design for Learning (UDL) provides a robust framework for blending inquiry-based learning with content knowledge demands. She shared successful strategies for introducing metalanguage to high potential Year 8 students and underscored the power of autonomy in challenging gifted learners.
James Adams concluded the session by presenting research on the positive impact of concept-based curricula for extending high potential students. He also showcased VanTassel-Baska’s Integrated Curriculum Model (ICM) and shared engaging, interdisciplinary projects from the Cranbrook Honours Curriculum.
This session was a testament to the dedication of our teachers in fostering an environment where high potential and gifted students can thrive.
Hannah Thomas Director of Professional Learning
Bob Meakin, Deputy Headmaster & Head of Senior School
Dear Parents and Carers,
As we draw close to the end of another busy week and indeed a very busy term, I would like to congratulate Year 11 on their commitment and effort with their examinations which conclude today. For those in Year 11 studying the HSC, this marks the end of their preliminary course, and they commence Year 12 work after the holidays.
Congratulations to our Year 12 Music students who completed their HSC practicals this week. Their performances have been stunning.
Next week also mark the final week for Year 12 classes, where there are a number of celebrations throughout the week, including the Boarders’ Valedictory Dinner on Monday, the TAS Showcase evening on Tuesday and the Valedictory Assembly and Dinner on Friday. I hope our Year 12 students enjoy these events and the last week of classes with their friends.
This weekend sees the Cranbrook invitation Athletics Carnival at ES Marks. This a normal invitational carnival for our athletes and it is Cranbrook’s turn to host; we look forward to a successful and smooth-running day. Thank you to our Sports staff.
Next Thursday is the CAS Athletics Championships at Homebush. I would like to wish our selected athletes the very best in this high-level competition that is supported by students in their thousands. A reminder that Year 7, 9, 11 and Prefects will also be in attendance to support our athletes who have worked so hard. A reminder that the dress code for our spectators is full School uniform, including their blazer.
Have a wonderful week.
Best wishes,
Bob Meakin Deputy Headmaster & Head of Senior School
Angelique Sanders, Director of Student Wellbeing
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
At Cranbrook we strive to create a positive and supportive environment where every student feels safe and respected. A key part of this is empowering students to report incidents of unkind or harmful behaviour when they occur.
Unfortunately, the idea of “snitch culture” often discourages students from speaking up. Snitch culture views reporting other students poor or unkind behaviour as a betrayal rather than an act of courage, leading to harmful behaviours going unaddressed. This silence can make students feel isolated and unsafe, allowing problems to grow.
Encouraging students to report to trusted adults is about building a culture of bravery and support, not snitching. Reporting helps protect everyone’s well-being and contributes to a kinder, safer school environment. It also fosters important life skills such as empathy and self-advocacy. It’s about modelling and expecting respect, one of our core values.
Here’s how you can support your son:
Reinforce that speaking up is an act of courage.
Let your child know that their teachers, Mentor or Heads of House are here to help them work through issues.
Remind them that reporting helps protect everyone.
We are working hard to build social and emotional skills in our young people and having the courage to call out bad behaviour is a vital life skill.
As we approach the end of the term and students start to feel tired, please encourage your son to maintain his efforts and finish strong, rather than letting his standards drop.
Angelique Sanders Director of Student Wellbeing
Matt Grice, Director of Sport
Dear Parents and Guardians,
A big congratulations to our snow sports team, who competed in the Australian Interschools competition last week. We achieved fantastic results across the board, with all students performing to the best of their abilities. A heartfelt thank you to our incredible snow sports team, as well as to the students, staff, and parents, for another remarkable season.
Each week, Cranbrook Heads of Sport hold team meetings with their core coaches to ensure effective planning and implementation of coaching techniques throughout their programs. These meetings provide a structured opportunity for coaches to collaborate, share insights, and align their strategies to ensure a unified approach to student development. By discussing current progress, reviewing performance data, and refining training methods together, Heads of Sport and coaches can address any issues proactively and adapt their techniques to better meet the needs of their students. This collaborative environment fosters continuous improvement, enhances the quality of coaching, and ultimately leads to a more successful and cohesive sports program. Regular communication also strengthens the support network for both coaches and athletes, creating a more motivating and efficient training atmosphere. I thank all our coaches for their continued hard work. I encourage any parent or guardians with questions regarding a particular sport to get in contact with the Head of Sport. They will be happy to answer any questions or queries.
This Saturday sees the Athletic Squad take part in the 4th Invitational at ES Marks, co-hosted by Cranbrook School . We wish all students the best of luck as they continue to prepare for the CAS Championships next week.
A reminder for the CAS Athletics Championships on Thursday 19 September. All boys in Years 7, 9 and 11 will be in attendance and will depart School at the end of lunch.
(Please note all Cranbrook students’ competitors and spectators do not require tickets.)
Tickets for the CAS Track and Field Championships are now on sale.
WHERE: Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre, Edwin Flack Ave, Sydney Olympic Park, NSW 2127, Australia
Students who are not part of the Athletics Team will continue their transition to their Summer Sport sessions.
Please see the Co-Curricular and Sport Timetablehere. for the final weeks of Term 3, the sessions are offered as drop-in sessions, and students may attend when available.
Please find attached the initial Holiday Camp and training schedulehere for the upcoming Term break.
More details about the camps can be found – under the dates to remember section or below:
In an exhilarating competition last week, Cranbrook’s Snowsports legends achieved some outstanding results. Cranbrook students represented the School with 26 athletes on snow in the National competition held at Perisher. Skiing and Snowboarding against a very competitive field of over 1500 athletes from almost 300 primary & secondary schools across Australia, our representatives competed in 16 events across 6 days. Teams and individuals battled it out, bringing home 6 Team medals, one individual podium and an array of personal bests spanning the field. In a spectacular result across the divisions, the Junior School team even nabbed 3rd place in the Overall Primary Point Score!
From Day 1 on the mountain, facing challenging weather with strong winds and above-zero temperatures, every division gave it their all, making Cranbrook proud.
In our upper divisions, special congratulations go out to our Senior cross country teams who achieved podium finishes in:
Division 1 Cross Country Classic – Team SILVER (Dash Bouvier 6th, Charles Mann 7th, Jai Rastogi 10th)
Division 1 Cross Country Relay – Team SILVER (Charles Mann, Jai Rastogi, Dash Bouvier)
In our lower divisions, our Junior teams also achieved podium finishes in:
Division 4 Cross Country Classic – Team BRONZE (Charlie Roberts 4th, Hugo Croft 22nd, Sam Spry 13th)
Division 4 Cross Country Relay – Team BRONZE (Charlie Roberts, Sam Spry, Hugo Croft)
Division 5 Ski Cross – Team GOLD (Hunter Whittle 2nd, Sebastian Salter 7th, Xavier Fern 39th)
Although the snow conditions were less than optimal, in typical Cranbrook fashion, the athletes persevered and rose to the challenge. Though the season has now concluded, the focus remains on our collective achievements and growth. We have navigated challenges, celebrated victories and solidified our place as a competitive team. Please join us in congratulating all of our Snowsports athletes on a spectacular season.
Snowsports Captains: Jude Middleditch and Chester Mobbs
The Battle of Bellevue took place on Friday 6 September with Cranbrook looking to retain the trophy after their crushing 10 – 5 win in 2023. The boards were set and the battle commenced….. Unfortunately, our luck ran out and a forfeit point was all Scots needed to take out this years’ title
LIVE REPORTING:
0-2: After the forfeit, the intermediate (YR9-10) Board 5 lost a game in a precarious opening.
1-2: After seeing the points climbing for Scots, the intermediates and the juniors began to concentrate a little more. With a win from Alex Benz in the Seniors, we commenced our comeback!
2-2: The next result of the match was an exciting one! Edward Jonkman (YR 7) set the board on fire, winning a piece in a tricky combination. Edward Jonkman converted the endgame and scored another point for Cranbrook!
2-7: As the fight raged on, Caleb Dasey, Paul Graebner and Bo Campion, our top 3 senior boards all lost tough games against the well prepared Scots team. Meanwhile, in the Junior team, we saw unfortunate losses by Alex Kitto and Maurya Mehta, on boards 2 and 3, facing some strong Scots players. Alex Kitto played a sharp game, sacrificing the exchange for position.
The pressure was now back on the intermediates and juniors. Every game from now would count. One win from Scots would end the match. At this point, there were four ongoing games in the intermediates, one in the juniors and one in the seniors. In the next 15 minutes, we saw the impossible happen. Ewan Walker, the intermediate Board 4 had blundered a piece in the opening and it seemed like it was all over. However, his Scot’s opponent had miscalculated a simplification in the endgame and Ewan (Y10) capitalised on it, completely outplaying his opponent in the endgame.
3-7 : The final game in the Juniors was promised to be an exciting clash. The time control in the juniors was 25+10, oddly short for the Battle of Bellevue Hill but that just meant a more intense endgame! The Scots opponent was losing but had an idea in mind… to get our Cranbrook battler, Ethan into a position where he would have to execute a bishop and knight mate with little time. However, Ethan expertly navigated the endgame and defended his pawn while simultaneously edging his opponent’s king away from his own pawn.
4-7: There were now four games remaining, 3 in the intermediates, (William Hambly’s on Board 3, Rupert Rust’s on Board 2 and my own on Board 1) and one in the seniors, (Board 5 – Cameron La). We could not afford to lose a single game. Things were looking up as Wiliam Hambly had a crushing advantage in his game and Rupert Rust was correctly navigating a pawn endgame. In my own game, I had a tricky position but I was clearly winning. The next half hour saw Rupert Rust winning his game clinically and me crushing my opponent with still 38 minutes on the clock.
6-7: It was a comeback for the ages! We were going under the presumption that William Hambly would win, meaning that the deciding game would be Cameron’s on Board 5 of the Seniors. Cameron had dropped a piece, but hope was alive for a counter-attack as Cameron had placed his bishop on an incredibly strong diagonal with ideas of swinging the rook to the back rank and checkmating him. However, he was low on time, and Cameron unfortunately hung his queen. With that being made clear, the match was over, no matter the result of the final board.
6-8: Soon after the loss on Seniors Board 5, we had a final hurrah with a win on Board 3 by William Hambly, who demonstrated excellent conversion skills.
Final Score: 8-7 (Scots Wins)
This was the closest result for a number of years. Cranbrook had won the cup in 2023 for the first time in a decade, losing to Scots by huge margins. Cranbrook is competitive and closing the gap – Scots be warned!
If you’d like to support the chess team in winning this historic chess competition, be sure to join the Chess Club lounge – every lunchtime in S1.1.
Next Years Battle of Bellevue will be hosted by Cranbrook, in V4.09 from 3:30-5:30pm, Term 3 2025!
Will Wenderoth Year 10 Student
Articles of Interest
A round up of articles to read curated by the boarding staff;
