Bob Meakin, Head of Senior School / Deputy Headmaster

Dear Parents and Carers,

Well done to our Year 11 students who have now completed their examinations. I commend them on their mature and studious approach to these assessments. Year 11 will now be in class until the end of term.

Last week, the Debating season concluded with our Year 12s taking on our Year 11s in a Comedy Debate. A special thanks to D’Arcy Richardson for the organisation of this event and for a very successful shared CAS Premiership. D’Arcy Richardson, Tommy Harnett, Marley Farrar, Jax Taylor and David Tabachnik were superb all season and we thank them for their brilliant service to the Oratory programme.

As our Year 12s prepare for their final week of School, we are organising some excellent activities for them next week, especially on Wednesday afternoon which promises to be a lot of fun for our departing students. Tomorrow, all Year 12s who attended the Junior School will be at their Farewell Assembly in the Junior School gym. This is a lovely occasion where those students who have been with us, some even as early as in the Pre-school are farewelled by our Junior School community. I did speak with Year 12 yesterday regarding their use of time between now and the start of their final examinations and reminded all HSC students that they still have plenty of time to improve on their school-based marks. For our IB Diploma students, almost all of their marks are there to be achieved.

Next week sees our athletes compete at the CAS Athletics Championships at SOPAC. Students in Year 7, 9 and 11 will be attending to support our hard working athletes. A reminder that this is full blazer uniform and transport is provided to and from SOPAC. Students are expected to arrive back at around 9pm.

Finally, congratulations to our 28 students from both the Junior and Senior Schools who delivered an outstanding performance at the National Interschools Snowsports Competition at Mt Buller, battling through classic Melbourne weather that threw everything at them – lightning, hail, rain, wind, fog, and sunshine all in one week. 

• Charlie Roberts Division 3 – 1st in Cross Country Classic – gold medal 
• Charlie Roberts, Seb Tucker and Sam Spry division 3 Cross Country Classic team – bronze medal
• Seb Tucker bronze individual medal Division 3 Snowboard GS
• Charlie Roberts, Seb Tucker and Sam Spry Division 3 Snowboard GS – team bronze medal
• Seb Salter, Imanol Plante, Hugo Croft Division 4 Moguls – team bronze medal
• Imanol Plante, Hugo Croft and Xavier Fern Division 4 Classic – team bronze medal and Division 4 Relay – team bronze medal
• Oscar Parsons 4th in Division 2 Moguls
• Division 2 Snowboard Cross – Ziggy Edwards, Milo Gibney and Oscar Croft – silver medal
• Ziggy Edwards Division 2 Snowboard GS – individual bronze medal 
• Division 2 Snowboard GS – Ziggy Edwards, Milo Gibney and Oscar Croft – silver medal

Incredible week with many more top 10.

• 3^rd place in the Male Junior Schools in the country
• 5^th place in the Male Senior Schools in the country

Have a great week.

Best wishes,

Bob Meakin
Head of Senior School / Deputy Headmaster

Adrian Harrison, Director of Academics – Senior School – Acting

Year 7 Taronga Zoo

On Tuesday our Year 7 students were afforded an opportunity to play the role of David Attenborough at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo. As part of their unit on cells and classification students spent the day traversing the site to investigate the nature of different species and record information for use in the later assessment task which requires them to adopt the role of zoologist and create an information campaign for the public. We look forward to seeing their finished products in the week ahead. A huge thank you to our scientists and all staff on supporting our students on this fieldwork.

Reporting

As Term 3 comes to a close a reminder on reporting across the year groups. Reports will be available early in the first week of the holidays. This will be the first time that reports will be accessed via Compass, families will receive a notification form Compass when these are ready.

Year Group	Type of Report
7-10	Progress
11 IBDP	Progress
11 HSC	Full
12 IBDP	Full
12 HSC	Full

Please note that Years 7 to 10 have access to greater feedback on student work via the student learning system Canvas.

Should you have any questions regarding access to this please contact our Digital Learning team at digilit@cranbrook.nsw.edu.au

Many thanks,

Adrian Harrison
Director of Academics – Senior School – Acting

Angelique Sanders, Director of Student Wellbeing/Acting Deputy Head of Senior School

For our final SWP session for Term 3 the students were engaged in a range of activities and meetings.

Year 7 concluded the term by celebrating their unique identities. Their session focused on the idea that individuality strengthens our sense of belonging and safety within the School community. Through explicit teaching and open conversations around identity, we encouraged students to embrace who they are and recognise the value they bring to our School

Year 8 explored the concept of positive risk-taking. While risky behaviour is often framed negatively, we wanted our students to understand the courage and growth that can come from stepping outside their comfort zones. To inspire them, we shared a quote from Michelle Obama: “Just try new things. Don’t be afraid. Step out of your comfort zones and soar.” This message captured the spirit of their learning this term.

Year 9 had a fantastic session with Daisy Turnbull, our Director of Coeducation, who presented on Connecting in a Co-Ed World. Through the examples of different psychological experiments and theories including the Fundamental Attribution Error, Diffusion of Responsibility Effect, and the Asch’s Conformity Test, students learnt about how their judgement of other’s behaviour can sometimes be a bit tougher than their own. Ms Turnbull started and ended with Margaret Mead and reminded students to “Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed people to change the world. In fact, it is the only thing that ever has.”

Year 10 focused on enhancing their Microsoft skills—an essential toolkit as they approach their senior years. While it’s often assumed that young people are tech-savvy by default, we recognise the importance of explicitly teaching digital skills that will support them academically and professionally.

On Wednesday, our Year 11 students completed their preliminary examinations. We look forward to welcoming them back to classes on Thursday. During the SWP session, our DP students generously supported the Year 7 and 8 cohorts, modelling leadership and care.

Finally, Year 12 gathered for their last cohort meeting, where plans for their final week were shared, along with clear behavioural expectations. We are committed to helping our Year 12’s finish strong and with pride.

As we conclude our Term 3 wellbeing theme, “To Be Connected,” we now look ahead to Term 4, where we will celebrate “To Be YOU.” We are excited to continue supporting our students in discovering and expressing their authentic selves.

A reminder that you can view the full Student Wellbeing Program on Canvas HERE.

Daisy Turnbull, Director of Coeducation

This week was the culminating event for the Year 7 2026 Long Orientation Programme. Over 120 of our incoming Year 7s and current Cranbrook Year 6s teamed up for a night of trivia and other games. Whether it was expert knowledge in emoji movie titles, Cricket batting averages, Minecraft, Taylor Swift, or Cranbrook, the Year 7 cohort of 2026 definitely knows their stuff!

This dinner would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of the Year 10 and 11 Student Coeducation Committee members who came up with the questions, engaged with the students, broke the ice, cleared tables, sang songs and participated in Cranbrook based game of True/False! Thank you to Max, Edward, Tate, Noah, Simon, Ned, Ed, Ashton, Finnigan, Henry, George, and Oscar. Thank you also to Ms Stone, Ms Medniuk, Ms Probst, Ms Munn and Mr Beverley for volunteering and supervising. We are also grateful to have some Year 11 representation from Max, despite a huge assessment workload.

The Trivia Dinner was the final event for the Year 7 2026 long orientation, which began in Term 1 last year. This has included Bin Ball, dance workshops, public speaking, leadership sessions, and Music and Drama workshops. By participating in these events students have gotten to know each other, Cranbrook, and ease into coeducation as our first cohort.

We are so excited to start coeducation next year, and know that our Year 7s and 11s will be beacons for the School.

Daisy Turnbull
Director of Coeducation

Matt Grice, Director of Sport

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Last Saturday marked the 3rd Invitational of the season at ES Marks, with many of our athletes achieving personal bests across both track and field events. It was fantastic to see the squad’s commitment and energy on display, and the results are a credit to the hard work being put in at training. This weekend will see the final Invitational before the all-important CAS Athletics Championships next Thursday. We wish all students representing Cranbrook the very best as they prepare for this major event.

This Saturday sees the Athletic Squad take part in the 4th Invitational at ES Marks.

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.

House Basketball has returned for the 2025 season, bringing an incredible buzz across campus. The opening rounds have already delivered some fiercely contested games, with the VCH packed at lunchtimes by enthusiastic supporters cheering on their houses. The atmosphere has been outstanding, showcasing the pride and spirit that each house brings to the competition. We wish all houses the very best for the competition ahead, and I would like to thank our Basketball staff for their efforts in running this long-standing and much-loved event.

A reminder for the CAS Athletics Championships on Thursday 18 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 student 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

WHEN :Thursday 18 September 2025
12:30pm – 8:00pm

Ticket Prices:

ADULT (18yrs+) $11.20

CHILD (5-17yrs) $6.20

CHILD (4yrs & Under) – FREE

To purchase click here.

This week, students who are not part of the Athletics Team began to transition to their Summer Sport sessions. 

Please see the Co-Curricular and Sport Timetable for the coming weeks (weeks 7 – 9), the sessions are offered as drop-in sessions, and students may attend when available.

Please see details below of the Holiday Camps and Activities available to Cranbrook students during the Term Break.

• Basketball Camp: For more details and to book your place, click here.
• Tennis Camp: For more details and to book your place, click here.
• Cricket Camp and T20 Smash Cup: For more details and to book your place, click here or here.
• Rowing Camps:
  Year 7 and 8 Rowing: For more details and to book your place, click here.
  Year 9 – 11 Rowing: For more details and to book your place, click here.

Sports Resources – contain essential information regarding sports events, schedules and important updates for the year ahead

• 2025 Sports Welcome Booklet
• 2025 Sports Calendar

Matthew Grice
Director of Sport P-12

Cranbrook at the 2025 Australian Interschools Championships – Mt Buller

The 2025 Australian Interschools Championships at Mt Buller proved to be one of the most challenging and memorable weeks our Snowsports team has ever faced. Over six days, our athletes competed with grit and determination through conditions that spanned sunshine, fog, wind, hail and even lightning. What remained constant was their resilience, camaraderie and Cranbrook spirit, on proud display across every slope.

In our upper divisions, special congratulations go out to our Senior teams who achieved podium finishes in:

Division 2 Snowboard Cross	Team (Ziggy E, Milo G, Oscar C)	🥈 Silver
Division 2 Snowboard GS	Team (Ziggy E, Milo G, Oscar C)	🥈 Silver
Division 2 Snowboard GS	Individual (Ziggy E)	🥉 Bronze
Division 3 Snowboard GS	Team (Seb T, Charlie R, Sam S)	🥉 Bronze
Division 3 Snowboard GS	Individual (Seb T)	🥉 Bronze
Division 3 Cross Country Classic	Individual (Charlie R)	🥇 Gold
Division 3 Cross Country Classic	Team (Charlie R, Seb T, Sam S)	🥉 Bronze

In our lower divisions, our Junior teams also achieved podium finishes in:

Division 4 Moguls	Team (Imanol P, Hugo C, Seb S)	🥉 Bronze
Division 4 Cross Country Classic	Team (Xavier F, Imanol P, Hugo C)	🥉 Bronze
Division 4 Cross Country Relay	Team (Xavier F, Imanol P, Hugo C)	🥉 Bronze

Throughout the event, we witnessed many standout performances. In addition to those above, other individual top 20 results included:

Division 2 Moguls – Oscar Parsons – 4^th

Division 2 Cross Country Classic – Oliver Southwell-Keely – 9^th, James Walker 16^th

Division 2 Alpine – Remy Phillips – 16^th

Division 2 Snowboard Cross – Ziggy Edwards – 4^th, Milo Gibney 15^th, Oscar Croft 17^th  

Division 2 Snowboard GS – Milo Gibney 13^th, Oscar Croft 19^th

Division 3 Alpine – Charlie Roberts – 11^th

Division 3 Ski Cross – Charlie Roberts – 8^th

Division 3 Cross Country Classic – Sam Spry 13^th

Division 4 Moguls – Sebastian Salter – 6 ^th, Imanol Plante 18^th, Hugo Croft 19^th

Division 4 Cross Country Class – Imanol Plante 14^th, Xavier Fern 15^th, Hugo Croft 17^th

Division 5 Alpine – Hunter Whittle – 10^th  

Division 5 Cross Country Classic – Hunter Whittle 11^th, Ryan Shi 17^th

By week’s end, Cranbrook stood proudly 6th overall among Champion Secondary Boys Schools in Australia and 3rd overall in Champion Primary Boys Schools – a reputable result on both fronts. Beyond the medals and placings, what shone brightest was the sportsmanship, resilience and unity of our team. Whether in sun or storm, Cranbrook athletes supported one another, cheered loudly from the sidelines, and wore their jackets with pride. Congratulations to every competitor and family involved in the final competition of this remarkable season.

Snowsports Captains: Elliot Roberts and Sach Edwards

Snowsports Staff: Genet Erickson Adam

NBA Basketball School Australia Camps

Upcoming September/October Holiday Camps and Term 4 Programme in Sydney at Cranbrook School:

Holiday Camps

• Week 1: 22–26 September | Ages 6–18
• Week 2: 29 September–3 October | Ages 6–18

Term 4 Programme

• Dates: 14 October – 12 December | Ages 6–18
• Special Sessions: Reps Only Fridays & Girls Only Fridays

You can find all the details and registration on our website.

Yr 7 Science Excursion to Taronga Zoo

Year 7 have been studying Cells and Classification in their Science classes this term. Recently, the students have learnt how living organisms are classified into special groups depending on the characteristics they share.

To support their studies, they embarked on an exciting excursion to Sydney’s Taronga Zoo with the aim to collect information on various wildlife housed there. At the zoo, the students observed a wide range of animals from across the world, attended keeper talks and shows. They will use this experience to put together a David Attenborough-style documentary to showcase their chosen animals in class.

The students had a wonderful day at Taronga. Here are what some had to say:

    ”The zoo was unbelievably interesting with such unique creatures. I really loved the seal show         especially when the seal leaped out of the water and touched the ball with its nose.” – Leo Buchanan

    ”It was a really great day at the zoo. My favourite enclosure was the greater bilby. I found out its         manoeuvrable ears help with heat regulation and finding prey.” – Angus Dawson

    ”We enjoyed taking photos of the animals at the zoo. Our favourite were the meerkats. We         watched them burrow in the sand.” – Archer Malackey & Oliver Fyfe

    ”It was a new and fun experience at the zoo as we were able to take our time analysing and         observing the animals within our class context.” – Benjamin Ryckmans

    ”I enjoyed the freedom of choosing what we got to see throughout the day and the teachers         were very nice.” – Peter Damianos

    ”I like the biodiversity of the animals at the zoo. My favourite was the red panda.” – Rhys Au

    ”The task that we were assigned was very fun. We decided to film 5 reptiles including the         rhinoceros iguana and  black headed python.” – Willem van der Voort van Zyp

    ”The exhibits had a lot of information on each animal which help me with the task. I found out the     baby hippos follows its parents to learn survival skills which was quite fascinating.” – Noah Medniuk

    ”We enjoyed the flexibility of our day and being able to see the animals at our own pace with our     friends.” – Tom Richardson  & Daniel Murphy

The excursion deepened their understanding of classification as well as conservation and ways of protecting wildlife. Thank you to Mr Briscoe-Hough for organising such a fun learning experience and to the staff who accompanied the students.

Kathryn Whiten
Laboratory Technician

Bridging Literacies: Connecting Worlds

Insights from the World Literacy Summit 2025

Earlier this term, Kate Kovalik, Acting Head of English at Cranbrook, shared her reflections from attending the World Literacy Summit 2025 in Oxford, UK. In her session, Bridging Literacies: Connecting Worlds, Kate explored what literacy really means today, the challenges students face in developing it, and the strategies schools can adopt to ensure every learner thrives.

At the heart of her reflections was a challenge to rethink what we mean by literacy. As the Oxford Declaration affirms, literacy involves the ability “to understand and express oneself in reading, writing, numeracy, visual communication and listening.” In our modern world, this definition must be expanded. The basics of reading and writing remain essential, but competence now also requires critical thinking and digital literacy, equipping students not only to consume but also to create and evaluate information. This broader view compels schools to see literacy as more than a functional skill: it is a gateway to participation in society, a foundation for wellbeing, and a means of preparing students for the complexities of the 21st century.

This wider perspective also brought into focus the close connection between literacy and student wellbeing. Kate drew attention to research emphasising that literacy development is not just an academic concern, but central to children’s broader sense of identity and flourishing. As Maynard and Weinstein (2019, p.164) remind us, “We need to recenter the whole child. Children are MORE than a data point,” and “We often do not put [wellbeing data] beside the academic data—which means we are not getting the full picture.”

By weaving wellbeing data into the same frame as academic achievement, using systems like Cranbrook’s Student Dashboard and Class Dashboard, schools can better understand and support the whole learner.

This provoked an important reflection for Cranbrook: how often do we assume that our students arrive with strong literacy foundations, and do we unintentionally privilege those from “literary-rich” homes? With increasingly diverse cohorts, including students for whom English is an additional language or who experience barriers such as dyslexia, literacy support must be intentional, targeted, and embedded across subjects.

Drawing on research discussed at the Summit, Kate also unpacked how dyslexia manifests and how it can be addressed. John Gabrieli (MIT) has shown that “brain differences may be present before learning to read, but can be influenced by individual experience”.  Students from higher socio-economic backgrounds often have better access to interventions that target phonological awareness, but all learners benefit from explicit, systematic teaching. Neuroscientific approaches (such as brain plasticity and targeted remediation exercises) offer hope, but teachers remain central. Students who struggle with irregular words or spelling rules need consistent strategies, support, and encouragement if they are to thrive.

Technology, too, was discussed as both a challenge and an opportunity. Captions and subtitles in videos, for example, not only support students with hearing impairments but also strengthen comprehension for all learners. Equally, engaging young people in reading and writing through digital platforms positions them not just as consumers but also as producers of content, helping them to practise critical digital literacy skills.

Importantly, Kate also drew on the expertise of colleagues across the Senior School, showcasing how literacy is embedded in diverse ways across disciplines. From explicit strategies for strengthening reading comprehension and extended writing, to the use of scaffolds that support analysis, to the integration of digital tools that build vocabulary and communication skills, each department is contributing to a shared culture of literacy. These examples made clear that literacy is not the preserve of English alone, but a collective responsibility woven throughout the curriculum.

To conclude, Kate reminded us that practical steps make the difference: modelling reading and analysis strategies, reducing cognitive load by sequencing tasks carefully, and explicitly teaching unfamiliar words rather than assuming they will be absorbed incidentally. She urged us to use technology wisely to extend and support learning, and to ensure that students encounter consistent language for literacy skills across subjects.

Ultimately, her message was clear: literacy is a human right. It is not just about decoding text, but about equipping young people with the tools to understand themselves, connect with others, and engage fully with the world.

Hannah Thomas
Director of Professional Learning

Articles of Interest – Week 8

Please find the articles of interest below.

How perfectionism affects mental health

‘The pressure to be perfect’ 

The downside of perfectionism in Sports

How to deal with perfectionism in relationships

YouTube

Roger Federer on ‘Perfection’ 

Escaping Perfectionism with Professor Thomas Curran

Cranbrook Gala – Save The Date

Dear Parents,

As we embark on our exciting new chapter in Cranbrook’s history, we are delighted to bring together the Cranbrook Community to mark the beginning of co-education and to warmly welcome Dr Anne Johnstone, our new Head of School.

We will be hosting a Gala Evening on Saturday 6 December 2025 6pm at Cranbrook School. Please mark the date in your calendar. Further details will be announced over the next few weeks. The event is open to all parents from Preschool to Year 12. Tickets will go on sale in September.

We look forward to celebrating this exciting new era together!

Kind regards,

Angelique Haritos
CSPA President