Michele Marquet, Acting Head of School

Dear Families and Carers

With Prize Giving only a week away, the end of term is nigh! Junior School has enjoyed their Carols and the Pre-Schools their end of year concerts. We have Senior School Carols Services next Tuesday evening and our Prize Giving events on Wednesday (Junior School) and Thursday (Senior School) respectively. We hope you can join us in celebrating the milestone of the conclusion of another academic year at one of the end of year gatherings.

Last Saturday, the Rowing Community gathered for an end of season regatta and the Old Cranbrookians vs Students races. This year, for the first time in quite a long time, the Old Cranbrookians took out the Mitchell Cup. Despite the gloomy weather, the support for the event and the enthusiasm of the rowers made for an excellent morning of celebrating dedication to training, passion and commitment in one of the toughest sports. The Cranbrook community spirit was alive and well and fully on show, with parents there to cheer on the students and Old Cranbrookians and thank the hardworking coaches under the expert leadership of Mr Carroll. The strength of that generous spirit is one of the joys of our School and helps bond us in good times and sustains us through more difficult periods.

Important: Updated Mobile Device Usage Policy in 2025
Thank you to the many Y6-Y11 families who participated recently in the survey about mobile devices. We have reviewed all the feedback from staff, families and students, and in line with recent research have adjusted our Senior School policy in this area. The new Senior School policy will come into effect at the start of 2025. Please read more here.

The last week has been an emotional rollercoaster for so many with the sad passing of Paul Hallam. It has been such an encouragement to speak of the amazing impact Paul has had on so many of our community and beyond. One thought has kept recurring for me as I listened to what others would share, and that is the power of individual educators to impact young people in positive ways. Paul was not a loud personality, but someone who got alongside students and worked to stretch and build them. He was a Trojan workhorse who to the very end worried about the School and its students and what they needed. He gave above and beyond. Paul’s positive influence on young people is really immeasurable and will be ongoing, and we are so grateful for all he did for the benefit of our students and for his friendships with so many of our staff. We continue to have his family in our thoughts and prayers.

As we head into the school holidays, all the staff and I wish our Cranbrook students and their families a safe and relaxing holiday and a very Merry Christmas. We thank you for your warmth and support during what has been a challenging year. May 2025 bring us all joy, peace and optimism for the future.

Please enjoy this short video reflection of Term 4, 2024.

Kind wishes

Michele Marquet
Acting Head of School

Bob Meakin, Deputy Headmaster & Head of Senior School

Dear Parents and Carers

Our Year 10 CITF programme continues down in the Cooleman Range, Kosciuszko National Park. The news from Mr Lilley is that our Year 10s have risen to the challenge superbly and we look forward to their return on Friday afternoon.

Next Tuesday evening our Chaplain hosts our Senior School Carol Services at St Andrew’s Cathedral and parents are most welcome to attend.

Please note the times for your son’s House:

5.30pm SS Carol Service 1 – Boarders, Chelmsford, Cutler, Davidson, Harvey, Hewan, Hone
7.00pm SS Carol Service 2 – Northcott, Perkins, Strickland, Thomas, Wakehurst, Woodward

A reminder that next week, classes will end on Wednesday 11 December at 3.20pm and our Annual Prize Giving is on Thursday 12 December at the International Convention Centre, Darling Harbour at 6:30pm sharp.

A note that prize winners will need to attend a briefing at 5.30pm at the venue.

Yesterday, many staff and students attended Mr Paul Hallam’s funeral in Miranda. This, of course, was an extremely sad occasion but the Service was a beautiful tribute to Mr Hallam with both family and friends paying their respects. Mr Grice, our Director of Sport, gave a wonderful tribute to Mr Hallam, which highlighted his extraordinary contribution to so many of our lives here at Cranbrook.

Next Wednesday 11 December at 10.25am we will hold a School Memorial Service for Mr Hallam. This allows our Year 10s to be present and any parents who wish to attend are most welcome to do so.

As this is the final Link of 2024, I would like to thank all families for their support of the School. At times, 2024 has been a challenging year, but the strength of the community is so greatly appreciated by the staff of this School. I would like to wish everyone a very safe and enjoyable Christmas break and look forward to an exciting 2025.

Have a great week.

Warmest wishes

Bob Meakin
Deputy Headmaster & Head of Senior School

Adrian Harrison, Acting Director of Academics

As the academic year draws to a close, I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to all our students for their dedication and efforts throughout 2024. Across all year levels, we have witnessed impressive achievements in various academic domains. Even in these final weeks of the term, students have demonstrated their commitment through culminating examinations, the presentation of personal projects, and even participation in the IBDP Group 4 Science project – see here.

Notably, we have observed a significant increase in the number of students achieving recognition on the Head’s List for Outstanding Academic Attitude and Effort. This distinction acknowledges the diligence, perseverance, and positive learning behaviours exhibited by students, independent of their academic ability. It reflects a commitment to learning that every student is capable of achieving. Congratulations to all those who have earned this recognition, especially those who have been acknowledged multiple times this year.

A reminder that Semester 2 school reports will be sent in the week following the conclusion of the academic year. For students in Years 7–10, additional feedback remains accessible via the Continuous Report on Canvas.

Finally, I would like to extend my best wishes to all members of our School community for a restful and rejuvenating festive season. We look forward to welcoming your child back in the new year.

Best regards

Adrian Harrison
Acting Director of Academics

Daisy Turnbull, Director of Coeducation and Academy

A Truly Coeducational Uniform Suite
I want to update families on the coeducational uniform suite and allow time for preparation for purchasing uniforms for the next 12 – 18 months.

We are pleased to finalise the coeducational uniform suite for Cranbrook for 2026. As shown online and in the Reception over the past few months, students will have a choice with trousers, shorts, a skirt, as well as a short-sleeved dress available for purchase. We have updated the design of the dress based on consultation with incoming girls to be navy with a white collar, which can be worn throughout the year.

From Term 4 2025, the Cranbrook Uniform Shop will be selling the new coeducational uniform for students in Pre-School – Year 12. This means that for current students, they will have two years (2026 and 2027) to phase out of the current uniform.

If you are buying uniforms for your children before Term 4 2025, especially for new Year 7 students, it may be worth looking at the Second Hand Uniform Sale run by the CSPA every Friday at the building next to the Victoria Road gates.

If your son is starting Year 11 in 2026, they will need to wear white shirts as part of the new uniform. We will strongly encourage Year 12 students to wear white shirts as well. We understand this is another purchase; however, we often find that students need to buy new shirts as they start Year 12.

What will the new coeducational uniform mean for my son?

While the new uniform designed by Jonathan Ward appears a subtle change, there are differences in the fabrics and design. This means that for current students, as they grow out of their current uniforms they can start wearing the new uniforms.
The new uniform offers choice between relaxed and tailored fits for all students.

What will happen with the CSPA secondhand sale if there are no old uniforms?

As we phase in the new uniform and phase out the current one, we will look at solutions for what to do with the existing Cranbrook uniforms.
However, with Year 11 & 12 wearing the new uniforms in 2026 and 2027, we believe that by 2028 there should be some new uniforms in circulation at the secondhand sale.
The CSPA is looking at ways any excess current uniforms can be donated to communities in need.

What about the sports uniform?
There are minimal changes to the sports uniform for boys. The girls’ sports uniforms will be available from Term 4, 2025 and have been designed to complement the existing sports gear.

Daisy Turnbull
Director of Coeducation and Academy

Hannah Thomas, Director of Professional Learning

Cranbrook Teachers Talking Teaching: Exploring the Neuroscience of Leadership

We are excited to share highlights from the final Cranbrook Teachers Talking Teaching session of the term, which delved into the fascinating topic of the Neuroscience of Leadership. This insightful session was led by Miles Sinclair, who shared valuable insights he gained from ‘The Neuroscience of Leadership’ course run by the Association of Independent Schools New South Wales (AISNSW).

Miles’ presentation covered several key areas, including neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to adapt and change, and the history of neuroscience, particularly how our understanding of brain flexibility has evolved. He touched upon the role of social and emotional intelligences in human relations, before discussing the importance of attentional intelligence – mindfully noticing where our attention is at any moment. A significant point was encapsulated in the idea that “the focus of your attention in critical moments of choice can build your capacity to be an effective leader”.

The session also explored four leadership capacities underpinned by neuroscience:

Developing Psychological Safety

Miles explained how David Rock’s SCARF model can be used to ensure these five domains of psychological safety are met:

Status: Feeling respected and valued.
Certainty: Having clear expectations and predictability.
Autonomy: Having control over events and choices.
Relatedness: Feeling connected and included.
Fairness: Experiencing fair treatment and justice.

2. Changing Habits:

He also outlined the way we can take action to change our own detrimental habits by using the WISH model:

When: Identify the specific situation or trigger.
Instead: Decide on a positive action to replace the habit.
Stop: Recognise and interrupt the habit.
How: Plan and implement strategies to support the new behaviour.

Neuroscience-Based Coaching:

Miles noted that leaders can develop team members by engaging in neuroscience-based coaching, where the coach’s questioning prompts the coachee to realise habits or behaviours and take action to address them.

Understanding the Psychology of Groups:

Finally, the session explored how leaders can become more effective by understanding and counteracting their own biases using the SEEDS model, which identifies five categories of cognitive biases:

Similarity bias
Expedience bias
Experience bias
Distance bias
Safety bias

A key takeaway from the session was that these strategies can be applied to all interactions, enhancing both personal and professional relationships.

The session was a great success, providing our teachers with practical tools and knowledge to enhance their leadership capabilities. We are proud of the commitment our educators show towards continuous professional development and their dedication to creating a positive learning environment for our students.

Hannah Thomas
Director of Professional Learning

A Celebration of Creativity and Innovation: IB Exhibitions

The recent IBMYP Personal Project Exhibition showcased the incredible talents and diverse interests of Year 10 students. Held within the supportive environment of house groups, the exhibition allowed students to present their projects to their peers and house mentors, fostering a sense of community and shared achievement.

One of the standout projects was a thought-provoking film by Ben Ong and Kevin Chu. Their work delved into the Senecan-Epicurean philosophy, emphasising the importance of cherishing time and reconnecting with the simple, sensory experiences of life. The film urged viewers to step away from the rigid grids of work and societal distractions, and instead, to find joy in the small, often overlooked moments. This philosophical exploration was not only intellectually stimulating but also visually captivating, leaving a lasting impression on all who watched it.

Another highlight was Will Gloster’s project, which combined his passion for speed and engineering. Will’s “Need for Speed” go-karting experience was a testament to his technical skills and innovative thinking. He meticulously maintained and modified a go-kart, demonstrating a deep understanding of engineering principles and a commitment to excellence. His project was not just about the thrill of speed but balanced safety and costs.

Eric Chen’s project showcased his acumen in the world of finance. Over a period of six months, Eric managed to achieve a remarkable 25% growth in his ASX investments. His project detailed the strategies he employed, the challenges he faced, and the lessons he learned along the way. Eric’s success in the stock market was a testament to his analytical skills and his ability to adapt to changing market conditions. His presentation was both informative and inspiring, offering valuable insights into the world of investments and financial planning.

The exhibition was not just a display of individual achievements but also a celebration of the collaborative spirit that defines the MYP program. Students supported each other, offering feedback and encouragement, and house mentors played a crucial role in guiding and nurturing the projects. The event highlighted the importance of collaboration, communication, self-management and the positive impact it has had on student development.

A Fusion of Science and Art, the IBDP Combined Sciences Project Exhibition was a thrilling showcase of creativity and scientific inquiry. This event, previously known as the Group 4 Project, brought together students from various scientific disciplines to address local issues within a global context, using art as their medium of communication. The result was a series of thought-provoking and visually striking artworks that highlighted pressing environmental and social issues.

One of the standout pieces was an ice column that became progressively dirtier incorporating chemical structures and agricultural tools. This artwork served as a powerful commentary on agricultural runoff and its detrimental effects on waterways. As the ice melted, it revealed layers of pollutants, symbolizing how agricultural practices can contaminate water sources. This visual representation effectively communicated the urgency of addressing water pollution and the need for sustainable farming practices.

Another compelling installation was a cave with eerie, echoing voices. This piece represented the echo chambers of social media and the harm that misinformation can cause to science and public well-being. The haunting echoes within the cave illustrated how false information can reverberate and amplify within closed networks, leading to widespread misconceptions and distrust in scientific facts. This artwork underscored the importance of critical thinking and media literacy in the digital age.

A particularly imaginative piece featured an organic, feathered bird with jet engines under its wings, dropping carbon floss. This juxtaposition highlighted the evolution of flight and the efficiencies of nature that human engineering has yet to replicate. The artwork served as a reminder of the incredible advancements in natural evolution and the ongoing challenges in creating sustainable and efficient human technologies. It called for a greater appreciation of nature’s ingenuity and the need to learn from it.

The exhibition also included a water filtration system that emphasised recent conversations about water quality in Sydney. This open water filtration system demonstrated need to improve water quality and raised awareness about the importance of clean water for public health. The interactive nature of this piece allowed viewers to engage with the filtration process, making the issue of water quality more tangible and immediate.

Finally, a multimedia presentation on the effects of plastic pollution brought the global issue to a local level. The presentation featured a Cranbrook basketball filled with rubbish collected from the school’s playground, illustrating the pervasive nature of plastic waste. This artwork highlighted the impact of plastic pollution on the environment and encouraged the community to act in reducing plastic use and improving waste management practices.

The IBDP Combined Sciences Project Exhibition was a remarkable event that successfully merged scientific exploration with artistic expression. It provided a platform for students to address significant issues creatively and effectively, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of the interconnectedness of local and global challenges. The exhibition not only showcased the students’ talents but also inspired the community to think critically about the world around them and the role they play in shaping a sustainable future.

Erin Munn
IB MYP Coordinator

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

Important: Updated Mobile Device Usage Policy in 2025

Each year we learn more about the impact of mobile phone use on our social and emotional wellbeing. Following a comprehensive review of the growing body of research into mobile phones in schools, we initiated a series of conversations to understand the perspectives of our school community. This included listening to the views of our staff, students and families.

While we recognise the ubiquity of mobile technology in society and its educational potential, we believe that at present the negative impacts of mobile devices outweigh the positives. As educators, we see daily the distraction and addictive behaviour they produce, and appreciate the danger in providing a constantly available channel exposing students to social pressures and bullying, as well as age-inappropriate content including pornography and gambling. Tech companies have developed apps with features designed to maximise user engagement, often leading to addictive behaviours. This makes it challenging for adolescents to resist using these apps during school hours, impacting their focus and academic performance, their developing social skills and their sense of connection to their peers.

Consequently, we have revised the Cranbrook Digital Agreement with regard to mobile devices in the Senior School. Moving forward, the School will be broadly aligned with approaches taken by most schools in NSW.

Any mobile devices – including mobile phones and smart watches – must be kept switched off and in lockers during the entire school day.

Students failing to follow this rule will have their mobile device confiscated and will receive a half-hour detention. Devices may be collected at the end of the school day.

Where a student has their device confiscated more than three times in a term, the device will need to be collected from School Reception by the student’s parents or carers.

Should families need to contact students, this can be done through their School email, or in case of an emergency, by calling the School.

This week, our students in Y7-Y12 have been informed of the changes to the policy related to mobile devices in advance of the 2025 academic year.

We believe that this approach is aligned with the great majority of our School community, and ask for your support in helping students build positive digital habits.

Should you have any questions about the implementation of this approach, please contact myself or Bob Meakin.

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

Year 9 Ceroc Dance Day with Ascham

Last Friday our Year 9 students attended the Ceroc Dance Day at Ascham. The annual event has become a highlight for both schools’ calendars, and a wonderful opportunity for students to get to know each other and learn some new skills.

Starting the day off as a single cohort, the Year 9 Cranbrookians spent time with Nathan from Colourbeat, learning some basic moves and about the importance of dance for communication but also social interactions. Shortly after the Ascham students joined us and the students got a chance of doing some traditional ceroc/partnered dancing, which they found engaging and vaguely embarrassing. After morning tea they were put into groups to work on choreography pieces to many songs that ended in performing the dances in front of all 350 students.

It was wonderful to see that some of our students have amazing break dancing and back flipping skills, and hope to see them keep it up.

Daisy Turnbull
Director of Coeducation and Academy

Matt Grice, Director of Sport

Dear Parents and Guardians

Start well, finish well..

I’d like to start by thanking Mr Dumbleton and a selection of Year 11 boys who played in the 1st and 2nd XV this year. These students have generously given up their lunchtime over the past two weeks to head down to the Junior School and engage with our Year 1 students.

The sessions began with a Q&A, where the young Cranbrookians asked our senior boys some hard-hitting questions such as, “How many tries did you score last year?” and “Are you any good?” This was followed by a quick rotation of games, where the Year 1 students had the opportunity to play a few tag games with the 1sts and 2nds. Despite the 10-year age gap, it was clear to see the fun and delight on all of the students’ faces as they embraced the true meaning of sport—having fun. A big thank you to everyone involved!

A huge congratulations to the Rowing community for another successful Mitchell Cup regatta held last Saturday. It was a highly competitive day, with lots of tight racing on Sydney Harbour. A huge thank you to Mr Carrol and the rowing staff for putting on the day.

Much thanks to the Cranbrook Basketball Parent Support Group for hosting the fan favourite 3×3 Tournamnet last week. It was a great event, bringing together the students and coaches across the program to enjoy this fast, fun, game format. We are looking forward to next year’s event already.

It’s been a remarkable season across the board, and I’m proud of the dedication, effort, and sportsmanship shown by all our students. Here’s to finishing strong and building on our success in the years to come!

As we close out the sporting year, I’d like to thank all of the staff and coaches for your hard work and dedication this year. It’s a huge effort to get 1300 students all over Sydney each Saturday and it simply could not be done without your tremendous support. From the entire sports department we would like to say a huge thank you! Cranbrook Sport is looking forward to a bumper 2025, which I’m sure will once again prove to be very successful.

Please find the Holiday Training Schedule here.

Booking links for our Holiday Camps can be found under the Dates section or below:

Pro-Performance Cricket: https://events.humanitix.com/16th-20th-dec-2024-east-sydney-youth-aged-12
Water Polo Camp: https://events.humanitix.com/cranbrook-water-polo-holiday-camp-january-2025
Basketball Camp: https://events.humanitix.com/cranbrook-senior-school-basketball-camp-jan-2025
Tennis Camp: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1326961

Matt Grice
Director of Sport

NBA Holiday Camps

Please find the flyer for upcoming December Holiday Camps here.

To register, click here.

Get behind the Cranbrook Staff supporting Movember

I am proud to announce that we raised an incredible $9,855!

This was our best year to date, and we have gone well past what we were hoping to achieve this year.

I would like to say a special thank you to the Student Wellbeing Committee for being involved this year to help spread the information about Movember and what it is about to our students. The students involved were:

Alex G
Finn S
Chris V
Noah T
Slade K
Tim M
James M
James X
Jude M
Rohan O

A big thank you to Mrs Sanders and Mr Tsoukatos who helped these students.

Alex G sent this link to Mentors and Heads of House through Movember to encourage students to start talking about their problems or any issues they may be going through. Whether it’s talking to a friend, an older Student, Mentor, or other staff members or their parents and family.

I hope from this year onwards with the help of the Student Wellbeing Committee and staff we can make this grow each year so our students can start talking from a young age.

There are many parts to Movember, and this is just one, but a significant event in the life of the school.

Another great achievement the Student Wellbeing Committee achieved was a Bake Sale Fundraiser that raised $1,370.

If you would like to see how this year’s team members went, please look here.

Movember 2024 has been the best year for not only raising just under $10,000 for such a great cause but more importantly, the number of students involved.

I am looking forward to 2025 and I hope we can grow the team further but more importantly raising more awareness to our students and staff.

All the best for your Christmas Holidays.

Stephen Driscoll and the Movember Staff

Tahiti Trip: For Year 9, 10 and 11 French Students

The tour is open to Year 11 French students as well as Year 9 and 10 2025 students.

An information evening will be held in February.

School bus changes and information for 2025 school year

Please find below useful information to assist those students who board Transdev John Holland Bus services.

The 2025 school bus information letter for parents

This provides answers to FAQs, it also emphasises the importance of encouraging ‘tapping on and off’ these services and how to seek assistance. View here.

Instruction Guide on ‘How to plan your school bus trip’

This provides instructions on how to plan a school bus trip and find route maps and timetables on transportnsw.info

In addition, the following change for our school community for those students who board these services, this will be effective from first day back in Term 1, 2025. View here.

722e – This school service is being discontinued. However, students will be able to join Route 326 that departs Edgecliff Interchange 3 mins after the current 722e departure time.