Michele Marquet, Acting Head of School

Michele Marquet, Acting Head of School

Dear Parents and Carers,

This week has seen a wonderful Easter Concert in the Senior School with superb performances from our Senior School musicians and ensembles, as well as a divine vocal item by the Junior School Voices. The poetry, readings and music told the Easter story in fresh ways while being faithful to eternal message of hope, forgiveness and love that the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ conveys. Thanks to our extraordinary Music staff, under the leadership of Phil Beverley, and to Rod Farraway, our School Chaplain, for the superb preparation of the students. It was a memorable concert and augurs well for the quality of the upcoming concert at the Town Hall.

This week, our Pre-schools and Junior School campuses welcomed our students’ grandparents to a morning of joyful sharing with their grandchildren: performances at Assemblies, sharing of work, morning tea and showing them where we learn. Thank you to the many staff and parent supporters across the campuses who spend enormous time planning the events to ensure they run smoothly and are a great success. The day was a fantastic celebration of a very special relationship. We know grandparents play such a significant role in the lives of their grandchildren, one that undoubtedly has mutual benefits. As we always share with our visitors on these days, grandparents are the link to the past for our grandchildren; just as grandchildren are the link to the future for grandparents. One of the most popular events held each year at our School, Grandparents Day is one way we can honour and treasure the relationship between grandparent and grandchild and the unique role grandparents play in their grandchildren’s lives.

We encourage our students to listen to the stories their grandparents tell – stories of when they were young and what they have learnt over the years about life. Cross generational connection can be a powerful way to help our students gain a broader perspective on the world and help them look beyond their own desires and wants. There is no doubt our grandparents have stories to tell, wisdom to pass on and love to give, all things from which our children can truly benefit.

The end of term is approaching rapidly and staff are actively working to keep our students focusing on their learning until the end. We look forward to some more celebratory community events, including Friday Night Lights at Easts tomorrow night.

Kind wishes,

Michele Marquet
Acting Head of School

Bob Meakin, Head of Senior School / Deputy Headmaster

Bob Meakin, Head of Senior School / Deputy Headmaster

Dear Parents and Carers

Our Year 12s commence examinations on Wednesday with the exception of an HSC English paper that has already occurred. I would like to wish all Year 12s the very best for their upcoming examinations and commend them on their approach to their study thus far.

There will be a temporary alteration to the way that parents receive their reports at the end of this semester. Due to some technical issues at the end of last year, we have taken the decision to print all reports and distribute them to the students with a reply slip that parents can sign to say they have received and read their son’s report. These will be distributed for Years 7 to 11 during Mentor time towards the end of the term. This is to ensure that all parents receive a timely update on their son’s progress so far this year.

Colours:
Congratulations to these students listed below for their excellence and contributions to Summer Sport and Co-Curricular. These students were recognised in Assembly yesterday.

NAMESURNAMESPORTYEARHOUSE
CruzMactavishBasketball2025Hewan
SamCollisonBasketball2025Hone
XavierSpinolaBasketball2025Street
JamieGoldmanBasketball2025Thomas
BenjaminOlschewskiBasketball2025Wakehurst
HaydenRosenBasketball2025Wakehurst
JohnDulhuntyBasketball2025Wakehurst
OliverWayneBasketball2025Wakehurst
NoahDohertyBasketball2025Woodward
OttoCummingBasketball2025Woodward
AlexanderGreenhillCricket2025Chelmsford
JamesMannCricket2025Cutler
ChristopherHarrisCricket2025Harvey
OscarWrightCricket2025Hone
BenjaminPellyCricket2025Perkins
NoahNasserCricket2025Street
EdwardNealCricket2025Strickland
TimothyMolnarCricket2025Strickland
MartisJohriCricket2025Thomas
JackFlintoftCricket2025Wakehurst
HenryDawsonRowing2025Chelmsford
SolStathisRowing2025Cutler
EdwardWilliamsRowing2025Davidson
CharlesMannRowing2025Hewan
EdwardHartwrightRowing2025Hewan
MaxwellScalesRowing2025Hone
OwenMudieRowing2025Perkins
TomasLoukesRowing2025Thomas
TobyLaneRowing2025Wakehurst
LukeMartinRowing2025Woodward
HugoMertensSummer Swimming2025Cutler
JackWilkinsonSummer Swimming2025Cutler
PrestonIrawanSummer Swimming2025Cutler
OliverMinningSummer Swimming2025Harvey
RobertInghamSummer Swimming2025Hewan
VincentTaggSummer Swimming2025Hewan
AidanParkSummer Swimming2025Northcott
MatthewAlexiouSummer Swimming2025Northcott
TateSirianniSummer Swimming2025Northcott
ThomasPennySummer Swimming2025Thomas
MarcPerilliSummer Tennis2025Harvey
WentworthTwaitsSummer Tennis2025Harvey
MickeyChenSummer Tennis2025Street
EricMallamSummer Tennis2025Woodward
MatthewKerridgeSummer Volleyball2025Chelmsford
AidanPrenticeSummer Volleyball2025Cutler
HugoDa SilvaSummer Volleyball2025Cutler
KelvinLinSummer Volleyball2025Cutler
CharlesCoxSummer Volleyball2025Harvey
WilliamRoweSummer Volleyball2025Perkins
AidanLiveseySummer Volleyball2025Wakehurst
EthanJenningsSummer Volleyball2025Wakehurst
NicholasClemsonTouch Football2025Cutler
PrestonIrawanWater Polo2025Cutler
ZacRichardsWater Polo2025Cutler
OliverMinningWater Polo2025Harvey
MaxCroweWater Polo2025Hewan
RobertInghamWater Polo2025Hewan
EthanNegrinWater Polo2025Hone
FelixSheldrickWater Polo2025Hone
HenryJordanWater Polo2025Hone
JacksonSmitsWater Polo2025Hone
SaxonRitchieWater Polo2025Hone
HugoMiocevicWater Polo2025Street
JackWhiteheadWater Polo2025Strickland

Friday Night Lights tomorrow 1sts, 2nds and 16As Rugby vs Trinity at Woollahra Oval 1. This promises to be an excellent community occasion and enjoyable evening of sport. Students in attendance are reminded to wear full school uniform. Trinity Grammar are also promoting these matches within the School, and we expect to be welcoming many staff and students from Trinity. Our aim is to make this a wonderful occasion where we are excellent hosts, despite being at an external venue.

This evening, thanks to D’Arcy Richardson, our Captain of Debating and to Mr James Adams, our Head of Oratory, we are hosting Prof. Bob Carr who will be giving a lecture on debating and public speaking.

Finally, a special thanks to our musicians, choristers and readers for our Easter Concert on Monday, this was a short but beautiful service that makes us look ahead towards Easter and the real meaning of Easter.

With best wishes for the week ahead.

Bob Meakin
Head of Senior School / Deputy Headmaster

Daisy Turnbull, Director of Coeducation

Daisy Turnbull, Director of Coeducation

Coeducational Campuses 

There has been a lot of conversations around preparing Year 6 and Year 10s for the first year of coeducation. As the inaugural coeducational cohorts, we are considering every part of their journey through 2026. From the House system to subject selection, sports and co-curricular. 

But there are another four cohorts in every senior year, and today I want to speak about the cohorts that will not be coeducational immediately.  

Firstly, our current Year 11s are preparing themselves to be the school leaders in our first coeducational year. In their Houses, in the Year 12 College, in sports and co-curricular, and walking around the campus they will be the leaders of Cranbrook’s inaugural coed year. I am already seeing great leadership in these students, getting involved in the Student Coeducation Committee, as well as attending orientation activities to meet the incoming students. Their leadership next year will be fundamental to the experience of all students.  

I was recently speaking with a Year 7 parent about how their child will not be in a coeducational cohort until Year 11. I have heard the term that they are the “sandwiched” year, but I don’t see it like that. Next year, we will be a coeducational campus. The girls will be a minority in the School, but the School will be coeducational. That means even though there won’t be girls in that cohort, there will be girls across the campus.  

The students currently in Years 7 – 9 will benefit from coeducation before their cohorts become coeducational because they will be working with girls in their house groups, in some co-curriculars (especially Music and Drama), and around the campus. What will it mean for these students? They will be expected, as all students are, to model and expect respect, to use language that is not only respectful but inclusive and engaging. They will be expected to be leaders to the younger cohorts and work collaboratively across year groups. By the time girls commence in their cohorts in Year 11, these students will have experienced coeducation for a few years.  

Below is a table that shows the progression of coeducation across the senior school  

Year 7 8 9 10 11 12 
2026 Coed Single sex Single sex Single sex Coed Single sex 
2027 Coed Coed Single sex Single sex Coed Coed 
2028 Coed Coed Coed Single sex Coed Coed 
2029 Coed Coed Coed Coed  Coed Coed 

This is one of the reasons we made the decision to enroll girls in all Day Houses from 2026. While we also wanted to respect family connections to houses, we also wanted to ensure all houses are coeducational at the same time. If we had focused on 6 houses in 2026 and another in 2027, the houses would not all be coeducational for up to 6 years. By having girls across Day Houses, we speed that up to within 4 years.  

The Student Wellbeing Programme, run by Angelique Sanders, is working on explicitly educating all our students in social and emotional literacy to prepare them for the world beyond the school gates, which just happens to also be coeducational.  

Whether your son is in the first intake, or not part of a coeducational intake, they are part of, and benefiting from, Cranbrook’s transition to coeducation. 

We will continue to run orientation activities for incoming Year 7s and 11s in order to promote collaboration and engagement across cohorts, and I look forward to these events be run by coeducational Year 11s next year.  

Daisy Turnbull
Director of Coeducation

Adrian Harrison, Acting Director of Academics

Adrian Harrison, Acting Director of Academics

IB Global Conference 2025 – “Our Humanity, Connected.”

One of the benefits in being an IB continuum school is that we belong to a community that extends beyond our immediate geographic surrounds. Global mindedness is one of the fundamental tenants of an IB education, and one that we hold dear at Cranbrook. In times of uncertainty and discord the need to find shared common ground, to connect with humanity is of even greater importance. As members of the IB community we were invited to this year’s conference which took place in Singapore. Mr Nick Hanrahan (Head of IB Continuum) and Ms Erin Munn (MYP Coordinator) were joined by Ms Genet Erickson Adams (JS Deputy Head – Curriculum & PYP Coordinator) for this event. They heard from a range of speakers including Mr Olli-Pekka Heinonen, Director General of the IB,  Andreas Schleicher the Director for Education and Skills at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). They also participated in workshops covering topics such as thriving in the Diploma, the importance of engaging in service learning.

The benefits for our students in being part of this community extend beyond the skills developed and opportunities provided. The capacity to both reflect upon their own learning as well being able to explore global issues and look outwards prepares them for life beyond the school gates. We are looking forward to continuing to integrate these findings and developments into our teaching and learning practices here at Cranbrook.

Adrian Harrison
Acting Director of Academics

Matt Grice, Director of Sport

Matt Grice, Director of Sport

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Cranbrook is excited to host the much-anticipated Friday Night Lights Rugby event tomorrow evening at Easts Rugby Club, where our teams will face off against Trinity. This event is always one of the highlights of the sporting calendar, and we look forward to a thrilling match under the lights. We are eager to welcome students, staff, and parents to join us for what promises to be an exciting and memorable evening of rugby. It’s a fantastic opportunity for our school community to come together, show their support, and enjoy the spirit of competition. We encourage everyone to attend and be part of the energy and excitement that makes this event such a special occasion.

We hope to see you there! (Bring your wet weather gear😊)

Cranbrook sport staff are constantly talking to our students about our weights room and its benefits. The Cranbrook weights room is an incredible resource that all students should enjoy, extending beyond just rugby players. Engaging in weightlifting exercises offers numerous advantages. Firstly, it helps individuals build overall strength and endurance, leading to improved performance in various sports and enhancing physical fitness. Additionally, weight training promotes proper posture and body mechanics, by strengthening core muscles and supporting proper alignment. This is particularly valuable for students who spend long hours sitting or studying. Moreover, strengthening muscles through weightlifting aids in injury prevention both during physical activities and in everyday life, providing better joint support, balance, and stability. The focus and concentration gained from weightlifting can also translate into better academic performance. Lastly, engaging in weight training at a young age can foster a lifelong habit of physical activity, promoting a healthy lifestyle whilst at school and long after it. We encourage all Cranbrook students to please use this amazing space. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email Cranbrook’s acting Head of Athletic Performance. Amy-Leigh Williams <AWilliams@cranbrook.nsw.edu.au>

Concussion Protocols 

Last 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 acting Head of Athletic Performance. Amy-Leigh Williams <AWilliams@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:

  • Please contact your son’s Team Manager and Head of Sport to notify them of the absence from Saturday Sport due to illness – so that they can fulfil team positions and numbers.
  • Pease provide a Medical Certificate upon return to school, if your son is sick and absent from compulsory Saturday sport.
  • Please do not submit the Saturday Sport absence through the attendance digital form on the Cranbrook School app.
  • Exemption Requests should be made in writing to the Director of Sport, with 2 weeks’ notice.

To Note:

  • The T1 2025 Co-Curricular and Sport Schedule (including Winter Sport) can be accessed here.

Winter Holiday Camps:

Please find the Holiday Training Schedule for the Term Break here.

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

Matt Grice
Director of Sport

NSW Swimming Open Championships

NSW Swimming Open Championships

NSW Swimming State Open Championships

Cranbrook Aquatic Swim Club had 33 swimmers compete at the NSW State Open Championships on Friday 21 – Sunday 23 March at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre. We competed in 102 events against 140 clubs. Overall, we finished in 8th place on the point score (6th NSW club) and 9th on the medal tally (3rd NSW club).

Day 1 started with Marcus Da Silva (2024 Alumni) placing 2nd to Olympian Will Yang in the 100m Freestyle. The Men’s 4 x 100 medley relay team featuring Tate Sirianni (Year 12 Northcott), Aidan Park (Yr9 Northcott), Xavier Jacks and Marcus Da Silva (2024 Alumni). Other top 10 places included: Jackson McCleery 10th in the 400m Freestyle, Gladys Turner (AFC staff) 7th in the 800m Freestyle, Women’s 4 x 100m medley relay Stella Dodwell, Yuna Nagai, Isabelle Hanger and Frankie Somerville 5th. We also had 4 swimmers compete in B finals.

Cranbrook had a busy night on day 2 with our biggest number of finalists. Marcus Da Silva (2024 Alumni) won Gold in the 200m Freestyle, his first state open Gold medal. The Men’s 4 x 200m freestyle relay featuring Max Moylan (2024 Alumni), Tate Sirianni (Yr12 Northcott), Jackson McCleery and Marcus Da Silva (2024 Alumni) won gold and the mixed 4 x 100m medley relay team won silver with Tate Sirianni (Yr12 Northcott), Yuna Nagai, Isabelle Hanger and Marcus Da Silva (2024 Alumni). Frankie Somerville also finished 10th in the 50m Freestyle and we had 6 B finalists.

The final day saw a silver medal to the men’s 4 x 100m freestyle relay including Tate Sirianni (Yr12 Northcott), Ollie Moclair, Lucas Mitchelmore and Marcus Da Silva (Yr12 Alumni), as well as a bronze medal to Ollie Moclair in the 50m Freestyle. Isabelle Hanger placed 5th in the 200m Butterfly we had 1 additional B finalists.

Cranbrook’s 2 Gold, 3 Silver and 2 Bronze medals, along with 5 top 10 places, and 11 B finalists demonstrated our growing success at a state and open level across a range of events.

Swimmers – 33 (14 increase)

Medals – 7 (2 medal improvement) 

Points – 281 (29-point increase)

Place – 8th (5 place improvement)

Rebecca Wheatley
Head of Swimming

NSW Junior Athletics Championships

NSW Junior Athletics Championships

I am thrilled to share some fantastic results from the NSW Junior Championships for a number of our Cranbrook student-athletes held last week. All of our Cranbrook students who competed have delivered commendable performances in their respective events.

The NSW Junior Championships is a highly competitive state-level event that brings together the best young athletes from across New South Wales. Competing against such a high calibre of talent, our students have achieved outstanding results, showcasing their dedication, hard work, and athletic abilities.

Charles Carrano (13 years) 

  • 90m hurdles – 11th 
  • 200m hurdles – 14th 

Thomas Richardson (13 years)

  • 400m – 11th 

Thomas Carrano (15-16 years multi-class) 

  • 100m – 1st 
  • 200m – 1st 
  • 400m – 2nd 
  • Javelin – 2nd 

Harry Keats (15 years) 

  • 400m – 4th 
  • 4 x 100m relay – 3rd 

Simon Tesvic (15 years) 

  • 800m – 11th 

Edwin Alder (15 years) 

  • 800m – 8th 

Milo Gibney (16 years) 

  • Javelin – 15th  
  • Long Jump – 18th 

Henry Roberts (16 years) 

  • 3000m – 8th 
  • 1500m – 14th 

Zac Crowe (U20s) 

  • 110m hurdles – 3rd 

Huon Groves (U20s) 

  • 1500m – 17th 
  • 3000m – 16th 

These achievements are a testament to their hard work, dedication they have shown throughout their training.  Finishing so highly in the state rankings is an incredible accomplishment and reflects the strength and talent of our school’s athletes. 

Please join me in congratulating Thomas, Charles, Zac, Henry, Harry, Simon, Edwin, Huon, and Milo on their incredible accomplishments, Well done!

Amy-Leigh Williams
Acting Head of Athletic Performance

Phil Beverley, Director of Music

Phil Beverley, Director of Music

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

On Monday night, our Senior Choir, Boys’ Vocal, Junior School Voices, Chamber Strings, Symphonic Winds, and Symphony Orchestra transformed Lewin Hall into an Easter-inspired musical celebration. Over 150 students participated, many in multiple ensembles, performing a selection of works including the Australian premiere of Nüüd ole, Jeesus, Kiidetud by Tõnu Kõrvits. These works were paired with reflections selected by Reverend Rod Farraway, each capturing an aspect of the Easter message. The students involved are some of the busiest in the school, and they continue to serve our community with distinction.

On Tuesday, our elective music classes attended the Opera Australia production of Dido and Aeneas. The pairing of Purcell’s 17th-century masterpiece with circus acrobatics was an inspiring and captivating interpretation of this important musical work and served as a wonderful launch pad for deep discussions back in the classroom.

Now that trials for sports have finished, a reminder that music rehearsals are to be prioritised in the morning. We have a reciprocal arrangement when training is in the afternoon where sport is. This policy really does help everyone involved balance their busy schedules and enjoy all that Cranbrook has to offer.

Warm wishes,

Phil Beverley
Director of Music

Three Islands Classic

Three Islands Classic

The Old Cranbrookians’ Association is proudly supporting the Three Islands Classic (3IC), to be conducted as usual on Sydney Harbour. It’s open to all who are owners or skippers and can beg, borrow or by other means produce a keelboat for the day!

The event will be held on Sunday 30 March 2025 and will commence at 11am with most yachts sailing for approximately one and a half hours. Arrival at Royal Australian Naval Sailing Association (RANSA) will then be around 1pm for an award ceremony at about 2pm.

Cost: $70 to cover the cost of running the 3IC, the use of the venue at RANSA for the post-race raft, TryBooking fees and trophy regeneration.

To register and pay, please click here.

For all enquiries or if you’re just keen to be part of a crew, please contact Rebecca Curran in the Development Office on +61 2 9327 9409 or email alumni@cranbrook.nsw.edu.au

CRU Holiday and Study Camps

CRU Holiday and Study Camps

Every holidays a number of Cranbrook students take the opportunity to join a CRU Activity or Study Camp. CRU Holiday Camps is Australia’s leading provider of HSC & IB Study Camps with over 50 years’ experience in helping students achieve the results they need to succeed!

CRU Study Camps provide the ideal study environment free from the distractions students face while studying at home alone. Their experienced Christian leadership teams help students combat low productivity and procrastination, supporting them as they face the challenges of HSC/IB study. Details can be found at https://crucamps.com.au/cru/camps-2/study-camps/