Stuart Meade, Acting Head of School

At the end of this week I conclude my time at Cranbrook (actually, I am here until 17 July)  and I wish to thank the staff, students and parents who have made me feel welcome over the past ten weeks. As I have noted on numerous occasions, I have a great deal of affection for Cranbrook and it has been a pleasure being part of this vibrant community again.

I am a strong advocate for the existence of a positive culture at a school. And one of the key ingredients in the strong and highly relational culture that exists in thriving schools is gratitude. A senior academic at the University of Tasmania, Dr Kerry Howells, observes that a mindset of gratitude is one of the best protective behaviours we can develop in a school culture. Where there is gratitude, kindness readily follows. Each day of our lives is a gift, a blessing, something for which we should be deeply grateful. Each experience, both positive and negative, can be viewed in the same way. Disappointments are teachable moments, not a portent for disaster.

Schools need to be places where it is safe for children to make mistakes; to stumble and fall but still get up to try even harder. This is not an old-fashioned method – it has never been more necessary than in the present day. I would like to think that Cranbrook not only offers a safe place to make mistakes; we provide a safe place to form opinions and to learn to think. Kindness must be part of the culture and made as natural an act as breathing, so that when confronted with disagreement our automatic response is kind and respectful.  

My wish for the Cranbrook community as we embark on the well-deserved break, is that we reflect on what we are grateful for and transfer those thoughts into acts of kindness. Resilience, grit, empathy and courage are character traits that get plenty of talk-time in our society and rightly so, but gratitude and kindness are no less important and need to be nurtured.

To the students who are the lifeblood of this place, when you return next term: aim high, challenge yourself, support the new Head of School, embrace all that is good about Cranbrook, and create your own future here.

My best wishes to all in the Cranbrook community.

Stuart Meade
Acting Head of School

Bob Meakin, Head of Senior School / Deputy Headmaster

Dear Parents and Carers

Please may I ask that you read the next paragraph very closely as we are moving towards a new School Management System. The Compass system promises to provide a much more streamlined service for parents and for staff and will certainly assist the smooth running of the School. This new management system goes live 1 July, and we look forward to delivering an improved service to parents.

Compass

We are pleased to introduce Compass, our new Student Management System, which will over time improve communication and streamline a range of administrative processes. This platform will replace the previous system and marks a significant step forward in how families will be able to interact with the School. Initially, Compass will be used for submitting attendance notes, updating medical details, and accessing school news. Over time, additional features will be introduced and shared via Compass news items.  A comprehensive user guide will be provided in the week before Term 3 commences to help you get started, and our ICT Compass support team is available should you need assistance.   Thank you for your support as we make this transition.

Staff Changes

At the final Assembly of the term today, we farewelled our interim Head of School, Mr Stuart Meade and thanked him for his wonderful leadership of the School over the past term. We farewelled Ms Kirsty Tapson, who has been our Acting Head of Learning Support this term and has served that department and the School tirelessly for the past three years. We also farewelled Mr James Adams, who departs at the end of the school holidays after his tour to Oxford University. Mr Adams has led our High Potential programme as well as, more recently, our Oratory activities and we thank him for his wonderful service at Cranbrook.

Reports

Your son will be bringing home a Semester 1, Term 2 Report today. I would dearly love for students to reflect on their achievements over the Semester and put together a few goals for Semester 2, based on the recommendations of their teachers.

A reminder that tomorrow is House Football Day at the Junior School and Woollahra 2 & 3 Ovals. Students are reminded not to enter the Junior School via the Kent Road entrance as this is the Junior School car line and usually is extremely congested. Students are also reminded to be at Dangar to meet as a House at 8.15am in their House uniforms.

We have a number of tours over the holidays; we have an Enrichment tour to Oxford University, a junior Rugby tour to Fiji, a Tennis tour to America and Sailing – Australian Schools Championships in South Australia. We wish all our students success with these tours.

Finally, I would like to wish everyone a very happy and restful winter break. Term 3 for students commences on Tuesday 22 July.

Wish warmest wishes

Bob Meakin
Head of Senior School / Deputy Headmaster

School Council Message

Please click here to read the message from School Council.

End of Term Video

Please click below to watch the End of Term video.

Adrian Harrison, Acting Director of Academics

“I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.” Confucius

This term our students have moved beyond passive learning to active engagement, taking ownership of their education through inquiry-based approaches and real-world applications. Whether in considered and critical debates in English, problem solving in Mathematics, investigations through Science, creation of new and original work in the Arts and everything else in between that has been on offer this term, our students have truly grown.

Looking ahead to the new semester, we are excited to continue nurturing our students’ natural curiosity and supporting their journey toward becoming confident, reflective learners ready for the challenges ahead.

Honours Curriculum – High Potential Learning

Last Friday saw the Honours Curriculum host Professor Simon Haines, currently Adjunct Professor, The Australian Catholic University; and Founding CEO, The Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation to give a lecture to an extended number of students across Years 8, 9 and 10. In what was a real coup for the School, Professor Haines was able to draw upon his vast experiences across roles in higher education and research both at home and abroad. Students were treated to an engaging session which had them pondering concepts such as the pursuit of wisdom.

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank Mr James Adams for the significant contribution he has made to the development broadly of our High Potential offerings at Cranbrook, in particular the Honours Curriculum. Mr Adams leaves us at the end of the term to take up a promotion at MLC running High Potential in a K-12 role. His stewardship of our programmes and high skill and enthusiasm in establishing the Honours Curriculum in particular have had a significant impact to many of our students. Thank you James for your significant contributions.

It is our pleasure to announce that Mr Rhys Briscoe-Hough has been appointed as our High-Potential Coordinator from the start of Term 3. He is currently completing a Masters in Gifted Education through UNSW and brings a wealth of experience running similar programmes in a range of independent and government schools.

Academic Reports

As with Term 1 we have taken the decision to print all reports and distribute them directly to the students. This is to avoid any technical issues with families receiving their reports as we transition to a new system in Semester 2. Students will be receiving their reports this term via their mentors during House periods. The table below outlines the reporting types for Term 2.

A reminder that the more specific feedback on student work within subject areas can be accessed via your child’s CANVAS courses for Years 7 – 10. Below is an excerpt of information sent previously by Ms Schmidtke our Director of Digital Learning and Research

We have prepared resources to support your access and navigation of the platform. You can access Canvas HERE. For first-time users, you will need to select ‘Forgot Password’. We have created this guide to help you. Our comprehensive ‘Canvas for Parents’ training site offers detailed information about how to access teacher feedback. Should you require additional support, please don’t hesitate to contact us at digilit@cranbrook.nsw.edu.au.

Subject Selection for Years 8 – 10

Thank you to all students who have submitted their choices.

Access to the relevant Subject Selection Portal is gained by using the email sent directly to students from EDVAL.

A reminder that these are initial selections. There is still an opportunity for students to make changes into next term if required. We are seeking these preferences now to get a start on the construction of our 2026 timetable.

Best regards

Adrian Harrison
Acting Director of Academics

Daisy Turnbull, Director of Coeducation

Dear Parents and Carers

Term 2 is often a whirlwind of 9 weeks with winter sports, assessments, reporting, and of course a few colds and flus thrown in. For our incoming Year 7 2026 and 2027 cohorts we have continued with the long orientation programme with fun afternoon teas. For our Year 11 2026 cohort there is still a buzz from staff after meeting the incoming girls and chatting to them about their subject selections for Year 11.

Next term we start our enrolment process for Year 11 2027 and Year 7 2028. By the time Year 7 2028 starts, the School will be coeducational in 5 of our 6 cohorts.

A reminder that the new uniform will be released in Term 4 of this year, and students will be able to wear their current uniform for two years as we phase into the new coeducational suite. For students in Year 10 and 11 currently, a reminder that we are strongly encouraging students to wear white shirts in Year 11 & 12 next year. A new uniform look book will be released early next term.

You can also see our coeducational brochure here which has information on all things coed – from the transition process, to uniforms, to co-curricular.

I wish you all a wonderful break.

Daisy Turnbull
Director of Coeducation

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

Dear Parents and Caregivers

As we come to the end of an incredibly full and fast-paced term, students were given a valuable opportunity to pause and reflect through the final SWP session. In conversations with their Mentors, they considered their achievements, the lessons learned from goals that didn’t go as planned, and how they might shape new goals heading into the next term. These reflections extended beyond academics, encouraging students to think holistically about how they’ve balanced school, sport, sleep, social life, family, and downtime. Striking that balance isn’t always easy but recognising what’s working well—and what could use attention—is an important step toward building a sustainable routine that supports both wellbeing and success. These discussions can also serve as a great springboard for parents and students as they prepare for Term 3.

This term, leadership was a key focus for our Year 11 students, with several of them choosing to participate in a workshop on Wednesday facilitated by the Salvation Army. Centred around the theme of becoming change-makers, the session looked into leadership from a social justice perspective. It inspired students to consider how they can create meaningful impact in their communities, while equipping them with the practical tools, ideas, and reflections to carry forward into Year 12 and their broader futures.

Meanwhile, Year 12 students took part in a Microsoft-led session aimed at sharpening their tech skills in preparation for the workplace.

With exams approaching early in Term 3, it’s especially important for our Year 12 students to use the upcoming break wisely. Alongside ongoing preparation and revision, maintaining a balanced routine that includes sleep, focused study time, and downtime is key to helping them return to school in the best possible mindset. Encouraging your son to stick to a routine similar to the school term—especially when it comes to sleep and study habits—can support both their academic performance and overall wellbeing. A steady rhythm over the holidays will help them step into their final term feeling ready, refreshed, and confident

I wish all our families a restful and rejuvenating holiday break.

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

Matt Grice, Director of Sport

Dear Parents and Guardians,

A huge thank you to our 1st XVIII team and the entire Cranbrook community for an unforgettable Friday night of AFL. It was incredible to see so many supporters braving the cold — especially our boarding community, who showed up in full voice, and the parents who made the effort to be there and cheer on the boys. Your energy from the sidelines helped lift the team and made the win all the more special. Moments like these remind us of what school spirit is all about.

Congratulations also to Edward N, Noah D, Spencer M, and Peter T, who represented the CAS 1st AFL team against GPS on Monday, securing a strong 80–33 win!

I’d also like to thank all the students and supporters who came out to cheer on our home games against Trinity on Hordern Oval on Saturday. The school was buzzing with energy, with the Boarding Parents’ Weekend, three Old Boys’ reunions, and both the Rugby and Football Supporters’ Groups running a busy canteen.

We enjoyed some fantastic results across the day, with standout performances from our 2nds, 3rds, and 16A and 16B rugby teams, Mr Lewis’s Junior A AFL and 1sts AFL teams. A special mention must go to the 2nds and 16As, who both turned around previous defeats under Friday Night Lights to score impressive wins. The 16As, in particular, flipped a 30-point loss into a 31–7 victory — a result their coach, Mr Pyle, described as: “As good as it gets”

Thank you again to everyone who helped create such a spirited and successful day for the Cranbrook community.

Looking forward to House Football Day tomorrow. We wish everyone the best of luck, then have a wonderful holiday break. Thank you for another great term of Cranbrook sport.

Winter Sports Awards

Please SAVE THE DATE for the Winter Sports Awards Event coming up in Term 3 – booking details will be available soon.

Holiday Camps

A friendly reminder that Cranbrook will be running several exciting camps over the upcoming July holidays. These camps are a fantastic opportunity for students to stay active, fine-tune their skills, and—most importantly—have a great time with their friends in a fun and supportive environment.

Whether your child is looking to build on existing abilities or try something new, there’s something for everyone.

To Note:

• July Holiday Training & Camp Schedule can be found here.
• Athletics Training Sessions – drop in sessions – please find more details here.
• Basketball Holiday Camp – please find more details and booking here. 
• Volleyball Holiday Training sessions – please find more details and booking here.
• Winter Sailing Camp – please find more details and booking here.

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

• 2025 Sports Welcome Booklet
• 2025 Sports Calendar       

Matt Grice
Director of Sport

Running Lines: Volume 5 2025

Running Lines: Volume 5 2025

The last fixture of the CAS regular season was a home fixture against Trinity. After some tough losses against Barker, it was so good to see some pleasing results amongst our under 16’s and open teams. Our junior teams however suffered some tough loses. I must comment the rugby boys on their resilience.

Our results were:

• Player of the Day: Junior Teams (13s, 14s & 15s)- Caleb Wright (13B)
• Player of the Day: Senior Teams (16s & Opens)- Olly Minning
• Rugby All Rounder of the Day (for effort/attitude on and off the field): Luke Cassidy
• Team of the Day- 16A’s

The early morning didn’t start too well for our junior age groups. The under 13’s, 14’s and 15’s suffered some heavy defeats. This didn’t stop young Caleb Wright who played an immense part in the under 13C game. He was running with the ball under his arm for most of the game, zigzagging through defenders at will. He unfortunately took a small bump to the head that saw him leave the field momentarily. This was the turning point in the game. St Joseph’s came back and scored multiple tries soon after. Then he went again, only this time again, only this time for the 13Bs. A tight fought saw the two teams tie up at 12 a piece.

On the 28th of March the 1st, 2nds and 16As played against Trinity at our annual ‘Friday Night Lights’. The 16As lost that fixture 25-0. As you read this article, gaze up to the results table above and have another look at the 16A score. This is what the rugby program at Cranbrook is about. Progression, growth, and development. A spectacular game that really set the tone for the games to be played on Hordern for the rest of the afternoon. There is nothing more motivating to see your home team playing well and scoring tries while warming up behind the poles. The 16As created this momentum. Luke Cassidy was full of running. Having been sidelined for the majority of the season through injury he was certainly making up for lost time. These boys were playing in such unity. Captain Roman Fischer led from the front with some great runs through the Trinity defence. While Otto Cumming enjoys more of the physical dominance running hard at the line, busting through tackles at will. Carlo White tackled all day and was immense over the ball, applying much needed pressure to the Trinity breakdown. Joe Weeks too, was full of running. With the tempo being controlled by flyhalf Ed Rudd, thisallowed these boys to play an expansive brand of rugby. Hector Kyriakopoulos, Ed Walker and Ed Campbell emptied their tanks upfront and did a whole lot more than what is required for a front row.

Well done to Joe Weeks and Hector Kyriakopoulos who have been selected to represent the CAS under 16 side. They will be training hard this week, followed by some matches over the 29 and 30 June. Well done boys.

It was as if the previous game never ended when the 3^rd XV ran on. The game started in a flurry, with the Cranbrook boys hitting it up the middle a few times before cutting through the Trinity defence. This group of men have been up for every game this season and just rally together to come up with the most exciting brand of rugby. Oliver Minning has played in the back row for most of the season and was given the opportunity to play in the backs this week. He went from running over players in the tight to now running around them with a bit more space. Two well worked tries for the big man. Flynn Robinson and Seong Heiman also got two tries each as the backs were finishing off the job done by the diesel-powered forward pack. Well done on the 48-5 win.

Momentum is key. The 2^nd XV had the joy of watching the 3^rd team carve it up while warming up. However, the game didn’t start as well in our favor. Two tries down early on meant that it was time to play catch up. A few adjustments to our game plan, and some more direction was needed. We made all the mistakes, and we paid for them. We managed to get back two tries of our own just before the break. Game on. Limit the mistakes, play territory and ‘grip it and rip it’ was the half time message. Harry Jones was once again instrumental in his carries. Refusing to go down, with at one stage two Trinity boys on his back and one on the floor trying to tie his laces together.  A couple more tries each saw the seesaw battle go down to the wire. We did, however, always feel under control. A fantastic well worked 22-17 victory to this passionate group of men.

The 1^st XV started in the same manner as the 2^nd XV boys. Conceding multiple tries in the first few minutes. The whistle was blown loudly, and the penalty count against us was climbing rapidly. The breakdown looked like that of an international one from the 80’s. Surely this can’t be another Barker defeat that we received a week earlier. 31-7 down soon after the break. The referee sent off two Trinity players and the momentum had swung. The breakdown was under control, and our boys were given a bit more freedom to play. A couple of well-worked tries gave us a sniff in the fight. Sifa Oldfield was a standout player who never gave up during the fixture. It was too little too late. A fantastic fight back by the boys that ended in a 31-21 loss

Huge congratulations to two of our boys, James Jackson and Kingston Hoffmann who have been selected to represent the CAS team. They will be training around Sydney this week followed by games at Shore playing fields and Foreshaw Rugby Park on the 26 and 27 June respectively. We are all very proud of you.

Term 3 sees three more games left for the season. I have no doubt that the boys will be in the gym daily and keeping fit over the holiday break.

Brent Crossley
Master in Charge of Rugby

Teachers vs. Students Netball

Match Report

The students came out fast with Basketball star Will Dooley playing for the students. In the warmups, worries were that his height would be too much, but Mr Taylor’s stellar defensive performance at Goal Keeper was critical to the teacher success. However, two quick baskets saw the students team go out to an early lead.

However, the fast ball movement of Miss Walker and Mr Banes through the middle was no match for the inexperienced students team. Miss Hounslow’s incredible skills at Goal Scorer saw her and Mr Lewis dominating on the attacking front. Points after points were flooding in for the teachers.

A fightback from the students team saw the game reach 9-5 at the halftime point.

However, the second half saw the teachers continue their dominance. Mr Sadler’s shock appearance at Wing Defence and Mr Sinclair’s fast paced Wing Attack left the students stunned.

Some brilliant offense from Xavier Spinola saw the students make the game closer, but ultimately, after the 5 minutes of bonus time, the teachers prevailed 20-12. It’s hard to pinpoint the source of the students’ loss; it could be Matt Downes’ forgetting of uniform, Felix Malcolm’s hard soled shoes or even Huon Groves’ getting bowled over when being thrust into Goal Defence.

Unsurprisingly, Miss Hounslow was named MVP, scoring the same number of points as the entire students team combined.

Special thanks to all that participated and watched, but thanks must also go to Mr Lewis, Mr Banes, Mr Sinclair and Mr Darshana for making this happen. We also can’t understate the importance of Max Shabat’s brilliant commentating in creating a great atmosphere.

It was a wonderful event, and we hope that the arrival of girls next year can give the teachers more of a fight.

Wheelchair Sports Incursion

As part of our Physical Activity and Sport Studies (PASS) Unit on Physical Activity for Specific Groups, Year 9 students participated in a Wheelchair Sports Incursion this week hosted by NSW Wheelchair Sports.

This valuable experience is designed to deepen students’ understanding of inclusive sport and the challenges faced by individuals with physical impairments. Through hands-on participation and guided activities, students gained firsthand insight into adaptive sport, empathy, and the importance of equity and access in physical activity. Students took part in two activities: Wheelchair Basketball and AFL.

The incursion is not only a key learning moment aligned with curriculum outcomes but also an opportunity to broaden student perspectives, challenge stereotypes, and foster respect and inclusion within our school community. Our guest Rick Engles is always so open and supportive to the students and welcomed all questions from students.

“I could actually play sport for the first time in a while.” – Will Agathopoulos (injured student)

“I had heaps of fun, the games were very fun and different.” – Tom Dangar

“It was very fun, I loved the components of it”- Perry Martin

Adam Catchpole
Assistant Head of Department, PDHPE & Data Analytics Coordinator

Phil Beverley, Director of Music

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

“If you want something done, give it to a busy person”. A well-known saying that has been a mantra of those involved in Music this term. We have a diverse range of musical interests across our student body and this term; they were all represented with excellence. Jazz Night, AMPED!, Double Soirée, Lunchtime concert practices, Junior School Showcase, Charity concert with Senior School Choir Boys’ Vocal and the Harvard Krokodiloes as well as the Town Hall Concert “Fundamental” were all outstanding experiences and a testament of the hard work of hundreds of Cranbrook Musicians. Thank you to everyone involved in making it all possible. None of it would be possible without the hard work of teachers, parents and students all pulling together to create something special and memorable.

Fundamental in every way

Our showcase of Cranbrook music, featuring musicians from year 3-12. A True Whole School Experience.

Please click here to view the photo gallery of the Town Hall Gala – Fundamental.

Giving back through charity and song.

Sing it Forward presented by Learning for Good featured our Senior Choir and Boys’ Vocal ensembles which worked together with the Harvard Krokodiloes in a fun filled extravaganza of acapella music. The money raised on the night going directly to Rural and regional music programmes to support other teachers who are doing amazing things within their own communities.

Please click here to view the photo gallery of the Sing it Forward – Harvard Krokodiloes Concert.

What was a wonderful way to end an exciting term of music-making at Cranbrook.

Phillip Beverley
Director of Music

DRAMA NEWS – A Dynamic Term in Drama

Term 2 has been an incredibly rich and rewarding period in the Drama Department, with students from across year levels engaging in diverse, creative and challenging projects that highlight the collaborative spirit and depth of our programme.

Senior Focus – Year 12 HSC & IB Preparations
Our Year 12 Drama students have been working with determination and focus as they prepare for their HSC Individual Projects and IB Internal Assessments. Students are refining monologues, developing original scripts, finalising portfolios, and rehearsing group devised work in preparation for performance and submission. The standard of work continues to reflect a high level of commitment, self-direction, and artistic integrity as students push themselves both creatively and intellectually.

Short Play Festival – Spotlight on Shakespeare
A highlight of the term was the Short Play Festival curated by Ms Redwin and assisted by Year 10 Drama students. This year with a thematic focus on Shakespeare reimagined with a Dr Seus flair. Year 7 and 8 students presenting work that was fresh, engaging, and theatrically bold and comedic flair with “Green Eggs and Hamlet” and “The Seussefication of Romeo and Juliet”. The festival was a celebration of student leadership and collaborative creativity.

Click here to view the photo gallery of the Short Play Festival.

Student-Directed Production – In Rehearsals
Rehearsals are now well underway for our Student-Directed Production, with students taking the lead both on and off stage. Year 11 Directors are guiding the rehearsal process with increasing confidence, supported by their peers in acting, design, and stage management roles. The production in Term 3, Week 2 is shaping up to be a powerful example of student agency and artistic expression—we look forward to sharing more in Term 3 when the show premieres.

Year 9/Year 1 Collaboration – Children’s Theatre Magic
Another joyful moment this term was the Year 9 collaborative project with Year 1, where students devised and performed staged adaptations of picture books in the Packer Theatre. With playful characters, vibrant staging, and audience interaction, our Year 9 performers brought storybooks to life for an excited audience of young learners. The project was a heart-warming demonstration of how theatre can connect generations, build empathy, and spark imagination.

Click here to view the photo gallery of the Year 9 & Year 1 Children’s Theatre.

Middle Year’s Production – Treasure Island

Over 90 students auditioned last week for the final production of the year “Treasure Island”. Directed by Mr Riorden this will be a large, comedic swashbuckling comedy/drama to finish the year. Drama has always been a collaborative coeducational space for our productions, and we aim to finish the year with a production that celebrates our past and looks forward to our future. “Treasure Island” will be staged in Term 4, Week 4.

As we move into the final weeks of term, we reflect proudly on the diversity, energy, and depth of work across the Drama Faculty. From professional-standard senior projects to the joyful play of Year 1 story theatre, Term 2 has shown the power of performance to connect, inspire, and challenge. We thank all students and staff involved for their passion, commitment, and creativity.

Andrew Benson
Head of Drama

Pushing for a Cause: $29,000 Raised for Lifeline Bondi

As the Director of Service here at school, I am incredibly proud to share the outstanding results of this year’s Push-Up Challenge.

In just 22 days, our students rallied together to raise a truly impressive $29,000 for Lifeline Bondi, bringing our three-year total to over $100,000. This achievement is more than just a fundraising milestone. Every Push-Up completed—whether by Year 7 students giving it their all during mentor period, or senior students pushing through between exams and assessments – was a powerful act of solidarity with those struggling with mental health or, the challenges of life. Not only did our students help fund a crucial crisis support service, but they also engaged directly with the issue of mental health, learning to better understand it, talk about it, and look after their own wellbeing and that of their peers.

The Push-Up Challenge isn’t easy. It requires discipline, motivation, and heart – qualities our students showed in abundance. The fact that they’ve raised so much for their community while also looking after their own mental fitness speaks volumes about the kind of young people we’re fortunate to teach.

We thank Lifeline Bondi for the life-changing work they do, and we thank our students, families, and staff who supported this initiative so generously. I’m reminded once again that when young people are given the chance to lead and care, they rise to the challenge – in this case, quite literally.

Aaron Nolan
Director of Service (Acting)

Leaders of and for Change

Today, I had the privilege—alongside 25 other Year 11 students—of attending a talk run by the Salvation Army that focused on how we can drive real social change in our local area.

The session kicked off with an overview of how the Salvation Army operates and supports people at risk all across Australia. After that, we were split into groups and asked to pick one of the top five issues currently affecting our electorate, Wentworth. Our task was to come up with a fundraising initiative to help tackle it. The five issues were: mental health, housing affordability and homelessness, climate change, and financial hardship/inclusion.

My group—made up of me, Thomas Gascoine, Luca Alexander, and Harry Golovsky—chose mental health, which we felt was the most pressing issue in our area. While researching, we came across some pretty confronting stats. One that stuck with us was that 44% of Australians experience mental health challenges at some point in their lives—that’s about 8.6 million people.

We brainstormed different fundraising ideas and ended up going with a “Boardies Mufti Day” paired with a lunchtime sausage sizzle and an ice bath challenge. Everyone who enters the ice bath would go into the draw to win a term-long canteen pass. We chose this idea because ice baths have been shown to help reduce stress and improve mindfulness, so it ties in really well with the message of mental health, while also giving students a fun challenge and reward.

Some of the other group pitches were also awesome—like Max Scales’ group’s idea for a homelessness fundraiser inspired by Toys ‘n Tucker, and Tom Dawson’s group’s idea for a free community dinner where doctors are available to chat about basic health and wellbeing to help tackle access to healthcare issues.

Overall, the whole experience was super eye-opening. It really made us think more deeply about our community and the role we can play in making a positive impact.

Hugo Cardonnel
Cranbrook Student

Celebrating Gold: Minal Rowjee and George Press

Congratulations to Year 11 students, Minal Rowjee and George Press, on being awarded the prestigious Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. This achievement recognises their dedication, perseverance, and willingness to take on challenges that promote personal growth and community contribution.

Earning the Gold Award is a significant milestone, requiring sustained effort across service, physical activity, skill development, adventurous journeys, and a residential project. Minal and George have both shown exceptional commitment to each of these areas, setting a high standard for their peers and benefiting from significant personal growth as a result.

Their efforts reflect not only a strong sense of individual responsibility but also a genuine desire to make a positive difference in the world around them. We are proud to celebrate their success and look forward to seeing where their leadership and resilience take them next.

Well done, Minal and George!

Aaron Nolan
Acting Director of Service

Kevin Lee Latin Quiz Night

Kevin Lee Latin Quiz Night at SCEGGS Darlinghurst – Wednesday 18 June

A large and enthusiastic group of Year 7 and Year 9 Latin students gathered on Wednesday 18 June at SCEGGS Darlinghurst to take part in the annual Kevin Lee Latin Quiz. Competing against other schools from across Sydney, our students showed impressive teamwork, spirit, and a genuine love of the Latin language and Roman culture. A shoutout to our 9s and 7s who stepped up to compete against the year 10 teams in the senior rounds, and made it to the finals!

Here’s a little extract from one of our Year 7s who came along for the night:

“The Kevin Lee Latin Quiz night was an incredible experience. It was an excellent opportunity to meet up with kids across Sydney to learn about their experience of Latin. We competed against each other, made some new friends and most importantly, had fun. The quiz night was a night filled with fun and joy. It was great learning new things about Latin, whether it be in the theory of declensions, or the fun of myths and legends. All in all, the Latin Quiz Night was such an enjoyable event that I will cherish for a long time. Thank you Mr Winkels for organising this amazing event. I can’t wait for it next year!”

Charles Liang
Cranbrook Studnet, Y7 Wakehurst

Uniform Shop Notice

Please click here to view the upcoming break trading notice.

Articles of Interest – Term 2 Week 8

Please find the articles of interest below.

I’m a doomscrolling news junkie. This is how I could fix it

How to Talk to Your Kids About the Situation With Iran

Helping Boys Build Real Connections

6 things Australia must do if it’s serious about tackling school bullying

What parents need to know to talk to their children about the manosphere

Mackenzie Pedersen
Science Teacher, Resident Tutor and Assistant Head of Science

Using Data to Inform Teaching Practice

“If we can measure it, we can improve it.”

This was the powerful message at the heart of Adam Catchpole’s Cranbrook Teachers Talking Teaching (CTTT) session on using data to inform teaching practice.

Adam reminded us that “the use of data is fundamental to informed decision making,” not just for school leaders and systems, but for teachers in the classroom and the students they support. His presentation offered three innovative and practical strategies that are already transforming learning in PDHPE:

1. PDHPE HSC ChatGPT Bot
Built using a custom ChatGPT subscription and loaded with 20 syllabus-aligned resources, this AI assistant gives students 24/7 access to:
• Targeted syllabus support
• Differentiated guidance
• Practice questions and marking criteria
• Scaffolded feedback, even outside of class
It’s a brilliant model for how AI can supplement effective teaching, reduce cognitive load and extend learning beyond the classroom.

2. Student Tracker
This tool enables learners to map their own progress across key outcomes and assessments. It:
• Encourages student ownership and accountability
• Facilitates rich, evidence-based teacher-student conversations
• Supports parent engagement at reporting times
By emphasising student-led reflection, it reframes assessment as a process of growth and self-awareness.

3. PASS Feedback Tracker
After each unit, students complete a feedback survey reflecting on enjoyment and engagement in specific learning activities, with the opportunity for students to add general comments. By capturing both quantitative and qualitative data, this tracker allows teachers to:
• Understand the student experience
• Identify what is working and what isn’t
• Adapt future units in response to student voice
It’s a simple but powerful reminder that listening to learners is vital to improving teaching and learning.

Adam’s session reinforced that data is not just about numbers; it is about insight. When used well, it connects the dots between what we teach, how we teach and how students experience learning.

Hannah Thomas
Director of Professional Learning

Battle of the Books: Cranbrook vs Ascham

Victory Defended! Cranbrook Teams Triumph Again

What an incredible day of literary competition! On 23 June, our junior and senior teams faced off against Ascham in the ultimate test of book knowledge and quick thinking. After months of preparation, reading through their respective collections of 8 carefully selected books, both divisions came ready to battle.

The atmosphere was electric as teams went head-to-head in intense trivia rounds, demonstrating their deep understanding of characters, plots, themes, as they fielded challenging questions with confidence and enthusiasm.

Congratulations to both our Junior and Senior teams for successfully defending their titles and claiming victory once again! Their hard work, teamwork, and genuine love of literature made Cranbrook proud.

A huge thank you to all the supporters who came out to cheer on our teams – your energy and encouragement helped create an unforgettable day. The Battle of the Books continues to be one of our most exciting academic competitions, celebrating the joy of reading and the thrill of friendly rivalry.

Here’s to our champion readers and another successful Battle of the Books!

Tara Schmidtke
Director of Digital Learning and Research

Run (or walk) to save a baby’s life – in the CITY2SURF – 10 August

CITY2SURF – RUN TO SAVE A BABY’S LIFE!

Calling all students, parents, siblings, friends, staff to join the Cranbrook team in the City2Surf in support of charity Running for Premature Babies on 10 August.

To join click HERE.

Select the pink JOIN TEAM button and then register, ignoring the message about contacting the Team Captain.

(If you’re not sure which Start Wave to choose, consider joining the YELLOW group which is for joggers or walkers wanting to have a good time!)

All participants receive a free shirt. Fundraising is OPTIONAL. Raise $300 to have your race entry REFUNDED.

The event is selling out fast. Register now to avoid missing out!

Click here to learn more about Running for Premature Babies.