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Dear Parents and Carers,
I am writing to thank our Junior School families for their wonderful support throughout last year and to welcome to the Junior School community those joining us this year. This letter includes details of staffing arrangements and a review of important information relating to the commencement of the 2025 academic year. We look forward to an exciting year ahead.
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
JUNIOR SCHOOL END OF DAY CARLINE COLLECTION TIMES
Start of day times remain the same as last year, students may arrive from 7.45am for regular lessons.
In 2025, student after school pick up times are as follows. If you need to collect your child in the carline, please arrive at the indicated time for his year group and not before:
- For Kindergarten, please come to carline at 2.50pm.
- For Y1 and Y2, please come to carline at 3pm.
- For Y3 and Y4, please come to carline at 3.10pm.
- For Y5 and Y6, please come to carline at 3.20pm.
We appreciate your cooperation and support in this. If you prefer to arrive early, please park at Lyne Park or Kent Road and collect your son directly from the collection point, this is popular for parents needing to rush off and avoid the unnecessary traffic of carline.
SMART WATCHES, MOBILE PHONES & SMART DEVICES
The School asks that students in Kindergarten - Year 4 do NOT bring mobile phones or wear smart watches/devices to school, they are not permitted. We understand that for students in Years 5 and 6, there are times when possession of a mobile phone or smart watch/device can provide a sense of safety and security. We appreciate that parents of these older students who walk to or from school, or travel by public transport, may want their son to carry a mobile phone or wear a smart watch/device. It is important parents remember that, as a primary school, mobile phones and smart watches/devices are unnecessary during school hours as a method of communicating with students. It is our intention to ensure that mobile phone and smart watch/device usage does not disrupt the learning environment or cause issues during break times.
Mobile phones, watches and other smart devices should be either turned off or set to ‘aeroplane mode’ during school hours when on the school site and should be left inside school bags at all times. It has always been the School’s practice to pass on important messages to students throughout the day. This can be done by phoning the School Office and requesting that a message be given to the child. The phone/watch must not be used in toilets or change rooms. At no time should the phone/watch be used to bully, threaten, menace, harass or offend another person. Use of the phone/watch by a student contrary to these guidelines will result in this student receiving appropriate consequences in line with the School’s Behaviour Management Policy and may result in the student not being permitted to bring a mobile phone or wear a smart watch to School. The School bears no responsibility if the phone or watch is lost.
We thank our P-6 parents for their support of the School policy and we ask them to ensure their sons understand and follow this policy.
During Term 1, I will be Acting Head of Junior School before Michele Marquet returns in Term 2. Along with our Junior School Deputies, Mr Richard Baker and Mrs Genet Erickson Adam, Mrs Heather Brodie will be Acting Deputy Head of the Junior School.
At the end of this letter, you will find a list of Junior School staff for 2025 with new staff profiles for your information.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Start of Term 1, 2025
During term time, useful dates and notices are regularly included in the Thursday newsletter and on Cranbrook Connect (the Parent Portal). You may find the following information helpful, to assist with planning for Term 1.
The School Office will re-open from Monday, 20 January 2025. Our phone number is: 9327 9100 (Main Reception)
First few days of Term 1:
Years 1 - 6 students return: Friday, 31 January 2025, drop off after 7.45am
NB Kindergarten students attend for a short period on one of the following days: Friday 31 January, or Monday 3 February, as per the separate letter sent previously to all Kindergarten families.
Kindergarten’s First Day of School: Tuesday, 4 February 2025.
All Kindergarten boys will commence on Tuesday, 4 February 2025. To ease traffic congestion, we ask boys to be dropped off at the following times:
9am All those with brothers already attending the Junior School
9.15am Those with surnames starting A-F
9.30am Those with surnames starting G-N
9.45am Those with surnames starting O-Z
Pick up is at 1.15pm - The boys will be seated outside the Kindergarten Piazza for collection.
Kindergarten’s Second Day and Third Day of School
Wednesday, 5 February 2025 and Thursday, 6 February 2025 – Kindergarten arrive 8.45 – 9am and pick up 2.20pm. The boys will be seated outside the Kindergarten Piazza for collection.
Kindergarten’s Fourth Day of School
Friday, 7 February 2025 - Kindergarten arrive 8am and pick up 2.50pm. Please note the boys can begin carline if they feel ready.
K-Y6 - all families please remember:
- A Sun Smart policy operates in the Junior School and it is compulsory for students to wear their hats;
- Y3-Y6 School full-brimmed hat or K-Y2 legionnaire style sunhat for all play and outdoor activities;
- Students should come in full summer uniform;
- Please ensure that your son’s hair is in accordance with our School Uniform Policy.
- Children will be with their Class Teacher for all of the first day. It will not be a normal timetable.
K- Y6 Day One, 2025 – What to bring
- School hat (clearly named);
- A drink bottle (clearly named and filled with water only);
- Fruit for recess break (morning tea) in a small separate named container;
- Packed healthy lunchbox (clearly named)
TheirCare – After School Care
To assist our families with work commitments or other needs and to allow staff to prepare adequately for the teaching day, TheirCare operate after-school care onsite for any K-Y6 Cranbrook student. Due to very low attendance numbers in 2024, the before school service will not run in 2025.
We ask all Junior School families to enrol prior to return to school, so that they can attend TheirCare in the case of an emergency after school. Enrolment takes 10-15 minutes online and costs nothing.
Please follow this link to complete the enrolment process: www.theircare.com.au (go to ‘Book Now’ tab and complete the form).
Stationery Items and Textbooks for K-6
All essential stationery, exercise books and textbooks have been pre-ordered by the School and have already been delivered to Cranbrook. There will be an annual charge to cover the cost of these items and this will be charged to the students’ accounts during Term 1. Students will have items distributed as needed throughout the year.
Carlines and Timetables
A reminder that parents should always have their son’s carline name on display once they have entered the school gates on Kent Road. In 2025, the School will be providing NEW carline names to all students at the beginning of the term.
All children should have their seatbelts secured when a car is moving, including at all times in the school carline.
To ensure the safety of all our students and other pedestrians inside the school property, the speed limit once inside the school gate is 10 km/h. Some cars have been observed travelling too quickly in carline. Please consider the safety of all and reduce speed.
Students must not be dropped off or collected in Elanora or Iluka Streets. We continue to receive complaints from our neighbours and Woollahra Council regarding families who ignore this rule. Please help maintain Cranbrook’s good neighbourly relations by complying with this request.
Important Dates for 2025
A document outlining some planned key events and important dates for the year, useful for your planning, has been placed on Cranbrook Connect. Changes to these dates and the inclusion of other important events will be provided each term on the Event Term Overview document loaded into your son’s Year Level tab on the Parent Portal.
K- 6 Parent Information Evening: Wednesday, 5 February 2025 from 5pm – 6.30pm
The K-6 Parent Information Evening is the first opportunity for K-6 parents to hear about planned events and key information for 2025. Along with an opportunity to hear from your son’s teaching team, our Acting Deputy Head of Junior School and Educational Development Coordinator, Heather Brodie, will present an overview of how we honour each child’s individuality through our differentiated teaching and learning model and Campbell Jensen-Robilliard, our Director of Educational Psychology, who will focus on suggestions for parents that can assist their children to build resilience and start the year successfully.
K-6 Parent/Teacher Meetings: Week commencing Monday, 17 February 2025
The first Parent/Teacher meeting will be held in Term 1, Week 4 to provide an early opportunity for parents to share important information about their child with the teacher. Teachers will also give an idea of how each child has settled into his new class. During the first week of term, families will receive an online booking form to set a time. Please ensure you have returned your Annual Student Profile Survey before your meeting. These will be sent home in the first week of school.
Y6 & Y4 Camps: Week commencing Monday, 3 March 2025
Students in Years 6 & 4 will attend Camps during Term 1 Week 6. Families should have received information about the camp already. Students in Years 3 & 5 will attend camps during Term 2.
CETOP Family Fun Day: Sunday, 16 March
2025
Families are invited to join us at the Junior School campus for a wonderful family fun day in support of CETOP. Funds raised go to supporting the Himalayan communities in education, healthcare and infrastructure. Our Year 6 parent and student trip to Nepal in April each year helps build our children’s social awareness through direct hands-on engagement. Thanks to the CSPA and CETOP who work together to put on this fabulous day. More details to come.
Grandparents’ Day 2025: Wednesday, 26 March 2025
Grandparents’ Day is undoubtedly one of the highlights of the year. Please mark the date in all Grandmas, Grandpas, Nonnas and Grandads diaries now, so they have an opportunity to share this very special day with their grandson. More details will be available early in Term 1.
Music News
The compulsory instrumental programme is offered to students in Years 2 & 3. More information detailing this programme will be shared soon.
Music tuition is available from Term 1. The official notice for discontinuation of lessons for 2025 has now passed. This means lessons will automatically roll-over for next year. Continuing music instrumentalist pupils do not need to complete a new form.
New Students wanting Private Instrumental Lessons:
Parents of any student wishing to commence instrumentalist lessons for the first time should complete a music tuition form as soon as possible. The enrolment forms for music tuition can be found on Cranbrook Connect here. Please be aware that payment for lessons is an annual charge.
Co-curricular Activities (Years 1 - 6)
Commencing Monday, 10 February 2025 (Week 3) and finishing on Friday, 11 April 2025 (final day Term 1)
Please contact Annabel Boyd at jscocurricular@cranbrook.nsw.edu.au if you have any questions about the optional co-curricular programme you have enrolled in via the Cranbrook App.
Assemblies and Chapel
Assemblies and Chapels are held each fortnight. Y3-Y6 will be held on Wednesday afternoon at 12.30pm in the JS Gym. K-Y2 will be held on Friday afternoon at 12.30pm in the JS Gym. Please note the time and day change for 2025. Excellence Awards are presented at both Assembly and Chapel. Parents of students receiving an award are notified the previous Thursday.
Recess and Lunch
Recess 10.30am-11.00am
Please note that all K-6 students are encouraged to bring fruit, vegetables and healthy snacks only for Recess. The younger children find it much easier to eat fruit that has been cut up (eg apple quarters, orange segments) or that is already in bite size pieces (eg grapes, berries). Little tubs of fruit in syrup are also acceptable.
NB Students in K and Y1 are asked to bring a small ‘brain food’ snack to be eaten between Periods 1 and 2, preferably consisting of crunchy fruit or vegetables to build jaw strength which assists with speech articulation development.
Lunch 1pm-1.40pm
Students eat lunch from 1.00pm-1.15pm. On all days, the students play outside (weather permitting) from 1.15pm-1.40pm. Healthy packed lunches are encouraged.
Parents are welcome to order recess and lunches from the School Canteen online, via the My Student Account system. Instructions on how to set up an account can be found on the Parent Portal Cranbrook Connect: http://cranbrookconnect.cranbrook.nsw.edu.au/ Go to Junior School/Starting in 2025.
Food allergies
We ask parents not to send in foods containing nuts or sesame seeds (all year levels) for their sons to consume. We have a number of new and existing students and staff at School who are allergic to nuts of all types, nut products, fish, shellfish and some dairy. Please consider these staff and students’ health concerns as you pack your own son’s food. Younger children find it hard not to spill food! Information regarding food choices is included in the Parent Handbook.
In line with our Healthy Eating Policy, please remember that we do not allow cakes or other treats for your son’s birthday celebrations at School. Please save these special treats for home.
K-6 Parent Contact Lists
These will be distributed to each grade through the CSPA section of Cranbrook Connect (Parent Portal) at the start of 2025.
Further information pertaining to the 2025 School year can be obtained through the Junior School Parent Handbook, which is available to current parents via the Parent Portal, Cranbrook Connect here.
2025 CRANBROOK JUNIOR SCHOOL STAFF
Kindergarten Teaching Team
Lois Kennedy (KW/YLC), Georgina Grant (KB), Camilla MacSwiney (KR), Vicky Yannakouros (CM), Michelle McGregor (EDT), Penelope Donaldson (EA), Rebecca Roe (EA), Lewis Park (EA)
Year 1 Teaching Team
Zoe Brinkworth (1W/YLC), Alissa Martire (1B), Laura Rose (1R), Chloe Jennings (CM), Louella Williams (EDT), Eunice Krishnan (EA)
Year 2 Teaching Team
David Holmsen (2W/YLC), Hannah Pillinger (2B), Jenny Yoon (2R),
Marielle Brown (CM Semester 1), Jessica Spyrakis (EDT), Sarah Cleave (EA)
Year 3 Teaching Team
Roberta Henry (3W/YLC), Michaela Allen-Waters (3B), Elinor Hewett (3R),
Sorcha Boland (CM), Darren Howard (EDT), David Park (EA)
Year 4 Teaching Team
Rose Kelly (4W/YLC), Tom Birbeck (4B), Beth Wilshire (4R),
Nichola Good (CM), Darren Howard (EDT), Sarah Banes (T1 EA) Jodhi Campbell (EA T1 LSL)
Year 5 Teaching Team
Mat Power (5W/YLC), Casey Zhang (5B), Lynsey McDonald (5R),
Jack Vandervelde (CM), Paulette O’Hara (EDT), Bronwyn Tricks (EA)
Year 6 Teaching Team
Mark De Brún (6W/YLC), Millie McKendry (6B), Etiosa Okunbor (6R),
Toni Germon (CM), Paulette O’Hara (EDT), Catherine Brown (EA)
Specialist Teaching Team
PDHPE: Tommy Taylor, Josh Cohen, Kurt Fryer, James Roughan (Head of Sport/PDHPE, JS)
Visual Arts: Ann Arora, Rebecca Armstrong
Music: Peter Fox (Head of Music, JS), Jane Holmes à Court, Fiona Chan
French: Silvia Garcia-Oria, Emmanuel Chaveroux
Drama: Sophie Boniface
Science & Tech: Joshua Botto
Other Teams
iCentre: Megan Light (Digital Literacy Leader & iCentre Teacher Librarian), Liz De Wit (Library Technician)
Wellbeing: Campbell Jensen-Robilliard (JS Director Educational Psychology), Jessica O’Hara (Nurse), Matt Noble (Chaplain)
Admin: Robyn Booy (EA to HoJS), Gaia Tedeschi (EA to JS Exec), Jill McPherson (Office Manager), Annabel Boyd (Co-curricular Manager), Sandra Trew (Music Admin Assistant)
Support EAs: Madeline Beard (Special Needs K-2)
Relief Staff: Tommy Taylor (1 day)
IT support: Haley Hughesdon, Esteban Porpaczy, Joe McCowen (AV)
Junior School Leadership Team (JSLT)
Michele Marquet (Acting HoS); Grant Andrews (Acting HoJS & DH Wellbeing); Richard Baker (DH Operations & Staffing); Genét Erickson-Adam (DH Curriculum); Heather Brodie (Acting DHoJS & Educational Development Coordinator); Christina Cellini (Assessment & Data Coordinator); Matt Noble (JS Chaplain); Campbell Jensen-Robilliard; James Roughan (Head of JS Sport & PDHPE); Lois Kennedy; Zoe Brinkworth; David Holmsen, Roberta Henry, Rose Kelly; Mat Power; Mark De Brun; Megan Light; Abigail McFarlane (Pre-schools Coordinator & Educational Leader - SMA); Melanie Fleming (Educational Leader - SMI); Robyn Booy (EA to the Head of Junior School)
NEW STAFF PROFILES
Jenny Yoon – Y2 Class Teacher
Jenny Yoon will join Cranbrook Junior School as a Year 2 Classroom Teacher in 2025. Jenny brings a wealth of experience from her impressive 10-year tenure at Newington College, where she held roles ranging from Classroom Teacher to Stage Coordinator. A firm believer in our Junior School Value Statement of Inspire excellence, Jenny is passionate about unlocking every child's potential and fostering a love of learning that extends far beyond the classroom walls.
Tom Birbeck – Y4 Class Teacher
Tom Birbeck comes to our Junior School as a Year 4 Classroom Teacher in 2025. With over a decade of teaching experience across the UK, Vietnam, and Hong Kong, Tom exemplifies Cranbrook's Junior School Value Statement of Embrace global-mindedness. His journey spans teaching everything from Year 1 to Year 6, leading whole-school science initiatives, and expertly weaving global perspectives into his curriculum.
Beth Wilshire – Y4 Class Teacher
After a two-year sabbatical filled with yoga, wellbeing initiatives, and post-graduate studies in Positive Psychology and Wellbeing, Miss Beth Wilshire is back at Cranbrook! A familiar face to many, Beth’s return is a homecoming to a community where her passion for connection and excellence in education left an indelible mark.
Sarah Banes – Y4 Educational Assistant
Cranbrook Junior School is fortunate to welcome Mrs Sarah Banes to the Year 4 team in T1. With a Bachelor of Business in PR from QUT and a decade spent exploring the world as part of an airline crew, Sarah’s career path has been as diverse as her talents. Her experience living on campus at a co-ed boarding school in England honed her skills in supporting young people—whether with a kind word, a steady hand or the occasional cake.
Lynsey McDonald – Y5 Class Teacher
Lynsey McDonald will be trading Year 1 for Year 5 in 2025, bringing her dynamic teaching style, sense of humour and mathematical expertise to Cranbrook’s Stage 3 team. With a BSc (Hons) in Neuroscience and Psychology from the University of Aberdeen and a PGDE from the University of Edinburgh, Lynsey combines a scientific understanding of how children learn with the practical wisdom of nearly a decade in the classroom.
Jack Vandervelde – Y5 Educational Development Teacher and Case Manager
Mr Jack Vandervelde joins Cranbrook Junior School as a Year 5 Case Manager in 2025, bringing with him a unique combination of classroom expertise, athletic prowess and a commitment to our School motto, Esse quam videri (To be, rather than to seem to be). With a Bachelor of Arts and Education from Macquarie University and a career spanning roles as a Year 6 teacher, Learning Support specialist and mathematics leader, Jack is as comfortable solving equations as he is coaching a fast break.
Kurt Fryer – PDHPE
Teacher
Mr Kurt Fryer joins Cranbrook Junior School in 2025 as a PDHPE Teacher, bringing an impressive blend of athletic achievement, coaching expertise, and a steadfast commitment to our Junior School value, Contribute through service. As a professional triathlete with a career that spans World Triathlon and Ironman competitions, Kurt exemplifies discipline, perseverance and the ability to inspire others to push beyond their limits.
Georgie
Grant – Kindergarten Class Teacher
Georgie Grant is stepping into a new role as a Kindergarten Teacher at the Junior School in 2025, a natural progression for someone with her extensive experience and enthusiasm for early childhood education. With a PGCE in Early Years and a career spanning some of London’s top preparatory schools, Georgie brings creativity, warmth and a deep understanding of young learners to her classroom.
We very much look forward to the commencement of the 2025 academic year and to welcoming our students and families back on campus.
Yours sincerely,
Grant Andrews
Acting Head of Junior School
