QuadFest

On Thursday 20 August, Cromer Campus was a buzzing hub of music, food, art and so much fun!!

Local special guest band Ghazza, headlined the main stage with support from the ever-popular teachers in 'Band 6' and over 30 performances from our very talented students!

Students had fun painting collaborative art, weaving, making pet rocks and beaded bracelets, participating in some sporting activities including volleyball, basketball and table-tennis, singing their heart out on the very popular karaoke stage or burning off energy in the 'Just Dance' gym or the newly added 'Rave Cave'.

Special thanks to Michael Regan MP for attending, our wonderful P&C for organising a delicious sausage sizzle and bake stall, and the fantastic information stalls from Burdekin Association, Street Work, KALOF and Drug & Alcohol Youth Support.

But most of all, a big thank you to our wonderful staff who work tirelessly to put this annual event together!

IS Night of Celebration

On Wednesday, 9 September, Integrated Studies held their Evening of Celebration which showcased their remarkable talents in acting, singing, sign language, art, trivia, and public speaking. 

The highlights (so many!) included the fun (but not easy!!) clicking, clapping and tapping interactive percussion performance, the Brains Trust Quiz show, hosted by Phoenix and his assistant Sydney (and the chicken buzzers!), Shake it Off and emotional regulation techniques (very informative!), the interviews with the work experience students (so brave of them!), welcoming back Noah (2025 Alumni) and finding out what he has been up to after graduating, the effervescent Elijah and the IS Rock Band (supported by Mr J on guitar), the lovely kitchen skit and photo montage of the TAS lessons (and such beautiful singing!), the update on the compost program (and how our students are now teaching Manly Campus students!) and the heartfelt Que Sera, Sera finale left us wanting more!

Our Year 12 students did a fantastic job of hosting and special thanks to our Year 11 Entertainment class kindly managed the lighting and audio, with support from Mr Castello and Mr McKee. 

We thank all of our special guests, parents and friends for their support, our sensational teachers and SLSOs for putting together such a wonderful show, but most of all our Integrated Studies students for filling our lives with love, happiness and pure joy on such a night of celebration.

The Grand Cromer Museum

We waited all year to see what imaginative creations our students will present for this year's HSIE assessment tasks.... and they wowed us beyond all expectations!

Each year group from 7- 10 is tasked with bringing a unique theme to life, combining deep research with imaginative presentation.

• Year 7 - Ancient History (Rome, Egypt, Guatemala, Italy, England, China & Greece)

• Year 8 - Shogun Japan (distinctive picturesque landscapes and national treasures).

• Year 9 - Industrial Revolution (steam engine and railways, morse telegraph, typewriter, seed drills and reapers, water mills, canals, gas lighting, camera, weaving looms and dynamite changed the way people lived, communicated and worked).

• Year 10 - Environmental Change & Management (case studies reviewed negative impacts of a location and the short term and long term impacts of the continuation of the issue).

From the ancient world to future possibilities, students demonstrated not only their knowledge but also their ability to think critically, write creatively, and communicate ideas in engaging ways.

What makes this exhibition so remarkable is not just the range of topics, but the passion and skill that has gone into each project. Students have drawn on a wide range of skills, such as researching, writing, designing, and presenting, to create displays that are both informative and visually stunning.

The exhibition was open over 2 nights with many visitors wowed by the extraordinary effort, creativity and imaginative presentation!

Cromer Archie

Inspired by the students’ visit to the Archibald Prize at the Art Gallery of NSW, the “Cromer Archie” challenges our Year 10 students to create their own portrait artworks, exploring identity, relationships and the people who inspire them.

We were blown away by the talent, creativity and individuality showcased in this year’s exhibition - held at Northern Beaches Gallery in early August. It was a wonderful celebration of the skill and creativity of our Year 10 artists!

Artist Watson Broadfoot joined us as guest judge and selected the winners after careful consideration of the incredible collection of works.

Read more about the winners and their pieces and view all the finalists on our website. 

Yr 11 Visual Arts

In Week 3, Year 11 Visual Arts students took part in our first overnight art camp to Bundanon Art Museum in Illaroo, enjoying two days of creativity, collaboration and artistic inspiration.

On the way, we stopped at Wollongong Art Gallery to explore the exhibitions by Nicci Bedson, Elvis Richardson and Raquel Caballero.

At Bundanon, students visited the Man on Fire exhibition, featuring the work of Arthur Boyd and Shaun Gladwell, before working together to create and direct short scenes inspired by the artworks and the surrounding environment. They then translated these ideas into expressive ink drawings in the style of Arthur Boyd.

After a night in Bundanon’s award-winning accommodation, students spent the morning working en plein air, using charcoal to create reduction drawings of the surrounding landscape. It was a messy but rewarding process that challenged students to observe and respond to the environment in new ways.

It was a fantastic two days on the Shoalhaven River, giving students the opportunity to slow down, immerse themselves in art and nature, and develop their creative practice outside the classroom.

Hospitality Students at Manly Musical Week

NBSC Cromer Campus Year 11 and 12 Certificate II Hospitality students have had a busy and rewarding year, catering for a number of school events. The standout was an off-site catering placement supporting the NBSC Manly Musical, where students planned, cooked and served a full week of dinners for the NBSC Manly Campus students, staff and parent volunteers.

This real-world experience gave students the chance to apply the skills they've been building in class, including hygienic food handling and safe work practices, sourcing and using industry information, and serving food and beverages to a professional standard. Just as importantly, students practised working effectively as a team, interacting confidently with customers, and showing social and cultural sensitivity, all core skills for a career in hospitality.

Experiences like this do more than build technical ability, they help prepare our students for life beyond school. The Cert II Hospitality qualification gives students a genuine head start into the workforce, opening doors to casual and part-time roles in cafes, restaurants, catering and events, as well as a pathway into further study or an apprenticeship in the hospitality industry. Real-world placements like the Manly Musical week give students the confidence and hands-on experience employers are looking for, setting them up for success long after they leave school.

Congratulations to the NBSC Cromer Hospitality students on a fantastic effort - proof that the skills they're learning in the classroom are making a real difference, both now and for their futures ahead!

Immersing in industry at Q Station, Manly

Our Year 12 Hospitality students recently spent the day at the historic Q Station in Manly, trading the classroom for a real working hospitality venue as part of their Stage 6 VET Cert II Hospitality studies.

Students toured the commercial kitchens and food and beverage areas, observing how the venue applies the same skills they've been developing in class, from food and beverage service and kitchen operations to food hygiene and Work Health and Safety practices in a live commercial setting.

This hands-on excursion gave students a valuable opportunity to consolidate their classroom learning and see first-hand how the theory behind their HSC course translates into real industry practice. It was a fantastic chance to build confidence, ask questions of working hospitality professionals, and understand the expectations of the industry they're training for.

Students were also encouraged to apply for casual positions at Q Station, opening the door to genuine work experience alongside their studies.

A brilliant industry immersion opportunity for these aspiring hospitality stars.

That was good!

Our year 7 & 8 students are taking a stand and saying Bullying No Way!

We were fortunate to have Sam Ghamwari from Sekseed engage with our students, sharing valuable insights on overcoming challenges, building confidence, expressing kindness, and striving to reach their full potential.

Also, Senior Constable Darren Cairns joined us to discuss important topics around cyber safety, bullying laws, and respecting each other both online and offline.

And our inaugural 'That Was Good!' campaign was a huge success! Over 700 tickets were given out to Year 7 students for doing good things, such as picking up litter, displaying nice manners, being an inclusive friend, obeying the rules, being ready with equipment, having neat and tidy uniform, handing in lost property or simply giving a teacher a smile!

The biggest do-gooder was Rachel T who submitted the most tickets, and won a Hoyts Cinema Gift Card. Runners up won canteen vouchers - Savannah C, Nicola D, Samara F, Jasleen M, Jose O, Eshika R & Aisha S.

Our programs are creating a school community where everyone feels safe, supported, and valued.

Amalia S & Taylor H

Congratulations to Amalia S and Taylor H, in Year 7, for receiving Certificates of Achievement for their participation in the Multicultural Youth Voices Competition, held as part of Multicultural Health Week.

This years theme was "Improving Our Mental Health and Wellbeing Through Physical Activity.

Students were invited to submit a 500 word story accompanied by a photograph that captured how physical activity contributes to their sense of connection, belonging and wellbeing.

Amalia and Taylor were commended for their willingness to share their experiences and contribute to this important conversation.

Integrated Studies barista program

Our Integrated Studies students have been busy developing valuable workplace and life skills through our exciting new school barista program!

Students recently attended a Barista course at TAFE one day a week for four weeks, where they learned skills and techniques to prepare quality coffee.

They are now putting their training into practice by helping others in the art of coffee making. From taking orders and preparing drinks to delivering coffees to staff, our student baristas are gaining hands-on experience while developing communication, customer service, teamwork, time management, and other important workplace skills.

We're so proud of the confidence, independence, and enthusiasm they are showing as they continue to build skills for the future. Well done!

Science Week

Students explored the different strands of Science through creativity, curiosity and hands-on learning. 

Making ice-cream in class showed how chemistry, physics and biology work together in everyday life. 

Congratulations to the students behind this fantastic WALL-E Poster Task, proudly selected as the winner across all grades!

Yr 9 Commerce - "Eat Street"

During Week 6 of Term 3, Year 9 Commerce students ran food stalls in the school gym during lunchtime. As part of the Commerce program, this practical assessment task involved students planning, promoting, and operating food/drink stalls in friendly competition with their peers.

Offering a vast array of national delicacies, both savoury and sweet, fellow students (and teachers) enjoyed the tasty treats offered for sale by our Year 9 Commerce students. Treats on offer included: Chicken Tender, Cookies, Brownies, Crepes, Pancakes, Tiramisu, Gelato, Soft Drinks, Lolly Bags and much more. 

Prizes in the form of Canteen vouchers were awarded to:

• Bunkin Bakery = Most Profitable Food Stall

• Sweet Slices = Best Customer Service

• The Crepe Escape = Best Dressed Stall

All participating Commerce students took away valuable learning experiences from running their mini businesses on the day of the event. 

Over $1500 profit was donated to local Northern Beaches food charity One Meal.

Dance success!

Our dance ensembles entered the Dance X championships at Hurstville and took home a number of amazing awards!

This eisteddfod specifically designed for schools put our ensembles up against a range of public and private schools in Sydney.  Here are the results:

- Jnr Hip Hop 1st
- Snr Hip Hop 3rd
- Snr Jazz 1st 

- Jnr Jazz 1st 

- Year 9 Eective 3rd 

- Jnr Lyrical 1st 

- Most memorable Jnr routine Hip Hop 

- Most memorable Snr routine Jazz 

- Most standout Snr performer - Eva M year 10

Congratulations!

Guest performers at ALGWA conference

Hanna E, Sammy H, Abbey M and Georgie W performed at the Australian Local Government Women’s Association 75th Anniversary Conference Welcome Event, held at the beautiful Manly Art Gallery & Museum.

Performing for approximately 150 delegates representing local government from across Australia, the girls were simply outstanding, showcasing the incredible depth of talent within Cromer Campus. Their performances were a huge success, receiving wonderful praise throughout the evening for their talent, confidence, professionalism and connection with their audience.

It was particularly special to hear such generous feedback from distinguished guests, including Northern Beaches Mayor Sue Heins, Cr Shannon Welsh (NSW) and Cr Kylie Spears (VIC), who took the time to speak with the girls and personally congratulate them on their performances.

Sydney NorthWest Music Festival - Stage Band

The Sydney NorthWest Music Festival showcases outstanding instrumental and vocal performances by NSW public school students, ranging from soloists and small groups through to large ensembles. On Wednesday 12 August, the Stage Band performed at the festival as part of the Cawndilla Concert, held at The Concourse in Chatswood.

The Stage Band performed Hey Pachuco! as part of the evening concert, giving students another opportunity to perform in a large festival setting alongside other school ensembles. The performance featured an opening melody on Trumpet 1 by Angus, a tenor saxophone solo by Conor and a drum solo by Armand. Listen to the sound recording of Hey Pachuco!

Staff v Yr 12 Basketball

Despite plenty of confidence from Year 12, the staff team came away with a convincing 32–18 victory! 

A dominant performance from the staff, led by Mr Hong and Mr Stacey, who clearly decided this was Game 7 of the NBA Finals.

STAFF WIN!!

u15s Girls Netball

Our Under 15 Girls Netball Team headed to Terrigal for the CHS Sydney North Finals.

The results didn’t quite go our way on the day, but the girls can be so proud of how far they have come and the experience they gained competing at this level.

Making it this far in the competition is a huge achievement in itself. Miss Tootell is beyond proud of this group and the way they have represented our school throughout the season!

Year 8 Boys Netball

Our Year 8 Boys Netball team competed at the Netball NSW Regional Finals after winning the Manly Warringah Gala Day earlier in the competition.

The boys played outstandingly throughout the day and finished 2nd overall in the region -  a huge achievement and an excellent result!

We are incredibly proud of the way the boys challenged themselves, competed with confidence and represented the school throughout the day. A special mention to coach Miki for leading the team throughout the competition. An exciting result, with more to come from this group!

Year 7 and 8 Gala Day

Our Year 7 and 8 combined netball team put in an outstanding performance at the CHS Netball Gala Day, finishing 3rd overall out of 24 schools!

The girls produced excellent performances across the entire day, showing great teamwork, determination and skill throughout the competition.

The team was led superbly by Paige C, with Nala H delivering a standout performance across the day!

A fantastic achievement from the whole team - congratulations girls!

NSW Marching Band - Hamish

Year 10 student Hamish has had a busy Term 3 performing on bass drum with the NSW Public Schools Millennium Marching Band. The Millennium Marching Band brings together NSW public school musicians to perform at major events across the state, combining music, marching and choreography.

During Term 3, Hamish performed with the band as part of Public Education Week and at the Public Education Awards. He also took part in NRL Sea Eagles v Storm home game at Brookvale Oval, bringing the Millennium Marching Band into a major sporting event.

Manly Jazz Festival

Some of our talented musicians recently performed at the Manly Jazz Festival on Saturday 19th September, as members of local community jazz ensembles.

The Manly Jazz Festival is an annual live music festival held across Manly, with performances taking place at outdoor stages and official venues throughout the area. The festival features professional musicians alongside community ensembles, school stage bands, big bands and emerging local performers, creating a weekend of jazz and live music throughout Manly.

Griffin, Angus, Josh, Conor and Lachie performed with the Collaroy Jazz Collective, while Mitchell performed with the Southern Northern Beaches Jazz Band.

Local live musicians

Several Cromer Campus musicians have had a busy few months performing with their own bands at competitions, live music venues and youth music events across Sydney.

Trepan, featuring Spencer and Armand, had a successful run in the Northern Composure competition, placing 2nd in the finals on 1st August, while Lorelei, featuring Lachie, Raph and Spencer, placed 3rd. 

Trepan has also been busy on the live music circuit, supporting Braiside at the Lady Hampshire in Camperdown on 8th August and Purple Disturbance at Avalon RSL on 12th September. 

Our students have also been involved in the Kids These Days events at 7th Day Brewery, performing alongside a range of other young local bands. Another event is coming up on 8th October, featuring Trepan, Lorelei and Moonburn, featuring Cromer Campus student Annalise, alongside Ghazza, Komb, Spew and Tank.

It is great to see our students forming their own bands, writing and performing music, and becoming actively involved in Sydney’s live music scene. Congratulations to Spencer, Armand, Lachie, Raph and Annalise on a busy few months of performances.

Conor, Angus, Griffin, Lachie & Josh - Collaroy Jazz Collective

The Collaroy Jazz Collective has continued to grow this year, expanding beyond its usual Jazz Band to form a larger Jazz Orchestra and providing even more opportunities for young musicians to perform within the local jazz community.

Cromer Campus students Conor, Angus, Griffin, Lachie and Josh are members of the ensemble and have enjoyed performing with the group since first hearing about the opportunity in late 2023.

During Term 3, the Collaroy Jazz Collective has been busy performing at a number of events and venues. The group performed at the Manly Jazz Festival, as well as several gigs at Lazybones Lounge in Marrickville, giving students the experience of performing jazz in a live music venue.

NBYO - Toby, Abrianna & Oliver

Three Cromer Campus students are members of the Northern Beaches Youth Orchestra (NBYO), with Toby performing on violin, Abrianna on cello and Oliver on trombone. NBYO is a community symphony orchestra for upper primary and high school musicians and forms part of the Northern Beaches Orchestra family. The orchestra provides young musicians with the opportunity to develop their skills, experience playing in a full symphony orchestra and perform alongside other musicians from across the Northern Beaches.

On Saturday 19 September, Toby, Abrianna and Oliver performed i`n Music of the Screen at John Scott Hall, St Luke’s Grammar School in Dee Why. The concert featured music from iconic films, television and video games, including themes from Star Wars and The Magnificent Seven, with the music accompanying visuals projected onto the screen. Check out the video of the performance of the theme from Star Wars.

Cromer students perform with Sydney North Public Schools Band

Cromer students, Raph, Evan and Hamish participate on percussion, Annalise on clarinet and Jasmine on flute, while Angus performs on trumpet are extending their musical experiences in the Sydney North Public Schools Band program.

Recently, students performed at the Sydney Opera House as part of the Festival of Choral Music. The festival brings together hundreds of NSW public school students in massed choirs, accompanied by instrumental ensembles and featuring performances by other student musicians. Performing at the Sydney Opera House gives students the opportunity to be part of a large-scale production and accompany young singers from schools across NSW.

The program’s Concert Band, Symphonic Band and Term 3 Big Band also performed at The Concourse, Chatswood as part of the Sydney NorthWest Music Festival, another major celebration of music in NSW public schools. Check out the video

NSSWE Festival - Roan, Josh, Ryan, Conor, Alfie, Lucy & Griffin

It was fantastic to see some of our musicians involved in the NSSWE Spring Music Festival on Sunday 20 September. Roan, Josh, Ryan and Conor generously supported the various Collaroy Plateau Public School bands performing throughout the day, using their experience to support younger musicians from our local primary school community.

Several Cromer Campus students are also members of the Northern Sydney Symphonic Wind Ensemble (NSSWE) program. Alfie performs on baritone horn with the Junior Wind Ensemble, while Lucy performs on clarinet and Griffin on trumpet with the Senior Wind Ensemble. It's great to see our students supporting younger musicians from our local primary schools!

Eva Grantham - Class of 2025

We are very proud of Eva Grantham who graduated from NBSC Cromer Campus last year.

Her artwork 'UNLOVED' is being exhibited in the ARTEXPRESS 2026 exhibition at Western Plains Cultural Centre in Dubbo until 4 October.

The exhibition showcases student artworks created for the art-making component of the HSC examination in Visual Arts. It celebrates students’ artistic excellence and provides insight into the issues that are important to them.

Congratulations Eva! We can't wait to see where your exceptional talent takes you!