The above events have also been in addition to the boys’ very busy challenges of school life, both in the classrooms and on the winter sporting fields. Through all these wonderful experiences and opportunities the boys have had a great deal of enjoyment with their mates, showing maturity and growth along the way and excelling together as a boarding community. Pride and respect were evident at our recent Boarders Chapel Service where the Headmaster inducted our newly appointed Boarder Leadership Representatives and then we enjoyed a lovely time together over dinner, while also acknowledging our House Manager and ConneXion Award recipients across each Year Group.

It has been a great privilege for Fiona and myself, together with Martin and Jo Gooding, to visit with many of our regional Knox families once again in Dubbo, who travelled far and wide to attend Dubbo Community Function. It was terrific to have well over 40 past, present, and future Knox families in attendance. 

We look forward to seeing as many of the Boarding community as possible during the holiday break at the Mudgee Community Function on Thursday 11 July and at our Tamworth function on Thursday 25 July, which the Headmaster and Mrs James will be attending.  It will be wonderful to see some of our boarding families in their hometowns during this year.

Please enjoy reading this second edition of the Boarding News which highlights the many wonderful events, outings, and opportunities that your sons enjoyed during Term 2.

I wish you all a lovely holiday break with your sons.

Brian Sullivan

Academically the Stage 6 boys have contended with assessments, classwork and ongoing projects.  They are well supported by our Evening Boarding Tutors and it is truly fantastic to see the quality of learning and academic conversations that take place with these young 'Old Boys'.  The boys have been invited to join a self-paced study skills class designed by Mr Nick Gliddon, the Stage 6 Acting Director of Studies, to assist them in the management of their time.  The Weeks Senior Academy is utilised by many for additional support, and with it now being open from 1pm to 4pm on Sunday a number of our senior students are making the most of the additional time available for study.  Through House meetings and individual conversations boys are regularly reminded of the resources available to them and are encouraged to actively seek out these supports.  Parent/Teacher interviews and the Knox Careers Evening also took place this term, providing excellent feedback and advice for our boys and their families. 

Centenary events were again in full swing this term.  There were a number of impressive whole school activities and performances, the quality of which truly blew me away.  A huge number of Stage 6 boarders were involved in the Jersey Boys musical production, Cadet ANZAC service and the phenomenal Military Tattoo.  I congratulate all boys on their commitment to service, and the hours of preparation and rehearsals that went into these performances.  I find that it is often these kinds of experiences that boys remember the most once they leave the school gates.  It was also lovely to see our Indigenous boarders showcased through our centenary events, with their Welcome to Country at the Tattoo and Indigenous round sporting events a moving and enlightening experience.  These boarders presented the Indigenous round jerseys to each Firsts sports team in a wonderful ceremony held on the boarders Terrace during Reconciliation Week.  They also unveiled to the school a fantastic piece of artwork that contains the totems of each boy, which will be displayed within the school.

Living onsite at school does provide for some experiences unique to our boarders.  This term saw the Y12s have ‘Supper with the Headmaster’.  Mr James served the boys waffles and ice-cream with hot chocolate after dinner.  This relaxed event is a great opportunity for boys to chat with the Headmaster and even teach him a few magic tricks.  We held our Term 2 Boarding Chapel and Formal Dinner in Week 6, where we celebrated the House Managers award recipients Hugo Lonergan, Aiden Chen and Brian Lee, and the Connexion Award recipients Brendon Lau and Dominic Shepherd.  At the evening our new Boarding Leadership Team members were appointed, with Archer Slack-Smith and Lincoln Shih being our Y11 representatives.  The Boarding Leadership Team advocate for their peers and develop initiatives and activities to improve the boarding experience.  They were instrumental in the smooth running of our ‘Da Vinci Decathlon’ Boarding Brothers Trophy event this term.  Stage 6 boys were also given the opportunity to attend Swing City Golf for an interactive driving range experience, and learn to bowl down at the Warrawee Bowling Club.  Our boys also hosted hundreds of local students at the Knox Senior Social.  This fantastic event is a sight to see, with Y10 to 12 students from a variety of schools descending on the Great Hall for a night of dancing and socialising.

This term, across the whole school, we celebrated National Boarding Week.  Our boarders from Y7 to 11 presented to their day student peers about life in boarding. They shared their experiences about boarding life, including the joys and the challenges they face as boarders at Knox. These Academy Assemblies really showcased the quality of young men we have in our boarding community. They constructed the slide deck and quizzes, delivered interesting and heartfelt speeches to their peers, and created engaging multi-media presentations. We shared snacks with our day boy colleagues, gifting boys a very tasty doughnut!  Martin Cao, our 2024 Senior Boarder also instigated, coordinated and facilitated a first of its kind virtual Head Boarder Conference for NSW students.  This conference received glowing reviews from those students and schools in attendance.  Service is at the heart of many of our boys and it was great to see so many Stage 6 students supporting disabled athletes at this years’ Ku-Ring-Gai Fun Run, raising money for the Special Olympics.  There was also a significant number of boys who attended and facilitated a student Wellbeing Conference at Ravenswood, which was the culmination of months of planning and preparation. 

As you can see there is much that goes on during a term in Knox Boarding.  During house meetings, we try to focus on the little things, with boys challenged to consistently perform those 1% tasks well.  It’s often doing the little things well that builds habits and sets us up for success.  As boys carefully manage their academic, sporting and co-curricular commitments they are reminded of the importance of maintaining balance and wellbeing.  I am most grateful for the support of the Assistant Heads of Stage 6, Boarding Office staff and the Stage 6 House Managers who encourage and care for our young men so well.  We have a large and diverse team of staff in Stage 6 who are always prepared to go above and beyond for these boys.  I have personally learned a lot about Knox and the boarders over the past two terms, and I can’t wait to see what Term 3 has in store for us when we welcome our boarders back on Monday 22 July. 

Rob Gulson

Term 2 has seen the completion of several key events in the annual calendar, which has been particularly poignant when considering this is our Centenary Year.

Most Stage 5 boarders participated in the ANZAC Day Service and Parade on Sunday 19 May. After weeks of preparations, training and practice, the boys began the day early. This event honoured the 70 Knox Old Boys who served and sacrificed their lives in times of conflict. Major General Paul Brereton (OKG75) delivered a poignant speech, reflecting on the lost potential of these young men and the many who returned home scarred. While the full significance of this day may not be clear to our boarders now, they will one day understand the importance of marching in remembrance. Lest we forget.

It's essential during a busy term for the boys to quickly settle into the rhythm of academic studies, especially around periods of assessment tasks and assignments. To their credit, most boys are adapting to the demands of their studies, aided by structured prep sessions that foster a growing sense of maturity. While some still have progress to make, a positive culture of dedication is developing within the cohort. Adding a sense of importance to this, in Week 6, Knox hosted the annual Careers Expo and presentation evening, which all of Stage 5 eagerly attended. The boys explored various stalls and information booths, with the most popular ones offering chocolates or handouts. Many were keen to learn about residential colleges, sports programs and university courses, preparing for their senior years.

The subject selection process for Y10 moving into Y11 in 2025 coincided nicely with the events. The boys were very well prepared due to presentations delivered to students in both the day and boarding school. I met with many boys to discuss their choices and check on their progress. Initial selections, due by Friday 14 June, revealed that the boys are treating this task with great respect and consideration. I'm confident they are making informed decisions, with conversations at home over the long weekend playing a crucial role in involving parents in this important milestone of their secondary education.

The dates for National Boarding Week were slightly adjusted this year to fit in with Knox’s busy Centenary calendar. The highlight being the annual Middle Academy Assembly where the boys showcased boarding to the school. The boys, led by Sam Hughes, prepared a 50-minute presentation on the theme of Boarding Perspectives, showing what it is to be a boarder. From start to finish the assembly was organised, planned and run by the boys and they did a fantastic job. M.C.’d by Sam with key contributions from Archie Jurd, Aiden Lok, Ryan Everett, Ned Kimpton, Will Lloyd (Stage 5 Prefect), Toby Turner, River Emerson, Tom Grainger, et. al. it was a resounding success. The boarders then handed out a doughnut to all the day boys, which was a great hit.

Reconciliation Week was a wonderful celebration of community at Knox, providing the boys with opportunities to display great character and leadership. Mrs Clarke’s advocacy for all cultures, especially our Indigenous community, shone brightly through new jerseys, artwork, totem t-shirts and dancing, marking a significant highlight in Knox’s history. Stage 5 Boarding Prefect Will Lloyd set a marvellous example for his peers, serving as an excellent role model for Y9 and Y10 boys, particularly fellow Indigenous boarders Mackye Bron and Ned Kimpton. Special thanks to OKGA14 Indigenous boarders Connor Watson and James Widders-Leece for their support.

Without doubt, the highlight of Term 2 has to be the Knox Military Tattoo. This event featured over 800 performers with displays of Pipes and Drums, Highland Dancing, Cadet activities and a tribute to the school's co-curricular program. Described as the pinnacle event of the school’s Centenary celebrations, it truly did not disappoint. Headmaster Mr James remarked, “This indoor military tattoo delivered an extraordinary theatrical performance while paying homage to our Scottish heritage. It was a celebration of our past, present and future, highlighting the traditions that have shaped us and the community that supports us.” The event was a sell-out, with tickets hard to come by and a live-stream link available for remote viewing. The boys in-house enjoyed the performance from the comfort of the common room, rounded out with a lovely supper.

All Y10 boarders and any Y9 boarders not on leave participated in the annual Ku-ring-gai Chase Fun-run. This community event features 2km, 5km, and 10km races around Wahroonga, starting and finishing at Claude Cameron Grove. Many Knox boys ran and walked in support of Special Olympic athletes participating in the event, making it a powerful and affirming experience for all involved.

In week 8, Knox hosted its annual Senior Social where our Y10 to Y12 boarders welcomed girls from 8 girls’ boarding schools for a night of entertainment, dancing, games, refreshments and socialising. This was a great opportunity for our boys to have an experience that called on them to be the best versions of themselves.

Finally, it’s appropriate to close this missive with testament and recognition of boys who have proven themselves worthy of elevation to positions of leadership amongst their peers. At the conclusion of our termly Boarding Chapel and Formal dinner we held the awarding of house prizes for the term and announced the Semester 2 Boarding Leadership Team representatives (BLT Reps). Successful candidates and awardees were as follows: 

Mackye BRON – House Manager’s Award Year 10.

Vinny NYUGEN – ConneXions Award Year 10.

Macarthur ARNOTT – BLT Rep Year 10.

Mature, dependable, and trustworthy, Macarthur Arnott has earned his leadership role through these qualities. Known as "Mac" to everyone, he is a loyal friend who gets along with everyone. His high moral standards and integrity make him a natural leader. We can count on Mac to set a great example and contribute significantly to student involvement in decision making. Congratulations, Mac, on your well-deserved appointment.

Hugo CHAN – House Manager’s Award Year 9

River EMERSON – ConneXions Award Year 9

Trevor TSANG – BLT Rep Year 9.

Trevor is one of the most involved and dedicated Y9 students I've worked with. He embodies a culture of participation, always willing to take risks and try new things. As the Y9 BLT, Trevor will benefit his peers by modelling positive participation and sharing his extensive experience with school activities. We're excited to see him use his considerable skills to elevate the culture of participation among his peers in boarding.

Peter Shannon

In Week 2, study and training ramped up with many of the boys enjoying their first time to play a winter sport for Knox, as well as organising themselves across assessments and classroom tasks. Thank you to our diligent EBTs and support staff who have assisted the boys. We also thank Ms McLeod and Mrs Sullivan for organising tickets for Stage 4 to enjoy the Centenary Musical, "Jersey Boys". This was a first for many students and served as an inspiration for them to try the many co-curricular activities on offer at Knox. We extend our thanks to Mr Li, for holding a Chinese cooking masterclass for the 16 or so juniors who were in-house. The idea came from the Gu family as they are currently in China, and wanted some home food provided for Hansen. I was able to facilitate the ingredients, menu, and servitude with Mr Li who then created a cultural experience for all.

A community Chinese dumpling cooking session in-house was a great segue into the National Boarding Week celebrations. We kicked off a joint BBM program with our Y7, Y8, Y10 and Y11s joining in for an activity proposed by ABSA to have boarders work together to discuss and write out ‘what makes boarding tick’. This was an engaging and productive session to raise self and community awareness about residential and school settings. We welcomed the School’s Executive Prefects and Headmaster Mr James into Gilmore House. Resident greengrocer, Cameron North had stock of “The World's Hottest Chip” sourced from his family’s shop in Tamworth. This was eagerly shared with our visitors and literally left a lasting impression! The culinary delights didn’t wear off there, with a Stages 4 and 5 Food Safari outing organised and we enjoyed a visit to Chatswood. The Asian-influenced surroundings had many students opting for a rice, noodle or soup-based dish in the cooler weather. Community service was also at the fore with many boys readying the day ahead of the School’s annual Anzac Service.

As we ticked over 100 days in the boarding community this year, our Y8 and Y7s were proud to showcase their ‘home away from home’ to their day student invitees. Mr Yates, Mr Vardenega, Mrs Sullivan and myself welcomed extra students into Gilmore House. All were excited and happy to experience living in the Boarding House. They enjoyed boarding treats, visited the various facilities, studied in the common areas, and were treated to a 'Pomodoro Technique' presentation in a prize-winning trivia session. It has been a lovely experience for the students, parents, and staff to showcase our residential program.

A frosty Friday event was warmly met with Knox’s celebration of Reconciliation Week. Mrs Clarke’s continual support and advocacy for all cultures, and in particular our Indigenous community, shone brightly with new jerseys, artwork, totem T-Shirts, and dancing. Resident Stage 4 representative, Redson Cubby, a proud Gamilaraay man, was also keen to share his family and cultural knowledge.

It was with much excitement some of our young men took part in and witnessed the Centenary Tattoo. The Boarder Leadership Team (BLT) selection process for Semester 2, included applications and interviews.  This was a healthy experience for our juniors, to show some self-awareness and reflection, as they strive for future leadership opportunities. Thank you to the many staff for organising another brilliant Boarders’ Chapel and Formal Dinner celebration.

Congratulations to the Term 2 Boarding Award Recipients:

Year 7 BLT - Darcy Smart 

Year 8 BLT - Cameron North 

Year 7 House Manager Award - Edward Irons 

Year 8 House Manager Award - Benjamin Stone 

Stage 4 Connexions Award - Borayuth Tong (Year 7)

We strengthened our inter-school boarding relationships with neighbouring school, Pymble Ladies’ College who invited our Y7, Y8 and Y9 boarders to a Hawaiian-themed Social on their school grounds. The boys also hosted a social gathering at Macquarie Ice Rink to support the local team, Sydney Bears vs northern rivals, The Newcastle Northstars. This was a great networking and social opportunity for many of the boarders.

The academic calendar has also kept our juniors busy through to the end of the term with hand-in tasks and in-class assessments, therefore the boys really enjoyed taking part in House Connections Day later in the term.  Best wishes to all for a well earned break over the holidays.

Allan Glassie

Well done to Trevor Tsang, River Emerson, Henry Laurie, Trevor Leung, Roderick Ng, Cyrus Ng, Oliver Kim, Hugo Chan from Year 9 and Year 10 boarders Aiden Lok, Aiden Wong, Ethan Le and Theo Jacobs-Preussman for their care and courage visiting the local Aged care facilities each week this term.

The Cultural Performance Group 

Uncle Den Barber and Mr Tim Bishop spent many hours with the Aboriginal boarders practicing the cultural dance that would be the opening performance and Acknowledgement at the Knox Centenary Tattoo. Ben, William, Bill, Charlie, Nate, Malakai, Noah, Ned, Mackye, Harry, Redson and Jack are to be congratulated on a stellar performance. They were also so supportive and caring of Roman, a young boy from WPS who ‘wanted to dance with the grown-up boys’. They all did their culture very proud, and it was an amazing start to the Tattoo. Any boarder is welcome to join the group which usually meets on Mondays after school. Let me know if your son is interested.

If you want to recapture the moments, the link from the Centenary Tattoo video is on You Tube here. If you would like to view and/or purchase photos from the Centenary Tattoo, please click here to access the album through the Knox portal.

The boys also celebrated the Indigenous round of sports where the new Indigenous jersey, was presented to all the Firsts Teams in a moving  ceremony by our Aboriginal students. The boys designed the jersey last year with Uncle Den’s guidance and they are proud of how the jersey represents their culture, the local totem, the stingray, and their School.

Sorry Day Service

On Sunday 2 June the boys gathered with representatives from other local schools for a Sorry Day service. We were honoured to have Ali Cobby Eckermann, an Aboriginal Poet, who recently won the NSW Premier’s Book of the Year Prize at the breakfast. She later addressed the Year 12 students about her poetry and Harry Tanner and Cale Slack-Smith had the honour of thanking her on this occasion.

Stage 4 Boys visit it the Great Synagogue

Recently the Stage 4 boys visited the Great Synagogue in Elizabeth Street in the City. Redson Cubby had the honour of Acknowledging Country with his parents at his side. It was well received and of course the boys loved their visit to Maccas at the end of the event!

ABBOX - Sony Foundation Children’s School Holiday Camp

It has been pleasing that several of our Y11 boarders have applied to participate in our annual Sony Foundation Children’s School Holiday Camp. They have shown maturity and insight in the interview process. We have had 56 Y11 boys apply for only 35 places. The results of the interviews will be announced by the end of term. If your son is successful in his application, he will need to find off campus accommodation on Wednesday 4 December as the camp does not start until Thursday 5 December at 3pm.

The North Shore Special Olympics Fun Run

113 boarders enthusiastically participated in the North Shore Special Olympics Fun Run recently. Although the sun shone the temperature was low, but this did not dampen the boys’ spirits. They ran or walked in caring support for their special Olympian buddies. There were many big smiles all round and the boys enjoyed the Rotary BBQ at the end. Well done Knox boarders - participating in this event has been a great tradition!

Helen Clarke

During this term we have had presentations on and implemented the Pomodoro Technique into our Y7 to Y10 Prep sessions. We have also moved a number of these sessions out of the Knox Boarding House and into the Academy of Global Competency, as this space is more conducive to studying, and it allows us to better monitor and support our boarders’ progress. We are pleased to see that these adjustments have been beneficial and led to a lot of positive changes. A number of our boarders have continued with Reading Plus this term, to further develop their literacy needs. We continue to monitor their progress and after their end of Term 2 assessments, we will revise their placements on the Reading Plus program.

Feedback is a valuable tool that your son will receive throughout his schooling years. It is important that your son read and take on board feedback, as it is intended to be constructive and provide students with the opportunity to continually improve their academic skills, knowledge and performance. It also helps to keep their academic progress on track and make the most of their time, energy and resources.

I encourage our boarders to take some time during the school holidays to reflect on their progress during Term 2. This is a great opportunity to identify any areas that they found challenging and the changes they can implement to achieve positive outcomes in Term 3. These areas could include organisation, in-class work or their study schedule. If your son would like support to achieve this, please ask them to contact me.

I wish everyone in our boarding community a safe, relaxing and enjoyable winter break. I look forward to the return of our boarders in Term 3. If you are concerned about your son’s academic progress, please do not hesitate to reach out so that we can assist you further.

Michael Haselden

BOARDER BROTHER MENTORING / ACADEMIC MENTORING

The connections between the Stage 4 and 5 cohorts have strengthened with each informative mentoring session. Y11 BBM and BBAM leaders, Darren Fung, Lachlan Maslin and Minghao Zou as well as Senior Boarder, Martin CAO have been actively present. Mother's Day letters, Invite a Day Student Afternoon and Evening, ABSA Boarding Week were just a few of the events the boys took part in.

We will be adjusting the BBM Program to allow growth and training for our various boarder leader groups. This will mean that the Y7 and Y10 group will meet once a fortnight and the Y8 and Y11 cohort will still remain monthly.

BOARDING CULTURAL TEAMS

Our Yarning Circle group have been immensely impressive with their many cultural dances, artwork and proud displays throughout Term 2. Reconciliation Week, The Knox Centenary Tattoo and CAS Indigenous round had filled each individual with confidence and pride. Our International (CID) & Rural Teams (RT) have gained momentum from their peers and implemented their cultural aspects via weekend Food Safari and BBM events. Y12 Team Leaders, Wallace Shen, Jayden Shen and Charles Brabrook have met with their respective teams and plan to roll out more of their ideas to the Community next term.

STAGS (Student Teams Advocating for Greatness & Support)

Congratulations to our new Junior Boarder Leadership Leaders:

Year 7 - Darcy Smart

Year 8 - Cameron North

Year 9 - Trevor Tsang

Year 10 - Macarthur Arnott

Year 11 - Lincoln Shih and Archer Slack-Smith

It is always an enriching experience opening up opportunities for our boarder's to share their ideas and motivations in improving the experiences for our Community. The application, interview and appointment process for our Heads of Boarding and Boarding Prefects has lent itself to exposing the potential for healthy growth past our Centenary year.

Allan Glassie