SOUND AND LIGHT CELEBRATION OF LEARNING
We are all so excited about our Centenary event, the Prep Sound and Light Celebration of Learning. This edition will be largely logistics, with a few requests and instructions to help the event to run smoothly.

We ask you to think a little differently about this Celebration of Learning – you will have an opportunity to spend time in your son’s year level, but will also be able to view all of the other fabulous things happening in other year groups, with the addition of some Art, Japanese and PE  activities to enjoy.

Attached you will find a map with a layout of all of the activities and year group experiences that are planned.

Travelling to Prep
There is limited parking in the streets around the school and there is NO parking in the church carpark. We will have staff rostered at the church carpark so please do not attempt to gain entry.

If you can come by train, I would encourage you to do so. Alternatively, think about parking in one of the shopping centre carparks around the area and perhaps Uber to the event. It is unrealistic to expect that you will be able to park outside the school on Billyard Ave or Cleveland Street.

Uniform
All boys should wear their PE tracksuit to school on Thursday and to the event on Thursday night.

Arrival
Classrooms will open from 4:45pm for roll marking. Please do not arrive before this time. All boys must have had their names marked off the roll by 5:15pm at the very latest.

Opening
Parents are asked to assemble on Yeldham Field for the opening of the event, which will commence at 5:30pm.

Three rotations
All boys will be rostered onto their year group activities for one rotation of 20mins. During the other two rotations, we ask you to accompany your son to the activities that will be offered. See map and program attached for more information. A bell will ring to signal the end of each rotation, with a 5mins buffer before the next commences.

Finale
The event finale will take place on Ireland Field. Please follow staff instructions as they help you to move into position. The event concludes at 7pm. Exit from the campus will be from the gates on both Billyard Avenue and Cleveland Street. 

It’s going to be a wonderful celebration for our Prep community and we can’t wait to share it with you and your families!

CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to Isaac Ahmed and Naren Maheshwaran for their outstanding writing, which has been entered into the annual NSW WriteOn competition. This is a massive achievement, and we wish both boys all the best as we await the results!

Congratulations to Brody Johnson who has earned a place in the NSW Team to compete at the School Sports Australia Cross Country Championships, being held in Melbourne in August. To represent at this level takes incredible hard work and determination, and we are looking forward to hearing how Brody goes on the national stage. Good luck Brody!

Green & Gold Day – Friday 2 August
We’re turning Knox Prep green & gold on Friday 2 August, in support of the Australian Olympic Team. This day, celebrated across Australia, is about painting the country in our national colours and being proud of Australia’s sporting achievements. It’s about all Australians coming together and celebrating the green and gold. Students are encouraged to wear green & gold clothing to school on Friday.

Sue Floro, Head of Prep

NATIONAL ASSESSMENT PROGRAM LITERACY AND NUMERACY (NAPLAN) 2024
Knox Prep students continue to be very strong in both Literacy and Numeracy, outperforming state average, where our school average was well above in all areas of reading, writing spelling, grammar and punctuation as well as numeracy.

NAPLAN results highlight a student’s performance on one test on one day. As a school, we have a number of ways to provide insight into your son’s growth and learning journey. Your child’s teacher will have the best insight into his educational progress.

From 2023, proficiency standards replaced the previous reporting of student NAPLAN results that used numeral bands and national minimum standards. The proficiency standards are now descriptive.

Year 3
In 2024, we had 83 Year 3 students completing NAPLAN at Knox Prep.
Table One: NAPLAN 2024
Number and Percentage of Year 3 students achieving in each band

In Year 3, we had over 96% of students scoring in the top two bands across all subject areas.

Year 5
In 2024, we had 173 Year 5 students competing NAPLAN at Knox Prep.
Table Two: NAPLAN 2024
Number and Percentage of Year 5 students achieving in each band

In Year 5, we had over 93.6% of students scoring in the top two bands across all subject areas.
NAPLAN results have been mailed to all Year 3 and 5 students. Please email me if you have not received your results.

Director of Learning K-6, Tammy Paterson

The boys have made a wonderful start back to Term 3 and it has been noticeable how much our boys have matured and grown up over the holiday period.  Congratulations to our Kindy boys who celebrate their first one hundred days of school today. What a momentous milestone for our youngest members of our school community - 100 days and the 100-year anniversary of the school opening, what an amazing year to be a part of. This week, we welcome our Kindy 2025 cohort in for their second orientation day; it is hard to believe that our current boys are over halfway through Kindy already! I am sure all our Kindy parents can remember orientation last year and it is amazing to note how quickly time flies. Congratulations to our boys on an amazing start to their schooling journey. 

Over the coming weeks you will be meeting with your son’s teacher as a part of Parent Teacher Interviews. This is a wonderful opportunity for your son’s teacher to discuss your sons learning and for to share any information with the teacher. Research highlights the importance of the parent-teacher relationship during the early years of a child's learning journey. Collaborative efforts between parents and teachers can significantly contribute to positive impacts on their son's development and academic success. A strong parent-teacher partnership fosters open communication, enabling the exchange of valuable insights about the child's strengths, challenges, and individual learning needs. I know that our teaching staff in K-2 are excited to engage in this positive relationship with our parent community with the continued growth in your sons both academically and as young men being at the forefront. 

On Thursday evening we will be hosting our K-6 being our Centenary Event - the Knox Prep Sound and Light Celebration of Learning. This is a compulsory school event for all students, and we encourage all family members to come along. It will be a wonderful exhibition of the learning that has taken place and will provide many options for fun filled activities related to sound and light throughout the campus. Importantly, for our younger students and their parents, it will give you insight into the fabulous learning your sons will engage in, in the years to come.

Event Details
4:45 - 5:15pm.   Roll Call
5:30pm              Event commences
7:00pm.             Event concludes

Please see the attached flyer with a map of whre all of the fun will take place.

Please do come along with your sons and your family members!  

We look forward to seeing you on Thursday evening.

Lastly, Could I ask that families not park across or in the areas which are marked with orange cones during pick up in the afternoons. The reason we place these cones out is to assist with traffic management. Parking in these areas even for a short period of time can cause significant traffic congestion. We appreciate your support in this matter. 

Liam Flanagan, Director of Early Learning

• Sound & Light Celebration of Learning Flyer

Kindergarten was definitely the place to be today as we celebrated our 100th day of Kindergarten. Our space was buzzing with excitement as policemen, firefighters, scientists, astronauts – you name it, we had it, filled the classrooms. Even our Kindy teachers shared in the excitement of being part of the Australian Olympic team.

But wait there’s more! We are looking forward to sharing in the Sound and Light Celebration of Learning on Thursday evening, where the boys will showcase their designs for a community that will allow people to work together. Be sure to stop at our Forces arcade station and have a go at pulling in the tug of war, shooting some hoops in the dark or practising your dribbling skills with a glow in the dark soccer ball.

There is so much happening this week. Please keep in mind that the excitement of it all can cause some big feelings in our little boys. You can help your child by ensuring he has an early night’s sleep every evening, nutritious snacks and meals throughout the week and lots of praise and encouragement.

Term 3 Co-curricular Clubs 
On Thursday 1 August due to our exciting Sound and Light Show, our Thursday Club groups will be relocated to different rooms but still held at their usual time. Please see the attached changes.

After Clubs finish, boys must be collected by parents. No boy is to be left unsupervised to wait for the Sound and Light Celebration of Learning. 

Green & Gold Day – Friday 2 August
We’re turning Knox Prep green & gold on Friday 2 August, in support of the Australian Olympic Team. This day, celebrated across Australia, is about painting the country in our national colours and being proud of Australia’s sporting achievements. It’s about all Australians coming together and celebrating the green and gold. Students are encouraged to wear green & gold clothing to school on Friday.

Nely Daher, Kindergarten Team Leader

• Sound & Light Celebration of Learning Flyer

Sound, Light, Action!!!!
We can barely contain our excitement anticipating our upcoming Sound and Light Prep centenary celebration event.  It will be an absolute delightful experience that I’m sure will become a warm memory for families.  Just a reminder that it is a compulsory school attendance event beginning at 5:30pm and finishing at 7pm. Roll call for all boys is from 4:45 - 5:15pm. Your sons are jumping for joy and have been eagerly counting down the days since the term began. 

Please ensure your sons arrive snugly dressed in their sport uniforms from 4:45pm. All Year 1 boys will meet their class teacher in the upstairs 1S and 1C classrooms upon arrival onsite. They can enter the building via the stairs at the north end of the building (the glass surrounded staircase)  As you will appreciate we will have many displays set up so ask for the boys to come up the stairs unaccompanied to avoid overcrowding. A formal roll call will take place, and the boys will take their starting place ready to parade onto the field at exactly 5:30pm. It will be wonderful.

During the Sound and Light event our Year 1 students will share many things from their learning, including their captivation by the fascinating world of Micro:bits explored through ScopeIT. They have been actively measuring light and exploring its properties using this innovative technology. From observing natural light effects to experimenting with artificial light sources, our budding scientists have made incredible discoveries and have even been coding devices. Their enthusiasm for learning and exploration is truly inspiring.

We are looking forward to seeing everyone on Thursday!

In other news…
We hope you are all settling smoothly into Term 3, ready for new adventures and exciting learning opportunities. A warm welcome to Frederick (Freddie) and his family, who have joined 1C. It's heartening to see how the boys have been supporting Freddie at school, and we trust our parent community will extend the same welcome to his family as the opportunity arises.

A reminder to all parents: Parent-Teacher Interviews are scheduled for Monday, 12 August. This is a valuable opportunity to discuss your child's progress and achievements with their teacher. For those unable to attend in person, virtual meetings via Teams are available on Monday, 12 August and Tuesday 13 August. We look forward to engaging in meaningful conversations to support your son's growth and development.

As we approach Week 5 (Monday 19 August - Friday 23 August), we are thrilled to announce that Book Week is just around the corner! The theme for this year is Reading is Magic and it promises to be a joyous celebration of literature and magic. We have an exciting line up of activities planned, including sessions with esteemed author Aura Parker, known for captivating young minds with her stories. Book Week is a wonderful opportunity to share a love for reading in our boys, encouraging them to explore new worlds through the pages of a book. Keep an eye out for further details on the schedule of events; it's going to be an unforgettable week for our young readers!

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We look forward to another fantastic week filled with learning, laughter, and cherished memories.

God Bless!

Term 3 Co-curricular Clubs 
On Thursday 1 August due to our exciting Sound and Light Show, our Thursday Club groups will be relocated to different rooms but still held at their usual time. Please see the attached changes.

After Clubs finish, boys must be collected by parents. No boy is to be left unsupervised to wait for the Sound and Light Celebration of Learning. 

Green & Gold Day – Friday 2 August
We’re turning Knox Prep green & gold on Friday 2 August, in support of the Australian Olympic Team. This day, celebrated across Australia, is about painting the country in our national colours and being proud of Australia’s sporting achievements. It’s about all Australians coming together and celebrating the green and gold. Students are encouraged to wear green & gold clothing to school on Friday.

Julie Stowe, Year 1 Team Leader

• Sound & Light Celebration of Learning Flyer

What a great start to the term! The Year 2 teachers have been delighted to see how energetic and enthusiastic the boys have been starting a new term.

What an action-packed week we have ahead of us! Year 2 are so excited for our Sound and Light evening and the opportunity to take you on a tour of some of the most unique ecosystems of the world at night. The boys need to be arriving from 4:45pm for a 5.15pm roll call in their classrooms. Boys are to wear their school PE uniform. Each student has been placed in a group which will be written on their hand. We ask parents to check the schedule for the evening to make sure the boys are at their classroom at their allocated time.

The boys are continuing to develop their knowledge and understanding of sustainability and the importance of steering clear of single use food packaging. Our Year 2 boys are leading the education of our K-2 students in the importance of sustainability and having a single use plastic free lunchbox. Year 2 will be encouraging the boys to bring their recess and lunch in reusable containers and to avoid wrapping food in plastic, cling film or in plastic ziplock bags. In a bid to assist our Year 2 students and to reinforce the importance of educating our boys about reducing the waste we produce, we encourage parents to minimise the amount of plastic packaging being used in lunchboxes. 

Linking perfectly with our Sustainable Solutions Knoxigations unit, our Year 2 boys are going to be reflecting on what currently happens at Knox in terms of sustainability The boys are going to rethink one of these sustainability practices and suggest ways to improve them. In the coming weeks, boys will use the program Tinkercad to design their prototype to help improve sustainability at Knox.

We look forward to meeting with parents in our upcoming parent-teacher interviews and in assisting your sons in another fabulous term of learning.  

Term 3 Co-curricular Clubs 
On Thursday 1 August due to our exciting Sound and Light Show, our Thursday Club groups will be relocated to different rooms but still held at their usual time. Please see the attached changes.

After Clubs finish, boys must be collected by parents. No boy is to be left unsupervised to wait for the Sound and Light Celebration of Learning. 

Green & Gold Day – Friday 2 August
We’re turning Knox Prep green & gold on Friday 2 August, in support of the Australian Olympic Team. This day, celebrated across Australia, is about painting the country in our national colours and being proud of Australia’s sporting achievements. It’s about all Australians coming together and celebrating the green and gold. Students are encouraged to wear green & gold clothing to school on Friday.

Nadine Smith, Year 2 Team Leader

• 3-6 Athletics Carnival Information

Thank you for your attendance at our Prep Light and Sound Celebration of Learning, it was truly a magical night! 

Parent Teacher Interviews begin today and will continue with online Teams sessions next Tuesday evening. The Year Three Team are looking forward to speaking with each of you to discuss the ways in which we can work together to assist your son to achieve his personal best throughout the remainder of the year.

The Fizzics incursion was an exciting experience that enriched our students' understanding of renewable energy sources. This incursion is the perfect platform as our boys enter the Taking Action phase of the inquiry cycle where they will be applying their knowledge and understanding to explore how renewable energy can play a fundamental role in sustaining not only Knox Prep, but all schools around the world. 

Sarah Beaumont-Jones, Year 3 Team Leader

• 3-6 Athletics Carnival Information
• Sound & Light Celebration of Learning Flyer
• Sustainable Solutions Overview

The boys have made an excellent start to Term 3, enthusiastically engaging with each other and immersing themselves in their learning. It was wonderful to hear about what the boys got up to in the holidays, with many wonderful adventures embarked on.

Knoxigations – Sustainable Solutions
In Knoxigations, the boys are working in the Sustainable Solutions domain where they are investigating the big idea, ‘We can design for a sustainable future’. The boys will explore population growth and distribution in Australia and around the world. They will become Data Scientists, identifying trends and patterns from key data sets and use this information to support ideation and design. Our primary focus is exploring the needs of the community and what we can do to ensure these needs are being met now and into the future. For more information, please refer to the overview linked above.            

Parent Teacher Interviews
We are looking forward to meeting with you all over the coming weeks, whether it be face to face or online. This presents as an excellent opportunity to discuss your son’s achievements and how we can work together to support him moving forward. If you have not yet booked in a time, please contact your son’s homeroom teacher.

Thank you in advance for your understanding that we will need to wrap up each meeting in the allocated time, to stay on track with time and not keep the next family waiting. We also appreciate your understanding in case we do start to run a few minutes late. 

Reading – Book Choices
Since the start of the year, in class we have been exploring different genres of books and encouraging boys to stretch themselves to experiment with genres they may not ordinarily choose. One of the hardest tasks in enabling this to occur is book selection. The following blog, A Word About Books , has an extensive list of age-appropriate texts for Year 4 students to read. It is important that the boys are reading good literature from a young age and from across a variety of genres. We encourage you to take some time to discuss reading new genres with your son.  

Term 3 Co-curricular Clubs 
On Thursday 1 August due to our exciting Sound and Light Show, our Thursday Club groups will be relocated to different rooms but still held at their usual time. Please see the attached changes.

After Clubs finish, boys must be collected by parents. No boy is to be left unsupervised to wait for the Sound and Light Celebration of Learning. 

Green & Gold Day – Friday 2 August
We’re turning Knox Prep green & gold on Friday 2 August, in support of the Australian Olympic Team. This day, celebrated across Australia, is about painting the country in our national colours and being proud of Australia’s sporting achievements. It’s about all Australians coming together and celebrating the green and gold. Students are encouraged to wear green & gold clothing to school on Friday.

Nicola Molloy, Year 4 Team Leader

• 3-6 Athletics Carnival Information
• NAPLAN Summary
• Sound & Light Celebration of Learning Flyer

It was fantastic to welcome the boys back to our beautiful campus and hear all their wonderful holiday stories. It was evident the boys were refreshed, ready to embrace and tackle Term 3. The boys have seamlessly fallen back into routine and have demonstrated excellent engagement in the classroom. We are looking forward to watching them grow over the term.

Parent Teacher Interviews
We are looking forward to meeting with many of you next week in our face-to-face meeting to discuss the progress of your son. A reminder, that you are only required to book one time slot with your son’s teacher. And for those who have booked into the online session the subsequent week, we look forward to meeting with you then.

Cross Country
On Tuesday of last week, Brody Johnson participated in the NSWPSSA Cross Country Championships which were held at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre. Brody placed 6th overall out of 74 runners and completed the 3km course in a time of 10 minutes and 35 seconds, a close 26 seconds behind the overall winner. Brody has now qualified to compete in the National Championships, held in Melbourne later in the year! Well done Brody, what a great example of being your best!

WriteOn
The annual WriteOn competition, which is a writing competition for NSW primary students, gives students the opportunity to develop skills in writing to express their ideas. Led by Mr Larkin, the students composed an imaginative text of up to 500 words, using a stimulus image titled, ‘The railway station, Redfern’ (1893) by Arthur Streeton. There were many fantastic pieces of writing created; however, Isaac Ahmed’s piece was deemed exceptional by the judges and entered in the competition. We will find the outcome of the competition mid-Term 3! Please see below his story titled, ‘Fate and Destiny’.

1893

Dear Mama and Papa,

I am exhilarated to tell you that I have arrived at the Redfern Railway Station, but alas, the cold bites of the bitter wind have tormented me since I left the farm. Its whispers are causing hallucinations, because I have been seeing irregular things since I left the dear old farm. I am going to be honest; I miss all of it. Herding the sheep at dawn and looking forward to the scrumptious supper you would make at dusk. But still, life goes on and I am ever regretting agreeing with your choice of making me leave you for a better education. But I will not argue, as I have no choice despite my opinion.

I have a great bunch of news; I have found employment as a chimney sweeper, and they have agreed to foster me. Though I am overjoyed I have found a home, I’m starving as they want to keep me thin, and when I’m not sweeping the chimneys locked in the cupboard under the stairs, I am constantly scavenging for clothes that fit me as I’ve lost so much weight. Because I have such an undying desire to go home, every night I have dreams about getting back on the scarlet steam train and joining you and my siblings back at the farm.

When I left the farm, I took the pocket watch heirloom like I was told to, but I had to sell it to survive. I’m really sorry for it. A man named Alexander agreed to buy it for seven nickels. I could tell from the look of his immaculate suit that he was extremely wealthy and derived from a family of greed and money. I asked him for food, but he spat on me and threw the coins on the ground, running away with the pocket watch. I feel like I’m trapped in this cloak of sadness and injustice that is impossible to shed. If I’m ever allowed to glimpse at the possibility of coming home, I won't stop running until I’m free from the depression of my surroundings. I ask you, have you ever had the feeling that no matter how hard you try, you're trapped?

When I arrived at school, they told me that because I have not had education for two months, I am going to have to spend some time in the grade below. I have made friends, but I have never felt more alone in my life. Luck is taunting me to my limit. I wish every day that somewhere, I could experience another’s situation. Even being blind and sitting on the street, I know eventually, I will be saved. I finally ask you, please respond to this letter, the hardship I am going through feels as though suffering and torture are clawing me in the face. Only God can save me now. Hopefully, one day the stars will finally align. All things, life and death are close.

Love,

Ignaitus Johnson Abbot

Term 3 Co-curricular Clubs 
On Thursday 1 August due to our exciting Sound and Light Show, our Thursday Club groups will be relocated to different rooms but still held at their usual time. Please see the attached changes.

After Clubs finish, boys must be collected by parents. No boy is to be left unsupervised to wait for the Sound and Light Celebration of Learning. 

Elephant Ed - Please complete
Please see below for an invitation to a webinar presented by Elephant Ed on Puberty & Embracing Change. 

When: Wednesday 7 August, 6.00pm - 7.00pm
Topic: Puberty & Embracing Change

Elephant Ed is a leading sexuality education provider to hundreds of schools around Australia. Elephant Ed's workshops are evidence-based, age-appropriate and mapped to State and National curriculum guidelines. Elephant Ed is endorsed by the eSafety Commissioner as a Trusted eSafety Provider and by the NSW Department of Education as a quality-assured external wellbeing provider.

In alignment with Elephant Ed's workshops with Year 5 students on Thursday 8 August, this webinar will include discussion around the physical, social and emotional changes associated with puberty, as well as strategies for starting open and effective conversations at home.

You are required to register in advance for this webinar. Please use the link below to register.

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_YbXYfjpkQ0-F0Xqg3EUMTw

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

We look forward to seeing you online!

Green & Gold Day – Friday 2 August
We’re turning Knox Prep green & gold on Friday 2 August, in support of the Australian Olympic Team. This day, celebrated across Australia, is about painting the country in our national colours and being proud of Australia’s sporting achievements. It’s about all Australians coming together and celebrating the green and gold. Students are encouraged to wear green & gold clothing to school on Friday.

Dylan Nexhip, Year 5 Team Leader

• 3-6 Athletics Carnival Information
• Sound & Light Celebration of Learning Flyer

Lifelong Learning 
During the holidays, I spent some time in London exploring the many free museums and galleries and couldn't wait to share some of my discoveries with the Year 6 teachers. Wandering through the Leake Street Arches near Waterloo Station, I was inspired by the graffiti and street art for our upcoming skateboard designs in Art. At the Natural History Museum, I visited the ‘Red Zone,’ which deepened my understanding of volcanoes and earthquakes from our first Knoxigations unit. I also encountered numerous artworks at The National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery, which could be seamlessly incorporated into our unit on how artistic expression connects communities.

Everywhere I went was teeming with people (and they weren’t escaping the typical wet London weather as the sun was shining and it was quite warm!). It was so great to see so many learning from our past and engaging with the arts and sciences. It got me thinking: our boys are just at the beginning of their lives, making it the perfect opportunity for us to work together to instil a love of learning so that they too can see the world as a place teeming with things to discover.

The University of Oxford’s Department for Continuing Education highlights the importance of lifelong learning, emphasising the need for continuous skill enhancement due to rapid advancements in technology and artificial intelligence. In fact, according to a recent IBM survey, 40% of the workforce will need to reskill within the next three years due to these technological advancements. Lifelong learning allows individuals to upskill, reskill, and remain relevant in their fields, thereby enhancing career prospects and job security.

Most importantly for the present, lifelong learning will cultivate curiosity, adaptability, and resilience within our boys. So, what can you do to foster this love of learning? Read to your son and with your son, talk about news and current affairs, use educational toys, games, and puzzles and make the time to visit museums, galleries and other cultural and community events.

The best thing about all these things? They afford you the chance to make meaningful memories with your son.

Uniform
Due to the Sound & Light Show this Thursday, all Year 6 students are requested to wear their full sports uniform to school both for the day and when they return for the show. 

Term 3 Co-curricular Clubs 
On Thursday 1 August due to our exciting Sound and Light Show, our Thursday Club groups will be relocated to different rooms but still held at their usual time. Please see the attached changes.

After Clubs finish, boys must be collected by parents. No boy is to be left unsupervised to wait for the Sound and Light Celebration of Learning. 

Year 6 Yearbook 2024
Dear Parents, we would like to say a big thank you to those of you who have uploaded your son’s photos for the Year 6 Yearbook. For those of you who haven’t done so yet, please do so as we are compiling the pages now. With still half of the year group missing, we would not want your son to miss out!

We have heard from parents who were a little overwhelmed. If you do not have 5 images, 3-4 would work. A suggestion could be taking a photo of your son in his uniform at home in the yard.

The deadline for uploading photos for his bio is Friday 2 August 2024.

Photos must be related to school events. All photos need to be high resolution and suitable for print. Do not include any screenshots.

Ideas for photos for your son’s half page bio:

• School uniform shots (e.g. his first day at Knox Prep)
• Sporting photos (action or portraits)
• Receiving special awards
• Participating in school events
• Playing his musical instrument
• His favourite activity at school
• Sibling photos
• A simple portrait photo in his school uniform (taken at home)

You can also upload more photos that can be used throughout the book in different sections e.g. House Carnival. The deadline for this date would be provided later this term.

Ideas for photos for Events, Occasions and House Pages:

• Summer/Winter Sport
• House Carnivals – swimming, athletics, cross country etc
• Musical
• Book Parade
• Band Camp
• Year 6 Camp
• House Team photos
• Grandparents day
• Tattoo

Remember to speak to your son and allow him to choose the photos with you.

Please upload your son’s photos to the appropriate folder’s using the Dropbox link below.
https://bit.ly/knoxprepyearbook 

Thank you again to those who have uploaded their photos already.

Sally Soo, Sophia Wu and Christina Matta 

2024 Yearbook Convenors

Green & Gold Day – Friday 2 August
We’re turning Knox Prep green & gold on Friday 2 August, in support of the Australian Olympic Team. This day, celebrated across Australia, is about painting the country in our national colours and being proud of Australia’s sporting achievements. It’s about all Australians coming together and celebrating the green and gold. Students are encouraged to wear green & gold clothing to school on Friday.

Jared Rastall, Year 6 Team Leader

• How to Guide for Knox App
• Knox Prep Sports Expectations
• Winter Sport Training Schedule
• Extreme Weather Sports Training Plan

Thursday Afternoon Sports Training
Due to the Knox Prep Sound & Light Show, there will not be any sports training sessions after school this Thursday, 1st August. 

Years 3-6 Athletics Carnival Field Events
As this year’s Athletics Carnival will be held at Curagul Oval, the optional field events and 1500m will be held across the next few Friday mornings. These will be held at Gillespie Field at 7am. Students will be walked back to school with staff members at the conclusion of these events. If any student wishes to compete in an event, but has a musical group commitment, he will compete first, and parents will need to drive their son back to school. Events will be held on the following dates:

• Week 2 Friday August 2 – Long Jump, Shot Put

• Week 3 Friday August 9 – 1500m – please note that students are not guaranteed to progress to IPSHA, even in first place. Students MUST meet the following qualifying times to progress:

• 8-10yrs – 5m37s

• 11yrs – 5m22s

• 12-13yrs – 5m14s

Weekend Highlights – AFL & Traditional Rugby
This weekend’s match was an exemplary display of our team's drive and determination. Despite the continuous rain and slippery field, our boys showcased fantastic teamwork and coordination, bringing everything together with exceptional communication, precise positioning, and accurate hand passes. From the very first whistle, the boys played with unmatched intensity, setting a high tempo and maintaining it throughout the game. This relentless drive was evident in every move, with each player giving their absolute best and contributing to a comprehensive victory. The synergy between the players was remarkable, as everyone played a vital role in the success. Our midfielders were particularly fierce, barely allowing any balls to pass halfway, disrupting the opposition's flow and continuously winning crucial contests. Their relentless pressure was instrumental in maintaining our dominance and creating numerous scoring opportunities for our forwards. Our defenders were just as impressive, showing resilience and smart tactics by blocking multiple goals and effectively shutting down the opposition's attacks. On the offensive front, our forwards capitalised on the chances created by the midfield, showing remarkable commitment and accuracy in front of the goal. One of the standout aspects of the match was the exceptional individual performances that shone within the cohesive team effort. This match will be remembered as a true showcase of our team's capabilities and the culmination of their hard work, preparation, and dedication. 

The Prep 1st XV had a solid 21-point win over St Aloysius’ this Saturday. The teamwork and support play were outstanding. Ziggy Pisani scored 3 very good individual tries.

The 5A rugby team were ready to continue to their season against Grammar St Ives. The boys managed the wet conditions well with well-placed kicks. The team showed great support, and their catch and pass skills set up more first half tries. The second half started brilliantly, with Bailey crossing for a hat trick and 100% conversion rate for the day. The game had to be cut short due to the lop-sided score line, finishing with Knox winning 56-0.

Special mentions must go to Lachlan, Jesse and Armand for their efforts both in attack and defence. Well done, 5A!

Student Achievements
Last Tuesday, Brody Johnson (Y5) competed in the NSWPSSA Cross Country Championships, coming in 6th place! He will now head to the national championships in Melbourne in August. Congratulations, Brody!

During the holidays, Stirling Elliott (Y4) and Lucas Monroy (Y5) participated in the NSW U10 State Rugby Championships in Riverwood. Both boys played brilliantly and came away with 4 wins from their 6 games. Well done, boys!

Green & Gold Day – Friday 2 August
We’re turning Knox Prep green & gold on Friday 2 August, in support of the Australian Olympic Team. This day, celebrated across Australia, is about painting the country in our national colours and being proud of Australia’s sporting achievements. It’s about all Australians coming together and celebrating the green and gold. Students are encouraged to wear green & gold clothing to school on Friday.

Term 3 Sport
Friendly reminder that winter sport concludes on Saturday 10 August, with summer sport resuming on Monday 16 September (Week 9). There will be no compulsory sport in Weeks 4-8 inclusive. Students will continue summer sports in the same teams as Term 1.

Important Prep Dates:

• Thursday 1 August – no after school sports training

• Friday 2 August – Green & Gold Day 

• Friday 9 August – Final day of winter sports training

• Saturday 10 August – Final Saturday for winter sport

• Monday 12 August-Saturday 14 September – No sports training or Saturday sports

• Wednesday 14 August – Year 3-6 Athletics Carnival

• Monday 16 September – Summer sports training resumes

• Saturday 21 September – Summer sports trials for selected sports

Wet Weather/Extreme Heat
Please remember that Prep sports training does not get cancelled due to the weather. Students will always be supervised until the training session’s scheduled finish time. Please refer to the extreme weather plan for further details.

Pickup After Sports Training & Matches
A friendly reminder that students are supervised at Billyard Ave gates each afternoon. Please ensure you remind your son to meet you at Billyard Ave rather than Cleveland St.

When leaving with your son, please do not walk across Billyard Ave. It is important to utilise the pedestrian crossing on the corner of Cleveland St and Billyard Ave to ensure the safety of pedestrians and drivers. Please also refrain from pulling into or stopping in front of the Billyard Ave gates. 

Sport Absences – IMPORTANT!!!
Please remember that Prep Sport is a compulsory requirement of your son’s enrolment at Knox Prep. If your son is unable to attend a session for any reason other than injury or illness, please ensure you request leave in writing from Miss Watt, at least three days prior to the session.

Please log any absences due to injury or illness through the ‘Co-Curricular & Sports’ tab on the Knox App. 

Prep utilises an automated system for student attendance at sport. Parents whose sons are absent without prior explanation will receive an automated email from Clipboard. If your son arrives to a session late, his absence will be removed and will be flagged as a late arrival; you will still receive the absence email, as this is sent once the rolls are marked. 

Prep Sports Expectations
Sport is an important and compulsory aspect of your son’s enrolment at Knox. Whilst we acknowledge that many boys are members of sporting clubs externally to school competitions, the School expects that all boys will fulfil their sporting commitments to School teams. We are, of course, always willing to work with families, to help boys to be able to participate in each of their commitments. If you foresee any clashes, please reach out sooner rather than later, so we can reach a resolution with you. Simply not turning up, or leaving early each week, is not acceptable.

Knox App
Please ensure you have subscribed to the correct sports categories on the Knox app to ensure you are receiving the information relating to your son’s sport. All parents should subscribe to ‘Prep Fixtures & Trainings’ as well as the sport-specific category. It is important to ensure the category contains ‘Prep’ in the title, otherwise you will be receiving Senior School information.   

Susan Watt, Prep School Sports Coordinator

• String Camp Information

Musical Quote of the Week – “You can’t play a symphony alone, it takes an orchestra to play it.” – Navjot Sidhu
What a massive first week to the term! It has been great to see students buzzing around the Music Building at all times of the day. Whether it is 7.10am for a rehearsal, recess Rock Band, Lunchtime Band and String Rehearsals, or every half an hour; the changing of the guards as one student leaves their individual music lesson with a huge smile on his face and another little musician comes running down eager to commence his lesson!! Our Music Building is a hive of constant activity and sound.

Dates for the Calendar Term 3
1 August – Knox Prep Centenary Sound and Lights Show 5-7pm all boys K-6 with performances from our Prep Orchestra, Pipes and Drums and Choirs.
2 August – IPSHA Prep Battle of the Bands for Year 6 Rock Bands. In the Wenkart Theatre 10-1pm.
3 – 4 August – Prep Strings Camp involving boys from String Ensemble, Camerata Strings, Concert Strings and Prep Orchestra
8 August - Knox Instrumental Concert Series for Piano, Tutor and students TBC 6-7pm 
12 August - Knox Instrumental Concert Series for woodwind students learning with Greg Larielle-Jones 6-7pm
22 August - Knox Instrumental Concert Series for Flute, Tutor and students TBC 6-7pm
23 August – Prep Battle of the Bands involving ALL Rock Bands 1.40-3pm Prep School Ireland Field.
28 August - Knox Instrumental concert Series for Clarinet for all of Peter Salkeld’s students, 6-7pm
31 August – Knox Gala Day involved all Choirs, Rock Bands and String Ensembles.
10 September - Knox Instrumental Concert Series for all drum/percussion students 6-7.15pm
15 September – Australian Band and Orchestral Championships involving all string and band ensembles. All day event.

IPSHA Battle of the Bands
This Friday 2 August, Knox will be hosting the premier IPSHA Battle of the Bands! This is a very exciting event for our budding rockstars and both of our Year 6 Rock Bands have been working very hard in the lead up to the event. There are 7 other Independent Schools competing in this fun rock concert! This festival is a wonderful opportunity for young musicians to showcase their skills, gain performance experience, and celebrate their love of rock music with fellow students. We are eager to see a wide range of bands, reflecting the diverse talents within our schools. We wish our Year 6 rockers all the best in their performances on Friday! Parents are more than welcome to attend the IPSHA Battle of the Bands and watch their son perform. The actual event will commence at 11.00am and conclude at 12.15am in the Wenkart Theatre.

String Camp
The String Camp is being held for all boys involved in the Prep Orchestra, Concert Strings, Camerata Strings and String Ensemble on Saturday 3 (Prep Orchestra ONLY required on the Saturday, no other ensembles) and Sunday 4 August (for Concert Strings, Camerata Strings and String Ensemble) here at the Prep School.  This camp will provide a great opportunity for students to get to know each other, the Ensemble Directors and Music Staff and to workshop pieces. We would like ALL members to come to the camp so please make any necessary arrangements for your son to be there. 

Students in Prep Orchestra will book into camp on Saturday afternoon at 1pm and will conclude at 4:40 pm with a short concert in the Inquiry Hub. Parents and family are invited to the concert.

All Concert Strings, Camerata Strings and String Ensemble are required on the Sunday morning at 9.45am for a 10am start and will conclude at 3pm with a short concert. The concert will be from 3.00 – 3.30pm on Ireland Field – Bring a picnic rug to sit on. Billyard Gates will open at 2.30pm. 

We are all looking forward to camp very much!! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email Mrs Morris or Ms Irik anytime. A Parent Information Letter and link to pay for the camp was sent out at the end of last term. If you did not receive the email for String Camp, definitely email Mrs Morris. A reminder that if your son has any dietary, please provide snacks in a lunch box for each day. There will be vege chips and fruit for morning/afternoon tea’s, however, if your son has a specific dietary and does not eat vege chips, definitely send snacks. The Sunday lunch will be provided and is Pizza. We will also have Gluten free pizza and absolutely no nuts, however, again, if your son does not eat pizza, please send him to school on Sunday with his lunch in a small bag.

Student News
Over the holidays, several of our students showcased their talents at the Sydney Eisteddfod and excelled in their AMEB music exams. Ayaan Weerakon achieved an A+ High Distinction in his AMEB Piano for Leisure Preliminary Grade exam. Austin Deng passed his Grade 3 Theory exam with distinction. Zeek Zhu-Zhang earned an impressive third place in the Open Age Beethoven Piano Competition at the Sydney Eisteddfod, performing the first movement of Beethoven's Sonata 'The Tempest.' Competing against participants of all ages makes this a truly remarkable accomplishment. Bennett So also shone at the Sydney Eisteddfod, securing third place in the 18th Century Piano 11 & 12 Years section. Geoffrey Yao-Li, in kindy, won third place in the Pre-20th Century Piano 7 Years & Under category!! These outstanding results are a testament to their hard work and dedication. Well done to all!

Assembly/Chapel Performers
A huge congratulations to Alexander Xu in 5H for his outstanding violin performance of "Vocalise" by S. Rachmaninoff at this week's Year 5-6 Chapel. Performing in front of peers takes immense courage, and Alexander was superb. It's wonderful to have students showcase their talents during our assemblies and chapel services!

Instrumental Lessons
If your son is learning an instrument at school from one of our highly accomplished tutors, please remember that it is the PARENTS responsibility to inform the tutor if your son cannot make a lesson. A number of parents last term assumed that the tutor was informed via the portal, however, it is important to remember to email or call your tutor directly to inform them of any absences your son may have so that they can then have time to re-schedule their timetable and organise a catch up lesson if possible. Catch up lessons will not be given if 24hrs notice is not given to the tutor.

If you have any questions in regards to Music or the Instrumental Program definitely email Mrs Morris (morrisr@knox.new.edu.au) any time.

Rebeccah Morris, Director of Music

• Author Visit Information

Reading is Magic!
This week in our libraries we have been talking to the boys about the theme of Book Week ‘Reading is Magic’.  Reading is Magic!  Books are Magic!  They bring out our imagination, ideas, dreams and wishes while engaging our senses, thoughts, and words.  Book Week is a reminder of the possibilities books bring us and the importance of making reading a lifelong journey.

The Children’s Book Council of Australia engaged the author and illustrator Jess Racklyeft to create the beautiful artwork in this years Book Week Poster.  Jess Racklyeft illustrated Iceberg, which won Picture Book of the Year, in 2022 to create this year’s Book Week artwork as seen in the above poster. In the theme announcement, produced by the Children’s Book Council of Australia,  she talks about the ideas she used to create this poster and why reading is magic to her.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMokHCyJsjk

2024 Premier’s Reading Challenge
The 2024 Premier’s Reading Challenge is nearing its conclusion with just four weeks remaining! Congratulations to all the boys who have already completed the challenge this year. Remember, the PRC wraps up on August 23.

Book Covering Volunteers Required — Term 3 2024 
Research shows volunteering has many health benefits that can improve mental health such as increasing happiness and decreasing stress levels. Please sign up by clicking on the link:

https://signup.com/go/ewXQaob

Scholastic Book Club
Issue #5 has just arrived and the catalogues are available in the Inquiry Hub. If you would like to order from Issue #5, please order online using the LOOP payment system before August 9. All orders will be delivered to school within a week of the closing date.

Knox Prep Trivia Afternoon
We are excited to invite you to our Knox Prep Trivia Afternoon, hosted by Armstrong House.

Please see details below and look out for the Operoo form to let us know if you will be attending.

Fuller House Ride-A-Thon – Pedal for Purpose – Ride for a Better Tomorrow
Get ready, Fuller House community! The excitement is building for our upcoming Immersion trip to Thailand in September. We're thrilled to announce that 10 of our amazing Fuller students will be traveling to Thailand to collaborate with students at the BTN School, an incredible educational facility founded by Mr. Peter Baines. This initiative aims to give Thai children a brighter future through education and support.

To help raise funds for the BTN School and Hands Across the Water, we're hosting the Fuller House Ride-A-Thon. This event will see our 100 Fuller families and staff riding as many kilometres as possible within a set time at Bicentennial Park. Bring your scooters, push bikes, and most importantly, your enthusiasm – this event is for the entire family!

We would like all Fuller families to DONATE prior to our Ride-a-Thon! Every dollar counts so definitely click on the below link to help support our worthy cause!!

DONATE HERE

Event Details:

Date: Saturday, August 17

Time: 10 am to 2 pm

Location: Bicentennial Park (Sydney Olympic Park) https://maps.app.goo.gl/23ckSDRj5G8fnqBe6

Participants: Everyone in the family, including parents and siblings

No need to be an expert cyclist – just bring your bike or your scooter and your energy! Every kilometre we complete together will help make a significant difference. We'll wrap up our Ride-A-Thon with a celebratory barbeque, so don't miss out!

Stay tuned for more details, including weekly interviews with Mr. Peter Baines and the BTN School Director in our upcoming Magpie issues.

Mark your calendars and gear up to ride for purpose. Let's pedal together to support our Fuller House Charity – Hands Across the Water.

Please find the menu for Term 3 here

Statements containing the final 2024 instalment of tuition and compulsory charges were emailed to parents on Friday 19 July. The global Crowdstrike IT issue also occurred at this time. We can confirm all statements were emailed successfully from Knox, however if you have not received your statement please email accountant@knox.nsw.edu.au urgently as full payment is due 9 August, 2024 (unless you are on a fortnightly or monthly direct debit plan – in which case the payment of unpaid incidental charges is due 9 August). If you have any concerns, please refer to the Knox website to confirm the various payment options.

The Knox Christian Fellowship is a community of parents, carers, staff members and chaplains from the Knox Senior School, Knox Prep and Wahroonga Prep. We will be holding two meetings in Term 3 to pray for our schools. All are welcome to attend.

Term 3 Evening Prayer Meeting
Tuesday 13 August at 7.30pm in Gordon.

Term 3 Morning Prayer Meeting
Friday 16 August at 9.30am in Killara.

For more information, please contact Jackie and Jeremy Tham.

When: Saturday 31 August 2024, 10am-4pm
Where: Knox Senior School

The event is a huge community celebration with children’s rides, live music performances, market stalls and much more.

Come and enjoy a wide range of foods and market stalls. Members of the public are welcome to attend throughout the day. Entry is free.

Attractions include:
• Kids rides
• Live music – bands, choirs and more
• Performance by the Knox Pipes and Drums
• Bargain bazaar
• Book stall
• Classic cars display
• Café – coffee and homemade treats
• Market stalls
• Show bags
• Lucky dips
• Souvlaki
• Asian food
• Hot Chips
• Cake Stall
• Popcorn and Slushies
• Barbeque
• Boarders' spit roast and produce

Parking is limited – we encourage all attendees to use public transport.

More information: www.knox.nsw.edu.au/galaday.

Prep School Tuckshop - Volunteers Required for Term 3 2024
We greatly appreciate our volunteers and their contributions to our School community. 

Helping out in the tuckshop is a very rewarding experience and a great way to meet and socialise with new friends. If you are able to volunteer in the Prep School Tuckshop in Term 3, please click on the following link to choose days that suit you:

https://signup.com/go/KTsSsYd

Please note that persons working as volunteers at the tuckshops are required to have had at least two doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccine. By signing up to volunteer, you provide the School with an assurance that you have had at least two doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccine, and may be required to show proof of double vaccination when signing in on campus.

All volunteers are also asked to please read and comply with the Knox Volunteer Code of Conduct.

If you have any questions about volunteering in the tuckshops, please contact Stacey Cleary, Community Relations and Events Coordinator.