Have you heard of the Goldilocks Principle? We all know and love the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, where too hard, too much, too big and too hot were as bad as too soft, too little, too small and too cold. The sweet spot lies somewhere in the middle; somewhere along a continuum between the two extremes. Such is the essence of the Goldilocks Principle and I think it has such relevance for not only our lives, but of our children’s.

The beauty of the sweet spot I refer to above comes from understanding what amount or to what degree that ‘just right’ sits. Too much of anything leads to burnout and overwhelm. Too little of anything leads to apathy and underwhelm. Both can be harmful, and neither is good for us.

How does this relate to our Knox Prep boys, you ask? Well, finding the sweet spot, in terms of time spent and intensity applied, in learning, sport, play and social interactions, possibly even the use of technology, is critical in ensuring balance, positive mental health and achievement – in the classroom, on the playing field, and on the playground. At home, it will also help with greater opportunities for connection with family members and positive family relationships.

I’ve said it so many times – parenting is hard! In 2024, it’s harder than it has ever been before. Seeking to achieve balance in our children’s lives will help. However, achieving that balance may mean parents overcoming some of their fears. Fears about what their son is doing versus what other boys are seemingly/reportedly doing…academically and in sports skill acquisition. Trust me when I say that when your sons return to Knox for their 10 year or 20 year reunion after graduating, not a single young man will remember who was the best Year 1,3 or 5 mathematician. Not a single young man will recall who it was in those year groups who won the 50m freestyle or the Cross Country; and even for those who might remember, it will not be the topic of conversation. Their conversations will reveal the character of the young men they have become; the breadth of the experiences they have had and the adventures they are embarking on.

We encourage and seek to instil a love of learning and a have a go attitude; we encourage our young men to be bastions of character and to be living the values we talk about here every day. To be young men of courage, wisdom, faith, integrity and compassion. We seek your help in encouraging these same messages at home.

Can I encourage you to audit your son’s schedule and your messaging to him.

• Is his schedule varied and is it balanced, or is it rigid and focused on one or two areas of focus?
• Are the general themes of his engagements providing him with opportunities in multiple and varied domains, or is he developing expertise in a narrow range of fields
• Is it positive and encouraging, highlighting his strengths or are you focused on his weaknesses?
• Do you focus your conversations on your son’s goals of personal best, or on beating other boys?
• Do you consciously set aside time to engage in conversations with your son that encourage him to share his world with you, or are your conversations procedural and direction based?
• Do you encourage your son to share the good things that happened at school each day, before engaging in any interaction that may not have been quite so positive?
• Is there time in your son’s week for him to discover the incredible creativity that comes from boredom; from not having anything scheduled and having to fill his own time (without a device in sight or reach!)?

I ask these not from a place of judgement but from a space where I am encouraging you to apply the Goldilocks Principle to your son’s life. Neither too much nor too little of anything – finding that sweet spot of ‘just right’ in all that he does each week.

VA STAR
On Monday, we awarded our first VA Star of the 2024 year. Congratulations to Luke Fernandes (Armstrong) in Year 5 for achieving a Values Pin for each of our School's 5 Values. It is one of my favourite things to do and I am looking forward to many more over the coming months, as our boys display the School’s values in their everyday interactions.

Sue Floro, Head of Prep

For Parents of Kindergarten and New Students
In Years 1-6, The Term 1 MAP results have now been published and sent home, which provide you with an indication of your son’s current level of achievement, and more importantly, his growth. MAP is one tool we use, one piece of data, to plan for your son’s learning in Mathematics and English. For our Kindergarten students, MAP recommends that we wait till Term 4 to share this profile, which allows your son to adjust to the expectations of testing, where we will get an accurate representation of his data. All K-6 students complete MAP testing towards the end of each term, and this data is used as one piece of information to determine his program for the following term.

When you receive your son’s MAP student profile report, we ask you not to compare your children, as this is so detrimental. We understand that there can be significant pressure from some parents, for other parents to share their sons’ results.

Later this term, we will run a MAP information session for parents. At this session, we will explain what we do, why we do it, and what we do with the data we collect – all of the pieces of data that we collect.

This session will take place on Tuesday 4 June at 6:15pm, in the Inquiry Hub.

We encourage all Kindergarten parents, and parents of students who are new to Knox Prep in 2024.

We will also outline in more detail the student management procedures, and our desire for you to work with us in partnership, in our aim to produce young men of character, who make positive behaviour choices and understand the consequences of their actions and how these impact upon others in our community.

I am really looking forward to seeing you all on 4 June. We will begin at 6:15pm sharp and I expect the session to run for approximately one hour. Please RSVP via the Operoo form that was sent last week.

This session is an introductory session, suitable only to Kindergarten, and new 2024 parents who have not yet heard anything about MAP. For other parents wishing to clarify information, please see our MAP parent information or email your son’s Maths teacher for any questions you may have.

Tammy Paterson, Director of Learning K-6

The weeks are flying by in Term 2, in fact, we are already approaching the halfway point of the term! We had an incredibly busy week last week in K-2 with Centenary Photos and Simultaneous Reading Time all happening last Wednesday. As we come into the winter months, we often find the boys begin to wear more items of clothing to school. With this comes the dreaded uptake in lost property. Please ensure that your son has all items of his clothing clearly labelled to help us return items to their rightful owner. If your son has lost an item, please encourage him to look through our lost property area which sits outside the K-2 Centre. Whilst our staff are always happy to help, it is important the boys begin to take responsibility for finding their belongings. 

Last week I wrote about the different systems we use at Knox regarding our Commendation Policy. As mentioned, whilst the boys love their tokens, staff are always on the lookout for boys who are going above and beyond who deserve recognition via our Values Sticker system. As mentioned previously these are aligned with our Knox Values of Integrity, Faith, Compassion, Wisdom, and Courage. This week I am going to focus on Courage and identify ways in which your son can show this at school. 

At the Prep, courage is about facing challenges with determination and integrity, even when it's difficult. Our boys can demonstrate courage in the classroom by asking questions and sharing ideas, even if they're unsure of the response, and by standing up for what's right, such as supporting classmates who are being treated unfairly. On the playground, courage can be shown through including others in games and activities, especially those who might feel left out or shy. Boys can exhibit courage by trying new activities, embracing the potential for failure as a learning opportunity, and showing resilience in the face of setbacks. Risk taking and moving outside of their comfort zone is another major aspect of courage. We love giving the boys opportunities to try new things. 

A reminder that next Tuesday evening we will be hosting a Parent Information Session in the Inquiry Hub from 6:00pm. This session will explain our approach to Mathematics learning, most particularly, and is targeted towards our Kindy families and any new families who have joined Knox this year, in Year 1 and 2. Please endeavour to have at least one parent attend as there will be important information which is shared with during this time. We look forward to seeing you there, it promises to be a very informative evening.

Liam Flanagan, Director of Early Learning

• Week 5 Friday House Lunch Challenge

Last week was jam-packed with new experiences for Kindergarten. On Wednesday we walked over to the Senior School for our whole school Centenary photograph. This was a fabulous opportunity that brought together the three Knox campuses; Knox Prep, Wahroonga Prep and the Senior school. The Great Hall was bustling with noise; people going to and fro, photographers directing staff and students and lots of giggles and chatter. On our return to the Prep, K-2 participated in National Simultaneous Storytime; a time where schools across Australia enjoy the reading of a much-loved Australian story. Listening to Aura Parker’s ‘Bowerbird Blues’ was a fantastic opportunity for the boys to share the love of literacy with other children around the country. We finished the day with an amazing assembly hosted by KP. They took to the stage in a flurry of community worker hats –fire fighter hats, hard hats, police hats, you name it, they had it! Congratulations on a job well done KP.

One thing I love the most about assemblies is when students perform for their peers. We are blown away by musical talent, even from our youngest students in kindergarten. We see the talent, the ability and performance of our boys, and we say things like, ‘Wow, he’s a natural’ or ‘he’s got to be born with it’. However, behind all of this is a backstory – the process of becoming what you are, the unseen journey that got each student to the stage they are at. There are hundreds of hours of practice that took place to develop this ability and improve it over time. Every student’s backstory is something to be acknowledged and praised, for it is in this space that they have made mistakes, learned resilience, demonstrated perseverance, shown courage and began to develop a growth mindset. As parents and educators, we need to ensure that we communicate with our boys and discuss the backstory to any success or achievement they experience.

This week, during Personal Development and Health classes, Kindergarten will commence learning about their body and personal safety. These lessons will instil self-awareness around other people, ensuring that our children are equipped with strategies to help them feel and stay safe.

Week 5 - Friday House Lunch
Students are invited to join the House Sustainability Challenge during the Week 5 House Lunch. For further details please see flyer above.

Help Us Light Up Lives!
Our ‘Light Up Lives’ campaign is being led by our Year 1 students as part of their Knoxigations unit of inquiry ‘Energy powers our world’. Year 1 hope to inspire our community to be mindful global citizens, learn about energy poverty and foster values and empathy while having a real-world impact. Our goal is to have one solar light donated from each Knox and Abbotsleigh family. When our kits arrive our Year One students will then be assembling the solar powered lights for children living in extreme energy poverty in Timor. Our gift of lights will enable children to study and move around their communities safely at night. Just one light will:

• Create 7,300 additional study hours
• Offset 1.28 tonnes of CO2 emissions
• Save families the equivalent of 16 weeks of work
• Impacts the lives of 5 people living in energy poverty.

How can I help?
Donate a Solar Light via the following link here. 

Please write a short message with your son’s name and class with your donation so we can show the boys at school and watch as our fundraising total soars! When? Open now!

Nely Daher, Kindergarten Team Leader

• Week 5 Friday House Lunch Challenge

Week 5 promises to be exciting, with plenty to share, so let's get started!

First and foremost, if you haven't heard, our Year 2 students gave a stunning performance yesterday as part of the Knox Prep Strings Program. Their performance was truly delightful, showcasing impressive skills acquired in just a few weeks. The talented musicians transported us into a world of music, leaving everyone in awe. We are grateful for the opportunity to expose the boys to the arts and inspire their creative spirits.

Secondly, the National Simultaneous Storytime was a tremendous success. Children from all K-2 years gathered in the void to enjoy a shared reading experience. It was heart-warming to witness the boys' enthusiasm and engagement. Even our loveable 1S Sloth, Harvey, made an appearance and joined in on the fun. We cherish these moments of unity through literacy as they contribute to a vibrant and inclusive learning community.

Last Thursday, the boys participated in a K-6 House gathering where house news was shared, boys were awarded their well-earned Knox Value certificates, and games were led by the Year 6 boys. We encourage you to ask your son about his participation in this special event.

Looking ahead, we always have something exciting planned. The big event, the Centenary Military Tattoo, is looming ever nearer. The boys are well underway in rehearsals, preparing for this spectacular event on Saturday, June 1. Our young musicians have been practising tirelessly and are eager to showcase their talent as we come together to give thanks for our Knox community

Japanese School Lunch
During our second Japanese unit of inquiry, the boys investigated various Japanese foods that power our bodies. They explored how Japanese children experience Kyuushoku (Japanese lunch) and the significance of eating together as a class. In Japan, Kyuushoku is as important as subjects like Maths and Science because it teaches students responsibility through cleaning up after themselves and emphasises the value of eating slowly and appreciating the food's impact on our health.

To bring this experience to life, we plan to have our own version of Kyuushoku. The boys can either bring their own food from home or order from the canteen. They will sit at their classroom tables to eat, just like in a Japanese school, and practise saying ‘itadakimasu’ (thank you for the food we are about to eat) and ‘gochisousamadeshita’ (thank you for the food we ate). If they wish, the boys can bring their own lunch mats to eat on. There's no need to bring any special food for this occasion; their regular lunch is perfect, as the focus is on appreciating the tradition of Japanese Kyuushoku.

Our Japanese school lunch days are as follows:

• 1C: Tuesday 28 May
• 1J: Wednesday 29 May
• 1S & 1W: Thursday 30 May

It would be wonderful if you could practise the phrases ‘itadakimasu’ and ‘gochisousamadeshita’ at home with your child. This will help them prepare for our special lunch days.

Bova Sensei has provided the phonetic pronunciation of these words to help you:

Itadakimasu – i-ta-da-ki-ma-su

Gochisousamadeshita – go-chi-sou-sa-ma-de-shi-ta

Thank you for your support!

Week 5 - Friday House Lunch
Students are invited to join the House Sustainability Challenge during the Week 5 House Lunch. For further details please see flyer above.

Help Us Light Up Lives!
Our ‘Light Up Lives’ campaign is being led by our Year 1 students as part of their Knoxigations unit of inquiry ‘Energy powers our world’. Year 1 hope to inspire our community to be mindful global citizens, learn about energy poverty and foster values and empathy while having a real-world impact. Our goal is to have one solar light donated from each Knox and Abbotsleigh family. When our kits arrive our Year One students will then be assembling the solar powered lights for children living in extreme energy poverty in Timor. Our gift of lights will enable children to study and move around their communities safely at night. Just one light will:

• Create 7,300 additional study hours
• Offset 1.28 tonnes of CO2 emissions
• Save families the equivalent of 16 weeks of work
• Impacts the lives of 5 people living in energy poverty.

How can I help?
Donate a Solar Light via the following link here. 

Please write a short message with your son’s name and class with your donation so we can show the boys at school and watch as our fundraising total soars! When? Open now!

Finally, we are truly fortunate to have such an engaged and supportive community of parents and guardians. Your involvement plays a crucial role in your sons' success, and we are immensely grateful for your trust in our abilities as educators. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to us.

Julie Stowe, Year 1 Team Leader

• Year 2 Kimbriki Excursion
• Week 5 Friday House Lunch Challenge

Over the past week, Year Two students have been working with focus and determination to complete their ecosystem CANVA Magazine. It has been wonderful to see all boys applying the knowledge that they have acquired throughout our Knoxigations inquiry. Towards the end of this week, Year Two will have the opportunity to delve deeply into the impact that human activity is having on their chosen ecosystem.

Year 2 Excursion - Kimbriki
On Tuesday 11 June (2C & 2A) and Wednesday 12 June (2S & 2H), students in Year 2 will be traveling to Kimbriki Resource Recovery Centre to investigate the importance of recycling in our community.

Please see the letter attached to the Magpie for more information and ensure that you have accepted the Operoo invitation for your son to attend.

String Ensemble
Congratulations to the Year 2 boys String Ensemble members for their outstanding performance at last week’s assembly! Your hard work and dedication to your music truly shone through. Well done!

Year 2 ‘Lead By Example’
The Year 2 teachers are continuing to challenge our boys to ‘Lead by Example’ and set the standard for the Kindergarten and Year One boys. Each morning at our Year 2 gathering we particularly focus on ‘Leading by Example’ by wearing our school uniform correctly each day. Before the boys leave the line-up area, they check they are wearing blazers and varsity caps, shirts are tucked in and top buttons done up, ties are on correctly and socks are pulled up. Similarly, we encourage the boys to do this self-check during the day and each afternoon before they leave the classroom. As you know, our school uniform is an important part of our identity as Knox students and it’s essential that we wear it with pride each day. Wearing the correct uniform shows respect for yourself, your classmates, teachers, and the school. It also creates a sense of unity and belonging within our school community. We encourage all our Year Two boys to take pride in their appearance and always wear their uniform neatly and appropriately. We thank all our parents for working with us in assisting the boys to ‘Lead by Example’ with their uniform.

At times items of uniform go missing or get misplaced. We do our very best to support the boys in searching for any lost items at school. A way to help us find any lost items and return them to their rightful owner is to ensure all items of school uniform are very clearly labelled with your sons first and last name. Can we please ask all parents to do a check of this labelling this week as we have quite a few items in lost property without names. We also kindly ask you to check your son's school uniform items to ensure that they haven't accidentally brought home another student's belongings. It's not uncommon for boys to mistakenly pick up the wrong items at the end of the day. If you do find any uniforms that do not belong to your child, please return them to the school as soon as possible.

Week 5 - Friday House Lunch
Students are invited to join the House Sustainability Challenge during the Week 5 House Lunch. For further details please see flyer above.

Help Us Light Up Lives!
Our ‘Light Up Lives’ campaign is being led by our Year 1 students as part of their Knoxigations unit of inquiry ‘Energy powers our world’. Year 1 hope to inspire our community to be mindful global citizens, learn about energy poverty and foster values and empathy while having a real-world impact. Our goal is to have one solar light donated from each Knox and Abbotsleigh family. When our kits arrive our Year One students will then be assembling the solar powered lights for children living in extreme energy poverty in Timor. Our gift of lights will enable children to study and move around their communities safely at night. Just one light will:

• Create 7,300 additional study hours
• Offset 1.28 tonnes of CO2 emissions
• Save families the equivalent of 16 weeks of work
• Impacts the lives of 5 people living in energy poverty.

How can I help?
Donate a Solar Light via the following link here. 

Please write a short message with your son’s name and class with your donation so we can show the boys at school and watch as our fundraising total soars! When? Open now!

Nadine Smith, Year 2 Team Leader

• Year 3 and 4 Musical Parent Information
• Week 5 Friday House Lunch Challenge

Musical
The Year 3 students are excitedly rehearsing their show stopping song and dance number for the 3/4 musical ‘Pirates of the Curry Bean’. We look forward to welcoming all Year 3 parents to the Matinee or Evening Performance. Tickets will be limited to 3 per family per performance, to ensure that each student on stage will have some family in the audience for this amazing performance.

Both Performances will take place on Wednesday 12th June at The Wenkart Theatre, Woodville Rd, Wahroonga.

• Matinee Performance - 11.30am
• Evening Performance - 7.00pm

Please refer to the Year 3 and 4 Musical Parent Information above to read additional information from Mrs Irwin.

Comparing MAP Test Results
As I have mentioned in previous Magpie articles, I would like to emphasise the importance of not comparing MAP Maths data between children, asking other parents about their son's results, or discussing children who are not your own. It is crucial to remember that children in Year 3 are not competing against each other to be in specific Maths classes. Placing undue pressure on young boys of just 7 or 8 years old can result in a negative impact on their self-esteem and motivation. Research shows that when parents focus on performance and comparison rather than effort and growth, children may develop a fixed mindset, believing that their abilities are set and cannot be improved (Dweck, 2006). Instead, I encourage you to praise your son's efforts, acknowledge his progress, and foster a growth mindset aligned with our school's expectations. Goal setting with your son should not revolve around surpassing other students; instead, it should prioritise developing metacognition skills such as active listening in class, asking thoughtful questions, reflecting on one's own learning, and sharing insights with parents. Embracing this path with your son will assist him in achieving his goals. By emphasising the value of learning and effort both at home and in school, we can provide the necessary support for our boys to thrive. We appreciate your support in this matter.

Week 5 - Friday House Lunch
Students are invited to join the House Sustainability Challenge during the Week 5 House Lunch. For further details please see flyer above.

Help Us Light Up Lives!
Our ‘Light Up Lives’ campaign is being led by our Year 1 students as part of their Knoxigations unit of inquiry ‘Energy powers our world’. Year 1 hope to inspire our community to be mindful global citizens, learn about energy poverty and foster values and empathy while having a real-world impact. Our goal is to have one solar light donated from each Knox and Abbotsleigh family. When our kits arrive our Year One students will then be assembling the solar powered lights for children living in extreme energy poverty in Timor. Our gift of lights will enable children to study and move around their communities safely at night. Just one light will:

• Create 7,300 additional study hours
• Offset 1.28 tonnes of CO2 emissions
• Save families the equivalent of 16 weeks of work
• Impacts the lives of 5 people living in energy poverty.

How can I help?
Donate a Solar Light via the following link here. 

Please write a short message with your son’s name and class with your donation so we can show the boys at school and watch as our fundraising total soars! When? Open now!

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.

Sarah Beaumont-Jones, Year 3 Team Leader

• Year 3 and 4 Musical Parent Information
• Week 5 Friday House Lunch Challenge

Musical 
It is only two weeks until the Years 3 and 4 Musical ‘Pirates of the Curry Bean’! The boys have been working tremendously at school, not only in music classes but also at recess and lunch, to learn their lines, the songs and all the dance moves! We cannot wait for the boys’ performances on Wednesday 12 June in Week 7.

Tickets
With the talented Year 4 Cast leading the musical, we look forward to welcoming all Year 4 parents to watch the matinee or evening performance!

Please note that both performances take place on the same day, Wednesday 12 June, at the Wenkart Theatre, on Woodville Road, Wahroonga (Senior School):

• Matinee Performance – commences at 11:30am
• Evening Performance – commences at 7:00pm

Tickets will be limited to three per family, per performance, to ensure that each student on stage will have some family in the audience for this amazing performance.

Please find detailed information in the Parent Information letter linked above.

Make Up assistants needed!
'Looking the part' is critical to any stage performance and the boys of Years 3 and 4 need your help! If you would like to assist with makeup prior to the dress rehearsal and/or for the performances of the Year 3& 4 Musical, please register your availability using the form linked below.

Most of the makeup designs are quite simple and don't require much experience, other than a steady hand. Parents, older siblings, grandparents; anyone who would like to help is welcome! It's a great way to get involved, meet other parents and have some fun!

All makeup assistants will need to be available two hours before each performance. Please see the times detailed in the form. Once you have indicated your availability, you will be contacted with further information.

Please complete the form here.

Week 5 - Friday House Lunch
Students are invited to join the House Sustainability Challenge during the Week 5 House Lunch. For further details please see flyer above.

Help Us Light Up Lives!
Our ‘Light Up Lives’ campaign is being led by our Year 1 students as part of their Knoxigations unit of inquiry ‘Energy powers our world’. Year 1 hope to inspire our community to be mindful global citizens, learn about energy poverty and foster values and empathy while having a real-world impact. Our goal is to have one solar light donated from each Knox and Abbotsleigh family. When our kits arrive our Year One students will then be assembling the solar powered lights for children living in extreme energy poverty in Timor. Our gift of lights will enable children to study and move around their communities safely at night. Just one light will:

• Create 7,300 additional study hours
• Offset 1.28 tonnes of CO2 emissions
• Save families the equivalent of 16 weeks of work
• Impacts the lives of 5 people living in energy poverty.

How can I help?
Donate a Solar Light via the following link here. 

Please write a short message with your son’s name and class with your donation so we can show the boys at school and watch as our fundraising total soars! When? Open now!

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.

Nicola Molloy, Year 4 Team Leader

• Year 5 Gold Excursion Parent Letter
• Week 5 Friday House Challenge

Last week we were fortunate to participate in a once in a 100-year event, with Year 5 taking their part in the Centenary Photo. As you can appreciate, it takes a wealth of organisation to bring together a school the size of Knox, but it was truly a special moment. As you are aware, there are a number of special events on offer as part of our centenary celebration, please view the website here to see what is upcoming.

Knoxigations
Over the past two weeks, the boys in Year 5 have been working tirelessly to bring together all their knowledge and understanding developed throughout the unit, to create a compelling and inspiring call to action, advocating for their chosen environment. It has been pleasing to witness the passion shown by the boys, in demonstrating genuine care for their fragile environment. We are looking forward to sharing these with you all soon.

Excursion 
As part of our Knoxigations unit, where students explore the big idea, Gold shaped Australia, the Year 5 cohort will be heading to the Police and Justice Museum as well as the Museum of Chinese Australian History. Please refer to the attached parent letter to allow for a smooth day.

Reminders
Each day, we are regularly having boys without their hat or wearing the incorrect uniform. If you are finding your son is struggling to know which uniform to wear or he is forgetting to pack his hat, please explore different ideas which you could utilise to support his day-to-day organisation. This could be a check list in his bedroom which outlines what he needs to pack each day, or he can lay his uniform out the night before to take away the need to do it in the morning. Please ensure your son is responsible for packing his own bag and organising his uniform, which may mean sometimes he makes a mistake and that is ok, but if he takes ownership over his organisation, it will benefit him in the long term.

Week 5 - Friday House Lunch
Students are invited to join the House Sustainability Challenge during the Week 5 House Lunch. For further details please see flyer above.

Help Us Light Up Lives!
Our ‘Light Up Lives’ campaign is being led by our Year 1 students as part of their Knoxigations unit of inquiry ‘Energy powers our world’. Year 1 hope to inspire our community to be mindful global citizens, learn about energy poverty and foster values and empathy while having a real-world impact. Our goal is to have one solar light donated from each Knox and Abbotsleigh family. When our kits arrive our Year One students will then be assembling the solar powered lights for children living in extreme energy poverty in Timor. Our gift of lights will enable children to study and move around their communities safely at night. Just one light will:

• Create 7,300 additional study hours
• Offset 1.28 tonnes of CO2 emissions
• Save families the equivalent of 16 weeks of work
• Impacts the lives of 5 people living in energy poverty.

How can I help?
Donate a Solar Light via the following link here. 

Please write a short message with your son’s name and class with your donation so we can show the boys at school and watch as our fundraising total soars! When? Open now!

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

Dylan Nexhip, Year 5 Team Leader

• Year 6 Canberra Excursion Parent Letter
• Centenary Tattoo Parent Information Letter
• Week 5 Friday House Lunch Challenge

Paul Fletcher Visit
In preparation for our upcoming visit to Parliament House, The Member for Bradfield, Mr Paul Fletcher visited the boys on Friday to talk about the nature of Australian democracy and the role of Parliament. It was a wonderful opportunity for the boys to share their understanding and to ask questions of a sitting member. We hope to see Mr Fletcher in Canberra and thank him once again for joining us at Knox to share his knowledge.

Canberra Overnight Excursion
• Medication Authority Form
• What to Bring

Participation in the Canberra excursion will enhance the boys’ understanding and connections with our next Knoxigations unit.

Some boys can feel anxious about spending time away from home. This Thursday we will hold a briefing for boys at school. Our briefing is an opportunity to prepare the boys for the experiences and events at the overnight excursion.

Some suggested strategies which may help at home include:

• discussing the activities and experiences your son will be doing;
• telling your son you believe he’ll do well and will have a great time will help him feel comfortable about it too

Our teachers are well-rehearsed in homesickness and we are prepared to support all our boys whilst at the overnight excursion, to ensure they have a positive and rewarding experience. If you have any concerns, please contact your son’s classroom teacher.

What to Bring
Please see attached list above

Medication Form
If your son requires medication whilst on the excursion, please complete the attached form above detailing the name of the medication and the amount, time and frequency of the dosage. All medication must be bagged, clearly labelled with your son’s name and given to your son’s class teacher in his classroom when you drop your son off on Wednesday 5 June.

Please note, if you have already provided to the Knox Prep Health Clinic your son’s asthma or anaphylaxis plan and their EpiPen or Ventolin inhaler, you are not required to complete this form. The School will bring to the excursion the plans and EpiPens or Ventolin inhalers which are currently in the Prep Health Clinic.

Should your son suffer from travel sickness, please ensure that he has the appropriate medication prior to the departure of the bus on Wednesday morning. Please provide additional medication for the return, using the form and procedure outlined above. In severe cases, please ensure that your son’s class teacher is notified in advance.

COVID-19
COVID-19 community transmission remains at high levels across NSW. If your son has cold or flu symptoms, please perform a rapid antigen test at home. Should he test positive, he will be required to stay home to recover until all symptoms have resolved. If your son develops cold or flu symptoms at camp, staff will conduct a rapid antigen test. If positive, you will be contacted to come and collect your son to take him home.

If your son is unwell the night before or on the day of departure, or tests positive for COVID-19 when you conduct the RAT, please email the Year 6 Team Leader, Jared Rastall to advise that he is unable to attend the camp – rastallj@knox.nsw.edu.au

Human Connection
Connections provide us with happiness, security and support. This week our boys’ exploration into how artistic expression connects communities culminates with the showcasing of their recreation. We know that connections are achieved through communication and emotional connectedness.

From participation in Saturday Sport to respectfully engaging in the Reconciliation Assembly to simply standing together in a Centenary Photo, the boys have had the opportunity to build connections over the last week. Human connections and opportunities to develop them are happening everywhere and all the time.

I reflect on the connections our teachers build. I have always had the privilege to work with teams of teachers and support staff across the various faculties of the School who go above and beyond to support the boys. They do this because they genuinely care.

Sometimes, this care involves a quick phone call or email to inform you that your son has not met the School's expectations. We hold high expectations for ourselves as teachers, but most importantly, for your son, and this drives us to reach out to you. While it would sometimes be easier for teachers to let bad choices slide without consequence, doing so would not set the boys up for long-term success.

I believe that human connection is the cornerstone of the teaching profession, and collaborating with you will only benefit your son. This is why we prioritise open communication with you. Building strong connections will ensure a meaningful and memorable final year for your son, and we remain committed to fostering these connections at school.

Week 5 - Friday House Lunch
Students are invited to join the House Sustainability Challenge during the Week 5 House Lunch. For further details please see flyer above.

Help Us Light Up Lives!
Our ‘Light Up Lives’ campaign is being led by our Year 1 students as part of their Knoxigations unit of inquiry ‘Energy powers our world’. Year 1 hope to inspire our community to be mindful global citizens, learn about energy poverty and foster values and empathy while having a real-world impact. Our goal is to have one solar light donated from each Knox and Abbotsleigh family. When our kits arrive our Year One students will then be assembling the solar powered lights for children living in extreme energy poverty in Timor. Our gift of lights will enable children to study and move around their communities safely at night. Just one light will:

• Create 7,300 additional study hours
• Offset 1.28 tonnes of CO2 emissions
• Save families the equivalent of 16 weeks of work
• Impacts the lives of 5 people living in energy poverty.

How can I help?
Donate a Solar Light via the following link here. 

Please write a short message with your son’s name and class with your donation so we can show the boys at school and watch as our fundraising total soars! When? Open now!

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.

Year 6 Yearbook 2024
We need your help to ensure that your son is included in the Year 6 Yearbook for 2024 - a book of treasured memories.
We will require 5 photos of your son to include in his half page bio. The deadline for uploading photos is 1 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:

• 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
• House carnivals
• Winter/Summer sport
• Grandparents day
• Sibling photos

There will be an opportunity to submit additional photos for the remaining sections of the book at a later date.
Please upload your son’s photos to the appropriate class using the Dropbox link below. You can also find additional instructions via the Dropbox link here.

Have a great week!
Sally Soo, Sophia Wu and Christina Matta, 2024 Yearbook Convenors

Jared Rastall, Year 6 Team Leader

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

Friday Night Football
This coming Friday, 31 May, our Prep 1sts Football team will be playing against Barker on Knox 1 at 5:15pm. Our last outing was very successful, and the atmosphere was brilliant. This time round should be electrifying, given we are playing against Barker. Please feel free to come along and support the boys.

Weekend Highlights – Rugby & Fencing
It was a very enjoyable and exciting game for the Prep 1sts against Mosman Prep with Knox winning the game on the bell after a try to Archie. Six boys from the Knox Year 5 team assisted the Mosman team as illness had left them short of players. Thanks to Bailey, Jesse, Nick, Freddie, Jack and Archie for helping out the Mosman team so that the game could be played as a full 15 aside fixture. From the Knox Year 6 boys, Duncan, Archie, Zac and Charlie all had strong games.

Our Year 6 7s team had some tough games this week, against Riverview and Coogee. It was great to see the boys implementing training strategies and staying wide on defence and making some strong tackles.

Our 5A team hosted St Pius on Lower Gillespie this weekend. The boys created many opportunities in the first half, managing to score two tries to both J ack and Ben. We headed into half time with the score 14-0. Bailey started the first half with a great cross field, followed by a try. James scored the final try for the game to finish 26-0. Great work from this week’s captain, Nick, and halfback Archie who attacked and defended well.

The Year 5 7s team had a couple of great games this weekend, against Scots and Trinity. The boys played some outstanding rugby with some great tries stemming from good work in and around the ruck.

Year 4 Black started with a tough game against Scots on Saturday. They identified some area of improvement and worked on these, resulting in an excellent game against Newington. The boys moved more as a cohesive unit and their enjoyment was clear to see on their faces.

Year 4 Blue played well this weekend with some close games against both Scots and Sydney Grammar. It was great to see the boys put their training techniques into practice, with the boys demonstrating speed in the ruck and spreading the ball on attack.

The Year 3 team came up against King’s and Sydney Grammar this weekend, in some close matches. The boys put in their best effort, with massive improvements in their passing. Well done, boys!

This week saw the first school competition for the season, with a pleasing number of Prep students in attendance. Well done to the following boys:

• 5th – Sebastian Sun
• 6th – Jiaming Fan
• 7th – Anthony Tsung
• 10th – Louis Shi
• 13th – Benjamin Bashton

We also had some Prep students compete in the U14s NSW School Fencing Championship this weekend. All boys fenced to the best of their ability, with the following placings:

• 5th – Aaron Huo
• 13th – Sebastian Sun
• 27th – Louis Shi (in his first ever U14s comp!)

Student Achievements
Last Thursday Gus Bayliss, Archie Burnett, Shyan Ekanayake, David Nel and Ziggy Pisani represented Knox at the IPSHA Rugby Trials. All boys trialled well in unexpected heat. Congratulations to Gus and Ziggy for being recommended to attend the CIS trials.

Important Prep Dates
• Friday 7 June – No after school training (long weekend)
• Saturday 8 June – No sport (long weekend)
• Friday 14 June – Prep Winter House Gala Day
• Friday 28 June – No training (last day of term)

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.

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.

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.

Susan Watt, Prep School Sports Coordinator

• Centenary Tattoo Parent Information Letter

"Practice isn't the thing you do once you're good. It's the thing you do that makes you good." - Malcolm Gladwell

The Benefits of Learning a Musical Instrument 
In the Prep we have over 400 music lessons a week. These lessons are available in a wide range of instruments as well as voice and musicianship and students receive a minimum of 8 lessons per term. Learning a musical instrument has many proven benefits. Essentially, learning a musical instrument activates your ability to process different information simultaneously and to develop fine motor skills. Boys are also able to improve self-expression, confidence and concentration – all qualities that can be used outside the musical environment. The responsibility for organising music, remembering instruments, and practising, is the students’ responsibility, especially for those boys in Years 5 and 6, with them being expected to do approximately 3 to 4 practice sessions a week for a minimum of twenty minutes. To be responsible, accountable and organised, is an excellent life skill, and learning a musical instrument can help facilitate the development of these traits and is proven over years of study to increase the cognitive effects of learning.

For boys to see improvement and progress in their technical work, a regular and focused practice routine is required in order to achieve desired outcomes. No two students are the same, and each boys individual experience is directly affected by their natural talent, as well as the amount of work they put in to improving their playing or singing. It is important to put the technology and devices down, put the rugby ball down and remember to have a well-balanced practice schedule.

If parents need clarification of learning goals, or require specific information outside the usual lesson parameters, they are welcome to email the tutor directly. If there are any issues (such as wishing to discuss lesson scheduling, repertoire, AMEB examination entries and so forth) with your son’s progress, please contact the tutor and have a conversation directly so that these matters can be addressed early and change can occur. If you have any other questions or you would like your son to learn an instrument at school please don’t hesitate to email Mrs Morris.

Centenary Tattoo 1 June
The excitement is definitely building for the upcoming Centenary Tattoo next Saturday evening, 1st June. Please see attached all of the information in regards to the Tattoo. Please also remind your son to bring his instruments to school next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday as there are a number of extra rehearsals. On Wednesday all Performance Ensemble and Prep Trumpeters will be walking up to the Senior School for a rehearsal from 12.00-2.30pm. So, no lunch orders on Tuesday for those boys involved. On Thursday the Prep Gallery Choir and Vocal Ensemble will be walking up to the Senior School for a rehearsal, so no recess or lunch orders.

Specific Information for the Tattoo - Important to note:

• Please pre purchase parking in P3 (link to pre purchase is in the attached Parent Information form).
• ALL Prep Performers (apart from Gallery Choir) are to arrive at 4pm SHARP. Gallery Choir are to arrive at 2.00pm.
• Please note the drop off/ pick up point (as per image on the attached).
• Full School Winter Uniform (or Pipes Uniform if in Pipes and Drums).
• Pick up will be immediately after the Tattoo (at the same point as drop off).
• Must bring Instrument, snacks, and a book to read.
• Dinner has been arranged for all Prep Performers ($18 ea and will be debited to your son’s school account).

Don't forget to read the attached  Centenary Tattoo Parent Information Letter and email Mrs Morris any time if you have any questions.

This is certainly going to be one of the biggest and best events our students have performed in!

Years 3 and 4 Musical - ‘Pirates of the Curry Bean’
Young twins Jack & Liza Periwinkle yearn for adventure, so imagine their joy at discovering a real-life treasure map! But when the infamous Redbeard and his pungent Pirates of the Curry Bean steal the map and kidnap their mother, the race is on to rescue her, reclaim the map and find the treasure!

With a talented Year 4 Cast leading the musical ‘Pirates of the Curry Bean’, we look forward to welcoming all Year 3 and Year 4 parents to the Wenkart Theatre on Wednesday 12th of June at the Matinee or Evening Performance. Tickets will be limited to 3 per family per performance, to ensure that each student on stage will have some family in the audience for this amazing performance.

Both Performances are on Wednesday 12th June at The Wenkart Theatre, Woodville Rd Wahroonga.

• Matinee Performance - 11.30am
• Evening Performance - 7.00pm

Please find below the link here to purchase tickets for the show.

As stated, tickets will be limited to 3 per family per performance, which means if you have a big family and do not want to miss out, 3 family members can attend the Matinee Performance, and 3 can attend the Evening Performance.

Rebeccah Morris, Director of Music

Armstrong and Lang went head-to-head at lunchtime yesterday to see who would come out victorious. The scores were equal all the way through until the last few minutes when Lang shot through to secure their win. They have once again earned their position in the upcoming semi-finals. The pressure is on now as Ewan and Fuller face off next week to see who will take the last position in the semi-finals.

Pertinent details are as follows:

• When: Monday lunch time 1:15-1:40 (eat first)
• Where: Inquiry Hub
• Who: Ewan v Fuller (all boys are welcome regardless of ability)

Each student will earn one house point for participation, and another for a winning game.

Best of luck to all houses. Stay tuned for updates!

Mrs Daher and Miss Felizzi

 

Auditions for Knox Prep Theatresports will be taking place in weeks 6B and 7A of Term 2 for boys in Year 5 and Year 6.

Theatresports involves students working together to improvise comedic scenes with no rehearsal or scripting and very little time to plan. Successful audition students will be invited to form an initial squad of up to 20 students who will be taught improvisation and Theatresports skills, strategy and games at a weekly workshop on Wednesday afternoons during Terms 2 and 3. To showcase what they’ve learned, towards the end of Term 3, the Squad will put on a Knox Prep Comedy Show for parents and friends.

From this Squad of students a team of 7 (5 team members + 2 reserves) will be selected. They will go on to receive further training and represent Knox in the Primary Division of the Theatresports Schools Challenge in November taking place in Term 4. More information here.

Sign up here.

Please click here for the latest edition of the Mini Magpie from the Year 6 New Reporters.

Thomson House Lap-A-Thon - Session 3 with Kim from Blue Dragon
Thank you to our families who joined us last week at the House Gathering to hear stories about the impact Blue Dragon is making in Vietnam as well as learning more details about Kim’s upcoming swimming of the English Channel. A highlight for us was having you demonstrate our school value of courage when you joined in for hip hop!

Please enjoy watching this week's video here as a family where Albert, Allister and Ethan have three probing questions specifically about swimming the English Channel. We find the answer to a burning question from last week’s House Gathering!

It is very encouraging hearing the number of families who are already committed to our Lap-A-Thon.  I will send out a Google Form next week to gauge our numbers.  We have decided to use a general Thomson fundraising page instead of individual fundraising pages.

Please let me know if you are going to attend by emailing Ms Wallis. Remember, you don’t have to be a great swimmer, at a minimum you need to make 25m. Every lap counts and together we can make the distance.

Katrina Wallis

Uncle David and Cadmas from Yarrabah visiting Knox and opportunity for Haslett families to be involved (Friday 31 May, 8.15am)
Knox Prep and Haslett House eagerly anticipates the visit of Uncle David, esteemed Yarrabah Elder, and Cadmas, from the Yarrabah Rangers Program, on Friday 31 May.

These two guests will be actively involved with students and staff throughout the day as well as watching games from all sports on Saturday as part of the inaugural IPSHA Indigenous round.

All Haslett parents either involved in the 2024 immersion or interested in future visits are invited to a parent session at 8.15 am in Ewan Hall. This is the perfect opportunity for our Haslett families to develop a further understanding of the Yarrabah community and the work of the Rangers Program.

Matt Pendlebury

As Christians we believe that the primary way God showed His love toward us is through sending Jesus. While Jesus was on earth, he lived the sinless life of love we couldn’t live. His death and resurrection made a way for us to be forgiven of our sins, mending our relationship with God.

Love is our greatest responsibility in life.

So, consider some ways you can love those around you, whether in the classroom, at home, or in the workplace. Sometimes simply spending time with people is the best way to love them. There might also be someone you know who needs encouragement or help with meeting their needs. Think of one or two things you can do this week to show love to someone in your life.

Chaplaincy Team

Text of the Week
God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him.
1 John 4:9

Please find the menu for Term 2 here

Please click here to purchase your tickets.

Knox Parents’ Association Term 2 Meeting
Date: Tuesday 11 June 2024
Time: 6.30pm-8pm
Venue: Wenkart Theatre, Junior Academy and Performing Arts Centre (JAPAC), Senior School

Notice is hereby given that the Knox Parents’ Association Term 2 Meeting will be held on Tuesday 11 June 2024 at 6.30pm.The Headmaster, Mr Scott James, along with the Head of Wahroonga Prep (Mrs Julie Wiseman), Head of the Prep School (Mrs Sue Floro) and Deputy Headmaster K -12 and Head of Senior School (Mr Andrew Weeding) will be attending to give an update on the different campuses.

The invitation is open to all parents from Senior, Prep and Wahroonga Prep.

The agenda for the meeting is here.

If you are able to attend, please click here to register your attendance.

For those parents unable to attend in person, you may view the meeting via the following livestream link here. 

If you are viewing the meeting via live stream, please could you still register your attendance here.

We look forward to welcoming you on Tuesday 11 June.

Prep School Tuckshop - Volunteers Required for Term 2 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 2, please click on the following link to choose days that suit you:

https://signup.com/go/iDzhwiV

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.

The Knox Uniform Shop is currently running a seasonal special on Prep School House Jerseys for the following Houses – Burns, Ewan, Fuller, Haslett and Lang.

The Jerseys, which were originally $80, have been reduced to $65. Jerseys can be purchased online via Flexischools or in-store.