As the formal education journey at Knox concludes for the Class of 2024, we reflect on a year marked by friendship and achievement. This group of young men played an exceptional role in leading the centenary celebrations. Their presence at the forefront of this significant chapter in our history made 2024 a truly memorable year for all.

While it is tempting to judge the Class of 2024 solely by their individual successes, it is essential to recognise the collective spirit that defined this year group. Their commitment to embodying the values of Knox not only fostered a positive environment, but also established a tone that will resonate within the School for years to come.

New Years 7-12 learning platform
Throughout this term, Senior School staff have been preparing for the launch of our new Years 7-12 learning platform and whole of school portal, based on Schoolbox. The platform, named Knoxi, was chosen through staff and student submissions.

Knoxi will gradually replace the current Knox portal (Knoxnet). From Term 4, your existing Knox login credentials will automatically give you access to Knoxi, which will serve as a central hub for all Knox systems. It will simplify administrative tasks, improve communication with students and parents, and enhance teaching and learning.

We have made it to the final week of Term 3! It is hard to believe that this time in just two years, our boys would have had their Valedictory celebration and will be busy preparing for their HSC Examinations. We are so looking forward to helping them grow into young men of integrity,  compassion, and courage over this time, so that they may reach their full potential.

This week in Year Meeting saw the end of the Feats of Strength challenges that have been happening throughout the term. We tested the bridges the boys have built during Mentor time and we grossly underestimated the creative ability of our students! They were provided with 4 sheets of A4 paper, glue, 2 straws, scissors and some string to make their bridge. So many of them were carrying over 1kg and if we had more time I am sure they would have been able to hold a lot more! 

Monday 7 October
• Labour Day - Public Holiday

Sunday 13 October
• Celebration Sing Out - Notes @ Knox Chapel, 10am-4pm

Tuesday 15 October
• Term 4 commences
• AMEB Music Examinations
• Parent Event: Respectful Relationships (presented by Your Choicez) Webinar, 6pm-7pm

Friday 18 October
• AMEB Music Examinations

Saturday 19 October 
• Year 10 Parents' Supper, Pymble Golf Club

A full list of school events can be found in the School Calendar via the Knox app or Parent Lounge.

Please click here for the Term 4 Assessment grid

Wednesday 16 October
• Photographic and Digital Media- Hand In task
• Visual Art - Hand in Task

Friday 18 October
• Engineering- Hand In task
• History (Core) - Hand in Task

Monday 21 October
• Geography (Elective)- Hand In task

Monday 21 - Friday 25 October
• Music - Performance

Tuesday 22 October
• Drama - In Class task

Friday 25 October
• Design and Technology - Hand In task
• Graphics Technology - Hand In Task
• Industrial Tech (Metal) - Hand In Task

Friday 25 to Thursday 31 October
• Yearly Examinations

Year 10 Yearly Examinations are scheduled to begin on Friday 25 October and conclude on Thursday 31 October. A copy of the schedule may be found here.

Students are expected to attend normal classes from 15 October until 25 October at which point classes will be suspended until students return on 1 November. This adjustment will allow the boys to prepare for exams in a collegial and structured manner, encouraging self-regulation, and help prepare them for the StuVac periods that they will experience during their Stage 6 studies.

Students will have a degree of autonomy and responsibility during this period; they will be able to arrive late or leave early if they do not have an exam. However, if they have two exams on the same day, boys are expected to be in the Academy of Global Competency (AoGC) to study and prepare between exams. They will not be able to leave campus to get lunch or head home between papers. It is also important to note, due to other classes which are continuing on campus and supervision requirements, that they are expected to be in the AoGC preparing in these study periods.

During these study periods, there will be supervision in the AoGC as well as allocated ‘private study’ areas for students to work independently, if required.

PDF Links
• Co-Curricular Newsletter Week 10 Term 3 2024
• Co-Curricular Weekly Training Schedule Term 3 2024 
• KAPA Weekly Rehearsal Schedule Term 3 2024

Knox is pleased to advise that a number of Co-Curricular opportunities will be offered again in Term 4. If you would like to register your son, please do so by using the following link here.

Students are encouraged to review the different clubs before they sign up. Please check the day that the activity is occurring to ensure that your son can commit. There are limited spaces available. Where applicable, the cost per term is also listed and payments will be made through the Clipboard facility which only parents have permission to do.

Please note only the activities listed require sign up, all other activities from Term 3 have automatically been rolled over for Term 4.

Registrations will open at 6pm, Friday 27 September and will close at 9am, Monday 14 October.

Please use your Parent Lounge login details when prompted and once logged in select ‘Activity Selection’.

Places are offered on a first come, first served basis. Students who are not successful in gaining a place will automatically be placed on a waitlist.

Refunds will not be available for any changes to activities or withdrawals, instead credit notes will be provided through the clipboard system which can be used to offset future Co-Curricular charges. Please choose your Co-Curricular activity carefully.

Chess
Chess teams contested the annual Australian Schools Team Championship (ASTC) playoffs where schools played in a two-day Chess event to determine the NSW representative for the 2024 ASTC finals held in Perth this year. It was a toughly fought competition against the best Chess players and teams in the state. Congratulations to the Knox team who were the winners this year and will be the representative school for NSW! This is the second time in three years that Knox will be the NSW representative at the prestigious ASTC event.

For more details, click on the latest Co-Curricular Newsletter linked above. Should you have any questions regarding the activities please email the Co-Curricular department here.

Chuck Ardron, Director of Co-Curricular Operations

It has been a busy and extremely enjoyable Term 3. This week's Valedictory Ceremony was a wonderful way to farewell our current Year 12s. Before we head off for the school break, a reminder that there is much to look forward to ahead of and in Term 4! In brief:

• Summer holiday Squash and Tennis camps are running these holidays
• We welcome the new Tartan Army
• Term 4 sees the beginning of the summer 2024-25 season across all codes
• The opening of the new Centenary Gillespie Pavilion and cricket nets

We have two Friday night sporting events that we would like all boys to attend and support:
• Home to Trinity Grammar on 1 November
• Away to Barker College on 22 November

As always, if you have any queries relating to sport, please feel free to email the KSAA Department here.

Have a safe and enjoyable break. Go the Black and Blue!

Martin Haywood, Head of Knox Sports and Aquatic Academy

In 1 John 1:5 we are told that “God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.” What does this mean? Light reveals, light makes known, light brings life.

We should reflect on Christ’s statement in John 14:6, that “I am the way and the truth and the life.” The purity and glory of God is expressed by His light and reflects the process of Creation where “the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” (John 1:5).

We who have fellowship with Christ are called to reflect this light. We do this by walking in truth, showing compassion, and loving our neighbour. In 1 John 4:19 we are told that “we love because He first loved us.” If we walk in the light, and repent when we stray, we are promised that we may have fellowship, and that “the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”

Chaplaincy Team

Text of the Week
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
Verse 1 John 1:5-7

Week 1 Term 4 Menu

The Knox Christian Fellowship is a community of parents, carers, staff members and Chaplains from the Knox Senior School, Knox Prep and Wahroonga Prep. This term we will be holding our staff and parent prayer breakfast, for the purpose of building community and strengthening our School’s Christian spiritual identity.

All are welcome to attend.

Staff and Parents’ Prayer Breakfast: Thursday 31 October from 7.15am to 8.15 am at the Knox Chapel
RSVP for catering purposes by Thursday 24 October to Rev Dr Rosalie MacLarty with dietary requirements and number attending.

Term 4 Evening Prayer Meeting: Tuesday 29 October at 7.30pm in Gordon.

For more information please contact Rev Dr Rosalie MacLarty or Jackie and Jeremy Tham.

Volunteers Urgently Needed for HSC Disability Provisions
The Diverse Learning department needs volunteers to act as Readers for some of our students in the upcoming HSC Exams. Readers simply read the questions in the exam paper to the student and subject knowledge is not necessary. Without volunteers, our Diverse Learners are not able to equitably access their HSC exams, so your support is invaluable! We would gratefully accept one-off volunteers, or those who can support in multiple exams.

If you would like to assist the School in this very meaningful way, please click here.

NB: Parents/relatives of current Year 12 students CAN act as volunteers for exams that their son/grandson/nephew is not sitting. If you son does English Advanced, you CAN volunteer for English Standard. Additionally, volunteers need a current Working With Children Check which can be obtained here.

For many years the School has offered a ‘fees in advance’ program to enable increased flexibility of such payments. The program is attractive for many reasons, enabling parents to make lump sum payments for years ahead which attract discounts to the scheduled fees.

To qualify, upfront full year payments must be made for a minimum of one year and the payments must be made by 8 November in the year before your payment program begins. Payments will only be accepted by direct funds transfer or cheque (credit card or BPAY payments are not permitted for this program).

Details of the Fees in Advance Program can be found here on the Knox website. Alternatively, you might like to discuss this in confidence with Elizabeth Sim from the School’s Accounts Department on 9119 0880.

In Term 4 Knox will be offering two handwriting courses designed to help improve the speed, accuracy and legibility of students’ handwriting, reducing tension and fatigue when writing for long periods of time.

Both classes will be held by Ms Lisa Norton, an occupational therapist, who specialises in the development of skills necessary for handwriting and the remediation of handwriting difficulties.

Course 1 – Class of 2025 (Year 12 students only)
Tuesday mornings at 7:30am
Week 2 – 22 October to 6 Tuesday 19 November
This course is aimed at students completing Year 12 in 2025 who have not previously attended a handwriting group and have specific handwriting concerns.

Course 2 – Revision Group (open to previous course attendees only)
Wednesday mornings at 7:30am
Week 2 – 23 October to Wednesday 20 November
This course is for students that have previously attended one of Lisa Norton’s seven-week handwriting programs (during any year at Knox) and will focus on writing practice tasks and further practise and refinement of each student’s individualised identified writing targets from the seven-week course.

Each course runs for five weeks and costs $250pp. A minimum of six students, and a maximum of ten, ensures individual attention.

Confirmation of places is on a first come first served basis.

Should you be interested in pursuing this option for your son, please contact Lisa Hollis in the Diverse Learning Department ASAP.

This is a gentle reminder that all students will be required to wear summer uniform at the start of Term 4. Boys, now is a good time to check that your summer uniform still fits. The Knox Uniform Shop has stock in all sizes of summer uniforms for ordering online via Flexischools or purchasing in-store.

The Knox Uniform Shop Holiday Opening Times are as follows:

• Thursday 10 October 2024, from 10am-4pm
• Monday 14 October 2024, from 9.30am-4.30pm. Note: on this day, the Uniform Shop will be closed between 12.30-1pm.

Please note that Main Reception hours during the school holidays (30 September – 11 October) are from 8am-4pm.

Holiday Reading
If you missed out on borrowing from the library, you may access a wide variety of reading and listening materials on the ePlatform by Wheelers books.

Digital Copies of books, or ebooks, are accessed on the library portal. You can click on the ePlatform by Wheelers books icon that's found under the Reading tab here. Students can borrow from the platform for two weeks and can also listen to audio books. Here are some popular titles:

• 'The Maze Runner' by James Dashner. Thomas is surrounded by boys who welcome him to the Glade, a walled encampment at the centre of a bizarre and terrible stone maze.
• 'One of Us is Lying' by Karen McManus. In this debut thriller four high school students are in detention and a mystery unfolds.
• 'Nothing More to Tell' by Karen McManus. A thriller set in Saint Ambrose School following the shocking murder of a teacher.
• 'The Martian' by Andy Weir. A classic tale of survival in space. An astronaut is left behind in a storm and a team of NASA scientists struggle to return him to Earth.

Well done to all who took part in the Build a Bridge Competition that was held during our Year Meeting.

A huge congratulations to all the students that received an award for the 2024 UNSW 62nd Maths Competition. A special mention to Y10 students Eugene L who received a Credit and to Nathan Y who received a High Distinction!