Year 11 Week 10 Term 3 2024

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.

It is unbelievable to think that we are officially at the end of Year 11. It has been quite a journey with the boys over the last five years and we look forward to the final year ahead with them. At Year Meeting this week, we spoke to the boys about finishing the term well, particularly as for so many of them, they have worked consistently at a high standard throughout the year. When we challenge the boys on their standards and ask them to meet our expectations, we know that they will always rise to the challenge. We know that more than ever now, each of our students are a role model to the younger boys at the School. Each boy in the Class of 2025 has a part to play in maintaining the culture of the School and we ask that they keep this front of mind as they move into Year 12.

Friday 27 September
• Term 3 Concludes

Tuesday 15 October
• Term 4 Commences

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

The boys have now come to the end of their Year 11 journey. From Day 1 next term, the boys will officially commence their studies and their first steps towards the HSC Examinations in 2025.

It was wonderful last week to hear the announcement of the Prefects and House Captains from the Class of 2025. Prefects enjoyed a leadership retreat over Wednesday and Thursday of this week in the city, at Taronga Zoo, and on campus.

It is however important to note that every boy will be a senior leader at Knox. The opportunity to band together to inspire and lead the younger boys at our school is a great one and we look forward to working with the young men as they grow and develop as leaders and people throughout their Year 12 journey. It is also important to note that all boys are encouraged to participate in our Portfolio Leadership Teams to continue in their leadership development and contribution to the school. Being part of a PLT also enables boys to apply for the ‘Leaders and Achievers’ early entry program through Macquarie University.

In Year Meeting last Tuesday, we spoke to the boys around how they should approach the upcoming holiday break. We have encouraged the boys to down tools and recharge the batteries prior to their return to school. In saying that, we know boys may want to spend some time preparing for the start of Year 12. Seniors’ Hall will be open over the break from Monday to Friday, 8am-4pm, please see the timetable here. Boys have been asked not to throw out textbooks as they clear out their Year 11 materials. If they are not selling them or passing them on, they have been asked to place them in the Seniors' Hall so that we may donate them.

A friendly reminder of key initiatives and dates:

• On Tuesday 15 October, all boys will participate in a Year 12 2025 Induction Day, p1-3.
• Our Y11 Social will take place on 15 October from 4pm-9pm. This is a ticketed event.
• The HSC 2025 Journey Information Session will be held on Monday 21 October at 6.30pm in the Seniors’ Hall. We look forward to seeing parents/carers and, of course, the boys on the night. Please save the date.
• NESA rules enable students to drop to 10 units in Year 12. There is no rush to drop a subject. We are insisting that students wait until after they have a Knox Academic Indicator (KAI) interview commencing in week 3A next term. Details of the KAI interviews will be provided at the start of next term and at the HSC Journey 2025 information session. Please note that KAI information will not be available prior to the interviews. The KAI information takes many weeks of data analysis to put together. We appreciate that families would like to purchase textbooks. Our recommendation is to hold off buying texts for subjects that may be dropped. The teachers will be understanding and will make allowances until students finalise their pattern of study.
• Final Preliminary Report will be published on Friday 18 October and can be sourced on Student Café and Parent Lounge.
• The Year 12 2025 Term 4 2024 Internal Assessment Schedule and Gant Chart will be available early Term 4.
• Mrs Goddard will be on Long Service Leave in Term 4 so Mr Gliddon will be Acting Director of Studies.

We encourage the boys to make the most of the break, to enjoy themselves and recharge the batteries. With Year 12 commencing Day 1 Term 4 this will be their last true holiday period before their graduation next year.

Senior Academy Team

Co-Curricular

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

Chess
Woodwind

Sport

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

Knox Christian Fellowship – Term 4

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.

Diverse Learning

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.

Fees in Advance Program

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.

Handwriting Course

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.

Knox Uniform Shop

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.

Main Reception

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

Year 12 BBQ Volunteer Roster

Dear Year 11 Parents and Guardians

Welcome to the Year 12 BBQ Volunteer Roster for Term 4 2024!

One highly anticipated activity that will commence in Term 4 is the weekly Year 12 BBQ. Starting on Wednesday 16 October (Week 1 of Term 4) the BBQ will be open to boys in Year 12 only, and will be run by Year 12 parents. It will be held on Wednesday lunchtimes throughout the term, outside the Seniors’ Hall. The proceeds from the BBQ will go towards subsidising decorations and table arrangements etc. for the Year 12 Valedictory Dinner.

Parent volunteers will be required from 11.45am until 1.45pm every Wednesday to help set up, prepare the burgers or hotdogs and serve the Year 12 boys. There will be no cooking required as the food is cooked by the school caterers. All Year 12 parents and guardians are welcome to volunteer. You are more than welcome to nominate for more than one shift across the term.

We hope to have five Year 12 parents helping each week. If you would like to organise to be on the roster with a group of your friends, please feel free to arrange amongst yourselves and work out a date to volunteer together!

To help at the Year 12 BBQ during Term 4 2024, simply click the link here and choose your spot.

All volunteers are required to sign in at Main Reception, 2 Borambil Street, before making their way to the Weeks Senior Academy. Please ensure you wear a cap and closed-toe shoes whilst volunteering. Gloves, aprons and hand sanitiser will be provided.

Please note that persons working as volunteers at the Year 12 BBQ 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.

Please feel free to contact the BBQ Convenors here if you have any questions.

Thank you in advance for your support. We look forward to seeing you soon and sharing in our sons last year together at Knox.

Joanna, Monny, Hilda, Samantha, Terri and Yiying
Year 12 BBQ Convenors – Class of 2025