And just like that, our boys have completed their Year 11 Examination Block! Further to this, it is difficult to believe that our boys have only 10 school days left of being in Year 11. We often question where the time is going, however it’s becoming more apparent as each week passes that many of our boys are taking each day in their stride and are coming to realise that their time at Knox is about to enter its final chapter.

We hope that our boys are feeling relieved after finishing their exams and we would like to congratulate them on their achievements thus far. As they settle back into their routine, they should remember that this is a great time to reflect on their exam experience. As their results come in, it’s important that they stay proactive. No matter the outcome, they should take the time to review their performance and identify areas where they can grow. If there’s something they didn’t quite understand or need help with, they shouldn’t hesitate to reach out to their teachers. Their teachers are ready to offer guidance and help them turn any challenges into opportunities for improvement. We would like to encourage our boys to remember that feedback is a tool for progress. By seeking teacher support, they can address any gaps in understanding and strengthen their skills for the future. It’s all part of the learning journey, and we're here to ensure they succeed every step of the way. Boys, let’s finish Year 11 strong so that we can begin Year 12 even stronger!

Sunday 15 September 
• Pipes and Drums PBNSW - The Highlands Mini Bands Contest, Moss Vale Showground

Monday 16 September 
• Social Justice: Future Leaders for Gender Equity Conference-Sydney Grammar, 3.30pm-5.30pm

Monday 16 September 
• KAPA Vocal Soiree, 6pm-8pm, JAPAC

Tuesday 17 September 
• Boarding School Photos, 7am-8am

Thursday 19 September 
• CAS Photos, Assembly and Championships at SOPAC

Friday 20 September 
• Centenary Event: Boarders' Family Dinner, 6.30pm-9pm

Saturday 21 September 
• Pipes and Drums - PLC Garden Party

Sunday 22 September- Wednesday 2 October
• KOKODA Trek - Port Moresby to Kokoda - PNG

Monday 23 September
• Centenary Event: Year 12 Valedictory Ceremony
• KAPA Woodwind AMEB Soiree - JAPAC

Tuesday 24 September
• KAPA: Gallery Choir Experience Day

Friday 27 September
• Term 3 Concludes

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

The boys continue to be outstanding during their examinations and we commend them on the way they have handled what is a trying time. With the exam block coming to an end today, we look forward to the cohort finishing their Preliminary studies strongly, and to them laying a solid foundation for the start of Year 12.  It is important they work right through to the last day of term.

A few important notes as we prepare for the start of the HSC course work:

• On-time attendance at every class must be without fault right through to the last day of term (Friday 27 September). The boys will be receiving their assessments back and the feedback will inform the work that needs to be done over the break (feed forward). Gaps in knowledge and skills that the exams exposed must be addressed prior to next term as Year 11 work becomes assumed knowledge in Year 12. In a recent communication from NESA, the following statement is highlighted: ‘Year 11 course work is assumed knowledge for the Year 12 course. This means that Year 11 course content forms part of the knowledge required for students to demonstrate a deep understanding of Year 12 content.'
• Any boy who wants to amend their pattern of study to pick up an extension subject is to complete a change of subject form, have it signed by the relevant staff, obtain a parent signature and then return to Ms Gordon. To discuss Extension subjects, please speak the Head of Department.
• On Monday 21 October (Term 4 Week 2B) all boys and parents are encouraged to attend an ‘HSC Journey’ information session starting at 6.30pm in Seniors' Hall WSA. Please save the date for this important evening.

PDF Links
• Co-Curricular Newsletter Week 8 Term 3 2024
• Co-Curricular Weekly Training Schedule Term 3 2024 
• KAPA Weekly Rehearsal Schedule Term 3 2024

Year 11 Colours and Prefects Pockets
Colour awards entitle the student to have embroidery added to the bottom left pocket of the school blazer. Prefect pockets are placed on the top left pocket. This can only be organised through the Knox Uniform Shop and to facilitate this please note the following:

The draft list of non-academic Colours will be on display in the WSA from Monday 16 September. It is the responsibility of the student to find out if they have received an award. The confirmed non-academic colours list will be posted and advised on Wednesday 18 September. Cadet and Track and Field colours will be advised by Tuesday 24 September.

Please note: Academic colours will be awarded in Term 4 and embroidered at the end of Term 1 2025.

If students have any queries regarding the Awards, please direct all enquiries to the Head of the Activity involved immediately; all queries must be raised prior Wednesday 18 September, after this date, they will not be considered.

• Students and parents will be emailed their colours by Wednesday 25 September (earlier if possible).
• Please print off two copies of the colours email both copies are to be signed by a parent/guardian to confirm acceptance of the costs associated with the embroidering of the blazers and place these in the top left pocket.
• Blazers are to be placed on the racks in the walkway outside the WSA offices.
• Blazers are to be handed in on the last day that students will be at school in Week 10. Kokoda students may place blazers in the SAO’s office prior to departure, In anticipation parents can bring it in once email has been received.
• When leaving school on this day if the weather is cold students may wear their track suit top home.
• Any blazers received after this time will not be accepted and the next opportunity to have them done will be the end of Term 1 2025.
• Without the signed form the embroidery will not be done.
• The embroidery will be done over the holidays and the blazers will be available for collection from Tuesday 15 October from the WSA Seniors' Hall. Students will be advised should there be any changes.
• All embroidery will be charged to the students School Account. It is not compulsory to have the embroidery done but it must be organised through the Uniform Shop and not an independent embroiderer.
• Cost for embroidery is as follows: Dry Clean $20.50, Pocket Off $28 and Per Line $20.50

Please note: New Blazers are no longer available to order on Jotform they must be purchased from the uniform shop prior to submitting your Blazer and paperwork for Colours.

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

PDF Link
Experiential Newsletter Week 8, Term 3 2024

Wilderness Survival and Bushcraft Course, 6-8 December 2024: We have a few places remaining for Years 7-9 students to learn exciting and valuable skills in wilderness survival and bushcraft in the first few days of the summer school holidays. Cost is $995 which includes three days of professional instruction from trainers from Bushcraft Survival Australia, transport, camping accommodation and most meals.

Rock Climb and Canyon Trip, Blue Mountains, 21-24 April 2025: We are offering students the opportunity to undertake an exhilarating rock climbing, abseiling and canyoning trip in the stunning Blue Mountains. The four-day trip will be run by the Blue Mountains Adventure Company who are specialists in the delivery of climbing, abseiling and canyoning activities in the Blue Mountains area. Trip cost is circa $2,200 which includes fully guided program, equipment, lodge accommodation, transport and meals.

You can find more information about all the programs on the Experiential Learning microsite here.

Stuart Clark, Director of Experiential Learning

Emails have been sent together with reminders for boys to express interest in attending the CAS Track and Field Championships next Thursday. We want to take as many boys as possible to get behind and cheer on this very talented team to success. We can't wait to see our Year 7s at their first CAS Track and Field event, with many students (thousands!) cheering on the Knox team.

Our athletes have been training extremely hard and are in their final week of preparation prior to giving CAS a big crack this year. Win, lose or draw – this is a great sport to participate in. Track and Field is a great foundation for so many other sports with training in speed, technique, fitness, strength, jumping and throwing. The program also complements other sports in such a way that the training is designed not to clash with other pursuits. It is never too late to get involved and I encourage all boys to give it a go! We have some great coaches and the program is very welcoming. Boys, come and see the KSAA team if you're interested.

Details for all spectators will be sent early next week once the list is finalised. Details will include transport, departure times, food and what to wear.

Have a great week everyone. Go the Black and Blue!

Martin Haywood, Head of Knox Sports and Aquatic Academy

It’s an old cliché to ‘take things one day at a time’ but sometimes, that’s the best thing we can do. As Year 12 enjoys their final weeks of school before embarking upon completing the HSC, there is great opportunity for reflection. Whilst it is exciting to consider the prospect of a fresh start and a new chapter, it can also be daunting to be stepping off into the ‘big world.’

The verse from Matthew this week is relevant for us all as we are reminded by Jesus to seek first his kingdom and give him our worries. It is so easy to worry about what the future may hold for us, but through Jesus, we can take comfort in knowing that he is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Whatever your worries are, give them to him and you will find peace.

Chaplaincy Team

Text of the Week
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:33-34

Week 9 Term 3 Menu

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.

The Diverse Learning Department needs volunteers to read and/or write for some of our senior students in the upcoming HSC Exams.

Volunteers can be parents, grandparents, or recently graduated students.

As a writer, it would be your task to act as an extension of the student by writing as they dictate their response to an examined question. As a reader, it would be your task to read the examined question aloud for clarity. As a reader/writer you would be asked to perform both tasks for the one student.

You may like to volunteer your time to cover the whole exam period, part of the exam period or you may prefer to be an emergency scribe for those inevitable sporting injuries the day before an exam. Either way, we would love to hear from you. Availability during the working week is obviously paramount.

If you would like to consider assisting the school in this very meaningful way, please contact the Diverse Learning Department on 9473 9757 for further information.