Year 12 Week 2 Term 3 2024

We would like to extend heartfelt congratulations and thanks to our boys for how smoothly they have settled back into their routines. Their focus and dedication are commendable as they prepare for the upcoming HSC Trial Examinations, which serve as a crucial stepping stone in their academic journey and are now just over two weeks away.

This week, we had the pleasure of witnessing the HSC Drama Performances and they were nothing short of spectacular. The talent and creativity displayed by our students left a lasting impression on all who attended. Their hard work truly shone through, and it was a joy to see them express themselves so vividly on stage.

Monday 5 August
• HSC Music Final Recital 2024

Friday 9 August - Thursday 15 August
• Year 12 Showcase

Thursday 15 August
• Year 12 Showcase Celebration Evening, 6.30pm in the Wenkart Theatre

Monday 23 September
• Valedictory Dinner

You are encouraged to save the Year 12 Road Map for Term 3 here. There will be further details made available for each event in due course.

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

Thursday 8 August - Friday 9 August
• Music 1 and Music 2 Music Extension - Trial HSC Block

Friday 9 August
• Visual Arts - Hand in Task

Monday 12 August
• Science Extension - Hand in Task

Thursday 15 August - Monday 2 September
• Trial HSC Block

Please click here for the current assessment schedule for Year 12.

All assessments are subject to change. Students are to refer to the Assessment Notifications provided to them and if in doubt they need to contact their teacher.

We continue to be impressed by the focus the boys are displaying towards their learning. The four pillars of Knox Total Fitness are crucial in ensuring the boys are able to maintain their drive as they approach the Trial HSC Examinations and beyond.

The boys undertaking Major Works have been fantastic in their application and displayed maturity in meeting deadlines while maintaining their suite of HSC subjects. Congratulations on a job well done; we can be sure your final products will be exceptional! We would also like to take this opportunity to thank the hardworking teachers and practical technicians for all the time and effort they are offering the boys. The incredible commitment shown by these staff to support boys at this time never fails to astound. This week, we were privileged to have the Drama boys perform in their HSC Drama Performance Evening. Well done to all staff and boys involved – the performances were exceptional! We look forward to seeing the boys perform in the Year 12 Music Final Recital next Monday.

The Year 12 Showcase will be held in the Great Hall from 9-15 August this term. Please join us for the official Celebration Evening on Thursday 15 August, 6.30pm start in the Wenkart Theatre. The showcase will feature projects and performances from the Class of 2024 across the fields of Design and Technology, Drama, Extension English, Extension Science, Industrial Technology, Music, and Visual Arts.

We understand that the work involved in achieving the HSC qualification can result in stress and anxiety for some. We will address all procedures and protocols associated with conducting the exams in Week 4, prior to the Trial HSC period. First and foremost, the boys are reminded that while these exams play an important part in working towards an end goal, they are to be kept in perspective as they are not yet HSC-ready. We regularly remind students that there is always time to make a difference. They need to focus on what they can control, which is focused and sustained study, collaboration with peers, and support from their teachers. The exams will provide a benchmark as to where they are currently positioned in their HSC preparation and will enable every student to gauge what needs to be done to continue to improve before the HSC starts. There will be a final KAI interview in the last week of term to assist with this. Here is the link to the recent Sydney Morning Herald's HSC Study Guide.

Calculator checks continue to occur before school and at lunchtime in the Seniors’ Hall by Ms Hayman and Ms Bittle. Students will have a sticker placed on their calculator to show that it has been checked and approved for the upcoming exams. If students don’t have a sticker on their calculator, they may not be able to use it during the upcoming exams. Calculator checks will continue throughout next week.

Please find the Year 12 Road Map here for Term 3. This document gives an overview of the program of final events for Year 12. We hope that this aids you in your planning. There will be further details made available for each event in due course.

Important reminders:

Monday to Thursday evening and Sunday afternoons the WSA is open for all boys in Years 12 to study. The following information summarises the daily schedule:

3.30pm to 5.30pm. The Library is open for individual quiet work and Seniors’ Hall for collaborative & group work.

5.30pm to 6pm - dinner break. Any student wanting a meal must register in the WSA Boater Cafe by the end of lunch Monday to Thursday. During the dinner break the Library is closed.

6pm to 8.30 pm. Any student staying after 6pm must sign in with the Supervisor in Seniors’ Hall and stay until 8.30pm. Boys wishing to leave prior to 8.30pm will require a note, email or phone call from their parent via the student’s mobile phone to the Academic Staff Supervisor. From 5.30pm the library is closed and only Seniors’ Hall is open until 8.30pm.

Seniors’ Hall is not open on Friday afternoon and evening.

The WSA will be open Monday to Thursday throughout the Trial HSC period and students will have access to Old Boy coaches.

On Sundays, the WSA is open from 12pm – 5pm.

As outlined in last week’s newsletter, as your son approaches the end of his time at Knox, we are very keen to provide you and your son with an opportunity to give feedback about your experiences at the School. To encourage you to express your opinions openly and frankly the School has commissioned MMG Education, a consultancy specialising in school research and strategy development to conduct the surveys. The parent/carer survey link will be sent via an email today from MMG. Year 12 students will complete their surveys under supervision during Academy Assembly on Thursday 8 August, and we encourage parents/ carers to check they have done so as we will have boys away ill or undertaking other commitments at the time the survey is conducted. We encourage all parents and boys to complete the survey prior to closing as the feedback will be of great assistance as we strive to improve every aspect of our performance and the quality of service we provide for our students and parents. A letter from the Headmaster with more information is provided link.

As the final Year 12 home game against Waverley approaches, we encourage all boys to get behind our teams. The following week will also have some important matches to support including the AFL, Football and the Rugby. This is where great memories are made. We will be opening the Senior’s Hall for study on Saturday so the boys can get some work done as they wait to provide their support to the boys out on the field. Lunch will also be provided for all year 12 boys that sign up.

Go the Black and Blue!

Senior Academy Team

Experiential Learning

PDF Link
Experiential Newsletter Week 2, Term 3 2024

Upcoming Elective Adventure Programs
• Learn to Fly Fish Course, October 2024 (open to Years 8-10 2024)
• Wilderness Survival and Bushcraft Course, December 2024 (open to Years 7-9 2024)
• Rock Climb and Canyon Trip, Blue Mountains, April 2025 (open to Years 9-12 2025)
• Larapinta Trail Hike, NT, July 2025 (open to Years 9-12 2025)

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

Stuart Clark, Director of Experiential Learning

Co-Curricular

PDF Links
• Co-Curricular Newsletter Week 2 Term 3 2024
• Co-Curricular Weekly Training Schedule Term 3 2024
• KAPA Weekly Rehearsal Schedule Term 3 2024

Cadets
Year 8 will be commencing Cadets in Week 1, Term 4. A list of all compulsory uniform items is available in today’s Year 8 newsletter.

Chess
Well done on another strong term of Chess in the NSWJCL competition. The Senior A and Junior A team went through without dropping a point which is a super achievement. Special mention to the Junior B team who just missed out on the quarter finals by one point in a tightly contested game against a strong Marist Eastwood A team. This week, all three games will be at home against Central Coast Grammar today (Friday 2 August). Junior and Intermediate games will aim to start at 3.30pm.

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

Sport

PDF Link
Sport Newsletter Week 2, Term 3 2024

I hope everyone is enjoying the opportunity to watch some Olympics this week. There have been so many inspirational performances so far from our Australian athletes and I hope this serves as motivation for all youngsters out there to reach for the clouds and dream big. When you hear some of their personal stories, it really shows that absolutely anything can be achieved with the right attitude and support around the athlete.

William Yang (OKG16) was superb in the pool in the 100m freestyle and reached the semi finals whilst coming up in Week 2, we have a Knox representative on the track with Cameron McEntyre (OKG16) throwing the javelin. Good luck, Cam.

For more on sport this week, please read the Sport Newsletter linked above.

Martin Haywood, Head of Knox Sports and Aquatic Academy

Jake Cox
School Sport Australia Swimming Championships
Yuma Nakakoji

This is a reminder of the various university applications which are now open. Closing dates are soon approaching, so it is important to be mindful of these closing dates and for students to submit their applications as soon as possible.

Open Days – check university websites for details on the upcoming Open Days. Click here for dates for the 2024 University Open Days.

Early Entry – all university Early Entry Schemes are now open. Early entry is an alternate admission scheme offered by many universities and are based on criteria other than an ATAR. Information on the various early entry schemes available can be found on the UAC website and here. Every university has its own eligibility criteria and, as the early entry application is direct to the university, students can apply to more than one early entry scheme. These type of schemes allow students to accept their early entry course offer as well as receive a course offer in the main offer round via UAC in December Round Two.

I love to ask children about prayer, and to hear them say “God answers prayer.” It’s a simple statement, but a profound truth. As we bring our prayers to God, we know that he is attentive and waiting to hear our prayers. Whether in times of joy, or times of challenge, God listens to our prayers with grace and understanding. He is attentive and ready to respond to our needs. .

In prayer, how wonderful it is to be able to listen and talk to our wonderful and glorious God, knowing his words and actions bring life and sustain us in all that we do. We are sometimes called to be patient, or perhaps we feel our prayers and requests aren’t hitting the mark, but we can be assured that God’s power and love are at work in us, every step of the way.

Chaplaincy Team

Text of the Week
I kneel in prayer to the Father. All beings in heaven and on earth receive their life from him. God is wonderful and glorious.
Ephesians 3:14-16

Evening with an Author

Enquiries: OKGA Office 02 9487 0419 | 0416 183 474 or email
For more information and to register, click here.

Knox Christian Fellowship

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

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

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

For more information, please contact Jackie and Jeremy Tham.

Knox Gala Day 2024

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mentor Games

During Mentor on Tuesday, Ms Waters and Mr Kolta's Mentor groups played Dodgeball in the finale of Mentor Games. Great to see all the boys get together and rally for their peers.

Year 12 Team 2024

Events

Assessments

Senior Academy Team 2024