It’s been another exciting week for our Year 8 cohort, filled with meaningful experiences and opportunities for growth.

Well done to all students for your fantastic engagement during the Science excursion last week. The feedback from the teachers and facilitators was extremely positive, with many of them commending the boys' curiosity and involvement throughout the day. The weather was phenomenal, and the bush proved to be the perfect classroom for the day.

A number of our students are currently training in readiness for taking part in a challenge aimed at promoting understanding and empathy for those in our country who are experiencing homelessness. We celebrated these boys during the week, and we support them as they work to raise awareness for this important cause, and reflect on how we can contribute to our community.

Thursday 19 September 
• CAS Track and Field Photo Day
• CAS Track and Field Championships at SOPAC

Friday 20 September 
• Student Assembly: House Cup Presentation and 2025 Prefect Announcement

Saturday 21 September 
• Summer Sport Trials

Sunday 22 September 
• Junior Musical Theatre Showcase - LETTERS

Wednesday 25 September 
• Year 8 English Incursion - Bell Shakespeare

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.

Tuesday 15 October to Thursday 18 October
• Religion and Ethics Task 2 (IC)

Please click here for the Term 4 assessment grid for Year 8.

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.

Our Welllbeing Portfolio Leadership and Psychology Teams put together a fantastic R U OK? Day Academy Assembly on Thursday. The representatives spoke to the importance of mental health, actively supporting one another and seeking help in a really relatable, normalising and meaningful way. This Assembly was followed up by a lunchtime filled with fun activities to watch and get involved in where staff and students had a laugh and enjoyed the time together.

Your son’s Term 3 report is now available to view through Parent Lounge. It contains Learner Protocols for the term together with all assessment task data that was finalised at the data capture point. Please contact the subject teacher directly should you have any queries about a particular subject.

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

Year 8 will be commencing Cadets in Week 1, Term 4 and this year, all compulsory Cadet uniform items are available to order online via Flexischools. You will find these items listed under the Cadets section.

The Uniform Shop will exchange most items (except socks) provided the swing tags are still attached. You are encouraged to place your order as soon as possible ahead of the commencement of Cadets. Below is the list of all compulsory items required, along with sizing recommendations.

• 1 x shirt (order the same size as your son's school shirt)
• 1 x pants (recommend to size down from your son's waist measurements as pants are of a generous fit)
• 1 x ripstop jersey (recommend to size up as this is worn over the Cadet shirt)
• 2 x socks
• 1 x boots (recommend to go one size up from your son's shoe size to allow for some room to grow and thickness of the Cadet socks)
• 1 x balmoral (the size is equal to the circumference measurement of your son's head)
• 1 x balmoral bow
• 1 x bush hat
• 1 set of name badges (note that these have been pre-ordered)
• 1 x compass

Should you have any questions, please contact the Cadet Unit Adjutant, Mr Ben Moss or the Cadet Administration Assistant, Ms Donne Boers.

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.

Non-fiction Display
Non-fiction books bring alive subjects in a truly unique way with a combination of words and images, engaging and stimulating students of all ages and abilities. If you have a curious mind, you may be enticed by Non-fiction. Why not improve your reading skills and knowledge simultaneously?

Popular titles include:

• 'An Anthology of Aquatic Life' by Sam Hume. Dive into the wondrous world of water and discover the stories of more than 100 incredible aquatic lifeforms.
• 'Secrets of the Sea' by Kate Baker. This book takes you on a journey, from the rockpools along the shoreline, to the deepest, darkest depths of the ocean, to reveal an incredible and rarely seen world.
• 'The Science of Animals' by Jamie Ambrose editor. From tiny insects to sleek sharks and majestic elephants, this book invites you to explore the animal kingdom.
• 'An Anthology of our Extraordinary Earth' by Cally Oldershaw. A celebration of the beauty and majesty of planet Earth.
• 'Welcome to the Mystery Verse' by Clive Gifford A guide to the unanswered questions that fascinate and perplex the greatest scientific minds.

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.

During this week's Academy Assembly, students had the opportunity to listen to a few speakers about R U OK? Day, including Knox Old Boy Hunter Johnson (OKG08) from The Man Cave. They were also shown a video of how to be a good listener when their friends come and speak with them and learned some tips on how to ask a friend whether they are ok. 

Wednesday's Connections activities provided an opportunity to spend a period outdoors connecting with peers via fierce handball matches, timing jumps and skipping in pairs.