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.

As we wrap up Term 3, we would like to take a moment to reflect on what has been an incredibly busy, but rewarding term. The boys have shown resilience, commitment and a growing sense of responsibility in both their academic and co-curricular pursuits. Each week has brought its own set of challenges and successes, contributing to the development and growth of the Year 9 cohort.

On Monday, we had the privilege of attending the Year 12 Valedictory Ceremony, where the School came together to celebrate and bid farewell to our Year 12 students. It was a moving event, filled with gratitude, pride, and excitement for what's ahead for these boys as they enter the next chapter of their lives. We are sure it also inspired our Year 9 boys as they look towards their own senior years.

A reminder that there are still a few places left for the Matt Cogin Public Speaking Course next term. This is a fantastic opportunity for the boys to build their confidence and public speaking skills. These are invaluable tools, both in and out of the classroom.

Friday 27 September
• Term 3 concludes

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 to Saturday 26 October inclusive
• AMEB Music Examinations

Sunday 27 October
• Pipes and Drums - The Scots College Highland Gathering
• Celebration Sing Out Performance, 4pm-6.30pm


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.

Week 1 Term 4
• No Assessment tasks

Week 2 
• Monday 21 to Friday 25 October - Religion and Ethics - In Class Task
• Friday 25 October - Engineering - Hand In Task
• Friday 25 October - Graphics technology - Hand In task

You would have received a copy of the Year 9 Exam Schedule for Term 4. You may also find a copy here. Students should ensure that they are at school for all of their exams. Some key points regarding the exams are below:

• If a student is absent on the day of an exam, parents are to contact the SAO, Director of Studies and subject teacher to inform them.
• If a student misses an exam or part of the day which an exam is on they will be required to submit an IMA
• If a student is unwell on the day of an exam they should not attend an exam
• If a student is late for an exam or has technical issues, they will not be given additional time at the end. Instead, they are encouraged to submit an IMA.
• All missed examinations will require an IMA supported with appropriate documentation. Failure to provide such documentation may result in penalties on final estimations.

Due to tight deadlines, the opportunity for make-up papers is limited. A decision on the appropriateness of a make-up paper will be on a case-by-case basis and a final decision will be made by the exam committee, consisting of the Director of Studies, as well as Heads and Assistant Heads of Departments.

On behalf of the Middle Academy team we would like to wish you all a restful break. Term 3 is a long term and we hope all students take the opportunity to recover and prepare for their exams in Term 4.

Middle Academy Team

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.

Congratulations to the the winning champions from Mr Oakes' Mentor Group who took out the Year 9 Mentor Olympics. This initiative was organised by Ms O'Brien and on Tuesday the boys enjoyed their victory with a delicious pizza lunch.

Monday 23 to Wednesday 25 September trek through the National Park as alternative activity to the Kokoda Trail.