Mr Scott James

When we think of the most successful people that we’ve come across in life, we invariably feel they excel at most things. There are many examples we can draw upon; those who seem to have this capacity to work towards a particular purpose.

It’s the people who follow their passion and who set one large goal to achieve a purpose that are highly successful. They know what they are about and appear to have an insatiable desire to achieve their purpose.

A school education is such an interesting construct, especially as it occurs before young people are at a time in their life to be equipped to decide upon a purpose. It’s fair to say students are really only finding out about themselves, discovering what it is that derives their passion.

Mrs Helen Clarke, Head of Diversity, Justice and Stewardship

Operation Gratitude
Two of the Knox school values are compassion and courage.

We are developing a project to thank COVID-19 front line workers and send postcards to those isolated in local aged care facilities.

There will be a series of committee of students from Stage 4 and Stage 5 and Year 11 formed to coordinate Operation Gratitude. This is an opportunity for all students to participate in the Project and develop leadership and organisation skills. Please contact Helen Clarke if your son wishes to participate. 

Thank you for tuning into the Knox Wellbeing Team Optimal Parenting recent webinar, we hope you found this helpful. Thank you also for the overwhelming response to our Q&A section – our team is mindful that we did not have the opportunity to answer all questions on the night and have provided a written response to the key questions/themes in the PDF here.

Please note that the information is general in nature; for specific responses tailored to your particular child and/or family’s situation, please contact Knox Wellbeing Reception to arrange an appointment with your school psychologist via email.

Year 7 Week 6 Term 2 2020

Year 8 Week 6 Term 2 2020

Year 9 Week 6 Term 2 2020

Year 10 Week 6 Term 2 2020

Year 11 Week 6 Term 2 2020

Year 12 Week 6 Term 2 2020

This term our informal prayer meeting will be held on Thursday 18 June, 7.30pm via Zoom.

Please email Fiona van Horen for meeting details.

This is open to Wahroonga Prep, Knox Prep and Senior School parents and a warm welcome is extended to anyone who would like to attend.

Any other enquires to Prue Feather.

Mrs Sue Floro

We are so proud of the boys’ collective efforts since returning to campus, in all of their endeavours. Each day seems to bring new reflections from our staff about how excited the boys are to be on-site with their friends, how responsive they are in their classrooms, and generally how lovely it is to be sharing those little anecdotal moments together each day. It’s the little things that inevitably make us smile, and there is much to smile about.

With sports training back in full swing, the afternoon Kiss and Drop is more manageable, although mornings remain more challenging, mostly due to the narrowness of the streets. Mr Quach has written a piece in this edition of the Knoxonian, which is relevant for all parents who are dropping off and picking up using the carline at present. May I strongly encourage you to read it carefully, as it seeks to enhance the safety of our processes for your sons’ safe arrival and departure from campus.

Kiss and Ride
Thank you to parents for your patience and cooperation as we have established the Kiss and Ride car line. As the students, staff and parents have become more familiar with the process, we have seen it operate more smoothly and quickly. In order to further enhance Kiss and Ride, please note the following:

• Remain in your vehicle in the afternoon. Staff are on hand to assist your son into the car
• Attach your son’s name label to the passenger sun visor with rubber bands and make sure it is visible to staff
• Open the front passenger window so that your son’s bag can be placed into the car quickly and safely
• Arrive on time for your son’s pick up, not beforehand
• Ensure your son is wearing his blazer and cap/boater on the way to school and his bag is on his lap. This will make it faster for him to get out once you arrive

Mrs Chris Gray, K-2 Coordinator

A gentle word, a kind look, a good-natured smile can work wonders and accomplish miracles.
William Hazlitt

Each morning I am greeted by beautiful faces at the gate whose smiles light up their little faces and reflect their energy and enthusiasm. These smiles are contagious and in conjunction with hearing the laughter and excitement in our little boys, make us as adults smile and gain perspective.

Mrs Mary Mae Burton, Kindergarten Team Leader

Kindergarten has begun their next Knoxigations unit ‘Shelters meet the needs of living things in different environments’. As our provocation, we read the story ‘The Gruffalo’ by Julia Donaldson. In the story, we meet different animals, learning where they live in the forest. Some live in burrows, others in woodpiles and the hollows of trees. The story was a great stimulus to promote a rich discussion with the boys of the different kinds of shelters animals need and use, depending on the environment in which they live. This led us to wonder what kind of shelter a Gruffalo would use, so we went outside to create and build a Gruffalo shelter using nature.

Miss Nadine Smith, Year 1 Team Leader

The Year 1 teaching team have been reflecting on our last few months and it has been a time like no other. To say we are proud of our boys is an understatement. We have all had to face many challenges. What has helped us to face these challenges has been a spirit of cooperation and collaboration. When we cooperate and work together valuing each other with mutual respect, greatness can be achieved. Supporting each other in an environment underpinned by our Knox values assists us all in being able to make a difference in our lives, the lives of others and our society. I would like to congratulate our boys for working hard, each and every day, enjoying their learning and cooperating with each other in their school environment.

Miss Sarah Beaumont-Jones, Year 2 Team Leader

Another wonderful week in Year 2 has been and gone with boys thoroughly enjoying expressing their wonderings around our Sustainable Solutions Knoxigations Unit. Boys have been excitedly sharing their prior knowledge of the vocabulary present within our big idea 'Rethink, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle for a Sustainable Future at Home, at School and in the Community'.

Mr Glenn Stephenson, Year 3 Team Leader

The Year 3 team trust that all families enjoyed a restful long weekend and that the boys are refreshed and prepared to finish the term strongly over the final two and a half weeks.

Many students across Year 3 are continuing to work towards achieving their Premier’s Reading Challenge target. I would like to offer a big congratulations to those boys who have already reached their goal and a friendly reminder to all other students who are yet to accomplish this. It would be an outstanding achievement if every single Year 3 boy was able to complete this challenge before its conclusion on Friday 28 August.

Mr Jared Rastall, Year 4 Team Leader

Years 3 and 4 Musical
We are excited to inform you that auditions for this year’s musical ‘Pirates of the Curry Bean’ will be taking place next Monday 15 June in Mrs Irwin’s Music classroom. Interested students should have received an audition script to practise and prepare.

Mrs Tammy Paterson, Year 5 Team Leader

Knox Film Festival
This year, we have turned Knoxfest up a notch! The Year 5 boys have started preparing for the Knox Film Festival – The Silent Edition. Your sons will be involved in a group, where they will create a short film which aligns with one of our Knox core values – faith, wisdom, integrity, compassion or courage. We have started by showing the boys a selection of short films and they have chosen their groups. Next, they will begin the process of writing a short film story board where they carefully consider what techniques to use to entertain you and how their film will end. This year, all students will also be involved in the filming and directing process, where they will attend master classes and be provided with tutorials on film and camera angles. We have also provided them with an additional challenge – the films will contain no or very little dialogue! This will enable our boys to develop their writing skill of 'show don’t tell'. We are excited to see what they produce and we look forward to evening of entertainment where we will present them to you.

Mr Liam Flanagan, Year 6 Team Leader

Another excellent week of learning has come and gone for the Year 6 boys. They have done an amazing job since returning and we are incredibly proud of the work they have completed. This past week the boys have finished their 'Interconnected Systems' Domain of Learning which culminated in them creating and establishing a new system of government for the country of Knoxtopia. The boys produced some incredible work and provided some interesting and unique government systems. We were incredibly proud of the work they produced!

Mrs Rebeccah Morris, Miss Ali Irwin and Mr Ashley George

Ensembles News
It is with great excitement to confirm that this week all Ensembles will be re-commencing!

There are a few changes to the morning procedure and timetable due to social distancing and room availability so please read the below information carefully and don’t hesitate to email Mrs Morris if you have any questions. Please note that there are no large ensemble rehearsals at lunchtimes for the rest of this term.

Mr Martin Haywood

Knox was fortunate to host two of the country’s elite coaches last week - Graham Arnold (Football Socceroos) and Simon Cusack (NSWIS Coach of the year 2019 - Swimming) - with a lucky few boys participating in a Q & A. It was particularly interesting to hear how each coach has used the current COVID-19 regulations to freshen their squads, keep the athletes motivated and many different training techniques - all in line with government guidelines. Our students enjoyed the opportunity and we wish both coaches all the best with their respective sports in the lead up to their seasons.

So do not fear for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10