Knoxonian - Week 7 Term 4 2019

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Mr Scott James

As we come to the end of this academic year, it is with great pride that I can look back at the many achievements across our three campuses. Throughout the year students have engaged in a diverse range of cultural, sporting, academic and service learning experiences, and have grown their self-identity and wellbeing as a result.

Along with providing an engaging and stimulating academic program, one of our crucial goals is teaching students to work through challenges, deal with disappointment and hardship, and help them achieve realistic goals they have set for themselves.

Throughout 2019, staff have continued to train in Positive Psychology. The training has enabled staff to develop the strategies and the language to help students make the connection between effort and achievement. Whilst its acceptable and necessary at times to take a break when things gets tough, the important lesson is to come back and continue to try.

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Handwriting Course Term 1 2020

Ms Rebecca Papageorgiou, Learning Enhancement

Each term, Knox holds a Handwriting Course designed to help improve the speed, accuracy and neatness of students’ handwriting, reducing tension and fatigue when writing for long periods of time. In 2020 the 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.

We are now filling places for our Term 1, 2020 course.

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Social Justice


Mrs Helen Clarke, Head of Diversity, Justice and Stewardship

Thank you to all the many generous advocates for Social Justice in our Knox community, especially the ‘Just Parents’ team who support us for events such as Gala Day and the Christmas Markets cake stall. If you are interested in joining, please email Helen Clarke.

Wishing you all a relaxing and happy holiday and joyful blessings over the Christmas period. We look forward to great start to 2020 and sharing more challenges to bring justice and peace to others!

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Knox Academy of Performing Arts - Music


Mr James Brice, Head of Knox Academy of Performing Arts (KAPA)

Chamber Music Soiree
The KAPA Chamber Music Program has 18 regularly rehearsing ensembles. On Monday 25 November, ten of the senior ensembles represented the program in a final showcase for the year. The audience was treated to a diverse program featuring Contemporary Percussion, Barbershop, Jazz Clarinet, full twelve piece Brass Ensemble and many more.

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Knox Grammar School Presentation Day 2019


Knox parents are warmly invited to attend Knox Prep and Senior School Presentation Day on Thursday 5 December 2019.

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2020 Term Dates


A reminder that Term Dates for next year are available on the Knox website here.

Term 1 commences for all students on Wednesday 29 January 2020.

2021 Scholarships


2021 Scholarships
Applications for our 2021 scholarships are now open. Applications close 7 February 2020, with scholarship examinations to be held in Sydney (21 February 2020) and Dubbo (24 February 2020).

The scholarships available for entry to Knox in 2021 are:

• Academic 2021 Scholarships
• Music
• All-Rounder 2021 Scholarships
• Sons of Old Boys
• Boarders (from Regional areas)

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ABBOX of Fun Camp


Seeking volunteers and food supplies for the Annual Sony Foundation ABBOX of Fun Camp for Children with special needs
This year marks the 12th annual ABBOX Camp - the Sony Foundation Holiday Camp for Children with special needs. The camp offers a much important break for families and fun time for the children. The ‘campers’ are cared for by a large number of our wonderful Knox and Abbotsleigh Year 12 student volunteers and staff.

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Knox Parents' Association


Mrs Amanda MacLean, President

Christmas Message
The end of the year approaches and our work for the moment, is almost complete. We have shared the events of the year - shared plans and hopes and dreams and prayers and discussions and celebrations on special occasions. Thank you to all of those who have been part of our community and for your presence in the life of the Knox Parents’ Association.

To each and every parent and carer and to all the special people in the lives of our boys, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

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Knox Uniform Shop


Mrs Julie Blackburn, Knox Uniform Shop Manager

Uniform Shop Opening Times 2019/20
Normal trading hours from Monday to Friday: 12.30pm-5.30pm
Saturday (Terms 1 and 4 only): 9am-12noon

In addition, please note the following:

Term 4 2019
Thursday 5 December (Term 4 concludes): All Years 7-10 blazers being submitted for Honour Award Embroidery to be handed in by 5pm at the Lawson Centre.

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From the Head of the Preparatory School

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Mrs Sue Floro

We are all looking forward to the Year 6 Musical, 'Madagascar Jnr.', which begins today. It promises to be a fabulous show! More than that, though, it is a wonderful testament of the musical development of our boys, which increases in complexity each year.

If you do not yet have tickets, may I encourage you to purchase your tickets here, bring the family and come along and join in the fun.

A reminder to all families that the Prep Christmas Chapel Service is being held this coming Sunday morning, commencing at 9.30am. It is a truly beautiful way to celebrate the end of our academic year and the Christmas message. Families are asked to bring along a Christmas gift for a child, which we will add to the Exodus Foundation/Burnside Children’s Christmas Charity collection.

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Kindergarten News


Mrs Mary-Mae Burton, Kindergarten Team Leader

As we near the end of the school year, the Kindergarten team would like to thank the parents for your unwavering support throughout this year.

Your son’s first year of school, his first year at Knox, has proved monumental in so many ways. As the Kindergarten teachers greeted the 2020 students last week, it was difficult for us to recall our boys from this year being at that stage. Your sons have grown so much this year: physically, socially and academically. We feel privileged to be a part of it.

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K-2 Happenings


Mrs Chris Gray, K-2 Coordinator

Gratitude is when a memory is stored in the heart and not in the mind.
Lionel Hampton

We are very grateful to the K-2 community for your very generous donation towards ‘Drought Angels’. The sale of K-2 Concert ticket raised $6,000 which will go towards making a difference to our rural communities during this terrible drought.

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Year 1 News


Mrs Emma Donaldson, Year 1 Team Leader

The boys have demonstrated so much resilience over the past two weeks. The weeks have been very full and exciting! This week the boys attended swimming at the Senior School. Swimming is an essential life skill in Australia and a skill that consistently challenges the individual to improve.

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Year 2 News


Mrs Alicia Baldry, Year 2 Team Leader

We are almost at the end of another school year and the boys have shown amazing growth since the start of the year. This week, Year 9 Drama will be coming to present a picture book performance for the Year 2 boys on Wednesday morning this week. 

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Year 3 News


Mr Glenn Stephenson, Year 3 Team Leader

On Friday all Year 3 boys will be taking part in the Surf Awareness and Education Day which will be held at Dee Why Beach. The boys are required to come to school wearing their PE uniform with swimmers underneath. In addition, students are reminded to ensure that they bring their necessary swimming gear with them (towel, sunscreen, bucket hat, recess, lunch and water bottle) in their sports bag. All boys will travel by coach to and from the beach on the day. Students are required to be at school at normal time in the morning and will return prior to 3.05pm in the afternoon.

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Year 4 News


Mr Jared Rastall, Year 4 Team Leader

Year 4 Fete Day
The Year 4 Fete Day was a resounding success last Thursday with almost $10,000 raised for the Fred Hollows Foundation. Many staff across Knox Prep commented on how well the boys conducted themselves throughout the day - it is no easy feat for 9 and 10 year olds to manage their own excitement let alone the excitement of so many others. Of course, this would not have been as successful without the generous support and donations from the Year 4 parents. Thank you for helping make the day such a wonderful success and thank you to all parents for getting behind this wonderful cause.

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Year 5 News


Mrs Tammy Paterson, Year 5 Team Leader

How time has flown! This year has gone far too quickly. I have been recently reflecting on this year and all that we have done.

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Year 6 News


Mr Liam Flanagan, Year 6 Team Leader

The last days at Knox Prep for Year 6 are fast approaching and it is pleasing to see the independence and maturity the boys are demonstrating. It certainly has been a fast-paced final term and the boys have handled the distractions very well. I would encourage you to support your son over the holidays in further developing these important skills ready for Senior School. Effective time management, organisation and taking on increasing responsibilities will assist him in confidence and to make a successful start to his senior school years! Whilst we are sad to see the boys moving on, we look forward to seeing them at various functions at the Senior School. The boys are always welcome back here at Knox Prep and the staff love to see the boys when they come back to visit.

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Musical Notes


Ms Rebeccah Morris, Miss Ali Irwin and Mr Ashley George

End of Year Band Concert
On Tuesday 3 December, all five bands will be performing at our End of Year Concert in the evening from 5pm-6pm. Please note the change of time. This year we are going to have a Twilight Concert outside in the Amphitheatre. The bands will all set up on the large steps of the Amphitheatre outside Ewan House and parents and guests are asked to bring a rug and a picnic and set themselves up on Ireland Field facing the amphitheatre!

All four bands and the Jazz Band will be performing at this concert and boys will need to be at school by 4.30pm for a quick tune and warm up before the concert! Boys are to wear their full school summer uniform (minus boater).

• Boys in the Junior and Intermediate Band are to meet in Ensemble Room 2 at 4.30pm to set up their instrument and be tuned.
• Boys in the Senior Band and Performance Ensemble are to meet in Ensemble Room 1 to set up their instrument and be tuned.

Parents, family and friends are more than welcome to attend our last big gig for the year!

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From the Head of Knox Sports and Aquatic Academy

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Mr Martin Haywood

With this being the last edition of the Knoxonian for 2019, I am keen to advise of some important dates and details to help prepare for -

• the holiday break coming up. 
• the first week of Term 1 2020.

Please take the opportunity to take advantage of some great camps over the break. An ideal way to keep the boys fit and healthy, whilst also having fun and keeping up their skills and staying occupied. Boys do not need to be playing the particular sport to enrol in any of the camps. You can find details and enrolment on the school app for:

• Basketball camps. 
• Cricket camps. 
• Squash camps. 
• Tennis camp and tournaments.

There are many other activities going on over the break which I look forward to reporting on when we start again in 2020 such as a Cricket tour to Adelaide, a Swim camp to Lennox Head, our Basketball tour to the US and our Tennis tour to Albury. Good luck everyone.

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So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
Hebrews 4:16