Prep Magpie - Week 4 Term 1 2021

Hero Image
knox/bios/2019/08/23/scott-james-2018.jpg

In an ever-changing world, the focus of education is turning towards a holistic approach where schools are considering the social, physical and spiritual development of a child just as equal as the intellectual. With the many benefits associated with learning in natural environments, a key component of Knox Total Fitness is outdoor education.

Outdoor experiences engage our students in practical and active learning in natural settings beyond the school classroom. The benefits of high-quality outdoor experiences quickly become apparent when young people are given the opportunity to take part in risk-assessed, but not risk-free activities. As Roald Dahl once said, “The more risks you allow children to take, the better they learn to take care of themselves.”

The School’s outdoor program extends students out of their comfort zones, creating just enough challenge to ramp up their focus, creativity and communication skills, which in turn will help them to respond to life stress when unexpected things happen. More often than not, the experiences of camps and outdoor education are felt immediately, and have the tendency to resonate with students for years. Through outdoor education, our students develop a real sense of self, learn how to be resilient and self-reliant, while also learning how to live with others. Through spending time in nature, students have the chance to strive, relax, learn and grow, all in a less formal setting than a classroom.

Despite the range of positives that a school camp can provide, there may be some level of stress for a student in taking that leap towards the school camp experience. If this is the case, let your son talk about their worries and fears and possibly share your own experiences at camp and how you overcame your own challenges. You may also consider reaching out to our Psychology team who can help your son replace unhelpful thoughts and how to use other practical strategies to minimise their anxiety.

Camps are some of the most exciting, life-building experiences that a young person can have. If required, I encourage families to work with the School in preparing and supporting your son to de-bunk any apparent fears or worries that may be preventing him from attending camps this term and reaping the immense developmental benefits that outdoor education has to offer.


Scott James

Knox Parents' Association


KPA Name Badges - last chance to order
The KPA organises name badges for parents at the start of each school year for use at the various school functions you will attend throughout your son's time at Knox. They come with the Knox crest and your name, with a simple magnet on the back for attaching. They are a much better alternative to the sticky labels that always peel off! The cost of $16 includes postage.

Orders close Friday 19 February 2021. This is the only opportunity to order name badges for 2021, so please put your order in now to avoid disappointment.

Please click here to order and pay for a name badge. Be sure to put down your name as you would like it to appear on the badge (first and last name only).

Knox Prayer Meetings


Our informal prayer meeting for Term 1 will be held at 10am on Friday 19 March, at the home of Prue Feather. Morning Tea will be included.

There will also be an evening meeting at 8pm on Wednesday 10 March, at the home of Fiona van Horen.

Please RSVP if you plan to attend so that we comply with the gathering limits prescribed by the government’s Public Health Orders in place at the time.

A warm welcome is extended to anyone from our Knox community who would like to attend.

Any enquires to Prue Feather.

Knox Uniform Shop


Winter Uniform
We would like to remind all parents that Term 2 changes over into winter uniform. For further information on what the uniform item changes are, please refer to the Uniform Policy and Regulations. We strongly recommend purchasing the winter uniform earlier than later and not wait until the last week of the school holidays as we cannot guarantee all sizes will be available.

Special orders
For any students who have special requirements regarding winter uniform items, it is strongly recommended that these are discussed with the Uniform Shop Staff as soon as possible. Occasionally, we have students who have allergies/sensitivity to wool and in these instances, time permitting, we can get winter trousers lined and jumpers made in a cotton/nylon blend. These special orders require some notice: four weeks for the trousers and up to eight weeks for knitwear.

Other instances include if your son is not of a standard size. For example, very tall but slim and may require extra length or he may be of a more solid frame like a Rugby player and the standard sizes may be disproportional.

Please visit the Uniform Shop during trading hours (see below) or contact via us by phone 9487 0191 or email.

Trading Hours
Monday to Friday: 12.30pm-5.30pm
Saturday (Terms 1 and 4 only): 9am-12noon

Phone (02) 9487 0191 or visit the Knox website here for more information.

Julie Blackburn, Knox Uniform Shop Manager

Head of the Preparatory School

knox/bios/2019/08/23/Sue-Floro.jpg

What a great week we’ve had!

We had our first assemblies for almost a year; a highlight among these was the K-2 assembly, which we held outdoors, which allowed us to sing – to sing! The joy on the teachers’ faces as we sang the National Anthem and School Song was truly delightful. Even more impressive, though, was the fact that we were led in the singing of the Anthem by three Kindy boys. It’s the little things that we’ve missed the most so it was just so lovely to be again doing some of the things that we have taken for granted for so long.

Year 5 had their annual camp last week, from Wednesday to Friday, which is an important step in blending our continuing boys with the large number of new boys who join us each year in Year 5. By the end of the camp, they were just one big blended group, having shared adventures and tackling challenges together, all the while building shared stories and memories that will form the basis of new friendships that have formed. Bravo to the dads who braved the heat to come along on Friday night and camp out with their sons. The prizes were many – an opportunity to share time with your son; to connect with other dads; and to enjoy conquering challenges together during activities. Canoeing, sailing, climbing, rafting and paddling were the order of the day on Saturday morning and the smiling faces as they all left camp tells me that enduring a hot night in a small tent was worth it!

SWIMMING CARNIVAL – Tuesday 16 February
The Years 3-6 House Swimming Championships are being held tomorrow. This carnival is a fabulous day of both performance and participation. We do have a number of very strong swimmers, who will battle the Age Championship out in the pool; but for most boys, it is an opportunity to have a go, and to earn points for their respective Houses. For boys who are less confident, we have 25m events and some novelty events, but it is our expectation that all boys will attend and all boys will swim.

Show more

K-2 Happenings

We are very excited to be able to welcome you on site for our Parent Information Evening on Tuesday between 6pm and 7pm. Just a reminder if we can only have one parent per student attend and all sessions will be in your son’s classroom. The teachers are looking forward to seeing you face to face and sharing important information about your son’s learning journey this year.

We continue to look at ways to encourage independence within our boys and one major focus area over the coming weeks will be school uniforms. I would love to see every boy in K-2 walk through the gate each morning with their socks pulled up, shirts tucked in, top button done up and cap on straight. We would appreciate it if you could please encourage your son to ensure they checks his uniform as he gets out of the car and that it is neat and tidy. We thank you in advance for your support in this matter. 

Show more

Kindergarten News

Kindergarten have had such an exciting start to 2021. They have made new friends, explored new concepts and become curious about the world around us.

The boys have enjoyed exploring the big idea ‘Families are the same and different’. We have learnt about those who are members of their family and what makes their family unique. This week they will begin to look at the roles people play within their families and how this is the same and different to their peers. Boys are asked to bring in five items or photographs in a small box. The boys will share these with the class and compare their families and lives. If your son wishes to bring in something expensive, please take a photo of it, rather than sending it in.

Show more

Year 1 News

It has been a wonderful week of fun and learning in Year 1. We are so impressed at how the boys have settled into their new classroom environments and the expectations and routines of Year 1. We are constantly encouraging the boys to take pride in being a Knox student. Our focus this week is on always wearing our uniform with pride. For your son this means:

• Wearing his school blazer to and from school
• Wearing his varsity cap to and from school
• Wearinghis  blue bucket hat at recess and lunch
• Making sure the top button on his shirt is done up and his tie is worn.
• His socks are pulled up
• His shirt is tucked in

We remind the boys that their full school uniform needs to be worn to and from school. Full school uniform should be kept on until boys arrive home.  We ask parents to support this by reinforcing these expectations when you leave home in the morning, and pick your son up each afternoon.

Show more

Year 2 News

Another wonderful week in Year 2 has come and gone with boys continuing to dive deep into Knox history. Some fabulous questions were raised during our tour of Knox Prep last week with some wonderings including; Why are black and blue the Knox colours? Were Lang, Burns, Fuller, Ewan and Haslett always the Prep Houses? Where did the boys learn before the K-2 building was here? Why did the fountain have to be moved from the front of Ewan House? A very big thank you to Mr Cole for taking the time to join us last week to impart his wealth of knowledge on our boys.

The K-2 Parent Information Evening is taking place tomorrow from 6pm and the Year 2 Team is looking forward to meeting parents face to face. A friendly reminder that only one parent per child is permitted to attend to ensure that the School complies with current COVID restrictions.Parents will be asked to move directly to their son's classroom. We encourage all parents to maintain social distancing measures throughout the evening. Click here for the Year 2 Information Booklet which will provide you with a detailed explanation of elements relating to life in Year 2.

Show more

Year 3 News

Parent Action Required: 

House Swimming Carnival Years 3-6 

Year 3 The Dish Roster (Class 3R Term 1)

 

Congratulations to all Year 3 boys representing Knox for the first time in Saturday sport. Your ‘have a go’ attitude and sportsmanship were observed by coaches across the various sports and this is to be commended. As teams are fluid throughout the season, all boys are encouraged to maintain a positive attitude and wholeheartedly apply themselves at trainings.

Last week, all boys completed their Accelerated Reader - Star Reading Assessment.
Accelerated Reader (AR) is a reading program that Years 3 to 6 are using to support and monitor each boy’s reading practice. Your son’s teacher will record the ZPD (zone of proximal development) for your son in his diary. He will be able to go to the School Library and choose books at his own level and read them at his own pace. The librarian and classroom teacher will also be able to provide support.

Show more

Year 4 News

Parent Action Required: 

House Swimming Carnival Years 3-6 

Camp Medication Form

Camp Going Home Arrangements Form

What to Pack

 

Year 4 Camp
Excitement is growing over the upcoming Year 4 Camp. We will support the boys at school by sharing with them the activities on offer, the routines and information about the accommodation. Please address any questions or concerns you or your son might have about camp directly to his classroom teacher. We are always ready, prepared and well-experienced in supporting boys at whilst camp.

Medication Form
If your son requires medication whilst at camp, please complete the attached form detailing the name of the medication and the amount, time and frequency of the dosage. All medication must be in the original packaging, clearly labelled with your son’s name and put in a zip lock bag to be given to your son’s class teacher when you drop your son to school on the morning of Wednesday 24 February 2021.

Going Home Arrangements
To assist with the going home arrangements for your son on Friday 26 February, please click here to advise the school of your son’s going home arrangements following their arrival back at the Prep School from Camp.

Homework
Our first week of Year 4 Homework is due Thursday. We hope that the homework has been a great opportunity for you to talk to your son about what they have been learning in the classroom. The activities are designed to support and consolidate your son’s learning and will often revolve around our inquiry learning in Knoxigations.

Our feedback in homework may suggest areas where your son has done really well and areas for him to work on in the future. We will often share what boys have done in order to model and support every boy to challenge themselves and achieve their best.

Shoes
Please ensure your son is wearing the correct shoes to school daily.

Q: What day does my son wear his sport shoes?

A: He wears them when he has PE or has summer sport training.

Q: Does my son wear his sport shoes to school when he has Sport Skills?

A: If he does NOT have PE or summer sport training, then no. However, he may choose to bring his sport shoes to change into for Sports Skills.

Q: Can my son wear his sports shoes home after Sport Skills?

A: No, he must change back into his blacks.

Any further questions regarding shoes, please contact your son’s teacher.

Show more

Year 5 News

Parent Action Required: 

House Swimming Carnival Years 3-6 

Year 5 Debating

 

Courage is Contagious
At school we often talk about kindness being contagious, but courage can be too! Behind so many brilliant successes and brilliant minds are failures, rejections and countless unexpected turns. Through acts of courage and bravery, we are motivated to keep on going and to try things we may not normally do. What we want is for our boys to realise that from the outside, courage often looks impressive and powerful, but on the inside it can feel frightening and unpredictable and that often the reward for courage takes time to come to fruition.

We want our classrooms to be places of courage; where our boys respectfully share their thoughts, challenge their thinking and stand up for what is right. The Year 5 Crusaders Camp at Lake Macquarie last week was the perfect opportunity to begin our courageous year of learning.

Show more

Year 6 News

Parent Action Required: 

House Swimming Carnival Years 3-6 

Year 6 Debating

The Year 6 cohort continues to shine and set a fine example for the rest of Knox Prep in their conduct on the playground, when moving around the school and in the respect they are showing their teachers. This has been fantastic to observe and we are very proud of the boys. The Year 6 Team look forward to supporting the boys to maintain this high standard.

Last week, it was wonderful to be able to meet as a grade for our first assembly of 2021. Benas Lu and Finn O’Regan did an excellent job leading their first assemblies as School Captain and Vice-Captain with Mr Voysey. The key message for the boys was about teamwork. Mr Voysey shared an inspiring example from Year 4 and challenged Year 6 boys to reflect on their words and actions for the ways in which they could show teamwork in class, on the playground or on a sporting field. The Year 6 Team will be watching and listening carefully to the boys to see who is taking up this challenge!

Show more

Sports News

Prep Sport - ‘Around the Grounds’ Round 1

After two weeks of trials and training The Knox Prep Boys were finally underway in Round 1…until the rain decided against it. All of our cricket, tennis and touch rugby fixtures were cancelled but two basketball fixtures were played. The 11ths went down to Mosman Prep School by one point, however, the 12ths came home victorious. The indoor venues at the Senior School were a hive of activity; fencing, karate, flippaball, swimming and squash, were all able to take to their training sessions and matches sheltered from the weather. Let’s hope all sport will be on next weekend.

Last week we had a number of boys representing Knox at IPSHA trials. On Monday, our Knox IPSHA Basketball representatives of Will Cassar Y6, Jack Gibbons Y6, Barnaby Walker Y6, Freddie O’Hara Y6 and Patrick Zhu Y6 strutted their stuff and showed their skill to the selectors in an endeavour to trial for the CIS team. Congratulations to both Will Cassar and Freddie O’Hara who have made it into the IPSHA Team who will now try out for the CIS Team this week.

On Friday, our Knox IPSHA Tennis representatives of Cade Petrie Y5 and Alexander Lane Y5 made their way to PLC to trial amongst 40 other hopeful and very skilled representatives from other local independent schools; all vying for only a few spots in the IPSHA Tennis Squad. The boys gained valuable experience from this event and are congratulated for their efforts against some very tall and strong opponents.

Show more

Musical News

2021 Music Leadership positions
A huge congratulations to the below boys for being awarded Music Leadership roles for 2021!!

Music Captain – Adam Zhao
Band Captain – Lukas Dunn
String Captain – Ryan Theresia
Choir Captain – Ethan He



Private Instrumental Lessons
There are still a few vacancies for all instruments/voice with our talented tutors in the Prep School. If your son is interested in learning an instrument please email Mrs Morris at morrisr@knox.nsw.edu.au.

NOTE: if your son is already learning an instrument at school and he cannot attend his lesson for whatever reason, 24hrs notice MUST be given to the tutor directly or you will be charged for the lesson. Please do not assume that because something is in the calendar (which means your son cannot attend his lesson) that your tutor will know about it. It is the responsibility of the parent to always inform the tutor of any absences.

Show more

K-2 Literacy Centre and 3-6 Library

K-6 Recommended Reading Lists
Recommended Reading Lists for each Stage are available on our Knox Prep Library page. Access is available for the students only as they are patrons of our Library. Our Library page is a google site. Your son will need to log in using their Knox email address and password.

You will be able to access lists for Early Stage 1 and Stage 1 (K-2), Stage 2 (Years 3-4) and Stage 3 (Years 5-6).

Charges for overdue books
Any items that are overdue from last year and have not yet been returned to our Prep Library will be charged to your account in the next billing cycle.

Emma-Kate Smith, Jo Wheatley and Emma Wood, Prep Library Teachers

Debating Years 5&6

A reminder to all parents that Year 5 & 6 Debating will commence this week on Thursday, 18 February (Week 4). All training sessions will be held in 5C Classroom at 7:30 – 8:15am with an external coach. Students who are participating in debating are expected to attend the training sessions for the duration of the year to develop their skills and participate in the range of competitions offered (inter-school and Prep School competitions).

Please forward any questions regarding debating to Mrs Brenda Christie-David and Mrs Angharad Cook, Year 5 Teachers and Debating Co-ordinators.



Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Philippians 4:6