As a community, we have all shared Alex ‘AJ’ Richter’s journey since his accident last October which resulted in a significant spinal injury.

Part of this journey has been Alex’s desire to complete the HSC with his cohort, the Class of 2020. I am pleased to report that he is well on the way to achieving this goal. So far, he has completed all exams including PDHPE today. He has just the Engineering exam to write next week and then he is finished. Alex is a remarkable young man, this is an incredible achievement considering he has only been in class for five weeks since starting Year 12.

As a School, we would like to continue supporting Alex and his family purchase equipment that is vital for his continued rehabilitation. An initiative of the Prefect Executive is to encourage all boys to purchase a Ride With Richter cap. On Tuesday 24 November we will have Ride With Richter Day at Knox. Boys can wear their cap to school with smart casual clothes. There will also be other fundraising initiatives including a donation at the gates, a raffle and a BBQ lunch.

To facilitate the ordering of caps, if you would like your son to wear one can you please complete this order form before Friday 6 November. Caps cost $25 and this will be charged to your account. We encourage all boys to join this wonderful community connection experience.

Phil O’Regan

It has certainly been a very busy week for the Class of 2022! With summer sport commitments ramping up, exam preparation in full swing and Cadets back to normal, the boys are certainly working hard at meeting all of their obligations.

The Yearly Examination timetable was released last week and in Year Meeting the boys were spoken to by the current Academic Prefects who gave them some great tips on preparing for exams. The key message from the prefects was around the 'forgetting curve' which outlines how repetition of information in different ways allows the brain to retain the information they may need to remember. Research shows that revisiting content every couple of days transfers the content from short term to long term memory. An additional message from me will be delivered to the boys next week relating to how they revisit content. If we think of the boys currently learning to drive, it is clear that they need to actually get behind the wheel and experience driving to learn effectively. This is the same for studying, the more the boys can engage in using the knowledge they have learnt in class, the easier it will be to remember. How can they do this? Some ideas are below:

• Teach others what the concept is. Perhaps a great dinner time conversation?
• Practise as many questions as possible where they are asked to use the information rather than just re-write the content.
• Create questions on the topic area ie. creating their own multiple-choice questions on the area of content. Can they guess what the teaching staff might ask?

The boys will also have access to some additional tutoring and support during lunchtimes next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The Academic Portfolio has kindly offered to give up their lunchtimes to support boys who may have questions about certain subjects or may need some tips/additional help on how to start studying. Please encourage your sons to attend these sessions if they need some more support. As always, have a wonderful weekend and please reach out to either your son’s mentor, classroom teacher or the Team Leaders if you have any concerns.

Vicky Cowell

The gift of giving. This term is the time when the Knox community generously supports families that find Christmas particularly difficult. For the last 13 years, we have supplied Christmas Hampers for struggling families through the Uniting Church Family projects. Our focus this year is on the Wesley Mission and Parramatta Mission. Both organisations aim to support families with basic food supplies and Christmas fare (Christmas cakes, puddings, custard, serviettes, tins of ham, bonbons, biscuits etc. as well as staple goods such as long-life milk, cereals, pasta, sauces etc.). Your support with this initiative will be most appreciated.

Christmas gifts for children to the value of $10 (or more if you wish)
This has been a long-term project at Knox to support children from STARTTS who receive no gifts without our support. The social workers continually reinforce what a positive difference our donations make to these children and their parents.

Aussie Bread Tags for Wheelchairs
Your bread tags can make a difference to others. We are partnering with OZBread Tags for Wheelchairs  to promote both recycling across our school and also to help others. Please collected those square coloured bread tags and send them with your son for us to join in this support of those with a disability. Drop off to me, please.

A reminder to follow the directions of the road signs with regards to 'No Stopping' and 'Kiss and Ride' signs. These support the community members in the local area while enabling the safe and efficient arrival and departure of Knox students.

Have a great weekend and enjoy all the summer sports versus St Aloysius' College.

Rebecca Smith 

Friday 6 November

KAPA photos, 7.00am - 8.50am

Monday 9 - Sunday 15 November

National Recycling Week

Monday 23 November

Paul Dillon parent seminar (online presentation) 6.30pm

Tuesday 24 November

Ride with Richter cap day

Thursday 3 December

Term 4 concludes

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 13 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 Betty Fowler from the School’s Accounts Department on 9487 0442.

The Knox Academy of Performing Arts is delighted to advise that 2020 Ensemble photos will occur on Friday 6 November between 7am-9am in the Wenkart Theatre.

Dress for these photos will be winter school uniform. Yes, I understand that this will take some co-ordination, however I thank you in advance for your assistance, understanding and accommodation.

To assist with the running of the morning, we ask that all boys arrive promptly by the report time as advised in this schedule.

KAPA Ensemble members will be greeted by their Ensemble Conductors/Directors in the JAPAC Foyer, where all students will unpack ready for the photos for which will be occurring on the Wenkart Stage.

All enquiries should be directed to the Ensemble Conductor/Director in the first instance.

On behalf of all in KAPA, we are thrilled to offer this opportunity for our dedicated KAPA students.

James Brice

Thank you to all those students who entered into the Book Week Competitions. Some truly remarkable and colourful entries have been submitted.  Announcements of the winning entries will be posted and prizes awarded shortly.

Magazines in the Library

Some really interesting magazines which cater for a wide variety of interests are available to borrow. 'The Cricketer' was founded in 1921 and posts an exclusive interview with Steve Smith.

'New Scientist' looks at the rival claims to the best ever quantum computer.

'Cosmos' takes an in-depth look into the laboratory with the Virus Busters.

'Science Illustrated' shows how tiny creatures are amazing athletes.

In Week 8 the Library will be holding the annual magazine giveaway.

If you are looking for a place to study, remember the Library is open from 8am to 4pm, Monday to Thursday and on Fridays from 8.50am to 4pm.

Enjoy your reading.

Sally Thomson

2021 Applications
We would like to invite students who have competed at the state/national level to apply to join the PEAK program for the next intake. We understand that COVID-19 may have impacted some state/national championships, so PEAK eligibility criteria has been extended to include the last 12 months, or the last state/national championship event that was run.

What is PEAK?
PEAK will be going into its third year of operation and is designed to support high-performing student-athletes who aspire to have a career in elite sport. We aim to develop healthy, resilient and capable students by supporting the holistic wellbeing of each individual, whilst assisting them to achieve their academic and sporting potential.

The PEAK program includes:

• One on one mentoring with Knox high performance coaches, including the development of an Individual Performance Plan (IPP)
• Keynote speakers focusing on the Knox Total Fitness pillars, including:

  • Academic Fitness – covering themes such as time management, goal setting and habits for academic success
  • Physical Fitness – covering effective nutritional practices for athletes, sleep for recovery and effective rehab/prehab
  • Spiritual Fitness (Personal Development) – covering communication, mental preparation and leadership
  • Social/Emotional Fitness – covering resilience, performing under pressure and respect and responsibility

• Small group workshops to further enhance each student-athlete’s skills and learning capabilities.

Please see the PEAK website for more information about the program, including a copy of the prospectus.

To apply, please complete application form here. Applications will close on Thursday 3 December (last day of Term 4), with successful applicants to be notified before school resumes in 2021.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email here.

Kieran Donohue, Director of PEAK

Each school has a different policy with regards to the number of spectators, so it will be important to carefully read the information below.

1. Check the team list to see your son’s team – see the Knox app (download instructions)
2. Check the sports draw to see where and when your son’s team is playing – check the Knox app
3. Is he playing at a Knox Grammar School venue? If yes:

• 2 spectator parents/guardians per player at our outdoor venues.
• 1 spectator parent guardian per player at our indoor venues.
• QR code registration will be in place across all facilities at entry points, with standard health checks and questions.
• Players in all teams should turn up ready to play – no change rooms will be available.
• Canteens will be closed. Players should bring their own labelled water bottles and snacks if required.
• Players should leave immediately after completion of their fixture.
• Teams due to play in Great Hall, MacNeil and Lawson court will need to wait on Boulevard until they may enter the facility. This will depend on finish time of previous fixture.
• Water Polo players will also need to wait in JAPAC rec area for clearance to enter the pool area.
• Standard 1.5m social distancing for all spectators.

4. Is your son playing away? Which school is he playing against?

St Aloysius’ College
• Indoor venues – 2 spectator parent/guardians per player
• Outdoor venues - 2 spectator parent/guardians per player
• Willoughby Leisure Centre – no spectators/parents/guardians

Barker College
• Indoor venues – 1 spectator parent/guardians per player
• Outdoor venues - 2 spectator parent/guardians per player

Cranbrook School
• Indoor venues – 1 spectator parent/guardians per player
• Outdoor venues - 2 spectator parent/guardians per player

Trinity Grammar School
• Indoor venues – 1 spectator parent/guardians per player
• Outdoor venues - 2 spectator parent/guardians per player

Newington College
• Indoor venues – 1 spectator parent/guardians per player
• Outdoor venues - 2 spectator parent/guardians per player

Scots College (Ruth Everess Aquatic Centre, Auburn)
• Public outdoor venue - 2 spectator parent/guardians per player

Please ensure you follow social distancing guidelines at all times and leave immediately after your son’s game. As always, any sports cancellations due to wet weather will be announced via the Knox app (make sure you have subscribed to alerts for your son’s summer sport).

If you have any questions, please email the Sports and Aquatic Academy here.

Thank you and best wishes to all our students this weekend.

Martin Haywood, Head of Knox Sports and Aquatic Academy

Congratulations to the following Mentor leaders for 2021: Spencer Selikowitz, Clarence Mak, Daniel Groves, Oliver Glastonbury, Travis Cox, Jay-T Stubbs, Ellis Merrett, Jack Cooper, Shervin Erfanian, Hamish Saddington, Ryan Lynch, Oscar Chen, Lawson Henaghan, Riki Choi, Tane Bidois, Max Li, Lachie Bill, Aiden O'Neill and Alex Benson.

Last Wednesday, nine members of the current Year 10 French cohort attended an excursion to Wahroonga Preparatory School, in order to share our recent assessment - a short bilingual fairytale. In pairs, we regaled the Kindergarten students with a wide array of entertaining stories, recounting tales of danger, magic and friendship. We then gifted the books to the School so future children may enjoy our work. We are sure that we can speak for the entire group when we say our visit was an absolute pleasure and we enjoyed it immensely. 

Alexander Apostolou and AJ Jubb, Year 10 students