Dear Parents,

It has been reported that we have one case of a student with Whooping Cough in Year 9. The student is recovering at home. Should your son experience persistent bouts of coughing please keep him home from school and seek medical advice before he returns.

The text below includes information about pertussis and a link to the NSW Health pertussis factsheet.

WHOOPING COUGH

What are the symptoms?

In vaccinated cases pertussis may present as a very mild illness with very few symptoms, for example a mild cough at night.

Some cases may have a more typical presentation including a persistent cough that comes in bouts. Bouts may be followed by vomiting and a whooping sound as the child gasps for air. Pertussis can cause a severe illness in young children particularly those aged under 6 months.

How is it spread?

Pertussis is usually spread by direct contact with the droplets from the nose and throat of an infected person produced whilst coughing. People at greatest risk of getting the illness are those who have had a considerable amount of face-to-face contact with a person with the disease. Pertussis can occur in people previously vaccinated.

What should parents do?

Anyone developing symptoms should consult their local doctor and mention that there has been a case of pertussis at the school. Children who are diagnosed with pertussis cough need to stay away from school until they have taken 5 days of a special antibiotic.

For further information please refer to the NSW Health pertussis factsheet or contact the Northern Sydney Public Health Unit on 9477 9187.

Phil O'Regan

As we approach the halfway mark of first term, assessments are starting to loom. It has been fantastic to see students utilising the spaces in the Academy of Global Competency to study collaboratively both before and after school. If you are aware that your son will be absent on the day of an assessment task, then a Leave Application should be submitted. Leave applications should be submitted when your son will be absent for three or more days or when he will be missing a scheduled assessment task. If your son is sick on the day of an assessment task, then an Illness or Misadventure Appeal form should be submitted with a medical certificate.

If your son participates in Cadets and you need to submit a leave application for the period of time that the Cadet AFX will be occurring, this will need to be done through Cadets. We ask that, where possible, leave applications for this period be submitted by the beginning of Week 7 (Monday 9 March). If you need to apply for leave for your son to be absent from the Snowy Mountain Expedition in Week 11, this should be done using the normal Leave Application form. These should also be submitted by the beginning of Week 7.

Students were reminded last week that purchases from the canteen need to be made either with their student card or cash. Mobile phones cannot be used at the canteen. As per our mobile phone policy, students should keep mobile phones in their lockers during the day. Students using their mobile phones around campus during the school day will have them confiscated. In the first instance the phone is returned that afternoon. Should the phone be confiscated a second time, it will be returned after school and an email notification sent to parents. If a student has their phone confiscated for a third time, it will be kept at school for a week or until it is collected by a parent.

Elizabeth Ruff

The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members. Coretta King.

During Year Meeting this week I asked the boys the following question: 'What have you done to contribute to the Knox community?'. Their actions don’t need to be big nor public. Their actions can be small like picking up rubbish, helping a new boy to class, supporting other students in the classroom or simply introducing themselves to someone they have never met before. These are the small things that will continue to develop the strength of community that we already have. 

As I have said to the boys before: integrity is doing the right thing when no one is watching.

In the coming weeks the boys will have lots of further opportunities to engage with the School community. From the Tartan Army, CAS Swimming, World’s Greatest Shave, AFX, Year 10 expedition and many, many more. I would encourage all the boys to get involved!

As well as that, many of our boys have put their hand up to lead and support their fellow peers in the role of Mentor Leader. Congratulations to the following boys who have been elected: Simran Fardin, Jeremy Loui, Callum Haddow, James Elliott, Angus Pinn, Ellis Merrett, Aidan Taylor, Jake Maddox, Zach Green, Will Rutherford, Zev Zivanovic, Nick Baker, Jack Faulkner, Parsia Abedeni, Edmond Wu, Hamish Graham, Mitchell Dempsey, Josh Darley, Travis Cox and Jack Cooper. We look forward to seeing them implement their exciting ideas in Year Meeting soon! 

Vicky Cowell

Congratulations to Harry Miller, Aiden O’Neil and Xander Mercer who have been selected for the Australian U16 Waterpolo Squad. The boys now have the chance to achieve a place on the national team to compete at the U16 Water Polo World Championships (Greece) and 2020 Pan Pacific Youth Water Polo Festival (New Zealand) later this year.

Also, a massive shout out to Fredy Yip Ye for being selected to participate in the 2020 Asian Pacific Mathematical Olympiad (APMO). This year's APMO will be held on Tuesday 10 March. This is a highly selective competition: only 25 students from across Australia are invited to enter. The AMO will consist of one four hour paper. 

90 Year 10s took part in da Vinci Day on Thursday. The boys enjoyed the day getting creative, thinking outside the box, problem solving, team building, collaborating, developing leadership skills and, of course, fun. Well done for putting yourself out there boys and taking on da Vinci.

Knox International Women’s Day Breakfast 2020 - Tuesday 3 March – Don't forget to book your tickets!

Our guest speaker will be Sallianne McClelland, who is the Development Director Women's Community Shelters and founder of ‘Mobilising for Mogo’. This is a great opportunity to participate in this annual event with your son.

Venue: the Great Hall Foyer from 7am-8.15am

Cost: $20 per person - a light breakfast is included. Payments can be made via the Knox Payment Portal. Go to the Knox Payment Portal and click on ‘other activities’ and scroll down to the International Women’s Day Breakfast.

Career Interviews

The career interviews commenced on Monday and the students have been diligent in attending their interviews. Please note that bookings are opening progressively, with the release date scheduled every Monday morning. Bookings for the next batch of interviews will open on Monday 2 March at 8am. The Counsellors from Career Avenues will be at Knox until 18 March, as one interview time has been allocated per student. We encourage all students to participate in an interview before the end of the interview period.

Clean Up Australia Day - Sunday 1 March

On Sunday 1 March, there is an opportunity for families to clean up our environment by registering for a Clean-up event. The boarders will be cleaning up at Wahroonga Park. 

Cafe volunteers required for Monday 2 March.

To sign up please click here or contact Caron Suleyman.

Happy weekend to all.

Rebecca Smith: 9119 0882

Minimum Standard Testing

Reading, writing, and functional mathematical literacy are a necessity in our modern world. As such, NESA requires that all students must satisfy a minimum standard of literacy and numeracy to receive the Higher School Certificate (HSC) from 2020.

All students must sit three online tests assessing reading, writing and maths for everyday life. Students get two chances a year to pass each of the tests from Year 10 onward.

We will administer the tests on Friday 6 March in Periods 2-4. Any students who miss the testing will have make up testing scheduled later this term or early Term 2.

Students must achieve a Band 3 or Band 4 to meet the minimum standard. Once we receive the certificates of our boys' first attempt, we will post them to you for your records.

In Term 4 of this year, students will create a NESA Schools Online account which gives them immediate access to their Record of School Achievement (RoSA) and their band scores for the three minimum standards tests.

More information about Minimum Standard Testing, including a video explanation of the assessment, can be found from NESA here. 

Elevate Study Skills

We are committed to supporting our boys to achieve their personal academic best – this includes study skills and personal organisation. In addition to the Skills of Accomplishment we implemented last year that looked at time management, study skills, and exam preparation, we engaged Elevate Education to join us again for another high impact study skills seminar.

Elevate’s study skills seminars are designed to achieve behavioural change amongst students. Instead of simply talking to the boys about strong study skills, Elevate delivers engaging sessions that get students to use and apply the skills they learn immediately. If you would like to read more about the amazing study skills program and coaching Elevate offers, please visit here. 

Jake Plaskett

Sunday 1 March

Clean up Australia Day 2020

Monday 2 March

Battle of the Bands - heats

Tuesday 3 March

International Women's Day breakfast

Sunday 15 March

Kuringgai Chase Fun Run 2020

Thursday 2 April

AFX commences

Saturday 4 April

Year 10 expedition

Thursday 9 April

Term 1 concludes

Tuesday 28 April

Term 2 commences

It is with pleasure that we invite you and/or your son or any family member to participate in the 2020 KURINGGAI CHASE FUN RUN to show support for athletes taking part and, raise awareness and funds for Special Olympics Australia, Sydney Upper North Shore Region.

The Run is being held on Sunday 15 March at Claude Cameron Reserve, Wahroonga starting at 8am and finishing by 11am. Students are expected to make their own way to, and from, the venue.

The participation in the Fun Run is a great opportunity for our boys to help a person with a disability and is an important part of the School’s Social Justice program. As such, the value to both the boys and the Special Olympic Athletes is invaluable. There is no cost involved and this is an opportunity for students and families who are looking to give back to their local community, participate in the School’s Social Justice Program and help to support others. Participation and the invitation is extended to all where you and your son/s will be welcomed as will your extended family and friends.

Students do not need to pay a fee or fund raise. On the day Knox boys act in a supporting role to ‘buddy up’ with a Special Olympics Athlete and support their effort to complete the 5km walk or 10km run.

Students who do attend are required to wear good running shoes and PE uniform and students should be aware that this is considered an official school function. As such, school rules and expectations apply.

If your son would like to participate, simply reply to us by accepting the invitation in the Parent Lounge. There is no need to return a permission slip. If you or anyone you know would also like to participate, please register by visiting the website listed below.

Further information can be obtained by visiting the Run’s website or, by contacting the staff members below who are organising the event for the School.

We look forward to seeing you at the event for what promises to be an incredible day for our local community.

Aaron Nolan andJohn Diamond 

The Science Department is organising participation in the Big Science Competition this year. 
An email was sent to all parents and students at the start of the week with relevant information attached.

The Big Science Competition is mandatory for all Years 7-10 da Vinci Science students.
Any students who are in a Years 7-10 Core class and wish to participate in this competition are required to self-nominate.

All parents must accept their son’s participation in this competition through Parent Lounge by Tuesday 31 March.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Ingrid Tuktens

Please see attached important information regarding the 2020 Student Residential Address and Other Information notice. 

Calling all rugby enthusiasts!

We are recruiting for new members to be involved with the Knox Rugby Referee’s Association for 2020. We will provide you with training and support for whatever level of rugby with which you are comfortable. Whether you are a parent, old boy, sibling or interested party, we would love to have you as part of our team.

Please email Mr Craig Milligan (Rugby Referees Coordinator) or 02 94870166 for more information.

Winter uniform
As we approach the halfway mark of the first term we would like to remind all parents that Term 2 changes over into winter uniform. For further information on what the changes are, please refer to the Uniform Policy which is available on the Knox portal here. We strongly recommend purchasing the winter uniform earlier rather than later. Do not wait until the last week of the holidays as we cannot guarantee the sizes that will be available.

Thank you to Senior Constable Lynda for visiting Year 10 Commerce today to discuss Law and Society. The boys found her talk engaging and the questions from the boys kept coming. 

Great results for James Simmonds (Year 11) and Travis Cox at the State Surf Lifesaving Championships on the weekend.

James Simmonds and Travis Cox competed at the NSW Surf Lifesaving Championships on the weekend at Blacksmiths Beach. James and Travis, together with two other team members from Newport surf club, took out the gold medal in the U17 Patrol Competition and James placed 4th in the U17 Champion Lifesaver event. James and Travis will represent Newport SLSC at the Australian Championships at Broadbeach in April.