Dear Parents

Over the school holidays, one of our Year 12 2020 students, Alex Richter, sustained a serious spinal cord injury whilst mountain biking.  Alex is in good spirits and is continuing to receive care in hospital.

As a school community, we are rallying together to support Alex and his family at this time. Alex has a brother, Josh, in Year 9 and a sister at Ravenswood. The family faces many challenges including modifications to their home and on-going medical and treatment costs.

In order to support Alex and his family, the Class of 2020 is organising an initial fundraising event for our students called ‘Ride for Richter’ on Friday 29 November from 3.30pm to 6.30pm. 

This fun event will include exercise bikes to ride for sponsorship, a sausage sizzle, baked goods and many more carnival activities. Please look out in the newsletters for more information in the next week.

If you wish, you can also contribute via the Knox payment portal select ‘Other School Activities’ > ‘Support the Richters’.

Thank you for your support of this event and Alex and his family.

Scott James, Headmaster

It has been a busy week for Year 10. Their move into the new locker facility went smoothly on Monday. While the finishing touches are still being added, the boys have settled in well. Yesterday was the start of the Yearly Examination period and the boys are to be commended on their conduct. I have no doubt they will be busy studying this weekend!

On Monday 25 November, Paul Dillon will be talking to Year 10 students in periods 4 and 5. The session 'Alcohol and cannabis: What if something goes wrong?' addresses practical strategies around looking after your friends, provides information on cannabis and will highlight ‘positive norms’. Paul will also be running a parent information session on the evening of Monday 25 November. The session, will be held in the Great Hall, commencing at 6pm and runs for one hour with the opportunity ask questions afterwards. Paul will address the topic 'Teenagers, alcohol and other drugs 2019: What’s happening, what’s out there and how much influence do parents really have?' Should you wish to attend the parent session, please register using the link.

On Tuesday 26 November and Wednesday 27 November our Year 10 students will be working with the Year 10 students from Ravenswood in the Great Hall on the Be the Change Agent program. Students will work in groups of six and focus on how they can reimagine and design a place that has the potential to make a difference. They will be challenged to develop the global competencies of character, citizenship, collaboration, communication, creativity and critical thinking. On Monday students will be provided with the list of students in their group and will be encouraged to start discussing their ideas. As part of the lead up to this event, we have had weekly guest speakers present to during lunchtimes. These sessions have been well attended. Patrick Gee will be giving the final presentation on Wednesday next week.

Elizabeth Ruff

As a very eventful Week 5 draws to a close the Class of 2021 move ever closer to a well-earned Christmas break.

It was a solemn and respectful start to the week with a whole of school Remembrance Day Ceremony that was extremely moving. It was wonderful to see the continuing legacy of some of our very own OKGA Servicemen as they were honoured and celebrated during this important event.

They say a change is as good as a holiday and if so, the boys are on quite the holiday escape as they have all settled in to our first week in the new locker space. The transition to our new location was conducted successfully by the boys and they appear to be adapting well to their new environment.

As Yearly Exams have commenced and will continue into next week, it is crucial that boys are adequately prepared and organised for this period. As stated over the past weeks, preparation is key in the lead up to these Yearly Exams. A comprehensive study regime, regular physical activity and a splash of relaxation will allow for a positive and successful week ahead for the Year 10 cohort. With this in mind, I would like to reinforce that during Week 6, Summer Sport will continue as normal.

Finally, it was with a flurry of seasonal cheer the week concluded with an exciting and well-anticipated visit from the smaller members of this grand institution, as Knox Prep and Wahroonga Prep students performed and participated in the annual Christmas Assembly.

Once again, Mr Shaw and myself would encourage a clear an open line of communication, so please feel free to contact your son’s teachers, Mentor or Team Leaders if you have any questions or concerns about your son’s progress.

James Stubbs-Mills

This week saw us start the week arriving to the new locker area and SAO offices. Though we still were unpacking the mountain of boxes, we had plenty of well-wishers (both staff and students), dropping by to see our new offices.

Tuesday’s Year Meeting was the usual busy session. This week we had students from Y12 2020 visit to encourage the boys to get involved for ‘Ride for Richter’. Dom Cutrone spoke eloquently about his student exchange to the Isle of Man, Ms Gupta spoke about the upcoming English exams while Mrs Karen Yager spoke to the boys about the upcoming sessions for the Be the Change Agent program scheduled for 26 and 27 November. We as a cohort recognised the fantastic achievements of Gabe Carmody who has been selected in the Open Schoolboy Eight by the Sydney Rowing Club at the ‘Head of the Yarra’ regatta in late November. Good luck, Gabe! The following three students Ethan Ryoo, Keane Nguyen and Dhruv Hariharan were presented with certificates for their accomplishments in the International Science Olympiad. Well done, gentlemen.

Campion Education would like to let you know that booklists for 2020 are now available and can be completed online. Please place your order on or before the due date of Friday 6 December for home delivery before school commences in 2020. When ordering online you will need to use the following Access Code: D69G. Simply click on the Knox Grammar 2020 Resource Lists to bypass the code (you can create an account to allow for changes and check on the status of your order).  Please note, all orders placed online are delivered to your home, office or a designated address. Parcels will be delivered the fortnight ending 17 January 2020. Boarders can selected the option for delivery to the Boarding House. Digital Items (where selected and available) will be available via Campion Educations MyConnect Platform. These accounts will be created and available in the fortnight ending 17 January 2020. You will receive an email that week with download and access information. Placing your order online by the due date (Friday 6 December) is the best way to ensure students will receive all available items in time for back to school 2020.

Please click here for the Week 2 exam timetable.

Please click here for updated information on Warrawee Station works.

Finally, thank you for those who have donated cakes for tonight's Christmas Market Social Justice stall. I hope to see you there.

Debra Barnard Tel: 9119 0883

Student absences on the day of a Yearly Examination:

Please contact myself and your SAO if your son is sick or you anticipate your son will be absent for a Yearly Examination due to illness, at your earliest convenience. Make-up sittings of yearly examinations must take place on or before Friday 22 November and will typically be administered in the Great Hall. 

In order to allow your son to re-sit the task in a timely manner, and without the standard mark reduction for late completion of a task, you must submit a completed and signed Illness Misadventure Appeal (IMA) application. 

Note: IMA applications generally require relevant documentation that justify the absence - this ensures an increasingly equitable experience for all students and safeguards against boys gaining additional study time by staying home from school.  

Contact myself or your SAO with any questions about our IMA and Leave application process. Also, please view the complete Assessment Policies and Procedures handbook on the portal for information about our assessment program, a student’s responsibility in relation to assessment tasks, and the updated Exam Code of Conduct. 

Jake Plaskett

Pathways for Elite Athletes at Knox  (PEAK) Program – 2020 Applications

We would like to invite students who have competed at the State/National level to apply to join the PEAK program for the 2020 intake.

PEAK is in its second year of operation and is designed to support high performing student-athletes to achieve excellence in sport, whilst achieving their best in the academic environment.

The PEAK program is a holistic wellbeing program, which includes:

One on one mentoring with Knox high performance coaches, including the development of an Individual Performance Plan (IPP)

Keynote speakers focusing on the 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

See attached prospectus for more information, including eligibility criteria or visit the website here

To apply, please complete application form here. 

Applications close Thursday 5 December (last day of Term 4), with successful applicants to be notified before school resumes in 2020.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email. Please let me know if you have any questions relating to the above.

Kieran Donohue

Monday 18 to Friday 22 November

• Yearly Examinations  

Monday 25 November

• Paul Dillon Presentation

Tuesday 26 - Wednesday 27 November

• Be the Change Agent

Friday 29 November

• Ride for Richter

• Boarders' Christmas Carol Service and Banquet

Saturday 30 November

• Knox in Concert. 6.30pm. Great Hall.

Thursday 5 December

• Presentation Day

• Term 4 concludes

We look forward to seeing you there!

It is that time of year where the Knox community supports those in need in the lead up to Christmas. We would love donations of Christmas goodies for families who will struggle to provide for their families at Christmas. If you would like to donate some items please see following some suggestions. Donations can be brought in to your SAO or Mrs Clarke’s office (Room 15).

In early December all of the donations will be taken into Wesley Mission in the city for distribution to these struggling families. Thank you for your support and generosity.

Suggested items:

Tea/Coffee/Milo/hot chocolate/Nesquik

Christmas pudding/fruit cake and/or mince pies

Long-life custard/cream

Tinned ham and/or turkey

Canned fruit

Lollies (jellies are great as chocolate melts) 

Savoury snacks (pretzels/chips- no nuts please)

Table trimmings like Christmas bonbons

Staff right across Knox have been participating in Movember and with the end of the month fast approaching it’s time to take a stand for men’s mental health, prostate cancer and testicular cancer. Click here to sponsor the various staff who are growing Mo’s for a good cause!!

The Social Justice Portfolio will be selling stick on Mo’s next week every morning at both main gates with all money raised going directly to Movember.

Make sure to bring a gold coin!

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
Tuesday 15 October (Term 4 commences): 8am-5.30pm.
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.

The Annual Sony Foundation ABBOX of Fun CAMP for Children with Special Needs – Food / Baking Donations needed.

This year marks the 12th annual ABBOX Camp - the Sony Foundation Holiday Camp for Children with special needs from Friday 6 December to Tuesday 10 December. The camp offers a much needed break for families and a fun time for the children. The ‘campers’ are cared for by Knox and Abbotsleigh Year 12 student volunteers and staff.

Parents are needed to help with the many morning and afternoon teas supplied during the camp. No nuts please, and gluten free options are also requested. Fruit, cupcakes, biscuits, slices, dips etc. (please list ingredients) are also requested for those children attending the camp who may have any dietary requirements.

If you are able to help there will be a sign up link published in upcoming newsletters.

Settling into the new locker space and offices is still a work in progress. Thank you to all the boys for coming and checking in on us and looking at our 'new' SAO space. You are welcome any time, even if you don't need anything!

Another busy Year Meeting. Congratulations to the following boys for their achievements  in the Science Olympiad.  The boys were recognised and acknowledged in the Year Meeting. For anyone not familiar with the Science Olympiad, it is a series of examinations in which 26 students from each discipline are chosen for a summer camp in January next year in Canberra. From there a handful of students will be chosen to represent Australia in the International Science Olympiad. The School is  thrilled to announce  that Ethan Ryoo (Earth & Environmental Science) is one of three students to represent Knox next January. The following are the results of the Year 10 students.

High Distinction

Chemistry - Ethan Ryoo

Physics - Dhruv Hariharan

Earth and Environmental - Ethan Ryoo

Distinction

Biology - Keane Nguyen and Ethan Ryoo 

Chemistry - Dhruv Hariharan

Earth and Environmental Science- Keane Nguyen