The class of 2022 has adapted well to the new routines that have been instituted since we have resumed face-to-face lessons. It is pleasing to see the majority of boys are heading straight to the health screening location as soon as they arrive at school.

With the new recommendations from the State Government and Health authorities, from Monday students will have unrestricted access to their lockers. As such, all students will be expected to use their lockers and bags should not be carried during the day. Boaters will once again be worn by students as they travel to and from school. Boaters can then be stored in lockers during the day. Students who have the COVID-19 app on their phone may keep the phone in their pocket; however, if they use their phone during the day it will be confiscated in line with our mobile phone policy.

A reminder that students are expected to wear full school uniform to school each day unless they are attending before school sports training. Students who are attending sports training are expected to have their Boater and Blazer with them. Students who have PDHPE or PASS practical lessons in period 1 should wear full school uniform to school and change into their PE uniform after they have been through the health screening process.

While we are beginning to see a relaxation of some processes, we will still continue to run daily health screening checks. From Monday this will include students having their temperature taken by a fixed temperature scanner located in the walkway between the Great Hall and Lawson Centre. All students in Years 7 to 10 will need to proceed through the health screening checks upon arrival at school. This will need to be done prior to students visiting their lockers.

I am pleased to report that from Monday we will once again be able to open Level 1 of the Academy of Global Competency after school. Supervision will be provided on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons between 3.15pm and 5pm.

Vaccination for Meningococcal ACWY  are scheduled for periods 2-7 on Wednesday 17 June. Completed vaccination cards must be submitted to Ms Smith by the end of recess on Monday. Vaccinations will be administered to the upper arm. To assist with this process, all students who will be vaccinated are required to wear their PE uniform to school on Wednesday. This included wearing their Boater and Blazer when travelling to and from school. On Monday afternoon students will be emailed the time they are scheduled to arrive at Level 2 of the Academy of Global Competency building for their vaccination. If your son is scheduled for a vaccination but is unable to attend school on Wednesday, he will be offered the opportunity to receive the vaccination later in the year.

Elizabeth Ruff

With only two weeks left of term, there is plenty happening for the Class of 2022. It is certainly 'assessment season' with many assessment tasks already occurring and more to come next week. The boys have all had to show incredible perseverance with their study in order to achieve their best. As a team, we have been so impressed by the way the boys have been managing their time around the completion of these tasks. Whilst it is certainly very busy, Year 10 is the time to lay solid foundations with respect to planning and testing out study routines so they are well prepared for their senior studies. 

As with anything, maintaining good habits and a balance is essential during busy time periods. It is really important for the boys to manage the balance between healthy stress and overwhelming stress. It is for this reason that we would encourage all boys to have an outlet and to engage in exercise, even just a walk around the block, to provide a stress release during these busy time periods. Further to that, ensuring that they are getting good sleep and getting into a healthy sleep routine, even on the weekend, is important. Removing technology during meal times and during the evening will provide the 'brain break' the boys will need during busy time periods.

It’s also important to remember that the boys have lots of support around them should they need it. Please encourage your son to check in with their classroom teacher, get guidance and feedback and ensure they know what is required of them in certain tasks. If they are feeling overwhelmed please remember that our Wellbeing team is also happy to assist during these time periods. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Vicky Cowell

Due to the postponement of the Mock Trial competition, over the last six weeks, The Law Society of NSW have been running a Young Lawyers Program. The Law Society’s Young Lawyers Program is for students who are interested in the law and advocacy and 15 boys from Knox participated in lectures and tests on areas such as Introduction to law, Law Reform and Policy Making in Australia, Advocacy for everyone and Ethics in the Courtroom. 

The boys have participated via Zoom submitting the test responses after each lecture.

Congratulations to the following Year 10 boys who have attained a mark in the Top 20 of the Competition: 4th in NSW - Andrew O'Brien and James Elliott and 10th in NSW - Oscar Chen.

In line with Knox’s ongoing desire to support research in the field of anxiety and depression in young people, parents have an opportunity to participate in a survey from Macquarie University. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Jennie Hudson.

Audition call for 'Beauty and the Beast'.

Performance dates: 29, 30 and 31 October 2020

Auditions will take place via booked auditions on the following dates: Tuesday 16 June, from 3.30pm - 7.30pm or Wednesday 17 June, 4.30pm - 6pm.

Call backs scheduled for Monday 22 June from 5pm and Wednesday 24 June from 4pm. The time scheduled for auditions will be 15 minutes with six students per session. Please click here to access the form for the audition bookings. 

Please see the Week 8 Recharge canteen menu located in the AoGC under Community Notices section of this newsletter. Note that no cash will be accepted at Recharge so please ensure your Student ID cards are available and have been recently topped via the Flexischools site. An EFTPOS card can be used as well.

Happy weekend.

Rebecca Smith
 

The updated Assessment Booklet, Schedule, and upcoming tasks in Year 10
Noting the impact remote learning had in relation to our assessment program, many of our assessment dates and tasks were adjusted. A new Assessment related policies and procedures booklet and Assessment schedule have been uploaded to the portal. I strongly encourage you to download the most updated version of this document for your records.

Moreover, the term by term PDF of assessment tasks (by date) for quick reference has also been refreshed and uploaded to the portal.

Please find the upcoming assessment tasks for Weeks 8 and 9 below for your convenience. Please refer to the updated assessment schedule and specific task notifications for more details.

Week 8: 15 - 19 June

English – Task 2
• A hand in component is due on Thursday 18 June alongside the written component.
• The written component will either be administered face-to-face or will be done in ‘real-time’ using Google Documents (monitored by staff).
• Please refer to the assessment notification for specific details.

Commerce – Task 2
• This task has been rescheduled for Tuesday 16 June.
• No other changes to this assessment task.

Industrial Technology – Task 2
• The task is due Thursday 18 June.
• The syllabus outcomes assessed in this weighted task have changed; please refer to the assessment notification for specific outcomes.

Week 9: 22 - 26 June

Drama – Task 2
• No changes to the nature of the assessment task.
• The hand-in component will be due on Monday 22 June.
• The performing component will be administered between 22-24 June.

Jake Plaskett

We trust parents and boys have found the Year 11 2021 Subject Selection Zoom sessions this week informative and useful in allowing them to make informed choices. We have had a good number of participants across all subjects asking some great questions. This link includes all the Zoom recordings for all subjects covered this week.

We did have a technical issue last night with Engineering/IT and D&T. Our apologies for any inconvenience experienced. You will find the recordings and a FAQ sheet to help make up for this.

Boys should not hesitate to approach their teachers and contact Heads of Departments if they still have any questions unanswered.

The program for next week is on the portal. 

Andrew Weeding and Greg Nunan (WSA Stage 6)

Please download the PDF document here for all the information for students to continue to be involved in these important and beneficial programs.

For any questions or concerns regarding the co-curricular program offered in Term 2, please feel free to contact me via email.

Chuck Ardron

Wednesday 17 June 

Meningococcal ACWY Vaccination

Friday 26 June

Term 2 concludes

Monday 20 July

Term 3 commences

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. 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 is in its second 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 well being 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 visit the Knox website for more information about the PEAK program.

To apply, please complete the application form. Applications close Friday 26 June (last day of Term 2). Successful applicants will be notified before school resumes for Term 3. If you have any questions, please feel free to email us.

Kieran Donohue

ATLAS HUMANOID TEAM LIVE Q&A

What: The Atlas Humanoid Team at Boston Dynamics have agreed to a live Question and Answer (Q&A) video chat with 20 students about their work. Selection of students is based on three criteria; a question you would ask the Atlas Humanoid team about their work, your involvement in co-curricular and further interests and subject involvement.

You will need to register here to be part of this unique opportunity.

When: Wednesday 24 June at 7.30am

Where: WSA Lecture Theatre

Contact: Melinda Valent

Click here for further information on Boston Dynamics.

An area near the Borambil Gates has been developed into a traditional bush food garden.

Volunteers note:
• A roster will be developed
• Guidance from the Agriculture Department
• Instructions given for the use of tools and the project
• Social distancing for all Knox students who participate
• Working with schools in Walgett, Hawaii, Liberia and Kenya - all via Zoom and One Planet Education

Please email Mrs Clarke if you are interested. 

Would you believe…

Knox Flix 2020 registrations are now open!

This year we have two versions of one theme, and two versions of one competition.

The theme is either

'I Believe!' or 'Would you believe…'

Tell us a tall tale, or a deep truth.

Similarly this year for the first time you have the option of submitting a narrated story board, or a film.

All film entries will need to be accompanied with an outline of how you worked within the isolation rules as they existed at various times of filming.

Please read the attached information and register here. A hype reel for Knox Flix can be viewed here.

Two of the Knox school values are compassion and courage.

A reminder for boys wishing to come and join us on Saturday morning for some fun and fitness - 8am til 9.30am at Gillespie Fields. Everyone welcome.

If you are interested in more exciting news from the Sports Academy, please visit the Knox Remote Learning Hub here.

Martin Haywood

UTS - Bachelor of IT Co-op Information session presented by Knox Old Boys.

Years 10, 11 and 12 students are welcome to join a live webinar to hear about the UTS Bachelor of IT Co-op Program.

Presented by three of our Old Boys from the Class of 2019, students will hear about the Co-op program, hints and tips on how to apply as well as their own experience in the program. Details are below:

Date: Wednesday 17 June

Time: 3.30pm

Locations: online - click on this link to join the webinar.

For further information, please email Mr Dan Bailey.

I’m pleased to advise that the CAS Heads have made the decision to recommence the CAS winter sports fixtures from Term 3.

Saturday 18 July (last weekend of school holidays)
Fixtures against Trinity for 1sts and 2nds Teams only

Saturday 25 July
Fixtures for all year groups

Saturday 1 August
Fixtures for all year groups

Saturday 8 August
Fixtures for all year groups

Saturday 15 August
Fixtures for all year groups (last week for Years 11-12)

Saturday 22 August
Fixtures for Years 7-10 only (last week)

The winter sport season will be followed by the Track and Field season as usual. Information regarding attendance of spectators will be confirmed closer to Term 3, subject to government guidelines.

While we understand some students may be away, a holiday training and trial plan will be released for students next week (Week 8) through the School app.

The planning of return to play for the CAS teams provides another wonderful step forward. However, it is imperative to note that while this is an exciting and much anticipated step, the return to contact training and full competition needs to continue to be approached in a safe and carefully staged manner. All sports progression and implementation will be done in adherence with the NSW Public Health legislation, Community Sport COVID-19 Safety Plan and Return to Play Framework.

Scott James