This week has seen all the Middle Academy students transition to remote learning at home. I have heard numerous positive stories from staff about the mature and constructive way so many of our students are engaging with their peers and lesson content through online forums. We have received some emails from students with ideas, activities and challenges that could be run online to help keep the community connected during our online phase. It has been fantastic to read and hear about the creative manner in which they are thinking.

Please be aware that not all lessons will be live streamed or in a Google Meet format. Staff have been using a variety of different teaching mediums to deliver learning experiences to their students to keep lessons interesting and challenging and cater to the needs of their students. Just as face to face lessons do not all have the same set up, not all online classes will be structured in the same manner. However, at the start of every lesson, including period 7 sport, all students do need to complete the attendance assignment. Instructions about how to do this has been communicated to all students via email and by staff during lessons.

We have purchased a licence for Zoom and so, in addition to Google Meet, staff and students now have the option to use this as a platform to communicate. During the week all students received a video via email demonstrating how they can access their Zoom account. If they have encountered difficulty accessing their account they should take a screen shot and then email it to IT Helpdesk along with a description of what occurred.

At the start of the week, Ms Cowell challenged the boys to complete 25 burpees in a minute. Those that are able to achieve this have the opportunity to write a 25 minute indoor workout for Ms Cowell and me to complete. I am looking forward to receiving some creative routines and attempting to complete the challenges that are submitted!

Elizabeth Ruff

There is no doubt that this has been one of the most interesting, dynamic and challenging weeks that we have faced as a school community. With the mode of classroom delivery now fully online, the whole Knox community has had to adjust to the new norm. Often we speak about overcoming obstacles and being agile and this has certainly been put to the test in the last few weeks. What we have seen is a dedicated group of staff who have worked tirelessly after hours to ensure that the learning has not stopped. The boys have risen to the challenge and we could not be prouder of the respectful way in which they have engaged in the online learning space. Often in these challenging times you are given a great measure of the character of the group and collectively we have measured up brilliantly - just as I expected.

The challenge moving forward is abiding by the laws of social distancing at a time when social connections are so vital. So, whilst we physically distance ourselves from others in order to do our part to protect ourselves and our community, I encourage boys to remember that they are not isolated. This community, this School, is still here to support every student. This is one piece of certainty that we can give them during times of uncertainty. Boys must stay connected with the School, their peers, their teachers - even from home. They should know that we are always here to support them.

One way we are looking to foster this connection is through a serious of videos. Already I have been in touch with many boys who are sending through short videos of what online learning looks like for them, sending through good wishes or simply showing off new skills (and haircuts!). We are continuing to encourage the boys to send these videos through so we can share them in a package with the cohort next week. The more we can stay connected as a group the stronger we will be so please encourage your son to send us through a video!

I also want to encourage us all to remember that at a time like this it is important to be kind and forgiving to ourselves, our peers, our families and teachers. This is a challenging time for all and will only be made easier with a concerted effort to practise empathy, forgiveness and support in all of our relationships.

We certainly miss the boys. The locker room and school grounds are not the same but we have loved touching base with many of the groups through live streams and allocated mentor times. Please remind your son to check the Year Group Google Classroom page every morning - this is where we post all our daily reminders and inspiring videos for the boys in an effort to stay connected.

While some processes within the School have temporarily changed, please note that our lines of communication have not. As always, feel free to contact your son’s teachers, mentors or Team Leaders if you have questions or concerns about your son’s progress. 

Vicky Cowell

Not much to say this week except that I’m missing you all terribly. Missing the chats, smiling faces and our Year 10 cohort who are now online. Thank goodness for technology, hey! Missing the parents that drop in to say "hi" and their beautiful smiles and kind words. I’m reaching out to each and every one of you right now sending all my love, comfort and hugs through this hard time; but we will get through this.

Earth Hour - my family are participating why don’t you on Saturday 28 March at 8.30pm for one hour. A meal shared with loved ones is always more enjoyable and comforting around candlelight. With this event, always a great time to chat to the family about electricity wastage and to just check in with family members.  

Daylight saving concludes on Sunday 5 April at 3am. Yay! Always love an extra hour of snooze time here and there. I’m sure you will too. Bring on marshmallows by the fire pit in the backyard and slow combustion fires – love it.

Duty of care - roll marking. Ok boys, you are all fully aware by now the importance prior to each online lesson to click the attendance tab. Doing this simple click helps the teacher with your attendance and me following up. Too easy and please do it as I hate to bug you and your parents to ask of your whereabouts.

Thank you to all who have contributed to the Easter egg and noodle drive on behalf of Wesley Mission. They’ve been packed and are ready to go to the most needy.

Take care.

Rebecca Smith: 9119 0882

On Thursday during our Mentor Group the boys were introduced to the first ‘Brain Break’. The concept behind these initiatives is to get your son up and away from his computer for short breaks between classes or break periods. But, more importantly, to reconnect with each other within our community in fun activities. If the boys want to record their attempt at the brain break and upload it via the challenge assignment on the ‘Whole Year Group Google Classroom’ we are having House point competitions for winners. Extra points if the whole family gets involved!

The winning post will be available for everyone to see and celebrate this achievement. This week is an easy break but they will get harder and have different options such as photo, music, fitness and acting challenges to come. So please take a moment to talk to your son and see what the current challenge or Brain Break is for their Year Group.

We have had many staff get involved with filming these challenge and I have to say they may have enjoyed doing this a little too much! I would like to thank them for putting themselves out of their comfort zones with being involved. If your son has not done so lately, encourage him to Facetime friends as a catch up - we are social beings and it’s nice to check up on our friends. I look forward to communicating with you all soon with some of the entries from these challenges.

Tom Waterhouse

Since the Year 10 Career Interviews commenced a few weeks ago, I have received wonderful feedback from students and parents on the value these interviews have had in providing students with direction as well as decisions around careers and pathways. The Career Avenues Counsellors have commented on the conduct of the students, their respectfulness, openness and level of interest during the interviews. I would like to thank all the Counsellors from Career Avenues, Ms Smith and Ms Ruff for their support and assistance during the career interviews.

The career interviews are now finished and students who did not book their interview missed out on the opportunity to collect their report. For those students who did not receive their report and wish to have an electronic copy sent to them, please send me an email to request this.

Last week, all of Year 10 were emailed instructions on how to register for the Knox Careers Hub.

Moving to remote learning means that communication from me regarding subject selection, courses and careers will be via the Careers Hub, hence the importance for every student to register. Parents are most welcome to register for the Knox Careers Hub as well.

Click here to create a membership. The Careers Hub is also accessible via the Knox portal, under Senior School.

To register:
• Fill in the details (your name and email address).

• Enter the school code -  KNOX20

• Create a password

• Complete the remainder of the form to create a profile/account.

Once students have registered, they will have full access to the Knox Careers Hub with all newsletters, guides, and career information available. There is also a message board where I post important messages for specific year groups. There are a number of messages already posted in this site relevant for Year 11. I will limit the number of emails I send out so I encourage students to keep checking the messages I post in the Careers Hub for updates.

Career seminars and lunchtime presentations

There are changes to the career seminars and events posted in previous newsletters. I am working closely with external organisations to reorganise these career events and deliver them using Zoom. Once organised, they will be added to the school calendar and students will then be sent a meeting invite from me to join the Zoom meeting for that career event. Students are most welcome to join any meeting invite for a career seminar they wish to listen to.

Career meetings and appointments

I am available to provide students with career guidance, advice, and support via email as well as through video conferencing. To organise a Zoom meeting/appointment with me, please email me your preferred day and time and I will send a Zoom meeting invite.

I look forward to working with you in this new learning environment.

Linda Gomez

Saturday 28 March

This Earth Hour #Switchoff, 8.30pm

Friday 3 April

Term 1 concludes

Sunday 5 April

End of day light saving

Tuesday 28 April

Term 2 commences

A reminder that the Uniform Shop closed last Monday 23 March until further notice.

If parents wish to order items online, this can be done via Flexischools and there will be an option to collect the orders. The dates for this will be advised on the Knox App in the next few days depending on the volume of orders.

Shoes for the Philippines

Thank you to the many families who have contributed old school shoes, joggers and football boots to this important appeal. The shoes are sent to the British School in Manila where they are sorted and distributed to various needy groups. One of these is the PCF School in Tondo, which is a school set up by a UK charity to school the poorest families who live around the rubbish dumps in this area.

Soccer boots went to needy soccer clubs in Manila, school shoes to the Fair Play Foundation and crocs and runners to very poor children in the Dumagat tribes who live in the rainforests outside Manila.  

The whole School response has been marvellous and we have six full shipping boxes (each box has approximately 90-100 pairs of shoes in each box). Thank you to the O'Brien family (from left: Kerrie O'Brien, Mum to James (Year 7) and Andrew (Year 10) who helped pack and arrange the shipping to the Philippines last Friday afternoon.

Our students have made an excellent transition to the online learning environment. This opportunity to adapt and embrace these new challenges is a great exercise in building resilience for our young men, and it is likely that most of the them will manage this time well. The Wellbeing team is committed to providing a series of information videos and written material for both  boys and parents, to provide extra support during this time. The following are the videos that have been sent to students this week:

• Remote Counselling

• Mindset

If there are boys that would like extra support, we are able to offer scheduled counselling sessions via Google Hangout. These can be arranged by phoning 9119 0828 or emailing the team here.

Luke Spencer