Another successful week of remote learning is behind us, and Term 2 is now well and truly underway. This week saw the Class of 2021 get their first taste of academic assessment tasks for the term, in the forms of Music, English, Ancient History and Maths. It kick starts a busy few weeks of academia, with Weeks 2-4 in particular comprising numerous summative assessments. Our boys are reminded to keep working with the quadrant of quality, and ensure that they are working to a schedule and focusing on numerous subjects each night in preparation, rather than becoming overly task oriented and focusing solely on each assessment until it has passed. 

It is exciting times ahead with the imminent return to face-to-face teaching in the later stages of Week 3. This staggered approach to campus normality will be gradual, however, it brings a very positive milestone to what has been a somewhat challenging period. Further, our Boarders were given some great news in the form of a return date, with Year 11 able to return to their homes on campus on 17 May. This is fantastic news, and the Year 11 Team are looking forward to seeing the majority of the cohort on-site for face-to-face lessons in Week 4. We can assure you that this return to campus will be governed by stringent social distancing and hygiene protocols to ensure the safety of all students and staff during this transition. A detailed breakdown of the policies and procedures will be provided via a video and accompanying documentation early next week, and this will also be disseminated to the boys during their Mentor sessions prior to Thursday. 

Whilst we have had the privilege of liaising with a number of the Class of 2021 over the medium of Zoom, we feel it is important to pass comment on their general appearance to date. All students are expected to adhere to the School’s dress code whilst online. Next week will allow all students ample time to be thoroughly prepared to return to the school grounds in immaculate uniform, cleanly shaven and with appropriate haircuts. 

Our Year 11 Leaders have been proactive in their attempt to maintain a sense of connection and camaraderie as the remote learning lingers, with Seb Henriksen and Jack Hildebrand launching the ‘Great Masterclass’ on Monday and tying it in with our house system. Boys will be teaching the rest of the cohort a skill, with students encouraged to don their house shirt and upload their attempt at mastery. 

Next week will see the commencement of the Year 11 Student-Led Conferences with their academic teachers. Boys are reminded to complete any reflection sheets given by their teachers in preparation, and to attend these meetings with a growth mindset.

Have a great weekend, and please remember the numerous support structures in place for our boys. Don’t hesitate to reach out at any stage if you have any concerns or questions.

Adam Shaw

It is with great excitement I can say that I will see the faces of the Class of 2021 on Thursday next week (14 May) as students in Year 11 return to campus and learning at school. It seems like an age since you have all been here and I am still not used to the silence. As we continue to send correspondence out please ensure you have logged onto the Parent Lounge and updated your current contact details - including address, mobile and email address. I would also encourage you to tick to allow us to send messages via SMS.

When the boys return they will see changes on campus. It is important all students return with their physical copy of their Student Identification Card every day.

Students will not be able to access their lockers due to restrictions in place.

Students are not required to wear their boaters to School until further notice and should only bring laptops and items required for each day.

Please remember there will be no canteens open, no microwaves available and leaving for lunch and Uber Eats are not options for recess or lunch under any circumstance.

During this break I am sure there have been many Year 11 students who now can proudly display their P plates. Please download and complete the Student Drivers Form and bring it in to me so we can forward for approval. 

Work along the breezeway has been progressing well during the term break. If you have the opportunity please take the time to really have a good look at the incredible work done there and see if you can recognise the student portrayed walking in through the Knox gates.

I would like to conclude by wishing all the wonderful mothers a very special day on Sunday  -  Happy Mother's Day!

Debra Barnard Tel: 9119 0883

Who would have thought five years ago when we opened the Senior Centre that it would look like it does right now? As we walk around the building today, inspecting final preparations for when students return next week, it certainly doesn’t look like an environment that has Social Learning Theory as an underlying foundation. Despite the measures that we have put in place to enact distancing amongst the boys, we can assure the Stage 6 community that nothing has changed in our desire to connect the boys in their learning, even during a pandemic. We congratulate everyone: staff, boys and parents, on the resilience and agility shown since teaching went online, and we are sure this demonstrated strength of character will make us all appreciate face-to-face classroom teaching and learning even more.

Boys are reminded to check their timetables in Student Café for next week. Their classes have not changed periods but may have a room change. Timetables will be uploaded this evening.

We are really looking forward to Thursday and seeing the boys!

Andrew Weeding and Greg Nunan

Life is like riding a bicycle, to keep your balance, you must keep moving. – Albert Einstein

The past two months have been a period of stress, hardship and challenge for most people in our community. Balancing professional and personal responsibilities, staying healthy and coping with reduced social interactions with our families and friends have tested us all. That said, when looking at the medical statistics, we can all be very grateful for our broader experience of COVID-19 in Australia, when compared to the rest of the world. Additionally, the prospect of a staged return to on-site learning from next week has filled us all with a great sense of excitement and relief. Whilst not out of the woods, it is encouraging to see some light at the end of the tunnel.

For our senior students at Knox, we want to continue to support them through this time whilst also providing ongoing opportunities for growth and development. To that end, the Senior Academy Team will be offering the Money Confidence Program, run by Moneyvest Financial Education, to interested Year 11 and Year 12 students on Thursday 28 May from 6.30pm - 8.30pm. This opt-in workshop will provide skills and knowledge to our young men around everyday financial situations that they will face when they leave school. The program costs $25 per student and parents can accept the invitation to attend via the Parent Lounge.

Many staff and students have continued to work hard and creatively to provide opportunities for connection through the break and the start of this term. It has been inspiring to work with so many people who are committed to improving the situation for others and to making the most of any given situation. From the wonderful work that Mr Weeding, Mr Nunan and our Heads of Department have done to create working solutions for completing assessment tasks online, to the ongoing positive and engaging messages from our Prefects together with the recent launch of the Masterclass initiative which has been driven by our Year 11 Chairmen, Knox should be very proud of its response during this time.

We will be continuing to utilise appropriate speakers, platforms and organisations to engage our senior students and to help them develop through the Knox Total Fitness framework. Once again, please do not hesitate to contact me should you want to discuss prospective or existing wellbeing and development options in the Senior Academy.

Please take care and enjoy the weekend! We are looking forward to seeing your sons again in person very soon.

Sam White

With the staggered return to school over Weeks 3, 4 and 5 for all year groups, the co-curricular program has had to make some adjustments. Please download the PDF document here for all the information for students to continue to be involved in these exciting programs.

Year 11 and 12 students attending school next week are not required to be at school until 8.20am and therefore are encouraged to participate where possible for parts of any morning co-curricular. All other regular co-curricular programs will resume either in Term 3 or later in the year.

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

Chuck Ardron

Sunday 10 May

• Mothers Day

Monday 11 May (Week 3)

• Parent/teacher interviews commence online via Zoom

Thursday 14 May (Week 3)

• Year 11 on campus 

Friday 15 May (Week 3)

• Year 11 on campus 

Monday 18 May (Week 4)

• Year 11 on campus 

Thursday 21 May (Week 4)

• Year 11 on campus 

Monday 25 May (Week 5)

• Year 11 on campus 

Thursday 28 May (Week 5)

• Year 11 on campus  

Please note the commencement dates for Terms 3 and 4 have been brought forward slightly to add additional teaching days to help cover those which were lost at the end of Term 1.

• Term 3 start date – Monday 20 July 2020
• Term 4 start date – Monday 12 October 2020

Full term dates for 2020 and 2021 can be found here.

Winter uniform appointments
The Knox Uniform Shop is still operating on reduced operating times to assist customers that are unsure of sizing of winter uniform. The Uniform Shop will be open Saturday 9 May, 9am-12noon and then from 1pm-5pm on Monday 11 May, Wednesday 13 May, Friday 15 May. Note: we are running on a customer limited basis. Appointments are not required but we will only have two changing rooms operational so we ask parents and students to be patient as our team practise social distancing to keep our School community safe.

Whilst students continue to study online, they are permitted to wear their winter uniform if already purchased or their PDHPE/Sports uniform. When they are on campus, they are expected to wear the winter uniform.

Uniform is available to order online here if sizes are known and these orders can be collected on the dates above when we are open. Please disregard collection dates and times on the Flexischools app. Orders will not be delivered to the Prep School or Wahroonga Prep until Week 4.

Size charts are available online through the Flexischools website or the Knox app as a reference.

If orders cannot be collected during these times, orders can also be collected from Knox Reception during normal reception hours (8am-5pm weekdays). Please email the Uniform Shop to advise of your request.

From Monday 18 May, the Uniform Shop will resume normal operating times from Monday to Friday, 12.30pm-5pm. Please note we are not open on Saturday mornings during Terms 2 and 3.

Julie Blackburn

We have established a ‘Remote Learning Hub’ to provide students and parents with access to Frequently Asked Questions, videos, documents and resources during our period of online and remote learning.

We are getting ready for the return of our senior students next week (Year 12 Monday to Wednesday) and Year 11 (Thursday and Friday). Here are some photos for you to see how we are maintaining social distancing in the office area.

We are very much looking forward to seeing all the boys back on campus.

The Ku-ring-gai Neighbourhood Centre (KNC) is a volunteer organisation located in St Ives shopping centre. The organisation assists with programs to help the vulnerable members of the local community. An initiative by the Ku-ring-gai MP Alister Henskens, the KNC has enlisted private schools to help with volunteer work during COVID-19.

Knox students - through Cadets - have been assisting the KNC with a program to supply fresh fruit and vegetables to elderly vulnerable people due to COVID-19. The food has been donated by Harris Farm supermarket in St Ives.

Tom Nathan, Nick Shannon and Leo Cui have been part of the roster for food packing every Tuesday for the last two months and will continue throughout COVID-19 crisis.

The boys also have helped, not only with the packing, but also with the shopping and by doing a letterbox drop of over 2,000 residents which outlined the help available from the KNC to the elderly of our community. The program has been hugely successful and appreciated and we are very proud of these wonderful Knox boys.

Our beautiful new Boarders’ Terrace is now open and ready for our Boarders to enjoy when they return over the coming weeks.