Week 6 is now behind us, and there is plenty happening for the Class of 2021. This week saw the implementation of the ‘sticker’ system for both the locker and the canteen, with the aim of effectively limiting the number of boys able who access these areas at any given time. Overall it has worked well, and the boys are reminded to continue to respect this system and adhere to the timing of their group. 

We also had a long overdue Year Meeting this week, with larger groups of boys in both the WSA and the Lecture Theatre. It was fantastic to take this step, as we have missed this opportunity to come together as a year group on a weekly basis. As part of the ‘positive vibes’ segment, Samuel Luo was celebrated for his phenomenal musical efforts and stirring rendition on ANZAC Day, where he represented the School and his cohort proudly. In the sporting arena, Jackson Young (Mountain Biking), Joshua Cao (Tennis) and Toby Peknice (Swimming) were all recognised with thoroughly deserved OKGA Awards.

Jersey sizing for Year 12 has now taken place, and the boys will need to remember which size suited them best when it comes to the time to make an order. While on the topic of long-sleeved clothing, some colder weather has led to some liberal choices with regard to uniform this week, and these boys have been told that this is not acceptable. A blazer, with the possible addition of the Knox grey knitted jumper are the winter options, and this has once again been made explicitly clear to Year 11.

In their Thursday Mentor session, the boys were given a reminder about the possible Prefect Appointments on offer for next year, and will be delivered further information about the roles and application process next week from Mr O’Regan and Mr White. This has generated some early discussion, and it is great to see a host of ambitious Year 11 boys poised to step up and lead the various portfolios. 

This weekend is longer than our regular weekly breaks, and it is a timely one as well. It is a great chance to break-up what is already a shortened face-to-face term, and there will be no excuses for the boys to run out of stamina during the remaining three weeks as we push towards the holidays.

Enjoy the extra day with your families; be sure to contact your son’s teachers, mentors or Team Leaders if you have any questions or concerns about your son’s progress.

Adam Shaw

Please click here to read a letter from the Headmaster explaining the NCCD data collection which will take place in August this year.

Today two of our cohort, Cooper Stormonth (left) and Max Olesen, were lucky enough to meet and spend time today with Socceroos National Team coach Graham Arnold. The boys really enjoyed the time they spent chatting all things sport!

A reminder that the normal Uniform Shop hours for Terms 2 and 3 are Monday to Friday, 12.30pm-5pm. The Uniform Shop will be closed on Monday 8 June due to the Public Holiday.

We are pleased to offer two afternoon sessions on Monday 15 and Monday 22 June, 3.30pm-4.30pm in the WSA Lecture Theatre on Managing Study Stress, presented by Dr Laura-Kate Dassos and Ms Kara Campbell, from the Knox Wellbeing Team. Registration sheets are with me in the WSA office.

Announcement: audition details for the 2020 Knox Musical 'Beauty and the Beast' will be presented via a Google doc next Tuesday 9 June. 

I thought I might include a few photos of the courtyard space as some of you may not have had the opportunity to see it. This is one of the spaces Year 11 use for recess and lunchtime and it is an amazing area to enjoy. 

Debra Barnard Tel: 9119 0883

Firstly, we have been impressed by the way the boys are managing their time around the completion of assessment tasks. Year 11 is a time to lay solid foundations with respect to using a plan and ensuring deadlines are being met. Maximising time in the ‘Quadrant of Quality’ is crucial to ensuring standards are high and the boys can be proud of what they are submitting for each of their subjects.

We spoke to the boys during Year Meeting this week with respect to their Semester 1 reports. These will be posted on Student Café and Parent Lounge later today. As was noted in the newsletter last week, you will see a number of significant changes made to the reports style and information provided. In addition to the report you will also be provided a Report Reflection sheet that will provided reflection questions aligned with the Knox Learner Protocols. While we encourage parents to discuss these questions with their sons, our focus in Stage 6 is for the boys to take ownership of their learning. We would expect the boys to engage with these questions, reflect, discuss with their Teachers and Mentor and consider strategies they can employ moving forward.

Andrew Weeding and Greg Nunan

Mr Phil O’Regan (Deputy Headmaster of Students K-12) and I will be presenting to the Year 11 cohort next Thursday on the upcoming Prefect selection process. We will be giving the boys an overview of the expectations and responsibilities associated with the role whilst also stepping through the application process, the voting system, the subsequent interview stage and all of the associated timelines.

Essentially, those young men who would like to apply for this important position at the School will need to complete their application during the next break, through the platform that I will provide them with, and submit their application during Week 1 of next term. From there, we will start the voting process (Academic staff, Team Leaders, Academy staff, peers, outgoing Prefects and Mentors are all asked to vote) and then review votes and applications. In addition, feedback is sought from classroom teachers, Team Leaders, Mentors, co-curricular and sporting staff together with review of APAs/Dispositions before selected students are then panelled for interviews. Interviews are conducted by panels of senior staff members and final recommendations are then made for review and approval by the Headmaster.

If you have any questions about this process, please contact me directly. Additionally, please utilise the following links if you would like more information on the Portfolio Leadership Teams (PLTs) or on Student Leadership at Knox.

Sam White 

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

Monday 8 June 

• Queen's Birthday Public Holiday

Monday 15 June 

• Student Stress Management - Session 1. 3.30pm - 4.30pm. WSA Lecture Theatre.

Monday 22 June 

• Student Stress Management - Session 2. 3.30pm - 4.30pm. WSA Lecture Theatre

Friday 26 June 

• Term 2 concludes 

After to the success of last Saturday’s fun, fitness, speed session on Gillespie Fields, we will continue this weekend and right up until the end of Term 2. All boys are encouraged to come and enjoy a workout under the guidance of our Athletic coaches. This is open to every boy in the School – not just those looking to make CAS Track & Field selection.

The session will be run under strict COVID-19 guidelines and parents are encouraged to drop boys off at 8am with pick up at 9.30am.

Martin Haywood

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

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.

TEAMS Your team can comprise any number and combination of students, from any year group.

LENGTH Film : 2 – 4.5 Minutes Narrated Story Board : 1 – 3.5 minutes.

CRITERIA All entries must be wholly original work and produced specifically for the 2020 Knox Flix competition. The majority of your entry must be student originated content. All entries must clearly relate to the theme – 'I believe!' or 'Would you believe?'. The entry specifications require a frame rate of 25 frames per second in 16:9 PAL format.

COPYRIGHT Your film should not include copyright music or material (i.e. the latest song or film clip). If your entry does include copyright material, your entry cannot be shown outside the school or online for legal reasons. Royalty free music is preferred and can be sourced online.

TOOLS You may use whatever equipment and software you are able to access. The library has video cameras and tripods available for you to borrow, but if you have a mobile phone camera and know how to use iMovie on your MacBook to edit, you’re ready to roll. However, please make sure you film in landscape not portrait if you are using an iPhone!

SOCIAL ISOLATION. This year all aspects of social isolation rules must be observed. As such, please submit a written outline of the measures you have employed in order to meet the legal requirements associated with COVID-19. This should include filming dates where the rules have changed over time.

ACTOR CONSENT All actors appearing in your entry must sign the consent form giving permission to be filmed and shown on film in public. Forms must be handed in with your entry.

APPROPRIATENESS Entries must be appropriate in content: violence and the use of vulgarity or explicit themes are not accepted. Should you have doubts here, please seek advice. Teams with entries deemed inappropriate may be given the opportunity to alter their entry before being disqualified from the competition.

KEY DATES Entries due Monday 3 August, Week 3 Term 3 at 9am. This year the winning entries will be shared during an online assembly.

JUDGING Knox Staff, in communication with industry professionals, will convene an on-line panel through which all prizes will be awarded. Judging will be based on how well you use your chosen aspect, the story/plot and quality of overall production (film/sound/lighting/effects etc.).

PRIZES Best Film 1st $450, 2nd $150. Best Narrated storyboard $350, Best Cinematography $150, Best Story/Writer $150, Best Actor $150. These prizes will be awarded in the form of JB Hi-Fi Gift Cards split between members of the winning team.

REGISTRATION Pre-production registrations are due by the last day of Term 2. Please complete the registration form.

QUESTIONS Please direct all questions, whether technical or competition related to Mr Fisher.

CONCLUSION You have to be in it to win it. The scope of this project cos as unlimited as your imagination and creativity. Have fun with it!

Warren Fisher

In the time since returning to the campus it has been encouraging to see so many students embracing their time at school. There have been a number of changes put in place and it is pleasing to see how many of the students have positively responded to the changes and applied themselves to their studies.

With increased numbers of students being dropped off and picked up at school and in the streets surrounding the Senior School campus, there has been increased delays for students getting to and from school. Knox is working closely with Roads and Maritime NSW (RMS), NSW Transport Management Centre (TMC), NSW Police and Ku-ring-gai Council to minimise delays. We have been advised by the TMC that their inspectors with the assistance of NSW Police will be making regular patrols during these times to ensure the free flow of traffic.

The safety of our students, staff and local community are our key priority. It is essential all drivers follow the road rules and parking restrictions so as to promote the safest possible environment for our boys, staff and community members. We request drivers entering Woodville Avenue:

• Obey the 40km/h speed limits
• Utilise the recently extended drop off/pick up zones whenever available (the bus zone extending to the Pacific Highway has temporarily been designated 'drop and go')
• Stop in a safe area for students to get out of vehicles
• Do not complete a u-turn over the double lines outside the school gate
• Park legally when dropping off or pick up students

Should you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact the School. We rely on our community for feedback and it is always welcomed and appreciated.

On Wednesday we held our first Year Meeting for the term. Though not all Mentor groups were able to be in the one space, the cohort acknowledged the three following students who received awards from the OKGA on their performances in their chosen fields. Congratulations gents!

• Toby Peknice - Swim Team
• Jackson Young - Mountain Biking
• Joshua Cao - Tennis

Our beautiful new Centenary Mural, which is now complete, includes totems which have been drawn by our indigenous students. Each totem represents a boy's story, culture and heritage. Year 11 is represented by Khy Samuelsson (third from left).

Please make the time to come and have a look at this wonderful work.

Optimal Parenting Webinar – Parent Q&A
Thank you for tuning into the Knox Wellbeing Team Optimal Parenting recent webinar, we hope you found this helpful. Thank you also for the overwhelming response to our Q&A section – our team is mindful that we did not have the opportunity to answer all questions on the night and have provided a written response to the key questions/themes in the PDF here.

Please note that the information is general in nature; for specific responses tailored to your particular child and/or family’s situation, please contact Knox Wellbeing Reception to arrange an appointment with your school psychologist via email.