‘Who were you before anyone told you who you were ‘supposed’ to be?’ Jo Saxton, 2019.

Earlier this week Mr Stedman and I had the privilege of attending the Global Leadership Summit with the Faith and Spirituality Portfolio Leadership Team. As the world renowned speakers took us on a journey through their life of leadership, they spoke about their exciting times, their struggles, their failures and successes but each had brought strategic change, culture shift and innovation. A common thread through all the talks was that no matter who you are, you have influence. Dr Krish Kandiah who founded Home for Good (a charity that seeks to find homes for children in the UK foster system) challenged us to see potential in all people, to challenge prejudice and exclusion with hospitality. Case studies of businesses hiring ex-prisoners was eye-opening into the potential of all people if we just care enough and are willing to look past first impressions into people’s stories. Danielle Strickland challenged us to look at the roots in us that shape our values, which determine our actions and then the fruit we produce. For example, in Rwanda, there has been a 60% reduction in domestic violence as 3,000 local leaders have been educated to fight gender-based violence by examining their culture of social acceptance through exerting control over their families. In examining other men and realising that obedience from their children and wives didn’t need to come through physicality, they have removed the root of fear of social punishment, which then changed their values based on their need for control, which changed their behaviour of physical intimidation, which in turn, has then borne fruit of a much more loving and harmonious household. Bear Grylls shared his stories of failure, fear, the fire that keeps him going and the faith that shapes his life. His message was particularly applicable to the boys.

For this group of Year 12, it was thought provoking in terms of the influences each and every boy has and how they can develop this to bring cultural change where it is needed. What roots are embedded in each of the boys and determines their actions and the fruit they bear? How do we as parents and teachers encourage the good roots to grow and cause the unhelpful roots to wither? How do we further encourage inclusivity for all within our year group so that everyone feels as important as the next person? As all of us have an influence, all have a part to play, all have a voice, and all do impact the people around them.

Some food for thought for the weekend!

Go the black and blue!

Beth Goddard - Team Leader

On Saturday 23 November, Year 12 are organising a fundraiser - 'Ride for Richter'. The day will be full of fun activities and food. I would like to thank everyone who has already offered to help via my email. I will be sending an email in the coming week with more details. Please make a note in your diary to come along-your support will be greatly appreciated.

Last Friday night, Australian spin bowler Nathan Lyon was the special guest speaker for the Cricket Supporters Season Launch at Curagul. Lyon spoke to the boys and parents about his journey from a playing junior cricket in Young in rural NSW to his selection on the Australian team.He reflected on the importance of failure and being able to learn from mistakes, mateship and self-belief.

We have restarted the shoe collection to help needy children in the Philippines in Term 4. Please have a look at home to see if you have any shoes that are still in good condition that you can donate.  These can be school shoes, sports shoes (runners/football boots), sandals or crocs both for boys and girls.  These shoes really make a difference to many poor children and importantly, allow many to attend school. Andrew O’Brien and the Year 9 SJ Team are coordinating this imitative. Donations may be brought to the SAOs or Helen Clarke’s office in Room 15.

I would like to congratulate Harrison Chow, Marcus D'Angelo, Kale Gabila, Andy Lin, Jackson Thurkettle, Morgan Singleton and Luke Yu for their Basketball 'Champion Award' for their respective teams for  Round 1.

I have just come in from watching the amazing T6 House Cricket Grand Final. Chasing 48 runs set by Angus, Reid could only manage 43. A whole lot of fun was had by all.

Have a great weekend!

Robin Cherry 9119 0884

The inaugural Careers Insight Evening held on Monday night was well attended by students across Years 9 to 12 and their parents. Students heard some great insights, inspiration, and advice from our presenters. Thank you to our Old Boys and staff who generously gave their time to share their knowledge and personal insights into their industry. Due to its success, this event will become a key annual event in the Knox Careers Program, highlighting the importance of career education for students. The key note presentation can be found here. Other presentations will soon be made available and can be accessed via the Careers Page on the portal.

The mentor program focus for this fortnight has been on understanding stress and its causes, and was outlined in last week’s newsletter update. We thought it might be helpful this week to focus on some tips for parents. 

There are many things that parents can do to encourage healthy management of stress. Encouraging and supporting a healthy and balanced lifestyle, including adequate exercise, good quality sleep, and a nutritious diet, is, of course, vitally important. 

There are other important things that parents can do to support healthy management of stress, including the following: 

• Be a role model for healthy stress management. Consider the ways that you manage your own reactions to stress– are they healthy or unhealthy? How do you manage physical signs of stress (e.g. tension)? What do you do to actively manage stress or stressful situations? How do you talk about it in front of your son?
• Gently challenge any unhelpful, negative thoughts voiced by your son – e.g. “I am going to fail” or “This is a disaster”. Ask “Is that really true? Is that a fact, or just a stress thought?” “What is the evidence for/against that thought?” Encourage helpful, realistic thinking and keeping things in perspective.
• Encourage and reinforce healthy problem solving. Often stress is caused by a real ‘problem’ that needs to be solved – e.g. there may be an issue with time management. Encourage your son to consider solutions and try them out.
• Encourage your son to face up to difficult or stressful situations. Encourage your son to face difficult situations or tasks by breaking them down into smaller, more manageable steps. Discourage avoidance – it makes everything worse.
• If your son is panicking or having an extreme emotional outburst, STAY CALM! Even if you don’t feel calm, try to appear calm and respond to your son in as calm a manner as possible. Walk away if you are unable to do this. Responding in a calm manner is a powerful message to your son that you know that they are going to be OK (because you are not worried and panicking), and importantly, you also know that they are capable of coping. It is also a way of diffusing the emotion in the situation – responding with panic or extreme emotion serves to inflame the situation.

Please continue to talk with your son about the Mentor program content, and if you have any questions or comments please email.

Melinda Price, Senior School Clinical Psychologist – Year 12 

The Knox Christmas Markets 2019, will be held this year on Friday 15 November from 4pm to 8pm in the Great Hall. There will be live festive music from our students, lots of wonderful unique gifts, as well as food and refreshments available for purchase. The food stalls will include gourmet pizza, BBQ, Dutch pancakes and ice cream! Parking will be available on Knox 1 Oval from 4pm (entry via Borambil Street), subject to weather. 

Once again, Pudding Lane are kindly donating 40% of all pre-orders to the Knox Parents’ Association (KPA), so if you would like to pre-order a Christmas pudding or cake, please see the Pudding flyer below for details. Pre-orders need to be placed by Friday 8 November.  Please click here to place your order.

On Tuesday 12 November the Headmaster is hosting a Volunteer Thank You Celebration. 

On Monday 25 November, Paul Dillon will be presenting to Year 12 students in periods 6 and 7 in the WSA and to parents from 6pm - 7pm in the Great Hall.

More Information and registration will be available very soon.

An exhibition of work by leading Australian artist Jasper Knight has been curated by the Young Curators (Year 8 - Alec Germanos, Adam Scott, Brandon Tan, Harry Gordon, Will Solomons, Year 9 - Justin Menso, and Year 12 - Mitchell Volk). It will be on display in the JAPAC in from 12-29 November.

Richard Hilderbrand, Luke Marinaki, Luke Schofield, Nic Wijaya, Micah Zhao along with students from other years attended the Global Leadership Summit this week in the city.

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