We aim to ensure that we continue to offer our boys a quality educational experience. We have always had evening Tutors in Boarding and after school support workshops in a range of subjects and for literacy and numeracy. We want to continue this approach in an online environment.

The role of the Academic Support person is to provide academic advice and support via Zoom. This support and advice could take the form of the following:

• Responding to student questions. 
• Revisiting a key skill, concept or an aspect of the content.

Please click here for the list of subjects that will be providing Academic Support after school in Weeks 2 to 8. The list outlines the subject, day and time for students to use the link to ask teachers questions relating to their subjects. Please note that some sessions are just for Boarders and all other sessions are for any student in that year or stage.

Stage 6 is Years 11 and 12, Stage 5 is Years 9 and 10 and Stage 4 is Years 7 and 8.

Karen Yager

The Headmaster recently communicated to all members of the School community a phased plan aimed at allowing all students to return to school by the end of Term 2. The return to learning on campus is something I know all stakeholders are really looking forward to. This gradual phased return to school for students is based on the best health and risk advice available, however, it may need revising should there be a change in health circumstances across NSW. The School appreciates the stresses that online learning can present on the home front. In the latest edition of the Knoxonian, there was a link for parents to the Knox Remote Learning Hub. I wholeheartedly recommend parents review the family support resources available via the Remote Learning Hub and again I make these resources available via this link Knox Remote Learning Hub. I extend my thanks to parents and students for their continued support of the school’s phased plan related to learning. 

Wayne Inwood

This Easter holiday break has been like no other in the past. As The teachers at the School have been preparing for another busy and tumultuous term, we have also looked forward to seeing the boys (online) and hearing the many adventures they have been up to. Thank you very much to the parents who replied to my email during the holidays and for sharing the wonderful stories and pictures of your sons. Even though the activities were most likely different to what the Easter break normally encompasses, trips up and down the coast, barbeques with family and friends, etc., it was still lovely to read about what you and your families have been up to. Having looked through the photos, I have to say, I have been very impressed by the boys and we might even have a future Masterchefs amongst them! Many of the boys have been helping out around the house, keeping up with their instrument practice, going out on bushwalks, or looking after a new family pet. In our first Year Meeting of the term, I shared these photos with the boys. It was a great way for our students to be reminded that they are part of this community, and although we have been physically distant from one another, there are boys across our year group who are going through the exact same thing. I have been reaching out to the boys on a regular basis to check on their wellbeing, and it is important that they are doing the same amongst their mates. 

Staff from around the campus are continuing to pass on feedback about your son’s application and progress in the remote learning space. Although I’m sure this term will see more changes to schooling, it is vital that the boys are adapting and applying themselves to the best of their ability. There are many ways that the boys can ask for assistance if they need to. I encourage the boys to maintain regular contact with their Mentor so that we can implement strategies quickly if need be. The Junior Academy team is looking forward to continuing to support your son through Term 2 and eagerly await the return of boys running to class, balls flying across the boulevard during break times and laughter echoing through the campus.

Clare Yuan

A warm welcome back to Term 2 and remote learning. I hope you all had a safe and relaxing break over the Easter period and enjoyed the time as a family. I am looking forward to welcoming back the Year 7 students to campus in a slow and safe structured return as expressed by the Headmaster. Please click here to view the Senior School return schedule.  I've been so glad to see the many photos that the boys have shared of what they have been up to; from bushwalking, cooking, bike riding, and model-making. I too enjoyed the break with family outdoors and managed to change our clay-filled backyard to grass.

I want to thank you for your ongoing support during this time and please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

A reminder that the school library portals, available via KnoxNet, contain free access to a wide variety of information databases across all subjects. The Library staff are online from Term 2 to help students and parents in any way they can. Please use the form on the portal or contact them via email. 

Bec Mitchelson  Ph:91190885

Study Skills Videos

I am pleased to report that many Knox families took advantage of the access we provided in April to the Study Skills Videos from Dr Prue Salter. The accompanying handout will be a useful document for you to refer back to throughout the year. Please be aware that Knox has also taken out a subscription to the online website which houses many helpful resources:

www.studyskillshandbook.com

Username            knox

Password             7success

Assessment Tasks

There have been a few modifications to the assessment schedule for Term 2. The School will continue to respond to the rapidly changing landscape and pivot using current advisements from government authorities and professionals; as such, the assessment modifications are subject to change. It is vital that students are reading the assessment task notifications posted in Student Café, as well as checking their email regularly and paying close attention to the instructions provided via Google Classroom and Knox email.

If your son misses a Stage 4 assessment task online or in-class, due to illness/misadventure (which includes exclusion, quarantine or technology failure), please complete an Illness Misadventure Appeal (IMA) application. This ensures that the School can capture decisions about mark reviews, extensions, and estimates in our markbooks. The IMA form is located on the Knox Portal - Year 7.

Upcoming assessment tasks for Year 7

Janelle Charlton

Sunday 10 May

Mother's Day

Monday 8 June

Queen's Birthday - Public Holiday

Friday 26 June

Term 2 concludes 

All students are invited to join the CRU group who meet on Monday at lunchtime. CRU is a group of Christians (and those interested in learning more), who meet weekly to learn about Jesus as well as share and encourage each other and pray. Everyone is very welcome.

Please join us during lunchtime on Mondays (12.50pm–1.30pm) via Zoom.

Please contact Amy Keir for further information.

The Knox Uniform Shop is still operating on reduced hours. To assist customers unsure of the sizing of winter uniform, the Uniform Shop will be open from 1pm-5pm on Monday 4 May, Wednesday 6 May, and Friday 8 May and then on Saturday 9 May from 9am-12noon. Please note that we are running on a customer limited basis so appointments are not required but we will only have two changing rooms operational. We ask parents and students to be patient as our team practises social distancing to keep our School community safe.

Whilst students continue remote learning, they are permitted to wear their winter uniform if already purchased or their PDHPE/Sports uniform. When they are on-site, they are expected to wear full winter uniform.

Uniform is available to order online via Flexischools 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.

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 Senior School Reception (open 8am-5pm weekdays). Please email us to advise of your request.

Further information regarding the Uniform Shop opening times for Term 2 will be advised shortly.

Julie Blackburn

You will have received the pleasing news with regards to students returning to school on a staggered basis from Week 3 onwards.

The Sport and Co-Curricular schedule that was advised last week is currently being updated to reflect these return timings. The new schedule, of either online or at school programs, will be advised in the year level weekly newsletters on Friday of Week 2.

Sport and Co-Curricular staff are looking forward to being able to resume a number of activities with the boys on campus.

Martin Haywood (Head of Knox Sport Aquatic Academy) and Chuck Ardron (Director Co-Curricular Operations)

Wellbeing, Support and Counselling
Knox psychologists are available for support of students and their parents by contacting us via email or phone (02) 9119 0828. A reminder that the Knox Psychologists have produced short videos for parents on such topics as:

• how to survive and thrive as a family
• online resources
• maintaining balance
• managing conflict
• staying socially connected
• motivating adolescents
• managing parental guilt

These videos can be found here. Password: WellbeingSenior

David Schofield

It is great to see so many boys sharing pictures of themselves enjoying time away from their devices and getting involved in many varied activities whilst at home. We've had boys out on the water, bike riding, bushwalking, cooking and some of our musicians playing in the #lightupthedawn campaign. It looks like they all had a blast!