On the morning of Saturday 12 October in Vienna, Austria, Eliud Kipchoge, the world's finest marathoner, became the first person in history to run the marathon in under two hours. His time of 1:59:40 required him to maintain an average pace of just under 2:50 per kilometre or 21.1km/h. That is, to put it mildly, soul-searing speed. Even a supremely fit person would struggle to run at so aggressive a clip for more than five or six minutes in a row. On Saturday, Kipchoge held it for just shy of 120.

So how did Eliud Kipchoge break the magical 2-hour barrier? Here are three reasons experts have identified and my advice to your son of how he can apply these same strategies to the final term of 2019:

1.     He had Olympic champions running in front of him and mates on bikes hand-delivering drinks. Success at school and achieving the academic grades and sporting teams you hope for, are best achieved in a team. Surrounding yourself with friends and peers who can support you and help you achieve your goals is critical. And the best part is – when you start to succeed, so do those around you.

2.     He had laser beams guiding the way. The laser beams were used to identify the ideal position on the road for Kipchoge to follow. Your teachers are the lasers in your life. They are experts in their subject field and experienced mentors. Knox has the privilege of having teachers who are masters of their craft, regularly updated on their teaching practice and passionate about seeing you succeed. They know the best path for you to run and you would do well to adhere to their direction and advice.

3.     He had specially designed shoes. Without shoes, running at that speed becomes rather difficult. I think shoes are to marathon-running what organisation is to school. Having a diary and a plan and a schedule and clear goals and targets will ensure that you are able to run at maximum speed.

But if you asked Eliud Kipchoge whether the above criteria were the main reason for his success, as you may know he has failed in a previous attempt to break this record, his answer will probably be: "The improvement is happening in the mind."

It's all in the mind.

We can all draw much inspiration from what Kipchoge has achieved, as well as his comment after he crossed the finish line in Vienna. "I want to inspire many people, that no human is limited," said Kipchoge. If you put your mind to it, you can achieve it.

I would like to wish each of our boys everything of the best for the final eight weeks of the school year and look forward to celebrating the many successes to come.

Craig Milligan

Welcome back to Term 4 2019! Carly and I hope you had a wonderful holiday break and it has been great to see the all the boys back refreshed and ready to tackle to challenge that is the final term of Year 7!

This term will be a busy one for the boys culminating in the Yearly Examinations and Integrated Learning Assessment (ILA) towards the back end of the term. As we pointed out to the boys in our Year Meeting on Wednesday, whilst this term is less than 8 weeks in length, we will be kept just as busy as we are during the 10 or 11 week terms. Below is a snapshot of some of the events which the boys will be involved in:

·       6 weeks of Summer Sports fixtures and training

·       Year 7 English Poetry Incursion

·       Yearly Examinations in Weeks 5 and 6

·       ILA Task in Week 7

·       Assessment Tasks in various subjects

·       Orientation Day for the Portfolio Leadership Team

·       Presentation Day

·       House Cricket Competition

As you can see it will be a busy time for the boys, Carly and I have stressed the need for a structured plan which includes study, sport and down time at home. We have encouraged the boys to begin planning the next few weeks so that they are well-prepared, and we will continue to work closely with them to ensure that they can achieve a healthy balance between all these areas.

I would like to encourage all families to download the new Knox app if you have not already done so in order to stay up-to-date with all happenings during Term 4.

Finally, please feel free to contact the Team Leaders or your son’s Mentor if you have any concerns or questions as we approach the end of the year.

Julien Manuel

A very warm welcome to the final term of Year 7. I certainly hope you have all had a happy and restful holiday break and that the boys are looking forward to an exciting and busy term ahead. The boys arrived on Tuesday looking splendid in their summer uniforms and moved straight back into the school routine with fluency. The mood throughout the cohort is very positive and upbeat which has been great to see.

It is hard to believe that the boys are in their final term of Year 7. I am confident the boys will face the demands of the term with the necessary focus and determination to achieve their best, and they will continue to be supported by the entire Junior Academy team. 

A group of 15 boys from Years 7 to 8 have returned from a trip of a lifetime to Italy as a part of the International da Vinci Decathlon and Race Around the Renaissance. The boys competed against schools from across United Kingdom, Australia and India. Along the way, the boys were immersed in the culture of Italy with a visit to the Leonardo da Vinci Museum in Florence, a pasta making class in Tuscany and sightseeing around Rome and Venice. The feedback from the boys has been fantastic. A trip they will remember for years to come.

A reminder that Vaccinations (HPV Dose 2) are scheduled to take place on 8 November. If you have any queries, please contact the Public Health Department. Details below: 

School Immunisation Coordinators: (02) 9477 9400

 I’m sure a number of you will be watching the Rugby World Cup quarter finals this weekend. I know I will be. Enjoy the rugby and have a lovely weekend.

Renee Willson Tel: 9119 0886

Welcome back to the start of what is sure to be a very busy fourth term. My name is Mr Dan Parker and I am the newly appointed Student Management Officer for the Junior Academy.

I come to Knox after having spent several years with the NSW Police Force in a variety of different roles and have experience working with adolescents. I am looking forward to working closely with the staff here at Knox to support and encourage all students to become the very best version of themselves and upstanding members of our community.

My role as a Student Management Officer is to assist the boys and staff in a multi-faceted way. This includes supporting the boys in complying with their responsibilities and ensuring that their rights and freedoms are preserved.

I will be a visible presence for the boys around the Senior Campus and I am available throughout the school day. I will take this opportunity to remind the boys of their need to comply with the summer uniform standards as we head into the warmer months which includes appropriate hair cut.

As a final note for both boys and parents, my door is always open. If there is anything I can assist with please feel free to come and see me, send me an email or contact me via phone. I am a big believer in encouraging the boys to ask as many questions as they can. I hope that as time goes on and as the boys get to know me, I will become an approachable and trustworthy person in their schooling journey.

Dan Parker Tel: 9119 0816

Friday 8 November

• Vaccinations. HPV Dose 2

Thursday 14 to Friday 22 November

• Yearly Examinations 

Friday 15 November

• Knox Christmas Markets. Great Hall. 4pm - 8pm

Thursday 5 December

• Knox Presentation Day. Term 4 Concludes

Students from Knox Grammar School will reprise the School's very first musical, 'Oliver', with a production of the much loved musical in the Knox Junior Academy and Performing Arts Centre from 7-9 November.

The production will be the first major show to take place in the new 750 seat Wenkart Auditorium.

Performances
Thursday 7 November 2019, 7.30pm
Friday 8 November 2019, 7.30pm
Saturday 9 November 2019, 7.30pm

Venue
Wenkart Theatre, Junior Academy and Performing Arts Centre, Knox Grammar School, Wahroonga

Tickets
All tickets $35 at www.knox.nsw.edu.au/oliver

The production will feature a cast of 170 students from Years 7 to 12 from Knox Grammar School, Ravenswood School for Girls and Pymble Ladies' College, with a live orchestra and sound and lighting by a student tech crew.

Raising boys in a digital world
An evening with Dr Kristy Goodwin

When: Wednesday 20 November 2019, 6pm-8pm
Where: Wenkart Theatre, Junior Academy and Performing Arts Centre, Senior School
Who: Knox Prep, Wahroonga Prep and Knox Senior School parents of students in Years 5-9

Dr Goodwin will provide practical and effective strategies to ensure your son’s online safety and healthy technology habits.

Please RSVP by 15 November here. For more information, email Amanda Pooley.

Parent seminar - Raising Boys in a Digital World flyer

All welcome to join us for these upcoming events:

• OKGA Special Event: Tomorrow Man - A Night with the Blokes - Tuesday 29 October
• OKGA 2019 Golf Day - Wednesday 30 October

OKGA 2019 Golf Day 
When: Wednesday 30 October 2019, Lunch from 12.30pm; Tee Off 1.30pm 
Where: Avondale Golf Club, Pymble 

All members of the Knox community are warmly invited to participate in the 2019 Annual OKGA Golf Day.

Competitions to be held on the day include Individual Stableford + 2 Ball Team Event, Leavers’ Trophy ‐ Aggregate Four Ball, Father and Son, Mother and Son, Longest Drive and Nearest the Pin.

2019 Golf Day Invite

Please register online here by Friday 18 October. Contact the OKGA Office on 9487 0419 if you have any questions.

OKGA Special Event: Tomorrow Man - A Night with the Blokes
When: Tuesday 29 October 2019, Free BBQ from 6.30pm; Workshop from 7pm 
Where: Senior School Gymnasium, Lawson Centre 

The Old Knox Grammarians Association (OKGA) is delighted to be hosting a special Tomorrow Man event in conjunction with Gus Worland (OKG86), and Gotcha4Life.

Come and join with fellow men of the Knox community for ‘A Night with the Blokes’ - a space for a casual and honest conversation about the current man code and what tomorrow’s man might look like.

Throughout the night, we will explore how we can look after ourselves, our mates and families better while carving out our own version of the Aussie man.

Participants will leave this workshop with a deeper level of understanding and connectedness to their fellow men.

This event is open to all male members of the Knox community together with grandfathers, fathers, sons and brothers (under 16 must be accompanied by an adult male).

2019 OKGA A Night With The Blokes Invite

Register online here by Friday 25 October. 

Contact the OKGA Office on 9487 0419 or email okga@knox.nsw.edu.au if you have any questions.

Computer club takes place every Wednesday afternoon from 3.30 – 5.30pm.

Although we are currently working in the new innovations building, we are just about to move to the new iHub in the old music block (this move will take place on 30 October)

Our focus for the term will be the Grok Code Quest Competition which starts  on 28 October 2019.

All boys are welcome to attend.

Calling any budding triathletes!

For the first time ever, CIS will be introducing the CIS Teams Triathlon Championships as a qualifying event for the NSW All Schools Triathlon Championships in February 2020.This event will be held on Monday 28 October (Week 3) at Penrith International Regatta Centre. Please see attached for further information.This event is for teams only and you will need to participate in this event to qualify for the teams event at NSW All Schools. Individual competitors will still be able to register directly for the NSW All Schools event in February.

We are seeking interest from individual swimmers, cyclists and runners to form teams for the CIS event. Knox will form seeded teams of boys who we deem to have the fastest qualifying times in their age category. Additionally, Knox will form social teams of boys wanting to give the sport of triathlon a go.

Please click here to express your interest in participating in this event.

Please contact Mr Hart if you have any questions.

Don’t throw out good school shoes!
We have restarted the shoe collection to help needy children in The Philippines this term. 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 them to attend school. Andrew O’Brien (Year 9) and Mrs Helen Clarke are coordinating this initative. Please drop off your donations to Room 19 or Mrs Clarke in Room 15.

We have an exciting new initiative starting up in the JAPAC this term: the McKenzie Pop-up Library!  Every second Friday (week B) lunchtime, the pop-up library will appear in the JAPAC lounge, so that any boys who haven’t had the chance to visit the McKenzie Library during the week will still have the opportunity to borrow and return books.

We will have a great selection of popular books, graphic novels and magazines from the McKenzie Library for boys to choose from.  Library staff will be there to help them find the perfect book.

Boys, don’t forget to bring your frequent borrower’s card – for every 20 books borrowed, you will get a library certificate, and go in the draw to win a $20 book voucher!

The pop-up library will feature artworks by the winners of the design competition Christian Tan and Max McLeod.

School photographs are now available to order.

For Portraits

• Go to the Melba Studios website:  www.melbastudios.com.au 
• Click on ‘School Orders’
• Enter the password knox

You will need to know your sons name and his student ID number to view his portrait and you can order from 2018 and 2019.

If you would like assistance, please contact Melba Studios on (02) 9438 4566.

Each year the Knox community supports those in need in the lead up to Christmas. We ask the Knox community to donate food for families who will struggle to provide for their families at Christmas.

Donations can be handed in to Room 19 or Mrs Clarke’s office (Room 15)

Suggested items:

Pasta & pasta sauce

Breakfast cereals (no nuts)

Long-life milk

Tinned ham and/or turkey

Long-life custard and/or canned cream

Christmas pudding/fruit cake and/or mince pies

Tinned tuna/salmon

Tea/Coffee/milo/hot chocolate/nesquik

Canned fruit

Cordial

Savoury snacks (no nuts)

Table trimmings (such as lollies, chocolate or Christmas bonbons)

In early December we will arrange to take all of the donations into Wesley Mission in the City for distribution to these struggling families.