Wonderful to see all of our energetic Year 7 boys back on campus this week. They have a very busy schedule of events to navigate this term but I am confident that our young men are up for the challenge. In mentioning challenge my mind goes straight to the Week 3 Year 7 planned House events days. Attached to this newsletter is a communication to parents from Mr. Tom Waterhouse, Knox Outdoor Education Coordinator. In Term 1, Mr Waterhouse, due to Covid restrictions, reported to you that the Year 7 scheduled Camp experience had to be postponed. As events have transpired it is still not possible to place Year 7 into an off-site camp experience. With this in mind we did want to offer our Year 7 boys the opportunity to work collectively as a year group outside of the normal classroom routine. I am excited by the two day ‘House Program’ Mr. Waterhouse has been able to create for the boys and to be run on Thursday and Friday of Week 3. I encourage all parents to read over the fine detail of this event presented in the attached communication from Mr. waterhouse.

Wayne Inwood

The boys have returned to School this week with an impressively positive attitude. With a new term comes fresh goals (and haircuts). It has been pleasing to hear from the boys about what they are striving for this term and the changes they have put in place to achieve these goals. While each student will have their own goals they want to achieve this term, I encourage them to get the ‘smalls’ right first. Keeping high standards with punctuality, uniform and being prepared for lessons are a sure-fire way to receive positive reinforcements from teachers and this will in turn, allow them to flourish when a more difficult task is at hand. 

It was lovely to hear what the boys had been up to over the two-week break, and although the holidays seem like a distant memory now at the end of Week 1, they have much to look forward to this term and we encourage all our students to dig deep because as the old saying goes, you only get out what you put in. 

At the end of last term, boys across the year group put their names forward for the Mentor Representative role. Their peers voted for who they thought would best represent their Mentor Group and at our Year Meeting this week, we were pleased to announce our newly inducted leaders. Ms Kennedy and I are very much looking forward to seeing what these boys accomplish over the next six months and have no doubt they will do our year group proud. Our Year 12 Stage 4 Prefects also attended Year Meeting this week and introduced themselves to the year group. They spoke about what being a leader means to them and spoke about the notion of not needing a title to be leader. While it is great to have aspirations in becoming a leader, as Team Leaders we also recognise the boys who lead from the back and work hard on a daily basis to uphold the School’s values. There will be many opportunities for the boys to demonstrate their leadership skills throughout their journey with us in the Senior School. We know we have a large talent pool of boys and look forward to seeing them thrive.

Clare Yuan

Assessment tasks & Yearly Examinations

Welcome back to Term 4. This term will be very busy with assessment tasks and examinations. The Yearly Examinations will take place from Wednesday 11 to Wednesday 18 November. The boys have been sent the assessment planner for Term 4 which I suggest you print and place in a prominent location at home. Over the next few weeks during Year Meetings, Mentor time and in the classroom, we will lead the boys through strategies around how to prepare for the exam block and study techniques. We recommend that your son also completes study in the JAPAC Lounge after school on at least one afternoon each week in order to take advantage of the support available there.

Upcoming assessment tasks

The Junior Academy Team will be interviewing Dr Andrew Campbell about his research and experience on the developmental changes in boys, including how to align emotional changes with parenting styles and to navigate technology use in teens. This presentation will be recorded and made available to you via the portal on Friday 30 October. We invite you to pose a question to Dr Campbell and if you wish to do so, please click on this link here. The most frequently asked questions will be answered by either Dr Campbell or someone from the Junior Academy Team.

Please take a moment to read Dr Campbell’s bio below. We look forward to sharing this important presentation with you soon.

Dr Andrew Campbell is the Chair of the Cyberpsychology Research Group in the Faculty of Medicine and Health at The University of Sydney. He has been researching and teaching in the area of e-Mental Health, Cyberpsychology and Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health for more than 15 years. Andrew obtained his PhD in psychology in 2003 and was the first psychologist in Australia to research and publish about the use of the Internet for social fearfulness/anxiety self-help. He works with industry, not for profits and Government on how to improve health and wellbeing using technology. He is often approached to speak in the media on the topic of communication technology and its impact on health and wellbeing (e.g. video game addiction, mobile phone use, youth culture and technology). Andrew has conducted research notably in the area of online therapies for depression and anxiety, AD/HD treatment using bio-feedback videogames and social networking for managing young people's mental health. He has a wealth of professional and practical knowledge to share with parents and educators of young boys as they grow into young men.

Andrea Wiffen

Thursday 29 October

Yr 7 Event Day 

Friday 30 October

 Yr 7 Event Day 

Thursday 3 December 

Term 4 concludes

A few important announcements were made over the break by the NSW Government and then followed up by the Associated Schools of NSW (CAS) regarding Term 4 and sport. I can confirm the following for sport this Saturday.

Each school will have a different policy with regards to the number of spectators, so it will be important to carefully read the information below.

Process for Sports fixtures – Saturday 17 October
1. Check the team list to see your son’s team - see the Knox app (download instructions)
2. Check the sports draw to see where and when your son’s team is playing - check the Knox app
3. Is he playing at a Knox Grammar School venue? If yes:

• Two spectator parents/guardians per player at our outdoor venues.
• One spectator parent/guardian per player at our indoor venues.
• QR code registration will be in place across all facilities at entry points, with standard health checks and questions.
• Players in all teams should turn up ready to play - no change rooms will be available.
• Canteens will be closed. Players should bring their own labelled water bottles and snacks if required.
• Players should leave immediately after completion of their fixture.
• Teams due to play in Great Hall and Lawson or on MacNeil courts will need to wait on Boulevard until they may enter the facility. This will depend on finish time of previous fixture.
• Water Polo players will also need to wait in JAPAC rec area for clearance to enter the pool area.
• Standard 1.5m social distancing for all spectators.

4. Is your son playing away? Which School is he playing against?

Cranbrook School
• Two spectator parents/guardians per player for all outdoor sports.
• One spectator parent/guardian per player for all indoor sports.
• Cranbrook COVID-19 Sports Protocols

Please ensure you follow social distancing guidelines at all times and leave immediately after your son’s game. As always, any sports cancellations due to wet weather will be announced via the Knox app (make sure you have subscribed to alerts for your son’s summer sport).

If you have any questions, please email Sport here.

Thank you and best wishes to all our students this weekend.

Martin Haywood, Head of Knox Sports and Aquatic Academy

McKenzie Library News

Welcome back to a new term. New releases and additions to the library include the following:

'The World’s Worst Parents' by David Walliams.

'Where I End and You Begin' by Preston Norton.

'Neighborhood Girls' by Jessie Ann Foley.

'To Sleep in a Sea of Stars' by Christopher Paolini.

'Midnight Sun' by Stephanie Meyer.

Book Club

A kindly reminder, Book Club is held in the senior study area of the library every Thursday at Lunchtime. All are welcome.

Enjoy your reading.

Curious Creatures, Wild Minds photo competition

Task: Create a digital photograph using the theme 'Curious Creatures, Wild Minds!' Your work may be a format that can be shared via photo; 3d sculpture, model, diorama, watercolour, pencil, oils, pastels, paint, JPEG or Powerpoint slide. You will need to scan/photograph and email your graphic to library@knox.nsw.edu.au as a JPEG. 

By entering this competition, entrants accept the Terms & Conditions stated here:

1. All entries must be your own work and clearly show your name, age and year group (if relevant) on the back of your work. 

2. Entries must be emailed or direct messaged to: library@knox.nsw.edu.au by 4pm on Friday 23 October 2020. 

3. Please do not post or hand in your submission to the library. 

4. You may scan or photograph your entry to submit it. 

5. Winners will be announced on Friday 30 of October 2020. Winners will be contacted about their book voucher prize.

6. Please note that all entries will be displayed at McKenzie Library and on our website for a period of three weeks from the submission date. 

7. Entering this competition gives permission to McKenzie Library to display your entry in the library during Book Week 2020.

Some ideas: There are many amazing creatures and animals on Earth. These include: striated frogfish, chameleon, dugong, lemur, vampire bat...the list goes on.

Book week 2020 'Wild!' McKenzie Library Writing Competition

Task: Write a 1000 word piece using the theme 'Wild!' Your work may be a short story, a poem, an essay or a graphic novel or comic. You will need to scan/photograph and email your story to library@knox.nsw.edu.au.

By entering this competition, entrants accept the Terms & Conditions stated below:

1. All entries must be your own work and clearly show your name, age and year group (if relevant) on the back of your work. 

2. Entries must be emailed or direct messaged to: library@knox.nsw.edu.au by 4pm Friday 23 October 2020. 

3. Please do not hand in your submission to the library.

4. You may scan or photograph your entry to submit it. 

5. Winners will be announced on Friday the 30 of October 2020. Winners will be contacted about their book voucher prize.

6. Please note that all entries may be displayed at McKenzie Library and on our website for a period of three weeks from the submission date. 

7. Entering this competition gives permission to McKenzie Library to display your entry in the library during Book Week 2020.

Sally Thomson

Welcome to our last term for the year!

During the holidays I was in touch with a number of organisations who are seeking to support the increased needs in our wider community. These organisations reported of families impacted by loss of jobs and some who are struggling to make ends meet.

This term we will undertake the following planned three key annual events:

• School participation in National Recycling Week
• Providing Christmas food hampers for families in need
• Providing Christmas gifts for the Children who are supported by STARRTS

All donations may be dropped off to Mrs Mitchelson.

Has your son outgrown his Football or Rugby boots? We are supporting a community in the outback who have no access to any sporting equipment. They are particularly keen to receive Football or Rugby boots as most cannot play as they have no boots. Donations may be dropped to Mrs Mitchelson or to Mrs Clarke. Any clean Football socks would also be appreciated.

Helen Clarke, Head of Diversity, Justice and Stewardship

Each term, Knox holds a Handwriting Course designed to help improve the speed, accuracy and neatness of students' handwriting, reducing tension and fatigue when writing for long periods of time. In 2020 the classes will be held by Ms Lisa Norton, an occupational therapist, who specialises in the development of skills necessary for handwriting and the remediation of handwriting difficulties.

Our course will run on either a Tuesday or Wednesday or both mornings, starting at 7.30am, once minimum numbers are confirmed.

The Introductory seven week course includes a tub of theraputty, that is designed to improve hand muscle strength and fine motor skills. A minimum of seven students, and a maximum of ten, ensures individual attention. The course costs $300 for seven sessions of 45 minutes.

We will also run a five week refresher course for students who have participated in a seven week course previously. This course will cost $200.

Availability of places is dependent upon a first come first served basis. All students who miss out on a place in Term 4 will be placed on the waiting list for Term 1, 2021.

Should you be interested in pursuing this option for your son, please contact Rebecca Papageorgiou in the Learning Enhancement Department ASAP.