Headmaster's Column
Knox Certificate of Global Competency
In the most recent ‘Looking to the Future’ report, a review of senior secondary pathways into work, further education and training made a recommendation; students should have an Education Passport. This passport will recognise the attributes students have acquired through study in the classroom as well as from work experience, volunteering and personal achievement.
This is possible at Knox through the introduction of micro-credentials acknowledged through the Knox Certificate of Global Competency (KCGC). The micro-credentials will recognise proficiency in a designated area, taking actions that benefit others, and the community, being an active and responsible citizen or being committed to extending skills and learning. Micro-credentialing returns the ownership to the students and allows them to map their own pathway through areas of interest to them and have them recognised in a transferrable way. Our students will be fully engaged in the curation and demonstration of their skills, both within school and outside of it.
Team Leaders
We survived! It has been an amazing week of experiences for the boys at Vision Valley and Crosslands Convention Centre. Our Class of 2026 have fully immersed themselves in the camp experience and taken every opportunity presented to engage in a program which allowed them to show courage, display resilience and share in teamwork with their peers throughout the week.
The camp schedule was full of activities that opened our boys to many new experiences including: kayaking, abseiling, rock climbing, bush walk, canoeing, flying fox, rogaining, indigenous talks, mountain biking, environment and sustainability education. Our boys bonded in many ways over food preparation and clean-up, setting up tents and down-time games of Touch Football, Cricket, Volleyball and Clap Pass.
Student Administration Officer
From all the news relayed back from camp, I am sure our boys have had a wonderful time and now keen to get home. I am really looking forward to hearing all the stories from the boys next week.
A few reminders:
Year 7 Vaccinations
Vaccination consent cards are due back to me by Friday 5 March, with the first vaccination day being Tuesday 9 March. Please see below the Year 7 vaccination schedule for 2021. The vaccinations are done in alphabetical order, should your son have a music lesson please let me know and he will be vaccinated after his lesson.
Director of Studies Junior Academy
Year 7 Parent/Teacher Conference
A reminder that you will have the opportunity to meet with your son’s teachers via Zoom on Monday March 8 from 3.30am-9.30pm.
On Monday 1 March, you will receive log on details and instructions for PTO (Parent Teacher Online), our internet-based booking system.
The PTO system will open for bookings from Wednesday 3 March at 8am. Please do not feel obligated to speak with every teacher, unless you wish to do so.
Note that assessment data will be quite limited at this early point in time. Teachers will be able to give brief feedback about initial observations; however, the meeting will primarily be an opportunity to open the communication channels with your son’s teachers. You will receive a report at the end of each term which will provide you with information regarding your son’s progress.
Janelle Charlton
Sports News
Head of Knox Sports and Aquatic Academy
It was great to get some better weather and see our boys enjoy a fairly uninterrupted weekend of sport with many teams playing against Trinity Grammar School.
A number of our Squash players have entered an elite competition to push themselves harder and test themselves against some of the best players in the state. On Saturday their results were outstanding – full credit to the boys and staff for the commitment. Please check the Knox app for full details of their weekend results.
The First Basketballers had a huge match against 2nd placed Trinity Grammar at Trinity on Saturday and fell just short by four points (62-66) in a thriller and now sit in equal first place with two games remaining. The boys were incredibly brave, coming from as far back at 18 points to hit the lead with just a few minutes remaining. We could not be more proud of this group of young men and how they conducted themselves on Saturday.
Knox Wellbeing Centre
ADHD Support
Attention - Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects approximately 1 in 20 children in Australia and is more commonly diagnosed in boys. Symptoms include difficulty concentrating on tasks (that are typically not intrinsically interesting); being easily distracted, and (in the hyperactive type) hyperactivity and impulsivity. Evidence shows that the most effective approach for supporting children with ADHD is a combined approach, that includes medical treatment, as well as behavioural and environmental support, both at School and at home.
ADHD Support Australia is a local organisation providing support to parents of children with an ADHD diagnosis, as well as adults with ADHD. ADHD Support Australia are advertising an online lecture that they are hosting on 11 March, from Dr Russell Barkley, an internationally recognised expert in the field of ADHD education and treatment. He has devoted his entire career to research and education in the field, and is arguably the most well-known authority on ADHD. This lecture is targeted at parents wanting help to support their child with an ADHD diagnosis, and is a great opportunity to hear Dr Barkley speak before he retires.
Details, including how to book, are here.
Upcoming Events
Week 6B:
Wednesday 4 March - Great Hall
Year 7 Doing da Vinci Day 2021
Week 7A:
Monday 8 March
Year 7 Parent Teacher Interviews via Zoom
Tuesday 9 March
HPV Year 7 Vaccination
JAPAC Lounge
Text for the Week
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
Colossians 4:2
Community Notices
2021 Student Residential Address and Other Information Collection
Each year, all Australian schools are required to report specific school-based data to the Australian Government Department of Education, Skills & Employment (DESE).
The Address Collection data is used to:
• calculate Australian Government recurrent funding to non-government schools, specifically the capacity to contribute score (CTC score)
• inform school education policy, particularly non-government school funding
The Address Collection data (collected under sections 52 (1), 52(3)(c), 52(4) and 58B of the Australian Education Regulation 2013), will source the following data from Knox Grammar, relevant to each campus:
• Student residential address (excluding student names)
• Whether the student is a primary or secondary student (education level)
• Whether the student is boarding or a day student (boarding status)
• Names and residential addresses of students’ parent(s) and/or guardian(s)
The school reporting requirement specifically requires reporting of a physical residential address, not a PO Box or the mailing equivalent.
If your family has recently changed its residential address, and you have not yet provided these details to the School, we seek your cooperation to update your family details via the Knox Parent Lounge, Parent Details Update function – by Friday 5 March.
The DESE has provided a 'Collection Notice for Parents' for your reading and reference. Please click here to view.
Damian Ferguson, Chief Financial Officer
Beauty and the Beast
A Knox Drama and Theatre Production
Disney's Beauty and the Beast
18-20 March 2021
7pm in the Wenkart Theatre
Box Office now open! All tickets $30 (+ booking fee). Click here to book your seats.
Masks mandatory for all audience members. There is a limit of four seats per booking with seating gaps automatically assigned between groups to adhere to distancing requirements.
Please note that the Box Office reserves the right to relocate your tickets, if required, and will advise accordingly.
For ticket enquiries, please email here.
Future Problem Solving Club
Be a part of the award-winning Future Problem Solving Club!
Future Problem Solving (FPS) develops skills where you will learn to apply critical thinking to significant issues from a diverse range of community and global topics. These include business/economics, science/technology and social/political concerns. You will become equipped with the skills and vision to design and promote positive outcomes for a global society.
FPS teams of four are fortunate to be coached by experienced FPS mentors, our Old Knox Boys, who are previous global winners at the FPS International Competitions. Teams are further supported by teachers from specialist subjects to help them to discover innovative new ways to solve problems.
Knox Uniform Shop
Trading Hours
Monday to Friday: 12.30pm-5.30pm
Saturday (Terms 1 and 4 only): 9am-12noon
Phone (02) 9487 0191 or visit the Knox website here for more information.
Julie Blackburn, Knox Uniform Shop Manager
Knox Prayer Meetings
Our informal prayer meeting for Term 1 will be held at 10am on Friday 19 March, at the home of Prue Feather. Morning Tea will be included.
There will also be an evening meeting at 8pm on Wednesday 10 March, at the home of Fiona van Horen.
Please RSVP if you plan to attend so that we comply with the gathering limits prescribed by the government’s Public Health Orders in place at the time.
A warm welcome is extended to anyone from our Knox community who would like to attend.
Any enquires to Prue Feather.
Social Justice
World's Greatest Shave
We’re taking part in the World's Greatest Shave for the Leukaemia Foundation. We have superheros amongst us who are planning to shave, cut or colour their hair to support families facing blood cancer.
Every day another 47 Australians are diagnosed with a blood cancer. That’s one Aussie every 31 minutes. Although research is improving survival, sadly an Australian loses their life to blood cancer every two hours.
Please click here to join and sponsor the Knox Grammar WGS Team. Let's do this!
Charlie Herdman (Y12), Team Captain
The Knox Social Justice Club
The Knox Social Justice Club meets as a group each Friday at 1pm lunchtime, in the Knox Cultural Centre Auditorium and adjacent classrooms. Boys from all year groups are welcome to come along. Bring your lunch and a passion for advocating and action for change in the world. All enquiries to Helen Clarke.
Helen Clarke, Head of Diversity Justice and Stewardship
McKenzie Library
The Library Committee visits the JAPAC
Last Friday, the Library Committee visited the JAPAC at lunchtime and shared with Years 7 and 8 new resources, directing and helping all students with the selection of books. This will be a regular occurrence every Friday of Week B. Years 7 and 8 can borrow, return or extend loans at this time.
The Library committee works together collegially to promote the library to staff and students. If you would like to be part of a fun team, come along to join the Committee. The Committee meets every Friday Week A at the start of lunch in the study room. You are welcome to bring your lunch and share your ideas.
New Releases
'The Land of Stories' by Chris Colfer Books 4,5 and 6.
'Growing Up Disabled in Australia' edited by Carly Findlay
'Alex Rider Nightshade' by Anthony Horowitz.
'The Cousins' by Karen M. McManus.
Enjoy your reading!
Sally Thomson
School Photos
Year 7 orders open Monday 1 March
To download your son's portrait and year photo, please click here and select: school orders. The password is: KNOX (this password is case sensitive, so please enter it as you see it)
You will need to know your son's student ID number which is located on his student ID card. This is privacy protected so only you can see your son's portrait. At this time, not only can you have his hi-res image sent to you via We Transfer, you can also order discounted printed copies if you would like for family.
Your school account will be charged $20 for his student ID card, the high-res electronic year photo and portrait for your record of his time at school.
Week 6 Term 1 2021 Menu
Photo Galleries
Year 7 Camp Photos
Some snapshots from Vision Valley and Crosslands Convention Centre.
