Our Headmaster wrote in the Knoxonian recently about the many obstacles that this generation of young people are facing, however, the importance of optimism should never be underestimated. Whilst 2020 has been a turbulent year in ways that none of us expected, we need to be kind to ourselves and others, and continue to remain optimistic about the future. This week in Year Meeting, Mr O’Regan spoke with the boys about creating a positive culture both within and outside of Knox, and the value in being an upstander rather than a bystander. We are always pleased to learn of our students’ kind actions towards each other and members of the wider community. We have seen how well the Class of 2025 rally around one another and stick up for their mates, which is a wonderful quality that we will continue to foster further as they progress through the Senior School. 

We have seen many of our students display wonderful leadership skills already this year, we are excited for the opportunity the boys have towards the end of this term to nominate themselves for consideration as a Mentor Representative. This is one of the first leadership opportunities available for the cohort and will involve fortnightly meetings as voices for their Mentor Group. We ask that students keep an eye on their emails for further information. We see great value in students understanding that leadership is not about a title but rather an action and example that someone sets. 

This week’s student reminders included; Locker rooms open at 7.45am, no bags are to be taken to period 6 and 7 lessons, Year 7 students are to only use the JAPAC canteen and are not to share ID cards and finally, we are a chewing gum free school. 

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please get in contact with us.

Clare Yuan

As a number of students have been feeling unwell recently, I would like to remind parents and students of the procedures that should be followed. If a student becomes unwell at school, he should excuse himself from class and go see the Clinic Nurse. The Nurse will determine if the student should go home or is well enough to remain at school. If a student is absent from school due to illness, please complete an absentee entry through Parent Lounge or email me directly. When completing the absentee notification, please supply the details of the illness for our records. 

A reminder that our campuses are currently closed to parents. Please contact me if your son has an item of importance that needs to be dropped off or contact Main Reception. Parents are reminded to log in to the Parent Lounge and check that the listed contact details are all current and correct, to ensure the school can contact you, if necessary.

The weather is going to be great this weekend, so get out and enjoy the sun!

Bec Mitchelson Ph: 91190885

If your son is required to quarantine at home whilst waiting for COVID-19 test results for himself or a close contact, please inform SAO Mrs Mitchelson, who will then liaise with your son’s teachers to inform them. Teachers will provide work for your son to complete at home, either via Google classroom or school email. Your son can also actively reach out to his teacher via email should he have any questions about the set work. Please note that we are not running regular online Zoom lessons in Term 3. Should your son be unable to sit or submit an assessment task as a result of quarantine, please complete and submit an Illness/Misadventure Appeal application.

Year 7 Week 7 and 8 assessment schedule below. 

 Dates subject to change if required. View published assessment task notifications for specific task details.

Janelle Charlton

Friday 25 September

Term 3 concludes

In line with the current NSW Health guidelines and in order to mitigate the risks posed by COVID-19, the Uniform Shop staff have taken measures to ensure the safety of students, parents and other staff. External cleaners professionally clean all high-touch areas and surfaces every evening with a non-toxic, hospital grade disinfectant. During the day our staff spray down the changing rooms and service areas. Each room is equipped with hand sanitiser and wall-mounted hand sanitiser stations are at the entry.

Each room is limited to the number of people permitted and that is stated on the entrance to each room. Because of this, we have limited capacity in the changing rooms of only two rooms being operational and only one parent per child who is trying on uniform. As Term 4 is the changeover to summer uniform, can we please request that you take this into consideration. For the remainder of Term 3, we will also be sizing uniforms for Year 8 Cadets.

The options for purchasing uniform are as follows:

• Where possible, if you know the correct sizes to order, please order online through Flexischools.
• If you do require sizing, please make a note before coming what sizes your son is currently wearing.
• In Years 7-12, your son can come to the Uniform Shop at lunchtime. We can provide the sizes required and order online via Flexischools.

To avoid long waiting times towards the end of term, we would advise checking your son’s summer uniform now and, if you require new uniform, please order early. Orders are delivered to Knox Prep and Wahroonga Prep on Wednesday and Friday. Students in the Senior School are permitted to collect orders at lunchtime or after school. Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding.

Uniform Shop opening times: Monday through to Friday, 12.30-5pm.

Julie Blackburn

I would like to remind all Senior School boys that they are invited to take part in our Knox Track and Field Meet Series from this Saturday at Gillespie Field. Despite there being no official CAS Track and Field Season due to COVID-19, Knox is determined to push ahead with an internal Track and Field Series to support their physical and mental health.

The event will take the form of a ‘Nitro Challenge’, with boys invited to take part in a series of individual and team events, which will be a lot of fun.

Senior School boys should arrive at 10am for training (hurdles, sprints, middle distance, javelin, discus, long and high jump) followed by the Nitro Challenge from 11.30am to 1pm. Boys are also welcome to simply attend the training session at 10am, or just the Nitro event, boys are not required to attend both sessions unless they desire.

The events are taking place each Saturday until Week 8 (Saturday 29 August, Saturday 5 September, Saturday 12 September). A reminder, we are unfortunately unable to have any parent spectators on-site due to COVID-19 protocols. Please drop-off your son and return to collect him at the end of the session.

For more information, please contact Mr Matt Fowler, Head of Athletics.

Martin Haywood, Head of Knox Sports and Aquatic Academy

McKenzie Library News

These are the most popular books to read from the library. All are available for you to borrow:

Ernest Cline 

'Ready Player One' 

James Dashner

'The Maze Runner' 

Laura Hillenbrand

'Unbroken'

Kazu Kibuishi

'Amulet: The Stonekeeper. Book One' 

'Amulet: The Stonekeeper’s Curse.  Book Two'

Some movie suggestions for you to watch on Clickview include:

'Wall-E' - rated G. A small waste-collecting robot inadvertently embarks on a space journey that will ultimately decide the fate of mankind.

'Red Dog' - rated PG. Based on the legendary true story of the Red Dog who united a disparate local community while roaming the Australian outback in search of his long lost master. Directed by Kriv Stenders

Finally, a reminder that the library is open from 8am to 4pm for study, homework help and borrowing. 

Sally Thomson

Year 7’s have recently completed a digital stained glass window unit in Visual Arts as part of their art-making. A program designed for them to explore the built environment; classes used a variety of focus themes including music, sport, friendship and courage as their source of inspiration.

A large number of these artworks from each class will be displayed around school in hanging displays including the Visual Arts, the Music Department and Library. 

I have been given some wonderful artwork created by the students whilst working online to display in my SAO office. I think they are marvellous and add some colour to the space. They are certainly a talking point for the students. 

Ride with Richter
Ten months ago, the Knox community received the news that now Year 12 student Alex Richter had an accident on his mountain bike, resulting in a spinal injury. After 10 months of hospitalisation and rehabilitation, he was discharged and given the all-clear to return to school. The Stage 6 Team worked with Alex and his family to put a gradual return to school plan into place, which included doing the HSC over a few years. These intentions were short lived as Alex decided he wanted to be back at school full time and complete his HSC this year! Despite having missed three terms of class work, Alex is currently completing his Trial HSC exams in all subjects and is on track to meet all NESA requirements to be eligible to complete his HSC with the Class of 2020. Wow!

I am proud to commend to you a fundraising initiative that kicks off this Saturday. Register now at the Ride With Richter website which is a challenge to either ride, run, row or walk from 29 August to 20 September (Tour de France dates). The idea is to commit to a goal within one of these activities. I have heard of some lofty targets within the Stage 6 team as they endeavour to ‘Ride With Richter’. Me, I will be aiming to walk and row as part of the challenge. I encourage the entire Knox community to register for this event either as an individual or as a family.



Scott James