As you would appreciate, we are continually updating and considering our practices in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. We take into account both the NSW Government guidelines and NSW Health orders, to ensure our practices support the wellbeing of our students and staff across all Knox campuses.

Our students and staff have responded exceptionally well to our updated practices in regard to entry onto campus health screening measures, hygiene and distancing practices and ongoing education on behaviours in support of the wellbeing of our immediate and wider community.

Following recent updated guidelines in regard to schools we now request that if your son has been absent due to a flu-like illness, or develops flu-like symptoms whilst at school, he should not to return to school until he has a negative COVID-19 test and is symptom free. The School also requires a copy of your son’s negative COVID-19 test result prior to returning to campus.

Phil O'Regan

RUOK? Day is a day dedicated to inspiring and empowering everyone to meaningfully connect with people around them by asking the simple question, “are you ok?”. In Australia this year RUOK? Day is on Thursday 10 September. The purpose of this day is to highlight the ever present need for everyone to take the time and effort to look after your mental health. Sam Clarke (OKGA15) and a RUOK? ambassador will address the boys on this topic during School Assembly next Thursday. To further promote this event, we are inviting boys and staff to wear a silly tie and/or socks for the day. During lunchtime on Thursday the Junior Academy and Wellbeing Centre staff will be leading the boys in a range of fun-based activities. We also invite the boys to donate, on arrival at school, a gold coin with all proceeds going to this worthwhile cause. 

Wayne Inwood

This week in Year Meeting, we continued our series on Meet the Mentor, where a few boys from Mr Benbow and Ms Tuktens’ Mentor Group volunteered to interview their Mentors in front of the cohort. While the boys were nervous, it was great to see them challenge themselves in this context. I know that the boys have been busily preparing for their upcoming speeches in English, and so it is good to see them continue to draw on their ability to speak in a public forum. Public speaking is a vital set of skills to have throughout senior school and can be continued to be used in their adult lives.

During Mentor, the boys have been focusing on the topic of Emotions. They have been discussing with their Mentors the way in which they express their emotions, particularly during challenging situations, and have also been working through different scenarios where they have been practising strategies to help them manage their emotions. While the boys are naturally focused on their academic progress during their time in school, it is equally as important to realise the value of these Mentor sessions as our staff work to develop these young boys into well-rounded men.

As we head into the second half of their longest term yet, Ms Kennedy and I continue to hold the boys to a high standard. This is both in the way they present themselves as Knox boys in and outside of the classroom, as well as outside of the school gates. While our Year 7s are the youngest in the senior school, we know that young boys need constant reminders on where the boundaries are. While these may seem trivial to the boys at first, it is important that we remember the bigger picture and that each decision these boys make ultimately lead them to becoming a citizen of the world. The Junior Academy team appreciates your support while we continue to mould them and hold them accountable to our standards.

Now that the winter sport season is over, I encourage you to take your sons outside during the weekend to spend time with both family and friends. Take advantage of the early hints of spring weather we have been fortunate enough to experience this week and make sure the boys experience some joy away from their school work and screens.

Clare Yuan

The sun has been shining and the days warm for the first week of Spring. What a busy week we have had, with a number of assessments now completed, and only a few more to go over the coming weeks. Today we celebrated Jersey Day - and what a great and colourful way to finish the week. It was lovely to see so many boys with their jerseys on to support this great cause. Please look at some photographs of the boys in the photo gallery below.

A big CONGRATULATIONS to our rising film-makers and actors in Year 7. With Aiden Walsh, Arjun Singh, Brodie Shearer, Lachlan Hooke and Shayan Eshraghi Borojeni taking home the prize for Best Junior Film for  'I Believe' in the 2020 KnoxFlix competition. We also have a couple of fantastic actors walking amongst us, with Nicholas Bull and Saxon McDonnel receiving the award for Best Junior Actor in the movie, 'April the First'.

The Headmaster spoke in this week's Knoxonian about the number of local cases of COVID-19 in the area. Please be reminded of the importance of checking the list of confirmed case locations from NSW Health each day before sending your child to school. If your son or anyone in your household has been to any of the confirmed locations, please follow the advice from NSW Health. As always, please do not send your son to school if he is unwell, and take him for a COVID-19 test if he has any symptoms.

Seeking food hampers or gift cards for groceries
We have three families in the broader Ku-ring-gai community who need our support. Goods that would be helpful to donate include: long-life milk, cereals, coffee/tea, pancake mixes, dried or tinned fruit, tinned meat, spreads, laundry detergent, cordial, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, Vegemite. No nut items, please. Donations may be left with me or Mrs Clarke.

Have a lovely weekend, and Happy Father's Day to all this Sunday. 

Bec Mitchelson Ph: 91190885

Year 7 Week 8 and 9 assessment schedule below. 

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

 
Janelle Charlton

Saturday 5 September

'Nitro Challenge'

Sunday 6 September

Father's Day

Thursday 10 September

RUOK? Day

Saturday 12 September

'Nitro Challenge'

Friday 25 September

Term 3 concludes

McKenzie Library News

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

'Cherub' is a series of teenage spy novels written by English author Robert Muchamore.

'Amulet' is an American graphic novel series illustrated and written by Kazu Kibuishi.

'Ranger’s Apprentice' is a series written by Australian author John Flanagan. 

'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' is a series of fiction books written by the American author and cartoonist Jeff Kinney.

'Skulduggery Pleasant' is a series of fantasy novels written by Irish author Derek Landy.

Need a good laugh? Some movie suggestions for you to watch on Clickview include:

'Shrek' Rated PG

A mean Lord exiles fairytale creatures to the swamp of a grumpy ogre, who must go on a quest and rescue a princess for the lord in order to get his land back

'Grandpa’s Great Escape' Rated PG.

Jack (Kit Connor) decides to help his Grandpa (Sir Tom Courtenay), a World War II flying ace, who now suffers from Alzheimer's disease, escape from an old folks' home run by Miss Dandy (Jennifer Saunders), who has ulterior motives.

Book club is open to all students and takes place in the Study room every lunchtime on Thursday. You are welcome to bring your lunch and share your latest read with like minded students. The Library Committee operates on Wednesday at lunchtime in the study room and welcomes all students interested in the overall library. 

Year 7s 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 selection of photographs of the boys supporting Jersey Day 2020.