What a dynamic and interesting week we have seen, with the introduction of off-campus learning and our first ever Senior School assembly streamed online! I am extremely proud of the boys and the maturity they have shown in embracing the new educational landscape and the many opportunities it offers.

Absences and on-site/off-site learning
• Our teachers will be taking the roll for all students in each class (including working on-campus and off-campus).
• If your son is switching to or from off-site learning, please follow our usual processes for reporting absences - use the School app or contact your Student Administration Officer.
• If your son is absent from classes, please continue to report this through the normal processes.

Protocols for learning at home
Student and Parent Online Learning Protocols will be provided at the start of next week.

Technical support
If you require technical assistance with your School laptop or online learning, in the first instance, please email the Help Desk helpdesk@knox.nsw.edu.au  with the following information:

• Student name and year level
• Asset tag on the laptop or iPad
• A clear description of this issue including anything you have tried already
• A photo or screen shot of the problem if possible.

We aim to resolve issues within the next business day of receiving technical support requests.

Timetable
Boys will be following the standard timetable each day, with Period 1 commencing at 8.25am and the School day finishing at 3.15pm. Boys should be at their learning space and ready for class to commence by 8.25am.

Please click here for the Week 9 timetable.

Uniform
Boys who are learning off-campus are expected to wear their school or PE uniform. Boys who are on-site should wear the uniform.

Uniform Shop
The Uniform Shop continues to operate with modified business hours in Weeks 9 and 10 and beyond - Monday through to Friday 11.30am-4.30pm and Saturday 9am-12pm. Please see the article in this week’s Year Group newsletter for more information. Please be mindful that when the School reopens in Term 2 all students will be expected to wear the Winter Uniform. If you cannot get to school all items are available to order through Flexischools and can be collected from the shop. For more information, call 9487 0191 or email.

Counselling Services
I know that students and families may require extra support at this time. We are now able to provide online counselling services via Google Meet for students as needed during normal office hours (8am-4pm).

For an appointment to speak with, in the first instance, your son’s Team Leader, or if you feel direct contact is required contact the counselling/psychologist team reception, call (+61 2 9119 0828) or email reception. We have established special protocols around online counselling and parents will be asked to complete a permission form.

Buses
Buses will run as normal for boys learning on-site

Canteens
Our canteen remain open.

Co-curricular
The following programs are continuing at school over the last two weeks of term:
Clubs: AI, Chess, Computer, CMAPs, Cru, Robotics, Social Justice, TAS Workshops and Tech Crew.

The following programs will continue at school and also have a blended program utilising Google Classroom and or Google Meet.

• Debating and Mock Trial: Training will continue as scheduled for each year group. Knox Debating Cup has been postponed until Term 2.
• Drama and Theatre Sports: After school sessions continue as scheduled.
• KAPA: Ensemble training will continue.
• KAPA peripatetic lessons: These lessons continue at the same time as scheduled each week.
• Pipes and Drums: Training continues as scheduled as does the tutor lessons at their scheduled times.
• Duke of Edinburgh: Students wishing to continue to work on their Duke of Edinburgh program need to contact Mr Goodwin.
•  The Year 10 Service Learning Program: This new initiative has been postponed. Information will be available at the commencement of Term 2.
• Art Club
• Cadets - including morning training
• Future Problem Solving

Sport
Please see the information about Sport in this week’s Year Group Newsletter.

Autumn holidays
A reminder, as per the Headmaster’s letter earlier this week, the last day of Term 1 is Friday 3 April 2020. Term 2 will commence on Tuesday 28 April 2020.

COVID-19 Policy
Protecting the wellbeing of our School community is our priority. In order to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, please do not enter our campuses if:

• You have been diagnosed with COVID-19
• You have had close contact with someone who has or is suspected of having COVID-19
• You currently have cold/flu like symptoms
• As per the Federal Government policy, you have travelled overseas in the last 14 days
• As per the School’s policy, you have had close contact with someone who has visited China, Hong Kong, Iran, Italy, Japan, Singapore, South Korea or Mongolia in the last 14 days.

The School must be immediately notified if you become aware that you have had exposure or potential exposure to someone confirmed as having Coronavirus.

Phil O'Regan

Benjamin Disraeli wrote “There is no education like adversity.” It is fair to say that the current global virus pandemic has thrown a curve ball into Year 7’s introduction term to Senior School. The key message that all teachers have been sharing with Year 7 students is to stay calm, practice agility and work within a growth mindset. As parents, you can do much to help your son develop and apply a growth mindset. There are many resources available to assist parents in nurturing in their child a growth mindset. One example of a resource parents may find useful can be accessed at here. Such advice and support will be particularly important for parents to provide in the home environment as we move closer to an indeterminate period of online learning.

Parents received a communication from the Headmaster on Wednesday evening indicating that students can either learn on-site or off-site. He stressed that learning is still being delivered and taking place within a Google Classroom suite for all subjects. From that point forward all students working from home online with their subject teacher have and will continue to be marked on the school roll as ‘present working online’. Also on Wednesday, the boys present at school, which was the vast majority of Year 7 and Year 8 students were talked through and asked to sign a contract outlining expectations regarding online student behaviour. A soft copy of this document can be accessed here. Students should note that this updated version of the contract now allows for students the option of wearing either the Knox summer uniform or Knox PDHPE shirt during their engagement with school timetabled subjects. In uncertain times we are trying to keep as much school routine normalised as much as possible. To this end we will, from next week, be delivering to the boys online Mentor Group contact, Chapel Service and regular Year and Academy Assemblies. More details on the timing of these events will be pushed out to parents and students during the course of next week.

There is no doubt that we are moving into unchartered waters but I am confident that as a community, and through embracing a growth mindset, that all efforts by teachers, students and parents be viewed as a learning opportunity. 

Wayne Inwood

This week has been challenging for the boys in many aspects, as we as a community navigate this evolving landscape. We are very proud of how the boys have taken changes in their stride and sought assistance as required. 

Blended learning allows our students to take greater responsibility for their learning regardless of the learning space they are in. This week, each student received a copy of the ‘Home Learning Environment ICT Policy’ which was discussed in detail by a member of the Junior Academy Team. The policy required them to read through the conditions and acknowledge their responsibility when it comes to using ICT for home learning. We are confident that the students understand their rights and responsibilities online and will conduct themselves in a safe and respectful manner. We encourage you to continue conversations at home around appropriate use of technology.

Given how much technology time students will have in various learning environments, it is pivotal that a well balanced lifestyle is maintained. During scheduled breaks throughout the school day, students are encouraged to move away from their devices, socialise with peers/ family and partake in regular physical activity. In addition to this, a well balanced diet is equally important to ensure good health. 

We look forward to continuing to support the cohort of 2025 regardless of their current learning environment. 

Lenore Kennedy

This week has seen the School community come together and adapt to the rapidly changing environment. The School is open for students who favour the on-site approach with a blended learning environment running academic classes on-site at School and off-site for students at home.

I want to let you know that I am contactable to assist students who continue to attend on-site classes as well as field any online queries from boys who are learning off-site at home. I will continue to support you as best I can under the current circumstances. Together we will get through this challenging time, and come out the other end stronger.

Absence Notification

If your son is absent from school (on-site or off-site), please submit the usual absentee notification on Parent Lounge and in the parent comment section stating the reason for your son’s absence. All absences of three days or more will still require a medical certificate. I will continue to send SMS alerts out if your son has been marked absent for two consecutive periods and I have not been notified of their absence.

Currently, if students are present online, we are recording them as absent from class - present online. 

For all students who are experiencing difficulties notifying their teachers of their presence online, please send the teacher and me an email so that we can update the roll accordingly.

Bec Mitchelson  Ph:91190885

Online learning

Teachers are using Google Classroom to deliver learning online and are continuing to refine, further develop and enrich online learning opportunities. Thank you for your support and understanding as we operate in this new learning platform.

Boys are able to access all class work online through Google classrooms and school email. Lessons will include a blend of resources available within the Google classroom suite together with interactive learning experiences in the classroom. We expect all boys to interact in this environment with a respectful, positive and concerted approach.  

Boys should follow the times of their normal school timetable and open their subject Google classroom and school email at the start of each lesson every day. Teachers will be taking the roll in Google Classroom and recording this on TIA. 

Boys are reminded to reach out to their teachers via email or Google classroom should they have any questions.

Upcoming Assessment Tasks

Week 9:                NIL

Week 10:             PDHPE TASK 1 due Thursday 2 April: the boys have been emailed the following message:

In light of the current circumstances, we have had to change the submission of the upcoming PDHPE assessment task. You will be required to submit your task to your PDHPE teacher’s Google Classroom. Over the coming days, your teacher will upload an assignment where you will be able to submit the task. If you have already uploaded to the portal could I please ask you to also submit it to the Google Classroom. The due date remains the same (2/4/2020). If you have questions or concerns around this please contact your PDHPE teacher.

If a student is unable to submit or complete an assessment task on the due date as a result of illness, or misadventure, including issues relating to working from home, please complete and submit to Mrs Mitchelson an illness/misadventure form. (If you haven’t already done so, could you also complete and submit this form for any tasks missed last week.)

Please ensure that you do outline the issue/reason your son has been unable to complete/submit the task. This will allow us to ensure that we flag the mark for review or estimate, as appropriate, in the markbook.

Monday 23 - Friday 27 March

Year 7 Camp - POSTPONED

Friday 3 April

Term 1 concludes

Tuesday 28 April

Term 2 commences

Knox is committed to providing all students with a comprehensive program whether it be from home or on-site. Please note the following to assist with plans from the Sports and Aquatic Academy through Week 9 and 10 starting Monday 23 March.

Period 7 - Boys on-site
Boys will attend to their regular winter sport training session and will be conducted in a modified manner ie. non-contact. Venues for these sessions have not changed unless you receive notification via School App primarily due to weather/cancellations.

Period 7 - Boys at home
The sports department will provide alternative physical activities that will be emailed to students. This will be in the form of online video clips and easy to follow exercises under the guidance of our experienced Strength and Conditioning Department.

The content will contain various body weight exercises that will vary across the age, development and experience levels to cater for a continuum between minimal physical activity levels to maintaining previous high physical activity. Each physical area of focus and subsequent exercises will have instructions, regression and progressions to allow flexibility of choice for individual circumstances.

Note - All boys whether on-site or at home are expected to participate in Period 7 sport through Weeks 9 and 10.

Before and after school training - Boys on-site
Boys will attend to their regular winter sport training session as per the advertised schedule on the School app. Trainings will be conducted in a modified manner consistent with current expert medical advice ie. non-contact. Boys are expected to bring boots and wear the appropriate sport attire as per any regular session.

Before and after school training - Boys at home
As per Period 7 above, boys may access video footage from the S & C Department which will help maintain physical fitness and mental wellbeing. This will be in the form of an email to the students.

Holidays
Any training throughout the Term 1 holiday period will be sent via School app to the specific sport.

From Term 2
The Sport Department will have sessions tailored specific to each of the chosen winter sports for all students to access. Further information regarding the roll out will be provided in the holidays. We look forward to offering your son an innovative approach to physical and mental fitness during this time. Physical activity plays an important role in maintaining physical and psychological health. Regular activity also assists with maintaining normal sleep routines and daily patterns, which could help in dealing with the uncertainty of the current situation.

We look forward to your support through this period.

Mr Martin Haywood

Bushfire and Drought Relief
We are supporting those impacted by fire and our drought impacted regional neighbours via the Facebook page ‘Mobilising for Mogo’ initiative. See the list of specific items to donate here and please drop these donations to Room 15.

Easter eggs and pots of noodles drive
For the past 12 years the Knox community has been supporting the Wesley Mission each Easter with gifts of Easter eggs and pots of noodles for Sydney’s homeless. This small gesture for those who are struggling and isolated brings a lot of joy and appreciation.

   

Please bring your donations along to the SAOs or to Room 15 (Mrs Helen Clarke in the Social Justice Office).

We have been in touch with Daniel Carson’s from Red Earth and at this stage they cannot guarantee that the Cape York Trip will go ahead in July.  Red Earth is looking for suitable dates for us this September, but given the uncertainty of many events at present, we may have to postpone the expedition until 2021. We are all disappointed at this outcome, but the welfare and safety of the Cape York community and our Knox boys at all times is of paramount importance.

Change to opening hours and operations
With students now learning on-site and off-site, the Uniform Shop has reviewed its opening times during this period.

We are still at this time very much open to help you fit your child for their winter uniform that they will require for Term 2.

To meet with standards for the health of our customers and staff, and adhere to social distancing guidelines, we will practise the following:

• Limit the number of customers in the changing room at any given time to three students and one attending parent. All other children will be asked to wait outside the changing area.
• Parent/guardians will be asked to assist their child but our staff will be on-hand to advise.
• All our staff regularly wash their hands and hand sanitiser is all around the shop for everyone to use. We also regularly spray down the changing area surfaces and the counter tops.
• Card payment would be preferred to limit the handling of cash.
• If your child is showing any symptoms relating to COVID-19 or other illnesses we would respectfully ask you not to bring them in.

Below are the revised times and dates of opening for the Uniform Shop. However, if you are unable to attend, uniform items can be ordered online. Size charts will be added to the Flexischools site to assist with sizing. Orders will not be dropped at Knox Prep until the start of Term 2 however parents are welcome to collect items from the Uniform Shop. Uniform Shop staff are more than happy to discuss sizing and requirements over the phone. Please call 9487 0191 or email here.

• Week commencing 23 March - open daily 11.30am-4.30pm Monday through to Friday Saturday 28 March 9am-12pm
• Week commencing 30 March - open daily 11.30am-4.30pm Monday through to Friday  Saturday 4 April 9am-12pm
• Week commencing 6 April - open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 9.30am-4.30pm
• Week commencing 20 April - open Thursday & Friday 9.30am- 4.30pm
• Week commencing 27 April - open Monday 9.30am-4.30pm, Tuesday onwards (subject to school re-opening) normal opening times resume.

Please note, circumstances permitting we will do our best to adhere to these amended times but should there be any change we will advise through the Knox app.

Colours Embroidery for Year 12
Due to the logistics of the embroidery of Colours, it has been decided that the Year 12 Colours will not be done over the Term 1 break and instead will be done over the Term 2 break. Further communication will be sent out during Term 2.

Thank you for your ongoing support and patience during this difficult time.

Mrs Julie Blackburn, Knox Uniform Shop Manager