As Week 6 draws to a close, it might be music to everybody's ears to know that we are over halfway through Term 1. This term is a long one and as such, we encourage the boys to make good decisions, knuckle down for their upcoming assessments and enjoy the last few weeks of daylight saving. The JAPAC lounge is available for Year 8 students to use after school, until 5.15pm. This is a great space for boys to work individually or together in order to prepare for their assessments.

Thursday will see all Year 8 students head to Homebush to cheer on the Knox swimmers and divers competing in the CAS competition. Last year we had a huge presence from our boys, Mr Manuel and I look forward to an even bigger crowd of Year 8 boys filling the stands and representing their school with pride. We hold high standards for all of your boys, with regards to uniform, manners and behaviour on Thursday. We know they will not let us down!

Yesterday during our assembly, Knox celebrated International Women’s Day. Living in a country like Australia, we can forget the need to keep promoting equality and the empowerment of women throughout the world. I like to read the biographies and stories of women who changed the world with their passion, insistence on equal rights and their unapologetic attitude for demanding change. Think about Emily Davison who in 1913, threw herself in front of the King’s horse to protest against the suffrage of women. Malala Yousafzai, who was shot in the head by the Taliban for insisting that girls had as much right to an education as boys. Hollywood actress, Robin Wright, who asked to be paid the same as her male co-star - the list goes on. There are many strong female role models in the world and for our boys at Knox. I know they respect and appreciate the inspiring female teachers who teach them. I hope this Sunday our Year 8 students spend time reflecting on the need to support and promote gender equality.

As always, please get in touch with your son’s Mentor or the Team Leaders if we can be of any assistance in any matter relating to Year 8. 

Carly Robinson

It is imperative that the School has your correct details so we are able to contact you at all times. Please log onto the Parent Portal and check that your phone and address details are correct and update if necessary. If you experience any difficulties logging onto the Parent Portal, please contact our helpdesk on (02) 9473 9706 or email them. 

Easter Eggs and Pots of Noodles Drive

For the past 12 years, the Knox community has been supporting 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 Office or to Room 15 (Mrs Helen Clarke in the Social Justice Office).  

 $5 DONATION Flash Uniform Shop SALE

The Uniform Shop will be holding a flash sale commencing 16 March for ONE week only. This will include most second hand uniform items that have been donated by parents or have been in 2nd hand for over two years.

If you have any items of uniform you would like to donate please ensure they are clean and in good condition they may be dropped off to the Uniform Shop at 10 Borambil Street from 12 March. Due to hygiene reasons, we cannot accept socks, bags or hats.

All proceeds of items sold will be donated to the Rural Relief Programe nominated by Mrs Helen Clarke. This programe offers financial assistance to families that live in rural communities that have been impacted by drought and bushfires.  

I am pleased to advise the Term dates for 2021 are now available on the Knox website. 

Have a fantastic weekend! 

Renee Willson, Tel: 9119 0886

 Academic achievements

This week in Year Meeting we were delighted to recognise boys for their improvement in application to studies in Term 4. We also applauded the top 3 teams in the Integrated Learning Activity completed at the end of last year, where students researched and designed a water-saving house using a 3D and Virtual Reality design site. Congratulations to all boys who received certificates this week.

Assessment tasks and Illness/Misadventure Appeals (IMA)

As the boys are now underway with assessment tasks, I want to take this opportunity to highlight our assessment policy and Illness Misadventure Appeal process. Our policy is informed by best practice and the NESA requirements in Stage 6 (which requires medical documentation completed by the practitioner to approve on the basis of illness); we are committed to ensuring an equitable assessment experience and the IMA application policy, among many others, supports the academies to make special considerations to help your son achieve his academic personal best, wherever appropriate. An abbreviated explanation of the Stages 4 and 5 IMA policy and procedure as it pertains to both hand-in and in-class assessment tasks can be found below:

If illness or misadventure prevents your son from attending or submitting an assessment task, an Illness/Misadventure Appeal (IMA) application together with relevant documentation (such as a medical certificate or an explanatory note from the parent/guardian) must be submitted to the SAO within one week of the assessment task date, to avoid a task penalty. 

As per our Assessment Policy:

·        Late completion of an in-class assessment task without an approved IMA or leave form may attract a 10% reduction of marks.

·        Late submission of a hand-in assessment task without an approved IMA may attract a 10% reduction of marks per day for two days. If the task is submitted more than two days late, the mark reduction will be determined by the Head of Department and Director of Studies on a case by case basis.

Please refer to the Assessment Policies and Procedures booklet that has been made available on the Knox portal for more in-depth explanations.

Janelle Charlton

Please find attached a letter regarding students who wish to attend the CAS Swim and Dive teams at the CAS Championships on Thursday 12 March. If you would like you son/s to support please go to the Parent Lounge, select the event, confirm his medical details and click on the accept button. Please click here for directions if required.

This event is always one of the best on the CAS calendar and the School looks forward to another exciting evening in 2020.

Mr Martin Haywood

Head of the Knox Sport and Aquatic Academy 

Date:Tuesday, 10 March

Venue:Knox 1

Time:10.10am

·        If wet weather, please meet in the Great Hall Foyer and students will be advised of new venue.

·        Students may use the Knox 1 change rooms. They will be open.

·        Wear their full school uniform.

·        Students must bring Student ID.

Any questions, please see Mr Butler in the Lawson Centre.  Boys must not be late or risk missing their team photo. 

Tuesday 10 March

World's Greatest Shave

Thursday 12 March

CAS - Swim and Dive Championships

Sunday 15 March

Kuringgai Chase Fun Run 2020

Thursday 19 March - Saturday 21 March

'The Importance of Being Earnest'

Thursday 9 April

Term 1 concludes

Friday 10 April

Good Friday

Sunday 12 April

Easter

Monday 27 April

Term 2 commences 

It is with pleasure that we invite you and/or your son or any family member to participate in the 2020 KURINGGAI CHASE FUN RUN to show support for athletes taking part and, raise awareness and funds for Special Olympics Australia, Sydney Upper North Shore Region.

The Run is being held on Sunday 15 March at Claude Cameron Reserve, Wahroonga starting at 8am and finishing by 11am. Students are expected to make their own way to, and from, the venue.

The participation in the Fun Run is a great opportunity for our boys to help a person with a disability and is an important part of the School’s Social Justice program. As such, the value to both the boys and the Special Olympic Athletes is invaluable. There is no cost involved and this is an opportunity for students and families who are looking to give back to their local community, participate in the School’s Social Justice Program and help to support others. Participation and the invitation is extended to all where you and your son/s will be welcomed as will your extended family and friends.

Students do not need to pay a fee or fund raise. On the day Knox boys act in a supporting role to ‘buddy up’ with a Special Olympics Athlete and support their effort to complete the 5km walk or 10km run.

Students who do attend are required to wear good running shoes and PE uniform and students should be aware that this is considered an official school function. As such, school rules and expectations apply.

If your son would like to participate, simply reply to us by accepting the invitation in the Parent Lounge. There is no need to return a permission slip. If you or anyone you know would also like to participate, please register by visiting the website listed below.

Further information can be obtained by visiting the Run’s website or, by contacting the staff members below who are organising the event for the School.

We look forward to seeing you at the event for what promises to be an incredible day for our local community.

Aaron Nolan andJohn Diamond 

The Science Department is organising participation in the Big Science Competition this year. 
An email was sent to all parents and students with the relevant information attached. 

The Big Science Competition is mandatory for all Year 7s – 10 da Vinci Science students.
Any student who is in Yrs 7 - 10 Core class and wishes to participate in this competition is required to self-nominate.

All parents must accept their son’s participation in this competition through the Parent Lounge via the School Portal by Tuesday 31 March.

Winter uniform
As we approach the halfway mark of the first term we would like to remind all parents that Term 2 changes over into winter uniform. For further information on what the changes are, please refer to the Uniform Policy which is available on the Knox portal here. We strongly recommend purchasing the winter uniform earlier rather than later. Do not wait until the last week of the holidays as we cannot guarantee the sizes that will be available.

Special orders
Any special requirements regarding winter uniform items should be discussed with Uniform Shop staff as soon as possible. Occasionally, we have students that have allergies/sensitivity to wool and in these instances, time permitting, we can get winter trousers lined and jumpers made in a cotton/nylon blend. As these are special orders we need four weeks' notice for the trousers and up to eight weeks for the knitwear.

Other instances include if your son is not a standard size (for example, very tall but slim and may require extra length or he may be of a more solid frame like a Rugby player) then the standard sizes may be disproportional.

Please contact the Uniform Shop on 9487 0191 or email us.

Mrs Julie Blackburn, Knox Uniform Shop Manager

School photos are ready to order from next Tuesday 10 March. To download your son's portrait and year photo, please login to the Melba Studios website, select SchoolOrders and enter password KNOX. You will need your son’s student ID number which is located on his student ID card. This is privacy protected so only you can view your son’s portrait. Your son’s high resolution image will be sent to you via Wetransfer, and you can also order additional discounted printed copies. Your school account will be charged $20.00 for the student ID card and the electronic year photo and portrait for your record of his time at school. 

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. 

World's Greatest Shave - Tuesday 10 March
Social Justice Prefects and guest speakers will present at assemblies over the coming weeks. Boys must remember that cuts will be in line with the School's regulation cuts. Register online here.

Breaking a World Record and helping community projects
The Rotary Club of Wahroonga is attempting to set a World Record of connected socks on 25 October this year at St Ives Showground. Start collecting your odd socks - remember, socks need to be accompanied by the donations otherwise they can’t be included!

School shoes for the Philippines
Please send donations to Room 15 - shoes will be sent soon!

The Knox Social Justice Club - all invited to participate
There are opportunities for service at community events both within the School and in the wider community and immersions to overseas and regional areas. Everyone across Years 7-12 is invited to participate and bring a friend. 

Parents for Justice (Just Parents)
If you would like to join up and offer support, please contact Mrs Clarke.

Meet the students taking part the 2020 Young Curators program, coordinated by 3:33 Art Projects. Teddy Harricks, Huckleberry Jurd, James Du, Oliver Carey and Kailoh Ramcharan from Year 8 and Jack Sheppard, Michael Li and Michael Xenofontos from Year 11 will be working alongside Reg Mombassa to curate an exhibition of his work at Knox. Students were introduced to Reg’s work by visiting his recent exhibition at Clayton Utz law firm last Tuesday.