This week at Year Meeting I spoke to the boys about their relationships with females. As someone who has been partially responsible for their development into young men, I thought it imperative to speak about this topic before my time with them draws to a close at the end of the year. Through conversations with the boys, it has become clear that the number of interactions with the opposite sex is increasing and that conversations around appropriate and respectful relationships need to take place.

I shared some of my own experiences growing up as a female and highlighted the differences between their adolescence and mine. I emphasised the importance of being aware of this difference, as this will no doubt have an impact on their interactions.

Here is a short extract from Year Meeting:

'I am a feminist, just as many of the young women you will be talking to are. That is why I think it is important to highlight that being a feminist means we want equality. We want fairness. (…)The Knox school motto is this: Do the manly thing. This to me means doing the right thing. Standing up for inequality, treating all people, regardless of gender with the same respect, and stopping any behaviour that makes another feel less worthy.'

Day to day, I am reminded of how proud I am of these young men. Their response after this Year Meeting was impressive. Boys took some time to speak to me afterwards, sharing that they found the discussion insightful and appreciated my candour. I hope that you will continue this important conversation with your sons through their adolescent development as it is so important for our boys to grow into respectful, well-meaning men of integrity.

The boys have done extremely well throughout this exam week. It was a busy week, but it was fantastic to see the boys taking their exams seriously. As we know, becoming a diligent student does not happen overnight. Through practising exam technique and understanding what exam conditions mean, they will become better equipped for their senior years.

Finally, just a gentle reminder that the mobile phone policy and uniform standards will continue to be enforced until the end of the year. It is important that the boys are disciplined in their attention to these two issues in order that the culture of the cohort can be maintained.

Clare Yuan

Sitting across from the Great Hall I kept a close eye on the boys as they walked to their examinations this week. It has been a busy one for the boys but they all tackled the task at hand and completed their last examination as part of the Junior Academy in Period 3 today. I recommend everyone use this weekend to rest, so that we can all finish the year on a high.

In the next couple of weeks we have a few things happening including PAT testing next week, students receiving their marked examination papers in the coming weeks, culminating with the 96th Annual Presentation Day on Thursday 5 December. All information about what events will be occurring in the next couple of weeks may be found in the Upcoming Events section.

Last week I included some information about ordering the school books for Year 9. Please refer to the Director of Studies section for further information prior to putting your book orders through.

I would like to wish good luck to Leo Phijidvijan who is representing Knox at the All School Tennis Championships in Albury over the next few days. We look forward to hearing how he went at the competition.

Industrial Evolution is open this Saturday 23 November from 9am-2pm. This will be the last weekend that you can catch the incredible works of Jasper Knight curated by the Knox Young Curators. The show will remain open Mon-Fri, 8am-4pm until Friday 29 November. 

Congratulations to Chase Burch who won the singles event at the National Wheelchair Tennis Championships in Melbourne last weekend and came second in the doubles events. Well done, Chase!

Congratulations to Flynn Horley who has been selected for the NSW State Metro team for the FFA Futsal National Championships, 2020. Well done, Flynn! 

Thank you for all your donations so far for the Wesley Mission Christmas Food Drive and for the STARTTS program.  As you can see in the picture our new SAO office is filling up and it is wonderful to see the presents and food around our Christmas tree. We are still welcoming donations of gifts (of about $10 in value) for children for the STARTTS program. If you decide to wrap the present, please indicate the age and gender of the child the gift caters to so that it can reach the correct recipient. Food donations for Wesley Mission are still welcome too. Please send non-perishable items that you would like on your Christmas table. Some suggestions pasta and pasta sauce, breakfast cereals (no nuts), long-life milk, tinned ham and/or turkey, long-life custard and/or canned cream, Christmas pudding/fruit cake and/or mince pies, tinned tuna/salmon, tea/coffee/Milo/hot chocolate/Nesquik, canned fruit, cordial, savoury snacks (no nuts) and table trimmings (such as lollies, chocolate or Christmas bonbons). Thank you in advance for brightening a struggling family’s Christmas this year. 

I am currently selling Ride for Richter wrist bands for $2 at my desk in support of Alex and the Richter family. It would be great to see all of the boys getting behind this initiative and buying a wrist band to support one of our families and we thank you for taking the time to encourage your son/s to do so. Please join us on Friday 29 November for the Ride for Richter afternoon on Knox 1.

Finally, a reminder that if you are planning to finish the school year earlier, please submit a completed Leave Application form for absences of three days or more. Please ensure you complete the same form if you will be returning back to school later than the scheduled first school day in 2020. In addition to your Leave form, if your son is missing a Cadets session during this period, then a Cadets Leave form needs to be completed and instructions on how to do so may be found here. 

Have a fabulous weekend. 

Crystel Hodgson, Tel: 9119 0881

Yearly Examinations

The boys are no doubt relieved to have finished their Yearly Examinations this week. Re-sits were organised where possible. Results will be returned to the boys next week.

PAT (Progressive Achievement Tests)

Next week the boys will be sitting three online PAT tests. They will be administered in a subject lesson in the normal classroom and will be scheduled by the subject teacher, who will inform the boys of the day and time of the test. The boys need to bring to school each day next week a fully charged laptop and a set of corded earphones.

2020 Campion Text Book Orders

Campion Books has advised to hold off ordering text books until students receive their 2020 English and Mathematics Class Placements as well as confirmation of elective choices after Monday 2 December.

If you have already placed your order this can be easily changed by contacting Campion on 8905 8691 after  Monday 2 December when 2020 Class Placements will finalised. (Campion will not apply any late ordering fees to Knox Students). 

Janelle Charlton

The 1sts and 2nds Basketball will be playing their last home game versus Barker for this season this Saturday 23 November in the Great Hall at 10am (2nds) and 11.15am (1sts). This will be a massive game for both teams, as they look to close out the term on a win. All Tartan Army members are required to attend if they do not have a clash with their own Saturday sport commitments, and we are looking to get the stands out to accommodate for a crowd. Whether you are in the Tartan Army or not, we would love to see you down there and supporting the boys on the floor. This will be the Tartan Army's debut versus Barker so let's make a good impression!

Can't wait to see you all there!

Nick Reynolds - School Captain

We would like to invite students who have competed at the State/National level to apply to join the PEAK program for the 2020 intake.

PEAK is in its second year of operation and is designed to support high performing student-athletes to achieve excellence in sport, whilst achieving their best in the academic environment.

The PEAK program is a holistic wellbeing program, which includes:

  - One on one mentoring with Knox high performance coaches, including the development of an Individual Performance Plan (IPP)

  - Keynote speakers focusing on the Total Fitness pillars, including: 

• Academic Fitness – covering themes such as time management, goal-setting and habits for academic success
• Physical Fitness – covering effective nutritional practices for athletes, sleep for recovery and effective rehab/prehab
• Spiritual Fitness (Personal Development) – covering communication, mental preparation and leadership
• Social/Emotional Fitness – covering resilience, performing under pressure and respect and responsibility

 - Small group workshops to further enhance each student-athlete’s skills and learning capabilities

Further information about the program, including eligibility criteria may be found here. 

To apply, please complete this application form.

Applications will close on Friday 5 December (last day of Term 4), with successful applicants to be notified before School resumes in 2020.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the PEAK team. 

Kieran Donohue

2020 All Schools individual triathlon will be held at the Sydney International Regatta Centre in Penrith on Wednesday 26 February. Boys will get the bus out to the Regatta Centre from Knox and we will also look after the transport of your bicycle.

Race distances are as follows:

Juniors 12, 13, 14 years         400 m SWIM  10 Km CYCLE  3 Km RUN

Intermediates 15, 16 years    600 m SWIM  15 Km CYCLE  4 Km RUN

Seniors 17, 18, 19 years         750 m SWIM  20 Km CYCLE  5 Km RUN

The cost of $30 per person will be added to School fees. 

If you have any questions, would like to enter or would like to participate in the Triathlon training sessions we run here at school, please contact Mr. Hart.

Triathlon NSW Talent ID Camp

If you are interested in taking triathlon on in a more competitive manner, then this 3-day camp run by the sports state body; Triathlon NSW, may be the thing to help you develop the skills needed to take on this sport with three separate disciplines.  Expert accredited Triathlon Australia coaches will focus on skill development including transitions.

If you have any questions please see Mr Hart or email him - If you are planning to go to the camp, please also let Mr Hart know.

Tuesday 12 - Friday 29 November

Industrial Evolution Works by Jasper Knight.

Saturday 23 November

Knox vs Barker 1sts and 2nds Basketball game. Great Hall, 10am 

Friday 29 November

'Ride for Richter'. The Boulevard and Knox 1, 3.30pm - 6.30pm

Saturday 30 November

Knox in Concert. Great Hall, 6.30pm

Thursday 5 December

Knox Presentation Day

Term 4 Concludes

Wednesday 29 January 2020

Term 1 commences

On Friday 29 November Year 12 have organised a fundraiser to support one of their peers. The fundraiser is 'Ride for Richter' and this event will run from 3.30pm–6.30pm. Alex Richter (Y12) was injured in a mountain biking accident in the holidays. This fundraiser is to raise money for the Richter family for medical costs and day-to-day requirements.

Everything will be $2.00 – there will be rides, sausage sandwiches, cake stall and snow cones!

Below is a link where boys can sign up to ride a stationary bike for 20mins. In signing up, they are committing to gaining sponsorship where all money will go to support the Richter family.

Please bring cash on the day and hand it to Mrs Cherry (Y12 SAO) or Ms Smith (Y9 SAO) or donate the funds through the Knox Portal > Quick Links > Online Payments > Other School Activities > Support the Richters.

Please support this event and sign up here!

'Campion Books has advised to hold off ordering text books until students receive their 2020 English and Mathematics Class Placements as well as confirmation of elective choices after Monday 2 December.

If you have already placed your order this can be easily changed by contacting Campion on 8905 8691 after  Monday 2 December when 2020 Class Placements will finalised. (Campion will not apply any late ordering fees to Knox Students).' Janelle Charlton 

Campion Education would like to let you know that booklists for 2020 are now available and can be completed online via this website. Please place your order by Friday 6 December 2019 for home delivery before school commences in 2020.

When ordering online you will need to use the following Access Code: 'D69G'

Or simply click on  Knox Grammar 2020 Resource Lists to bypass the code (you can create an account too allowing to make changes and check on the status of your order).

All orders placed online are delivered to your home, office or any designated address. The parcels will be delivered the fortnight ending 17 January 2020. Boarders can selected the option for Boarding School Delivery.

Digital Items where selected and available will be available via Campion Educations MyConnect Platform. These accounts will be created and available in the fortnight ending 17 January 202. You will receive an email that week with download and access information.

Placing your order online by the due date is the best was to ensure students will receive all available items in time for back to school 2020!  

Uniform Shop Opening Times 2019/2020

Normal trading hours - Monday to Friday: 12.30pm-5.30pm
Saturday (Terms 1 and 4 only): 9am-12noon

In addition, please note the following opening hours:

Term 4 2019

Thursday 5 December (Term 4 concludes): All Years 7-10 blazers being submitted for Honour Award Embroidery to be handed in by 5pm at the Lawson Centre.

For Term 4 the Honour Awards are presented to Year 7 – 10 Students.

The awards entitle the student to have embroidery added to the bottom right pocket of the school blazer. This can only be organised through the Knox Uniform Shop and to facilitate this please note the following:-

1. The list of Honour Awards and Colours will be on display on the breezeway notice board under the McKenzie Building from Monday 25 November. This is the responsibility of the student to find out if they have received an award. Academic Awards will be on display towards the end of the last week of Term.
2. If students have any queries regarding the Awards, please direct all enquiries to Head of Activity involved immediately; all queries must be raised by 28 November, after this date they will not be considered.
3. A member of staff from the Uniform Shop will be in the Lawson Centre at recess and lunchtime from Monday 2 December until Wednesday 4 December for students to confirm and sign off the awards presented.
4. A Blazer submission form MUST be completed & signed by the parent and handed in with the blazer after Presentation Day or last day of attendance. Without the completed form the embroidery will not be done. 
5. After Presentation Day, members of staff from the Uniform Shop will be in the Lawson Centre to receive the blazers. Your son must put the submission form in the top pocket of the blazer and put on a hanger on the rail.
6. The last day for handing in the blazers is Friday 6 December at 1pm. Any blazers received after this time will not be accepted and the next opportunity to have them done will be end of Term 4, 2020.
7. Please note the Uniform Shop will close at 2.30pm on the last day of term.
8. The embroidery will be done over the holidays and the blazers will be available for collection from Friday 24 January from the Uniform Shop. If they are ready earlier, a notification will be sent via the Knox app.
9. All embroidery will be charged to the student school account unless otherwise stipulated on the submission form. It is not compulsory to have the embroidery done but it must be organised through the Uniform Shop and not through an independent embroiderer.

Our annual KAPA Showcase ‘Knox In Concert’ is just around the corner. We are pleased to advise that KAPA will be producing another high-quality professional recording of the concert, for which will be produced for sale after the event.  Please complete this order form for the DVD and digital download copies of the concert. Secure your copy now for Christmas! Please direct all enquiries to our KAPA Coordinator, Mrs Sami Culleton. 

We have a magazine giveaway starting Friday 29 November in the McKenzie Library! Students are invited to take their favourite magazine, up to three magazines per student. Our extensive magazine collection includes Australian Geographic, Australian Dirt Bike, Guitar, Australian Photography Bicycling, Cosmos, Cricketer, Delicious, National Geographic, New Scientist, New Zealand Rugby, Wheels and many more! 

Happy reading!

Katya Manevtsova - Teacher-Librarian

Staff right across Knox have been participating in Movember and with the end of the month fast approaching it’s time to take a stand for men’s mental health, prostate cancer and testicular cancer. Click here to sponsor the various staff who are growing Mo’s for a good cause!!

The Social Justice Portfolio will be selling stick on Mo’s next week with all money raised going directly to Movember.

Make sure to bring a gold coin!

This year marks the 12th annual ABBOX Camp - the Sony Foundation Holiday Camp for Children with special needs from Friday 6 December to Tuesday 10 December. The camp offers a much needed break for families and a fun time for the children. The ‘campers’ are cared for by Knox and Abbotsleigh Year 12 student volunteers and staff.

Parents are needed to help with the many morning and afternoon teas supplied during the camp. No nuts please, and gluten free options are also requested. Fruit, cupcakes, biscuits, slices, dips etc. (please list ingredients) are also requested for those children attending the camp who may have any dietary requirements.

If you are able to help, please sign up here.

Over the last two weeks Matthew Neal and Sam ten Pas were on an exchange program at Hale school in Western Australia. The boys have shared their experiences with us below. We thank Matthew and Sam for sharing these pictures of their experience with us.

'The Knox - Hale exchange was an absolute highlight of the 2019 year for me. Sam and I were lucky enough to enjoy the iconic beach sunsets at Perth, visit the beautiful Rottnest Island where we met the funny and cute little quokkas. We had the opportunity to see what life is like in Hale and enjoy the overall serenity of Elizabeth Quay and Perth itself. Spending two weeks as a pupil in Hale was an extraordinary experience and I encourage all boys to participate in the opportunities at Knox, especially those in the form of exchanges.' Matthew Neal

'The Knox-Hale exchange was a highlight for me this year. It was a great experience and I would highly recommend this to any boy looking for the perfect exchange. Experiencing being a Hale boy for two weeks was an amazing experience. Exploring Perth on the weekends was a major highlight. Going on a Segway tour, going on a prison tour at night and the amazing beaches and sunsets was another highlight.' Sam ten Pas