YEAR 8 WEEK 7 TERM 3 2019

Year 8 Week 7 Term 3 2019

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After a week of solid rain following our return from camp, the sun has come out with the beginning of Spring this week. I encourage boys to get outside in this beautiful weather and get active. As we set into the downhill slope towards the end of term, boys must look for this balance as they prepare for their assessments in the coming weeks.

We celebrated the positive attitudes and leadership qualities demonstrated by boys on camp through the Camp Honours Awards in Year Meeting on Monday. The Mentor Representatives from each Mentor Group collaborated on a list of criteria by which all Year 8 boys voted for a member of each camp group who they thought deserved recognition. The qualities, identified by students, for which these boys were acknowledged, included: rising to meet challenges, venturing outside of ones’ comfort zone, supporting peers, being proactive in group tasks, promoting a positive mindset, and displaying leadership characteristics.

Another leadership opportunity has been presented to the boys this week. All boys are eligible to apply for a Portfolio Leadership Team position. As was explained to the boys earlier this week, this is a fantastic opportunity for boys to work closely with older students and develop valuable leadership skills, whilst making a meaningful contribution to the culture of the Year Group in one of the domains covered by the Portfolios. Boys should refer to the email sent earlier in the week by Mr Sam White for detailed information and submit their application to the Team Leaders by Monday 9 September.

On Friday morning students were addressed by guest speaker Michael Crossland. Michael’s story is an inspiring and incredible tale of the extreme adversity that can be overcome by positive mindset, persistence and passion. I encourage all parents to have a conversation with your sons about their take on this speaker’s determination to forge through suffering, illness and loss and come out stronger on the other side.  

Alec Openshaw

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As we get closer to the end of Term 3, I would like to remind you that at the commencement of Term 4 the boys will be starting Cadets. Please ensure that you book an appointment for your son's cadet uniform fitting prior to the end of this term as this is the last chance for fitting to occur. All login details to the PTO booking system to make an appointment were emailed at the start of the term, if you have any difficulties, please contact Julie Blackburn. Term 4 is also the changeover from winter to summer uniform. I would encourage you to check that your son's uniform still fits him properly and if you require new items, these are all available at the Uniform Shop or can be ordered via Flexischool. Students are able to go to the shop at lunch time to collect uniform items that have been ordered once they have notified me in Room 19. 

Thursday 12 September is a poignant reminder to all of us to check in with each other and check if others are OK.  RUOK? day is our national day of action dedicated to reminding everyone that every day is the day to ask, “Are you ok?” and support those struggling with life's ups and downs. This year we want everyone to: trust the signs, trust your gut and ask R U OK? Read more here

Finally, a reminder to please RSVP for the Year 8 Parents' Supper which is being held on Saturday 14 September. Further details may be found below.

Have a lovely weekend everyone.

Crystel Hodgson, Tel: 9119 0881

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I spoke to the boys at Year Meeting this week about a few simple strategies to get motivated and reminded them of some of the help options available to them.

NEED SOME MOTIVATION TO DO WORK?

If your son is struggling to get motivated to do his schoolwork, sadly there is no magic solution. However, here are a few strategies he can try if motivation or procrastination is an issue for him:

CHUNK IT DOWN: If the work seems overwhelming or boring or unappealing, break it down into small bearable chunks and just do it one piece at a time.
RULE OF 3: If he can’t get started, he can write down the three most important things he must get done, then don’t even look at any other tasks until these three are completed.
REWARDS: Set small specific tasks to do with a specific reward at the end of the task. For some people, little rewards are enough to get them going. 
MOTIVATING IMAGES: Find slogans or images that motivate you and put them near your workspace. 

 
NEED SOME HELP WITH STUDIES?

JAPAC LOUNGE AFTER SCHOOL ACADEMIC HELP: Monday-Wednesday until 5pm, recent graduate Knox students are on duty and can help you with your homework, assessment tasks and study.
STUDY HUB: Tuesdays 3.30pm - 4.30pm in JAPAC Lounge with Mrs Coetzee
MATHS TUTORIALS: Mondays and Tuesdays in MO306

 Janelle Charlton

Saturday 7 September  Global Café - Roach Junior Academy Lounge - 9am - 12noon

Sunday 8 September  Knox Highland Gathering - Knox 1 Oval, Senior School - 9am -5pm 

Thursday 12 September RUOK? Day

Saturday 14 September Year 8 Parents' Supper - Avondale Golf Club - 7pm - 11.30pm

Thursday 19 September  CAS Track & Field Championship at SOPAC (optional for Year 8)

Thursday 19 September  CAS Track & Field Team and Catch up Photos

Friday 20 September  Boarder Dinner and Chapel Service

Friday 20 September Knox - Code Barrel App 'Big Idea' Competition - Entries close

Friday 27 September  Term 3 Concludes

Tuesday 15 October Term 4 Commences

CAS Track & Field Invitation

 

On Thursday 19 September, the CAS Track and Field Championships will be taking place at Sydney Olympic Park in Homebush.

All Year 8 students are invited to attend the event and would have received an email sent by Mr Martin Haywood earlier this week. If you would like your son to attend, please complete the permission note by Monday 16 September on Parent Lounge.  

Fees In Advance Program

For many years the School has offered a ‘fees in advance’ program to enable increased flexibility of such payments. The program is attractive for many reasons, enabling parents to make lump sum payments for years ahead which attract discounts to the scheduled fees.

To qualify, upfront full year payments must be made for a minimum of one year and the payments must be made by 31 October in the year before your payment program begins. Payments will only be accepted by direct funds transfer or cheque (credit card or Bpay payments are not permitted for this program).

Details of the Fees in Advance Program can be found on the Knox website here. Alternatively, you might like to discuss this in confidence with Betty Fowler from the School’s Accounts Department on 9487 0442.

 

 

Year 8 Parents' Supper

Date: Saturday 14 September 2019

Time: 7pm - 11.30pm

Venue: Avondale Golf Club, Avon Road, Pymble

Further information about the event may be found here.

 

OKGA Most Improved - Winter

Congratulations to Andrew Gladigau who was presented with an OKGA Most Improved Award for Pipes and Drums Junior Drumming. Andrew was away when the awards were presented at Assembly earlier in the term.

Year Meeting

 This week, Year Meeting was hosted by the Student Leadership Team.

 

 

 

Mentor Session with a difference

Mr Gazzard's Mentees enjoyed taking part in a special Mentor session that taught them to do their bit to take care of the environment.

Jersey Day

Last Friday, students were encourage to wear a jersey to raise awareness for Jersey Day. Some of our boys embraced this opportunity and wore their jerseys around the school grounds.

 

Camp Honours Award Recipients

Congratulations to the students who were awarded the Camp Honours Award at Year Meeting this week. Well done on being selected by your peers!