As a community, we have all shared Alex ‘AJ’ Richter’s journey since his accident last October which resulted in a significant spinal injury.

Part of this journey has been Alex’s desire to complete the HSC with his cohort, the Class of 2020. I am pleased to report that he is well on the way to achieving this goal. So far, he has completed all exams including PDHPE today. He has just the Engineering exam to write next week and then he is finished. Alex is a remarkable young man, this is an incredible achievement considering he has only been in class for five weeks since starting Year 12.

As a School, we would like to continue supporting Alex and his family purchase equipment that is vital for his continued rehabilitation. An initiative of the Prefect Executive is to encourage all boys to purchase a Ride With Richter cap. On Tuesday 24 November we will have Ride With Richter Day at Knox. Boys can wear their cap to school with smart casual clothes. There will also be other fundraising initiatives including a donation at the gates, a raffle and a BBQ lunch.

To facilitate the ordering of caps, if you would like your son to wear one can you please complete this order form before Friday 6 November. Caps cost $25 and this will be charged to your account. We encourage all boys to join this wonderful community connection experience.

Phil O’Regan

We are reaching the pointy end of our Virile Agitur campaign, with the winner of the VA Man Creed design competition being announced on Monday of Week 4, along with the premiere of our final Virile Agitur Man video production. We are also encouraging boys to submit a photo of themselves doing their 'Good Hours' so that we can make a montage of all the amazing things our boys have been up to. Personally, I spent last Sunday working at a Woman’s Refuge, helping them tidy and fix up their house and buildings. Whilst I am by no means a skilled artisan when it comes to carpentry and building works, I was able to paint, sand, clean out gutters, pack food hampers and tidy up. It was a few hours of my weekend but I hope the impact on these struggling families will be significant. Such a rewarding activity. I also don’t want this to be a bragging moment for me, but rather, a role-modelling of how each student in Year 9, with no specialist skills, can use their great strength for the good of others.

Congratulations to those boys who received awards for their excellent performance in displaying the Knox Learner Protocols in the most recent report. We also acknowledge those boys who have been most improved, and Mr Openshaw and I are extremely proud of the efforts each boy in Year 9 is making in trying to uphold these School values every day.

As you will be well aware, the Yearly Examinations are fast approaching. I took some time in Year Meeting to share a few tips and tricks which I thought might help our boys through this period. Whilst the yearly examinations are an important part of the academic school year, they are also not the be all and end all. I would like to encourage each boy to give of his own personal best, to keep building his skills and knowledge and to keep a balanced approached to everything he does. The Mentors have been working hard with each boy during Mentor times and students should feel welcome to approach their Mentors and classroom teachers to ask for help at any time. Please also feel free to reach out to us as Team Leaders and the Middle Academy team if there is anything we can do to help support your son.

Craig Milligan

I have to start this week's newsletter by saying a heartfelt thank you to the boys for making me feel so special on my birthday. The constant flow of birthday wishes, cards and yelling at the top of their lungs to wish me a Happy Birthday has truly made growing a year older that much more easier to cope with!

Just a reminder to follow the directions of the road signs with regards to 'No Stopping' and 'Kiss and Ride' signs around Warrawee Railway station. These support the community members in the local area while enabling the safe and efficient arrival and departure of Knox students.

For a number of years, the Knox community have donated school shoes and sport trainers to the British School Manila that supports many poor children who live on the edge of the city. Without shoes, they cannot attend school. The donated shoes can be school shoes, sport trainers, sandals and/or Crocs, for boys and girls. Donated shoes must be polished and clean with the shoelaces tied together, where applicable. Please send these in to my office or to Mrs Clarke (Room 15).

I would like to congratulate Jack Farrall who has completed his Bronze Award for the Duke of Ed program and received his award at this week's Year Meeting. Well done on such an amazing achievement.

Finally, I hope the boys have started to prepare for their Yearly Examinations that is fast approaching. The timetable that was released last week by Mr Plaskett may be found on the portal under the Academic Resources section. Please note that if a student is unwell on the day of the examination an Illness and Misadventure Appeal form needs to be completed and emailed to me.

Crystel Hodgson, Tel: 9119 0881

Monday 9 to Sunday 15 November 

National Recycling Week

Thursday 12 - Wednesday 18 November

Yearly Examinations 

Monday 23 November

Paul Dillon Talk to students

Paul Dillon Online Parent Seminar - 6.30pm

Thursday 3 December

Term 4 concludes

Thank you to those of you who have already submitted your STEAM applications.

For those of you who are still interested in joining the team of 2020/21, but were unable to submit the form on time, we have decided to extend the deadline for you. Please fill out the application form that may be found here and send the completed form here by Thursday 5 November 2020.

The link for the video presentation from Year Meeting, may be found here for your enjoyment.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

Ryan and Justin - Knox STEAM Team Leaders 2020/21

This term is the time when the Knox community generously supports families that find Christmas particularly difficult. For the last 13 years, we have supplied Christmas Hampers for struggling families through the Uniting Church Family projects.

Our focus this year is on the Wesley Mission and Parramatta Mission. Both organisations aim to support families with basic food supplies and Christmas fare (Christmas cakes, puddings, custard, serviettes, tins of ham, bonbons, biscuits etc. as well as staple goods such as long-life milk, cereals, pasta, sauces etc.) Your support with this initiative will be most appreciated.

Christmas gifts for children to the value of $10 ( or more if you wish)
This has been a long-term project at Knox to support children from STARTTS who receive no gifts without our support. The social workers continually reinforce what a positive difference our donations make to these children and their parents.

Please send in your donations to me or to Mrs Clarke in Room 15.

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 13 November 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 here on the Knox website. Alternatively, you might like to discuss this in confidence with Betty Fowler from the School’s Accounts Department on 9487 0442.

The Knox Academy of Performing Arts is delighted to advise that 2020 Ensemble photos will occur on Friday 6 November between 7am-9am in the Wenkart Theatre.

Dress for these photos will be winter school uniform. Yes, I understand that this will take some co-ordination, however I thank you in advance for your assistance, understanding and accommodation.

To assist with the running of the morning, we ask that all boys arrive promptly by the report time as advised in this schedule.

KAPA Ensemble members will be greeted by their Ensemble Conductors/Directors in the JAPAC Foyer, where all students will unpack ready for the photos for which will be occurring on the Wenkart Stage.

All enquiries should be directed to the Ensemble Conductor/Director in the first instance.

On behalf of all in KAPA, we are thrilled to offer this opportunity for our dedicated KAPA students.

James Brice

Thank you to all those students who entered into the Book Week Competitions. Some truly remarkable and colourful entries have been submitted.  Announcements of the winning entries will be posted and prizes awarded shortly.

Magazines in the Library

Some really interesting magazines which cater for a wide variety of interests are available to borrow. 'The Cricketer' was founded in 1921 and posts an exclusive interview with Steve Smith.

'New Scientist' looks at the rival claims to the best ever quantum computer.

'Cosmos' takes an in-depth look into the laboratory with the Virus Busters.

'Science Illustrated' shows how tiny creatures are amazing athletes.

In Week 8 the Library will be holding the annual magazine giveaway.

If you are looking for a place to study, remember the Library is open from 8am to 4pm, Monday to Thursday and on Fridays from 8.50am to 4pm.

Enjoy your reading.

Sally Thomson

2021 Applications
We would like to invite students who have competed at the state/national level to apply to join the PEAK program for the next intake. We understand that COVID-19 may have impacted some state/national championships, so PEAK eligibility criteria has been extended to include the last 12 months, or the last state/national championship event that was run.

What is PEAK?
PEAK will be going into its third year of operation and is designed to support high-performing student-athletes who aspire to have a career in elite sport. We aim to develop healthy, resilient and capable students by supporting the holistic wellbeing of each individual, whilst assisting them to achieve their academic and sporting potential.

The PEAK program includes:

• One on one mentoring with Knox high performance coaches, including the development of an Individual Performance Plan (IPP)
• Keynote speakers focusing on the Knox 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.

Please see the PEAK website for more information about the program, including a copy of the prospectus.

To apply, please complete application form here. Applications will close on Thursday 3 December (last day of Term 4), with successful applicants to be notified before school resumes in 2021.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email here.

Kieran Donohue, Director of PEAK

Each school has a different policy with regards to the number of spectators, so it will be important to carefully read the information below.

1. Check the team list to see your son’s team – see the Knox app (download instructions)
2. Check the sports draw to see where and when your son’s team is playing – check the Knox app
3. Is he playing at a Knox Grammar School venue? If yes:

• 2 spectator parents/guardians per player at our outdoor venues.
• 1 spectator parent guardian per player at our indoor venues.
• QR code registration will be in place across all facilities at entry points, with standard health checks and questions.
• Players in all teams should turn up ready to play – no change rooms will be available.
• Canteens will be closed. Players should bring their own labelled water bottles and snacks if required.
• Players should leave immediately after completion of their fixture.
• Teams due to play in Great Hall, MacNeil and Lawson court will need to wait on Boulevard until they may enter the facility. This will depend on finish time of previous fixture.
• Water Polo players will also need to wait in JAPAC rec area for clearance to enter the pool area.
• Standard 1.5m social distancing for all spectators.

4. Is your son playing away? Which school is he playing against?

St Aloysius’ College
• Indoor venues – 2 spectator parent/guardians per player
• Outdoor venues - 2 spectator parent/guardians per player
• Willoughby Leisure Centre – no spectators/parents/guardians

Barker College
• Indoor venues – 1 spectator parent/guardians per player
• Outdoor venues - 2 spectator parent/guardians per player

Cranbrook School
• Indoor venues – 1 spectator parent/guardians per player
• Outdoor venues - 2 spectator parent/guardians per player

Trinity Grammar School
• Indoor venues – 1 spectator parent/guardians per player
• Outdoor venues - 2 spectator parent/guardians per player

Newington College
• Indoor venues – 1 spectator parent/guardians per player
• Outdoor venues - 2 spectator parent/guardians per player

Scots College (Ruth Everess Aquatic Centre, Auburn)
• Public outdoor venue - 2 spectator parent/guardians per player

Please ensure you follow social distancing guidelines at all times and leave immediately after your son’s game. As always, any sports cancellations due to wet weather will be announced via the Knox app (make sure you have subscribed to alerts for your son’s summer sport).

If you have any questions, please email the Sports and Aquatic Academy here.

Thank you and best wishes to all our students this weekend.

Martin Haywood, Head of Knox Sports and Aquatic Academy

Congratulations to the students who received a Knox Learner Protocol award at Year Meeting this week.

It's been great to see the boys in their Cadet uniform again this term. Last week, I watched part of the Passing Out Parade and was proud of our Year 9 boys.