As we come to the end of what has been an emotional week for the Knox community, I hope that our Year 9 families are able to enjoy some time together over the weekend.

The Academy of Global Competency building is open for students to engage in both individual and collaborative study before school from 7.45am and afterschool until 5.15pm. Unless they are involved in co-curricular or sporting activities, Middle Academy students should not stay at school to study or socialise after 5.15pm. 

Lessons commence at 8.25am Monday to Thursday and at 9am on Friday. Students are expected to be at their classroom and ready to engage in their lessons by this time. They should be arriving at school with adequate time to complete the health screening and temperature checking process, visit their lockers and arrive at their period 1 classroom prior to 8.25am (9am on Friday). Students who arrive late to lessons miss important aspects of the lesson introduction and disrupt the continuity of learning for their peers. From Monday, should a student arrive late to school, an email will be sent to their parents to notify them of the late arrival. Should there be a reason that your son will be arriving late to school, please let Crystel Hodgson know via email or lodge an Absentee Notification on Parent Lounge. Should a student arrive late to school for a second time this term without a valid reason, he will be required to attend an afterschool reflection session with Mr Mulray. Thank you in advance for your support in ensuring that learning opportunities for all our students are maximised. 

Elizabeth Ruff

This week in Year Meeting, James Jiang in Year 11 talked about an opportunity for boys to join the Artificial Intelligence Club. Senior boys spoke to Year 9 boys about future opportunities within the Cadet Unit and encouraged them to continue their involvement. We were also lucky to have Beau Morrison and Ethan Luong, our Year 9 Chairmen, share videos of their Respecting Women interviews. It is great to see the leaders in our year group stepping up to encourage their peers to participate in this important component of our Virile Agitur Man initiative.

I am looking forward to catching some our Year 9 boys in action against Barker College this weekend!

Please don’t hesitate to be in contact the Team Leaders or Mentors if you have any queries or concerns.

Alec Openshaw

This week has been a very challenging one for our School community and we have all come together to support one another. Our boys have all been spoken to by Mr Milligan and Mr Openshaw and they have been provided with a list of options should they wish to speak to someone they trust. Please know that I am always here to speak with the boys as well as the staff in the Wellbeing Centre.

Ride with Richter

Ride with Richter - Ride, Run, Row or Walk fitness challenge. We all want to start or continue and enjoy fitness - correct? The fitness challenge commences 29 August and concludes on 20 September. What are you and your family going to sign up for? Me? I will walk/run! Click here for more information on how to get involved to help support the beautiful Richter family and get fit along the way. You know you want to!

Absence Notification

Just a reminder when lodging your son's absence in Parent Lounge please remember to include the nature of his medical condition in the comment section if you have selected Illness/Medical. Should your son be suffering from any of the symptoms of COVID-19, please follow the government advice regarding getting tested and keep your son at home.

Knox Student ID and StoCard app

Students should have their Knox Student ID card with them in the morning to scan in after having their temperature checked. Sometimes they may forget their card or have it in their locker or another bag. A StoCard app for their phone can be used to create a Knox Student barcode on their phone. Click here for instructions. Note: All students are required to have an official Knox Student ID card for purchases at the canteen as they are not allowed to use their phones.

Face Masks

Do not forget to pre-order your washable, reusable Face Mask in French Navy made from three layer cotton with filter pocket from the Uniform Shop. They will be available in standard and large size for $12.50. This product will be available for pre-order with an expected delivery to be in Weeks 5-17 August. Please call the Uniform Shop 9487 0191 or order via Flexischools. 

Finally, please take the time this weekend to spend some quality time with your family and let them know how much they are loved.

Have a lovely weekend.

Crystel Hodgson, Tel: 9119 0881

For information regarding all offered co-curriculars for week 5 please click here or contact the staff member in charge. Also please note that changes may occur at short notice due to Government and Health Department requirements.

Chuck Ardron

Saturday 29 August

Ride with Richter Fitness Challenge begins

Sunday 20 September

Ride with Richter Fitness Challenge concludes

Friday 25 September

Term 3 Concludes

Some new and exciting releases are now available from the library to boost your wide reading.

New titles from award winning authors include:

Karen M. McManus

'One of Us is Lying' 

'Two can Keep a Secret'

'One of Us is Next' 

 Derek Landy

'Skulduggery Pleasant: Seasons of War'.  This is the thirteenth book in the SKulduggery Pleasant series.

 Anh Do

'Rise of the Mythix'

'E-Boy'

David Walliams 

'Slime'

'Grandpa’s Great Escape'

Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

'Illuminae'

'Gemina'

'Obsidio'

Sally Thomson

Across our campuses we are collecting donations of non-perishable food for Ku-ring-gai Neighbourhood Centre, which supports local families in need.

We are inviting Knox families to donate long-life milk, cereal, coffee, tea, cans of meat, vegetables, fruit and/or soup, cup of soup and dried fruit. No glass items, please.

Collection closes end of Week 7 (Friday 4 September).

Drop off location for students is the SAO offices or Mrs Clarke's Office (Room 15).

A reminder our campuses are currently closed to parents.

In line with the current NSW Health guidelines and in order to mitigate the risks posed by COVID-19, the Uniform Shop staff have taken measures to ensure the safety of students, parents and other staff. External cleaners professionally clean all high-touch areas and surfaces every evening with a non-toxic, hospital grade disinfectant. During the day our staff spray down the changing rooms and service areas. Each room is equipped with hand sanitiser and wall-mounted hand sanitiser stations are at the entry.

Each room is limited to the number of people permitted and that is stated on the entrance to each room. Because of this, we have limited capacity in the changing rooms of only two rooms being operational and only one parent per child who is trying on uniform. As Term 4 is the changeover to summer uniform, can we please request that you take this into consideration. For the remainder of Term 3, we will also be sizing uniforms for Year 8 Cadets.

The options for purchasing uniform are as follows:

• Where possible, if you know the correct sizes to order, please order online through Flexischools.
• If you do require sizing, please make a note before coming what sizes your son is currently wearing.
• In Years 7-12, your son can come to the Uniform Shop at lunchtime. We can provide the sizes required and order online via Flexischools.

To avoid long waiting times towards the end of term, we would advise checking your son’s summer uniform now and, if you require new uniform, please order early. Orders are delivered to Knox Prep and Wahroonga Prep on Wednesday and Friday. Students in the Senior School are permitted to collect orders at lunchtime or after school. Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding.

Uniform Shop opening times: Monday through to Friday, 12.30-5pm.

Julie Blackburn

Over the past few weeks, utilising a range of components, our Year 9 iSTEM boys are designing Arduino-based puzzles for their major assessment task that demonstrates their understanding of coding, game theory and languages like Morse code and Braille.

iSTEM is being offered as part of the curriculum for the first time this year. It aims to build Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths skills and knowledge.