The boys certainly seem to be settling back into their face-to-face learning and Mr Milligan and I are very proud of the way the cohort are conducting themselves as a whole. A return to regular school routine and a focus on going about business as usual seems to have given the boys a sense of ease, and they are certainly enjoying rekindling their social connections with peers at break time.

As we return to a certain sense of normality, it is important that we remind the boys of our expectations regarding hair and mobile phone policy. Year 9 have a fantastic reputation within the Knox community and we want them to keep setting the bar high when it comes to personal presentation such as appropriate haircuts and uniform, and correct use of technology to ensure maximum engagement with learning in the classroom, as well as with their peers at break times. Whilst boys are temporarily allowed to have their mobile phones on them to assist with potential contact tracing through the COVIDSafe app, please remind boys that they are to keep these devices out of sight during the school day.

Many of you will have taken the opportunity to meet with some or all of your sons’ teachers in Parent Teacher interviews and received valuable feedback that, alongside the Term 1 report, will give you a detailed picture of how your son is travelling. I encourage you to engage your boys in discussions about realistic and measurable ways they can respond to feedback received, and work with their teachers and Mentor to capitalise on their progress and feedback received so far.

Finally, in Year Meeting this week, we shared with boys an update of our cohort’s running total of Good Hours. As part of our Year 9 Virile Agitur Man campaign, where we are demonstrating their great strength, under control, used for good, our boys have recorded a collective 2,456 hours. What a fantastic achievement! This ties in with our ongoing discussions this term about climate change and what small changes boys can make to their habits in order to reducing our corporate impact on the environment. The boys can be proud of their ongoing enthusiasm for these initiatives. 

Alec Openshaw

This week I very much enjoyed going around on Tuesday, despite the cold winter day, and watch our cohort participate in some of their chosen sports. They were all very dedicated and listened to their coaches' instructions whilst also having some fun. I have included a few shots further down for your enjoyment.

NCCD Data Collection

A letter from the Headmaster regarding the NCCD data collection that will take place in August 2020 may be found here. We strongly encourage you to read this letter.

Student ID Cards

We require all students to have their student ID cards when coming to school. Students require their ID cards when they sign in every morning as well as if they wish to purchase meals from the canteen. Please take the time this weekend to speak to your son and remind him to have his ID card in his school bag safely so that he can access it every morning. If they can’t locate their ID card or have misplaced it, I can organise to have a new one printed and will charge your school account for the replacement.

Uniform Shop Operating Hours

During Term 2 and Term 3, the Uniform Shop will be open from Monday to Friday between 12.30pm to 5pm. Please note that the shop will be closed on Monday 8 June due to the public holiday.

Knox Musical Audition

Audition details for the 2020 Knox Musical 'Beauty and the Beast' will be presented via a Google doc next Tuesday 9 June.

Wishing you a lovely Queen’s birthday long weekend.

Crystel Hodgson, Tel: 9119 0881

Please find the upcoming assessment tasks for Weeks 7 and 8 below for your convenience. Please refer to the assessment schedule and specific task notifications for more details.

WEEK 7: 8 to 12 June

Agriculture – Task 2
• No changes to this assessment task.
• The task will be administered online or face-to-face, where appropriate.

Mathematics – Task 2
• This task has been tentatively scheduled for Tuesday 9 June.
• The task is likely to be modified into an online multiple choice assessment task.
• Please refer to the assessment notification two weeks prior to the task for specific details.

Drama – Task 2
• Currently there are no changes to this assessment task.
• Please refer to the assessment notification two weeks prior to the task for specific details.

Photography and Digital Media – Task 2
• This task is due on Friday 12 June and there are currently no changes to the outcomes or weighting of this task; please refer to the assessment notifications in Week 5 for submission details as this may require an online submission.

Visual Arts – Task 2
• This task is due on Friday 12 June and there are currently no changes to the outcomes or weighting of this task; please refer to the assessment notifications in Week 5 for submission details as this may require an online submission.

WEEK 8: 15 to 19 June

English – Task 2
• A hand in component is due on Monday 15 June.
• The presentations will take place throughout the week in regularly scheduled English lessons either online or face-to-face (specifics to be advised in Week 6).

Science – Task 2
• The practical task will be administered either online or face-to-face, where appropriate, on Friday 19 June in normal timetabled classes.
• The syllabus outcomes assessed in this weighted task have changed; please refer to the assessment notifications in Week 6 for specific outcomes.

Engineering – Task 2
• This task has been modified and is tentatively scheduled for Week 2 Term 3.
• Task 2 and Task 3 have swapped order; please refer to the assessment notification in Week 6 for specific outcomes.
• This task will be weighted at 30%.

Jake Plaskett

In the time since returning to the campus it has been encouraging to see so many students embracing their time at School. There have been a number of changes put in place and it is pleasing to see the students positively responding to these changes.

With increased numbers of students being dropped off and picked up at school and in the streets surrounding the Senior School campus, there has been increased delays for students getting to and from school. Knox is working closely with Roads and Maritime NSW (RMS), NSW Transport Management Centre (TMC), NSW Police and Ku-ring-gai Council to minimise delays. We have been advised by the TMC that their inspectors with the assistance of NSW Police will be making regular patrols during these times to ensure the free flow of traffic.

The safety of our students, staff and local community are our key priority. It is essential all drivers follow the road rules and parking restrictions so we have  the safest possible environment for our boys, staff and community members. We request drivers entering Woodville Avenue:

• Obey the 40km/h speed limits
• Utilise the recently extended drop off/pick up zones whenever available (the bus zone extending to the Pacific Highway has temporarily been designated 'drop and go')
• Stop in a safe area for students to get out of vehicles
• Do not complete a u-turn over the double lines outside the school gate
• Park legally when dropping off or pick up students

Should you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact the School. We rely on our community for feedback and it is always welcomed and appreciated.

Dan Parker

Please download the PDF document here for all the information for students to continue to be involved in these important and beneficial programs.

For any questions or concerns regarding the co-curricular program offered in Term 2, please feel free to contact me via email.

Chuck Ardron

Monday 8 June

Queen's Birthday - Public Holiday

Friday 26 June

Term 2 concludes

Monday 20 July

Term 3 commences

Please find below the menu for the Canteen for Week 7. 

After to the success of last Saturday’s fun, fitness, speed session on Gillespie Fields, we will continue this weekend and right up until the end of Term 2. All boys are encouraged to come and enjoy a workout under the guidance of our Athletic coaches. This is open to every boy in the School – not just those looking to make CAS Track & Field selection.

The session will be run under strict COVID-19 guidelines and parents are encouraged to drop boys off at 8am with pick up at 9.30am.

Martin Haywood

2020 Applications
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. 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 is in its second 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 well being 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 visit the Knox website for more information about the PEAK program.

To apply, please complete the application form. Applications close Friday 26 June (last day of Term 2). Successful applicants will be notified before school resumes for Term 3. If you have any questions, please feel free to email us.

Kieran Donohue

ATLAS HUMANOID TEAM LIVE Q&A

What: The Atlas Humanoid Team at Boston Dynamics have agreed to a live Question and Answer (Q&A) video chat with 20 students about their work. Selection of students is based on three criteria; a question you would ask the Atlas Humanoid team about their work, your involvement in co-curricular and further interests and subject involvement.

You will need to register here to be part of this unique opportunity.

When: Wednesday 24 June at 7.30am

Where: WSA Lecture Theatre

Contact: Melinda Valent

Click here for further information on Boston Dynamics.

Would you believe…

Knox Flix 2020 registrations are now open!

This year we have two versions of one theme, and two versions of one competition.

The theme is either

'I Believe!' or 'Would you believe…'

Tell us a tall tale, or a deep truth.

Similarly this year for the first time you have the option of submitting a narrated story board, or a film.

All film entries will need to be accompanied with an outline of how you worked within the isolation rules as they existed at various times of filming.

Please read the attached information and register here. A hype reel for Knox Flix can be viewed here.

Year 9 Photography students skillfully combined photographs that they took at the Sydney Aquarium earlier in the year with still life arrangements photographed in our photography studio. Their efforts resulted in these stunning and surreal digital artworks of fish swimming in glass bottles.

Tim Owers

Optimal Parenting Webinar – Parent Q&A
Thank you for tuning into the Knox Wellbeing Team Optimal Parenting recent webinar, we hope you found this helpful. Thank you also for the overwhelming response to our Q&A section – our team is mindful that we did not have the opportunity to answer all questions on the night and have provided a written response to the key questions/themes in the PDF here.

Please note that the information is general in nature; for specific responses tailored to your particular child and/or family’s situation, please contact Knox Wellbeing Reception to arrange an appointment with your school psychologist via email.