The Class of 2023 has adapted well to the new routines that have been instituted since we have resumed face-to-face lessons. It is pleasing to see the majority of boys are heading straight to the health screening location as soon as they arrive at school.

With the new recommendations from the State Government and Health authorities, from Monday students will have unrestricted access to their lockers. As such, all students will be expected to use their lockers and bags should not be carried during the day. Boaters will once again be worn by students as they travel to and from school. Boaters can then be stored in lockers during the day. Students who have the COVID-19 app on their phone may keep the phone in their pocket; however, if they use their phone during the day it will be confiscated in line with our mobile phone policy.

A reminder that students are expected to wear full school uniform to school each day unless they are attending before school sports training. Students who are attending sports training are expected to have their Boater and Blazer with them. Students who have PDHPE or PASS practical lessons in period 1 should wear full school uniform to school and change into their PE uniform after they have been through the health screening process.

While we are beginning to see a relaxation of some processes, we will still continue to run daily health screening checks. From Monday this will include students having their temperature taken by a fixed temperature scanner located in the walkway between the Great Hall and Lawson Centre. All students in Years 7 to 10 will need to proceed through the health screening checks upon arrival at school. This will need to be done prior to students visiting their lockers.

I am pleased to report that from Monday we will once again be able to open Level 1 of the Academy of Global Competency after school. Supervision will be provided on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons between 3.15pm and 5pm.

Elizabeth Ruff

I was recently listening to an ABC Conversations podcast in which Sarah Kanowski chats to Pasi Sahlberg, a Finnish educator, author, and scholar and currently the professor of Education Policy at the University of New South Wales. Listen to the podcast here.

Finland regularly tops international academic rankings. The country's teachers are highly valued and remunerated, and students have a shorter school day than most other countries, with a firm focus on the importance of play. I’m not sure about you – but I have found the recent home-schooling experience with my own kids to be very enlightening. One of Professor Sahlberg’s points which resonated with me was his comment that 'most kids (he believes) know what interests them deeply when they are very young, whether it's spiders, bicycles, guitar or drawing…' - but if you speak to the average 14/15 year old about their passions, or what they want to do when they finish school, there are not too many who know exactly what they want. As educators and mentors here at Knox we want to see your son find that passion and spark through exploring the multitude of opportunities provided alongside the rigorous academic grounding needed to make these passions a reality after school.

In the same breath, as a Year 9 team, we want to grow our boys into young men who are active and engaged citizens. Our Virile Agitur Man campaign aims to do just that by giving these young men the tools and mindset to be a valued and positively-contributing member of society. We want our boys to engage empathetically and enthusiastically in current important topics – confident in being able to present their own thoughts, beliefs and passions, but also being able to listen carefully and really hear someone else’s viewpoint. It is a truly modern skill to be able to consider someone else’s worldview if it is contrary to yours, and to not simply dismiss it. If we can get our boys to a place where their great passion meets our world’s great needs, then we will have reached our nirvana.

Craig Milligan

This year our archivist Ms Julie Mason has been leading the Centenary Mural project at the School and over the past nine weeks, artist Hugues Sineux's has been busy in the walkway making his work come to life. A video of what has come to fruition from all this hard work may be found here. I am sure our boys are enjoying Mr Sineux's artwork which celebrates our School's heritage and culture in the Breezeway. 

Audition Call for 'Beauty and the Beast'

Performance dates:

29, 30 and 31 October 2020

Auditions will take place via booked auditions on the following dates:

AUDITIONS: Tuesday 16 June, from 3.30pm - 7.30pm or Wednesday 17 June, 4.30pm - 6pm.

CALL BACKS: Monday 22 June from 5pm and  Wednesday 24 June 24 from 4pm.  

The time scheduled for auditions will be fifteen minutes with six students per sessions. 

Please access the following booking sheet for an audition time and more information.

Macquarie University Research  - Anxiety and Depression in Young People

In line with Knox’s ongoing desire to support research in the field of anxiety and depression in young people, parents have an opportunity to participate in a survey from Macquarie University. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Jennie Hudson.

Crystel Hodgson, Tel: 9119 0881

Noting the impact remote learning had in relation to our assessment program, many of our assessment dates and tasks were adjusted. A new Assessment Related Policies and Procedures booklet and Assessment schedule have been uploaded to the portal. I strongly encourage you to download the most updated version of this document for your records.

Moreover, the term by term PDF of assessment tasks (by date) for quick reference has also been refreshed and uploaded to the portal.

Please find the upcoming assessment tasks for Weeks 8 and 9 below for your convenience. Please refer to the updated assessment schedule and specific task notifications for more details.

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%.

WEEK 9: 22 to 26 JuneMathematics – Core 2 Supplement Task

• This task will be administered in Term 3 instead of Term 2.

• More information about the Core 2 supplement task will be made available via the assessment notification in Term 3.

Commerce – Task 2

• The date for this task has changed to Monday 22 June and will be administered in regular lessons.

• The task scheduled for Term 3 (AT3) has swapped with Task 2; specific details about this task are available in the assessment booklet on the Portal and will be outlined in the assessment notification in Week 7.

Information and Software Technology – Task 2

• No changes to this assessment task.

• Please refer to the assessment notification for submission details.

Jake Plaskett

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

Tuesday 16 June - 3.30pm to 7.30pm

'Beauty and the Beast' audition

Wednesday 17 June - 4.30pm to 6pm

'Beauty and the Beast' audition

Friday 26 June

Knox Flix - Pre-production registration due

Friday 26 June

Term 2 concludes

Monday 20 July

Term 3 commences

An area near the Borambil Gates has been developed into a traditional bush food garden.

Volunteers note:
• A roster will be developed
• Guidance from the Agriculture Department
• Instructions given for the use of tools and the project
• Social distancing for all Knox students who participate
• Working with schools in Walgett, Hawaii, Liberia and Kenya - all via Zoom and One Planet Education

Please email Mrs Clarke if you are interested. 

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.

Two of the Knox school values are compassion and courage.

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.

A reminder for boys wishing to come and join us on Saturday morning for some fun and fitness - 8am til 9.30am at Gillespie Fields. Everyone welcome.

If you are interested in more exciting news from the Sports Academy, please visit the Knox Remote Learning Hub here.

Martin Haywood

This week Ms Nield's Agriculture class have been harvesting their crops in the 'Ag plot'.

I’m pleased to advise that the CAS Heads have made the decision to recommence the CAS winter sports fixtures from Term 3.

Saturday 18 July (last weekend of school holidays)
Fixtures against Trinity for 1sts and 2nds Teams only

Saturday 25 July
Fixtures for all year groups

Saturday 1 August
Fixtures for all year groups

Saturday 8 August
Fixtures for all year groups

Saturday 15 August
Fixtures for all year groups (last week for Years 11-12)

Saturday 22 August
Fixtures for Years 7-10 only (last week)

The winter sport season will be followed by the Track and Field season as usual. Information regarding attendance of spectators will be confirmed closer to Term 3, subject to government guidelines.

While we understand some students may be away, a holiday training and trial plan will be released for students next week (Week 8) through the School app.

The planning of return to play for the CAS teams provides another wonderful step forward. However, it is imperative to note that while this is an exciting and much anticipated step, the return to contact training and full competition needs to continue to be approached in a safe and carefully staged manner. All sports progression and implementation will be done in adherence with the NSW Public Health legislation, Community Sport COVID-19 Safety Plan and Return to Play Framework.

Scott James