This week has seen all the Middle Academy students transition to remote learning at home. I have heard numerous positive stories from staff about the mature and constructive way so many of our students are engaging with their peers and lesson content through online forums. We have received some emails from students with ideas, activities and challenges that could be run online to help keep the community connected during our online phase. It has been fantastic to read and hear about the creative manner in which they are thinking.

Please be aware that not all lessons will be live streamed or in a Google Meet format. Staff have been using a variety of different teaching mediums to deliver learning experiences to their students to keep lessons interesting and challenging and cater to the needs of their students. Just as face to face lessons do not all have the same set up, not all online classes will be structured in the same manner. However, at the start of every lesson, including period 7 sport, all students do need to complete the attendance assignment. Instructions about how to do this has been communicated to all students via email and by staff during lessons.

We have purchased a licence for Zoom and so, in addition to Google Meet, staff and students now have the option to use this as a platform to communicate. During the week all students received a video via email demonstrating how they can access their Zoom account. If they have encountered difficulty accessing their account they should take a screen shot and then email it to IT Helpdesk along with a description of what occurred.

Elizabeth Ruff

There once was a teacher from Warrawee,

Whose strength lay not in IT.

Though try as he might

He could not get ZOOM right

Thus the emails he received were a’plenty!

I am not sure of your experience of this past week, but I can certainly say from my perspective – I am exhausted. I know many boys (and parents) feel similarly, but can I start off my newsletter this week by encouraging you to rest and relax this weekend? We probably shouldn’t be having a big party but time together as a family will be invaluable. Let’s be patient, kind and gracious to one another through this time. And hopefully, my fantastic limerick will give you a moment to smile!

It has been a steep and intense learning curve for most of us this week, adding to the under-lying stress of the current state of the world – I am certain our 'tanks' need refilling. That being said, I have been so incredibly impressed with how well our Year 9 students have adjusted to this almost instant transition to remote learning. In any normal system, this kind of undertaking would usually take months, if not years, to roll out successfully. Yet here we are, having done it in under a week. 

Understandably, there will be a few glitches and bumps in the road, but none we cannot overcome together. As I sit and reflect on the week, I marvel at how focused and resilient our Knox community has been when we are single-goal-focused and rowing together in the same direction. It just goes to show how much we are capable of when we work together, support one another and strive to achieve the goals we’re aiming for. Hopefully we don’t need another pandemic to show us this ability and when we get out the other side, we can use this moment in history to remind ourselves just how much awesomeness we are capable of. 

More so than ever, we encourage your son to reach out to his Mentor, Team Leaders or classroom teachers if there is anything we can do to support. Strength to you all and have a good weekend.

Craig Milligan

What a week it's been for all of us, adapting to the constant changes in our day to day lives. I am so proud of our Year 9 cohort who have all taken it in their stride and adapted to studying from home full time. By all accounts from the feedback I've received, the students are well behaved and engaged in their learning. Keep up the great work gentlemen and one more week to go before the holidays. The school grounds are certainly very quiet without the boys but as long as they are all home safe that's the most important thing in these current times.

Absence Notification

In the past week I have been emailing students that are marked absent from class to find out the reasons for their absence. The vast majority of students have been getting back to me and I've updated their attendance. I am also copying parents on those emails so that you are aware of what is happening. I thought to avoid all confusion I would include below the instructions on how students are to notify their teachers of their presence in class.

When going to their Google Classroom, each time, an assignment like the below should appear: 

Your son needs to ensure that he clicks TURN IN this assignment to register his attendance every lesson.

Now to be clear just turning in their assignment and not participating in the rest of the lesson is also considered not being actively present in class and you will then be contacted as your son will be marked absent.

It is very important to please remind your son to reply to the emails I send them regarding attendance so that I can update the roll accordingly.

I would like to encourage you to check your son's attendance for the past week and email me if there are 'Absences for Class for Unknown Reasons' on their records, explaining the reason for their absence so that I can update the records.

Just a reminder to complete the Parent Lounge notification if your son is absent from school, or attending medical appointments. Students are to email me if they are attending private music lessons and I shall update their attendance.

For all students who are experiencing difficulties notifying their teachers of their presence online, please send the teacher and me an email so that we can update the roll accordingly.

Uniform Shop

A reminder that the Uniform Shop closed last Monday 23 March until further notice.

If parents wish to order items online, this can be done via Flexischools and there will be an option to collect the orders. The dates for this will be advised on the Knox App in the next few days depending on the volume of orders.

Finally, as it's been a very long and challenging week for all of us, I hope you all take the time to rest, relax and recharge this weekend before tackling the last week of school for Term 1. Take the time to appreciate all the things you are thankful for and let's all make it our mission to put our focus on something positive in our lives right now.

Have a great weekend and put your feet up!

Crystel Hodgson, Tel: 9119 0881

On Thursday during our Mentor Group the boys were introduced to the first ‘Brain Break’. The concept behind these initiatives is to get your son up and away from his computer for short breaks between classes or break periods. But, more importantly, to reconnect with each other within our community in fun activities. If the boys want to record their attempt at the brain break and upload it via the challenge assignment on the ‘Whole Year Group Google Classroom’ we are having House point competitions for winners. Extra points if the whole family gets involved!

The winning post will be available for everyone to see and celebrate this achievement. This week is an easy break but they will get harder and have different options such as photo, music, fitness and acting challenges to come. So please take a moment to talk to your son and see what the current challenge or Brain Break is for their Year Group.

We have had many staff get involved with filming these challenge and I have to say they may have enjoyed doing this a little too much! I would like to thank them for putting themselves out of their comfort zones with being involved. If your son has not done so lately, encourage him to Facetime friends as a catch up - we are social beings and it’s nice to check up on our friends. I look forward to communicating with you all soon with some of the entries from these challenges.

Tom Waterhouse

Friday 3 April

Term 1 concludes

Friday 10 April

Good Friday

Sunday 12 April

Easter

Our students have made an excellent transition to the online learning environment. This opportunity to adapt and embrace these new challenges is a great exercise in building resilience for our young men, and it is likely that most of the them will manage this time well. The Wellbeing team is committed to providing a series of information videos and written material for both  boys and parents, to provide extra support during this time. The following are the videos that have been sent to students this week:

• Remote Counselling

• Mindset

If there are boys that would like extra support, we are able to offer scheduled counselling sessions via Google Hangout. These can be arranged by phoning 9119 0828 or emailing the team here.

Katelyn Tasker