Issue 02 Dec
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THEThistle KNOX GRAMMAR SCHOOL MAGAZINE ISSUE 02 DEC Showcase Oliver! Knox Evening Senior School musical Community Celebrating innovation theatre production Food, glorious food! and creativity across debuts in the A behind the scenes 19 Years 11 and 12 Wenkart Theatre look at catering Contents ISSUE 02 DEC Established in 1924, Knox Grammar School offers an innovative approach to education within a caring environment. Knox, a leading Australian day and boarding school, aims to develop children into young people of faith, wisdom, integrity, 04 08 compassion and courage. Knox is a Uniting Church school and operates three campuses: Knox Prep FROM THE HEADMASTER AROUND THE GROUNDS (K-6 boys), Wahroonga Prep (Pre-K to Year 6 girls Preparing students to be responsible Celebrating achievements and success and boys), and Knox Senior School (Years 7-12 day global citizens through service learning stories across the School boys and boarders). ON THE FRONT COVER Knox Pipes and Drums performing at Stirling Castle, Scotland KNOX SOCIAL MEDIA facebook.com/knoxgrammar twitter.com/knoxgrammar instagram.com/knoxgrammar vimeo.com/knoxgrammarschool ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This edition of The Thistle was prepared by Eileen Aroyan, Publications Manager, Knox Grammar School. Proofreading by David Hayes, photography by Paul Wright, Scott Cameron, Nick Stewart, Blue Murder Studios (Cybele Malinowski), Knox staff, students and parents. 13 CONTRIBUTIONS The deadline for the June 2020 edition of KNOX PREPARATORY SCHOOL The Thistle is 9 April 2020. OKGA contributions to Opportunities to learn and engage outside [email protected]. General contributions to the classroom [email protected]. DESIGN Stephanie Tesoriero, stephanietesoriero.com PRINT The Thistle is printed by SKS Printing (www.sksprinting.com.au) on ISO accredited Neo Matt. Neo Matt is manufactured using wood fibre from sustainable forests and made from elemental chlorine free bleached pulp. GET IN TOUCH Knox Grammar School PO Box 5008 Wahroonga NSW 2076 AUSTRALIA Telephone (02) 9487 0122 Fax (02) 9487 0186 CRICOS Provider Code: 00399E www.knox.nsw.edu.au 20 WAHROONGA PREPARATORY SCHOOL Leading by example at Wahroonga Prep 24 OLIVER! The cast and crew comprising Years 7-12 students entertained all in November 26 EXPANDING HORIZONS Knox boys on tour: from the UK and Ireland, to the USA and Cambodia, students have explored and challenged themselves across the globe 32 SOCIAL JUSTICE Empowering students to be advocates for positive change 34 38 KNOX BOARDING OLD KNOX GRAMMARIANS Strengthening ties through Events and news of Old Boys community building FROM THE HEADMASTER Global Mindfulness Students are encouraged to make a difference and to take action 04 THE THISTLE 19 – ISSUE 02 DECEMBER Integral to the establishment, culture and traditions of Knox Grammar School is the idea of ‘a purposeful life’. Articulated most clearly by Knox’s Wesley Mission Christmas Hamper - a program which provides meals to founding Headmaster, Neil MacNeil, Collection, the annual ABBOX Sony homeless people in Hornsby every MR SCOTT a purposeful life is one in which Foundation Children’s Holiday Camp, Friday and the Year 4 Recycling a student stands firm in his or her Gala Day Social Justice stall and the Program aimed at creating a more JAMES values, develops personal goals, and, Year 10 Service Learning Program sustainable community environment. most importantly, embraces a sense Year 5 boys involve themselves The School has strong connections of social responsibility and desire to through Compassion in Action, Headmaster of with a number of associations contribute to society as a whole. which sees boys working in small Knox Grammar and we continue to fundraise and groups to identify an organisation School Consistent with our School values of partner with the following: Legacy, they would like to assist by either Faith, Wisdom, Integrity, Compassion Bear Cottage, The Variety Club of raising awareness or giving their and Courage, students today Australia, The Salvation Army, KYDS time to serve. Finally, Year 6 work contribute to a wide range of social Youth Development Service, Diabetes in partnership with St Lucy’s justice and service learning projects. Australia, and Uniting World. Primary School. Opposite Appropriately, ‘Global Mindfulness’ Prep boys taking an Every year, boys volunteer to be is one of the focus areas of the In addition, year groups of all ages interest to create involved with the remote school 2018-2022 Strategic Direction will select a charity or cause to a more sustainable immersion and community links environment document, seeking to prepare and support each year, and students program, including the Nyngan Above inspire students to be active, informed assume responsibility for the work Super Camp. Goodooga Indigenous The Knox Prep and responsible global citizens. needed to promote their cause. Social Justice Games and the Enngonia Immersion. Portfolio Many social justice and service International Immersion programs The social justice and service encouraged learning projects are either student- (including the Papua New learning program is central to a Knox students and staff across the driven or involve students working Guinea Kokoda Experience, the education. Students are provided School to support collaboratively with staff. Positions Cambodia Service Journey and the with age appropriate opportunities the Breakfast for of responsibilities (such as Social Borneo Immersion) are authentic to participate in initiatives to assist Kids Program by Justice Prefects, Social Justice experiences, where students work those in need and to engage with donating breakfast food items Captains, year group advocates and alongside communities, share a contemporary issues that affect Top right student leaders) all work to support journey and gain an understanding others. They are encouraged to act out James Gray (Y11) and advocate for communities beyond of different cultures. From these their values, learn to recognise their was awarded Knox through outreach programs experiences, they learn more about own giftedness and generously share the John Lincoln across Australia and the world. the complexities of local, rural and those gifts for the service of others. Youth Community world issues and are empowered Service Award by Students are encouraged to make a Her Excellency to put compassion into action. The By doing so, students are provided the Honourable difference, to give to others and are Reconciliation Action Plan Committee, with the opportunity to grow and Margaret Beazley provided with opportunities to take which is championed and led by prosper as well-rounded and grounded AO QC Governor action. Examples of social justice and individuals with a firm sense of justice of NSW students, is one example. service learning programs include and an understanding of empathy Shoes for the Philippines initiative, The Knox Preparatory School’s and advocacy. NSW Service for the Treatment and Service Learning Program includes Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Year 3 support of the St John’s Survivors Christmas Gift Drive and the Uniting Church initiative ‘The Dish’ THE THISTLE 19 – ISSUE 02 DECEMBER 05 FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF SCHOOL COUNCIL Community AND CONNECTEDNESS Recently, I had the distinct honour of speaking to our Year 12 boys at their Valedictory Ceremony and I wanted to share some of my reflections on a ceremony and celebration that in many ways showcases what it means to be part of the Knox community. Our 2019 Year 12 boys are now in the midst of their fundamentally change the nature of work, and the MR SIMON final exams and I know they have worked hard and nature of the workforce. Globalisation, artificial ROTHERY are well prepared. However, this has only been a intelligence and the 4th industrial revolution will part of their learning journey. Boys leave Knox with herald more change for the next decade than the many other competencies they have developed here last half century. They are entering a world of Chairman of Knox - character, citizenship, creativity and imagination, opportunity, but a world that is yet to be invented Grammar School communication skills, resilience, the ability to think and one that will require courage. critically and problem solve. As our valedictorians leave the school gates for a We live in a rapidly changing world. None of us final time as a student, they become our newest can predict what the future holds, and it is these generation of Old Knox Grammarians - joining a rich ‘global competencies’ and ‘dispositions’ that have and diverse community which spans all walks of life, prepared our boys to thrive in a changing world. A across all parts the globe. They all share a sense world where social and technology disruptions will of purpose and values, a lifelong connectedness 06 THE THISTLE 19 – ISSUE 02 DECEMBER Ours is a community that is living, breathing, evolving, and it’s thriving parents and Old Knox Grammarians. Those parents who attended the Global Café initiative in Term 3 would attest that this CAREER INSIGHTS contemporary approach to ‘co-creation’ FROM OLD BOYS heralds a new chapter for parent, teacher, student and community engagement. MRS LINDA GOMEZ As part of this, you will see us thinking Careers Advisor courageously about what our Middle School Academy will be. We are thinking The Careers Insight Evening for Years about the Years 9 and 10 curriculum and 9, 10 and 12 was held on 28 October in how we make the Knox Middle School conjunction with the OKGA.