CONTENTS //June 201102 From the Headmaster04 From the Chairmanof <strong>School</strong> Council06 21st Century Boarding08 Preparatory <strong>School</strong>11 Life at <strong>Knox</strong>20 <strong>Knox</strong> Academy of Performing Arts23 <strong>Knox</strong> Sports Academy25 Adieu26 Old <strong>Knox</strong> <strong>Grammar</strong>iansOn the front cover – Max Purcell(Y7) was selected to represent TennisAustralia at the 1998 European ClayCourt Tour which is for boys and girlswhose year of birth is 1998. Four boysand four girls were selected nationally.Max had the extraordinary opportunityto train at Roland Garros and then playback-to-back tournaments in Sloveniaand Italy during May. The Australianteam was accompanied by a managerand coach, and for Max the tour mayhelp him decide whether he does indeedwant to pursue tennis as a career,not only from a training and touringpoint of view, but in also dealing withthe European players who are veryexperienced. Photos courtesy and ©Australian Open.acknowledgementsThis edition of The Thistle was prepared byJanet Naylon, Print Publications Manager,<strong>Knox</strong> <strong>Grammar</strong> <strong>School</strong>.Design and print management by ARTSPECBrand Engagement, www.artspec.com.auAcknowledgements – proofreading by FernChristian, photography by Paul Wright, <strong>Knox</strong>staff, students and parents.The Thistle is printed on Mega Silk Art paperwhich is manufactured under and adheresto the rigorous international environmentalstandards of FSC accredited stock. Printed byISO accredited and FSC accredited printer.FROM THE HEADMASTERA World Viewfor A World <strong>School</strong>I recently ran into an old friend who asked mehow I was enjoying life working and living inthe North Shore bubble. Firstly I told him howmuch I loved it and then let him know thatcompared to the Blue Mountains bubble, theHunter Valley bubble, the Illawarra bubble orthe South West Slopes bubble (where I havelived and worked in the past), this was theplace for me. Let me assure you our world ismade up of many bubbles!People can refer to schools like this too, the<strong>Knox</strong> bubble, the PLC bubble, for example.What I think people mean by this is that ininstitutions and communities we developsome particularly distinctive attitudes andbehaviours which set us apart. Well, if that isso, viva la difference!What I don’t accept is the view that we insulateourselves from the realities of others or thatwe have little understanding or interest in thosebeyond the invisible dividing lines of our owncommunities. Here at <strong>Knox</strong> we are continuallydeveloping opportunities for our boys tointeract with and learn about the world beyondthe North Shore, Sydney and Australia to helpthem develop a better understanding of theworld they will participate in.Last year alone almost 600 boys and theirteachers were involved in working withoutside organisations in community service, insocial justice programs, experienced overseasexchanges, participated in a major tour,competed against the best in the world orenjoyed a GAP experience. If <strong>Knox</strong> boys livein a bubble they have no problem leaving it tolearn about the world of which we are all part.In order for these life enriching and sometimeslife changing experiences to happen wepartner with a diverse range of organisations.Much of our community service and socialjustice work happens with the assistance ofthe Uniting Church. Our work at Milne Bayin Papua New Guinea occurs with UnitingWorld and annually we partner with theSony Foundation to run, with Abbotsleigh,the ABBOX of Fun Camp for children withdisabilities. In 2012 <strong>Knox</strong> boys will head toCambodia to work in the education programfor young orphans in that country.Through the Values Exchange Program, da VinciDecathlon and Future Problem Solving ourboys work with other students from aroundNSW, Australia and across the world.Developing a world view is further encouragedthrough our membership and participationin the International Boys’ <strong>School</strong>s Coalitionwhere teachers from around the worldcome together to share ideas concerningthe education of young men. Our teachersinterface through conferences with colleagues,and are regularly invited to speak atconferences, both in Australia and overseas.More recently <strong>Knox</strong> has linked with oneof the world’s leaving institutes devoted todeveloping mentally fit young people. ThePositive Psychology Institute is providing <strong>Knox</strong>with access to world breaking research.The above are but a few of the groups withwhich we partner. In summary we work with60 community and social justice organisations,fifteen schools in five continents, and manyorganisations which require our boys to lookbeyond their own environments.For our boys to be effective members ofthe global community it is important to havethese experiences so that they can developan understanding of the issues facing peoplebeyond their own home and school andappreciate the way those people think abouttheir world.The Thistle / June 2011 | 2
What is so wonderful about the currentgeneration of <strong>Knox</strong> boys is their enthusiasticinterest in the world beyond their home, aninterest just as enthusiastically followed up bytheir preparedness to get involved, understandit better and make a contribution.As we head into the second decade of the 21stCentury it is my goal that <strong>Knox</strong> will furtherbecome a more globally connected organisationto assist our boys to be better informed,confident and contributory world citizens.Mr John W WeeksHeadmaster<strong>Knox</strong> currently exchangeswith these <strong>School</strong>s:• CheongShim InternationalAcademy, Korea• St Albans Cathedral <strong>School</strong>,Washington, DC USA• Landon <strong>School</strong>: Bethesda,Maryland, USA• St George’s <strong>School</strong>,Vancouver, Canada• Collingwood,Vancouver, Canada• Stewart’s Melville <strong>School</strong>,Edinburgh, Scotland• The Perse <strong>School</strong>,Cambridge, England• Christ’s College,Christchurch, New Zealand• St Philip The Apostle College,Buenos Aires, Argentina• St Andrew’s College, Somerset Street,Grahamstown, South AfricaAnticipated for 2011-12• St. Andrew’s Senior <strong>School</strong>,Turi, KenyaPOSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY INSTITUTEThe Thistle / June 2011 | 3
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