Wikipedia

Knox Grammar School

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Werdna (talk | contribs) at 00:00, 10 May 2006 (→Other Houses: Sp.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Knox Grammar School is a Uniting Church in Australia school located in Wahroonga in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Knox Grammar School
File:Knox Grammar Logo.jpg
Map
Wahroonga, Sydney
,
NSW

Australia
Information
TypePrivate/ Independent
MottoVirile Agitur
Established1924
HeadmasterJohn Weeks
Facultyapprox. 100
Number of studentsapprox. 1,700
MascotThe Thistle
ColorsBlack and Blue
Websitewww.knox.nsw.edu.au

Knox was founded in 1924 by the Presbyterian Church of Australia as an all-boys school and has since grown, branching out into a large senior school of approximately 1,300 students and a preparatory school of about 500 students. Its grounds boast an indoor 25m pool, a fully-equipped sports centre, a music centre, and three boarding houses on campus with a fourth located on the Preparatory School campus in nearby Wahroonga. Its sports fields include one on-campus at the Senior School, two on-campus at the Prep School, and two off-campus in Warrawee and neighbouring North Turramurra. In addition to its academic and sporting programme, the school offers many activities in the performing arts and maintains the largest secondary school cadet corps in Australia, including a pipe band and tradition of wearing the kilt. It is one of six private schools that form the Combined Associated Schools.

Knox Grammar School was named after John Knox.

School motto

Knox's school motto is a Latin phrase, "Virile Agitur", commonly translated as "Act like a man", "The manly thing is being done" or "Do the manly thing".

In addition, the school promotes four cardinal virtues - Integrity, Wisdom, Compassion and Faith - as part of its mission statement:

Knox Grammar School seeks to be an exemplary school developing, within a caring Christian environment, young men of Integrity, Wisdom, Compassion and Faith; men with a sure knowledge of who they are and how they should live.

Headmasters

  • 1924 - 1938: Mr. Neil MacNeil
  • 1939 - 1952: Dr. William Bryden
  • 1953 - 1955: Dr. John Mill Couper
  • 1956 - 1968: Dr. T Ross McKenzie
  • 1969 - 1998: Dr. Ian Paterson
  • 1999 - 2003: Mr. Peter Crawley
  • 2004 - Current: Mr. John Weeks

Current Headmaster 2004- , John Weeks

John W Weeks became the seventh Headmaster of Knox Grammar School in 2004. Prior to this, he was the Founding Head of Hunter Valley School (1989-1996) and the fifth Head of The Illawarra Grammar School (1997-2003).

Weeks has been instrumental in the building of new facilities at the school, under the Knox 'Master Plan.' Under this program the administrative arm of the school will be upgraded, new boarding houses constructed, air conditioning installed in most classrooms and upgrades undertaken to the Lawson PE Centre to include a new canteen, dining area and classrooms.

After criticism from some members of the school council and some parents, the HSC Acceleration program implemented by former Headmaster Peter Crawley was scaled back to only include a select few from each year.

Mr Weeks has also established valuable links with Macquarie University with the introduction of philosophy university courses undertaken by the school's gifted students in Year 11. This programme is coordinated by Mr Yooie Choi with Alasdair King captaining the philosophy group held weekly on Wednesday mornings.

1999 - 2003, Peter Crawley

Peter Crawley began his leadership with major improvements to the school's technology system, involving the implementation in 2001 of the school's laptop programme. After criticism and concerns raised from parents due to the weight of the laptops and the loss of handwriting abilities, the Preparatory students no longer purchase the laptops but instead rent and store them at school.

Crawley also promoted acceleration of gifted students, and under his leadership the da Vinci programme was established to 'enrich gifted students' and included acceleration of HSC subjects for Year 10/11 students. In 2005, many of these accelerants produced results equal to or better than many of the Year 12 cohort.

He also extended the Knox intake to K-2 Students, and the K-2 Centre built under his guidance in the prep school includes some of the best teaching and technological resources in the state.

Towards the end of his term as Headmaster, a rift became evident between himself and some members of the Knox Grammar School Council over his philosophies on education. As a result his 5-year contract was not renewed.

1964 - 1998, Dr Ian Paterson

Dr Ian Paterson was Knox's longest-serving Headmaster. He resigned after 29 years in the job and was renowned for his strong personality and leadership.

Dr Paterson had a hand in all aspects of the school, directing the annual school musical on numerous occasions, coaching sporting teams and occasionally teaching classes.

The Business Studies building, opened in 1998, was named The Paterson Centre for Business Studies in light of his contribution to the school.

Significant Members of Staff

Apart from the Headmaster the school comprises of an upper echelon of staff.

Head of Senior School: Mr Kim Walton

Head of Junior School: Mr Bob Thomas

Chaplain: Rev Dr Gareth Clayton

Dean of Studies: Mr Brett Gore

Dean of Staff: Mr Martin Gooding

Dean of Students: Mr John Starraveld


Director of Music: Mr Brian Buggy

Commanding Officer of Cadets: Lt. Col. John Gibson

Dean of Careers: Mr Tony Higgins

Dean of Knox Sports Institute: Mr Edward Gulson

Dean of Student Administration: Ms Josephine Carrozzi

Dean of School Programmes: Mrs Sue Jacqui Hawk

Senior Master of Technology: Mr Alf McDermott

Dean of Student Learning Programme: Mr Gregory Harmer


Boarding

Knox Grammar School provides boarding facilities for over 150 boarders. Boarding facilities have been available since the school's opening, in 1924. The current Directors of Boarding are Mr and Mrs Bob Anderson with Mr and Mrs Norrie Cannon on long service leave for 2006.

  • Gilmore - traditionally the Junior Boarding House, accommodating boarders from years 5-8. Rev JJ Gilmore was a founder of the school and long-serving member of the council (1923-1947). Housemasters: Mr and Mrs Julien Manuel. Housemistress: Mrs Rebecca Manuel (ex-Olympic diver).
  • Gillespie (Maroon) - the original school house and is named for Robert Gillespie, a founder and benefactor of the school, and chairman of the school council (1923-1945). It was later converted into a Boarding House, today accommodating boarders from year 9 and a select number of year 11 "Seniors". Housemasters: Mr and Mrs Yooie Choi.
  • MacNeil (Black) - originally an expansion to Gillespie House, completed to add room to the new school. It is named for Neil MacNeil, the first Headmaster of the school (1924-1938). Today, it accommodates boarders from year 10 and a select number of year 12 "Seniors". Housemasters: Mr and Mrs Mike Lans.
  • Ewan - a Prep School Boarding House, named for the wife of Dr Armstrong, the house's former owner. It is a heritage-listed building, dating back to the late 1890s. After great expansion, it now houses the senior boarders, years 11 and 12. Housemaster: Mr Les Harvey.

Other Houses

Other than the boarding houses, all Knox boys are put into day houses that have their own locker areas in the school.

  • Adamson (Dark Green) - John Adamson was a long-serving chairman of the school council. Housemaster: Mr. Wayne Hunter.
  • Angus (Brown) - Rev Samuel Angus was a member of the school council and Professor of Theology at Sydney University. Housemaster: Mr. Rob Maxwell.
  • Bryden (Grey) - Dr William Bryden was the second Headmaster of the school (1939-1953). Housemaster: Mr. James Whiley.
  • McIlrath (Dark Blue) - William McIlrath was a founder and benefactor of the school and a long-serving council member (1923-1955). His widow contributed 50,000 pounds for the construction of the school chapel in 1960, which contains a Baroque organ by Ronald Sharp. Housemaster: Mr. John Nichol.
  • McKenzie (Orange). Dr Ross McKenzie was the fourth Headmaster of the school (1956-1969). Housemaster: Mr Michael Varecka.
  • Montgomery (Lime Green) - Ross Montgomery was a council member (1953-1970) and benefactor of the school. His major gifts included the Montgomery Building and Gilmore House. Housemaster: Mr. Andrew Jeppesen.
  • Murdoch (Red) - AM Murdoch was a long-serving school council member (from 1938) and chairman (1955-1969). Housemaster: Mr. Geoff Hayes.
  • Reid (Yellow) - Andrew Reid was a founder and benefactor of the school. A business leader, sole proprietor of James Hardie in 1912, he made many financial contributions to the school; he also built the Margaret Reid Home for Crippled Children in St. Ives, in memory of his late wife. Housemaster: Mrs. Fiona Yates.
  • Sinclair (Purple) - George Sinclair was a school council member (from 1944) and chairman (1952-1955). Housemaster: Mr. Mark Trollope.
  • Turnbull (Light Blue) - Alex Turnbull was a founding member of the school council, serving 1923-47, and an elder at St Margaret's Church in nearby Turramurra. Housemaster: Mrs. Fiona Foster.

Cadet Unit (KGSACU)

Knox Grammar School has an Australian Army Cadet Unit, the KGSACU. It comprises approximately 650 members (660 as at May 2006), ranging from Recruit Cadets to Cadet Under Officers in senior positions from the Senior Under Officer to individual Platoon Commanders. It is considered the largest Army Cadet Unit in Australia. Cadet participation is compulsory from Term 4, Year 8, through to the end of Term 3, Year 9. From then on, boys may optionally continue cadets, and promotion opportunities become available.

The Cadet Unit participates in Bivouac around December, an Annual Field Exercise between April and June, and Promotions Course between April and June each year. Additionally, the KGSACU holds parades for the Old Knox Grammarians Association (OKGA), an ANZAC parade to commemorate ANZAC day, and a passing out parade at the end of the cadet year.

The KGSCU is divided into several companies, platoons and then sections. These are:

  • A Company, for continuing cadets who do not wish to, or were unsuccessful in attaining rank or entrance to a specialist platoon
  • B, C, D and E Companies, for recruits and their rank.
  • Support Company, consisting of specialist platoons such as the Pioneers,and Zulu Force.
  • Headquarters Company, consisting of the Quartermaster's Platoon, Medical Platoon, Signals, Administration Platoon and Operations Platoon.

The cadet unit is currently led by:

  • LTCOL (AAC) John Gibson, Commanding Officer.
  • Cadet Under Officer (AAC) Adam Brereton, Senior Under Officer.
  • Warrant Officer 1st Class (AAC) Ray Bryen, Regimental Sergeant-Major.

Apple Chapel Rumour

The school became infamous among other Sydney schools in the early nineties when unconfirmed rumours were circulated about two students engaging in some form of sexual activity in the school chapel. This rumour was nicknamed "apple chapel" or "apple in the chapel", supposedly due to the use of an apple-based lubricant. The truth of this rumour is largely unknown, and there are many different versions of the rumour. There is also no evidence available that supports the rumour, which has led some people to believe that the events may not have occurred. However, as rumours tend to go, a lack of evidence has not deterred many from believing in the rumour. The denigration of the Knox reputation by other private school students, and the vehemence with which the rumour has been denied serves only as an example of the highly homophobic attitude amongst the Sydney elite.


Notable Alumni: 'Knox Grammarians'

Politics and Law

Academic

Media, Entertainment and the Arts

Sport

See also

Google Maps views

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Knox_Grammar_School&oldid=52401756"