Knox Grammar School

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Knox Grammar School

Motto	Virile Agitur 'The Manly Thing is being Done'
Established	1924
Type	Independent all-male secondary and primary
Headmaster	Mr. John Weeks
Chaplain	The Rev. Dr. Gareth Clayton
Faculty	100
Students	1850
Grades	K–12
Location	Wahroonga, NSW Australia
Campus	20 acres
Colours	Black and Blue
Website	www.knox.nsw.edu.au

Knox Grammar School is a Uniting Church in Australia school located in Wahroonga in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Founded in 1924 by the Presbyterian Church of Australia as an all-boys school named after John Knox, Knox has since grown, branching out into a large senior school of approximately 1300 students and a preparatory school of 500. It is one of six members of the Combined Associated Schools (CAS). The school has four cardinal values: Integrity, Wisdom, Compassion and Faith.

1 School motto
2 Headmasters
3 Facilities
4 School Building Projects
5 House system
- 5.1 Boarding
- 5.2 Other houses
6 Cadet unit (KGSACU)
7 Notable alumni: "Old Knox Grammarians"
8 See also
9 External links

[edit] School motto

Knox's school motto is a Latin phrase, 'Virile Agitur', which has been translated by the Headmasters from the school as being "Act like a man" (Preparatory School), "The manly thing is being done" (Peter Crawley) or "Do the Manly Thing" (Dr Paterson).

[edit] 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

[edit] Facilities

Knox's senior campus includes a sports facility with an indoor pool, gymnasium, squash and weights rooms, music and drama centres, three boarding houses with a fourth on the Preparatory School campus located nearby, also in Wahroonga. Knox owns several major sporting fields including one on-campus at the Senior School, two on-campus at the Prep School, and two off-campus in Warrawee and neighbouring North Turramurra.

Each classroom is equipped with a digital projector and each student has a laptop with wireless internet access. In addition to its extensive academic and sporting programmes, the school offers many extra curricular activities including music with several large ensembles and orchestras, drama, debating, public speaking, chess, science clubs, and Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme, as well as maintaining the largest secondary school cadet corps in Australia.

[edit] School Building Projects

This project expands the school as Knox Grammar School becomes an increasingly larger school. There is a new building which has been finished (the KG1 Building) which has several high-tech classrooms, access to the Lawson Centre (The School Gym), locker space for many students, and a new canteen. The building will have a runway where Knox Rugby Teams will run out to onto the Knox 1 Ground.

The KG1 Project has also updated the Lawson Centre (The School Gym) with a new flooring for the basketball court, new changerooms and a foyer, where Knox Trophies and memorabilia will be displayed. But arguably the biggest adaptation of this project is the building of a Visual Arts Centre and a Great Hall. This massive building project will take place where the current Knox Shop (Uniform Shop) is. This Great Hall will provide a space for 2,500 people, an entertainment centre, a venue which can hold examinations, and provide sporting infrastructure. There will be an expansive undercover parking area to let teachers and parents park comfortably near the school. The Visual Arts Centre will encompass modern classroom and studio spaces, display areas and a gallery to display artwork made by school students. This is all at a cost of more than 10 million dollars.

[edit] House system

[edit] 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 J.J. Gilmore was a founder of the school and long-serving member of the council (1923-1947).
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.
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.
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 significant expansion, it now houses the senior boarders, years 11 and 12.

[edit] 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 - a long-serving chairman of the school council.
Angus (Brown) - Rev Samuel Angus - a Professor of Theology at Sydney University and former member of the school council.
Bryden (Grey) - Dr William Bryden - the second Headmaster of the school (1939-1953). Also known as the cultural house.
McIlrath (Dark Blue) - William McIlrath - 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.
McKenzie (Orange). Dr Ross McKenzie - fourth Headmaster of the school (1956-1969).
Montgomery (Lime Green) - Ross Montgomery - a council member (1953-1970) and benefactor of the school. His major gifts included the Montgomery Building and Gilmore House.
Murdoch (Red) - AM Murdoch - a long-serving school council member (from 1938) and chairman (1955-1969).
Reid (Yellow) - Andrew Reid - 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.
Sinclair (Purple) - George Sinclair - a school council member (from 1944) and chairman (1952-1955).
Turnbull (Light Blue) - Alex Turnbull - a founding member of the school council, serving 1923-47, and an elder at St Margaret's Church in nearby Turramurra.

[edit] Cadet unit (KGSACU)

Knox Grammar School has an Australian Army Cadet Unit, the KGSACU. It comprises approximately 650 members (660 as of 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, and is often cited as the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. Cadet participation is compulsory from Term 1, Year 9, through to the end of Term 4, Year 9. From then on, boys may optionally continue cadets, and promotion opportunities become available.

The Cadet Unit participates in Bivouac at the end of Term 1, an Annual Field Exercise (or AFX) between at the end of Term 2, and Promotions Course in June and September each year. Additionally, the KGSACU holds parades for the Old Knox Grammarians Association (OKGA), an ANZAC parade to commemorate ANZAC Day (though often, due to school holidays, not on the day itself), and a Passing Out Parade at the end of the cadet year to farewell the Year 12s leaving the unit.

The KGSCU is battalion strength, and is divided into several companies, platoons and sections. Each company consists of three platoons, except for Headquarters Company, which has eight platoons.

A Company, for continuing cadets who are involved in advanced training and outdoor skills.

B, C, D and E Company, for recruits and their rank.

Headquarters Company, consisting of the Quartermaster's Platoon, Medical Platoon, Signals Platoon, Administration Platoon, Reconnaissance Platoon, Training Platoon, Pioneer Platoon, and Operations Platoon.

Quartermaster’s Platoon controls the stores and supplies for the unit. Medical Platoon is charged with the medical welfare of cadet. Signals Platoon operates the UnitNet (The unit communications network) and assists in communications via radios. Administration Platoon control the documentation and registration of all members of the unit. Training Platoon creates and maintains training programs and material for all cadets in the unit. Pioneer Platoon operate the rock climbing and abseiling equipment for the unit. Operations Platoon plan the two exercises, Bivouac and AFX. Reconnaissance Platoon are the more experienced and skilled members of the unit. They act as the 'opposing force' to A, B, C, D and E company on two exercises, while attempting to interrupt Headquarters Company functions.

[edit] Notable alumni: "Old Knox Grammarians"

Former Students of Knox are known as "Old Knox Grammarians". For a list of notable "Old Knox Grammarians", see List of notable Old Knox Grammarians

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Knox Grammar School website

Google Maps views

Senior School Senior school visible mid-left, Gillespie fields visible upper right
Prep School Centre of picture
Curugal Fields, North Turramurra Centre of picture
Gillespie Fields Centre of Picture, Senior School visible bottom left

v • d • e

Members of the Combined Associated Schools, Sydney, Australia

Barker • Cranbrook • Knox Grammar • St Aloysius' College • Trinity Grammar • Waverley College

Uniting Church in Australia Schools

Former Presbyterian Church of Australia Schools

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