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" (Preperatory School), "The manly thing is being done" (Peter Crawley) or "Do the Manly Thing" (Dr Patterson).
Knox 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.
John W Weeks became the seventh Headmaster of Knox Grammar School in 2004. Prior to this, he was the Founding Head of Hunter Grammar 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.
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 some parents about their sons use of the Laptop in the classroom, 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
Head of Careers: Mr Tony Higgins
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
Dean of Knox Sports Institute: Mr Rory B. Bellows
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
Facilities
Knox's senior campus boasts a hi-tech sports facility with an indoor pool, elaborate music and drama centres, three luxury boarding houses with a fourth on the Preparatory School campus which is located nearby, also in the scenic location of Wahroonga. Knox owns several main 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 class is carried out with the aid of a digital projector as well as 20-30 laptops with wireless internet access - one for each student, making it one of Australia's most technological schools. In addition to its extensively renowned 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, Duke of Ed and maintains the largest secondary school cadet corps in Australia.
List of Buildings
Montgomery Building (MO)
Science Building (S)
Tutorial Building (T)
Demountable Buildings (D)
Paterson Centre (PC)
Reid Building (R)
Art Building (A)
Music Centre (MC)
Main Building
Lawson Centre (LC)
Chapel
McKenzie Building (MK)
MacNeil Building (MN)
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).Is also known as the cultural house. 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. Housemistress: Mrs. Fiona Foster.
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 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 (or AFX) 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 (though often, due to school hoidays, 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 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, who specialise in preparing activities, e.g. abseiling; Zulu Force, who act as a 'nominal opposition' ; and Operational Support, who assist in the planning of camp activities.
Headquarters Company, consisting of the Quartermaster's Platoon, Medical Platoon, Signals and Administration 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.
