Message from the Principal  

The Future of Artificial Intelligence in Education

Microsoft Australia’s CEO Steven Worrall was recently quoted saying “This wave is not one you can say we are choosing not to participate in”.  Further, he considered that love it or hate it, Artificial Intelligence is only going to become a more common fixture of teaching and learning in our schools as years go by.

Acknowledging this inevitable exponential growth of generative AI, both in its sophistication and its integration into the education sector, some experts are advocating for increased awareness of its potential applications within schools.

Dr. Vishal Rana, an academic and a leader in the Discipline of Business, Strategy, and Innovation at Griffith University, highlights the transformative impact of AI tutors like "Khanmigo" and the "synthesis tutor." He asserts that these AI tutors are already revolutionizing the approach to education in some schools. "These AI tutors are characterized by their impartiality, patience, personalized support, and the promotion of critical thinking, particularly in STEM subjects," he explains. As a result, it is foreseeable that the roles of schools will undergo significant transformations within the next 2-3 years.

Acknowledgement: “AI’s expanding role in our schools, and how Principals can leverage it” in the educator 17 October 2023 

The good news in all this is that Calrossy is already looking with an eye into the future on the impact of AI and how we might use it. Similar to a lot of technology, AI will change things we do and we will need to move with it, in the knowledge that good schools will always focus on excellent teaching practices, positive relationships between students and teachers and strong partnerships with parents.

Resilience

On Thursday night last week I was fortunate to attend the launch of the RAPT, connected with the establishment of the University of New England, Tamworth. It was a wonderful initiative and one which Calrossy supports. Having over 300 teacher and nursing trainees in our town is a positive thing and there are other courses on offer as well. The opportunity for connections between Tamworth schools and the university is also something that can only be positive.

Of great interest to me was one of the speakers, Melissa Harries, a Calrossy alumna and now a Psychologist. She spoke on the topic of resilience and managing anxiety, a growing concern amongst Australian youth. Given that resilience is one of our School values, this interested me greatly.

Melissa’s first idea is that at school we should be all be working to help children develop skills in managing positive mental health early in their lives, rather than just looking for help once there is worry or anxiety. Her approach was a preventative one.

Her definition of resilience was, “the ability to tolerate feeling bad while also doing what is important in the course of the day.”

Her big message was that the best way to grow resilience is to learn to do the hard things in life. She suggested that instead of protecting children and youth from stress and discomfort by avoiding hard situations, we should encourage them to face the challenge and if required, provide support to manage the situation. Facing a challenge, even if not successful at first, is important to to grow feeling more comfortable with discomfort and uncertainty. She explained that being uncomfortable and even failing initially, if supported well, will grow a capacity to get better at facing hard and challenging things.

She provided helpful tips on positive self-talk and using the supports around us amongst other encouragement. What I took away from her is that initial failure and unsuccessful attempts are okay, as one learns that lack of immediate success isn’t catastrophic and it will help the learner to develop a growing strength and capacity to confront the hard challenges in life when they occur and become more resilient. 

N.B I have simplified a complex issue and of course anyone with deep anxiety should seek help from professionals qualified to assist.

Bus Transport

I was surprised to learn earlier this month that approximately 70% of Calrossy students travel to school by Bus. Transport has been big in the news and the effectiveness of our local bus network in getting students to our two campuses on time has sometimes been a controversial issue. I have long advocated for a focus on regional bus services, with the hope of ensuring appropriate learning time for students.  In past months I have received helpful feedback from students and parents on our buses, relating to safety, behaviour of students, timetables and arrival times at school.

It is my observation that our local transport companies by and large provide an excellent service. I enjoy the novel names used by one of the companies and marvel over names like the Dinosaur, Swan, Lion and Brown Bear Buses. (It is much more fun than M54 or Bus 1.) 

What I have come to realise though is that the current bus timetables and routes were established over 20 years ago, prior to the existence of the William Cowper Campus. Tamworth has grown since then and the pattern of population has changed. Some outlying centres are affected. 

With the support of AISNSW, in the holidays I was part of a small representation to the Minister of Transport, requesting attention to this important area. I am pleased that it has been agreed that Transport for NSW will seek cross sector feedback from school principals in looking to find potential solutions to bus transport issues.  With this good news, I invite any parents with feedback or comments relating to the improvement of bus transport for Calrossy and local students to pass it on, either in person or via email, so that this can be included in the submission to transport.

New Deputy Principal 

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Mrs Kelli Cato as the Deputy Principal of Calrossy from the start of next year. Mrs Cato brings to Calrossy a wealth of experience, having previously worked in Independent and Government schools, in addition to secondment to the NSW Educational Standards Authority. She is a member of St John’s Anglican Church Parramatta and possesses a strong heart for community work and service as part of her personal Christian commitment. 

Mrs Cato has been most recently employed at Malik Fahd School in South Western Sydney, where she has had a role as Director of Professional Practice & Innovation and previously a range of positions related to compliance, student and staff wellbeing and effective administration. With NESA she served as a Principal Policy Officer in Curriculum and Asssessment, also holding the position as Senior Curriculum Officer in Languages, amongst other roles.

Mrs Cato has a history of volunteering and community service, as well as a love of learning. Her husband works with the Fire Services and her adult daughter is currently studying at the University of Wollongong.  

I look forward to introducing Mrs Cato to the Calrossy community, as she commences to fill the large shoes of Mr Mark Doran.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4: 6 - 7

David Smith

Principal Calrossy Anglican School