27 March 2026
Dear Parents and Carers,
Principal of Australian School of the Year Visits Chevalier College
Earlier today, Chevalier College was delighted to welcome Rachel Byrne, Principal of Hunter Sports High School, Australian School of the Year, as part of her Commonwealth Teaching Fellowship research into contemporary learning design.
As part of her Fellowship, Rachel is undertaking what she describes as a High Impact School Visit program, designed to explore how schools design and deliver personalised learning in practice. Across six selected schools, with Chevalier College honoured to be one of them, the visits examine how learning is intentionally designed, how pedagogy supports student agency and appropriate challenge, and how curriculum requirements can be met without constraining meaningful learning.
Central to Rachel’s inquiry is a question that resonates strongly with contemporary schooling: in a system traditionally designed around curriculum coverage and summative assessment, what learning design shift is required to genuinely personalise learning, grow complex human capabilities, and still deliver credible, high‑stakes outcomes such as the HSC and ATAR?
Her research compares learning design at Hunter Sports High School with approaches informed by Big Picture Learning, identifying commonalities, differences, and areas for further inquiry, including which practices are transferable, which require structural change, and which are shaped by local context.
At Hunter Sports High School, Big Picture Learning is a student‑centred approach for Years 8–12 that places individual interests, strengths, and aspirations at the heart of learning. Rather than a one‑size‑fits‑all curriculum, students engage in personalised learning pathways supported by sustained advisory relationships, real‑world learning through workplace internships, and authentic assessment. Learning is demonstrated through public exhibitions of work, fostering confidence, responsibility, and a strong sense of purpose.
Rachel reached out to Chevalier College after hearing about the College’s progressive and future‑facing approach to learning, recognising strong alignment between our learning vision and the focus of her research. While Hunter Sports High School is not a faith‑based school, many of the principles underpinning Big Picture Learning resonate strongly with Chevalier’s Catholic understanding of education, particularly the belief that each young person is known, valued, and formed as a whole person, created with dignity, purpose, and potential, in the image and likeness of God.
During her visit today, Rachel engaged in rich professional dialogue with members of staff, exploring how schools can structure learning to support agency, deep engagement, and meaningful challenge, while still upholding curriculum expectations and delivering strong academic outcomes.
At Chevalier, conversations centred on how learning design can intentionally develop complex human capabilities alongside academic rigour. In particular, discussion focused on how schools can personalise learning, assess complex competencies, and continue to support high‑quality HSC and ATAR outcomes — a balance that sits at the heart of Chevalier College’s commitment to being heart‑centred and future‑facing, and to forming young people of character, compassion, and capability.
We are grateful to Rachel for her generosity in sharing her insights and expertise, and for the opportunity to reflect on how learning design at Chevalier continues to evolve in service of our students — academically, personally, and as confident, future‑ready young people.
Register now - AI Information Evening for Parents and Carers
7.00pm, Monday 20 April 2026
Sacre Coeur Centre, Chevalier College
How do we shape a future for education in which humans are not the only entities in schools?
Parents and carers are warmly invited to register for this invaluable information session, in which Matt Esterman will explore the current landscape of AI, the opportunities and the risks, the ways in which we can act responsibly even when AI companies don’t, and - most importantly - how we remain a force for good in the lives of our students.
Matt will confirm what students really think and do with AI, what staff and school leaders are doing, and even the impact of AI on our parents. This new world is vast, and we do have a chance to bend the future towards better. But only if we act together, and act now.
Click here to register.
Who is Matt Esterman?
Matt Esterman has over 20 years' experience working in schools and beyond as a leading voice in the thoughtful adoption of technology. He is a trained History teacher with two Masters degrees, who has made a significant contribution to educational thinking in Australia and overseas. He has written articles, books, and presented around the world at conferences on history, technology, and, of course, AI in education.
As the founder of The Next Word, a consultancy that seeks to leverage AI and other technologies to help shape a better future, Matt has co-authored two books with Dr Nick Jackson, “The Next Word: AI & Teachers” (2024) and also “The Next Word: AI & Learners” (2025) with award-winning high school student Amy Wallace.
With a long list of accolades to his name, Matt is a Fellow of the NSW Teacher’s Guild, a Commonwealth Bank National Teaching Fellow, an Adjunct Fellow in the School of Education at Western Sydney University, and a member of the HP Futures: AI & Leadership Council. In 2026, Matt is working with schools and systems on thoughtful governance, strategy and implementation of AI within thriving school communities. In partnership with ClassCover, he is also co-founder of Educator Intelligence, a platform that will help educators across the world build and maintain their knowledge and skills in AI.
I look forward to seeing many of you on 20 April.
Have a great weekend,
Greg Miller
Principal
Holy Week and Easter Liturgy
Families are welcome to join us for our Holy Week and Easter Liturgy in the JFC this Thursday 2 April commencing at 9.10am.
Project Compassion
Thank you for the generous donations to Project Compassion so far this term including over $1500 through the Reid St Patrick’s Day stall. This is the final week to donate to Project Compassion. Students can donate using the donation boxes in homerooms or through the online donation page for their house using the links below:
Alexander Abbey
Assistant Principal - Faith Formation and Mission
Raising BodyKind Teens
Supporting adolescent body image - LIVE PARENT WEBINAR
Butterfly is inviting parents of teens to a virtual seminar designed to provide the tools, knowledge, and confidence to nurture positive body image and healthy relationships with eating and physical activity in the home.
Event Details
Date: Thursday, 9 April 2026
Time: 7.00pm - 8.15pm
Via: Zoom. Time limited recording available
Cost: $15
Ms Kelly Walker
Assistant Principal - Wellbeing and Growth
ID cards
Students have been advised NOT to put their student ID card in their phone case, if they charge it on a wireless doc charger, as this burns the chip in the card and it may be a fire hazard. This can damage the card’s chip and may pose a safety risk.
Natalie Lagarde
Dean of Students
Extra Curriculum Activities - Week 10
A reminder the following EC Activities will not be held in Week 10 as per the 2026 activity schedule:
- Show Team
- Art Enrichment
Ensembles
The following activities will go ahead:
- Sports training/trials will be held on TUESDAY ONLY.
- Pi Shop will be TUESDAY ONLY.
- Gym will be MONDAY and WEDNESDAY.
Coach Phillips
Extra Curriculum Coordinator
AI Information Evening for Parents and Carers
7.00pm, Monday 20 April 2026
Sacre Coeur Centre, Chevalier College
Please see the Principal's message above for details, and click here to register.
Mother’s Day High Tea Bookings
We’re delighted to invite all mothers and mother figures of Chevalier College students to our Mother’s Day High Tea on Friday 8 May, from 9.30am–11.00am.
Tickets are $35 each (plus booking fee) and include a beautiful professionally catered high tea. Guests will also enjoy the chance to win some gorgeous lucky‑door prizes, and our talented CAPALoT students will be performing.
Book your Mother’s Day High Tea tickets here
Please note: tickets are required for mums, grandmothers, and guests only. Students will join us for the liturgy and reflection before returning to class when food service begins.
We can’t wait to share a joyful morning of celebration, gratitude, and connection with you.
Mother’s Day Lucky Door Prizes
We would be grateful for any contributions of lucky‑door prizes to help make our Mother’s Day High Tea even more special. If you own or manage a business and would love to donate, please contact Development Officer Averil Cutroni at cutronia@chevalier.nsw.edu.au or on 02 4861 0519.
Averil Cutroni
Development Officer
School Uniforms for Winter
The Chev Shop will be open in Week 2 of the school holidays for families to purchase winter uniforms. All students are expected to return in full winter uniform from the start of Term 2, and families are encouraged to check sizing and ensure they have everything they need ready for the start of term.
Holiday Trading Days and Hours:
Tuesday 14 April
9:00am – 4:00pm
Thursday 16 April
9:00am – 4:00pm
Please refer to the link in Parent Lounge/Orbit for appointment booking details.
Student Services and Reception
Please note Reception and Student Services will be closed the first week of the school holidays. We will reopen on Monday 13 April.
MSC Community Opportunity – Hartzer Park
Through our shared MSC (Missionaries of the Sacred Heart) connection with Hartzer Park, we are pleased to share a meaningful employment opportunity within our extended community.
If you or someone you know may be interested, please see the attached flyer for further details.
- Senior Open Rugby Tour - 27 - 30 March
- Open Day - 28 March
- Year 12 Industrial Timber excursion
- ISA Post Summer Meeting - 23 - 24 March
- Holy Week Liturgy - 2 April
- Last Day of Term 1 - 2 April
- AI Information Evening for Parents and Carers - 20 April
- All students return for Term 2 - 22 April
- Year 8 Da Vinci Decathalon - 23 April
- Year 9 and 10 Da Vinci Decathalon - 24 April