Principal's Message

Term 2 was a very eventful term with a few notable achievements across the school in a range of areas, including learning, sport and high potential and gifted education.

Media Team and premiere of Slip Stitch

Our Media Team premiered Slip Stich at the Regent Theatre in Richmond on 29 May – a professional and award-winning entry that has qualified for an Oscar submission! While many students have made the media team’s work so exceptional and successful, it is Mr Caprarelli’s hard work and guidance over the years that has made this outstanding opportunity available to our students. The team is already working on their next project which I am confident will be as successful as Slip Stich.

Refugee Week

We observed Refugee Week from 14-20 June. Earlier this year, Negah (Ella) S., a Year 11 student at Kellyville High School captivated audiences with her speech at the Back to School event, sharing her extraordinary journey.

Born in Afghanistan, Ella left her home country at age 8 and moved to India, where formal schooling was unavailable to her and her brother, Farhan. Despite this, Ella’s determination to learn never wavered. She formed a support network with other children in the community who were also trying to apply for humanitarian visas and credits her 3 older brothers for keeping her motivated. Ella recalls the United Nations and the Australian Government assisting with her family’s move to Australia in November 2024.

Our school community is immensely proud of Ella’s extraordinary journey, and that her story embodies the core commitment of public education. Ella enrolled in an Intensive Language Centre at Chester Hill High School in 2025 with no prior formal schooling, and now she’s successfully navigating the complexities of Year 11 and the Higher School Certificate at Kellyville High School. It’s a profound testament to her resilience and determination. She continues to inspire us and reminds us all of the courage and determination that refugees bring to their new homes in Australia.

EduTech Conference

Our students also had an opportunity to shine at the recent EduTech Conference at Darling Harbour. Ruby W. (Year 11), Levi M. and Cooper F. (Year 9) were invited by the Department of Education to speak at the conference about Kellyville High School’s BYOD journey and the transition from device access to deep engagement with learning through technology. Levi and Cooper captivated their audience with an outstanding display of eloquence and confidence as they spoke about the impact of the BYOD program on learning, while Ruby spoke about the Media Team’s use of technology to support high potential and gifted education.

NAIDOC Week

From Sunday 5 July to Sunday 12 July, our nation celebrates National NAIDOC Week—a time to recognise, learn from, and celebrate the rich histories, diverse cultures, and incredible achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

This year holds a special significance as we mark a major historical milestone with the 2026 theme: “50 Years of Deadly.”

Fifty years ago, First Nations communities took full control of the national NAIDOC committee, transforming a single day of protest into a nationwide, week-long celebration of identity, survival, and pride. This year’s theme is both a reflection and a declaration. It pays tribute to the generations of Elders, advocates, creators, and community leaders who stood firm to ensure their voices shaped the national conversation. It also looks brightly toward the future, acknowledging the brilliant young trail-blazers leading change across education, science, sports, and the arts.

At Kellyville High School, we are proud to stand alongside our local community to honour the oldest continuous living culture on Earth. Throughout the upcoming weeks, our students will be engaging in meaningful classroom activities, cultural learning, and creative projects that focus on First Nations voices, histories, and stories.

AI Policy Consultation

At Kellyville High School, we are committed to our core value of Integrity while embracing the future of learning. To support this, the school is currently in the consultation process of implementing a "human-plus-AI" approach that balances the incredible potential of artificial intelligence with ethical standards and academic integrity. The aim of the school’s developing AI Policy will be to give students and families absolute clarity on when and how technology can be used, including a clear AI Usage Scale for schoolwork and assessment tasks, ranging from Level 1 (no AI use allowed) to Level 2 (permitted with transparency), to Level 3 (AI use allowed).

While the school recommends the Department's secure NSWEduChat tool for safe and tailored learning, we recognise students have access to various platforms outside of school. The school’s AI policy will ensure that whichever tools are used, they are harnessed to build productivity, innovation, and ethical digital citizenship.

Early next term, I will reach out to parents and students to seek input into further development of this school policy. In the meantime, I encourage you to read more about the current research on the impacts of AI on students and teachers:

Applying for leave – travel

Finally, I would again like to remind parents that children under the age of 17 must be at school every day, unless they are unwell. On occasion, students may go on family holidays or attend religious or cultural events, for example, during a school term. In the event that you are planning to travel during the school term, you must apply for Extended Leave – Travel for your child. This application ensures that all legal requirements are met and that I can, if travel is approved, issue your child with an official certificate. I would also like to emphasise that all applications for extended leave – travel, should be made at least 3 weeks prior to the intended date of travel. If an application is made late, it may not be approved. The Extended Leave – Travel form can be found by following this link: https://kellyville-h.schools.nsw.gov.au/school-life/student-resources