Chev Need to Knows 

Dear Parents and Carers,

Exploring the Role of AI in Education at Chevalier College

As we continue to explore the evolving role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in secondary education, we’ve begun a journey of learning and reflection here at Chevalier College. Our focus is not just on understanding AI as a tool, but on how it can meaningfully support student learning in a rapidly changing world.

This term, our staff have engaged in several key moments of professional learning which focussed on AI:

• Week 1 Staff Day: We began with valuable insights from Mr Ryan Noonan – Leader of Digital Technologies and Innovation, who introduced the concepts of sophisticated prompts, and sparked early conversations about the potential of AI in our classrooms.
• Week 4 PLM (Professional Learning Meeting): Ms Jo Kirby – Assistant Principal - New Ambitions and Innovation, provided further depth with insights into the impact of AI for businesses, employment, and the ethical implications of AI in education.
• Pocket of Practice: Perhaps most notably, Mrs Xiomara Biasotti, Mr John Hargreaves, and Mr Craig McDuff shared real examples of how they are already utilising AI to impact learning. Their work highlighted both the opportunities and challenges of integrating AI meaningfully into our practice.

To broaden our understanding, we’ve also engaged with external perspectives. One particularly thought-provoking resource was a recent episode of the AI Education Podcast titled "Tutor, Teacher, Cheater: What Students Really Think About AI" (15 May 2025). The title alone captured my attention, and the 30-minute discussion offered rich insights into how students are navigating this new landscape. I encourage you to listen to it here.

Additionally, a paper released earlier this year by the Vatican has provided a compelling ethical framework for thinking about AI. Called ‘Antiqua et Nova – A note on the Relationship Between Artificial Intelligence and Human Intelligence’, it reminds us that while technology evolves, our core values — compassion, justice, and human dignity — must remain central. For those who wish to read the paper, you can find it here. 

For me, one thing is clear: we cannot ignore AI. Nor can we afford to fall into the trap of teaching solely to tests, at the expense of preparing students for a future where AI will be a constant companion in their personal and professional lives. Some of our students may already be more advanced users of AI than we are — and that’s something to celebrate and build upon.

Ultimately, our goal is to nurture the human capabilities that will allow students to thrive alongside AI: learner agency, creativity, critical thinking, communication, empathy, and resilience. Grounded in our MSC values, we aim to help students become the adults of tomorrow – using AI not to replace their current work, but to complement and enhance their future contributions to the world.

Warm regards,

Greg Miller

Principal

Academic Reports

Academic reports will be published within the Parent Lounge and the Orbit APP. Publishing dates are as follows:

• Year 11 Mid Course Reports will be published at 3.30pm on Friday 6 June.
• Years 7-10 Semester 1 Reports will be published at 3.30pm on Monday 28 July.

Parent Teacher Interviews

Parent Teacher Interviews for Years 8-11 will be held via Teams on Monday 4 August between 4pm and 7.30pm. Booking for these interviews will open on Tuesday 29 July at 9am.

Mrs Graham

Senior Assistant Principal – Learning and Teaching

Help choose the new College Formal Uniform

An email was sent to all parents/carers and students this week on Monday 19 May, announcing that the College is seeking your participation in the design phase of the proposed new College uniform.  We encourage you to get involved in this important initiative by completing the uniform feedback survey.

The survey is now live and will be open until 5.00pm Wednesday 4 June. 

• In Student Services, throughout this period, you can view printouts of the designs, along with uniforms from other schools provided by our supplier to give you a chance to feel fabrics and view styles. 
• We recommend completing the survey on a laptop to view images in full. 
• When completing the survey, please make sure you follow the 'click here' links to view and expand the full concept designs in clear detail.
• Please click here to begin. 

Vinnies Winter Appeal

This week, home rooms will begin collecting items for the Vinnies Winter Appeal. Each house will receive a suggested list of items to bring. Items need to be brought to school by Sacred Heart Day (13 June). Let’s all work together to support vulnerable families in our community this winter.

Laudato Si Week - Together let’s care for our common home!

Monday 2 June: Daniel Principe – Talk to parents and carers

We are excited to welcome youth advocate and educator Daniel Principe back to the College on Monday 2 June.  Following a day engaging with our students, alongside Emma Tabacaru, through the workshop ‘Championing young people in a digital world’, Daniel will also speak to parents and carers in the evening, where he will unpack what the latest academic research reveals about how current social and cultural forces are affecting young people’s wellbeing and their relationships. Daniel will discuss what really matters to young people, and provide clarity and tools to help young people analyse and challenge the culture around them.

We strongly encourage you to come and hear from the person who will have been working with your children that day - this could also prompt important conversations at home around building respectful and empathetic relationships into adulthood. 

Use the link below to reserve your free space 

https://events.humanitix.com/daniel-principe-talk-to-parents

📅 Date: Monday 2 June 

🕖 Time: 7.00 – 8.30pm

📍 Location: Sacre Coeur Centre, Chevalier College  

PARENT WEBINAR

A leading adolescent Clinical Psychologist and co-founder of Open Parachute, Dr. Watson invites you to join us for an online event that aims to help parents, guardians, and caregivers learn the most effective tools for building child/adolescent resilience to counteract stress/anxiety.

Dr. Watson will focus on skills and strategies for equipping young people with the tools to prevent mental health challenges in the future. 

Parents will learn about the factors that contribute to stress/anxiety, understand the skills that children need to overcome challenges, and walk away with practical tools to empower their children and build resilience within their whole family.

Please find attached a flyer for our parent and caregiver community, encouraging you to register your attendance for Monday, 26 May 2025.

Ms Walker

Assistant Principal Wellbeing and Growth

ISA Round 4 

ISA Round 4 is tomorrow, Saturday 24 May. Team fixtures and bus information can be found in the Parent Lounge and Orbit app under School Links / Extra Curricular. 

WET WEATHER:  Please continue to check the fixtures tonight and tomorrow morning for updates. There have already been some changes and we may be advised of more overnight.

All buses will leave from the bus zone on Charlotte Street.  Students leaving the College should be dropped off in the JFC car park. 

The BBQ and Coffee van will be situated at the Main Oval tomorrow from 9.00am. Please see below for the link to volunteer.

IMPORTANT:  We aim to have fixtures and bus times uploaded to School Links by Wednesday each week.  Please check the fixtures every Friday afternoon/evening for any last minute changes to bus times and/or game cancellations. 

Parent Volunteers

We’re seeking parent volunteers to help make our home game hospitality a success by assisting at the Sports BBQ or helping with Netball game scoring.

Your support is greatly appreciated!

Click here to view the BBQ volunteer roster

Click here to view the Netball Scoring volunteer roster

Coach Phillips

Extra Curriculum Administrator

Chevalier School Play 2025: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

BOOKINGS ARE OPEN AND SELLING FAST!

Nineteen years after the Battle of Hogwarts, Harry Potter faces new challenges as a father. Meanwhile, his son Albus begins a thrilling, time-twisting adventure that will shake the wizarding world once more.

Brought to life by the incredible talent of Chevalier College’s students and staff, this production marks a magical milestone: Chevalier is the first theatre in NSW and only the third theatre in Australia to perform this acclaimed play!! This play is written by playwright  Jack Thorne – the same writer as the Netflix series “Adolescence.”

Don’t miss your chance to experience the magic!

Bookings are now open, with showtimes at 7.00pm on Thursday 19, Friday 20 and Saturday 21 June, and a 2.00pm matinee on the Saturday.  Seats are selling very quickly for this wonderful production - don't miss out!

BOOK NOW at https://events.humanitix.com/chev-harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child

Saturday 2 August: Sports Winterfest

Save The Date!

Join us for our annual Sports Winterfest!  Come cheer on all our winter sports teams at their home games, enjoy food trucks and beverages, live music, and a dazzling fireworks display!

Saturday 2 August

8.00am – 6.15pm

Book your FREE TICKETS!

Chevalier College Careers website

In celebrating National Careers Week I would like to reintroduce the College’s Careers website https://careers.chevalier.nsw.edu.au/.

Our careers website is a dedicated resource for our school where students can explore fully interactive pages encompassing everything they need to know about specific careers, jobs searches, and study options.

There is also a section dedicated to Parents/Carers, who are often heavily involved in career decision making.  You will find plenty of useful resources to assist you in contributing to your child's career journey. 

University of Wollongong - Year 10 Subject Selection Webinar 

UOW will be offering a webinar for students, parents, carers and teachers focusing on providing students and their families accurate and informed knowledge on UOW degrees and their HSC subject assumed and recommended subject requirements. This webinar will be a valuable opportunity to ask questions and get quality insights into how students should be structuring their subject selection decisions for 2026.

Families can register now via the link here:   

https://www.uow.edu.au/study/events/    

Apply Now for Year 7 2027!

Applications for Year 7 2027 are due 1 June 2025.  If you have a child currently in Year 5, please you submit your application before this date.  

As communicated by the Principal in last week's Need to Knows, we are receiving a high number of applications for this year group and we don't want our current families to miss out on a place.

Click here to complete an the online application form.

• ISA Round 3 - 17 May
• Merino Wether Challenge - 19 May
• Year 9 Wilderness Excursion - 19 May
• Year 10 Study Skills Day - 19 May
• Year 11 Studies of Religion 1 Excursion - 19 May
• Year 12 Physics Excursion - 19 May
• Mock Trial Round 2 - 22 May
• Debating Round 6 - 23 May
• ISA Round 4 - 24 May
• Daniel Principe Talk for Parents and Carers - 2 June