Principal Team Report

As we move through Term 3, there are several important updates and reminders for our students and families. We continue to focus on creating a College environment where every student feels supported, included and ready to learn, while keeping our community connected to the opportunities and events taking place across WHSC.

On Friday 28 August, our College will be supporting Wear It Purple Day, celebrating LGBTQIA+SB young people, allies and communities. This year’s theme, Colours of Courage, recognises the many forms courage can take — from speaking up and standing proud, to living authentically, asking for support, standing beside others and creating safer, more inclusive spaces. At WHSC, we encourage our students and community to celebrate respect, inclusion, acceptance and belonging. We invite everyone to add a dash or splash of purple to their outfit on Friday as we come together to show our support.

Regular attendance also remains an important focus for our College. Every day at school matters, with consistent attendance supporting students to stay connected to their learning, teachers and peers, while making the most of the opportunities available at WHSC. We encourage families to prioritise attendance and communicate with the College when a student is unable to attend. Where attendance becomes a concern, we encourage families to reach out so that we can work together to provide the appropriate support. Every day counts.

Alongside attendance, we would also like to remind families of our expectations around College uniform. Students are expected to attend school in the correct WHSC uniform each day. We understand that there may occasionally be circumstances where a student is unable to meet these requirements, and we ask families to communicate with the College so we can provide support. For families experiencing difficulty accessing the correct uniform, spare uniform items are available through the College Office. Students are welcome to speak with our Office team, and we will do our best to assist. Thank you to our families for continuing to support our expectations around presentation, uniform and readiness for learning.

As education continues to evolve, we are also seeing significant changes in the way technology can support teaching and learning. Generative Artificial Intelligence is rapidly becoming part of education, and the OECD Digital Education Outlook 2026 provides some valuable insights into both its opportunities and challenges.

The report highlights that GenAI has the potential to personalise learning, provide feedback, support teachers, improve accessibility and streamline administrative tasks. AI tutors, for example, can adapt explanations to individual students and encourage questioning, reflection and critical thinking. However, the report also provides an important reminder: AI should support learning, not replace it.

When students rely on AI simply to produce an answer or complete a task, there is a risk that they engage less deeply with the learning process. The greatest benefits occur when AI is used alongside strong teaching practices, with students encouraged to think, question, create, reflect and take ownership of their learning.

For teachers, AI can provide opportunities to reduce time spent on some routine tasks and support the development of resources. However, human expertise, professional judgement and relationships remain essential. The most effective approach is not replacing teachers with technology, but using AI to augment and enhance the work teachers already do.

Ultimately, GenAI should be viewed as a learning partner rather than a learning shortcut. As we prepare our students for a rapidly changing world and future careers, developing their ability to use technology responsibly, critically and creatively will be just as important as understanding the technology itself.

Another important opportunity for families to connect with their child’s learning is our upcoming Learning & Wellbeing Conferences. Bookings are currently open but will close on Wednesday 26 August. We encourage families to make the most of this opportunity to connect with teachers, discuss their child’s learning, progress, wellbeing and goals, and work together to support their continued success at WHSC.

Please ensure you book conferences with the teachers you would like to speak with before bookings close so that you do not miss out. Conferences will be held onsite at the College again this year, with teacher locations to be shared with families via Compass on Thursday morning. Please keep an eye on your Compass notifications for this information.

There is plenty happening across WHSC as we continue through Term 3, and we encourage all students and families to stay connected through our newsletter, Compass and College communications.

Thank you to our staff, students and families for your continued support of our College and our shared values of Respect, Excellence and Creativity.

Fern Brisbane

Principal