PRINCIPAL'S PEN 

Two weeks ago, the Artemis II Mission captured the imagination of people around the world. In a remarkable milestone for exploration, the astronauts travelled further from Earth than any other humans in history, journeying deep into space before looping around the Moon and using its gravity to sling-shot their spacecraft safely back toward home. It was an extraordinary reminder of what humanity can achieve through courage, cooperation and scientific ingenuity.

Among the crew was astronaut Victor Glover. As he gazed back at Earth from the vastness of space, he described being overwhelmed by what he saw. Our planet appearing as a small blue sphere suspended in darkness. Despite being part of a mission unlocking the mysteries of the cosmos, he said he found himself reflecting on the beauty of creation and what he called the greatest mystery on Earth: love.

Speaking on Easter Sunday during the mission, he shared these words:

“I can really see Earth as one thing… you are special…[Earth is] an oasis where we get to exist together...remember who we are and [that] we are the same thing and that we [have] to get through this together.”

From space, astronauts cannot see borders, politics or divisions. They see one fragile planet shared by all of us.

I spoke about the Artemis mission during the College's recent Anzac Day Assembly. Glover's perspective was worth remembering as we reflected on the day which is not a celebration of war. (He didn't mention conflicts in the Ukraine or Middle East.) Rather, it is a time to honour courage, sacrifice and service, and to remember the values that emerged from those difficult moments in history.

At its heart, the Anzac story is not about conflict, it is about humanity. The men and women we remember did not serve because they loved war. They served because they cared deeply for the people beside them. Their mates, their communities and us, the generations that would follow.

In many ways, Victor Glover's perspective echoes this same truth. The courage, sacrifice, mateship and care for others that we honour on Anzac Day remain just as important today and are the very qualities that continue to guide humanity.

In a world that can sometimes feel divided, perhaps the view from space offers a powerful reminder: We share one planet. We share one humanity. And together, we must care for both.

Our Marist connections: hosting the 2027 Marist Basketball Carnival

One of the great strengths of St Augustine’s is our place within the Marist tradition. As part of the Star of the Sea Province, spanning more than 56 schools, we are connected to a global network that enriches both learning and the formation of our young men. These connections provide meaningful opportunities for students to grow in character, deepen their sense of belonging and engage with the wider Marist community.

This was evident recently through two significant experiences. Ten of our senior students travelled to Perth for the annual Marist Basketball Carnival, competing with determination while enjoying the hospitality and spirit of the Marist community. At the same time, eight senior students participated in the Fijian Immersion, an experience centred on cultural understanding, service and personal growth.

In this spirit, we are pleased to announce that Saints will host the Marist Basketball Carnival in Cairns next year – an exciting opportunity to welcome Marist schools from across Australia and further strengthen the connections that are such an important part of our identity.

ACER Review

Schools, like all strong communities, are always growing and evolving, so taking time to reflect on what we do well and where we can improve is important. From Tuesday 12 May until Thursday 14 May, St Augustine’s will undertake its five-yearly ACER Review. This process includes gathering data, reflecting on our practice and hearing from staff, students and parents. Guided by the National School Improvement Tool, the review will provide valuable feedback to support our ongoing improvement and inform our next strategic plan as we move towards our centenary in 2030. I thank our three independent reviewers, Deb Hails, Peter Henry and Nial Coburn, for their time and expertise. 

Copilot 13+ trial

I sent home a letter this week outlining the introduction of a trial for Copilot13+ as a chatbot for our students. We believe that introducing this digital assistant in a structured and thoughtful way will enable our students to engage responsibly with new technologies while maintaining our strong commitment to student wellbeing and data protection.

Director of Studies Mr Kris O’Farrell has outlined our vision and process for this platform in his newsletter report. I urge you to read it if you have further questions about our approach to AI or refer to my letter below.