Dear St John's Community,

In recent weeks there has been a lot of media attention on the latest advances in AI (artificial intelligence). Elon Musk and a group of the most influential technology producers in the world asked for a halt to AI development for at least 6 months. There are a number of reasons why they want this but one of the main ones was due to a recent experiment conducted between one of the fastest computers in the world at CalTech and a Quantum Computer linked to AI. The programmers designed a task that would take the Caltech computer 10,000 years to complete. (Keep in mind this is one of the fastest computers in the world!)

They took this task and gave it to the Quantum/AI computer and it solved the problem in 4 minutes.

This massive leap in computer programming potential is not like anything we have ever experienced as a species and as the technology gurus keep telling us, 'This will change everything'.

In light of this information, recently the famous Michio Kaku, a leading theoretical physicist, activist and futurologist made the comment that we were expecting to achieve a sentient AI by the end of this century and that now have the potential to see that by 2029.

How do we adapt to that level of change, especially in education? We live in a rapidly evolving world, and AI is poised to revolutionise almost every aspect of our lives, including education.

We are already seeing 'simple' AI's emerging e.g. Chat GPT, Mubert and Lexica which have the potential to enhance the learning experience for our students in numerous ways.

Advances happening as we speak were the stuff of science fiction only a few years ago. One of the directors of NVidia recently announced that AI will soon be in our phones and will revolutionise how we use video. In fact, he states that in the last 5 years, how we use and see video has improved by 1000% and that over the next 10 years, this will improve by a million %. I can't even imagine what that might look like!

AI will and has already impacted education but it's not meant to replace human teachers. The human touch and connection are irreplaceable, and teachers will continue to play a vital role in inspiring, mentoring, and guiding students on their educational journeys. However, AI could be a powerful tool that complements and amplifies their efforts, creating new possibilities for personalised, engaging, and effective learning experiences. I say could, because as we know, with anything new it can often be a double-edged sword. Considerations for the ethical and responsible use of technology will always be at the forefront. Safeguarding student privacy, ensuring transparency, and fostering digital literacy will be critical. Teachers should always be committed to providing a safe and supportive environment where students can explore, learn, and grow, guided by the principles of ethical technology and 'AI'

usage.

I encourage every parent to stay engaged in your child's educational journey and pay attention to their use of technology and the evolving landscape of AI. Together, we need to prepare our children to thrive in a world where AI is growing in prevalence and the future is a rapidly changing thing.

Trivia Night

Just another shameless plug for the Trivia Night early next term!

Trybooking Link here

Staff Changes for Term 3

Once again we say thank you and best wishes to Ms Bec Philippe. We also thank Ms Hoysted for stepping in to take her place in prep, supported by Miss Danni Dalben. I'd offer to do it but I'm a bit afraid of preps... :)

We also say happy holidays to Mr O'Sullivan because next term he is taking his first holiday in a very long time! I'd say he earned it! Mr O will not be returning to us until Term 4.

Mr Caine has kindly (and some say bravely!) offered to step in and take over PE/Sport and our famous Skip-a-thon for the term. We have booked external staff to run the music program just for Term 3.

First Holy Communion

A wonderful mass was celebrated last Sunday during which a number of our students made their First Holy Communion. Our blessings and prayers go out to them and their families.

Check out the Faith, Community and Culture page for more details and some great pics!

Prayer for our First Holy Communion candidates

Loving God,

You are the giver of all we possess, the source of all our blessings.

We thank and praise you for the gift of our children.

Help us to set boundaries for them, and yet encourage them to explore.

Give us the strength and courage to treat each day with them as a fresh start.

May our children come to know you, God, and Jesus Christ, whom you sent to teach us.

May your Holy Spirit help them to grow in faith, hope, and love, so they may know peace, truth, and goodness.

May their ears hear your voice.

May their eyes see your presence in all things. May their lips proclaim your word.

May their hearts be your dwelling place.

May their hands do works of charity.

May their feet walk in the way of Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord.

Amen.

A few weeks ago I announced how one of our students was accepted into the State U12 Rugby Team, well now we have another student striving for glory as well. Meia G in Grade 6 has recently made it to the U12 Victorian Basketball Team so we wish her all the best over the next few weeks. Just shows how hard work, effort and perseverance can open up opportunities.

Parent-Teacher Interviews:

These will occur at the start of Week 3 next Term. Monday 24th July will be a half day to enable the interviews to take place. The remainder will take place in the evening of Tuesday 25th July.

Q: Where did Mr Caine leave his keys when he went on holiday?

A. In the piano...

Q. Mr Coburn asked a student a maths problem - If you have 13 apples, 12 grapes, 3 pineapples and 3 strawberries, what would you have?

A. The student answered "A fruit salad".

Q. Who is in charge of the school when the students and teachers are on holiday?

A. The rulers...

Hopefully, you are able to spend some quality time with your children over the holidays. Have a restful and hopefully 'rugged up' break.

Kind regards,

Derek Bruitzman

Principal

New School website

Marty's Cybersafety: Parent Toolkit

Prep 2024 Enrolment Form