June 2024 Newsletter
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President's Message
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CaSPA Board Update
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The School Photographer - Platinum Partner
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CaSPA Activities Update
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Box Of Books - Platinum Partner
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2024 Beginning Principals Profiles
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NGS Super - Platinum Partner
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Australian Catholic University – 2023 Principal Occupational Wellbeing Survey Result
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PSW - Platinum Partner
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Schools GPT opens new possibilities for teaching and learning
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Atomi - Gold Partner
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The AMA has joined 11 of the country’s leading education and school parent groups
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AGH Camps - Gold Partner
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Rory's - Gold Partner
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2024 National CaSPA Conference - Perth
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Woods Furniture - Gold Partner
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INSTALLING THE SZAPP
Dear Colleagues,
I hope Term 2 has started well for all of you. From an advocacy perspective we have continued to be sounded out from a variety of educational and non-educational groups in a variety of educational, health and political areas. Of late we have continued the dialogue with the Australian Medical Association surrounding Vaping in schooling and society, as well as representation from Ann Rebgetz with Equality Australia in Canberra. Our continued dialogue with the Federal Education Department and the Federal Education Minister has us locked in to speak with The Hon Jason Clare surrounding a variety of issues as a peak body representing Catholic Secondary Principals. All peak representative bodies have been invited to this meeting. On 31 May Minister Clare will lead the discussion on the National School Reform Agreement, he will provide an update on the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement, lead a discussion on Principal and school leader wellbeing, and hear ideas relating to ongoing school and system reform. Both myself and Peter Cutrona (ACPPA President) met with Jacinta Collins to ensure we represent a national perspective on these issues.
Our Biennial Conference in Perth, Western Australia from July 14-16 at the Crown is shaping to be a real opportunity to celebrate our distinguished and long serving leaders as well as learn from a group of esteemed educators. For all communications please refer to our CaSPA Website or communicate with your State/Territory Director.
We recently received our partner report from ACU relating to the Principal and Leader Wellbeing Survey outcomes conducted in 2023. It disseminates data comparing our Catholic system data with all school leaders (ASL) and the general population. While the data in most part is positive for our sector the offensive behaviours experienced by our Catholic Secondary Principals in the areas of Cyber Bullying and Conflicts and Quarrels is significantly worse than both the ASL and the general population. Our red flag triggers are significantly lower than the ASL percentages yet cause for concern considering the Composite Psychosocial Score (CPRS) is still registering at 10.9%.
We must be supported in finding ways to eliminate the quantity of work, the lack of time to focus on teaching and learning, and the mental health of students and staff. These are the greatest sources of stress for our Principals. With our CaSPA leaders spending more time attending school events and internal meetings than all school leaders we have cause for concern.
I look forward to discussing these challenges and many more with you all at our Conference in Perth.
Dr Stephen Kennaugh
CaSPA President
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- CaSPA Board met in Melbourne on 27 & 28 May.
- CaSPA Board met with Ed Simons (Executive Director MACS), Angela Pollock & Sandra Milligan (University of Melbourne / New Metrics), Edmund Mission (AITSL)
- CaSPA Board held a Luncheon on 27 May to thank the valued CaSPA Partners.
- CaSPA President, Dr Stephen Kennaugh, has participated in the next National Round Table hosted by Minister Jason Clare.
- Faith Formation Partnerships with Notre Dame University: NDU to conduct a survey of Faith Formation programs around Australia with the possibility of NDU providing Faith Formation programs for Leaders, Teachers and Diocesan Offices.
- CaSPA Board will be meeting with CAP and SchoolTV soon to discuss the next focus of the next edition of Broadcast.
- 2024 CaSPA Conference registrations have continued to increase during the extended Early Bird phase.
- CaSPA received a detailed update for the Perth Conference from the Conference Committee. Full program has been finalised and published.
- CaSPA Board was invited to attend the PAVCSS Conference at Healesville 28 – 30 May. 4 Directors were able to attend.
Profiles of all the CaSPA Board are available on the CaSPA Website: https://caspa.schoolzineplus.com/current-and-past-board-members
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- CaSPA Directors have enrolled in the Australian Institute of Company Directors (ACID) course.
- CaSPA received an invitation to attend the APPA Conference in New Zealand. Dan McMahon (CaSPA Director) will be the CaSPA representative.
- CaSPA has distributed the ACU Australian Principal Occupational Health, Safety and Wellbeing Survey Report to the States and Territories. CaSPA will be meeting with the ACU Researchers in June to discuss the findings further.
- CaSPA and Athas Concepts have finalised the CaSPA Data Project for 2024 and has summarised the data gathered from 2019 - 2024.
- CaSPA continues to investigate ways that it can continue to collaborate with ACPPA to support Catholic Principals. Catholic Primary Principals have been invited to attend the 2024 CaSPA Conference.
- CaSPA has been in discussions with the AMA to support the Anti Vaping lobby which held a Press Conference in May in Canberra.
- Australian College of P.E. & Liverpool FC Academy has joined as a CaSPA Platinum Partner.
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Current School: Aquinas College, Ringwood (VIC)
Previous Position: Deputy Principal - Professional Culture at Marymede Catholic College, South Morang (VIC).
First Year as a Principal: 2024
My big picture for my current school is: Leveraging relationships and building on current strengths for the future.
The Joy of becoming a Principal is: connecting with a new community to learn with and from them as we journey forward together.
Favourite Book: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (closely followed by: Forgotten War by Henry Reynolds)
Favourite Food: Lamb shanks in a red wine jus.
Interests / Hobbies: Music - both appreciating & playing guitar; AFL (Go Pies!); Cricket; History; travel; Star Wars; Whisky appreciation
My Favourite Well-Being Strategy: Playing guitar
Advice for an Aspiring Leader: Focus on building strong relationships and seeking feedback from others.
Favourite Leadership Quote: “Beware of educators with solutions. Education is full of strategies, plans, laws, and mission statements. Martin Luther King Jr did not proclaim "I have a strategy" or "I have a plan"; instead, he said,"I have a dream".” - Hattie & Zierer, 2018
What Title would you give to your TED Talk or Book: Ambiguity tolerance and the words-heard:works-spoken ratio.
Current School: Marian College Sunshine West
Previous Position: Deputy Principal Strategic Development
First Year as a Principal: 2024
My big picture for my current school is: to create an inclusive, innovative, and nurturing learning environment where every student has the opportunity to thrive academically,
The Joy of becoming a Principal is: is in nurturing a sense of community and fostering a culture of continuous improvement within the school, creating a vibrant and thriving learning environment.
Favourite Book: A Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
Favourite Food: Gelato
Interests / Hobbies: Photography and Gardening
My Favourite Well-Being Strategy: Self care and daily walks
Advice for an Aspiring Leader: Be open to feedback and view challenges as opportunities for growth. Encourage a culture of innovation and experimentation, where mistakes are seen as learning opportunities.
Favourite Leadership Quote: ‘Daring Leaders who live into their values are never silent about hard things’ Brene Brown
What Title would you give to your TED Talk or Book: Cultivating Leadership in the next Generation.
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by Brett Henebery 07 May 2024
In November 2023, while the world was still coming to terms with the mind-bending abilities of GPT-4, OpenAI dropped another bombshell, announcing that users could now train their very own GPTs with their own data.
This was big news for anyone who with even elementary knowledge on how Large Language Models (LLM) like GPT-4 worked because it now meant that they could tailor this powerful and versatile AI to their own needs. In this way, this ‘digital assistant’ now had a brain of the user’s own making.
Wary of its potential for misuse, many schools began blocking the use of Generative AI from their classrooms, but Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School in NSW was one of the few to embrace this technology, seeing a big opportunity to make life easier for its 200 staff.
‘AI can do more than we would have ever imagined’
Kane Bradford, Head of Professional Practice, Innovation and Partnerships and the lead for AI-related initiatives at Lindisfarne, said teachers returned from the Christmas break in January 2023 to news about game-changing developments in AI's capability and accessibility.
“Some 15 months later, the growth has been profound; we are no longer just talking about LLMs that can write an essay for you – AI can do more than we would have ever imagined,” Bradford told The Educator.
“The impact on schools has been unprecedented, prompting institutions including Lindisfarne to rethink how technology is integrated into the classroom.”
Indeed, the school’s proactive approach to tech integration has garnered significant recognition, most recently seen with the school winning 'Best Use of Technology' at the 2023 Australian Education Awards.
“This accolade reflects our consistent efforts to stay ahead of the curve. In addition, we've been listed among the most Innovative Schools by The Educator Magazine for three consecutive years, a testament to our dedication to pioneering new educational strategies,” Bradford said.
“Our approach to AI is rooted in enhancing the learning experience. We see generative AI as a tool that can transform education, enabling personalised learning and creating more interactive classroom environments.”
Understanding potential benefits and risks
To ensure ethical and safe use around AI, the school established comprehensive policies to guide the integration of AI into teaching and learning and emphasise safety and the importance of teaching students to critically assess AI-generated content.
“The policy includes comprehensive guidance for educators and students, ensuring everyone understands the potential benefits and risks associated with AI tools,” Bradford said.
“By focusing on ethical considerations and promoting responsible practices, we aim to create a learning environment where AI serves as an effective tool for enhancing education without compromising our core values of integrity and respect for human creativity.”
Bradford said the Lindisfarne.ai platform is “an Australian first”.
“This platform operates with all the core functionality one would see on ChatGPT4, but it is Lindisfarne branded and has stronger custom guardrails in place; a higher level of security, safety and integrity has been applied to its back end,” he said.
“Lindisfarne.ai is currently only available to staff, supporting integration of AI into mostly administrative and planning aspects of our teaching and learning program.”
Through this initiative, the school’s students have benefitted from greater personalisation of learning, better meeting their unique needs.
“We have begun to prioritise educating all members of our school community about responsible AI use, with training sessions that emphasise critical thinking and caution when working with AI-generated content,” Bradford said.
“This ensures our students, and the community, can use these tools effectively while understanding their limitations and risks.”
Students playing active role in school’s tech trajectory
A critical component of Lindisfarne's AI strategy is the Tech Innovators Forum, created earlier this year as a student-led group that now regularly meets each term.
The forum provides students with a platform to explore AI applications, share ideas, and collaborate on innovative projects. Principal Stuart Marquardt says the forum “fosters a culture of curiosity and creativity, empowering students to take an active role in shaping the future of technology in education.”
"By embracing AI and fostering a spirit of innovation, we aim to equip our students with the skills they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving world,” Marquardt told The Educator.
"Our commitment is not just about adopting technology, but ensuring it serves educational excellence and prepares our students for the challenges ahead."
Marquardt said that as AI continues to transform the educational landscape, Lindisfarne “remains at the forefront” of this change.
“Through thoughtful integration, a strong focus on ethics, and a commitment to innovation, we are paving the way for a new era of teaching and learning,” Marquardt said.
“By embracing these technologies responsibly, we aim to create a dynamic environment where students can flourish and lead in the future.”
‘Students were initially cautious’
Ella McCluskey, a Year 11 student at Lindisfarne, is a member of the Tech Innovators Forum. She recalled the moment when Lindisfarne.ai was first put before the forum for consideration, saying there was a widespread consensus that students need to become familiar with how to use this technology appropriately before they are given the freedom to use it.
“After insightful discussion and input from students within the school, it was agreed that AI such as ChatGPT, and primarily Lindisfarne’s inspired version, ‘Lindisfarne GPT’ should be welcomed due to the exciting benefits they can provide students, to improve and optimise their learning,” she said.
“Rather than limiting usage, Lindisfarne, specifically the Tech Innovators Forum, hopes to encourage the use of AI in all aspects of learning, and teach students new ways of using the technology that won't pose a threat to the originality of their work or their creative thinking skills.”
McCluskey said moving forward, it is crucial that students are first taught how to appropriately use this technology in innovative ways, to minimise any risk of jeopardising the integrity of their work.
‘AI is like having an expert teacher in the room’
Scott Mellis, Director of Digital and Emerging Technologies said Lindisfarne has been “very proactive in exploring the potential for AI in education.”
“Student-led forums discussing how AI can be implemented within the curriculum have been a wonderful place to openly discuss everyone's excitement and concerns,” Mellis told The Educator.
“As a teacher who is working with students who are coding AI has been an amazing support. It's like having a tech expert in the room who can debug very quickly and provide you with a better version of the code.”
Mellis said discussions around how to acknowledge the use of AI are “ongoing and it's a fast-moving space.”
“Policies and procedures, the school have in place I think give everyone flexibility for teaching and learning with AI. Now part of the equation,” he said. “AI provides a more academic way to research topic than Googling”.
(Source: The Educator)Through an online survey in December 2023, Atomi consulted teachers from all corners of Australia, spanning Government, Independent, and Catholic schools. The report explores how teachers respond to the rise of technology in the classroom, providing a snapshot of the challenges and opportunities edtech presents and offering insights into the future for schools, teachers and students.
Download your free '2024 Tech in Schools' report and explore :
- How 74% of educators believe that technology enhances the learning experience, yet only 29% think their school provides adequate edtech training
- Why 60% of respondents believe the use of AI will significantly change teaching methodologies
- Plus many more insights and trends for your 2024 planning
CTA: Download The Report
The AMA has joined 11 of the country’s leading education and school parent groups to call on Senators to pass the federal government’s vaping reforms.
On Friday 24 May, The AMA has joined 11 of the country’s leading education and school parent groups to call on Senators to pass the federal government’s vaping reforms. Details AMA President Professor Steve Robson; Australian Education Union President Correna Haythorpe; Australian Council of State School Organisations President Damien Elwood; Australian Parents Council President Jenny Branc; and Catholic School Parents Australia spokeswoman Sarah Rose will call on all Senators to support the federal government’s vaping reforms. The AMA has joined 11 leading education and school parent groups in a letter to all MPs and Senators, urging action on vaping reform to protect the health and learning of Australian children.
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2024 CaSPA Conference - Registrations Open
Registration link: Catholic Secondary Principals Association 2024 Conference (eventsair.com)
This year’s conference will be hosted by CSPA WA in Western Australia and provide an opportunity to reconnect, reimagine and dream the future of Catholic Education together as we meet in Boorloo, Perth, our capital city.
We acknowledge the Whadjuk people, the Traditional Custodians of this Land in Perth Western Australia, where we will hold the conference - people who have loved and cared for this Land for thousands of years. It is the perfect location for this gathering and conversations around the future.
The journey to shaping the future of Catholic Education is ongoing. Grounded in our faith, the conference will provide further opportunities to examine innovation, imagination, and collaboration. Together, we will delve into visionary ideas and innovative strategies that will shape the future of Catholic Education, ensuring it remains an educational platform of hope and strength for generations to come.
The two-day program will include three keynote speakers, student panels, sessional presentations and workshops. Themes will range from innovation and adaption, inclusivity and diversity, faith integration and community engagement. You will have a choice of school visits where you will be hosted by the Principal and have a chance to see Catholic Education at work in Western Australia.
Being engaged in thought-provoking discussions, sharing the experience, expertise and perspectives within this collegial environment and the beautiful surrounds of Perth, is sure to be a rich learning experience.
Let us continue to dream boldly, envisioning a future where Catholic Education continues to instill true Gospel values in the hearts and minds of our students.
We invite you to Boorloo, to dream the Future of Catholic Education, in this journey of connection and discovery.
John Bormolini
Chairperson
National Conference Organising Committee