Hello Illawarra Families,
Over the past fortnight, I have been encouraged by the growing number of students demonstrating responsibility and ownership of their learning. Across the campus, students are increasingly seeking feedback, engaging with support opportunities, and applying their learning in meaningful and authentic ways.
Our Primary students have been deeply engaged in their Bee Inquiry Unit this term. The honeycomb displays showcased throughout the classrooms provide a wonderful example of learning made visible, highlighting collaboration, creativity and students' understanding of the concepts being explored. The recent bee excursion further enriched this learning, allowing students to connect their classroom investigations with real-world experiences. My thanks to Mrs Ockenden for her enthusiasm and leadership in bringing this learning to life.
In Secondary, students participated in our AI Unlocked Day, exploring concepts such as machine learning, bias and the ethical use of artificial intelligence. What stood out most was the quality of student thinking. Students grappled with complex questions about where AI can assist society and where human judgement remains essential. These discussions demonstrated maturity, critical thinking and a willingness to engage thoughtfully with technologies that will shape their future.
I have also had the opportunity to spend additional time working alongside students in Science lessons. Following Dr Marecic's resignation, I am currently supervising Years 7-10 Science practical lessons and Senior Physics practical activities while we progress recruitment for a long-term staffing solution. During a recent Year 8 practical lesson, students arrived prepared with completed cell diagrams and model plans before applying their knowledge to construct models of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. It was encouraging to see students confidently transferring their learning into practical application.
One of the most positive developments this term has been the growth in tutorial engagement. Students across Years 7-12 completed 83 tutorials in the past week, demonstrating an increasing willingness to seek support, clarify understanding and strengthen their learning. Tutorials are a key part of our Learning to Learn model, helping students take ownership of their progress and develop the habits required for long-term success. I congratulate those students who are actively embracing this opportunity.
This week we also welcomed Mrs Olivia Brown and Mrs Erika Frank, Regional Principals from OneSchool Global New Zealand. During their visit, both remarked on the calm and focused nature of our Learning Centre environment and commented positively on student engagement within CANVAS courses. Their observations provided encouraging external affirmation of the strong learning culture being built by our students and staff each day.
As our Year 12 students commence their HSC Trial Examinations, we wish them every success. The trials represent an important milestone in their educational journey and an opportunity to demonstrate their learning while identifying final areas for growth before the HSC examinations later this year. We are proud of the dedication and resilience they have shown throughout their senior studies.
Students in Years 3-11 will also participate in upcoming MAP Growth testing. These assessments provide valuable information about student growth and help identify the next steps in learning. We encourage students to approach the testing positively and simply do their best.
Finally, I encourage all families to regularly monitor CANVAS, which remains the primary source of information regarding student learning, assignments, resources and feedback. Alongside regular school attendance, monitoring CANVAS is one of the most effective ways parents can support their child's learning and help students remain organised and engaged.
At Illawarra, we are seeing more students take responsibility for their learning, seek support proactively and engage confidently in new opportunities. Whether through inquiry projects, practical learning experiences, tutorials or future-focused discussions, our students continue to develop the knowledge, skills and habits that will support success both now and into the future.
Kind regards, Mr Cameron Warne
cameron.warne@au.oneschoolglobal.com
0436 439 273
