Deputy Principal Operations

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is having a growing footprint on every aspect of society. We frequently experience AI in the algorithms created in our internet searches and through targeted advertising we receive when searching the web. There is a lot of anxiety in the community on how AI will impact on future society and for some this leads to failure to engage with the technology.

As a component of the Santa Sabina Digital blueprint, Santa Sabina College recognises the importance in preparing our learners for the future with Artificial Intelligence. Central to the teaching of AI are the ethical considerations of how and when to use AI in your work. Other key considerations that Santa Sabina staff are teaching our students include the critical analysis of the results provided by generative AI large language models. As with any data used, the results derived from generative AI such as ChatGPT and Microsoft Co-pilot are only as good as the prompts entered so critical thinking in terms of what prompts to use is essential in getting the most accurate response.

One of the concerns raised around the use of AI at Santa Sabina has been the protection of data and ensuring age-appropriate responses to prompts. Microsoft has recently created a 13+ version of their Co-Pilot product that has been adopted by Santa Sabina. This product provides guardrails around the types of responses that it will provide to student users and will not engage with prompts of an unethical nature.  Futhermore, the product has enterprise data protection which ensures that the information being entered into the model is not shared to train data models. It is important for all parents to be aware that with many of the AI products available the data entered when using the product may be available for other users and may be used to train the responses given.

In 2025 the College has entered our first team in the VEX Robotics competition hosted by Santa Sabina. Mr Tony Shen has worked with the team and is keen to grow the program. If your secondary student has an interest in coding or robotics, Mr Shen hosts a coding club at lunch time and there are also opportunities for the students to join the VEX team for 2026.

Traffic at pick up and drop off continues to be a problem on both Santa Sabina and Del Monte campuses.   The Kiss and Drop zones on Carrington Road and Jersey Road are strictly no parking zones between 7:30am and 9:00am and again between 2:30pm and 4:00pm. These areas are regularly patrolled by Burwood and Strathfield Council Rangers and the Police to encourage compliance.

I would like to also remind families that they need to be considerate to the residents in surrounding streets.  We have had reports of cars parked across driveways blocking entry and exit of residents as well as Santa Sabina families parking in private car parking areas. I encourage all families to have a pickup and drop off plan to ensure that the measures in place in and around the College run as smoothly as possible.

John Gilmore
Deputy Principal Operations