Following the introduction of the Westlake Girls AI Policy and Guidelines, the school continues to take a step-by-step approach to building AI literacy and responsible use amongst our school community. Last year, all students completed a set of AI awareness modules designed to introduce key ideas, including how AI works, its opportunities and risks, and expectations for responsible and ethical use. These foundations are now being reinforced as students progress through the school through initiatives such as the ‘Day of AI’ programme, which supports students in developing a deeper understanding of AI, academic integrity and safe engagement with emerging technologies in their learning.
During the House assembly last week, we walked students through the Westlake Girls AI Guidelines for Students, outlining how artificial intelligence can be used safely, responsibly and ethically in their learning. The guidelines help ensure students understand expectations for responsible AI use, academic integrity, and the protection of personal information.
Students can access this in House and Year Group Google Classrooms. We encourage parents to review these guidelines with their daughters, and they can be accessed through the parent portal.
Year 9 AI Literacy Sessions
This week, our Year 9 students are starting their AI literacy lessons as part of the Day of AI Aotearoa | New Zealand programme. Across four lessons delivered through Science, Maths, Social Sciences and English, students explore what artificial intelligence is, how machines learn, how people use AI to create new solutions to problems, and the ethical responsibilities that come with using it. Students also learn about the limitations of AI, including bias in training data, incorrect or ‘hallucinated’ responses, and the importance of protecting personal information when interacting with AI systems. The aim is to help students build critical thinking skills and understand how to question and use AI responsibly in their learning.
Day of AI Aotearoa | New Zealand
Westlake Girls High School is proud to be one of the collaborators contributing to the development of Day of AI Aotearoa | New Zealand, the first nationally designed AI literacy programme created specifically for the New Zealand school context. Developed as part of the global MIT Day of AI initiative, the programme has been localised through collaboration between partners including Westlake Girls High School, the Education Partnership & Innovation Trust (EPIT), Technology Education New Zealand (TENZ), the New Zealand Council for Educational Research (NZCER), and Day of AI Australia. It provides free, classroom-ready lessons that help students understand how AI works and its ethical and societal impacts, while building the critical thinking skills needed to engage with these technologies responsibly.
ERO Research Group
Westlake Girls High School is contributing to national research exploring how artificial intelligence is shaping teaching and learning in New Zealand schools. The study aims to understand how students and teachers are currently using AI, the opportunities it presents, and the challenges schools face when integrating these technologies responsibly. Insights from this research will help inform future guidance for schools and education leaders.
University of Auckland and Lithuanian visit
This week, we welcomed a delegation of researchers from the University of Klaipėda and the Lithuanian Educational Research Association, led by Professor Dr Liudmila Rupšienė, exploring how AI can support teaching and formative assessment in schools. Facilitated and organised by Dr Kerry Lee and Professor Stuart McNaughton (Auckland University | Te Pūtahi Mātauranga), the visit explored Westlake Girls’ High School’s approach to AI integration, including governance, policy, academic integrity, and the Day of AI programme building AI literacy for students and teachers. The delegation described Westlake’s human-centred approach to AI integration as best practice.
By Susana Tomaz, Director of Futures and AI Strategy
