From the Deputy Principal Senior Years

Welcome back to Term 3. I hope all our families have had a restful break, and that our students are ready for another term.

Our Year 12s have a big term ahead of them – they hand in their final assessments for both EE and TOK, and then they soon begin preparation for their Mock Exams. Mock exams give students an experience that is as close to the final exams as possible. Students will be sitting a full suite of all papers for all subjects for the first time, and preparation is essential. To support students in their preparations, all Year 12 teachers are running revision in their subjects in the lead up to the exams. I will be seeing our Year 12s during class time in Weeks 4, 5 and 9, and during that time I will explain what the rest of the year looks like. From now on I will be in contact with the Year 12 students and their families regularly with information, and for any mock or final exam related questions, students are welcome to contact me.

In the lead up to exam time it is important that students prioritise looking after themselves and aim to reduce stress wherever they can. Each year we share tips on how to do this, and these tips from Headspace (2024) are particularly valuable:

1. Take the time to plan – create a study plan and ensure you find a quiet and comfortable study space for your studying which has everything you need close by.
2. Look after yourself with self-care, exercise, sport, relaxing with friends and eating healthy food.
3. Ensure you sleep and rest, and if relaxation techniques help then use them. During your study give yourself short breaks, and throughout your examination block maintain a regular sleeping pattern focussing on getting enough sleep every night.
4. Keep your focus – have the end goal in mind, control your phone-use, and focus on your wellbeing.
5. Ask for help – your teachers, peers, friends and family are here to help and support you.
6. Be prepared by knowing your subject guides and focusing on past papers to help you study.
7. On the day of the exam ensure you have had a good night’s sleep and that you follow a usual routine. Make sure you eat a nutritional breakfast before you get to school and get to school early enough to ensure you do not feel rushed or stressed about being late.

If you are interested in reading more from Headspace, here is the link: https://headspace.org.au/explore-topics/for-young-people/prepare-for-exams/

Our Year 11 students are well into their Diploma subjects now, and students are making their way towards their first IB assessments. All students and parents have the QASMT IBDP Assessment Guidance Handbook, and in Appendix 3 of this document is the IB Assessment Schedule 2023-2024. I strongly recommend all students and parents are fully aware of this document - it is essential that all students know when their draft and final assessments are due - these submission dates cannot be changed. This document should be used together with the Term 3 Assessment Calendar to help students self-manage their time in the lead up to their assessment submissions. 

Our Year 10 students also enter a significant semester as they have finished their STEM Futures courses, and now begin their Diploma Programme Preparation (DPP) courses in every subject. It is crucial that over the course of this next semester, students ensure they are in the right subjects and the right levels. Over the course of the term, if any student decides they want a subject change then they must submit a subject change form to A-block in the first two weeks of Term 4.

In Term 3 our school calendar has many enjoyable events and experiences scheduled, including Language competitions, Instrumental Music Night and National Science Week, among many others. No matter which year your child is in, there will be a lot going on this term. Over the coming weeks as I walk into classrooms, I will look forward to reporting back to you at the end of term with the different ATL that I see, and the wonderful learning experiences our students are having. To all our students and their families, have a wonderful term.

Esme Hatchell, Deputy Principal Senior Years

From Education Outside the Classroom (EOTC)

Before we dive into the plans for Term 3, I want to extend a HUGE congratulations to our Year 8 boys volleyball team for their victory at the West Brisbane Junior Gala Day in Week 10 of the last term. They will advance to compete at the Met Finals later in the term. All our teams made QASMT proud, earning praise for their efforts and conduct both on and off the field. Best of luck to our senior teams as they take to the courts in Week 1 of this term.

Now, let’s explore what our students will be engaging in during Term 3.

Golden Paddle
In Week 4, we are excited to host the Golden Paddle Tournament, a full-school table tennis competition where students will vie for the prestigious title of Golden Paddle Champion. This student-run and organised event is a testament to the dedication of our Sport Ambassador team, led by Lachlan, and they are working diligently behind the scenes to ensure its success. Taking place during lunchtimes, this tournament promises an intense battle as table tennis and remains one of the prime activities enjoyed during lunch breaks. Sign-up information will be sent out shortly, so keep an eye out for that. Good luck to all participants!

Sport
As always, our expert coaches are ready to launch our Term 3 Sports Program in Week 2. This term, we welcome our Badminton, Australian Rules Football, and Ultimate Disc athletes to hone their skills and potentially secure a spot on one of our West Brisbane Gala Day teams. Gala Day will take place in Week 10, and we look forward to defending our prestigious badminton titles and perhaps adding more pennants to our growing collection. Please note that our badminton program is fully booked, and a waiting list has been established. You will be notified if positions become available. We are currently exploring options of a Term 4 program for those who missed out.

In addition to our Sports Program, the Volleyball Extension Program will continue this term, with the senior teams beginning their training in Week 3. Students will be rigorously preparing for the upcoming Senior Schools Cup in Term 4, aiming to emulate the success of their previous counter paths who achieved outstanding results in the Intermediate Schools Cup.

A huge thank you to our Sports Coordinators and expert coaches for their hard work in ensuring students are safe and challenged throughout the program.

CAS
Our Year 12s are on the home stretch with their CAS journey and will have their final sign off in Week 8/9 this term. To prepare for this, students should be fine tuning their portfolios and engaging in their final CAS activity. Shout out to our CAS champions who have engaged in and reflected on quality CAS throughout the duration of their Diploma – well done for achieving this status.

Curriculum
In Year 7, students will explore the cultural aspects of physical activity, with opportunities to engage in Indigenous games as well as those from their own cultures. They will investigate the inquiry, "Culture plays a role in the development of relationships and can be expressed through movement and interactions." Through this exploration, students will delve into the historical significance of a chosen game or dance from a particular culture and examine the relationship between culture, games, and wellbeing. During practical lessons, students will learn about various culturally significant games, developing their practical skills. They are encouraged to continually reflect on their performance to identify strengths and opportunities for improvement.

Our Year 8 students will hit the courts and put their ATL skills to the test in an intraclass tournament. Leading up to this, they will organise training sessions and learn how to work as a team to achieve a common goal.

With IAs submitted and all topics covered, our Year 12 students are in revision mode, preparing for their mock exams this term. These mock exams will mimic the style and length of the final IB exams, providing valuable feedback for final preparations. Students are encouraged to maintain good study habits in preparation for their mock exams and the exam preparation period.

Yanah Floridis, Head of Education Outside the Classroom

From the Guidance Officers

Welcome back to Semester 2!

Term 3 is an exciting season for students to grow their knowledge of careers and build their career planning portfolio. 

• Year 12 students will be finalising and submitting their university applications. Every Year 12 student has been issued a personalised QTAC Guide including relevant application codes. Uncollected copies are available from House Deans.  Any Year 12 students who have not yet attended their pathways interview are still able to arrange a time to discuss their career plans for next year and beyond, using our online booking system (link in Mrs Judge’s email signature). 
• Many students and their families engaged with the visiting tertiary providers at our annual QASMT Tertiary Expo.
• All Year 9 students are engaging with discussions around career planning as they work towards creating their Senior Education and Training (SET) plans, culminating in individual career interviews to support their upcoming subject selection process.

This term includes significant dates in the career planning calendar:

• 15 July: QASMT Tertiary Expo
• July/August: University open days (see below)
• 29 July: VTAC applications open for 2025
• 1 August: QTAC applications open for 2025
• Late September: some QTAC, UAC and VTAC courses close

(Check websites for opening dates of other Tertiary Admission Centres around Australia.)

Information Sessions: throughout the year, Career Information Sessions are held, focusing on timely information for career planning. Sessions will have a target audience (e.g. parents or a specific year level), but others are welcome to attend.  Topics will include application processes, university specific information and study field focus sessions. During Term 3, a session is scheduled exploring Careers in Business. Why study business? What are the options? What is the difference between business courses and the available majors?

Early Offers Reminder
Year 12 students and their families are reminded that many university applications now include an early offer process in addition to the traditional January offer round. Processes and timelines vary considerably between universities with many open now or in the coming weeks. Check due dates for these processes at each university if you wish to access this additional opportunity. For a summary of possible schemes, explore the Study Work Grow Early Entry Guide on our Pathways Hub.

UQ | Open Day 
Sunday 4 August 2024, 9:00am – 3:00pm

UQ St Lucia Campus

We can't wait to welcome you to Open Day at UQ's St Lucia campus in Brisbane. Explore your interests and study options, immerse yourself in university life and get answers to all your questions.

Griffith | Open Day, Nathan
Sunday 11 August 2024, 9:00am – 2:00pm

Griffith University Nathan Campus, Kessels Road, Nathan QLD, Australia

Whether you've got it all figured out or have no idea where to start, Open Day is packed with useful information just for you. Visit the Gold Coast or Nathan campuses to chat with our expert staff and students and get a feel for what student life is like at Griffith.

QUT | Open Day 2024
Sunday 28 July 2024, 9:00am – 3:00pm

Queensland University of Technology, Gardens Point and Kelvin Grove

You can discover the real QUT this Open Day – with the chance to explore facilities at Gardens Point and Kelvin Grove; speak with students and academics; get study area advice; and hear tips about applications, finances, and student life. And that’s just scratching the surface.  

Open Day Planner
Term 3 is the busiest time for university open days. Use the Study Work Grow open day planner to choose which universities to visit and plan your calendar. Always check dates and times with the tertiary institutions for any last minute changes to schedules. Remember to register your interest with each university to keep up to date with programs and plans.

Further information can be found on university websites. Access 5 Tips for Open Day Success and review a comprehensive list of all open days with the Study Work Grow open day planner, free on our Pathways Hub.

Resources: there are many resources available to support our students’ career planning journey.

Guidance Office/Career Library (A Block): a range of free resources available for students to access.

QASMT Digital Library: a growing collection of career resources including newsletters and factsheets from previous communication. 

Options Bulletin: The Options Career Information App gives you convenient access to career information and key calendar dates which can also be great conversation starters when talking with your child. Simply download the app and sign in using our unique access code “QASMT” (for our Academy community’s use only). Switch on the App’s notifications and you will know when the latest bulletin is published. You will continue to receive further career information throughout the year.  Alternatively, the latest bulletin is available at https://optionscareers.com.au/welcome/QASMT/bulletin.

Study Work Grow: features include guides (e.g. Entry to Medicine Guide, Pathways to Engineering, Co-op Scholarships Guide), weekly newsletters, a work experience database, a scholarships database, job spotlights and online tools.  Investigate at www.studyworkgrow.com .

QASMT Career Hub: for free access to Study Work Grow resources and local QASMT career documents and news - https://studyworkgrow.com/education/school/queensland-academy-for-science-mathematics-and-technology/

Looking forward to a productive and rewarding term!

Katrina Judge, Guidance Officer Career Planning

Semester 2 is here, and we are ready for another jam-packed semester of opportunities that promote wellbeing at the Academy. 

Wellbeing Seminar Series – Parents and Community
Wellbeing Seminar Series continues for parents and community this semester. The Headspace parent session focus for Term 3 is ‘Healthy Headspace – Introduction to Mental Health’. This session will be delivered virtually in response to parent requests.

Term 3: Headspace – Healthy Headspace – Introduction to Mental Health
Georgia McGirvan will present to family and community virtually. Access links will be provided to registered participants on the day of the event.

Please use the following link to register your interest in attending the virtual Headspace presentation: https://survey.qed.qld.gov.au/n/b8qhrv0

Headspace provides young people with access to health advice, education and employment. Their vision is to improve young people's mental, social and emotional wellbeing. Their student workshops aim to increase mental health literacy, reduce stigma, build the capacity of young people to understand their own wellbeing needs, support their peers, and explore pathways for help-seeking. Workshops are interactive, strength-based and evidence-informed. For further information about Headspace: https://headspace.org.au/

Headspace recognises the importance of materials and resources that cater for young people, friends and families, from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. With this in mind, they have translated their ‘About Headspace’ flyer, which contains basic information of Headspace services, into 20 additional languages. Link here.

Anger: Exercises and Coping Skills to Help Manage Your Anger.
Anger is often referred to as a secondary emotion. It is thought that we subconsciously shift into anger to protect ourselves from more vulnerable, uncomfortable emotions, such as fear and sadness.

Duration: Weeks 5 - 8 of Term 3
Weekly resources will be emailed directly to students enrolled.
To enrol, students can email Tara Le Pla: TLEPL4@eq.edu.au by Friday 2 August to be included in this online course.

Have a wonderful term – Be kind to yourself and each other.

Tara Le Pla, Guidance Officer Student Support

From the House Deans

Welcome to Term 3 everybody. We hope everyone had a well-deserved rest over the holidays. 

Term 3 is a wonderful opportunity for InStep classes to re-connect and strengthen the bonds already formed in 2024 across all year levels. The vertical nature of our InSteps is one of the many advantages we have at QASMT, as it offers a chance to get to know students in all year levels and benefit from their experience, advice and QASMT life hacks.

Interhouse Trivia
Term 3 brings a number of exciting opportunities to participate in some fun activities, not to mention collect house points at the same time. The House Trophy competition is very close this year with places changing almost daily. We encourage all InSteps to get involved in the Interhouse Trivia Quiz taking place in Week 4. Agnesi House loves a good quiz, as do all the other houses – best of luck to every InStep. Thank you to the Trivia CCA committee for bringing this to us.

Year 12 Focus
Term 3 is a pivotal term for Year 12 students. They will be handing in their Extended Essay and getting to enjoy the traditional EE pizza party on Monday 15July. There is already a buzz in the air leading up to formal which will take place on Friday 19 July. Formal is one of our favourite events of the year as we get to see Year 12 students in all their finery. Once the Formal is out of the way, our Year 12 students then turn their attention to mock exams and the Year 12 Conference, which are both crucial events in preparation for the final exams. The trip to Movieworld, following on from the conference, offers our students a break away from the school environment, and a chance to feel a different sort of nervousness - let’s hope all the rides are open! Term 3 is also the time of year when we farewell Year 12 students from InStep - we wish Year 12 a successful term.

Leadership 2024
Student Leadership applications have now closed, and this year we have an all-time record number of applicants across all the leadership positions and portfolios. We would like to wish all candidates the best with their applications.

PEP Overview Term 3
As always in Term 3, students are busy writing their new semester PLP goals. This is such an important aspect of preparing for academic success, and we strongly encourage all students to engage with this process. The “Personal” aspect in the Learning Plan title is key to linking identified goals with targeted improvement, tailored to every individual’s unique learning style.

Year 11 PEP focus for this term is Respectful Relationships. We will be covering the difference between respect and self-respect, gender equality, self-regulation and interpersonal skills in relationships.

Year 10 students are navigating Respectful Relationships with a focus on Consent. Students will be identifying behaviours and interactions that represent a continuum between respect and abuse and how to recognise where to draw the line. They will also explore Bystander vs Upstander behaviour and healthy relationships.

Year 9 PEP students are now actively engaged in the Journey Program. We will be heading out to Emu Gully in Week 4 for three days of physical and mental challenges. Additionally, Ms Katrina Judge, our GO (Career Planning), will provide essential guidance to students on making informed decisions about their future. This information is crucial as it will help them prepare for the upcoming SET plan interviews. Overall, Term 3 promises to be a highly enriching and exciting term for our Year 9 students.

A meaningful life with purpose is the topic Year 8 students will be exploring this term as they unpack the differences between Hedonic and Eudaimonic outlooks - these are quite challenging philosophical concepts for Year 8 students, but we are sure they will learn to understand the content as they work through the inquiry cycle.

As already mentioned, Year 7 students will finalise their PLP SMART goals. These are goals that they set for themselves according to what they would like to achieve in each of their subjects. We will discuss the value of goal setting and the importance of devising strategies to help overcome obstacles and motivation. After PLP Goals have been finalised, Year 7 students will change focus from Positive Accomplishment to the Domain of Positive Relationships. This will include investigating the importance of friendship, characteristics of good and bad friendships, and the key components of successful group work.

Travel Opportunities
We hope all the Year 10 students signed up for the Ski Tour are packing their winter woollies for the upcoming trip to Perisher, which will take place during Ekka week. So far, the snow reports are looking very promising - which means we can look forward to some action-packed days on the slopes.

We are not sure if there will be any Year 11 students left in school by the time the STEM trips have departed as over 80 students and staff are heading to Europe at the beginning of Week 9, followed hot on their heels by 42 students on the Japan trip leaving on the Friday. We look forward to hearing all about their adventures on their return. Bon Voyage!

And finally, students can look forward to shining on stage as they collect their Semester 1 academic awards at the Middle and Senior Years Awards Ceremonies on 23 July. All award recipients should be proud of the hard work and effort, and we look forward to seeing everybody on stage.

Please do not hesitate to contact any of the House Deans if there is anything we can do to further support your child.

Aileen Davis, House Dean Agnesi; Marc Wheeler, House Dean Curie; Zoe Kirby, House Dean Da Vinci; Ross Bray, House Dean Franklin; Jae Morris, House Dean Hawking; Kate Oxenford, House Deans Hollows; Dean Aspland, House Dean Jackson; and Deva Prasad, House Dean Newton.

From the Department of Mathematics

This term, teachers in the Mathematics department are looking forward to offering a number of competitions and programs to intrigue, challenge and motivate students.

In the classroom
Year 7 students are considering how the study of measurement and geometry can help them inquire “How can we travel between dimensions?”. This unit will conclude with a Criterion A (Knowledge) test. The students will also extend their patterning skills so they can complete their next Criterion B (Investigating Patterns) and C (Communication) assessment in the middle of this term.

“You Better Shape Up” is the unit Year 8 students are working on through engaging measurement investigations around area, surface area and volume of prisms, indices and algebra. Students will complete a Criterion A (Knowledge) test in Week 4 that will cover their previous Term 2 unit and part of this unit. Alongside this, students will continue to develop problem solving strategies for investigating patterns that will be used for an assessment later in the term.

Year 9 students are hard at work considering the statement of inquiry “Human Impact on the environment can be understood through valid models and spatial forms” through their current project where they are repackaging a product to be more sustainable.

Our Year 10 students have started in their new classes, Mathematics Analysis and Approaches (AA), and Mathematical Applications and Interpretation (AI), both of which are offered at Standard and High Level. All students will complete a common core of sequence and series, functions and exponentials. Each subject will then extend into topics that have been designed to give students a taste of the Diploma Programmes offered in Mathematics in Years 11 and 12. The graphic display calculator (GDC) will continue to be a focus as students learn new skills in its capabilities and how this can be applied when problem solving.

Year 11 students have started the term reviewing their exam results by reflecting on exam strategies, approaches in the different types of exams, topics that are their strengths and weaknesses, and what they need to work on moving forward.  Coursework has been completed by Year 12 Maths students, so they now move into an intensive revision program until mock exams in Week 6 and 7.

Enrichment Competitions
Term 3 has many Mathematics competition opportunities.

• 87 students have been working on the Mathematics Enrichment program offered by the Australian Maths Trust. These students have this term to solve 12-16 challenging problems.
• Years 7/8 students will have the chance to participate in first round of the annual QAMT Years 7/8 State-wide Maths Quiz, sponsored by the University of Queensland. Teams of three will compete in rounds of general mathematics, mental computation, written computation, problem solving and estimation in a fun quiz format. This competition is tentatively set for Thursday 1 August from 3:30pm - 5:00pm. Parents and students will receive information about registering for this soon.
• In Week 5, Tuesday 6 August, all students will compete in the AMT’s Australian Mathematics Competition. The AMC is an engaging 30-problem competition that demonstrates the importance and relevance of mathematics in students’ everyday lives.
• Students will also sit for the ICAS Mathematics Competition with Years 7-10 on 29 August and Years 11-12 on 28  August.
• Australian Intermediate Mathematics Olympiad (AIMO) is an exam designed to stretch talented students in Year 10 and below, will be held on Thursday 12 September. Further information will be sent to invited students closer to the date.

Congratulations goes to Siddharth, Caleb, Bhavy, and Eason for being invited to sit the 2024 Australian Mathematical Olympiad Committee (AMOC) Senior Contest. This is a significant achievement, as it will serve as part of the selection process for the AMT School of Excellence and other Olympiad-level competitions. We wish them good luck in the four-hour paper that they will sit in August.

Finally, I would like remind students and parents about the Drop-Maths Help Sessions offered by the Mathematics department. Please note the change in time for the afternoon session.

Russell Hams, Head of Department Mathematics and Senior Robotics

From the Department of Life Sciences

Welcome back to all our science students, teachers, parents and caregivers. I hope you had a restful winter break and are ready for an exciting term of curricular and extra-curricular science activities! This term promises to be extremely inspiring as we lead up to a highlight of the year for our school, National Science Week. 

In Week 1, our entire Year 10 cohort headed off to UQ for a bespoke program designed especially for our school entitled Experience Scientific Research Day. Over the course of the day, students had the opportunity to work in the Faculty of Science at UQ and undertake a series of hands-on workshops in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics and Scientific Literacy. It was one of the most exciting cohort experiences in our science calendar.

Year 7
This term, students will be learning about forces and the science of toys. To understand this, they will learn about Newton’s Laws of Motion and how they explain balanced and unbalanced forces, friction and gravity. They will apply their knowledge in a scientific investigation about what factors can affect an object falling, such as a paper helicopter. Their statement of inquiry for this unit is: “Change is a consequence of scientific and technological innovation.”

Year 8
This term, students will be exploring energy transfer and transformation. They will be learning about different types of energy and apply their understanding to investigating efficient wind turbines. They will present their findings in a scientific report. Their statement of inquiry for this unit is: “Everyday interactions can be explained by energy transformation relationships.”

Year 9 Sustainable Futures
We have a new class of students for Sustainable Futures this term. They will investigate the natural environment with a focus on sustainability and maintaining biodiversity. Students will be learning about and developing fieldwork skills before their excursion to Toohey Forest Environmental Education Centre. While there, students will compare two different aquatic sites, one where there is minimum human impact, and one with high levels of human impact. They will use this data to evaluate the effect that humans have on water quality.

Year 10 Diploma Preparation Programme
Year 10 students have started their Diploma Preparation Programme to help prepare them for moving into the Diploma Programme in Year 11. Biology students have moved into their strands of Higher Level (HL) or Standard Level (SL). They have started the term learning about the structure and function of cell membranes. This will be followed by an exploration of genetics and inheritance. Environmental Systems and Societies will be preparing for the first ever Higher Level course. Students will start by learning about the different spheres of the Earth, exploring processes and mechanisms of how they work together as systems. They will also be introduced to the HL lenses that have been added to the course, particularly environmental law, economics and ethics. We are very excited to be introducing this new course.

Diploma Programme

Biology
Year 11 Biology students are starting their final IA journey this term. They had an introduction to IA session at the end of Term 2, and they will spend a bit of time each week dedicated to preparing for the IA. It is important that they meet all checkpoints for this in order to carry out their experiments in Term 4.

Year 12 Biology students are finishing up the content and moving into revision for mocks and ultimately their final external exams. This is a fantastic time to evaluate current study habits to see what is working and what isn’t.

Environmental Systems and Societies (ESS)

Year 11 ESS students have started Term 3 with their Practice IA, investigating the impact of different components of fertilisers on aquatic ecosystems. They will be learning about the criteria requirements for an ESS IA, as it is different from the rest of the Group 4 science courses. They will also be learning about biodiversity, threats to biodiversity and conservation so we can help sustain biodiversity.

Year 12 ESS students have finished all the content and have moved into revision of all topics for their mock exams. They will be focusing on exam preparation and techniques for being successful on all aspects of the ESS external exams.

All Life Science students are welcome to attend tutorials to help support their learning:
Life Science Tutorials – L10/11 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday from 11:00am - 11:40am and Wednesday 10:45am - 11:25am

Science Housekeeping
Just a reminder as we move into the second semester to ensure we have high standards of PPE use. Students have been informed about naming lab coats and safety glasses clearly, and ensuring they keep these in their lockers (unless dirty and need to be washed). We have a number of these ending up in lost property, and these are required during practicals. We would hate for students to miss out on the practical component of science because they have lost their PPE. Any lost PPE is required to be replaced.

Saengdao Philavane, Head of Department Life Sciences 

From the Department of Physical Sciences

Welcome to Term 3!
I hope all our students and their families had a relaxing term break, and are ready for another exciting term of Science!

Years 9 – 12 Physical Science students

Our Year 10 students have now begun their Diploma Preparation Programme (DPP). We move away from MYP, criterion based, marking to IB Diploma style marking which involves a percentage and a grade from 1-7. We also had them choose whether to take Standard level (SL) or Higher level (HL) Chemistry and/or Physics in Term 2. It is therefore very important that our Year 10 students consider their progress throughout this term, to ensure that they feel fully comfortable in their choice of subject level for Year 11 next year.

In Year 11, our students will continue with learning content as per the new IB guides. Our Physics students have already carried out their practice IA, while our Chemistry students collect their data in Week 2. All students carrying out a practice IA in the physical sciences receive detailed feedback on the IA report that they write. The preparation from these practice IAs is an important first step in preparing them for their final IAs, which happen in Term 4 for our Physics students, and in Term 1 of Year 12 for our Chemistry students.

Our Year 11 students have now been introduced to the Extended Essay assessment. To those students who are thinking of completing an essay in the Physical Sciences, I’d like to take this opportunity to invite you to come and speak with any member of our team in order to fully explore your research proposal and to guide your decision making.

Also in this term, all of our Year 11 students will partake in the Collaborative Sciences Project Action Day. This is a fun day that develops our students’ ability to work collaboratively in a diversified group. Our Year 11 students have planned an exciting and fun activity that they will run with our Year 7 students during National Science Week.

On top of all of this, there will be international STEM tours that many of our Year 11 students are participating in towards the end of this term. These trips to Europe and Japan are an amazing opportunity for these students and will, no doubt, create some lasting memories. In the Physical Sciences, we have factored this into our planning for the term to ensure that learning is maximised for all those that are involved.

For our Year 12 students, they will have submitted all of their internal assessments as of Week 3, when they submit their TOK Essay. This is a huge weight off for them and will allow them to fully focus on their external assessments at this point in the year. As per our term planners, our Year 12 students will soon be into revision mode for their mock examinations which happen in Week 6. My team and I look forward to supporting our Year 12 students down this final stretch as they approach the end of their formal learning with us in the classroom. As always, we extend our offer of help to any student of the Physical Sciences throughout this journey.

To all our students and families, our team of Physical Sciences teachers are looking forward to guiding you through the exciting events of this term, and we hope that you are stretched and challenged in the process.

It was NAIDOC week during our first week back, and I thought it would be appropriate to finish with an Australian Aboriginal proverb:

“ We are all visitors to time this place. We are just passing through. Our purpose here is to observe, to learn, to grow…”

Have a great Term 3 everyone!

Robert Hughes, Head of Department Physical Sciences

From the Department of Individuals and Societies

Welcome back, students and staff, after the mid-year break! I hope you had a chance to recharge and reflect on the first half of the year. Now that we are halfway through, it is a perfect time to review our accomplishments and set our goals for the rest of the year.

Year 7 - 8 Foundation
Year 7 and 8 students will spend the first part of Term 3 studying Economics and Business. The Year 7s are particularly excited as we commence ‘The Game of Life’ and learn about the different financial challenges and opportunities that present themselves post school, in their late 20s, and during our middle stages of life. Following this, a history unit will commence that will utilise the virtual reality classroom and provide students the opportunity to travel back in time to either Ancient Rome or Ancient China. On Tuesday 27 August (Week 8), we have an excursion planned to the Abbey Museum – a real highlight of the year for past students.

Year 8 students will be investigating how social enterprises are established due to changes in economic conditions. In the economy at large, individuals, businesses and the government make choices with resource allocation, and this can lead to equity issues. Students will locate real world examples and analyse these situations for different stakeholders. 

Year 9 STEM Futures
All four Year 9 subjects are about giving students the skills and ways of thinking that will allow them to be successful in the senior years of study once the content is aligned to just one subject. The ATL “Thinking Skills” is applicable to all subjects, and I would encourage students to always look for solutions from multiple perspectives. This has a direct link to criterion D in I&S of “Thinking Critically.” An example, this is when evaluating a decision, consider the following: What are the strengths? What are the weaknesses? What are the alternatives? What are the limitations – is there information missing that you would like to know may influence your decision?

All the best to students this term as they study:

• Forensic Psychology (Psychology and Biology)
• World in Your Pocket (Economics and Business Management)
• Future Global Cooperation (links to Economics and the skills of all Group 3 subjects)
• Disrupting the Market (assessed using the Group 6 Design criteria with content of Business Management)

Year 10 DPP
With the Semester 1 curriculum driven by UQ, Semester 2 focuses more on content that is aligned to the DP Programme for Business Management, Economics and Psychology. With subject selections for DP 2025-26 fast approaching, it is imperative students make choices that will benefit them the most to have success. Students have the option of selecting two Group 3 subjects or two Group 4 subjects. Students are encouraged to discuss their DP subjects with me, or their teachers, if they wish to know more.

In Week 2, our Year 10 Psychology students have an excursion to the Queensland Institute of Medical Research to learn about the brain. 

DP
Year 11 students will commence their Internal Assessment (IA) for all three subjects this term. For Business Management, it means applying one of the four key concepts (change, creativity, sustainability, ethics) to large business, and relate five current source documents to evaluate how it affects the business in relation to the key concept. Checkpoint one is due before block exams and the completed draft is due mid Term 4. Having commenced the Microeconomics unit in Term 1, the Year 11 Economics students will submit their final 800-word commentary later this term. The process of this task was locating a current news article and then analysing it using their content and concept knowledge. Psychology students will do a simple experimental study replication which forms the basis for their IA. This aligns to the studied units of cognitive approach, sociocultural approach and research methods.

With Year 12 students about to commence their mock exams, on behalf of all Group 3 teachers, I wish them every success. Regular revision for all subjects and ensuring enough sleep each night will hopefully lead to the desired outcomes that students seek.

From the TOK Coordinator

DP1
In the upcoming term, our Year 11 students will explore the intricate relationship between knowledge and technology. This theme will prompt critical discussions on how technological advancements shape and challenge our understanding of the world, covering topics like artificial intelligence, the ethics of emerging technologies, and digital media's impact on information dissemination.

Simultaneously, we will delve into the natural sciences, examining how scientific knowledge is constructed and evolves. Students will explore the methodologies of scientific inquiry, the nature of scientific discoveries, and how new evidence can shift scientific paradigms, fostering an appreciation for the dynamic nature of scientific knowledge.

A key focus this term is the submission of students' full exhibition drafts. Students received this task in Week 1 and have a series of checkpoints to meet in the lead up to their final submission in Term 4, Week 3. They will select three objects and comment on them in response to a prescribed TOK prompt, demonstrating their ability to connect theoretical knowledge with real-world applications and showcasing their analytical skills.

To support your child, we recommend engaging in open discussions about their chosen objects and TOK concepts to deepen their understanding.

DP 2
In the upcoming term, Year 12 students will focus intensively on refining their Theory of Knowledge essays. Implementing feedback on their drafts is crucial at this stage, as it ensures their arguments are clear, well-supported, and critically engaging. Incorporating feedback helps students identify and address weaknesses, thereby enhancing the quality of their final submission.

The due date for the final TOK essay is Thursday, 25 July, Week 3 in Term 3. This submission will be sent off to the IB. The final grade will be combined with the Extended Essay (EE) grade, allowing students to earn up to three extra points towards their IB Diploma.

To support your child during this period, we recommend encouraging them to allocate specific times for working on their essay, ensuring steady progress. In addition to reviewing the feedback together, discussing how they can effectively implement the suggestions to strengthen their essay.

By actively engaging in the feedback process and adhering to deadlines, students can significantly improve their TOK essays, showcasing their analytical and reflective abilities, and maximising their potential IB Diploma points.

Joshua Kiehne, Theory of Knowledge Coordinator

Lyle Fredericksen, Head of Department Individuals and Societies

From the Department of Technology

Welcome to Term 3, 2024

Given below is an overview of our learning journeys for each of our course offerings this term.

Year 7 Design
Our Year 7 students are exploring the Statement of Inquiry (SoI) ‘Human-centred design drives the development of products by engaging with the design cycle to explore the concepts of User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX) to design a prototype mobile app for their client’. A particular focus will be on listening to the client’s needs and seeking feedback on designs as they explore questions such as, “how do modern apps appeal to customers, ensure effective functionality and address usability issues associated with both?”. These ideas are key to success for modern applications.

Year 8 Design
Our Year 8 students are engaging with the design cycle to create a promotional website for a client as they explore the Statement of Inquiry (SoI) ‘Design choices influence how others perceive our identity’. Students will consult with clients through interviews, and develop the technical skills required to create a website, coded in HTML and CSS.

Year 9 Future of Automation
This term, students will be introduced to programming Arduino based micro-controllers and the Internet of Things (IOT) in an Integrated Development Environment (IDE). Learning by doing, students will investigate the capabilities of input and output sensors (including sound, ultrasound, temperature, humidity, movement, distance, lighting, air quality, and mechanical influence), and display components to design and build proof of concept mini-automation projects (prototypes). Students will develop fundamental skills they will later utilise in designing and building home automation projects in Term 4.

Year 9 Disrupting the Market
In Term 3, students will learn how to use the laser cutter through a series of skill development activities and design challenges. This is a subject where students develop business management knowledge and experiences alongside design skills. It teaches students how to measure items, create designs on the computer and understand the coordinate system, etc. One of the most important benefits is the science and STEM knowledge learnt behind using the state-of-the-art technology.

Year 10 Living in a Digital Society
In our Digital Society class, students will delve into the effects and consequences of social media. Their investigations will cover various aspects such as the consequences of relying on social media for news, the repercussions of mishandling one's digital presence, and the potential benefits of using social media for collaboration and personal learning networks (PLN). This unit will give students the opportunity to realise the depth and breadth of these topics, and inquire into the impacts that these technologies are having on our day-to-day life. To showcase their understanding, each student will address their individual inquiry question by exploring these impacts in great detail.

Year 10 Computer Science – Higher Level
Year 10 students will begin exploring more advanced coding practices through Java and Object-oriented programming (OOP). This style of computing is the backbone of most modern games, apps and other software, and will set them up for their future studies in IB Computer Science. To finish the unit, they will be teaming up to use these skills to create text-based adventure games, which are always a good bit of fun and creativity.

Year 11 Computer Science – Higher Level
This term in Year 11 Computer Science HL, students will be continuing to work on their practice IA, which is a data-driven Java application for a car rental agency. Students will use object-oriented design principles to arrive at a solution, all the while studying how programming languages are used and their relationship to computational thinking processes. Finally, students will analyse a case study, deepening their understanding of computer science concepts in modern societies.

Year 11 Digital Society – Higher Level
The Year 11 students will begin the term by exploring culture as represented through digital media. Conducting inquiries into social media, deepfakes and misinformation, students will develop technical skills as they prepare for their senior internal assessment item. Furthermore, students will have their first exposure to an IB pre-release statement for Digital Society, which will create a basis for their HL extension inquiry intervention and the Paper 3 examination at the end of the term.

12 Computer Science – Higher Level
Rescue robots and abstract data structures are the key focus for the Year 12 Computer Science students. The robotic exploration is in preparation for the final case study they will need to explore for their final exams in November. Beyond this, the key focus is their IB exam preparation, with mock exams fast approaching in Weeks 6 and 7. Best of luck to you, Year 12!

12 Digital Society – Higher Level
In 2020/21, Australia generated an estimated 75.8 million tons (Mt) of waste, equivalent to 2.95 tons per person. The processing and recycling of eWaste is the focus of the digital society pre-release task, for the Year 12s final exams in November. Students are investigating the impacts of how we, as a society, can manage this growing issue. Beyond this, the key focus is their IB exam preparation, with mock exams fast approaching in Weeks 6 and 7. Best of luck to you, Year 12!

Middle Year Robotics Program
The Middle Year Robotics team extends a warm welcome to new and returning students who participate in the RoboCup Year 7, RoboCup Years 8 - 12, First Lego League (FLL) Year 7, and First Lego League (FLL) Years 8 - 10 Programs.

We look forward to an exciting and creative term of learning through enquiry and consolidation.

Larry Vint, Head of Department Technology and Middle Years Robotics

From the Department of Language Acquisition

Term 3 has already begun with a big celebration.

I would like to take a moment to celebrate the outstanding achievements of the Year 12 French ab initio, German B SL, Latin SL and HL students. The overall results from last term were excellent, and congratulations must go to both the students and their teachers, Ms Robert, Mr Turner, Ms Wilson, Ms Liebchen, Ms Haskmann and Ms Lambert. This term we are also welcoming a new staff member. We extend a warm welcome to Ms Idil Gibson, who joins us as a German teacher. She comes with a wealth of IB experience and a passion for education. 

Term 3 will again have enriching events on the calendar. Week 2 began with a Bastille Day celebration; we also have the MLTAQ Speaking Contest coming up on Sunday 4 August, just to name a couple of events. I look forward to providing details about our exciting calendar events in the Term in Review. 

MYP

French, German and Chinese
Our MYP European languages students will be undertaking two assessments this term. In Week 5, all students will be sitting an oral exam, while in Week 7, they will have their listening exam. To deepen their speaking and listening skills, I encourage students to listen to music and watch movies in their target language. We encourage our students to take advantage of every chance to practice speaking in their language of study during class time, by developing their IB learner profile attribute of being a risk taker and actively participating in class.

Latin
Our MYP Latin students will undertake a portfolio of work for vocabulary and grammar building, as well as translation skills. This is completed in class time with the support of their teacher. Year 8s will also have a cultural assignment, which will further deepen their knowledge of the historical context of their language learning.

Years 10 and 11

French, German and Chinese
Year 10 and 11 students will continue with their DPP and DP journeys. This term they will have a speaking exam scheduled midway through the term, which will further deepen their skills regarding the Individual Oral (IO) and getting used to the format of this component. In Week 8, our Year 10 and 11 students will have their exam block session.

Latin
For Latin students in Years 10 and 11, this term they will be facing a Paper 1 style exam. To perform well in Paper 1, students should practice regularly with authentic Latin texts to strengthen their translation skills.

Year 11 STEM Tours
We are venturing on the STEM tours from Week 9, where our Year 11 students will participate in European language lessons, experience travel throughout beautiful countries, and put their language skills to use as they navigate through cities like Paris, Nice, Rome and Berlin.

Year 12

French, German and Latin
Term 3 will give Year 12 students a great opportunity to revise the DP course and prepare for the upcoming mock exams. It is timely to remind students to attend the tutorials that our dedicated teachers offer. I encourage students to ask their teacher when the tutorials occur to ensure that they can maximise the learning opportunities.

I wish all our students a successful and fulfilling term, filled with meaningful learning experiences and personal growth.

Fei Xue, Head of Department Language Acquisition 

As we look ahead to an exciting Term 3, we would like to extend a warm welcome and heartfelt thanks to Nishimoto Sensei, the newest member of the Japanese teaching staff.  At the end of Term 2, during Week 10, Nishimoto Sensei captivated our Year 8 and Year 10 students with a spectacular kendo demonstration, providing a dynamic introduction to this traditional Japanese martial art. Additionally, he shared his expertise in Japanese calligraphy with our Year 7 students, who thoroughly enjoyed the hands-on experience.

Term 3 Activities

Year 12 Mock Exam Preparation: this term, our Year 12 students will be focusing on their mock exams and the culmination of their studies at QASMT. We encourage all students to take advantage of the resources and support available to them as they prepare for this important milestone.

Tanabata Cultural Activities: in Week 2, our Japanese classes will celebrate Tanabata, the traditional Japanese star festival. Morimoto and Ngarae Sensei will engage students in various cultural activities that bring this beautiful festival to life.

Language Teachers QLD Speech Contest: we are thrilled with the overwhelming interest and nominations for the LTQ speech contest this year. The contest will take place at Griffith University Nathan Campus on Sunday 4 August. This event provides a fantastic platform for students to showcase their language skills, engage with peers from other schools, and gain valuable public speaking experience. We wish all our participants the best of luck!

Year 11 STEM Tour to Japan: preparations are in full swing for the Year 11 STEM tour to Japan later this term. This tour offers a unique opportunity for students to immerse themselves in Japanese culture and gain insights into the country's advancements in science and technology.

Visual Arts

Year 7 and 8 Visual Art
Our Year 7 students will investigate environmental issues that affect wildlife and then design a super-survivor hybrid animal. They will gain skills in graphite drawing, digital painting and colourful collage. Our Year 8 students will explore the expression of identity through a range of approaches, including self-portraits and portraits of others. They will develop their knowledge and skills in drawing, digital imaging, and mixed media.

Year 9 Visual Art - Artists As Changemakers
We are excited to welcome our Year 9s to Artists as Changemakers in Term 3. In Unit 1, students will be exploring different methods and techniques to make art, such as printmaking, photography and mixed media. In Week 5, we look forward to working with a local Brisbane artist in a full day painting workshop. It will be a great term of creativity.

Music
We would like to welcome Ms Teena Sullivan to the Music Department. Ms Sullivan has already been working at QASMT as a Strings Instrumental Teacher, however, she now joins us full time, taking on classroom music.

Year 7 and 8 Classroom Music
Year 7 music students are exploring music elements and concepts through discovering 'Bold & Beautiful' music throughout the ages. Students will collaborate in groups to rehearse for a live performance in front of their peers. Year 8 music students are going on a journey through Blues, Jazz, Rock and Pop genres in the unit 'Beatbox'. Students will develop skills in performance, composition and analysis, creating a 'hit song' from one of the styles studied.

Year 9 Music - STEM Futures 'Soundtrack'
Year 9 music students are delving into descriptive music with a focus this term on music that represents or is written about/ for space and astronomy. NASA images will be dissected to create sonifications utilising Digital Audio Workstations (DAW) or traditional notation software. In addition, students will collaborate on a group performance project to be performed in front of a live audience.

Instrumental Music
Instrumental Music lessons will commence in Week 2 this term, with ensembles commencing in Week 1. In Week 5, we will hold the Instrumental Music Evening Concert, on Tuesday 6 August. This concert will showcase all the larger ensembles at school, and more details about the evening will follow.

Australian Honours Ensemble Program (AHEP) and State Honours Ensemble Program (SHEP)
The following students will be attending the Australian Honours and State Honours Ensemble Programs later this term. We look forward to hearing all about these fantastic performance opportunities.

As we embrace the creative journey ahead, we are excited to witness the incredible talent and passion our students bring to their visual arts, music and language endeavours. With a blend of innovative projects and exceptional guidance from our dedicated teachers, Term 3 promises to be an inspiring and enriching experience for all. We are looking forward to another vibrant and productive term. Here's to a fantastic Term 3!

Fiona Scarth, Head of Department Language Acquisition

From the Department of Language and Literature

Building upon the groundwork laid in previous terms, Group 1 English places a renewed emphasis on oracy and expression of ideas in Term 3.  

This focus aims to bolster student confidence in generating and presenting ideas with clarity and flair, fostering the art of articulate public speaking. As we look to differentiate our instruction to meet the academic needs of our students’ wonderful minds and prepare them for the external assessment requirements of speaking ideas out loud, Term 3 is characterised by students collaborating and expressing their ideas “out loud”.

Year 7 embarks on a fascinating journey through the world's myths and legends, the foundation stones of countless cultures. This exploration culminates in the creation of their own picture books – miniature masterpieces that will undoubtedly prompt profound reflection on the link between storytelling and cultural identity. A key part of this process is students sharing their ideas with their teacher and peers throughout the drafting process to ensure that they receive meaningful feedback on their process.

Year 8 students are tasked with becoming intrepid documentary filmmakers. Wielding the power of the lens, they will explore a social issue that ignites their passion. Remember, with great authorial choice comes great responsibility – students will need to be prepared to dissect and defend creative decisions with aplomb. The expression of ideas verbally and visually is pertinent; but more so, the collaboration required to achieve the outcomes of this term’s task will see our students develop their communication skills.

Year 9 delves into the captivating realm of multimodal texts, a term encompassing the cacophony of messages bombarding us daily. Working collaboratively, students transform into communication detectives, analysing the subtle ways authors and organisations craft narratives to resonate with diverse audiences across varied contexts.

Year 10 grapples with the Bard himself! The term delves into Shakespeare's Macbeth, a play brimming with ambition, guilt, and enough political intrigue to make Machiavelli blush. Students will dissect themes, characters, and the very essence of the theatrical titan. Importantly, students will take a conceptual approach to this text by not only exploring authorial intent, but exploring what this text shows about “the human condition”.  

Year 11 continues its march towards the Internal Assessment. This term, students pay homage to the brilliant Carol Ann Duffy and her poetry collection, The World's Wife. They will also embark on a cinematic exploration of Global Issues, for literature serves as a potent mirror reflecting the very world we inhabit. The ideas that students express and concepts that they engage with will ultimately inform their Term 4 Individual Oral.  

Finally, Year 12 students prepare for mock examinations. Fear not! The program hones their literary skills to a razor's edge with a diverse array of texts, both familiar and fresh. The aim? To empower students to see the world with the discerning eye of a literary sleuth and express their ideas with the eloquence of a Roman orator. We look forward to how our Year 12 students will continue this work by deepening their thinking and expression of ideas over the rest of the course.  

Within Group 1, every voice is a precious instrument. Collaborative learning strives to unlock students' unique perspectives. Our students will think critically, write with verve, and unleash the inner wordsmith and orator that resides within all. Across all year levels, whether writing creatively or analytically, this term seeks to provide multiple opportunities for students to demonstrate insight and depth of thought. 

David Bracken, Head of Department Language and Literature

From the Deputy Principal Middle Years

Welcome back to our Middle Years’ students and families. Term 3 will be another busy term on the calendar for our students, and a very fulfilling term.

Our Year 9s will continue to prepare for the Year 9 Journey this term. The purpose of the Year 9 Journey is to strengthen character, resilience, perseverance and team work of our students. Their planned camp to Emu Gully in Week 4 of this term will be a memorable experience. Our Year 9s will also partake in a UQ Engagement Day at the University of Queensland later this term. This day allows our students to engage with a number of university faculties, and participate in activities and discussions across the day. And finally, our Year 9s are currently finalising their Community Projects, due at the beginning of Week 4 this term. Each Community Project group will showcase their projects during our National Science Week.

Our Year 7s and Year 8s will also have numerous opportunities to engage with Academy life, from curriculum and sporting competitions to our Honours Program initiatives, and curriculum and non-curriculum excursions. The more students engage with the many opportunities offered to them at QASMT, the greater experience they will have.

On the curriculum front, it is important that all students understand the power of ATT (Approaches to Teaching) and ATL (Approaches to Learning) as they both impact student learning. ATT and ATL lie at the heart of both the Middle Years and IB Diploma Programmes, and Middle Years’ teachers at QASMT embed ATL and ATT into their conceptual, inquiry-based lessons to achieve deep learning.

I would like to remind all students, parents and caregivers of the protocols around applying for an extension for assessment. To apply for an extension, students are required to fill in QASMT’s official extension request form (found on the Academy’s website) and email it, alongside the required documentation to support their extension request, to the Middle Year Coordinator’s email address that is printed on the extension request form. This form identifies the support documentation required for each request, for example  a medical certificate. Once all information is received in full, I will process the extension request form and alert the student of the outcome in a timely manner.

On a final note, a reminder for all Middle Years’ students that attending school every day counts. Regular attendance at school is imperative for the continuity of learning, working alongside peers and building relationships. It is important that all students come to school regularly and on time.

I look forward to seeing our Middle Years’ parents and caregivers across the term. 

Wishing you all a pleasant term ahead.

Kirsten Baker, Deputy Principal Middle Years

From the Senior Leadership Team

We welcome back families to Term 3 and look forward to a number of important school events. These include the QASMT Tertiary Studies Expo and Parent Information Evening, Middle and Senior Years Awards Assembly, Year 9 Journey, Instrumental Music Concert, and the Year 12 Formal - to name just a few of the exciting opportunities for our school community to come together.

We are also very excited to be celebrating National Science Week during Week 6 of this term. It is the pinnacle of our school calendar, with an exciting array of events scheduled for both our students and the school community. We encourage everyone to find ways to be involved.

The week will open on Monday 12 August, with an entourage of very important visitors to the school. It will be a special opportunity for our students to hear and engage with our esteemed guests. We also have a number of students from interstate schools visiting - to engage with our students and teachers on the many exciting STEM opportunities we will be offering. 

STEM is not just part of our school’s name, but rather, a STEM education is part of the very fabric of our school. The opportunities that our students have to develop their passion for STEM related pursuits will set them up to be tomorrow’s leaders of STEM research and innovation. The Australian government outlines the vital importance of a STEM education and the opportunities it provides for young people in their future careers:

“The world is changing around us. Digital technology has become a core part of our everyday lives. Advances in technology impact everything, especially the world of work. Entire job sectors are emerging or disappearing, and workforces are rushing to keep up with change.

Automation and globalisation are changing the way we think about, and define, careers. Employment is becoming fluid, and people will go from having one profession to several in their working life. These may be entirely different roles, across entirely different sectors.

As the world of work changes, we will need to change our skills to match. The gap between the knowledge generated in the education system and the skills demanded by employers and individuals is widening. Overcoming these limitations requires a priority focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), including the development of workplace skills in STEM. Future careers will also rely heavily on ‘21st century skills’ — for example, critical thinking, creativity, cultural awareness, collaboration and problem-solving. When done well, STEM education complements the development of 21st century skills. It’s predicted that future workers will spend more than twice as much time on job tasks requiring science, maths and critical thinking than today.

It’s vital that Australia keeps pace with technological change to advance its economy and prosperity. Without adequate STEM skills and understanding in Australia, there is a risk that companies searching for these skills will be forced to set up elsewhere. But if we prepare Australians for the jobs of the future, we will enjoy a thriving cycle of jobs and opportunities.

STEM learning is also important for students in their everyday life in our contemporary world, with the rise of new technologies in biomedicine, microfabrication, robotics and artificial intelligence. The ability to understand and apply data, and develop solutions to complex problems, will be important life skills.”

https://www.education.gov.au/australian-curriculum/national-stem-education-resources-toolkit/introductory-material-what-stem/why-stem-important

Updates on all scheduled events will be released shortly, and we look forward to joining with you to celebrate all things SCIENCE!

All students have now received their report or achievement summary, and this will provide an excellent opportunity for students to reflect on their personal learning plans, and to consider what goals to set for this semester. The purpose of a personal learning plan and goal setting is to develop a sense of purpose in their learning journey, and to plan for ways to achieve personal excellence. Personal excellence, as defined by the QASMT Vision and Values statement is this: “the aim is not perfection but instead to achieve our potential; and flourishing, as defined in positive psychology.”

Last term, our students were given the option to complete the Department of Education Queensland Engagement and Wellbeing survey. The Queensland Engagement and Wellbeing (QEW) Survey collects data from Queensland state schools in a consistent and systematic way to gain a better understanding of the wellbeing and engagement of students. It measures many aspects of students' wellbeing, engagement and experience at school. Data from the survey will help schools to monitor their school culture and student wellbeing in line with the Student Learning and Wellbeing Framework (PDF, 535KB) External link and Equity and Excellence: realising the potential of every student strategy External link. This data will enable us to reflect on our engagement and wellbeing programs, and identify where additional programs or resources may be required.

We recently received the results of this survey, and the leadership team will closely analyse this information to inform our Positive Education and Wellbeing programs. It was very pleasing to see that our students are well above the state average for all 12 aspects of engagement and wellbeing including resilience, school climate, sense of belonging, motivation and perseverance, academic self-concept, personal social capabilities, general life satisfaction, future outlook and aspirations, relationships with peers, with teachers and at home, and general health.

Data is:

• reported at a group level (not individual student level).
• reported at a topic level e.g. resilience, motivation and perseverance (not an individual question level).
• reported where there are five or more responses for each group (confidentially so that no individual student can be identified in any reports).

More information on the QEW can be found on the Department of education website:
https://alt-qed.qed.qld.gov.au/publications/reports/statistics/schooling/students/queensland-engagement-wellbeing-survey/faqs-for-parents-and-carers 

We look forward to further unpacking this data and to continue to work with our students and their families to provide a positive educational experience.

Finally, a reminder that we have a Student Free Day on Monday 22 July.

Kath Kayrooz, Principal; Kerry Bullock, Associate Principal Teaching and Learning; Catherine de Freitas Pessoa, Deputy Principal Academic; Sam Weston, Deputy Principal Performance; Sandy Davey, Acting Deputy Principal Engagement

From the Department of Asian Language Acquisition and The arts

Asian Languages and International Mindedness
Year 12 Internal Assessment Final Orals Completed
Our Year 12 students have successfully completed their Internal Assessment final orals. This significant milestone is a testament to their hard work and dedication throughout the term. Congratulations to all of our Year 12 students for their outstanding effort and commitment!

Japan STEM Tour Planning Meetings
Excitement is building as planning meetings for the Japan STEM tour have commenced. These meetings will continue into Term 3 as we prepare for an enriching educational experience in Japan. This tour promises to be a unique opportunity for our students to engage with STEM subjects in an international context, broadening their horizons and fostering international mindedness.

The Arts

Festival of Creativity
Last Friday, June 14, our annual Festival of Creativity took place, marking the end of Term 2 with a vibrant celebration of our students' incredible talent and artistic expression. This festival is a highlight of the school calendar, offering a platform for students to display their creativity in various forms, including visual arts, dance, and music. The event was a wonderful night filled with a lively atmosphere, showcasing the dedication and hard work of our QASMT students.

A special thank you goes to Mr Greg Thompson, who has been an integral part of our community. Sadly, he is leaving us at the end of this term to pursue an exciting opportunity at an international school in Shanghai. He will be greatly missed by students and staff alike.

The festival also saw remarkable involvement from our parent community, who organised a successful fundraising campaign for the Share the Dignity charity. Parent volunteers contributed by preparing and serving delicious dishes throughout the evening, adding a delightful culinary experience to the night. We are incredibly grateful for their support and dedication.

We also want to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who made the night possible, especially Mr Hunter, Ms Lunn, Mrs Sullivan-Ward and Dr Colley, whose efforts were crucial to the event's success. Thank you all for your dedication and for making the Festival of Creativity a night to remember!

Visual and Media Arts

Media Arts Year 7
During this term, our Year 7 visual artists delved into Media Arts. Together, they embarked on a collaborative journey, crafting captivating short silent films. Applying their expertise in camera angles, storyboarding, acting, filming, and editing, the students brought to life morals from fables through their cinematic creations. The term proved to be a deeply enjoyable and creatively fulfilling experience for all involved.

Media Arts Year 8
This term, our Year 8 students showcased their creativity by producing captivating stop motion animations. Drawing inspiration from a STEAM influencer of their choice, the students embarked on a journey of collaboration. Working in pairs, they sculpted plasticine busts and brought their characters to life through the art of animation. The resulting animations were nothing short of fantastic, reflecting the students' dedication and talent.

Classroom Music
Student driven inquiry-based learning was at the heart of our Year 7 unit focusing on Musical Theatre which required students to pitch a new musical theatre concept to a panel of producers, taking into consideration most aspects of putting on a professional production at a local performance arts centre. Students composed an original genre-specific song.

Creative inquiry drove learning in Year 8 where students reimagined a piece or song using refined theory. Solo performances demonstrated technological innovation, inclusiveness or sustainability, including historical performance to practice new ways to enhance or distort sound.

Our Year 9 Soundtrack STEM Futures music students used DAW and traditional music notation to compose music for video games. Manipulating the elements of music, many took inspiration from the industry to compose an original soundtrack to gaming sequences. Some of these compositions were a part of the exhibition at the Festival of Creativity.  Solo performances brought existing gaming soundtracks to life.

Wishing everyone a restful break and looking forward to an inspiring Term 3!

Fiona Scarth – Head of Department Asian Language Acquisition and The Arts

From the Deputy Principal Senior Years

What a wonderful and very busy term it has been! 

As I have walked around the classrooms over this past term, I have seen all year levels fully engaged in learning using different ATL. I have seen students thinking, researching and communicating, as well as using social and self-management skills. Our term has wrapped up with two wonderful events, the Assessment Forum and the Festival of Creativity, and at both events I saw students fully engaged in expressive and articulate communication with others.  

Year 12 Curriculum
Congratulations must go to our Year 12 cohort – they are incredibly close to the completion of their IB Diploma requirements. Year 12 students now only have the submission of their final EE and TOK left, as well as their mock exams and, of course, their final November exams. Next term, students will spend a considerable amount of time in their final preparations for their exams, and important information regarding mocks and final exams will be emailed out to all students and parents/caregivers soon.

Year 11 Curriculum
This term has been busy for our Year 11s, with practice IAs and orals across their subjects. At the end of this term, our Year 11 students will have completed a third of their IB content for their subjects. At this point it is essential that all Year 11 students now have meaningful study practices that are supporting them in their learning across their subjects. Students have earned a rest over the holiday, and during this time I highly encourage Year 11 students to reflect on their progress so far – what has worked for them, what has not, and how do they think they can continue to improve next term? If you have a Year 11 student in your family, I encourage you to ask them these questions and to support them to reflect on their progress so far this year.

Year 10 Curriculum
Congratulations must go to our Year 10 students who this term completed their Certificate II in Sampling and Measuring, and the Certificate III in Laboratory Skills. Our Year 10s have also now finished their STEM Futures experiences and are about to move into their chosen subject levels in Semester 2, as they embark on their Diploma Preparation Programme. These subjects and levels should now be what students are planning to undertake in their IB Diploma. If you have a student in your family who is unsure of their subject choices, please ensure they come to see either myself (Deputy Principal Senior Years), or the Deputy Principal Performance as soon as possible.

I look forward to bringing you more news of IB and ATL next term, but for now, to all of our families – have a wonderful and well-earned break over the school holidays. I am excited to continue to work with our students and families again in Term 3, and to support all of our students to achieve the best they can throughout their time at QASMT.

Esme Hatchell, Deputy Principal Senior Years

From Education Outside the Classroom (EOTC)

What a huge term for EOTC! 

Not only did we see some great teaching and learning experiences in our classrooms, we also had an off-campus Athletics Carnival, sanctioned volleyball events, the inaugural Miskin Street Cup Chess Competition, teacher v students matches and, of course, engagement in our flourishing Sports Program.

Athletics Carnival
Week 6 featured a highly successful athletics carnival at the UQ Athletics Centre. The event was well-organised and showcased impressive athletic performances from students across various events. For those not participating in the athletics, there were plenty of enjoyable activities, with beach volleyball and the vortex throw being the favourites again this year.

The day kicked off with the house war cry competition, which improves each year. Congratulations to Hawking House for their inaugural victory in the war cry competition and to Da Vinci House for winning the overall carnival. A big thank you to Mr Conway for organising the event, and all the staff who contributed to making the day such a success.

Miskin Cup – Soccer and Chess

The friendly rivalry between QASMT and BBC kicked off again in Week 1, Term 2, with a football match on home soil, marking the beginning of the “Miskin Cup” initiative for the year.

The afternoon turned out to be fantastic, with a strong showing of staff and students from QASMT cheering on our Open Boys Football team. They secured a thrilling 5-3 victory against BBC in a closely contested match. The boys played exceptionally well, with Lachlan P leading the team to victory by scoring a hat-trick.

In Week 9, Round 2 of the Miskin Cup took place, and this time our chess students were in the spotlight for the inaugural chess competition. On Monday afternoon, 21 QASMT chess players faced off against Brisbane Boys College's best, with each student playing two 15-minute games. The results speak for themselves:

QASMT: 29

BBC: 15

A big shoutout to all the students who participated, and a massive thank you to everyone for their support!

A special mention goes to Tiffany for her active involvement in all things chess at QASMT, and her contribution to this historic win!

Daniel Turner – Chess Coordinator

School Sport
Term 2 sports at QASMT has seen increased participation, fun, and physical activity. Both senior and junior students have been working tirelessly to hone their attacking and defending skills in netball, volleyball, football, and basketball over the past eight weeks.

With support from their highly skilled and knowledgeable coaches, it has been magnificent to see each student’s progression. This year, selection for the Winter Gala was the toughest yet.

Our Junior Gala Day was on Wednesday of Week 10, and our Senior Winter Gala Day is on Friday of Week 1, Term 3. We look forward to QASMT maintaining their high standard of performance and bringing home premiership flags. We wish our students all the best in their competitions.

Term 3 sports will kick off in Week 2, featuring badminton, ultimate disc, and AFL. Students will be notified shortly about their allocations to their chosen sports. Allocations are based on first and second preferences from the now-closed online survey platform, and the availability of places in each sport.

Staff v Students Basketball
The staff v students basketball match was a thrilling event filled with excitement and memorable moments. The game had everything from impressive three-pointers and ankle-breaking crossovers to a classic prom proposal that delighted the crowd.

Despite the overwhelming support from the student body, the Year 12 team could not overcome the experienced staff team. The staff proved to be too strong on the day, ultimately taking the win.

Well done to all involved. It was a lot of fun and a fantastic display of skill and sportsmanship.

Interschool Gardiner Chess Competition
Monday, Week 6, saw 28 QASMT students attend Brisbane Boys College to compete in the Gardiner Chess Term 2 Interschool Chess Competition, after a third place finish for our Premier Team in Term 1. Our top three teams were competitive and showed their ability against tough competition in the Premier and A Divisions, and despite some unfortunate results, they deserve a big congratulations for their efforts!

A huge congratulations to the following teams and individuals for the following amazing results!

First place finish for QASMT Team 7

Second place finish for QASMT Team 4

Sergei for a first place finish in his division.

Tejas for a third place finish in his division

Very special mention to Amelia for leading by example and getting involved with chess on behalf of all the girls at QASMT!

ISC Volleyball
In Week 7, we sent four teams to the ISC Volleyball competition on the Gold Coast. This is a major event that showcases the best volleyball schools in Queensland. All our teams competed in higher divisions this year, testing their skill, mental toughness, and teamwork.

A special mention goes to the Year 10 girls' team, who won the Division 2 competition, defeating some top volleyball excellence schools. Kudos also to the Year 10 boys, who competed fiercely in the Honours Division and finished the tournament in sixth place. They displayed tremendous skill, teamwork, and dedication, narrowly losing to what is effectively the Queensland State team. Great effort!

A HUGE thank you to the EOTC staff and specialist coaches who support this evolving program.

Curriculum – Year 8 and 10 spotlight
This term, our Year 8 students delved into personal training, learning about the fundamentals of fitness. They conducted a series of fitness tests to identify their weaknesses and designed training sessions to improve these areas. After trying out their training sessions, they reflected on their effectiveness. Planning and implementing a personalised training program, along with participating in fitness challenges, emphasised the importance of fitness in various aspects of their lives, both now and in the future.

In Peak Performance, students experienced what it is like to conduct research in the context of sport, health, and exercise. They conducted field research and gained valuable clinical experience working with human subjects. Their findings were compiled into a culminating project write-up, providing excellent preparation for the coming years and engaging students in collaboration and communication skills applicable beyond the classroom.

Overall, it was a fantastic term for our MYP and STEM students!

Yanah Floridis, Head of Education Outside the Classroom

From the Guidance Officers

Term 2 has once again provided many opportunities for students to progress their future planning and personal development.  

I encourage families to discuss these experiences with their students.

Our Year 12 students have been completing their individual pathways interviews. They are encouraged to meet with the Guidance Officer to discuss their plans and identify what support is available to assist with the next stage of their career journey. Students may access bookings through the booking link in Mrs Judge’s email signature to select an interview time. In addition, each student is required to complete their Pathways Interview Form and submit to Mrs Judge by 31 July at the latest. See ‘Important Files’ on our Pathways Hub at https://studyworkgrow.com/education/school/queensland-academy-for-science-mathematics-and-technology/. Thank you to those students who have already completed this process.

All Year 11 students attended the annual UQ Career Pulse event, choosing from many electives to engage with various faculties and career fields while experiencing a day of university life.

During their Positive Education Program and subject lessons, our Middle Years’ students continue to grow their understanding of themselves as individuals and society around them, developing their sense of who they are and how that might impact their life decisions, including career choices. The Year 9 students have begun to make their career exploration more explicit this term in preparation for their Senior Education and Training (SET) plans that will be developed in Term 3.  The Year 7 students are exploring the World of Work and how to access career information.

Students and parents attended our latest Career Information Session, “Study Around the World”, exploring the complex scenarios of international university applications.

QASMT Tertiary Expo
Monday 15 July, 4:00pm - 6:00pm in the Auditorium, Lecture Theatre and M Block. 

Students in Years 9 - 12 are highly encouraged to attend!

Local, interstate and overseas tertiary providers will be in attendance to answer questions and provide information to support career planning and subject selection. Speak with tertiary representatives with your personal queries at the booths in the Auditorium. Listen to the presentations in our Lecture Theatre and M Block. It is a great privilege that these providers are coming to us, and we encourage our students and families to make the most of this event.

Resources
There are many resources available to support our students’ career planning journey.

Guidance Office/Career Library (A Block): a range of free resources available for students to access.

QASMT Digital Library: a growing collection of career resources including newsletters and factsheets from previous communication. 

Options Bulletin: The Options Career Information App gives you convenient access to career information and key calendar dates which can also be great conversation starters when talking with your child. Simply download the app and sign in using our unique access code “QASMT” (for our Academy community use only.) Switch on the App’s notifications and you will know when the latest bulletin is published. You will continue to receive further career information throughout the year.  Alternatively, the latest bulletin is available at https://optionscareers.com.au/welcome/QASMT/bulletin .

Study Work Grow: features include guides (e.g. Entry to Medicine Guide, Pathways to Engineering, Co-op Scholarships Guide), weekly newsletters, a work experience database, a scholarships database, job spotlights and online tools.  Investigate at www.studyworkgrow.com.

QASMT Career Hub: for free access to Study Work Grow resources and local QASMT career documents and news - https://studyworkgrow.com/education/school/queensland-academy-for-science-mathematics-and-technology/

Wishing you all a restful semester break. 

Katrina Judge, Guidance Officer (Career Planning) 

There have been some common themes for which students have been accessing support from the Guidance Officer this term, these include:

• Self-management (time, organisation, planning)
• Emotional regulation – increased number of students requiring support around managing their own anger responses
• Support to access external mental health services

The school provides some great resources for parents and students to access, to provide support around these concerns.

Student Program – Life Skills: how to master them
The Life Skills student program had a great take up across all year levels, particularly among our Year 8 cohort. This program explored some skills that are essential for success, even to the most naturally gifted person. The program provided students the opportunity to learn about these life skills and provide exercises on how to master them.

A new learning opportunity will be available in Term 3 to supports students, please keep a look out for the Anger: Exercises and coping skills to help manage your anger. Details will be provided to students at the beginning of Term 3 around how to enrol.

School TV (for parents) as well as Guidance Officer led courses (for students) such as the Anger program, Life Skills course, Eat the Frog, and parent and community sessions are a great learning tool.

Parent and Community
Our first parent and community session for 2024 was delivered virtually during Term 2 in response to parent requests. Parents were encouraged to invite their children to join them for the event. We had over 120 families log into the event, with many households having two or more people in attendance. This was an excellent participation. There will be an option to attend another virtual presentation next term, when we welcome Georgia McGirvan from Headspace to present around supporting young people with their mental health.

SchoolTV
SchoolTV is an online resource designed to empower you as parents with credible and sound information with realistic, practical ongoing support strategies.

In response to the identified need areas for student support this term, I invite you to take some time to explore The SchoolTV resources within the focus area of the ‘Mental Health Series’: https://qasmt.eq.schooltv.me/channel-newsletter/314

This resource can be accessed through the Academy’s website.

PRIDE Day
Students and staff contributed to the colourful activities on Friday of Week 8 to bring awareness to the inclusivity of our LGBTQIA+ community. Activities were available to all students who wished to participate.

Thank you to our GSA team of students and staff for ensuring an inclusive event for all to enjoy.

Community Support Services
‘Managing Your Mental Health Online’ document below can be found on our school website, as a related link to our Wellbeing Framework.

Found here: https://qasmt.eq.edu.au/support-and-resources/wellbeing/wellbeing-framework

For your children:

• Talk to your parents – they are your biggest advocates and think you are wonderful – they will listen to you and support you.
• Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800  www.kidshelp.com.au/teens/
• Lifeline: 13 11 14  www.lifeline.org.au/Get-help/Online-Services/crisis-chat
• E-Headspace: 1800 650 890 www.eheadspace.org.au (e-headspace is not for crisis support)
• Youth Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636 www.youthbeyondblue.com/hel-someone-you-know/what-to-do-in-an-energency/get-immediate-support
• Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 551 800 – https://www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au/ 

For parents and community:

• Parentline: 1300 30 1300 https://parentline.com.au/
• Family and Child Connect: 13 32 64 https://familychildconnect.org.au/
• Lifeline: 13 11 14 lifeline.org.au/
• Relationships Australia: 1300 364 277 relationships.org.au/
• Butterfly: https://butterfly.org.au/
• Griefline: 1300 845 754 https://griefline.org.au/
• 1800Respect: 1800 737 732 https://www.1800respect.org.au/

Stay safe over the break – be kind to yourself and each other.

Tara Le Pla, Guidance Officer (Student Support)

From the House Deans

As we near the end of another productive and eventful term, it’s wonderful to look back on all the exciting and engaging activities that have taken place.

Firstly, we would like to express our gratitude to all of the parents and caregivers who ensure our students arrive at the Academy on time for their classes and in the correct uniform. Your efforts play a crucial role in their education and overall success. Research clearly shows that higher student attendance is associated, on average, with higher student achievement. Additionally, attending school daily helps children build social and emotional skills such as communication, teamwork, and resilience (Source: Every Day Counts).

Over the holidays, there is a great opportunity to sort out any uniform issues to ensure we maintain our high standards. Just a friendly reminder that in Term 3, students must wear their formal uniform, including the blazer and hat, to and from school.

As our students approach a new semester, it's important for them to revisit the goals they set earlier in the year, assess their academic performance, and seek feedback from teachers. As Albert Einstein once famously stated, "Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think”. Embracing this journey of self-improvement and reflection through effective feedback will pave the way for a successful and fulfilling semester ahead.

Athletics Carnival
Our annual athletics carnival, held during Week 6 at UQ, was a resounding success with enthusiastic participation and celebrations throughout the day. As per tradition, we kicked off the carnival with each house presenting their mighty war cry. This colourful, musical, and well-choreographed spectacle was highly competitive, and the eventual winners were Hawking House for their outstanding team display. Throughout the carnival, students showcased their athletic talents across various events, displaying remarkable sportsmanship and team spirit. On the winning front, Da Vinci House earned the most points and collected the athletics trophy from Ms Kayrooz; an impressive achievement as they won it for the third year in a row. Well done!

Sustainability Fashion Parade
Another highlight of the term was the Sustainability Fashion Parade, which was the finale of activities as part of the annual Sustainability Week. In preparation for the parade, students in each of their InSteps had the chance to showcase their creativity and commitment to eco-friendliness by preparing sustainable costumes. On the Thursday of Week 9, students in their InSteps then proudly displayed their final creations during lunchtime to the school community. At the end of the parade, the eventual winners, announced by Ms Kayrooz, were Newton House (specifically INN08) for their winning ‘Red Panda’ costume. Their innovative design captured the spirit of sustainability and impressed the judges.

Term 2 House Charities/Fundraisers
This term was an eventful one for charity work, with three houses launching their service projects.

It has been a very proud term for Hawking House, where 41 students across Years 7 - 12 volunteered their time and culinary prowess to the Eat Up Charity. This is Australia’s only organisation providing free lunches to students on a national scale. By first reflecting on the significant impact that having a full stomach has on our capacity to engage in learning, students were eager to participate and support our community. Through spirited teamwork the students prepared and packaged 1,234 sandwiches in 30 minutes, to be provided to students across Australia.

“Newton House held a charity bake sale to raise money for the Miracle Babies Foundation, Australia’s leading organisation supporting premature and sick newborns, their families, and the hospitals that care for them. The bake sale featured a variety of decorative cakes, cookies, and other baked goods, satisfying everyone’s sweet tooth. Through the generosity of the QASMT staff and students, a total of $1,082 was raised and donated to the foundation. In addition to supporting a great cause, the bake sale gave students a chance to practise their leadership, organisational, and entrepreneurial skills. Their hard work showed how kindness and teamwork can make a big difference in helping others” – Iris, Newton House Captain

Franklin House: "We are thrilled to report that our bake sale this term was a huge success! Thanks to the hard work and dedication of our students, and staff, we were able to raise the significant amount of $1003.55 for the RSPCA . The delicious treats and baked goods were a hit with everyone who attended, and we are grateful for the support of QASMT community. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this event a success, and we look forward to more successful fundraisers in the future” – Aimee, Franklin House Captain

Positive Education Program (PEP) in the classroom
Year 7 – The development of emotional literacy and self-regulation skills is a key priority in Year 7, with much of Term 2 spent unpacking strategies that students can use to manage themselves appropriately. Students learn how to identify different emotions, analyse their emotional state and practice self-regulation strategies. In Term 3, students will discover how to set and achieve realistic SMART goals, which prepares them for the Personalised Learning Plan (PLP) process. In this unit, students also investigate the importance of cultivating a growth mindset.

Year 8 – Focus on leadership, with upcoming ambassador applications in early Term 3. Students looked at the qualities of a leader, what inspires them for greatness, and how to build resilience. Next term the focus will be on Positive Purpose and what it means to be flourishing by exploring the benefits of serving both self and deliberately engaging in activities for the benefit of others.

Year 9 - This term, the Journey program was launched, giving students the chance to explore their values, strengths, dreams, and aspirations, fostering self-awareness and confidence. George Hulse OAM, a veteran, presented on the 80/20 rule, resilience strategies, and stress management. Ms Katrina Judge, our Guidance Officer, provided crucial career planning information. Next term, students will prepare for their upcoming Year 9 Journey camp at Emu Gully; the camp will be from Wednesday July 31 - Friday August 2.

Year 10 – This term’s unit, "Looking After Yourself," under the Positive Health domain, focused on teenagers creating sustainable habits for physical and mental health. In their co-teaching class groups, students researched and presented on topics like physical, mental, social, and financial health, and created self-help sheets for all teenagers. Next term, we'll explore the topic of establishing and maintaining respectful relationships, along with developing effective study skills as they commence their pre-IB Diploma subjects.

Year 11 - This term students have been working on positive relationships and accomplishment through leadership and teamwork, furthering their CAS considerations and respectful relationships. Next term students will address respectful relationships in greater detail as well as allowing time to prepare for exams.

Finally, thank you to our students for your active engagement this semester, and to our staff and parent community for your continued support. Have a relaxing and enjoyable break. Remember to take time to disconnect, unwind, read as much as you can, and spend time outdoors. We look forward to seeing everyone back for Term 3!

Special report on Sustainability Week activities – Agnes, Sustainable Futures Captain
This term, we held our biggest sustainability events of the year! In Week 6, we celebrated Bee Day by offering samples of honey produced by our very own native stingless bees at QASMT. We shared facts on how we can protect our bees as a school, and students who are particularly interested can join our Bee Club CCA.

In Week 9, we celebrated Sustainability Week. On the Monday, we were fortunate to have Dr Tran from UQ as a guest speaker, sharing her mission to achieve a more sustainable future while aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG) goals. On the Tuesday, we held our annual Sustainability Week assembly, with a guest speaker from Lone Pine Sanctuary presenting the sanctuary’s history and ways to protect endangered species. Our school is lucky to have adopted two koalas, Morris and Portia, who live at Lone Pine. We continually help raise funds to support koalas in need. We learned about Lone Pine's commitment to sustainability through donations to plant more trees and maintain koala habitats in the wild. During the lunchtime, our CCAs and The Lord Mayor's Young Environmental Leadership Network (LMYELN) group had stalls around the courtyard where students could make terrariums from recycled jars or participate in a rubbish toss to educate on proper waste disposal. On the Wednesday, our Years 7 - 10 ambassadors hosted a drawing competition and a scavenger hunt, with sustainability-themed clues leading to a final prize.

To conclude the week on the Thursday, we had a Sustainable Fashion Parade. This year, students designed outfits based on the UNSDG theme “Life on Land,” and we were all impressed by the final designs modelled on the runway. Congratulations to Newton InStep 8, who took first place with an incredible red panda-inspired outfit. Overall, Term 2 was very busy with all our sustainability events, and I am pleased to say they were a great success. We look forward to what’s coming in Term 3!

Aileen Davis, House Dean Agnesi; Marc Wheeler, House Dean Curie; Zoe Kirby, House Dean Da Vinci; Ross Bray, House Dean Franklin; Jae Morris, House Dean Hawking; Kate Oxenford, Dean Aspland, House Deans Hollows; Djamila Reynolds, House Dean Jackson; and Deva Prasad, House Dean Newton.

From the Department of Mathematics

Have you ever wondered how to calculate the height of a tree, or building, using trigonometry and a handmade clinometer? 

If so, you need to speak to a Year 9 student who could talk to you at length about this, after completing their Criterion C (Communicating) and D (Applying mathematics in real life contexts) project.

What else has been going on in Mathematics classrooms in Term 2
Year 8 students have applied their knowledge of rates, ratios, percentages, profit and loss, time, linear equations, and linear relationships to a real life scenario (selling homemade brownies) to consider how to run an online business in the “Money, Money, Money” unit, so they can make a $400.00 profit in a month. This in-class test has allowed the students to see the use of mathematics in real-life contexts and improve their communication skills.

“How can we bring things together?” has been the question considered by Year 7 students. This unit has allowed them to use their knowledge of fractions, decimals and integers and apply this to Algebra. The students demonstrated the knowledge and skills they have gained for this unit, as well as some statistics content that is part of the IDU unit in a Criterion A (Knowledge) test in Week 6. Following this, they started the Interdisciplinary Unit (IDU) with science where they considered aspects of Earth, space sciences, data representation and interpretations during their science and mathematics lessons.

Algebraic fractions, measurement, statistics, quadratics and advanced trigonometry have been the topics that have engaged the Year 10 students. They will complete two exams in the exam block in preparation for the move to their new subjects (Maths AA or AI) next term.

Our Year 11 students have been busy learning new coursework while the Year 12s finalised what they need to know for November exams. This term has also been a busy one for Year 12 students who have worked extremely hard to complete their final IA – a maths exploration on a topic of their own choice. This is a substantial assessment that the students should be very proud of.

Maths Enrichment
During Term 2, students have participated in a number of enrichment opportunities.

On April 26, 132 students sat the UQ/QAMT Problem Solving Challenge. This two-hour competition required students to solve five challenging questions. Interest in this competition continues to grow every year. Results are expected in Term 3.  

Over 70 students have been working on six problems from the Maths Challenge booklet provided by the Australian Maths Trust. Students should receive their results in Term 3. A further 86 students have embarked on the 16 week Maths Enrichment Challenge which will continue into Term 3.

27 students from Years 7 - 10 were invited to Stage 1 of an AMO (Australian Intermediate Maths Olympiad) training program offered by AMOC Qld. These students completed four difficult problem sheets and a revision paper. 17 of these students have now been offered places in Stage 2. Congratulations on their commitment and perseverance to this challenging program.

We also have results for some of the competitions that we offered in Term 1 and are very happy to announce the following exciting news:

• AMO (Australian Mathematics Olympiad) - three of our students were invited to participate in this prestigious competition in Term 1 and performed exceptionally well. Congratulations to Siddharth (Silver), Eason (Participation) and Aimee (Participation).

• KSF (Kangourou Sans Frontieres) - 180 students competed in this online competition, held during Term 1. Congratulations to three of these students who received High Distinctions. A further 23 students were awarded Distinctions, which is also a great achievement.

Robotics Ambassador Team
We have had a busy term here at QASMT Robotics. Term 2 was packed with fun events, competitions and workshops, which have further driven our passion for robotics and other related fields. 

We started the term with some STRM week activities. For STRM week we hosted another instalment of our Lego Battlebots competitions. We set up a field in the courtyard where everyone was welcome to compete. There were some tight matches, and it was overall very entertaining to spectate. 

Mathematics Ambassador Leadership Team
In Term 2, the Mathematics Leadership Team ran a new edition of our exciting escape rooms with a new set of intriguing puzzles. We had an overwhelming number of participants who signed up and it was an enjoyable time for everyone. Earlier in the term, the maths team also prepared a range of maths activities for STRM Week, with many students engaging. We held a Mini Olympiad workshop to get a taste of Olympiad problem solving. We investigated the probabilities of winning chocolates or refectory vouchers in the Pascal's marble run. We also hosted a logic puzzle competition with a range of fun and challenging puzzles.

Overall, we have had a wonderful term packed with exciting activities, and we aim to deliver more fun events to QASMT in the upcoming semester to liven up even more maths culture.

Our team of Robotics Ambassadors also secured first place in the annual watermelon explosion. We used an optimised strategy to secure our victory in half the time of second place. 

During Term 2, we also continued our series of laser cutting workshops. The workshops taught students how to use Adobe Illustrator to create designs and to operate the school’s laser cutter. Students were able to apply their skills to create things from scratch. One student used their new skills to create an acrylic clock face. 

The FTC teams spent this term preparing for the Asia Pacific Open Championship that is happening at Macquarie University in July. In preparation for APOC, our FTC teams recently attended a scrimmage. Team Liabilities won 2nd place, Odyssey received the Gracious Professionalism Award, and Combat Wombats earned the Judges' Choice Award. We are really proud of our FTC’s teams achievements and hopefully they can continue this momentum at APOC and the next season. 

The FLL team Vegemight has also been vigilantly preparing for the FLL APOC competition and we wish them the best of luck. 

We wrapped up Term 2 with an excursion to the QUT Motorsport Lab where university students construct fully custom race cars and program them to drive autonomously. During the trip, students learnt about what it takes to make an autonomous race car and they discussed different engineering strategies, gaining engineering insight that they can no doubt apply to their different robotics competitions, such as DRC and FTC. 

I hope all students and their families enjoy a restful holiday, and are ready for more maths excitement, enrichment and robotics updates in Term 3.      

Russell Hams, Head of Department Mathematics and Senior Robotics

From the Department of Life Sciences

Term 2 has been jam-packed with lots of enrichment opportunities for students, and some amazing things happening in our curriculum. 

This term, our students have shown remarkable growth and enthusiasm across various areas.

Curriculum

Year 7 Science
This term, Year 7 students engaged in a detailed comparison of renewable and non-renewable resources. They examined the difference between needs and wants concerning resource consumption and explored various renewable energy sources. In the second half of the term, Mathematics and Science were integrated for an interdisciplinary unit (IDU). Students investigated the solar system, studied the Earth's rotation, and used this knowledge to interpret seasonal temperature data. It certainly was a hot topic!

Year 8 Science
Year 8 students delved into understanding physical and chemical changes this term. They channelled their inner chemist whilst investigating the reactions of magnesium ribbon with hydrochloric acid. Students honed their practical skills while experimenting with changing hydrochloric acid concentrations and observing its effect on magnesium strips. They wrapped up their investigations with detailed scientific reports, showcasing their discoveries.

Year 9 Sustainable Futures
This term, Year 9 Sustainable Futures students transformed into future city developers! Each group identified a pressing issue within their chosen city aspect. For instance, those focusing on water management delved into innovative concepts like desalination and greywater recycling, while also considering affordability for consumers. The highlight of the term was creating a 'mini build' that offered solutions to these issues. Students then evaluated their solutions to determine if they could be scaled up effectively. Finally, all the mini builds were combined to create an impressive and visionary city of the future.

Year 10 Blue Planet
This term, Year 10 Blue Planet students set sail into Moreton Bay, stepping into the shoes of marine biologists. They measured biotic and abiotic factors to identify and investigate various environmental issues. The highlight of their adventure was deploying the BRUV (Baited Remote Underwater Vehicle) to count fish species and gather data. Back on land, they transformed their data and presented it in a mini scientific report.

Year 10 Medical Biotechnology
This term, Year 10 Medical Biotechnology students embarked on a journey through the immune system. They explored various pathogens, discovering how these invaders infect hosts and how our immune systems battle them. The students also studied the rise of antibiotic resistance in bacteria, using this understanding to analyse the WHO's antimicrobial resistance report. This deep dive into medical biotechnology provided them with crucial insights into contemporary medical challenges.

Year 11 Biology
Year 11 students wrapped up their practice IA. It was an excellent opportunity for them to further refine their skills in experimental investigations and receive valuable feedback on their report writing. Looking ahead, next term marks the beginning of their final IA process where they will develop their methodology and conduct risk assessments for their individual investigations.

STEM Enrichment 
UQ Women in Engineering 
This term, a group of Year 9 students attended the UQ Women in Engineering annual Experience Engineering day. This was an opportunity to experience different engineering disciplines in a fun hands-on way with workshops like ‘Rockets: Aerospace Engineering’ where students got to build a rocket and see it take off, and ‘Sun Smart Code’ where students developed a code for a UV detection device. They had a fantastic day at UQ.

STEM Girl Power Camp
60 Year 10 students and 10 teachers were selected to participate in the Department of Education’s 2024 STEM Girl Power Camp. Students travelled from state schools all over Queensland to attend camp in Brisbane, where they participated in a variety of events, innovative science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) workshops and networking opportunities with experts from STEM fields. Throughout camp, students developed their understanding of STEM and its importance to our society, as well as their leadership, critical thinking, creativity, collaboration and communication skills. This year, Mariah was selected to represent QASMT at STEM Girl Power Camp, and found the experience to be greatly inspiring.

Sustainability Week
What an amazing Sustainability Week it’s been! We started the week with a special sustainability themed STEM Seminar by Dr Anh Tran, from UQ, who spoke about “Empowering Change: The Role of Humanitarian Engineer in Solving Global Challenges.” Then we had a thrilling sustainability assembly where our CCA clubs including Bee Club, Plastic Oceans, and Environmental and Biodiversity Club had a chance to showcase their incredible work in their respective fields. It was inspiring to witness the contributions our school community is making toward building a sustainable future. We were honoured to have a guest speaker from Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, who shared valuable insights into koalas, wildlife conservation and their sustainability efforts.

To top off the week, InSteps strutted their stuff in the Sustainable Fashion Parade, where each InStep had to create a unique piece out of fully sustainable materials. There were some really fantastic outfits, and it was wonderful to see such creative ideas come to fruition in such a short period of time. They were all amazing. Congratulations Newton InStep 8 for taking the win this year.

1st – Newton InStep 8

2^nd – Hawking InStep 3

3^rd – Hollows InStep 6

“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”

― Jane Goodall

Saengdao Philavane, Head of Department Life Sciences