Term in Review - 21 June 2024

From the Senior Leadership Team

As Term 2 draws to a close, we would like to thank our entire school community for their contributions to our Academy and the wonderfully rich and diverse learning environment here at QASMT.

Thank you parent volunteers
To our parent volunteers and Year Level Parent Representatives, thank you for all your efforts and especially your support at another amazing Festival of Creativity. Your contributions made the event so special and were very much appreciated by all in attendance. Thank you also for continuing to support your students in their learning endeavours.

Thank you teaching and support staff
To our teaching and support staff, thank you to each of you for your ongoing commitment to enriching our students’ learning experiences. Your dedication, hard work and enthusiasm through the many enrichment activities, events and celebrations play a crucial role in shaping our school community and fostering a positive learning culture. Your efforts are greatly appreciated. Further thanks to our teaching staff for their unwavering support for every student in every class.

Thank you students
To our students, thank you for your continuing on your journey towards your own personal excellence. Your hard work, determined attitude and commitment to learning continue to inspire us. To our student Leaders and Ambassadors, thank you so much for all you do to enhance student life at QASMT, there have been so many wonderful activities to engage in this term and we really appreciate your efforts for the QASMT community.

This term, there have been many celebrations showcasing our International Baccalaureate Learners as truly balanced, caring, open-minded and risk takers.

The Athletics Carnival, once again held at The University of Queensland, showcased the passionate house spirit of our students. Students enjoyed a day filled with activities, and the participation by all was outstanding.

Following last year’s highly successful Net Zero International Student Science Fair, we continue to demonstrate our commitment to the global challenge of climate change and to our environment with Sustainability Week. The week was full of student-led activities, culminating in the ever-popular Sustainable Fashion Parade where students displayed their flair for sustainable design.

The Festival of Creativity this term was another outstanding highpoint. The courtyard truly came alive with three sound stages and the arts display, all showcasing the brilliant talents of students, parents and teachers. The tireless work of the team of parents volunteers, teachers and support staff leading the festival, was certainly apparent on the night and we thank everyone for bringing such a magical event to our community. We also express our heartfelt pride and admiration to all the students who participated in the festival.

Creativity flourishes in environments that embrace curiosity, diversity and new ways of thinking. As a community we will continue to nurture these qualities. Students, do not underestimate your creative power. You can shape our world, inspire change and leave a lasting legacy, as it is your creativity that can lead to innovation. 

School Opinion Surveys
The annual suite of 2024 School Opinion Surveys will be open between 22 July and 16 August 2024. All families, school staff and students in target year levels (8 and 11) will be invited to participate. We encourage you to take this opportunity to have your say about what our school does well, and how we can improve. The Department of Education will commence sending email invitations to participants in the second week of Term 3. The survey can be completed as soon as the invitation is received and will take approximately five minutes using a computer, tablet or smart phone.

We wish our whole community a restful and recharging end of semester break, and look forward to welcoming you back for Term 3. 

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

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 the Deputy Principal Middle Years

As always, Term 2 has flown by.

Across the term it has been great to see our Middle Years’ students fully involve themselves in a range of QASMT events and activities; from our sustainable fashion parade, to extra -curricular competitions, the Festival of Creativity and so much more. Well done!

At this point in the Academy year, our Year 7s have adjusted well to high school life. I am always pleased to see their confidence, enthusiasm and positive engagement displayed in school lessons and at school-run endeavours throughout the term. A number of Year 7s are also starting to involve themselves in curriculum competitions outside of the classroom. This enthusiasm will put them in good stead for future years.

Our Year 8s have also made their mark at QASMT this term. We had a large number of Year 8 students lead the way in the Junior Olympiads, QDU debating, Robotics build weekends, SPARQ-ed seminars, and a Girls in Stem conference, to name just a few. Many of our Year 8s have also spent time guiding and supporting our Year 7s this semester, as the younger cohort adjusted into their new surroundings. I would like to thank the Year 8s for assisting the Year 7s make the transition to high school.

Our Year 9s have also had a busy Term 2, which has culminated in their first block exam. Just like our Year 7s and 8s, the Year 9s have involved themselves in an array of activities and events. As we look towards Semester 2, our Year 9s will be heavily involved with preparations for their Year 9 Journey. This will include a clear focus on building teamwork and leadership skills. The Year 9 Journey is a very important step in their learning as they move towards senior school, and this year it will be run at Emu Gully, west of Brisbane.

I wish all Middle Years’ students a pleasant and relaxing holiday break. I look forward to seeing their smiling faces in the new semester and witness the many wonderful things they will do and achieve at QASMT.

Kirsten Baker, Deputy Principal Middle Years

From the Department of inclusion & Wellbeing

Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD)

In Term 3, along with all other government and non-government schools, we will be collecting information for the NCCD. This will be completed in the first week of August.

The NCCD collects comparable data about students with disability in a way that is transparent, consistent, and reliable at a national level. It provides evidence on:

• the number of school students receiving an adjustment due to disability.
• the level of adjustment they receive.
• their broad category of disability.

Better information about school students with disability helps parents/caregivers, teachers, principals, education authorities and government to gain a more complete understanding of students who are receiving adjustments because of disability, and how to best support them to take part in schooling on the same basis as other students.

The NCCD captures the good work occurring in schools to support students with disability. The NCCD process is supported by an excellent range of resources to assist schools to reflect on their practice and learn from others.

Over time, participation in the NCCD will help to embed in schools’ everyday practice their obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005.

From 1 January, the data collected in the NCCD will be used by the Australian Government to calculate the students with disability loading in recurrent funding provided by the Commonwealth to states and territories. https://www.nccd.edu.au/faq

National Sorry Day
This year we had four of our Captains attend the 26th Anniversary of the Annual Sorry Day Ceremony. It was held by The Benarrawa Community Development Association and supported by the Brisbane City Council at the Sherwood Arboretum.  This forms part of our understanding and recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in solidarity. It precedes Reconciliation Week. It was lovely to see our students learning a traditional ‘Hello and Goodbye’ song and dance, listening to and meeting Elders from the local Jagera community, and sharing stories over a morning tea.

This important part of the year sees a number of ceremonies and celebrations for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

National NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia in the first week of July each year (Sunday to Sunday), to celebrate and recognise the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. https://www.naidoc.org.au/about/naidoc-week

Academy Council Representative (ARC)
The ARC has worked tirelessly this term to not only ensure there are numerous opportunities for students to be involved in Academy life, but also in agency and as a communication conduit for the school community. The ARC meets weekly to discuss everything from calendar events, service, charity opportunities, successes of individual students and groups, and work that happens in various working parties our students are part of.

In the fortnightly news that goes out to the school community via the House Deans, our Academy Captains have a section that they contribute to. This communication can have items discussed at meetings, upcoming events, decisions and the reason for them, ideas, and encouragements to the student body. See an example below. Please keep a look out for these, to remain updated on what our student council is doing and discussing.

The ARC also helps build our understanding and skills around leadership, and what it means to be a great leader. We use The Student Leadership Challenge by Kouzes and Posner to discuss, share and build upon our leadership. We learn about what successes and challenges the various portfolio leaders have experienced; strategies they have used to overcome the challenges, and what work needs to be done to build leadership capacity in our ambassadors. It is great to see the development of our student leaders; this growth is evident in the tasks that they lead and undertake. With leadership applications for ambassadors closing at the start of Term 3, we look forward to reading applications and seeing further growth and development in our leadership program.

Jane Manwaring, Head of Department Inclusion and Wellbeing

From the Department of Language and Literature

The hallways of the English Language and Literature Faculty echoed with the joyous hum of learning throughout Term 2, 2024.

Despite the cooler weather, a spirit of creativity and industry blossomed within our QASMT community, much like the "invincible summer" Camus spoke of.

Our MYP curriculum flourished. Year 7 students honed their oratory skills by analysing characters from the novel Wonder. Year 8 embarked on a journey that bridged historical events and literature through their exploration of Animal Farm. Year 9 students channeled their inner storytellers, crafting monologues that demonstrated their understanding of the drama script The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, while showcasing their ability to manipulate language and stage directions for powerful effect.

The Diploma Preparation Programme (Year 10) and Diploma Programme (Years 11 and 12) saw students delve into a diverse range of non-literary and literary texts, analysing them both in exams and oral presentations. Year 10 used “Texts with an Agenda” to hone their skills of using analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of authors’ purposes and how they are achieved within cultural context. Year 11 took a significant step forward with their "Mini Individual Oral" presentations based on the work of photographer Brandon Stanton and the graffiti artist Banksy. Year 12 Higher Level and Standard Level students geared up for November's Paper 1 by finishing their literary study of Kamila Shamsie’s Home Fire in combination with a study of a variety of non-literary multimodal texts.

The Festival of Creativity on June 14 was another highlight. The evening buzzed with music, dance, student exhibitions, and delicious treats. Sophie Jacobsen deserves a round of applause for leading the student organisers and curating the popular Creative Writing exhibition, showcasing the culmination of the term's creative endeavours.

Term 2 was a testament to the collective effort and talent of our staff, parents, and, of course, our incredible students. It was a term where the substance and quality within our students truly shone, reminding us of the privilege and joy we experience in fostering their love of learning.

David Bracken, Head of Department Language and Literature

From the Department of European Language Acquisition

This term has flown by, and I am grateful for the hard work the European Languages Department has put in to make language learning at QASMT a truly brilliant experience.

This term, significant milestones were achieved by our language students. Our Year 12 French and German B students should be commended for completing their final Individual Oral examinations which will count as 25% of their final IB grade. These achievements mark substantial progress in their language acquisition journeys, and we celebrate their hard work and perseverance. 

Year 7 Latin excursion to the UQ Antiquities museum
This term, Dr Girola took the Year 7 Latin students to the Antiquities museum at UQ for a museum tour and a workshop where students learnt about the Roman and Greek way of life as well as studying ancient artefacts. The students had a fantastic time and enjoyed the hands-on experience.

Happy Holidays!

I wish everyone an enjoyable winter break and want to thank the QASMT community for a wonderful past semester as I depart from my position as Head of European Languages.

Inga Mertens-Walker, Head of Department European Language Acquisition 

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 Department of Individuals and Societies

I would like to firstly thank all the I&S staff members for their wonderful work and contributions to the Academy this term. 

It is not just the creative teaching in the classroom, but the generous time that is given at lunchbreaks to run engaging CCAs, providing tutoring and running whole school programs. I wish all students, families and staff a safe and relaxing mid-year break. 

With semester reports due soon, I would like to leave you with some statistics and a quote I read in the past week regarding legendary tennis player Roger Federer. He was a winner of 103 singles titles including 20 grand slams and spent over 310 weeks ranked world number 1 in the 2000s and 2010s. Yet Federer only won 54% of all points in the matches he played. Federer shared this statistic last week and said, “perfection is impossible”, before elaborating that the goal was to ‘win, but accept you can’t be perfect.’

To look for success we must aim to be our best, yet concede that 100% is not possible. As a student receiving a report, they must reflect on what parts of the academic game they can continue to work on; is it time management in an exam, organisation with starting assignments early, regular revision (not just cramming), improving the clarity of written communication, or asking for help?

From the ToK Coordinator

DP1

Students have been working on the Area of Knowledge of “Arts” and the theme of “Language” in Term 2. They submitted a 2^nd practice commentary. 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 draft. 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 showcase their analytical skills.

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

DP 2

This term, Year 12 students have focused 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.

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, and their result 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 student during this period, we recommend encouraging them to allocate specific times for working on their essay, ensuring steady progress towards the deadline. In addition, they should review the feedback together, discussing how they can effectively implement the suggestions to strengthen their essay.

By actively engaging in the feedback process, 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 Physical Sciences

As we near the end of what has been a very busy term, please join me as I take a look back over the many fun and exciting events that we organised and also update you on the learning that has taken place for your students in the Physical Sciences.

In Week 3, despite some disruptions, our Science Ambassadors still managed to run some exciting Science Technology Robotics and Mathematics (STRM)-based activities during lunch time. As per usual, the highlight being the staff versus students imploding watermelon competition. I personally took part in the competition and was picking pieces of watermelon out of my hair for the rest of the day!

In Week 4, Dr Slessor took a group of our senior physics students to attend the annual Churchie lecture in physics. This excursion gave our students an opportunity to interact with physicists at the top of their field and to explore their branches of research. Thanks again to Dr Slessor for accompanying our students on this excursion. At the end of Week 5, Mr Pearce took four teams of QASMT students to compete in the UQ Titration competition. Our students always do very well at the event and this year was no exception, with a team comprised of Caleb, Amy and Isabella winning the entire competition.

And last, but certainly not least, I must take this opportunity to congratulate Ian on winning a gold medal at the Physics Olympiad in Malaysia just a few weeks ago. This is an outstanding achievement and a testament to his exceptional ability.

Following on from this, in Week 9, we had our Years 7 - 10 students sit their first Science Olympiad test over a two-hour period. Maybe one of these students could follow on to be our next International Olympiad?

In the classroom, our Year 9 students have now had a good taste of a variety of the different science electives that we have on offer. After studying Fuelling the Planet (FTP), we would now hope that those students will have a better appreciation of the importance of finding alternative fuels to fossil fuels. In Biochemical Solutions (BCS) we gave our Year 9 students a better understanding of the importance of bioremediation; in particular, the use of enzymes to reduce pollution in the environment. World of Reactions (WOR) gave our students a grounding in the fundamental idea of what is a chemical reaction, with a special focus on the concept of ‘green chemistry.’ And finally, in Medical Physics (MCP), students of that elective will now have a good understanding of how various medical imaging techniques rely on wave theory.

Our Year 10 students have now chosen their subjects and subject levels for Semester 2. Between myself, my team and the Heads of House, I think we did a thorough job in guiding our students in this decision-making process. Hopefully, all of our Year 10 students have a good start to Semester 2 and are confident in their subject selection. Please feel free to contact me should you still have any concerns. In Semester 2, our Year 10 students will start their Diploma Preparation Programme (DPP). These are specially designed programs in both chemistry and physics that we developed specifically for our students and are constantly reviewing. Our aim is to best prepare our Year 10 students for Year 1 of their IB Diploma Programme which, of course, starts in Year 11.

Our current Year 11 students are already halfway through their first year of their IB Diploma. They have made the adjustment at this stage and are starting to find their feet in their chemistry and physics lessons. In Week 5, we held a very successful Group 4 Collaborative Sciences Project Planning Day. It was wonderful to see all of our Year 11 students working with others in their assigned groups as they planned fun science-based activities for our Year 7 students to try out during National Science Week in Term 3.

And finally, our Year 12 students have now made it through, what I feel is, the busiest term of their schooling experience. In physics they are going to start revision for the mock exams early in Term 3. With chemistry, we are not that far behind and will certainly have revision time before the mock examinations as well. So, the end is in sight in terms of learning new content and soon we will be into pure ‘revision mode’ as I call it. I hope that these facts have the effect of relieving some of the pressure that has been on our Year 12 students this term. To quote Gever Tully, “Persistence and resilience only come from having been given the chance to work through challenging problems.”

To finish, I want to thank everyone for their support this term and I hope that you all have a well-earned break.

Robert Hughes, Head of Department Physical Sciences

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 

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 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 Technology

What an incredible term of activities and experiences with technology!

I invite you to join me in reviewing the second term in the Technology Department.

During this term, the design students had an immersive experience in the field of robotics using the TinyBit programable robot cars. They embarked on a project centered around designing Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) to be used now or in the future. To showcase their ideas, they presented a functional prototype of an AV navigating a predefined route entirely on its own. Throughout this process, students honed their problem-solving abilities by identifying and addressing issues, whether they stemmed from the hardware or the logical aspects of the software.

Student’s Corporate Gift designs and prototype for the Festival of Creativity to be laser-cut on a wide range of laserable materials of various colours, effects and gauges.

Technology Ambassadors
The Technology Ambassador’s Beat Saber Tournament was conducted at upper L block on the first and second weeks of Term 2, Thursday the 18th and 22nd April, where students cheered on and supported their friends competing on the Virtual Reality (VR) Platform. The student ‘showdown’ was an exciting tournament for both players and spectators. Whether a passionate tech-enthusiast or not, there was plenty of excitement to go around watching the players almost dance while cutting the cubes and avoiding obstacles to the unique VR rhythm. All competitors were winners, however, the tournament winner of this year’s BeatSaber VR competition was Yijing, who slashed the beats (represented by small cubes) the best, as they are coming at them. Many more VR experiences are planned for this year.

This term we also had our annual Mario Kart Tournament where our competitors raced to be the Mario Kart Champion at QASMT racing through classic tracks like Coconut Mall. This year, Eoin won the student tournament and Mr Fredericksen won the staff tournament in a tight race! We had many students come and watch, participate and enjoy, and share the experiences. The Technology Ambassadors are also responsible for writing many guides to help students and teachers navigate the technology around our school. Some of these guides you may have used!

Middle Years Robotics Program - RoboCup and First Lego League (FLL)
Students involved in the QASMT Middle Years Robotics Program (from Years 7 - 10), which includes RoboCup and First Lego League (FLL), have been working collaboratively with their team members to design, build and programme their Lego robots to perform challenging tasks. Embracing Fun Learning, the students have been engaged in developing their coding and robot building skills in the program. These skills will be required if they decide to compete in local, regional, or international robotic events for young students. RoboCup offers four different project-oriented challenges – OnStage, Rescue Line, Rescue Maze and Soccer. Our RoboCup Teams are preparing for the 2024 Queensland State Championships held at The University of Queensland, on Saturday and Sunday 17- 18 August 2024. While in First Lego League, our students have been engaging in research, problem-solving, coding and engineering as they build and program their LEGO robots that navigate various missions. We wish our 6 students in Year 10 FLL Team ‘VegeMight’ every success in competing at the 2024 Asia Pacific Open Championships (APOC) – FLL, which is hosted by Macquarie University Sydney from 4 - 7 July 2024. Our robotics student’s dedication, commitment and enthusiasm are not only commendable, but serves to aspire those around them to build intelligent systems to make things safer, more efficient and of a higher quality.

We have had a rewarding term through our project-based learning courses in developing new skills in creative thinking, problem-solving, managing complex design scenarios, attention to detail, proficiency with coding solutions, and improving existing processes through technology.

As I sign off for the term, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a safe and relaxing break. I thank you all for your ongoing commitment and hard work, and look forward to welcoming you back for what I know will be an exciting and action-packed Term 3.

Larry Vint, Head of Department Technology and Middle Years Robotics

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 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)

Year 9 Community project

This term, as a part of the Service Learning component of the IB, Year 9 students have dedicated themselves to developing and testing a variety of Community Project initiatives with the aim of contributing meaningfully to the community. 

These projects range from creating survival kits to promote mental health, to ensuring sustainable practices at QASMT for the improvement of the environment and community. 

During Weeks 3 - 5 of this term, students showcased their projects, gathering valuable feedback from the school community. One highlight from this showcase was the healthy snacks stall, which garnered a lot of interest from students and teachers. By the end of this term, all projects are expected to be completed by all Community Project groups.

Next term promises to be exceptionally busy for our Year 9s, especially with the National Science Week Showcase scheduled for Week 6. It is during this week that all students will showcase their projects live to the school community and invited guests. We are proud of our students' hard work and look forward to seeing their final projects in Week 6, and presentations from Week 7 next term.

Djamila Reynolds, Community Project Coordinator