Term Ahead - 30 Apr 2021

From the Senior Leadership Team

On behalf of the Academy, we extend a warm welcome to Term 2.  

Winter Uniform
For the duration of Term 2 and Term 3, students are required to wear the QASMT Winter Uniform. Details of uniform requirements can be found in the Student Handbook. It is important to note that blazers must be worn to and from school every day, and black opaque stockings are to be worn with the formal skirt. Other than the QASMT branded uniform items, no jumpers, beanie’s, scarves etc. are to be worn.  In addition, even though the temperatures are cooler, the sun can still be strong, so school hats must continue to be worn.

Parent Teacher Interviews and Reports
This term, our Parent Teacher Interviews will be conducted online via zoom and information will be circulated with logistics in the coming days. 

Academy reports will be issued today (for Years 8, 9, 11 and 12). We have moved to a different reporting model this year which includes Achievement Summaries and Achievement and Engagement Reports. Achievement Summaries do not include information regarding a student’s commitment, effort and behaviour in classes – they indicate the student position in relation to achievement in a subject at a specific point in time. Our Achievement and Engagement Report is a full report, inclusive of effort, behaviour, commitment to a subject as well as student results. Please note, Parent Teacher Interviews may be requested by teachers in this report.  

As you review your child’s report, please ensure that you are supportive of the information that is provided to you in relation to your child’s holistic learning progression and their Personal Learning Plans (PLPs), which each individual student creates for each of their subjects. The PLPs are reflective of what a student believes they need to improve on in each subject area. Student PLPs require students to set SMART goals with accompanying strategies which are supported by conversations they have had with classroom teachers.

Term 2 is an incredibly busy and rich term for the Academy community, and we wish all of our community, a memorable and productive 10 weeks.

Kath Kayrooz – Principal, Kerry Bullock – Deputy Principal Enhancement, Tanya Haggarty – Deputy Principal Academic, Russell Hams – Director of School Operations, Jane Manwaring – Director of School Culture

From the Director of Senior Years

A very warm welcome back to Term 2. Term 2 has seen another slightly unconventional start to the term; with our senior students completing the last two days of block exams, and a number of catch up assessment tasks already taking place in our younger year levels. 

As always, our student body continues to demonstrate resilience and engagement with all aspects of their learning. Our Year 12 students have a particularly busy term ahead, with almost all Internal Assessment items due to be completed prior to the end of term. It is important for all students to pay particular attention to the Assessment Calendars that were circulated in the first week of term, and make sure that they factor these deadlines into their forward planning.

Already occuring this term, we have had our first 2021 IB exam. Our Year 12 German students sat their IB exam during the week. We wish all of our students the very best for all upcoming assessment!

Short-term Memory to Long-term Retention
There is a significant difference between learning content fast and learning content well. With a majority of diploma program subjects culminating in summative exams at the end of DP2 worth 80% of their final grade, it is essential that all students both learn and retain the content, skills and applications for their subject areas.

1. Quality learning first: Students should make sure they fully understand the lesson content the first time they are taught it. This can be achieved by listening carefully in class; participating fully in learning experiences; taking thorough notes; connecting learning to other topics/areas; and asking the class teacher for help/clarification. Having a deep and thorough understanding of the learning is the best foundation to build long-term retention.
2. Plan for revision: Students who include specific revision topics in their study plans each week, benefit from more effective and regular revision sessions.
3. Distribute the practice: Spacing out revision will help promote long-term retention. This is because, when revision is distributed over longer periods of time, the brain has to work harder to recall the information. However, it is very important that the gap between revising content is not so long that the material is entirely forgotten and needs to be relearned!

Revision for long-term retention must take place throughout the year in order to be fully effective and it is important that our students prioritise this alongside their assignments and other assessment commitments.

If any student would like support with study techniques, organisation and time management, they should contact their House Dean.

Spotlight on the IB: Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS)
CAS is a core component of the diploma program, which all students are required to fulfil in order to achieve their diploma. CAS is comprised of the following strands:

• Creativity experiences that foster and promote creative thinking;
• Activity experiences that involve physical activity and support a healthy lifestyle;
• Service experiences involving unpaid/voluntary work where students respectfully engage with others and learn from the experience.

CAS experiences have great benefit for the students within their diploma program, offering recognition for students balancing their curriculum demands with activities to support their short and long-term wellbeing. Additionally, CAS compliments the skills and philosophy of positive education at QASMT. Students will experience positive engagement when participating in their creative pursuits; enhance their positive health through regular physical activity; and experience the positive emotions of joy and gratitude through their service activities. These experiences play an essential role in supporting student wellbeing, not only through the diploma program, but also across the rest of their lives.

You can read more about the purpose and benefits of CAS by accessing the links below.

I wish you all a happy and productive term ahead.

Rebecca Skarshewski, Director of Senior Years

From the Director of Middle Years

Currently, our middle years students can be seen ‘unpacking’ the unit statements of inquiry, as they make meaning of the key concepts and global contexts that will drive classroom inquiry.

It’s a time for butcher’s paper, pens and lots of hearty classroom discussions.

An MYP Inquiry Classroom - PHE Example
At the beginning of each school term, our middle years students are introduced to a subject’s overarching statement of inquiry that will provide focus for the term’s learning, and will act as the anchor for classroom learning experiences. 

For example, in Physical and Health Education at present, our Year 9 students are working on a unit titled:
Make a difference.

The statement of inquiry that drives the unit is:
Physical, psychological and social development promotes healthy choices.

Often, students will craft their own inquiry questions to accompany the statement of inquiry. These may be factual, conceptual or debateable questions that aim to deepen inquiry.

Examples of inquiry questions that students have generated for the PHE unit mentioned above include:

• What is considered healthy?
• Does peer pressure influence healthy decisions?
• Local circumstances have the greatest influence on health. True or False

The statement of inquiry and the development of inquiry questions activates student curiosity, laying the foundation for the term’s learning ahead. In some classrooms, wonder walls are appearing whereby students are able to list the things they want to learn moving forward. It’s an exciting time to watch our learners become increasingly enthusiastic about the work that lays ahead!

NAPLAN (Year 7 and 9)
All Year 7 and 9 students will sit NAPLAN on the dates below. All NAPLAN testing sessions will commence at 8.30am. Students are required to be at school at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the session to ensure they are ready to take the test. Year 9 students who would normally have a late start are required to attend school at 8.30am on these dates.

A reminder that all students are required to have a fully charged computer and a functioning set of plug-in headphones - with no Bluetooth connectivity wireless or microphone.

• Reading - Tuesday 11 May
• Writing - Wednesday 12 May
• Language Conventions - Thursday 13 May
• Numeracy (calculator & non-calculator) - Friday 14 May
• Catch-up week - Monday 17 to Friday 21 May

Assessment and Reporting
May I remind parents of the valuable information that is contained in our IB MYP Assessment Guidance Handbook - Information for Students and Parents. If you have any questions regarding how student achievement scores and grades are calculated, I highly recommend having a look, prior to the upcoming Parent Teacher interviews. You will also find information on applying for extensions, special provisions and academic misconduct.

Sandra Davey, Director of Middle Years

From the Department of Language and Literature

Term 2 is a great opportunity for students to reflect on their goals and progress in English Language and Literature. 

Some useful prompt questions include:

• What is working well?
• What would be even better if?
• What should I start doing, stop doing and continue doing?

As students complete their reflections for their Personal Learning Plans, it is important to consider the role of revision. A regular revision program can be a key driver of progress and achievement, particularly in English where students are exposed to an increasingly complex set of concepts, themes, and vocabulary and text types.

Regular weekly revision allows students to consolidate their knowledge and understanding and reduces the stress associated with last minute cramming. For our Year 11 and 12 students in Language and Literature, revision is particularly important. The Paper 1 exam requires students to have a deep knowledge of the textual features of a range of non-literary texts and be able to quickly and accurately analyse these textual features under exam conditions.

Debating events and competitions are continuing this term, but I also want to promote a new event. Year 8 students have the option of attending a theatre performance of Animal Farm on the evening of Monday 14 June at Southbank. Orwell’s Animal Farm is the novel study for Term 2. Year 8 teachers have secured 100 tickets only for our students, so it will be offered on a first in basis. Students and families will receive further information and the permission slip in the next few weeks.

I have included a summary table of assessment for your reference below. 

I look forward to seeing the brilliant work of our students this term.

Zachary Lurje, Head of Department Language and Literature

From the Department of Language Acquisition

ようこそ! Wilkommen! Bienvenue! Bienvenidos! salvete! Welcome!

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself as the new Language Acquisition Head of Department. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s language development that you would like to discuss with me, please do not hesitate to contact me via email koxen11@eq.edu.au

In addition to our experienced teachers, we are delighted to welcome Georgie Clementz to our strong team.

Our recent teacher class schedule changes have ensured the strong pedagogy and collaborative practices within the faculty and continuity of learning, will not be disrupted. The continuity of learning is further supported with our continued support by language specific teacher aides: Greta Cabot (French & German), Thais Gamboni (French) and Clive Greenhill (Japanese). They bring detailed Language expertise to the classroom and help students achieve their Language goals. Furthermore, Languages support is continuing to be provided for in the Alumni tutoring program for senior years students.

Nelson Mandela once famously said: "If you talk to a man in a language he understands it goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language it goes to his heart.”

With this in mind, I am proud to say that our students are developing an understanding and passion for language learning. Not only does it allow them to connect with others but it challenges them to get out of their comfort zone and interact in a tongue in which they may not yet be comfortable.

During all of our language classes we compare our own culture with the new culture and it is amazing to see the similarities and differences. One such difference is the way that gratitude is shown. Practising gratitude in our daily life is good for our karma and personal relationships, and also great for our health. Around the world, the act of saying "thank you" varies in tradition from culture to culture.

German Year 12
Soon Year 12 German students will be finished learning their language!
We congratulate them for completing their final exams this week!

International Mindedness
Ms Damon and Ms Yamaguchi are part of the International-mindedness working party. International Mindedness is a view of the world in which people see themselves connected to the global community and assume a sense of responsibility to its members. Concepts that fall into this are: Multilingualism, Intercultural understanding and Global engagement. This term they will be organising an event to celebrate the German Maypole Festival in recognition of the “signs that the happy season of warmth and comfort have returned” as Spring turns to Summer - in the northern hemisphere. 

Mother's Day
In Term 2, we will celebrate Mother’s Day and learn how it is celebrated in different countries. Mother’s Day is a day for many people to show their appreciation towards mothers and mother figures worldwide. It is an annual event, recognised on different dates in the calendar, depending on the country. It is held on the second Sunday of May in many countries, such as Australia, Canada and the United States. It is celebrated exactly three weeks before Easter Sunday in the UK. The ways of expressing gratitude to mothers around the world, varies greatly from one culture to the next. 

France: La Fête des Mères
While in many parts of the world the day is celebrated on the second Sunday of May, in France the day is observed on the last Sunday of May and is known by the name, Fête des Mères. On some occasions the day also gets shifted to the first Sunday of June, when the Pentecost day is celebrated on the same day.

Germany: Muttertag
Muttertag is the German name used to identify Mother’s Day. This day in Germany is celebrated on the second Sunday of May, while if this day happens to be the Pentecost “Pfingstsonntag” – the Christian festival for celebrating the descent of the Holy Spirit, then Mother’s Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of May (a week earlier).

Japan: Haha no hi
To show gratitude, the Japanese rise early and greet their mothers with the words “haha no hi omedetou” (happy Mother’s Day!), together with a big bunch of flowers to show love and appreciation. Red carnations are the most popular choice in Japan, as they symbolise a mothers’ purity, sweetness and endurance.

Spain: Día De la Madre
Mother's Day in Spain, known as “Dia de la Madre”, is celebrated on the first Sunday of May. It took place on 8 December every year until 1965, when it was moved to its current date. This was done partly to disassociate the secular mother's celebrations from the Catholic honouring of the Immaculate Conception.

We wish Sabrina Schmid all the best as she embarks on her new adventure.
Soon she will be starting the tradition of celebrating Mother’s Day with her new bundle of joy.

またね ! Bis später! A bientôt! Hasta la vista! valete! See you soon!

Kate Oxenford, Head of Department Language Acquisition

From the Department of Technology and the Arts

Welcome to Term 2 from the Technology and The Arts Department. Below is a snapshot of what our students will be learning this term.

MYP Design
Year 9 STEM Futures
Disrupt the Market (DTM)
‘Customised solutions for common problems!’ ‘Differentiate and dominate!’  These will be the Year 9 student mantras for Term 2. Students will develop basic designs for solutions to common problems, then experiment with generic and personalised branding of a product to attract a range of ‘paying’ clients within the Academy. They will cut, score and engrave customised prototypes on the laser cutter and evaluate the effectiveness of their solutions.

The Future of Automation
‘Can automating homes reduce our environmental impact?’ Throughout Term 2, Year 9 Future of Automation students will use their mechatronic skills to automate a system found in their homes. They will explore unsustainable systems around the home, and using microcontrollers, design, create, and code a prototype solution automating that system.

Biomedical Engineering
‘What is a bone scaffold?’ ‘What are the features?’ ‘How can we 3D print a range of scaffolds?’ ‘Is porosity more important than strength?’ This term, students will carry out the experiments they designed in Term 1 in order to explore the properties of bone scaffolds. They will have opportunities to share their findings and new learnings with their peers.

Year 10 Information Technology in a Global Society (ITGS) 
As databases are the backbone of many industries, our Year 10 ITGS class will be learning how to create a simple database and how to use the information through queries and reports, whilst focusing on issues such as policies and privacy of individuals in our society. For example, have you ever considered how much data is collected about you each day, from Google maps to Go Cards when we catch transport and loyalty programs? This vast collection of data has social implications and ethical concerns. How do we know when we unsubscribe from a newsletter that the company doesn't hold the information? How do we ensure information being loaded into a database is accurate? These are some of the questions which we will be investigating this term.

Year 11 Information Technology in a Global Society (ITGS)
Databases, hardware and software! This term, Year 11 ITGS will explore the application of databases in businesses and the role hardware and software play in our everyday lives. Key ideas that students will explore during Term 2 include: ‘What are the key components needed by a computer? How is our use of hardware interpreted into software? How do we know which piece of software is right for a certain task?

Year 12 Information Technology in a Global Society (ITGS)
During Term 2, Year 12 students will explore the role of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics in our society. Discussions will include the impact of jobs being replaced by robots, such as the use of robot jockeys in camel racing and robotic arms in surgery.

Computer Science
Year 10 Computer Science
What do we need to do to set up an online store from scratch? At the end of this term, Year 10 Computer Science students will be able to tell you. They will have looked at the fundamentals of Full Stack development and be introduced to accessing and updating data in relational databases, and constructing Back-end (server) and Front-end (client) code.

Year 11 Computer Science
Students will continue their exploration of genetic algorithms. Along with this they will commence determining how computer systems are integrated into a business, what is involved in changing computer systems, as well as the role of an end-user and client in system development.

Year 12 Computer Science
Year 12 students will learn how to use recursion to solve simple and complex problems. They will continue to explore genetic algorithms, as well as gain a theoretical and practical understanding of programming.

Visual Arts
Senior Visual Arts
In Term 2, our combined Year 10 and 11 class will be exploring printmaking through the concept of Localities. Students will apply knowledge gained from Term 1 to create new artworks influenced by artists from different times and places.

Term 2 is a MILESTONE TERM for our Year 12 Visual Arts students! This is their last full term before they finalise their assessment for IB, and upload and exhibit the fruits of their labour in Term 3. It will be a busy, energetic and productive term as they finalise their Process Portfolios, write their Curatorial Rational, complete their Exhibition Artworks and the accompanying Exhibition Text.  

Year 7 Visual Art
Year 7 Visual Art students will continue to explore how artists represent animals in art, influenced by the world around us. Extending from investigations in Term 1, students will design and make sculpture and digital collage artworks that feature their invented improbable beast (hybrid animal) and habitat.

Year 8 Visual Art
Students will extend their investigations into how artists express identities through creative narratives in portrait artworks. Informed by research in Term 1, students will design and make portrait artworks of themselves and a special person of their choice, using mono printmaking and digital collage.

Year 9 Visual Art
Students will further research how their group's social issue selected in Term 1 can represent their interpretation of place and time, leading to change. With influences from investigations and styles of other artists, students will make a painting and lino print to communicate alternative viewpoints about their group's issue and artistic intentions. Students will also collaborate to plan and present an art exhibition with supporting materials to share their artworks created throughout Semester 1 with school audiences.

MYP Music
Year 7 Music
Students will explore the relationship between human displacement, its effect on people, their music, culture and social contexts. Many famous music productions explore these themes and the music of these showstoppers is moving, profound and significant. The cohort will learn about how the works are put together, what makes them memorable and effective. Students will perform, sing, discover the musical theatre genre and all the elements of music that tells stories.

Year 8 Music
Students will reimage music of old to produce fresh sounds using their creative interpretation of the musical elements and their imaginations. Students will discover the developments of technology that have contributed to music becoming accessible, innovative and experimental over time, pushing the boundaries of harmony and combinations of sound. Fusion of genres and exploration of noises and silences will allow students to make up their own minds in relation to composing melodies, choosing instrumentation and analysing music.

MYP Drama
Year 7 Drama 
As Shakespeare once said, “All the World’s a Stage and we are merely its players!” This term, Year 7 students will be investigating how “Cultural narratives, and perspectives are understood by audiences when genre and style are orientated in time and space”. Students have been busy interrogating the key concepts in preparation for this unit and creating factual, debatable and conceptual questions which will be investigated this term. Throughout the term, the students will be learning a variety of different types of theatrical forms and will be required to plan and perform a pantomime play in groups.

Year 8 Drama
“Speaking for Myself”
The Year 8 students have been busy with their new inquiry this week as they have been opening up the Term 2 Statement of Inquiry: “Presentations created through scientific and technical innovation are communicated through structural systems to audiences”. Through this investigation, students will be encouraged to investigate their inquiry questions along with the factual, debatable and conceptual questions already planned for the unit. They are required to turn back time and explore the various forms of technological communication that have been implemented and used by people since the 1920s up until the modern era. Students will be particularly looking at the evolution of the radio and pod casts and will prepare and present their very own radio/pod cast script that radio stations around the world will be keen to broadcast on air.

Robotics
FTC robotics continues in Term 2 with four teams of students. Last term, students built a ‘drive base’ and had competition time trials through an obstacle course. This term, students aim to build additional skills in engineering by adding to the robots, to enable them to pick up and transport objects around the field. Students will also learn some computer-aided design (CAD) with the aim to design and create bespoke parts for their robots using the laser cutter (cutting and etching plastics), plasma cutter (for cutting metals) and panbrake (bending the metals into shapes) equipment. This is an exciting opportunity for our students to learn and create real engineering solutions without the constraints of the prefabricated robotics equipment.

QASMT Team Celerity will participate in the FIRST International Global Innovation Award this term. The team invited to represent the Academy comprises the following Year 11 students - Lisanth I, Khush P, Mandy Y, Kanwar A, Bhuvanesh R, Shreya P, Jerry W and Yeshwant S. This is a very prestigious invitation and is based on the team’s successful submission in the Nationals - North, First Lego League Replay competition in 2020.  Students were asked to identify a problem related to people not being active enough, research the problem and design a new piece of technology or improve an existing one. We wish them all the best with their submission.

At the end of Term 1, we received confirmation of our success in obtaining two grant applications for Robotics. Receipt of this additional funding has enabled the purchase of the new Spike Prime robotics for RoboCup. The second grant will help support the First Tech Challenge program. Our sincere thanks and appreciation to our Parent Support Group who were instrumental in assisting the Academy throughout the grant application process.

In our last Robotics session for Term 1, Year 7 RoboCup students had a fun dance competition. They dressed their robots up for the occasion, as you can see in the photo gallery below.

Technology Ambassadors
This term has much in store for the Technology Ambassadors, commencing with the Annual Mario Kart Tournament in Weeks 2 and 3, followed by STRM Week (yes 'STRM' not 'STEM') in Week 4. Technology Ambassadors have grand plans in place for these two events and we hope to see you all involved in the celebrations! Work is progressing well and we hope to have our Virtual Reality headsets in a classroom near you very soon – stay tuned….

Madeleine Brookes, Head of Department Technology and The Arts 

From the Department of Individuals and Society

A warm welcome back to all students after the break.  

The following overview has been provided by the respective subject coordinators to give a brief outline of the topics and content that students will be learning in the diverse range of subjects taught by Individuals & Societies (I&S). Three common messages for all students and parents for the term ahead are:

1. Effective time management with classwork, homework and assessments;
2. We encourage you to have regular conversations at home about the content that students have covered in class. I&S is all about the world around us and events happening in local and international news;
3. If ever you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

We look forward to meeting many parents at the upcoming Parent Teacher Interviews.

Year 7 I&S
This term in Year 7 I&S, students will be introduced to the discipline of Geography. We start the term developing geographical knowledge and skills such as the characteristics of maps, questionnaire design, rules for sketching and drawing observation walk maps and field sketches, as well as analysis. These skills will then be used in the assessment for this term which is an individual report focusing on the liveability of each student’s neighbourhood and recommendations about how this can be improved. In order for the students to collect evidence to use in their assessment, they will go on an excursion to South Bank to conduct some authentic field work.

Year 8 I&S
Students are continuing to study History as a strand in I&S with the guiding statement of inquiry “Turning Points in the 20^th century of Australian history”. Examples of topics students may investigate as part of their independent investigation include: World War I, World War II, The Great Depression, Changing foreign policy post WW II, The Whitlam Governments’ dismissal, and the Bali Bombing attack. In the second half of the term, students will become 'Legal Eagles' as they examine how laws are made and implemented in Australia. This unit will include criminal case studies and is linked to Civics & Citizenship while also having a connection to the STEM futures elective, Forensic Psychology.

Year 9 STEM Futures
Forensic Psychology – linked to DP Psychology and Biology
Year 9 Forensic Psychologists have another exciting term ahead. In Week 1 and Week 2, students will be playing the role of crime scene investigators and will be asked to solve a crime as part of their next assessment. They will be completing DNA, hair and fibre analyses in the QASMT laboratories in order to find the defendant. They will then write up their findings as part of their assessment.

In Week 2, students took part in an educational visit to Boggo Road Jail. This is now a museum and heritage site and the original building is over 120 years old. Students participated in two tours, one conducted by an ex-prisoner, who is now reformed, and a history tour guide. They visited the cells, the gallows and the various exhibitions at the jail. Staff and students were very excited about this visit.

Towards the end of the term, we have three guest 'forensic psychologist' speakers, coming in to talk to students about jury decision making and offender profiling - these topics are going to be covered in Term 2.

Year 10 DP Prep
Business Management
In Year 10 Pre-IB Business Management this term, students will be introduced to various approaches to Human Resource Management (HRM). We will learn about the objectives of HRM, the recruitment process and employment cycle, and the distinction between extrinsic and intrinsic motivation in order to identify ways to attract, motivate and retain staff, when it is not possible to provide large financial rewards. We will also consider a range of different approaches to leadership and organisational structure and the possible effects on employee motivation and performance outcomes. We will conclude the term by investigating minimum employment standards, types of remuneration and discrimination issues.

In terms of assessment, students will complete a research project involving a feasibility study to assess the viability of a not-for-profit business concept. Students will work in teams to conduct primary and secondary research and develop a persuasive oral presentation to convince volunteer workers or donors that their business concept is a feasible solution to a significant problem. They will then work individually to write a reflective feasibility report with objective analysis and evaluation of the viability of the not-for-profit business that was the subject of the group presentation. The feasibility report will use the structure, format and criteria of the Year 12 Internal Assessment task.

Economics
This term in Year 10 Economics, students will be introduced to some fundamental macroeconomic concepts such as unemployment, inflation, GDP and learn how our economy is managed through monetary and fiscal policy. Assessment includes an Internal Assessment (modelling what they will need to do in the DP course) as well as an end of term examination. The Internal Assessment involves students analysing a newspaper article that covers a real-life example of demand and supply. We would be grateful if you encouraged your child to discuss real-world economic issues at the dinner table to help them develop a deeper understanding of economics.

Psychology
Students are studying both Personality and Stress this term. Unit 2 looks at the physiological processes in the body related to the stress response and investigates daily hassles and life changes and how they contribute to stress. Students will also have the opportunity to learn about personality testing. Unit 3 covers the behaviourist perspective in psychology which was heavily influenced by Ivan Pavlov (known for classical conditioning and Pavlov’s dogs) and B.F. Skinner (known for operant conditioning and the Skinner box).

Year 11 DP
Business Management
How do Business Managers make good decisions? Many successful entrepreneurs will say their initial ideas were ‘gut feelings’, but everything else needed to make ‘financial sense’. While businesses exist in both private and public sectors and can be for profit or not for profit, a commonality is they all rely on financial management. Without money, a business cannot achieve anything, no matter how good the idea is! The focus for Year 11 students this term, is financial management with topics including: sources of finance, costs and revenues, break even analysis and final accounts. Analysing and interpreting data to evaluate and make decisions will be the key stills being taught. Students will have a practice IA and exam over the course of the term.

Economics
In Year 11 Economics this term, students will learn about the role that governments play at a microeconomic level. We will examine the effects of price controls, taxes and subsidies on various stakeholders. Towards the second half of the term, we will look at the various forms of market failure that occur in an economy and how governments try to rectify these issues. 

In terms of assessment, students will undertake a class test towards the middle of the term and complete a Paper 1 & 3 style examination paper during Exam Block. In addition, students will be introduced and complete their first IA draft commentary (Microeconomics), as part of their portfolio. As part of their commentary, students will analyse and evaluate a newspaper article that covers a real-life example of a market failure. In the process, students will use one of the nine key concepts in Economics, as a lens to examine their article.

Psychology
Students are continuing their work on the biological approach to understanding behaviour this term, and later in the term they will move onto the cognitive approach. In the biological approach, we will examine hormones and pheromones and their influence on behaviour and genetics and behaviour which includes the topics of genes, genetic similarity and the evolutionary approach. In the cognitive approach, students will look at models of memory, schema theory and thinking, and decision making.

Year 12 DP
Economics
Following a full review of the Term 1 examination results, and the evidence from the November 2020 session, we have asked the students to improve their engagement and effort in this subject. This hopefully leads to improved results throughout the remainder of the year. As teachers, for the same reasons, we have reviewed the strategies we can use to ensure students can achieve to their best potential in their Internal Assessments, and also the final examination session in November. Economic teachers, Mr Fredericksen and House Deans will be in regular contact with students and parents to ensure our collective responsibility for success. Good habits need to start now in Term 2.

Psychology
Year 12 Psychologists will be working on their IAs this term, and getting ready to submit their final copy. At the end of Year 11, students were tasked with replicating a famous psychological study which investigated human cognition. As part of their IA, they replicate a study using Year 10 and Year 11 QASMT students as participants, and then write a report where they thoroughly analyse and evaluate their investigation.

One of the most famous replications was 'The Stroop Test' (refer to image below). There are two conditions. Complete each one separately and time yourself for each condition. Your task is to read the colour of the ink and not the word. Why don’t you have a go yourself? You should find that you take longer in the second condition.

Later on in the term, students will be studying abnormal psychology with a particular focus on depression. They will consider a range of biological and psychological explanations as to why people develop depression.

ToK – from ToK Coordinator David King

DP1 TOK
Students this term will be considering one of the themes, Knowledge and Technology. They will have the opportunity to consider how technology impacts on how we produce and also share knowledge, and how knowledge may change because of technology. They will also complete a second practice commentary of 350 words, to prepare them for their final exhibition assessment in Term 4.

DP2 TOK
The students are continuing to work on the draft of their final essay of 1600 words, which they will submit for feedback later this term. Their essays will be returned to them before the end of term, as the final submission is in early Term 3.

Lyle Fredericksen, Head of Department Individuals & Societies 

From the Department of Physical Sciences

Welcome to Term 2! I would like to especially welcome Georgia Margalit who joins us in the Chemistry department, and Michael Wilkinson, who will be replacing Paul Hunter while he is on leave this term.

Curriculum
Year 11 Physics and Chemistry students will be completing their practice Internal Assessments this term. The Internal Assessment requirements are the same for Chemistry and Physics and consist of one scientific investigation taking about 10 hours. Integral to the experience of students in any of the sciences is their experience in the laboratory. Practical work and Internal Assessment provide students with the opportunity to design investigations, collect data, develop manipulative skills, analyse results, collaborate with peers, and evaluate and communicate their findings. Experimentation allows students to experience the nature of scientific thought and investigation. Developing scientific inquiry skills also gives students the ability to construct an explanation based on reliable evidence and logical reasoning. Once developed, these higher order thinking skills will enable students to be lifelong learners and be scientifically literate. Practical work and Internal Assessment also addresses many of the IB Learner profile attributes, including inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, open-minded and caring.

In the Year 9 STEM Futures electives, Medical Physics students will continue the exploration of medical imaging techniques and this term will learn more about nuclear medicine, the use of radiation in imaging and treatment. In World of Reactions, the focus this term, is on the principles of green chemistry and the issues associated with e-waste - one of the fastest growing waste problems of our generation. Biochemical Solutions students will be investigating the use of living organisms and their cellular component in applications across a range of fields, such as medicine, energy production and industrial chemistry. In Fuelling the Planet, students continue to evaluate various types of fuels for electricity production, and will explore green building design specifically, in terms of ensuring efficient energy use. Finally, in the Sustainable Futures electives, we will research contemporary solutions to the issues of food production and food security, such as evaluating genetic modification of food crops and urban farming.

Astronomy Club
We will be restarting Astronomy Club in Term 2. The school has a strong tradition in astronomy and has some great observing facilities. We are excited by the prospect of the R2D2 observatory being reopened very soon. We regularly host star parties for the QASMT community, and a number of students have completed astronomy IAs and EEs. Currently we have three Year 12 students completing astrophysics EEs, and a group of Year 11 students working on a solar astronomy project in collaboration with the Korean Science Academy, in Busan.  

National Youth Science Forum (NYSF)
Applications for the 2022 NYSF are now open for students currently in Year 11. NYSF is a 10 day science enrichment and immersion program that brings together 200 students from all over Australia. The event takes place in January before students begin Year 12. Activities include: workshops, site visits and tours, science lectures, debates and science communication seminars. Students will meet fellow science enthusiasts across the country. NYSF is an amazing experience and I encourage interested Year 11 students to apply. If you’d like more information about NYSF, or the application process, come and see Dr Hogg in L block. More information can be found on the website: https://www.nysf.edu.au/programs/year-12-program/

Catherine de Freitas Pessoa, Head of Department Physical Sciences

From the Department of Life Sciences

From Life Sciences - Foundation
Welcome back to Term 2 after a very abrupt end to Term 1! Term 2 looks to be an exciting and interesting term, filled with inquiry and enrichment opportunities.

Year 7 Science
Year 7 students will be learning about Earth and Space and exploring the statement of inquiry:
“Natural and human systems create patterns. The relationship between Earth's natural resources and human society's physical needs functions as a balance between resources that are non-renewable on human timescales while others can be renewed or recycled.”

Through this they will investigate the Earth’s natural resources, identifying what these are, and how they are used. They will evaluate their own resource use to recognise the associated environment cost. Students will explore renewable energy sources. Finally, they will apply their understanding to the ‘Wicked Problem’ of e-waste and sustainability.

In the second half of the term, Year 7 undertake their interdisciplinary unit on interpreting patterns in data (combined Mathematics). They will explore this through learning about our solar system.

Year 8 Science
Year 8 students will learn about cells and body systems. They will explore the statement of inquiry:
“Complex organisms are made of smaller structures and systems, that scientists model in order to understand their functions.”

Commencing with the small world of cells, they will develop microscope skills and learn about cell specialisations. Students will also develop an understanding of levels of organisation, how cells build to body systems, and will learn about several different body systems that will lead to a collaborative assignment on medical innovations. The term will conclude with a mini Human Body Science fair.

Big Science Competition
During Week 5 and Week 6, all Year 7 and 8 students will undertake the Big Science Competition in their science classes. The Big Science Competition is a 50-minute, multiple choice competition testing science knowledge, critical-thinking and problem-solving skills. Questions are set in real-life, contemporary contexts, making them relatable and interesting! Students receive a certificate recognising their performance. The Big Science Competition is a pathway into other ASI science enrichment programs such as the Australian Science Olympiads and Curious Minds – girls in STEM.

UQ Science and Engineering Challenge
On Thursday 13 May (Week 4), a group of Year 10 students will be participating the UQ Science and Engineering challenge. The Challenge involves a full day of practical activities where students put their best problem-solving minds to the test designing an earthquake-proof tower, building a hovercraft or bridge, providing electricity to a city or creating an environmentally friendly house (just to name a few). The exhilarating day culminates in the final task, where students put their efforts to the test in front of excited spectators. Teams design and build bridges that should withhold loads, as weighted ingots (blocks of metal) travel from one side to the other. Students are encouraged to approach the challenges with creativity, innovation and team work.

Opti-MINDS
The Opti-MINDS Creative Sustainability Challenge is an inclusive team challenge which EMPOWERS participants to THINK, CREATE and COMMUNICATE. Opti-MINDS is a creative problem solving event. Teams are required to work together on a Long Term Challenge for up to six weeks without assistance from anyone outside the team. Participants are encouraged to explore possibilities and experiment with ideas as they endeavour to produce their best possible solution. They develop creative and original ways to communicate this solution to others, working within predefined parameters such as limited materials, complex Challenge criteria and the deadlines of The Challenge Day. The teams must also participate in an unseen Spontaneous Challenge on Opti-MINDS Day. This Challenge requires rapid interchange of ideas, the ability to think effectively, creatively, and well-developed group cooperation skills. During Term 2, Opti-MINDS CCA with Ms Hensley will train your mind in problem solving, critical thinking and teamwork, in groups of four to six students. These skills will be put to use in Term 3 when the Opti-MIND’s Science Engineering Challenge is held. There are still spaces in the Term 2 CCA, please contact Ms Hensley (shens20@eq.edu.au) if you are interested. 

“Learning is creation, not consumption.
Knowledge is not something a learner absorbs, but something a learner creates.”  
- George Couros (The Innovator’s Mindset)

Vanessa Bermingham, Head of Department Life Sciences Foundation

From Life Sciences - Biology
Welcome back to all our Biology students, teachers, parents and caregivers, I hope you had a restful Easter break. Term 2 in Biology promises to be as action packed as our last term! 

Year 10 students will continue where they left off, finishing their Genetics topic before moving into an Immunology topic called “Defence against Disease”. In this topic, students will begin with the theory and applications of bioinformatics, and then develop an understanding of infectious diseases and pathogens. Given the current world pandemic, it is a fascinating time to be learning about the 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd line of defences of the human body, as well as the power of vaccines in developing herd immunity. Year 10 students will then learn about the rise (and risks) of antibiotic resistance in our world. We will end the term with a number of case studies, looking specifically at the spread of diseases including HIV/AIDS, Malaria and SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19.

Our Year 11 students will continue this term with their Diploma, following on from where they left off with Topic 2. Both SL and HL will be completing their first IA this term, which will focus on enzyme action. During the course of the term,  students can expect to upskill for their writing of the IA, as well as performing the data collection required for their write up. Don’t worry Year 11 students – you have expert teachers supporting you through this!

Our annual Group 4 planning day will also occur this term, for our Year 11 students. This is where our Year 11 Science students develop workshops for our younger Year 7 students. The Group 4 Project is an essential part of the IB Diploma, and it is always a pleasure to be able to watch as students take the lead, and develop genuine and meaningful lessons for younger students. Stay tuned for more information closer to the middle of the term - the planning day will happen just before the Year 11 camp.

Our Year 12 students are heading towards a very exciting time, where we begin to see the end of the curriculum content for IB Biology. This term, the SL students will finish content, and the HL students will only have a few sub-topics left. SL students will continue working their way through the remainder of human physiology, and HL students will finish human physiology (both the SL and HL sub-topics), as well as begin to understand the biochemistry of metabolism and cellular respiration - including my absolute favourite - the Krebs cycle. This is a very important time for our Year 12s to reflect on their learning of the syllabus, and to identify their personal areas of strength and non-strengths. It is through serious reflection that one can identify where more focus and time should be placed in their upcoming revision.

I hope you have a wonderful, engaging and knowledge-filled term ahead. I look forward to supporting every one of you through every stage of your Biology, and Group 4, learning journey.

“Learning is the only thing the mind never exhausts, never fears, and never regrets.”
– Leonardo da Vinci.

Esme Hatchell, Head of Department Life Sciences Biology

From the Department of Mathematics

It has been a busy start to Term 2 with exams and assessment being finalised. There is much to look forward to with many enrichment opportunities coming up this term. 

In the classrooms……
“How do we represent numerical information” is the first unit studied by Year 7 mathematics classes this term.  Through this unit, using their knowledge of fractions and measurement, students will consider factual questions like “What system of measurement does Australia use?”, conceptual questions, “Why do area and volume conversions differ from length conversions?", and debatable questions, “Are there advantages to having different systems of measurement around the world?”. The Year 7s will finish the term working on an interdisciplinary unit with science.

Year 8 will investigate percentage, ratio, graphing and straight lines in their Money, Money, Money unit. They will apply this knowledge to a Criteria C (Communicating) and D (Applying mathematics in real-life contexts) project in the middle of the term. Algebra is front and centre for Year 9, and skills covered in these lessons will allow students to investigate patterns in their Criteria B investigation.  

Year 10 students will focus on quadratics, Pythagoras theorem and circles. They will end the term with trigonometry, algebraic fractions and congruency, before tests in their first exam block.

In the Diploma program, Year 11 students will reflect on how they performed in their first exams before working through new concepts, while Year 12 students will be focused on refining their Internal Assessment, after the drafting process, as well as finishing topics in their coursework.  

Maths Enrichment
The following enrichment opportunities will be offered this term.

1.Maths Challenge or Maths Enrichment programs offered by AMT (Australian Mathematics Trust) – This program has a number of stages designed to motivate, stimulate, encourage and develop mathematically interested students in Years 3 to 10, and to bring forth the talent and potential within. The first stage is the Maths Challenge, a four week program, while the second stage is the Maths Enrichment, a 16 week program. Both of these have costs involved. A permission letter with all the details will be sent out to all Year 7-10 students shortly.

2.Metropolitan West Team Challenge – This event is held at Indooroopilly SHS in May. QASMT will have a number of teams competing in the various levels – Year 7-8, Year 9-10 and Year 11-12. These teams will be selected based on merit from school trials, past competition results and performance in class.

3.Puzzle of the Week – The Maths Ambassador Team will continue to send out their hugely popular Puzzle of the Week.

4.STRM Week – Science, Technology, Robotics and Mathematics Ambassadors will join to create a week of fun activities for everyone to be involved, during Week 4.

5.DESMOS Artclub – learn how to use DESMOS to create artwork. This club will be starting soon.

Term 2 is shaping up to be another engaging and exciting term.  

Jane Gorman, Head of Department Mathematics

From Education Outside of the Classroom (EOTC)

Having such a great start to the year, the EOTC faculty is excited to jump straight back into Term 2, providing another term full of engaging opportunities outside the classroom and in PHE.  

I would like to welcome Philippa Garlick to the faculty. Philippa joins us from an international school in the United Arab Emirates and brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and enthusiasm. We are excited to have her on our team!

Here’s a little more information about what our students will be doing in Term 2!

PHE and Healthy Futures Curriculum
Our Term 2 PHE curriculum will continue to equip students with the necessary skills to perform in a variety of physical activities, impart knowledge to maintain fitness, as well as developing passionate, innovative learners, capable of creating positive and sustainable change.

In Year 7, students will delve into the biomechanical principles that underpin various movement concepts in athletics.  As well as learning about the intricacies of athletic events, such as running and shotput, they will analyse their own technique, using biomechanical principles. Year 8s will be following suit, also performing in various throwing, jumping and running events. They will make links between athletics and principles of training, working towards individual goals and implementing personalised training programs. Through these experiences, we hope to develop positive habits by promoting knowledge and understanding of health and fitness.

In our new Healthy Futures STEM course, students will explore contemporary issues in adolescent health and develop strategies to promote awareness amongst the QASMT community. Students will also implement and refine leadership and collaboration skills through officiating, playing in a team, and working towards individual and team goals.

CCA and Sport
CCA surveys are in, students are allocated and it’s time to take on new challenges in our Term 2 Co-Curricular Program.  We are excited to announce several new clubs to our program, including K-pop dance club, astronomy club and recreational volleyball, just to name a few. With the weather cooling down, we also welcome back our Vera Street Community Gardening Club, providing students with a fun and engaging service opportunity that also aligns with the requirements of CAS. 

With proven links to academic success, reduced stress and positive influences on social-emotional wellbeing, our sports program continues to be an integral aspect of QASMT culture, challenging hundreds of students once again in Term 2. Students will dribble, step and spike their way through the term, led by our expert soccer, netball and volleyball coaches.

Our seniors competed in the West Brisbane Secondary School Sport Gala Day in Week 1, and did QASMT proud with their skills, growth mindset and sportsmanship. Congratulations to the following teams who won Senior Gala Day Pennants:

• Open Boys Badminton;
• Open Girls Badminton;
• Year 10 Boys Badminton;
• Open Boys Cricket (a very exciting final where the opposition needed only four runs off the last ball).

Lastly, rally your House colours and dust off your running shoes, it’s time for our annual Athletics Carnival!  We hope to promote high levels of participation through this year’s event, and offer a wide range of activities for students to engage.

CCA and sport updates are regularly published via the Academy's social media platforms, and cover the amazing experiences our students are engaging in throughout the term.

Yanah Floridis - Head of Department Education Outside the Classroom

From the House Dean of Agnesi

Welcome back to Term 2, Agnesi House. I hope everybody had a relaxing break and that you are all looking forward to a positive term.

New House Mascot – The Wolf of Agnesi!
As outlined last term, wolf pack dynamics closely mirror Agnesi House values - in terms of loyalty, caring for each member of the House, and working collaboratively to support the pack as a whole. We will unveil our new House mascot, the wolf of Agnesi, at the Athletics Carnival in Week 6.

To ensure QASMT hears the Agnesi howl, we will be focused on the Agnesi War Cry during InStep, and House assemblies this term. I am relying on the House Captains and Ambassadors to ensure all Agnesi students commit to the war cry 'with total zest'!

Year 12
Year 12 Agnesi students are very excited to finally receive their senior jerseys. This is a significant milestone in their Year 12 IB journey. I hope our Agnesi students will cherish their jerseys for years to come, and look back with fondness on their time in Agnesi House.

Year 11
I am sure Year 11 Agnesi students are looking forward to their Leadership Camp in June. After a break last year due to Covid-19, it is exciting to be heading off to leafy Mapelton in the Sunshine Coast hinterland.

Year 10
Agnesi Year 10 students will be completing their SET planning this term, which includes an interview with me (their House Dean). I always look forward to these interviews as it gives me a chance to check in with the Agnesi Year 10 cohort, not only to discuss their career aspirations, but also to find out how they are enjoying QASMT. I will also identify the ways I can support them, even if that is just a friendly hello in the locker area!

Agnesi PEP News
This term, Year 7 Agnesi students will be exploring their character strengths in the “Strengths as Powers” module. Year 8 students will be identifying how they can make a difference in ensuring a “Sustainable Future” for everyone through an inquiry based unit, and Year 9 students will be investigating positive purpose, leading to a meaningful life.

The Agnesi Angle – Top Tip for Assessment Preparation
I strongly encourage all Agnesi students to use the Agnesi Pit Stop in their Agnesi PEP onenote, or in their diary (Organising Myself page). Students should download their assessment calendar and use it to fill in all up-coming assessment dates which will enable them to track their progress in meeting these deadlines. This will also ensure that Agnesi students can flag any issues hindering their progress, and enable everyone to have a good night's sleep before submission day!

Please don’t hesitate to contact me via email adavi581@eq.edu.au.

Aileen Davis, House Dean Agnesi

From the House Dean of Curie

After a sudden end to Term 1, an extended Easter break, and the end of the rescheduled exam block, Term 2 is up and running.   

If you thought Term 1 was bursting at the seams with events and activities, it would appear that Term 2 has just as much to offer. It has been wonderful seeing the happy faces, smiling eyes and utter delight as friends catch-up after the break, and share stories and memories with one another. I encourage all students to make the most of the opportunities that QASMT has to offer, and get involved in the diverse array of activities, clubs, teams, House competitions and events that are taking place this term. Memories last a lifetime, and your school years will hopefully provide some of your fondest moments. Keep smiling, because life is a beautiful thing, and there is so much to smile about.

Athletics Carnival
The Athletics Carnival is taking place this term, and after a successful and unique virtual athletics carnival in 2020, I am pleased to inform you, that the 2021 carnival is going to be a physical, whole school, in-person event! The carnival will take place on Friday 28 May at the end of Week 6. It is a great day for the House to come together, colour the school pink, and demonstrate our House spirit and pride to the rest of the school. There will be a mixture of competitive and fun events and of course……the war cry. After our winning streak of three consecutive war cry victories coming to an end at the Cross Country Carnival in Term 1, this will be our chance to raise the stakes and take the war cry standard to a new level. The House Captains and Ambassadors have been holding secret meetings and rehearsals. So watch out other Houses…Curie is coming and (fingers crossed) victory will be ours! Feel the Fury, here comes Curie!

Sustainability Week
QASMT is committed to educating our students and the QASMT community about our impact on the environment. In 2020, the sustainability working party, organised a Sustainability Day to highlight initiatives that were being undertaken on our journey as a school, to become a single use plastic free and carbon neutral school. This year, Sustainability Week is taking place in Week 8 (7 to 11 June). The week will start with a whole school assembly and there will be plenty of activities during InStep and the lunch breaks, for students and staff to get involved and begin to take action towards making our practices, as a school community, sustainable.

Sustainable Fashion Parade
There are many fun activities taking place in InStep this term. The Inter-House Sustainable Fashion competition,will be held during Sustainability Week in Week 8. Each InStep will create an outfit/hat/bag made from recycled materials and a member from the class will model it at the Fashion Parade in the Courtyard. The overall winner will receive House points in addition to the points earned by every InStep that enters. Students are encouraged to bring recycled items from home. Curie has had great success over the last two years, as the overall winner for both years!

Upcoming Events
Other key events that are taking place the term are:

Ownership
I encourage Curie students to take ownership of their learning and have confidence in themselves. Be prepared, be on time, be in class and be at school every day. This is your education and your journey! Have a wonderful and successful term.

Pink isn’t just a colour, it’s an attitude! Go team Curie!
Please don’t hesitate to contact me via email dfann6@eq.edu.au. I am looking forward to the term ahead and working with you and your child to support them to flourish!

Yours in pink,
Dean Fanning, House Dean Curie

From the House Dean of Da Vinci

Welcome to Term 2, 2021. We have a very exciting and fun filled learning adventure ahead of us. As DaVinci said “Learning never exhausts the mind” - keeping that in mind, let’s prepare for an energetic and positive term. 

Anzac Day

At the commencement of Term 2, we took time to pause and remember the ANZACs (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps). We commemorated their service and sacrifices for our country in two ceremonies. The ceremony prompted us to remember that this time last year, due to strict Covid-19 lockdowns, we recognised the service of our ANZAC men and women from the footpaths of our homes - which is a timely reminder for us to also acknowledge the front-line healthcare workers who continue their vigilance in keeping Australians healthy.

Sustainability Week and Art Showcase
QASMT will dedicate Week 8 to the advocacy of sustainability initiatives. During this week, we will see InSteps showcase their sustainable fashion designs, while our sustainable working party promotes the UN Sustainability Goals, with the hope that our school works towards conserving and improving our environment. The week will culminate with the Art Showcase event.

Inter-House Competition
Get ready for a full term of competitive House spirit. In Week 6, DaVinci will have the opportunity to showcase its new and improved war cry at the Inter House Athletics Carnival. Watch this space for the new additions to their performance. For those DaVinci athletes, Week 6 also provides the opportunity for you to compete against each other in track and field events. Remember, if these events are not your strength, you can show your support by participating  in other events, and cheering on fellow House members. 

Our students were excited for the Inter-House Dodgeball competition in Week 2, and the long-standing Mario Kart Competition which saw our tech students shine. We look forward to continued DaVinci success through participation and fun.

InStep
The House leadership team worked hard during Term 1 to create a new InStep calendar. This includes the introduction of circle time, flex time, war cry and quiz events. Circle time provides an opportunity for the group to sit together, in a circle, and share responses to a prompt or current affair topic. Flex time allows students to celebrate birthdays, academic and school successes. Our team will reintroduce Friday Quizes, to be held four times during the term.

Year 11 Camp
Year 11 students will depart in June for two nights of leadership adventures at Mapleton Outdoor Education Centre. Students will work together to improve their leadership of small groups, in preparation for their journey as school leaders in 2022.

I look forward to announcing our first DaVinci 'Dragon of the Month', nominated by our House, for demonstrating one of our QASMT protocols. The leadership team will make this announcement in our upcoming student-generated DaVinci newsletter.

Yours in green,

Stacy Wallace-Cunningham, House Dean Da Vinci

From the House Dean of Franklin

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome all Franklin House students back to Term 2. I am certain that Term 2 will be as productive and successful as Term 1. 

Term 2 began with observing Anzac Day in Week 1. In Week 6, Franklin House will compete in the QASMT Athletics Carnival, and Year 11s will attend camp in Week 7. I am particularly excited to witness the indominatable Franklin spirit, that will again be on display during the Athletics Carnival. I expect all students will want to contribute to proving the truth of our House motto - that is, our renovated war cry will surely prove that winning is in our DNA!.

Franklin House has had a strong start to the year concerning uniforms, behaviour and punctuality. Remember to maintain these positives and build on new ones, such as flourishing in all that you do. We want you to thrive and flourish in your studies, as well as social and emotional wellbeing.

We have returned from Easter break with new Year 7, 10 and 11 leaders. It will be great to put their eagerness, positivity and new ideas to good use. Our House noticeboard will remain updated with information and we will  soon begin working with our House charity, the RSPCA.

I look forward to the term ahead and the opportunities that will present in classes and outside of school. It is often these opportunities that form part of a bigger picture, allowing further insight into our abilities. A quote from Rosalind Franklin best summarises this - “Science and everyday life cannot and should not be separated”.

Ross Bray, House Dean Franklin

From the House Dean of Hawking

Term 2 has begun with new Year 7 and 10 House Ambassadors.

Congratulations to Khwahish G and Gavindi S in Year 7 and Nashonie P and Rig V in Year 10. I am looking forward to working with you and the other leaders to make Hawking’s Term 2 even better than Term 1! 

We commenced the term by celebrating outstanding attendance with a House Pancake breakfast! All students who had 97+% attendance from last term were rewarded with a delicious pancake. This is a new initiative to the House, so remember that coming to school gets you a House point!

We have some great House events this term, including a House Dodgeball competition, and continuation of the Hawking Olympics, with events such as UNO, Athletics Carnival, Academy Dance, Eat Up House Charity event, and the Year 11 camp!

Hawking are hoping to be victorious again with attendance, and with the war cry competition at the Athletics Carnival (Week 6) - let us ramp up that House spirit and get ROARING! In Week 7 we will have our second House charity event with Eat Up, where our Year 9 and 12 students will have the opportunity to make sandwiches for Brisbane students who cannot afford lunch. Finally, Year 11 Camp will be at Mapleton, and is sure to be full of adventure as well as being a fantastic opportunity for students to continue building relationships outside of a school environment.

Term 2 is full of lots of wonderful opportunities for you to be involved in as a House, and I'm looking forward to cheering you on and seeing you shine! At the time of writing, we are only two House points behind Agnesi, so we have every opportunity to overtake them this term!

A reminder about uniform - Term 2 sees students wearing their winter uniform. All students therefore, should be wearing their blazer to and from school. Stockings must also be worn with the skirt, and students have the option to wear their pullover or cardigan, in addition to their blazer. Any students in incorrect uniform, should come and see me in my office before school starts, for a uniform pass.

In the meantime, should you need anything, please do not hesitate to contact me via email rbrow477@eq.edu.au or extension number 382.

I wish all Hawking students a great Term 2!

Rebecca Parker, House Dean Hawking  

From the House Dean of Hollows

Parents, caregivers and students - Term 2 is underway and it will be one of the busiest and most demanding terms of the school year, particularly for our senior students.  

Hollows Hawks need to be ready to rise to each challenge by implementing study timetables, noting deadlines and taking on full responsibility for their assessments. As the going gets tough, the tough get going!

The focus in Term 1 for Hollows was on developing relationships within our InSteps and across the House. Our theme for this term is Engagement and Participation, and there will be many House and school activities for our Hawks to get involved in this term.

The Gift of Sight – the Fred Hollows Foundation

Professor Fred Hollows was a proud Australian. He was also a humanist and a global citizen, who was revered around the world for his contributions to eye health.  Fred always used to say that he did not study medicine to make money; he did it to help people. Not only did he help people in Australia, but he worked tirelessly to give the most marginalised people in the world access to high quality eye care. 

As Hollows House, we support the Fred Hollows Foundation and believe in its mission. This term, our House will fundraise for this important charity. A group of Year 11 boys (Tiedan, Nick, John, Lisanth, Ali and Kanak) will coordinate a fundraising effort for the House, where every $25 raised can cure avoidable blindness in disadvantaged communities -  this helps restore dignity, self-confidence and provides the ability to work, and perhaps get out of the poverty cycle that traps so many individuals globally. Hollows members will pledge an amount to donate to help restore eyesight to as many individuals as possible, and donation day will occur on Tuesday during Week 4 and Week 7.     

More information about the foundation at https://www.hollows.org

Dodgeball Competition 
The mighty fighting Hollows Hawks are currently doing battle with the other Houses in the Term 2 Inter-House Dodgeball competition. Our seniors and juniors are out to improve on their third and second place finishes in the Term 1 Volleyball competition. All players must remember to be punctual to the outdoor courts and wear a hat. The competition is currently occurring (Weeks 2 and 3), with the seniors starting first, followed by the juniors.

Athletics Carnival
On Friday 28 May, our annual Inter-House Athletics Carnival will be held. Once again, I am confident that Hollows will rise to the challenge and put on a winning performance -  not just in the track and field events, but also in the House war cry competition (in which they came second at the Cross Country). All Hawks will need to be front and centre with full attendance, wearing black and fired up ready to capture another piece of silverware for our trophy cabinet.  

Congratulations to our National Athletes: Sasha and Scarlet
Two of our budding athletes in Hollows House, have and will compete again, at a National level. Sasha V is currently competing in the Australian Beach Volleyball Championships, and we wish Sasha all the best for this competition. Scarlet F competed in the Australian National Age Swimming Championships in the holidays and we are proud to announce that she placed in the top 40 swimmers in the country. Well done Scarlet! Hollows has some great athletes and I welcome stories and details about any other Hawks that have competed at a high level.

Linguistics Champs
Well done to Bonnie H and Anna G for successfully competing in the Ozclow 2021 Australian Computational and Linguistics Olympiad. Both girls achieved a Bronze placement and did our Academy and themselves proud. Well done and congratulations. 

Incoming Ambassadors
We welcome Stella T (Year 10) and Chinmay L (Year 7), new Ambassadors joining the leadership group of Hollows House - we look forward to working with them for the rest of the year.

Key Activities / Events this Term

• Dodgeball competitions Weeks 2 and 3
• Mario Kart competitions Weeks 2 to 4
• Athletics Carnival Week 6 (28 May)
• Academy Dance Week 6 (28 May)
• Year 11 Camp Week 7
• Sustainability Fashion Parade Week 8

Every Day Counts!
Studies have shown that the more students attend classes and engage with class activities and teacher-led discussion, the better their understanding in each subject and ultimately their results. QASMT has set a target of 97% attendance, and all Houses accumulate points, based on attendance. Please ensure that you remain punctual with your attendance to achieve the learning gains that come from it. Make sure you have a plan for a busy Term 2. Design a study timetable that stipulates work obligations, dates and times that hold you accountable for tasks. Consistent effort each day is the secret to keeping on top of your workloads and meeting your responsibilities. 

Wishing you all a great Term 2. Please direct any enquiries you may have regarding Hollows House to me via email mjcol3@eq.edu.au.

Michael Colquhoun, House Dean of Hollows

From the House Dean of Jackson

With Term 1 full of camps, House competitions, House mascot voting and meeting our new Year 7 and 10 Jackson students, we have high expectations for the fun that Term 2 will bring.

At the end of Term 1, our new Year 7 and 10 students were given the opportunity to apply for leadership opportunities within their House, and across the school. I would like to take this opportunity to introduce our new Jackson Ambassadors:

• Ikshan G and Tanvi A (Year 7); and
• Justin K and Deeya S (Year 10).

Ikshan, Tanvi, Justin and Deeya - we cannot wait to work with you and help to put all your excellent ideas into action. Gooooooooo Jackson!

As you will know, Jackson is one of the two new Houses created towards the end of last year and it has been a great opportunity for students to display their creative flair in contributing to the House’s vision and values. During the start of this term, all Jackson students were invited to participate in our House Flag Design competition whereby they designed a flag to be professionally made into the visual emblem of our House. All entries have now been submitted, and will be voted upon by our Jackson community. What better way to show House spirit than to be a contributor to our symbol of victory!

I am proud to reveal our Jackson House mascot (below).

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce two staff members who are now Jackson mentors - we welcome to the Jackson team, Georgia Margalit and Meng Yin Leong.

In concluding, I would like to remind our Jackson community of the important House event dates for this term: Athletics Carnival on Friday 28 May, Year 11 camp from Wednesday 2 June to Friday 4 June, and Sustainability Week running from Monday 7 to Friday 14 June. I look forward to seeing all of the House spirit each and every student will bring!

I wish you all a great term!

Victoria Snell, House Dean Jackson 

From the House Dean of Newton

I trust everyone has had a restful and well-deserved break, and you are looking forward to another eventful term.

It is always comforting to feel a wonderful sense of welcome whenever I speak to the students. To be met on the first day of the term with engaging smiles and lively conversations leaves a lasting impression. 

InStep Ahead
I would like to start by thanking families for their support with uniform in Term 1. I was impressed to see the vast majority of Newton students wear the correct uniform to school and I encourage them to maintain this consistent effort. A reminder that students are required to wear their Winter formal uniform during Terms 2 and 3.

I hope that the Year 7 and 10 parents had the opportunity to discuss the Interim Report with their students. Taking an interest and discussing strengths and areas for improvement, allows students to focus on their goals and reinforces their efforts in each of their subjects. At this time, all students should be mindful of how they are managing themselves and their responsibilities, in keeping track of when their assessment is due. They must maintain a consistent effort in their application to their studies, so their results will be truly reflective of their abilities.

New Student Leaders
Our hardworking student leadership team has grown in number and I would like to congratulate the following students who were successful in their application for Newton House Ambassadors:

• Arthur P – Year 7
• Annie P – Year 7
• Ziqi Z – Year 10
• Navreet K -Year 10.

I look forward to working with these leaders and seeing them inspire others as they grow in their leadership roles.

House Charity
During InStep, students will have the opportunity to crochet beanies in support of the Miracle Babies Foundation, our chosen House charity for 2021. The charity is Australia’s leading organisation supporting premature and sick newborns. I encourage you to read more about their work: https://www.miraclebabies.org.au/.

Ways you can support us:

• Donate - 4 ply / 8ply baby soft wool (yarn);
• Donate or lend - crochet hooks (4 mm) / Size 12 (2.75mm) needles / Size 10 (3.25mm) needles.

Any needles or hooks provided to students will need to be given to me for safe storage for the duration of the activity. These will be made available to students during InStep time. If you are lending needles/hooks, please ensure that you label them with your child’s name. Also, I would gladly accept any beanies that you knit or crochet at home. Your support is truly appreciated.

House Spirit and Celebrations
It’s a busy term ahead and there are valuable House points on offer. Participation is vital and everybody counts. Students are encouraged to attend and actively engage in all House events, proudly display our blue colour, and support fellow Newtonians.

Special mention to Sadia H (Year 11), for achieving a Silver certificate in the State Round (Queensland) of the OzCLO 2021 competition. The OzCLO, is a competition for high school students to develop their strategies for solving problems in fascinating real languages.

In the Classroom  
Through our Positive Education lessons, I look forward to continuing to equip our students with the skills and strategies to allow them to flourish and respond positively to the challenges they encounter. I will also be interviewing the Year 12 students on the completion of their CAS experiences. Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) is one of the three core components that every student must complete as part of the Diploma Programme (DP).

GO NEWTON!

Deva Prasad, House Dean Newton

From the Guidance Officers

From the Guidance Officer (Career Planning)

Welcome back to Term 2! 

This term, we will again have a number of opportunities for students to both grow their knowledge of careers and build their career planning portfolio. 

Our Year 12 students will commence their individual pathways interviews. Each student is required to begin completing their Pathways Interview Form before meeting with the guidance officer, to discuss their plans and identify what support is available to assist with the next stage of their career journey. 

All Year 11 students will be attending the University of Queensland for their Careers That Shape The World event on Tuesday 1 June. It is a great privilege that all QASMT students attend this event, that is only offered to select students from other schools.

Year 10 students should all have completed their Senior Education and Training (SET) plan interviews during Week 1 of this term. Remember that SET plans are dynamic documents and should be updated as information is gained and plans change.

During their Positive Education Program, our middle years students are continuing 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 will begin to make their career exploration more explicit this term, as they begin to collate a personal career profile.

Lunchbox information sessions are currently being scheduled in conjunction with the University of Queensland. These are voluntary sessions open to all students on various themes related to career planning. As sessions are arranged, the details will be emailed to students.

Career Planning Resources and Events
QUT – Information Sessions
Talk to QUT staff and students during the year. Our next upcoming event is A quick guide to QUT: Information session for Year 9 and 10 students on 28 April, then the Pathways to QUT webinar on 6 May.

University of Melbourne – Meet Melbourne Online
The University of Melbourne is known for doing degrees a little differently, but what does that mean for you? Meet Melbourne Online is a series of discipline-specific webinars that allow you to discover how Melbourne’s unique and flexible curriculum can help you achieve your study and career aspirations. More information and register here: go.unimelb.edu.au/rz2i

Monash University – Inside Monash Seminars
The Inside Monash seminars are on again for students to discover what it’s really like to study at Monash by hearing first-hand from our staff and current students about their experiences. Monash are offering seminars across faculties, both in-person and virtually, so students will be able to connect with Monash directly about their course options and ask any questions they have. Find out more at https://www.monash.edu/inside-monash

Study Work Grow – Early Entry Guide
Some universities and tertiary admissions centres (TACs) have programs that allow you to apply earlier in the year.  You could receive a conditional or guaranteed offer before you’ve sat your final exams and well before the main December and January offer rounds. Further information can be found on university websites or at
https://studyworkgrow.com.au/product/early-entry-2022/ 

Please peruse the Options Career Bulletin (below) for other career planning opportunities and information.

Katrina Judge, Guidance Officer (Career Planning)
kjudg12@eq.edu.au

From the Guidance Officer (Unique Learnings)

Welcome to Term 2! 
The start of term can be an appropriate time for both reflection and forward planning. As students reflect on Term 1, they should try to also use the opportunity to formulate goals for the next few weeks. SMART goals are a good way to start. 

S – specific
M – measurable
A – achievable
R – relevant
T – time-bound.

As I continue to support Franklin, Hawking, Newton and Jackson Houses in assisting students with wellbeing. In addition to this, my portfolio continues to be working with Unique Learners. 

As the Guidance Officer for Unique Learners, I wish to share some valuable resources regarding supporting students with inclusive education requirements. The following workshops are held at various times throughout 2021 (Source: https://studentwellbeinghub.edu.au):

From time to time, the Queensland Association for Gifted and Talented Children offers workshops for parents and accelerated learning seminars for students. To keep an eye out for upcoming workshops, visit https://www.qagtc.org.au/

As well as the above workshops, an upcoming seminar in Brisbane will explore wellbeing for youth. Titled, ‘Supporting Youth through Mental Health Challenges’, the workshop will be led by clinical psychologists, Dr Alan Headey and Dr Jonathan Andrews. For more information, visit https://www.bridgeman.org.au/mentalhealthworkshop/

I am available by appointment at school Monday to Friday, 8.00am to 4.00pm. Students should continue to contact House Deans in the first instance for any wellbeing issues. House Deans will assist students and may refer to the guidance officers, if appropriate. 

Chantel Mageros, Guidance Officer (Unique Learnings)
cmcad10@eq.edu.au                 

From Instrumental Music

Welcome to Term 2!

Instrumental Music students and their teachers are busy preparing for the QASMT  evening concert on Friday 21 May. This is one of two concerts held annually in the Auditorium from 6.00pm to 9.00pm. Ticketing information will be advised shortly.

Congratulations to those students who have been successful in their auditions and nominations for external events including, Creative Generation – State Schools Onstage (CGEN) 17 July 2021 and MOST (Musically Outstanding Students) in  July. A number of students have also been successful with nominations for the State Honours Ensemble Program (SHEP) at the Queensland Conservatorium held in June (date to be advised). 

Nominations are open now for the SHEP program held in September, so please let me know if you wish to be included on those nominations.  Entries are due to me by Tuesday 4 May. 

Gregory Thompson, Instrumental Music Coordinator
gdtho0@@eq.edu.au

Key Dates for your Calendar
Please ensure these two dates are in your calendar, as they are compulsory for all students to attend as Evening Concerts in the Auditorium:  

• • 21 May;
  • 3 September.

From Corporate Services

Refectory / Tuckshop
The Refectory/Tuckshop is open every school day from 7.00am to 3.00pm, offering a wonderful selection of food and drinks for breakfast and lunch, prepared by our inhouse chef. We recommend students jump the queue and order online through Flexischool. Click here to log in or register a new account for Flexischool 

STEM Terrace
There has been new outdoor furniture installed on the STEM Terrace (between L and M Blocks). This is a wonderful area for students to relax and take in the view of our oval.

Academy Facilities
The Facilities team have been busy rejuvenating existing and establishing new gardens around the school and have plans for a new long jump pit on the main oval, to be completed in time for the Athletics Carnival.

In the coming weeks, under the guidance of the Brisbane City Council, we will commence annual maintenance and planting along Toowong Creek (within the school grounds). New nesting boxes supplied by Cr James Mackay, will be installed to help preserve the natural habitat.

Buzzzzzzz  Queen Beeyonce Buzzzzz
The P&C received a grant to fund a Flow Hive from Cr James Mackay (Councillor for Walter Taylor Ward), and as a result, our very own Queen Bee was organised and named by the students. Queen “Beeyonce” has been very busy establishing her hive which is soon to be relocated to a special area within the school, to keep the bees happy and our students and community safe. We are fortunate to have assistance from a parent who has many years of experience working with bees, who will guide the school and work with the students and staff to care, maintain and harvest our very own honey.

The Corporate Services Team values feedback about our facilities, so if you or your child has anything to report or advise, please email facilitiesrequest@qasmt.eq.edu.au.

Corporate Services Team - Sharon Prentice and Kelli Gallagher

Transportation Options to and from QASMT

The Maps and Transport page on our QASMT website has been updated and includes a wealth of information, tailored especially for our students attending QASMT. We thank the P&C for researching and compiling the information. Below are some of the highlights.

Bus
There are bus stops located at both ends of Bywong Street, Market Street and Miskin Street, as well as bus stops on Orchard Street and Dean Street.

Click to find out about useful morning buses
Click to find out about useful afternoon buses
Click to find out about bus stops near QASMT 

Train
Many of our students take the train to Taringa station and walk to school from that location. Students walk 600m from the footbridge to Briggs Street, and use the Moggill Road overpass. 

Play the Youtube video below, to experience first-hand the walking route from Taringa Train Station to QASMT

For students who find the hills too steep from Taringa train station, they may catch a bus from Toowong station instead (470, which drops them on Dean St in the morning, 8 minute stroll downhill), and picks them up outside school at 3.44pm.

Car
For parents/caregivers who are dropping off or collecting students by private vehicle, the best and safest location to do this is Miskin Street (Gate 7). It is not ideal to use Bywong Street, as there are only three drop off car spaces. Please DO NOT use the Bywong Street bus turn area, or stop in any unauthorised areas, as you may be fined by
Brisbane City Council. 

QASMT supports the Active School Travel program which encourages students to walk or cycle to school when possible. 

The School Marketing Team can be contacted via email communications@qasmt.eq.edu.au.

School Marketing Team - Kirsten Smallcombe, Alice England, Katie Casey

From the P&C

Message from the P&C President

Welcome to Term 2.

With more than 500 P&C members in QASMT this year, we are in a strong position to continue to support our school’s strategic priorities going forward.

We have our Term 2 Sunday Social on 23 May 2021 from 3.00pm to 6.00pm at the Hundred Acre Bar, St. Lucia Golf Links. Parents meet up once a term on a Sunday afternoon to share their experiences. It is a fantastic opportunity to meet everyone and make new friends - children are welcome too.

This term, we have numerous events where we can support the school community. 

• Friday 21 May - Instrumental Music Concert
• Friday 28 May - School Dance
• Friday 11 June - Arts Showcase

In due course, the P&C will email parents with more event details and will seek volunteers to sign up to assist.

Thank you for your continued engagement and support for our wonderful school, and we hope to see you at one of our upcoming P&C meetings!

Winand D’Souza, QASMT P&C President

QASMT P&C FUNDRAISING

The QASMT P&C would like to thank the sponsors below,
who pay to advertise their services at the back of our newsletters.
All advertising queries should be directed to the P&C via email (qasmtpandc@gmail.com).