Term Ahead - 15 October 2021

From the Senior Leadership Team

We are very proud of the unique educational environment provided at QASMT and we are sure you would agree our uniqueness is multifaceted. In this article, we would like to focus on our uniqueness as an IB World School and what is different about an International Baccalaureate (IB) education.  

An IB education develops lifelong learners. Throughout all IB programmes, students develop approaches to learning skills and the attributes of the IB Learner Profile. Students are taught to take responsibility for their own learning and understand how knowledge itself is constructed. They are encouraged to try different approaches to learning and to take responsibility for their own educational progress. An IB education encourages students to ask challenging questions, think critically and develop research skills proven to help them in higher education. With a strong focus on the international perspective, I encourage you to read the IB publication, Education for a Better World (below).

The IB is designed to cater for students who wish to prepare themselves for further study at a university. As our vision includes developing globally-minded citizens, we highly value that the IB is an international qualification. The IB Diploma is an internationally recognised certificate – a feature that is no doubt enticing to our community. With the IB, students can have a global education experience – the IB is recognised by prestigious international universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard and Princeton.

Locally, the IB continues to result in very favourable translations to ATAR rankings, used for entry into Australian universities. Unlike the QCE, the IB has no internal rankings, which means that students’ marks aren’t scaled against their peers – the only competition for students is with themselves.

As an academically selective entry school, our community highly values a secondary education which will prepare our young people for the next stage in their academic journey, a university education. Evidence shows the transition from secondary to tertiary education is an increasingly difficult one for students. Recent data indicates approximately one-third of students will drop out before completing their degree. Local education systems across the world, including that of the QCE, are developed to cater for all levels of abilities, preparing students for life across multiple pathways. Preparation for university is, rightly so, not the sole focus of those programs. Without the development of the broad range of skills needed to be successful at university, it is easy to see why so many students become overwhelmed  trying to cope with the differences from secondary to tertiary education and make the difficult decision to give up on their aspirations.

We hope you agree that an IB education is certainly a valuable one and will provide your students with the skills they need as lifelong learners. To ensure we achieve our vision to provide a world-class education that nurtures excellence and fosters global citizenship for an ever-changing world, we value the contribution of our community and as always, if you wish to discuss any aspect of QASMT life, including the IB programmes offered, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Your House Dean is always the best initial point of contact so they can facilitate discussion with the most appropriate QASMT staff member.

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

Welcome to Term 4. I hope everyone took time for self-care during the holidays and are ready for a new term. Term 4 is a time for challenges and celebrations, endings and beginnings, and we embrace it with a sense of excitement and gratitude.

Year 10 and 11 Students
With only eight weeks for our Year 10 and 11 students, Term 4 will fly by! So, it is important for students to get on top of assessments and study early.

Our Year 10 students are working hard to finalise their certificate courses this term. Almost half of the cohort have already completed their Certificate II in Skills for Work and Vocational Pathways, and a number of our students are making excellent progress in finalising their Certificate II in Sampling and Measuring, and Certificate III in Laboratory Skills, through South Bank TAFE. I would encourage students to continue to work hard toward completing these qualifications as they will contribute to a student’s Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE), as well as providing useful skills for the future.

Year 11 students are well on their way through the DP course, with Year 12 just around the corner. Exciting IB developments for our Year 11 students include; commencing research on their Extended Essays with the support of their supervisor, finalising their Theory of Knowledge exhibition and completing their practical work for science internal assessment items. The focused effort students put into these tasks, along with their other subjects this term, will ensure they are set up for success in their final year of the DP.

Block exams will take place in Week 8 this term, so it is essential the students start their preparations early. I would encourage students to work with their subject teachers and House Deans on their study plans, and specific areas for improvement, to make sure they continue to make excellent progress.

Year 12 Exams – IB information
In Week 1 of this term, I emailed out the most recent correspondence from the IB regarding the adjustments and support for schools and students in light of the impact of Covid-19. We are currently in the position to hold November exams for our students, which will commence on 25 October. I will however, continue to work closely with the IB regarding our individual situation and communicate any updates as required. Here is a link to the IBO assessment FAQs for your reference.

I wish all our school community a productive and successful term. I especially would like to recognise the hard work of our Year 12 students as they prepare for the November exams. The whole QASMT community is behind our Year 12 students during this period and we wish them all the best!

Rebecca Skarshewski, Director of Senior Years

From the Director of Middle Years

Global Contexts in the MYP
When teachers plan inquiry-based units of work for our students in the Middle Years, they select a Global Context in which to situate the learning. MYP global contexts provide a common point of entry for inquiry and help to frame the inquiry to promote intercultural understanding and global engagement. These contexts create relevance and position learning within a context of real-world experiences.

The six Global Contexts are:

1. Identities and relationships
2. Orientation in space and time
3. Personal and cultural experience
4. Scientific and technical innovation
5. Globalisation and sustainability
6. Fairness and development

Middle Years Honours Program: A day in the life of a UQ student excursion
At the beginning of the year, our Middle Years Honours students voiced their desire to experience an immersion day to find out ‘what it was like to be a UQ student'. Our UQ Relationships Manager worked closely with Professor Grotowski, Head of School, Mathematics and Physics, to organise a day that allowed our students to attend both a mathematics and physics lecture. It was an experience that our students will never forget.

On arrival, students were given a map of the UQ campus and a timetable of the day’s scheduled activities. They then had to navigate their way to their first tutorial, where they immersed themselves in learning with great enthusiasm and zest. Following lunch, they attended a physics lecture on ‘relativity’ amongst at least one hundred university students. Our students had completed prereading on the topic prior to the workshop, so they were able to actively participate in the discussions facilitated during the lecture.

Ms Fordham reports, “One of our students was even brave enough to share her answer and reasoning with the entire body of students, via a microphone. During the day, our students learned to question their understanding of the world, to take personal responsibility and be independent, whilst still asking for help when needed. The students conducted themselves with enthusiasm and grace, demonstrating maturity beyond their years. It was a pleasure to observe their initial tentativeness turn into confidence and engagement. These rich experiences are of great benefit to our students in the upcoming years ahead."

Well done, Middle Years Honours students! Your passion for learning and drive for understanding is a joy to observe!

Queensland Theatre – Scene Project (CCA Activity)
Ms Wisowaty had the pleasure of taking 11 of our students to the Queensland Theatre for the “Scene Project” outcome day. Please find her reflections on the day below!

“Students spent their Thursday afternoon CCA time developing their performance skills, workshopping an original piece of theatre and rehearsing their performances - in a process that has seen them use effective communication, teamwork and interpersonal skills; as well as literary, physical and vocal analysis of text, understanding of space and audience, and time-management skills.

The students’ performance, under the stage lights of the Diane Cilento Theatre, was at the highest level of any student performances I have ever seen. Our students demonstrated a depth of understanding of text and character far beyond their respective years. Each student found a new moment, ad lib or bit of business in their performance to lift what we have been rehearsing since Term 2. Our students were, with no hyperbole intended, AMAZING. The entire audience (made-up of the other attending school and Queensland Theatre teaching artists, actors and administrators, including the techs), roared with laughter throughout the performance and gave a huge round of applause (some stood!) at the curtain call of our students’ piece. The feedback for our students, from the actors and theatre staff present, was that they had performed at “Olympic level” (direct quote!) I could not have been prouder!” Susan Wisowaty, Teacher

IB Learner Attribute Spotlight!
The IB Leaner Profile attributes are placed at the heart of the Middle Years Program and seek to support our students in becoming responsible members of local, national and global communities. This newsletter’s challenge is for our middle years families to openly discuss the notion of being Principled.

 The IB states:
“Principled: We act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness and justice, and with respect for the dignity and rights of people everywhere. We take responsibility for our actions and their consequences.”  (source: www.IB.org)

Why is honesty and integrity so important? You may like to share examples of principled-action that your family members have undertaken recently, within their daily lives.

Sandra Davey, Director of Middle Years

From the Department of Language and Literature

Here on the QASMT campus, we can see how the year is progressing towards summer though the sights and sounds around us. The sun is brighter, more calm and natural wildlife is present around the Miskin Street entrance, and vegetation seems to need more maintenance as it thrives within the environment of increased sunlight. Just as movement into summer prompts obvious signs of growth in our natural surrounding environment, we in the Language and Literature department look forward to the continued academic growth of our students over the course of Term 4.

Unlike the case of seasons, the teachers and students at QAMST have agency in terms of academic growth and progression: We can take deliberate action to encourage and enable academic progress and development. In classes, our students have completed their most recent rounds of assessment and in consultation with their teachers have completed their Personal Learning Plans. Not only has this helped students understand the “next steps” in their learning, but has informed teachers about how teaching and learning should be approached in Term 4.

Looking ahead to Term 4, our Year 7s are going to be expressing themselves and running their analytical hawk-like eyes over a variety of poems from different times, spaces and places. Our Year 8s will be boldly and persuasively speaking about issues relating to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for 2030. Our Year 9s will be engaging with the brave new world of William Shakespeare's The Tempest. Meanwhile, our Year 10 DPP students will be undertaking a significant task in terms of refining the skills necessary for the IB Diploma through their performance of an oral related to a Global Issue. Finally, our Year 11s are, like a fast-flowing river, heading inexorably to the Individual Oral assessments which require them to connect literary and non-literary texts meaningfully to a Global Issue.   

Amongst all of this meaningful learning and in-class activity, the most high-profile event of the term will be Book Week in Week 4 of Term (25-28 October). Various literary-focused activities will run during lunchtimes and breaks, books sales will take place, and students will be encouraged to dress as their favourite literary character. We’re excited about seeing the QASMT community celebrate the power of the written word through this fun and creative event.

We look forward to seeing continued growth of our students and their ability to engage with Language and Literature throughout Term 4. Regardless of the location or forum, the coming term promises opportunities for our students at QASMT to flourish in terms of their engagement with the skills of analysing texts, organising ideas, producing work, and using language.   

David Bracken, Head of Department Language and Literature

From the Department of Language Acquisition

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

Term 4 is a timely reminder of why it is so amazing to be a part of the Language Acquisition department. There are so many cultural events taking place and it is opportune to reflect on these celebrations and remind ourselves what they truly mean. On the other hand, Term 4 is also a time to support and care about the Year 12s as they undertake their final exams in November. We wish all students good luck!

Day of the Dead - Tuesday 2 November
The annual Mexican celebration, Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead), is a time when families gather to honour and remember deceased loved ones. It is believed that the souls of the dead return to visit the living families in homes, businesses and cemeteries. The Aztec honoured their dead with fiestas and rituals during the harvest season. They viewed death as the beginning of the cycle of seasons and life. Day of the Dead activities will be held during lunchtime – the courtyard will be a Day of the Dead hub where a number of craft and activity stations will be set up.  Trees will be bombed with Day of the Dead offerings which will be made at these stations.

The Mother Tongue Club - a new club that celebrates our multicultural community and languages 
This term, we will be holding our first event on Thursday, Week 5, with international karaoke, language games and craft activities. The focus of the second half of the term will be planning and organising the event for next school year, the International Mother Tongue Day in February. We are looking for new members who would love to get involved with these fun activities.

CAS Project - sending used textbooks to Bodhgaya, India
There is a group of 20 students who have volunteered to assist with sending textbooks no longer in use at SMT to the Prajna Vihar School in India. The students will be working with Mrs Liebchen to box up, budget and organise the postal and courier delivery of the books by finding ways to raise money to ensure a successful transit to India.

Okonomiyaki in Year 8 Japanese
Students in Year 8 were treated to a cooking demonstration at the end of Term 3 during their Japanese lesson. Miss Damon demonstrated how to make a popular Japanese dish called Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き). Okonomiyaki, is a popular savoury pancake that is topped with delicious okonomiyaki sauce and Japanese Kewpie mayonnaise. Okonomi, means "what you like" or "what you want", and yaki meaning "grilled" or "cooked". If you would like to try this at home, the batter ingredients that were used include flour, water, eggs and shredded cabbage. Optional toppings include Okonomiyaki sauce (vegan) and Japanese mayonnaise. For those who are a little more adventurous, katsuoboshi (bonito fish flakes) and aonori (seaweed) could also be added. 

Onigiri Rice Balls in Year 7 Japanese
Students will have the fun experience of making and eating onigiri rice balls this term. Onigiri, also known as Omusubi, is a Japanese rice ball made of steamed rice, stuffed with a filling for flavour. Students will make onigiri with either flavoured rice using Furikake seasoning, or rice balls filled with tuna/mayonnaise. Some of our adventurous students may make the traditional style of onigiri stuffed with Umeboshi (pickled plum) showing their IB attribute of being a risk-taker. Cooking is a great way to learn Japanese culture through food and expose students to some unique and new flavours. Oishikatta desu ne!

I wish everyone a successful Term 4 and a special “good luck” to the Year 12 cohort for their November exams!

Auf Wiedersehen, valete, au revoir, adíos, さようなら 

Kate Oxenford, Head of Department Language Acquisition

From the Department of Technology and the Arts

Welcome to Term 4 from the Technology and The Arts faculty. Below is a snapshot of what our students will be learning this term.

DPP/DP Visual Arts
Our Year 11 students will be focusing their attention on their body of work for Year 12, fine-tuning a conceptual focus for their independent artmaking next year. 

The combined Year 10 and 11 class will be learning about Art Film and creating a 30 second to one-minute video using Adobe Premiere Pro - stay tuned for the outcomes. 

MYP Visual Arts
Year 7 students will use their 2D drawings of hybrid animals to make 3D sculptures using low-relief layers of up-cycled paper and cardboard. Influences from Australian artists such as Madeleine Kelly and Brian Robinson will inspire students to make their 'improbable beast' animals with stylised colour and shape.  

Year 8 students will extend their self-portrait expression by making mono prints and digital collages. They also interview and photograph a special person in their life, who will be the muse of a portrait artwork, with influences from Archibald Portrait Prize winning artists such as Del Kathryn Barton and Tim Storrier.  

Year 9 students will research artworks made throughout history to discover traditional and contemporary approaches for making artworks with still life and appropriation to express ideas about the issue they investigated in unit one. To inspire their own acrylic painting on canvas, students will investigate artists such as the Dutch Masters, Ricky Swallow, Daniel Boyd, Brian Robinson and Ruth Cho to inspire appropriation used in a range of art forms.  

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 4 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 podcasts and will prepare and present their very own radio/podcast script that radio stations around the world will be keen to broadcast on air.

Computer Science
Year 10
Year 10 Computer Science students are developing their command-line adventure games in Java. This assignment has been designed for students to showcase their newly acquired computational thinking skills. We look forward to playing these games! Additionally, students will be presented with a mini-case study that focuses on security and high-performance computing (HPC), using our in-house HPC cluster. 

Year 11 
The logic behind how a computer works and calculates is paramount to the development of good programs. With this in mind, Year 11 Computer Science begins the term learning Boolean logic and algebra. From here we go on to explore the technology and protocols utilised by networks. Throughout this, we will be exploring the nature of genetic algorithms and heuristics in order to address the upcoming case study. 

ITGS
In Year 10, students will be exploring the social and ethical issues that arise from the introduction of autonomous vehicles.  We will research the legal, economic, environmental, ethical and social challenges presented for society by this new technology. 

Year 7 and 9 Design
This term, it will be lights, cameras, action as we learn the ‘ins and outs of animation’ for students in Year 7 Design. Students will use Adobe Animate to create their own short 2D animation to reflect their personal culture. Personal culture is open to interpretation - it could include something as simple as brushing and flossing your teeth every day! Students are also learning that people view their own experiences differently and will view the final animations from their own perspective. 

Year 9 Biomedical Engineering
Students in Year 9 Biomedical Engineering will be creating digital artefacts (a scientific poster, or a three minute video or a 45-second animation) to display their knowledge of the 3D printed model bone scaffolds. This will include testing their 3D printed model bone scaffolds, then displaying and interpreting this scientific data on their digital artefacts. The final digital artefacts will be presented and critiqued within class during Week 6. 

Year 9 Soundtrack
Students in Year 9 Music are utilising their skills developed after composing sonification of NASA images to compose music for video games. After researching and analysing the uses and features of music to drive narrative and action in gaming, students will compose and justify why they include genre specific elements of music in an industry imbedded task manipulating tools in multimedia platforms. Traditional music presenting will also be required when they perform solo for their peers in a recital form.   

Robotics
Over the weekend of 9– 10 October, 11 teams competed at the RoboCup State Championships. The students have worked so hard to participate and have had the 'usual' set-backs to contend with, such as preparation in lockdown and rescheduled competitions. First Lego League will be competing in the regional competition on 6 November. This is run by our very own Mr Swann. Students are in the process of preparing for this year's competition which is themed around logistics, titled "Cargo Connect". Later in the term we will hold a showcase for robotics students who have been developing their independent projects.  Watch this space! 

FTC Robotics
The 2021-22 FTC robotics season kicked off on Sunday 19 September (our time). Over the holidays Mr Hams and Ms Bebbington took three students and one mentor to the Captains and Coaches day on 23September at Grace Lutheran College; here we were able to experience the new field and learn the game rules, along with time to interact and share with other teams from across the region. After that on 24 September, three of our four teams gathered at school to plan and design their robots for the new challenges. The teams have had a semester of learning so they are all in good positions for this new season.  

This year, the game is focused on the moving of freight components to various ‘shipping hubs’ on the field; the challenge of lifting and transporting items remotely with a robot is significant and each team have come up with some unique approaches, which I look forward to seeing evolve over the coming months.  

The regional/state competition is usually in November but has been postponed to the first weekend in February 2022, due to Covid-19 restrictions in the other states causing delays there. We are looking forward to having the whole term to perfect our robot designs for the upcoming competition. 

eLearning and IT Support
We welcome two new members to the IT Support team: Mr John Perry and Mr Dipdyut Bhattacharyya and we farewelled Mr Zubair Syed. If you are considering replacing your laptop for 2022, please ensure that you review the minimum specifications in our the Bring You Own Device (BYOD) Policy.

Year 12 Revision Tips and Tricks
Studies have shown that students who take notes by hand learn more than those who take notes on a laptop (Mueller & Oppenheimer, 2014; Carter, Greenberg, & Walker, 2017). As you may know, all the exams, both ITGS and Computer Science, require handwritten responses. We highly recommend that students take time to handwrite their revision notes and practise exam questions and get used to the pens that they will use in the exam. We recommend you drop into Officeworks to purchase a number of black Bic or Pilot pens, but not liquid paper, as this is not permitted in exams.

Once again, we look forward to a rewarding term packed with authentic learning opportunities and academic success!

Madeleine Brookes, Head of Department Technology and The Arts 

From the Department of Individuals and Society

It has been so pleasing to see so many Year 12 students engaged in tutorials in the first week back, on behalf of the entire I&S team we wish all DP2 students the best of luck with their external exams. Consistent and regular revision across all subjects is the key.

Worlds Teachers Day was celebrated here on 6 October. I would like to take this opportunity to personally acknowledge the hard work and dedication that all 11 staff members of the I&S team contribute daily to the outcomes of students. The knowledge and reflectiveness of staff I work with daily is of the highest calibre. It is fantastic to be part of such a dedicated team of professionals and we all thoroughly enjoy teaching the wonderful students at QASMT. The following sections below have been written by Mr Panousis, Mr Moore, Ms Tyler and Ms Carrington.

Economics
Congratulations to Rosalita R (Year 12) for achieving equal first place in the Queensland Economics Teacher’s Association and UQ Student Economics Competition. Rosalita received her award and prizes at a ceremony held at UQ on 11 October. What a fantastic effort! We would also like to take this opportunity to thank all our Year 12 and Year 11 students who participated in this competition during Term 3. Results and certificates for all students who participated will be sent to the Academy in the coming weeks from QETA. Great work Team Economics!

Business Management
In the final week of last term, the Year 10 Business Management students were fortunate enough to attend the Sommerset College Celebration of Entrepreneurship to see presentations by some of Queensland's most successful entrepreneurs and innovators. We hope this experience provided insights into the challenges and rewards of business creation that will motivate and inspire for years to come.

Following on from this experience, Term 4 studies will focus on Financial Management and the need for start-ups to prove financial viability to lenders and investors in order to obtain funding. Lessons will focus on basic methods of classifying and estimating future costs and revenues and use of break-even analysis to plan production in order to achieve profit targets. Students will undertake basic investment appraisals and deliver in class pitches to investors (the teachers) as a formative assessment before the Term 4 written examinations.

Psychology

• On 19 October, the Psychology Department are hosting their first ever Lunch with a Psychologist event. This event originally had to be postponed due to Term 3 lockdown. Students who have already expressed an interest have had a place reserved for them. If any other psychology students would like to take part in this event, please email Ms Carrington ASAP (vldar0@eq.edu,au). Seven Psychologists from a range of different backgrounds (educational, developmental, biological, clinical) and one Psychiatrist will be speaking to students about their careers. This is a fantastic opportunity for students to learn about different areas of psychology and different careers. Students will be given the opportunity to ask questions.
• During Weeks 2-3, our Year 9 Forensic Psychologists will be completing their second assignment on crime scene analysis. Students will have two lessons in the lab where they will be presented with a mock crime scene and asked to find out who has committed the crime. They will be looking at DNA samples, hair and fibre samples to find out the criminal.
• On the 26 October, the Year 9 Forensic Psychologists will be “sent to jail” at Boggo Road Jail. They will be taking part in a history and ex-prisoner tour. Students will learn about the history, see the cells and hear about what life was like in prison. We promise not to leave any students there!
• Year 10 students are continuing their work on research methods and later in the term will be studying issues and debates relevant to psychology.
• Year 11 students have just conducted experiments for their internal assessments. Most of the experiments were about basic processes in the human brain. Senior students acted as participants. Psychology students were required to uphold all ethical considerations required by psychologists. The data is anonymous and students are required to now write a 2,200 word report.
• The Brain Institute of Queensland are still recruiting participants for their research (details below).

The Psychology Department at QASMT have been approached by QLD Brain Institute to assist in the promotion of their current research into ‘The Adolescent Brain’. The contact at QASMT is Ms Carrington. This is an AMAZING and rare opportunity for you to take part in psychological research and will benefit your understanding of the research process.

Researchers at the Queensland Brain Institute are conducting a research project aimed at determining how cognitive processes and brain function develop as adolescents mature into adulthood. The overall goal is to understand how a range of cognitive functions, including attention, memory, inhibitory control, and decision-making, develop across adolescence, and to relate these findings to maturational changes in brain structure and function. This research is being conducted as part of a PhD project and the study has been approved by The University of Queensland’s Human Research Ethics Committee.

This project takes place across two parts. Part one will involve adolescent participants individually completing several cognitive tasks administered on a computer as well as some questionnaires. The entirety of Part 1 is expected to take between 2 and 2.5 hours, with regular breaks included throughout.

Part 2 of the study involves obtaining measurements of brain structure and function using MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), from the individuals who have already completed Part 1. This session will take approximately 1-hour and no radiation is used with this technology.

We are currently looking for expressions of interest from both students and their parents/guardians to participate in the project.

Who are we looking for?

• Healthy adolescents aged 13-19
• Speak English as a first language
• Normal or corrected-to-normal vision
• Normal hearing
• Have no current attentional, mental, developmental, neurological, or learning disorders
• Be safe to undergo MRI (this will be verified before being enrolled in the study)

Where and when will this occur?

• We are committed to being flexible and working with the school to organise appropriate testing sessions. Participants will have two options to complete Part 1 of the study. We can organise with the school, a testing session to occur at QASMT, or participants can participate by travelling to The University of Queensland to complete the testing at The Queensland Brain Institute.
• Part 2 of the study will be conducted at The University of Queensland – Centre for Advanced Imaging.
• Participants will be required to obtain parental consent and have a parent accompany them to sessions scheduled off the school site. To compensate for travel commitments, all sessions completed will be reimbursed at a rate of $20 per hour.

How will my data be used?

• The study is being collected as part of a PhD project being conducted by Ms Imogen Stead, under the supervision of Professor Jason Mattingley. All data collected will be anonymised and stored securely on UQ servers.

Contact Us!

If you would like to express your interest in this project, please email adolescentbrainstudy@uq.edu.au. Be sure to add a parent or caregiver contact email address so we can communicate with them.

Lyle Fredericksen, Head of Department Individuals & Societies

From the Department of Physical Sciences

Welcome back to Term 4! I wish the Year 12 students the best of luck for their final examinations and I’m certain that they are well prepared and ready to get on with it. Tutorials will run until the end of Week 3 and I encourage Chemistry and Physics students to attend as much as possible.

RACI Crystal Growing Competition Results
In Term 2, Crystal Growing Club (CCA Year 7 to Year 9) students grew both alum and copper sulphate crystals to enter in the RACI Crystal Growing Competition (Queensland Division). Students enjoyed the crystal growing process and a large number of QASMT students grew crystals that made it to the final judging rounds or achieved a place across a range of competition categories. Many students successfully grew and entered more than one crystal.

Congratulations to the following students: 

Catherine de Freitas Pessoa, Head of Department Physical Sciences

From the Department of Life Sciences

From Life Sciences - Foundation
Welcome back to Term 4 to all our QASMT families. The last term of the year looks to be another engaging and exciting term for the Foundation Sciences.

Year 7
Year 7 students will be exploring their outdoor environment through the ‘Circle of Life’ unit. Channelling their inner David Attenborough, they will develop an informative presentation (be it a mini documentary, poster, website) on an Australian endangered species. They will be using population data and their understanding of ecology to illustrate the impact of that species, and what would happen if it became extinct.

Their statement of inquiry for this unit is: “The relationships between living organisms and non-living factors and the environment are dynamic.”

Year 8
Year 8 students will also be exploring their outdoor environment, but instead delving into a bit of geology and studying the Earth’s structure and rock cycle. They will be taking apart their devices (not literally) to explore the different minerals used to make that device. They will then research where and how that mineral is mined to develop an Ezine (electronic magazine) article with the purpose of informing readers about the issues around the procurement of those minerals. They will also use this understanding to develop possible solutions to the problem.

Their statement of inquiry for this unit is: “The Earth undergoes a cycle of change and transformation, which can be modelled scientifically.”

“An understanding of the natural world and what’s in it is a source of not only great curiosity but great fulfillment.” David Attenborough

Vanessa Bermingham, Head of Department Life Sciences Foundation

From Life Sciences - Biology

Welcome back to the last term of 2021!

Lab update
Term 4 is always one of the busiest times in our laboratories. We have final IAs and EEs starting for our Year 11 students in Biology, Physics and Chemistry – the labs are going to be a hive of activity. We encourage students to have a look in the window when they walk past the labs to see all the experiments starting to appear along the desks inside. During this time, all students need to make sure to be careful and not accidently bump or touch any experiments taking place – our Year 11s have spent many hours designing and setting up their experiments, and precision is essential. Our laboratory staff have been working extremely hard to support all our students and we are very appreciative for their efforts – we are very lucky to have such expert scientific hands and minds helping us! This term, we welcome our new Laboratory Officer, Ms Annette Parkes. Annette joins an expert team in our laboratory preparation room, including Ms Seema Goel and Dr Kate Slessor. 

Biology update
All Biology students are in for a treat this term. Year 10 students are studying a whole term of human physiology. This term has been expertly designed by our Biology teachers to support our students to upskill in experimental techniques, while learning about the anatomy and physiology of humans during the last term of their Diploma Preparation Program. Our students will be learning about the circulatory, respiratory, digestive, endocrine and nervous systems – it is often a favourite term for our students.

After weeks of preparation, our Year 11 students are now beginning experiments for their final IA. This is the culmination of months of hard work: thinking, researching and designing experiments. We have students researching an extremely varied set of topics this year! When you look in the lab windows you will see seeds germinating on window sills; plants growing under different coloured lights; probes detecting CO₂, O₂, temperature and pH; test tubes in water baths; centrifuges spinning; conical flasks and measuring beakers with different reactions taking place inside them; bacterial plates in incubators; calculations all over the whiteboards; and many students in safety glasses and white QASMT lab coats. If you have a Year 11 student in your family, be sure to ask them what they are investigating!

Whatever sciences you do – may you have a successful and enlightening term.

Esme Hatchell, Head of Department Life Sciences Biology

From the Department of Mathematics

Term 4, the home stretch for what has been yet another challenging year! This term will fly by with much to be achieved in a short time.

This is such an important term for our Year 12s, as the culmination of the last two years of the Diploma Program come to fruition in their November exams. As they spend these final weeks consolidating concepts, ensuring they are masters of the GDC (graphic display calculators), working past papers and honing their exam strategies; to ensure they are well prepared to achieve the best results possible. We wish them every success in their preparation and exams.

Year 10 and 11 students have only seven weeks of learning before their exam block in Week 8. Year 10 Maths and Maths Extension classes have started the term studying quadratics which they will apply to modelling a real-life context of bridge design using technology as a learning tool. This assignment is an excellent learning opportunity for the students in preparation for the internal exploration they will need to complete in the Diploma Programme.

Year 11 High level students in Maths AA and AI are learning topics such as complex numbers and integration. They will have their first practise of a Paper 3 this term. Year 11 Application and Interpretation SL students have begun work on their IA, with the draft due in Week 4.

MYP students will also be busy completing their final assessments for the year. Geometry: angles, parallel lines, triangles and quadrilaterals are the concepts covered by Year 7 in the unit “Does your angle measure up?” After completing a Criterion C (Communication) and D (Real-life context) assessment, students will finish the term with transformations (translations, rotations, reflections and symmetry), constructing polygons and an introduction to probability. What a busy term they have!  

Year 8s have hit the ground running, reviewing concepts of data and statistics which they will use to complete a project (Criterion C and D) that will consider their Statement of Inquiry: Health and wellbeing information can be communicated using a variety of equivalent forms of representation. The second half of the term will focus on algebra and all things quadrilateral.

Consumer arithmetic (percentage, interest, depreciation), probability, rates and direct proportion and statistics are the concepts to be covered by Year 9 in their unit “How Likely”. They will complete a Criterion A (Knowledge) and B (Investigating Patterns) assessment based on these topics.

Upcoming Competitions
All students can look forward to the ICAS Maths Competition in Week 3. 
We also had three teams competing in Round 2 of the QAMT Year 7 and 8 Maths Quiz in Week 2. They tested their skills of estimation, problem solving, short answer and general knowledge. A number of our students have also entered in the STAQ (Science Teachers Association of Queensland) Mathematical Investigation Division so we are hopeful for some successful results here. 

We will see the announcement of the Mathematics Captain and Maths Ambassadors for 2022, during this term. This team will formulate an action plan with exciting, fun and challenging maths experiences to engage all students next year. 

This term will fly by with much to be achieved in a short time!

Jane Gorman, Head of Department Mathematics

From Education Outside of the Classroom (EOTC)

We are on the home stretch now! Before we look ahead and see what exciting EOTC activities there are to look forward to in Term 4, let’s celebrate some amazing Gala Day results from last term.

*CONGRATULATIONS*
In Week 10, Term 3 our Years 7 – 9 AFL, badminton and ultimate disc teams represented QASMT with pride and enthusiasm at the Junior Spring Gala Day. After some disruptions to their preparations, it ended up being a very successful day.

Congratulations to the following teams who won premierships!

• Year 7 boys badminton
• Year 8 boys badminton
• Year 9 girls badminton
• Year 7 girls ultimate disc

Other very good results were:

• Year 7 girls badminton – 2^nd
• Year 8 girls badminton – 3^rd
• Year 9 boys badminton – 3^rd
• Year 9 girls AFL – 3^rd

A big thank you to the following staff for their efforts supervising our sporting teams on the day – Mrs Knowles, Ms Fordham, Mrs Parker, Ms Mathieson, Ms Williams and Mr Conway. Also, a big shout out to all of our coaches for their dedication and professionalism, as well as, the Year 11 SEHS students who did an awesome job officiating the boys badminton competition.

Sport (by Mr Conway)
We are very excited to share that this year, we will be entering four teams into the Junior Schools Volleyball Club.  With the continual success of our volleyball program, students will be challenged to compete against high quality teams in the annual volleyball festival, targeted at Year 7 and 8 secondary school students. The event is held across various venues at the Gold Coast, including the 2018 Commonwealth Games facilities at Coomera and Carrara. Catering to approximately 2,000 students over three days, our students will gain valuable experience by playing in such a high standard arena and we wish them luck when they compete on 22-24 October.  Good luck to all students who are trialling for these teams.

Our ultimate disc students have also been flaunting their physical prowess and have been invited to participate in the Junior State School Championships which will be held on 4 November. This is an inaugural competition, where teams will be placed in pools and will play in a round robin format. The winning team and Spirit of the Game winners will receive medals and a perpetual trophy for their school, which would look great in the QASMT trophy cabinet!

We wish all our budding athletes’ luck in these upcoming competitions.

MYP Curriculum – Year 7 Spotlight!
In Year 7, students will be “getting physical” learning all about health and fitness and making further links to how a healthy body will lead to a healthy mind! They will also put what they have learnt to the test, partaking in fitness testing to identify personal strengths and weaknesses. In practical lessons, students will use their fitness knowledge, combined with the exploration of movement concepts, to create fitness aerobics routines which will target specific weaknesses amongst their group. We look forward to seeing students getting creative in PHE whilst building good habits.

CCA
We are rounding out 2021 with a full CCA schedule again this term with new clubs continuing to provide students with excellent opportunities outside of the classroom. Our Production Club, headed by Mr Hunter was very popular, with students keen and eager to learn more about our 4K video camera and the vision mixer, audio and light equipment! We also welcome back Badminton Club, with Mr Conway inspiring students to get outside and moving, as well as Art in Science, which will allow students to explore a world of science through an artistic lens. 

With the overwhelming success of National PHE Day, we have also introduced Workout Wednesday!  Workout Wednesday will be held in Week 8 this term and will dedicate a whole lunch hour to getting our students up and moving!  Activities will be held in the courtyard, oval and the courts.

Overall, lots to look forward to in Term 4!

CAS
With our Year 11s second interview coming up in Week 5, students have been busy partaking in some great Creativity, Activity and Service experiences! I’d like to highlight the amazing work of our Breakfast Club who arrange to serve free breakfast to their peers every Thursday morning. Additionally, a group of students have come together, and with the help of Ms Leibchen, are in the process of organising for some textbooks to be sent to a less fortunate community in Bodhgaya, India where they can be put to good use. Service learning can be extremely humbling for our students and exemplify the importance of CAS. Well done to all involved.

Yanah Floridis, Head of Education Outside the Classroom

From the House Dean of Agnesi

House Spirit

Welcome to Term 4 Agnesi House, and welcome to Jacaranda time. I always think of Term 4 as Agnesi House’s term, as the beautiful Jacaranda trees come into bloom. I hope everyone has returned to school energised and full of zest for life.

Agnesi House Spirit
Term 4 is also the term when Agnesi House holds its annual Halloween Party in honour of our House patron - Maria Agnesi. We celebrate Halloween to remind ourselves of Maria Agnesi’s most famous mathematical equation, The Witch of Agnesi and celebrate all things spooky and witchy. Take advantage of the Halloween season to buy your purple spooky accessories for the party vibe. Our Halloween party will take place on Thursday 28 October.

Agnesi MYP focus – Pit Stop Club
As Term 4 commences, I would love to see more Year 7 and 8 Agnesi students avail of the Agnesi Pitstop Club. The Pitstop Club is run by me, Agnesi House Dean every Wednesday lunchtime in G03. I encourage Agnesi students to use this as an opportunity to drop in and get support with study strategies, scaffolding and unpacking of assessment tasks, and help with homework. No booking required.

Year 9
Year 9 Agnesi students were privileged to attend a guest lecture by Lieutenant Colonel George Hulse OAM. George Hulse shared his experiences of a life dedicated to the service of his country in the Australian Defence Forces and his passion for recreational pursuits - his recreation includes participating in 17 Ironman Triathlons and being an Australian Iron Man Champion! I hope Agnesi students draw inspiration from the Lieutenant Colonel’s words of wisdom, regarding managing stress and developing resilience. And I hope they use these strategies to help them embrace and engage with The Journey this term. I am really looking forward to being part of the Year 9 Journey Expedition in Week 10.

Year 11
I am so excited that the Year 11 Semi-formal is back on track for October 15. I hope everyone has a sensational evening and enjoys a well-deserved event to celebrate the first year of the IB Diploma. Term 4 is also when we find out who our new House Captains will be. I am awaiting this announcement with great anticipation.

Year 12
Jacaranda time is also a reminder that our Year 12 students are about to sit their IB exams in a couple of weeks. I wish all our Year 12 Agnesi students a productive SWOTVAC. I also hope that you look after both your physical and mental wellbeing in the weeks ahead. Remember to take a break and do something nice for yourself. Once the exams are over, I look forward to meeting you all and your families for the Valedictory Dinner, a major highlight of the year.

Best wishes - and as always, in the Quest for Zest and all things Jacaranda purple! Please don’t hesitate to contact me via email adavi581@eq.edu.au.

Aileen Davis, House Dean Agnesi

From the House Dean of Curie

Welcome to Term 4!  Spring is always a beautiful time of year in Brisbane. The flowers are blooming and there is an explosion of colour as the Jacarandas, Poinciana’s and Bougainvillea put on a show and dazzle us with their vibrant bouquets. The bees are buzzing, the birds are chirping and the days are getting longer. Summer is just around the corner and there are only eight or so weeks of hard work, before the Christmas break is upon us.

Queensland Mental Health Week (9-17 October) – Take time for mental health
This year’s theme is Take time for mental health. Research shows there are six simple actions we can take to improve our moods, build resilience, and boost wellbeing.
Take time to…
Get healthy – being active and eating well is good for your mind as well as your body.
Keep learning – learning new things can make you more confident as well as being fun.
Show kindness – practising small acts of kindness, volunteering time, or simply helping a friend in need can help you feel more satisfied with life.
Connect – spending time with other people is important to everyone’s mental wellbeing.
Take notice – paying more attention to the present and the world around you helps relieve stress and enjoy the moment.
Embrace nature – connecting with the outdoors and taking care of the planet is the best recipe for world wellbeing.

Across the term, we will be educating the students about how they can be proactive towards taking care of themselves, as well as providing opportunities for the students to experience a range of simple activities that they can incorporate easily into their schedules.

InStep – building positive relationships
There are many fun activities taking place in InStep this term. 
The first is the Curie Olympics which commenced this week with a Paper Plane Challenge. The idea of the Olympics is to have fun and work collaboratively as an InStep with some friendly competition between the other Curie InSteps. The Paper Plane Challenge will see each InStep design and construct two A3 paper planes with the hope of launching their creation the furthest across the ANZAC Courtyard.  Charades and Table Pong will be the following challenges to round out this year’s Curie Olympics. I am looking forward to seeing the InStep rivalry across the next few weeks accompanied by much merriment.

As our Year 12 students are studiously preparing for their final exams in November, the InStep classes are preparing thoughtful farewell gifts for our graduating cohort. Each InStep will present these gifts to the Year 12 students on their last day when they complete their lap of honour around the courtyard.   

Upcoming Events
Term 4 presents many opportunities for the SMT community to reflect on the accomplishments of our outstanding students and to celebrate the growth that has taken place in 2021. The Year 11 Semi-formal will take place this evening on the banks of the Brisbane River at Events on Oxlade and it will be delightful to see these outstanding young people glammed up and 'having a ball'. 

Our Year 9 cohort are preparing for their Journey which is taking place at the end of this term in Week 10. They will be accompanied by their Journey mentors and will spend five days trekking, canoeing, abseiling and exploring Lake Moogerah and surrounds.   

Other key events that are taking place across the term are:

Good Luck Year 12s
I want to wish all the Year 12 Curie students the very best for your IB exams! Keep working hard over the next few weeks and before you know it, you’ll have graduated SMT with your IB Diploma in hand. Not long to go now.

Pink isn’t just a colour, it’s an attitude! Go team Curie!
Please don’t hesitate to contact me on 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 4, 2021. I always find myself surprised reaching Term 4 and the realisation that the end of the year is so close. I always spend a few moments reflecting on the goals I set for the year, where I am at, what I still need to achieve and how am I going to get there. I look forward to reading our Da Vinci PLP reflections due in Week 3.

Student Leadership Committees
Our current leaders have created five sub committees, these committees are:

• Newsletter
• Charity
• InStep/Assembly
• War Cry / Inter-House Competitions
• Locker Room.

All of Da Vinci is invited to join these committees and support our community. We look forward to ensuring all of our community has the opportunity to contribute to Da Vinci.

Year 12
Our Year 12s are currently in IB preparation time, readying themselves for exams. It has been nice to see some of them pop by as they attend the large offerings of tutorials on campus. This term, they will sit their IB exams, attend their Senior Farewell Assembly and Valedictory Dinner. This can be a term of great emotions and we offer all our support in ensuring a successful and memorable end of year.

Year 9 Journey
Our Year 9 students have been embarking this year on their preparation for The Journey. The Journey is five days, four nights full of physical, emotional and cognitive challenge. During PEP and our newly formed Wednesday mentor preparation period, students are building relationships with their journey group. This experience is aimed at ensuring our Year 9s are prepared for the transition into senior schooling and the adult learning environment.

Positive Education
This term, we continue to develop the skills that will help our students engage and flourish as learners at SMT. We will be unpacking the SMT Way and explore the systems in place that help keep our students safe and supported at school. Our Year 7 students are broadening their understanding of external and internal influences on mindset and the impact this has on their behaviour/actions. Year 8 students are exploring failing well and how to learn from experiences that don’t meet their expectations. Year 10s began this term by applying the law to social media behaviours and have the privilege of meeting our school 'adopt a cop' in the upcoming weeks to discuss current processes.

Year 11 Semi-formal
2021 continues to teach us to be flexible and adaptable, with current Covid-19 restrictions changing our Semi-formal by one week. This change is exciting as our venue has increased in size, providing Year 11 students with ample room to come together and celebrate their amazing year. We look forward to celebrating with you.

Personal Learning Plans
As I mentioned earlier, Term 4 is the perfect opportunity to reflect on your year and adapt strategies to ensure you meet your yearly goals. Week 3 is the due date for students PLP reflections.

I look forward to an exciting final 2021 term.
Yours in green
Stacy Wallace-Cunningham, House Dean Da Vinci

From the House Dean of Franklin

Welcome back to the final term of 2021, Franklions. An important milestone is fast approaching for all as we undertake final assessment for the year and finalise the successes and goals we have set out to achieve this year. Term 4 is a very busy term though, so maintaining a healthy work life balance is also paramount in order to develop healthy habits of routine that will serve you well in the future.

The Year 12s will undertake their final IB exams in a few weeks and we wish them well. Their months and years of hard study will pay off very soon. The leadership positions for 2022 will be announced shortly and it will be exciting to see the many new leaders from Franklin House take up the mantle of different positions throughout the Academy for 2022. Franklin House is in a very good position to begin 2022 once the hard-working routines of coordination between leaders has been established.

Although there will not be any official inter-House point competitions this term, Franklin and Hollows will share a quote comparison competition throughout the term. Each House will come up with a dynamic, thought provoking, motivating and inspiring quote each week. All students present at the House boards will have an opportunity to vote which House has the best quote for the week, and will result in weekly bragging rights to either the Hawks or the Lions. Stay tuned for the results!

Finally, this term will see a collective effort by all Franklin students to raise money for our House charity, the RSPCA. Weeks 2 and 3 will see all students work toward completing a snuffle toy in their InStep group. The snuffle toys will be donated to the RSPCA for animals in Brisbane facilities to enjoy. A bake sale will also occur in Week 3 to raise and donate money to the RSPCA. For both events, there will be a winning InStep and they will collect a prize.

“Life is measured in achievement, not in years alone” Bruce McLaren

Ross Bray, House Dean Franklin

From the House Dean of Hawking

Our Year 12 students at the end of Term 3 finally had their formal! It was a wonderful night and it was so special to see them celebrate their time together. They all looked stunning and had a wonderful evening with the party in full swing on the dance floor! They are now working hard during their IB exam preparation and we welcome them back for their IB exams in Week 4 and say our final farewell to them on 11 November (Week 6). We have some special things planned for them and I have mixed emotions about spending my final time with them at Valedictory Dinner - they will be hugely missed! 

In the last week of Term 3, the Hawking 'Tigers of the Term' were announced. Students are nominated by their peers on qualities that have been seen throughout the term. I always receive a large number of nominations and find it difficult to select a winner, but two students stood out for me this term. A big congratulations to Ishaan S and Maryam H for being awarded this achievement – keep up the great work! 

The Year 11 Semi-formal will be a fantastic event and I can’t wait to celebrate with you all tonight!

This week, our charity, Eat Up, came in to work with the Year 10 and 11 students to make 1000 sandwiches for students whose families are unable to provide lunch for them. This was our third and final charity event for the year. I’m looking forward to the seniors demonstrating service which is a fundamental part of the IB, not only through CAS, but also through the IB Learner attributes and contributes to making them a global citizen. 

Before we get to the end of the term, we have some exciting school events to look forward to. Awards Evening takes place in Week 3 and it is a chance to acknowledge and further celebrate the great efforts and achievements of the House. We will also find out who the House Captains and Ambassadors are – super exciting! Week 5 will see our Year 11 students have their CAS interview and they should have been working hard to finalise their portfolios. I am looking forward to seeing all the wonderful things they do outside of their studies.

Positive Education week is also taking place in Week 5 and we will have a whole bunch of activities for students to engage in throughout the week to promote concepts covered in PEP class, as well as engagement in activities to boost mental health. We look forward to sharing this with you later in the term.

One of the most exciting events this term, is the announcement of the winning House for 2021. Hawking has put up an absolute fight to maintain a podium finish and I am confident we can do it. It all comes down to attendance at school in Term 4, so let’s do this!

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

I wish all Hawking students a great Term 4!

Rebecca Parker, House Dean Hawking  

From the House Dean of Hollows

We are on the home stretch now Hollows Hawks. This last term will speed by and it won’t be long until we are on the summer holiday break! Many events are on the calendar this term and the mighty Hollows Hawks will once again have a smorgasbord of activities to get involved in - from Robotics, Science Fairs and First Lego League competitions, to Cake Stalls, Funky Hat Fundraisers and Hip-Hop Dance workshops and concerts in the courtyard.  The usual plethora of CCAs, afternoon sports, debating competitions and a final inter-House competition (in ultimate disc) will complement the inter-school Chess and Volleyball Championships, finishing up the school year nicely. 

Hollows Games
Have you heard of the Hunger Games? They have nothing on the Hollows Games! During Weeks 2-4, the eight InSteps of Hollows House will do battle with one another for ultimate bragging rights within the House. Our Captains and Ambassadors have worked hard in putting together eight games that involve strength, speed, teamwork, gluttony and precision. Which InStep will win???? 

Quote of the Week Competition
The mighty fighting Hollows Hawks and the Franklin Lions will do battle this term in a Quote of the Week competition that will go down in history as arguably the greatest test of psychology known to mankind.  Each House will come up with a dynamic, thought-provoking, motivating and inspiring quote each week to place on their school notice board. Students will not only read and be so empowered by these quotes, they will once a week have an opportunity to vote on which House has the best quote, thereby giving weekly bragging rights to either the Hawks or the Lions. A big thank you to Agata P and Jothsimar K for organising the quotes and competition. Stay tuned for the results!

“Oh, the Drama!” – What a spectacular performance
Congratulations to Hollows students, Dilumi P, Anika G and Anoushka S along with the other students in the CCA drama performance team, who attended the Queensland Theatre for the “Scene Project” outcome day. This semester, these students have spent their Thursday afternoon CCA time developing their performance skills, workshopping an original piece of theatre, and rehearsing their performances. The process has seen them have to use effective communication, teamwork and interpersonal skills, literary, physical and vocal analysis of text, understanding of space and audience, and time management skills. A tough panel of theatre critics were present and witnessed the students’ performance, under the stage lights of the Diane Cilento Theatre, and they unanimously declared that the students’ performance was at the highest level of any student performance that they had ever seen. Well done team for such an impressive performance.

State Robocup Champions
Congratulations to Hollows Hawk, Rain H in Year 7 and his teammate, for taking home first place at the Queensland State Robocup Championship. They also were awarded fifth in Nationals. Excellent effort Rain, well done.

Year 12 Winding Up
SMT will be a much sadder place when the class of 2021 depart and go on to the next chapter in their lives. It is a rigorous journey that the Year 12s have been on for three years and the end is just around the corner for them. Our Hawks will sit their final IB exams over three weeks, beginning 25 October, and we must continue to support and encourage them on their final run home. Their Farewell Assembly and Valedictory Dinner will be held on 11 November and I know I will be so proud to see each and every one of them achieve much success. Keep working hard in preparing for your final exams Year 12! 

Year 9 Expedition Journey
Throughout Semester 2, we have been challenging our Year 9 students on a journey to build self-confidence, improve resilience and self-awareness skills, in an effort to develop into socially responsible adult learners. Throughout this term, as part of our Pos Ed lessons, we will put students in mentor groups and have the students engage in team building activities, solo self-analysis requirements, physical tests and mental extension programs. In Week 10, all of Year 9 will go on an expedition to Lake Moogerah for five days and work in their mentor groups to overcome challenges, and have fun while doing them. 

In the words from an old Gatorade TV commercial… “Life is a sport, drink it up!”  Have a great Term 4 Hollows Hawks!

As per usual, Hollows students and community, please don’t hesitate to email me at mjcol3@eq.edu.au if you have any concerns or questions. 

Michael Colquhoun, House Dean of Hollows

From the House Dean of Jackson

I am told, reliably I hope, that the ancient Greeks and Egyptians wrote of a magnificent bird called the Phoenix. This wonderous and mythical creature became a symbol for renewal, given its penchant for dying by fire and being reborn from the ashes.

Each term, we experience love, happiness, challenge and excitement. When one term comes to a close another begins, and we are reborn still in possession of past lessons. We pursue continual improvement in our lifelong journey for fulfilment and purpose and it is, in part, for this reason that we at Jackson House have the Phoenix as our mascot.

Today we all find ourselves on the cusp of an important stage in our quest, but we are not alone. We carry with us the tools we have honed and tested in each and every challenge faced before. We are surrounded by loving family, friends, and the wider school community. We are prepared… and with that hint of nervousness we wear as a badge of honour drives us forward. Whether we are in Year 12 facing final examinations, or in Year 7 preparing to take that next step into Academy leadership, we at Jackson House will push forward resolute in the SMT Way.

Important Milestones for Term 4:

• Year 12 examinations commence – Monday 25 October
• Ekka Show Holiday – Friday 29 October
• Positive Education Week – Monday 1 November
• Year 12 Valedictory Dinner – Thursday 11 November
• Year 7 Vaccinations – Friday 19 November
• Exam block (Years 9 – 11) – Monday 22 November
• Final day of term (Years 10 – 11) – Friday 26 November
• The Rite Journey (Year 9) – Sunday 5 November
• Final day of term (Years 7 – 9) – Friday 10 November
  

Samuel Weston, House Dean Jackson

From the House Dean of Newton

Welcome to the final term of 2021. I hope you took the opportunity during the holidays to read, go for a walk, share a joke or brighten someone's day! We start this term reflecting on the previous term's achievements, and setting new goals and targets.

Celebrations
Congratulations to Olivia H (Year 12) for receiving the 2021 Peter Doherty Award. Olivia received the award along with two of her classmates in the category for Outstanding Senior STEM Student.

Congratulations to the following students who were part of a premiership-winning team last term. Gayatri D and Manal F in the Year 9 Girls’ Badminton and Coco H, Sarvika N and Tara L in the Year 7 Girls’ Ultimate Disc.

Shark of the Month - October
Congratulations to Leo T (Year 10) and Coco H (Year 7) for being nominated by their peers for Shark of the Month. They were selected for being ‘Caring,’ an attribute of the IB Learner Profile.

PLP Reflections
On the academic side, all students will be reflecting on last term's results, so I encourage students to seek feedback from their teachers to think critically, take ownership, and develop new personalised and targeted learning goals for each subject this term. As quoted by John Dewey, "We do not learn from experience... we learn from reflecting on experience".

PLP reflections are due by Monday 18 October and will be emailed home shortly after. 

IB Examinations
With the Formal celebration concluded successfully, Year 12 students are now attending tutorials or revising at home in preparation for the IB examinations in November. I urge them to make the most of the remaining time to thoroughly revise content, practise past papers and seek assistance as required. I would also like to pay tribute to the incredible resilience and determination they have shown in managing their time and workload through the uncertainty over the past two years. 

Upcoming Events

It's the last term already, and there is so much more to celebrate:

• Year 11 Semi-formal – 15 October, 6.30pm - 9.30pm
• Newton inter-InStep paper plane and dodgeball competitions, Weeks 2-4. The Newton InStep leaderboard is still too close to call, with INN01 leading the tally.
• Parent Teacher Interviews Years 7 - 11 - 20 October
• Awards Evening – 21 October, 5.30pm. We will be celebrating the achievements of our school community, the announcement of our new school leaders and the winner of this year's coveted inter-House trophy.
• QASMT Book Week - Week 4 (look out for the House Deans costume)
• IB examinations, Weeks 4 - 6
• Year 12 exams Farewell Assembly and Valedictory Dinner – 11 November
• Year 9 - 11 Exam block, Week 8
• Year 9 Rite Journey - Week 10

In his poem, 'This is Your Time', Wayne Visser reminds us of the importance of looking ahead with confidence and courage. So, in particular to our Year 12 graduates:

Dream your story
Once-upon-a-time is now
The page is blank
You have the how
This is your time
Rewrite your rhyme
And take a bow

GO NEWTON!

Deva Prasad, House Dean Newton

From the Guidance Officers

Guidance Officer (Career Planning & Inclusion)
Greetings everyone!  Looking ahead at Term 4 is always very exciting as we celebrate the year. Our Year 12 students should now have submitted their university applications and are preparing for their final exams. Be sure to contact me if I can support this process in any way.

Many universities offer credit for prior learning. However, you may not realise that this prior learning includes IB courses. If students enrol in university courses in related fields to their IB studies, they may be eligible to apply for advanced standing. This means that they may receive credit for university courses, accelerating their program and saving money on university fees. After enrolment in their chosen university program, students should contact their university to enquire about the process for applying for credit transfer. The University of Queensland offers credits and exemptions for a number of IB subjects, with details listed in their Information for International Baccalaureate students brochure. Our exciting new agreement with Griffith University (below) further expands these opportunities and is a great example of the benefits of studying the IB Diploma!

Resources
There are many resources available to support our students’ journey to explore their dreams and potential.

The Guidance Office has a range of free resources available for students to access, such as handbooks and factsheets on careers, universities and general wellbeing. Students are welcome to come by and take a look. Why not consider taking something home?

The SMT Digital Library now has a growing collection of career resources, including newsletters and factsheets from previous communication. Over the coming weeks, we will be adding to our “Career Education Resources” available through our digital library. Keep checking back in!

In addition to our regular Options Career Bulletin, we are trialling access to career resources published by Study Work Grow. Both of these catalogues will be accessible through the SMT digital library. In addition, students can access the Study Work Grow website or register to receive the newsletters directly. Study Work Grow offer a great addition for our current career program with features including guides (eg. Entry to Medicine Guide), weekly newsletters, work experience database, scholarships database, job spotlights and online tools. All students can access membership as part of our school subscription, using the following steps:

• Step 1: Go to https://studyworkgrow.com.au/school/qasmt/
• Step 2: Click on ‘Create your membership’ in the top right corner
• Step 3: Follow the steps and use our School Code (QASMT) when prompted.

Options Career Bulletin
The latest edition of the Options Career Bulletin is available below, containing many updates, links and ideas to help with pathway preparation. Be sure to have a look and take note of any points of interest.

Support for Year 12 students
Year 12 students can now access a free phone, SMS and email service to help them navigate their education, training and careers options for 2021. The School Leavers Information Service and the School Leavers Information Kit are available to this year’s graduates. You may access the School Leavers Information Kit at the Your Career website and contact the information service by phone on 1800 CAREER (1800 227 337), by texting ‘SLIS2020’ to 0429 009 435 or by email at schoolleavers.nci@dese.gov.au.

Katrina Judge, Guidance Officer (Career Planning)

Guidance Officer (Student Wellbeing)
Term 4 is always a busy time in schools for staff, students and families. It is often the time of the year when everything seems to ‘catch up’ on us all and we become tired, less patient with our loved ones, and generally a little overwhelmed with all that is needed to be done before the end of the year. Knowing that this is a common experience at this time of year, it is important that we all take time to ensure we are taking care of ourselves and each other.

How to access wellbeing support?
Students – Students first point of contact at school if they are having concerns is their House Dean. House Deans are able to support students and can refer them to the Guidance Officer, if additional support is required.

Families – I have created a resource for SMT families that identifies different community services available, if you need additional support (health, wellbeing, financial, individual etc). Please contact me for a copy of this.

When seeking general wellbeing support ideas for your children, the following online services have some excellent resources:
Reach Out for Parents
Headspace
Parentline

Appointments with me are available during school hours. To request an appointment, email guidance@qasmt.eq.edu.au, or contact the Attendance Officer (Lee Baker) with the following:

• Student name
• Year level
• Instep class
• Suggested time/s (between 8am-4pm)
• For phone appointments, a contact number (if applicable)
• A general reason for the request (eg. mental health, safety concern etc).

Tara le Pla, Guidance Officer (Student Wellbeing)

From Instrumental Music

Instrumental Music kicked off the term with jazz on Commencement Assembly thanks to our Jazz Combo, conducted by Mrs Baumgartner. In lieu of a public concert this semester, our students and teachers are recording their repertoire with a video production company and our production students, led by Mr Hunter. 

We look forward to wonderful music making this term. 

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

From Corporate Services

Refectory/Tuckshop
The new Term 4 menu can be found below. The Refectory/Tuckshop is open every school day from 7.00am to 3.00pm. We recommend students jump the queue and order online through Flexischool. Click here to log in or register a new account for Flexischool 

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

From the P&C

Message from the P&C President
Come along to our Sunday Social on 14 November, from 3.00pm onwards, at the Hundred Acre Bar, St Lucia Golf Links. It is a great opportunity to meet other parents and wish our Year 12 community the very best. 

We have a secondhand uniform sale/swap event planned for Term 4. The date and further details will be sent out soon. 

Thank you for your continued engagement and support for our wonderful school.

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).