Term in Review - 10 December 2021

From the Senior Leadership Team

The road this year, whilst seemingly uncertain at times, ended hidden behind a mountain of final examinations and before we knew it, we were farewelling our Year 12 Diploma Graduates of 2021. Vitalised with energy after surviving the November exams, and having met the goals they set for themselves when commencing their education at QASMT, the Year 12, 2021 graduates joined with staff and parents to celebrate the completion of their high school education and reflect on their IB studies and experiences at QASMT. 

Principal Kayrooz’s address at Valedictory was a highlight of Term 4. Her warm words of congratulations and support were evident to all present, along with her passion for the school. It was her inspirational words of personal advice however, that resonated with students and parents. She encouraged the graduates to “Forgive yourself and others because we learn most from our mistakes, to find wonder in the beauty all around you, to observe your world and its miracles." She reminded us to be grateful and not waste precious time worrying, for most things that set us back in life come from out of nowhere. Life will present challenges and when you fail, ask “what can this teach me?” - find the lessons in all things. She highlighted the importance of making happiness your choice as your thoughts belong to you alone and they determine your outlook on the world and also to work hard at something you love so you may rest your head at night knowing you have given ALL of yourself. Don’t be afraid to cry for it is a visible sign to others of your humanity and don’t hide your pain, embrace it, share it and your friends will help to ease your burden. Act courageously and never sacrifice your integrity because once lost, it is hard to find. Most importantly she advised the graduates not to hide their light and in closing, recognised that each of the graduating class of 2021 has so much to give to the world, to give it freely and with humility.

Year 10 students have completed their first year at QASMT and now begin preparing to commence their IB Diploma journey, whilst our Year 11s embark on one of the great journeys of the IB Diploma Programme, the Extended Essay (EE). As many of you are aware, the EE is an independent, self-directed piece of research which is completed with a 4,000 word paper. Each student must complete the EE in order to obtain their IB Diploma. The EE develops students’ skills in formulating appropriate research questions, engaging in personal explorations of topics, communicating ideas, and developing arguments – all essential skills required to complete future undergraduate research. The EE is also central to the IB Diploma Inner Core, as it contributes up to three points in the final grading, in conjunction with Theory of Knowledge (TOK). Therefore, due to its size and significance, it is essential that the research and development of the piece is ongoing and frequently conducted. Our staff have again spent many hours supporting students through this process in 2021. Another significant collaboration with UQ is our EE mentoring trial, providing a UQ academic as a mentor for EE students. The trial involves  25 students and 16 academics.

As leaders, we have had the pleasure of attending Book Week, the badminton and volleyball celebratory lunches, Day of the Dead activities, Year 7 in 2022 Transition Day and a gingerbread house building competition. The organisation of the events is a large undertaking and we thank the many students and staff who created these amazing opportunities for our young people. We also hosted our inaugural Year 7 2022 student and parent meet and greet event which included school campus tours. It was wonderful to meet so many of our new parents and students and we are looking forward to seeing them on campus in 2022.

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 10

Next

It would be remiss not to mention the year of review we have had. In total, we have had three reviews (IB Middle Years verification, IB Diploma five year review and a DOE full school review). We are yet to receive the IB Diploma report, but both of the other reviews are available on our website. IB Middle Years verification and Full School Review. I encourage you to read these reports as they affirm and set new goals for us over the coming years.

In addition, our school has recently received the results of our 2021 School Opinion Survey (SOS). We appreciate the parents/caregivers, staff and students who took the time to complete the survey. As per our annual review process, all staff have had an opportunity to review and provide feedback on focus areas for 2022. There are many areas of the SOS that we are proud of, and there are other areas that will become a priority in our Annual Implementation Plan for 2022. Click to the read the full report

We have also commenced a uniform review (members include parents, staff and students – students and staff were invited to participate via an EOI). Our goals for 2022 were to decide on the style of formal shorts and how these would be worn and to revise the current dress code to make it gender diverse. The updated dress code was endorsed by the uniform committee and school council, and the final version can be accessed on our website. Students and parents have provided very positive feedback on the changes for 2022. During Term 1 2022, we will meet to discuss feedback from students and parents regarding other uniform matters. This feedback has been provided via a survey to all current parents in 2022 and consultation via social media by our parent and student uniform review members. 

QASMT realises that contemporary life requires adapting to ever changing methods of communication. As part of the QASMT community, we all have a responsibility to engage appropriately with all social media that is linked to our school. It is important that our community understands that the school does not endorse parent or student-initiated Facebook sites; the only endorsed social media sites are the official QASMT Instagram and Facebook (Meta) platforms.

As the 2021 school year comes to an end, we reflect on what has been achieved this year and what we are soon to experience. It is with great enthusiasm that we continue preparing to welcome a new cohort of Year 7s and a small number of Year 10s, and a new parent community, to the Academy in 2022. We look forward to the wonderful opportunities of having these new members as we grow and develop the QASMT school community, and thank our current school community for their ongoing support. To our current students, we thank you in advance. You are leaders in this school and the transition we experience as we move into 2022 is driven by your enthusiasm to grow.  

Finally, we would like to wish the QASMT school community a relaxing, safe and festive holiday. The Principal, Kath Kayrooz will be in contact in January to share the celebrations of our 2021 cohort Diploma results. School will resume on 24 January 2022 for Year 7 and new Year 10 students, and on  25 January for returning students in Years 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12.

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

With 2021 almost at a close, I would like to congratulate all students, staff and school community on your hard work over the year. Our senior students have risen to all challenges posed to them and experienced success.

Year 12 Farewell and Celebrations
During Term 4, our Year 12 students came to the end of their IB journey. These students modelled the IBL attributes of principled and thinkers as they persevered through their IB exam preparation studies and exams. Throughout the exam session, our invigilation staff were continually impressed by the conduct and engagement of our Year 12 students. They were truly a credit to our academy. The  Farewell Assembly and Valedictory Dinner were wonderful events where the students, staff and parents were able to reflect on the time our Year 12 students spent at QASMT and the contributions they have made to our community.

I wish our graduating class of 2021 all the best in their future endeavours and I would encourage all students to join our alumni networks.

Year 10 Diploma Preparation Program
As the year draws to a close, our Year 10 students have completed their Diploma Preparation Program. Transitioning from a variety of different schools and settings is always a challenging experience for our Year 10 students. However, they have truly risen to this challenge and are now a cohort of students fully equipped for success in the Diploma Programme.

As part of their PEP lessons this term, the Year 10 students have learned about the unique inner core requirements of the IB Diploma Programme, consisting of the Extended Essay (EE), Theory of Knowledge (TOK) and Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS). The inner core requirements are unique to the Diploma Programme and are a key component to the success that IB students experience at University.

I wish you all a safe and happy holiday and I look forward to seeing you in 2022!

Rebecca Skarshewski, Director of Senior Years

From the Director of Middle Years

Incoming Year 7 2022 ‘Tea and Tours’
Recently, we welcomed our incoming Year 7 students (2022) for an afternoon of ‘Tea and Tours.’ Our Year 7 Strings Quintet set the mood as they played during the arrival of our guests. Parents and students had the opportunity to meet our school’s Senior Leadership team and to ask any questions they may have prior to their entry to our academy in 2022. They also had the opportunity to take a tour of our school, as previous tours earlier in the year had been cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions.

We are very excited by the arrival of our newest members to our school and look forward to welcoming students and families to our QASMT community.

Leadership and Wellbeing Workshops (Week 10)
During Week 10, our Year 7 and 8 students spent two days engaging in a specialised Leadership and Wellbeing Program. Leaders from Character Builders workshopped a range of challenging activities that required students to use effective communication skills whilst working collaboratively to problem solve. In addition, our Year 8 students had the opportunity to partake in a hamburger making class, where they got to eat the results!

Our wellness sessions focused on identifying and building on our personal motivation and engagement strengths, inclusion and online safety. Students participated in a highly informative online webinar that addressed online safety, bullying and resilience building.

Student Reflections:

“It was really fun to do activities with our entire year level, to prepare ourselves for Year 9. It was a challenge to become more independent such as when I had to step out of my comfort zone and present to the whole year level.” Deeya

“Being able to work together to improve our team work and leadership by completing fun activities was a great experience. We learnt to communicate with each other to achieve our goals and solve problems.” Katherine

IB Learner Attribute Spotlight!
Reflection is a key component to IB learning. The learning process is not finished without reflecting on what has been learned!

Students who are reflective know what they are good at and what they’re not. They try to think about these things, and they make changes where they can. They give thoughtful consideration to their own learning, and consider their personal strengths and weaknesses in a constructive manner. 

The IB states:
Reflective - We thoughtfully consider the world and our own ideas and experience. We work to understand our strengths and weaknesses in order to support our learning and personal development. (IB.org)

As the school year draws to a close, I encourage students and their families to spend time reflecting on the year that has passed. There are three key parts to reflection:

1. Thinking - What are your first thoughts about your progress this year? What are you most proud of? What challenges did you face? Did anything get in the way of your progress?
2. Reflecting - What could you do differently? How can you achieve that? What should you keep on doing the same way? What will that look like?
   
3. Growing - How can you be the best you can be? What changes can you begin to make now? How will you know if you are successful?

Parents can support by:

• Encouraging your student to spend some time reviewing their report card. Discuss it with them and truly consider their thoughts on their strengths and areas for improvement.
• Considering with your student the goals that they could set for the next year. Make a list not only of the goals, but of specific actions that could be taken to achieve these goals. You might want to list actions that your student will take independently, as well as actions they will take to seek support.
• Modelling the reflective thinking process by talking aloud to yourself about things you are doing throughout your day. This way your student will see you working through the Reflection process, and can use your examples as their models to learn from.
• Modelling how to make mistakes and how to fail. And then, how to pick yourself up and dust yourself off. It's okay to make mistakes, making mistakes is part of learning. Being reflective teaches us how to grow and learn from both mistakes and from positive experiences.

I hope you have the opportunity to spend some quality time with family, friends and loved ones, over the holiday break. It’s a great opportunity for us all to disconnect from technology for a while and reconnect with each other in authentic ways! I hope it is a restful, relaxing and refreshing break for you all. I look forward to seeing you in 2022!

Sandra Davey, Director of Middle Years

From the Department of Language and Literature

“Of all the months of the year there is not a month one half so welcome to the young, or so full of happy associations, as the last month of the year.” – Charles Dickens

The English Language and Literature department has many positive things to reflect on as we move toward the end of the year. The learning journeys of our students have been varied and dynamic. There have been many moments of creativity, rigour, and expression to celebrate.

Our Year 7s impressed us with their ability to analyse and extract meaning from a variety of poems in their most recent poetry unit. Students were required to visually demonstrate their understanding of various elements of metre, verse, and figurative language before writing rigorous analyses showing the purpose of the poems. 

Our Year 8s emulated young leaders from around the world as they advocated for various United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that they deemed vital for the future of the planet. These multi-modal presentations showed our QASMT students at their best as they not only had to inform their hypothetical global youth audience of their issue, but had to tailor their message to persuade and inspire their intended recipients.

Our Year 9s demonstrated their engagement with The Tempest through a variety of creative in-lesson and out-of-lesson activities to prepare them for their block examination. Students mind-mapped, attended “dramatic techniques” workshops, and accessed extra out-of-class tutorials to support their understanding of William Shakespeare's tale of filial obligation, power, and a cracking thunderstorm. As ever, the proactivity of our students in engaging with the texts in a variety of ways showed their ever-enthusiastic approach to their learning.     

Our Year 10s showed a combination of creativity, individualised learning, and awareness of how they engage with texts to understand the world around them through their Close Analysis Response (CAR Logs) and an Individual Oral (IA). It was fantastic to see our students show how academic rigour can result in an increased understanding of contemporary issues present in the world around them.

Finally, our Year 11s are substantially a long way in their journey toward meeting the IBO Diploma assessment requirements as they continued their Individual Oral planning and showed their timed guided analysis skills.  

Perhaps the most high-profile, energising and inspiring event this term has been this year’s “Old Worlds: New Worlds” Book Week. Led by the irrepressible Mrs Waters, our students participated in and led a variety of activities. These included an Interactive Museum that was open every lunchtime for students, book swaps, a character parade and competition, Literary Potatoes, book sales, and celebrations of student work.

Please feast your eyes on the many photos that speak to the passion, love, and enthusiasm that Mrs Waters and the QASMT students showcased as part of this wonderful literary celebration!  

David Bracken, Head of Department Language and Literature

From the Department of Language Acquisition

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

2021 will soon come to a close and it has been a very successful year for both our language students and our language teachers. It is exciting to see how much progress students are making in one academic year and how much their intercultural understanding and language skills have improved. To maintain the language would only require five to fifteen minutes per day of targeted practice and this will hold everyone in good stead ready to start 2022.

International Mindedness
El dia de todos los Santos- Spain and Mexico
On 1 November, Spain celebrates “el dia de todos los Santos”, Day of all Saints and Mexico celebrates two to three days of ‘Dia de los Muertos’ Day of the Dead. Both celebrations commemorate and celebrate the loved ones who have died.

Despite the feeling of sadness that one would think relates to such ceremonies, it celebrates life. The celebrations bring people together at meals and joyful activities, such as eating special foods and sweets or wearing colourful costumes.

On 2 November, QASMT celebrated the Mexican ‘Day of the Dead’ or ‘Dia de los Muertos’. The focus this year was on craft as well as a Memorial Wall. Tables, staffed by IM volunteers led by Alice M, offered crafts including the making of crepe paper orange or yellow marigolds, colouring-in face masks and cutting and pasting 3D skulls. Students soon entered into the true spirit of the day by writing a heartfelt memoriam message to a missed loved one on the white blocks on the Memorial Wall. Thanks to all the student volunteers who helped make it a touching but fun occasion.

Mother Tongue Languages
The celebration of Mother Tongue languages was held in Week 5, run by the newly established Mother Tongue club. A group of Year 11 boys organised word games, crafts and international karaoke in the courtyard. With the promise of chocolates and fame, many students became involved, making it a huge success. Creating beaded bracelets with words in their mother tongue was one of the highlights.

Bodhgaya CAS Project (by Rukaiya F and Ramjot K, Year 11 CAS project leaders)
As students at QASMT, we sometimes take for granted the sources of knowledge we use for virtually all our subjects: books. QASMT has a large collection of textbooks and novels we no longer require and our CAS project is to donate these to a school in need, linking to our IB Learner attributes of being caring and open-minded. In this international-mindedness project, we aim to send our excess books to the Prajna Vihar School in Bodhgaya, India for children and communities from disadvantaged backgrounds. Bodhgaya is also considered to be one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites, hence it is a common tourist attraction for many around the world. Due to this, we have made the decision to send over many language textbooks which would be useful to the tourist guides and the general community when welcoming tourists. So far, we have been able to sort all the books and packaged several boxes that will be sent over to India as soon as possible. Next year, we hope to donate the bulk of our books to help the students of the Prajna Vihar School gain better access to quality education.

End of Year Festivities
The end of Term 4 signifies the fast approaching holiday season. This means it is a time for a multitude of different cultural and traditional celebrations. Although Covid-19 has changed the way some of these events are run, some are still going ahead this year, while others have been cancelled.

Some of the activities that happened as the term ended were: students in the German Language Acquisition program engaged with a very old German pre-Christmas tradition called the Lebkuchenhäuschen Dekoration. The many wonderful traditions in the weeks before Christmas in German-speaking countries all have one goal: to bring joy, excitement and fun in the countdown to Christmas. Whether that involves Advent candles, calendars, art and craft or the decoration of gingerbread houses (Lebkuchenhäuschen)!

Our students most definitely had a lot of fun as these photos show.

To find out a little more about the origins of the gingerbread house, you may like to click here & here.

The Japanese teachers and students おにぎり🍙(onigiri/Japanese rice balls) in class. Onigiri are a healthy and popular snack and/or lunch item made both at home and sold in many shops around Japan. A variety of savoury and sour foods are often used to flavour onigiri, such as tuna, pickles and seasonings. They can also be eaten plain. The students made three versions of onigiri - tuna mayonnaise, vegetarian, as well as a gluten free version with rice, salt and seaweed only.

Christmas – France
In France, a Nativity crib is often used to help decorate the house. French cribs have clay figures in them. During December some towns and cities, such as Marseilles, have fairs that sell Nativity figures. As well as having the normal Nativity figures in them, French scenes also have figures such as a butcher, a baker, a policeman and a priest. One of the biggest Christmas markets in Europe is held in Strasbourg, in North Eastern France. In the Alsatian language it's called the "Christkindelsmarik".

Yule logs made out of cherry wood are often burned in French homes. The log is carried into the home on Christmas Eve and is sprinkled with red wine to make the log smell nice when it is burning. There is a custom that the log and candles are left burning all night with some food and drinks left out in case Mary and the baby Jesus come past during the night. In France, Father Christmas / Santa Claus / St Nicholas is called Père Noël (Father Christmas). In eastern France he is accompanied by Le Père Fouettard, a man dressed in black. The main Christmas meal, called Réveillon, is eaten on Christmas Eve/early Christmas morning after people have returned from the midnight church service. Dishes might include roast turkey with chestnuts or roast goose, oysters, foie gras, lobster, venison and cheeses. For dessert, a chocolate sponge cake log called la bûche de Noël is normally eaten.

Lebkuchen Christmas Biscuits
Lebkuchen are spicy German biscuits that are associated with Christmas and are decorated with icing. They are a bit like gingerbread, but with a deeper, spiced flavour. They make excellent gifts for teachers and friends. Put them in a pretty, little gift box with some ribbon tied around it, for a special little touch. This dough is perfect for freezing, so make double and freeze half, wrapped in cling film or baking paper.

Click for the full recipe

New Year’s Day – Japan
New Year’s Day is a great time to celebrate the end of a year and the beginning of another year. For many, there are so many traditions associated with how they celebrate. In Japan, there are also customs and traditions associated with bringing in the New Year. New Year is called ‘Oshougatsu’ in Japanese.

During New Year’s Day, Japanese people eat certain New Year’s foods. Toshikoshi soba is one of the New Year dishes, often eaten on New Year’s Eve. The dish consists of buckwheat noodles in a soup with various toppings. The noodles are long, symbolising a long life. So, by eating the noodles, it represents your wish for a continued long life in the next year as well. Another traditional food that Japanese people eat during New Year’s Day is Ozouni, which is a soup dish with mochi (rice cakes). The mochi, much like the noodles in the toshikoshi soba, are supposed to represent longevity, due to their stretch form.

Osechi is a traditional New Year’s assortment of food that are symbolically supposed to represent something. There are so many components to osechi, and it varies so much depending on who has prepared it. It is commonly put into a traditional black bento box, and is compartmentalised based upon the dish. Another interesting tradition of Japanese New Year’s day is otoshidama. On New Year’s, there is a tradition of handing a bit of money in an envelope to the children. Moreover, one of the more traditional New Year’s customs is Hatsumode, or the first shrine visit of the New Year. Many people go to visit a shrine on 1, 2 or 3 January, in order to pay their respects and also to wish for a happy and healthy year.

I would like to wish everyone a wonderful holiday break. I will be on leave for 2022, so I would also take this opportunity to wish everyone a successful year ahead. During my leave, Andrew Blumbergs will be the Acting Head of Department.

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

Year 7 Design
This term, students produced their own short animation films expressing a personal or cultural story to share with the QASMT community. By sharing stories about individual lives, we can strengthen our understanding of how unique we all are. It was amazing to see students take on the challenge and respond with authenticity.

Year 8 Design
Algorithmic thinking forms the backbone of IT solutions. With this in mind, students have been exploring the back-end of software development though the use of the python scripting language. Initially, students engaged in graphic designs through simple algorithms. From there, students explored the role of a client in the development of a software project, and how the unseen elements of software development are needed to create a solution.

Year 9 Biomedical Engineering (Design and Physics)
This term, our Biomedical Engineering students conducted a series of experiments to measure the physical properties of bone scaffolds, such as strength and porosity, and learned how to use statistical analysis tools in Excel to evaluate their results. In our second unit, students were asked to communicate an aspect of their learning by developing a question that they would then answer through the design of a digital artefact for a specific audience. We have a very exciting array of videos, animations, infographics, posters and even blog posts that address questions such as:  "What is the importance of 3D printers in relation to biomedical engineering?" and "How does regenerative medicine mitigate the effects of bone injury?" 

Year 9 FOA (Design and Computer Science)
Our Future of Automation students used their mechatronic skills to create a prototyped automated system for their chosen clients. They used their research skills to discover systems that could be improved around home, and used microcontrollers in a prototype solution. To the right is an example of their prototypes.

Year 9 DTM (Design and Business)
Term 4 has been a hive of activity in the 'Disrupting the Market' classroom with the laser cutter running in overtime! Students worked in teams to investigate an Australian business which has been affected by Covid-19 and needed to pivot to meet the changing needs of their market. Tasked with designing a suite of merchandise to promote the business’ new service, students were completing market research and prototyping their designs. By the end of term, students had produced a wide range of products including popcorn boxes, flower pots, fidget spinners, drink containers, tote bags, coasters and face masks - to name a small selection. It has been an amazing experience to see the creativity of these students across the semester and how far they have come since our first lesson learning how to download Adobe Illustrator. 

Year 10 Computer Science
Year 10 Computer Science students completed their command-line adventure games in Java showcasing their acquired computation thinking skills. The games were all set in QASMT, and ranged from being in the present, solving everyday struggles such as getting to school on time, to solving extraordinary puzzles such as detecting and capturing ghosts, gathering the necessary parts to complete formulas or words, to battling zombies after accidents in the chemistry labs, or subduing our robot overlords in the far distant future.

Students spent the remainder of the term solidifying their development skills in preparation for the rigours of Computer Science in Year 11. 

Year 10 Information Technology in a Global Society (ITGS)
Our Year 10 ITGS students have worked very hard this term to learn about driverless cars. Students have a much greater understanding of who the stakeholders are, sensor technology and social and ethical implications of this emerging technology. We took a global perspective and were able to frame how governments might respond to this new challenge. We learnt about different ethical decision-making models and uncovered potential problems, for example, when cars are driven across different borders with different systems and laws.

Year 11 Information Technology in a Global Society (ITGS)
This term saw the completion of ITGS students' assessment projects. Made for real-world clients with real-world problems, these projects included efficient budgeting tools, team and resource management databases, time managements and more! The students are proud of their work and received glowing reviews from their clients.

Students also took time this term to explore the nature of online communication methods and the influence of the internet. This exploration sees the completion of their SL content so they can rest up and get ready for HL content next year. 

Year 11 Computer Science
Genetic algorithms, networking and finding clients have been our focus in Computer Science this term. In preparation for our case study, we continued to explore the nature of genetic algorithms. This involved students leading the inquiry to identify key features and tools that can influence how, why and when genetic algorithms can be used as well as the inner working of such solutions.

This term also saw the students start their IA projects. They've sought out and found authentic clients for whom they can make a digital solution. We're looking forward to seeing what student create and how well they can meet their client's needs.

Robotics (by Mrs Knowles)
One of the highlights of this year in robotics was the Robotics Showcase. We were very thankful for the support of the film and production crew who livestreamed the event out to our parent community. Thank you to our emcees on the night, Daniel, Annanya, Charlie, Mariah and Aaron and Ms Mesina for your efforts. 

On 5 November, QASMT hosted the FLL Lego League Toowong Regional under the direction of Tournament Director, Mr Swann. I always love the FLL events for the great music and carnival atmosphere, and this one didn't disappoint! A huge thank you to our volunteers on the day. Apart from the obvious excitement on the student's faces as they went through the challenges on the day, we had two teams progress to the National – North event held on 5 December.  Congratulations RobotOffice365 and Vegemights.   

Lastly, we were again successful in securing funding through the Sponsorship Grants for Student Science Engagement and International Competitions 2021-22. This is an amazing result. 

We now await the results for the Young ICT Explorers to see if any groups will progress to the finals. Our fingers are crossed! First Tech Challenge robotics also starts heating up, with their postponed competition on 5 February 2022.

Senior Visual Arts
This term, our senior Visual Arts students created video artworks linking to their conceptual focus for their final Body of Work. Two students’ work are shown below.

On top of this busy term, our Year 12 students sat their IBDP examinations. We eagerly awaiting the examination results and look forward to hearing from our graduating Year 12 students about the next stage of their learning journey. Overall, it’s been a super busy year enriched by a wide array of opportunities beyond our academic work programs and we wish everyone a safe, restful and joyous break. 

Madeleine Brookes, Head of Department Technology and The Arts 

From the Department of Individuals and Society

As the year comes to a close, I would like to say a massive thank you to the amazing students and staff at QASMT. There were the challenges of virtual learning but we all persevered and had a successful year. UQ has been incredible to collaborate with, as we developed our new and exciting Year 10 STEM Futures curriculum for 2022. I would like to personally thank the UQ academics; Fiona, Josephine, Tomas, Andrew, Metin, Suzanne, Heiko and Shino who collectively participated in 15 meetings, as we worked on creating the subject guides and lesson sequences.

Below are articles written by the curriculum coordinators and a student to share highlights on Term 4.

Year 9 STEM Futures: Forensic Psychology (by Riddhisha)
On behalf of all the Year 9 students studying Forensic Psychology, I can – without a doubt – say that it is one of the most interesting and engaging STEM elective subjects. The second half of the semester took a more legal approach while incorporating elements from the previous term. For example, we were introduced with a unique and creative assignment where a challenging scenario of a murder and three pieces of trace evidence were provided: hair, DNA, and fibre. In laboratories, we conducted tests such as microscopic examinations of the hair and fibre samples and electrophoresis testing the DNA, to match evidence found at the crime scene to one of the suspects. Through this process, we experienced an applicative approach in the shoes of a forensic scientist, handling evidence, gathering ideas, and drawing conclusions to find the perpetrator. Alongside this, we were also given the case studies of each of the suspects where we applied our knowledge of the types of criminals (for example organised/disorganised) to further justify our conclusions. This task was not only exciting, but also challenged students to think outside-the-box and gather pieces of evidence to draw a reasonable conclusion.

We also experienced being eye-witnesses, which was amazing. The variety of scenarios presented in class guided our learning about how different people may recollect and report the same event in different ways, interestingly indicating that eyewitness testimonies are not completely reliable. We were all shocked learning about offender bias, where a characteristic of the jury was that in the first eight to 10 seconds of seeing someone will enforce a judgement about that person, whether it be true or not. One interesting theory is ‘Halo Effect’, also referred to as the ‘what is beautiful is good’ stereotype, which describes the process by which people who are physically attractive are assumed to possess a number of other favourable qualities as well, such as being warm, friendly, and intelligent. Researchers have found halo effects for physical attractiveness across a wide array of situations. For example, more attractive people get lighter legal sentences (Lieberman, 2002).

A highlight of this course was our Boggo Road Jail excursion where we learnt about how criminal behaviour is dealt with and the implications of this on the prisoners and society. We were given the opportunity to talk to an ex-prisoner about their experiences in jail which deepened our knowledge and understanding of this subject. So far, Forensic Psychology has been exceptionally enjoyable, interesting, and has made myself and many of my peers passionate to continue learning Psychology in the Diploma Programme. We would like to thank our amazing teachers and the effort they put in for us to learn about this subject in a fun and challenging manner, giving us the opportunities to experience Psychology inside and outside the classroom.

Psychology
In Week 5, the Psychology teachers visited the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) for a guided tour of the facility. They saw a number of different brain imaging techniques, including an electroencephalogram (EEG) which records the electrical signals sent between brain cells, a Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) which is a non-invasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain and an eye tracker. Mrs Bermingham even took part in a foraging experiment which measured her eye movement. The staff can’t wait to talk about this in their lessons. Thanks to QBI for hosting.

In Week 4, the school hosted its first ever ‘Lunch with a Psychologist’ event. Eight psychologists and one psychiatrist spoke to our Psychology students (Years 9-12) about their careers, current role and their research. The speakers came from a variety of backgrounds, including forensic psychology, clinical psychiatry, cognitive neuroscience, educational psychology, developmental psychology and therapy. Students were given the opportunity to ask them questions. Over 80 students attended the event, and we look forward to the next one.

Economics
In anticipation of delivering the new Economics syllabus to this cohort next year, the focus in Year 10, Term 4 has shifted to equipping our students with the specific skills required. This has included exploring the nine ‘key concepts’ in the context of real-world examples and scaffolding the approach to the new ‘Internal Assessment’ (IA). Students then had to find a contemporary news article which focused on the imposition or removal of a tariff or export subsidy, and then analyse and evaluate the issue using economic theory whilst looking through the ‘lens’ of a specific key concept. We hope that this learning experience will set the students up for success when they tackle their first ‘formal’ IA next year.

Lyle Fredericksen, Head of Department: Individuals & Societies

From the Department of Physical Sciences

We wish our graduating cohort of students all the best for the future as we eagerly await their results.

Term 4 has continued to be busy with our Year 11 Physics students having completed the practical component of their IA and our experimental science Extended Essays getting underway. This term also rounds out a highly successful introductory year for the Year 9 STEM Futures electives. It has been exciting to see our students take on the challenges offered by this rigorous and futures focused curriculum. Term 4 has also seen many awards and competition results being announced.

Prime Minister's Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools
It is an enormous pleasure to celebrate Dr Kirsten Hogg’s achievement of Highly Commended in the Prime Minister's Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools.

Kirsten is a QASMT Physics teacher with infectious enthusiasm for her subject. Everyone enjoys her lessons, clubs, astronomy nights, research projects and her physics toys. She is committed to sharing her passion for physics with everyone she meets and is an advocate for female participation in physics and STEM.  Kirsten comes from an academic background with published research in physics education research and has co-written a physics textbook. She is a member of teaching and learning networks at local, national and international level. In 2016, she received the Queensland College of Teachers Excellence in Science Teaching Award.

Traditionally, the Australian Academy of Science acknowledges recipients with a breakfast at the Shine Dome, but this year the celebrations were online, to recognise the leading researchers, innovators and teachers. Further details of the prize-winners and highly commended recipients are here.

Kirsten is highly deserving of this award and from everyone in the Physical Sciences team and the QASMT community – Congratulations!

Science Teachers Association Queensland (STAQ) Science Competition 2021 Results
The Science Teachers Association of Queensland (STAQ) holds an annual competition for students to enter their science, mathematics and engineering investigations and projects. Every year, QASMT enters outstanding projects form our students in the investigation and communications categories. Many Year 12 students enter their science and mathematics IAs and EEs. This year, we entered more than 50 projects for students in Year 7, 9, 11 and 12. Some of these projects were individual entries and some were group entries. We were recently notified that 44 QASMT students had received a prize in the 2021 competition. 

Notable winners in Science were:
Second Place Poster: Isabel H
Third Place Poster: Jessica B
Highly Commended Science Investigations: Vismaya D, Richard N, Emily C, Ulban A

Bursary Winners:
Hayden G - Australian Acoustical Society Bursary
Vismaya D - Australian Soil Science Bursary
Richard N - Australian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Bursary
Emily C - Royal Australian Chemical Institute Bursary
Ulban A - Royal Australian Chemical Institute Bursary

A full list of winners can be seen here. Everyone is encouraged to work towards entering STAQ Science Competition 2022. Students should have a chat with their Science and Mathematics teachers about possible projects. For more details and information, contact Dr Hogg (kxhog2@eq.edu.au)

Australian Science Fair
Also in November, the John Monash Science School in Melbourne hosted the Australian Science Fair online. Three Year 10 students; Lana W, Uhansa D and Sharon K, attended the fair online and presented their research topic: Ion migrations and electric field mapping.

The student poster and photo are on the website under the Participants and Official Delegate Exhibit links. The website for the event is here.   

During the fair, the students participated in collaborative activities with the other student delegates. The first was an Escape Room challenge and the second, a Shark Tank Science innovation pitch. They completed an engineering challenge together and explored the flora in the QASMT school yard, photographing and pressing flower specimens to share with the other schools.

Thank you
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the all of the Physical Sciences teaching and lab staff for the enthusiasm and joy for science that they share with all of our students. It is wonderful to work with such a collaborative, hard-working and committed team. I know that our students and school community appreciate everything that you do. I wish you all a happy holiday and a well-earned, restful and recharging break.

Catherine de Freitas Pessoa, Head of Department Physical Sciences

From the Department of Life Sciences

Just like that, 2021 starts winding down and we’re ready for our holiday break. It has been a great year of achievement, excitement and perseverance.

Year 7
Our Year 7s were learning about the environment and what would happen if food webs collapsed. To help their understanding a display from the Queensland Museum was set up in H Block.

Some of my classes were also treated to a bit of backyard photography to further support their learning of our unique environment and the species interactions that happen.

They took their understanding and developed informative brochures on different endangered species around Australia. The brochures looked at the importance of their chosen animal, what are the current threats and what we can do to help.

Year 8
Our Year 8s have been looking at the Earth’s structure and the rock cycle. They explored this in depth while understanding where our minerals and other resources come from. Students developed an infographic/e-zine page that informed users of what is in their devices. There were some interesting realisations with some of the minerals, and discussions were had on the possibilities of ‘mining’ mobile phone waste to recoup these minerals.

Our students are wonderful advocates for the environment and engage in our shared goals for sustainability.

Thank you QASMT Foundation students for a fantastic year. Have a restful break and we look forward to having you back in 2022 with a whole new cohort of Year 7s.

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

Vanessa Bermingham, Head of Department Life Sciences Foundation

What a wonderful end of term, to wrap up a wonderful year!

Biology News
The Year 10 Biology teachers all agree – we have had an outstanding cohort of students this year. Term 4 in Year 10 Biology was a bumper term, with every week filled with teaching and learning of human physiology. Our students have learned about the heart and blood in the circulatory system; the lungs and gas exchange in the respiratory system; the enzymes and structures of the digestive system; glucose homeostasis and the endocrine system; as well as the structure and function of a nerve in the nervous system. I have thoroughly enjoyed our Year 10 curriculum this term, and I know our students are ready for either SL or HL IB Biology next year, as they prepare to start Year 11 in 2022.

Our fantastic 2021 Year 11 students have been resilient, determined and committed to their Biology IAs this term. It has been wonderful to watch the laboratories fill with students all completing different experiments. All the Year 11 Biology teachers have been so proud of our students – we have taught them many of the skills that they need for their experiments, however they are the ones who have undertaken the long hours of collecting the data that they need for their investigations. We are very much looking forward to what the students write up and hand in to us in Term 1 2022, as our students enter Year 12.  

Laboratory News
The laboratories have been bustling all term, but especially during Weeks 9 and 10 where we have had a full research laboratory where some of our Year 11 students have begun their experimental work for their Extended Essays (EEs). Students were working on a variety of research projects across Physics, Chemistry and Biology.

Some of our new specialised equipment was brought out especially for the EEs, including our NanoDrop and plant growing lights. The NanoDrop UV-Vis spectrophotometer is an extremely precise instrument that allows a quantifiable measurement to be taken using a single drop in less than a minute. This speeds up the data collection process and also minimises waste when compared to using traditional plastic cuvettes. The plant growing lights are designed to support the growth of plants indoors under controlled conditions. The plant lights were used to support experiments using aquatic plants, duckweed and elodea, and terrestrial plants including wheat.

I would like to take the time to celebrate all of our wonderful science teachers here at QASMT – they have worked so hard the entire year, and they have contributed significantly to successful student outcomes in all science subjects over 2021. We are extremely lucky at QASMT to have such dedicated, expert teachers who are so well-read across the sciences (the images below are from Book Week this year).

To all our students, parents and carers, and teachers – congratulations on completing a successful year, have a wonderful break, and see you again for another science-filled year in 2022.

Esme Hatchell, Head of Department Life Sciences Biology

From the Department of Mathematics

As Term 4 draws to a close it is amazing to reflect back on all that has happened this term – competitions, final exams for our Year 12s and engaging lessons and assessment completed by Year 7 to 11.

In the Classroom
Year 7 and 8 students have completed interesting real-life application assessments (Criterion D) on the topics of car parking design and analysing data to see links between Physical and Mental Health and Wellbeing. The students have continued to learn and improve their communication skills in this type of assessment. Year 9 students were challenged with a probability pattern to investigate in their assessment.

Year 10s became proficient with using online programs, along with their quadratic knowledge, to model bridges. The skills used for this assignment, in particular the format and style of writing, will be very beneficial for the Diploma Programme IAs (Internal Assessments).

Year 11 HL students in both AA (Analysis and Approaches) and AI (Application and Interpretation) have had their first try at Paper Three which is an investigative style of assessment. The AI SL students started drafting their final IAs which will be due in Term 1 next year.

Congratulations to our Year 12s who worked hard over the past two years so they were fully prepared for their November exams. I look forward to seeing excellent results and wish them every success in the future.

Competition News
The term started with entering students into the Mathematical Investigation section of the STAQ Science Contest (Science Teachers Association of Queensland). This year, we had a record number of entrants which was fantastic to see. We also achieved great success:

Mathematical Investigation Year 7-8: Third  – Aditya B
Mathematical Investigation Year 9-10:
First (and QAMT Bursary)– Nerissa D, Mary D, Saanvi P
Third  – Sharon D, Daniel D
Highly Commended – Elizabeth L and Kelvin C
Mathematical Investigation Year 11-12:
First (and QAMT Bursary) - Korin A
Second - Juliet K
Highly Commended – Murphy M

Special congratulations also to Elizabeth L who won the National Mathematics Talent Quest for her entry on Transport and Graph Theory. Ewan Beach, Year 12 in 2020, was awarded highly commended for his entry into the same competition.

In Week 2, we held Round 2 of the QAMT (Queensland Association of Mathematics Teachers) Year 7/8 Maths Quiz. Three teams fought it out against other teams in the region in the hope of making it through to the State final. Our team of Ian L, Kalil G and Dennis Y won that round and then amazingly went on to take out the State final in a very close battle which went down to a tie breaker. Congratulations boys on this awesome effort! 

In the same week we also had all students compete in the postponed ICAS Mathematics competition. These results have only recently been received with certificates still to be delivered. Students once again performed very well with 23 High Distinctions and 165 Distinctions.

Knot Theory
We were very lucky in Week 4 to welcome Professor Benjamin Burton to present a seminar on Knot Theory. His engaging presentation about the basics of how knot theory works, its history and applications was keenly attended by over 20 students. We hope to have more of these seminar series in mathematics in 2022.  

Finally, I would like to thank the Maths teaching team and all students for their diligence and passion for maths this year. 2021 has had some challenges but all teachers and students have worked together to ensure the best possible results for every student. I wish everyone a restful and well-earned break.  

Jane Gorman, Head of Department Mathematics

From Education Outside of the Classroom (EOTC)

What an end to the year it has been for EOTC! 

We have certainly been busy, with students taking to the courts in the Junior Schools Cup, choreographing fitness routines in PHE and the Year 11s finalising their first year of Creativity, Activity and Service in CAS.  The year may be wrapping up, but within the EOTC department we aren't, as our sights are already set on big things to come in 2022.

Co-curricular Activities Program – Dungeons and Dragons Spotlight!
With our CCA program coming to an end for the year, I’d like to spotlight our Dungeons and Dragons club! D&D has been one of our most consistent clubs, with students showing commitment and perseverance every week as they use their creativity to create characters and have a break from the demands of their schooling. It’s great to see them using teamwork to solve problems and have fun! Here’s what Charlie P has to say about the club:

D&D is a creative, role playing, table top game in which players interact in a made-up world that one player creates. They go on adventures, fight mythical beasts, explore, and solve puzzles. During this term we have had more than 25 people come weekly to our club. The D&D club has been rapidly growing as more and more people discover this wonderful way of expressing creativity, developing teamwork skills and creating new friends. This club allows members to develop some aspects of the IB Learner attributes, allowing them to improve their open mindedness, thinking, communicating, and risk-taking attributes, all in a safe and fun environment. We are hoping to grow this club in the future, providing more opportunities and enjoyment for our members.

Charlie P – Year 9 Student and Dungeon Master

Creativity, Activity and Service Program
With the Year 12s done and dusted and the Year 11s on track for 2022, it was time to introduce our Year 10s to the CAS program! Students were given a 2-part presentation on CAS and are keen to embark on their journey. Year 10s were made aware of the requirements of CAS and its importance in shaping a well-rounded IB learner. With CAS being designed to complement learning, as well as encouraging students to develop intercultural understanding, open mindedness and a strong set of attitudes, we explored avenues that students could take to make their journey as fulfilling as possible. Project proposals are already flooding in and I am excited to see the difference they are going to make through CAS in 2022!

Curriculum – Year 7 Spotlight!
Our Year 7s have been transformed into fitness machines this term! Students’ communication skills and teamwork were definitely put to the test when they had to create a fitness routine with their classmates based on improving a specific component of fitness, which was identified as a weakness as a result of their fitness testing early in the term. They incorporated a number of movement strategies like lines and formations, synchronisation and timing to choreograph their highly specialised and creative performances.  Every year these routines get better and better, with some groups excelling beyond expectations.

Physical activity at school is a win-win for students and teachers with proven links to increased test scores, engagement, memory/retention and numeracy and literacy skills. We hope to hear about the fun and exciting outdoor activities our students get up during the school holidays next year in PHE.

Yanah Floridis, Head of Department Education Outside the Classroom

Sport
There was no slowing down in the Sport program in Term 4! Two ‘Workout Wednesdays’ were held during the term with volleyball, pickleball and cricket on offer for students to get involved in during the lunch break. There was also the much-anticipated Student V Staff soccer match with the first game resulting in a draw which forced a decider and the students taking it out, 5-2. Year 7 and 8 students also got the chance to take on the staff in games of volleyball with the staff finishing up as overall champions! 

Students in Years 7, 8 and 9 actively participated in the social sport training in cricket, futsal and OzTag which was to have culminated in a Gala Day at the end of Week 9 against the other schools in our district. Unfortunately the Gala Day had to be postponed due to the weather conditions.

There has been plenty of volleyball with four teams representing QASMT at the Junior Schools Volleyball Cup on the Gold Coast. After only three weeks of training, all teams produced some outstanding results and are already pumped for 2022! Special mention to the Year 7 boys who brought home a bronze medal after a close playoff. Off the back of this success, the junior teams have continued to fill the auditorium most days, training on until the end of the term developing their skills and strategies.

On the representative side, congratulations must go to Lydia C, Claire K and Emma H for competing at the Queensland Synchronised Ice-Skating Championships where they took out second place. The girls will now compete at the National Championships – well done girls!

Harish P and Vrish S are also to be congratulated for taking out second place at the Queensland Schools State Table Tennis Championships. Great effort boys!

Mr Conway and Ms Garlick (Sports Co-ordinators)

From the House Dean of Agnesi

The Jacaranda blossoms have all but disappeared by now and we are closing out another exciting year for Agnesi House. Some of the highlights this term are revisited in this review.

Year 11 Semi-formal
Year 11 Agnesi students had a night to remember at their Semi-formal which was held at the riverside venue. Highlights of the evening included the unlimited candy bar and the magician, not to mention the very stylish turnout by the students themselves.

Agnesi Halloween Party
The annual Agnesi Halloween party was a great success this year. Thank you to the Halloween committee for putting all the decorations up and making the Agnesi locker area particularly spooky. Many students dared themselves to try a trick or treat toxic waste lolly and some tried their skills at the Korean candy challenge set up by Luna S. The best costume on the day wet to Rae M – you looked amazing!

Valedictory Dinner
The Year 12 Valedictory Dinner is a very special event held on the last day of the IB exams. There is always such a buzz in the atmosphere as students finally realise that they are finished with school and with the IB. It was with great pride that I read out all the Agnesi students names and welcomed them to the stage. Entertainment on the night was provided by the very talented Ryan Y and his fellow performers. They treated us to some amazing acapella tunes arranged by Ryan. I wish all the Year 12 Agnesi students a bright and meaningful future.

Agnesi House Student in the Spotlight
Vismaya D very kindly agreed to share the story of her time at SMT, from when she first arrived in Year 10 all the way from Alice Springs to her graduation. Her story is so inspiring that the QASMT School Marketing Team have made a video of Vismaya that we will be sharing with all our students next term. I wish Vismaya all the best for her future and look forward to hearing of her many successes.

Purple Hearts
Our Purple Heart winners for Term 4 are Alice M and Reuben B – Congratulations Alice and Reuben on being such caring members of the Agnesi family.

And finally, I am really excited to let you know that the QASMT Athletics Carnival trophy now has the Agnesi House name engraved on it!! I hope this will not be the last time.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the Agnesi House mentors and support staff for their commitment and support of me and Agnesi House this year. We are also very sorry to have to say farewell to Mrs Waters. I would like to thank Mrs Waters for her enthusiasm and devotion to all things purple!

I wish everyone a well-deserved rest and a peaceful holiday.

Aileen Davis, House Dean Agnesi

From the House Dean of Curie

It is with great pride that I reflect upon the year and the achievements of our beloved Curie House.  2021 has been a very full and busy year that has seen our staff and students rise to meet the ever-changing landscape. 

I am continually blown away by the calibre of our students and the success they achieve in their lives. I have been delighted to see our young people developing the skills required to tackle what life throws at them. It has been great to see Curie students engaging in Academy life and taking part in the wide variety of activities at QASMT. The Curie spirit has shone very brightly this year and I am extremely proud of each and every one of you!

Farewell Year 12s
Term 4 has been a massive term for our Year 12s. At the beginning of the term, they were in the midst of their preparation for their final examinations, which took place over three weeks in November. After three weeks and approximately 18 exam papers, they have finished their secondary education and completed all assessment for their IB Diploma. 

On the last day of exam block, the Year 12 cohort returned to school to take part in their final assembly and say goodbye to staff and students. At the completion of the assembly, the Year 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11s formed a guard of honour in the courtyard and each Year 12 student received a gift from their InStep. It was lovely to celebrate this milestone with the students.

After the school farewells, our Year 12 students travelled to the Brisbane Exhibition and Convention Centre for their Valedictory Dinner. It was a truly joyful evening and opportunity to celebrate the positive impact that our graduating class of 2021 has had on the QASMT community over the last few years.

In the words of Dr Suess;

Congratulations!
Today is your day. You’re off to Great Places! You’re off and away!
You have brains in your head, you have feet in your shoes, you can steer yourself any direction you choose.
Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting,
So……get on your way!

Congratulations Year 12s! Thank you for your contribution to Curie and your leadership, enthusiasm and curiosity.  I wish you all the very best for your future endeavours! 

Student Spotlight – Saoirsa I
Saoirsa I, one of our beloved recently graduated Year 12 students, has represented Australia at six international events including the Junior World Synchronized Ice-skating Championships last year and in 2019. As the disruptions to competition due to Covid-19 began to reduce, Saoirsa competed at the recent Queensland Championships, winning gold in the Junior and Senior synchronized ice-skating divisions. She will represent Queensland at the National Figure Skating event this weekend, skating with her teams, Iceskateers Elite and Ice Storm.

House Charity – Be Uplifted Inc
2021 has seen the formation of a relationship with the local breast cancer charity Be Uplifted Inc. Their motto is “people not research” and every donation they receive goes directly to making a difference in the life of a local Brisbane breast cancer patient. Be Uplifted Inc is a unique breast cancer charity that seeks to improve the lives of women and their families experiencing difficulty or disadvantage as a consequence of breast cancer. They provide funds enabling them to access services and programs, pay bills, and receive goods or assistance to alleviate that difficulty or disadvantage.

Across the beginning of Term 4, members of the student leadership charity team organised a food donation drive.  Thank you to everyone who participated and brought in a variety of food items. The items were collected at the end of Week 7 and Be Uplifted Inc were very thankful for the donations.

Curie will continue to support Be Uplifted Inc in 2022 and I am looking forward to working with the student leaders to design creative and meaningful ways to continue to support them.

2022 Leadership Team
I am very excited to announce the House leadership team for 2022. I am excited to work with the following students next year and build upon the great work of our 2021 Captains. House Captains: Xavier G and Jessica I.

House Ambassadors: Meghan K, Nicole K, Mike A, Shoh M, Tharaniah S, Deeya L, Katherine S, Ava C, Devna M, and Mattias S.

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 10

Next

Congratulations to everyone on a fantastic year! It has been a pleasure to lead Curie House and I am looking forward to continuing to work with you in 2022 to achieve your goals. Remember to look after yourself over the break and recharge the batteries. Make the most of the opportunity to spend quality time with family and friends and enjoy life’s simple pleasures. Have a relaxing and refreshing summer break and I look forward to seeing you in 2022.

If you need to contact me, please do not hesitate to do so at dfann6@eq.edu.au

Yours in pink
Dean Fanning, House Dean Curie

From the House Dean of Da Vinci

“Study without desire spoils the memory,
and it retains nothing that it takes in.” -  Leonardo da Vinci

Year 12
Congratulations to all our Year 12s on their successful completion of their schooling journey. You worked tremendously during SWOTVAC and your exams. You were grateful and inspiring at your Valedictory Dinner. You were awesomely welcoming to our Year 7s and myself, your new House Dean. BUT… your learning journey is not yet over and we wish you all the best as you now pursue your passions and interests.

Year 7 and 10 Transition Day for 2022
This term saw us welcoming our new Year 7s and 10s for 2022. They are all fresh and excited to join our community. As they get ready to embark on their journey at QASMT I encourage all of us to consider how we welcome new members to our community:

• Who are we when new people arrive?
• How do we show them who we are and what we value?
• How do we create a sense of belonging for our new community members?

I felt a strong sense of belonging when I began this year and I think we do welcome everyone however, taking the time to reflect and acknowledge how we do this, ensures success for our new members.

Year 9 Journey
Our Year 9 students have been on the journey to becoming adult learners this year. This program ran during PEP and included an extra period of team building with their mentors. Each student has worked with their team to create a charter that breaks down who they want to be on the journey and how they will achieve this. During Week 10 they embarked on the culminating activity being a four day expedition at Camp Laurence. This journey involved hiking, canoeing and camping out in tents. Students reflected on who they were daily during the challenges and reset intentions/strategies to ensure perseverance and resilience during difficult times. Our Year 9 students who participated will receive their SMT journey badge to honour their transition to the senior school. We wish them all the success in Year 10 and beyond.

InStep
Congratulations to IND01 who won the Inter–InStep competition for 2021. This term, we participated in decorating competitions, Positive Education Week, we fundraised for CanTeen and celebrated our Year 12s with senior gifts.

The presentation of senior gifts is a wonderful tradition where the InStep works together to honour and celebrate each student’s contribution to their community.

Positive Education Program
Term 4 saw our Year 7s Power Up Positivity through exploring the Broaden and Build Theory by Barbara Frederikson. They studied affirmations, reframing and reaching. Furthermore, Year 7 developed an understanding of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and its application in forming a new habit.

Year 8 students explored failure and the skills required to ensure learning from failure events. From this unit, we took our understanding and applied it ‘In the Zone”. Through the Kath Murdoch inquiry cycle, students explored their own understanding of being the engaged student.

Year 10 students have had a term filled with preparation for the IB. We have unpacked CAS, EE and TOK, explored the internet and the law, academic honesty and wrote a letter to our future graduating self.

Year 11 Semi-formal
Our Year 11 students celebrated their achievements with a beautiful night at 'Events at Oxlade', New Farm. They ate amazing food which included a huge array of lollies while playing a variety of games, dancing and enjoying each other’s company. We wish this cohort the most memorable 2022 year as leaders of QASMT.

Congratulations to our Leadership Team of 2022
Term 4 saw us announce our new QASMT student leadership team for 2022. I want to congratulate the long list of DaVinci students taking on leadership roles next year. I take immense pride in developing student leaders and hope to build capacity in all our students so that in the years to come each DaVinci student is inspired to lead.

Congratulations to our DaVinci House Captains for 2022: Stevie C and Joshua P. They will lead a very strong Ambassador team consisting of Ashni A, Ranuga M, Annam S, Eunice C, Yijing L, Shaunah B, Shehwar A, Claire K, Dur E S, Aastha G, Niruthiyan S, Marin M, Reha N and Sadhiti DS.

We also congratulate William S, our 2022 Academy Captain and Freya G-H our Academy Sports Captain. We are very proud and are ready to support your leadership journey. QASMT is being led by many DaVinci students taking up Ambassador roles. Congratulations to Marium A-S, Rahul M, Suastika C, Annanya S, Hanna P, Sumedha C, Daniel H (10) and Daniel H (11), Mahjabeen A and Helen B.

Gratitude to our Leadership Team of 2021
I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the game changers that were our leaders this year. Led by Eugeenia W and Lachlan P, this team transitioned in a new House Dean, two year levels and created a tight supportive community. During Term 4, Lachlan led our ambassadors through a year review ending with the formation of a new leadership structure for 2022. This term, we have trialled sub-committees and look forward to their continuation with the addition of a new Wellbeing Committee.

Thank you for your service to our community. Da Vinci thanks Yijing L, Stevie C, Wilson N, Ahnaf K, Nayana C, Eunice C, Dur ES, Crystal B, Haya S, Merin M and Annam S.

Student Shout Out
Each month, students in DaVinci send positive affirmations to each other, and we choose a student to celebrate. Congratulations to DaVinci Dragons of the Month – Sadhithi DS  (September), Fiona W (October) and Jenny P (November).

Yours in green

Stacy Wallace-Cunningham, House Dean Da Vinci

From the House Dean of Franklin

Well done Franklin House. Term 4, 2022 has witnessed a colossal effort by all students and staff to round out the year with top results. The final score of all competitions for the year resulted in Franklin achieving a podium finish in third place overall! Well done and bring on 2022.

Without lockdowns this term, there was a return to a version of normalcy throughout the school day and Franklions, young and old, were able to complete significant events that were delayed from Term 3. The degree of care each Franklion has for their Franklin family continues to encourage and inspire me - that we are educating a generation of motivated, intelligent and caring people. I look forward to working with you all again in 2022.

Year 12
It is with elation and a sense of loss that we farewelled the Year 12s this term. After weeks completing their final IB exams they were honoured with the annual Year 12 walkout, where all of QASMT clapped them through the courtyard – a hard earned privilage. Thank you to the 35 Year 12s of Franklin House who we have shared countless laughs and conversations with. You are a great group of people set to achieve great things. Your Franklin family wishes you all the best and we would love to know where you all end up, so please keep in contact.

House Yearbook
What better way to celebrate and archive a year of achievement than with a yearbook. This year was the first year that a House has developed its own yearbook. The leaders of Franklin House chose this as their legacy gift to the House. There are 23 pages of pictures and descriptions. Well done to the students who contributed to this great publication. You should be proud of what you have achieved with this publication. Well done.

House Academic Awards
This term saw the presentation of academic awards at the annual Awards Evening. Franklin students again did fantastically well and recorded a total of 81 awards on the night. Well done all.

Year 11 Semi-formal
On 15 October 2021, Year 11 students gathered at 'Events on Oxlade' in New Farm for their Semi-formal. Students had a fun time together, with everyone dressed in ‘smart casual’ outfits. The highlights of the event included a magician who managed to captivate everyone within the first 20 seconds of the show. Thank you to all the teachers and organisers for this wonderful event. Students are looking forward to the formal next year in Year 12.

Hollows V Franklin Quote Competition
This term, Franklin and Hollows undertook a quote comparison competition. Each House came up with a dynamic, thought provoking, motivating and inspiring quote each week. Students present at the House boards had an opportunity to vote which House had the best quote for the week which of course resulted in weekly bragging rights. Unfortunately, Franklin came off second best in the competition, though the quotes inspired plenty of thought for students to reflect upon. Well done to all involved.

2022 House Leaders
Congratulations to our new Franklin leaders for 2022. Our House Captains are Srishti and Andrea, and our Ambassadors are; Esha’al, Charvee, Eimi, Aanya, Abbey, Rebecca and Fiona. They are all looking forward to serving Franklin House next year and have already begun meeting about next year’s activities.

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 9

Next

I hope everyone enjoys the hard-earned holiday break. Please take many moments to do things you enjoy so you can recharge your batteries for 2022.

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

Ross Bray, House Dean Franklin

From the House Dean of Hawking

Hello Hawking!
The final term has been full of celebrations, starting with the Year 11 Semi-formal. The students all looked stunning in their finest get up and had a great time dancing the night away and enjoying the good food. The venue looked so pretty with the fairly lights outside, so it was the perfect setting. It was great to see the students having a good time with their friends and play a few games.

Year 11, you have now completed your first year of the IB Diploma Programme and should be so proud with how far you have come – I am incredibly impressed with how you have handled this year and with such positivity!

This term saw us celebrate our Year 12s completing their IB exams and graduating at Valedictory Dinner. A huge congratulations to you all! It was a pleasure having one final chance to celebrate your achievements throughout your time at QASMT. I wish you all the very best in the future and will miss you!

Year 9 Journey
Year 9 have just returned from their Journey camp, the final adventure this term. They have been spending a lot of time in Term 4 reflecting on their current habits and thinking of ways to turn these into adult behaviours for their senior years. I have no doubt that the Year 9s enjoyed this experience and it will hold many memories for them to reflect upon in years to come.

Year 10 have finished their Diploma Preparation Program and hopefully feel that they are in a good position to achieve their academic goals next year. I am sure they will enjoy their wonderful long summer and return in Year 11 refreshed and ready to go! Finally, Year 7 and 8 have had the delight of the whole school to themselves for pretty much three weeks! I know they are tired and ready for their holidays, so well done for making it to the end of the year.

We also welcomed the new Hawking Year 7 students in their final Transition Day at the Academy before commencing in 2022. We had some great House activities for students to take part in to get to know one another. This included an incredible art piece which I was so impressed with! I can’t wait to put this up somewhere for everyone to marvel at. The new students are super keen, so I know they are going to bring some House spirit next year!

This term, we announcemed the new 2022 Hawking House Captains and Ambassadors! It was a rigorous process and there was some stiff competition but I am pleased to announce:

Diya S – Year 12 House Captain
Hannah Y – Year 9 House Captain
Grace P, Ishaan S and Tanish S – Year 12 Ambassadors
Rig G – Year 11 Ambassador
Rhea J, Louise H and Sunny C – Year 10 Ambassadors
Wendy D, Helly P and Maryam H – Year 9 Ambassadors 
Khwahish G and Beate B – Year 8 Ambassadors

Whilst every year level has had something to celebrate, no bigger celebration could have happened for Hawking House than the following announcement.

This time last year I informed you that we were fourth place out of six Houses, but today,
I am THRILLED to write that in 2021, Hawking placed FIRST place out of eight Houses!

Hawking, I could not be prouder of you. We have all worked together as InStep mentors, students and leaders to achieve this incredible accomplishment. It is with pride that I have not only one but TWO trophies in my office. One as House Champions and one as champions of Spirit and Engagement. I am most proud of the second trophy, as we have worked tirelessly to improve in these two categories, from pancake breakfasts for attendance to rehearsing that war cry and making sure EVERYONE is wearing orange at carnivals. It was not only these House point events that saw our spirit soar, but also through activities, such as our House charity and the Hawking Olympics. I have seen every one of you flourish and enjoy yourself and that is why we in Hawking House are truly worthy winners! It is now our responsibility to continue to strive throughout 2022.

2021 has been the best year for us all and I wish all Hawking students a relaxing and restful summer holiday – you all deserve it! I look forward to welcoming you back in 2022.

Rebecca Parker, House Dean Hawking  

From the House Dean of Hollows

2021 was an action-packed year, and the mighty Hawks started ever so strong, led by captain Kayla, winning the Cross Country Carnival in Term 1. Hollows were semi-finalists in both the inter-House Volleyball and Dodgeball competitions and placed fourth in the Athletics Carnival.

Hollows House understands we need to strive for a better performance next year across the competitions but no one can deny that the mighty Hollows Hawks are a force to be reckoned with.

The highlights and celebrations from Term 4 are documented below.  

Forget the Melbourne Cup!
The State horse trials are arguably the true race that stops a nation…. And congratulations to Fred and Alexi R-J who competed in the Pony Club State Horse Trials Championships involving dressage, cross country jumping and show jumping. Fred finished by qualifying to a higher age division and Alexi finished second place in his division. What a great result for you both. Well done!

Year 11 Semi-formal
The red carpet was out in Week 2 with the Year 11 class out to impress at the annual Semi-formal. The magician was back, amazing the class with tricks, and Kahoot quizzes and prizes throughout the evening were aplenty. The students were rocking the dance floor and the lolly bar was a huge hit. Congratulations Year 11 for completing the first year of your Diploma, and I look forward to celebrating your finale at your official Year 12 Formal next year. 

Hollows Debaters Win Again
We saw another superb semester of debating, organised by Mr Moore and Mr Isaacs, where the Year 7 Hollows debating teams beat 14 other teams to secure a spot in the grand finale. Like last semester where Hollows teams finished first and second, our teams were victorious again. Hollows team one took on Hollows team three, with both teams making it very difficult for the judges. In the end, Hollows team three won by the narrowest of margins. Well done Year 7s, and I look forward to seeing you on the podium again next year. 

Hollows Games
You have heard of the Hunger games and the Olympic games but have you heard of the Hollows Games?  Played over three weeks of fast and furious action, the students battled it out competing in InStep teams across eight different games.  There were some fantastic individual and team performances, however InStep 7 won the games overall with a combined score of five+ points higher than their nearest rival.  Well done InStep 7 and good luck trying to defend your title in next year's games. 

Science Olympiad Winners
Congratulations to Rohan S, Taksh M, Aryan T, Baran E and Dami L for placing very well in the annual Science Olympiad. Students travel from far and wide to compete in such a prestigious competition and these mighty Hollows Hawks have done the House proud in committing to the competition and achieving some excellent results. 

Need a good pick me up?
The table below showcases the results of this term's Quote of the Week competition, held between the mighty Hollows Hawks and the Franklin Lions. If you ever need a good quote that reflects the criteria of:
1) Gratitude/Kindness, 2) Motivation/Persistence, 3) Personal connection, then ask students Jothsimar K, Dilumi P and Agata P, as they were the researchers and creative drivers of this competition. Well done. 

Week	Hollows Votes	Franklin Votes
2	119	107
3	50	34
4	92	31
5	94	68
6	NA	NA
7	84	54

Year 7 2022
A fantastic day was had by all the incoming Year 7s for 2022. The students were sorted into their Houses in a Harry Potter style “sorting hat” activity. They were given a school tour and orientated on the school’s programs, protocols and expectations.  Thank you to Captain Agata P and Ambassador Ali K, who gave up their Year 11 holidays to come in and support the orientation of the students. The students enthusiastically completed a scavenger hunt and a piece of artwork to welcome them to the school and to our great Hollows House. I look forward to seeing the 2022 Year 7s again and working with them next year.

Hollows Leaders 2022
Hollows newly appointed 2022 Captains – Agata P and Dhruv S - and newly appointed House Ambassadors have started making plans for next year when once again the mighty fighting Hollows Hawks will be a force to be reckoned with. They paid gratitude to the Year 12 graduates in Week 6 by making Hollows Hawks lolly lays and presented them to each of the Year 12s at their farewell assembly. Fred Hollows (our name sake) worked tirelessly serving others and it is this service to others that the incoming Hollows leaders will once again bring to the House in 2022. I look forward to working with the team and am excited to help them serve the mighty Hollows Hawks in 2022.      

Thank you Hollows for a fantastic 2021. Have an enjoyable holiday break and see you in back in black at QASMT in 2022. Of course, 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

Positive Education and Wellbeing
There is an activity that involves two people working together to count to three over and over again. In this activity, person A says ‘one’ then person B says ‘two’ and person A says ‘three’ and then person B says ‘one’ and so on. The aim is to work together to go as fast as you can without making an error. Ultimately however, there is another unspoken aim which is to monitor how we are feeling and how we are interacting with those around us.

In PEP we often talk about ‘small questions’ and ‘big questions. In the activity I described above, an example of a small question might be: ‘was I the best at counting?’ This is a reasonable question, and might even relate back to something important, but small questions rarely relate (in any meaningful sense) to the bigger picture. A big question on the other hand often involves a deeper level of reflection. An example of a big question might be: ‘was I in control of myself or was the situation in control of me?’ Another example might include: ‘are my relationships with others stronger and more positive as a result of that situation?’ Since the start of Term 3, we have been slowly investigating the merits of the ‘big question, small question’ tool to help us make decisions, put things into perspective, reflect upon past practice, and continually improve.

The Journey
To be ‘internationally minded’ and ‘to recognise a common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet’ (as described in the IB Learner profile) requires, at least in my opinion, someone not only be reflective (as discussed above) but also to be committed to becoming a better version of themselves. In Year 9, we have been investigating this idea through the Rite Journey program. In fact, I write this on the cusp of our Rite Journey Expedition which departs in a few days time.

Most recently as a part of the Rite Journey, we have spent some time reflecting upon who we are, and who we see ourselves as, in the future. During this reflection, we identified personal traits, attributes, and values that we would like to improve or strengthen. As a part of this process we had the opportunity, through the Calling Ceremony, to symbolically expunge those traits or attributes that we deemed maladaptive to our future goals.

New Year 7s (2022)

As students of QA
We reflect the IB Learner attributes
10 values you’ll learn today
As our Year 7 new recruits

Before you stands a challenge
In which you’ll solve some clues
And gain resources as part of the scavenge
But, it’s the values that count, not if you win or lose.

In two hours, this task will reach expiry
and your knowledge of all will be examined
Be open-minded on this path of inquiry
What happens, is more important than what is fashioned.

On 29 November, four fantastic student House leaders and I had the opportunity to meet our incoming Year 7s for 2022. After the sorting hat organised them into Houses, we traversed the school grounds in an attempt to solve clues and accrue resources in order to create a House themed banner.

There was a great deal of excitement and eagerness amongst the students. It was a really enjoyable time, one which reminded me of my last few days of primary school as I prepared for high school and beyond. I encourage you all to welcome these newest members of our House with open hearts and arms on their first day in 2022 – after all they are the future of our mighty House.

Valedictory
There are over 30 students joining the Jackson ranks next year but they have big shoes to fill after we’ve now said goodbye and good luck to our Year 12s of 2021. I wish I had had longer than five months to get to know the Jackson House Year 12 graduates for 2021. Despite the short time that I have been Jackson House Dean they have left a strong and positive impression with me. I wish them post-high school lives filled with wonder and fulfilment.

The End of the Beginning
So, as our first year as members of Jackson House comes to a close, it is up to us to consider where we want this path to lead. What do we want next year to look and feel like, and what do we need to do in order to get there? We are no longer a new House in the strict sense of the word, but there are still plenty of opportunities to build lasting traditions for all those yet to come.

Some important milestones for Term 1 2022:

• First day at QASMT for the new Year 7s and 10s – Monday 24 January
• Year 7 Orientation Week – Monday 24 January
• First day back for the whole school – Tuesday 25 January
• Commencement Assembly – Tuesday 25 January
• Australia Day – Wednesday 26 January
• New Parent Evening (Years 7 & 10) – Monday 31 January

Samuel Weston, House Dean Jackson

From the House Dean of Newton

As we approach the end of the year, it is time to reflect on how far we have come, individually and as a community. The Newton spirit was genuinely evident and it has been gratifying to see the dedication and perseverance of all students and staff to create positive relationships, work together and uplift one another; especially during this unpredictable year.

House Charity
Students have demonstrated an outstanding effort by being involved in a noble cause and developing their skills to crochet beanies for our chosen charity - the Miracle Babies Foundation. As a result of the rewarding work of parents/caregivers, students and staff of Newton, close to 80 families with sick or premature babies have received something special to treasure. Apart from beanies, next year, we will also be crocheting/knitting mini blankets. So again, your support would be appreciated.

Special Mentions

• To Sara S (Year 8) for successfully being selected as an Academy Captain for 2022. We wish her the very best in her new leadership role.
• To Divyanshu S (Year 7) and Elizabeth L (Year 9) for achieving a Distinction in the Junior Science Olympiad enrichment program.
• To Lana W (Year 10), who, along with two of her peers, presented her award-winning scientific poster at the 2021 Australian Science Fair held virtually by John Monash Science School and Monash University.
• To Tina T (Year 10), selected to present her research on 'Salinity and hydrogel water absorption' at the virtually held Japan Super Science Fair 2021. 

Sharks of the Month - November

Year 12 Farewell and celebrations

Given the uncertainties and disruptions that we have endured over the past two years, whatever the results achieved, our Year 12 students have passed with flying colours, showing the resilience and determination to stay optimistic.

A message to the Class of 2021, using a quote from Dr Seuss - "You'll be on your way up! You'll be seeing great sights! You'll join the high fliers who soar to high heights". Well done, and we wish you all every possible success.

Positive Education Week
To continue to engage and build on the understanding of Positive Education within the school community, House Deans took the curriculum outside the classroom and successfully ran a Positive Education Week, with a series of appropriately themed activities on each day of Week 5. It was a wonderful opportunity for students and staff to be involved in the activities, such as the Staff V Students soccer game (ended in a draw), spotting character strengths to build positive relationships; laughter yoga during InStep to reduce stress and increase self-esteem and art therapy to boost mindfulness and relaxation by engaging in creativity. Due to the success of the event and the encouraging feedback received, Positive Education Week will be a permanent fixture in our school calendar.

Inter-InStep Champions
The Newton Inter-InStep competition was a very close finish and congratulations to InStep 1 for achieving maximum points and winning the coveted trophy. It was pleasing to see the active participation and enthusiasm amongst InStep classes across this semester, through varied activities, such as the paper plane challenge, tug of war and trivia. Next year, our student leaders have promised more exciting and engaging activities.

Year 7 in 2022 Transition Day

End of Term Activities and the Journey Expedition

InStep Mentors Farewell

I would also like to farewell students that are changing schools. All the best at your new school, stay kind, believe in yourselves and keep inspiring others.  

In closing, on behalf of all the Newton staff, I wish you safe, restful and happy holidays. A quote by Charles Dickens: "The year-end brings no greater pleasure than the opportunity to express to you the season's greetings and good wishes. May your holidays and new year be filled with joy."

GO NEWTON!

Deva Prasad, House Dean Newton

From the Guidance Officers

From the Guidance Officer (Career Planning and Inclusion)
What a full year it has been! There have been so many stories of determination, perseverance and people working together to grow our QASMT community.  Your adaptability and creativity have enabled us to find solutions and provide support throughout the changing circumstances. Thank you for your encouragement as we have learnt together.

Congratulations to our graduating students with many already accepting offers from universities around Australia!  You have embraced the opportunities of 2021 as seen by the many students accessing the new early offer schemes. All universities are offering flexible support services over the summer break and students of all year levels are encouraged to contact them to explore how they can support their learning and future planning. 

Industry growth and how it affects your plans
We have a range of different industries in Australia, and they’re all different. They are also growing at different rates, so, for example, while we’ll need lots more educators in the next five years, industries like manufacturing are shrinking in size. Not sure why this matters? Well, you’ll be entering a competitive and dynamic job market, and understanding the field is essential if you want to win the game.  
Read more here

Big Sister Academy Scholarships
Girls of Impact is offering exclusive scholarships to help girls thrive and flourish in our ever-evolving world. What if you could get a birds-eye view into different jobs, career pathways and try some cool things to help you make the right decision about where you want to spend your time, building the future YOU want, and doing something you love?!

The one-year program combines both virtual and workplace engagement in a group mentoring environment. Girls currently in Years 8, 9 or 10 (2021) are encouraged to explore this opportunity.  Further details including dates, activities and time commitments can be found on the Girls of Impact website, https://girlsofimpact.com/big-sister-academy/. Applications close 22 January 2022.

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

Holiday Wishes
During the holidays, you can access career support through individual universities or the following services:

1300 467 822 – QTAC (for Queensland university application queries)
1300 275 822 – UAC (for NSW/ACT university application queries)
(03) 9926 1020 – VTAC (for Victoria university application queries)

Remember to explore the QASMT Digital Library “Career Education Resources” for current career planning information including the latest documents from Study Work Grow and the Options Career Bulletins.

As we head into a season of holidays, it is vitally important that we all take time for family and rest. I encourage you all to prioritise time for reflection and rejuvenation in these next weeks so that we can all feel refreshed for whatever 2022 may hold.

Katrina Judge, Guidance Officer (Career Planning)

Holidays are here again!
I hope you are all able to take the time to enjoy some rest and relaxation during the break. It is important to build in some down time to recharge your batteries, this applies to staff, students and our families – you too parents!

Below is a link to the calendar for December Kindness. These calendars will be shared with the school community during 2022 and provide a daily focus around different themes each month e.g. Mindful March, Friendly February etc. 

This month, December, we're encouraged to carry out small acts of kindness.  This has been another year of uncertainty and ups and downs for many of us. Kindness is contagious, and helping others has been proven to make us feel better too! Let's try to focus on being generous with our time and attention, rather than money - it's free and better for everyone, as well as our planet! 

https://www.actionforhappiness.org/december 

There is an app,’ Action for Happiness’ that you can download that links to the calendar and a daily feed of positiveness.

https://www.actionforhappiness.org/smartphone-app

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

Tara Le Pla, Guidance Officer (Student Wellbeing)

From Instrumental Music

The hills of Toowong were alive with the sound of music in the past few weeks in Term 4 when over 300 of our talented instrumental and choral music students recorded pieces they have been studying in recent months. 

Thanks to Mr Hunter and the professional sound recording team brought in over two days, each ensemble recorded in sessions that replicated industry standards. With such intensity, our students rose to the occasion alongside our conductors, Mrs Baumgartner, Mr Fanning, Ms Skarshewski and Mr Thompson. The efforts paid off as students enjoyed performing music from the classics, soundtracks, pop arrangements and jazz standards. 

We are looking forward to an exciting year ahead with around 350 instrumental and choral music students across a wide variety of ensembles with many events being planned including evening concerts and showcases, competitions, workshops, lunchtime concerts and collaborations.

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

from Sustainability

Sustainability Ambassadors
A big thank you to our 2021 Sustainability Ambassadors and their dedication to a wide-range of initiatives over the full school year.

Thank you also for the smooth hand over to our 2022 team, who stepped in immediately to help with National Recycling Week and (alongside staff members) put up our new Energy-Wise cards: Dani S (Captain), Tara L, Seoirsin G, Rucha D, Sahana G, Riddhisha U.

Energy-wise Cards
We have placed Energy-wise cards in all rooms in the school to encourage a reduction in our electricity usage, particularly through turning off lights, projectors and air-conditioners when not in use.

Recycling Week
We set up recycling bins outside of A block for a range of unused products, such as cloths, books, e-waste and eye glasses. These items were collected and donated for recycling rather than being sent to landfill. Well done QASMT, on being so committed to recycling.

Other activities during the week included a lunch-time workshop on how to make a ‘No Sew T-shirt Bag’ and a week-long “Vote by Rubbish” competition where students recycled into boxes to make a vote on topics like “Biology vs Physics” and “Marvel vs DC”. We are proud to have a Refectory that is virtually plastic free, since the introduction of re-usable, returnable containers and the removal of plastic straws and cutlery. This is also supported by a shift in our stationery purchasing where we have moved away from purchasing items that are individually wrapped and ensuring that any packaging is recyclable.

Ongoing Projects
Creek Tree Planting
We are currently working with a Brisbane City Council representative through the Life for Wildlife program to remove weeds from the creek, and to plant some native trees and shrubs which will improve the stability of the creek banks and also work to encourage native fauna in our school grounds.

Biodiversity Walk Signage
Students have completed an audit of native trees on the school grounds, and are in the process of designing signs outlining the unique qualities of each tree. This will enable us all to take notice, and have a greater appreciation, for the special characteristics of our environment.

Bin Usage
We continue to educate students and staff about using the new bins correctly so that we can minimise the waste that goes to landfill. We have also had BCC conduct a waste audit of the school, so that we can better manage the impact of our sustainability strategies.

Red = General landfill
Yellow = Recycling
Green = Compost
Blue = Paper and cardboard
Orange = Containers for change

Bees
Our bees have settled in nicely to their new hives and are producing honey for us. The aim in the future is to produce enough honey to be able to sell to our school community.

The Sustainability Group is looking forward to another successful year in 2022 as we move towards our carbon neutral goal for 2023. We are looking forward to working with the school community to continue our current initiatives, as well as bringing on more wonderful projects to create a more sustainable world.

Fiona Curran, Sustainability Working Party

From Corporate Services

Late in Term 4 it was our pleasure to welcome our first groups of current Year 4s to visit QASMT for campus tours. The looks of awe and wonder as these wide-eyed Year 4s took in the campus was something to behold. We look forward to hosting further campus tours in 2022, please check the website for more details. 

The School Marketing Team is incredibly proud of the 2021 Yearbook with articles from the Journalisim leadership team and expertly compiled by Ms Olsen, Ms Casey and Ms Smallcombe.  

If your Yearbook has yet to make it home, please check with your House Dean in the new year as we do have a limited number of extra copies.

School Marketing Team - Kirsten Smallcombe, Katie Casey, Chelsea Hardman-Denning and Terri Bettany

From the P&C

Message from the P&C President

I would like to thank every one of you for your contribution to our P&C this year. We look forward to enhancing our partnership with the school community next year. Wishing everyone a Happy Christmas and hope you have a great summer break.

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).