Term in Review - 9 December 2022

Whilst our Principal, Kath Kayrooz, was unable to attend the Valedictory this year, her warm words of congratulations and support were evident to all, along with her passion for the school; her inspirational words of personal advice resonated with students and parents.  We are confident that our graduates are the holders of our future, and with perseverance, integrity and ambition, they will go far - “I don't know what the future may hold, but I know who holds the future.” Ralph Abernathy. Principal Kayrooz encouraged our graduates to live their lives free from fear of making mistakes, as making mistakes is the only way to truly learn how to live.

Reflecting on the past term, we have so many exciting events and great memories to look back on. We celebrated the outstanding work of our teachers and support staff, and we would like to thank our wonderful Chaplain for organising the celebration and our senior leadership for donating some prizes. It is wonderful how many opportunities were on offer throughout this term and at the risk of leaving something out, please see the list below:

• Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology excursion, where students had the opportunity to ‘journey through the centuries from the world of prehistoric hunters to the time of the Industrial Revolution and the Rise of Imperialism.’
• Year 9 Journey - a rite of passage to senior school
• Mental Health Week activities
• Hosting another successful Kids STEM Convention celebration evening
• UQ and SPARQed excursions for our Honours students
• Baroque with Breakfast event
• Annual Awards Evening
• Year 7 and 10 2023 incoming students and families evening
• Living in a Digital Society excursion to the Cyber Security Research Facilities at the University of Queensland
• Language Acquisition Awards ceremony acknowledging the winners of the MLTAQ Speech Language Contest
• Japan Super Science Fair excursion in Kyoto, Japan
• Parent evening presentation by Headspace
• Year 12 Valedictory evening and dinner
• FIRST Lego League Robotics Brisbane Regional Competition
• Teacher v Student Touch Football, Netball and Volleyball games
• Australian Science Fair excursion in Melbourne
• Robotics FIRST Tech Challenge Australian National Tournament

Our students really enjoyed all of these activities and we would like to thank the many teachers, support staff and parents who made these opportunities a reality.

Looking ahead, we have many exciting new initiatives that we are bringing to the Academy for next year. We will be enacting our new Strategic Plan, updating our Parent Engagement Framework and promoting our parent year level representatives. We also have some infrastructure projects including an additional multi-basketball court and handball courts. The most exciting event, however, is hosting the International Student Science Fair (ISSF) which will be held in December 2023. The  ISSF is an opportunity for students from around the world to come together to learn and share in a multicultural environment. Secondary school students of the International Schools Science Network (ISSN) community and its associated members, will engage in scientific research exchanges. 

The theme for 2023 is Sustainable Futures, in recognition of our joint commitment to value our natural environment. Our students, and those attending from schools around the world, will benefit from this experience made possible thanks to our unique partnership and connection with The University of Queensland, who are the major sponsors of the ISSF 2023. If you would like to assist in-kind or financially to this event, please contact Sandy Davey (ISSF Coordinator) for further information.

We will also be focusing on student attendance as we have seen a decline over recent years. Much of this could be attributed to a world pandemic, however, a significant amount of absenteeism has been students travelling overseas to see loved ones. We have been very supportive of families wishing to travel during term time, however, next year we will return to encouraging families to only take holidays during school holiday time. There are many factors that influence student achievement, including teacher quality and student engagement. Attendance is also an important contributor to a student’s academic achievement – all school days matter. The correlation between absence and achievement is consistently negative and declines in achievement are evident with any level of absence. Although authorised absences and smaller amounts of absence were associated with only small declines in achievement, all absences count, and the impact of absence increases with the number of absences (Hancock et al., 2013). The Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership AITSL have published some very important research associated with attendance and academic performance which you might find an interesting read. "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." - Nelson Mandela

A special thanks to you, the parents who have contributed in ways small, large and unimaginable. Thank you for the partnership between home and school, which is so important. We appreciate all that you do each and every day for our school and our children. Together, we have learned much and shared experiences that will remain in our hearts for years to come. The passion and strength within our community makes our school a truly special place for our children.

School Council 2023
Notice is hereby given of the election of Parent Representatives to the School Council of the Queensland Academy for Science Mathematics and Technology. The period for these representatives will be from January 2023 to December 2024, unless otherwise advised in accordance with the School Council Constitution.
Nominations are now open and close at 3:00pm Wednesday 25 January 2023. Please download nomination form here. Please return this form and a short biography to EAtoPrincipal@qasmt.eq.edu.au by 3:00pm Wednesday 25 January 2023.
You are eligible to be nominated and eligible to vote if you:

• not be the principal of the school or the Parents and Citizens’ association (P&C) president.
• have not been convicted of an indictable offence unless the Minister gives approval under the Act (s.93).
• attend a meeting called for the purpose of electing parent members or staff members.
• be the parent of a student attending the school (for elected parent member) or be a member of staff at the school (for elected staff member), and
• submit a completed nomination on time.

The election will be held from 4:30pm to 4:40pm on Thursday 9 February 2023 in the Upper L Block Boardroom at the Queensland Academy for Science Mathematics and Technology – 78 Bywong St, Toowong QLD 4066. Upon arrival, please report to Kelli Gallagher (the returning officer for this election) who will confirm your eligibility, record your details and present to you a ballot paper. 
All candidates may elect one scrutineer for the election. The appointment of a scrutineer must be notified to EAtoPrincipal@qasmt.eq.edu.au by 3:00pm Wednesday 15 February 2023.

Congratulations Year 12 
After months of preparation and three weeks of determined focus during their November exams, our Year 12 students celebrated the end of their schooling on 10 November with their farewell assembly and valedictory dinner. During the farewell assembly, students presented their Year 12 legacy gift, a time-capsule to be buried on the campus and celebrated with the traditional QASMT lap of honour to say their goodbyes. In the evening, Brisbane City Hall provided a stunning backdrop to recognise and celebrate the Year 12 cohort. A special thanks to Grace P, Tracy Y, William S and Freya-Grace H who performed for their peers during the event and their spectacular recitals capped off a wonderful evening. We wish our Year 12 students all the best for the release of results in January and I am certain that their hard-work and commitment will pay off. 

Spotlight on the IB: Student Wellbeing 
The IBO recognises that the COVID-19 pandemic has presented a number of challenges to students globally and recognises the importance of prioritising wellbeing in a such a time of crisis. As such, the IBO has invested in significant research to support IB World Schools in leading initiatives that support and enhance student wellbeing. For parents, they have provided guidance and advice on how to approach conversations about crisis with children and young people from 3-18 years, which can be located online https://www.ibo.org/crisis-support-resources/community/talking-to-your-child-or-adolescent-about-crisis/  

On the academic front, in October we celebrated student achievement at our annual QASMT Awards Night. As the pinnacle event on the academic calendar, it was very pleasing to see a large volume of middle years students on stage accepting awards. Congratulations students. During the evening we also recognised 18 middle years students who won prestigious subject medals in the 2021 and 2022 ICAS awards. It is rare for a school to win so many of these highly recognised awards. Congratulations to all middle school award recipients.

Last term, SMT initiated a project for publishing exceptional student assessment on our digital library platform. We have added to this collection of student responses throughout term 4 with: Social Justice poetry anthologies from Year 7; snippets of dramatic performances and persuasive speeches inspired by the United Nations Sustainability Develop Goals, from Year 8; and analytical essays in response to Shakespearean plays from Year 9. Take a look at this exceptional MYP student work through the following link:  https://tinyurl.com/2bgxjr4h.  Parents please note you are able to access this link through your student’s digital library login.

As we look toward next year, I too look forward to working with our middle years Academy Captains for 2023, Alea R and Charlie T. I know how much they are both looking forward to fulfilling their important roles and I am certain they will lead well.

I wish everyone a relaxing break and I will see you all in 2023.

Our badge ceremony to recognise our new leaders will take place in Term 1, 2023. Our newly appointed captains this term had a two-day workshop on Authentic Leadership presented by Jane Wundersitz. It was wonderful to see our new leadership team learning about aspects of leadership, learning about each other and bonding as a team.
Some of the topics covered at the workshop were:

• Positive Climate
• Leading Culture and Rituals
• Authentic Leadership
• Build Authenticity and Trust - Strong Team Foundations
• Building High Quality Relationships - Coach vs Critic.

The captains from both Year 11 and Year 8 worked together across the two days having rich conversations, listening to each other’s ideas and working together as a team to plan for their coming year. We look forward to seeing their growth.

Wellbeing
Wellbeing at QASMT is a visible wholehearted, supportive approach where everyone in the school community works together to intentionally promote rich connections and a balanced lifestyle. Wellbeing is essential to our school culture and the wellbeing of the whole school community. It is the wellbeing and inclusion of everyone that underpins what it is to be flourishing. I encourage you over the holiday break to access our website, looking specifically at the Wellbeing section. There you will find our Wellbeing Framework, a number of links to services, and a link to School TV. School TV has a number of resources to help parents with practical strategies to support their children.
On this note we wish all of our community a happy and safe holiday break and we look forward to reconnecting with you in the new year.

As they advocated for various United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that they deemed essential for the planet's future, our Year 8 students created multi-modal persuasive performances. Our students integrated dramatic performances into their presentations to show their awareness of the real-world implications of not meeting the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals. Our QASMT students were at their best in these multi-modal presentations because they had to not only educate their hypothetical global youth audience about their issue, but also tailor their message to inspire and persuade their intended audience.  

The Year 10 cohort offered thought-provoking and insightful analyses of a variety of literary texts to explore the role and impact of migration on stakeholders from around the world. With students having a wide choice of prescribed texts, it has been empowering for the teaching team to see students pursue their own lines of inquiry and hone their oral communication skills. The sight and sounds of the ideas and minds at work within the English learning space bodes well for the future.  

Under the guidance of Ms. Sophie Jacobson, the Senior Creative Writing Club have met each Monday afternoon this year to develop and promote their passion for creative texts. A key achievement of the group has been the production of the Senior Creative Writers Anthology, which is now available online at the QASMT digital library using this link: https://tinyurl.com/2ebd9s8j. This CCA has enjoyed producing a range of creative texts in various contexts, including ekphrasis, which involved writing in response to a piece of art, and which formed the group’s display at the QASMT Festival of Creativity. While meeting to write and consume their body weight in choc-chip cookies, students composed poetry and short stories in response to music videos, and for Book Week, wrote pieces describing favourite authors and the aspects of their writing style which they found most enjoyable.  

Finally, the debating CCA program came to a celebratory conclusion with the Grand Final being staged in the Lecture Theatre in Week 8 of the term. Our Term 4 CCA program has resulted in team selections for Queensland Debating Union (QDU) representation for 2023. Based on the enthusiasm, rigour of ideas, and confidence in expression, we look forward to what promises another successful year in 2023 for the debating program.  

We encourage all students to participate in this event next year; it is a fantastic day and students meet lots of other students who study the same language at different schools across Queensland.

Oktoberfest
On Thursday 13 October, our Year 10 German students were lucky enough to experience some German culture at Oktoberfest for Teens at the RNA Showgrounds in Bowen Hills. Activities included the Alpenrosen bellringers and dancers, a German band with dancers, German games like Pretzel eating and Gummy Bear races, and of course tasting some German food and going on show rides. Thank-you to Frau Wilson and Frau Reynolds for organising this fun event for the students; it is very much appreciated.

DPP Curriculum Year 10
Our Year 10 students studying Language B DPP completed their final exams on Wednesday 23November 2022. We congratulate them all for the hard work and determination they have displayed in their studies and encourage them to revise over the holidays in preparation for the first year of their Language B (SL/HL) program.

DP Curriculum Year 12
On 14 November, we said goodbye to our Year 12 students for the last time. We wish them all well in their futures and encourage them to continue their foreign language studies; there is no telling what incredible doors may open when you speak a foreign language!

Looking Forward to 2023
A reminder that subject year level tutorials will be held in 2023, and students are encouraged to contact their teachers at the start of the new year to ensure they know where and when these tutorials are going to be held.

MYP Design

Diploma Programme

The Arts
Our Year 7 and 8 Visual Art students will be learning about Media Arts. Year 7 students will be devising and creating a one-minute silent film. In groups they will learn about camera angles, storyboarding, filming and editing, applying silent film conventions to a story based on fables. In Year 8, our students will be creating a stop motion Claymation about a STEAM influencer. Students will learn three-dimensional construction techniques and basic editing to create their Claymation animations.
In the Year 9 Visual Art unit, Artists As Changemakers, we will be exploring the age-old genre of Still Life, unpacking composition and symbolism.
https://qedu-my.sharepoint.com/:f:/g/personal/rjohn232_eq_edu_au/EoEZHmVnD75OjOgvs4Uk4ZcB6op7F9dcV-ubXHML-k8X_w?e=LzSgGc

News from the Technology Ambassador Team

Foundation Program
Year 7
Over the course of this term, Year 7 students explored the statement of inquiry “Government systems rely on cooperation from people” within the global concept of orientation in space and time. With the ‘tour guide’ assessment completed, students were busy in the final weeks undertaking their own inquiry-based learning - to research and create an artefact of their choice to present as a museum exhibit. Students were extremely creative designing jewellery, weapons, clothing, models, stain glassed windows, role plays and using technology such as Minecraft to recreate different artefacts.

Year 8
The Toowong Creek which borders the QASMT grounds has been the focus of Year 8 student inquiry in Week 8 and 9 this term. In the context of studying Geography, students learnt about the interaction between human and geographic processes, including urban runoff. In determining water quality, three locations - the Bywong St carpark, the Vera St Community Garden and the Miskin St park - were tested for ammonia, phosphates, pH, dissolved oxygen, salinity, turbidity and temperature. Through this fieldwork inquiry, students discovered the permeable green spaces within the testing zone, together with the slope of the catchment at the Academy oval, allowed for the improvement of water quality in the course of the creek at QASMT. As a result, students have developed greater appreciation for the wide-reaching benefits of natural environments within urban catchments, and this was reflected in their multimedia fieldwork reports which were produced following the study.

STEM Futures
World in Your Pocket (Economics and Business Management) explored the marketing mix with students required to pitch the launch of a new product into Australia. The benefits of trade were then explored using both comparative advantage and creating fact profiles on other countries. Future of Global Cooperation (History, Economics, Global Politics) unpacked both diversity and peace and how change can occur. Forensic Psychology (Psychology and Biology) not only focussed on the psychological aspect of forensics, but also looked at the scientific aspect. This involved researching different approaches that are used to understand criminal behaviour, such as:

• The Biological Approach – looking at DNA, genetics, and neuroanatomy.
• The Cognitive Approach – understanding how our brain interprets and alters information.
• The Sociocultural Approach – analysing how our environment effects our actions.

Two different practicals were conducted in unit two with the aim being to solve a mock crime. One of these practicals involved the use of the gel electrophoresis technique, in order to analyse and compare DNA. The other practical incorporated a microscope to analyse strands of hair and match one with an unknown strand and view a shoeprint left at the crime scene. Overall, Forensic Psychology has been an extremely interesting and unique course that students in Year 9 have enjoyed thoroughly.

Diploma Programme 1
Both Business Management and Psychology students have been busy conducting primary research for their respective IA. Business Management students are completing a feasibility study which involves interviewing company owners and extracting opinions from valued customers. Investigations have ranged from the purchase of an expensive piece of machinery to the decision to move locations. Psychology students used class time to develop writing and referencing skills before preparing for a full Paper 1 exam. Economics students have been exploring macroeconomic issues affecting the world today. You may hear them enthusiastically discussing the causes of high inflation that are affecting many nations around the world, and the effectiveness of policies, such as contractionary monetary policy, to address this situation and increase economic wellbeing and overall long-term living standards for society.
With 2022 coming to a close, I would like to offer my sincere gratitude to the wonderful Individuals and Societies staff for their efforts this year in making every learning experience as engaging as possible for students. Thank you, Brian, Veronica, Yung, Chris, David, Clare, Meng Yin, Tarne, Vicky, Delaney, Rosie, Andrew B, Andrew H, Jane, Susan and Tyler for your work this year.

From the ToK Coordinator David King

This term, Year 11 students completed their final exhibition task, which comprised three commentaries on objects the students had selected to show how Theory of Knowledge manifests itself in the world. The task contributes a third towards students’ final grade in this subject.

Our Year 10 students started the year in their specialised STEM Futures courses, Future Materials and Journey to Earth X, and have finished the year in their SL and HL Diploma Preparation Courses which are preparing them for Chemistry and Physics next year. In both DPP Chemistry and Physics, students have learned some essential skills in these disciplines, and we hope our Year 10 students are feeling prepared for their diploma courses which start at the beginning of next year.

Laboratory News
The laboratories have been bustling all term, but especially during Weeks 9 and 10 where we have had number of our Year 11 students undertaking their experimental work for their Extended Essays (EEs) in our research laboratories. Over these last few weeks of term students have been working on a variety of research projects across Chemistry, Physics and Biology. It has been fantastic seeing such a hive of activity in L01 and L09 as students undertake data collection continuously each day!

Thank you
I would like to take this opportunity to thank a few people for their incredible efforts this year. First, I would also like to thank all of our wonderful science teachers. They have worked so incredibly hard this year, supporting our students to achieve the best they can in every year level, from Year 7 through to 12 - we are extremely lucky to have such dedicated, expert teachers at QASMT.
Next, I must thank our laboratory staff. We have some of the most highly capable and dedicated lab staff in the country - it is with their support in the laboratories that our students are able to undertake such high level and successful science experiments.
Finally, thanks must go to you, the families of our students - it is with your full support behind the scenes that all students are able to reach their full potential at the Academy.

Year 8 
Year 8 students have been playing the role of environmental engineers, developing a wind turbine design to satisfy the energy needs for a particular community. Each group is assigned a scenario with a range of conditions that will impact the efficiency of their wind turbines. 
The students designed and produced different wind turbine blades and tested out the efficiency.  

Year 9 
Sustainable Futures students have been planning cities of the future. They were lucky enough to have Dr Mark Limb from the Faculty of Engineering, School of Architecture and Built Environment, QUT, come in and talk to them about sustainable town planning.  

Year 10 
Biology students have had a taste of the Diploma Programme in their Higher and Standard Level subjects. Students explored evolution, speciation and different body systems with HL students extending their learning to plant systems as well.  
Environmental Science students finished the Environmental Investigation on human impact on different waterways.  

Kids STEM Convention
In Week 2 of the term, Year 7 students who participated in the Kids STEM Convention celebrated their projects with 180 other students from around Brisbane. They proudly and confidently presented their projects to an array of judges.  

In the Classroom
Interesting real-life application assessments (Criterion D) have been one of the learning experiences for Year 7 and 8 students. Being able to read and critically analyse food labels in terms of recommended dietary requirements was part of a Year 7 assessment covering fractions, percentage and decimals. Year 8 students collected, presented and analysed data to find links between physical health, mental health and wellbeing. The students continued to learn and improve their communication skills during this type of assessment. Probability patterns were the challenge for Year 9 students to investigate.

The term started for Year 10 students with a bridge investigation. Students became skilled in inserting photos of a bridge of their choice into graphing programs, along with their quadratic knowledge, to determine the best model for their bridge. The skills used for this assignment, in particular the format and style of writing, will be beneficial for the Diploma Programme’s IAs (internal assessments).

Congratulations to our Year 12s who have worked hard over the past two years to fully prepare themselves for their November examinations. Now we await results, which I am confident will be excellent. I hope they are successful at getting into their university course of choice and wish them every success in the future.

Enrichment and Competition News
Term 4 always begins with entering students into the Mathematical Investigation section of the STAQ Science Contest (Science Teachers Association of Queensland). This year we once again had many entries, which was wonderful to see. I admire the effort and time students commit to these investigations on top of their everyday schoolwork. Once again there were some impressive results. Congratulations to:

A special congratulations also to Nerissa D, Mary D and Saanvi P who won the National Mathematics Talent Quest for their On Detecting Fraud with Benfold’s Law.

In Week 5, the Maths Ambassadors held their final Escape Room for the year, which proved exceedingly popular.

Results (and certificates) are in for a number of competitions held in Term 3. These are:

• ICAS Mathematics competition - Two medals, 15 high distinctions and 124 distinctions.
• AMC (Australian Mathematics Competition) - Five prizes (Kaiwen, Daniel, Annie, Ian and Callum), 75 high distinctions and 423 distinctions. Congratulations to Callum L for his award of Best in School, a very impressive achievement.
• AIMO (Australian Intermediate Mathematical Olympiad) - Three high distinctions (Kalil, Ian and Katherine) and four distinctions. Congratulations to these students, as well as the other ten students, for taking on this four-hour challenge to solve ten problems.

We were lucky in Week 3 to welcome Associate Professor, Zulfi Jahufer, to present a seminar on “developing plants for a changing planet”. His engaging presentation about the genetics of plants and how mathematical analysis plays a part in determining the success and direction of genetic structure, was well received.

The results are also in, and it is my pleasure to announce that QASMT finished in third place based on percentage points in the 2022 West Brisbane Secondary School Sport competition. Well done to every student who represented QASMT at a Gala Day throughout the year – these efforts contributed to our podium placing. On top of this, QASMT ranked 25 out of 141 schools in Queensland for the Champion Schools Volleyball Tournaments.  A huge congratulations to coaches and students in our volleyball extension program for this amazing achievement. Lastly, I would like to congratulate the sports ambassador team on their efforts in 2022. They have passed on a tremendous legacy and our 2023 team have already started planning for next year’s activities.

Curriculum – Year 7 Spotlight
Our Year 7s have 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.

Sport
Sport wise, there was no slowing down in Term 4. There was the much-anticipated Student v Staff competition with the teachers taking out the trifactor, putting students through a master class in touch football, netball and volleyball. It was great to see the magnitude of staff and students supporting each other and getting involved with these activities.

Students in Years 7, 8 and 9 actively participated in the social sport training in cricket and futsal which will culminate in a Gala Day held in Week 10 against the other schools in our District. We are looking forward to seeing what the up-and-coming cricketers can do as they have showed great promise in training. Our futsal teams have also impressed our expert coaches with selections being extremely difficult this term. Although this is a social Gala Day, students will be vying for QASMT pride.

Congratulations to Ava C and Loti W who were talent hunted from the tournament and are currently attending Queensland Academy of Sport Volleyball trials.
Lastly, congratulations to Shlok D and Tanvi A who competed in the State Cricket Championships representing the Met West region.
Sports Coordinator – Sean Conway

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

Agnesi Halloween party
The annual Agnesi Halloween party was a great success this year. Thank you to the Halloween committee for putting up all the decorations and making the Agnesi locker area particularly spooky. Many students dared themselves to try a trick or treat toxic waste lolly and thank you to Carmen and Leanna for the Halloween cahoots.

Year 9 Journey
Year 9 Agnesi students completed The Journey Expedition. It was wonderful to spend time with students at Lake Moogerah and see students challenge themselves and engage in some self-reflection during solo time. Agnesi students also cooked their own food on a Trangia stove which led to some interesting creations!

Farewell Year 12
From the last few weeks of Term 3 through to Week 6 of Term 4, our Year 12 Curie students spent time getting ready for the last examinations of their senior schooling years. That meant attending tutorials with peers, engaging with their teachers for guidance, and working with their peers in the Refectory as early as 7:30am. Our Curie students have shown that they are knowledgeable, inquirers, risk-takers, principled, caring, balanced, open-minded, thinkers, reflective and communicators.
It was heart-warming to celebrate their achievements during the final assembly. This was their opportunity to be farewelled, with a guard of honour from Year 7 to Year 11 students and each InStep sending them off with a gift.

We look forward to hearing of our Year 12 students’ accomplishments beyond the gates of 78 Bywong Street. The whole house is grateful for their inspirational leadership, legendary enthusiasm and most importantly we will remember them for their positive and inclusive contributions to Curie House and the Academy. On behalf of Curie House, we wish them all the very best in their future endeavours. Heartfelt congratulations to the cohort of 2022 - you did it!

2023 House Leadership
I am excited to announce that Mike A and Devna M (House Captains), Alankrita M, Tiffany P, Hana S, Smrithi B, Joy C, Ava C, Mattias S, Arjun P, Georgia T, Alyssa T and Maree M (House Ambassadors) will lead the house in 2023. We also congratulate Toson A-T (Sports Captain) and Jua O (Production Captain). 

House Ambassadors

Year 7 Perspective
“As the new Year 7s of QASMT, being in Curie was the best start to the year! From making new, caring friends, to practising our epic war cry, we collaborated with like-minded peers in all grades, beginning our amazing journey at the Academy. One moment we could never forget was the Year 7 camp. Camp gave us the opportunity to get to know our peers better and push ourselves out of our comfort zones, experiences we will always be able to cherish, especially initiating strong friendship bonds. Another highlight of beginning at the Academy was our sporty athletics and cross-country carnivals. For the athletics carnival, we had the amazing opportunity of going to the UQ sporting fields to participate in our athletics day events. A day filled with friends, sportsmanship, teamwork and fun!”
Smrithi B, Joy C, Alankrita M, Tiffany P and Hana S - Year 7 students

Year 11 Semi-Formal
“The QASMT semi-formal for Year 11 students was held on Friday 7 October at Events on Oxlade in New Farm. From the organised games to the photo booth, this event was extremely successful and enjoyed by all students. It has strengthened relationships within Year 11 by bringing the entire cohort closer together - definitely a night to remember! Thank you to all individuals who contributed to helping with the night’s extensive planning."
Jocelyn M - Year 11 INC05

Year 7 – Our first year at QASMT by Olivia D, Year 7
It was my first year of high school. Coming to a new school was a lot, however, the environment within Da Vinci helped me to feel involved and welcome. I loved exploring all the options that were available to us like clubs and events. Being in Da Vinci was awesome this year. The house spirit was unbelievable, and it made me want to get involved as well. I would really like to mention Stevie, the Da Vinci House Captain this year. Stevie had a big influence on me. She made me a confident person and really welcomed me into the house. I couldn’t have asked for a better person to settle me into the school and pass on her experience. InStep was hard at the start of this year being a new student as I didn’t know anyone, and InStep has multiple years. However, I have an awesome mentor and InStep group. We ended up winning the sustainable fashion event and the people I met from this experience was just what I needed. Overall, I have loved being in Da Vinci House and getting to know my House Dean and people from other years, and it's just a bonus that we won!

Year 8 – Captains Corner by Ranuaga M
I will be the Da Vinci Junior Captain next year! Before we can jump ahead for next year, let's see how we smashed it this term! At the start of term, we kicked off with a great line tag competition that brought all InSteps together with some competitive spirit. Congratulations, INDO2, for winning it all! We also saw our many academic accomplishments through the various competitions run through the year and our outstanding achievements in the awards assembly. However, saying goodbye to our beloved Year 12s was very difficult, as they had become a fantastic part of our DaVinci culture. We also allowed all year levels to take leadership opportunities with year-level led InSteps. Not to mention our most significant achievement (thanks to Stevie and Josh), winning the overall title for the year! We hope to take this winning spirit into the next year as Yash and I try to fill the shoes of Stevie and Josh.

Year 10
This term saw the implementation of the Love Bits – Respectful Relationships Consent Education Program. This program was successfully implemented thanks to the hard work of Hollows House Dean Mr Colquhoun. The students worked through a number of interactive lessons to unpack abuse, violence and respectful conduct in relationships. I was very proud of the mature and insightful conversations had by our DaVinci students.

Year 12
We farewelled our Year 12 this term. This farewell included the final assembly, graduate parade and valedictory dinner. DaVinci has had the honour of being led by some exceptional students. The 2023 graduates are an amazing group that worked superbly well as a team. We thank you for being such wonderful contributors to QASMT and DaVinci. 
Thank you for all your support towards DaVinci House and community. We wish the QASMT community a safe and festive holiday.

House leadership 2023
I am enormously proud to announce the Franklin House Captains and Ambassadors for 2023. Brendan and Lydia are our new Senior and Junior Captains, respectively and our Senior Ambassadors are Hetvi, Elisa, Saibo, together with Fiona, Kiana and Riley as the Junior Ambassadors. Well done to all and I am really look forward to working with our leaders in 2023.

Year 12 Farewell
The end of an era has arrived. Franklin House has again bid farewell to another successful group of Year 12 graduates. I am sure that the hard work and determination employed to undertake final IB exams will pay off when results are released in January 2023. To our Franklin graduates - I wish you all the absolute best in your future endeavours and may your choices bring you happiness.

Hawking Leadership Team for 2023
As is tradition at QASMT, the Hawking leadership team for 2023 was officially named on Monday of Week 4. Nashonie P (Year 12) and Gavindi S (Year 9) were voted as our new Hawking Captains. A huge congratulations to all of the following students.

Year 9 Journey
The Year 9 Journey went ahead this term at Lake Moogerah, in the beautiful Scenic Rim. This is the most challenging of our three camps; students all camped out for a night, canoeing their packs and tents across the lake to the campsite. As part of the camp experience, students were required to cook all of their meals. We have some budding master chefs amongst the group! Students participated in a variety of activities, including mountain biking, canoeing, hiking, high ropes activities and even archery tag! Students all commented that they loved camp and had an amazing time, pushing their limits and building friendships that will last a lifetime. The Year 8 students have this to look forward to in 2023!

Year 12 Final Assembly and Valedictory
The Year 12 final assembly was held in Week 6. The entire school was in attendance to celebrate the students’ final day. The assembly was a celebration of the cohort of 2022, with wonderful speeches by Academy Captains, including our own Connor C. Students then presented a time capsule as their gift to the school, to be opened in 20 years. Year 12 students also debuted their music video, where they changed the lyrics to the song 22 by Taylor Swift. At the conclusion of the assembly, the entire school lined the courtyard, and the Year 12 students completed their lap of honour. Each InStep presented a gift to their Year 12 students, which is a tradition at the Academy. Students said their final goodbyes, before making their way into Brisbane city for the Valedictory dinner.

The Valedictory dinner was held at Brisbane City Hall, which is a grand venue to celebrate our Year 12 graduation. Students were accompanied by their parents/carers for the event and were dressed in academic gowns. Guests sat down to a delicious three-course meal inside the spectacular venue. During the evening there were motivational speeches from student alumni as well as incredible musical performances. The major moment of the evening was seeing each Hawking student announced on stage to receive their graduation certificate. Congratulations to Jessica B, Joshua C, Connor C, Emrys G, Johna J, Siddesh K, Suzy L, Grace P, Bruno R, Tanish S, Andre S, Yeshwant S, Diya S, Ishaan S, Michelle T, Theresa W and Jerry W. I wish you all a future full of happy coincidences, necessary failures, and all of the success in the world.

Future Chemists in the making
Congratulations to Kevin, Baran, Edward, Vukasin, Taksh, and Eason for achieving a high distinction in the International Chemistry Quiz (ICQ). Well done for listening to your teachers and applying your knowledge to achieve success in this international competition.

Year 9 Journey Completed
A highlight for Year 9 this term was the successful completion of their Year 9 Journey. Over three terms students were put through curriculum initiatives and practical scenarios designed to boost resilience, and ultimately develop greater self-confidence. To conclude this program the students participated in a calling ceremony where they made a public pledge to purge their immature and poor behaviours of the past in a fire pit. The students were then presented with their journey badges and challenged to remember the Year 9 journey motto: ENGAGE, SERVE AND INSPIRE and were reminded of their responsibilities as they approach senior school and become adult learners. Congratulations to our Year 9 students - I look forward to continuing to learn with them next year as they start their senior years.

Congratulations and Farewell Year 12
We farewelled the class of 2022 on November 10 after much celebration and well wishing. After three years of diligent work and application, our Year 12 Hawks finished school and are off into the next chapter of their lives. Good luck Year 12! It has been an honour and privilege to have known you and have you in Hollows House.

Year 7 Positive Affirmation & Mindset Slips
A real focus in Year 7 PEP this term was to build an understanding on how a positive mindset, an optimistic view on the world and the daily grind of life, can improve health and wellbeing. Year 7 students prepared positive affirmation posters and put them up on house notice boards and in locker rooms. The posters included tear off slips that contained a simple quote of gratitude or happiness sentiment for the students to read, keep and savour on. Well done Year 7 students for your engaging posters.

Hollows Bingo
To close off the year with a feast of engaging activities for InSteps, newly elected Junior Ambassadors planned and orchestrated a Hollows bingo game. Hollows students had to race against the clock to enquire and exchange personal details and stories with one another in order to tick off items on a list. Prizes were given to each InStep winner. Well done leaders for your quick thinking and engaging activity for the house.

Hollows Hawks Hall of Fame Honour Board
Hollows House has two very prestigious awards that students can apply for each year by writing to criteria just like they would a scholarship or leadership application. Our HAWK OF THE YEAR is awarded to a student for excellent engagement and performance in all areas. Congratulations to Siddharth A for successfully meeting all criteria for this award. Our HAWKS OF SERVICE award for consistent care, kindness and positivity towards others goes to Baran E, who has been outstanding in meeting all criteria for this award. The Hollows InStep Mentors and I had a difficult job processing all the quality applications. Well done Siddharth and Baran and thank you again to all other students who nominated for these awards; it is fantastic to see students putting themselves out their and wanting to celebrate their hard work and performances.

Year 7 in 2023 Transition Day
What a privilege it was to meet 27 Year 6 students last Monday for their Transition Day and to welcome them into the Hawks nest for Year 7 in 2023. Thank you Mr Wheeler and Mr Weston who organised an exciting and informative program for the students. It was great to work with the new Hollows House students as they creatively bought into our house culture and worked together to design a house banner. Well done Year 6 students – we look forward to seeing you all again as part of our Hollows House community as you begin your high school journey in 2023.

PLP Reflections
Reflection is not necessarily something that comes naturally – at least for me. Even when I care greatly for the process, and in some cases because I care greatly, I have been known to skip the reflection phase. I know that this makes little sense – or is at least a little contradictory – but I need to continually remind myself to reflect on my practice. At QASMT we have set times during which we reflect on our academic progress and wellbeing. Students should hold these lessons close over the next six weeks so that they can be certain they enact the associated improvements in the new year.

IB Exams
It was admirable to witness the focus and resolve of our Year 12 students as they completed their final examinations. Whether operating in formal leadership positions, or not, they each comported themselves during this challenging time as the true leaders of the school… and therefore our incoming Year 12 students of 2023 have big shoes to fill.

Parent Teacher Interviews
On Wednesday 26 October, QASMT held it’s single-day parent teacher interview session which was a modified format from earlier in the year. It was amazing to see so many parents/caregivers and teachers come together with the sole purpose to best support the students in our care. I am very pleased to have worked with so many of you this year and I am excited at the prospects of that work continuing in 2023.

Year 7 Transition Day
It was uplifting to meet, for the second time, the incoming Year 7 students of 2023. Just as with the first Transition Day, students were eager to visit the school that they would soon call home. Most excitedly, they were keen to learn which house they would belong to. After meeting our wonderful Jackson Captains and leaders, I am certain that the newest members of our house already feel a part of the community. A very big thankyou to those who made the time in their busy schedules to help organise this event.

Congratulations to INN01, led by Mr Conway, for regaining the Newton Inter-InStep trophy for Semester 2.

"Your destiny is the story of your life, and you get to tell the story your way." —Scott Allan

Whilst we greeted the new students, we also farewelled our Year 12s earlier this term. These students have been an outstanding group and have worked tirelessly with all the disruptions over the past year. Their strength and persistence as a year group were shown on their farewell day, and they should feel proud of what they have overcome. All the best, year 12s, and I look forward to seeing you back as alumni inspiring the next generation.

Winston Churchill once said, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give”. As such, it has been gratifying to see the dedication of our Newton students and staff crocheting beanies for our chosen charity - the Miracle Babies Foundation https://www.miraclebabies.org.au/. They have demonstrated a noble value of giving without expecting something in return, and they should be proud of their effort. A special thank you to Ms Reynolds for her passion and dedication to leading our charity. Close to 200 ‘Miracle’ families have benefitted from your love and generosity. That’s over a hundred beanies more than last year! So again, your support is much appreciated.

2023 is coming very soon, and there are many things we can look forward to, including our friends and teachers, as well as new subjects and all the other exciting changes the new year brings.

Finally, on behalf of our Newton team, I want to thank and wish all of you and your loved ones a safe and wonderful summer holiday. I look forward to seeing you in the new year!

Congratulations to our graduating students with many already accepting offers from universities around Australia. Students have embraced the opportunities of 2022 as seen by many students accessing the 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.

University Enrolment Timelines
When university offers are released (usually in January), you only have a few days to respond. Probably, you will need to accept the offer from the tertiary admissions centre (e.g., QTAC) and enrol at the university. That is two steps. You will only receive one offer at a time from a TAC but may receive multiple offers by applying interstate or by accessing early offer programs.
It is possible to accept multiple offers and enrol in several courses while waiting on options and making choices. However, it is essential that you withdraw from any unwanted courses before Census Date.
The Census date is:

• the date which your enrolment is considered finalised for the Semester.
• the last date to withdraw from a course (subject) without receiving a financial penalty. If you withdraw from a course (subject) after this date you will still be liable for any fees relating to the course (subject).
• the last day for commonwealth supported students to submit their Request for Commonwealth Assistance form.
• the last date to make an upfront payment on your account. If you haven't paid by this date, your enrolment will be cancelled, and you will be notified in writing.
• If you have set up HELP loan (HECS-Help, FEE-Help and SA-Help), your fees will defer shortly after this date.

If you have enrolled at more than one university (e.g., A Queensland university and an interstate university), be sure to cancel your unwanted enrolments before their census date to avoid financial costs.

Holiday Wishes
The Careers Office will finish the year on Thursday, 8 December.  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 SMT Digital Library “Career Education Resources” for current career planning information including the latest documents from Study Work Grow and the Options Career Bulletins, or access our subscriptions directly with our QASMT code.
As we head into a season of holidays, it is vitally important that we all take time for family 

This month, December, we are encouraged to carry out small acts of kindness. This has been another difficult 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

The Action for Happiness app is based on the themes and actions from the monthly calendars and aims to give users a couple of friendly "nudges" each day - firstly that day's action in the morning and secondly an inspiring message towards the end of the day.

Community Support Services to access during the break
For your children:

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

Our instrumental music lessons continued through to Week 8, as we offer music for all levels and stages. On 11 November, members of our Wind Orchestra conducted by Mr Wickham, performed at ANZAC Park, Toowong alongside Chantifique Choir, a local French group, to a large audience including representatives from the diplomat, army corps and local government. This celebrated the commissioning of a bridge to honour engineers in the war and the friendship between France and Australia.
String players treated our school community to several ‘breakfast concerts’ in various locations around our school, as well as our brass and percussion students conducted by Mrs Berti, offering an open rehearsal that included impromptu performances.
Our music rooms have been abuzz this term with groups rehearsing for the 2023 Battle of the Bands – more information here. This is one of many exciting events planned for 2023 including our first evening concert on Thursday 18 May. 

Litter Audit
With the growth of the school, sadly there has come a noticeable increase in litter. In an effort to reduce this, our Sustainability Ambassadors have completed a Litter Audit of the school grounds - tallying the amount of litter present and paying particular attention to the several types of litter and locations. Based on our data we have found that the main hotspots for litter are the table tennis area, the basketball courts and the oval. Staff on playground duty will be asking students to clean their areas before leaving. If each of us clean up after ourselves this problem will be eliminated.

In addition, the Year 10 Japanese classes completed a litter activity that involved identifying litter and collecting it from around the school to practice the language skills for their unit on Sustainability and the Environment and to raise awareness of litter at the Academy.

Year 9 German classes completed a scavenger hunt around QASMT in which they identified practices at the school that help increase our sustainability, as well as describe the purpose of these practices. For example, the different bin colours, the purpose of bees, and the purpose of our 240 solar panels. Students were able to practice their German language skills to help them in their unit on the Environment, as well as better understand the purpose of our sustainability efforts at the Academy.

Sustainability Shop
Please view the video that our Sustainability Captain has made regarding our Sustainability Shop, which currently sells keep cups ($12) and water bottles ($8).

The School Marketing Team regularly posts to our social media networks. Keep up-to-date with all the happenings and achievements at QASMT by following:

• Instagram: @queenslandacademysmt
• Facebook: Queensland Academy for Science Mathematics and Technology
• LinkedIn: Queensland Academy for Science Mathematics and Technology (SMT).

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

School Marketing Team -  Cherise Kingsbury, Chelsea Hardman-Denning and Samantha Haggarty

The P&C is delighted to report that our continued efforts to integrate QASMT into improved public transport have paid off again, with a new St Lucia to Bywong Street student bus (to be called either the S726 or 726) to start from Monday 23 January 2023.
Whilst the initial campaign led by Year 7 parents Sarah and Nick, Heba and Kareem, Jacq and Melo, focused on the St Lucia students, the transport group recognised that the bus could also potentially provide a link from the southside through UQ, providing a faster, relatively traffic free route to school for students south of the river. In September, the P&C submitted a detailed report on a number of possible bus improvements including the St Lucia/Southside option to align with the Metro bus review to Translink, and the campaign was supported by both Councillor James Mackay and State MP Michael Berkman. Conveniently, the bus will travel along Moggill Rd, and will also provide connectivity from the BBC Moggill Rd bus stops to the school and train stations. 
The P&C also successfully applied for a grant from the Lord Mayor’s Community Fund, through Councillor James Mackay, to support the First Lego League Regional event held at the school on November 12 and it was particularly rewarding to see our Year 8 “VegeMight” win the event. 
We wish you all a relaxing and enjoyable summer break and look forward to seeing you in the new year. 
Winand D’Souza
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).