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Term in Review - 23 June 2023

From the Senior Leadership Team

As we come to the end of Term 2, we would like to take this opportunity to thank our community for their contributions to our Academy and the wonderfully rich learning environment here at QASMT.
This term has been an extremely busy one with many celebrations showcasing the true nature or our International Baccalaureate Learners – balanced, caring, open-minded and risk takers.

The athletics carnival, at The University of Queensland, exemplified the passion and house spirit of our students. The participation by all was outstanding and the students enjoyed a great day of activity.

Sustainability Week demonstrated our continuing commitment to our environment and the future of all our young people. We were very proud to announce that QASMT is now officially certified carbon neutral. Sustainable Futures is the theme of the International Student Science Fair 2023 being hosted at QASMT and we are proud of all the fabulous initiatives we have to showcase in this area.

The Festival of Creativity this term was certainly a highlight. The refreshed format, location in the beautiful courtyard and the three sound stages, made for an amazing night showcasing the talents of students (and even our parents and teachers). The parent and teacher groups leading this festival worked tirelessly and their efforts were certainly evident on the night. We would like to recognise the leadership of our staff Greg Thompson, Paul Hunter, Jen Colley, Renee Johnson, Fiona Curran and Kirsten Baker. We would also like to recognise the leadership of our parents, Winand, Kylie, Rebecca, Lilly, Young and the work of all our amazing parent volunteers. Thanks also to our wonderful Arts Captain Uhansa, Production Captains Tina and Jua and our incredible facilities and communications teams and support staff. This has been a truly collaborative event for our school community and shows what can be achieved when we all work together. Lastly, we wish to express our deepest admiration and pride for each and every student participating in our Festival of Creativity. Your passion, dedication, and relentless pursuit of knowledge is an inspiration to us all. Remember that creativity knows no bounds, and as you continue on your individual journeys never shy away from pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

We would like to acknowledge the efforts of our teaching and support staff, and our students, and thank those people who have made these wonderful opportunities possible for our community. Your dedication and efforts are truly valued.

Apart from all the fun this term, we have, as always, continued to focus on the teaching and learning experience across our community. A working party has been exploring the Learning Management Systems in use at QASMT and the experience for students, teachers and parents, with a focus on an improved experience for all. A particular area of investigation for the parent experience is improving the management of school communications. A number of available platforms are being investigated and this work will continue throughout this year.

School Opinion Surveys
The annual suite of School Opinion Surveys will be conducted 24 July to 18 August 2023. All families, school staff and students in target year levels (5,6,8 and 11) will be invited to participate. We encourage you to take this opportunity to have your say about what our school does well, and how we can improve. The Department of Education will commence sending email invitations to participants in the second week of Term 3. The survey can be completed as soon as the invitation is received and will take approximately five minutes using a computer, tablet or smart phone.

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

Kath Kayrooz, Principal; Tanya Haggarty, Associate Principal Academic; Kerry Bullock, Associate Principal Teaching and Learning; Catherine de Freitas Pessoa, Deputy Principal Performance; Michele Newman, Deputy Principal Engagement and Sandy Davey, ISSF Program Manager

From the Deputy Principal Senior Years

What a wonderful and very busy term it has been.
As I have walked around the classrooms over this past term, I have seen all year levels fully engaged in active learning using different ATL. It is the most wonderful thing to see and hear happy students and smiling teachers who are in flow in their classrooms.

Year 12 Curriculum
Congratulations must go to our Year 12 cohort – they are incredibly close now to the completion of their IB Diploma requirements. Year 12 students now only have the submission of their final EE and TOK left, as well as their mock exams and of course, their final November exams. Our German ab initio students have had a huge term – they have now completed their final IB exams in that subject – I must in particular congratulate them on their wonderful behaviour during their May exams, and on completely finishing their language requirements!

Year 11 Curriculum
This term has been busy for our Year 11s, with Leadership Camp in Week 7, and with practice IAs and orals across their subjects. At the end of this term our Year 11 students will have completed a third of their IB content for their subjects. At this point it is essential that all Year 11 students now have meaningful study practices that are supporting them in their learning across their subjects. Students have earned a rest over the holiday, and during this time I highly encourage Year 11 students to reflect on their progress so far – what has worked for them, what has not, and how do they think they can continue to improve next term? If you have a Year 11 student in your family, I encourage you to ask them these questions and to support them to reflect on their progress so far this year.

Year 10 Curriculum
Congratulations must go to our Year 10 students who this term completed their Certificate II in Sampling and Measuring, and the Certificate III in Laboratory Skills. By all accounts, their behaviour was wonderful, and they completed their work to a high standard – well done Year 10 students!

Our Year 10s have now finished their STEM Futures experiences and are about to move into their chosen subject levels in Semester 2 as they embark on their Diploma Preparation Programme. These subjects and levels should now be what students are planning to undertake in their IB Diploma. If you have a student in your family who is unsure of their subject choices, please ensure they come to see me as soon as possible.

Spotlight on ATL in the classrooms
IB Approaches to Learning (ATL) are designed to help students “learn how to learn”. I would like to highlight here how I have seen teachers and students using one of the ATL skills – communication – as I have walked around classrooms.

In English I saw students from many different year levels practicing their oracy skills. Some of these presentations were part of an assessment; some presentations were spontaneous and supported with opportunities to develop their ideas in a group before presenting back to the class. In these English classes I saw students not just supported by their peers to stand up and present, but also to listen to one another, and re-synthesise ideas they had heard.

In Art I saw students moulding clay sculptures whilst talking and discussing their successful and unsuccessful techniques in small groups. Students were sharing and immediately implementing new ideas that they co-constructed. Student-driven small group sharing, communication and co-construction of ideas is a powerful way for students to learn.

In Language Acquisition, I watched a wonderful lesson where senior students were practicing their Kanji characters by tracing characters on the back of another student who had to correctly interpret these characters. All students who did not want to participate in this were working in a different group where they were racing to translate spoken words into Kanji characters and identify them on cards scattered around a table. All students were laughing and fully engaged in their Japanese lesson, and all of them were using their communication skills to learn.

I look forward to bringing you more news of IB and ATL next term, but for now, to all our families – have a wonderful and well-earned break over the school holidays. I am excited to continue to work with our students and families again in Term 3, and to support all our students to achieve the best they can throughout their time at QASMT.

Esme Hatchell, Deputy Principal Senior Years

From the Deputy Principal Middle Years

As always, Term 2 has flown by.
Across the term it has been great to see our Middle Years’ students fully involve themselves in a range of events and activities, from the sustainable fashion parade, to extra-curricular competitions, the Festival of Creativity and more. Well done!

It is equally pleasing to note that our Middle Years’ students are wearing their formal uniform with pride both at school and in the wider community. I often see our students enter the school each morning wearing their blazer and school hat. It is a striking school uniform when it is worn well. Let’s keep this up in Term 3.

At this point in the year our Year 7s have certainly found their feet. As I move around the grounds at break times and through classrooms, I am very pleased to see their enthusiasm and positive engagement. It is also pleasing to note the number of Year 7s who are involving themselves with curriculum competitions outside of the classroom. This enthusiasm will put them in good stead for future years.

Our Year 8s have also made their mark this term. We had a very large number of Year 8 students involved in both QASMT-run and outside activities across the term, often leading the way. The Junior Olympiad, QDU events, Robotics build weekends, SparQ-ed seminars and girls in STEM, to name just a few. Many of our Year 8s have also spent time guiding and supporting our Year 7s this semester as the younger cohort adjusted into their new surroundings. I would like to thank the Year 8s for this selfless act as it has meant the transition for Year 7s has been an easier one.

Our Year 9s have also had a busy Term 2, which has culminated in their first block exam. Just like our Year 7s and 8s, the Year 9s have involved themselves in an array of activities and events. As we look towards Semester 2, our Year 9s will be heavily involved with preparations for their Year 9 Journey. This will include a hike up Mount Coot-tha in August under the guidance of ‘Character Builders’, a company that focuses on building leadership skills, and QASMT staff. Many of the staff who will attend this hike will also attend the Year 9 camp. The Year 9 Journey is a very important step in their learning as they move towards the senior school.

A reminder for all Middle Years’ students that attending school every day counts. Regular attendance at school is imperative for the continuity of learning, working alongside peers and building relationships. It is important that we are all striving to come to school regularly and on time.

It has also been wonderful to meet a number of Middle Years’ parents and caregivers this term at our regular coffee mornings. I hope to see more friendly faces as the year continues. I wish all our Middle Years’ students a pleasant and relaxing holiday break. I look forward to seeing their smiling faces in the new semester and witnessing the many wonderful things they will do and achieve at QASMT.

Kind regards

Kirsten Baker, Deputy Principal Middle Years

From the inclusion team

School Chaplaincy
School chaplains or ‘chappies’ provide social, emotional and spiritual support to school communities. They are in the prevention and support business: helping students find a better way to deal with issues ranging from family breakdown and loneliness to friendships and mental health.

They provide a listening ear and a caring presence for children and young people in crisis. They also provide support for staff and parents in school communities.

Chappy Denise is employed by SU Australia and she is based at QASMT on Monday and Tuesday. SU Chaplaincy has built a strong reputation of professionalism and trust in hundreds of school communities and is the largest chaplaincy provider in Australia.

The Federally funded National School Wellbeing Program (NSWP) has been a great help, and it is important to note that the NSWP program is only meant to be a contribution towards the costs of a chaplaincy service.

To ensure local chaplaincy services remain sustainable, local community support is vital. SU QLD supports the initiative by appointing, training, and equipping school chaplains.

Your support can help keep chappies in schools and continue to bring hope to a young generation. Sign up as a monthly supporter or one-off donor (tax deductible) here.

Here are some activities and programs we had over the past term.
We had a ‘Welcome back to Term 2’ Pancake breakfast in Week 1.

Breakfast Club
Every Monday morning, a group of Year 11 students serve the school community with toast, juice and hot chocolate. The breakfast club is well appreciated and well received!

Special thanks to Hands of Hope for sponsoring some of the supplies for breakfast club. Hands of Hope is affiliated with Australia Care and Trauma Services and the community arm of Hope Church Brisbane. Hands of Hope’s mission is to bring hope through practical means to build empowered and socially sustainable communities. Learn more here.

Hands of Hope also runs the Hope Pantry program, a food relief program that offers free food parcels to families in need. If you would like to have more information or to make an application, please feel free to reach out to dko10@eq.edu.au.

Board Game Club
The board game club runs every Monday and Tuesday during both the first and second break. It is a great opportunity to have some fun and make new friends. Keep your eyes peeled for more new games and activities in the next term.

ARC
The Academy Representative Council (ARC) represents the student body at QASMT. Its members include the portfolio and house captains and is led by the Academy captains. They come together every Tuesday to represent the student body at QASMT and coordinate activities to maintain a high Academy spirit and provide opportunities for student engagement in their area of interest. Highlights of the ARC so far include coordinating the Miskin Cup (QASMT won, yay!), STEM week lunchtime activities, as well as raising money and awareness for charities through bake sales and free-dress day. The ARC aims to continue organising fun activates and promote student agency as we move into the second half of the year.

Student Wellbeing Working Party
A number of our ARC members are also members of various working parties. These working parties comprise of students, teachers, members of the leadership team and work on various aspects of the Explicit Improvement Agenda. Our Academy captains this year, as well as eight other students, have been working as part of the student wellbeing working party to ensure student co agency exists. The working party is made up of 11 students, including all the Academy captains, two guidance counsellors, two house deans and two teachers, all led by the Director of Wellbeing and Inclusion. Every fortnight, we meet to identify ways to improve student wellbeing. Our vision is for every student to be equipped with the skills to flourish in all aspects of life. The well-being party consists of three sub-divisions focusing on updating the positive postcards, collating resources for wellbeing, the Wellbeing Framework on Depot and organising wellbeing lunch time activities run by students. We look forward to releasing the new resources and activities in Term 3 and seeing our students gain valuable wellbeing skills.

Jane Manwaring, Director Inclusion and Wellbeing

From The Director Data and Technology

Robotics Update
At QASMT there are five different areas students can choose that come under the Robotics umbrella: FIRST Lego League (FLL), FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC), Robocup (soccer, rescue line and maze), Droid Racing Challenge (DRC), and Drone Racing.
All areas (except drones) are preparing for upcoming competitions, in particular:

FIRST Tech Challenge: Three teams were successfully selected to participate in the upcoming Asia Pacific Open Championships in July (Week 1). These teams have been spending lunch breaks, late starts and early finishes honing their robots to be very competitive in this challenging championship. Meanwhile, newly formed teams have been working on the huge learning curve required to build a robot and be competitive in this year’s challenge.

Droid Racing Challenge: We have two teams in this challenging competition; it is, in fact, a university competition which we have been given permission to participate in. DRC is building a droid (or small car) which uses video to map where it is on the course and automatically drive around the course, staying within lanes, avoiding obstacles, and other droids. Both teams are basically ready for the competition which is in Week 1 next term.

Robocup: The Brisbane regional competition was held at the end of Week 8 this term. This is a lead up competition for the state competition in August. We were very successful at the competition, and I would like to congratulate all teams that participated, in particular:

The two Year 7 rescue maze teams that came first and second.
The Year 8 soccer team that very narrowly missed first place and came second.
The Open rescue team, in their first year competing at that level and came fifth.

I look forward to all teams participating in the state titles next term.

Drone Racing: This is our second year running a drone club in our school. It is very pleasing to see students successfully flying the simulated course and, in fact, we had some demonstrations with students flying the actual drones on the oval. As we get more experience and practise, I look forward to this group entering some competitions.

Thanks to all staff and students in our Robotics programmes.

Russell Hams, Director Data and Technology

From the Department of Language and Literature

It’s time to celebrate Term 2 within the English Language and Literature Faculty!
Perhaps the “flagship” event of the term was our Book Week. As an entirely student-run week, our students demonstrated their love for literature and also their conscientious leadership. The week featured guest speakers, artwork creations, lunchtime quizzes, audio book “chillout” zones, and ultimately culminated in our annual Book Week costume parade. As can be seen in the photos, the parade was a beautifully creative expression of colour and individuality. It was great to see students embrace their expressive sides to portray a variety of heroes, villains and (tenuously justified) celebrities in the parade.

In terms of the Middle Years Programme curriculum, our Year 7 students demonstrated an awareness of the importance of an inclusive mindset through their analytical presentations of their insights into characters from the novel Wonder by RJ Palacio. Our Year 8 students explored the nature of power and privilege within communities via a novel study of Animal Farm. Students were not only able to explore Orwell’s purpose in writing the novel, but also to make astute observations about what power does to one’s values and ways in which communities respond to inequality. Our Year 9 students explored the drama adaptation of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and explored how far it was healthy or damaging to express one’s perspective on personal events. In all, our MYP students impressed us with not only their knowledge but their ability to extrapolate the concepts present in texts and link them to the reality of the world.

Within the Diploma Preparation Program (DPP) and the Diploma Programme (DP), our students had an analytical focus to their work. Our Year 10 DPP students examined a variety of persuasive non-literary texts to deliver presentations on how authors across a variety of contexts achieved their purposes. Our Year 11 DP students explored a variety of non-literary bodies of work to articulate insights into global issues. Some of the works that various classes covered were social media photo essayist Brandon Stanton, a variety of essays penned by Stan Grant, the essays of Stanford-educated Marina Keegan, and the graffiti artist Banksy. Students demonstrated an ability to apply their skills of understanding and interpretation to a multitude of texts, regardless of the context within which they were produced. Our Year 12 DP students completed their study of the novel Homefire (our HL students also studied Arthur Miller’s The Crucible) and set about preparing for their upcoming Paper 1 block examination.

In all, our students have shown us that the skills of English Language and Literature that require them to apply a “critical eye” to all texts are valuable across time and space. Regardless of context, a conceptual understanding of the principles present within texts allows students to approach the 21^st century with an ability to interpret authorial intent and apply the lessons learnt from literary and non-literary texts to their own lives.

It’s been enlightening for students but it’s also been educational for their teachers as we’ve seen unique, insightful, and individualised responses to the content present in the texts that our students have engaged with.

David Bracken, Head of Department Language and Literature

From the Department of Language Acquisition

As Term 2 comes to a close, it is my great pleasure to reintroduce myself as the Head of Department for Language Acquisition after returning from my maternity leave.
I am thrilled to be re-joining the vibrant and dynamic learning community at our Academy.

This term, significant milestones were achieved by our language students. Our Year 12 German students should be commended for completing their language course. I also want to extend my gratitude to Ms Rachel Wilson and Ms Kirsten Liebchen, their German teachers, for their dedicated work. Additionally, for all other languages, Year 12 students successfully completed their Individual Oral assessments, which will count as 25% of their final IB grade. These achievements mark substantial progress in their language acquisition journeys, and we celebrate their hard work and perseverance.

I would also like to remind all students to continue their language revision over the winter holidays and take the opportunity to watch movies or listen to songs in their studied language. The entire QASMT community had a taste of this during the recently celebrated French Fête de la musique, which took place on Friday, June 16th. It was a delightful event where the Language Acquisition “DJs” showcased their talents, and shared their love for the French language and culture. I would like to give a special thanks to Mr Daniel Turner for his organisation of this event. Such cultural celebrations foster a deeper appreciation for languages and create a sense of unity within our diverse school community.

I wish everyone a lovely break, and I am truly excited to continue this language acquisition journey with all of you.

Kate Oxenford, Head of Department Language Acquisition

From the Department of Technology & the Arts

What an incredible term!
I invite you to join me in reviewing the second term in the Technology and the Arts Department.

Visual and Media Arts
Media Arts Year 7
During this term, our Year 7 Visual Artists delved into Media Arts. Together, they embarked on a collaborative journey, crafting captivating short silent films. Applying their expertise in camera angles, storyboarding, acting, filming, and editing, the students brought to life morals from fables through their cinematic creations. The term proved to be a deeply enjoyable and creatively fulfilling experience for all involved.

Media Arts Year 8
This term, our Year 8 students showcased their incredible creativity by producing captivating stop motion animations. Drawing inspiration from a STEAM influencer of their choice, the students embarked on a journey of collaboration. Working in pairs, they skillfully sculpted plasticine busts and brought their characters to life through the art of animation. The resulting animations were nothing short of fantastic, reflecting the students' dedication and talent.

Year 9 Artists as Changemakers
Our talented Year 9 artists embarked on a creative exploration, focusing on the age-old genre of still life painting. With a modern twist, they devised and crafted captivating still life artworks, seamlessly blending tradition with the essence of the 21st century. Their paintings showcased their artistic ingenuity and brought a fresh perspective to this timeless genre.

Visual Art 10
The Year 10 students embarked on a captivating journey of exploration in Mixed Media, utilising the conceptual framework of Blue. They had the privilege of participating in an immersive full-day artist workshop led by Catherine Parker. Immersed in creativity, the students experimented with a diverse array of mediums and techniques, expanding their artistic horizons.

Year 9 STEM Electives
Biomedical Engineering (BME)
Our BME students inquired into personalised medication through the innovative use of 3D printing technology. Each student embarked on an individual journey, following the design cycle to navigate through the process of ideation, research, testing, and prototyping. With a focus on finding solutions, they explored the possibilities of 3D printing in creating customised medication. It was an engaging and transformative experience that allowed the students to apply their creativity and problem-solving skills in a cutting-edge field.

Disrupt the Market
In preparation for the upcoming International Student Science Fair at QASMT in December, our Disrupt the Market students formed teams and embarked on a creative project. Their task was to design and produce promotional merchandise to be distributed to event visitors. To accomplish this, students leveraged the capabilities of laser cutter technology and applied their skills to craft a diverse range of corporate gifts, each representing a distinct facet of QASMT. The goal was to create a compelling suite of items that would leave a lasting impression and showcase the unique aspects of our school.

The Future of Automation
The Year 9 Future of Automation students designed environmentally sustainable automated systems by applying mechatronic engineering skills to address real-world challenges. Arduino microcontrollers were utilised in prototyping automation systems including home environment energy management, smart irrigation systems, lighting control, ventilation and air-conditioning, water conservation, waste management, and security and safety. Students enhanced their prototype by adding user-friendly data analytics for monitoring and optimisation purposes.

Music
Year 7 Music
Year 7 Music students studied musicals in the Showstoppers unit. They performed their own choice song from a musical and in groups created a new musical theatre production concept that they pitched to an imaginary panel of producers from a local performing arts centre. They each composed a song for their own musical, using correct chords to match their melody lines.

Year 8 Music
Students developed music theory and practical skills by reimagining pieces of music. They studied specific elements of music such as motif, sequence, form in context of genre. Through orchestration, students published their final work using notation software. Students performed a piece of music in front of the class demonstrating technological innovation, sustainability or inclusion.

Year 10 STEM
In an exciting highlight of Week 8, students in Computational Thinking and Living in a Digital Society were given the invaluable opportunity to visit UQ (The University of Queensland) and explore the practical application of technology in combating cybercrime and hacking. During this visit, students actively participated in a cyber security challenge and showcased exceptional skills and knowledge in the field.

Computational Thinking
During this term, students had the opportunity to enhance their programming skills by developing a functional calculator app using JavaScript. Through this project, they gained hands-on experience in coding and learnt the principles of building interactive applications. Additionally, students delved into the realm of database design and utilization. They explored the concepts and techniques involved in designing efficient and organized databases, understanding how to structure and store data effectively.

Living in a Digital Society
Throughout this term, students have continued their investigation into the profound effects of technology on society, with a specific emphasis on cyber security. By delving into this subject, students have developed a comprehensive understanding of best practices for maintaining a safe and secure online presence. Additionally, they have examined the far-reaching consequences that hacking incidents, such as the Medibank hack, can have on various stakeholders.

Design
Year 7
During this term, the students had an immersive experience in the field of robotics using the Tiny:bit. They embarked on a project centered around designing a delivery service using autonomous vehicles (AVs). To showcase their ideas, they presented a functional prototype of an AV navigating a predefined route entirely on its own. Throughout this process, students honed their problem-solving abilities by identifying and addressing issues, whether they stemmed from the hardware or the logical aspects of the software.

Year 8
In Year 8 Design, students learnt to develop algorithmic thinking skills through problem solving. They acquired the knowledge of creating flow charts and understanding their significance in devising reliable and successful solutions. The students also mastered the skill of developing pseudocode before coding their solutions in Python. As they worked on creating a math quiz for their target audience they gained an understanding of the importance of human-centered design. They learnt to prioritise the needs of the end-users, determining their requirements and tailoring solutions specifically for them.

Diploma Programme
Year 11 Computer Science HL
The development of new IT products is an industry that is constantly growing. It was also the focus of the Year 11 Computer Science students this term. Students explored how to discern key issues in a problem and use those to devise elegant solutions. They also examined how end-users and clients influence development, as well as the importance of usability and accessibility in new solutions. They are currently developing new solutions and will be finalising this next term.

Year 12 Computer Science HL
Every IT system needs to manage a variety of resources, and the management of these can make a system ideal or a nightmare for users. Student have explored the way computers perform these tasks, as well as how the control systems that are involved in everyday life handle these processes with very limited resources. Students also finalised and submitted their projects. Some amazing new IT solutions have been developed and students should be commended for their efforts!

Year 11 Digital Society
During Term 2 in Year 11 Digital Society, our main focus has been on examining digital systems in various contexts. We have delved into how people and communities engage in the exchange of goods and services within a digital society, encompassing topics such as cryptocurrencies, NFTs (non-fungible tokens), and microtransactions. Furthermore, we have explored digital solutions relating to Smart Cities and AgTech, with an emphasis on sustainable development principles.

Year 12 Information Technology in a Global Society
Throughout this term, our focus in DP ITGS has been on the high-level topic of IT systems in organisations. We have delved into various aspects, including project management techniques such as PERT and Gantt charts, as well as exploring different methodologies like agile and waterfall. Additionally, our research has continued on our case study, which revolves around the return of the physical store. Specifically, we have been investigating the future of in-store shopping, considering innovative technologies such as smart shelving, magic mirrors, and customer service robots. Exploring these advancements has presented us with the challenge of understanding how data can enhance customer shopping experiences while also adhering to data protection regulations in Europe.

Tech ambassadors:
Our Tech captain Daniel says:
"Last term was a huge success on our promotional angle. Our STRM experiences drew lots of attention, particularly our newly introduced 360 camera booth which had over 100 attendees including teachers. Our VR ran smoothly with a very stable number of participants flowing in and out of our venue. Mario Kart also drew considerable attention especially with the new House Dean competition which could definitely be made bigger in the coming years.

Behind the scenes the ambassadors have been working on Geoguesser and the guides. All except one of the guides have been transferred to an easy-to-follow PowerPoint format. Once the last guide has been transferred, they will be published. Geoguesser, on the other hand, is struggling to gain traction due to difficulties with writing code that runs as intended though we are currently trying to extend the number of people with access to the file."

Enrichment Opportunities
This term, we organised the Computational and Algorithmic Thinking (CAT) competition, followed by the Oxford University Computing Challenge (OUCC).

The CAT competition is an hour-long problem-solving event aimed at fostering student curiosity and encouraging diverse modes of thinking. On the other hand, the OUCC consists of two rounds. The first round is an open competition that builds upon the principles employed in the Computational and Algorithmic Thinking (CAT) competition. The second round is an exclusive invitation-only phase, specifically offered to students who have demonstrated exceptional performance in the initial round. It serves as a means to identify candidates suitable for participation in AMT's high-performance programs.

We would like to extend our congratulations to Ethan, a Year 7 student from Newton, who successfully advanced to the second round of the competition.

We wish you all a safe and relaxing break and look forward to Term 3.

Madeleine Brookes, Head of Department Technology & The Arts

From the Department of Individuals and Societies

Another busy term has concluded, and we had lots of fun learning in Individuals and Societies (I&S).
I would like to thank all the staff in I&S for their wonderful work and contributions to the Academy this term. It is not just the teaching in the classroom but the generous time that is given at lunchbreaks to run engaging CCAs, providing tutoring and running whole school programs. I wish all students and families a safe and relaxing mid-year break.

Foundation DP
Year 7 students got to know their own local area much better and with the use of observations, interviews and research were able to present recommendations to improve liveability in a sustainable way. Year 8 students split their time between history turning points and how Australia’s government and laws work. Year 11 and Year 12 students further developed their ability to respond to exam style questions.

STEM Futures
Year 9 Forensic Psychology (Psychology-Biology) written by Ms D’Arcy Carrington
At the start of Term 2 students enjoyed a trip to St Helena Island where they took part in a prison experience tour. They learnt about the history of the island and the treatment and punishment of the prisoners. As part of their course content on physical evidence at a crime scene, students participated in a practical where they investigated speed and velocity of blood spatter.

Year 9 Future Global Cooperation (Civics and Citizenship-Economics) written by student Gavindi
On 24 May, the Year 9 Future Global Cooperation class went on an excursion to Queensland Parliament House as a part of our ‘Maintain Your Rage’ unit. We started our tour by going into the lobby and taking a picture sitting on the grand staircase. After, we went into the upper house, which is no longer used in the Queensland parliamentary system, and in there our class had a mock parliament, where we took on the roles of different people in parliament and pretended to debate a bill. It got a bit rowdy when our class learned that parties say, ‘hear, hear’ or ‘shame’, but it was all absolutely hilarious. After that, we went and sat in the members’ reading room, and got to see up close and personal all the books in the room that recorded every parliamentary debate in Queensland and other significant documents that dated even further than the 1930s. Finally, the main event of our tour was when we got to watch a debate from the balcony in the lower house. We went in mid-debate, but we caught a snippet of what was going on, and it was unreal. Overall, the trip was absolutely incredible, but do you want to know what the best part was? Just as we were leaving the room, my friend and I turned back and the Premier of Queensland locked eyes with us and gave us a friendly wave!

Year 10 Tragedy of the Commons (Economics) written by student Wendy
On 28 April we followed an itinerary around the UQ campus that included three interactive 40-minute workshops. One was a Q&A session hosted by Dr Bonner with two faculty members of the economics department and a second-year student. Not only did everyone gain a broader perspective of economics as a career pathway, but a few of us managed to win some free merch (UQ branded caps, cutlery sets, and skipping ropes) for asking questions! Another workshop was an interactive lecture by Dr Uyanik about common access resources and the Prisoner’s Dilemma – these concepts related and connected to those that we were learning in class. Finally, the favourite activity of the cohort was a fishing simulation game that was conducted by A/Prof Heiko Gerlach. Strategies were devised, competition between players bloomed, and frustrations about rival fishermen grew. Interestingly, it was only when we returned to school that we found out each group had a different set of parameters for the experiment: one group could not communicate with their partner but could see the data; one group could communicate with their partner but couldn’t see data; and one group could communicate and could also see the data. Ultimately, it allowed us to experience the “Tragedy of the Commons” firsthand where a common access resource can be exhausted due to self-interest. So together, let’s aim to prevent this and have a sustainable tomorrow!

Year 10 Show Me the Money (Business Management) by Mr Fredericksen
Students engaged with the UQ Ventures teams for a two-and-a-half-hour workshop designed around the concept of how an idea goes from zero to one. The concept creatively learnt in Term 1 was central to this workshop where students develop solutions to problems. From this workshop students collaborated in small groups for three weeks to unpack their ideas and develop a business pitch. Tomas from Ventures supported students with pitching skills and then provided feedback. The quality of our students was equal to university students, and he has seen 1000s of pitches. The students should be congratulated for their innovation and ideas such as Bluetooth devices and sun smart initiatives.

Lastly I am very pleased to announce that Elin Williams has joined us as a new staff member. The following is a short introduction from Elin.

My name is Elin Williams, and I am a new member of the Individual and Societies and Language and Literature (L&L) faculties this term. I have experience teaching both middle and senior years curriculum in the public and private schooling sectors. I have a particular interest in the International Baccalaureate due to its academic rigour, internationally minded focus and encouragement of engagement with a range of subject areas. I am interested in a range of extra-curricular activities, having completed studies in instrumental performance at the Queensland Conservatorium on violin. I am also particularly interested in continually learning and developing, and am in the process of teaching myself Italian, as well as recently undertaking lessons in ballroom dancing. In the three weeks since starting at the Academy, I have enjoyed getting to know the students, and seeing the quality of work and independence that they have already demonstrated. I am looking forward to contributing further to the community here at the Academy and particularly to the I&S and L&L faculties. 

From the ToK Coordinator David King

Year 11
This term, students have completed their second practice exhibition task in preparation for their final exhibition to be started in Term 3. They have also considered a second theme, “knowledge and language”, along with reviewing one of the five Areas of Knowledge, “The Arts”.

Year 12
Students have submitted a draft of their final essay and will have feedback on this before the end of this term. The final submission of this assessment is due Thursday 27 July, in Term 3.

Lyle Fredericksen, Head of Department Individuals and Societies

From the Department of Physical Sciences

Term 2 has been a big term for all students in Physical Sciences!

Year 9 – 10 STEM Future students
Our Year 9 students have just completed the second unit of each of the electives that they had chosen for Semester 1. In Biochemical Solutions students learnt about the major macromolecules of our biochemistry and carried out an extended investigation into the action of lipase on the lipid content of milk. Our Fuelling the Planet students learned about alternative fuel types to the fossil fuels that they had studied in Term 1. In World of Reactions, our Year 9 students applied some of the principles of green chemistry to the various chemical reactions that they carried out. And, finally, in Medical Physics, our students learnt about the application of waves in medical imaging techniques such as ultrasound and x-ray imaging.

In Year 10 Future Materials, our students moved from studying alloys in Term 1 to an in-depth consideration of the organic chemistry behind polymer design in Term 2. Their learning of this content was really enhanced by our guest speaker from UQ who presented on the latest developments in polymer technology and the challenges of working with these materials in the future. Our Journey to Earth X students covered the concepts behind travelling in interstellar space, and landing on Proxima b. They learnt about the importance of light as a means of determining the distance to and the chemical composition of stars in our universe. They learned how to interpret the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram in relation to the life cycle of a star and how it can be used to locate ‘sun-like’ stars in our universe. All of this information was then used to determine a suitable exoplanet for us to possibly relocate to. At least our Year 10s are prepared should we need to leave planet Earth all of a sudden!

Moving into Semester 2, our Year 10 students will now begin their Diploma Preparation Programme, which is specifically designed to prepare them for the IB Diploma. It is important to point out at this time, that our current Year 10 students will be the first cohort of students to begin to study the new Group 4 Science curricula from 2024 onwards. It is therefore important for all families to ensure they are aware of the correct resources students need to meet the demands of the new syllabi – these will be made clear in the 2024 booklist.

Year 11 – 12 Physical Science students
This semester, as always, was a huge one for our Year 12 students. With Physics Internal Assessments (IAs) submitted in Term 1 and Chemistry IAs in Term 2, there were many deadlines to meet, alongside keeping up with the new content that was covered during lessons. The good news is that at this point in the year, all IAs are submitted, leaving just the Extended Essay and the Theory of Knowledge essay to be submitted in Term 3. It has been a very busy time for our Year 12 students, and I commend all of them on their focus and determination during the semester. In both Physics and Chemistry, the focus for the upcoming semester will be to complete the content from the chosen option topic to round off their learning of all new content. This will leave time to revise in the lead up to their mock examinations which occur mid-way through next term. This time will come around very quickly, so it is important for all students to begin their exam preparations soon.

Our Year 11 students have now completed a full semester of their first year of the IBDP content and so should now start to make strong connections between ideas that link together concepts across different topics. This term our Year 11 Physics students carried out their practice IA, while at the beginning of next term our Year 11 Chemistry students will carry out their practice IA.

Extracurricular Science Updates
RACI Titration competition - three Year 10 students take out first place in QLD!
18 students took part in the annual RACI Titration competition with Mr Pearce in Week 8. After many weeks of careful titrating and refinement of technique, we had two teams that placed in the top four teams in Queensland, with three Year 10 students placing in the top spot overall. Both of these teams have been invited to the national competition which will be held in Term 3. Here is a quick spot quiz for our upcoming titrators. From the table of titration data below, identify the tires which are concordant:

STEM Seminar series
This term we had two fantastic guest speakers present in our STEM Seminar Series. Students who attend these seminars are exposed to the latest research in some fascinating fields of science that we would not typically cover during normal lesson time. I would therefore encourage all our students to go if they haven’t yet been to one.

Australian Physics Olympiads News
Kelvin in Year 11 competed with the Australian Physics team in the Asia-Pacific Physics Olympiad competition in Mongolia. Kelvin received a silver medal for his individual performance during the competition which was an outstanding achievement on an international level. Kelvin has now been selected in the Australian team which will compete in the International Physics Olympiad in Japan in July - best of luck Kelvin! Our junior students recently sat the first round of qualification assessments for the Junior Olympiad competition – we wish them all the very best in the competition!

Year 10 VET Certificate course
Our entire Year 10 cohort managed to complete their VET Certificate III course in lab skills during Week 6 and into Week 7. This is a course that all of our Year 10 students take every year, and it provides an opportunity for them to develop their lab skills.

Crystal growing club
Students have spent this term perfecting the art of growing crystals with Dr Slessor and Dr Colley. The students’ final crystals are now ready for submission to the RACI QLD branch and will be judged next semester. Crystals will be judged according to criteria such as: size, shape, and clarity. The top crystals from the Qld regional competition are entered into national finals. We wish these students the best of luck and congratulate them on their efforts!

Astronomy club
Our astronomy club members continued to meet after school on a Thursday to view the night sky with our school telescopes. There have been a number of really clear nights this term compared to last year, which have resulted in some amazingly clear images. Have a look at the detail on this image of our Moon which was taken towards the end of the term.

So, after such a busy term, please make sure you take the time to rest up over the holidays, and I look forward to welcoming all our students back next term for the beginning of Semester 2.

I’d like to finish with a famous quote attributed to Albert Einstein:
“Education is not [simply] the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think.”
This mentality is at the heart of an IB education and we strive to embody this at QASMT.

Have a great holiday!

Robert Hughes, Head of Department Physical Sciences

From the Department of Life Sciences

Term 2 has been jam-packed with lots of enrichment opportunities for students, and some amazing things happening in our curriculum.

Curriculum
Year 7 Science
Year 7 students compared renewable and non-renewable resources this term. They looked at needs versus wants with regards to the resources that they consume, and they explored different renewable energy resources. During the second half of the term Maths and Science combined for the interdisciplinary unit (IDU). Students explored the solar system, looked into the Earth’s rotation and applied this understanding to interpret seasonal temperature data.

Year 8 Science
Year 8 students learnt all about physical and chemical changes this term. They used this knowledge to investigate either the different size of magnesium ribbon and its reaction with hydrochloric acid, or different concentrations of hydrochloric acid on magnesium ribbon. Students developed their practical skills designing and carrying out an experiment. They completed a scientific report to communicate their results.

Year 9 Sustainable Futures
Year 9 Sustainable Futures became future city developers this term. They had to identify a current issue that their chosen city aspect has. For example, students that chose water management explored concepts around water production through desalination and greywater recycling. They also looked at affordability for the consumer. Each group then developed a ‘mini build’ that focused on solutions to their current issue. Students evaluated their solutions to see whether it would work on a larger scale. They all put their builds together to make one big city of the future.

Year 10 Blue Planet
Year 10 Blue Planet students headed out into Moreton Bay to try their hand at becoming marine biologists. They measured biotic and abiotic factors to identify and investigate different environmental issues. The students got to send out the BRUV which stands for Baited Remote Underwater Vehicle to count fish species. They presented their research in engaging awareness campaign videos.

Year 10 Medical Biotechnology
Year 10 Medical Biotechnology students worked through the immune system this term. They learned about different types of pathogens, how they infected their hosts, and how our immune systems fight these unwanted visitors. They investigated the development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria over time and used this knowledge to analyse the WHO antimicrobial resistance report.

Year 11 Biology
The Year 11 students completed their practice IA this term. This was a great opportunity to continue to hone their skills in experimental investigations and gather valuable feedback on their report writing. Next term they will start their final IA process and develop their methodology and risk assess.

Science Enrichment
UQ Women in Engineering
On Thursday 5 May, a group of Year 9 students attended the UQ Women in Engineering annual explore day. This was an opportunity to experience different engineering disciplines in a fun hands-on way with workshops like ‘Giving Movement Back’ where students look at building a prosthetic limb, and ‘Sun Smart Code’ where students will develop a code for a UV detection device.

Science Ambassadors
This term for STRM Week, the Science Leadership Team organised an innovative and exhilarating series of hands-on activities to engage students of all year levels. To start off with a bang, we hosted QASMT’s immensely popular Watermelon Implosion Competition by harnessing the potential energy of rubber bands to send watermelons rocketing sky high! After this explosive opening, students were offered the opportunity to experience the gastronomical magic of popping boba pearls, explore the mystery behind soap-powered boats and challenge themselves by calculating pi using chemistry concepts. Over the course of this term, we also continued QASMT’s STEM Seminar Series with two speakers from The University of Queensland and QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, which inspired and informed students on authentic research projects and future opportunities. Together, these activities fuelled QASMT’s passion for science and piqued student interest in applying and extending beyond concepts learnt in the classroom.
Science Captain and Science Ambassador – Justin and Nerissa

Lord Mayor’s Young Environmental Leadership Network (LMYELN)
LMYELN is a Brisbane City Council and Green Hearts Schools initiative that gives Year 10 students an opportunity to develop leadership skills through environmental projects. Aaron, Claire and Sara have been working hard all year on their project of reducing waste around our campus through data analysis and education. This term they completed a waste audit to gather data on how QASMT students are using our bins. Overall, we are doing a great job! However, there are a few things that we can do better, like utilising our compost bins to their full potential. Keep an eye out for more information and education from the team this year.

Sustainability Week
Sustainability week was a huge success! It was full of great activities that educated students in sustainability. Every club was showcased at the sustainability assembly giving the rest of QASMT an insight into all the different projects that we are doing. We also had Ariana from Zero Positive in to discuss our next steps in becoming a net-zero school. QASMT is already carbon neutral, which is an amazing feat in itself! So, let’s keep striving for the next step!

“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”
– Maya Angelou

Vanessa Bermingham, Head of Department Life Sciences

From the Department of Mathematics

Have you ever wondered how to calculate the height of a tree or building using trigonometry and a handmade clinometer?
If so, you need to speak to a Year 9 student who could talk to you at length about this, after completing their Criterion C (Communicating) and D (Applying mathematics in real life contexts) project.

What else has been going on in Mathematics classrooms in Term 2……

Year 8 students have applied their knowledge of rates, ratios, percentages, profit and loss, time, linear equations and linear relationships to a real life scenario (selling homemade brownies) to consider how to run an online business in the “Money, Money, Money” unit so they make a $400 profit in a month. This ‘in class’ test has allowed the students to see the use of mathematics in real-life contexts and improve their communicating skills.

“How can we bring things together?” has been the question considered by Year 7 classes. This unit has allowed them to use their knowledge of fractions, decimals and integers and apply this to Algebra. The students demonstrated the knowledge and skills they have gained for this unit as well as some statistics content that is part of the IDU unit in a Criterion A (Knowledge) test in Week 6. Following this they started the Interdisciplinary Unit (IDU) with science where they have considered aspects of Earth, space sciences and data representation and interpretations during their science and maths lessons.

Algebraic fractions, measurement, statistics, quadratics and advanced trigonometry have been the topics that have engaged the Year 10 students. They will complete two exams in the exam block in preparation for the move to their new subjects (Maths AA or AI) next term.

Our Year 11 students have been busy learning new coursework while the Year 12s finalised what they need to know for November exams. This term has also been a busy one for Year 12 students who have worked very hard to complete their final IA – a maths exploration on a topic of their own choice. This is a substantial assessment that the students should be very proud of.

Maths Enrichment
During Term 2, students participated in a number of enrichment opportunities.

On April 28, 193 students sat the UQ/QAMT Problem Solving Challenge. This two-hour competition required students to solve five very challenging questions. Interest in this competition continues to grow every year. Results are expected in Term 3.

Over 80 students have been working on six problems from the Maths Challenge booklet provided by the Australian Maths Trust. Students should find out their results in Term 3. A further 38 students have embarked on the 16 week Maths Enrichment challenge which will continue into Term 3.

Thirty students from Years 7-10 were invited to Stage 1 of an AIMO (Australian Intermediate Maths Olympiad) program offered by AMOC Queensland. These students completed four difficult problem sheets and a revision paper. Twelve of these students have now been offered places in Stage 2. Congratulations on your commitment and perseverance to this challenging program.

We also have results for some of the competitions that we offered in Term 1 and are very happy to announce the following exciting news:

AMO (Australian Mathematics Olympiad) - Three of our students were invited to participate in this prestigious competition in Term 1 and performed exceptionally well. Congratulations to Ian (bronze), Siddharth (honourable mention) and Katherine (participation).

KSF (Kangourou Sans Frontieres) – 192 students competed in this online competition, held during first term. Congratulations to 13 of these students who received High Distinctions. A further 40 students were awarded Distinctions, which is also a great achievement.

Mathematics Ambassador Leadership Team
Some reflections from the team: “The Mathematics Leadership team were amazed by the participation of students and staff in Term 2. In the past few weeks, we have been busy organising and running both STRM Week and our newest addition, the Escape Rooms. This year for STRM Week, we held amazing demonstrations around the intersection between the disciplines of mathematics and the sciences. We played around with the Leaning Tower of Lyre problem and demonstrated how, with an infinite number of blocks, they could be stacked upon each other to reach out any distance horizontally while remaining balanced.

We also showed a demonstration where we used chemistry to produce a rough approximation of pi and found it to be about 3.07; not terrible!

All in all, this year was an amazing year for demos in mathematics and we hope everyone learnt something new! Finally, we are happy to say that, in this year’s watermelon explosion competition, in the set of maths teams, our team came first!

We have had a wonderful start to the year with this first semester and will continue to bring maths to QASMT students and staff in exciting and innovative ways, even as our Year 12s approach their finals.”

I hope all students and their families enjoy a restful holiday, so you are ready for more maths excitement and enrichment in Term 3.

Jane Gorman, Head of Department Mathematics

From Education Outside of the Classroom (EOTC)

What a huge term for EOTC.
Not only did we see some some great teaching and learning experiences in our classrooms, but also an off-campus athletics carnival, sanctioned volleyball events, the inaugural Miskin Cup, Met finals, teacher v students matches and, of course, engagement in our flourishing sports program.

Athletics Carnival
Week 6 saw a very successful athletics carnival held at the UQ athletics centre. The day ran very well and saw some excellent athletic achievements from students in a range of events. There were also a number of fun activities to maximise student participation and engagement, with beach volleyball being a popular inclusion.

The day started with the house war cry competition which continues to get better every year. Well done Da Vinci House for their back to back victory in the war cry competition. Thanks to all staff who helped make the day such a big success.

Miskin Cup
The friendly rivalry between QASMT and BBC started in earnest in Week 2 of Term 2 with a football match at BBC. This was the start of the “Miskin Cup” initiative which will see a series of competitions such a sport, robotics and debating contested between the two schools.

It turned out to be great afternoon with over 300 staff and students from QASMT attending to cheer on our Open Boys Football team to defeat BBC 2 – 1 in a tight and well fought match. The boys played some great football and were very well led by Toson. Special mention also goes to Austin, Boston, Shayan, Miguel and John. MVP and the first recipient of the prestigious Conway medal was Petar for his outstanding, rock solid defence.

A huge thank you to Ms Kayrooz for organising the Miskin Cup with the BBC Principal and getting the idea off the ground.

School Sport
Term 2 sport at QASMT has seen an increase in participation, fun and physical activity. Both senior and junior students have been working tirelessly honing their attacking and defending skills in netball, volleyball, football and basketball over the course of the past eight weeks.

Supported by their highly skilled and knowledgeable coaches it has been magnificent to see each student's progression. Selection for the Winter Gala Day was the toughest this year.

Our Junior Gala Day was on Wednesday 21 June and our Senior Winter Gala Day will be on Friday 21 July. We look forward to QASMT maintaining their high standard of performance bringing home premiership flags. We wish our students all the best with their competitions.

Term 3 sport will kick off in Week 2 two where we have offered badminton, ultimate disc and AFL. Students will be notified shortly about their allocation to their chosen sport. Allocation is based on first and second preferences using the now closed online survey platform, and availability of places in each sport.

Harry Crosbie – School Sport Coordinator

Representative Sport
Term 2 was another busy term for our representative athletes and QASMT students have been trialling in a range of sports. A reminder that only students who compete at a high level should nominate to trial for representative sport. Well done to all students who trialled, often against some very tough competition.

Congratulations to the students listed below for their successful selection in the teams shown:

Metwest Regional Representatives:
Toson – football
Austin – football

Northern Eagles District Representatives:
Oliver – cross country
Nethuli – cross country

Mr Sean Conway – Sports Coordinator

ISC Volleyball
In Week 6 we sent four teams to the ISC Volleyball competition on the Gold Coast. This is a huge event and showcases the best volleyball schools in Queensland. All the teams were entered in higher divisions this year and this obviously tested their skill, mental toughness and teamwork. A special mention to the Year 9 boys team. These boys came second in the honours division and beat some very big volleyball excellence schools in their games. They showed tremendous skill, teamwork and application and were only narrowly beaten in the grand final by what is effectively the Qld state team. Great effort!

A HUGE thankyou to the EOTC staff and specialist coaches who support this evolving program.

Sean Conway – Sports Coordinator

Curriculum –Year 8 and 10 spotlight
This term, our Year 8 students entered the realm of personal training, learning about the fundamentals of fitness. They conducted a series of fitness tests to determine their weaknesses and designed a training session to improve these weaknesses. They then tried out their training sessions and reflected on how effective it was. Planning and embedding a personalised training program and partaking in fitness challenges was a great way to emphasise the importance of fitness in many facets of their life, now and in the future.

In Peak Performance, students have been getting a small taste of what it’s like to conduct research in the context of sport, health and exercise. They conducted field research and gained valuable clinical experience working with human subjects. Their research was then compiled in a culminating project write up, providing excellent preparation for the coming years, whilst engaging students in collaboration and communication skills that can be used beyond the classroom.

Overall, a great term for our MYP and STEM students!

Yanah Floridis, Head of Education Outside the Classroom

From the House Dean of Agnesi

Never say that Agnesi House is not sporty!
One of the highlights of Term 2 was seeing Agnesi House come second in the athletics carnival as an amazing follow up to winning the cross country in Term 1. Everyone in Agnesi ran their hearts out and I am so grateful for their efforts. Congratulations in particular to all the age level winners and to the Year 12 boys relay team who took out all the competitions.

The Agnesi Laneway
Who would have thought the Agnesi locker area could be seen as a cool venue for a music event not just once, but twice? During the Festival of Creativity, the seating area of Agnesi House morphed into The Laneway with a chill out vibe and cool performances. It was also the venue for the Language Acquisition DJ set with Mr Turner spinning some laid-back tunes on Friday of Week 9. Watch this space for future performances.

Year 11 camp
It was so good to see all of our Year 11 Agnesi students enjoying a well-deserved break from the Academy routine on their camp at Mapleton. Remember, this is the cohort that started at QASMT in Year 7. What a long way they have come. The way they all embraced the mud challenge was really impressive. I wish them and all Agnesi students all the best for exam block.

Purple Hearts
Finally, I would like to congratulate Saskia as the Term 2 Agnesi Purple Heart winner. Saskia was nominated for her commitment to the Robotics Club and her never ending kindness to all students in Agnesi and beyond.

I look forward to seeing everyone refreshed and revitalised in Term 3.

Kind regards
Aileen Davis, House Dean Agnesi

From the House Dean of Curie

Congratulations on a wonderful Term 2!
Term 2 has been a wonderful term for all Curie students. Thank you to all our students for their incredible efforts both in academic and extra-curricular pursuits. Our students have eagerly participated in the sustainability fashion parade, Interhouse mini-Olympics (including the famous cup flipping competition), the Festival of Creativity, Mario Kart competition, an athletics event, Miskin Cup, and war cry competitions. Curie came first in the cup-flipping competition, what a thrilling win! And how could I forget the wonderful Curie bake sale which raised $1198 with our fundraiser for the ‘Be Uplifted’ breast cancer charity.

We could not have enjoyed all these experiences without support from our Curie families – thank you to all of you at home for your continued support of our house; it is absolutely integral to the experience our students have while they are at school.

A gentle reminder that our winter school uniform expectations will continue into next term. If your child has lost any uniform items this term remember to send them to lost property to look for it. And finally, as you and your children take the time to relax this holiday, please also make sure you encourage your child to reflect on their past term – what worked well, what they want to improve on. Reflection is a powerful tool to drive self-awareness and help develop intrinsic motivation.

See you all next term, have a restful and peaceful school holiday break.

Kind regards,
Marc Wheeler, House Dean Curie

From the House Dean of Da Vinci

It has been a fabulous term for the Da Vinci community!
Yash and Ranuga have led our community to some tremendous victories. We have had some wonderful wins in competitions, as well as great successes in implementing feedback and goal setting sessions, and we continue to have our sights set on building a community that is safe, supportive and inclusive in Term 3.

We began Term 2 with the commencement assembly. It is always a point of Da Vinci pride to hear from Da Vinci students that are captains of portfolios. These are:

Technology Captain – Daniel
Debating Captain – Mugil
Journalism Captain – Amelie

Well done for your continued dedication to supporting QASMT and making it fabulous for everyone.

Mario Kart winner – congratulations to Jake who takes out the annual Mario Kart competition! Da Vinci has won this competition three years in a row.

Olympics Interhouse competition - The Term 2 Olympic event was ‘flipping cup’ and congratulations to IND03 for coming in fourth place.

Da Vinci Wellbeing meetings - Each year a Year 11 Da Vinci student organises multiple wellbeing events. This term Arushi planned an event that received fabulously positive reviews. I really appreciate the time she has taken to provide such experiences for Da Vinci community members.

Athletics – first place - How impressive was Da Vinci to not just win athletics but as back-to-back champions! I watched Da Vinci leaders over a number of weeks; encourage participation; discuss tactics and pump-up excitement for the event. Da Vinci won the athletics event by over 100 points. Everyone who attended, ran, jumped or threw something is to be proud of themselves and their team.

War cry – first place - Back-to-back athletics champions was one thing but to have three war cry wins in a row was incredible! Yash and Ranuga ran year level war cries and changed the war cry to include a special Year 12 finale. A shout out to Hawking and Newton who tied in points; your war cries were spectacular. A big shout out to Yijing who has led Da Vinci for every event in the cheering of every other house – what a wonderful way to show amazing school spirit.

Sustainable fashion - Congratulations to all our Da Vinci InSteps that within a short time turned around amazing recyclable fashion outfits. A big well done goes to INDO8 who came in second place overall!

Again, I cannot be prouder to be a part of the wonderful Da Vinci wonderful community.

Yours in green
Stacy Wallace-Cunningham, House Dean Da Vinci

From the House Dean of Franklin

Welcome to the successful conclusion of Term 2.
It is tradition for me to give thanks to the families who support our students on the home front. Without your support our students would fail to thrive, flourish and perform at their best. Thank you.

Lions of the term
I am proud to announce that the following students have been voted as Lion of the term for Term 2. Our Junior is Saksham and our Senior is Sharon. They demonstrated enthusiasm, kindness, helpfulness and being nice to InStep members.

Athletics Carnival
QASMT was lucky to have again use The University of Queensland facilities at St Lucia. Franklin was again undefeated in most of the team games such as tug-o-war and volleyball. Congratulations to Lottie and Eamon who were age champions! Well done to our house leaders who ensured the Franklin spirit was alive and strong throughout the day.

Festival of Creativity
Franklin students awed the crowds at this year’s instalment of the Festival of Creativity. There were over 60 acts across multiple stages throughout the night and included fantastic foods and artwork displays of differing styles. Well done to all involved.

Sustainability Week
Sustainability Week 2023 has proven to be another success. The week culminated in the annual sustainable fashion parade where the efforts of Franklin students were on show for all to see. Well done to all involved and a special thank you to the QASMT sustainability captain who is also a Franklion!

*Franklin House InStep representatives modelling their InStep outfit, Term 2 2023*

Year 11 Camp
Our Year 11 cohort completed their final camp with the QASMT at Maleny this term. The leadership camp is styled for the impending leadership applications for Year 12 next year. Great teamwork was on display throughout the camp through activities such as the climbing wall, leap of faith and the mud run. I highly encourage all Franklions to apply for a leadership position in any capacity they see themselves fit to hold.

2024 Leadership applications
I highly encourage students to apply for house leader applications. It is always thrilling to see the number of student applications for positions across the Academy each year. The quality of applications also seems to increase. There are wonderful and motivated individuals who are keen to make a difference to their community and I am always thrilled to work with them. I believe leadership in any capacity is a worthwhile endeavour and encourage your child to apply should they have even the slightest interest in a leadership position. They can find the leadership application guide in the email sent to them by Ms Jane Manwaring earlier this term.

“On a given day, a given circumstance, you think you have a limit…”
Ayrton Senna – three time Formula 1 Champion

Yours in yellow
Ross Bray, House Dean Franklin

From the House Dean of Hawking

Well, what a term for Hawking House.
I feel like this is one of our best terms yet and hopefully after reading this you will agree!

Namesakes Portrait
You may remember at the start of the year InSteps were asked to create a namesake portrait of Stephen Hawking. These were on display in the Festival of Creativity and were judged by staff. I am pleased to announce that Hawking placed second overall. Well done Hawking House. In terms of rankings in the house, congratulations to INH06 for placing first, INH03 who were second and INH04 came in third place. We have such beautiful artwork which I look forward to displaying.

Year 11 Camp
Year 11 students went off to Mapleton for three days of action-packed activities in Week 7 of this term. The camp focused on leadership - not just about the position of leadership but that it is something everyone will experience in life regardless of whether they are seeking out the opportunity or not. It was outstanding to see so many Hawking students stepping up and taking on leadership roles at camp, from activities to games and, as always, to show me a new side to their personality.

Athletics Carnival Recap
The athletics carnival was an absolute highlight of the term. On Tuesday of Week 6, students participated in a number of track and field events at UQ Athletics Stadium, including the 100m, 200m and 400m sprints, as well as shot put, long jump and high jump. The house brought the Hawking spirit, and we technically came first in a three way tie with the war cry (unfortunately just losing out to DaVinci). We also came overall third place in athletics carnival which is the best I have seen the house compete. I am proud and thankful to those students who gave it their all; everyone looked to be having much fun.

A special mention must go to Louise who won Age Champion for Year 10 Girls, essentially meaning she was the best athlete in this category. Congratulations Louise!

Sustainable Fashion Show
Every year I am always impressed at how creative our students are. Over the years Hawking has had some exceptional designs and has always placed on the podium but this year it was our turn to take first place and gold position with not only one but two winning designs. INH01 were crowned the overall winner but both INH01 and INH08 scored full points with their designs. I was thrilled for the InSteps who have worked so hard to produce such wonderful fashion items and in only two weeks. Well done! It was fantastic to see all students come together and some real leadership amongst the InSteps.

Eat Up Charity Bake Sale Fundraiser
As you will know, our Eat Up charity allows us to make sandwiches for students who cannot afford their lunch. In order to host this event, we donate $500 each time. We were incredibly fortunate to raise just over $1500 with our incredible bake sale in Week 4, allowing us to host three more events over the next couple of years! A HUGE thank you to Hawking students for providing delicious baked goods and also to the school for buying them; we will now be able to make over 3000 sandwiches for students in need.

Should you need anything please do not hesitate to contact me on rbrow477@eq.edu.au

Rebecca Parker, House Dean Hawking

From the House Dean of Hollows

What a busy and eventful semester we have had.
We are at the halfway point for the year and even less for Year 12 students. The end of a semester presents another great opportunity for reflection and allows for the implementation of a decisive action plan for improvement moving forward. Some highlights of Term 2 are below.

Interhouse Athletics Carnival
The mighty Hawks battled enthusiastically all day against the other houses but unfortunately having many away with sickness on the day, we were undermanned, which took its toll in all participation events and the social games. However, we had many students earn first, second and third ribbons with massive congratulations to Nethuli (Year 7 Girls Champion) and Cody (Year 12 Girls Champion). Well done to Stella and Prabha who coordinated all eight of our InSteps at the beginning of the term to manufacture Hawk face masks to create a Hawk Warrior Army for the house war cry where we finished fourth.

Year 11 Camp
The Year 11 camp was an enjoyable experience with rock climbing, archery, abseiling, canoeing and the mud challenge being some of the highlights for the students. Memories were created, new friendships formed with a flow of optimism around leading the school in Year 12. I look forward to seeing what legacy contribution these senior students make for their final year.

Interhouse Sustainable Fashion Parade
Congratulations to all Hollows InSteps for their designs and creations for the annual fashion parade. Well done to InStep 4 for representing Hollows House in the final and then for coming second overall in the competition against the other houses. Congratulations Mrs Jones and all InStep 4 students for your creative fashion costume and to Nethuli for being the gracious model.

Interhouse Cup Flipping Championships
Early in the term Hollows House competed against the clock and each other to ascertain a winning InStep to represent Hollows House in the grand final for the Interhouse cup flipping championships. Well done to Mrs Webster and InStep 8 for making the grand final and finishing outright fourth out of eight in this competition.

Festival of Creativity
What a buzz of enthusiastic participation and creativity was on display in this term’s Festival of Creativity. It was impressive to see so many Hollows students dancing, singing, playing instruments, displaying artwork, and helping on the night to ensure it was a success. Well done to all Hollows students for making a positive contribution and displaying such creativity. Special congratulations to artist Jeswin and InStep 6 for their creative portrait of Fred Hollows finishing third out of all house entries exhibited on the night.

Fred Hollows Foundation Charity Donation Day
It is time again to promote and operate our annual fundraising campaign in honour of our namesake and to support The Fred Hollows Foundation. Every $25 raised helps to correct curable eyesight in people. Last year the house raised over $800 helping restore eyesight and improve the quality of life for over 30 people. Next term in Week 2 on Thursday July 20 during InStep, we will once again have our collection where we hope to raise a similar amount and, of course, your support in this charity event is needed. Please put Thursday July 20 in your calendar and bring in your donations on that day so that we can help restore much needed sight in others, for “Caring about other people is what being a human is all about” (Fred Hollows).

Have a great holiday Hollows families and I look forward to a productive and successful Semester 2. Please direct any enquiries you may have regarding Hollows House to Mr Michael Colquhoun House Dean of Hollows at mjcol3@eq.edu.au

Michael Colquhoun, House Dean of Hollows

From the House Dean of Jackson

Community, participation and teamwork
The challenge at the start of the term was to feel proud of our contribution to the house community. We challenged ourselves to be able to confidently say that we tried our best in service of the team.

We should be proud of our achievements!
We have made incremental improvements in our standing in the QASMT house points tally, but giant leaps forward in our sense of commitment to each other. I was moved by our house engagement in the many events that took place during the term, including:

Mini-Olympics

Ms Nichols and INJ06 once again dominated the mini Olympics field, this time demonstrating mastery of proprioception and coordination while flipping cups in a race against the clock.

Athletics Day

Throughout the day our Jackson stands were empty as students from Jackson House participated in every event and/or cheered their house mates from the sidelines. Congratulations to Lucas and Sam who worked hard to earn their positions of age champions.

Year 11 Camp
Challenging themselves in preparation for their 2024 role as school leaders, our Year 11 students practiced building lasting relationships, overcoming obstacles, and motivating and supporting one another. I was humbled to experience their community spirit and find myself excited to see what their school leadership will bring next year.

Sustainable Fashion Parade

With an opportunity to demonstrate our artistic flair in designing and creating pieces of high-end sustainable fashion, Jackson House was not going to disappoint. By marshalling our strong sense of caring we were able to create everything from banana leaf-skirts to NAPLAN inspired cocktail dresses.

Festival of Creativity

Whole school events like the Festival of Creativity give us an opportunity to cross house lines and come together as the wider QASMT community. It was nothing short of inspirational to see all the hard work to support, organise, prepare and perform for the festival.

Jackson Journal

Many of you may not be aware, but there have been a number of Jackson students working tirelessly throughout the term to communicate important messages to the wider house community through the ‘Jackson Journal’. At the start of the term, an opportunity was created for students to step up and volunteer their time as part of the first ‘Jackson Journal’ committee. A very big thankyou to the following students who have demonstrated a strong sense of caring, commitment and leadership:

Year 8: Rachel, Ting, Tejas, and Jesse
Year 11: Vaikhari
Year 12: Justin, and Uhansa

Commitment to Caring

In addition to the seven outstanding students mentioned above, there were another eight that were nominated by their InStep mentors as exemplifying the IB attribute of ‘caring’. These students, in my observation, have demonstrated a strong understanding of the value of caring, not only in delivering quality outcomes but more importantly in supporting and motivating others. I would like to thank the following students for working to make Jackson House better this term:

Year 7: Luda, and Tasneem
Year 8: Mila
Year 11: Sam and Aika
Year 12: Grace, Deeya and Tasnimah

Lastly, I would like to say thank you to you all for a fantastic term. Have a great holiday!

Samuel Weston, House Dean Jackson

From the House Dean of Newton

As we reach the end of another school term, let us take a moment to reflect on the exciting and engaging activities that have taken place.
I want to express my sincere gratitude to all the parents and caregivers who ensure our students arrive at the Academy on time and in the correct uniform. Your efforts play a crucial role in their education and overall success.

Research shows that in Queensland, higher student attendance is associated, on average, with higher student achievement. Additionally, attending school daily helps children build social and emotional skills such as communication, teamwork and resilience - Source find here.

Over the holidays, it's also an excellent opportunity to sort out any uniform issues and make sure we keep up our high standards. Just a friendly reminder that in Term 3 students need to wear their formal uniform, including the blazer and hat, to and from school.

I have prioritised having one-on-one check-ins with each year level this semester, and I will continue meeting with our students through next semester. It's been satisfying to see how well our Year 7s and the 'new' Year 10s have settled in and embraced the opportunities at QASMT. I am also delighted to witness the improvement, particularly among students who have faced academic challenges in select subjects. They have taken the feedback from their teachers to heart and have worked hard to improve.

As I write this newsletter, our Years 9-12 students are currently taking their exams. I want to extend my best wishes to all of them, especially our Year 9 students sitting in their first exam block.

I would also like to thank all the students who have contributed to this newsletter and shared their experiences. Your input is valuable and greatly appreciated.

Let's celebrate the achievements of this term and look forward to an even more exciting and prosperous future.

Book Week: Fostering a Passion for Literature
During Book Week, we aimed to ignite a passion for language and literature within our school community. Under the theme of 'Read, Grow, Inspire' we hosted a series of engaging events, including the lively costume parade, where beloved literary characters came to life. Book Week stimulated creativity and encouraged active engagement with cherished literature – Shivani (Year 11)

Year 11 Camp: Building Bonds and Embracing Challenges
Our Year 11 students embarked on an unforgettable camp experience, where they developed leadership skills, forged strong bonds, and embraced challenges in the great outdoors. Engaging in activities such as archery, abseiling, giant swings, leadership games, and mud challenges, they created lasting memories and experienced personal growth – Iris (Year 11)

Sustainability Week: Making a Positive Impact
Congratulations to Newton House for securing an impressive SECOND PLACE at the annual sustainable fashion parade. Sustainability Week was filled with exciting, themed activities, showcasing the enthusiastic participation of everyone. From plastic-free lunch raffles to seed bomb creation, engaging STEM seminars, and fun scavenger hunts, we continue to make a positive impact on our environment – Tim and Lillian (Year 11), Ziqi (Year 12)

House Captains report – Daniela (Year 9) and Natasha (Year 12)
This term was buzzing with exciting, competitive and relaxed activities, including the house portrait competition, athletics carnival, fashion parade, mini Olympics, and the Festival of Creativity. Newton House made an impressive comeback during the war cry at the carnival, securing a confident victory. In the recent mini Olympics game, 'cup flipping', Newton House once again reached the podium. Congratulations to Ms Matthews and INN06 for securing the top position on the Newton InStep leader board at the conclusion of Semester 1. Truly Jawsome effort!

Through our Newton leadership program ‘Standing on the Shoulders of Giants’, we’ve been encouraging students in various ways. Through presentations at house assemblies and InStep to motivate students to follow the QASMT protocols at all times, including wearing the correct uniform with pride, providing peer study support, fostering house spirit at Interhouse events, and inspiring students to aim for leadership roles, amongst other things.

Personal Term highlights:
Daniela - My favourite moments this term were spending time with friends at the Festival of Creativity and being one of the Newton Shark mascots. Being a Shark allowed me to express my Newton pride enthusiastically, especially at the athletics carnival.

Natasha - One of my favourite moments was witnessing the creativity and talent of each InStep member as they designed costumes for the annual sustainable fashion parade. It was a friendly competition among the houses and seeing Newton secure second place was the cherry on top.

"Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is relax."
- Mark Black

Remember to take a break and relax during the holidays. It's essential to rest and recharge so you can return to school with a fresh and energised mindset. Enjoy your well-deserved break and have a great time!

GO NEWTON!

Deva Prasad, House Dean Newton

From the Guidance Officers

Term 2 has once again provided many opportunities for students to progress their future planning and personal development.
I encourage families to discuss these experiences with their students.

Our Year 12 students have all had the opportunity to arrange individual pathways interviews now. Any student still wishing to meet with Mrs Judge for support with their planning is able to arrange an appointment in Term 3 by visiting Student Services (A block). Regardless of attendance at an interview, each student is required to complete their Pathways interview form and email it to Mrs Judge by 2 August (when QTAC applications open). The form is accessible in the Career Education Resources on the QASMT digital library, thank you to most students who have already completed this process.
On 12 July, the first Wednesday of Term 3, all Year 11 students will be attending a Career Engagement Day at UQ. This is a bespoke event providing access to faculty and career leaders through electives and a keynote presentation. Refer to the separate communication for further details.
Year 10 students have participated in a research project being conducted by UQ to improve career education and planning. Congratulations and thank you to the students who volunteered to participate with UQ in the development of a new SET planning tool to support career planning.
During their Positive Education Program, our middle years students are continuing to grow their understanding of themselves as individuals and society around them, developing their sense of who they are and how that might impact their life decisions including career choices. Year 9 students have begun to make their career exploration more explicit this term in preparation for their Senior Education and Training (SET) plans that will be developed in Term 3.

Career Planning Resources and Events
QASMT Tertiary Expo
Monday 17 July, 4:00pm-6:00pm in the Auditorium, Lecture Theatre and M Block.
Local, interstate and overseas tertiary providers will be in attendance to answer questions and provide information to support career planning. Speak with tertiary representatives with personal queries at the booths in the Auditorium. Listen to the presentations in our Lecture Theatre and M Block. It is a great privilege that these providers are coming to us, and we encourage our students and families to make the most of this event.

Scholarships
There are thousands of scholarships available in Australia, and not just for high academic achievement. Have a look at these scholarship categories and examples to see if any might recognise your situation!

You can search for hundreds more scholarships, open to all kinds of applicants, on the Study Work Grow database.

Access the latest Scholarships Guide from Study Work Grow in the Career Education Resources on the QASMT digital library, or by using our QASMT subscription to the Study Work Grow website.

University Rankings and Indicators
“As the name suggests, university rankings rank universities. However, each ranking organisation measures institutions in different ways, using different criteria, and different weightings of similar criteria. Rankings can take into account research quality and revenue, surveys of academics and employers, staff-student ratios, and statistics on demographics such as the number of international students.” Visit here for more information.

QILT
The Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT) are a suite of government endorsed surveys for higher education, across the student life cycle from commencement to employment. All 41 Australian universities and around 90 non-university higher education providers take part in the QILT surveys. Visit here for more information.

Good Universities Guide
The Good Universities Guide will help you find courses at Australia's top universities, TAFEs and training colleges. The ratings provide independent five-star performance ratings for every university in Australia, based on student-relevant criteria such as graduate salaries, teaching quality, learning resources, graduate employment rates and much more.

QS World University Rankings
Featuring 1300 universities from around the world. https://www.topuniversities.com/qs-world-university-rankings

Shanghai Ranking
Since 2009 the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) has been published and copyrighted by Shanghai Ranking Consultancy. Shanghai Ranking Consultancy is a fully independent organization on higher education intelligence and not legally subordinated to any universities or government agencies. ARWU uses six objective indicators to rank world universities.

Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings
University rankings to assess university performance on the global stage and to provide a resource for readers to understand the different missions and successes of higher education institutions. Rankings cover the three main areas of university activity: research, impact and teaching. Find more information here.

Options Career Bulletin
For other career planning opportunities and information - use the Options Career Information app available through the Apple store and Google Play: access code “QASMT”. Alternatively, view the newsletters here.

Study Work Grow
Students can access the Study Work Grow website or register to receive the newsletters directly. Study Work Grow offer features including guides (e.g., Entry to Medicine Guide), weekly newsletters, a work experience database, a scholarships database, job spotlights and online tools. All students can access resources and membership as part of our school subscription, using the following steps:

Step 1: Go to https://studyworkgrow.com.au/school/qasmt/

Step 2: Click on ‘Create your membership’ in the top right corner

Step 3: Follow the steps and use our School Code (QASMT) when prompted.

Wishing you all a restful semester break.

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

Guidance Officer (Student Wellbeing)

Term 2 has been a very productive term for our Academy community, and we have had many opportunities to celebrate success with our students.
It is important as the year progresses with more events and the general business of the Academy, to support our students with the scheduling of their time and help them to balance study, family, friends, fun and down time.

There have been some common themes in the areas for which students have been accessing support from the Guidance Officer this term, these include:

Work load pressures
Time management stressors
Scheduling for success to balance all areas of life
Brain health as it relates to stress

I continue to support students at school around complex wellbeing and mental health concerns. Parents and community play a key role in supporting our young people during times of need. SchoolTV for our community is an excellent resource and has information and support around many relevant issues that impact youth and families in this current climate. Parents are engaging with the resources and reporting to me the usefulness and relevance of the materials.

Please explore SchoolTV as a great start to engage with resources around some of the challenges our young people face. This resource can be accessed through the Academy’s website.

Wellbeing Seminar Series
To further support the wellbeing and brain health of our students and community, during Term 2, we continued with our Wellbeing Seminar Series. This term, the series consisted of learning opportunities for both parents and community and for our students.

Parent and Community
Chris Hansen, from Open Doors provided a parent and community session around supporting our students through a LGBTQIA+ lens. Chris was a former student at QASMT and therefore, had some great insights to share regarding his own experiences and contextual supports for our current students. Chris will be presenting to staff later in Term 3 to expand our staff’s knowledge and understanding of working with our entire school community.

Student
The student program during Term 2 was focussed on emotional regulation. Emotional regulation is an ongoing challenge for young people (and many adults). Students who enrolled in the Interoception course engaged in a six week online program. The students who reported getting the most out of the program engaged in the weekly activities and communicated with the Guidance Officer during each week, sharing their tasks and seeking feedback and further resources.

Term 3 brings further learning opportunities; Headspace will be presenting in a virtual workshop for parents around managing mental health in young people. Students will have access to a new six week course around Interpersonal Effectiveness skill building, with a focus on Dialectical Behaviour Skills (DBT). Keep a look out for further information in the Term 3 newsletter for details of how to register to attend.

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/Get-help/Online-Services/crisis-chat
E-Headspace: 1800 650 890 www.eheadspace.org.au (e-headspace is not for crisis support)
Youth Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636 www.youthbeyondblue.com/hel-someone-you-know/what-to-do-in-an-energency/get-immediate-support
Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 551 800 – suicidecallbackservice.org.au

For parents and community:

Parentline: 1300 30 1300 https://parentline.com.au/
Family and Child Connect: 13 32 64 https://familychildconnect.org.au/
Lifeline: 13 11 14 lifeline.org.au/
Relationships Australia: 1300 364 277 relationships.org.au/
Butterfly: https://butterfly.org.au/
Griefline: 1300 845 754 https://griefline.org.au/
1800Respect: 1800 737 732 https://www.1800respect.org.au/

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

Tara le Pla, Guidance Officer (Student Wellbeing)

From Instrumental Music and Vocal music

Our Music Program students and staff are to be commended for their efforts to showcase such high standards of musicianship on stage both on and off campus this term.

The new format for our Evening Concert has proven popular with overwhelming positive feedback about the two main programs on one night as presented on the 18 May in the Auditorium. The first half concluded with an epic collaboration with the choir and combined strings – all 150 of them – performing an energetic arrangement of ‘Viva La Vida’ by Coldplay with the strings jointly conducted by Mrs Sullivan and Mrs Oostenbroek. The second half focussed on Jazz, Percussion, Brass and Winds providing Mrs Sullivan-Ward with a lot of notes to conduct. We are looking forward to our final Evening Concert on Tuesday 8 August.

Our Brass and Choral students rose to the occasion earlier in May performing a well-crafted program for the Monash Commemorative Service in the Auditorium. Prior to this, our students performed with integrity at our annual ANZAC Assembly.

The adjudicators at Choral Fanfare in June were glowing with praise for our choir’s program and energy on stage. 35 of our choral students travelled to Kenmore SHS which provided a chance for our choristers to listen to other schools from around the region. Being able to receive constructive feedback was invaluable for this iteration of our school choir. The program on the day included ‘Glow’ by Eric Whitacre, ‘Some Nights’ recorded by FUN and an arrangement of ‘Viva La Vida’ by Coldplay. This program provided opportunities for acapella singing, solo highlights and close harmonies. A big thanks to our Associate Artist Katherine (Year 10) who always prepares and presents such a wonderful piano part to support the vocal sounds.

Also in June, many of our Music Program students participated in the Festival of Creativity on all three stages across a variety of genres. This provided an unforgettable experience with the professional standard production setup.

Thank you to our families for your ongoing support for our young musicians, especially to ensure attendance at rehearsals. We look forward to seeing you all at our Evening Concert in Term 3.

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

Sustainability

QASMT is officially carbon neutral through Climate Active!
That’s right, one of our two major goals for the school has been met.

Thank you school community. We would not have been able to achieve this without every person’s effort, no matter how small. Now, having met this goal, it is time to ramp up our commitment to being single-use plastic free.

QASMT have partnered with Zero Positive for Schools to set a new goal to be Net Zero moving forward.

Did you know that the school system is the fifth largest emitter of carbon dioxide in Australia?

Zero Positive for Schools is a world first emissions reduction program supported by the United Nations which will help QASMT on the journey to net-zero.

Sustainability Week
Sustainability Week has become a big part of the QASMT calendar. The Sustainable Futures team put together a fun-filled, informative week of events to raise awareness and action of sustainability issues across the school.
However, our biggest event is the sustainable fashion parade which saw an amazing array of creative outfits. All our students put in so much thought and effort into their costumes but the overall winner was Hawking, InStep 1.

1^stPlace – Hawking InStep 1

2^nd Place - Da Vinci InStep 8, Newton InStep 7 and Hollows InStep 4

5^th Place - Jackson InStep 3

6^th Place - Franklin InStep 3

7^th Place - Curie InStep 5+6

8^th Place - Agnesi InStep 5+6

From Corporate Services

As always we love to hear what our QASMT Graduates are doing. Reach out and let us know. We would love to hear your story or for you to join our SMT Alumni group on LinkedIn.

The School Communications 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 team can be contacted via email communications@qasmt.eq.edu.au