The Term in Review from the Executive Leadership Team · Our learning programs are designed around...

Newsletter Term 3 Review 20 September 2019

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The Term in Review from the Executive Leadership Team

Dear Parents,

Term 3 signifies the start of the

transition for our Year 12 students

who are almost at the end of their IB

Diploma journey. This term students

submitted the last of their internal

assessments, completed their

Extended Essays, finalized their CAS

reflections and sat their Mock

Exams. As this term closes, we know

that our job as educators is almost

done and it is with a mix of pride and

caution that we let go of our Year 12

students, as they move into

SWOTVAC to prepare for their final

exams.

Term 3 marks the commencement of

the leadership application process for our Year 11 students who are ready to take on the challenge in their

final year of the diploma. We have many leadership opportunities that include our four Academy Captains,

six Academy House Captains, Academy CAS Captains and Directors of STEM Ambassadors. This year we

received our largest number of applicants and our Academy Representative Council (ARC) Coordinator, Mr

Colquhoun, is having a very busy time working through the rigorous selection process to build our new

student leadership team. The new Academy captains will be announced at the Awards Evening in Term 4,

with other leadership roles announced soon after.

In Term 3 of the DP Preparation Programme, our Year 10 students select the subjects that they will take at

higher and standard level in the Diploma Programme in Years 11 and 12. For those who are new to the

Diploma, students select six subjects with three at higher level and three at standard level. Our focus this

term was to ensure that each student has made his or her best choice.

As we come to the close of Term 3 with our Year 7 students, it is evident that the pedagogical approach of

the Middle Years Programme is having very a positive impact on the way that our students are learning. In

each classroom, we observe students being agents of their own learning as they work collaboratively to

share and push their thinking and problem-solving skills. We were delighted with the NAPLAN results

published this term which placed our current Year 7 cohort at the top in Queensland schools. Towards the

end of the term, we brought in new procedures to help our Year 7 students manage their personal use of

technology. As a result, at break times, we are noticing a far more energetic, sociable and active cohort of

Year 7 students enjoying playing traditional analogue games such as handball, Uno and making good use

of the table tennis tables.

Term 3 is always our busiest term with several special events designed in connect, inspire and challenge

our students through a range of rich learning experiences. This year’s celebration of National Science

Week was an excellent showcase of Science and STEM-related activities supported by all year levels. We

were delighted that many Year 7 students were involved and we were inspired by their enthusiasm and





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leadership skills. This was quickly followed by our inaugural Year 7 book week, which provided new

perspectives and an energized thirst for our lovers of literature. Our graduating Year 12 Visual Arts

students hosted a phenomenal exhibition demonstrating the creative talents of our student community.

Finally, a group of Year 10 students enjoyed an excellent trip to the Perisher ski fields in the Snowy

Mountains, New South Wales.

We wish all our students and families a safe and restful break, particularly our staff and students who are in

the USA on the STEM Tour. A reminder that Term 4 will commence on Tuesday 8 October, with a full

school Commencement Assembly at 9.00am. Students are required to wear formal school uniform to this

event.

Kath Kayrooz, Principal, Kerry Bullock, Deputy Principal Cohesion, Tanya Haggarty, Deputy Principal

Performance, Madeleine Brookes, Acting Deputy Principal Engagement, Meng-Yin Leong, Director

International Baccalaureate

Photo: Year 12 Formal





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Term in Review from Language, Literature and the Arts

Group 1

Engaging learners and ensuring student

success are key priorities for the MYP

teachers of Language and Literature, Year

10 teachers of English and DP teachers of

Literature. Our learning programs are

designed around the Inquiry-based learning

model and encourage students to think

independently, communicate confidently

and participate actively in a collaborative

learning environment. Questions are

posed to provoke and intrigue young learners, who then apply creative and critical thinking to any given

challenge. After teacher modelling and student experimentation, students are invited to share their personal

interpretations and insights in a variety of formats.

No place is this more evident than the Year 7 learning community. Our intrepid and inquisitive students have

been highly active this term as Mrs Waters has lead the team of Year 7 teachers in the design and delivery

of a diverse range of fun, rigorous and authentic learning opportunities. Incursions, excursions and bush

dances have provided real life contexts in which students have grappled with key and related concepts and

as a result, have developed and applied new knowledge to a range of formative and summative assessment

tasks. The Celebration of Learning evening provided young, aspiring authors a chance to share their

creative publications with family and friends. Active learning was taken to a new level as teachers, parents

and students kicked up their heels in the courtyard under the stars; and poured lots of energy into some good,

old-fashioned bush dancing.

Students have been discovering what life was like during the Ned Kelly

years. Students immersed themselves fully by travelling back in time

through exploring the living standards and values of days gone by; firstly,

through reading a range of literary and non-literary texts. Secondly, by

participating in learning centres: which proved to be an ideal form of

personalised learning. Students chartered their own learning pathway and

made new discoveries along the way about the famous bushranger, his

family and a host of other characters. Once the multi-modal texts were

digested and discussed, teachers and learners cloaked themselves in

colonial garb, and visited the Caboolture Historical Village. The purpose of

the excursion was to deepen their historical knowledge and have fun

through learning. Young and older colonial boys and girls had a terrific time exploring the centre and

completing their Knowledge booklets; as evidence of their learning.

Alec Lyle





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QASMT students were most fortunate during the celebration

of the 2020 Book Week. Critically-acclaimed author, Nick

Earls visited the creative writing team, led by Mrs Sophie

Jacobsen and shared thoughts, ideas and projects. Thanks

Nick for your openness and being so willing to share your

wisdom.

Another special guest presenter was author and UQ

academic, Richard Newsome, who visited our learning

community and shared ample tips and tricks regarding

lyrical, no rules writing i.e. poetry! His presentation had

students mesmerised, as did the purple princess who entertained young learners.

Debating has been going strong this term, with the start of the Year 7 QDU

Junior Secondary Competition. Coached by our Year 11 debaters, they have

benefited from masterclasses in rebuttal, short preparation debates, and

developing effective argument structures over the year, and it has shown in

their continual delivery of high calibre debates. They had their fourth round in

Week 9, and it being their first short preparation debate, each team entered

into their debates with an hour of preparation in order to argue whether or not

zoos should be banned. All teams performed exceptionally well, however only

two teams emerged victorious. We have two teams who have won all four of

their preliminary rounds, and therefore it is expected that they will progress to

the finals next term. Thank you to Mr Jarred Adams, Mrs Susan Wisowaty and

the Year 11 coaches for their continued support of our intrepid junior debaters,

and we look forward to their achievements next term.

Our Year 10s have also had success, with two teams making it to the

preliminary final rounds at the beginning of this term. Faced with a debate on

the virtues of teaching Shakespeare in the English classroom, they unfortunately did

not make the finals. We commend them for their valiant efforts and are exceptionally

proud of their achievements over the year in debating. Thank you to Mr Jeremy

Isaac, and the Senior A Team members, for helping to coach our students to this

level of achievement over the year.

The Senior A Team progressed to the Quarterfinals of their debates, having won

every debate in the preliminary round. Facing off against Brisbane State High, they

were set to debate whether or not non-registered parties should be able to fund

political campaigns. Brisbane State High won the competition on the night. We

commend the team over the term, and thank their coach, Tasman Bain, for his

assistance in preparing them for such high calibre debates.

Next term, we see the Year 7s into the finals, and we wish them the best of luck. While the general debating

sessions may be over for the year, we are busy preparing ourselves for the 2020 debating season. Stay

tuned for more details!

Year 12 Literature students have completed their mock exams and now dedicate time to intense study, in

readiness for their official IB exams in November. Written and verbal feedback has been provided regarding





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their recent Paper 1 and Paper 2 performance. Candidates are encouraged to internalise the

recommendations provided by their teachers and work to enhance in the knowledge and skill areas identified

for improvement. Students are encouraged to sit past papers under exam conditions, within the designated

time frame and seek further instructional feedback from teachers over the coming weeks. In addition, we

invite our DP candidates to attend the English tutorials during SWOTVAC in order to revise conceptual

knowledge and understandings as well as polish core thinking and writing skills. Finally, on behalf of QASMT

and the Year 12 teachers, I wish them courage and confidence during the final phase of secondary schooling.

Group 6

Year 11 have experienced a number of exhibitions this term. These

include the Creative Generation for Excellence in Visual Arts at GOMA;

the Year 12 Visual Art students’ final Curated Exhibitions at both QASMT

and QACI, as well as the Ben Quilty and Margaret Olley Exhibitions and

permanent collection at QAGOMA. These experiences provide significant

opportunity to gain insight and inspiration for creating a body of work as

they begin art making for next year and a primary research resource for

the Comparative Study and Process Portfolio both mandatory

assessments for the Visual Arts Course along with the Curated Exhibition.

Year 12 have had an exemplary conclusion to their Visual Art Studies with their Final Curated Exhibition,

the culmination of 12 months of highly focussed art making and study integrated with research and portfolio

assessment requirements. With over 100 art pieces between the students, it was an exciting and engaging

experience for the students as audience, their teachers, peers, friends and family.

The significant number of visitors who provided wonderful acknowledgement and support was most

appreciated throughout the exhibition. This exhibition of 8 – 11 artworks and/or series is accompanied by a

written curatorial rationale and artwork descriptions that accounts for 40% of the final grade in Visual Arts.

Congratulations to the 2019 cohort.

It was announced just last week that the talented artist, Sophie

Gibson, received a Commendation Award. Her work Swaddle

(pictured left) was selected for the exhibition with the Hands On

Art Project –‘Incubator’ for Year 11, 12 and first year university

artists.

Donna Shay, Head of Department Language, Literature and the Arts





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The works completed by the Year 12 students is of a very high standard: and more importantly, the personal

and academic growth of each artist has been quite extraordinary. A key contributor to these gains has,

undoubtedly, has been the expert guidance of Mrs Kathy Reid. She has travelled with these artists from

novice stage to accomplished, over an extended period. Kathy is now moving into retirement and will be

leaving QASMT at the end of this term. Whilst it is an exciting time for her, it is with heavy hearts that we bid

Kathy farewell. Both students and staff alike have had the privilege of learning many important lessons from

this very wise woman. Her enthusiasm for life, art and beauty has added an extra dimension to our learning

space and we will miss her very much. We wish you all the very best in your next phase, Kathy, and hope

that we will still see you, as our very special guest at future art shows.

Samples of Year 12 Visual Art from the Curated Exhibition





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The Term in Review from the Department of Language Acquisition

Term 3 is ending and we have much to celebrate. We say farewell to Year 12s

and hope that they make the most out of their SWOTVAC time. We invite them

to come to tutorials to ask questions and receive individual feedback from

teachers.

We are very pleased that our students are taking advantage of the language

opportunities offered to them in order to develop their international mindedness

and global citizenship. This is demonstrated in the strong numbers going on

the STEM Europe and Japan tours in 2020.

The SBS National Languages Competition is back and it is going to be

improved this year; it started on 26 August 2019 and goes through to 27

September. We called out to all language students to send in a photo of a

person, place or activity showing the possibilities created by learning a

language. Watch the video when you visit

https://www.sbs.com.au/radio/national-languages-competition-2019 for the latest information and

resources.

On Sunday 4 August, we had students in Years 7, 10 and 11 compete for the first time in the MLTAQ Multi-language Speaking competition at Griffith University. We are very proud of all participants who spent their personal time writing, memorising and perfecting their speeches and I would like to personally thank all Language Teachers who helped the students to perform so well. Here are the fantastic results: FRENCH

Olivia Maddison (7) 1st

Helen Wang (10) 2nd

Shalomi Panadura Arachchige (10) Highly Commended

GERMAN

Leah Easo (10) Highly Commended

SPANISH

Samuel Gonzalez Altahona for native background (7)

2nd

Sofia Juria (10) Highly Commended

Cheryn Kim (11) Highly Commended

Amogh Durgam (11) Highly Commended

Kat Wheadon (11) Highly Commended

https://www.sbs.com.au/radio/national-languages-competition-2019





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JAPANESE

Riley Murnane (7) 1st

Rohan Sharma (7) 2nd

Rachel Fan (10) 4th

Kelly Yiu (10) Highly Commended

The following students also competed and represent QASMT proudly: Liam Place, Angus Wise, Jerica Nieva, Der-An Chyi, Alexandru Pavel. Have a happy and safe holiday and please find more Language activities below.

German Oktoberfest for Teens 2019!

Term 3 was a busy time leading up to this year’s Oktoberfest. Students received info-sheets and quizzes that

took them on a journey through the wonderful worlds of German literature, science and technology, music,

fashion, cinema, TV and sport which gave them an insight into Germany in today’s society. In addition, the

blogs in the weeks leading up to the Oktoberfest, informed them all about German clichés – the true, the

untrue and the somewhat true. In Term 4, Oktoberfest for Teens is held at the RNA Showgrounds on 17

October from 9.30am-2.30pm. The central theme for Oktoberfest for Teens 2019 revolves around “Menschen

in Deutschland“(People in Germany). This year’s event will include a new game, which guarantees nail-biting

excitement and will give students even more opportunities to win fantastic German cultural prizes!

https://oktoberfestforteens.files.wordpress.com/2017/09/r2.jpg





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Japanese

This term in Japanese class, the Year 7 students learnt about a popular Japanese food called おにぎり

Onigiri. Onigiri is a ball of rice commonly formed into a triangle shape. It is often filled with something salty

like salmon or umeboshi (pickled plum) and eaten with nori (seaweed).

The QASMT students flavoured their rice with furikake (seasoning) and some even filled their Onigiri with

tsuna mayo (tuna with Japanese Kewpie mayonnaise). The final touch was adding the nori (seaweed).

Some students masterfully formed the triangular onigiri, doing a better job than the teacher! Students learnt

that onigiri is tasty, simple to make and a great option for a healthy lunch or snack on the go!

Stephanie Berlage, Head of Language Acquisition





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The Term in Review from the Department of Individuals,

Society and Technology

Term 3 has flown by and as usual, all teachers in the department have put in yet

another sensational effort with many extra curriculum initiatives including:

First Lego League (FLL) 'Competition Experience'

On Friday 23 and 30

August, twenty-one of our Year 7 Robotics students stayed on for an extra hour each afternoon to spend some quality time experimenting with this year's platform, City Shaper, for the upcoming rounds of regional competitions. With the objective of scoring as many points as possible by coding and completing 'missions' in a two minute time frame, the students rose to the challenge and with only minimal exposure to the available missions, were

able to achieve some impressive success! Parents were invited to attend the second session, and the Robotics Support Group prepared afternoon tea for the participants. Thanks to our student mentors, Tristan Burgess, Jack Lord, Ben Hogan, Reuben Rosenberg and Edwin Schuler who have ably supported the Year 7s this year as they embark on their Robotics careers, and also to the members of the Parent Support Group for their invaluable assistance. Thank you to Clare Tyler for working with this team and for sharing their exciting progress with us. Australian Space Design Competition SMT submitted two tenders this year for the Australian Space Design Competition. Keith Ferrer and Alex Oelkers led teams to complete a substantial extra curriculum activity. Teams had to design a futuristic space station community! Including automation, robotics, travel systems, waste management, satellite navigation, food, shelter, financial management and more! The depth and complexity of such a huge additional assessment task is enormous, and all team members are congratulated for their work alongside meeting





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their normal QASMT obligations. We now wish them all the best as the judging panel determine if they advance to the finals at UQ in January. I have enjoyed working with these two teams. QASMT students win the BEE Team Challenge! While most students were relaxing during the June holidays, students from QASMT were hitting the books in preparation for the Queensland and Northern Territory finals of the Australian Brain Bee Challenge. Rosalita Rosenberg, Luke Soll, Ryan Yong and Joshua Cheung were among 119 young competitors from across Queensland and the Northern Territory who competed in Brisbane in a battle of neuroscience knowledge on July 17. Organised by the world-leading Queensland Brain Institute at The University of Queensland, the Australian Brain Bee Challenge motivates students to learn about the brain. While most adults would struggle to define terms like dopamine or basal ganglia, Brain Bee contestants are well versed in a range of topics related to intelligence, memory, emotions, stress, ageing, sleep and Alzheimer’s disease. The finalists were given the opportunity to tour QBI’s research facilities to learn first-hand about the variety of research being done by students at QBI and were welcomed by the University. “The state final brings together some of the brightest young minds in Queensland and these are exactly the ones who will become the next generation of scientists,” said Associate Professor van Swinderen. Students took part in two rounds of live questioning to determine the Queensland Brain Bee champion, and were also included in various activities to educate them about neuroscience research. The team challenge was won by the Queensland Academy for Science, Mathematics & Technology. Congratulations go to our students for this wonderful achievement! Thank you to Elaine Wentworth for working with this team. QETA and University of Queensland, 2019 Student Economics Competition. Every year more than 1500 Year 11 and 12 students from over 30 schools from around the state, compete in this annual competition. The competition is coordinated by the Queensland Economics Teachers’ Association (QETA) and sponsored by The University of Queensland’s School of Economics. The long-running competition asks students to answer 40 multiple-choice questions in 45 minutes, covering topics related to current economics events and core units of the Queensland (QCAA) high school economics curriculum. Year 11 students were asked questions on Microeconomics while Year 12 students were tested on Macroeconomics and International Economics.

http://qbi.uq.edu.au/

http://uq.edu.au/

http://uq.edu.au/





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We are delighted to announce that this year QASMT students performed exceptionally well in the competition. In the Year 12 competition, Yuri Gervasiev won the competition achieving 1st place in the state! Congratulations to Yuri for this outstanding achievement. In the Year 11 competition, Ashleigh Westmoreland achieved 3rd place in the state! Congratulations also go out to Ashleigh for this wonderful result. Both Yuri and Ashleigh will be attending the awards ceremony to receive their prizes and certificates this will be held at UQ on Monday the 19th of September. In terms of the overall Year 12 and Year 11 QASMT cohort results, there is also a lot to celebrate. In the Year 12 cohort, 20% of our students received a certificate for High Distinction, while over 30% of our Year 11 participants received a certificate for High Distinction. These are truly marvellous results, given that the QCAA curriculum in Economics is significantly different to the IB Economics curriculum. The Economics teaching team would like to extend their gratitude and congratulations to the entire Year 12 and Year 11 economics cohort for performing so outstandingly in this year’s competition. A special thank you to QETA and the School of Economics at UQ for their continued support and sponsorship of this event. Again, congratulations to Yuri and Ashleigh for their amazing results.

We look forward to being equally successful next year. Thank you to Chris Panousis for working with this team. The Queensland Schools Constitutional Convention On Friday 11 October, a small group of students will attend the Metropolitan, South East Queensland & Darling Downs and South West Queensland Schools Constitutional Convention, to be held at Parliament House, Brisbane.   The Schools’ Constitutional Convention endeavours to educate secondary students about the Australian Constitution, and how it guides democracy. It includes opportunities for students to listen to speakers presenting perspectives on a constitutional issue and to participate in debates and plebiscites with their peers from twenty other schools. It also provides the basis for the election of Queensland's delegate team to the National Schools Constitutional Convention (NSCC) held in Canberra during 2020.   This year, students will examine the topic “Is the preamble to the Australian Constitution in need of a change?” Our dedicated QASMT team has been debating this issue at lunchtime meetings for the last two months. Different perspectives have been investigated, arguments and counter-arguments have been developed and prepared and we are all very excited about attending the Convention. Our goal is to have one of our team members be elected to represent Qld at next year’s National Constitution Convention. Thank you to Chris Panousis for working with this team.





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National Science Week-West End State School Science Spectacular

As part of the activities for National Science Week, eleven of our Year 7 students plus two Year 10 students attended the West End State School Science Spectacular on 13 August 2019. The Year 7 students were involved in activities showing basic coding skills by planning how to stack cups and demonstrating potato and banana battery experiments. The girls who are from our Robogirls CCA were busy all afternoon showing skills and leadership to a large audience and were great ambassadors for the school and the role of girls in STEM. Thank you to Sana Shah, Yijing Li, Amali Jose, Rina Li, Olivia Maddison, Eesha Desai, Leanna Nguyen, Neha Saravanan, Riddhisha Upadhyay, Bela Varsani and Emily Zheng for being part of National Science Week. Our two Year 10 students, Eton Calder and Hayden Greer, showed great skills demonstrating robotics to a large and engaged audience throughout the afternoon and were exceptional ambassadors for the school and STEM. Thank you to David King and the entire department for working on the many engaging activities that National Science Week had to offer. We wish you all a safe and restful break and particularly to the Year 12’s who will shortly be sitting their final IB exams, best wishes as you prepare for these. Michael Colquhoun, Acting Head of Department Individuals, Society and Technology





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The Term in Review from the Department of Physical

Sciences

Term 3 has flown by quickly, and has been a big term for Science. It has also

been an important term for our Year 12 students, who have now submitted all of

their IB Diploma written assessment, and completed Mock Exams. Year 12

students have entered the final phase of their senior school journey and are

preparing themselves for their IB External Exams in November. The SWOTVAC

Tutorial program has been communicated to students and we look forward to

supporting students as they work towards finalising their exam preparations.

UQ Experience Science

On Tuesday July 16, all Year 10 students were at UQ, St Lucia

campus for “Experience Science”. This excursion is an annual event and gives senior high

school students an insight into studying science at UQ, and how science is applied in

industry and everyday life. Students participated in a number of hands-on workshops from

the fields of Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology,

Biomedicine, Physics and Agricultural Science.

2019 Kids’ STEM Convention

On Friday July 19, QASMT Science Ambassadors and 20 Year 7 students participated in 2019 Kids’ Stem

Convention, run by Metropolitan Region and hosted at UQ, St Lucia. The Kids’ STEM Convention began in

2007, growing out of the determination of a group of Brisbane teachers to increase levels of engagement in

STEM subjects within their schools.

Since then, The Kids’ STEM Convention has offered an annual opportunity for Metropolitan Queensland

State School students in Years 5 – 9 to broaden their knowledge in Science, Technology, Engineering and

Mathematics, by participating in a three part learning experience which includes:

Inspiration: A student conference at UQ with eminent Keynote speakers and ‘hands on’ workshops Investigation: School-based, extended inquiry investigations (8 weeks) Celebration: A forum at QASMT (on Thursday September 19) where students showcase their

investigative projects and awards are presented in each of seven award categories.





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National Science Week

Café Scientifique

Queensland Academies hosted the seventh annual Café Scientifique

event at The Pharmacy Australia Centre of Excellence, UQ, on

Monday August 12. Science students from QASMT, John Monash

Science School, the Australian Science and Mathematics School,

Corinda SHS and a QVSA student from Roma SHS, each presented

an engaging five minute TEDx style talk, based on their own research,

to a panel of experts for feedback. A number of QASMT STEM

Ambassador students assisted with the event as hosts and ushers.

QASMT Year 7 students participated in the event as social media

unplugged tweeters for the evening.

Group 4 Project Workshops

Year 11 students conducted hands-on science workshops for visiting

primary school students at QASMT to satisfy the Group 4 Project component

of their IB Diploma. Year 11 students designed workshops to teach a

concept from the National Science Week theme of “Destination Moon: more

missions, more science”, in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the first

moon landing and lunar walk or “The International Year of the Periodic

Table”, in recognition of the 150th anniversary of Mendeleev’s Periodic Table.

Lunch with a Scientist

Lunch with a Scientist was held at the QUT Institute of Health and

Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), where students engaged with a broad range

of scientists in a ‘speed dating style’ format. Year 7 and Year 10 students

had the opportunity to share lunch with scientists, and had lots of interesting

questions to ask.

Random Acts of Science

The QASMT Science Ambassadors ran Random Acts of Science in the

QASMT courtyard on Thursday of National Science Week. This is

always a very messy and enjoyable celebration of Science.





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Opti-MINDS

Congratulations to QASMT Year 7 Opti-MINDS team members Imogen

Alick, Malek Dib, Jothsimar Kaur, Saanvi Putchakayala and Sara Richards

for achieving an Honours Award as runners up in the Brisbane West Opti-

MINDS Science and Engineering challenge. Students worked intensely

over the first six weeks of Term 3, responding to the Longterm Challenge

strict design requirements and preparing for the Spontaneous Challenge,

which was only revealed on the regional challenge day.

RACI Titration Competition

QASMT students achieved the Academy’s best ever results in this year’s

RACI Titration Competition. QASMT teams placed First, Second and Third

in the South East Zone regional competition at Griffith University, with the

top two teams moving on to the QLD State Final. Our “Excellent Team” of

Eugenia Wen, Luke Soll and Hayden Greer placed second in the state.

Special mention to Ziang Jia, who was awarded a Gold label pin for

completing a perfect titration in both the regional and state final events.

Students spent many hours refining their titration technique, under the

guidance and supervision of Mr Pearce. Well done to all involved in this

year’s Chemistry titration competition.

RACI Crystal growing Competition

Six Year 7 students grew alum and copper sulphate crystals in Term 2 for entry into this year’s RACI Crystal

growing competition. A number of students received awards for their crystals in both

the Year 7-8 and Open Divisions: Congratulations to Olivia Madan (Finalist), Heidie

Palade (Finalist), Aadi Shetty (Highly Commended) and Michelle Kua (Highly

Commended).

After such a busy term, I hope all staff and students enjoy a well-earned rest over the

holidays. Year 12 SWOTVAC tutorials commence after the holidays; students who are

required to attend Science tutorials will be advised via email. Year 12 students are

also welcome to contact their subject teachers for any advice or assistance as they

prepare for their November IB exams.

Cheryl Pearce, Head of Department Physical Sciences





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The Term in Review from the Department of Life Sciences

Wow, what a term! As you read this, I will be accompanying sixty students and a

number of staff on the STEM Tour to the U.S.A., where we have a packed itinerary

across five cities. I look forward to the opportunity to see our students wonder and

engage in a different country. In addition to seeing the wonderful sights, they will

learn from the challenge of encountering something new each day. I am sure the

experience will not be forgotten and I am proud to be a part of this QASMT

tradition.

Our Year 12 Biology and Sports, Exercise and Health students have had a

massive term, submitting their final extended essays and sampling the November

experience through the mock exams. As our Year 12 students embark on the final

leg of their IB journey, I wish them well in their studies and encourage them to

attend the tutorials on offer at the beginning of Term 4.

Co-curricular

For the past two terms, Dr Esme Hatchell and Ms Samantha Jacobson

have co-ordinated the inaugural Microscope Club during Tuesday

lunchtimes. This club is very much a student led activity, with ages

ranging from Year 7 through to Year 12. Our older students have

mentored the younger students and through this club, we have seen the

development and refinement of some excellent microscope skills. Club

members display their learning through photography and have displayed

excellent talent, as seen in their photographs here. Microscope Club will

continue to run next term as part of our Co-Curricular Activities and new

students are always welcome.

Middle Years Program

This term, Year 7 students investigated the historical significance of a

chosen game or dance from a particular culture and explored the

relationship between culture, games and wellbeing. Their theory

assessment included a poster or pamphlet presentation to explain the

significance of their game and a written response to the stimulus

question “Should the Haka be allowed before rugby games?” Students

constructed their responses by synthesising all they had learned this

term through the inquiry unit.

Sporting success continues for QASMT

Our junior and senior sport program has grown from strength to strength

this term. The Junior Spring Gala day was held on Monday 16

September. We fielded teams in all events, which includes ultimate

disc, badminton and Australian Rules football.

Congratulations to our winning teams from the junior and senior Winter

Gala days who were successful in outplaying the competition in west





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Brisbane. These teams were the girls Year 7 volleyball, girls open volleyball and girls open basketball, who

went on to compete in the Metropolitan West Finals this term. The girls represented the school with pride and

played well against tough competition. Well done girls and keep training for 2020!

In representative sporting news, congratulations to Ishaan Kalia in Year 7, who has been selected for the

Northern Eagles under 14 Cricket Team. Well done Ishaan.

Once again, thank you to all Life Sciences staff and students for all your hard work and effort this term. Enjoy

the break and see you in Term 4.

Catherine de Freitas Pessoa, Head of Department Life Sciences





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The Term in Review from the Department of Mathematics

and Data

The Mathematics Department had quite a few events to celebrate this term.

Firstly, Jason Wang’s effort to secure a Silver certificate in the Senior

Mathematics Olympiad cannot be underestimated. This competition is via

invitation only and a student has to receive a prize in the Australian Mathematics

Competition to be entered into the Senior Mathematics Contest (a four hour

Maths competition). From this, only 100 students across Australia are selected

to participate in the Senior Mathematical Olympiad (a two day event four hours

each day). Only 20 students progress on from this stage (which is normally one

or two from Queensland). This is a gruelling competition and anyone receiving a

certificate has done extremely well. Huge congratulations to Jason Wang for

getting to the Silver level in this competition.

QASMT’s inaugural entry in QAMT’s Year 7/8 maths quiz

started extremely well. The quiz consists of teams of three

students (two Year 8 and one Year 7) who compete of a couple

of rounds. This year our team consisted of three Year 7

students who had to compete against Year 8 and Year 7. Huge

congratulations goes to Elizabeth Lee, Nerissa Do, and Henry

Hu. These students won the regional round and will be

competing in the state finals next term.

Finally, we have received the results for the Australian

Mathematics Competition. Again, many students performed well,

with 21 students receiving a High Distinction and three students

(Jason Wang (Year 11), Kelvin Chan (Year 7) and Erika Mori

(Year 7) receiving a prize. A prize is awarded to the top 0.3% in

the state, so a big congratulations to Jason, Kelvin, and Erika.

We look forward to more good news next term, when the results from the ICAS Mathematics competition

are released.

Russell Hams, Head of Department Mathematics and Data





Page 20 of 31

The Term in Review from the House Dean of Agnesi

Term 3 at QASMT is one of the busiest times of the year, especially for the Year

12 students and their teachers. Before the focus switches completely to the IB

exams, it is worth looking back at some of the highlights for Year 12. The Agnesi

mentors showed their creative flair as Agnesi bade farewell to their Year 12

students. This year the mentors displayed flair and poetic license as they wrote,

composed poems, odes, and even discovered new elements. The Year 12

formal was a very glamorous affair at the Hilton Hotel, Brisbane in early August.

Agnesi students arrived in elegance and style. Students, family and friends had

a truly memorable evening.

The Formal was followed by the Year 12 conference, where guest speakers

and alumni shared their top tips for IB SWOTVAC success. I would like to wish

all Year 12 Agnesi students the best of luck in their IB exams next term.

Year 7 students have been involved this term in Reading Week and delving into the world of Ned Kelly. Many

of the Agnesi Year 7 students have also had a very successful day at the Junior Sports Gala Day. I would

like to congratulate them on their success. Year 7 Agnesi students are adapting well to the recent device free

school environment and the change around the courtyard is positive and heartening to observe.

I would like to take this opportunity to commend the Year 11 students on the level of commitment and

enthusiasm in which they embraced their Year 11 Leadership Camp. As a result, Year 11 Agnesi students

have surpassed all records in applying for leadership positions for 2020. Agnesi House is in safe hands

regardless of whoever wins the leadership positions.

For Year 10 Agnesi students, Term 3 is all about subject selection in preparation for the start of their IB

diploma Programme. This is a very important time for Year 10 students, as their choices have implications

on future career paths. I have had many rewarding conversations with Agnesi students regarding which

selections are most appropriate.

We are grateful for the opportunities we have available to us at QASMT and hope that during the break, our

students reflect upon how they can enrich their experiences and embrace these opportunities.

Dr Aileen Davis, House Dean Agnesi





Page 21 of 31

The Term in Review from the House Dean of Curie

I write this article with mixed emotions. On the one hand, I am full of pride and

admiration for what our students have achieved across the term in the different

arenas in which they are involved. Whilst at the same time, I feel a twinge of

sadness and loss as each day the Year 12s march towards their graduation. It

is a comfort to know that the students in Curie are not only achieving well in

their academic pursuits, but also more importantly, are growing into fine people

who will have the skills and attributes to flourish in life.

Term 3 has been a mixture of

celebration and

consternation for the Year 12

cohort. As always, the

formal is such a highlight and

it was delightful to see the students strutting their stuff on

the red carpet. The night was a celebration of the hard

work that these students have invested during their

thirteen years of school and the students scrubbed up

well in their frocks and suits.

After the completion of the mock exams and before they

departed for SWOTVAC, the house had an opportunity

to send the Year 12 students off in style. It was a moving a house assembly, as each INSTEP shared a

personal reflection about the impact these fine young people had on the lives of the younger students.

We wish our Year 12 cohort all the best as they prepare for their final exams in November. Remember

what Marie Curie said, “Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to

understand more, so that we may fear less.”

I am privileged that as an educator, I am able to

witness the journey of my students and support them.

At the beginning of the term, the Year 11 cohort went

on a Leadership Camp to Camp Warrawee at Petrie.

The students spent three days working together to

discover more about themselves and what they have

to offer in their community. Following the camp, the

school leadership process for 2020 Academy and

house captain positions commenced, with a record

high number of applications submitted. The

substance and quality of the Year 11 Curie students

is truly impressive.

I am a firm believer that students who find a sense of community and belonging, flourish. It is great to see

our students become involved in all facets of Academy life and form meaningful relationships with those

around them. The highlights of Term 3 have been Gala day, CCA groups, sporting teams, music

ensembles, the Multi-Language Speaking Competition, the regional and state RoboCup competition, Café





Page 22 of 31

Scientifique, Lunch with a Scientist, Readers Cup, Book

Week, Year 7 Historical Village excursion, Young Einstein’s

graduation and numerous other competitions.

Take the time over the spring break to recharge the

batteries and spend time with those you love. I wish all

Curie families a relaxing and refreshing holiday and I look

forward to seeing you all again next term. If you need to

contact me, please do not hesitate to do so on

[email protected]

Dean Fanning, House Dean Curie

The Term in Review from the House Dean of Da Vinci

Da Vinci House has experienced many highlights this term. I hope you enjoy

reading all about our busy Term 3.

Year 12

By the end of the first week, the Year 12s had submitted their EE (Extended

Essay). This is a culmination of over a year’s hard work, 4000 words and many,

many edits. Congratulations to our Year 12s on this milestone. The Year 12

students celebrated further with their Formal at the Hilton in August. The Da Vinci

students looked amazing danced up a storm and made lovely memories that they

will treasure in years to come.

By Week 6, students were hard at study for their

MOCK exams. This experience gave them a

good insight into what November exam sessions

will be like. Further to this, the Year 12

Conference delivered good advice from

speakers including Unleashing Potential, Elevate

Study Skills and words of wisdom from Alumni

students. Students rounded out the term with a

fun day at Movie World before they begin their

SWOTVAC break.

mailto:[email protected]





Page 23 of 31

Year 11

Year 11 students commenced the term with a

Leadership Camp where a number of students’

displayed the IB Learner the attributes of Risk

Taking on the Obstacle Courses, Flying Fox,

Canoeing and Catapult Construction. For

many of our students they had to push

themselves outside of their comfort zone and

work as a team to complete the challenges.

Leadership applications commenced and

students who applied for positions were

interviewed and delivered speeches to Houses and Year levels. All positions will be

announced early in Term 4.

Year 10

Year 10 students received their QASMT report card and this caused much reflection, writing of PLPS and

revisiting of study plans and skills. The Academy is a challenging place with a rigorous curriculum and this

is the perfect time for our Year 10s to reflect on what they have learnt and what they need to do next. This

also allowed for informed decisions regarding subject selection, which have also been completed.

Year 7

Year 7 students experienced their first awards ceremony, bush dancing, Science Week and Caboolture

Historical Village excursion. They also enjoyed their first disco last week, enjoying pizza, dancing and lots of

fluoro – a fun time was had by all. We have introduced technology free lunch times this term and this provides

a great opportunity for students to enjoy games and socialising with each other during break times.

House Spirit

House spirit has been on fire with a victory in the

Inter INSTEP Trivia Competition for IND05. All

INSTEP classes had a chance to say positive words

and speeches to the Year 12s at the final House

Assembly in Week 8. The heartfelt messages and

words showed how much the Year 12s were

appreciated and will be missed. The Intra INSTEP

Trophy was also awarded during the assembly.

Congratulations to IND05 ! They competed hard all

year and were well deserving of the Draconian

Trophy.

This week I will meet our new Year 7’s for 2020 for the first time and they will discover the excitement of

being a Da Vinci Dragon for their time at QASMT!!!!

I wish all our Da Vinci families happy and safe holidays and look forward to seeing you next term.

Jane Gorman, House Dean Da Vinci





Page 24 of 31

The Term in Review from the House Dean of Franklin

This term, like all others at the Academy, has been a busy one. It started with

Year 11 Leadership Camp where a number of Franklin students were displaying

their Risk-Taking attribute on the high ropes and canoeing; and their Thinking

attribute during the survival challenges and the … challenges. For many this was

the first time trying these activities and they loved it! If they didn’t, they certainly

felt a sense of accomplishment. Leadership applications were due and students

who applied for positions have been interviewed and given their speeches to the

House.

The Year 12 Formal was a

wonderful celebration for our

seniors. It is always amazing to

see how beautiful, handsome and

mature our young men and women are when they dress for

such an occasion. The dance floor was busy all night and it

was a lovely way for our Year 12s to enjoy themselves just

before Mock Exams. Year 12 Incursion and preparation for

SWOTVAC and final exams has come around very quickly

and it is important the students stay focused until Valedictory.

Year 10s received their QASMT report card

and this created an opportunity for reflection.

Revisiting of study plans and skills has been

necessary and this is a great development for

students. The Academy is a challenging

environment with a rigorous curriculum and this

is the perfect time for Year 10s to reflect on

what they have done and what they need to

do. Subject selection for next year has taken

place, so students are ready to begin their IB

journeys in earnest.

Year 7s have had a fun term with Book Week, the historical

excursion, the Celebration of Learning and Bush Dance as

well as the Year 7 Disco. So many great events for them in

which to get involved! I am sure that they are looking forward

to the holidays as much all the other Year Levels and will

relish in their well-deserved break.

I wish everyone a safe and happy holidays and I look

forward to seeing everybody in Term 4.

Kate Oxenford, House Dean Franklin





Page 25 of 31

The Term in Review from the House Dean of Hawking

We started the term with Year 11 Leadership Camp where students were given

the opportunity to develop their inner leader. I was then fortunate to receive many

fantastic leadership applications for the 2020 Hawking Student Leadership team.

The quality was high and all students will be notified of selections after the

Awards Evening in Term 4.

Week 4 saw us prepare and compete

in the Inter-IINSTEP Trivia

competition. Whilst we did not win

this event, Hawking House had 100%

attendance for each INSTEP and it

was pleasing to see so many

students, and their INSTEP mentors,

get involved.

Without a doubt, this term has been unforgettable for our

Year 12s. They did the house proud at the formal and

looked wonderful. It was a night full of celebration, fine

food, photos and dancing. I think I am safe in saying they

all had an incredible night and it was a great way to

celebrate the time they have had together and mark the

end of an era.

Following on from Mock Exams, the Year 12 Conference

included a day of motivational speakers such as Luke

McKenna and some of QASMT Alumni, as well as vital time

to begin their SWOTVAC preparation. Finally, we had a

fun-filled day at Movie World where they could ‘let their hair down’.

I wish all the Year 12 students the very best during their SWOTVAC, final IB exams and into the future. They

have been a wonderful year group and I would like to extend special thanks to the House Captains – Antony

Tenaglia, Eleanor Parrish, Caleb Chiu and Joe Manjaly.

Finally, I wish all Hawking students a safe, restful and enjoyable break. See in you Term 4.

Rebecca Brown, House Dean Hawking





Page 26 of 31

The Term in Review from the House Dean of Newton

Congratulations on the completion of Term 3, 2019. It has been a busy term,

full of big events and significant achievements for the students in Newton

house.

Year 12 Formal and Final House assembly

It has been a term of milestones for our Year 12 students, complete with EE

submissions, CAS completion and, of course, their last days of formal lessons.

Our Year 12 students also had the opportunity to celebrate their achievements

in style at the formal

event this term. The

planning committee did

an outstanding job to

ensure that the evening ran smoothly and all

students had a wonderful experience. The festivities

included glamourous photos, good food and some

very enthusiastic dancing from both students and

teachers. In a very special assembly later this term,

the INSTEPs said farewell and good luck to our

Year 12 Newtonians. Each INSTEP tutor shared

fond memories and parting words of wisdom to our

departing house leaders and wished them all the

best with their studies and exams.

I would also like to offer a personal thank you to all

Year 12 Newtonians. They have been wonderful leaders and role models both in our house and across the

Academy. I trust that students will study hard through SWOTVAC and I wish them the best of luck with their

block exams. Students are encouraged to drop in on their INSTEP friends from time to time, as they attend

tutorials over the first few weeks of term 4.

Year 11 Leadership Camp

Year 11 Leadership Camp offered our 44 Newtonian leaders

of 2020 the opportunity to experience challenges and learn

new skills together. Our days were filled with obstacle

courses, catapult challenges, rock climbing and fire building.

It was through these experiences that our Year 11s were able

to engage in authentic leadership experiences by using open

communication and showing unwavering support and

powerful team spirit. At night, we had the privilege of a

participating in a leadership session with Mr Colquhoun and

games with our school Chaplain, Garth Calder.

After sharing in this experience with the Year 11s, I am

certain that these students will embrace their new role as house leaders and will continue to grow the strength

and culture of Newton House.





Page 27 of 31

Year 10 VET courses and subject selection

This has been a term of preparation and planning for our Year 10 students. Over the last 10 weeks they have

worked hard, to achieve their VET course certificates (Level 2 or 3) through online and TAFE training. This

has provided students with the opportunity to gain new skills in a different context, as well as managing off

campus and online learning. Additionally, Year 10 students have engaged in the subject selection process to

determine the subjects that they will be studying through the IB Diploma Programme.

R U OK Day and Year 7 Disco

In week 9 this term, QASMT students were reminded that one simple question that can make a difference in

someone’s life. With one unified voice, we asked each other “R U OK?” and celebrated a proactive approach

to supporting wellbeing through music, games, conversations and a very special visit from Elly, the therapy

dog.

The day culminated with the inaugural Year 7 disco. This was a festive and florescent affair where our Year

7 students had the opportunity to let their hair down and dance like no one was watching. The fun was never

ending with party games lead by the Garth Calder and an impromptu bush dance called by Ms Waters.

Thank you Garth for all your hard work organising this event and to all the students who got involved.

This has been a busy term for the whole school community and as always, Newton house has worked hard

to continue to make progress, both as individuals and as a school community.

I wish you all a safe and happy holidays and I look forward to seeing you in term 4.

Rebecca Skarshewski, House Dean Newton

Term 4 Parent Teacher Interviews and Changes to the School Day

Parent/Teacher interviews are taking place on Wednesday 16 October from 1.00pm to 7.00pm. Please

note that Period 4 is being cancelled, so students will finish at 12.30pm on this day. Details on how to book

your Parent/Teacher interviews will be emailed to you after report cards are sent out.





Page 28 of 31

The Term in Review from the P&C

Message from the P&C President

Your P&C was very active during Term 3 and focused on our goals to enrich every student’s experience to

provide a platform for parents to contribute to the school. We have some great news to share regarding

fundraising. Early in the term, the P&C was awarded a Gambling Community Benefit Fund grant (GCBF) of

$34,830 for the purchase of musical instruments. The school also received a further GCBF grant of $17,000

for the purchase of musical instruments. Along with the previously announced P&C Opportunity Fund grant

to the Music Programme of $10,300, we have now raised over $62,000 to help support the funding of

QASMT’s ambitious Musical Programme expansion.

These funds have now been allocated to purchasing a wide range of musical instruments, including a new

marimba, glockenspiel, French horn, tuba, piccolo, double bass (½ size), vibraphones, xylophones, timpani,

clarinets and cymbals. Whilst there is always more to do, the scale up of the Music Programme is a wonderful

testimony to the power of the P&C working together with the school to achieve school priorities. We can now

look forward to the big end of year music and choral concert in November.

In addition to music, we also dispersed an additional $18,000 from the P&C Opportunity Fund in support of

five proposals from QASMT Heads of Departments. We are pleased to report approval of funding for the

following initiatives:

1. Physical Sciences: Data Loggers ($9,320) and High Performance Computing Equipment ($450) 2. Individuals, Society and Technology: 3D printers and VR equipment ($5,640) 3. Life Sciences: Sporting Equipment ($3,182).

To date, I am proud to announce we have raised over $36,000 for the P&C Opportunity Fund and have

dispersed over $34,000 directly to the school. Thank you to all parents who have generously contributed to

this effort. We anticipate additional proposals from the school this year, which will leave a significant

shortfall vs funds available. For all parents who have yet to contribute, please consider supporting our

school with a $100 contribution. We are only stronger together, and with only 45% of parents contributing,

we hope that every parent will contribute to the enrichment of all our students. All parents have received a

school issued invoice for the $100 voluntary levy. Please contact the school directly if you need this invoice

resent to you.

Another key initiative that we have been working on this term is the School Transport Strategy. At the 19

August P&C Meeting, we welcomed Michael Berkman, our Greens MP for Maiwar, for an open discussion

on our transport issues. The P&C Transport Support Group presented an update on our School Transport

Strategy. Many thanks to Stephanie Wyeth and Juanine Passfield for all their hard work in pushing forward

this critically important initiative.

As a follow-up, we sent letters and background information to the following stakeholders:

Michael Berkman, Member for Maiwar

Councilor James Mackay

Minister Grace Grace, Minister for Education and Industrial Relations

Minister Mark Bailey, Minister for Transport and Main Roads





Page 29 of 31

We are hopeful that we can hold a meeting this year with key Council and Government stakeholders to

advocate for short and long-term solutions focused on improving transport links and ensuring the safety and

well-being for all our students while in transit. Stay tuned.

Finally, we all enjoyed a sell-out Moon Landing Party thrown by Dr Hogg to celebrate the 50 year anniversary

of the first lunar moon walk. This was a fun event with a great movie, food and the opportunity to gaze at the

moon and stars from numerous telescopes set about the QASMT courtyard. The event raised over $550 and

we are thankful to Dr Hogg and P&C Member, Winand D’Souza, our food organizer extraordinaire, for putting

on this great event!

Doug Rosenberg, P&C President

Robotics Support Group (RSG)

The Robotics Program Year 7 students had their first

taste of the First Lego League (FLL) game platform,

‘City Shaper', at last term’s Competition Experience.

They put their newly acquired EV3 kits, thanks to the

school and the P&C Fundraising Grant, to the test and

proved how far a student can go in such a short time,

culminating the FLL core values: discovery,

innovation, impact, teamwork, inclusion and fun.

The P&C RSG provided the afternoon tea and a huge

“Thank you!” to Year 7 parent Sheena for the fabulous

homemade chocolate cakes & cookies. Thank you

also to various parents for their refreshment donations.

Most importantly, the students and parents had a great time and we look forward to supporting again on

October 26, when QASMT hosts this year’s regional FLL event.

The P&C Fundraising Grant money has also secured Virtual Reality sets plus 3D printers for the program

expansion in the new building’s Makerspace. Our hard-working team liaised with the school to apply for an

FTC grant. Thank you to parents for funding this and P&C members for their diligence in getting these STEM-

related extras for the school.

RSG is always seeking more parent participation. No robotic knowledge is required! We need at every level,

small or large. Here is a testimony from a Year 10 parent: “My experience volunteering for the Robotics

Support Group at QASMT has been positive. There are opportunities for people of all skill types and levels

of commitment to contribute.”

Please e-mail [email protected]





Page 30 of 31

Click on the links below to contact the P&C and learn more:

Facebook - closed group for parents, peer support/discussion, news, event details, resources, photos and

more

Join the P&C here - free and easy, be “inside the tent”!

https://volunteersignup.org/Q4Y9K - read about and sign up for P&C roles, large and small

P&C Intro - P&C Intro - an introduction to the P&C with key contacts

P&C Sponsors

The QASMT P&C would like to thank our sponsors below, who pay to advertise their services in our

Newsletter

https://facebook.com/groups/qasmtpandc/

https://qasmt.eq.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Application-for-PC-Membership-2019.pdf

https://volunteersignup.org/Q4Y9K

https://qasmt.eq.edu.au/for-parents/pc-association/





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