Halfway through the term.
As we reach the halfway point of Term 2, it is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the many achievements, experiences and celebrations taking place across our school community. The enthusiasm and commitment shown by our students and staff continue to make QASMT such a vibrant and inspiring place to learn.
This week also marks National Volunteer Week, a time to recognise those who generously give their time to support others.
Thank you also to everyone who supported Share the Dignity and the 'It's in the Bag initiative'. Your generosity and kindness will make a real difference in the lives of many people.
Our focus on Sustainable Futures also continues to encourage students to think critically about the world around them and the positive impact they can make.
Principal's Achievement Awards
We are delighted to share that Alea has been selected to participate in the 2026 QUT Future You Summit. Chosen from a highly competitive pool of nearly 500 applicants, this achievement recognises outstanding curiosity, motivation, and commitment to future aspirations.
We also acknowledge and thank House Dean, Deva Prasad for his valuable support and recommendation throughout the application process. Partnerships between educators and students play an important role in opening pathways to opportunities such as this.
Hosted by Queensland University of Technology from 30 June - 3 July, the four-day summit will bring together Year 11 and 12 students from across Queensland and northern NSW for immersive learning experiences, workshops, and engagement with academics and industry professionals.
There continues to be a wide range of exciting Careers and University opportunities available to students, including workshops and information sessions with Griffith University, QUT, UNSW and University Sunshine Coast, along with Study Maths and Science opportunities in Sydney. These experiences provide valuable insight into future pathways and possibilities beyond school.
Annual ARC Fair
Our ARC Fair this week was filled with creativity, energy and student involvement.
Activities included the vertical jump test, student versus teacher debate, escape rooms, student-built robots, World Bee Day stall, lava lamps and towers, cultural carnival games and many other interactive activities. It was fantastic to see students participating so enthusiastically throughout the event.
Our Music Program students participated in the Instrumental Fanfare Excursion, a statewide festival celebrating the outstanding music programs in Queensland state schools. This experience provides students with the opportunity to perform alongside ensembles from across the state while receiving expert feedback and guidance.
Eight ensembles represented QASMT at the Creative Generation Instrumental Fanfare Metro North Regional Heats held at The Gap SHS. Amongst the day were many highlights as follows.
Division 1 Platinum Awards and Performance of a Debut Composition
Two SMT ensembles: Our Curlew Ensemble and Chamber Strings conducted by Ms Teena Sullivan received the highest award: Platinum - demonstrating a consistently excellent standard across the 4 criteria.
A definite highlight was the performance premiere of a work written for the Curlew Ensemble by esteemed Brisbane based composer, Dr. Frankie Dyson-Reilly entitled “The Secret Lives of Curlews" who attended the event and publicly acknowledged for her creative links with the Academy.
Gold Awards:
Additionally, two SMT ensembles, received Gold Awards demonstrating a high standard across the 4 criteria, the Lyrebird Ensemble under Ms Teena Sullivan and our Percussion Ensemble conducted by Ms Alice Emor-Kan.
Silver Awards:
Three ensembles received Silver Awards: Serenata Symphony, Concert Band, and Vivaldi Strings - especially impressive considering this is our first year of QASMT having a full-sized symphony orchestra in our Music Program and Ms Angela Prescott, our brass teacher and Concert Band conductor is new to the SMT community this year.
Bronze Award:
Our Big Band received a Bronze Award conducted by Ms Alice Emor-Kan and received some very positive adjudication feedback regarding their musicality and take on some rhythmically challenging pieces of repertoire.
Congratulations.
Six QASMT teams comprising 21 students competed across 3 divisions who competed in the Gardiner Chess Tournament, the 2026, Term 2 Brisbane North Secondary Zone Interschool Competition. We are honoured to see our students represent the school with confidence and pride. The players will now focus on the Miskin Cup in four weeks and the state selection competition in term 3.
This week we hosted another session in our STEM Seminar Series. We welcomed Saurabh Shrivastava from the Australian Genome Research Facility at UQ, who shared insights into the innovative work taking place in genome research and biotechnology.
Parent Teacher Interviews also provided an important opportunity for families, students and teachers to discuss their students' progress and celebrate achievements
Finally, our Year 11 Symposium helped students develop leadership skills through service, action and example, while also preparing them for future Student Leadership applications.
Thank you for your continued support of our students and our wider school community. I continue to be inspired by the many ways our students challenge themselves academically, creatively and personally each day.
“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out" – Robert Collier
Warm regards,
Queensland Academy for Science, Mathematics and Technology