Welcome to Week 2 of Term 4. It has been a busy week at the Academy, with new families joining our community, students representing QASMT in the wider Brisbane community, and a host of performances and sporting events bringing our students together.Last Friday evening, our Year 11 students celebrated their Semi-Formal. Events like this give students the chance to celebrate with their peers, strengthen friendships and create memories that last well beyond their school years. I have enjoyed seeing the photos from the night, and it is wonderful to see so many happy faces. Thank you to the staff who helped organise and supervise the evening, and congratulations to our Year 11 cohort on a wonderful occasion.
On Monday, we welcomed families to our New Parent Information and Engagement Afternoon for incoming 2027 Year 7 and Year 10 students. It was lovely to meet our newest families and share what life at QASMT looks like, from our academic programs to our co-curricular opportunities and wellbeing supports. Starting at a new school is a significant step for both students and parents, and we are committed to making that transition as smooth and welcoming as possible. Thank you to the staff who contributed to the afternoon, and to the families who joined us. We look forward to welcoming our 2027 students to the Academy community.
On Tuesday evening, Year 10 student Abbie represented QASMT at the Brisbane City Council Consular Corps event, where she joined discussions on preparations for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Opportunities like this allow our students to engage with civic leaders and international representatives, and to contribute their voices to conversations that will shape our city's future. Abbie is pictured below with Councillor Givney. Congratulations, Abbie, on representing the Academy so well.
On Thursday morning, our Concert Band brought some festive spirit to the Academy with a casual Christmas Recital outside A Block before school. It was a relaxed and enjoyable performance, and it was lovely to see students and staff pause to listen and soak up the atmosphere. Sharing music with an audience of peers takes courage, and I congratulate all of our musicians on a wonderful start to the day. Thank you to the music staff who have supported and guided the band.
The excitement continued at first break, when the Auditorium filled for the finals of the SMT Open Badminton Championship. After several days of spectacular games across both the junior and senior divisions, our players competed in the third-place play-offs and the finals, cheered on by a loud and enthusiastic crowd. The official presentation followed, where we crowned our 2026 champions. Congratulations to our junior winners, Karl and Drake (Year 8), and our senior winners, Laurence, William and Eamon (Year 11), and to every student who competed with such skill and good sportsmanship. Thank you to the staff who supported the championship, and to Year 11 student Nont for his work in organising the event.
Thursday also saw our senior students take on the coaches from the Volleyball Academy in a friendly match. It was a fun and spirited contest, and it was great to see our students test their skills against such experienced players. The final score was one set apiece, a fantastic result against such experienced opponents. Playing against high-level coaches is a valuable chance to learn, and I congratulate everyone who took part. Thank you to the Volleyball Academy coaches for giving their time, and to Daniel McBride, our Sports Coordinator, for organising the match.
As the week draws to a close, our attention turns to events happening today and over the weekend. Year 7 student Isaac travels to Melbourne to compete in the Future Problem Solving National Final Event, running from 16 to 18 October. It is a significant achievement to be invited to compete at this level. Future Problem Solving is an international program that develops critical and creative thinking, and its competitions challenge students to research complex real-world issues, generate solutions and communicate their ideas. These are skills that will serve Isaac well in his studies and beyond. We are very proud of him for representing the Academy at a national level, and we wish him every success this weekend. 
Also competing today, our Girls Chess team is heading into the State Finals. Reaching this level reflects many hours of practice, strategic thinking and perseverance, and we are very proud of the students representing the Academy: Annabel, Bahar and Kristina (Year 7), Emma, Bella and Claire (Year 8), and Amelia, Thushmini, Yashica and Myra (Year 9). We wish them the very best of luck and look forward to sharing how they go in next week's blog. My thanks to Guy McNicol, our Chess Coordinator, for his dedication and support of our chess program.
This week has been a reminder that the Academy is at its best when students, staff and families come together. We welcomed the families who will join us in 2027, enjoyed some festive music outside A Block, cheered on our badminton and volleyball players, and watched our students step confidently into the wider community, whether in conversation about the future of our city or at the chessboard. I look forward to the many events still ahead this term and to seeing our students continue to grow in confidence and character. Thank you for being such an important part of the QASMT community.
Warm regards,
Kath Kayrooz
Principal
Queensland Academy for Science Mathematics and Technology