On Wednesday, two QASMT teams competed in their Grand Final debates in the Queensland Debating Union (QDU) competition, held at Brisbane Girls Grammar School and Brisbane Grammar School. It was an outstanding evening, with our students demonstrating exceptional preparation, skill and composure.
We are immensely proud of our Year 12s, with our 12.1 team, comprising Lydia, Devna, Dami, Nikita and Aiyana, unanimously winning their Grand Final against St John's Anglican College. Debating as the negative team on the challenging topic, “That the 'good migrant' archetype does more harm than good", the team presented a difficult argument with confidence and skill.
Our Senior A team, comprising Mahjabeen, Richard, Crowley, Prabha and Gavindi, competed against Brisbane State High School in the Grand Final after progressing through the competition undefeated. Debating the short-preparation topic, “That we regret the narrative that medicine should prioritise prolonging human life above all else", they narrowly missed out in a 5–4 split decision. We are incredibly proud of their dedication, talent and ability to compete so closely at the highest level.
A further highlight was Senior A team member Richard being awarded Speaker of the Night, recognising his outstanding talent, skill and dedication to debating.
The success of our debating teams extends well beyond the Grand Finals. Out of more than 1,100 teams competing statewide, QASMT achieved 3rd place overall in the QDU aggregate trophy. Ten QASMT teams reached the finals, with four progressing to the quarter-finals and two reaching the semi-finals and Grand Finals, a magnificent reflection of the success of our Years 8–12 teams throughout the competition.
I congratulate all our students who participated in QDU this year, as well as the staff who supported and coached our teams. Their achievements demonstrate the value of perseverance, collaboration, critical thinking and confidence in engaging with complex ideas.
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We are also proud to celebrate the recent achievement of Harshika, who competed at the Haidong Gumdo World Championships in South Korea in late July, winning the Under-15 Colour Belt division. This is a fantastic accomplishment and a terrific example of the dedication, discipline and commitment our students demonstrate in their pursuits beyond the Academy. Congratulations to Harshika on this outstanding achievement!
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On Friday, our community came together for our Uniform Free Day – Wear it Purple, supporting an important message of inclusion, acceptance and respect. Wear it Purple brought our community together in support of LGBTQIA+ young people and reinforced the importance of creating an environment in which every young person feels safe, valued and included.
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We also celebrated the joy of reading through our Book Week Parade, a marvellous celebration within our Academy community. The parade brought favourite books and characters to life, allowing students to showcase their creativity while celebrating literacy and the joy of reading.
Book Week plays an important role in encouraging positive reading habits and engaging students with diverse stories, perspectives and ideas. It is also an excellent reminder that literacy extends beyond the classroom, with reading and storytelling helping to develop imagination, curiosity and a lifelong appreciation for books. It was fantastic to see our students embrace the occasion with such creativity and enthusiasm.
As we approach the conclusion of Term 3, I am reminded once again of the many ways in which our students learn and grow beyond the classroom. This week has seen students preparing for important examinations, demonstrating excellence in debating, achieving success on the international stage, promoting inclusion and celebrating literature and the joy of reading.
These pursuits are an important part of an education at QASMT. While academic excellence remains central to our work, we also want our students to develop the confidence, compassion, resilience and curiosity to make a positive contribution to the world around them. In so many ways, these experiences reflect the qualities we seek to foster through the IB Learner Profile: students who are knowledgeable, caring, open-minded, reflective and willing to take on new challenges.
I would like to thank our staff for the considerable work that goes into enriching the lives of our students. Whether supporting students through Mock Examinations, coaching and supporting our debating teams, organising community events or helping bring celebrations such as Book Week to life, their commitment makes an enormous difference to our students' learning and development.
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As we move into the final weeks of Term 3, I encourage all students to continue to embrace every chance to learn, grow and contribute, while supporting one another and playing an active role in our Academy community. Thank you to our students, staff and families for another exceptional week at QASMT. It is an honour to see our students continue to learn, challenge themselves, support others and celebrate the many dimensions of our Academy community.
Warm regards,
Kerry Bullock
Acting Principal
Queensland Academy for Science Mathematics and Technology