There are weeks in a school year that feel quietly routine, and then there are those that gather a different kind of energy, where the atmosphere shifts, and something more expansive takes hold. This has been one of those weeks.
Public Schools Alliance Student Leadership Breakfast
On Monday, Hollows and Jackson House Captains attended the Public Schools Alliance Student Leadership Breakfast at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The standout was the conversation with Trent Dalton. He spoke honestly about leadership, not as a title, but as everyday actions. From using your voice, standing by your values, and showing up for others, especially when it's uncomfortable. There was a strong focus on story, how the way we speak, listen, and share experiences shapes culture and a sense of belonging. A great opportunity for House Captains Finn and Chinmay to step back, reflect, and think about the kind of leaders they want to be in their final year and beyond.
Harmony Week
Across the campus, Harmony Week has unfolded not as a single event, but as a series of moments small and large; that together reflect who we are as a community. At its core, Harmony Week is a national celebration of cultural diversity, inclusion, and respect. It is an invitation to recognise that our differences do not divide us; rather, they deepen our understanding of one another.
At QASMT, this has been expressed in ways that feel both joyful and genuine.
Lunchtimes have been filled with movement and sound - students gathering for dance, stepping forward for karaoke, or simply watching and encouraging their peers. Henna designs have told quiet stories on hands and wrists, intricate and personal. Performances have brought together rhythm, tradition, and contemporary expression, reminding us that culture is not static, it evolves, carried forward by each new generation.
The Flag Parade stood as a centrepiece of the week. It was a powerful visual moment, students walking with confidence, holding the flags of their heritage. There is something deeply affirming in that act. Not just representation, but recognition.
A sense that every story has a place here.
What sits beneath all of this is a shared understanding: that respect is not a statement, but a practice. It is seen in how students listen, how they engage, how they make space for one another. These are the habits that shape a community over time.
Festival of Creativity
Looking ahead, this Friday brings our 'Twilight Traditions' themed, Festival of Creativity. It offers a different lens through which to view our students, one that highlights imagination, interpretation, and the willingness to explore ideas without a fixed outcome. Creativity here is not confined to performance or visual art; it appears in design thinking, in collaboration, and in the way, students approach complex challenges with originality.
Festival of Creativity images to be published in the Week 9 Blog.
Wellbeing
Wellbeing remains closely connected to this work. A student who feels seen and valued is more likely to participate, to take risks in their learning, and to support others in doing the same. Our ongoing focus on respectful relationships continues to guide conversations and actions across the school, reinforcing that academic growth and personal development are not separate paths, but closely linked.
Exciting Social News
Something new is coming in Term 2!
Not another noticeboard. Not another page you forget to check.
Think… SharePoint, but more like Instagram.
Students will be able to:
View curated photo collections from recent events
Stay up to date with what's happening across year levels and programs.
Sport. Performances. Culture. The in-between moments
Engage with the life of the school in a more visual, accessible way.
Importantly, this space has been designed with care. It remains a safe, school-managed environment. Purpose-built for our students, with wellbeing and digital responsibility at its core.
It's all in one place. Fast. Visual. Easy.
Zonta Young Women in Leadership Award
Congratulations to Seoirsin on being recognised through the Zonta Young Women in Leadership Award.
This award highlights young women who are actively making a difference - through volunteerism, leadership, and a genuine commitment to creating better opportunities to public service and civic causes. Seoirsin's recognition reflects not only her dedication to service, but her willingness to step into leadership roles and contribute to her community with purpose and integrity.
A fantastic achievement, and a well-deserved acknowledgement of the impact she is already making. We look forward to seeing where her leadership journey takes her next.
Wishing all families a wonderful weekend ahead... as you look through the images accompanying this week's blog, you will notice something consistent. It is not just the colour, or the movement, or the celebration. It is the ease with which students are together. Friendships that cross cultures. Conversations that move freely.
A sense of belonging that does not need to be announced - it is simply present.
There is a line by Maya Angelou that resonates here: “In diversity there is beauty and there is strength." This week, that strength has been visible in many forms, expressed through culture, through connection, and through the everyday interactions that define life at QASMT.
Warm regards,
Kath Kayrooz
Principal
Queensland Academy for Science, Mathematics and Technology