News, Week 2, Term 3, 2026

This issue

1. Principal’s Message
2. Important Dates
3. Parent Information Night
4. Calculator Information for Year 10 & 11 Families
5. Japanese Homestay in Term 4
6. Celebrating NAIDOC Week
7. Earth and Cosmos
8. Terra Knowing
9. Crochet Coral Reef
10. Immunisation Catch Up Clinic
11. Multicultural Day
12. Careers and Pathways Update
13. Enrichment News
14. Sports Update
15. Library News
16. Wellbeing Information

Principal’s Message

Principal’s Message

At the time of publishing there are approximately 12 weeks of classes remaining for this year’s Year 12 students. I would like to restate our commitment to these students and assure them and their families that we are here for any support required. However, we also acknowledge that students themselves need to make a commitment and put in effort to achieve their SACE and the post-school options they are striving for. Please contact your Learning Studies teacher or specific subject teachers if you have any queries or concerns regarding your students’ progress.

In the coming weeks, Year 11s will be hearing about and investigating their Learning Program for 2027. We say Learning Program over subject selection as we want the students to use their agency to focus on what they want to learn rather than the discrete packets that stand-alone subjects are sometimes bundled into. We ask students and families to consider their learning and pathway preferences and speak with us about how this can be achieved. We will have a large range of stand-alone and personalised learning programs on offer in 2027.

Call for Parent Volunteers – 2026 International Students Science Fair

In 2026 the Australian Science and Mathematics School will be hosting the International Students Science Fair from November 30 – December 4 with many schools from across the globe coming to our school to collaborate with science as a focus. On the Wednesday night (2 December 6pm) there will be a Cultural Evening with the students hosting cultural stalls and doing performances for everyone. The dinner that night will be an ‘Aussie barbecue’ and we are looking for parents to coordinate and work at the event. If you are interested in coordinating or supporting this event, please email me (kylie.eggers547@schools.sa.edu.au).

Science Week 2026 15 – 23 August

This year, our school is celebrating National Science Week under the theme “Seeds of Science: nurturing science for all”. Throughout the week, students will participate in a variety of activities, including a science quiz for Colour Points and a chance for everyone to show their passion by wearing science-themed gear or t-shirts. The theme encourages us to discover how curiosity, inquiry, and shared learning help knowledge flourish, much like seeds growing in a nurturing environment. Science Week is a celebration of creativity and collaboration, with opportunities to investigate seeds in all their forms!

Open Night

Our next Open Night for prospective students is August 12, 6-8pm. You can find more details and register here. During the event, attendees will have the opportunity to meet with our school leaders, teaching staff, and students. This is a great chance to experience our school’s unique interdisciplinary learning environment, discover how our students shape their own learning, pursue their passions, explore emerging sciences, and benefit from our university links and pathways. Please feel free to share this information with anyone who might be interested. If you have any questions or need further details, don’t hesitate to reach out.

Important Dates

Parent Information Night – Year 11 into Year 12

Students who are in Year 11 and their caregivers are invited to an information session where pathways through Year 12 and beyond are discussed.

Not sure of the Learning Program you want for Year 12? Wondering about different post-school pathways? Not clear on what your post-school options are? Thinking about which university or RTO to attend? All of these and more will be discussed.

Come along with your child to hear from experts, have the opportunity to ask questions, investigate options and start to make decisions about the future on Wednesday 26 August 2026 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM.

Register for the event here.

Calculator Information for Year 10 & 11 Families

Year 10 and 11 students in Terra Knowing will be using their graphics calculators in the upcoming module. The calculator will also be used regularly throughout the Earth and Cosmos program and in all Stage 2 mathematics subjects if they are planning to continue with maths to year 12.

Any of the calculators on the below list are currently permitted for use in SACE external examinations for 2027 and 2028:

Although any of the calculators above are permissible, there are some features in the CASIO fx-1AU GRAPH that allow students to perform calculations with greater efficiency. 

Please be mindful if you are purchasing online that the fx-1, fx-CG50 and fx-CG20 models are not on the approved calculator list as these models have additional features not allowed by the SACE board. The model number must be followed by AU. 

As the fx-CG50 AU and fx-CG20 AU have been discontinued you may also have difficulty finding these models in stores. 

If procuring a graphics calculator and exercise book in the next few weeks is not going to be possible, please email our curriculum leader for mathematics Femia.Bakuszowski@asms.sa.edu.au so we can put supports in place.

Japanese Homestay for Term 4

We are excited to announce the ASMS has a Japanese homestay opportunity coming up early Term 4! During Week 3, Term 4 we are hosting a Study Tour of 5 students from Seishokaichi High School from Sunday 8 November to Friday 13 November 2026.

 As a homestay family you will have the opportunity to not only show off the wonderful things that make Australia and South Australia unique, but you will also have the chance to learn about your homestay student’s culture too!  As this is a Study Tour program families can receive reimbursement to support their student while they are here which also allows spending money for the whole family to explore our beautiful region together! 

All family types are eligible to become homestays so get in contact with us now via email international@asms.sa.edu.au or by completing the Homestay Registration of Interest form. To find out more visit our website here.

Please direct any questions to our International Services and Student Programs Manager, Shannon Sellar, Shannon.sellar@asms.sa.edu.au

Celebrating NAIDOC Week

This week the ASMS celebrated NAIDOC Week. This is a week to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth. 

This is NAIDOC Week 50 years Deadly and our students engaged in a range of activities within our Learning Studies Program. They may have researched some amazing First Nations Icons and many of whom are awesome South Australians! They could have made friendship bracelets and or weaved a bracelet for themselves or a friend.

Our most popular activity was inspired by Dion Beasley and his ‘Cheeky dogs’. Dion is an Alywarr artist who was living in Tennant Creek Northern Territory (now Hervey Bay), who is profoundly deaf and has muscular dystrophy. He began his artistic career in 2006, creating the “Cheeky Dogs” T-shirt brand before expanding into books. Dion is best-known for his unique observations of everyday life in remote communities – the streetscapes, families and most notably, the camp dogs that rule the streets. Our students have been creating their own cheeky dog artwork (often using their own pets as inspiration) which we plan to keep and create a display to brighten our school space.

Earth and Cosmos

In Earth and Cosmos, we are winding up our focus on Module 1 –Why here?, with a focus on the factors that support life on Earth, such as the sun, presence of gas giants, liquid water etc. Students are delving into a specific factor to become the ‘expert’. The module culminates in week 2 with expert groups. Students are given a science fiction-based storyline, which provide a context or prompt for them to argue and defend why their specific factor is the most important for life on Earth. 

Moving into Module 2 –What’s out there? in Week 3, sees the cohort split with half engaging in learning around the cold war and space race and exploring the texts The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and The Sentinel as a comparative piece. The remaining half will explore evidence for the origins of the universe through the Big Bang theory and doppler shift and using trigonometric functions to determine where objects are located in space and how to model star magnitude for Cepheid variable stars.

Rounding out Module 2, students will investigate and model NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirect Test (DART) using understandings of motion, density, Newton’s laws, coding and robotics and using computer aided design (CAD) tools to enhance this analysis. 

Terra Knowing

Did you know your student spent this week exploring a hidden world teeming with billions of organisms right beneath their feet? This term, students in Terra Knowing have been examining soils through geological, chemical, and biological perspectives.

Student engagement has been impressive, with students using microscopes to analyse soil structure and texture and find soil creatures. Another highlight has been culturing soil microbes. By isolating and growing local bacteria and fungi on agar plates, students gain insights into the role of decomposers in nutrient cycling and biochemical decomposition. This week we have started looking at the ecosystem of soils and how these are crucial in maintaining healthy soils in the often challenging Australian environment.

Students will soon select a technology or innovation to explore in more detail, with a specific focus on its application or limitations. We cannot wait to see how our students analyse and critique these cutting-edge tools.

Crochet Coral Reef

Just an update on our crochet coral reef that we are building at the ASMS. If you have visited us recently, you may have noticed that the concrete pillar in the front reception area is slowly coming alive with crochet coral, fish, jelly fish and even a fabulous whale shark! This is an initiative stemming from the Central Studies, Sustainable Futures, where our school community including, students, staff and families have been adding to building a crochet coral reef.

The ultimate goal is to build a thriving and colourful crochet coral ecosystem and then demonstrate the effect of global warming and ocean acidification by generating a ‘bleached coral’ version. This is truly an ASMS community artwork, and we encourage all contributions from our greater ASMS family to make our crochet satellite reef even more fabulous. 

Immunisation Catch Up Clinics

For Year 10 Students who missed the Meningococcal vaccinations through the school immunisation program, the City of Mitcham offers free immunisation at their clinics. For more information, head to their website here for more information and details on opening times.

Multicultural Day

On 29 July, the ASMS celebrated Multicultural Day.

The day’s activities included a cultural dress parade, learning greetings in other languages, engaging in cultural workshops, applying henna and making origami.

At lunchtime, we had food stalls set up representing cuisine from all over the world including Malaysia, India, Brazil, Greece, South Korea, Scotland, Lebanon, Australia and more to raise funds for World Vision through the ASMS Service Club.

Thank you to all our staff and students for all their hard work organising this event, it was fantastic to see our school come together to celebrate diversity in our community.

Careers and Pathways Update

ASMS Career Expo

ASMS is hosting 12 tertiary or industry providers onsite Wednesday 5^th August. This means an altered timetable with the expo happening after lunch from 1:40pm until dismissal. The session after lunch will occur during Session 2, 10:40am-12:20pm.

Students will have the opportunity to confirm, validate or explore from different pathways within their field of choice.

ASMS will be welcoming and is grateful for the time commitment of:

• Flinders University
• Adelaide University
• Torrens University
• Australian Maritime College
• TAFE SA
• Academy of Interactive Entertainment
• ADF Careers
• Fortinet
• Engineers Australia
• Southern Adelaide Local Health Network
• KWP+Partners
• Student Pathways team

SATAC Information for Year 12s and Families

Reminder that SATAC Applications open 3^rd August for 2027 entry, early bird fees will end at the end of September. SATAC has released the 2027 Course Guide and Tertiary Entrance electronic books. You may wish to find the course you are considering for preferences and confirm prerequisites and other details. Check for any updates in SATAC codes based on campus or study format.

SATAC NDIS Applicants

Starting for 2027 undergraduate applications, applicants who are participants in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) during their Year 12 studies will be eligible to apply for the University Equity Scheme through individual equity adjustments. Applicants can provide evidence of their NDIS participation through their mySATAC account when applying for the equity scheme. This information will remain confidential and private and will not be visible to institutions. For further information about equity adjustments, visit the Adjustment Factors page on SATAC’s website.

Certificate III in Information Technology

ASMS is looking for expressions of interest from current Year 10 students to study a Certificate III in Information Technology in 2027. The course is delivered at ASMS by TAFESA. Students use the certificate for their SACE completion or entry into further study. There is a time commitment from 1:15-4:15pm each Tuesday and Thursday during the TAFE Term. This would mean Tuesday Tutoring and Passion Project time would be utilised for the Cert III during the students’ Year 11.

Once students have submitted this expression of interest, ASMS will assess all applicants and make decisions about whether to support the Certificate III as part of each individual SACE Pathway. While there are limited spots available, we encourage any interested students to complete the EOI; it is easier to withdraw later than to apply later. 

In 2026, the cost of the Certificate was $1215 for Cybersecurity and $1539 for Programming, which ASMS will cover a % of the TAFE contract amount. Where possible ASMS will attempt to cover the full TAFE contract amount. International or visa students may be subject to additional cost based on TAFESA registrations. Costs are subject to alteration at TAFESA’s discretion.

The expression of interest form can be found here.

TAFE Cert III Information Technology Flyer

Please fill it in by 3:20pm 14 August 2026.

Flinders Agreement -This pathway that follows on from TAFE is ideal for students looking to enter digital fields in the eligible Flinders courses attached. 

Flinders Pathway Schedule

Enrichment News

Flinders Enrichment Program

On 2 July, Week 10, Term 2 Sybille, Bronte and Richard took over 40 Year 10 students to Flinders University Medical Centre, Bedford Park campus and the Sturt Camps to engage in the Flinders Enrichment Program.

“I was in Stream 5 (medicine, lab medicine and paramedicine). Today I learnt how to perform CPR and intubate someone unconscious. Our paramedicine workshop was my favourite by far; it was so interactive and engaging and taught us skills that are so important.  The other workshops (lab medicine and medicine) were super fun and engaging and I learnt a lot. Thank you so much for this opportunity, I took a lot out of today’s enrichment program.” Izzy, Year 10

“I was in stream 5 today (paramedicine and clinical medicine) and a good quote was that “your results at the end of high school are important but they don’t have to define the rest of your career. Flinder’s offers many pathways to help you get where you want to go”. This quote was said during the clinical medicine talk, and I also learnt interesting practical skills during paramedicine like intubation and CPR.” Gracie, Year 10

“I was in stream 5 (medicine, lab medicine, and paramedicine). Today I learnt how to intubate someone and how to performCPR. These are very important things to know because they can be a lifesaving skill.” Stela, Year 10

Space Week

Space Passport Program run by Hamilton Secondary College

On Tuesday 21st July, Week 1, Term 3 Richard took 15 students to the Space Passport event run as part of Space Week. Students attended a number of stalls at the convention from local space related companies, industries, scientists and engineers. They will be able to ask 1-on-1 questions and receive guidance on subject choices related to careers and pathways, as well as apprenticeship and work experience opportunities.

It was really fun; I got to learn the many opportunities into the Aerospace & Astrophysics side of careers which has helped build an encouragement more into the field of work I really want to strive towards. (Caden B, 11)

Learning that there are many different pathways into the space industry, with careers suited to a variety of interests. The space industry offers a wide range of career opportunities beyond being an astronaut, like roles in engineering, technology, communications, design, science, law, and finance.  (Amilie H, 11)

Astronaut Exploration Workshop

On Friday, 24th July, Campbell took a small group of students to the Adelaide University, Waite Campus, Urrbrae to participate in the Astronaut workshops as part of Space Week. The morning session was around Exploration Workshop where students go to hear from the experiences of Eric’s experiences as a polar explorer and astronaut, aiming to inspire and motivate students to dream big and pursue their passions with courage and self-belief. The afternoon session was on Human Performance for Space & Earth: Food & Nutrition. This workshop was presented by Astronaut in partnership with P4S, this session explores how nutrition and plant science support human performance in space and other extreme environments, including hands-on time in a laboratory setting.

“We arrived at the Adelaide University’s Waite Campus and met astronaut and polar explorer, Eric Philips. We did a few activities on planning an expedition from one side of Antarctica to the South Pole, which included calculating the amount of equipment needed for 100 days and managing the depots along the way. Next, we learned about Casey Station in Antarctica, followed by a presentation on Eric’s experience going to space and the different research he conducted during his mission. Lastly, we learned about how plants might be grown in space and why it is important to meet the body’s nutritional needs in microgravity. Overall, it was an amazing day where we learned about many different things related to space.” – Tabitha R, Year 11

“The excursion on Friday was very interesting and I learnt a lot from Eric and about food in space. Eric talked about his experience exploring the poles and how prepared to become an astronaut.  We also learned how astronauts grow plants in space right now and they are going to find new solutions to grow plants on different planets. We also had a presentation on how spinach is used in space.” – Marcus G, Year 10

Young Changemakers Summit 2026

Our ASMS representatives Ark and Mayla went to their first meeting for the Young Changemakers Summit 2026 on Friday 26 June. The pair will be attending another summit day later in the year. Formerly known as SA SRC, Young Changemakers Network SA reflects a shift toward broader participation, stronger regional engagement, and multiple pathways for youth leadership and advocacy. The refreshed model responds directly to what young people told us they want: meaningful action, local relevance, and genuine opportunities to contribute. 

Young Changemakers Network SA is bigger, more flexible, and open to more young people – especially those who want to take action on issues that matter to them.

“The forum let me meet and organise with other young people passionate about advocacy and change to design campaigns about issues that matter to us. These campaigns will continue throughout the year and can act as real mechanisms for meaningful change” (Ark, Yr 12)

Well done Malya and Ark, we are proud of your efforts and leadership so far.

Sports Update

The ASMS sporting program has continued to provide students with valuable opportunities to represent the school, with our statewide knockout teams taking to the field and our debating teams enjoying another successful round.

Both our boys and girls statewide knockout soccer teams recently competed in the opening round of their respective competitions. While neither team progressed beyond the first round, both represented the school with outstanding sportsmanship, determination and teamwork.

Our boys team travelled to Blackwood High School at the end of last term to compete against several schools. The team recorded two impressive victories throughout the day but were ultimately unable to overcome the host school, Blackwood High School, who progressed to the next round of the competition. There were many outstanding individual and team performances, with our students consistently demonstrating the ASMS values both on and off the field. They came incredibly close to finishing as the top team for the day, and all players should be proud of their efforts.

In Week 1 of Term 3, our girls’ knockout team travelled to Tatachilla Lutheran College for their opening round. The team finished the day with one win and two losses, an excellent result considering many of the students had never played together before and only a small number currently play club soccer. The improvement shown throughout the day was fantastic, with the team growing in confidence and cohesion with every match. Their hard work was rewarded in the final game, where they secured an impressive 4-2 victory after finding their best team combination. The girls demonstrated excellent resilience, teamwork and school spirit, and should be congratulated on their performance.

Debating

Outside of sport, our ASMS debating teams continue to achieve outstanding success in the Debating SA competition. Our Year 10 team remains undefeated after winning all three of their debates and has two rounds remaining before the end of the regular season. The senior team has recorded two wins and one loss and will soon compete in their short-preparation debate, which concludes their regular season in Week 3. A strong performance should see them progress to the finals, meaning both of our debating teams are well placed for exciting finishes to their seasons.

There are still plenty of opportunities for students to get involved throughout the remainder of the term. Upcoming events include the table tennis competition, knockout volleyball and the second round of the boys’ basketball knockout competition. Our boys’ basketball team will host Hamilton Secondary College, with the winner progressing to the final round of our division. We wish all of our competitors the very best in their upcoming events.

Thank you to all of the students, staff and volunteers who continue to support our sporting and co-curricular programs. In particular, thank you to the teachers who have coached and supervised teams, and to our support staff for their assistance with organising transport, consent processes and the many behind-the-scenes tasks that make these opportunities possible.

Library News

Wellbeing – Finding the Right Support for Your Young Person

It is normal for young people and families to need help at different stages. Challenges with learning, wellbeing and health can sometimes become difficult to manage without additional support. The important thing is knowing where to begin.

Notice what has changed

Parents and caregivers are often the first to notice something is different.

These might include:

• changes in mood, behaviour or sleep
• difficulty attending or engaging with school
• withdrawing from joyful activities
• challenges with learning, organisation or workload
• friendship, relationship or family concerns
• physical or mental health concerns
• significant changes or pressures within the family
• financial or legal issues

A single sign does not necessarily indicate a serious problem. Changes that interfere with daily life over a period of time are worth following up.

Start with a conversation

Where possible choose a calm time to speak with your young person. Begin with what you have noticed rather than making assumptions about what is wrong.

Some examples include:

• “I’ve noticed that things seem more difficult lately.”
• “You don’t seem like yourself at the moment.”
• “Is there anything making school or home harder right now?”
• “What kind of support would feel helpful?”

Once the concerns are clearer, consider what type of support may be helpful. Some challenges may need to be approached from several directions. For example, a student experiencing school avoidance may benefit from support at school, assistance from a general practitioner and ongoing therapeutic support.

When there are several concerns, start with the most urgent or manageable issue. Taking one practical step can make the situation feel less overwhelming.

Connect with the ASMS

Parents and caregivers are encouraged to contact their young person’s Learning Studies Teacher, relevant teachers or the ASMS Wellbeing Team.

ASMS staff can:

• listen to your concerns
• help identify what may be affecting the student
• discuss available school supports or adjustments
• coordinate communication between relevant staff
• suggest appropriate external services
• work collaboratively with families and outside professionals.

Providing the school with relevant information can help staff respond consistently and understand what may be affecting the student.

Finding support in the community

South Australia has a wide range of services that provide assistance with health, mental health, housing, food, finances, disability, legal matters, family support, counselling, education and social connection.

Useful online directories include:

• Ask Izzy — support with housing, food, finances, health, counselling, legal issues and family violence. Ask Izzy

• Affordable SA — South Australian services relating to cost of living pressures, accommodation, transport, food, healthcare and wellbeing. Affordable SA

• SAcommunity — a broad directory of South Australian community organisations, services and local groups. SA Directory of Community Services | SAcommunity – Connecting Up Australia

• Lifeline Service Finder — counselling, crisis assistance and community support services across Australia. Service finder | Lifeline

These directories allow families to search by location and type of need, without needing to know the name of a particular service.

Finding the right fit:

Finding the right service takes time. Some organisations may have waiting lists, eligibility requirements or may need meet the unique needs of your family.

When a service cannot assist due to a waiting list, ask if they have a cancellation list to be placed on. When eligibility becomes a barrier ask if the service can recommend another provider or pathway.

Reaching out for support is not a sign of failure. It is a practical and caring response when challenges become difficult to manage alone.

If families are unsure where to begin please contact your LSG teacher or ASMS Wellbeing Team.

Need help? Get in touch with ICT

If you are having any issues with the portal, or Daymap, please get in touch with by emailing ict@asms.sa.edu.au.