Welcome to the ASMS in 2025. It’s been a whirlwind start and it has been great getting to know our new students and reconnecting with our existing students in the short time since I’ve been back from the International Students Science Fair 2025 in Thailand in Week 1. Some aspects of the start to our year have been a bit bumpy due to many staff illnesses, but we’re back on track now. 😊
Congratulations to the class of 2024!
We are very proud of their efforts and achievements; they have successfully moved on to a range of careers and tertiary courses. At the ASMS we see these successes as one part of the students’ learning journey:
- 99% of students received their SACE, ASMS’s largest cohort.
- 5 students achieved SACE ‘merit’ awards in Research Project (Aafreen Boparai, Regardt Frochtenicht, Vicky Lee, Venika Thakur) and Scientific Studies (Maddie Maurice-Jones).
- 95 students were offered entry to a course through SATAC (Maths & Science 12, Health / Health Sci related 28, Law/ Criminology 7, Comp Sci/ ICT 9, Engineering 25, Business/ Economics/ Architecture/Arts/Education 14). This does not include interstate or international offers. Three students have started apprenticeships.
- Of the 95, 81 received an offer to one of their first two preferences.
- Of the 95, 54% of students received an offer to Flinders University, 24% to the University of Adelaide, and 22% to the University of South Australia.
- The highest ATAR achieved by one our students was 98.35 with 22 students receiving an ATAR over 90. Many students will have received adjustment factors from the various Universities.
Each year some parents and community members ask why we don’t emphasise the ATARs our students receive. One of the many reasons is that we equally value the process of learning and the achievement of students’ individual goals and achievements. Something that comes easily to one, may be a stretch for another and the learning that traverses between the start and finish is different, independent of a score that is not needed for SACE completion and most tertiary course entry. Other reasons are that the pressure of high ATARs at times prevents learning retention, that a high entry ATAR can mean that the course is more popular not actually better, and for some universities only 30% gain their university offer based solely on their ATAR.
Curiosity in the Community Week 2025: In week 3 of Term 2 (12-16 May 2025) Central Studies students (Years 10 & 11) will be participating in Curiosity in the Community (CIC) Week and taking part in one activity for the week. Our aim is to extend STEM learning beyond the confines of the ASMS and into the community, where students can develop their Learner Attributes whilst undertaking meaningful community service with a range of activities on offer including camps, AR/VR with the community, working with local primary schools, work experience, sewing/knitting for charity, and enhancing local biodiversity. If you are involved in a business (ideally STEM related) that could host ASMS students for Work Experience during CIC week please email Jason Backler (jason.backler@asms.sa.edu.au) with any questions or contact details you have. Preference letters will be sent home to families soon.
Private providers: Some students and their families have requested space to meet with private allied health or other support providers. We are unable to provide space within the ASMS building for this purpose or to guarantee the availability of space, but are of course happy to support students to manage necessary absences for their appointments.
Students are, however, able to book study rooms in the Flinders Library in the Sturt building, which may be used for meetings with providers. Such meetings will be considered as a family absence with no supervision or duty of care provided, and students will need to sign out and sign back in on their return. As the facility is controlled by Flinders University the ASMS cannot guarantee the availability of the study rooms at any specific time, and any need to find alternatives will be between the student, family and provider.
Activities Day postponed: Due to the foreseeable hot weather conditions for Tuesday Week 3, we will postpone Activities Day until Tuesday 4th March (Week 6).
Gubernatorial Visit: We are privileged to anticipate the visit of Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC, Governor of South Australia to the ASMS, Thursday 13th March 2025. This special visit will provide an opportunity to showcase our innovative learning environment, celebrate student achievements, and engage in meaningful conversations about the future of education.
ASMS Portal: Students have access to the ASMS portal which has their learning material and the student handbook that outlines policies and procedures for a myriad of topics such as mobile phones and dress code. Parents and caregivers will be sent their log-on details for the portal and Daymap soon.
Please call the school if you are having problems accessing the portal or Daymap – they are important communication channels.
In relation to Dress Code, to incorporate both WHS and transcultural sensitivity, please note that students’ bodies should be covered from shoulders to legs, including the midriff and upper thighs; a few students haven’t been adhering to this in 2025. Students who come to school inappropriately dressed may be asked to wear clothing to cover themselves, including school-provided lab coats or t-shirts if required.
Staffing: Introducing our new teaching members:
- Sybille Wolff: Hi, I’m Sybille Wolff and I am going to be working in the Body in Question team as well as Learning Studies 13 for Semester 1. My background is teaching Mathematics and Digital Technology, and I am looking forward to working with everyone here at ASMS.
- Alasdair Hynd: My name is Alasdair Hynd and this is my first-year teaching. I have a background in History, Political Science and Linguistics, and am currently teaching The Energy Equation in Central Studies and English Literature in Year 12. I am enjoying working in an interdisciplinary setting and am grateful for the warm welcome I have received from both staff and students.
We look forward to a great year of learning and seeing growth in every student. I wish you all the best for the year; please introduce yourself as you see me or when you see me at the Meet The Teacher night 17 February. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
Kylie Eggers,
Principal