• Exam and Submission Block
• World Challenge
• Global Battle of the Bands
• Refugee Action centre
• Week of Music
• Student leadership process
• International Baccalaureate Requirements

The Academy calendar is certainly a very full one and as we become more established and better known we are approached to host or facilitate an increasing number of events.  Whilst these provide wonderful opportunities for our students to practice their talents or skills or apply their learning to a real time business scenario it means we have to be very strategic and deliberate in our planning within an annual calendar.  Students need to reflect this by making clear decisions on what they need to participate in versus what they may choose to participate in.  This is essential if they are going to maintain a healthy life balance.

As we evolve and learn we are trying to establish a pattern of annual events whereby students and parents can look ahead to see what Year 12 are doing and with confidence can expect that their student, who may be in Year 11, can see well in advance what choices and commitments they may have at that time of year, 12 months ahead.

Certainly our international Language study tours operate on this basis.  The tours are scheduled for Easter in the Year 12 year.  Knowing this, parents can plan for the cost of these from the time of enrolment if they choose for their student to participate in such an opportunity.  Our P&C endorses the tours 12 months in advance.  This week Year 11 students will receive information by way of letter introducing the 2010 tours for current Year 11 in Spanish and French.

In addition we will be announcing to students a new opportunity which the P&C has endorsed.  This opportunity involves overseas travel but has CAS (Creativity, Action and Service) at its core.  It is called the Global Challenge and will be offered to Year 10 students for travel in the summer break between their Year 11 and 12 years in 2010.  As indicated in the detail below there is a very strong focus on independence and service and it requires the student to show the determination to raise the funds required and for this not to be funded by the parent.  I believe there is a very valuable life lesson in this even prior to the overseas service component of the trip.  I look forward to seeing the response to this opportunity. Representatives from the Global Challenge will be at the academy on Wednesday to outline the program to interested Year 10 students.

Flexible Timetable and Assessment Block 7 – 18 September

As indicated in last week’s edition last week and this week have been really focussed on planning, set work completion and time management.  It has resulted in many students reflecting, in some cases uneasily, on how they are balancing their time between QACI and IB and life.  I see this as very positive and have had many long discussions this week supporting individuals on this concept as have the teachers in their curriculum areas or as success coaches. As we approach the next block of submissions and exams students in Years 10 and 11 will again be required to submit a plan of how they are going to use the flexible time they have been afforded.  We will be requiring them to have this plan signed by you as approval of their movements.  If a student has not submitted this to their success coach by Friday 4 September they will be required to spend each day of the assessment block at QACI.

World Challenge

The World Challenge is an exciting program that allows students to experience cultures beyond Australia.  The program aims to teach students to become leaders and think for themselves.  They are guided towards experiences but allowed to make safe mistakes and learn from them.

What is the Challenge?

The World Challenge invites a small group of current Year 10 students (usually no more than 10 per group) to come together and choose an adventure to a developing country.  Students raise the money they need for the expedition (it varies between locations but is anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000) over the course of a year.  The students, with the help of a Leader from World Challenge, will choose activities to be completed in our destination for next year – Malaysia.  At least one of the activities will be humanitarian.

Students will also participate in a camp where they will simulate having to work together as a team. All decisions for the camp, as with the trip, will be made by the students.  This gives them a greater understanding of the challenges they will face and the appropriateness of the decisions they have made.

The trip will take place in December 2010 and will last approximately 4-6 weeks.

What is the benefit?

• Students gain leadership and team work skills
• Organisation and decision-making skills are learnt because they become vital for survival
• Students are able to experience a new culture in a developing country and appreciation of global culture
• All activities can be counted towards CAS and can be linked into the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award 
• A sense of achievement and accomplishment in earning the funds to attend as well as upon completion of the project

Safety

The World Challenge has been running their program for the past 21 years.  They have developed an extensive training program and formula for the students to follow.  Their Leaders, who accompany students, are trained in dealing with difficult situations or eventuality.

Included in the cost is medical insurance and assistance, training and expedition equipment.

For more information on the World Challenge you can visit their website at

www.worldchallenge.com.au

Global Battle of the Bands

QACI has two bands which are competing in this competition.  Congratulations to Magic Room and members Rowan Handley and Marty Koleczko who won the Ipswich district competition last weekend.  They now move onto the Brisbane regional final.

Our other entrants Harperlea, including Lucas Price, Josh Iselin, Sam Ryan and Cameron Ross compete this weekend in the Brisbane district competition.  If they win they will come against Magic Room. We will then be able to have our own battle on site.

QACI students support Refugee Action Centre

Over the past months a group of students under the guidance of John Carozza have been working with the Refugee Action Centre in developing a multimedia education kit. This kit was launched by the Minister of Multicultural and Community Affairs at QACI last night.  As a CAS initiative these students turned recording of Asylum seekers stories into an animated film to educate the community on their plight.  In so doing they worked closely with these people and developed empathy for not only the individuals but the plight of some communities across the world.

The finished product was stunning and applauded and acclaimed by all who were at the launch.  Well done Aidan Hobdell, Chris Drinkwater, Jacob Clark, Shuwei Zhang , Brandon Maycock for the animation and Josh Beattie for his original score that accompanied the animation.

QACI fills with Music

This week saw the commencement of the QACI concert series which will see 14 different musical groups and performers across a diverse range of genres and styles play in the QACI Theatre.  Yesterday saw the first of these with BA Da Boom and tonight we will host Misinterpretato from 7.30pm.  All the concerts are free and the last is on November 6.

Not to be overshadowed by these guests, Saturday night will see QACI showcase our various ensembles and performance groups from 7.30pm.  A highlight will be our acclaimed Vocal Collective performing for the very first time Karl Jenkins' “Ardiemus” Songs of Sanctuary.  Cost of entry is $5 with $3 for concessions.

Student leadership process launch

On assembly this week we launched the process for the selection of the 2010 student governance team made up of Student Directors (from Year 11) and House managers (from Year 10).  Students have been emailed the applications.  This year we  are introducing a specialised focus within each of these roles, reflecting the nature and significance of digital learning in our Academy.  One of the directors and one each of the house managers will have a specific leadership focus in the moral and ethical use of technology and they will lead the highly successful Apple Angels group.

The International  Baccalaureate Diploma Requirements

Executive Summary for Parents & Students

•     A student must engage in the full program of subjects from each of the six (6) groups. IB does allow some specific variations.
•    A student must also complete requirements of

                      C.A.S. – Creativity, Action, Service

                      EE – Extended Essay

                     T.O.K. – Theory of Knowledge

Higher Level / Standard Level Subjects

•      Of the six subjects studied a minimum of three (3) must be studied at Higher Level and the remainder at Standard Level.  A maximum of four (4) can be taken at Higher Level.
•      The difference in Higher / Standard Level is the number of teaching hours.

                                     Higher Level – 240 hours per course.

                                     Standard Level – 150 hours per course.

•      Different Subject courses differentiate between the HL and SL in different ways in achieving this.

                                    e.g. – core standard course in both with additional topics in HL.

                                          – the same topics in each but covered to a different depth.

                                          – differing assessment requirements.

Subject Gradings

•      Achievement in each subject is rated from 1 to 7.
•      HL / SL subjects are treated the same in the contribution to the total diploma score.  i.e. A 6 rating in an SL subject is not worth less than a 6 rating in the equivalent HL subject.
•      A maximum score of 45 can be achieved in a diploma.

                                        6 subjects x 7 score                 =                     42 points

                                       T.O.K., Extended Essay             =                       3 points

                                                                                                            45 points

Achieving the Diploma

A diploma will be awarded to a candidate whose total score is 24, 25, 26 or 27 points or more,

provided all of the following requirements are met

•    Numeric grades have been awarded in all six (6) subjects.
•    An approved program of C.A.S. has been completed.
•    An A to D grade in T.O.K. and Extended essay (from 2010 examinations)
•    No grade of 1 in any subject.
•    No grade of 2 at higher level.
•    Overall, there are no more that three (3) grades 3 or below.
•    At least 12 points have been gained on Higher Level subjects.
•    At least 9 points have been gained on Standard Level subjects. 
•    The Award Committee has not judged the candidate of malpractice.

The International Baccalaureate Diploma and the QCE

As you would be aware our students' path sees them eligible for two qualifications after completing Year 12 – The Diploma and the Queensland Certificate of Education. Here are some facts about the two and how they link.

• The Queensland Studies Authority (QSA) issues the QCE whilst the IB Organisation issues the Diploma.
• The IB sends the results obtained directly to the QSA.
• The QCE is issued by the QSA twice a year in December (for most QLD students) and July. As the IB officially release Diploma results and award diplomas out of Cardiff after January the QSA will not issue the QCE until after this formal process, resulting in the QCE being issued to our students in July.
• Despite point 3, the IB sends results for tertiary admission directly to tertiary admission centres when results are released live to students in early January.  The Tertiary Admission Centres are prepared to use these results and do so to make offers.
• There are set criteria for obtaining the IB Diploma and separate criteria for the QCE.  In most cases if a student achieves the Diploma they will achieve the QCE but there are exceptions.  A student may receive the Diploma but not the QCE.
• The QCE requires students to show a literacy and numeracy standard.  In most cases this criterion is satisfied by showing a grade SA level equivalent level of achievement in one semester of a Mathematics or English course.

(At time of printing this only applied to QSA English and Mathematics courses and not IB subjects).

• A student’s QCE account remains open for 9 years but closes as soon as the requirements have been met and the QCE is issued.
• Tertiary entrance does not depend on the attainment of the QCE.  In most cases tertiary entrance depends on the achievement level within the course.
• All students will receive a Statement of Attainment from the QSA.
• All students have a learning account with the QSA which can be accessed through the Career Information Service website.  Student’s use their LUI number and password.  All QACI students have been issued with their details previously. This account shows the subjects they are studying and any courses they may have completed e.g. AMEB level 5.  The registered learning organisation responsible for delivery of that course submits these results to the QSA directly.  As an Academy we submit the results for IB.
• A student may retake assessment within the IB up until 12 months after the Year 12 November exams. The two opportunities coincide with the May IB exam session and the following November session. There is a charge for this retake.

Date	Topic/Audience	From	Is a return due?
28/08/2009	All Year 11 French/Spanish studnets	Mrs Preece/Mrs Leah	yes

 

Important dates – The month ahead

All students have real time access to the Academy calendar via iCal.

29/08 – Classroom music showcase

30/08 – Bridge to Brisbane

1&2 /09 – QCS test – Nominated year 12 students 

2 /09 – Year 12 Parent Information evening – Final exam preparation and support program

5 /09 – Young Scholars workshops at QACI

7/09 – Year 10/11 Submission week - normal timetable suspended

7/09 – Year 12 commence Internal assessment focus and language orals

9/09 – Creative Generations Excellence Awards in Visual Arts & Design (QACI Gallery)

12/09 – Language Tour to China departs

14/09 – Year 10/11 Exam block commences

16/09 – P&C meeting 7.00pm

18/09 – Year 10 Writing Festival excursion

18/09 – P&C social at QACI 5.30pm to 8.30pm

5 /10 – Term 4 commences (no student free day)