eNews Archive Issue 10 - 29 March 2018

I would like to thank Mrs Kate O’Neil and Ms Jenny Dodds who have taken Mr Bruce Bullpitt’s classes while he was on long service leave during Term 1. We wish them well, although we will see them from time to time as they remain supply teachers at the school.

While on leave Mr Bullpitt contacted me to say, that ‘the time to retire had come and that he would not be returning to St Margaret’s in Term 2’. Mr Bullpitt has been a teacher at St Margaret’s since 1984 and during that time he has taught a wide range of subjects, including Modern and Ancient History; Humanities; History; Economics and Geography. In 1991 he was appointed to a position of responsibility, Organiser of Clubs and in 1996 became the subject coordinator of History. After 34 years teaching at St Margaret’s we wish Mr Bullpitt all the best for retirement and for this next phase of life’s journey.

We also farewell long time staff member and past parent, Tracey Bruce, who the students will know either through the Primary School or through her involvement in Netball. We wish Mrs Bruce well on this next phase of her professional journey.

Mr John Walsh, who replaced Ms Naomi Holley while she was on Maternity Leave as the Head of Faculty - Business and Pathways, also leaves us at the end of this term. We thank Mr Walsh for his contributions and his support of the students during this time and wish him well in retirement.

Congratulations to the following teachers who successfully applied for a one-week exchange:

St Hilda’s, Perth – Emily Labinsky; Mary Surtees

St Catherine’s, Melbourne – Tom McCormick

And to Mathew Stein who has been awarded the The Amanda Minotti Teaching Fellowship to Emma Willard School, Troy, New York.

Parent Involvement that Makes a Difference

Parents are important to their children’s academic success. But researchers disagree about the type of parent involvement that is most helpful. Is it helping with homework? Reading to children? Engaging children in home learning activities? Teaching social skills? Communicating with teachers? Attending meetings and events at the school? Being involved in school decision-making?

Research suggests that none of these is what really makes the difference. Traditional measures of parental involvement do not capture the fundamental ways in which parents actually help their children academically. So, what does boost student achievement?

STAGE-SETTING

According to new research, it’s stage-setting. The analogy is to what a theatre’s behind-the-scenes workers do so actors can perform successfully in the show. A good performance can be characterised as a partnership between two critical components: (1) the actor embodying his or her role, and (2) the stage-setter creating and maintaining an environment that reinforces (or does not compromise) the actor’s embodiment of the role.

This is how many parents construct and manage the social environment around their children in a manner that creates the conditions in which academic success is possible.

HOW IT WORKS

The most effective parents set the stage for their children’s academic success by the life space and messages they orchestrate.

They provide a secure home and neighbourhood environment so children don’t have to worry about food and shelter and getting to and from school safely.

They make strenuous efforts to get their children into good schools.

They are supportive of academics, but also of non-school activities like ballet or piano lessons.

Their support comes across as caring about children’s overall success, not pressure. This can be conveyed indirectly by a desk rather than a TV in a child’s bedroom, and lots of books and magazines in the home.

They convey the critical importance of academic achievement to future options and life success.

They show confidence in the child’s intelligence and ability to do well in school, fostering a positive academic identity and a sense of responsibility to not let the family down. All this produces a strong academic self-concept in young people. The best outcome is both a strong academic and general self-concept.

The big point is that it is parents’ stage-setting, not being involved in school activities, that makes the difference. Certainly, parents can be helpfully involved in their children’s schooling and this volunteerism is always appreciated. However, stage-setting aims can also be achieved without any traditional forms of involvement. Thus, a parent who is unable to volunteer at their child’s school, can be a successful stage-setter with minimal direct involvement in his or her child’s schooling. This parent’s influence is at work under the surface, subtly shaping the children’s self-concept, aspirations and future possibilities.

Acknowledgement: “A new Framework for Understanding Parental Involvement: Setting the Stage for Academic Success” by Angel Harris and Keith Robinson, The Russell Sage Foundation Journal of the Social Sciences, September 2016

Ros Curtis 

Thank you to all those who have been involved in these activities, as a participant, supporter, coach/conductor/staff member.

I hope that we are all able to use the Easter break as a time to rest and recharge our batteries to be ready for the next term. Easter holidays are a great time for us all to reboot, to reassess where we are with our goals, and to be thankful and proud of what we have achieved so far.

We have two tours involving students over the Easter break. Firstly, I’d like to wish the students and staff taking part in the Antipodean’s trip to Vietnam well. Community service is such a big part of what we do here at St Margaret’s and I know that the participants on this trip will experience some life-changing moments and bring home many inspirational stories for us to hear. We look forward to hearing about their time in Vietnam.

Thank you to Ms Nikki Anderson and Mr Noel Peinke for their time and assistance to the students on the Antipodeans trip this year.

Secondly, we have the Drama trip heading down to Sydney and Melbourne. An education rich in creative arts maximises opportunities for learners to engage with innovative thinkers and leaders and to experience the arts both as audience members and as artists. Creativity is a skill that many argue is hard to measure, but it is important and can be enjoyed through many activities and experiences that we all partake in each day. I’m sure the students attending this trip will learn much and enjoy themselves immensely.

Thank you to Ms Annette Box and Miss Dimity Harris for their planning and attendance on the Drama trip.

I wish all a happy Easter and safe travels to those who are either returning home or taking a holiday elsewhere.

Karen Gorrie 

Jesus knew the pain of rejection, denial and certainly the loneliness of being betrayed by a friend. The events of the Passion highlight Christ’s love for us. Through Christ’s death, our sins will forever be forgiven. The price has been paid once and for all.

Maundy Thursday comes from the word ‘Mandatum’ meaning ‘commandment’. At the Last Supper Jesus made a fresh promise – a new commandment – with his disciples. When we gather to share the sacrament of the bread and wine, we recall Jesus’ promise that he will be with us always.

But before the joy of Easter can be experienced, the darkness must first be felt. As hot cross buns are eaten on Good Friday (traditionally, the ONLY day you could buy them!), we may contemplate what the cross means. As we share meals with our families and friends over the next few days, we can contemplate the final meal that Jesus shared with his friends.

Easter is about the light emerging from darkness, life emerging from nothing and hope from where there was none. New life, the promise that God is forever with us, and the triumph over death makes Easter more than just a time about chocolate eggs – it is a time for freshness, growth and thanksgiving to God.

God of hope and light, your Son, Jesus, died for our sins so long ago and yet your love endures fresh and new. May we be mindful of the events of the Passion, remembering that Christ suffered for us all and promised to be with us always. Thank you God for giving us your Son, our Servant King. Amen.

The Reverend Canon Nicki Colledge 

Alana Lucca was unsure about what to study at university. She had tried a few courses but after a year of working within the St Margaret’s Boarding House, she knew she wanted to become a teacher. She is now in her first year of a Bachelor of Education (Primary) at the Australian Catholic University and has been residing at Durack College since 2016.

“Employment as a Junior House Mother is a wonderful opportunity. Being a member of the boarding community has been a real highlight to my time living at Durack College and it’s always a pleasure watching the girls mature and grow through high school. I love interacting with the girls and sometimes being a bit silly, like the time I was a judge for an impromptu Year 7 dance contest. I enjoy being a source of support during the tough times, like when those feelings of homesickness creep in, and sharing my own experiences of moving away from home to study. I look forward to spending time with the girls and making the Boarding House their ‘home away from home’. I hope to be a great teacher one day and am sure my time working within boarding at St Margaret’s will have contributed greatly.”

Tiegan Jackson is a fourth-year Occupational Therapy student studying at the Australian Catholic University. This is her fourth year living at Durack College.

“One of the many unique offerings of Durack College is the employment opportunities to be gained at St Margaret’s. Working in the Boarding House has allowed me to develop many skills that will assist me in my career as an Occupational Therapist, such as building rapport, interpersonal communication, and demonstrating empathy and respect for each of the girls. I love getting involved in the many activities that the Boarding House offers - it is always a highlight of my shift to see the girls enjoying themselves and developing life-long friendships with one another. Having worked in the Boarding House for a few years now, it has been lovely to witness the girls' journey through boarding and secondary school. We are so fortunate at Durack College to have the opportunity to work in a community environment where all the boarders are respectful, compassionate and courageous young women. It has been such a rewarding experience and I look forward to continuing to work here during my final year of studies.”

We are also lucky to have the following residents working in the Boarding House: Caitlin Judge, Brianna Rankine, Rachel Johnson, Aya Ibanez-Hara and Katherine Williams.

Dimity Harris

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Engaging in learning experiences that allows us to be challenged and experience failure, propel us toward success. As the girls begin to receive their assessment results they may experience mixed feelings of happiness and possibly a sense of failure. As parents and educators, this is an opportunity to teach the girls that it is normal to experience both emotions.

Early educational reformer John Dewey said: "Failure is instructive. The person who really thinks learns quite as much from his failures as from his successes." Failure, followed by reflection are essential to learning and an opportunity for students to receive feedback on their strengths as well as their areas of improvement - all for the purpose of getting better. So, as the term comes to an end it is a good time to reflect on what we have learnt from our successes and failures. Reflection will make us more adaptable and confident to take risks in the future. Some handy guidelines that we can use to help our girls cope with this learning process include:

• Praise them for their successes and ability to admit their mistakes.
• Praise them for their efforts and courage to overcome setbacks.
• Acknowledge that you don’t expect them to be perfect.
• Let them know your love is unconditional, regardless of their mistakes.
• Don’t rescue them from their mistakes but encourage them to take responsibility for their own actions. Focus on the solution.
• Provide examples of your own mistakes, the consequences, and how you learned from them.
• Avoid pointing out their past mistakes. Instead, focus on the one at hand.
• Help them look at the good side of getting things wrong.

As Einstein once said, “Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new”.

Have a relaxing Easter holiday and see you in Term 2.

Jo Butterworth 

For our newest members of the Secondary School, they should feel proud of themselves as they have meet the new challenges of Secondary School. From assessment calendars, different teachers, homework and self-organisation, this term has proved to be one of much learning and settling in. They all deserve a well-earned holiday.

It is important to note that holidays should provide opportunity for quiet, unstructured times. It is through activities that involve the girls having time for personal choice, solitude, reading for pleasure and informal activity, they make sense of what happens to them at school, and of their continually changing perception of what life means and their place in it.

If you are fortunate to have time with your daughter during the holidays, make sure that you only organise some of the time... not all of it.

Think about the following:

• Make sure there is adequate sleep.

• Have times when there is nothing to do that is organised by anyone except the child - it's their day at home.
• Setting your child up to cook a meal/cake/snack for the family, friends or herself.
• Making something - a dress, model, tree house, device.
• A reading time, most days, when there is silent reading, and sometimes shared reading too (and time for parent reading).

A warning; relaxation should not include an overloaded diet of television, videos and computer games, as this is unlikely to produce a student who is ready to face school again in a suitable condition at the end of the break. Research is showing that high exposure to TV/video/computer does interfere with ideal development and the ability to relax.

Continuous Reporting

This week, I have attached a reminder of the instructions of how to access Parent Lounge through The POD and how to engage with Continuous Reporting. Some results have been released; however, if your daughter has completed assessment this week or late last week her results will not be released until Week 1 next term.

How to access Continuous Reporting (PDF 735.7KB)

Have a safe, happy and holy Easter.

Nicole Devlin 

The School Formal, Open Day, Year 7 Camp, Class photos, immunisations, Interhouse Swimming, Chapel Services, excursions, International Women’s Day, assemblies, guest speakers and National Day Against Bullying are just a few of the events of the Secondary School in Term 1. With these many and varied activities taking place, it has been a busy and productive term. Occasions like these fit into our school calendar and complement the day-to-day business of academic lessons and assist to frame a holistic educational experience for your daughters.

At the beginning of the term all students set SMART goals as part of either their Science of Learning lessons or with their Academic Advisor. I strongly suggest that you speak to your daughter about her goals and if needed, review them for the beginning of Term 2. It is easy to lose sight or forget about our goals when we are so busy moving from one task to the next in a bid to ‘do it all’. These conversations will evolve from discussions with their teachers here at school when your daughters return from their holidays. Linking teacher feedback to student actions usually sees improvement in practice and often, academic achievement.

I do hope that the Easter break allows time for rest and recuperation and time with family and those you care about.

We would also like to extend an invitation to our parents to attend the St Margaret’s ANZAC Day Service on Tuesday 24 April 2018 from 9:50-10:25am in the Philip Harris Sports Centre.

We look forward to welcoming the students back for Term 2 on Tuesday 17 April 2018.

Nikki Townsend 

Congratulations to Bede House on winning the Aggregate Cup, Tennyson who took out the Surtees Cup for the Open 50m relay and to Tennyson who won the Percentage Cup. Such events speak to the heart of community and school spirit. Thank you to all the teachers and parents for their support of the event. A special thank you must go to Miss Richards, Miss Rowe and Mrs Edwards for their organisation of the day.

Aggregate:

1st Bede

2nd Lawson

3rd Milton

Percentage Cup:

1st Tennyson

2nd Kendall

3rd Spenser

Surtees Cup:

1st Tennyson

2nd Kendall

3rd Bede

Family time

The Easter period provides a wonderful chance to spend time as a family. The giving and receiving of Easter gifts also promotes the opportunity to reinforce the values of gratitude and generosity. As I shared in an earlier eNews, gratitude can be taught and can greatly aid both happiness and developing an optimistic attitude. The generosity of our Primary families and the importance of service to others was clearly evident through the donation of Easter eggs which will be provided to children in Foster Care. Such simple acts speak volumes to those receiving, but also demonstrate the importance of generosity as a core value to live by.

While you are sharing family time over the holidays, I would encourage parents to continue to support your child’s educational growth by reading with your child and encouraging them to read. Research has shown that the amount of independent reading a child does outside of school relates to their growth in vocabulary, verbal fluency, reading comprehension and general knowledge. Children who read on their own improve their reading skills, have greater content knowledge and score higher on achievement tests than children who do not open a book outside of school, food for holiday thought! Please read Mrs Cox’s article for more detail.

Also, highlight the maths in everyday activities. When shopping, help children calculate change or discounts. When watching a sports game, talk about what players’ statistics mean. When cooking, try halving or doubling a recipe and assist children in figuring out the new proportions. Read short maths stories together. Reading maths-focused stories to children can help boost maths scores in school. Play maths games like Yahtzee and Monopoly as they rely on skills necessary for maths, such as counting, categorising and building. Playing with blocks and assembling jigsaw puzzles can help children learn spatial skills and recognise patterns. Find small ways to practise with basic formulas can help. Problem-of-the-day maths calendars are a great way to practise basic maths problems on a small scale. Recite times tables regularly.

Harness other learning opportunities. Visit a gallery, go for a hike, take in a movie, get sand between your toes, make and create, read, write and talk. Make the most of the time you share together with your children. I wish everyone a restful holiday and look forward to sharing Term 2 with you.

Angela Drysdale

Reading for Pleasure

Term 1 saw the official recognition of our first two, 2018 Millionaire Readers, Brigid Sweeney and Emily Smith as well as 6G being our winning class, having read the most number of words, this term. I would like to ask all parents to encourage your children to read for pleasure during the holidays, as reading is a critical skill in everything we do.

Reading for pleasure is the reading we do of our own free will, anticipating the satisfaction we will get from the act of reading. It may begin as a request but continues because of self-interest.

Encouraging purposeful reading habits assists in developing the mindset of a lifelong reader. Becoming a lifelong reader is predicated on developing a love of reading. Parents and the home environment are essential to the early teaching of reading and the fostering of a love of reading. There are growing studies that emphasise the importance of children reading for pleasure for both educational as well as personal development. "Adolescents entering the adult world in the 21st century will need to read and write more than at any other time in human history.” (International Reading Association, Moore et al, 1999, p. 3 as cited by Clark & Rumbold, 2006).

An important factor in fostering lifelong readers is choice. Choice, interest and motivation are highly related. Surveys internationally suggest most children are more likely to read for pleasure if they can choose their own books. “Students who choose what they read and have an informal environment in which to read, tend to be more motivated, read more and show greater language and literacy development”. (Krashen, S. (1993). The Power of Reading. Englewood, Col.: Libraries Unlimited, Inc.p2.)  Children with books of their own read more, and more frequently. Library membership is positively co-related with reading frequency. Students who are members of a library are twice as likely to read at home. Non-library users are 3 times more likely to only read at school, or to state they cannot find a book to read.

We need to take a collective and collaborative approach across school and community to further develop a positive reading culture.

Please have a safe and restful Easter.

Continuous Reporting

The following results are now available:

Year 5

• Maths Written Test

Year 6

• HPE Practical Assessment
• Chinese Speaking Test

Cathy Cox

Assistant Head of Primary 

Easter Service

Thank you to all music students who were involved in the Easter Service this week. It was wonderful to have our Rock Bands involved for the first time, along with Encorah and Chorale. A lot of work goes on behind the scenes to prepare for these events and it is much appreciated.

Anglican Schools Music Festival

Tickets are now on sale for the upcoming Anglican Schools Music Festival Gala Concert through QPAC ticketing (www.qpac.com.au or call 136 246) and are available at a flat rate of $20 (plus GST). Approximately 35 St Margaret’s students will combine musical forces with up to 300 students from Anglican schools in South East Queensland to present the concert on Friday 18 May. This promises to be an exciting event in the School’s music calendar!

Upcoming Term 2 Music Dates 2018

As Term 1 draws to a close, please note important upcoming dates in Term 2 for those involved in the St Margaret’s Music Program:

20 April: Sculthorpe String Quartet performing at Past Students Awards Dinner, ACF, 6:45am

25 April: Encorah performing at ANZAC Day Service, Hendra/Clayfield Anglican Church, 7:30am

29 April: Anglican Schools Music Festival Pre-Festival rehearsal, St Margaret’s/CHAC 10am-3pm

14 May: Music Photos for all ensembles, Eton Hall (time schedule to be issued closer to the date)

17 May: Sculthorpe String Quartet performing at Professional Women’s Network Breakfast, ACF, 6:45am

18 May: Anglican Schools Music Festival, QPAC, 7pm (Rehearsal all day with concert in the evening)

25/26 May: MAYO Festival

19 June: Bands Concert, Eton Hall, 6:30pm

2-14 July: Europe Music Tour

Music Support Group

The next meeting will be held on Tuesday 17 April at 5:00pm in the Primary Music Room (second floor of Chaseley). Parents from both the Primary and Secondary Schools are welcome to attend.

Brad King 

The other teams also achieved pleasing results. Year 7 (ii) placed 2nd, D (iii) 3rd, D(i) 3rd, C Grade 6th, B Grade 5th and A Grade 3rd. These results are a testament to the level of skill of our students, their commitment to St Margaret's Artistic Gymnastics and the expertise of our coaches who were led by Ms Georgia Osborne and Coordinator, Mrs Shirley Patton.

Interhouse Cross Country Carnival

Due to the unfortunate weather that occurred on Tuesday 27 March, the Interhouse Cross Country Carnival has been rescheduled to the first day of Term 2 - Tuesday 17 April at Crosby Park. The order of the events is as follows:

11:45am - Years 7-12 directed to Crosby Park

12:20pm - Frist event – 17 Years

12:40pm - 12 Years

1:00pm - 13 Years

1:20pm - 14 Years

1:40pm - 15 Years

2:00pm - 16 Years

2:20pm - Years 7–9 Ball games – tunnel ball and over and under (5 per year group)

2:40pm - Years 10–12 Tug of War (4 x 10; 4 x 11, 6 x 12)

2:55pm - Presentations

3:00pm - Teachers and Students to walk back to School

Cross Country Success

On Monday 26 March, the Cross Country team ventured to Sherwood Arboretum to challenge the girls from Brisbane Girls Grammar, Brisbane State High School, Somerville House, St Aidan’s, Moreton Bay College, Fairholme College and Mt St Michael’s over 3km. Highlights from the afternoon include: 13 Years Isabella Harte - 1st place, Tayden Tomich - 4th place, Emily Millar – personal best; 14 Years: Caitlyn Morse - 5th; 15 Years: Chloe Fenwicke - 1st, Julia Elks, Primrose Carrigan and Rosie Turnbull – personal bests; 16 Years: Ciana Jamieson - 3rd place; 17 Years: Bella Donaldson - 5th place and Bridgette Smith – personal best. The next invitational meet will be hosted by Brisbane Girls Grammar School on Wednesday 18 April. Further details will be posted via the POD page.

Holiday training will continue at the Philip Harris Sports Centre every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 7am except for Good Friday and Easter Monday. A holiday program for those runners that can’t make it to school to train is available via the Cross Country POD page.

Autumn Fixtures

The fixtures last Friday were played against Moreton Bay College. Unfortunately, Soccer was a wash out; however, both Touch Football and Basketball had some very entertaining and competitive matches.

In Touch Football, 3 teams won and 3 teams drew. Within Basketball, the 10A and 9B teams had convincing wins, 48-16 and 24-12 respectively.

We look forward to the third round of games against St Peters Lutheran College in Term 2 on Friday 20 April at our home venues. Please note, the Open Touch Football, Year 7 Blue and Year 7 Brown teams will also be playing their rescheduled matches on Thursday 19 April at Windsor Park.

Congratulations…

Lara Crouch (Year 12) who has been selected to represent Australia at the Under 20 World Athletic Championships in the 3000m in Finland from 10-15 July. This is a huge achievement as the championships are regarded as the pinnacle for all junior athletes throughout the world and is where future stars are made. Well done Lara!

Hayley Forster (Year 9) who had success at the Queensland School Swimming Championships recently held at Chandler, recording a 3rd in the 15 Years 100m Backstroke and 2nd in the 50m and 200m Backstroke. She also recorded a national age qualifying time in the 200m Backstroke.

Ciana Jamieson (Year 10) who competed at the Queensland Little Athletics State Championships over the weekend and placed 1st in the 1500m and 2nd in the 800m.

Upcoming Events

• Tuesday 17 April – Secondary Interhouse Cross Country Carnival, 12noon – 3pm
• Tuesday 17 April – Rowing Support Group Meeting, 6:30pm at the Rowing Shed
• Tuesday 17 April – Touch Football Support Group Meeting, 6pm in the Year 7 Precinct
• Wednesday 18 April – Brisbane Girls Grammar School Invitational Cross Country Meet, 3:30pm – 6:30pm
• Thursday 19 April – Open Touch Football v Moreton Bay College; Year 7 Blue v 7 Brown Touch, 4pm at Windsor Park
• Friday 20 April – Autumn Fixtures - home venues
• Saturday 21 – Sunday 22 April – Cross Country Camp
• Saturday 21 April – Year 8 ‘Come and Try Rowing’ day

Helen Lobegeiger 

This seven-week course will be split into two parts: history and present. By the end of the course, each student will have their own collection of unique photographic prints and a new way to look at the world through a camera's lens.

Limited spaces are available, so book your place today via Flexischools. For further details, please view the attached flyer (PDF 371.2KB).

Lisa Smith

Professor Fiona Wood is an incredibly inspiring woman, being the 2005 Australian of the Year for her invention of the spray-on-skin, which she developed (after seeing the need for improved treatment options for burns victims). She has used this to change the lives of the victims of the Bali bombings and continues to use this to minimise the life-changing effects of burning on younger children and adults alike.

Professor Wood is an amazingly engaging speaker and responded to many questions during the interview, covering topics such as 'Introductions to Surgical Science', and 'The Future of Spray-On Skin' where her great passion for her work was truly evident. I was struck by her determination while she spoke about empowering messages for boys and girls alike, saying to, “Go out and find life”, “Don’t give up” and to “Believe what you know yourself to be and find the people around you who will support you in your beliefs.”

While discussing her choices in school and university, the importance of education, teachers and self-confidence were highlighted. In reference to a question asking of difficulties she may have faced in her field based on gender, her passionate response entailing how anyone can do anything they want to do inspired me to achieve to my highest standards and always try my best, especially as a woman. Professor Wood talked about the limitations of other students and staff’s beliefs in her experience and how this could not stop her from achieving her position as a renowned scientist today.

I am truly grateful for this experience, as not only was Professor Fiona Wood an engaging speaker and an amazingly independent, intelligent and passionate woman, but she has inspired me to believe in myself and look forward to my future whether it be in schooling, life in general or in further investigations into the Science field.

Paige Bastian

Year 9 Student 

Since beginning her career as a petroleum engineer with Conoco Inc., Wendy has held several leadership positions in the resources sector, across the United States, the United Kingdom and Africa. In 2017, Wendy was appointed as President – Australia East at ConocoPhillips and currently serves as a Director of the Board of American Chamber of Commerce in Australia and the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association.

Join us for breakfast and be inspired as Wendy shares some of the highlights, challenges and the lessons learned from her long and distinguished career in the resources sector.

When: Thursday 17 May 2018

Venue: Arts Centre Foyer

Tickets: Corporate tables $800 for 10, $60 adult and $40 students (Years 10-12/tertiary)

Tickets can be purchased via the Flexischools link under ‘Quick Links’ on the St Margaret’s website.

Term 2 Events

Mayo Arts Festival Cocktail Party

Set within the stunning St Margaret's Arts Centre Foyer and adjacent open-air Terrace, with the twinkling lights of the cityscape as a backdrop, the MAYO Arts Festival Cocktail Party is an opportunity to celebrate the official launch of the St Margaret's MAYO Arts Festival. Wander the gallery space, savouring the fine art on display whilst enjoying sumptuous gourmet canapés. All art will be available for purchase on the evening with something to suit all tastes and budgets.

When: Friday 25 May 2018

Time: 6:30pm

Venue: Arts Centre Foyer

Cost: $60 per person, includes gourmet canapé menu, drink on arrival followed by a cash bar.

Mayo Arts Festival

Enjoy a family-friendly art-themed festival with a range of free and ticketed activities, rides, workshops and entertainment for all ages. This year's theme "Kaleidoscope" promises to take you on a journey through an atmosphere of colour and light at every turn.

When: Saturday 26 May 2018

Time: 12:30pm

Where: St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School

A special thank you to our Mayo Arts Festival Sponsors:

Silver Sponsors: Barambah Organics, Print Media Group

Bronze Sponsors: RRD Dental, Vanilla Pod Cake & Deli Café

Stall Sponsor: Golf Central at Brisbane Airport

Raffle Prize Sponsors: Brisbane Racing Club, Brisbane Airport Hotel Group and Datacom

Fathers’ Dinner - Tickets Now on Sale

The St Margaret's Fathers' Dinner is an annual event where all Fathers and male role models are invited to share a sumptuous two course dinner and drinks.

Date: Friday 15 June 2018

Time: 6:30pm pre-dinner drinks in Eton Courtyard, 7pm Dinner

Venue: Eton Hall

Cost: $100 per person, includes two course dinner and drinks

P&F General Meetings

The P&F invites the school community to share your views and ideas at the General Meetings, held in the Arts Centre Foyer from 6.30pm on the following dates:

Monday 14 May 2018

Monday 30 July 2018

Monday 29 October 2018

Old Girls' Events 2018

OGA Annual Brunch – Sunday 3 June

10 Year Reunion – Class of 2008 – Friday 27 July

20 Year Reunion – Class of 1998 – Friday 27 July

30 Year Reunion – Class of 1988 – Friday 27 July

40 Year Reunion – Class of 1978 – Saturday 28 July

50 Year Reunion – Class of 1968 – Saturday 28 July

60 Year Reunion – Class of 1958 – Saturday 28 July

Chapel Service and Morning Tea – Sunday 29 July

60+ Year Reunion – Monday 30 July

AGM – Tuesday 27 November

Invitations will be emailed in late April. Please contact us at: developmentandcommunity@stmargarets.qld.edu.au if we don’t have your current email address.

Lara Pickering 

ANU
Domestic Undergraduate Student Guide
Take a look at our new 2019 Domestic Undergraduate Student Guide. In this guide, you will find information on ANU and what we offer, our programs, entry requirements, global opportunities and internships. Hard copies will be available soon.

A pathway to medicine at ANU
The Bachelor of Health Science offers a pathway to the postgraduate Doctor of Medicine and Surgery (MChD) at ANU without having to sit the GAMSAT. At the end of their second year in the Bachelor of Health Science up to 30 students will receive an offer of entry to the Doctor of Medicine and Surgery (MChD) contingent upon their grade point average (GPA), an interview process and successful completion of the Bachelor of Health Science. Ten of the 30 places in the Doctor of Medicine and Surgery (MChD) program are reserved for rural and Indigenous students from the Bachelor of Health Science.

Program details: QLD OP: 6 and other prerequisites apply. For further details on admission, fees and program requirements visit the ANU Programs & courses website.

ANU Brisbane Midyear Advisory Session
Date: Wednesday 25 July 2018, 4 - 7pm
Venue: Queensland Terrace, State Library of Queensland, Stanley Place, South Brisbane QLD 4101
For further information, please click here.

Griffith University
Discover the new and exciting Parent and Student Advice Nights at our Nathan and Gold Coast campuses. These information evenings give parents and students the opportunity to speak with our expert staff about study options at Griffith University and subject selection. The Parent and Student Advice Nights are a substitution for the previously advertised Griffith Business School specific 'Griffith Business Discover Innovate Succeed information evenings'.

Event details
Years 9, 10 and 11 students and their parents are invited to attend the parent and student advice nights, giving them an opportunity to tour the campus and meet current Griffith University students, providing valuable insight about their experiences transitioning from school to university.

Nathan campus: Tuesday 22 May, 5 - 7pm, venue to be confirmed
Gold Coast campus: Thursday 24 May, 5 - 7pm, venue to be confirmed
Register at: https://www2.griffith.edu.au/parent-student-advice-nights

The Tuckwell Scholarship at the ANU
The Tuckwell Scholarship Program at the ANU is the most transformational undergraduate scholarship program in Australia. Now in its fifth year, the program currently supports 110 Tuckwell Scholars at various stages of their undergraduate degrees.

The Scholarships, founded in 2013 by philanthropists Graham and Louise Tuckwell, allow and encourage students to take full advantage of their time at university, including the many academic, social, cultural sporting and leadership opportunities that come with life on campus at ANU.

Every year, 25 Tuckwell Scholarships are awarded to highly talented and motivated school leavers planning to study at ANU, to help them fulfil their potential and reinvest their knowledge, skills and experience in ways that positively benefit others. The program has a focus on giving back to Australia and is the only one of its kind that nurtures Scholars to fulfil their broader community ambitions over and above the pursuit of an undergraduate degree.

Applications are now open for 2019. More information is available from: https://tuckwell.anu.edu.au/scholarship.

2019 Undergraduate Guides
UQ, Griffith University and Australian Catholic University are now available from the Careers section in the library.

A pdf of the University of NSW guide is available here.

UQ New in 2018: Bachelor of Computer Science
UQ's new three-year Bachelor of Computer Science offers exciting opportunities for students to specialise in emerging technologies such as cyber security, data science and artificial intelligence.

Students will develop an innovative skill-set to take their place at the forefront of the digital technology revolution by combining the study of algorithms and data structures, with practical challenges of implementing them in hardware and software systems.

Coursework explores programming, databases, operating systems, networks and algorithms. Students will exit this program with strong analytical, logical and development skills necessary to advance computing, its applications and beyond.

Computer Science is available as a dual program with: Arts, Science, Engineering (Honours) and Mathematics. Majors in this program include: 

• Cyber Security
• Data Science
• Machine Learning
• Programming Languages
• Scientific Computing

More information is available at: https://future-students.uq.edu.au/study/program/Bachelor-of-Computer-Science-2425

UQ Experience Science - register now
Experience Science is a free event, providing students in Years 10-12 the opportunity to discover what studying Science is like at UQ. With programs occurring across Thursday 12 July - Tuesday 17 July, this event is facilitated by experts from UQ and industry, and provides hands-on, interactive Science workshops. More information is available from: http://www.science.uq.edu.au/expsci.

UQ Pharmacy Experience Day - save the date
Pharmacy Experience Day is an annual UQ showcase which invites students to discover where a Bachelor of Pharmacy can take them. Throughout the day guests will take part in a range of hands-on laboratory activities, meet and quiz current students, and participate on a guided tour through the world class facilities. All members of the public are invited to attend the Pharmacy Experience Day, held on Sunday 19 August 2018.

UQ New Bachelor of Arts Program Planner
The Bachelor of Arts offers students unrivalled flexibility, but this often causes confusion among new students. UQ have launched a new Bachelor of Arts Program Planner as a resource for guidance officers, teachers and students. Students interested in the Bachelor of Arts can use the program planner to plan and guide their studies, while ensuring their choice of majors and courses are compliant with the complex rules and requirements of the program.

This initiative will improve students' ability to plan the structure of their program, allowing them to save their selections for future reference and share their program planner with staff. Further Program Planners for additional UQ programs will be released throughout 2018.

UMAT
UMAT is developed by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) on behalf of the UMAT Consortium universities. The test is used specifically to assist with the selection of students into the medicine, dentistry and health science degree programs at undergraduate level at the universities listed on this website: https://umat.acer.edu.au/. Registrations for UMAT 2018 are now open. Copies of the Information Booklet can be downloaded from the UMAT website. Please note that before registering for the test students are required to carefully read the UMAT 2018 Information Booklet, which will only be available online from the UMAT website.

UMAT 2018 Key Dates:
Registrations opened First week in December 2017
Registrations close Friday 1 June 2018 - 5pm AEST
Late registrations close Friday 15 June 2018 - 5pm AEST
Applications for Special Testing Conditions close Friday 15 June 2018
UMAT test date Wednesday 25 July 2018
Results released Mid-September 2018

UMAT is only available once every year. If you do not register by the due date, you will have to wait until 2019 to sit the test.

UMAT Preparation
MedEntry: If you are interested in studying Medicine or a career in health that requires sitting the UMAT test, visit the MedEntry website for assistance in your preparation: www.MedEntry.edu.au. MedEntry is the only government accredited training organisation for UMAT preparation.

MedStart: is an organisation that assists students to prepare for UMAT. Courses are available in Brisbane. Check the MedStart website: http://www.medstart.com.au/#home for more details.

The University of Queensland
Changes to the Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours)
In 2018, The University of Queensland will be introducing an additional entry requirement for prospective students applying for the Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours). This change will impact current Year 12 students applying for study in 2019.

This new entry requirement, a Situational Judgement Test (SJT), is an on-line, video-scenario based test with 12 sections and open-ended questions. The University recognises that attributes such as resilience, critical thinking and communication skills that are essential for veterinarians are not reflected in academic performance alone. The SJT will be used to assist in the selection of a student cohort best equipped for the rigours of the profession.

The test will be held between July and September 2018 with multiple tests dates. Students need to have access to a computer with reliable internet connection, a web-cam and hold photo identification and can be completed at home or at a library/community centre or another suitable location. The cost is approximately $80 and students should allow 90 minutes to complete the test.

Further details about how and when to complete the SJT will be available soon on: https://future-students.uq.edu.au/study/program/Bachelor-of-Veterinary-Science-Honours-2378.

Where can I go for more information?
Visit the CASPer website and view the FAQs: https://takecasper.com/faq/.

2018 FEAST Program
Expressions of Interest for the 2018 FEAST Program are now open. Future Experiences in Agriculture, Science and Technology (FEAST) is a five day residential program designed to inspire and inform high school students of the range of exciting and rewarding science careers in the agriculture, animal, plant and food sectors.

Why attend FEAST?

Cost: $450.00. Price includes 4-nights accommodation, all meals, program activities and bus tours.
Where: The University of Queensland
When: 1 - 5 July 2018
Enquiries: science.events@uq.edu.au

FEAST is open to students in Years 10, 11 and 12; however, preference will be given to Years 11 and 12 students if numbers are limited.

Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
New opportunities in creative industries
Design degrees
From 2019, we will introduce a three-year Bachelor of Design, replacing the four-year Bachelor of Design (Honours) and offer many new double degrees. Further information about these new offerings for 2019 will be available on our study website from late March 2018.

QUT event date claimers
We offer many opportunities for students to talk to QUT and make sure they have all the information they need to make decisions about their future. Events for your students' calendars include Subject Selection for STEM Careers (9 May) and Parent Information Seminar (15 May).

Students can gain assumed knowledge or prerequisites
Students who didn't select subjects to meet assumed knowledge or prerequisites for their preferred university courses can pick up this knowledge, while at school or during summer before they start university, by studying a QUT bridging course in Maths B, Chemistry or Physics.

University Open Days
Australian Catholic University (ACU)
28 July 2018 (Saturday) - Open Day Brisbane, 9am-2pm

Bond University (BOND)
28 July 2018 (Saturday) - Twilight Open Day Gold Coast

CQ University (CQU)
9 August 2018 (Thursday) - Brisbane Open Day, 3pm-6pm
11 August 2018 (Saturday) - Bundaberg and Mackay

Griffith University (GRIFFITH)
12 August 2018 - Open Day Gold Coast, Nathan and South Bank Campuses

James Cook University (JCU)
19 August 2018 (Sunday) - Townsville Campus
26 August 2018 (Sunday) - Cairns Campus

Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
29 July 2018 (Sunday) - Open Day Gardens Point (City) campus

Southern Cross University (SCU)
29 July 2018 - Gold Coast Open Day, 10am-12pm

The University of Queensland (UQ)
5 August 2018 (Sunday) - St Lucia campus, 9am - 3pm
19 August 2018 (Sunday) - Gatton campus, 9am - 3pm

University of Southern Queensland (USQ)
19 August 2018 (Sunday) - USQ Toowoomba
1 September 2018 (Saturday) - USQ Ipswich
7 September 2018 (Friday) - USQ Springfield

KEY DATES:
Friday 11 and Saturday 12 May 2018
The National Careers and Employment EXPO (Brisbane Convention Centre).

Friday 1 June
UMAT Registrations close 5pm

Wednesday 25 July
UMAT Exam

Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 July 2018
The 37th annual Tertiary Studies Expo (TSXPO), Australia's largest tertiary studies expo, offers a unique opportunity for anyone interested in starting, changing or upgrading their career! Featuring many local, interstate and overseas education providers, student services and support agencies. Don't miss this great opportunity to map out your future, all in the one location! 8am – 4pm, RICC Brisbane Showgrounds. A great opportunity for students to collect information from a huge number of exhibitors.

Elizabeth Johnston

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