eNews Archive Issue 5 - 22 February 2018

The following staff are currently studying in 2018 – mostly towards the Masters Level qualification – but not all. St Margaret’s is very much a learning community and some are studying in other areas. Those listed below are great role models for the girls as they display a high level of professional engagement and a commitment to lifelong learning.

Teaching Staff

• Alina Layton - Master of Education (Leadership and Management) – QUT
• Talia O’Callaghan - Masters of Education: Educational Leadership – Southern Cross University
• Mathew Stein - Master of Education (Leadership and Management) – QUT
• Emily Labinsky – Diploma of TESOL – TAFE Queensland
• Kate Montgomery - Master of Education – General Studies – QUT
• Kelly Swan - Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership - Edith Cowan University
• Jo Butterworth – Master of Education (Leadership and Management) – QUT
• Claire Bloomer - Master of Education – (Leadership and Management) – QUT
• Tom McCormick - Master of Philosophy- Historical Research - University of Queensland
• Vicki Strid – Masters of Education – University of Queensland
• Nicole Walker – Master of Educational Leadership – University of Wollongong
• Kimberley Bachman - Masters of Education (Research Specialisation) - University of the Sunshine Coast
• Tom Smithers – Master of Education (Leadership and Management) – Queensland University of Technology

Support/Boarding Staff

• Janet Caitens – Bachelor of Social Work – Griffith University
• Sandra Johnson - Bachelor of Social Science -  Charles Stuart University.
• Melissa Tuffley -  Bachelor of Nutrition – Open University (La Trobe and Monash)
• Lisa Tomczak – Masters of Social Work – Australian Catholic University
• Anna Siddans - Bachelor of Information Studies (Children's Librarianship) - Charles Sturt University
• Emma Cullen - Master of Education (Inclusive Education) – QUT
• Ali Foot - Masters of Teaching (Primary) - Swinburne Online

Please refer to the Development and Community section of this week’s eNews if you wish to secure your seats for the Professional Women’s Network breakfast on Wednesday 14 March in the Arts Centre Foyer at School. This is a great opportunity for Mum’s and their daughters to hear an inspirational guest speaker sharing insights from her distinguished career. Alternatively, if you are leading and managing an organisation or running your own business, you may wish to consider taking a table of 10, using this breakfast as an opportunity for thanking and recognising your own sponsors and suppliers. For further information about the first breakfast of the year please see the attached flyer (PDF 418.7KB).

Ros Curtis 

For a long time, it was believed that IQ was fixed by the time students reached puberty. However, recent studies and data suggest that adolescents continue to increase their IQ due to neuroplasticity in the brain. Adolescence is an incredible time of growth, and so as their brains are being modified and synapses strengthened during this crucial time, much can be done in terms of their learning to continue their growth in this area.

Our Academic Advisors are working hard with students in Years 9 – 12 to help them set their academic goals and to help them form study habits that see them continue to grow in their learning.

I recently read some common misconceptions about adolescent thinking and learning that I thought I would share with you this week:

1. Adolescents are just younger versions of adults. Actually, teenagers’ brains are more malleable than adults’, meaning that learning is quicker and easier for them.

2. The brain finishes developing by age 12. Actually, it’s not fully mature until later. Neuroscientists agree that brain development likely persists until at least the mid-20s – possibly until the 30s.

3. Teenagers are more resilient than adults. Actually, teenagers are more sensitive to stress, as the same hormones that make adults calmer make teenagers more anxious.

4. Teenagers’ IQs are established when they are children. Actually, with at least two thirds of people, IQ changes significantly in the teen years.

5. Teenagers are lazy. Actually, teenagers sleep late because their circadian clock is set differently, releasing sleep-inducing melatonin at 11pm, versus 8-9pm in adults.

(Source: The Developing Teenage Brain, Liz Griffin 2017 cited in Principals’ Digests Volume 23 Number 58)

Karen Gorrie 

Each month, a service will be held in the School Chapel at 9am that will be an all-ages family church service. It will be a blend of both traditional liturgy (Communion Service) with an element of family gathering.

Our first All Ages, All Welcome @ Church service will be held on Sunday 25 February. We will begin with a look at the Lent Journey of Easter Preparation. Please come along and bring some friends. Contact Rev Nicki for more information: ncolledge@stmargarets.qld.edu.au or 3862 0716.

Upcoming Services – Family Services

Years 9/10: Tuesday 1 May, 6:30pm at St Mark’s Anglican Church, Clayfield

Years 11/12: Thursday 17 May, 6:30pm at St Augustine’s, Hamilton

Upcoming Services – Other

Sunday 25 February: All-Ages Sunday Service, 9am

Wednesday 28 February: Boarders’ Mid-Term Service, 6pm

Reflection

Michael Leunig is not only a wonderful artist, but his insightful reflections are worthy of our attention throughout the year. During Lent, this prayer used within the Anglican Board of Mission (ABM) resources, is fitting and powerful for us on our Lenten journeys:

Dear God, we pray for another way of being: another way of knowing.

Across the difficult terrain of our existence we have attempted to build a highway and in so doing have lost our footpath.

God lead us to our footpath:

Lead us there where in simplicity we may move at the speed of natural creatures and feel the earth’s love beneath our feet.

Lead us there where step-by-step we may feel the movement of creation in our hearts.

And lead us there where side-by-side we may feel the embrace of the common soul.

Nothing can be loved at speed.

God lead us to the slow path; to the joyous insights of the pilgrim; another way of knowing: another way of being.

Amen

With every blessing on you and yours this week,

The Reverend Nicki Colledge 

Although academics is at the heart of why girls attend boarding at St Margaret’s, it is not the only driving factor. To really excel in all aspects of school life and boarding the girls need to be connected to the community. As a boarding house, we provide not only academic support but also take care of the girls' social, emotional, spiritual and physical needs. The well-being of girls in boarding is important for them to be able to perform academically and we therefore provide specific well-being support for the girls such as yoga and access to a fully equipped gym. Boarding staff invest in the development of the whole child to ensure they are prepared for the challenges of life once they leave boarding school.

Over the history of Boarding in Australia very little research has taken place about the positive and negative impacts of boarding and a comparison between day and boarding students. A longitudinal study was recently completed by Brad Pathworth; 2,000 boarding students from around Australia took part in this research. Once the study was completed, it showed very little difference in the outcomes for academics and non-academics for boarding and day students.

There were, however, two significant differences for boarding students. In terms of academic outcomes, boarder and day students differ significantly in terms of absenteeism. The study found that boarders are less absent from school than day students. Secondly, in terms of participation in extra-curricular activities, boarders were more involved. Other areas where the boarders scored higher was in academic buoyancy and meaning and purpose, life satisfaction and parent relationships. This was the most extensive research that has been undertaken and it is certainly worth reading to understand the full picture.

In this research, it shows that the role of boarding has changed significantly over time. The academic life of boarders is at the heart of all that we do, from academic mentoring in the Boarding House to specialist help from the day school teachers at night. As a boarding community, we must also provide the girls with opportunities to extend themselves in all areas of school life and we strive to ensure we give them as many learning experiences as possible.

Boarding provides students with the opportunity to develop their resilience and develop a sense of community. It enhances their study and time management skills and much more. Our role is to provide the best education possible and to ensure that we are looking after all of the needs of every girl in the Boarding House. The Boarding staff are professional and committed to work tirelessly to provide the best possible care for the whole child on a daily basis, which involves their academics, emotional care, spiritual development and physical well-being.

Lesa Fowler 

From 2020, the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) will replace the Overall Position (OP) as the standard pathway to tertiary study for Queensland Year 12s. The ATAR is the primary mechanism used nationally for tertiary admissions and indicates a student’s position relative to other students. The OP will be issued for the last time to students in Year 12 in 2019.

Senior subjects will be referred to as General subjects and students’ learning will be assessed using three assessment instruments developed by schools (internal) and one subject-specific state-wide external assessment instrument. In most general subjects, the internal assessment results will count for 75% of the overall subject result and the external assessment for 25%. In maths and science subjects, the internal assessment results will count for 50% of the overall result and the external assessment for 50%. External assessment for each subject will be held on the same day in all schools across the state. A student’s final subject result will be made up of the external assessment result, plus the three internal assessment results. This is fewer assessments than the girls currently complete in most senior subjects.

The Queensland Core Skills (QCS) Test will not be part of the new system. The last group to sit the test will be in Year 12 in 2019. The Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) will remain as Queensland’s senior school qualification. Eligible students will still receive a QCE at the end of Year 12, as well as a Senior Statement showing all studies and the results achieved.

The QCS Test

For the 2018 Year 12s, the Queensland Core Skills (QCS) Test is still a significant aspect of the academic journey. QCS Test preparation is well underway and our focus in class this term is short response. The girls can also attend a QCS tutorial during their study lesson on a Wednesday in the ILC. The girls need to purchase the QCS Success book from School Supplies Shop.

The QCS Test is conducted in September and tests the Common Curriculum Elements (CCEs), which are a set of generic skills identified in the Queensland senior curriculum. The QCS Test contributes information for the calculation of Overall Positions (OPs) and Field Positions (FPs), which are used to select students for tertiary entrance.

A student's individual QCS Test result is not used on its own in the calculation of their OP - instead, group results are used as part of the statistical scaling processes. A student's result on the QCS Test (from A to E) is reported on their Senior Statement or Statement of Results. QCS Test scores provide a measure of achievement across the curriculum and can be used as a basis for comparing different groups of students. The QCS Test makes it possible to compare the achievement of students in one subject in a school with the achievement of students in other subjects in the same school. The Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) use this information to produce a single rank order of students within each school.

Jo Butterworth 

At St Margaret’s there is an expectation that all students complete aspects of the school work at home. I believe that it is important for us to think about this type of work as an extension of the school day and the learning that has occurred. As educators, we spend our days talking to the students about ways to learn and take in information, in this information rich world. Some research professes that homework takes away from student free time; therefore, I think it is important to change our thinking about homework as see it more as home learning. Home learning needs to be linked with student quiet time, time to think, reflect and complete activities that are challenging and interesting.

While requirements may vary from time to time with subjects, as parents you can help your daughter develop sound study habits by establishing a predictable routine, encouraging effective use of time and helping them to be organised. Here are a few tips to assist your daughter with home learning. 

• Establish a predictable routine. If homework is done at the same time each night, getting started is usually less of an issue.

   

• Establish a good working environment for students. Make sure they have a quiet area (away from distractions) that is well lit and with good ventilation. A table or a desk makes a good work space.

   

• Encourage children to work reasonably quickly and efficiently. Have a set time limit which they should stick to. A little work each night is more productive than packing it all into one weekly session.

   

• Encourage children to become organised by planning homework around their extra-curricular activities. The Assessment Calendars and diary will help students to organise themselves.

   

• Keep explanations simple and practical when helping a child. If they become upset or frustrated and the atmosphere becomes tense, stop helping.

   

• If your child has a problem, talk about the best way to find a solution. Perhaps between the two of you it can be worked out.

   

• Be realistic and don’t expect to solve all home learning difficulties. When in doubt, talk to your daughter about talking to the teacher and letting him/her know the problem.

Supervised Study Session – Moving back to the Library
Over the last 2 weeks, Supervised Study Sessions have been held in M’s Café. Whilst this has been a good venue it has posed a few issues for students to complete certain tasks. Therefore, as of next week (26 February) Supervised Study Sessions will move back to the Eunice Library.

Another reminder that bookings are essential for Supervised Study Sessions to ensure the safety of the girls. Thank you to the parents who are booking their daughters in via Flexischools; however, we are experiencing some difficulty in managing attendance due to girls turning up and not being booked in.

To book, parents will need to log into Flexischools and select ‘Supervised Study Sessions’. Bookings are limited to 25 participants each night and when a session is full no more bookings can be made. Bookings are essential and should be made in advance to ensure a place is available. If dinner is required, payment must be paid at the time of booking and this option selected in Flexischools.

Nicole Devlin 

We would very much appreciate your support in publicising the event to friends and colleagues who may be interested in seeking a St Margaret’s education for their daughter. Furthermore, Saturday 10 March is a day when we require all of our students to be present at school, in full uniform and either participating in curricular, co-curricular or community activities.

If, due to extenuating circumstances, a student is unable to be at school on Open Day, we will require a written note or email requesting absence to: studentleave@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.

Valentine’s Day Celebrations

Last Friday, the school celebrated Valentine’s Day. The Prefect body organised many activities for the day, from students wearing red and pink ribbons in their hair, roses being given, a bake sale with delicious treats, lob a choc, to lovely messages left on lockers. This, of course, in true St Margaret’s spirit occurred with music and dancing and a great time was had by all. Congratulations to the prefects and the seniors for making this a fantastic day. Proceeds of $1,200 is going to The Heart Foundation. Thank you to the MacPherson family who have donated the Lob a Choc stand to the school for future events.

Senior Formal

St Margaret’s Year 12 students and staff had a lovely time together at the Senior Formal last Saturday night, held at Hillstone St Lucia Golf Links. We would like to thank Mrs Walker and Ms Matheson for their organisation of this beautiful event.

FUEL’s CEO SERIES
We commend to your daughters the FUEL’s CEO Series which exposes young women to female role models who have a wealth of experience in various areas. The focus of the interactive workshops is on leadership, resilience, communication, negotiation, vision and confidence. Please click here (PDF 1.4MB) for further information.

If you are interested, please contact me at: ntownsend@stmargarets.qld.edu.au by Sunday 25 February 2018.

Nikki Townsend

Each year’s program builds on the previous years by increasing the number of days and building on activities that require more self-regulation. The common thread for each year’s program is respect and responsibility which encompasses respect and responsibility for self, others and the natural world; that is, a person values, respects, cares for, and takes responsibility for herself, other people and takes responsibility for the natural world.

Through the camp program we provide many other opportunities to demonstrate respect and responsibility for self and others; as students learn to live with students in cabins, sharing bathrooms and meals. Through such activities, the girls learn to develop a higher level of awareness of others as they live and work together in close proximity. They also learn to demonstrate respect and responsibility for the natural world, which is why we have a natural world focus in each of the camps until Year 6. When the girls participate in outdoor activities on camp we aim for them to connect to and take care of the natural world. We believe this experience is such a vital part of a child’s learning, especially when children today, generally, have fewer experiences with the outdoors.

These outdoor experiences not only provide opportunities to interact with nature, but also provide challenges and risks for the girls. As parents and teachers, we need to offer opportunities that are safe, but at the same time, challenging. Children need to take risks to investigate and push their limits in order to venture into new experiences. As the adults in a child’s life we remove dangerous hazards but not risks which offer challenge. The camps in each of our year levels contribute to the development of the disposition of risk-taking which sets the foundation for the challenge of learning.

On the Year 4 camp, the girls will be offered experiences which may be new or challenging for some. These include playing in an Aqua Park and participating in beach activities at Alexandra Headland, all of which are passed through a strenuous risk assessment process and supervised by our teaching staff, qualified camp staff and life guards.

Each of the camps require significant organisation. Thank you to Miss Richards who organises Years 3, 4 and 5 camps and Mrs Stevenson for organising the Year 6 camp.

On camp, the girls are very fortunate to have dedicated and connected staff who selflessly rearrange their own personal lives so they are available overnight to support your daughter on camp. As a school, we are grateful for their commitment.

Angela Drysdale

Continuous Reporting

Once again, Years 5 and 6 will continue to utilise Continuous Reporting. For our new parents, this is a process that enables teachers to provide timely feedback on assessed work. Throughout Semesters 1 and 2, parents of students in Years 5 and 6 will be provided with assessment grades on each assessment task their daughter undertakes in each subject area. Feedback on each task is provided to assist parents in talking with their daughter to address any areas identified for improvement and to acknowledge success. Given that feedback has a very high effect size in relation to student achievement, this initiative supports our commitment to evidence-informed teaching.

As parents, you will be able to access the results of your daughter’s completed assessment tasks by entering the POD, click on Parent Lounge then click on Student Details and finally Curricular Activities. A description of the assessment task, dates when the assessment must be completed (this is listed as ‘Start Date’) and then dates when grades and feedback will be available (which is listed as ‘Due Date’) is outlined. All students are given the same amount of class time to complete assessment tasks irrespective of the day it is due.

As all assessments are done in class, the actual task may be due on a Monday for one class, and a Wednesday or Friday for another class depending on the day/s that each student has the specific subject. The ‘Due Date’ is the date the results will be released in Parent Lounge. This is generally a fortnight after the start date listed, except when an assessment has been completed in the last week of term. Results will then be available in Parent Lounge early the following term. We recommend that you check in Parent Lounge on a regular basis from approximately the end of Week 5 this term to access results of assessments throughout the coming semester.

More detailed information regarding Continuous Reporting will be sent home via a letter to new parents in the coming days.

Any assessment results which have become available through Parent Lounge will be outlined in the eNews from this week. The following results are now available:

Year 5 English – Oral presentation: Treasure Box

Cathy Cox

Assistant Head of Primary

Open Day

The St Margaret’s Music Department is very pleased to offer twenty-three different music ensembles to students within the school, with groups ranging from rock bands to choirs, and string orchestras to concert bands. The majority of these ensembles will be performing on Open Day (10 March) and parents and friends are invited to come along to listen. The girls have been working hard to put together performances and I know they would very much appreciate having a supportive audience in attendance to encourage them in their endeavours. Attached is a draft program of the music performances for the day (PDF 342.5KB).

Performance Uniforms

For many of the music ensembles at St Margaret’s, students are required to wear a performance uniform. With Open Day fast approaching, students are encouraged to purchase the uniform as soon as possible from the School Supplies Shop. Performance uniform requirements for Open Day are as follows:

CHORAL ENSEMBLES
Serenata, Belle Voci: School Middy
Primary Chorale: School Middy (but required to purchase a white church dress for future performances)
Elevarsi Voices: Black performance uniform with white ribbon and black shoes (ballet flats)
Encorah: Black pants with a plum coloured shirt with plum ribbon and black jazz shoes

BAND ENSEMBLES
Chaseley Concert Band, Jackson Wind Ensemble, Regale Percussion Ensemble: School Middy
Sister Helen Wind Symphony, Stage Band, Saxophone/Clarinet/Flute/EJ Percussion Ensembles: Black performance uniform with white ribbon and black shoes (ballet flats)

STRING ENSEMBLES
Tutti Strings, Amati Strings, Beath String Quartet: School Middy
Stradivari Strings, Chamber Strings, Sculthorpe String Quartet: Black performance uniform with white ribbon and black shoes (ballet flats)

ROCK BANDS
Highly Strung: School Middy
Secondary Rock Bands: Smart blue jeans, sneakers and ‘M Factor’ polo shirt and hair tied back with school ribbon

Music Support Group

Thank you to the parents who attended our first Music Support Group meeting of the year. It was fantastic to see so many parents in attendance. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday 13 March 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 overall results of day are as follows:

1st - Chaucer

2nd - Tennyson

3rd - Bede

4th - Herrick

5th - Lawson

6th - Milton

7th - Spenser

8th - Kendall

Thanks must go to all staff and families who supported the event.

Cricket

Our Division 1 cricket team continues its winning streak with an impressive victory against Brisbane State High School, scoring 96 runs to 77. Meanwhile, the Division 2 team had a close game but could not score the runs and lost against Brisbane State High School by 19 runs, with the final results being Brisbane State High School 63 to St Margaret’s 44 runs.

Softball

The Open softball team remains undefeated after four games. On Saturday 17 February, the team had a convincing first round win against St Hilda’s 13 – 5. The second game against Clayfield College went down to the wire, with the play of the day resulting in a win when Justine Solomon (Year 11) completed a double play by catching the batter out and then running through first base. This secured the win with only seconds left. Well done to all girls for never giving up!

Water Polo

Four out of the five teams played on Saturday 17 February with four of these teams only 2 games away from a semi-finals berth.

Results:

U13 St Margaret’s Blue 8 - 2 Brisbane Girls Grammar School White

U15 St Margaret’s Blue 8 - 6 Brisbane Girls Grammar School White

U15 St Margaret’s Brown 4 - 0 St Rita’s

U18 Brigidine College 5 - 2 St Margaret’s Brown

U18 St Margaret’s Blue - BYE

Games for this weekend are as follows:

U13 Blue at Stuartholme 2 – 10:00am

U15 Blue at Stuartholme 2 – 12:00pm

U15 Brown at Stuartholme 2 – 1:20pm

U18 Blue at St Rita’s – 1:20pm

U18 Brown at St Rita’s – 2:00pm

Congratulations to….

Tyeena Pang (Year 10) for being selected in the Under 19 Years Metropolitan North Softball Team. She will now contest the State Championships in Hervey Bay in March.

Johanna Loban (Year 12) for being selected in the 16 – 19 Years Metropolitan North Volleyball Team. She will now contest the State Championships in Brisbane in May.

Good luck to….

Tiffany Mackay (Year 10) who will trial for the Commonwealth Games in Swimming for the 50m and 100m Breaststroke events on 1 and 2 March.

Tiana Sikacek (Year 11) who will trial for the Commonwealth Games in Swimming for the 800m Freestyle event on 2 March.

Helen Lobegeiger 

Alice and Lily performed as part of a session called ‘Creating Stories’, entertaining an audience of more than 50 Speech and Drama teachers from throughout Queensland and further afield.

Alice shared an adaptation of The Interlopers – a short story by Saki, and Lily shared an adaptation of The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf. The CSPT Inc. Conference provides professional development opportunities for Speech and Drama teachers and occasionally includes exemplars of student work. Well done to Alice and Lily whose impressive storytelling ably demonstrated the strategies explored in this session of the Conference.

Maria Chamberlain 

They also provide an opportunity to share stories of success and increase connections between the School and Past Students to honour their legacy.

The two award categories are:

1. Distinguished Past Student
2. Young Past Student of Distinction

Nominations close on Monday 12 March 2018 at 5pm (AEST) and winners will be announced at the Awards Dinner on Friday 20 April 2018.

The nomination form can be downloaded from the St Margaret’s website.  

Tickets to our next Professional Women’s Networking Breakfast are selling fast!

Guest speaker: Bobbie Brazil AO

Working not only as a practicing solicitor, Bobbie’s career has been heavily involved in governance as chairman of Land and Water Australia, Chancellor of University of Southern Queensland and serving as an adviser to the Deputy Prime Minister in her role on the Regional Women’s Advisory Council. 

In 2017, Bobbie was received an Officer in the general division of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to tertiary education governance, and for service to women in rural and regional areas.

Be inspired by this amazing woman, an extremely generous philanthropist, who will share some of the highlights, challenges and the lessons learned from her long and distinguished career.

When: Wednesday 14 March

Where: Arts Centre Foyer

Tickets: Corporate tables $800 for 10, $60 adult and $40 students (Years 10-12/tertiary). Tickets are now on sale via Flexischools. Please click here to purchase your ticket. 

Please click here (PDF 418.7KB) for more information.

ST MARGARET’S P&F ASSOCIATION INC.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
NOTICE is given that the Annual General Meeting of the St Margaret’s P&F Association Inc. is to be held on Monday 26 February 2018 in the Arts Centre Foyer at 6:30pm.

St Margaret’s is coming to Hong Kong!

A lunch reception will be hosted in Hong Kong by the Principal, Ms Ros Curtis on Saturday 24 March 2018. All past and future students, and parents living in Hong Kong are warmly invited to attend. A formal invitation will be sent with details on how to register coming soon!

Date: Saturday 24 March 2018

Time: 11:30am-2:00pm

Venue: Renaissance Harbour View Hotel Hong Kong, 1 Harbour Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong 

2018 P&F Mothers’ Luncheon

Have you booked your tickets to the P&F Association's Mothers' Luncheon? Tickets are selling fast! If you have nominated to sit with a friend, please remind them to buy their tickets if they haven't already done so.

To view the formal invitation, and for more information on the event, please click here (PDF 1.2MB).

Date: Friday 2 March 2018

Time: 11:30am arrival (for a 12noon start), 3:00pm finish

Venue: Hotel Grand Chancellor, 23 Leichardt Street, Brisbane

RSVP: Tuesday 21 February 2018 (unless SOLD OUT prior)

Tickets: $100 per person - Includes drink on arrival, two course lunch and drinks with lunch, followed by a cash bar.

Tickets sales are only available through www.flexischools.com.au.

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

Lara Pickering

We have an upcoming event, ‘Athletic Pathways to the US’, being held in Brisbane on 6 March. Students and parents can get FREE tickets to this and future events here.

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
Your Path to Medical School: Brisbane – 24 March 2018 by MedView
Are you considering studying Medicine in Australia? We're inviting you to come along to our free information session. We'll provide you with the insights, tips and hints into everything there is to know about applying for and attending Medical School in Australia.

This is an event for the whole family, so we'd highly recommend both students and parents coming along together to make sure everyone has the same information.

Date: Saturday 24 March 2018
Time: 11:00am - 1:00pm
Location: TBC, Brisbane, Australia
Cost: FREE
Register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/your-path-to-medical-school-brisbane-march-2018-tickets-43113277975

If tickets have sold out and you would like to be put on the registration list for our next expo, please contact Djenna at: d.rowling@crimsoneducation.org

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 to complete the test 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?

• test drive university and meet other students with similar interests
• explore science disciplines through hands-on activities and workshops
• attend industry run sessions reinforcing the many exciting career outcomes on offer to graduates
• experience living in the Halls of Residence and take part in fun social and sporting activities
• chat with current university students and staff and have all your questions answered
• expand your knowledge of UQ study options and programs, careers and campus life

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.

Tertiary Open Days

There are many benefits to attending an Open Day:

• See the facilities
• Collect information on courses
• Talk to current students
• Find out about the local area (if you are moving away from home)
• Investigate available funding
• Make new friends

Questions to ask yourself

• Do you like the feel of the university?
• Are the courses right for you?
• Do you feel comfortable with the facilities and the lecturers?
• Can you see yourself studying here for the next few years?

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