eNews Archive Issue 14 - 15 May 2025

Although, we cannot see our students results or the results for the school, the report generally gives valuable insight into the level of civics and citizenship understanding and skills that Year 6 and Year 10 students have developed. Encouragingly, this latest report shows that Australian students continue to value the importance of learning about our country’s history and civic institutions. The students also expressed a high degree of trust in our civic institutions, as well as positive attitudes towards Australian diversity and Australian Indigenous cultures.

This was the seventh report and in 2024, the report shows that, at national level, knowledge of Australia’s democracy, our political system and civic processes has fallen. This is consistent with what is happening internationally. Some other observations from this testing include:

• Year 6 female students significantly outperformed male students as in previous assessments, but there was no significant gender difference at Year 10, marking a change from the past trends where female students performed better.

• The gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students attaining the proficient standard at both Year 6 and Year 10 remained significant in 2024.

• Like with other national assessments, students from schools in major cities outperformed those in regional and remote schools.

• Achievement in civics and citizenship gradually increased with increasing levels of parental occupation and parental education, resulting in large, significant differences between the highest and the lowest occupational and educational groups.

• Year 6 students who spoke a language other than English at home achieved higher scores than their peers who spoke only English. This finding contrasts with findings from previous assessments. No significant differences were observed for Year 10 students based on language spoken at home.

It is always interesting to be aware of what our young people, our future voters are interested in:

• Students, especially in Year 6, expressed a high degree of trust in civic institutions but showed considerably less trust in the media or social media.

• Both year levels expressed concerns about issues affecting Australia, including pollution, climate change, crime, and racism.

• Female students tended to have more positive attitudes towards Australian Indigenous cultures, particularly at the Year 10 level, and those with more positive attitudes tended to have higher achievement.

• Year 10 students expressed positive attitudes towards Australian diversity, and for most items in the question students had higher agreement than in 2019.

Ros Curtis

With new activities and pre-season training beginning, I thought it was timely to remind parents about our volunteering application processes. We acknowledge the important work that volunteers carry out within our school environment. Assistance, whether it is as a volunteer in the classroom, tuckshop, excursions, P&F activities or sporting carnivals, enhances the quality of your child’s teaching and learning experience.

If any parent is volunteering in the school, they must fill out the Volunteer Application form, found at the following link: https://www.stmargarets.qld.edu.au/discover-st-margarets/student-protection/volunteering-at-st-margarets/volunteering-at-st-margarets. This link will give you all the information about volunteering, as well as the volunteer register link. All volunteers are required to complete the Volunteer Register form before commencing their volunteering engagement. Please note that each volunteer must fill out a new form each year, as the application is only valid for one calendar year.

Please also be aware that there is a Volunteer Code of Conduct available at the bottom of the webpage for your information.

Nicole Devlin

Chloe R, Year 12 Sacristan, wrote the following reflection:

“Baptism and Holy Communion are important traditions within the Anglican faith that encourage reflection, community, and a sense of belonging. Baptism symbolises a new beginning and being welcomed into a faith community, while Holy Communion offers a moment to pause, reflect, and reconnect with our values and with others. These practices can be particularly meaningful during challenging times, such as when balancing mental health and academic responsibilities. As students, we often face pressure from study, deadlines, and personal expectations. Making time for reflection; whether through prayer, quiet moments, or meditation can help reduce stress and provide perspective. These traditions remind us that we are part of a wider, supportive community. In times of uncertainty or pressure, they can help us find calm, focus, and a renewed sense of purpose in our daily lives.”

Chloe reminded me of the importance of rituals and traditions for providing a sense of calm and peace in our daily lives. We rely on our rituals to be a kind of compass, guiding us along the way.

Earlier in the year we gathered at St John’s Cathedral with the Archbishop and new staff in Anglican Schools in our diocese. In his address, Archbishop Jeremy, spoke about the importance of his daily practice of morning prayer, the pattern of setting aside the time in the day, and praying using the prayer book’s morning prayer liturgy. He said that some days he didn’t want to pray, other days the words didn’t necessarily mean anything, and then there were days when the words resound true, but in all of this the real power was that in continuing the ritual of daily morning prayer, he found a guide and compass in his weekly journey.

Rev’d Jazz Dow

One of my favourite parts of being the Head of Boarding is travelling to the homes of our regional and rural boarders to see where they live. You hear wonderful stories in the boarding house – of mustering, climbing the cotton modules, quad biking or horse-riding around the paddocks, and so much more. Being welcomed into our boarding family homes and properties when we visit is always such an eye opening and important learning experience.

I recently travelled to Goondiwindi to visit our current and future families, hosting a combined function with Churchie to celebrate our boarding parents and catch up and reconnect. Thank you to all the parents who joined us on the evening – it was wonderful to see you all.

I was also fortunate enough to visit a Cotton Gin, ride in the truck and experience the weighing and off-loading of the cotton modules. I have never had an experience quite like this on my visits, and it was fantastic to be able to immerse myself in this experience and understand the work that goes into cotton farming. We have many families in the cotton industry, so to be able to gain a more insightful perspective on your work was a great privilege.

Regional tours are so important to the community and connection inherent to a thriving boarding community. Having the chance to visit our families, see where our girls live, and understand the functioning of regional towns allows us to have a well-rounded, informed understanding of our girls from these areas, their families, and just how different boarding school may be from their everyday lives at home. If we are to care for, nurture and support our girls, it is imperative that we have this understanding.

Members of the Boarding Leadership Team, but also Senior Leadership, Admissions and other St Margaret’s staff are always travelling to regional areas to connect with our families. It is an essential part of how we run our boarding house, but also how we connect the day school and other areas of our wider St Margaret’s team with our boarding house.

As we have celebrated National Boarding Week, I have been able to reflect on the amazing connections that St Margaret’s as a wider school community has with our boarding house. Our annual Boarder/Day Girl Weekend is perhaps the most salient example of this connection; boarding families open their homes to day girls to come and experience life at home. It is important that our students have these experiences, as well as our staff, so that everyone in our community can appreciate our regional communities and understand the lives of those in our boarding house.

Thank you, once again, to everyone who makes the boarding house at St Margaret’s the remarkable institution that it is.

Lesa Fowler

Years 11 and 12 Exam Blocks

Years 11and 12 both have short blocks this term. Year 11 start with a Study Day on Friday 13 June, followed by Block exams on Monday 16 June and Tuesday 17 June. Year 12 have an Exam Morning for English on Monday 2 June, followed by a study day on Monday 16 June and two days of block on Tuesday 17 June and Wednesday 18 June.

Year 11 Academic Progress Meetings

Over the last two weeks, I have been meeting with Year 11 students to discuss their academic progress in Term 1 and goals moving forward. I will be meeting with all Year 11 students for this discussion and still have meeting times available next week for those who have not yet booked in.

“You’re only in high school once so make the most of it through sport, academics, friends and experiences” – Aisling Moffat, ’24.

Caitlin McCluskey

When girls are not sitting assessment during Study Hall, they are afforded time to undertake independent study, where they can continue with other schoolwork and assessments.

Term 2 Study Hall dates are as follows:

Study Hall schedules will be made available through the Years 9 and 10 POD Pages next week.

Continuous Reporting

A reminder to parents in Years 7 to 12, that Continuous Reporting comments are progressively released throughout the semester on the Learning Analytics Parent Portal. These comments offer personalised feedback to students about their performance in the assessment task, and most importantly, provide insight into where their next steps should be to improve for next time.

We encourage students and their parents to discuss this teacher feedback as it is released, to help ensure a plan is formulated for academic development and growth. Further, girls can use their Term 1 grades and feedback to help evaluate their progression towards the academic goals they set earlier in the year with their Form Teacher or Academic Advisor.

To access these results, please log into the Learning Analytics Parent Portal (via the POD) and click on the Continuous Reporting Quick Link button.

Chris Dunn

Adolescents experience intense emotions due to ongoing brain development, particularly in the prefrontal cortex, which regulates decision-making and impulse control (Steinberg, 2014). This can lead to heightened emotional reactions, making it essential for parents to remain composed and model self-regulation. Research suggests that when parents respond to conflict with calmness and empathy, their children are more likely to develop emotional resilience (Siegel & Bryson, 2011).

Additionally, parents should avoid mirroring their teenager’s emotional intensity. Reacting with frustration or engaging in unnecessary conflict can escalate situations rather than resolve them. Instead, demonstrating patience, active listening, and problem-solving skills teaches adolescents how to manage their own emotions effectively (Ginsburg, 2011). Setting clear boundaries while maintaining open communication fosters trust and provides a sense of security.

By modelling healthy emotional responses, parents equip their teenagers with essential life skills, helping them navigate friendships, school pressures, and future challenges with confidence.

Ultimately, a parent’s ability to stay steady during emotional storms can shape a teenager’s ability to manage stress and relationships in adulthood.

References

• Ginsburg, K. R. (2011). Building Resilience in Children and Teens: Giving Kids Roots and Wings. American Academy of Pediatrics.
• Siegel, D. J., & Bryson, T. P. (2011). The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind. Delacorte Press.
• Steinberg, L. (2014). Age of Opportunity: Lessons from the New Science of Adolescence. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Nikki Townsend

Research shows that girls who are regularly involved in physical activity report better mental health, stronger self-esteem, and a greater sense of belonging. Team sports help develop social bonds and emotional resilience. According to the Australian Health and Wellbeing Institute, young people who participate in sport are more likely to bounce back from setbacks, manage stress effectively, and feel connected to their peers and school community. St Margaret’s is very fortunate to be a member of Queensland Girls Primary Independent Schools Sport (QGIPS) Andrews Cup.

When reflecting on the Andrews Cup Cross Country event this week, running may appear to be an individual sport but it is very much a team effort. When the girls put on their school colours and competed as part of a team, they contributed to a collective identity and shared pride. Each girl’s performance contributed to the overall team result, and the support of friends and teammates is a powerful motivator. The spirit and determination shown on the day were a true reflection of the values we aim to instil in our students.

Once the competition was complete the girls supported each other by remaining for the presentation ceremony, also an important part of representing our school. It demonstrates respect, for teammates who have given their best, for opponents who have pushed themselves, and for the school we proudly stand behind. This shared commitment reinforces a culture of sportsmanship, gratitude, and team pride.

Congratulations to the team on the following results:

8 years – 2^nd place with a big shout out to Blaire S who achieved 1^st place and Cruz R who placed 2^nd.  This was an amazing achievement out of 133 competitors.

9 years – 2^nd place

10 years – 4^th place

11 years - 3^rd place

12 years - 6^th place

These results placed the school in a tie for 3^rd place.

We are proud of the effort, resilience, and school spirit displayed by all students who competed.

Angela Drysdale

The first activity for the day is the Coin Drive, where girls bring in one or more coins to contribute to their house’s ‘gold rush’, with all proceeds going towards each house’s total towards Giving Day…the more coins the better, so be sure to raid your piggy banks and coin stashes.

At lunch students will also have the chance to enjoy the Sausage Sizzle and Bake Sale, taking place on the courts for our primary students. Sausages on bread will be sold for $3.00 with all baked treats priced at $2.00. Prep to Year 2 class teachers will assist with ensuring their classes are fed, and Pre Prep arrange a special delivery to be made directly to their class. If students would like a sausage and a treat, please send them with $5.00.

Following that, girls make their way to the gym where they will share their best moves as part of the Interhouse Dance Off competition, which they have been rehearsing and preparing for in their house sessions. To fully embrace the fun and competitive nature of these interhouse activities, students are invited to wear their house shirts with sports shorts and sneakers for the day – full details to appear in a POD post in the lead up to the day. We look forward to your support of this important event either in the lead up or on the day, to ensure that the girls have an exciting day of celebration for the significance of St Maragret’s in their lives now, and as they look to the future.

Annette Box

2026 Music Tour Opportunity - Rhapsody Rotorua Music Festival 

The St Margaret’s Music Department is pleased to offer a special opportunity to students in our top ensembles (Exultate, Chamber Strings & Sister Helen Wind Symphony) to travel to New Zealand to participate in the Rhapsody Rotorua Music Festival. This festival brings together students from across Australia and New Zealand for seven days of musical interaction, performances and workshops. Students will get to finesse their music skills, be adjudicated by professional musicians, perform on stage and in public as well as immerse themselves in the vibrant culture and history of New Zealand. There will also be the opportunity to participate in fun adventure activities, creating memories that will last a lifetime. A proposed itinerary is attached here with further details. (PDF 285.4KB) (If your daughter is currently not in one of the listed ensembles, she is more than welcome to talk with her respective conductor to discuss potential eligibility for 2026 ensemble inclusion.)

The cost will be approximately $4600 (this cost may alter slightly dependent on student numbers involved).

At this point we are seeking an expression of interest regarding involvement in this special opportunity. If you are interested in having your daughter participate, please fill in this form by Monday 19 May. This information will assist the music department in assessing whether it will be viable to move ahead with planning for the festival. Should there be enough interest in the trip to New Zealand, an information evening will be held, and further details provided regarding payment to secure a place on the tour.

Music Support Group

The next Music Support Group meeting will be held on Tuesday 3 June 2025 at 5:00pm in the Circular Drive Classroom 01 (in front of the Arts Centre Foyer). Parents from both the Primary and Secondary school are welcome to attend.

Brad King

Ms Sarah Caithness will be leading our swimming program across both Club Swimming and our QGSSSA Swimming Squads. For the last few years, Sarah has seen success as the Assistant Head Coach at Somerville House with Andrews Cup wins in 2023, 2024 and 2025 as well as overall improvements in the school’s success in the QGSSSA Championships. Sarah continues to be involved in high performance swimming with Swimming Australia as demonstrated most recently by her selection as a team coach for the upcoming Next Wave Invitational in July. Sarah has a stellar coaching career and administrative experience and will be a great asset to the St Margaret’s sports team.

Mr Matt Brown, who is currently enjoying a well-deserved break, will be back on St Margaret’s pool deck later this year where he will be taking on the role of Head Coach and leading the charge for the next QGSSSA swim season. Matt and Sarah have worked together previously and are sure to be a formidable pairing alongside our dedicated swim coaches.

QGSSSA Winter Sport Season (Hockey, Netball, Tennis, Volleyball)

Registration is now open for 2025 QGSSSA Winter Sport in Hockey, Tennis, Netball & Volleyball which takes place across Term 3. The sign-up period ends on Friday, 23 May at 3pm. Please ensure you that registered your interest before this date.

Students should go to the following POD pages to sign up.

The POD - Secondary Hockey

The POD - Secondary Netball

The POD - Secondary Tennis

The POD - Secondary Volleyball

We would like to continue to recognise the outstanding achievements and representation of students participating at a national level, outside of the school sport pathway. I look forward to continuing to hear from our community regarding such outstanding achievement. Please email me at awilliams@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.

Latest Sport News and Information

For the latest sport news and information please check out the following secondary school sport POD Pages:

• Basketball (Autumn Sport) - (The POD - Secondary Basketball (stmargarets.qld.edu.au)
• Soccer (Autumn Sport) - (The POD - Secondary Football (stmargarets.qld.edu.au)
• Touch Football (Autumn Sport) - (The POD - Secondary Touch Football (stmargarets.qld.edu.au)
• Cross Country - (The POD - Secondary Cross Country (stmargarets.qld.edu.au)
• Club Netball - (The POD - Club Netball (stmargarets.qld.edu.au)
• Rhythmic Gymnastics – (The POD - Secondary Rhythmic Gymnastics (stmargarets.qld.edu.au)
• Rowing - (The POD - Secondary Rowing (stmargarets.qld.edu.au)

Anne Louise Williams

As we celebrate our past and the incredible legacy of the past 130 years of educating girls, we also look to the future and imagine the possibilities it can bring. This Giving Day, we ask for your kindness and generosity once again to help St Margaret’s thrive for the next 130 years. Your gift is her future.

Your tax-deductable donation to the Building Fund will help to support the realisation of our new masterplan. Or alternatively, your donation our Panama Fund will provide the gift of education through financial needs-based bursaries.

Our students, led by our House Captains, have an exciting day of fundraising activities planned in celebration of Giving Day including a house dance-off, sausage sizzles, bake sales and a coin drive in the Gymnasium (so please save your gold pennies, but notes may stretch further!) It is wonderful to see the culture of philanthropy on show within our current students.

We are also looking for volunteers to help us in the Operations Room which will be located in the ACF. Our volunteers play an important role in raising awareness on Giving Day by making phone calls to members of the St Margaret’s community. If you have an hour or more to spare, we would love to have you.

For more information on the day, or to volunteer in our Operations Room, please visit https://www.charidy.com/stm130years.

Professional Women’s Network Breakfast – with guest speaker Amanda Lacaze ('76), CEO and MD of Lynas Rare Earths

Join us for a thought-provoking breakfast with Amanda Lacaze (’76), a trailblazing executive at the forefront of critical minerals and future technologies. Named as one of The Australian Financial Review’s Business People of the Year, and recognised as 2018 CEO of the Year by MiningNews.Net, Amanda leads one of the world’s most strategically significant resources companies—Lynas Rare Earths.

With rare earths at the heart of the global shift toward electric vehicles, renewable energy and defence technology, Amanda will share how Lynas is positioning itself as a leading player in the critical minerals market, as well as lessons in leadership and resilience from her rise to the helm of a global company.

Date:         Wednesday 11 June 2025
Time:         6.45am arrival for 7.00am - 8.45am
Location:   Arts Centre Foyer, St Margaret's Anglican Girls School, 11 Petrie Street, Ascot
Format:     Sit down breakfast with grab-and-go barista coffee on arrival. 
Tickets:     $85 Adult, $45 Student (Years 10-12/Tertiary)
Corporate tables: $850 (10 seats), includes company logo displayed on table and acknowledgement during event.

Tickets are available here: https://www.trybooking.com/CUSFP

We thank our series sponsors, Major Sponsor: Pitcher Partners. Supporting Sponsors: Wolff Coffee Roasters, Clear Insurance, The Bathhouse Albion and Resource Innovations.

Aspiring Young Women’s Network Breakfast - with guest speaker, Elise Gane (’04)

Is your daughter considering a career in allied health or academia, or contemplating her subject selections for Years 11 and 12?

We invite parents and senior students to join us at the first Aspiring Young Women’s Network Breakfast event of 2025 to hear from Elise Gane (’04), a physiotherapist with 16 years of clinical experience.

Elise will share her journey, from completing a PhD in cancer rehabilitation to her current role as a Principal Project Officer at Queensland Health where she works in digital health projects.

Elise’s experience across the public health service as a clinician, researcher, and project officer, give her a unique insight into the current challenges facing the public health system in Queensland and the critical role allied health professionals play in the delivery of quality healthcare services to Queenslanders.

Date:                   Thursday 29 May 2025

Time:                    6.45am arrival for 7.00am - 8.45am

Location:             Eton Hall, St Margaret's Anglican Girls' School, 11 Petrie Street, Ascot
Format:                Continental style breakfast  

Tickets:                $38 Adults/Student

 To purchase tickets please click here

We thank our series sponsors Pitcher Partners and the St Margaret’s Old Girls’ Association

P&F General Meeting

Want to know what your P&F (and Support Groups) are working on for 2025? Join us at the next P&F General Meeting and find out. 

Meeting Details
Date: Monday 19 May 2025
Time: 6.30pm to 8.00pm
Location: Circular Drive Classrooms, St Margaret's Anglican Girls School
RSVP: https://www.trybooking.com/DBDGV

There is also an option to join this meeting remotely via Microsoft Teams for those unable to attend the meeting in person.

A link to the meeting papers will be available on the P&F POD page prior to the meeting.

St Margaret's 2025 Fathers' Dinner - limited tickets released

Couldn't make it the first time? Now's your chance to join us at the Fathers' Dinner!

Due to Tropical Cyclone Alfred earlier in the year, the St Margaret's Fathers' Dinner has been rescheduled to Friday 22 August and a limited number of tickets are available for those of you who missed out.

This much-loved annual event is a great opportunity for fathers and father-figures to come together, enjoy a meal and have a few laughs at Howard Smith Wharves, featuring guest speaker Luke Heggie.

Date:     Friday 22 August 2025

Time:    6:30pm arrival for 7:00pm start

Venue:  Rivershed at Howard Smith Wharves 

Cost:     $219 per person - includes a meal and drinks package for the evening.

RSVP:    9:30am, Tuesday 12 August 2025, unless sold out prior.

Enquiries: P&F@stmargarets.qld.edu.au

Please purchase your tickets here.

This event is proudly supported by Supporting Sponsors: Morgans and Charman Property Co, and Maggies Supporter Oscar Hunt.

St Margaret’s Secondary Father Daughter Breakfast

Students in Years 7-12 and their fathers are warmly invited to join us for the St Margaret’s Secondary Father Daughter Breakfast, hosted by the P&F Association.

We understand that it is not possible for all girls to invite their fathers. Girls are welcome to invite a relative or family friend. Boarders are welcome to 'adopt a dad' for the event.

Date:     Thursday 19 June 2025
Time:    6.45am for 7am- 8am
Venue:  Circular Drive and Arts Centre Terraces
Cost:    $49 per adult /$39 per student (Years 7-12).

Tickets are available here: https://www.trybooking.com/DARAC

Lara Pickering