eNews Archive Issue 24 - 13 August 2026

The selection of student leaders is a thoughtful and rigorous process involving applications, interviews, staff feedback and consideration of each student's contribution to school life over many years. As is the case every year, there are more outstanding applicants than available positions.

While the announcement brings great excitement for many students, we also recognise that it may bring disappointment for others. This can be a valuable opportunity for families to talk together about the many forms that leadership can take. As we shared with students at the assembly, leadership is not defined by a badge, title or position. Some of the most influential members of any community are those who lead quietly, consistently and generously through their everyday actions.

At St Margaret's, we believe leadership belongs to everyone. Every student has the opportunity to demonstrate courage, kindness, gratitude and service each day, regardless of whether they hold a formal leadership position. We congratulate our newly appointed student leaders and look forward to seeing the positive impact they will make in the year ahead. At the same time, we celebrate every student who contributes to making our community stronger through the way they live the values of the St Margaret's Way.

Also, a heartfelt thank you to our students, families, staff and wider school community for your wonderful support of this year’s Ponytail Project. Your generosity, encouragement and willingness to get involved helped make the initiative a meaningful success. Beyond raising important awareness and funds, the project provided an opportunity for our students to demonstrate compassion, empathy and service to others. We are incredibly proud of all those who donated, volunteered or took part, and we thank our community for once again embracing an opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of others. This is where daily leadership is seen in all members of our community and leadership is found in showing kindness, celebrating the success of others, acting with integrity, including those around us and serving others with humility and grace.

Nicole Devlin

Research consistently demonstrates that effective professional learning has a measurable impact on student outcomes. Darling-Hammond et al. argue that “well-designed professional learning programs are essential for improving classroom practice and raising student achievement” (2017). Similarly, OECD findings from the Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) highlight that schools with strong cultures of professional learning report higher teacher self-efficacy and collective responsibility for student success (OECD, 2019).

At St Margaret’s, professional development is not viewed as a compliance exercise but as a strategic investment in pedagogical excellence and relational practice. John Hattie’s synthesis of over 800 meta-analyses emphasises that “collective teacher efficacy has a greater impact on student achievement than any other school-based factor” (Hattie, 2018). Purposeful professional development strengthens this collective capacity by fostering collaboration, reflective practice, and shared language around teaching and learning.

Importantly, professional learning also supports staff wellbeing and retention. When educators are empowered as learners, they report greater professional agency and job satisfaction (OECD, 2019). In this way, professional development at St Margaret’s functions as both a driver of academic quality and a cornerstone of a thriving professional community.

In committing to intentional, research-informed professional development, St Margaret’s continues to honour its responsibility to staff, students, and the broader educational community.

References

Darling-Hammond, L., Hyler, M. E., & Gardner, M. (2017). Effective teacher professional development. Learning Policy Institute.

Hattie, J. (2018). Visible learning: Feedback. Routledge.

OECD. (2019). TALIS 2018 Results: Teachers and school leaders as lifelong learners. OECD Publishing.

We reflected on how SMALL things matter.

Think of the mustard seed - everything that the tree will become lies within that tiny seed.

We are a collection of cells, organisms, thoughts, feelings, gifts, talents. Each person a unique wonder.

Who you are is exactly who you are meant to be.

This is easy enough to say and hard to embody. Our minds play tricks on us, try to question our worth and our contribution. And, when external factors amplify this uncertainty, things can feel overwhelming. (Think – social media reels depicting unrealistic notions of beauty, think the curated highlights of someone’s life which are only a fragment of their ever-complex truth, think of the comparison we make on our worst days to someone else’s best day.)

Who you are is exactly who you are meant to be.

And what about the times life doesn’t go to plan… What for the times when we had a goal and a way to achieve it and life throws us a curve ball and derails the entire thing? What for the times the decision didn’t go our way?

How does one move through disappointment, loss, grief.

One important part of the process is to be here. Present to the now. Focus on the small things. Get one small thing done, and then the next. Master the small moments of joy and presence and they will multiply.

The small and ordinary things are the real wonders of a life well lived. Think of the people you love… It is the ordinary and small things that are most important, a shared joke, presence, a good meal, a hug, a smile, seeing their face after an absence.

One step in front of another.

This moment, not a future one.

One small act of kindness.

The mustard seed reminds us that small things hold within them all that is needed for today, and tomorrow and the future.

The tree doesn’t replace the seed. The seed is the tree, and the tree is the seed.

At any point, when we ponder the years that we have lived thus far, it is the collection of small things, rather than the big, extraordinary things that make life meaningful. Let us be a community that gets the small things right, where everyone feels seen and safe to explore and wonder, to learn and grow, to practice and to flourish.

Rev’d Jazz Dow

In preparation for the event, our boarders embraced the opportunity to showcase the boarding house. Girls worked together to ensure the boarding house looked its very best, taking great pride in preparing their common rooms, organising and tidying their dormitories, and creating a warm and inviting environment for guests. Their enthusiasm and teamwork were evident throughout the morning and reflected the strong sense of community that exists within boarding.

For many visitors, the highlight of the experience was meeting the boarders themselves while being taken on tour. Our boarders shared their experiences, answered questions, and spoke about the friendships, opportunities, and support that make boarding such a special part of life at St Margaret's. Their genuine journey helped prospective families gain valuable insight into the boarding experience.

Open Morning also provided an opportunity for future families to see the balance of independence, care, structure, and connection that underpins boarding life. From wholesome living spaces, little book nooks and study areas, the dining hall, to the many programs and activities available throughout the year, visitors were able to experience the welcoming atmosphere that helps our boarders thrive both personally and academically.

Thank you to the admissions team of St Margaret’s who contributed their time and energy to making the morning such a success. We are incredibly proud of our boarders for the maturity, confidence, and hospitality they demonstrated throughout the event. Their efforts played an important role in showcasing the boarding house and ensuring every guest felt welcomed.

Gracemere Mataia

It is expected that in the next three weeks, the Year 12 students maintain a committed approach to both attendance and engagement in their classes. Students are encouraged to ensure they are arriving at school with sufficient time to get to their classes with all required equipment. They should not be booking Careers meetings during lessons and instead should use their break time or ILOs for these bookings.

While External Exams seem to be a long way away, this time passes quickly, and the girls are encouraged to take advantage of all the support that is in place to ensure they are well prepared for the last steps of their secondary school journey. We know they have worked so hard to get to where they are now, and we are here to encourage and support them to the end.

“Be consistent with your study habits, be proactive to ask questions early, and use feedback to improve. Give it your best now, so when the results come, you can accept them without regret.” – Hailey Tsang, ’25.

Caitlin McCluskey

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 grades and feedback to help evaluate their progression towards the academic goals they set earlier in the term.

A reminder to parents that continuous reporting results have been progressively released from Term 1 assessments over the last few weeks.

• For Years 7 to 10 assessments – results and comments are released two school weeks after their submission/sitting date.
• For Year 11 – most results and comments are released two school weeks after their submission/sitting date, however, for some larger assessments it will be three school weeks.
• For Year 12 - results and comments are released three school weeks after their submission/sitting date.

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

Years 9 and 10 Study Hall

A reminder that during Years 9 & 10 Study Hall days, normal classes are suspended for these year levels, and students may have examination and performance assessments scheduled (please refer to your daughter’s Assessment Calendar on the POD).

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 3 Study Hall dates are as follows:

Chris Dunn

During the application process, our Year 11 girls were asked a telling question: how would they handle it if they weren't chosen? It's a question that gets to the heart of real leadership, because the girls who go on to lead well are rarely the ones who never face a setback. They're the ones who know how to move through one.

Psychologists often describe this as building "resilience muscle." Like any muscle, it only grows through use, and a knockback like missing out on a leadership position is exactly the kind of moment that builds it. Rather than avoiding disappointment, we want our girls to learn how to move through it well.

A few ways we encourage our girls to do that:

• Name it, don't numb it: it's okay to feel flat or frustrated. Talking it through with a parent, friend or teacher helps far more than pretending it doesn't sting.
• Zoom out: one decision, made at one point in time, doesn't define a young woman's potential or her future opportunities.
• Move your body: a walk, a swim, a game of netball. Physical movement is one of the most effective ways to shift out of a low mood and regain perspective.
• Back your peers: genuinely congratulating those who were successful takes real strength, and it's a quality that will serve our girls well long after school.

Leadership isn't only shown when a girl walks across a stage to receive a badge. It's shown in how a young woman carries herself when things don't go her way. We're proud of every girl who put her hand up this year, and just as proud of how we know they'll respond.

Screen Wise: Helping Our Girls Thrive in a Digital World 

Speaking of the challenges our girls navigate, screens remain one of the biggest, and it's something every parent grapples with.

That's why we're delighted to welcome award-winning journalist and author Madonna King to St Margaret's for a special Parent Information Seminar: Screen Wise, Take Back Control of Screentime for Toddlers to Teens.

Madonna is the bestselling author of Being 14, Fathers and Daughters, Ten-Ager and Saving Our Kids, and has interviewed hundreds of children, parents, teachers and psychologists to bring families the most current, practical advice available. In this session, she'll unpack:

• How to help your daughter build strong friendships and a sense of identity offline
• How to role model healthy screen habits as a family
• How algorithms work, and how even eight year olds are using AI to think
• How to protect your child from pornography and other online dangers
• The links between screen use, sleep, diet, exercise and attention span
• How much screen time is actually recommended

Madonna will also share tips for bringing back the family dinner table, delaying the introduction of screens, and breaking free from the pull of instant gratification, plus she'll be taking your questions on the night.

Event Details
Wednesday 19 August, 6.00pm
Arts Centre Foyer, St Margaret's Anglican Girls School
Free event, registration essential
RSVP by Monday 17 August 2026
Register here: https://tinyurl.com/4cwzc429

Screen Wise will be available for purchase and signing on the night, with presales available through the registration link (Bright & Early Books).

Please note: this session is for parents only; children are unable to attend.

We'd love to see you there.

Kelly Alford

In the physical arena there has been something for everyone as many girls participated in our interschool sporting competitions, Andrews Cup and many training for upcoming Athletics and Cricket. The highlight in this area will be the Interhouse Athletics Carnival at the end of the term.

On the creative side, the girls had three opportunities to share their talents with the wider community. Choirs and musical groups performed at Winter Wonders, the Mayo Arts Festival and the Soaring Upwards Festival. It was wonderful to watch the girls at each of these events and to see them rise proudly in this area of development. Thank you to the many staff for their direction and support of each of the girls.

All students experienced growth in the social and emotional area. Each of the planned activities focused on building confidence. Last week, the Pre Prep students left the school gates for the first time for an excursion to explore nature. This week the Preps headed off to Churchie Prep to interact with the boys as they participated in a variety of activities. The girls in Years 3 – 5 really stepped outside their comfort zone when they participated in our personal growth and sex education program with renowned expert, Mrs Judith Krause. Thank you to the many parents who joined her online presentation. Students in these year levels participate in lessons which are sequential and age appropriate. The program addresses a range of physical and emotional changes the girls will experience as they grow into young women. Judith had some very strong messages for the girls about the relevance of relationships with own self and others.

The program also aligns with the Daniel Morcombe Prep – Year 6 program used in the primary school, the key lessons of which are Recognise, React and Report. When children recognise that they are in an unsafe situation, they are encouraged to think about what they could do to be safe again.They are also encouraged to think about ways to react using real-life scenarios. Students also learn that breaking the rules (eg saying no to an adult who is behaving inappropriately) is sometimes necessary so that they can become safe again and report when there is a problem, telling an adult in their life who cares about their safety. We reinforce the fact that trusted adults keep students safe from harm and can make a situation safe again for them.

Please take the time to talk with your children about what they have been learning about safety and the ways they could react if they are unsafe, to make themselves safe again. Click on the link below or use the many books available in our library, to discuss with your child ways to stay safe and to also help them develop life-long safety skills.

Daniel Morcombe Child Safety Curriculum Fact sheet for parents

Angela Drysdale

Through these artistic experiences, children develop important skills that extend and deepen STEM learning. They build fine motor coordination, spatial reasoning, pattern recognition, and problem-solving abilities as they design, construct, and refine their creations. By integrating the Arts into Pre-Prep STEM, we cultivate imaginative, confident, and resourceful learners who approach challenges with creativity and curiosity, laying the foundation for future innovation.

Kate Frewin

Student Congratulations

Congratulations to Tram (Yr 10). Tram is part of an octet called The Fellowship of The Strings and was awarded 1st place in the Secondary Chamber section and 2nd place in the OPEN Chamber section at the Redlands Eisteddfod last Sunday. The group is also among the winners of the AUSTA String Prize at Strike a Chord 2026. This is an outstanding achievement for Tram and the other members of the octet!

Congratulations also to Jemima (Yr 6) who was recently featured in the Courier Mail article advertising the Queensland Youth Orchestra program. Jemima is heavily involved in the St Margaret’s Music Program with involvement in both string orchestras and rock bands across the Primary and Secondary school, and it is wonderful to see her extending her musical capacity through involvement in the Queensland Youth Orchestra Program. Well done Jemima!

Flyers Masterclass

A masterclass for our Music Flyers will occur on Friday 14 August, 3:30–5:00pm in the Arts Centre Foyer. A masterclass is a unique form of music education in which a small number of students perform repertoire in front of an audience and receive expert guidance and feedback from a visiting professional musician. Unlike a private lesson, a masterclass is a shared learning experience, even for students who are not performing. All gain enormously from watching, listening, and absorbing the insights offered to those who are performing. It is a valuable opportunity to observe expert-level teaching and musicianship in action.

We are thrilled to welcome Mr Brendan Joyce as our guest musician for this masterclass. Mr Joyce is the Artistic Director and Leader of Camerata, Queensland's Chamber Orchestra, one of the leading ensembles in Australia, a role he has held since 2005. He holds music degrees from the University of Queensland and the University of Maryland, and his career has included performances and collaborations with the Queensland and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestras, the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, the Australian Chamber Orchestra and America’s Smithsonian Chamber Orchestra. Mr Joyce brings a wealth of professional experience and insight, and this is a fantastic opportunity for our students to learn from a musician of his calibre.

All are welcome to attend!

2027 Musical Auditions – Beauty & the Beast

We are very excited to be presenting the musical Beauty & the Beast in Term 1, 2027. Participation in the musical is open to all secondary students currently in Year 7-11. Performing in a musical is a very special opportunity for students to experience the joy and magic of live theatre, where they will create memories that will last a lifetime. All audition materials and due dates are on the Musical POD page: https://pod.stmargarets.qld.edu.au/homepage/1227/ We look forward to having many students involved!

2026 Music Dinner Theme Announcement 

The Music Captains are very excited to announce the theme for the upcoming 2026 Music Dinner is MUSIC ICONS – Walk the Red Carpet as your Favourite Artist. Music Dinner will be held on Friday evening 9 October with more information to be provided over coming weeks.

Message From the Music Support Group 

We are very much looking forward to the Viva La Musica performance to be held in the last week of this term. Watch this space for volunteering opportunities for the evening.  We are also on the lookout for table decorators for the Annual Music Dinner and Awards Night in Term 4. If you can help decorate a table in Week 1 on Friday 9 October, please email Cath (catherine@callen.com.au).  If you are new to the Music Community and have any questions about the Parents Support Group, feel free to email Kat Carrick on katrinacarrick1@gmail.com.

Upcoming meetings for the Music Support Group are as follows:

• Term 3, Week 8 - Tuesday 1 Sept
• Term 4, Week 1 - Tuesday 6 October
• Term 4, Week 4 - Tuesday 27 October (AGM)

Parents from both the Primary and Secondary school are welcome to attend. Please join the Music Parents Support Group POD page to stay updated on all things Music Support: https://pod.stmargarets.qld.edu.au/homepage/8562

Brad King 

Last Friday, our Rhythmic Gymnastics team competed in the annual QGSSSA Championships at the Logan Metro Sports Complex. Our teams performed very well with our Open Pairs securing a podium finish, placing 3^rd overall. Congratulations to Marcia N, Emily K, Astrid S, Ellie A, Freja F and Isla F on this achievement.

On Saturday, our senior dance group Ballare competed at the Dance X competition at Moreton Bay College across two categories. Whilst they didn’t place, it was a great experience for the dance group who are only competing for the second time in this highly competitive competition. We are looking forward to seeing them perform at the upcoming Sports Awards!

This Friday, our QGSSA Athletics squad will be competing out at QSAC in the Athletics Practice Meet #2. We would strongly encourage as many students who are looking to compete for St Margaret’s to attend these meets as they are a great opportunity to not only get some times / distances recorded but to also meet other students from other QGSSA schools.

This weekend our QGSSSA Winter fixtures will take on St Peters Lutheran College in Away Fixtures. Please look at your individual POD pages for your fixture times this Saturday 15 August.

On Saturday 29 August, our QGSSSA Winter fixtures we be an away round against St Hilda’s on the Gold Coast. For this round, the school will provide bus transportation to and from St Margaret’s for all students. If you would like to use this service, please ensure that you register using the form available on the Secondary Sport page or your individual sport pages on the POD. Please note that there will be no hockey that week as St Hilda’s currently do not play hockey.

We now move into the second half of Term 3 and a more competitive part of the season with finals and pennants being decided across many sports. It’s an optimal time to remind everyone of our community code of conduct. Within this code, all members should look to model appropriate and respectful behaviour and uphold the values of our school. This includes all members of our community including students, staff, coaches and our families, both on and off the field. As Mrs Devlin posed to the community at the announcement of our 2027 student leaders this week, we should all act with grace to each other and ourselves.

The sports team are happy to recognise the outstanding achievements and representation of students participating at a national level, outside of the school sport pathway. Please directly contact Ms Williams via awilliams@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.

A reminder to all families that students should be bringing student ID cards to all trainings and fixtures for bus travel. If you have misplaced your card, please visit school support for a new one.

For the latest sport news and information please check out the following Secondary School Sport POD Pages:

• The POD - Club Netball
• The POD - Secondary Hockey
• The POD - Secondary Netball
• The POD - Secondary Tennis
• The POD - Secondary Volleyball
• The POD - Secondary Athletics
• The POD - Secondary Rowing

Anne Louise Williams

Year 11 Term 4 2026 (Year 12 2027) Booklist

The Booklists for Year 11 Term 4 2026 (Year 12 2027) are now available, and families can order online at www.campion.com.au.  

Orders placed by 28 August will receive free delivery and will be delivered prior to the commencement of Term 4. Orders received after the cutoff date will be packed ASAP; however, Campion Education cannot guarantee delivery of these orders prior to commencement of Term 4. A delivery fee will be applied to all late orders.

Families new to St Margaret’s are required to create an account by clicking on the “Parents Order Here” button located top right-hand corner of the Campion website.  A four-character code is required to access the 2027 resource list and the code for St Margaret’s is HJH7. 

Booklists for Pre-Prep to Year 11 2027 will follow in early Term 4.

Student Card Purchases

Just a reminder to ensure that the daily limit is set high enough to cover the cost of the uniform items being purchased, otherwise we will not be able to complete the transaction.

Blazer Pocket Embroidery           

Blazers are collected every Thursday after morning tea and take between two to three weeks to be embroidered.  

St Margaret’s Merchandise

The Supplies Shop has some great merchandise available including St Margaret’s folding chair, scented candles in two sizes, St Margaret’s dog lead, St Margaret’s keychains, Panama croc jibbitz, St Margaret’s compact umbrella, vacuum drink flask, a crested fine bone china coffee mug and the Mayo Arts Festival "M" cap.

Purchasing a necklace is entirely optional, and we appreciate that it may not be something every student wishes to do. However, if your daughter would like to receive a necklace, this is the final opportunity to place an order.

The necklace is available to try on at the Supplies Shop until Friday 14 August. To order, visit the Year 12 page on the POD or check your inbox for the link.

Aspiring Young Women’s Network Breakfast with guest speaker, Doctor Louisa Sondergeld (’13)

From the classrooms, rowing sheds and music rooms of St Margaret’s to a career in medicine, Dr Louisa Sondergeld has followed a pathway shaped by curiosity, service and a deep commitment to caring for others.

After graduating from St Margaret’s, Louisa completed a Bachelor of Science with an Extended Major in Psychology, followed by a Doctor of Medicine. Her medical training and early career took her through St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney, where she became a published researcher with the Cardiac Transplant Team, and later to Princess Alexandra Hospital and Queensland Children’s Hospital, where she developed her skills as a clinician, lecturer and mentor.

Louisa is now a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and works as a General Practitioner at Walton Bridge Medical Centre in The Gap. She has a special interest in paediatrics, women’s health, men’s health and palliative care, and continues to support the next generation of doctors as a lecturer and mentor to medical students.

Join Louisa as she shares her journey from St Margaret’s to medicine, reflecting on leadership, service, study and the many pathways that can lead to a meaningful and fulfilling career. Her story will offer students and community members valuable insight into what it means to build a life centred on purpose, care and contribution.

Date:                   Wednesday 2 September 2026

Time:                   6.45am arrival for 7.00am - 8.45am

Location:            Arts Centre Foyer, 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.

Tickets for the 2026 St Margaret's Mothers' Luncheon are closing soon.

The Mothers' Lunch is one of the most loved events on the St Margaret's calendar - a wonderful opportunity to come together, celebrate friendships and enjoy a vibrant afternoon with our school community. This year, the celebration is bigger and brighter, with the drinks package extending for the full duration of the event and special entertainment to bring extra energy to the afternoon.

Purchase your ticket online via this LINK .

Date:        Friday 11 September 2026
Time:       11.30am - 3.30pm

Location:  Grand Ballroom, The Greek Club, 29 Edmondstone Street, South Brisbane. 
Tickets:    $219 per person - includes a 2-course lunch, 4-hour drinks package and entertainment.

Thank you to our event sponsor, UMS, for their ongoing support of the St Margaret’s Mothers’ Luncheon.

Lara Pickering