eNews Archive Issue 11 - 23 April 2026

Therefore, now is the time to actively cultivate hope, which ultimately encourages resilience and initiative-taking approaches. This is why our theme this year ‘Optimism and Gratitude’ is very important.

One area that I feel optimistic about is the long-term effects of the social media delay for young people. Yes, there is still plenty of young people on the banned social media platforms. However, if we remain stronger longer and continue to ensure our young people under 16 are not on social media, in three years I am hopeful that there will be a cultural shift and subsequently, a huge difference in student wellbeing. The effects of social media use on teenagers particularly are well-documented elsewhere but essentially, we are referring to impacts such as anxiety, depression, as well as sleep disorders, lower subjective wellbeing and self-injurious thoughts and behaviours.

Social media use is not something that can be supervised by parents; we all know that young people are too adept at flicking from one screen to the other when the parent walks in the room. Therefore, it is only a ban (or delay) that can work. Although the ban relates to the tech giants taking responsibility, that does not mean that parents can override the ban and give permission.

So, as we start Term 2, this is just a reminder of the school’s position on the delayed social media use of young people under the age of 16. Please stay stronger longer and resist the urge to allow your child to access social media before the age of 16 years.

Term 2 promises to be a busy one. Welcome to all new students and a new member of the teaching staff, Kaitlyn Shields who will be teaching Economics/Maths.

The long weekend in May is designated to the Day/Boarder Weekend and includes the Tuesday after the Monday public holiday. I encourage day and boarder families to start to make their arrangements and to invite their day student friends. This is an opportunity for a very suburban young person to experience and grow in their understanding of rural life.

Ros Curtis AM

This term we welcome the following students from our exchange schools into Year 10.

We welcome students from Sacre Couer, France and St Anne’s, South Africa. We also wish our girls travelling to Canada, South Africa and Japan all the best for their Term 2 exchange and we look forward to welcoming them back in Term 3.

A reminder with regards to student safety. It is very important for parents to be aware of their child’s safety in both the physical and online environments. I’d like to include a special note to ask parents to please be aware of your daughter’s activities online, who and what they are engaging with, and communicate with them about these activities. Our child safe policies and procedures certainly extend to the online forum, and I have included information and contacts for this below.

Public Commitment

St Margaret’s is committed to promoting the safety, wellbeing and best interests of children, and preventing, detecting and responding to child harm.

Every child has the right to be safe and feel safe.

As Anglican child safe organisations, we commit to:

• Implementing the 10 Child Safe Standards and the Universal Principle.
• Operating by Gospel values, which emphasise service, inclusivity, integrity, character, dignity, compassion, and justice.
• Providing children with exceptional pastoral care.
• Providing care this is physically, emotionally, psychologically and culturally safe.
• Taking all reasonable steps to protect children from exposure to harm.
• Empowering children to participate in decisions that affect them.
• Educating children about who to approach if they feel unsafe or have concerns.
• Instructing our community members on how to respond to complaints, concerns, and breeches of our conduct expectations
• Maintaining effective processes for responding to concerns of child harm.
• Listening and learning and seeking to improve. 

Child Safe Advocates (Student Protection Officers):

Child Safe Advocates are persons designated as liaison people to whom students may refer if they are not feeling safe; or to whom they make complaints of harm, inappropriate behaviour or physical/sexual abuse.

The St Margaret's Child Safe Advocates are:

• Deputy Principal – Nicole Devlin
• Head of Boarding - Lesa Fowler
• Dean of Students - Nikki Townsend
• Dean of Academics – Caitlin McCluskey
• Head of Primary School - Angela Drysdale
• Assistant Head of Primary – Curriculum (PP-6) – Kate Frewin
• Assistant Head of Primary – Wellbeing and Operations (PP—6) – Annette Box
• Head of Faculty – Student Pathways and Futures – Kelly Alford
• Head of Year – Nicole Walker
• Deputy Head of Boarding – Grace Mataia
• Senior Psychologist – Michelle Alexander
• Psychologist – Emma Greensill

Nicole Devlin

In her work she advocates that every human being is born with an innate spirituality. In the podcast (linked above), she explores how important it is to nurture spirituality in girls. She presents the findings of her research that girls who are given the opportunity to build and strengthen a spiritual core are more resilient and:

• are 80% less likely to face addiction
• are 70% less likely to take dangerous risks and end up in unwanted relational situations
• profound protection against diseases of despair
• have significantly more positive markers for thriving including an increased sense of meaning and purpose, and high levels of academic success.

(The Spiritual Child — Dr. Lisa Miller)

In her book “The Spiritual Child”, Dr Miller quotes the definition of spirituality as:

“Spirituality is an inner sense of relationship to a higher power that is loving and guiding. The word we give to this higher power might be God, nature, spirit, the universe, the creator, or other words that represent a divine presence. But the important point is that spirituality encompasses our relationship and dialogue with this higher presence.”

“For a girl, spiritual life is even more important as the mooring, the deep embedded compass through which she guides and governs her life.”

Upcoming Events

Rev’d Jazz Dow

Gracemere is such a valuable part of our boarding house, and it is evident that her time in service has shaped her into the confident, compassionate and capable leader she is in our boarding community. Below are some experts from her speech at the ANZAC Day Assembly, in which she shares her personal reflections on her service and what the experience meant to her.

“I joined the Navy at just 17, fresh out of high school and remained a Navy Reserve until I was 27. I come from a very proud military family; my father is a Vietnam War Veteran Officer Major who served 46 years in the Australian Army, and my siblings have served and serve in the Defence Force. My calling to serve for this country wasn’t based on a family legacy, but because I am a proud Australian, and I wanted to contribute to the safety and protection of this country we all call home.

My time in the Navy took me across Australia, my first posting and training at HMAS Cerberus in Victoria, then to HMAS Coonawarra in Darwin, and finally to HMAS Albatross in Nowra, New South Wales. At a young age, I was exposed to the realities of national security and the responsibility of active defence operations. These experiences opened my eyes to the wider world and the significance of service.

On two occasions, during my time serving in the northern western waters, I encountered asylum seekers, families and children who had fled their home countries in search of safety and hope. Working closely with them changed the course of my life. It sparked my passion for supporting children and families and ultimately led me to continue my studies in child and family psychology. My time in the Defence Force was deeply rewarding and profoundly shaping. The Navy instilled in me its core values; honour, honesty, courage, integrity, and loyalty, values that align closely with those upheld here at St Margaret’s.

When I served, I was one of only 12 women in a division of 120 people. Today, women make up around 20 percent of the Australian Defence Force, and in the Royal Australian Navy. These numbers continue to grow, reminding us that there is a place for women and girls like you in every area of service, leadership, and national contribution. What matters just as much as the statistics is the impact behind them: women now command ships, lead critical operations, shape policy, and mentor the next generation. Progress has been built by women who were willing to step forward in the front lines, even when they were the minority, and by organisations learning to value diverse strengths and perspectives. Your generation will take this even further not by fitting a mould, but by redefining what leadership and service can look like.  

ANZAC Day holds deep meaning for those who have served in military and for those with family members or loved ones who have served. It is a day to pause, to remember, and to acknowledge both the visible and unseen sacrifices on the battlefield and at home. It is a time when pride, gratitude, grief, and reflection sit side by side, connecting generations through a shared respect for service and sacrifice.”

Our boarding community is so proud that Grace was able to share her story with the wider school community, and we are so grateful for her service.

Lesa Fowler

Year 11 Academic Progress Meetings

This term, I will meet with all Year 11 students to discuss their progress, including Unit 1 results, goals for 2026 and any subject queries. Bookings for these meetings will open on Tuesday 28 April at 4:00pm and meetings will start in Week 3. Times are available before, during and after school and parents are encouraged to attend with their daughter. If parents are unable to attend in person, then their daughter is permitted to bring her phone to the meeting to call them.

Year 11 Exam Mornings

In Term 2, we will have two Exam Mornings for Year 11. When an Exam Morning occurs, only students who study the subject are required to attend school at 8:20am. There is a Year 11 Exam Morning on Friday 9 May for Biology. All Biology students are required to be at school ready for their exam to begin at 8:20am. All Year 11 students who do not study Biology are not required to be at school until Academic Advising at 9:50am.

On Thursday 14 May there will be another exam morning for English. All English students are required to be at school ready for their exam to begin at 8:20am. Any students who do not study English are not required to be at school until lesson 2A at 10:50am.

Year 12 Final Internal Assessments

Many students will complete their final Internal Assessments this term, with only a few remaining pieces due in Term 3. It’s an important term but it is short and will fly by, so girls are encouraged to hit the ground running and make sure they are communicating with their teachers, Mr Smithers and myself if they are struggling at any stage.

“Start early, revise consistently, get enough sleep, be kind to yourself and still make time for the things you love” – Lauren Cowley, ‘25

Caitlin McCluskey

A reminder that SSS operates on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings from 5:00pm to 7:30pm. Parents do have the option of purchasing dinner for their daughters from the boarding house at the time of booking for $14.50. Bookings close at 9:00am on the day, unless the maximum number (25) is reached prior to this point, so I do recommend parents book in early to avoid missing out.

The purpose of these sessions is to provide girls with a quiet and well-resourced space that is conducive to productive homework and study time. Each SSS will be staffed by up to two tutors, who offer advice and guidance on how to plan effectively for upcoming assessments. The SSS tutor group is made up of ten young women who are currently studying at university and have much to offer our girls in the way of study skills.

For students attending SSS after an afternoon of sport, transport is available to and from Windsor Park. For those staying on after school to attend SSS, the Eunice Centre is open until 5pm prior to the commencement of the study sessions.

Trends in Education

On Wednesday 13 May, our first Trends in Education Seminar is occurring in the Arts Centre Foyer (4:00pm for 4:30pm start; 6:00pm finish). Our guest speaker is Dr Amanda Bourgeois, who will be speaking on the Adolescent Dip: a phenomenon observed across studies suggesting a dip in social, emotional, and cognitive skills and dispositions, particularly during the middle years. It is sure to be an informative and insightful lecture, that will provide our teachers with much food for thought.

Importantly, this seminar is open to all teachers in South-East Queensland. St Margaret’s parents who are interested are also very welcome to attend. Further information about this free seminar can be found through the following link Trends in Education Seminar - St Margaret's . Registrations close Friday 8 May.

Chris Dunn

Empathy is not passive; it requires active listening and perspective-taking. When students learn to understand others’ experiences, they become more inclusive and resilient. Service learning provides authentic opportunities for students to practice empathy by engaging with community needs. Research shows empathy motivates prosocial behaviours like volunteering and reduces aggression (Batson, 2011).

At St Margaret’s, programs such as Eat Up and charity initiatives such as the Ponytail Project help students develop empathy and social responsibility—key traits for compassionate leadership. These experiences teach students that their actions can make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

By prioritising empathy and service, we help students grow beyond self-interest—becoming leaders who care deeply about others and the world around them. In doing so, we prepare them not only for academic success but for a life of purpose and contribution.

Nikki Townsend

References

Abramson, A. (2021). Cultivating empathy. Monitor on Psychology, 52(8), 44–49.

Rogers, C. (1980). A Way of Being. Houghton Mifflin.

Batson, C. D. (2011). Altruism in Humans. Oxford University Press.

The week started with the Primary Chorale and Beath String Quartet heading to the Queensland Children’s Hospital to provide music to celebrate World Music Therapy Day. Staff and passers-by were stopped in their tracks by the girls’ musical talents. Their performance program was filmed and shared with the hospital patients, and I know the girls were very proud to use their music to make a difference for others.

Excitement extended beyond returning to school and reconnecting with friends, as the new playground also sparked great interest. The girls were delighted to see the finished space, and this week, enjoyed the opportunity to explore it with their classmates. The playground will officially open next week for all to enjoy.

On Thursday, many girls travelled to Toowoomba to represent the school at our interschool Andrews Cup touch football and tennis. This first sporting opportunity for the term allowed the girls to further develop both their athletic abilities and important life skills, including resilience, teamwork and pride in representing their school.

On the same day, ANZAC Day was acknowledged with a whole school service run by the primary school. This national day of reflection invites us, as a country and as a school community, to stop, remember, and honour the timeless values that acts of service represent courage, bravery, and unwavering persistence.

These qualities are not just historical virtues; they are living values that continue to shape the way we learn, grow, and contribute as a school community.

At our school, courage is one of our core values. It means more than bravery in the face of fear—it’s about stepping outside one’s comfort zone, being willing to try something new, take on challenges, and face setbacks with determination. We encourage students to bring this kind of courage into their everyday learning.

We also encourage persistence—a value deeply mirrored in the way we approach learning through the concept of the Learning Pit. The Learning Pit is a powerful metaphor that helps students understand that struggle is a normal and necessary part of growth.

• Falling into the Pit represents the challenge—feeling stuck, unsure, or confused.
• Climbing out requires effort, resilience, and support from peers and teachers.
• Reaching the top is the moment of insight, progress, and achievement.

Through this model, students learn that persistence leads to understanding, and mistakes are for learning.

The most powerful legacy the ANZACs leave us is a reminder to live each day with deep gratitude—for our freedoms, our opportunities, and the sacrifices they made on our behalf.

Gratitude is more than saying thank you—it is an active mindset. When we choose to be grateful, we shift our focus from what is missing to what is meaningful. We begin to see challenges not as burdens, but as opportunities. Gratitude allows us to value the people around us, the learning in front of us, and the moments that make up our everyday lives. We are grateful to the many teachers involved in making this week’s activities possible.

As we begin this new term, let these values shape the way we lead, the way we learn, and the way we support one another. In living out these principles each day, we honour not only the past but also the future we are building together.

Angela Drysdale

Term 2 Novels

Year 3 - Charlotte's Web

E.B. White's timeless story of friendship, loyalty, and loss gives Year 3 students a rich and rewarding text to spend time with. Its gentle but powerful language rewards close reading and offers students meaningful first encounters with themes of friendship and love, and what it means to care for another.

Year 4 - The Last Bear

Hannah Gold's contemporary novel takes Year 4 students to a remote Arctic Island, where a lonely girl discovers a polar bear in danger. The novel builds knowledge about climate change and the natural world while exploring themes of courage and connection.

Year 5 - Storm Boy

Colin Thiele's Australian classic brings Year 5 students into the windswept coastal landscape of the Coorong. Storm Boy deepens knowledge of the natural environment and different perspectives while exploring profound themes such as belonging, and our connection to the natural world.

Year 6 - Chinese Cinderella

Adeline Yen Mah's remarkable memoir brings Year 6 students into her childhood in mid-twentieth century China. This powerful autobiographical account introduces history, culture, and a marginalised voice that speaks with great honesty and resilience.

What sets our novel studies apart is the depth of work that surrounds each text. Every unit is built on four interconnected pillars:

Close Reading

Students return to carefully selected passages, each time with a fresh focus. The goal is not just comprehension but developing real strategies for understanding complex language and building the kind of sustained attention and confidence that will serve students well beyond primary school.

Knowledge Building

Alongside each novel, students engage with carefully chosen additional texts that build the knowledge needed to draw meaningful connections and truly understand what they are reading.

Vocabulary Development

Rich, deliberate vocabulary instruction is woven through every unit. Key words are identified in advance, clear definitions are prepared, and students encounter and explore new language naturally during reading, building not just breadth of vocabulary.

Connected Writing

Reading and writing develop best together. Short, purposeful writing tasks including reflections, responses, and arguments help our students refine their thinking, consolidate new knowledge, and move ideas into long-term memory.

Across the primary years, our novel choices are sequenced to grow in complexity and depth. They are chosen to represent a wide range of voices, including those that have historically been marginalised, and to open windows into lives and places that students may never otherwise encounter. We hope our girls enjoy the learning that occurs in these special units, and we thank our Literacy Coordinator, Mrs Singleton, and our classroom teachers for the genuine care they have put into developing them.

We encourage you to read these novels alongside your daughters, sharing her journey.

Kate Frewin

They performed a beautiful program which will be streamed to patients in the children’s wards.

This special opportunity was made possible by Old Girl and recent Spirit of Service Past Student Awardee Maggie James (’97), whose work as Clinical Lead of the Music Therapy Department at the Queensland Children’s Hospital continues to highlight the powerful role music plays in healing and wellbeing.

It was also lovely to have our co school captain Polly’s mum (also an Old Girl) Anna Young (’93) in attendance, who is the Director of Occupational Therapy and Music Therapy at QCH, making the occasion even more meaningful and strengthening the connection between our school and the hospital community.

We are incredibly proud of our students for performing with such empathy and heart, and for using their music to make a difference.

Music Support Group News: Help Us Bring a World-Class Steinway to Life

We are on an exciting journey to raise funds for a beautiful Steinway Piano for our new performing Arts Precinct and we are approaching the halfway mark! We would love your support to help us reach the finish line. As part of our upcoming Classics in the Cathedral event, we are seeking raffle prize donations to make the experience even more special. We welcome contributions of all kinds, including:

• Music-themed items
• Gift vouchers
• Unique experiences
• Restaurant vouchers
• Or a monetary donation to help us create an incredible prize.

Every donation, big or small, brings us one step closer to filling our space with the rich, inspiring sound of a Steinway. If you’d like to be part of something truly special, please get in touch with Amy James (amy@njames.com or 0425 333 329). Thank you for helping us create something extraordinary for our community.

Churchie and St Margaret's Music Afternoon support

In preparation for the Churchie and St Margaret's Music Afternoon on Thursday 30 April for Stradivari Strings and Jackson Wind Ensemble, the Music Support Group is seeking the support of parent volunteers for the afternoon tea. If you would be available to provide fruit or home bake (with both morning and afternoon drop off times available), or volunteer your time to support (2.30pm to 4.30pm), please signup via this link - https://signup.com/go/TdaMmkX. Thank you in advance for your assistance!

Music Support Group Meeting dates

The next meeting dates for Term 2 are listed below. All primary and secondary parents are welcome. Meetings will be held in the Canopy Café at 5:00pm.

Term 2, Week 2 - Tuesday 28 April
Term 2, Week 7 - Tuesday 2 June

Brad King

Congratulations to all our students for bringing the Maggies spirit to the day as well as our staff for their assistance on the day.

This week will be our first Cross Country practice meet hosted by Brisbane State High School at Yeronga. These are great opportunities for our Cross Country squads to get times recorded in preparation for the upcoming QGSSSA Cross Country Championships. All students in these squads should be prioritising attending these meets over the coming weeks. If other commitments come up, please ensure that you are communicating with our Head of Athletics, Mr Brenton Thiele.

The last weekend of the school holidays saw Cross Country, Netball and Rowing each hosting camps. The three events were a great success with all participants experiencing opportunities to learn and develop new skills in their respective sports. A particular highlight for some of our primary and secondary netball camp participants was the opportunity to attend a winning Firebirds game! The event was a great success and we will be looking to do this again next season

This week is Round 4 in our QGSSSA Autumn fixtures with away games against Somerville House. Good luck to our Basketball, Football and Touch Football teams.

The sport team is happy 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 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:

• 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)

Anne Louise Williams

Blazer Orders

Blazers are starting to arrive, and the Supplies Shop will work closely with the Heads of Year to coordinate the collection of blazers over the next couple of weeks.

Winter Uniform Items

We are pleased to advise that the following items are now available for purchase from the Supplies Shop:

• Formal jumper (poly/cotton and wool/nylon options)
• Pre‑Prep and Prep fleecy tracksuit
• School tracksuit jacket and pants
• School scarf
• Winter tights – St Margaret’s Brown

Families are encouraged to visit the Supplies Shop early to ensure availability and the best fit.

Years 7–12

For additional warmth during early morning and/or late afternoon training sessions, the new ¼‑zip training jacket is now available for purchase.

Please note that no other garment may be worn with the school tracksuit to training sessions, other than the approved ¼‑zip training jacket.

Blazer Pocket Embroidery

Blazers requiring pocket embroidery must be submitted to the Supplies Shop by morning tea on Thursdays. Please allow approximately two to three weeks for embroidery to be completed.

We look forward to your participation once again in Term 2, as we continue to build the spirit and generosity that makes St Margaret’s such a supportive and nurturing place for our students.

Save the Date - P&F Father Daughter Breakfast (Secondary)

Rug up and join us for the Secondary Father Daughter Breakfast with a view. Students in Years 7-12 and their fathers are warmly invited to join us for breakfast with coffee from Tipple and Tamper.

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.

Tickets will be available to you to purchase online from 9.30am Tuesday 28 April 2026, or from 9.30am Monday 27 April for Year 12 and Boarding families.

Event Details

Date:     Thursday 18 June 2026
Time:    6:45am for a 7:00am start. Concludes at 8:00am
Venue: Circular Drive and Arts Centre Terraces

Aspiring Young Women’s Network Breakfast with guest speaker, Brittany Luhrs (’13)

Join Brittany as she shares her journey from St Margaret’s to the creative industries, and offers an insight into what a passion for the arts, combined with the right skills, can lead to.

We invite parents and senior students to join us at the first Aspiring Young Women’s Network Breakfast event of 2026 to hear from Brittany Luhrs (’13), a creative and driven marketing professional who has built a dynamic career at the intersection of digital strategy and the arts.

 After leaving St Margaret’s, Brittany went on to earn a Bachelor of Business and a Bachelor of Creative Industries, both with a focus in Marketing, from QUT, followed by a Master of Business (Marketing). Brittany’s early career saw her channel her entrepreneurial spirit into founding The Social Flamingo, her own bespoke social media consultancy, while simultaneously developing her skills across a range of marketing and communications roles. Her work spanned content strategy, digital campaigns, graphic design, copywriting, and large-scale social media campaigns reaching millions of people.

Now in her eighth year at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), Brittany has grown from intern to Senior Marketing Coordinator, playing a key role in promoting one of Australia’s most celebrated arts destinations. Her work encompasses strategic marketing campaigns, digital and e-commerce initiatives, and audience engagement across both traditional and digital channels, most recently as part of the team behind the highly anticipated launch of the Glasshouse Theatre, the largest performing arts centre under one roof in Australia.

Date:                     Thursday 28 May 2026

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

Lara Pickering