eNews Archive Issue 13 7 May 2026

Giving Day is how we operate our annual giving program in the school, and your participation with a donation of any size (last year they ranged from $5 to $25,000) is always most appreciated. Again, this year, you will be able to provide a tax-deductible donation to the Building Fund (to support the development of our new performing Arts Precinct) or the Panama Fund (to support needs-based bursaries for students).

We receive no government assistance for our capital investment in the school, and we are most grateful for your engagement with the school in this way as it benefits your current daughters and future granddaughters.

Therefore, I encourage you to participate and donate to your daughter’s House through the site St Margaret's AGS Giving Day 2026 . If you wish to be a Matching Donor by making a contribution of $5,000 or more (i.e., your funds are then used to double the donations on the day), please contact Lara Pickering, Director of Philanthropy and Stakeholder Engagement, in the Development and Community office on lpickering@stmargarets.qld.edu.au .

We also need volunteers on the day to ring members of our community to ask for donations. If you have an hour or two to spare, please sign up on the Volunteer Registration section of the Giving Day web site. Volunteers help us spread the word on the day by making phone calls to members of our community from the Operations Room in the Arts Centre Foyer. If you can spare time to volunteer, we would be grateful. The sign-up form can be accessed via this link.

Thank you to our Matching Donors and those within our community who have already generously given in support of our annual giving. Participation is the key to a successful Giving Day, and all donations contribute to a collective which can be applied to improve the experience of all students. 

Ros Curtis AM

Two important ways we prioritise professional growth are through Student Free Days and participation in Teacher Exchange programs.

On Tuesday this week, we had a student free day to allow space for the Day Boarder weekend experience. On Tuesday, the teaching staff had a follow up learning day with Bronwyn Ryrie Jones. At the beginning of the year, Bronwyn presented to the staff about the importance of responsive teaching, and she provided them with strategies to enhance their teaching practice. This week, she continued to challenge the staff to grow as teachers to ensure they are engaging all students in their classes.

Student Free Days across the year provide dedicated time for staff to engage deeply in professional learning that directly benefits classroom practice. These days are carefully planned to focus on areas that matter most to our community, including student wellbeing, curriculum development, assessment and feedback, inclusive teaching practices, and the effective use of data to support learning growth. Just as importantly, Student Free Days allow teachers time to collaborate with colleagues—sharing ideas, reflecting on practice and aligning approaches across year levels and disciplines. This collective learning strengthens consistency while also encouraging innovation.

Teacher Exchanges further enrich professional learning by offering staff the opportunity to broaden their perspectives beyond our own campus. Through exchanges with partner schools (nationally and internationally), teachers experience different contexts, pedagogies and cultures, gaining fresh insights they bring back to St Margaret’s. These experiences often challenge assumptions, spark new thinking and reaffirm the value of reflective practice. Karen Andrews-Close has just returned from her teacher exchange at Girls Preparatory School in Chattanooga in the US. Below is a photo of Karen with the staff who have already visited St Margaret’s over the past two years, and Jenny who we will welcome at the beginning of Term 3.

Underlying all professional learning at St Margaret’s is our commitment to educating the whole person. When teachers continue to learn, they model curiosity, resilience and lifelong learning—values we seek to instil in our students. Professional learning is not an add-on to our work; it is integral to who we are as a learning community.

Nicole Devlin

Life is not always happiness. Sometimes, there are many hard days. But you must remember that you are lucky to be alive. Every breath is a gift. Life is beautiful if you let it be. Happiness is in your hands. – Eddie Jaku

The hope and optimism that Eddie Jaku fostered throughout his lifetime was not a blind hope; it was not simplistic. Eddie knew the depth of suffering, and his hope seemed to provide the strength from which he lived beyond the terrors of his life. He was able to find even the smallest or most natural thing a gift – such as breathing. As we continue to live out our 2026 school theme, Optimism and Gratitude, let us be inspired by Eddie Jaku. You might even like to reread the book, which was the St Margaret’s One School One Book selection in 2021.

In Week 4, we are looking forward to celebrating Admission to Holy Communion at St John’s Cathedral (Tuesday 12 May, 6:00pm) and our annual Confirmation Service in our school chapel (Thursday 14 May, 6:00pm).

Rev'd Jazz Dow

Our boarding celebrations began on Thursday evening, when students gathered for a special supper on the terrace under the stars. The relaxed outdoor setting created the perfect atmosphere for meaningful conversations, laughter, and connection. Staff and senior students led a series of gentle, reflective activities designed to get boarders talking about kindness - what it looks like, how it feels, and why it matters. From “kindness cards” to conversation starters and team challenges, the focus was simple: to encourage students to look out for one another and to recognise the impact of their words and actions.

On Friday morning, our senior students will once again play a leading role. They will gather in the dining hall and junior common areas to help braid hair and tie blue ribbons, a symbolic gesture worn across the country to honour Dolly Everett and to stand against bullying  – the simple act of students helping one another, chatting,

Our Boarder Captains have also written and shared a heartfelt speech with the boarding community and through social media. They reminded us that wearing blue is not just a colour. It is a commitment: a commitment to kindness, to awareness, and to making choices that uplift rather than harm.

They spoke about Dolly Everett, a young person navigating the same pressures, friendships, and challenges that many of our students face. Her story, though heartbreaking, has become a catalyst for change. The captains emphasised that Do It For Dolly Day is not about sadness alone, but about choosing to do better, together.

They reflected on the unique nature of boarding life, how we see each other at our best and at our most vulnerable. Living side by side means our actions matter even more. What we say, what we post, what we laugh at, and what we ignore all shape the environment we share.

The captains also highlighted that kindness is not always a grand gesture. Sometimes it is as small as checking in on someone who seems quiet, choosing not to join in gossip, speaking up when something feels wrong, or simply asking, “Are you okay?”

As the week draws to a close, one message resonates clearly: Doing it for Dolly means doing it for each other. In boarding, we are proud to be a community where everyone belongs, everyone is valued, and everyone deserves to feel safe and supported.

This Do It For Dolly Day  – and every day after  – we choose kindness.

Kelli Boucaut

The purpose of these evenings is to give parents and students information about the structure of their learning in the upcoming year and beyond as well as more specific information about the subjects offered. At the Tuesday sessions, there will also be an opportunity for parents to ask questions of the Heads of Faculty.

 Year 10 SET Planning

Following the subject selection evening, each Year 10 student will attend a SET planning meeting with an allocated staff member. Parents are encouraged to attend these meetings either in person or via Teams. These meetings are the final step in the process to prepare and support our students in selecting their pathway and subjects for success in Years 11 and 12.

 Remember to trust yourself to know what work needs to be put in – it might not be equal amounts per subject.
– Tess Sweeney, ’25.

 Caitlin McCluskey

Thus, it is very important that, where possible, students remain at school up until the final day of term. Understandably, individual circumstances may prevent this from happening for every student, however, in these instances, it is strongly recommended students speak with their teachers in advance to discuss how they can catch up on any learning they will miss.

A reminder also to parents, that all student leave must be sent to studentleave@stmargarets.qld.edu.au for approval.

Many thanks for your support with this matter.

Chris Dunn

Research from Smiling Mind and Beyond Blue shows that regular mindfulness practices can support emotional wellbeing and reduce symptoms of stress in young people. Even a few minutes a day—focused breathing, guided visualisation, journaling, colouring, painting or quiet reflection—can make a meaningful difference.

At school, we integrate brief mindfulness moments into pastoral care and classroom routines. At home, families might encourage simple practices such as mindful breathing before bed or quiet reflection after school.

Importantly, meditation is a skill that grows with practice. When students learn to pause, they learn that emotions pass, challenges can be managed, and inner calm is something they can access themselves. These are powerful messages for young people navigating adolescence.

Reference
Smiling Mind (Australia); Beyond Blue; Kabat‑Zinn, J. Wherever You Go, There You Are

Nikki Townsend

A person’s brain is designed to respond to negative experiences; however, research suggests that people should train their brains to find joy. When a person trains their brain to notice “glimmers" - those small, positive moments that bring light into our day - something profound happens: a person’s disposition shifts from focusing on what’s wrong to appreciating what’s right.

The simple practice of reframing not only changes how we experience the world, but it also shapes how our children learn to see theirs. Children learn by example. When we model resilience and optimism, they absorb those mindsets. A rainy day becomes an invitation to splash in puddles or share a warm, cozy moment indoors. A mistake turns into a stepping stone for growth. A moment of frustration becomes a gentle reminder to pause and reset.

This way of seeing doesn’t ignore challenges it transforms them. When we reframe setbacks as opportunities, we nurture emotional resilience and teach children to find the beauty in the everyday. Over time, this mindset reduces stress, fosters hope, and builds stronger emotional foundations. As a parent you might like to:

• share moments of joy with your child daily and invite them to do the same.
• pause to appreciate simple pleasures, a kind word, a shared laugh, a quiet moment.
• reframe challenges: What can we learn? What unexpected good came from this?

Turning negative moments into positive glimmers offers a range of powerful benefits for both emotional wellbeing and personal growth. Here are some of the key benefits:

1. Builds Emotional Resilience

Reframing challenges helps us bounce back more quickly from setbacks. When we find meaning or growth in difficult moments, we build inner strength and adaptability skills that are especially important for children as they develop.

2. Reduces Stress and Anxiety

Focusing on glimmers shifts the brain’s attention away from stress and threat. Over time, this helps calm the nervous system and reduces the intensity and duration of anxiety or overwhelm.

3. Strengthens Optimism

By actively seeking out the good even in tough situations we train our brains to develop a more hopeful and balanced outlook. This supports a more optimistic mindset, which has been linked to better mental and physical health.

4. Enhances Relationships

When we practice gratitude and share glimmers with others, it fosters connection. This can deepen relationships, build empathy, and create a more positive social environment at home, at school, and in the wider community.

5. Encourages a Growth Mindset

Seeing mistakes or setbacks as opportunities to learn helps children and adults alike develop a growth mindset. This fuels motivation, curiosity, and a willingness to try again.

6. Creates Lasting Habits of Joy

When we regularly pause to notice glimmers like a shared laugh, a moment of quiet, a kind word we start building a habit of appreciation. Over time, this habit rewires the brain to seek out more of these moments, making joy more accessible and frequent.

There was a lot of joy today when we celebrated a breakfast for Mother’s Day but that is for next week.

Andrews Cup Results

Congratulations to all team members who competed in the Touch Football and Tennis competitions at the beginning of Term 2.

The following Touch Football teams finished in the top three places:

• First: Open C1
• Second: Open B, Junior B1
• Third: Open A, Open D1, Junior A

Well done to all members of the tennis teams, with special recognition to the Junior A team, who finished fourth, the highest placing among our tennis teams.

Angela Drysdale

This matters because the gap between what teachers think students have learned and what they have actually learned can at times be significant. When educators build regular, low-stakes checks for understanding into their lessons, they gain the real-time information they need to make smart decisions about where to go next, and students are held gently accountable for their own thinking in the process.

Throughout the day, our staff explored a range of strategies that bring this to life in the classroom, from mini whiteboards and choral response to turn and talk, each designed to make student thinking visible and give teachers something to act on in the moment. We are grateful to Bronwyn for such a generous and thought-provoking day. The conversations it sparked will continue well beyond this week, in our planning, in our classrooms, and in the way we think about what it means to truly teach responsively.

Kate Frewin

We are also thrilled to welcome back Old Girl Annabelle Traves (’14) who will perform solo on the violin. Tickets are now on sale and must be purchased online via TryBooking. The cost for an adult ticket is $30, with no charge for children/students. Please print your ticket or download on an electronic device (e.g. mobile phone) to present upon entrance at the concert. All tickets must be pre-purchased as tickets will not be available at the door. A letter with more details is attached. We look forward to having many in attendance at this special event.

Churchie & St Margaret’s Music Collaboration

Congratulations to all students in Stradivari Strings and Jackson Wind Ensemble who participated in the combined St Margaret’s/Churchie Music rehearsal and performance provided last Thursday afternoon/evening. Students from both schools rehearsed during the afternoon before providing an informal performance for parents. It was a wonderful afternoon where musical capacity was further developed and new friendships forged. Thank you to all staff and students involved, with a special thank you to the Churchie music community for their involvement. Thank you also to the St Margaret’s Music Support Group for providing an amazing afternoon tea for all students involved.

Music Support Group

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 complex, 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.

Parents Support Group POD

Keep up to date with all the Parents Support Group activities here - by joining this POD group: https://pod.stmargarets.qld.edu.au/homepage/8562/ 

Meeting dates

The next meeting date is Tuesday 2 June.  All primary and secondary parents are welcome. Meetings will be held in the Canopy Café at 5:00pm.

Brad King

Congratulations to our  STM Cross Country runners who ran last week at Rangakarra. It was a strong turn out of STM runners at this practice meet with  podium finishes for one of our Cross Country Captains, Coco F, as well as Zali F and Charlotte R in their respective age groups. This week our team is attending the practice meet hosted by St Aidan's and is hoping for some further improvement in times with the Championships only three weeks away. A reminder that all Year 8 and Year 10 students are expected to attend and support the Cross Country team at the QGSSSA Cross Country Championships on Saturday 23 May. Students will be receiving a letter from Heads of Year over the coming days about attendance to this event. We are also looking forward to the Dragonettes involvement in the day.

Please look out for QGSSSA Winter Fixture sign ups for Term 3 which will be published next week. Students will be able to sign up for the following sports: Netball, Tennis, Hockey and Volleyball.

The STM sport team is happy to recognise the outstanding achievements and representation of students’ participating 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:

• 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

Hear from leaders with direct line-of-sight to the decisions shaping Brisbane's future: Simonne Bailey (Major Projects Director, Egis), Hon Kate Jones (Vice President, Paralympics Australia, Founder & MD, Linebreak), and Karuna Mazzocchi (CEO, Coronis), in conversation with Cr Julia Dixon (Brisbane City Council).

The panel will unpack infrastructure delivery, emerging precincts, market dynamics and how organisations can position themselves to take advantage of this once‑in‑a‑generation investment cycle.

Date:         Wednesday 26 August 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:     Sit down breakfast with barista coffee on arrival.  
Tickets:     $90 Adult, $55 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/events/landing/1488773  (until Wednesday 19 August, unless sold out prior).

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

P&F Secondary Father Daughter Breakfast

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.

 Online Business Directory

Are you looking for a special Mother’s Day gift, planning a home renovation, or launching a new business and need legal, financial or insurance advice?

St Margaret’s is known for being a strong, connected and supportive community. We are stronger together, and we encourage you to support the families and businesses that support our school.

Explore the St Margaret’s Online Business Directory here: https://www.stmargarets.qld.edu.au/community/business-directory

 Lara Pickering