eNews Archive Issue 16 - 28 May 2026

Each year, we used the funds raised for the Panama Fund (Bursaries) to assist students and their families. In terms of building funds, our master plan has identified nineteen projects; we still have 18 of these projects to go and, of course, the next project, the St Margaret’s Performing Arts Precinct is a very significant undertaking and the building funds raised will be directed to this project. Yesterday, we had a Turning of the Soil Ceremony – an important sign that construction is underway. Currently, civil works are being undertaken, and the old 50-meter pool (finally) is being demolished.

I will be taking Long Service Leave for 2 weeks at the end of Term 2 ahead of attending the International Coalition of Girls Schools Forum in Toronto. During this time, Nicole Devlin will be Acting Principal; Nikki Townsend – Acting Deputy Principal, and Kelly Alford – Acting Dean of Students.

Schools are communities that can thrive when all its members are committed to civility and a sense of civic responsibility. They are very much group environments. Timetable and staffing ratios always mean that students are always in groups (Form class; Academic Advising groups; subject classes; house groups; year level groups) and although all students need to be seen and differentiation can occur, all students need to be conscious of the group and those around them.

This is where those two important questions in the St Margaret’s Way come in:

The first question:

How do I want to feel every day when I come to school?

And then the civic accountability question: 

What am I doing to ensure others can feel this way?

The great thing about the St Margaret’s Way is that it applies to everyone – staff and parents, not just the students – and it is about being vigilant in preserving respectful relationships with everyone.

That is why I think it is always best when a parent has an issue with the school or a staff member that they come in ‘Curious rather than Furious’. This keeps everyone psychologically safe and avoids embarrassment, as there are always two sides to every story.

Ros Curtis AM

As the saying goes, “It is important to use the ratio of the face – we have been given two ears and one mouth; we should do more listening than speaking.” This wisdom reminds us that listening should outweigh talking, especially during adolescence when teens need to feel heard and understood. By creating a safe space for dialogue, we empower our teens to express themselves, make thoughtful decisions, and develop confidence. Even when their views differ from ours, listening validates their experiences and encourages mutual respect, laying the foundation for a lifelong, healthy relationship.

Over the next few weeks, I am sure there will be much discussion for our Years 8, 9 and 10 students as they embark on the subject selection process for 2027. Curriculum handbooks have been uploaded into the POD for current Years 8, 9 and 10 students for them to continue to investigate their subject choices for 2027. Subject Selection Evenings have been held this week, and if you missed these, the links to the recordings will be in the Subject Selection Tile on your daughter's Year Level page.

Please note, all students in these year levels will have received an email with the information required for entering their subject preferences online. It is very important that this is done by 3pm on Friday 12 June as this is when the portal will be closed. For your records, please print a receipt of your subject selections. This is for your reference only – there is no need to submit this receipt to the school as we have an electronic copy of your preferences.

Nicole Devlin

Yesterday morning we gathered at the front of Community House for the Turning of The Sod, ready to begin the building of the St Margaret’s Performing Arts Precinct. During the proceedings, Ms Lisa Worner (Chair of School Council), Ms Mikaeli Costello (Chair of Foundation), and our Principal, Ms Ros Curtis AM offered speeches reflecting our multi-faceted, generous and creative community. Each honoured the legacy and gift of the Society of the Sacred Advent, and all of the people who have brought us to the place we are today, and those who will continue to work to see the project through to completion. There was a deep sense of gratitude for where we are as a school, and an exhortation to build a legacy to pass onto future students.

As we keep in mind the strong community we belong to, we remember that we cannot be human alone. Our aspirations, actions and words influence the world around us. This is a powerful responsibility and a reminder that in all we do if God’s call to love our neighbour.

Africans have a thing called Ubuntu. We believe that a person is a person through other persons. That my humanity is caught up, bound up, inextricably, with yours. When I dehumanize you, I dehumanize myself. The solitary human being is a contradiction in terms. Therefore you seek to work for the common good because your humanity comes into its own in community, in belonging.

-  Bishop Desmond Tutu

While the event was thoroughly enjoyable, its purpose extends far beyond a social gathering. The Boarders Cocktail Party plays a vital role in strengthening the relationships that support the St Margaret’s boarding community. Boarding families, many of whom live considerable distances from Brisbane, rely heavily on the generosity of day families who assist their daughters throughout the school year. This support may include transporting students to sporting commitments, offering a home for weekend leave, or simply providing additional care and reassurance when needed. These acts of kindness are deeply valued by boarding parents, who entrust their daughters to the St Margaret’s community with confidence and gratitude.

The event also provides an important opportunity for boarding families to formally acknowledge and thank the day families who contribute so significantly to their daughters’ wellbeing. For some, the event is the first opportunity to meet in person, transforming names and messages into meaningful connections. For others, it is a chance to reconnect, share experiences, and strengthen the partnerships that help ensure each boarder feels supported, understood, and at home. These relationships often extend beyond the students themselves, building friendships between families and reinforcing the sense of community that is central to the St Margaret’s experience.

The success of this year’s event is a testament to the dedication and hard work of the Boarder Support Group executive and Tess Rival‑Quinn, whose planning and attention to detail helped create a welcoming and enjoyable evening. We are thankful for their ongoing support of the boarding house and the time they dedicated to making the night a success.

We also extend our appreciation to the families who generously donated prizes for the raffle to be held later in the year. Funds raised will be directed toward enhancing the boarding house environment, providing additional items and opportunities for the girls to enjoy. This generosity reflects the kindness and community spirit that define St Margaret’s and further strengthens the support network surrounding our boarders.

Kelli Boucaut

Year 10 SET Plan Meetings

All students will have received a meeting appointment with their SET Plan interviewer. A reminder that they will need to complete the SET Plan questionnaire in Learning Analytics prior to their meeting.

For those students selecting an ATAR pathway, we recommend students back themselves and select five subjects. By selecting five subjects, a student will have an Independent Learning Option (ILO) line, giving her five lessons each week to dedicate to her remaining subjects. With the additional time afforded by this line, there should be no need for a “back up” subject. If a student wishes to follow a variation to this, it can be discussed with me following their SET Plan meeting.

If students and parents have any questions regarding subject selection, these can either be asked at SET Plan Meetings or directed to the appropriate teacher, Head of Faculty or myself in the lead up to these meetings.

Ask your teachers for help, surround yourself with others who are motivated to work, and trust yourself. – Victoria Omowaire (’25)

Caitlin McCluskey

ICAS is designed to target students’ higher order thinking and problem-solving skills in a variety of subjects.

Each assessment celebrates students’ accomplishments by providing opportunities for recognition. Every student will receive a printed certificate and an online result report. Top performers will be eligible for medals and are invited to attend special award ceremonies to have their academic excellence publicly recognised.

We encourage you to consider entering your child into ICAS this year. The dates and prices are below, and these can be purchased directly from the ICAS website.

Parent page link: https://shop.icasassessments.com/pages/pps

School access code: XDF041

Subject Selection Evenings

Thank you to the parents and students who attended the Subject Selection Evenings this week, either in-person or online. If parents or students wish to watch a recording of any of these evenings, the videos will be placed on the Subject Selection POD Page, which can be accessed via your daughter’s Year Level POD Page.

Chris Dunn

Simple practices such as noting three good things each day, expressing appreciation, or reflecting on personal strengths can shift perspective over time. These habits teach students that while they cannot control everything, they can choose where they place attention.

At school, we embed strengths‑based language into our pastoral care and encourage students to recognise progress, not perfection. Families can reinforce this by celebrating effort rather than outcomes and modelling positive self‑talk.

Developing positivity does not mean avoiding hard conversations. Rather, it equips young people with tools to navigate challenges with hope and self‑belief. These skills are invaluable as students grow into confident, compassionate and capable adults.

Reference

Positive Psychology Center. (n.d.). University of Pennsylvania. https://ppc.sas.upenn.edu

Nikki Townsend

On a rainy day, Year 3 students headed to the RNA grounds to experience firsthand interactive workshops applicable on a farm e.g. dairy milking, grain harvesting. Not only did it provide the opportunity to step outside their comfort zone, but it also importantly enhanced students understanding of the farm. As they participated, the girls built their knowledge and associated vocabulary, a necessary component of reading comprehension while also enhancing their understanding of the novel Charlotte’s Web, which they are studying this term.

Academic competitions offer girls opportunities to apply their learning. Last week, eight girls participated in the Da Vinci Decathlon, a competition that requires the girls to collaboratively solve problems across ten challenging disciplines, including areas such as cartography, legacy and ideation. Congratulations to the team for achieving first place in the Ideation section.Thank you to Mrs Garrett for training and supporting the girls in this competition, on the day before she left for maternity leave. We wish her and her family all the best.

This week 16 Years 5 and 6 girls participated in the All-Girls Maths Tournament. This tournament required the girls cooperatively and creatively to solve a series of mathematical problems. Many thanks to Karen Andrews-Close for training and supporting the girls.

St John’s Cathedral featured twice for events recently. This venue is symbolic of our Anglican faith and provides an opportunity to build the students' spiritual wellbeing. Over 30 girls formally began their faith journey when they were admitted to Holy Communion.The power of the Cathedral space was embraced when Primary Chorale sang and Chloe Deng played with Chamber Strings at Classics in the Cathedral. It was heartening to watch the secondary girls perform and recognise the many primary Old Girls who have continued their musical journey, especially world-renowned guest violinist Annabelle Traves.Congratulations to all girls, staff and Mrs Brennan who coordinates the primary music program.

As a school, we know that student voice matters as it has the potential to benefit the school community. Two examples of this have been evident. Firstly, a playground committee (representatives from each class) was established last year, and throughout the year they worked collaboratively.On Friday, the playground, the 'Adventure Forest', was officially opened. Frankie S was the MC with Sienna T, Devina L and Georgia S sharing the process. As Sienna shared, “Firstly, we all met up in our groups. Each grade brought their planning sheets with a draft drawing to then confirm all the unique ideas. All together, we decided on a collaborated group plan to show to the builders for any advice or changes. After some trial and error, some yes's and no’s, we were shown the best idea, and it automatically clicked. We loved the equipment, the set out and the colours that had been chosen, so it was an instant 'yes'."

Thank you to the other active members of the committee Audrey D, Abigail P, Saskia C, Araminta C, Chloe R, Cora W, Lucy R and Kristen P. We also celebrated with a sticker reminding us that ‘Learning is an Adventure’.

Izzy L used her voice and commitment to a cause, to run a campaign to raise awareness and money to buy neuro diverse books for the library. Congratulations to Izzy for raising $2317 by making and selling scrunchies.

Angela Drysdale

For our Years 4, 5 and 6 students, the excitement is building with annual camps to Alexandra Headlands, Tamborine Mountain, and Canberra on the horizon. Arriving at those adventures feeling strong and healthy makes all the difference. Here are five things your family can do right now to stay at their best:

1. Eat the Season Winter produce is working in your favour. Citrus fruits like mandarins, oranges, kiwifruit, and grapefruit are at their peak, and they're natural immunity boosters. Add a piece of fruit to breakfast and sneak an extra serving of seasonal vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, or carrots into your evening meal. Small additions, big returns.

2. Prioritise Sleep Rest is one of the most underrated health tools we have. Aim for at least eight hours each night. Even shifting bedtime forward by just one hour can lift energy levels, strengthen the immune system, and give young minds the downtime they need to consolidate everything they're learning during these busy final weeks.

3. Keep Moving, Rain, Hail, or Cold Cooler mornings can make it tempting to stay on the couch, but keeping bodies active is key to keeping spirits up. Dance sessions in the lounge room, doing yoga, or an indoor sport can all do the trick. Movement triggers the release of endorphins and serotonin - the body's natural mood lifters and gives overall health a genuine boost.

4. Layer Up Brisbane winters are mild but can catch you off-guard, especially early mornings and evenings. Check the forecast each day and prep with layers; singlets under the midi, a scarf, or tights can make a real difference on a sharp morning. Make sure your daughter's jumper is clearly named so she can add or remove it throughout the day with ease. If you're still stocking up on winter uniform pieces, the School Supplies Shop has everything you need.

5. The Wellness Trio: Vitamins, Sunshine & Water Supplements and medications have their place, but the basics still matter most. Load up on Vitamin C through fresh food, soak up some winter sunshine for your Vitamin D (even 15 minutes makes a difference), and keep water bottles topped up throughout the day. Together, these three habits support not just a healthy body, but a calm, settled, and focused mind, exactly what's needed for a big finish to the term.

We can't wait to share these last few weeks with your family — from Grandparents Day to Community, Camp and Care Week (including Under 8's Week celebrations) let's finish the term well, together.

Annette Box

Congratulations to our Year 12 Music Extension vocalists Claire, Francesca and Valletta, whose heartfelt rendition of Somewhere Only We Know was deeply moving. It was equally wonderful to hear sisters Tram (Year 10) and Minh (Year 7) shine as soloists in Vivaldi's Double Cello Concerto. A special highlight of the evening was welcoming back Annabelle Traves ('14) as our guest performer. Annabelle captivated the audience with breathtaking performances of Gabriel's Oboe and Zigeunerweisen on violin — a moment that clearly resonated, as she received a well-deserved standing ovation. The evening came to a joyful close with a rousing performance of Sing by Gary Barlow and Andrew Lloyd Webber, bringing together all musicians, staff and audience members in a fitting finale. Sincere thanks to our music conductors and staff, stage crew and the Music Support Group for their tireless work behind the scenes. And congratulations to all students — your dedication and passion made this a truly extraordinary evening.

Europe Music Tour 2027

The Music Department is very excited to offer students the opportunity to participate in a Music Tour to Europe in 2027. The proposed tour would travel to Munich, Salzburg, Ljubljana, Graz and culminate with the Summa Cum Laude Music Festival held in Vienna. This festival brings student musicians from around the world to perform together in some of Vienna’s most spectacular music venues including the Musikverein where the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra is based and St Stephen’s Cathedral where some of the world’s most famous composers have performed including Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven. The tour will be open to students in Chamber Strings, Exultate and Sister Helen Wind Symphony (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 2027 ensemble inclusion). These kinds of tours provide unique opportunities to students where they perform together in stunning venues with great historical value and where they create very special bonds with each other through these shared experiences. An experience such as this can be life changing, and we would love to have as many students as possible involved.

Final costs are still to be confirmed and will be dependent on final numbers committing to the tour. As an approximation, the provisional cost provided to us by WorldStrides is $11,500. To secure a place on the tour, an initial deposit of $1,000 is required. Deposit payments can be made via Parent Lounge. Please note the deposit is fully refundable if insufficient numbers commit to the tour. To confirm your daughter’s involvement, payment needs to be made by Friday 24 July 2026. A letter with further information including the draft itinerary is attached (PDF 1.2MB). An information night will also be held on Thursday 11 June in The Loft at 6:00pm with a representative from World Strides.

Message from Music Support Group President

Thank you very much for volunteering your time and support for the 2026 Classics in the Cathedral last week. It was a wonderful evening of musical performances, reconnecting with family and friends, and enjoying a pre-event refreshment or two. Whether you volunteered your time, donated a raffle prize, baked, assembled, chopped or shopped, we truly appreciate every contribution. We know how busy life can be, so the time and effort you gave to make this special event such a success was incredibly generous and greatly valued. Our students are fortunate to have these opportunities and to be supported by such a talented and dedicated group of teachers, led by Brad King, it is wonderful that we can support them.

Raffle and Lucky Door Prize Winners

Congratulations to the following winners for our 2026 Classics Raffle and Lucky Door Prizes:

• Lucky Door Prize - Brisbane Festival - Fiona M
• Raffle 1st prize - Liam C
• Raffle 2nd prize - Jane R
• Raffle 3rd prize - Ren N
• Raffle 4th prize - Ailsa C
• Raffle 5th prize - Jane S.

Music Support Group POD Page

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

Music Support Group Meeting dates for 2026

Term 2, Week 7 - Tuesday 2 June

Term 3, Week 3 - Tuesday 28 July

Term 3, Week 8 - Tuesday 1 Sept

Term 4, Week 1 - Tuesday 6 October

Term 4, Week 4 - Tuesday 27 October (AGM)

Brad King

Age Group Results

12 years - 8th

13 years - 4th

14 years - 4th

15years - 6th

16 years - 3rd

17 years - 2nd

Individual Results (Top 5)

17 years – Coco F 2^nd

16 years – Zali F 5^th

14 years – Charlotte R 2^nd

Congratulations to the team, cross country captains, coaches and staff involved in this year’s cross country season. Our results continue to improve year on year, moving up a place in the aggregate cup from 2025.

Lifesaving continues its long history here at St Margaret’s. This Sunday, 46 students will be representing St Margaret’s at the Secondary School State Lifesaving Championships to be held at Sunshine Coast Grammar School. Students will compete in events such as line throws and a team survival relay. Thank you to Liam Short who has coached the students in the techniques and skills to be ready for this event as well as our Lifesaving Captains, Samara H and Valletta H, who have worked with the students each week supporting them in readiness for the championships.

This Friday is our final official Autumn fixture round for Basketball, Soccer and Touch Football. Students will be heading out to Ipswich to play IGGS. As indicated on the POD, St Margaret’s will be providing bus transportation to/from these matches. Staff will indicate on the POD the approximate return times so that students can be collected on return to school following the conclusion of these matches. Please note that there are some Soccer matches to be played next week due to recent weather rescheduling. All information on these matches will be on the POD.

Students who are interested in applying the next entry to the Sporting Flyers can apply now with applications closing at the end of Week 8. Please note that existing Sporting Flyers do not need to reapply. Please see information the Sport Flyers POD page for your application forms.

With trials and trainings taking place for 2026 QGSSSA Winter Sport in Hockey, Tennis, Netball and Volleyball over the last few weeks of the term as well as the start of the Athletics season, please ensure that you keep up to date by following the respective POD pages.

The POD - Secondary Hockey

The POD - Secondary Netball

The POD - Secondary Tennis

The POD - Secondary Volleyball

The POD - Secondary Athletics

Congratulations to St Margaret’s students who recently competed in the QRSS Water Polo Championships in Rockhampton. Year 11 students Annabelle S, Adelaide B and Ruby C all played in the team with our St Margaret’s head coach Zac Hudson managing the team. After four days of competition, the team place 2^nd overall. Following the conclusion of the tournament, Annabelle S and Lucy S (Year 12 and named in her absence) were announced in the Queensland team with Ruby C named as a reserve. The team will play NSW in August. St Margaret’s Head Coach Zac Hudson was also names as the Queensland coach.

The Queensland sport team are 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)
• Club Netball - The POD - Club Netball (stmargarets.qld.edu.au)

Anne Louise Williams

Years 7–12 – Training Jumper

For additional warmth during early morning and/or late afternoon training sessions, the new ¼‑zip training jacket is now available for purchase. The training jacket does not form part of the HPE uniform and must not be worn during the school day.

Blazer Pocket Embroidery

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

Trading Hours (Term Time)

Monday               8am – 2pm
Tuesday         8am – 2pm
Wednesday        10am – 5pm
Thursday          8am – 2pm
Friday           8am – 2pm

Public Holidays & School Holidays Closed

And the generosity has continued. As I write this update, members of our community are still joining in online. We thank each and every one of our 490+ donors for their wonderful support.

We would also like to say a very special thank you to our Matching Donors, who tripled donations right through to the completion of our Bonus Round goal of $660,000.

We would also like to thank everyone who supported us on the day. Whether you baked cupcakes, volunteered in our operations room, shared our message with friends or family, or supported us in spirit, your participation helped make Giving Day what it was. Thank you.

We would also like to acknowledge the energy and enthusiasm of our students through the day’s House competition – from the dance-off to coin drives, sausage sizzles, baking competitions, and dressing in house colours – and a thank you to the Senior Students who volunteered to make calls to our community to spread the word about Giving Day far and wide.

We are so grateful for your support. Together, you are helping ensure St Margaret’s students have the confidence to step onto whatever stage they choose. We could not have done it without you.

Your invitation to PWN: Urban transformation and business opportunities ahead of 2032

As Queensland accelerates toward 2032, our region is being transformed. Infrastructure priorities are shifting, urban precincts are being reimagined, and capital, demand and opportunity are moving ahead of the public narrative.

Join us on Wednesday 26 August for a panel discussion on Urban transformation and business opportunities ahead of 2032.

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.

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

To purchase tickets please click here

 Lara Pickering