eNews Archive Issue 18 - 11 June 2026

At its core, parent engagement is about connection and trust. As parents, you place enormous trust in the school each day when you send your child to us. We recognise that this is not a simple transaction – it is deeply personal. Every family brings with them their hopes, expectations, and care for their child, and these naturally shape how they experience school life.

Parents play a powerful role in shaping their child’s experience at school. The way children feel about learning, their confidence, and their sense of belonging are all influenced by the messages and support they receive at home. For this reason, our work is always a shared one – we are supporting not just students, but families as a whole.

In recent years, we have all experienced significant change. Events such as COVID-19 have influenced how families feel about education, wellbeing, and social development. Many parents have understandable concerns about their child’s progress and experiences, and at the same time, communication between school and home has increased. A key focus for us is ensuring that this communication remains clear, timely, and helpful.

We also know that families come to us with individual needs and requests, always grounded in care for their child. While we aim to be responsive and supportive, schools also have an important responsibility to ensure fairness and consistency for all students. At times, this means making decisions that may not align with every individual preference, but which reflect what is best for the broader community.

Next term, Christopher Dunn, Wendy Johnston and Pru Reed – members of the Parent Engagement Project Group – will invite parents to participate in Parent Focus Groups. These sessions will gather feedback from a broad range of families as we begin reviewing our current communication processes. I look forward to working with this group to take a strategic approach, ensuring that you, as parents, receive the information you need in the most effective and accessible way.

Nicole Devlin

The evening was outlined by Global Exchange Coordinator Shauna Crabbe, who guided parents through the purpose and structure of the St Margaret’s Global Exchange Program. Families were provided with a comprehensive overview of the program’s aims, what an exchange experience involves, the selection criteria, expectations for students, and the application process.

At its core, the Global Exchange Program is designed to broaden students’ horizons and prepare them to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world. Students have the unique opportunity to study at one of our international sister schools while also welcoming an exchange student into their own home, creating a genuinely reciprocal and immersive cultural experience.

As former U.S. President Barack Obama observed, “In a global economy where the most valuable skill you can sell is your knowledge, a good education is no longer just a pathway to opportunity – it is a prerequisite.” This sentiment reflects the importance of programs such as global exchange in equipping students with the skills and perspectives needed for the future.

Families also gained valuable insight into the personal growth students can expect – from building resilience and confidence to developing empathy and intercultural understanding. Research consistently shows that immersive international experiences help students broaden their perspectives, engage with diverse cultures, and grow in adaptability and independence.

The session concluded with an opportunity for questions, reflecting the strong engagement and enthusiasm from parents eager to support their daughters in this transformative journey.

The Global Exchange Program remains a vital part of the St Margaret’s experience, developing confident, capable and compassionate young women equipped to engage meaningfully in a global community

Nikki Townsend

In our St Margaret’s school history, there is a tradition of celebrating the Ascension. Throughout the years, the activities for this celebration ranged from picnics, house-based games, and even an Ascension ball. To honour this tradition and the importance of Ascension in the Christian tradition, this week we gathered for a Whole School Ascension service.

We told the story of God’s unfailing presence with us and God’s call to each one of us - to live with kindness, respect, hope, and to honour the dignity of everyone. The Ascension reminds us that God believes in us and calls us to shine as a light in the world.

While the Feast of Ascension sounds rather strange there are two important messages that come with this celebration:

The first is that we are bearers of God’s love in the world. We are called to live out our faith. Every act of kindness, every word of hope, every stand for justice, every welcome offered to the lonely or forgotten — these become signs of God’s love. Human dignity matters. Peace matters. Mercy matters. Care for creation matters. These are the signs of God’s kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. The second important message of the ascension is that we are never alone. God is with us until the end of time.

Rev'd Jazz Dow

In boarding, daily routines create a sense of stability and predictability. Set study times help develop strong study habits, while consistent meal schedules and regular sleep patterns enable students to remain focused and manage their workload effectively. These routines allow students to use their time efficiently across multiple subjects, as well as balance their extracurricular commitments.

Importantly, routine also supports wellbeing. When students know what to expect each day, it reduces uncertainty and allows them to concentrate on their academic responsibilities while still making time for rest and connection with others.

Assessment weeks in boarding are carefully supported by staff, who work to ensure students are both challenged and cared for. Structured prep times provide quiet, purposeful study spaces, while guided support helps students stay on track. Teachers rotate through year levels each school night, offering assistance and encouragement during prep time.

Boarding staff also play a vital role in monitoring student wellbeing, offering guidance, and helping students prioritise their commitments. They support students in maintaining healthy routines, ensuring they are sleeping well, staying active, and remaining socially connected. This consistent presence ensures that no student feels they are facing assessment pressures alone.

In these final weeks of term, chapel services have been a particularly meaningful part of boarding life. They offer a moment of pause in what can otherwise be a busy and demanding time. During assessment periods, these moments are especially valuable, allowing students to step away from academic pressures, reflect on their journey, and reconnect with a sense of purpose and community.

At this important point in the term, communication between boarding staff and families is essential. To strengthen this connection, staff are reaching out directly to parents through phone calls and emails. These conversations provide opportunities to share updates on student progress and wellbeing, strengthen partnerships between home and boarding, and ensure parents feel informed and connected.

Families are encouraged to be available for these communications, as they offer valuable insights and create opportunities to work together in supporting each student’s success.

Ultimately, structured routines, strong communication, supportive relationships, and opportunities for reflection all work together to guide students through assessment periods with confidence and care.

Gracemere Mataia

At St Margaret’s, we provide a safe space for learning, but we do not remove risk from the learning process. Throughout your daughter’s schooling, she will be faced with obstacles such as challenging assessment or a disappointing result on a piece of assessment. There will be times when she has a teacher with whom she has difficulty building rapport. Sometimes, your daughter may not enjoy the subjects she is studying and may find it difficult to motivate herself. We recognise these hurdles as important learning experiences and opportunities for intellectual challenge. While it is difficult to see your child struggle and tempting to step in to remove the obstacle, I encourage you to pause and consider whether it is possible to support her through the struggle rather than remove it completely.

Last year, St Margaret’s hosted a parent information session with Dr Judith Locke, a clinical psychologist, registered teacher and author of The Bonsai Student, The Bonsai Child and Raising Anxiety. QCAA has partnered with Judith Locke, with a range of videos available on their website to support families through their schooling years. Should you wish to understand ways you can support your child without stepping in, I encourage you to watch some of these videos here or consider reading one of her books.

School is not just a time to learn content we may or may not use in the future, and it is not only about the result on the page at the end of the term. Arguably the most important learnings we give our students are the social and emotional skills to go out in the world and be successful, no matter what comes their way.

Persevere, especially when the learning is difficult – Phoebe Tydd (’25).

Caitlin McCluskey

Further details about staff locations for this session will be sent to parents closer to the date.

Below is a summary of the important dates for parents:

• Parent Bookings Open: Wednesday 17 June 9:00am
• Parent Bookings Close: Friday 3 July 5:00pm

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact myself or Megan Farnsworth at mfarnsworth@stmargarets.qld.edu.au

Chris Dunn

This weariness is completely normal. Adolescence is a period of profound neurological and physical growth, and when you layer the demands of a rigorous education, extracurricular commitments, and social dynamics onto that developing brain, the final weeks of a term will always take a toll.

During this window, you might notice your daughter becoming more easily overwhelmed, irritable, or unusually emotional at home. We know that fatigue in teenagers directly impacts their emotional regulation and cognitive functioning. When physical and mental reserves are low, the prefrontal cortex—the area of the brain responsible for logic and emotional control—essentially takes a backseat.

As a school community grounded in values of care, resilience, and compassion, how can we best support our girls through this final hurdle?

• Prioritise the 'Big Three': Sleep, hydration, and nutrition. High school students need between 8 to 10 hours of sleep per night. When fatigue sets in, enforcing a "devices off" rule an hour before bed is the single most effective intervention you can make.
• Simplify the Schedule: Now is the time to strip back non-essential commitments. If a social outing or extra chores can wait until the holidays, let them. Give your daughter permission to just be.
• Validate, Don't Just Fix: When the end-of-term tears or frustrations inevitably surface, sometimes the best response is simply validation. Acknowledging their hard work with a simple, "I can see you are exhausted, and I am proud of how hard you’ve worked," can be incredibly grounding.

We are so close to the finish line. Let us work together to wrap this term up with grace, patience, and kindness, ensuring our girls head into a well-deserved winter break feeling supported and valued.

Kelly Alford

• Infants and toddlers: Sensory exploration, physical movement, parent-child play.
• Primary school children: Unstructured outdoor play, imaginative games, peer socialisation
• Adolescents (12 to 17): Creative pursuits, social play, sport and recreation, digital play

In just 30 minutes of play, one third of the neurons in the brain are changed. Play literally grows brains and it builds the resilience, creativity, empathy and physical health that children carry with them for life. It is not a leisure activity; it is developmental infrastructure.

The key benefits of play are identified as:

• Cognitive development: Play builds problem-solving, creativity, executive function and lifelong learning skills. It is the primary mode of learning for young children.
• Mental health and wellbeing: Children who play freely have better emotional regulation, reduced anxiety and greater resilience. Play is a natural buffer against childhood stress.
• Social skills: Unstructured play teaches negotiation, empathy, conflict resolution and cooperation, skills no classroom can fully replicate.
• Physical health: Active play develops motor skills, physical literacy and healthy habits that last a lifetime. It is the foundation of movement and sport participation.

Therefore, as a school we acknowledge the importance of play as it is how brains build pathways, how bodies learn to move, and how children make sense of the world. The science is unequivocal: play in childhood shapes the adults’ children will become. (Play Australia). If you are interested in more information the CEO’s report is attached https://playaustralia.com.au/internationaldayofplay

Evidence of this commitment will be demonstrated next week (Community, Care and Camp week) when all students undertake learning experiences which will provide play opportunities. Watch this space next week.

In preparation for their camps, Years 5 and 6 students took part yesterday in immersion day activities. During the day, the girls participated in creative play and were encouraged to apply critical thinking in different ways:

• Year 5 students explored leadership, reflecting on what it means to lead with integrity and how each student can contribute positively to their camp community. They also created their individual t-shirt design as part of the group theme.
• Year 6 students examined the many venues and activities they will visit in Canberra, connecting what they’ve learned in the classroom to real-world applications, that is curriculum in context. They are beginning to ask: What is the purpose of each visit? What questions do I want to explore? How does this experience link to who I am as a citizen? Role play was an important component of their learning.

These are just some of the many ways we are helping our students build the skills to think deeply, act responsibly, and make meaningful connections between themselves and the world around them while also engaging in play.

Play is good for all of us, at every age. Adults benefit from play too, through creativity, connection, joy and stress relief and we hope that the many visiting Grandparents on Friday enjoy the play we will share with them. We all know you are never too old to play.

Andrews Cup Netball

Structured play through sport is very important component of play, and this week many girls took the opportunity to play Andrews Cup Netball. Thank you to Mr Humphreys and the coaches for supporting the girls. Congratulations to the girls on the great results and those teams that achieved in the top three. Open B – 1^st (Trophy), Open D White – 1^st, Open C White – 2^nd, Open D Navy – 2^nd, , Open A – 3^rd and Junior A White – 3^rd.

Mayo Arts Festival

The countdown to the Mayo Arts Festival is well and truly ON! With only a little over seven weeks to go, eNews will include regular updates, with all the information about what to expect, workshop details and ride band purchases as they roll out. This week's update below includes a brief snapshot of the day's excitement. In addition, Head of Performance Brad King has provided a draft schedule of the day's musical and dance performances in his eNews section. Stay tuned for more!

Angela Drysdale

As you head into family time together, we'd love for that spirit to travel home with them. Two simple questions sit at the heart of the St Margaret's Way, and they translate beautifully beyond the school gate:

"How do I want to feel every day when I'm on holidays?" "What am I doing to help others feel that way too?"

These questions gently place ownership of the holiday experience in your daughter's hands. They encourage her to think not just about her own enjoyment, but about how she shows up for the people around her – whether that's family, friends, or anyone she meets along the way.

Keeping this shared language alive at home helps create a sense of continuity for the girls. It makes the transition back to school in three weeks feel far less like a jolt and more like a natural return to familiar ground. And with any luck, it also means the whole family gets to enjoy a genuinely fulfilling break.

Wishing you all a wonderful winter holiday.

Annette Box

STRINGS:                    Tutti Strings, Amati Strings, Stradivari Strings, Chamber Strings

CHORAL:                    Belle Voci, Chorale, Encorah, Volare, Exultate

CONCERT BANDS:    Chaseley Concert Band, Jackson Wind Ensemble, Sister Helen Wind Symphony

ROCK BANDS:            Stage Band, Highly Strung, Rock Bands

SMALL ENSEMBLES: Beath String Quartet, Sculthorpe String Quartet, Brass Ensemble, Clarinet Ensemble, Elayne Jones Percussion Ensemble, Saxophone Ensemble

The draft performance schedule for the event is available below (small ensemble performance times still to be confirmed).

It is a tradition for all our music students who are performing to wear a MAYO t-shirt on the day.  It helps to create a wonderful festive atmosphere, and the t-shirt is a lovely memento for the girls to keep after the event.  We are asking all students to please purchase the t-shirt via the Parent Lounge by Thursday 18 June at a cost of $25.  The sizing charts are included on the Parent Lounge, and if required, sample sizes will be available for your daughter to try later this week in either the Primary Office (primary students) or the Sister Helen Orchestra Room (secondary students).Please note, there is also an optional MAYO hat available to purchase.

We are looking forward to the MAYO Arts Festival being a wonderful experience for our school community. Thank you in advance for your support of the event!

Mayo Arts Festival 2026 Draft Performance Times

DRAFT PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE (Circular Drive Stage):

11:00am            Sculthorpe String Quartet

12:00pm           Tutti Strings

12:15pm           Belle Voci

12:30pm           Chorale

12:45pm           Solo Performances

1:30pm             Elayne Jones Percussion Ensemble

2:00pm             Chaseley Concert Band

2:15pm             Jackson Wind Ensemble

2:30pm             Sister Helen Wind Symphony

3:00pm             Amati Strings

3:15pm             Stradivari Strings

3:30pm             Chamber Strings

3:45pm             Encorah

4:15pm             Ballare

4:30pm             Volare

4:45pm             Exultate

5:00pm             Boarder Island Dance Group

5:30pm             Stage Band

5:55pm             GAP Performance

6:05pm             Highly Strung

6:20pm             Monday Rock Band

6:40pm             Tuesday Rock Band      

Queensland Symphony Orchestra Excursion

On Friday last week our Year 1 and 2 students went on a very special excursion to hear the Queensland Symphony Orchestra perform Peter and the Wolf by Sergei Prokofiev. Year 1 have been learning about the instruments of the orchestra introduced through the story of Peter and the Wolf and Year 2 are already familiar with the story and music from last year’s music lessons. This was an exciting and immersive opportunity for our students to see and hear all the orchestral instruments in action!

Soloists’ Recital #2

Congratulations to all students who performed at our second Soloists’ Recital for the year on Wednesday afternoon in the Arts Centre Foyer. It was a lovely afternoon of music with a wide range of styles performed on a variety of different instruments. Thank you to all girls for their wonderful performances!

Music Support Group

Upcoming meetings for the Music Support Group are as follows:

• 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)

Parents from both the primary and secondary schools 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

Basketball 8A – 2^nd Place

Touch Football Senior A – 2^nd Place

Touch Football Senior B – 1^st Place

Touch Football 10A - 2nd Place

Touch Football 10 B – 1^st Place

Touch Football 9A – 2^nd Place

Touch Football 9B – 1st Place

Touch Football 8A – 2^nd Place

Touch Football 8B – 1^st Place

With the commencement of the Athletics season, students are able to further develop skills and event experience with the St Margaret's Athletics Camp which will take place in the upcoming Term 2 holidays from 19 to 21 June. Please visit the Athletics POD page for more details or email Head of Athletics, Mr Brenton Thiele, bthiele@stmargarets.qld.edu.au

Last Friday, St Margaret's hosted the inaugural QGSSSA Esports Tournament, with six schools (including St Margaret's) involving 92 students competing across three titles, which included Minecraft Education, Rocket League and Online Chess. Our St Margaret's team, led by Esports Captain Matilda O, played well across all titles with our Opens Minecraft team winning their competition against esports rivals IGGS. Thank you to the esports parent support group who provided a BBQ service throughout the day. It was a great opportunity for St Margaret's to showcase the esports program within our school community with many students coming and supporting the team during breaks at morning tea and lunch. St Margaret's will host another similar tournament in Term 4, 2026.

This Saturday evening (13 June)  is the annual Cocktails on the Creek which supports the St Margaret's rowing community. This event is organised by the St Margaret's Rowing Support Group who support all our rowing students throughout the season. Please visit the Rowing POD page for more information. Tickets are still available.

The St Margaret's 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:

• 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

Both Ha Yeun and Madeleine have won tickets to GOMA and cards that feature their artwork. Additionally, Madeleine’s work features on this year’s Mayo t-shirt.

These works, along with the other competition entries, will be on display at this year’s Mayo Arts Festival.

There will be something for all ages to enjoy including:

• Visual Art displays
• Music, dance and drama performances
• Creative workshops
• Artisan Market Stalls
• Creative Student Market
• Amusement rides including rock climbing, teacup and saucer, giant slide and swinging chairs
• Silent Disco
• Face painting
• Food trucks

Entry to the festival is FREE. Rides, activities and workshops are ticketed. Details on how to pre purchase these will be released soon.

We are incredibly grateful for the support of our sponsors for this year’s Mayo Arts Festival including Major Sponsor - Oliver Jonker, Coronis Ascot; Supporting Sponsor - Village Voice Brisbane and Mayo Supporters - CMBM, Belbaker Bus Charter, Anytime Traffic Control, Allclear Print & Signs, FVS Services Group and Comiskey Group.

On Saturday night, Ellen, Siena, Chloe, Madeleine and Bijou joined other very talented students from throughout Queensland in performing at Parliament House to a captivated audience of approximately 200 guests at the 80^th anniversary of the event.

The Communication, Speech and Performance Teachers Inc. first established the Barbara Sisley Awards in 1947 to honour the outstanding contribution Miss Sisley made to teaching and the Arts in Queensland over many years. Barbara Sisley was a creative and dynamic actor, director, producer and teacher of Speech and Drama who taught here at St Margaret’s for some time during her early career.

Maria Chamberlain

Years 7–12 – Training Jumper

To support students during cooler early morning and late afternoon training sessions, the new ¼ zip training jacket is now available for purchase. As a reminder, this jacket is not included in the HPE uniform and should not be worn during regular school hours.

Blazer Pocket Embroidery

Blazers requiring pocket embroidery over the June/July term break must be submitted to the Supplies Shop by morning tea on Thursday 18 June. Blazers should be available for collection from Thursday 16 July.

Trading Hours (Term Time)

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

Public Holidays & School Holidays Closed

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.

Calling all Old Girls for Reunion Weekend 2026!

St Margaret's warmly invites graduate students from 2016, 2006, 1996, 1986, 1976, 1966 and VIP graduates from the years 1965 and prior to return to the school to celebrate their milestone reunions. The reunion events will be held at various locations at St Margaret’s over the weekend of Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 July.

The annual Old Girls’ Day Chapel Service and Morning Tea, open to graduates from all years, will be held from 9.00am on Sunday 26 July, and is always a wonderful opportunity to reconnect, remember and share personal histories with one another.

To find out more and to register to attend, please visit the Reunion Weekend webpage: https://paststudents.stmargarets.qld.edu.au/events.

Lara Pickering