eNews Archive Issue 23 - 6 August 2026

The Mayo Arts Festival is much more than a showcase of talent. It is a vibrant celebration of the creativity that exists across our school, providing students with opportunities to share their artistic passions, perform with confidence, exhibit their work and engage with audiences in meaningful ways that  brings our community together. Families, staff, students, Old Girls and friends of the school gather to celebrate achievement, support one another and strengthen the sense of belonging that is so central to St Margaret’s.

The laughter, conversation, performances and shared experiences I experienced at the Mayo Festival reinforced the spirit of community that makes our school such a special place. In a busy world, opportunities to come together in celebration are invaluable, reminding us that schools are not simply places of learning but communities where relationships flourish and memories are made.

Events of this scale rely on the dedication of many people, and I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all those who contributed to the success of this year’s festival. Special thanks go to Angela Drysdale and Pru Reed for their outstanding leadership, vision and organisation in bringing this wonderful event to life. Thank you also to Brad King and Annette Box for their expert management of the performances, ensuring our students could shine on stage.

I am deeply grateful to our Music and Arts staff for their commitment to nurturing student talent and inspiring creativity throughout the year. Thank you to our Heads of Year and primary staff for their enthusiastic support of the student stalls, and to our Finance team for their assistance on Saturday, helping ensure the event ran smoothly.

Finally, a very special acknowledgement must go to our Facilities staff, who worked tirelessly from Friday through until Monday to set up, support and pack down the festival. Their efforts behind the scenes are often unseen but are absolutely essential to the success of an event of this magnitude.

The Mayo Arts Festival stands as a wonderful reminder of the importance of the Arts in developing confident, capable and compassionate young people. It reflects our commitment to educating the whole child and celebrates the creativity, connection and community spirit that lie at the heart of St Margaret’s.

Nicole Devlin

Research consistently affirms the power of collective efficacy. Hattie describes collective teacher efficacy as educators' shared belief in their ability to positively influence student learning and achievement, identifying it as one of the strongest influences on student outcomes (Hattie, 2018). At St Margaret's, this belief is reflected in a culture of collaboration, professional dialogue, and a deep trust in the expertise of colleagues. Teachers work collectively to solve problems, refine practice, and support one another, knowing that their impact is amplified when it is undertaken together.

Distributed leadership further strengthens this culture by recognising leadership as a shared endeavour rather than the responsibility of a select few. Harris (2013) argues that distributed leadership "builds organisational capacity and strengthens professional responsibility". By empowering middle leaders, teachers, and professional staff to contribute meaningfully to decision making, St Margaret's fosters a culture of trust, innovation, and shared accountability. Leadership is viewed as influence and service, enabling expertise to flourish across the organisation.

Central to this leadership culture is a commitment to values-driven practice grounded in our Anglican ethos. Leadership decisions are shaped by compassion, integrity, courage, and service, reflecting a moral purpose beyond outcomes alone. As Fullan (2014) notes, effective leadership is ultimately about "relational trust and moral stewardship". These values underpin the relationships and decisions that contribute to a thriving learning community.

Importantly, the leadership culture experienced by staff directly shapes the leadership aspirations of our students. Girls learn as much from what they observe as from what they are taught. When they see individuals leading with confidence, expertise, humility, and compassion, they begin to recognise those qualities in themselves. The saying, "what they can't see, they can't be", reminds us that visible leadership matters.

This message is especially significant as we prepare to announce our 2027 Student Leadership Team next Monday. While a leadership badge acknowledges a particular responsibility, leadership at St Margaret's extends far beyond formal positions. The example set daily by our staff demonstrates that leadership is defined not by title, but by character, contribution, service, and a willingness to positively influence others. By modelling these qualities through everyday actions and relationships, we empower all students to see themselves as leaders. In doing so, we continue our mission of developing confident, capable, and compassionate young women who are prepared to make a meaningful difference in their communities and beyond.

References

Fullan, M. (2014). The Principal: Three Keys to Maximizing Impact. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Harris, A. (2013). "Distributed leadership: Friend or foe?" Educational Management Administration & Leadership, 41(5), 545-554.

Nikki Townsend

Holding together the experiences I have had in the first four weeks of Term 3 - Solomon Islands, ASA Conference in Perth, and now the Cotton Conference - I am reminded of the rich stories that every person within our community brings to our collective story, and how important it is to listen to one another and celebrate our differences, and learn from each other. Curiosity, interest, and seeing another person is a gift, particularly in a culture that grabs for our attention with bright colours and loud distractions.

I am reminded of the concept of “Sonder” -

“Sonder - n. the realisation that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own… an epic story that continues invisibly around you like an anthill sprawling deep underground, with elaborate passageways to thousands of other lives that you’ll never know existed, in which you might appear only once, as an extra sipping coffee in the background …”
― John Koenig, The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

How much bigger our lives become when we are curious and open to another person’s humanity.

A prayer –

Loving God,
Open our eyes to see the community around us.
Open our minds to be curious, our ears to hear the living library of experience.
Open our hearts to compassion.
In the name of Christ, Amen.

Rev’d Jazz Dow

I recently wrote an article about this culture in the St Margaret's Staff Professional Learning Journal, Sunata, and you can read the article here if it is of interest: https://issuu.com/stmargaretsags/docs/sunata_2026_web_lr/37

Having teachers, Yalari tutors, and housemothers available to support our boarders academically at prep is one of the foundational elements of the boarding experience. This is why, for our youngest boarders, we are incorporating a weekly 30 minute SOAR session in Thursday night Prep. SOAR is a St Margaret's program run by Chris Dunn that focuses on providing students with study tips and tricks, timetabling, assessment strategies, and revision strategies. These run every Thursday lunchtime for all students; however, to really focus in on our Year 7 boarders and help build these key skills, we will be running a short weekly session to help the girls thrive and navigate their individual study regimes. 

We understand that the pressure of assessment and exams can be very overwhelming, and our focus is to give the students the strategies they need to succeed in their academic endeavours. I sincerely hope they reap the rewards of the program and learn a bit more about themselves as learners. 

Lesa Craven

This week, it was wonderful to see the community come together to raise money for the Cancer Council through the Ponytail Project. All of these events are so important in building our community, and they also play an integral role in developing St Margaret’s girls to be compassionate, well-rounded young women.

Year 12 2027 Parent Information Evening

Thank you to all those who attended the online Year 12 2027 Parent Information Evening. This has been recorded and is available via the Year 11 POD page for those who were unable to attend. If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to myself or Kate Montgomery.

Exam Blocks

Year 11 and 12 Exam Blocks for this term have been released on the POD for a few weeks now. These are big sessions and girls should plan accordingly to be prepared for these. It is likely that students will have multiple exams on one day or consecutive days of exams, which means it is important to start preparation early to avoid focusing only on the next exam. A reminder that when students attend school during exam block, they are required to wear their full school uniform.

Studying on time is late, studying early is on time. – Pippa Smith (’25)

Caitlin McCluskey

The tests will take place on the following dates:

Students must report to E201 at 7:00am. All students must bring their school-issued laptop and ensure that it is fully charged. All enrolled students will also receive an email with further information on what they need to do to prepare for the tests.

Chris Dunn

We extend our sincere thanks to Rogue Hair Hamilton, who once again generously donated their time and expertise, cutting ponytails throughout the event with great care and professionalism.

The concept is simple, yet the impact is significant: by donating a ponytail, students and staff help change the lives of others. All donated hair is sent to Sustainable Salons, who forward it to wigmakers and charitable organisations. There, it is transformed into wigs for people experiencing hair loss, or used to fund broader programs supporting those affected by cancer. In this way, the initiative provides practical support while also helping to restore confidence and dignity during a challenging time.

The funds raised serve a dual purpose, benefiting both Cancer Council Queensland, which supports vital research and services for cancer patients and their families, and the Minotti Trust, a cause with deep significance for our school community.

Once again, the breadth of participation across the school community was a testament to what St Margaret's values most. Staff joining students in taking part reflects genuine leadership and solidarity, and shows that this cause resonates at every level of our school.

The Ponytail Project continues to remind us that meaningful generosity often begins with a willingness to give something of ourselves for the benefit of others.

Kelly Alford

Thank you to Pru Reed, who worked tirelessly to ensure a successful festival. Thank you also to the volunteer primary staff, the Heads of Years, and the many secondary girls who supported the year level stalls. Many departments contributed to the success of the event: marketing, facilities, finance and the primary administration team. We could not have done it without the personnel from so many different areas of the school.

I was overwhelmed on Saturday when I saw the year level stalls, not only to see all the preparation come to fruition, but to see the care with which each stall had been decorated. Thank you to the primary school community for your generous donations, which ensured that every year level stall was abundantly stocked for a profitable outcome. Thanks to the parent ambassadors who led the preparation for each stall, and to the parents who worked so willingly on them throughout the festival.

Well done to all the students who had a stall in the student market. It was wonderful to witness each girl’s entrepreneurship in the items they prepared, in the creativity of their stall and in the confidence with which they served customers on the day.

The entertainment was a testament to our Arts program that student performances can fill an entire day with enjoyment. The music, dance and drama performances were remarkable, and thank you to Brad King, Regina Brennan, Jonny Ng and Camille Syntageros for all that they did to bring the stage alive and to Joanne O’Connor for her support.

Equally impressive was the exhibition of visual art created by our students. The range of work on display, and the skill and imagination behind it, drew admiring crowds throughout the day. Thank you to our art teachers for curating the exhibition so thoughtfully and for showcasing the girls’ talent so beautifully.

Mayo is an act of giving. The generosity of goods and time I witnessed in the lead-up to the day, and on the day itself, is affirmation that we are a strong community. In demonstrating that generosity, parents also help their children grow into adults who give and share freely. The Mayo Arts Festival is a clear demonstration of the wonderful community that is our school.

'Optimism' was the theme for the day, and the day itself was the evidence. In the strength of our community, in the student performances, in the girls’ entrepreneurship and in the creativity displayed at every turn, staff and parents alike found every reason to feel optimistic about the future. That optimism rests, as it should, with the students of our school.

Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed in some way; each person’s contribution helped to make this event another great success.

Angela Drysdale

One of the main threats that devices pose to student learning is not the duration of screen time, but the frequency of notifications. These constant ‘pings’ act as daily conditioning trials that train the brain to prioritise shallow interruptions over deep, sustained focus. Each notification slows processing for approximately seven seconds; cumulatively, this prevents the mind from ever settling into a state of cognitive patience. Students are not just distracted; they are recruited by a dopamine-driven reward system that treats a social media alert with the same biological urgency as a survival threat. Even a phone on silent imposes a cognitive tax. To protect the mental resources required for learning, phones should be entirely removed from any environment during focused work. The damage to education is done by the ceaseless rhythm of interruption, which treats deep focus as an effortful departure rather than the default mode of thinking.

Our students engage with virtual classroom activities through the eSafety Commission to assist them with navigating the dangers and desirables of devices. Our Open Parachute pastoral care program which commences from Semester 2 in Year 2 and goes right through to Year 8 weaves the role that phones play into its unpacking of friendship issues, and later this year, the Year 5 cohort will also participate in a virtual, in-class session with Kirra Pendergast from Safe on Social. Kirra will speak directly to the students about the world they actually live in. Group chats, pressure and the algorithmic literacy it now takes to think critically about what they see in their feeds will be explored among issues or queries raised by the girls themselves. Kirra meets the needs of young people where they are not with fear, but with respect, real stories, and the tools to make better choices independently.

We value your partnership in working with your daughters for the best possible outcomes for them at school, at home, now and into the future.

Annette Box

MAYO ARTS FESTIVAL

Congratulations to all music ensembles who performed at the Mayo Festival last weekend. Twenty-four ensembles and numerous soloists performed throughout the day, providing seven hours’ worth of entertainment, alongside dance and drama performances. This was an amazing effort with all the performances assisting to create a very special atmosphere at this wonderful community event. Well done to all the students on their performances and thank you to all our music staff for their efforts in preparing the girls for the event!

SOARING UPWARDS

The Ponytail Project is always a very special event in our school calendar. To celebrate the remarkable efforts of everyone involved, the Stage Band, Rock Bands and the Boarding Island Dance Group performed to the whole school community on Circular Drive following the official proceedings. It is always very special to experience the excitement and energy at this event. Congratulations to all students for their amazing performances and special thanks to our conductors for facilitating these performances.

FLYERS MASTERCLASS

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

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

All are welcome to attend!

2027 MUSICAL AUDITIONS – BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

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

2026 MUSIC DINNER THEME ANNOUNCEMENT

The Music Captains are very excited to announce the theme for the upcoming 2026 Music Dinner which will be held on Friday 9 October. The announcement will be made via the Music Co-curricular POD page on Friday 7 August so stay tuned!

MESSAGE FROM THE MUSIC SUPPORT GROUP

What a wonderful weekend of music and performances! Congratulations to all the staff and students who performed on the weekend and helped bring joy to the Mayo Festival.  Watch this space for upcoming news and volunteering opportunities for the Viva La Musica evening being held in the last week of term.  We are also on the lookout for table decorators for the Annual Music Dinner and Awards Night in Term 4 (theme to be announced Friday 7 August!).  If you can help decorate a table in Week 1 on Friday 9 October, please email Cath (catherine@callen.com.au).  If you are new to the Music community and have any questions about the Parents Support Group, feel free to email Kat Carrick on katrinacarrick1@gmail.com.

Upcoming meetings for the Music Support Group are as follows:

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

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

Brad King

There is a lot of sport happening this week for St Margaret’s secondary students. This weekend is Round 4 for our QG Winter fixtures for Netball, Tennis, Volleyball and Hockey playing Somerville House. Our rounds start on Friday afternoon with our tennis teams playing over at Somerfields, Rocklea. This week, our Tennis Support Group will be making toasties for players and supporters so please support our Tennis teams with a toastie! Best of luck to all teams across these four sports.

On Friday evening, our QG Athletics squad will have their first practice meet out at State Athletics Facility (SAF), Mount Gravatt. This is the first opportunity for many of our athletes to match up against some of the other QG member schools and get in some times/distances in a competition environment. The sports office would encourage as many of our QG Athletics squad to attend these events as they are pivotal in gaining experience in readiness for the QG Athletics Championships.

Also, this Friday, our Rhythmic Gymnastics team will be competing in the QGSSSA Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships at the Logan Metro Sports Centre. The teams have trained well, expertly led by head coach, Heather Lane and her coaches. Good luck to all rhythmic teams and looking forward to seeing you perform on the floor for St Margaret’s.

This Saturday, St Margaret’s is hosting the BRSA Regatta #3 out at Wyralong Dam. A big thank you to all the parents and coaches who will be involved in preparing, setting up and then dismantling everything for this regatta. This is a huge undertaking on top the normal regatta operation of getting the rowers prepared and out onto the dam ready to perform.

And of course, our St Margaret’s Club Netball girls continues at Downey Park with semis and finals commencing in the following weeks.

Sign ups are now currently available for our final two QG sports offerings in 2026 which are as follows:

• QG Badminton (Year 7-12)
• AFL Junior Season (Year 7,8,9)

Please check the individual sport POD pages for information about the upcoming seasons.

Club Water Polo signups for the 2026/2027 season are now currently open and will close on Friday, 14 August. The St Margaret’s Club welcomes students of all playing levels from beginners to experienced players with teams in age groups from Under 12s to 18s playing throughout the season. Please check the Club Water Polo page for more information on trials, training and fixtures information.

Congratulations to Charlotte M in Year 10 who recently swam in the School Sport Australian Swimming Championships representing Queensland. Charlotte had some great success medalling in two relay swims at this event in Melbourne. Of particular note was a gold medal in the 4 x 50m Freestyle relay for 15/16 years (A Team) with a new ASS record! Charlotte M will be again in the pool this weekend out at Chandler with 14 otherSt Margaret’s students swimming with their respective clubs at the 2026 QLD Short Course Championships. Good luck to our students for this event.

The St Margaret's 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:

• 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
• The POD - Secondary Rhythmic Gymnastics

Anne Louise Williams

Purchase your ticket online via this LINK .

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Date:                   Wednesday 2 September 2026

Time:                   6.45am arrival for 7.00am - 8.45am

Location:            Arts Centre Foyer, St Margaret's Anglican Girls' School, 11 Petrie Street, Ascot
Format:              Continental style breakfast  

Tickets:               $38 Adults/Student

To purchase tickets please click here

We thank our series sponsors Pitcher Partners and the St Margaret’s Old Girls’ Association.

Do you have a daughter in Year 11? She can now apply for the St Margaret’s Plus Mentoring Program!

The St Margaret’s Plus Mentoring Program is one of our signature programs here at St Margaret’s, offering Years 11 and 12 students the opportunity to be matched with Old Girl in the field they are aspiring to study or enter into when they graduate. What sets the program apart is its disciplined structure and the fact its highly personalised to each student. The mentees meet with their mentors virtually four times a year, with the opportunity to also meet face-to-face via the Aspiring Young Women’s Network Breakfast series. Mentors are sought out based on the career pathways students are intending to pursue.

If you have a daughter in Year 11, talk to them about joining the Mentoring Program – applications are now open and can be found on the following Mentoring POD Page: The POD - St Margaret's Plus Mentoring Program. To talk to the Relationships and Mentoring Manager, Ms Lizzie Fowler, for more information, please email Mentoring@stmargarets.qld.edu.au

Lara Pickering