eNews Archive Issue 28 - 10 September 2026

At times like these, our natural response is to look for ways to help, to understand, and to make sense of what has happened. While there are rarely easy answers, there is comfort in knowing that we do not face challenging times alone. The strength of our community lies in the way we come together, supporting one another with kindness, understanding, and grace.

As we move through the days ahead towards the end of term and although we are all busy with assessments, marking and finalising the term, I encourage every member of our community to be mindful of those around them. Equally, it is also important that we remember to care for ourselves. Seeking support when we need it is a sign of strength, not weakness. In a busy world, we can sometimes feel pressure to continue on without pause, yet looking after our own wellbeing enables us to better care for others.

A kind word, a listening ear, a simple check-in, or a gesture of support can make a significant difference to someone who may be struggling. We cannot always know the challenges others are carrying, which is why patience, empathy, and compassion matter so deeply.

At St Margaret's, we often speak about the importance of belonging and the values that underpin the St Margaret's Way. This week has reminded me just how important those values are. Let us choose kindness over judgement, patience over frustration, and connection over isolation. Let us make a conscious effort to be together, to look out for one another, and to ensure that every member of our community feels seen, valued, and supported.

During difficult times, it is our shared humanity that carries us forward. Together, we will continue to care for one another with the compassion and strength that define our community.

Nicole Devlin

As Acting Deputy Principal, I often say to our students, “Leadership at St Margaret’s is about influence, not position. Every girl can lead when she chooses to act with integrity and compassion.” Through formal roles such as School Captains, Prefects and House Leaders, as well as through service, sporting, cultural and academic opportunities, students are encouraged to discover and refine their own leadership style.

Research consistently shows that student leadership opportunities strengthen confidence, communication skills and ethical decision‑making (OECD, 2020). At St Margaret’s, these experiences are further shaped by our Anglican ethos, placing service to others at the heart of leadership development. As one Year 11 student recently reflected, “Leadership here isn’t about being the loudest voice. It’s about listening, supporting others and stepping up when it matters.”

Importantly, leadership opportunities are available across year levels, enabling girls to practise responsibility gradually and meaningfully. This scaffolded approach supports adolescent development and fosters resilience and self‑efficacy (Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership, 2022).

Through authentic leadership experiences, our students learn to serve with humility, act with courage and lead with empathy—qualities that prepare them not only for school life, but for the wider world. When girls are trusted with responsibility, they grow into young women who are confident in their voice and compassionate in their actions.

References

• Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership. (2022). Student voice and leadership.
• OECD. (2020). Social and Emotional Skills for Student Success.

Nikki Townsend

Julia Baird meditates on the gift of paying attention to the earth and to one another as a key to finding hope. In an ABC interview, she is quoted, “It's by paying attention that we accept the possibility that we can emerge from pain and live with a settled purpose.”

 A Prayer

Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

(A portion of ST. PATRICK'S BREASTPLATE)

Rev’d Jazz Dow

For many regional and rural families, sending a daughter to boarding school is a significant decision that requires trust, partnership and ongoing communication. These visits provide an important opportunity to strengthen relationships and maintain meaningful connections with families who live many kilometres from the school. By spending time with families in their own communities, we gain a deeper understanding of the unique experiences and backgrounds of our students, while families have the opportunity to build relationships with the staff who support their daughters each day.

Research shows that strong partnerships between families and schools have a positive impact on student wellbeing, sense of belonging and educational outcomes. These connections are especially important in a boarding environment, where maintaining close links between home and school helps create a strong network of support around each student.

A highlight of the trip was bringing current and incoming boarding families together at The Explorers Inn. It was wonderful to see families connect, share experiences and form new friendships. For families preparing to begin their boarding journey, opportunities like these help create a sense of community and reassurance, while allowing them to hear firsthand about life at St Margaret's from those already part of our boarding family.

A special thank you to the Chandler family for generously hosting Fiona and myself at Russell Park. We are incredibly grateful for your warm hospitality and thoroughly enjoyed spending time with your family.

We loved our time in Roma and the surrounding region and are sincerely grateful for the continued support of our regional boarding community. We look forward to welcoming our incoming families to St Margaret's and continuing to build the strong relationships that help make our boarding community such a connected, caring and supportive place.

Kelli Boucaut

Self-regulation is a powerful skill to develop with respect to their learning. It requires students to set goals, develop strategies and monitor the effectiveness of their strategies throughout. Learning self-regulation should start early and takes time and practise (like any skill!). By being intentional about their actions throughout each term or learning period and reflecting on their application and subsequent achievement on each task, students are able to evaluate the effectiveness of their strategies and make adjustments to their approach for the next learning period.

I encourage all students to consider this as they come to the end of Term 3. What were your strategies for this term? How successfully did you follow them? And did they result in an outcome you are happy with? Take the opportunity to discuss this with your Academic Advisor as they can help to tweak current strategies or introduce new ones to optimise your learning and achievement.

“My strategy has always been to actually learn instead of merely trying to remember things. Be motivated by an interest, keep asking questions, and commit to truly knowing what you are doing and why.” – Georgia Lillicrap, ’25.

Caitlin McCluskey

These sessions are supervised by tutors and have been a great support to the girls who attend. Bookings for all sessions for the term can be done through FlexiSchools on the school's website. While the study session is free of charge, if you would like your daughter to have dinner, this can be purchased for $14.50 at the time of booking. Bookings are essential and should be made before 9:00am on the day of each session.

Chris Dunn

It's easy to understand the appeal. An AI companion is available at any hour, never seems tired, never takes offence, and never needs anything back. For a teen lying awake at midnight, that can feel like relief.

But it's worth naming honestly what that relief is built on. A real friend disagrees with you sometimes. She gets distracted, has a bad day, misunderstands you, and has to be forgiven for it.

That friction is not a flaw in friendship. It's the whole point. Think about what actually happens the first time a young woman has a genuine falling out with a friend. She has to sit with the discomfort of being misunderstood. She has to decide whether to raise it, how to raise it, and what she risks by doing so. If they repair it, she learns that a relationship can survive honesty, that she still belongs even after she's been difficult or hurt or wrong. If they don't, she learns something too, about disappointment and resilience and how to carry both. None of that is comfortable. All of it is how empathy actually gets built, not as an abstract virtue but as a practised skill, worn in through repetition, the same way a muscle is.

An AI companion cannot offer any of that, however warm it sounds, because there is nothing on the other side of the conversation that can be hurt, that can misunderstand her, or that can choose to forgive her. It will not get tired of her. It will not need an apology. It will not, notably, ever need her to consider someone else's feelings before her own, because it doesn't have any. That absence of friction is precisely what makes it feel so easy, and precisely why it can't teach her what she'll need for every real relationship she goes on to have, a partnership, a friendship, a working life among colleagues who see things differently. Being genuinely known by another person means being seen by someone who is also flawed, distracted and imperfect, and choosing each other anyway. A chatbot cannot choose her. It cannot be chosen either. It simply responds.

None of this means AI tools are off limits, or that a girl reaching for one at midnight has done something wrong. It simply means we owe her the same honesty we're offering here: that comfort and connection are not the same thing, and that the friend worth having is the one who might occasionally let her down, and stay anyway.

Holiday Reading

With holidays fast approaching the Eunice Library is open for holiday borrowing. Students can take home up to 10 titles over the break.

If your daughter is not sure what to choose, our Library staff genuinely enjoy matching readers with the right book. A quick chat at the desk is usually all it takes.

You can also feel confident about what comes home. Every title is carefully selected, and we draw on age-based reviews from Common Sense Media, an independent not-for-profit whose research-based ratings help students judge whether a book is a good fit. You're welcome to look up any title yourself at commonsensemedia.org.

Please encourage your daughter to drop into the Library and pick up a few good reads for the holidays.

Kelly Alford

Thank you to everyone who contributed to its success: Donna Free, Macey Devitt, Maria Lakis and the Year 5 Speaking Choir, Annette Box and our dedicated teachers, administration staff, and kitchen staff. Their efforts made this celebration truly special for our school community. Thank you also to the many special men who attended this significant event in our calendar.

Process for creating class lists for 2027

Prep – Year 4

As part of the class allocation selection process, students currently in Prep to Year 3 will complete a friendship sociogram as part of our Student Wellbeing Program. The teachers use this information to construct class lists for the following year. Students record friends who they’d like to be in next year’s class with, from their year level. This includes a sociogram where students identify friends with whom they can work in a classroom setting. Teachers will make every effort to allocate at least one identified friend in the 2027 class.

Years 5 and 6

Students currently in Years 4 and 5 will not complete a sociogram to request placement with specific friends for the following year. Developmentally, students at this stage are capable of increasing independence as they transition into the upper years of primary school. Years 5 and 6 are important stages where students are encouraged to focus on their learning within the classroom context and further develop their self-management skills rather than sit near a friend in class. The Primary Information Guide provides more detail on page 41.

Prep – Year 5 Parent input in class lists

Parents are offered the opportunity but not encouraged to provide information that parents believe would be valuable for teachers when creating classes, by completing a form. This form must be completed by Friday 9 October. No late forms can be accepted beyond this date as teachers construct class lists and changes after this date will impact on class arrangements.

Please complete the class list consideration form via this LINK.

It is important to note that the submission of the consideration form does not provide a guarantee that requests will be granted. This form, along with the professional judgement of the primary staff and context from the students, will be used to inform final decisions about class placement.

Angela Drysdale

Parents are encouraged to participate in these discussions as they provide valuable insight into their daughter’s academic development, classroom engagement, and approaches to learning. They also offer a meaningful opportunity to consider practical ways that learning can be reinforced, extended, or supported at home.

In addition, Years 5 and 6 students will lead their own interviews. This process encourages students to take an active role in reflecting on their learning, presenting their achievements, and identifying future goals. It provides a valuable opportunity for students to articulate their progress, recognise the strategies that have supported their success, and speak thoughtfully about the next steps in their learning. In doing so, students strengthen their communication skills, develop greater confidence, and engage more deeply with their own growth as learners.

Years 5 and 6 Continuous Reporting

As Term 3 concludes, all Years 5 and 6 academic results will be available in the Learning Analytics Portal by 5:00 pm on Friday 18 September. Students will also receive their Attitude to Learning Effort results. These results will be accompanied by feedback that provides valuable insight into each student’s strengths, areas for growth, and next steps in her learning. Together, the academic results, effort results, and teacher feedback provide a more complete picture of each student’s progress across the term.

By reviewing feedback carefully, students can better understand where they are succeeding, identify specific aspects of their learning that may require further attention, and set realistic short-term and long-term goals. Families are encouraged to review the results and feedback together through the Learning Analytics Portal, using this information as a starting point for reflection, discussion, and ongoing support.

Kate Frewin

Sister Gillian Service 

A special thank you to Ashley (Year 9) and the students in Exultate for their musical contribution at Sister Gillian’s funeral last Friday. It was a very special service where her life was celebrated. Ashley gave a beautiful performance of Ave Maria on the cello, and Exultate joined with students from St Aidan’s to perform the moving song My Sister’s Hands, a fitting tribute to the end the service. Thank you to these students for their involvement in this special event.

A Special Performance from Serenata Choir

The primary school enjoyed a lively performance from Serenata choir at the P-6 assembly this week, featuring Years 2 and 3 students performing a Liberian folksong Ko-ko-le-o-ko. Congratulations to all the students and Ms Brennan on a fantastic performance and for preparing such a joyful item!

Recent Piano Performances in the Primary School 

Congratulations to our talented Year 2 student, Eva, who delighted the school community with a beautiful piano performance of Minuet 1 & 2 by Bach at this year's Book Character Parade! Performing such a piece takes real dedication and practice, and Eva played with wonderful confidence and skill. It was a fantastic addition to our celebrations and a lovely reminder of the amazing talents within our school community. Thank you also to the following students who also delighted us with some soothing piano tunes to celebrate book week on Thursday while students enjoyed reading books in the Atrium: Jessica, Louisa, Eva and Leshan.

Piccolo Choir

What an exciting milestone for our youngest performers! The Piccolo Choir, made up of enthusiastic Prep and Year 1 students, took to the stage for their very first performance at the Book Character Parade, and they did not disappoint. The choir performed a reworked version of the Jackson 5 classic ABC, with lyrics cleverly adapted to celebrate this year's Book Week theme, 'Symphony of Stories', and our school's love of reading. The students sang and grooved with infectious energy, bringing the theme to life and having the whole crowd smiling along. A huge congratulations to our Piccolo Choir on a fantastic debut — we can't wait to see what they perform next!

Music Dinner 

A reminder that this year’s Music Dinner theme is MUSIC ICONS! Music Dinner will be held in Term 4 on Friday 9 October from 5:30pm and is a wonderful event where we can celebrate the achievements of our music students throughout the year and also acknowledge our outgoing music seniors. Students (and parents) are encouraged to come along dressed according to the theme. We always love seeing everyone’s creativity! All music students in Years 7 to 12 involved in music ensembles are encouraged to attend. Any Year 6 students involved in music ensembles are also welcome to join us for the evening (and will be chaperoned by a music staff member). Parents of students in Years 9 to 12 who have been involved in the co-curricular music program for the year are welcome to attend. Should extra tickets become available, parents of Years 6 to 8 attending the music dinner will be given the opportunity to also purchase tickets.

Tickets are $82.50 for students and $110 for adults and are available only through this link. For catering purposes, it is imperative you include any dietary requirements and payments are made by 5:00pm, Tuesday 22 September. Please be mindful there is a capped number, so book your tickets early! The cut-off time allows the Music Support Group and Catering to finalise purchasing of perishable goods and appropriate table allocations prior to the event. A letter with further details is attached. (PDF 455.8KB)

Viva La Musica!

Stradivari Strings, Jackson Wind Ensemble, Volare and Encorah are very much looking forward to presenting performances at the Viva La Musica concert next week, Monday 14 September at 6:30pm in the Philip Harris Gym. This will be a fantastic opportunity for these ensembles to showcase their hard work throughout 2026. This will be their final performance for the year as auditions will be held in Week 3 of Term 4 for 2027 ensembles. We look forward to having many in attendance to support the students. A letter with further details is attached. (PDF 254.5KB)

Message from the Music Support Group 

On Monday 14 September, Encorah, Volare, Jackson Wind Ensemble and Stradivari ensembles will be performing in Viva La Musica here at school. We are looking for parent assistance on the afternoon to hand out the sushi dinner and homebake. We would also love some homebake or treats if you have some time on the Sunday and your daughter can deliver on Monday. If you can help in any capacity, please click here: https://signup.com/go/EfLNCea

We are also on the lookout for a couple more table decorators for the Annual Music Dinner and Awards Night in Term 4. If you can help decorate a table in Term 4, 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 anytime on katrinacarrick1@gmail.com.

Upcoming meetings for the Music Support Group are as follows:

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

Parents from both the primary and secondary schoosl 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

This Saturday 12 September is the final round for Winter fixtures. We have had six home rounds this season with our final one this weekend against Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School. Congratulations to all students who have trained and played Netball, Volleyball, Tennis and Hockey for St Margaret’s this season. Please come and support our teams this weekend, particularly our senior students who will be playing their final QGSSSA round for St Margaret’s.

Best wishes to the three Club Netball teams who will be competing in Grand Finals this Saturday at Downey Park. Both STM 18 (13 years) and STM 19 (13 years) will be playing at 11.00am and then STM 13 (Cadets) will be playing at 12.30pm. Wear your Maggies colours, come along and show your support! Congratulations to all three teams who have made it to the final game of the 2026 season. Thank you to all players, coaches and supporters who have helped make 2026 a great year for Maggies Club Netball. A special shout out to the Year 12 Dragonettes who supported the STM 1 team last weekend … unfortunately the team didn’t come away with the win, but it was great having extra support for this team with our Year 12s playing a final Club game for St Margaret’s.

This week, Heads of Year have received Pockets to distribute at year level gatherings to students who have met the criteria for Semester 1, 2026 sports. Congratulations to the students receiving pockets across a variety of sports. As a reminder, pockets are approved not only on the basis of team/individual results but also attendance at trainings. Students are reminded of this throughout the season, along with the importance of completing the absentee register as well as speaking to respective coordinators.

The sport team is happy to recognise the outstanding achievements and representation of students participating at a national level, outside of the school sport pathway. Please directly contact Ms Williams via awilliams@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.

The sports office currently has a call out to students who have represented either State or Nationals in their chosen sport over the last 12 months to nominate and provide evidence for the upcoming St Margaret’s Sports Awards in early Term 4. More information on how to nominate can be found on the Secondary Sport or Sporting Flyers POD pages. This information is due by Thursday 17 September.

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 Badminton
• The POD - Club Water Polo

Anne Louise Williams

Important Notice: Middy Top & Middy Skirt Size Label Changes

Please note that the size labels for the Middy Tops and Middy Skirts are changing. When ordering through FlexiSchools, please refer to the guide below for size conversion.

• Current Size 26G -new label size 8G (girls sizing)
• Current Size 28G -new label size 10G (girls sizing)
• Current Size 30G-new label size 12G (girls sizing)
• Current Size G8 -new label size W4 (women’s sizing)
• Current Size G10-new label size W6 (women’s sizing)

If you have any questions or require assistance, please contact the Supplies Shop.

Church Dress Hire for Speech Night - Year 12

Hiring of the Church Dress for Year 12 students has now commenced. All musicians involved in Speech Night can be outfitted for the Church Dress from Monday 14 September. Church Dress hire forms must be completed and signed by a parent or guardian if the student is under 18 years of age. The hire form is available here Church Dress Hire Form. The Hire form must be presented at the time of outfitting. A Deposit holding fee of $115 is payable for the hire of the Church Dress and upon return (as per conditions listed on the hire form) a refund of $70 will be given. Plain white fold down ankle socks (not St Margaret’s competition socks), brown school shoes and a white ribbon are to be worn with the dress.

Year 11 Term 4 2026 (Year 12 2027) Booklist

The Booklists for Year 11 Term 4 2026 (Year 12 2027) were due 28 August. Families can still order online at www.campion.com.au.  

Orders received after the cutoff date will be packed ASAP; however, Campion Education cannot guarantee delivery of these orders prior to commencement of Term 4.

Families new to St Margaret’s are required to create an account by clicking on the “Parents Order Here” button located top right-hand corner of the Campion website.  A four-character code is required to access the 2027 resource list and the code for St Margaret’s is HJH7. 

Booklists for Pre-Prep to Year 11 2027 will follow in early Term 4.

When Chelsey joined Allens in Brisbane in 1996, she joined Australia's oldest law firm. Founded in 1822, before Queensland even existed, Allens had already weathered generations of economic, technological and social change.

The decades that followed would transform the Australian business landscape once again. Through her work at Allens and as a member of the Australian Government's Takeovers Panel since 2016, Chelsey has had a front-row seat to organisations navigating growth, consolidation, globalisation and technological disruption.

Today, she is helping shape what comes next and is focused on a challenge confronting organisations everywhere: how to keep adapting while creating environments where talented people can build careers that last.

Drawing on lessons from one of Australia's oldest continuing businesses, Chelsey will reflect on what changes, what endures, and why some organisations continue to earn trust and relevance through generations of disruption while others struggle to keep pace.

Date:                  Thursday 29 October
Time:                  6:45am arrival for 7:00am-8:45am 
Venue:                Arts Centre Foyer, St Margaret's Anglican Girls School
Format:              Sit down breakfast with grab and go barista coffee on arrival 
Tickets:              $90 adults, $55 students (Years 10 to 12/tertiary)
Corporate tables: $850 (10 seats), includes company logo displayed on table and acknowledgement during event. 

To purchase tickets or a corporate table: Click Here

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

Mothers' Luncheon – Raffle now on sale

Thanks to the generosity of Prize Donors and our community, we have an amazing prize pool for our P&F Mothers’ Lunch Raffle. Fantastic prizes are on offer including a 35-bottle wine fridge filled with some of your favourites, a $2,000 gift voucher from Samantha Ogilvie Boutique, a pack of ten 90-minute sessions at The Bathhouse Albion, a Spicers Balfour accommodation voucher, a Jimena Alejandra Chunky Link T-Bar Necklace, Tres Belle Gift Voucher, KAILO Wellness Medispa Facial, édito Boutique Voucher, Preah Love gift voucher, Haus Studio gift voucher and more.

You don't have to attend to win it. You can still purchase raffle tickets online: St Margaret's P&F Association - 2026 Mothers' Lunch.

We thank our Prize Donors who have supported the raffle:  Samantha Ogilvie Boutique, Ray White Clayfield, The Bathhouse Albion, Jimena Alejandra, Tres Belle, KAILO Wellness Medispa, édito Boutique, Merthyr Village, Preah Love, GoBoat, Haus Studio, Nostimo Restaurant, Studio Pilates Clayfield, Cr Julia Dixon, Harvey Norman and the P&F Association.

We thank our P&F Mothers’ Luncheon Maggies Supporter: UMS

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