eNews Archive Issue 28 - 11 September 2025

If you know a past student who deserves to be recognised for her achievements, I encourage you to consider nominating an Old Girl for the 2026 awards. Nominations are very easy. You only to need to complete the nomination form with the relevant information. The form can be found on the school’s website and the due date for nominations is 5pm on 14 November 2025.

There are three categories for the awards:

• Distinguished Past Student (for those who have passed their 20^th reunion)
• Young Past Student of Distinction (for those who have had their 20^th reunion or younger)
• Spirit of Service Past Student Award

These nominations stay current for two years and successful awardees and their achievements will be celebrated at a dinner in the ACF early in 2026.

A list of past recipients from the last 10 years can also be found on this webpage. Scrolling through the ‘past students’ tab (under community) on the website, yields interesting information. Here you will find stories that are part of the Old Girls’ Association newsletter, which details achievements of past students, as well as the history of the school.

Also, we have highlighted a number of our Past Students and their achievements as Notables on our website and it is worth reading their biographies.

All these women are wonderful role models for our current students.

Ros Curtis

Imagine each person as a teacup. Some teacups are large and can hold a lot of liquid—representing stress—before overflowing. Others are smaller and may spill over more quickly. The size of the teacup reflects a person’s current capacity to manage emotions, pressure, and challenges. Crucially, the theory reminds us that everyone’s teacup is different—and that’s perfectly okay.

So, what causes a teacup to overflow? It might be a difficult day at school, a disagreement with a friend, or feeling overwhelmed by homework. When someone’s cup is full, even a small drop—like a minor inconvenience—can cause it to spill. This might show up as frustration, emotional outbursts, or withdrawal.

At our school, programs like On Being Human and year-level Pastoral Care are designed to help students understand and manage their emotional responses—in other words, to take care of their teacup. Through lessons focused on emotions and behaviour, students are learning to recognise when their teacup is getting full and to take proactive steps, such as asking for help or taking a break. These strategies build self-awareness and emotional regulation.

By fostering a supportive environment, we also help students gradually increase the size of their teacup over time—building resilience and emotional capacity.

The Teacup Theory is a gentle reminder that empathy and understanding make a real difference. Whether you're a teacher, parent, or peer, recognising when someone’s teacup is full allows us to respond with kindness and support.

Let’s continue to nurture a school culture where every student feels safe, seen, and supported—no matter the size of their teacup.

Nicole Devlin

I have been reflecting on the relationship between gratitude and rest. I discovered something that we all may know intuitively; that practicing gratitude reduces anxiety and stress. UCLA reports research that being thankful may activate our parasympathetic nervous system, improve sleep, and lessen anxiety.

As we enter the final week of Term 3, I wonder what you are thankful for over the term? Who has been a source of grace to you? Maybe you could begin or nurture an existing gratitude practice:

• Writing it down: Take time either at night or in the morning to write down something that went well. Dedicate a notebook or journal to gratitude so you can reflect and remind yourself of those moments.
• Hitting pause: Many of us reflexively say “thanks” often. Next time you hear yourself say it, stop and pinpoint precisely what you are thankful for.
• Redirecting your thoughts: You may feel negative or frustrated during the day. When that happens, step back and shift your focus to a positive aspect of the situation.
• Sharing your gratitude: Send a quick note telling someone why you are thankful for them or encourage your family to share something they’re grateful for each night at dinner.

Source: https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/health-benefits-gratitude

I give thanks to God for the community of St Margaret’s, for staff, students, and families – past and present.

Rev’d Jazz Dow

On Thursday evening, the dining hall was awash with yellow as students and staff dressed to remind one another of the power of checking in. It was a cheerful and meaningful reminder that behind the smiles, everyone faces challenges, and a conversation can make a real difference.

To keep the message alive beyond just one day, several activities were introduced around the boarding house. Conversation Bingo encouraged the girls to break the ice, ask open-ended questions, and connect with someone they may not have spoken to before. The laughter and chatter that filled the room showed just how easy it can be to spark a meaningful conversation.

Another initiative was the introduction of the Youth Conversation Guide. This resource, placed in each year level, gives practical tips on how to ask R U OK? and how to respond with empathy. It empowers students to feel confident in looking out for one another, strengthening the caring culture within boarding.

Adding to these initiatives, the girls also created a collaborative “Wall of Kindness.” Each student wrote an anonymous note of encouragement, appreciation, or an uplifting message on a bright yellow paper sun. These suns, filled with affirmations and positive quotes, were then pinned to the communal wall. By the end of the week, the wall was glowing with heartfelt words — a visual reminder that kindness, community, and support shine brightest when shared.

R U OK? Day was more than a single day of awareness in the boarding house—it was an opportunity to strengthen the culture of care and conversation that is already a hallmark of life at St Margaret’s. By dressing in yellow, engaging in activities, and sharing resources, the girls were reminded that checking in with one another is not just something we do once a year, but a habit that enriches the wellbeing of our whole community.

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.

“Find a way to study that works for you but also take time away from studying to sleep” – Ava Crowley, ’24.

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 you daughter to have dinner this can be purchased for $12.50 at the time of booking. Bookings are essential and should be made before 9:00 am on the day of each session.

Chris Dunn

Signs at School: Mentally exhausted students often display decreased concentration, frequent forgetfulness, and difficulty completing tasks they previously managed easily. They may become withdrawn from peers, show irritability with teachers and friends, or experience emotional outbursts over minor issues. Academic performance typically declines, and students may fall asleep in class or appear consistently overwhelmed.

Signs at Home: At home, mental fatigue often presents as increased conflict with family members, resistance to homework or chores, and extreme mood swings. Students may isolate themselves in their rooms, experience changes in appetite or sleep patterns, and show little interest in activities they once enjoyed. Parents often report their child seems "checked out" or emotionally unavailable.

Supporting Strategies Prioritize Rest: Encourage regular sleep schedules and short breaks during study sessions. Quality sleep is non-negotiable for mental recovery.

Reduce Overwhelm: Help students break large tasks into smaller, manageable steps. Teach time management and organisational skills to prevent task accumulation.

Create Safe Spaces: Establish environments where students can express feelings without judgement, both at home and school.

Encourage Physical Activity: Even light exercise can boost mood and energy levels while reducing stress hormones.

Seek Professional Support: When exhaustion persists despite interventions, connect with their Head of Year, school psychologists or external mental health professionals who can provide specialised strategies and support.

Early recognition and intervention prevent mental exhaustion from escalating into more serious mental health challenges.

Nikki Townsend

The theme for this year, “Shifting Conversations to Action,” calls on all of us to consider how we can actively promote the safety and wellbeing of children. At St Margaret’s, our focus this week has been on equipping our students with the tools and knowledge to keep themselves safe online.

Through the eSafety Commissioner’s Virtual Classrooms, students in Years 3–6 explored practical strategies such as managing privacy settings, creating strong passphrases, protecting personal information, recognising body clues, and knowing where to seek help in harmful situations. Parents are also encouraged to access the valuable resources provided by eSafety to support their daughters at home. Parents | eSafety Commissioner

Our students in Years 3 to 5 also completed their final sessions with Mrs Judith Krause, whose engaging and thoughtful lessons guide girls through the important stages of physical and emotional development. These conversations encourage our students to build healthy relationships with themselves and with others, while reinforcing the importance of confidence, respect, and self-care.

Earlier in the year, the girls also benefitted from a session with a dermatologist, who shared age-appropriate and practical tips for caring for young skin. Her message strongly emphasised the importance of sun protection and establishing healthy skincare routines, encouraging our girls to see skincare as an act of self-care and respect for their bodies.

While there is much discussion in society about makeup and appearance, our focus is on helping the girls understand that true confidence comes from within. Through the curriculum and external programs, we aim to nurture their individuality, kindness, and character, reminding them that their worth is not measured by social media or appearance, but by who they are.

Together, these experiences highlight our commitment to supporting the girls as they grow in confidence, resilience, and sense of self.

Angela Drysdale

A highlight of the day was the keynote presentation by internationally renowned cognitive scientist Professor Dan Willingham, who shared his model of the mind and explained how psychology and neuroscience can inform teaching. His insights prompted teachers to reflect on how students process information, the critical role of memory in learning, and strategies that best support long-term understanding.

Another compelling keynote came from Professor Tanya Serry from La Trobe University, who is co-director of the SOLAR Lab and an expert in literacy and reading difficulties. Professor Serry spoke insightfully about the crucial importance of oral language development in the early years. Drawing from her extensive research on how early childhood teachers can maximise development in oral language and emergent literacy—both vital predictors of academic success at school.

Teachers also engaged with Rebecca Birch, who emphasised the importance of beginning sessions with retrieval practice and activating prior knowledge before introducing new content. She highlighted the value of presenting information in manageable chunks and modelling the "think aloud" process to support student learning.

Brendan Lee focused on mathematical fluency, stressing that even two minutes of focused daily practice can significantly improve learning outcomes. He recommended tools such as flashcards and encouraged balancing review of known facts with new learning.

Overall, the day successfully combined theory, practice, and innovation, equipping teachers with evidence-based strategies to enhance student learning while providing valuable opportunities for collaboration and reflection across schools. Our commitment to the professional growth of our teachers ensures that students continue to experience high-quality teaching informed by proven research. We thank our teachers for their continued enthusiasm for learning and extend our appreciation to Churchie for hosting this valuable event.

Kate Frewin

Aspiring Young Women’s Networking Breakfast Performance

Thank you to Hailey (Year 12) who gave a wonderful vocal performance of Brave by Sara Bareilles at the recent Aspiring Young Women’s Networking Breakfast. The performance contained an appropriate message of facing challenges with courage and was appreciated by everyone in attendance.

New Zealand Music Tour/Festival – Deposits Due

A reminder that deposits of $795 are due by Friday September 18 to secure a place on the Music Tour to the Rotorua Rhapsody Music Festival in New Zealand. Deposit payments can be made via Parent Lounge. Please note the deposit is fully refundable if insufficient numbers commit to the tour. Further details regarding the tour are available on Music Cocurricular POD page.

Music Dinner

A reminder that tickets are now available for the upcoming Music Dinner. The theme for this year’s Music Dinner will be Heroes vs Villains! Music Dinner will be held in Term 4 on 10 October 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 7-12 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 9-12 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 7 & 8 attending the music dinner will be given the opportunity to also purchase tickets.

Tickets are $95 for adults and $75 for students and are available only through this link. For catering purposes, it is imperative you include any dietary requirements and payments are made by 5pm, Tuesday 23 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 from the President of the Music Support Group with further details is attached here.

Music Support Group

The next Music Support Group meeting will be held on Tuesday 7 October 2025 at 5:00pm in the Circular Drive Classroom 01 (in front of the Arts Centre Foyer). Parents from both the primary and secondary school are welcome to attend.

Brad King

Thankfully the weather has been kind to our fixtures this term with minimal disruptions. We have several teams playing for pennants this weekend across our QG Netball teams with some teams with guaranteed pennants already confirmed. A special shout out to our Junior A Hockey team who are currently undefeated this season…. both STM Open and Junior A teams will be playing at UQ this Saturday. Please check the POD for all fixture details for this upcoming round.

Congratulations to our three-premiership winning Club Netball teams who claimed titles at Downey Park on Saturday. The teams were STM 10, STM 18, and STM 21. It has been a great netball season for Maggies in 2025 with a total of 39 teams playing across the season. A big congratulations to our Head of Netball, Gayle Coutts and her trusted team of coaches who continue to develop and grow participation in St Margaret’s netball, taking it from strength-to-strength year on year. Netball continues in Term 4 with our lower primary programs and specialist positional clinics for secondary students. More details for these programs will be posted on the POD.

Last week we completed the doubles competition as part of the STM Tennis Cup competition. Congratulations to Evie J and Vania L for taking out this competition in 2025. It was a beautiful evening for tennis on the courts.

Last call for students who have represented state or national level in their chosen sport in 2025 to be recognised at the upcoming Sports Awards. Please complete the form by Monday, 15 September: The POD - Secondary Sport.

Latest Sport News and Information

For the latest sport news and information please check out the following Secondary School Sport POD Pages:

• Hockey The POD - Secondary Hockey
• Tennis The POD - Secondary Tennis
• Volleyball The POD - Secondary Volleyball
• The POD - Secondary Netball
• Badminton The POD - Secondary Badminton
• AFL Jnr The POD - Secondary AFL
• Water Polo The POD - Club Water Polo
• Swimming  The POD - Club Swimming

Anne Louise Williams 

Year 11 Term 4 2025 (Year 12 2026) Booklist

The Booklists for Year 11 Term 4 2025 (Year 12 2026) are now available and parents are able to order online at www.campion.com.au.  

Orders that were placed by 29 August will receive free delivery and will be delivered prior to the commencement of Term 4. Orders received after the cut-off date will be packed ASAP however, Campion Education cannot guarantee delivery of these orders prior to commencement of Term 4. A delivery fee will be applied to all late orders.

Please Note: Families who created an account in 2024/2025 are not required to enter the Resource code below. For new families, you will need 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 2026 resource lists; the code for St Margaret's is 89YV.

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

Blazer Fittings – Secondary School

Students in Years 7 to 10 in 2026 should consider visiting the School Supplies Shop to be fitted for their blazer prior to the end of Term 4 2025.  Orders will need to be placed by 14 November 2025 for a March 2026 delivery. Students can visit the School Supplies Shop during opening hours (no appointment required). A blazer fitting takes around 15 minutes. The cost of the blazer is $275 and is payable at the time of ordering.

Church Dress Hire for Speech Night

Hiring of the Church Dress for musicians involved in Speech Night has now commenced. Church Dress hire forms must be completed and signed by a parent or guardian. The hire form is available here Church Dress Hire Form. 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.

Student Card Purchases

Just a reminder to ensure that the daily limit is set high enough to cover the cost of the uniform items being purchased, otherwise we will not be able to complete the transaction.

Blazer Pocket Embroidery 

Blazers are collected every Thursday after morning tea and take between two to three weeks to be embroidered.  

St Margaret’s Merchandise

The School Supplies Shop has some great new merchandise available. The School Supplies Shop now stocks – St Margaret’s folding chair, scented candles in two sizes, St Margaret’s dog lead, St Margaret’s keychains, Panama croc jibbitz, vacuum drink flask and a crested fine bone china coffee mug.

We have fun-filled and exciting activities planned for our September Vacation Care Program. Further details of the program can be found here (PDF 458.4KB).

Please refer to the attached Information Guide for full booking terms and conditions. We are unable to accept bookings via email or text message. The OSHC registration and Debitsuccess form must be completed, signed and sent back to us to finalise your booking. Please read the information guide carefully as some information has changed. OSHC Registration and Debitsuccess can be completed via the My Family Lounge.

PLEASE COMPLETE YOUR VACATION CARE BOOKING FORM VIA THE MY FAMILY LOUNGE APP

We are very excited to inform you that St Margaret’s OSHC has subscribed to a fantastic online Booking and Waitlist management program called QK Enrol. This program will give you access to manage your own account information, where you will have the ability to make bookings requests and allows you to complete and submit an online enrolment form for your child. You can do this and much, much more all within a parent portal called ’My Family Lounge’.

How do I log in?

Please navigate to the link below and either sign in with your existing My Family Lounge account or Register for an account if you do not already have one. Please note all families who have previously submitted an enrolment form will have an account already set up; all you will need to do is click ‘forgotten password’ and use the email address you used to receive this form.

https://www.qkenhanced.com.au/Account/Embeddable/?databaseId=9385

When making a Vacation Care booking please select Casual bookings, not Permanent.

What is the cost?*

Fees: $68 per day*

Bookings close: 12 September 2025

*Incursions and excursions incur additional costs. These are compulsory for all students and therefore you are able to claim CCS.

What are the hours of operation?

The service is open from 7:00am until 6:00pm.

How can I obtain more information?

If you would like further information regarding our OSHC Program or if you would like to make a booking, feel free to contact me on 0423 547 653 or email: oshc@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.

Hear directly from industry experts: Michelle Weber (Macquarie Banking and Financial Services), Debbie Smith (PwC), Lauren Capelin (’01) (Amazon Web Services), in conversation with UX expert, Amy Leigh (‘03) (Great Southern Bank), as they share boardroom level insights, hard-won lessons, and what every leader needs to know to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving market.

If you’re serious about leading through transformation, this is the room you want to be in.

 Date:         Thursday 30 October 2025

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 grab-and-go barista coffee on arrival. 
Tickets:     $85 Adult, $45 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/CUSFP

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

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 pack of ten 90-minute sessions at The Bathhouse Albion, a Spicers Balfour accommodation voucher, 2 tickets to ‘Maison de la Course’ Melbourne Cup at Lina Rooftop, an Edito Boutique voucher, KAILO Wellness Medispa Facial, a Tigerlamb Hair Salon Voucher, Hellenika 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 - 2025 Mothers' Lunch

We thank our Prize Donors who have supported the raffle:  The Bathhouse Albion, Ray White Clayfield, Lina Rooftop, Edito James Street, Kailo Wellness Medispa, Tigerlamb Hair Salon, Nostimo Restaurant, White Grove House, Hoppy’s Car Wash.

We thank our P&F Mothers’ Luncheon Maggies Supporters: Hundt Law, UMS, Shingle Inn and KAILO Wellness Medispa

The world is her stage

Our students have talent, passion and imagination, and we are setting out to create a facility to match their potential.

With this vision in mind, St Margaret’s Foundation unveils "The world is her stage" Capital Campaign to support the realisation of the new Arts Precinct, that will become the heart of music, drama and performance on our campus.

The precinct will provide new spaces that will meet both the curricular and extracurricular needs of the arts program, including a purpose-built Blackbox Theatre, Recital Hall, dedicated rehearsal spaces, music rooms, and teaching studios, all designed to deliver a world-class learning environment for our primary and secondary students and to support excellence in the performing Arts.

Our students can look forward to increased opportunities to gain exposure to the best talent in the performing arts, access new dedicated spaces for rehearsals and equipment storage, and undertake technical learning in digital animation, production and set design.

So far, thanks to the generosity of our community, including past students, parents and staff, we have raised more than $2.69 million of our $3 million target. But we need your support to reach our goal.

Every contribution will make a meaningful difference.

To learn more about the campaign, project and to make a donation, please visit https://giving.stmargarets.qld.edu.au/pages/the-world-is-her-stage or contact the Development Office on (07) 3862 0884 or email foundation@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.

Thank you for your interest and support.

Lara Pickering