eNews Archive Issue 32 - 23 October 2025

This letter is to let you know the new direction the school is taking ahead of the legislated social media ban on 10 December. As I stated in the letter, ‘The negative impact of smart phone addiction and social media, particularly during a crucial developmental window, is widely researched. We hope our parents who have children impacted by this delay/ban will feel empowered in having to restrict social media access for any of their children under 16-years of age. Invoking the law is going to be far easier than debating a teenager on this issue, so our parents should take heart from this legislation.’

I hope as a community we can come together and start changing the relationship between young people and their phones.

As I stood before our school community at the Year 12 final assembly last Friday, I could see that this occasion was so much more than the final roll call and presentation of portfolios or even the end of our students’ school years—it was the beginning of a new chapter. I wanted to impress upon our graduates that leaving school is not just about the ceremony or the farewells that we had had all last week; it is a profound ‘transition into a world brimming with new possibilities.’

I encouraged our graduates to greet the future with optimism and courage.

The focus of my address was that change is the only constant—an idea echoed by thinkers since ancient times. I urged them to embrace change as an opportunity to grow, to be patient with themselves during times of uncertainty, and to lean on their families and friends for support. Every transition, I told them, is a chance to discover new strengths within themselves.

I extended my heartfelt gratitude to our families and teachers, whose unwavering encouragement and guidance have provided the foundation for every students’ achievements. I emphasised to our Year 12s that the future is not something that simply happens to them, but something they can shape—one decision at a time.

At the end of my speech, I quoted Nora Ephron to capture the spirit of the occasion: “Your education is a dress rehearsal for a life that is yours to lead.” My wish for every graduate is that they lead their lives with purpose, compassion, and bravery.

Ros Curtis

As we move through Term 4, it’s easy to feel the weight of the year behind us—assignments completed, challenges faced, milestones reached. But as Morgan Harper Nichols reminds us in her beautiful book You Are Only Just Beginning, every ending is also a beginning. Every step forward, no matter how uncertain, is part of a greater journey.

As we approach the final weeks of the school year, it’s natural to reflect on how far we’ve come. But at St Margaret’s, we are reminded that every step—no matter how small—is part of a greater journey. Inspired by Morgan Harper Nichols’ You Are Only Just Beginning, and grounded in the values of the St Margaret’s Way, we celebrate not just what has been achieved, but the courage it takes to begin again.

At our school, we see this truth reflected in our students every day. Whether it’s a Prep student learning to read their first sentence, a Year 6 student preparing for the transition to high school, or a senior student stepping into leadership or final exams, each moment is a beginning. A beginning of courage. A beginning of growth. A beginning of becoming, and this is illustrated and lived every day in our school through The St Margaret’s Way.

At the heart of our community is Spirit—the thread that connects every St Margaret’s girl. It’s the energy in our classrooms, the joy in our celebrations, and the quiet determination in our challenges. As Nichols writes, “You are not behind. You are not late. You are exactly where you need to be.” This is the spirit we carry into every new chapter.

We walk with Inclusivity, knowing that every person in our community reflects the image of God and brings unique gifts to share. In a world that often rushes to compare, we pause to honour each journey, each voice, and each beginning.

With Integrity, we reflect on the year with honesty and grace. We acknowledge the lessons learned, the moments of growth, and the times we had to begin again—sometimes uncertain, but always brave.

Courage is woven through every new start. Whether it’s a student stepping into leadership, a teacher trying a new approach, or a family navigating change, we are part of a long line of women who have embraced challenge with faith and strength.

We move forward with Respect, for ourselves, for each other, and for the journey still unfolding. We know that learning is not just about outcomes, but about the relationships we build and the character we shape along the way.

And finally, we carry Passion—a deep gratitude for the gift of life and learning. It is this passion that fuels our commitment, our creativity, and our belief that the best is yet to come.

Nicole Devlin

Term 4 Prayer Space began yesterday and will run until Week 6. Students from Prep to Year 10 will have the opportunity to visit the space and reflect on awe, wonder and preparing for Christmas. Prayer Space provides a moment to slow down and reflect amid the busyness of school life. Teachers often report that students return to class calm and more focussed.

This week we celebrated the graduating Year 12 Boarders at a special Boarder Chapel service and breakfast on Tuesday morning. We reflected on one of Jesus’ parables: “The kingdom of God is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.” (Matthew 13. 45)

God uses different criteria to define value, success and worth – God uses love. A love which laid the foundation of the world, conquered death, and lasts beyond this life. God’s love, always sees the pearl. God sees us for who we are, not what we do. Each graduating boarder received a pearl as a symbol of their dignity and worth, and as a reminder that they are made in the image of God and loved unconditionally.

The Bright Field, by R.S. Thomas

I have seen the sun break through

to illuminate a small field

for a while, and gone my way

and forgotten it. But that was the

pearl of great price, the one field that had

treasure in it. I realise now

that I must give all that I have

to possess it. Life is not hurrying

on to a receding future, nor hankering after

an imagined past. It is the turning

aside like Moses to the miracle

of the lit bush, to a brightness

that seemed as transitory as your youth

once, but is the eternity that awaits you.

Rev’d Jazz Dow

Led by our wonderful Chaplain Rev’d Jazz Dow, the service beautifully captured what it means to grow through challenge, community, and love. Rev’d Jazz shared a reflection inspired by the image of a pearl - something formed slowly, layer by layer, through both difficulty and grace.

“An oyster embeds itself in the mire of the ocean floor… A pearl grows slowly and gradually within the inside of the oyster’s shell,” she read. “God always sees the pearl - not the circumstance, not how others see you, but your true worth.”

Her words reminded the girls that their time in boarding has shaped them in ways they may not yet see and that within every challenge, homesick moment, or late-night laugh, something precious has been forming.

“God sees you. Knows you. Loves you beyond your imagining,” Rev’d Jazz shared. “You are a pearl of great value.”

As the girls sang the boarder song, their voices filled the chapel with a mix of pride and nostalgia. Lyrics about “sharing meals in the dining hall,” “late-night chats in the lounge,” and “cherishing core memories that we’ve made” spoke straight to the heart of what it means to be a St Margaret’s boarder. The chorus, “Like a sister bond we tie, like a journey just begun”, echoed the love and lifelong connection that binds them together.

The service concluded with a blessing, one that seemed to carry both comfort and courage: “Go forth into the world in peace; be of good courage; hold fast that which is good… and the blessing of God be upon you and remain with you always.”

As our Year 12 boarders prepare to step beyond the school gates, we celebrate the women they’ve become - strong, compassionate, and ready to shine. Like pearls, they carry their beauty and strength from within, formed through love, friendship, and the spirit of St Margaret’s that will forever be their second home.

Kelli Boucaut

If there are any queries regarding examinations, please contact myself or Megan Farnsworth (mfarnsworth@stmargarets.qld.edu.au). A reminder that if on campus, all students should be dressed in full school uniform.

Good luck Year 12s!!!

Year 11

Shortly, Year 11 students will be receiving an email from me inviting them to book in an ATAR prediction meeting. I will meet with all ATAR eligible students in Term 4 of this year and all Portfolio Pathway students in Term 1 of next year. Appointment times will be available before, during and after school and parents are encouraged to attend these meetings with their daughter.

If there are any students who are currently considering either changing subjects or changing pathways, these meetings need to happen ASAP. Please book in a meeting with me via the POD.

Year 10

Year 10 students are encouraged to reflect on their subject selections for next year, based on their results in Term 3. If students would like to discuss these further, please book in an appointment with me via the POD.

Caitlin McCluskey

The new diary has been designed with several student-friendly features, including:

• A navy PU leather cover for durability.
• Cut-in tabs for each term, to help students easily navigate
• A dedicated term planner at the start of the term, to assist with mapping out key dates and goals.
• A mini whiteboard page at the back of the diary, for in-class activities, as well as a set of stickers to help personalise and organise important events.

The diary costs $20 (GST included) and is available in the Campion booklists; please ensure you add it to your shopping cart. If not buying from Campion, your daughter can purchase one at the school supplies shop at the start of 2026.

Throughout next year, Form Class and Academic Advising sessions will focus strongly on the effective and appropriate use of the diary. By developing positive organisational habits, we aim to empower our students to take charge of their learning and achieve their best.

We look forward to seeing our students make the most of this exciting new resource!

Chris Dunn

Leadership and Teamwork Award

The ADF Long Tan Youth Leadership and Teamwork Award recognises exceptional students who consistently demonstrate outstanding leadership qualities and collaborative teamwork within our school community. This award celebrates individuals who exemplify the core Australian values of excellence, respect for others, and mateship—characteristics that form the foundation of our society and are deeply valued by the Australian Defence Force.

2025 Recipients:

• Year 10: Olivia B
• Year 12: Lara W

Future Innovators Award

The ADF Long Tan Future Innovators Award acknowledges students who have demonstrated exceptional aptitude and achievement in science and mathematics. This award highlights the significant value that the Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army, and Royal Australian Air Force place on STEM skills and the diverse career opportunities available within Defence for innovative minds.

2025 Recipients:

• Year 10: Bronte W
• Year 12: Sophie G

Historical Significance

These awards carry profound historical significance, being presented annually to students across Australian secondary schools in solemn remembrance of the brave Australian soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice at the Battle of Long Tan in South Vietnam on 18 August 1968. Through these awards, we honour their memory while inspiring our next generation of leaders and innovators.

Looking Forward

As we celebrate these outstanding achievements, the school extends our warmest congratulations to all recipients and our very best wishes to the entire Class of 2025 as they prepare for their upcoming external assessments. We are confident that the values and skills these students have demonstrated will serve them well in their future endeavours.

Nikki Townsend

One of the most important goals for the program is for the girls to experience interactions with peers in a different setting and for a longer period. Also, for the girls to test their social skills in an environment that is not home or school as students learn to live with other students in cabins, sharing bathrooms and meals. I was so impressed witnessing firsthand the girls applying all these skills so successfully and interacting positively with each other and the camp experiences.

Camp is also the perfect experience to challenge self-regulation. Experts regard self-regulation as one of the most important skills to teach children. However, it is not one but a set of skills including the ability to control something – behaviour, thought, movement or feeling and impulse. Delay of gratification is the most significant self-regulation skill. It has been linked to long term outcomes for children, that is, children who wait longer are more sociable, achieve better grades now and in the future.

We teach self-regulation as part of cognitive learning and the social thinking program. This program teaches skills that contribute to self-regulation. Parents can also help by assisting your child to:

1. Control an impulse in order to meet the higher goal (empathy, relationships, learning)
2. Use situations to teach strategies to help regulate impulses
3. Acknowledge the challenge of regulation (help children conquer hard things, don’t give up)
4. Make a choice and a plan- develop decision-making skills
5. Play games
6. Be flexible so the child is not too rigid

Be patient with your child as self-regulation skills develop over a lifetime.  

Thank you to the Year 4 staff, Ms Garbutt, Ms Patterson, Ms Court and Ms Andrews-Close for attending overnight and to Mrs Lobegeiger for supporting the girls with their very physical activities on the first day.

Angela Drysdale

In Prep, students are developing their design and engineering skills through a creative design thinking project—Hybrid Animals. They are sketching, labelling, and building prototypes using Makedo tools and recycled materials. As they bring their imaginative creatures to life, they are practising problem-solving, collaboration, and effective communication.

Year 1 students will deepen their understanding of coding through Ozobots and line coding. Students will build on foundational coding ideas by applying colour codes to control the Ozobot’s movement, speed, and special moves. They will explore the importance of sequencing, debugging, and direction in coding, gradually building towards a Maze Challenge Project where they design their own creative tracks.

In Year 2, students are building on their programming knowledge through block-based coding with the Intelino Smart Train and Scratch. They begin by controlling movement and lights before progressing to more advanced concepts such as loops, variables, and events. Students plan and test their own tracks, solve challenges, and explore how coding connects to real-world systems like automated transport.

Across all year levels, these projects inspire curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking while equipping students with essential skills for an increasingly digital and interconnected world.

Kate Frewin

Music Dinner

Many wonderful photos from Music Dinner have come through from our official photographer. These have also been placed on the Cocurricular POD page so please check them out.

Also at Music Dinner, I mentioned a fascinating fly-on-the-wall documentary entitled Instruments of a Beating Heart. Set in Japan, it tracks the student Ayame, who is in Grade 1 and hopes to perform on a percussion instrument in a special class performance to be given to the incoming year level of students. There are moments where Ayame fails and lacks confidence, but through a combination of hard work, resilience and the kindness of friends, she ultimately experiences the joy of performing together as one ensemble. She has a beautiful conversation with her friends where together they discuss how they are all instruments of one beating heart. The film was nominated for an Oscar earlier this year for Best Short Documentary and is well worth watching. It is available to watch on the Cocurricular Music POD page.

Auditions for 2026 Ensembles

The Sister Helen Orchestra Room has been buzzing this week with sound of hundreds of students practising as they audition for 2026 ensembles. It is so exciting to see so many students getting involved in the St Margaret’s Music Program. The results of these ensembles will be made available soon via the POD.

Music Support Group Meeting

The next Music Support Group meeting will be the AGM and will be held on Tuesday 11 November 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

The annual King and Queen of the Pool will be held at Churchie next Friday, 31 October from 4.30pm. The swim competition will involve a 50m Freestyle event across all ages from 12 years to 17 plus, giving students an opportunity to get a time down for the season. Our Swimming Captains Samara H, Ruby G and Lucy S are promoting the event with tiaras around the school so keep an eye out for them! As well as the competition in the pool, food trucks, a DJ and treats will be available. Open to all students, please make sure you sign up on the Swimming POD pages as soon as possible.

Over the last week, St Margaret’s athletes competed for Met North at the Queensland Representative School Sport Track and Field Championships in Townsville. Congratulations to all students who competing at these championships.

Some notable results included:

Elkie W: 2^nd place in 14 years 800m

Lucy R: 2^nd place in 15 years Javelin

Congratulations to Rhythmic Gymnast, Emily Carrick who during the last school holidays competed at National Clubs 2025 on the Gold Coast. Emily was the only Queenslander to compete in her Level 5 division and accomplished great results including 4^th in the All round Gymnast and a 3^rd in the Ball. Congratulations Emily!

The sport team are happy to recognise the outstanding achievements and representation of students participating at a national level, outside of the school sport pathway. I look forward to continuing to hear from our community regarding such outstanding achievement. Please email me at awilliams@stmargarets.qld.edu.au. 

Latest Sport News and Information

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

• AFL Jnr The POD - Secondary AFL
• Water Polo The POD - Club Water Polo
• Swimming The POD - Club Swimming
• Swimming The POD - Secondary Swimming

Anne Louise Williams

Join us for an unforgettable afternoon of fun, laughter, and bonding at a premier Brisbane rooftop destination! Enjoy delicious food, refreshing drinks, and fabulous entertainment, including a live DJ spinning your favourite tunes!

Date                      Sunday 22 February 2026
Time                     11:00am - 3:00pm
Venue                   Lina Rooftop Bar, 74/80 Tribune St, South Brisbane

Cost                       $140 Adult (includes a Lina Spritz on arrival)

                               $110 Student (includes 4-hour soft drink package)

Dress                    Summer Chic

RSVP                     5:00pm Thursday 5 February, unless sold out prior. 
Tickets on sale 9.30am Tuesday 21 October 2025

We realise that it is not possible for all girls to invite their mothers and we would encourage them to invite a significant woman in their life, a relative or family friend.

Tickets are available here: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1469168 (until 5 February unless sold out prior).

Parents are warmly invited to the P&F Association General Meeting and End of Year Celebration

Would you like to know what we’ve been up to this year? Are you interested in finding out what’s being planned for 2026?

Our final meeting of 2025 is an informal evening where we welcome new people (including those new to the school in 2026) and where we can all share our thoughts over some light refreshments.

Come and hear from the school leadership, the Parents and Friends committee, Support Groups (including music, boarders and extra-curricular sports) and find out how to get involved in upcoming events. There is also an option to join this meeting remotely via Microsoft Teams for those unable to attend the meeting in person.

Date:                    Monday 10 November 2025
Time:                     6.30pm to 7.30pm (followed by light refreshments)
Location:             Arts Centre Foyer, St Margaret's Anglican Girls School

Please click here to register

Calling all Old Girls! Are you interested in joining the Old Girls' Association Committee? Join us for our 2025 AGM and Volunteer Thank You Celebration!

We are pleased to extend an invitation to you to attend the Old Girls' Association Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Volunteer Thank You Celebration on Tuesday 4 November 2025.

At our final meeting of the year, you will have an opportunity to hear updates from the OGA and join our dynamic OGA Committee. After the meeting, join us in saying thank you to our volunteers over light refreshments.

Please find meeting details below:

OGA AGM and Volunteer Thank You Celebration
Date:     Tuesday 4 November 2025
Time:     7.00pm – 8.00pm - AGM
              8.00pm - 9.00pm - Light Refreshments  
Venue:  Arts Centre Foyer (ACF)
             St Margaret's Anglican Girls School
              11 Petrie Street, Ascot QLD 4007

RSVP:     Friday 31 October 2025 via this link. 

We understand that many of our Old Girls are not based in Brisbane. Old Girls' who live outside of Brisbane are encouraged to attend the meeting and volunteer through the OGA. If you are based outside of Brisbane you can join the meeting remotely.

Being a member of the OGA Committee involves attendance at four meetings a year (online or in person), assisting with events including Reunion Weekend, Old Girls' Day and the Past Student Awards, and contributing articles for the OGA Newsletter. If you are interested in joining the Committee, please complete and return thisnomination formprior to or at the meeting.

Ignite passion and inspire performance: join the Campaign for the performing Arts at St Margarets

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

The new performing Arts Precinct will include 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.

Every contribution will make a meaningful difference and is an investment in student potential, enhanced cognitive capacity, and in the social and emotional wellbeing of our young women.

You can learn more about the project and the Campaign to support this incredible project by visiting our website where you can also download the brochure.

So far, thanks to the generosity of our community, including past students, parents and staff, we have raised more than $2.7 million of our $3 million target.

If you would like more information about this project or to speak with someone about your donation, please contact me by calling (07) 3862 0884 or email foundation@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.

Thank you for your support.

Lara Pickering