eNews Archive Issue 1 - 27 January 2017

A number of new teaching staff joined us this year, and I formally welcome them to the St Margaret’s community. Their names and the areas in which they teach or lead are listed below:

Deputy Principal: Karen Gorrie
Head of Faculty: Global Studies: Mathew Stein
Head of Year 7: Megan Gscheidle

Secondary
Nicole Walker – Subject Coordinator – Music
Alison Robinson – Subject Coordinator – Mandarin
Clair Monnickendam – English/Humanities
Cass Argent – English/Humanities
Brittany Graham – English/Humanities
Helen Rath – English as an Additional Language

 

Primary
Nicole Jonathan – Teacher Year 4
Karen Andrews-Close – Teacher Year 1
Kelly Lewis – Teacher – Primary Mathematics Specialist
Kate Porter – Teacher Year 6
Amie Lucht – Pre-Prep

 

At the beginning of the year we are holding two very important parent information evenings, one for the primary school and one for the secondary school. The dates and times are:

Primary Parent Information Evening: Wednesday 1 February, 6.30pm, Atrium
Secondary Parent Information Evening: Thursday 2 February, 6.00pm, The Arts Centre Terraces

 

We do hope to see as many parents attending these events as possible. It is a great opportunity to meet staff and to hear about the plans for the year and information relevant to your daughter’s education.

 

Unfortunately, due to the landscaping in the secondary school between our Toorak and Avoca buildings, there will be some disruption to pedestrian traffic within the school campus. The girls have been shown how to move safely around the school. The landscaping is a deceptively large project and we can expect disruption for the first 6 weeks or so of term. The good news is that it will be worth the wait!

 

I’m really excited about the year ahead and hope that you and your daughter are also looking forward to a rewarding and fulfilling year.

As the new Deputy Principal, I am particularly looking forward to the 2017 school year. I am thrilled to be joining the St Margaret’s community and becoming an active member within it.

One of the things that has struck me in my short time at St Margaret’s is that everyone I meet is truly welcoming. Additionally, they are all engaged in the school community.

A quick search of the definition of ‘community’ returns many key words – group of people, common interests, shared values, unified, collective… the list goes on within these themes. Becoming part of a community, whether it is as a student, parent or a staff member, is such a satisfying yet powerful and rewarding feeling. I urge all students to become involved in some way within our school community this year in order to be connected with others, make friends, learn new things, and make their time at St Margaret’s truly memorable.

There are so many ways this can be done. Students are encouraged to join that sporting team, enter that music group, put their hand up for volunteer and charity work and take part in many of the activities and initiatives from so many areas of the school. So as the school year begins, I’m hoping that excited conversations will be happening with families about the opportunities available to students and how they may contribute to their school community. I certainly look forward to making my contribution to the St Margaret’s community.

Student Protection Officers:
St Margaret's AGS is committed to:

• promoting and striving to provide a safe, supportive and ethical environment for the wellbeing and holistic development of students
• providing a safe secure nurturing environment in which all its students may grow and learn.

Student Protection Officers are persons designated as liaison people to whom students may refer if they are not feeling safe; or to whom they make complaints of harm, inappropriate behaviour or physical/sexual abuse.

The St Margaret's Student Protection Officers are:

• Deputy Principal - Karen Gorrie
• Head of Boarding - Lesa Fowler
• Head of Primary School - Angela Drysdale
• Dean of Students - Nikki Townsend
• Guidance Counsellor - Sharon Stone 

The St Margaret’s school community will endeavour to meet the Archbishop’s challenge to schools through a variety of ways: through classroom teaching in RVE and beyond; through care of our immediate environment; within chapel and liturgies; embedded in the camping program; and through the development of a care group, which will be student-led.

New Developments for 2017

Throughout this year, Mrs Juliana Bate will be assisting me a couple of days each week. Mrs Bate is a first-year Theological student at St Francis College, completing studies through Charles Sturt University. She is an ordination candidate, meaning she is a Priest-in-Training. Mrs Bate will assist in as many areas of School Chaplaincy as possible and she may be contacted on my office number 3862 0716 or jbate@stmargarets.qld.edu.au. Please make her feel welcome!

Boarders will celebrate the Eucharist in Week 1 and Week 5 of each term at 6pm. With the placement of Easter this year, there will be an ‘extra’ Boarders’ chapel in Week 10 this term. Term 2 will begin with a whole school Easter Service on the first day. Each year level, in conjunction with Pastoral Care days each term, will celebrate as a cohort on a theme pertinent to their studies and pastoral day for the term.

Important Dates for the Family Diary

Secondary Family Services:

Years 7 and 8: Monday 13 February, 6:30pm, School Chapel

Years 9 and 10: Thursday 27 April, 6:30pm, St Augustine’s Hamilton

Years 11 and 12: Wednesday 10 May, 6:30pm, St Mark’s Clayfield

Primary Family Service:

Pre-Prep – Year 6: Sunday 4 June, 9am, Eton Hall

(The Primary Family Service will also be the Admission to First Communion for those who wish to participate. More details to follow.)

Sunday Services for Families:

If you have been looking for a welcoming service where there is communion and children’s involvement, then please consider our young family services!

Sunday 5 February, 12 March, 23 April (plus the Primary Family Service 4 June) 9am, School Chapel

A Thoughtful Consideration for the Week Ahead (modified version from unknown source)

Dear Lord, I don’t like buttermilk very much.

I hate Lard.

I’m not too crazy about plain flour. But mix them all together and bake in a hot oven … I just love biscuits.

Lord, help us to realise when life gets hard, when things come up that we don’t like, whenever we don’t understand what You are doing, that we need to wait and see what you are making. After you get through the mixing and the baking, it will probably be something even better than biscuits. Amen.

With every blessing on you all in this week ahead,

The Reverend Nicki Colledge

The Boarder Support Group meeting was held on Monday afternoon with a new executive in place for 2017. We would like to congratulate Jane Garland on her appointment as President; Sally Crothers on her position as Vice President; Kym Macfarlane was appointed Secretary; and Ashley Whitehead is our new Treasurer. The Boarder Support Group plays a vital role in our boarding community and I look forward to working with the executive throughout the year.

This weekend will be our Boarders Closed Weekend, which will be based on developing community and particularly ensuring that all new girls to boarding feel that they are part of the Boarding House. The closed weekends allow all of us to come together and participate in many fun activities, including a day at Wet’n’Wild and learning more about each other. We are certainly looking forward to a very positive 2017 in the Boarding House. 

Lesa Fowler 

 

In 2013 I wrote: As I near the end of my third week at St Margaret’s and my first week with students I would like to acknowledge the wonderful sense of community and belonging I have found here. Staff and students alike have been exceptionally welcoming and I am already beginning to feel part of something wonderful.

In 2014 my newsletter began: Happy New Year to you all and welcome back to the 2014 academic year. There are exciting developments occurring at St Margaret’s this year. One of those is the introduction of our new Science of Learning course for Years 7 and 8. I encourage those of you with daughters in these year levels to ask them about the lessons and become involved in a discussion about some of the concepts they are exploring. Essentially this course is about developing academic fitness by providing students with an understanding of the characteristics of good learning. This involves the promotion of academic resilience, basically an ability to tolerate and manage failure in a positive way.

In 2015 the opening of my contribution was as follows: I always find the beginning of the school year exciting. There are so many positives associated with beginnings. The Ancient Roman poet Horace advised that we should “begin, be bold, and venture to be wise”. I think as learners there is much to be gained from this thought. My wish for our St Margaret’s girls this year is to be educationally bold. Embrace challenge, don’t avoid difficulties and be resilient and determined in the face of disappointment.

Then last year in 2016 I said: I am very much looking forward to working with you all this year. There are exciting things happening at St Margaret’s. On Friday 22 March, we launched our newly designed Framework of Quality Teaching and Learning. This document is the result of three years of consistent focus on the development of teaching and learning practices within the School.

So, what words will I use to herald the beginning of this year? Undoubtedly there have been recurring themes in my previous efforts. One of these is certainly the importance of qualities such as courage, resilience and tenacity when endeavouring to learn well. Undoubtedly, this is an important message for all of us when faced with learning something new and one which I reiterate this year. The word I really want to emphasise though is BELIEVE. I know that I have both written and said this before, but its importance is such that it is worth repeating. Learning begins with the belief that it is possible. To learn we need to think we can – think we can make progress, think we can get better and think we can grow. Of course, this is not enough – it is just the beginning. Once we believe we can learn, then we need to engage in it using the characteristics mentioned earlier. We need to set goals which are focused on the learning we are seeking and work to achieve them even when success seems a long way off.

Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of the 32nd President of the United State of America is reputed to have said: You must do the things you think you cannot do. Her words apply to so many things in our lives, particularly those things that we know we should do but don’t want to do, or to those things we would like to be able to do but don’t believe we can. Many students tell me that they can’t do Maths or that they can’t spell, or draw or sing. As parents and educators, it is our job to challenge this thinking in a realistic way. Perhaps a student is not succeeding at Maths yet, but with persistent and targeted effort they can improve. It all begins with believing she can!

Samantha Bolton

Last week, the teaching staff returned for some very productive professional development and planning sessions and I am excited to be working with all staff in 2017. During this week, Samantha Bolton, Trudi Edwards and I presented the academic direction for 2017. During this presentation, Samantha Bolton discussed the importance of student engagement and its effect on student motivation. I challenged the staff with the concept of purpose and discussed that the concept of purpose is integral for a student to be engaged and motivated. Laura Varlas, Managing Director of ASCD Express, discussed that engagement is the lens through which students see school. In fact, school is viewed by many students as the window towards their future, therefore they need to see purpose in what they are doing and learning. It was from this study that I have challenged all staff to ensure that during the planning process for their classes, they need to firstly clarify the purpose and reason for teaching what they are teaching. Staff need to be aware of the what (the curriculum) of the lesson, but they need to focus on the why. Why is it important for the student to know this, how is the learning relevant to the students and how does this learning fit into the bigger picture for the student and their future? Most importantly, I have empowered the staff to ensure they discuss the meaning and purpose of the learning with their students so they see their learning as an active process, not a ‘jumping through hoops’ passive activity. For if a student knows the purpose for a lesson or learning they will be truly engaged and this is the hope of all teachers and parents.

Supervised Study Sessions

In 2017, there will be changes to the organisation of this program to offer broader and accessible assistance to Day students who are 12 years and over. Supervised Study Sessions will operate in the Senior Library on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings. Each session runs from 5pm to 7:30pm, with students having the option of purchasing dinner for $10 from the Boarding House dining room (served at approximately 6pm).

For students attending these sessions after an afternoon of sport, transport is available to and from Windsor Park. For those staying on after school to attend Supervised Study Sessions, the Senior Library is open until 5pm prior to the commencement of the study sessions.

Parents who book their daughter’s in via Flexischools can feel comfortable knowing that their daughters are receiving academic support, and are also interacting with peers in a physically and emotionally safe environment.

Dates for the 2017 Supervised Study Sessions and when bookings open are listed below:

Term 1: 30 January - 23 March (Bookings open Wednesday 25 January)

Term 2: 24 April - 8 June (Bookings open Wednesday 19 April)

Term 3: 17 July - 7 September (Bookings open Wednesday 13 July)

Term 4: 9 October - 23 November (Bookings open Wednesday 4 October)

To book, parents will need to log onto Flexischools on the home page of the school’s website (under Quicklinks) and select ‘Supervised Study Sessions’. Bookings are limited to 25 participants each night and when a session is full no further bookings can be made. Bookings are essential and should be made in advance to ensure a place is secured. If dinner is required, payment must be paid at the time of booking and this option selected in Flexischools.

During these session girls work with tutors to organise a plan of study for the term. This involves the girls looking at their assessment calendar and planning how to ensure they are planned and ready for the next lesson and assessment. The main goal of Supervised Study Sessions is to assist students to revise work covered in class and to support and extend their understanding of learning from lessons so they are prepared for assessment.

Years 5-11 Continuous Reporting

2017 will see the introduction of Continuous Reporting for students in Years 5 to 11. Information about how to access this information will be shared by each Head of Year at the Parent Information Evening on Thursday 2 February. The aim behind the development of Continuous Reporting is to provide valuable and informative reporting to parents in a way they can understand and work in partnership with teachers to support their daughter’s learning.

For teachers, Continuous Reporting will enable:

- Improvements in feedback to students for assessments - focus on improvements

- Assessment load spread across the semester for each year level

- Removal of ‘Reporting Time’ for teachers and assessment overload for students

For parents, Continuous Reporting will provide:

- Results in a working context - individualised to their daughter

- Up to date information about how their daughter is performing, rather than waiting for the end of semester report or parent teacher interview

- All results to parents though Parent Lounge, including results from previous assessment and years.

Continuous Reporting will provide students with:

- The opportunity for students to own their results and look for areas of improvement

- Access to an Academic Mentoring process through Learning Analytics to allow the girls to analyse their results, engage in feedback and set goals for their learning path.

Engaging students with their own data allows them to gain a better understanding of their strengths, their weaknesses and how to improve.         Farrell, Marsh and Bertrand 2015

Next week, I will provide instructions of how to access Continuous Reporting through Parent Lounge.

Nicole Devlin 

Parents and teachers share the very important task of educating your daughters and preparing them for the journey they will take in forming their identity as young woman. Assisting them to recognise their support networks and having a clear sense of belonging are essential at this time.

- At home, listen, discuss, negotiate and decide together on as many issues as possible.

- Discuss routines with your daughter, talk through her timetable with her and check to see if she is packing her bag each evening for what she will need for the next day. Help her to plan ahead. Ensure all pieces of her uniform are together the evening before. Being organised will assist her to feel she is in control.

- Emphasise the importance of secondary school. Settling in to her academic program is one of her major tasks for the year. Reinforce the importance of engaging with her learning.

- Become familiar with the school and what is available. Your daughter's Student Handbook, the Parent Handbook and eNews contain a wealth of information about extra-curricular activities, events, assessment procedures, policies and uniform guidelines.

Also, throughout the year, there will be many opportunities for parents to interact with staff and other parents. One such occasion is next week’s Parent Information Evening on Thursday 2 February from 6 to 8pm. If you wish to view the educational addresses they will be available on the school’s website after the event. Information evenings provide a wonderful chance to gain valuable information on your daughter’s learning and to connect with other parents.

Most importantly, communication is the key. Please raise any concerns you may have with your daughter's Head of Year. We will work together to assist each student to settle back into the school year. I wish you and your family all the best for 2017.

Finally, the Leaders Induction Service held on Tuesday was a wonderful community event which celebrated our Year 12s on their appointments as senior leaders. We look forward to the Prefects Assembly next week where the seniors will unveil their theme for 2017.

Nikki Townsend

As a staff we are committed to providing a well-rounded education so that your child experiences growth in the cognitive, physical, social, cultural and spiritual domains of learning.

The teachers have been busy organising classrooms, planning and preparing curriculum to ensure your child will receive an education that is suited to his/her individual needs within the school community. The teachers have also grown as learners in the lead up to the start of the school term, by undergoing professional development to support the implementation and delivery of curriculum initiatives. An outline of the programs and curriculum organisation is available in the Parent Handbook which can be accessed through the St Margaret’s website. Also found in this handbook is a summary of the key information for your child in the Primary School. Please ensure you read it, especially during Term 1 as families and students settle into a new school year.

Earlier this week, our Primary School Captains, Isabella Bluett and Evangeline Phillips, were inducted as the leaders of the Primary School. These girls will lead, along with all the other Year 6 students who will be inducted as House Leaders on Monday 13 February. This is a special year for the Year 6 girls as they lead the younger girls and partake in their final primary year experiences. I look forward to working alongside these girls.

I wish all students a successful and happy year. We are sure they will enjoy making new friends and achieving their personal goals. I look forward to meeting parents on Wednesday 1 February 2017 at the Primary Parent Information Evening and again on Friday 10 March 2017 at the Primary Family Welcome Night. I know our partnership will be strengthened as we work together for the best educational outcome for your child.

Morning Drop off and Afternoon Pick Up

Parents are encouraged to drop students in Drop Off zone in order for them to walk into the Atrium.  Students will wait in the Atrium under teacher supervision and move to their classes at 8.15am. As a school we encourage the children to be independent throughout their school day. Therefore, we request that parents do not accompany their child to the classroom so that each child is responsible for organising herself for the school day.

A teacher is on gate duty in Butler Street from Monday to Thursday until 3.40pm, and Friday until 3:30pm. Please encourage your daughter to look out for you so the teacher can supervise her as she moves to your car.

The 2-Minute Zone is a set down and collection point only. The 2-Minute Zone is not an area for parking (or prolonged parking). It is illegal to leave your car when parked in this area.

Please note, there is a teacher on duty only at the Butler Street Pick Up Zone.

- Staff and students will wait at the end of the pick-up zone (half way down Butler Street, near the light pole).
- Parents, please have your car prepared for your child’s easy access. Please put your car in park but do not turn off your engine.
- Early childhood students are expected at the pick-up zone at 3.25pm approximately.
- Students in older years levels will arrive after 3.30pm.  

We encourage parents of students in Years 1 to 6 not to park and walk into the school, but to meet your child outside.

These arrangements are in place to help reduce the congestion at the top of the zone and the school crossing.

Pre-Prep Parking

Four parking bays are allocated to Pre-Prep parents for drop off and pick up for a maximum of 10 minutes. We request that only Pre-Prep parents park in these bays (maximum of 10 minutes) with their permit on display in their car. Staff monitor these parks to ensure they are only used by cars displaying these permits. We encourage you to follow this process to ensure the safety of our Pre-Prep students.

Please note, the Pre-Prep parks may be used by all other parents between 9:00am – 2:00pm or after 3:00pm. Outside of these hours, the parks are for use by Pre-Prep parents only for a maximum of 10 minutes.

Allergies

We discourage parents from packing lunches which contain nuts, nut products e.g. Nutella and peanut butter as several of our students have an allergy to a variety of nuts. Ingestion and/or touching the surface that has been in contact with nuts may result in an anaphylactic reaction which could be life-threatening. Vigilance in this area will be greatly appreciated.

Flexischools

Please be aware that for returning primary parents you will need to update your daughter’s new class on your Flexischools account. 

Angela Drysdale

The Music Department sends out a weekly newsletter via email that provides parents with relevant information pertaining to rehearsals, upcoming concert information, special events etc. If your daughter is undertaking music lessons or is involved in a music ensemble, you will automatically receive the newsletter. If you are not receiving this email but would like to, please email music@stmargarets.qld.edu.au and we can ensure you are on the mailing list. The weekly emails will be sent out from Week 2.

For further information on the St Margaret’s Music Program, please click here to download the St Margaret’s Music Handbook.

Music Staff News

There have been several staff changes in the Music Department for 2017. Ms Melanie Simpson will join the Music Program to teach upper brass. Ms Regina Brennan will move into the role of Primary Music Curriculum teacher. We welcome Ms Stephanie Taylor who will take on the role of singing teacher. We are also currently in the process of employing another teacher who will assist in the choral program, as well as teach singing. We look forward to welcoming these new staff to the St Margaret’s music community.

Private Music Lessons will start in Week 2

Private Music lessons will start from Week 2. On Friday 29 January during lunchtime, students from Year 5-12 are asked to come to the Sister Helen Orchestra Room (SHOR) to meet their private music teacher and arrange a lesson time. If a student is in a younger grade, or is unable to attend that day, the music teacher will contact parents directly to arrange a lesson time. A list will be up outside of SHOR with the name of each student’s private music teacher. (It is not too late to enrol your daughter in private music lessons. An application form with terms and conditions is attached should you wish to do this.)

There have been many requests from parents for lesson times to occur outside of school hours. Whilst every effort will be made to accommodate these requests, it may not always be possible. Older students in the Secondary School are always given first preference to these time slots. Thank you for your understanding in this matter.

Music Ensemble Rehearsals will start in Week 2

Primary and Secondary Music Ensembles will begin rehearsing in Week 2 from Monday 30 January. Click here for the ensemble timetable for rehearsal times. Please note there are some small changes to rehearsal times for 2017.

New students are welcome to join ensembles and are encouraged to see Mr King or Ms Brennan as to what ensembles might best suit them. New students who wish to participate in music ensembles are asked to attend a placement audition during Friday morning tea (27 January) in the Sister Helen Orchestra Room. Students are asked to perform a short piece and a scale that they feel best demonstrates their ability. If students are unable to make that time, please see Mr King or Ms Brennan to arrange an alternate time.

Please note that Elevarsi Voices (non-auditioned choir for students in Years 7-12) will not commence until Term 2 due to Sound of Music rehearsals occurring during Term 1.

Old Girl News

Congratulations to Old Girl, Kyla Matsuura-Miller who was recognised recently as one of the 2017 Emerging Artist recipients by the Australian Chamber Orchestra. This is a very prestigious award and will provide Kyla with the opportunity to rehearse and perform with the ACO’s renowned players. Selected Emerging Artists also go on tour nationally and internationally with the ACO. Congratulations to Kyla on this outstanding achievement and we wish her every success as she pursues this exciting new opportunity.

Music Support Group

The St Margaret’s Music Support Group (MSG) is a committee of dedicated parents who meet regularly to support the students who participate in the School’s Music Program. The MSG organises and assists with refreshments at school concerts and fundraises to purchase a range of instruments/equipment to enhance the department. The first MSG meeting for 2017 will be on Tuesday 7 February at 5.00pm in the Primary Music Room (second floor of Chaseley). Parents from both the Primary and Secondary Schools are welcome to attend.

Brad King

Secondary students enrolled in the Program need to visit the Speech and Drama room (D001) at lunch time on Friday 27 January to see their teacher and arrange their lesson time for Week 2. Initial lesson times for primary school students will be emailed to parents before next week. If you have any enquiries about the Private Speech and Drama Program, please contact the Coordinator, Maria Chamberlain at mchamberlain@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.

Maria Chamberlain
Coordinator - Private Speech and Drama

Congratulations to Mrs Jenny Lishman and the team for a memorable smART Holidays Program in December. The girls had a wonderful opportunity to work with creatives and to leave with art work to be proud of.

In Term 1, we are offering the following programs for students in Years 7-12. Monday afternoon is smART Club. The Term 1 activity is free of charge and the girls will assist painting the school musical sets. This will be a very physical painting activity and strong commitment to the task is required; the sets must be finalised by week 7 of the term. Please contact the art staff to register your daughter’s interest or complete the sign on form which is available from the art aide room on level 1 of the Arts Centre Gallery. I would also welcome parent helpers for this activity. We begin Monday 30 January in room V103 at 3.30pm.

Every Wednesday, Mrs Lishman will offer Art Workshops in room V103 from 3.30pm-5.00pm. Art Workshop afternoons are a great opportunity to catch up on class art prac work or just to enjoy a creative afternoon in the art studios. We also encourage students to come along and work in the studios any lunchtime during the week.

Congratulations to our 2017 Visual Art Captains, Annabelle Kennedy and Eliza McKendry. The girls will go a great job and we are looking forward to their enthusiasm and leadership.

Lisa Smith
Secondary Visual Art Coordinator 

P&F General Meetings
The P&F invites the school community to share your views and ideas at the General Meetings, held in the Arts Centre Foyer from 6:.30pm on the following dates:
Monday 27 February 2017
Monday 8 May 2017
Monday 31 July 2017
Monday 30 October 2017

P&F Event Dates 2017
Term 1 Friday 3 March - Mothers’ Luncheon
Thursday 30 March - Father Daughter Breakfast Term 2
Saturday 27 May - Community Ball
Friday 9 June - Fathers’ Dinner Term 3
Saturday 2 September - Race Day

ST MARGARET’S P&F ASSOCIATION INC
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
NOTICE is given that the Annual General Meeting of the St Margaret’s P & F Association Inc is to be held on Monday 27 February 2017 in the Arts Centre Foyer at 6:30pm. NOMINATION FOR POSITION Any one member of the P & F shall be at liberty to nominate any other member to serve as an officer or other member of the Management Committee. If you are interested in joining the P&F Association, all positions of the Management Committee will be declared vacant at the AGM and a new committee for 2017 will be elected. Nominations can be made by downloading and completing a Nomination for Position form. All nomination forms must be returned to P&F@stmargarets.qld.edu.au or via School Reception by Friday 10 February 2017.

Old Girls' Events 

10 Year Reunion – Class of 2007 – Friday 21 July 2017
20 Year Reunion – Class of 1997 – Saturday 22 July 2017
30 Year Reunion – Class of 1987 – Friday 21 July 2017
40 Year Reunion – Class of 1977 – Saturday 22 July 2017
50 Year Reunion – Class of 1967 – Saturday 22 July 2017
60 Year Reunion – Class of 1957 – Saturday 22 July 2017
Chapel Service and Morning Tea – Sunday 23 July 2017
1938 – 1956 (60+) Year Reunion – Monday 24 July 2017
OGA Annual Brunch – Sunday 11 June 2017
AGM – Tuesday 28 November 2017

Luanne Wishart

UMAT 2017 Key Dates:

Registrations opened	First week in December 2016
Registrations close	Friday 2 June 2017 - 5pm AEST
Late registrations close	Friday 16 June 2017- 5pm AEST
Applications for Special Testing Conditions close	Friday 16 June 2017
UMAT Test date	Wednesday 26 July 2017
Results released	Late September 2017

The only identification documents accepted for UMAT 2017 are:

• Current passport
• Current photo-bearing driver's licence (full, probationary or learner's permit)
• Current photo-bearing Australian Keypass
• Current photo-bearing Australian Proof of Age Card

Candidates who do not possess a current passport or driver's licence are strongly recommended to apply for a Keypass or Proof of Age Card as soon as possible, as some of these documents can take up to one month to obtain. Please note there is a Keypass Under-18 card for candidates under 18. No other forms of ID will be accepted.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If a candidate is intending to use their driver's licence as identification and needs to renew or update their licence before the test date (for example changing from a learner's permit to a probationary licence or from a probationary licence to a full licence), they must ensure they allow adequate time to receive the new licence. A temporary licence without a photograph will not be accepted as identification at the test centre.

For further details, please refer candidates to the UMAT website. Candidates without correct identification will not be permitted to sit UMAT 2017 and will be turned away from the test centre.

UMAT is only available once every year. If you do not register by 2 June 2017, you will have to wait until 2018 to sit the test.

UMAT Preparation

MedEntry: If you are interested in studying Medicine or a career in health that requires sitting the UMAT Test, visit the MedEntry website for assistance in your preparation: www.MedEntry.edu.au. MedEntry is the only government accredited training organisation for UMAT preparation.

MedStart: is an organisation that assists students to prepare for UMAT. Courses are available in Brisbane. Check the MedStart website http://www.medstart.com.au for more details.

NIE UMAT Workshops Australia

Are you committed to doing your best in the UMAT?

Along with the 8 or 10 UMAT books, our Premium, Platinum and Concession courses include the intensive one-day UMAT preparation and training workshop. Our workshops are designed to cover every UMAT construct (previously known as UMAT sections), the various types of questions to be encountered and how to tackle them, and then to check where you are at with respect to UMAT-specific study, throwing a full-blown UMAT NIE practice test at you. How will you fare? How have you been going? Which UMAT style questions still need work?

QLD Brisbane
5 April 2017 Wednesday, School Holidays UQLD, St Lucia Campus Enrol Now
28 June 2017 Wednesday, School Holidays UQLD, St Lucia Campus Enrol Now
23 July 2017 Sunday, School Holidays UQLD, St Lucia Campus Enrol Now

KEY DATES:

Friday 27 and Saturday 28 May 2017
The National Careers and Employment EXPO (Brisbane Convention Centre). All Year 10 students will attend this exciting event on the morning of Friday 27 May.

Friday 2 June UMAT Registrations close 5pm

Wednesday 26 July UMAT Exam

Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 July 2017
The 36th annual Tertiary Studies Expo (TSXPO), Australia's largest tertiary studies expo, offers a unique opportunity for anyone interested in starting, changing or upgrading their career! It features many local, interstate and overseas education providers, student services and support agencies. Don't miss this great opportunity to map out your future, all in the one location! 8am – 4pm, RICC Brisbane Showgrounds. A great opportunity for students to collect information from a huge number of exhibitors.

Elizabeth Johnston
Careers Counsellor