eNews Archive Issue 11 - 20 April 2017

Term 2 promises to be another busy one with a variety of events and student activity and the next nine weeks, I believe, will pass very quickly.

I want to take this opportunity to let our community know that our School’s Anzac Day Ceremony will be held on Monday 24 April at 9:50am in the Philip Harris Sports Centre. Some parents may wish to attend our special assembly which celebrates Anzac Day. This assembly begins at 9:50am and ends at 10:25am and everyone is welcome to attend.

I would also like to remind parents that Tuesday 2 May is a student free day.

One of the goals of the School’s Strategic Plan is Broadening Horizons and one of the strategies listed in the plan is ‘to provide opportunities for overseas, rural and city students to experience the cultural, geographic and economic diversity that is a unique strength of Australia’. To help achieve this strategy and, in consultation with several day and boarding parents, St Margaret’s has added a student free day to the program to create a 4-day weekend on the Labour Day weekend. During this weekend, some of our day students will be given the opportunity to visit our Boarding families and learn something about rural and regional centres. The additional day allows the students to have an extended day with Boarding families and to learn more about life outside the very comfortable experience of a city.

Although the Primary school students are unlikely to have this opportunity to visit Boarding families, Tuesday 2 May is a student free day for the whole school Pre Prep - Year 12. Outside School Hours Care will be available during the day on 2 May.

Our next Professional Women’s Network event will be held on 18 May at 7:00am – 8:45am in the Arts Centre Foyer. The guest speaker is Catherine O’Sullivan, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Pathways and Partnership at Bond University. Catherine is a dynamic speaker with an interesting story to tell. I do hope you can join us. Please see the information attached. Tickets for adults are $60 and $40 for students.

In March, Huffington Post published an article ‘60 Stunning Photos of Girls Going to School.’ If you have time, it is worth a look as some of the photos really reinforce the message of how fortunate our girls are in Australia, where education is valued and girls can travel to school with ease and little threat to their personal safety.

The article reminds us that:

“Nelson Mandela once said: Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.

And it’s true, education is one of the greatest resources the world has to offer. Unfortunately, young girls and women - half of the world's population - are rarely given the same opportunities as boys to learn, study and succeed.

Globally, 65 million girls are not in school. Out of the 774 million people who are illiterate around the world, two-thirds are women. There are 33 million fewer girls in primary school than boys. And education really does save lives: If every woman around the globe had a primary and secondary education, childhood deaths would be cut in half."

Ros Curtis 

St Margaret’s takes student protection seriously, and so it is timely that I remind all families about the policies and processes that we have here.

St Margaret's Anglican Girls School is committed to:

• promoting and striving to provide a safe, supportive and ethical environment for the wellbeing and holistic development of students; and
• 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
• Assistant Head of Primary School - Trudi Edwards
• Dean of Students - Nikki Townsend
• Guidance Counsellor - Sharon Stone

All Student Protection documentation including all polices and procedures can be viewed on our website.

Our statement of commitment is as follows:

St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School supports the rights of children and young people and are committed to ensure the safety, welfare and wellbeing of students. St Margaret’s is therefore committed to responding to allegations of student harm resulting from the conduct or actions of any person including that of employees.

This commitment includes the provision of a safe and supportive living and learning environment for all students and requires all employees, volunteers and visitors to model and encourage behaviour that upholds the dignity and protection of students from harm.

In support of this commitment, St Margaret’s is dedicated to our Child and Youth Risk Management Strategy which includes having relevant policies, procedures and training in place to effectively address the safety and wellbeing of students in our care.

Karen Gorrie 

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

Students, families and friends are invited to the annual Secondary Family Service for Years 9 and 10 next Thursday at St Augustine’s, Hamilton. This is a lovely opportunity to gather with other families of your daughter’s cohort and to celebrate communion within the School community. We look forward to seeing you there!

The Primary School will have their Family Service on Sunday 4 June, 9am in Eton Hall.

The Years 11 and 12 Family Service will be held at St Mark’s, Clayfield on Wednesday 10 May, 6:30pm. Please note that this date is a day earlier than the one printed in the school diary and calendar due to clashes.

Reflection

Some years ago, when I lived in a small town in Belgium, I experienced my first ‘northern hemisphere’ Easter. Finally, I ‘got’ the whole connection with the season of Spring and the impact that the world around could have on one’s emotions. I will never forget smelling the rain one day. It had rained all winter, mind you, but finally it seemed as though the earth had become warm enough to transform the falling rain into the beautiful ‘fresh wet earth’ smell that many of us take for granted in our climate in South-East Queensland.

That one smell resurrected an emotional connection that I had forgotten … and since that day, as Easters have passed, I am reminded of other things in my life that need ‘resurrecting’. Is there something in your life that you have overlooked lately? Is there a relationship that needs to be put right? Who should we phone, email, text or meet for coffee?

What needs to be resurrected in your life? How can each of us help bring about resurrection for others?

Are there gifts or talents that you have forgotten about? Is it a meaningful prayer life and connection with God?

If Easter is our time of new life and fresh beginnings, then perhaps God is calling us to see or hear or feel something new? Perhaps we are urged to reach within and nurture our own sense of self or, indeed, our spirituality. Spirituality is not about going to church. It is who we are, that which moves and motivates us.

Resurrection - it’s not just an ‘Easter Day’ thing. It is part of an everyday spirituality and we are each called to breathe new life into our lives and the world.

This week, please keep in your prayers:

• families who are feeling financial pressure
• those still recovering from Cyclone Debbie and other natural events
• students dealing with family tensions
• relationships between friends, teachers, students and families
• those who are unwell in heart, mind or body

The Reverend Nicki Colledge 

From an operational perspective, the wild weather hitting the south east had its silver lining, as girls were already packed and their dorms were cleaned. Travel plans needed some urgent adjustment and the staff remaining were indeed grateful of the cooperation and communication from everyone involved. Thankfully Brisbane airport didn’t close and most flights were running on time. Given the terrible damage Tropical Cyclone Debbie caused across much of the Eastern coastline, we were extremely pleased to hear our families managed to get home without too many issues.

As we transition into Term 2, we would like to remind parents about the Day/Boarder Weekend coming up very soon. Boarders are encouraged to take a day girl home with them for the weekend. This is an opportunity for our boarders to show the day girls where they live and what they do when they are home. Day girls gain a better understanding of the diversity within Boarding and boarders certainly benefit from the strengthening of bonds with their peers. The girls who participated last year now share many wonderful memories of their trip. The Day/Boarder Weekend will be from 3pm, Friday 28 April to Tuesday 2 May. 

Dimity Harris 

This is true for all of us - students, staff and parents. The capacity to reflect on the past is one of the characteristics which defines our humanity, allowing us to make progress and make amends. Renowned educational theorist, John Dewey explained reflection as “a conscious and voluntary effort to establish belief upon a firm basis of reasons” (1910).

Over the holidays, I was fortunate to attend the World EduLead Congress in Singapore where among other things there was a focus on the power of reflection. I found the explanation given there particularly accessible for students. It was suggested that two simple questions assist students to understand the concept of reflecting on their learning:

• What have I done that I never want to repeat?
• What have I done that I am proud of?

I suggest that adding, Why?, after each of these would make them more useful in terms of encouraging young people to think about the way they have approached their learning and what they might change in the future.

While I was in Singapore I attended a masterclass for two days with Sir John Jones, a British educator who has held roles as Principal of three schools, a member of the Government’s Policy Action Team for Neighbourhood Renewal and a member of the Head Teachers’ National Focus Group, among other prestigious professional experiences. This is the second time I have attended sessions with Sir John and I find them to be both inspirational and operational in equal measures. The best way to describe his work is to say that it addresses the heart of teaching and learning through a focus on students, their teachers and the schools they attend. As a disciple of his work I could write pages about what I gained from my time in Singapore, but in the interests of newsletter length I am only going to include two points (this week!). I think there is something for all of us in these two statements. The first is that there is always a better way … success comes from the relentless pursuit of excellence. The second which can be linked to this is to make progress you need to do small things brilliantly.

Throughout the term, I intend to build on these ideas by emphasising that we are always learning, regardless of age, qualifications or experience. We must never throw away our L plates! This is a wonderful thing, but sometimes it hurts and it’s difficult. There is no limit to our capacity for growth and improvement, except those which we impose ourselves. I am greatly looking forward to working with your daughters and assisting them to understand their own power over their learning.

Samantha Bolton

Rescheduled Parent Teacher Interviews

Due to the closure of the school at the end of Term 1, Parent/Teacher Interviews have been rescheduled to the following times:

Session 1 – held Tuesday 18 April

Session 2 - Monday 24 April, 3:30pm - 6:00pm

Session 3 - Wednesday 26 April, 3:30pm - 6:00pm

Bookings for these sessions were open over the holiday period and closed on Friday 14 April. If you have missed booking an interview you can contact teachers via their email.

Please note: to accommodate all parents, all interviews (Primary and Secondary) are scheduled in the Philip Harris Sports Centre. Maps will be available on the day of staff seating in the hall. Therefore, it is suggested you arrive 5 to 10 minutes before your first interview to ensure you know where you need to go to allow for smooth transitions from one interview to the next.

NAPLAN

On 10, 11 and 12 May the Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 girls will complete the NAPLAN tests. As a school we use NAPLAN data as a tool to review our teaching practices and enhance our student tracking for each cohort. The teachers in each of these year levels have been preparing the girls throughout the year with quality literacy and numeracy teaching. The girls have been engaged in activities that are presented in a similar approach to the way they are presented in the tests. The tests are a mix of written responses and multiple choice questions. The girls have also been focusing on writing persuasive and narrative texts in preparation for the writing component of the test.

As per the NAPLAN handbook, “students may be withdrawn from the testing program by their parent/carer. This is a matter for consideration by individual parent/carers in consultation with their child’s school. Withdrawals are intended to address such issues as religious beliefs and philosophical objections to testing.” A formal notification of withdrawal must be received by the Principal, Ms Ros Curtis, by Monday 8 May.

Further information about these testing days will be sent home to parents of the cohorts involved. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me or find more information at: www.nap.edu.au.

Supervised Study Sessions

Supervised Study Sessions for Term 2 will begin on Monday 24 April and continue until Thursday 8 June on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons.

Each session will provide an opportunity for the girls to work with a tutor to organise a plan of study for the term. This will involve the girls looking at their assessment calendar and planning how to ensure they are planned and ready for the end of semester assessment. They will also have the opportunity to work on and revise work covered in classes.

To book, parents will need to log onto Flexischools on the home page of the School website 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 for that session. Bookings are essential and should be made in advance to ensure a place is available. If dinner is required, payment must be paid at the time of booking and this option selected in Flexischools.

Continuous Reporting

Parents of students in Years 7 to 11 can log onto Parent Lounge and view results and comments from teachers on recently completed assessments. The following new assessments are available for viewing, along with results already released:

If you need any assistance to access your daughter’s results, please email me for detailed instructions.

Nicole Devlin 

Parents will also receive an email from their Head of Year reminding families of all School policies and important dates. As a community, we all have a role to play to continue to make St Margaret’s a wonderful and outstanding school to learn and enjoy.

I hope our students had a restful and reflective break over the holidays and are recharged and ready to embrace Term 2. Dr Stephen R Covey, renowned educator and author of the book ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’ suggests that there are habits people can develop to succeed in life. In fact, his suggestions can also help prepare your daughters to succeed in their studies.

Outlined below are 7 Habits of Highly effective students suggested by Covey you may wish to discuss with your family:

1.  Be proactive, recognise that in order to succeed you need to make decisions about your priorities, your time and your resources. Don’t allow peers to dictate what you consider important.

    

2. Begin with the end in mind. Envision what you want in the future and how are you going to make this a reality.

    

3. First things first! Follow up on the priorities you have set for yourself and don’t get distracted from your goals. Discover your key productivity periods and places. Do you work better in the morning, afternoon or evening? Find spaces where you can be the most focussed and productive.

    

4. Think win - win. Contribute well in your class; you, your fellow students, and even your teacher will benefit. Value and respect those around you.

    

5. Seek first to understand, then to be understood. When you have an issue with another person, try to see it from their perspective. Now ask yourself how you can best approach the issue with that person given the situation.

    

6. Synergize! Combine the strengths of others through positive relationships and team work.

    

7. Sharpen the Saw: exercise, prayer (meditation, yoga etc.), service, reading, healthy diet and sleep all contribute to a healthy fulfilling lifestyle.

“Your life doesn’t just ‘happen’. Whether you know it or not, it is carefully designed by you. The choices, after all, are yours. You choose happiness. You choose sadness. You choose decisiveness. You choose ambivalence. You choose success. You choose failure. You choose courage. You choose fear. Just remember that every moment, every situation, provides a new choice. And in doing so, it gives you a perfect opportunity to do things differently to produce more positive results.” Stephen Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Over the holidays parents received an invitation to our Anzac Day Service next Monday 24 April, from 9:50am – 10:30am in the Philip Harris Sports Centre. I would like to thank Tom McCormick, Cass Argent, Clair Monnickendam, Kelly Alford and Shirley Patton for their organisation of this event. We look forward to seeing you there.

Nikki Townsend 

I have been warmly welcomed back by the girls, staff and parents; thank you. I would like to take the opportunity to thank Trudi Edwards and Mary Surtees for their effort and dedication to the Primary School during my absence. The first term of a school year is always filled with many new beginnings and I know that their diligence and commitment ensured that the Primary School ran smoothly. This year also saw the introduction of many new curriculum initiatives under Trudi’s leadership, so Trudi not only worked in the Head of Primary role but also worked to ensure the implementation of the new curriculum was successful. I look forward to seeing the outcomes in terms of the girls’ learning and the teachers’ professional growth.

Term 2 brings a significant change to staff as we say goodbye to Mrs Elise Martin. Elise will not be leaving St Margaret’s but will move to a new role as Assistant to the Dean of Students, Ms Nikki Townsend. She will take up this position later in the term after personal leave. Elise will be missed by the parents, girls and staff of the Primary School. I know we will miss her willingness to help others, support and sense of humour. After her leave we will invite Elise to a Primary School Assembly so that the girls will have the opportunity to say goodbye officially. We wish Mrs Martin all the best in her new role. I wish everyone a great Term 2.

Angela Drysdale

The Accelerated Reader Program

Welcome back. I hope each and every family had a wonderful holiday.

I shared with the girls the number of words that were read collectively by students in Years 3 - 6 through the Accelerated Reader Program last term, a massive 11 799 910 words and 689 books read! The bar will be raised with the challenge of reading 15 million words this term. The Accelerated Reader Program is aimed to support students to read books that are at their independent reading level, to encourage and celebrate reading and to provide effective formative feedback to teachers on each student’s comprehension development. We will also be monitoring how many words each student reads and I will be hosting a Millionaire’s morning tea each term for girls who read a million words. Teachers monitor student achievement and will advise students to move levels when required.

ICAS

The school offers students in Years 3 - 6 the opportunity to take part in the ICAS (International Competitions and Assessment for Schools). ICAS is an independent, skills-based competition undertaken across a range of countries, and therefore does not directly link to the Australian Curriculum. Entry in the competition is voluntary and therefore the data pool from which attainments levels are assigned does not include all students within a year level. The competition does offer an excellent opportunity for students to engage in challenging, subject specific tasks. The first of these competitions is Science which will be held on Tuesday 30 May. A letter was sent to parents with details about how to register using Flexischools. Please note that registration for these will close on Friday 28 April and no entries can be accepted after this time.

Continuous Reporting

The following results will be available after 3:00pm on Friday 21 April:

Year 5

Geography Assessment

HPE Written Assessment

HPE Swimming Assessment

Mathematics Written Assessment

Mathematics Investigation Assessment

Mandarin Assessment

Year 6

English Poetry Assessment

English Writing Assessment

HPE Swimming Assessment

Humanities Assessment

Mathematics - Number and Place Value Assessment

Mandarin Assessment

Upcoming Events

Trudi Edwards

Assistant Head of Primary 

They all had a wonderful time here in the St Margaret’s community and have taken great memories and experiences back home with them.

Open Day

We had a really bustling Global Exchange booth at the St Margaret’s Open Day and this year we did something different - we combined with the International Students’ booth and had our own Global/International space which enabled students to work together on the origami table and help each other out. We were also grateful to the parents who visited us to give us their support; it was a bonus to us and I know a great morale boost for the girls.

Cultural Excursion to Sydney

The visiting girls’ trip to Sydney was a two day action-packed trip full of sight-seeing and touring, including the Harbour Bridge walk, boat ride around the harbour, jet boating, theme parks in Darling Harbour, Sydney Eye, guided historical tour of Sydney and shopping at the infamous Pitt Street Mall.

TERM 2

Outgoing Students:

We have quite a few St Margaret’s girls away on exchange this term and we wish them a great experience:

Shawnigan Lake, Canada - Chloe Bloomfield and Olivia Trempus

St Anne’s, South Africa - Lillyana Bowden, Emily O’Neill and Skye Littlewood

St Stephen’s, Hong Kong – Gabriella Sedgwick and Laura Manly

Crofton House, Canada - Claudia Bosworth and Tessa Sprott

Returning Students:

We welcome back Isabelle Cox and Lily Devereaux returning from their exchange at St Margaret’s College in New Zealand and we are looking forward to catching up with them to hear about their trip. 

Visiting Students:

We also welcome the following visiting exchange girls:

LVS in UK (from 19 April) - Teigan Godfrey, Georgia Harwood and Eve Parry-Jones (all in Year 9).

St Anne’s in South Africa (from 24 April) - Demi Talmage, Anna Willis and Jessica Parker (all in Year 10).

Angelin Achari 

The girls and myself found it a humbling experience and hopefully we added some sunshine and happiness to the children and families on the day. 

The next Toc H event is the Toc H Midnight Service at Anzac Square. We have the Toc H Captains laying the school wreaths and the Last Post will be played by Georgia Marshall in Year 10. It is a touching service and a worthwhile experience. You are all most welcome to attend.

This will be followed by the Toc H Anzac Concert on Sunday 30 April from 2pm to 5pm at St John’s Anglican Church Bulimba. Our very own Sculthorpe String Quartet is playing in addition to the beautiful voice of Xenia Puskarz-Thomas, St Margaret’s old girl ‘13. Well known, award winning, Brisbane home grown musician, Francesca de Valence has put together a wonderful concert that we would really appreciate your support and attendance. Tickets are now on sale via www.trybooking.com/PKSU.

May is the month when St Margaret’s Toc H is supporting the RSPCA by collecting food for our furry friends. Please help us to help this wonderful service provided by the RSPCA.

Shirley Patton 

How does it work?

Parent’s set up a FlexiSchools account online and pre-load their account with funds. Students can make purchases at the Supplies Shop by swiping their card at the register. The register shows a photo of the student for security. Parents can view their daughter’s purchases online and can set daily spending limits on the student’s card.

The system is now available and we look forward to seeing your purchase made with your student card.

HOW TO REGISTER

Go to www.flexischools.com.au

Step 1: Click the ‘REGISTER NOW’ button

Step 2: Enter your Email Address

Step 3: You will be emailed a link to an online form - follow the link

Step 4: Choose a Name and Password and complete the form

Step 5: Add each of your Daughter/s name and their year group and link their student ID card number to the account

Step 6: Top-Up the Account - VISA, MasterCard or Direct Deposit.

What does it cost?

Student Card payments are FREE.

There are a variety of payment options supported to top up your Flexischools account, including Visa, MasterCard, PayPal and Bank Transfer. There may be a fee associated with topping up your Flexischools account. Bank Transfers are free but may take up to two days to reach your account. Credit Card payments are online and immediate and incur a 29c fee. PayPal payments are also online and immediate, and incur an additional 35c fee.

If you have any questions, Flexischools provide a great help desk on 1300 361 769, or you can contact them via their website.

Terisa Arnold 

Hours

• Before School Care: 7:00am - 8:15am. Breakfast will be served between 7:15am and 7:45am
• After School Care: 2:45pm - 6:00pm. Afternoon tea is served
• Vacation Care: 7:00am - 6:00pm

Pre-Prep and Prep students are escorted to their classrooms in the mornings and to the OSHC room in the afternoon. The OSHC educators can escort the students to their after school extra-curricular activities when required in the afternoons.

Fees (as at 24 January 2017)

• Before School Care - $12 per day
• After School Care - $25 per day
• Vacation Care - $60 per day (incursions and excursions may incur additional costs)

Late Collection
St Margaret’s OSHC is strictly licensed to run between the hours of 7am and 6pm. It is essential that all children be collected by 6pm. A late fee of $10 for the first 10 minutes or part thereof, and $1 per minute thereafter will apply if your child is collected after the closing time of the centre. Please note late fees are charged per child.

Cancellation Policy
If your child is unable to attend OSHC as arranged, please advise as soon as possible. Fees will not be charged for non-attendance if 48 business hours or more notice is given. Cancellation should be made in writing to oshc@stmargarets.qld.edu.au or by phoning 0423 547 653. Notification is also important for safety reasons and to prevent time being spent looking for a child who is not present.

Bookings and Further Information
If you would like further information regarding our Outside School Hours Care program or if you would like to make a booking, feel free to contact me via mobile on 0423 547 653 or email on oshc@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.

Palu Ingram 

The age group ranges from 15 up to 18 years of age. Please contact International Student Care Australia (ISCA) by visiting our website: www.isca.net.au or contact us on 07 3851 0704 during business hours or you can email us at: isca@isca.net.au for more information. 

ISCA pays a competitive market rate per week to reimburse you for your costs. 

How do you purchase a valid bus pass?

1. Using your child’s student ID: the buses are fitted with Rovr - a Samsung mobile device - which will scan your child’s student ID card and this will charge your Flexischools account for an individual trip. Instructions on how to set this up can be found by clicking here (PDF 1.3MB) or by calling Flexischools on 1300 361 769 who will be able to assist you. Please make sure sufficient funds are available on the student card and that your daughter’s student ID card number has been linked to your account.
2. Logon to Flexischools: www.flexischools.com.auand pay for a 10-trip ticket online and collect the bus pass from the Finance Office.
3. Purchase a 10-trip ticket directly from the Finance Office with cash or credit card.

If you require assistance setting up your Flexischools account, please contact 1300 361 769 from 8am Monday to Friday.

Leah Saul 

Catherine has built her career on developing, implementing and championing innovative education strategies with a heartfelt dedication to improve Indigenous education outcomes.

Be inspired by this amazing woman who believes that when you capture the hearts and minds of people, anything is possible.

When: Thursday 18 May 2017

Where: Arts Centre Foyer

Tickets: Corporate tables $650 for 10, $60 adult and $40 students (Years 10-12/tertiary)

Tickets are now on sale via Flexischools under Quick Links on the St Margaret’s Website.

St Margaret’s P&F Association

P&F General Meetings

The P&F invites the school community to share their views and ideas at the General Meetings, held in the Arts Centre Foyer from 6:30pm on the following dates:

Monday 8 May 2017

Monday 31 July 2017

Monday 30 October 2017

P&F Event Dates 2017

Term 2

Saturday 27 May - Community Ball

Friday 9 June - Fathers’ Dinner

Term 3

Saturday 2 September - Race Day

St Margaret’s Community Ball, Saturday 27 May 2017

Keep an eye out for your invitation to the Ball, which is being distributed this week with the Family Directory. Full details can be found on the St Margaret’s website events page.

Tickets are now on sale via Flexischools under Quick Links on the St Margaret’s Website.

Old Girls’ Association

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 

• Central Penn College
• Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
• Fairleigh Dickinson University
• University of Buffalo
• State University of New York
• University of Colorado
• Boulder University of South Carolina
• Whitworth University

For more information, please contact Scott.Gannon@Churchie.com.au.

Queensland School of Film and Television (QSFT)
WRITE IT! - Introduction to Script Writing
Date: Saturday 22 April 2017
Time: 9:00am-1:00pm
Venue: 22 Warwick Street, Annerley QLD 4103

QSFT's WRITE IT! - Introduction to Script Writing Workshop is designed for participants who want to develop their skill as a screen writer. Trained by an industry professional, this four hour workshop will provide a good understanding on how to best structure a script and learn techniques to bring the characters alive! Application forms available from: http://www.qsft.qld.edu.au/assets/files/2017/Flyer_QSFT_WS08_WRITE%20IT_v1_WEB.pdf

DIRECT IT! - Introduction to Directing
Date: Saturday 29 April 2017
Time: 9:00am - 1:00pm
Venue: 22 Warwick Street, Annerley QLD 4103

QSFT's DIRECT IT! - Introduction to Directing workshop is designed to give participants an understanding of what a Director's role is on a film set. Trained by an industry professional, this four hour workshop is perfect for those who want to explore what it is like to be a Director.

The University of Sydney
Join us to find out why we are ranked 1st in Australia and 4th in the world for graduate employability. Find out about our wide range of courses, scholarships, how to apply and life on our unique and exciting campus.

Saturday 20 May, 3pm-5pm
Pullman Hotel, Corner Anna and Roma Streets, Brisbane
Register at: www.sydney.edu.au/meet-sydney

The University of Queensland
Economics scholarships for Year 12 students
The school of economics is offering two new scholarships for Year 12 students: the Australian Domestics Students Scholarship (ADSS) and the Year 12 Equity and Diversity Scholarship. Both scholarships are valued at $5000 p.a. for up to three years. The EDS scholarship also offers professional mentoring and is designed for students who have a strong interest in economics and have experienced disadvantage during their schooling, impacting upon their OP results. Students who have experienced social or emotional setbacks throughout senior school, or are from Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander or low socio-economic backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

The ADSS closes on 3 November 2017. The EDS deadline to apply is 28 November 2017. For more information visit: https://economics.uq.edu.au/scholarships

Early Entry Schemes to University:
Several tertiary institutions offer early entry schemes that require you to apply directly to the University:

UNE: http://www.une.edu.au/study/study-on-campus/get-early-entry

• Apply directly to UNE through the Early Entry Scheme
• No application fees
• Know in early November
• ATAR or OP not required
• No UAC/QTAC applications
• Currently open and available to all Year 12s (OP and non OP)

USC: http://www.usc.edu.au/learn/how-do-i-apply/pathways-to-study/pathways-from-year-12/early-offer-guarantee 

The Early Offer Guarantee enables Year 12 students to be offered an early and guaranteed place at the University of the Sunshine Coast in November. These offers are made prior to the release of Year 12 results, rather than students having to wait until the main QTAC offer round in January. Early and guaranteed offers will be made to students based on the recommendations of their school Principal. Applications open 3 August.

ACU Early Achievers' Program (EAP): http://www.acu.edu.au/study_at_acu/pathways_And_entry_schemes/year_12_student_entry/early_entry

We believe students should be recognised for their contribution and leadership potential, and this is why we grant them status as Early Achievers. One of the biggest benefits of the program is that successful applicants receive an offer well ahead of the usual tertiary admissions announcements.

You can apply if you are currently in Year 12. Both domestic and international students can apply if you hope to enrol in a course at ACU.

EAP applications to study in 2018
Open - Wednesday 26 April 2017
Close - Monday 17 July 2017
Offers released by end of August 2017

Griffith University - Queensland Conservatorium of Music
Stand out from the pack at the tertiary music auditions with Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University's Tertiary Preparation Workshop (TPW) program. TPW prepares students (in Years 10, 11 and 12) to approach the theoretical and practical aspects of their university audition process with confidence. Now in its fourteenth year, the workshop runs Monday 26 to Friday 30 June and provides prospective instrumental and vocal students with an opportunity to work closely with Queensland Conservatorium staff and music industry professionals in state-of-the-art facilities at South Bank in Brisbane, Queensland. For more information visit: https://www.griffith.edu.au/music/open-conservatorium/tertiary-preparation-workshop/tertiary-preparation-workshop-information.

When: 26 June - 30 June 2017 - Enrol Now for 2017
Where: Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, South Bank
Cost: $495

The University of Queensland: Find out what girls can do with a career in technology!
The University of Queensland, together with Digital Careers and Australian Computer Society, invite Years 8 to 12 girls and their parents, for a night of inspiration and empowerment. Hear from our alumni speakers as they share their experience of studying technology and now working in the industry. You’ll also meet our current female students and learn what it is like to study information technology at UQ.

After the talks, there will be an opportunity to try fun hands-on activities like creating your own binary bracelet, view student displays, experience virtual reality and get more information.

When: Thursday 27 April 2017, 6:00pm-7:30pm
Where: Level 3, GHD Auditorium Advanced Engineering Building (Building 49) The University of Queensland
Register: www.girlsincomputerscience2017.eventbrite.com.au
RSVP: By Friday 21 April 2017

The University of Queensland
Special entry into the Bachelor of Dental Science for rural or remote students
Rural areas of Australia often have limited access to educational opportunities and dental services. To assist in addressing this ongoing challenge, eight per cent of Bachelor of Dental Sciences (Honours) places in UQ's annual intake are now designated to applicants who come from a rural background.

What classifies as rural is determined by the Australian Standard Geographical Classification Remoteness Area system (ASGC-RA), which also categorises various levels of remoteness, identified by their Remoteness Areas (RAs) rating. Students will need to live in a remote area for a set amount of time to be eligible.

This rural background sub quota for the Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours) will be available for students within the RA2 - RA5 category. This will include most Queensland regional cities, as well as rural areas near Ipswich and some parts of the Gold and Sunshine Coast hinterlands. Students can check the classification of their homes on the Department of Health website.

Approved rural background applicants must still meet all the entry requirements of the Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours) program, including sitting the UMAT exam. However, to assist with meeting the ranking requirements, rural background applicants will be competing against a smaller cohort of applicants (for a smaller number of places) where the standard UMAT cut offs may not apply.

Further information on the scheme and eligibility requirements can be found on the UQ website.

'Getting Ready for University' - Info Sessions for Year 10 parents, guardians and carers
As a parent or guardian you play a vital role in helping your children make the best choices about their future and Year 10 is the best time to start.

When teenagers select their senior subjects, it is important that they select the right prerequisites for the university programs they are interested in.

Your child’s dream is our mission and these interactive group sessions are designed to give you the necessary information to assist your child in making an informed choice about their future. All our interactive sessions are hosted by recent UQ professional staff graduates and run for approximately one hour with plenty of time set aside for any questions you may have.

Topics include:

• Understanding the university language;
• Key differences between high school and university;
• Pathways into your child’s dream program;
• Scholarships; and
• QTAC, fees, accommodation and more!

Session Dates: week of 15-18 May 2017, St Lucia campus
It’s never too late to find out more about university and we would love to hear from you! Please email us or call 07 3346 9872.

UMAT

Registrations for UMAT 2017 are open. Copies of the Information Booklet can be downloaded from the UMAT website at: https://umat.acer.edu.au/. Please note that before registering for the Test students are required to carefully read the UMAT 2017 Information Booklet, which will only be available online from the UMAT website.

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

For further details, please refer to the UMAT website. Candidates without correct identification will not be permitted to sit UMAT2017 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/#home for more details.

NIE UMAT Workshops Australia

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?

Brisbane Workshop dates to be held at UQ, St Lucia: 28 June and 23 July.

UQ Guides

Copies of the UQ Australian Undergraduate Guide 2018 are now available from the Careers Corner in the Library. Individual Faculty Guides will be available later in the year.

QUT Guides

Copies of the QUT ‘Real Choices’ 2018 guide to undergraduate study is available via this link: 
https://www.qut.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/245294/real-choices.pdf

Griffith University

A hard copy of the 2017 Undergraduate guide is available from the Careers section of the library. An electronic copy is available at:

https://www.griffith.edu.au/__data/assets/file/0004/883057/2017-undergraduate-degrees-guide.pdf

KEY DATES:
Friday 2 and Saturday 3 June 2017
The National Careers and Employment EXPO (Brisbane Convention Centre). All Year 10 students will attend this exciting event on the morning of Friday 2 June.

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! Featuring 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