eNews Archive Issue 13 - 3 May 2018

“Canons of the Cathedral are called to live a holy life, be faithful, discreet and loyal friends of the Cathedral, diligent in reading Holy Scriptures and in all studies which uphold the truth of the gospel. Canons are called to be hospitable, to welcome strangers and the poor and to be an example of the generous love and humility that mark a disciple of Christ”. Further, Canons (either Honorary or Residentiary) are called to uphold the traditions of the Cathedral, minister to those who come to the Cathedral and assist the Dean and the Cathedral Chapter where necessary.

The Reverend Canon Nicki Colledge was delighted to be able to wear the beautiful cope made for the school some 18 years ago. It is resplendent indeed; however, the cross of the Sisters of the Society of the Sacred Advent reminds all of the humility of Christ and the faith of St John, the Sisters’ patron saint. Nicki has been “installed” to her own seat in the Cathedral. Most fittingly, she has been given the stall carved above with Saint Margaret of Antioch.

The Mission Australia Youth Survey Report 2017 recently asked young people aged 15-19 to rank their top personal concerns during the past year. The results were consistent with previous years, showing that the major concerns for males and females were coping with stress, school/study problems, body image and depression. Participants ranked their concerns regarding twelve issues on a five-point scale from ‘not at all concerned’ through to ‘very concerned’ and ‘extremely concerned’. Overall, 45.3% of young people indicated that coping with stress was a major concern (i.e. they were ‘very’ or ‘extremely’ concerned); 35.6% named school or study problems as an issue of major concern; 31.1% were very or extremely concerned about body image; and nearly a quarter (23.7%) indicated depression was a major concern.

However, these figures hide significant gender differences showing that females were much more concerned about these four issues than males: 58.2% of females indicated that coping with stress was a major concern, including those who were very concerned (31.1%) or extremely concerned (27.1%), compared with 26.8% of males (16.7% very concerned and 10.1% extremely concerned). These are startling and worrying statistics and supports the importance of our student well-being programs in the school.

43.8% of females were concerned about school or study problems (25.9% very concerned and 17.9% extremely concerned), compared with 23.8% of males (15.2% very concerned and 8.6% extremely concerned). 40.9% of females were worried about body image (23.3% very concerned and 17.6% extremely concerned) compared with 16.8% of males (very concerned 10.9% and 5.9% extremely concerned). 27.9% of females held concerns about depression (15.0% very concerned and 12.9% extremely concerned) compared with 16.4% of males (9.2% very concerned and 7.2% extremely concerned). Mission Australia and the Black Dog Institute’s Youth Mental Health Report: Youth Survey 2012-2016 found that rates were even higher for the 28.6% of females found to have met the criteria for a “probable serious mental illness”. For these females, who comprise over one-quarter of 15-19 year-olds, 82.8% were ‘very’ or ‘extremely’ concerned about coping with stress, 65.9% were concerned about school or study problems, 63.9% were concerned about body image, and 61.5% were concerned about depression. The Youth Mental Health Report revealed that twice as many females as males (28.6% vs. 14.1%) met the criteria for having a probable serious mental illness, with a “much more marked” increase among females from 22.5% in 2012 to 28.6% in 2016.

Diagnostic data from the second Australian Child and Adolescent Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing shows that females aged 12-17 are more likely to have anxiety or a major depressive disorder than males. The Youth Mental Health Report authors write that: This may be associated with increasing family breakdown, school pressures and western ideals of appearance, all of which have been shown to impact young females more than young males. Additionally, social and hormonal mechanisms have been found to increase vulnerability to depressive symptoms in young females at puberty compared to young males, reversing a trend towards higher rates of depression in boys during pre-pubescence.

Research shows that dissatisfaction with body image peaks during adolescence when young people’s bodies enter puberty and go through changes, and that this body dissatisfaction is associated with greater mental distress. It is currently unknown, however, whether body dissatisfaction causes psychological distress or whether a young person’s psychological distress causes them to be dissatisfied with their body image. With percentages of females aged 15-19 who are ‘very’ or ‘extremely’ concerned about body image sitting at 40.9% of all females and 63.9% of those with a probable serious mental illness, Mission Australia and the Black Dog Institute suggest that social pressures such as body image need to be tackled to address the large gender disparity in the observed rates of probable serious mental illness. They call for more to be done, particularly by the media, to promote a positive body image for all young people through reducing digital manipulation of images and using a greater diversity of body shapes and sizes.

With young people consistently ranking coping with stress, school/study problems, body image and depression as their top concerns, Mission Australia and the Black Dog Institute have called for a broad approach encompassing young people, parents, schools, health care services and governments to improve the mental health of young people. Schools are critical to this effort in providing programs and interventions to improve mental health and mental health awareness, including in relation to coping with stress and promoting a positive body image that reflects the diversity of our entire society. Schools are also ideally placed to encourage help-seeking, establish pathways to professional support, and help reduce the stigma of mental illness. With research showing that about half of all lifetime mental disorders emerge by the age of 14, schools which emphasise mental wellbeing and resilience, which St Margaret's does, play a key role in creating a supportive environment that helps to scaffold students for life.

References

Mission Australia and Black Dog Institute. (2016). Youth Mental Health Report: Youth Survey

2012 -2016. Sydney: Mission Australia.

Bullot, A., Cave, L., Fildes, J., Hall, S., and Plummer, J. (2017). Mission Australia’s 2017 Youth Survey Report. Sydney: Mission Australia.

Both reports are available to download from the Mission Australia website:

https://www.missionaustralia.com.au/publications/research/young-people

Ros Curtis 

On this day, students will receive a survey from me that will ask them which subjects they are interested in doing in Years 11 and 12. It is important to note, this is not the subject selection process. Students may still change their mind about which subjects they wish to study. However, this survey is designed to give us an indication of what students in Year 10 are looking to study in the following years, and helps us make decisions around which lines we should be offering subjects on.

We encourage students to have discussions with their parents about which subjects they are interested in doing in Years 11 and 12. Therefore, students will be given the weekend to chat about this with their families and have their survey responses due to me by 3pm, Monday 14 May. It is important that all surveys are submitted by this time in order for us to be able to get a good indication of the subjects students are interested in studying and therefore how many classes we are able to offer with the combination of subjects on each of the lines. Not every student choice can be offered but this process should help us develop better lines for this particular year group.

Subject Selection Evening will be held on 6 August, with the final subject selections due on Friday 10 August.

Karen Gorrie 

Where on earth is God?

It is a good question, especially if we look at it literally … where ON EARTH is God? Do we allow ourselves to perpetuate the idea that God is external, up ‘there’, separate to humanity? Can we open our hearts to recognise that God is present to us in the here and now, in the everyday, from the most miraculous to the most mundane moments?

As we grow older our ability and receptivity to the possibility of a growing understanding of who and what God is for us finds roots and blossoms. How we allow ourselves to experience, and thus respond to God, varies. Whilst many of us delight in the natural world, recognising the Creator God in the midst of that wonder and awe has the abilty to transcend our experience.

We need to believe that God is here, with us, in dirt and water, in our suffering and homes and neighbourhoods. Diana Butler Bass speaks of a movement towards a Godly and intimate sense of the sacred that saturates the world. She speaks of encouraging the quest for a God who may be found in the horizons of nature and human community, finding and experiencing a God who animate creation and community itself.

Walking barefoot may seem risky, it may seem a little New Age and wild, but there is much to be said about connecting directly with the earth, the soil and the elements. On recent travels I made a point of removing my shoes to touch ‘new lands’. For me, this was also a prayer of engagement with the world and with my God who I was not only visiting in these new places, but the same God who had journeyed with me from my land of origin.

Where is God? God is here. How shall we respond? Well, that is up to us.

Congratulations to those who were baptised and admitted to Holy Communion!

On Wednesday night we celebrated 6 baptisms and 15 were welcomed formally to receive the sacrament of communion. This service marks a part of the journey of faith, as we each recognise that our relationship with God grows over time. If you have any questions about sacraments of Baptism, Communion or are wondering about Confirmation, please don’t hesitate to contact me on 3862 0716 or ncolledge@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.

Years 11 and 12 Family Service - Tuesday 15 May

Please note, the Years 11 and 12 Family Service date has changed from what was originally printed at the beginning of this year. The change has been advertised for some weeks and all students have been informed.

We will be celebrating together at St Augustine’s Anglican Church, Hamilton (9 Charlton St, Hamilton), commencing at 6:30pm. A number of students will have roles within the service and all are invited to contribute to a retiring collection for the Bush Ministry Fund.

With every blessing on you and the week ahead,

The Reverend Canon Nicki Colledge   

One of the activities is “Boarders Run Australia” in which every boarder in Australia is asked to run or walk at least one kilometre during the week. Once each school has reported their boarders have achieved this activity, it will be publicised that boarders have now run the whole circumference of Australia. Some of the other events we will be celebrating include:

Friday 18 May – National Boarding Staff Day, which is a wonderful opportunity for both the girls and parents to celebrate our wonderful boarding staff.

Saturday 19 May – National Boarding Principals Day – celebrating those who take on the ultimate responsibility – looking after other people’s children.

The Australian Boarding Schools Association is running a competition for boarders, in 25 words or less, “Why I love Boarding”.

ABSA will publish the top ten students who travel the furthest to get to Boarding school.

Students form words on an oval with a photo taken from above.

There are many activities which we will be holding during this week, so if you have any ideas of how we can celebrate, please let us know.

Lesa Fowler 

Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC) have also prepared information for students to explore career options. We will be introducing students to this information on the Transition Day. In these resources they state that the employment landscape is not static. Occupations appear and disappear. Every modern economy in the world is subject to disruption due to technology, and these disruptions will impact strongly on jobs, such as:

1. Automation of Jobs - it is predicted that over 85% of current jobs will be fully or partially automated in the next 10 years.

2. Augmentation of Jobs - technology will change and enhance work actions. This will result in a changed skill set for the job, with consolidation of traditional activities.

3. New Jobs and Activities - technological change will generate new employment opportunities for people.

For this reason, I would encourage your daughters to visit a range of exhibits that require a range of skills. There will be exhibitors to talk to and information to take away. This information will provide you with some talking points at home and an opportunity to consider which subjects you may like to select in 2019.

For more information about tertiary study, in particular, you can visit the QTAC website: https://www.qtac.edu.au/for-parents.

Trends in Education

On Wednesday 6 June 2018, from 5:30pm – 7:00pm we will be conducting our first Trends in Education seminar for 2018. Our speaker is Professor Jeff Brand and he will be focussing on Megatrends, education and future work. Professor Jeff Brand is an internationally recognised and nationally awarded career academic in the discipline of communication and media, with expertise in quantitative research methodology, an intellectual interest in policy for the digital economy, and leadership experience in tertiary operations and governance. The seminar is being held in the St Margaret’s Arts Centre Foyer. Please RSVP by Friday 1 June 2018 to Tammy Church, phone: +61 7 3862 0777 or email: reception@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.

Jo Butterworth 

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.

The research of John Hattie has identified teachers as having the most significant impact on student learning. We are fortunate in our school to have teachers who do make a difference to your daughter’s learning and who provide a curriculum program that ultimately contributes to your daughter’s results in the NAPLAN tests.

NAPLAN is considered a high stakes test, but it is important to acknowledge that such testing is not the panacea for a country’s education system. At St Margaret’s we use NAPLAN data as a tool to review our teaching practices and enhance our student tracking for each cohort.

Each of the literacy and numeracy tests is conducted over 3 morning sessions over 3 days. Below is the timetable for the Years 7 and 9 students.

Tuesday 15 May

8:20am - 9:15am: Language Conventions Assessment

10:50am - 11:40am: Writing Assessments

Wednesday 16 May

8:20am - 9:35am: Reading Assessment

Thursday 17 May

8:20am - 9:30am: Numeracy Assessment

All students will require the following equipment for the tests:

• 2 x 2B or HB pencils (not Pacers)
• eraser
• sharpener (preferably with a container for shavings)
• Years 7 and 9 only, a blue or black pen for the Writing test only (Tuesday)
• Years 7 and 9 only, a school calculator for the Numeracy test only (Thursday)

All equipment should be in a plastic ziplock bag or plastic sleeve to bring into the tests.

The best support the girls can receive during this time is a good night’s sleep, a healthy and substantial breakfast, the necessary equipment (sharp pencils, erasers etc.) and drink bottle. We wish the girls well and know they will do their very best in the upcoming tests.

Nicole Devlin 

Fuller believes there are 2 types of adolescence put simply; the lovable, likable amiable, compliant friendly teenager and the fiery, feisty ones who have a mind of their own. Whatever category your daughter may or may not fall into, Fuller discusses 10 golden ideas for parenting that are applicable to any type of adolescent. This week, I will focus on the first 5 suggestions outlined briefly below:

1. They will always outdo your energy – Your adolescent is younger than you and has more energy! Choose one behaviour you would like to promote and one behaviour you would like to lessen and work on these 2 behaviours for a minimum of 6 weeks.

    

2. Two crocodile brains equals a lot of snapping – rationalising with an adolescent who is in mid argument is often a waste of time. If possible, walk away, let them calm down then intervene later.

    

3. Don’t mud wrestle with pigs – you both end up dirty but, only the pig is happy! Here are some provocative questions that are almost certain to start an argument with a tricky daughter; “Have you got any homework?”, “Have you cleaned your room?”. He suggests turning the question into a clear statement “Okay, it is homework time” and “Let’s get the room cleaned up before dinner”.

    

4. What you do is more important than what you say - There is good research that tells us that the rituals in our family life have a powerful positive force. For example, Friday night pizza, Sunday walk, sport, watching a television show are rituals that form our lasting fond memories as adults.

    

5. Build resilience in your daughter – the ability to bounce back in times of adversity and hardship is a great gift to give to your daughter. Fuller states, resilience is developed when students have a sense of being loved by their family, a diverse group of friends and a positive relationship with a person outside their family.

Nikki Townsend 

The win, however, was not confined to the results. It was also a win for each girl’s personal growth. What I witnessed at the event was each girl pushing herself probably through discomfort, because of the heat and the distance, but more importantly, a mindset to believe she could do it.

On the sideline, each girl was encouraged as the team stood cheering them to the finish line. Importantly, this achievement was also a life lesson for each girl. The characteristics of grit, growth mindset and encouragement of others, demonstrated by the team, are dispositions each girl can use in both her learning and life’s journey.

In this competition, the girls compete against other girls from their year group and they are awarded points based on their final position. Therefore, it was vital that each girl ran her personal best to gain points for the school. This was very evident when St Margaret’s came first in the 10 Years, 11 Years and 12 Years age groups.

Each girl’s attitude and results are the outcome of many weeks of preparation as they trained hard in the lead up to this event. This achievement could not have happened without the dedication of the coaches and Ms Morgan Rowe’s organisation and commitment. Particularly, thank you to Mr Eric Brown who has trained our team for many years and found this achievement to be one of his proudest moments. Like me, he was so proud of the effort and fortitude demonstrated by each member of the team.

Congratulations to the relay team of Milla Roberts, Brogan Tomich and Ruby East who came first in the Noel McBride Relay. Special mention also goes to the following girls who achieved outstanding results:

Brogan Tomich – 1st place in 12 Years

Milla Roberts – 1st place in 11 Years

Kate Greenwood – 2nd place in 10 Years

Thank you to all girls for enacting the school motto, ‘Born to Fly Upwards’. 

Holding a bounty of pennants and trophies in the year that Andrews Cup celebrates its 80th birthday. 

Upcoming Events

Wednesday 9 May: Pre-Prep Enrolments, 7:45am-10am

Friday 11 May: St Margaret’s Primary Breakfast, ACF, 7am-8:15am

Monday 14 May: Pre-Prep Enrolments, 7:45am-10am

Wednesday 16 May: Year 2 Excursion, Samford Museum, 8:45am-2:30pm

Angela Drysdale 

MAYO Arts Festival

The St Margaret’s music ensembles are very excited to be performing at the upcoming MAYO Arts Festival. Music performances will be provided from 12pm through to 5:30pm on the main stage on Circular Drive on Saturday 26 May. The following ensembles will be performing at the event:

STRINGS: Amati Strings, Stradivari Strings, Chamber Strings

CHORAL: Serenata, Belle Voci, Primary Chorale, Elevarsi Voices, Encorah

BANDS: Jackson Wind Ensemble, Sister Helen Wind Symphony, Stage Band, Regale and Elayne Jones Percussion Ensembles

ROCK BANDS: Highly Strung, Secondary Rock Bands

All girls in the ensembles listed above are asked to purchase a MAYO t-shirt which will be worn for performances (with smart jeans and sneakers). T-shirts are available for purchase, for Music students who are performing, at a discounted cost of $20 from the School Supplies Shop.

Music Support Group

The next Music Support Group meeting will be a planning meeting for the upcoming MAYO Arts Festival on Wednesday 9 May at 3:30pm in the Primary Music Room (second floor of Chaseley). Parents from both the Primary and Secondary Schools are welcome to attend.

Brad King 

Thank you to Mrs Sue Baxter-Winch, Eloise Crouch and Mr Chris Farrelly for their guidance throughout the season and on competition day as the team threw ropes to rescue, towed patients up and down the pool, and raced teams from Sunshine Coast Grammar School, Fairholme College and Albany Creek State High School.

QGSSSA Representative Teams – Netball, Tennis and Football

QGSSSA will be selecting a representative team from all member schools to compete in an interstate competition in Netball, Tennis and Football. The QGSSSA team will compete against the best Independent Girls’ School Sport Associations from Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia. The competition will be held on Friday 5 - Sunday 7 October on the Gold Coast. For further information and nominations, please visit: www.qgsssa.com.au or click here. 

Autumn Fixtures

On Friday 27 April, we welcomed St Hilda’s School to our playing fields resulting in some entertaining and competitive matches in all three Autumn sports. Our Touch Football teams won 7 out of 13 games, Soccer experienced great success winning both the Open and Junior games, and Basketball achieved 3 wins and 1 draw.

This Friday 4 May, there will be no matches due to the Boarder/Day girl long weekend. These fixtures have either been played or will be played at a later date. Please note, fixtures will be played on Thursday 10 May against Clayfield College instead of a Friday due to the QGSSSA Cross Country Carnival being held on Saturday 12 May. The schedule of fixtures for this round will be available via the POD on Tuesday 8 May.

QGSSSA Cross Country Spectators – Years 8 and 10

All Secondary students are required to attend two major inter-school sporting events as supporters. The QGSSSA Cross Country is the second major sporting event of the year with students from Years 8 and 10 to attend. A letter has been forwarded to all families regarding the details of the morning. Please click here (PDF 233.1KB) for further information.

Cross Country – 10 days and counting!!

The St Margaret’s Cross Country squad is on the home stretch. They participated in the final race on Tuesday 1 May at Rivermount College in the lead up to the QGSSSA Cross Country Championships to be held on Saturday 12 May.

The preparation for the QGSSSA commenced almost 91 days ago and has included numerous races and just recently the Cross Country Camp in an effort to become the fittest, strongest and toughest cross country squad in the QGSSSA. All girls who have trained and competed in the lead up events will be named in the cross country team and will go on to compete at the QGSSSA Cross Country Carnival on Saturday 12 May. A letter to all competitors will be forwarded to families by the end of the week.

Congratulations to …

Zoe Boland, Indiahna Frawley, Daisy Brown, Grace Turnbull and Milla Roberts for being selected in the 10 – 12 Years Touch Football City District team to vie for selection for the Metropolitan North Team on Wednesday 30 May.

Brooke Siebenhausen who competed at the recent National Age Championships at Sydney Olympic Park and Aquatic Centre last week.

Helen Lobegeiger 

At the start of this term, I was involved in an event called ‘Underground Broadway’, an industry night which featured cast members from the musicals Aladdin and American Idiot which were playing at QPAC. It was a Disney-themed night with over 200 people in the audience and I was lucky enough to also perform on the night after being successfully selected.

It was such a wonderful experience and allowed me to meet professional musical theatre artists and learn from their journey as well as witness some amazing performances. I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to do what I love in front of people who share the same passion. It was an opportunity that I will never forget.

Annette Box

ARTWORK OF THE MONTH - MAY 2018

Congratulations to Jemilla Halliday (Year 9) for ‘Artwork of the Month - May 2018’.

We love Jemilla’s collection of ceramic vessels. The contrasting lines and interesting internal glaze colours make the works stand out. We also love the asymmetrical positioning of some of the forms. Well done Jemilla!

Charlotte Caro, Isabel Haqqani and Luca Masnata

Visual Art Captains 2018

Rostrum Voice of Youth is an annual competition aimed to encourage Secondary school students to further develop their verbal communication skills and confidence by giving them a platform to speak out on topics that are important to them.

Paris delivered an eight-minute speech on the topic “Myths and Misunderstandings” with confidence and conviction. She won her heat and will progress to the next round. We wish her all the best for the next stage in the competition.

Drama and Performance – Barbara Sisley Awards

The Communication, Speech and Performance Teachers Inc. presents the Barbara Sisley Awards annually. Recipients are students who have attained the highest results in Queensland in each grade of AMEB (Drama and Performance) and Trinity College of London (Speech and Drama) examinations in the preceding year.

Congratulations to Arabella Burke (Year 8), Lily Howells (Year 9), Alice O’Driscoll (Year 10) and Hannah Lane (‘17) who achieved the highest results in Queensland for their respective AMEB Drama and Performance exams in 2017.

All four students have been invited to attend the 72nd Barbara Sisley Awards at Parliament House to be held on Saturday 9 June to perform and receive their award. Well done on this wonderful achievement!

Maria Chamberlain 

Wander the gallery space, appreciating the fine art on display whilst enjoying sumptuous gourmet canapés. All art will be available for purchase on the evening with something to suit all tastes and budgets.

View the official event invitation here (PDF 2.4MB).

Event Details:

Where: Arts Centre Foyer, St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School

When: Friday 25 May 2018

Time: 6:30pm

Tickets: $60 per person. Purchase via Flexischools here.

Stall Donations - We need your support

We need your help to make the MAYO Arts Festival stalls a huge success. Next time you are shopping, you might like to add an item or two to contribute. This week we are looking for anything and all things wine, including bottles of wine for our wine wheel. View a suggested list of donation items and details on how to donate here. (PDF 1.2MB)

Over the coming weeks, we would also appreciate donations of the following items:

Week 4 (7 May) – cans of soft drinks and bottle waters

Week 5 (14 May) – bags of lollies/chocolate bars

Week 6 (21 May) – cakes and baked goods

Download and print a stall donations list here (PDF 1.8MB).

Souvenir T-Shirts

Souvenir MAYO t-shirts are now on sale. Purchase via Flexischools here.

Workshops

There will be many opportunities for young and old to unleash their creative side at this year’s MAYO Arts Festival. A range of ‘come and try’ and ticketed workshops will run throughout the day, such as decorate a cupcake with Vanilla Pod or learn the art of Island Dancing.

Bookings are now open for the Brush Lettering Workshop. If you’ve ever wanted to try brush lettering but didn’t know where to start, then here’s your chance. Hosted by Brisbane Hand Lettering, this workshop will provide the perfect opportunity to learn this popular art. The relaxed three-hour workshop will take place in the light-filled library, against the backdrop of inspirational, panoramic Brisbane City views. Places are limited to 10 people suitable for 12 years and up. Each workshop attendee will receive a Brush Lettering kit including a brush pen, work booklet and ‘Support Zine’. To book, visit Eventbrite: https://brushletteringmayo.eventbrite.com.au.

Ride passes

Ride passes allow children to enjoy unlimited rides throughout the Festival on Saturday 26 May. Purchase an earlybird ride pass for $30 and save $5. Alternatively, ride passes will be available for $35 on the day and individual ride tickets can be purchased for $6.

• Giant chairs
• Giant slide
• Cup and saucer ride
• Bow Wow jumping castle
• Rockwall

Purchase your earlybird ride pass here.  

St Margaret’s appreciates the support of our MAYO Arts Festival Sponsors: 

Platinum

Luxury Private Charters and Exclusive Tour Agent

Gold

Silver

Bronze

Stalls

Supporting Partners

Anonymously donated by a current parent is the magnificent sculpture ‘Ascend’ by Carly Scoufos which was installed last weekend in the stairwell of the Arts Centre. Carly has had enormous international success with her woven wire suspended works, so we are enormously grateful for this piece which reflects a splendid variety of tones as the light moves throughout the day.

Graham Radcliffe, the sculptor of ‘Heritage’ in the water feature of the Barley Sugar Garden, took us by surprise recently when he indicated his wish to donate a second marble piece to the school! This generous gesture was based in part on his great faith in the strength of young women and his hopes for the pivotal part they will play in healing a troubled world. Accompanied by Charlotte Caro and Isabel Haqqani, we visited Graham and his wife Margit at their property on Mt Glorious, the Phoenix Sculpture Garden. The girls were intrigued by Graham’s passion for marble and his talent in transforming the solid raw material into delicate and beautiful sculptures. The piece that is being given to the school, ‘Lute’ reflects the joy of music and features a copper interior and metal strings that have been dipped in gold! It will be included in the MAYO Festival Gallery Exhibition in the Arts Centre Foyer.

Just outside the main entrance of the Arts Centre, you may notice that the sandstone sculpture ‘Mangrove’ has been cleaned, revealing the beautiful seams of colour in the original stone. It is interesting to note that the sculptor, Len Shillam preferred the natural look of the mould on the stone, sometimes coating new works with milk and burying them for a period to encourage its growth. However, the consensus in our community seems to support the natural appearance of the cleaned sandstone.

Newly restored and reframed, an important work, ‘Conversation’ by Joy Roggenkamp, is once again hanging in Mooloomburram. We are indebted to Kate Wilson, conservator at QAGOMA for her cleaning of the piece and restoring the luminosity to the watercolour surface. Our interest in the provenance of the work revealed that Joy’s daughters were students at St Margaret’s, prompting the donation of the piece. A large collection of Roggenkamp’s work, described by QAGOMA as one of Australia’s foremost watercolourists is on display at her family home in Mapleton.

Soon to be hung is a striking oil on timber panel work by Karla Marchesi ‘Care for me as I care for you’ which is on indefinite loan by old girl, Susan Wilson. Coincidentally, Karla has a history with St Margaret’s, having taught an adult life-drawing evening class here many years ago. Her enormous success has enabled her to pursue her current practice in a studio in Berlin.

Jenny Lishman 

Fathers’ Dinner - Tickets now on sale

The St Margaret's Fathers' Dinner is an annual event where all Fathers and male role models are invited to share a sumptuous two course dinner and drinks. To view the invitation, please click here (PDF 431.1KB).

Date: Friday 15 June 2018

Time: 6:30pm pre-dinner drinks in Eton Courtyard, 7pm Dinner

Venue: Eton Hall

Cost: $100.00 per person, includes two course dinner and drinks

Our guest speaker is Young Past Student of Distinction, Gwyneth Olsen ('00). Gwyneth is the Head Winemaker at Peppertree Wines, Briar Ridge Vineyard and Davis Premium Vineyards in the Hunter Valley. Among many other accolades, in 2014 Gwyneth was awarded Gourmet Traveller Wine's Young Winemaker of the Year. Join us to hear from Gwyneth on her inspiring journey from St Margaret's to becoming a Len Evans Tutorial Scholar at 'the most exclusive wine school in the world'.

This annual event is proudly sponsored by Morgans.

Mother Daughter High Tea – Save the Date!

Join us for the St Margaret’s P&F Association’s Inaugural Mother Daughter High Tea. To view the ‘save the date’ flyer, please click here (PDF 703.2KB).

Date: Sunday 12 August

Time: 3pm to 5pm

P&F General Meeting - 14 May

The P&F invites the school community to attend our first General Meeting of 2018. This is an opportunity to share your views and ideas, so please join us.

Date: Monday 14 May 2018

Venue: ILC (independent Learning Centre)

Time: 6:30pm start

Old Girls' Events 2018

OGA Annual Brunch – Sunday 3 June

Reunions

Reunion invitations were distributed on Tuesday 24 April. Those past students who have informed the school of their email address, will have received their invite by email. Anyone whom we do not have email address for, will receive an invite by post at their last known address.

Please contact our office if you are a member of an Alumni listed below and haven’t received an invitation via phone: 07 3862 0768 or email: developmentandcommunity@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.

10 Year Reunion – Class of 2008 – Friday 27 July

20 Year Reunion – Class of 1998 – Friday 27 July

30 Year Reunion – Class of 1988 – Friday 27 July

40 Year Reunion – Class of 1978 – Saturday 28 July

50 Year Reunion – Class of 1968 – Saturday 28 July

60 Year Reunion – Class of 1958 – Saturday 28 July

Chapel Service and Morning Tea – Sunday 29 July

60+ Year Reunion – Monday 30 July

Lara Pickering 

What are the changes?
There are two main changes to the selection process for the MD Program at UQ:

• The introduction of a Mini Multiple Interview as part of the selection process (only impacting current Year 10 students, or younger).
• The introduction of prerequisite courses to ensure students are well prepared for the first two years of the program (impacting all students).

Why the change?
Our revised admission process is designed to ensure the highly sought after places in the MD program are offered to applicants who demonstrate the attributes and abilities most suited to the profession of medicine, and most likely to succeed in the MD program.

We aim to select applicants who are representative of the populations we serve and whose goals align with our vision:

• Critical scientific thinkers: Our graduates are research literate and curious. A significant proportion pursue clinical academic careers, expanding the boundaries of knowledge in their field.
• Socially accountable: They are champions for integrating patient care and committed to improving health disparities in their communities. As patient-centred professionals, our graduates practice values-based medicine.
• Global leaders in health care: Our graduates are actively engaged in improving the quality of patient care and public health globally. They are effective team players, bringing skills in leadership and innovation to improve health care in their communities.

Questions?
Please contact UQ Admissions on: admissions@uq.edu.au, or call 07 3365 2203.

Projects Abroad Information Event
This will be a great opportunity for interested students and parents to meet our team and student alumni to discuss our High School Volunteer Projects and options for school leavers.

The details of the night are:
Date: Tuesday 8 May
Time: 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Venue: Hotel George Williams, 325 George Street, Brisbane, 4000

Details: Projects Abroad organises volunteer and work experience programs in 29 developing countries for Years 10 and 11 students, as well as school leavers. These projects are in areas such as teaching, childcare, conservation, human rights, healthcare and community work in countries including Kenya, Nepal, Cambodia and Peru. The day will feature presentations from staff and past volunteers, along with lots of opportunity to chat and ask questions.

Registrations can be made here: https://www.projects-abroad.com.au/more-info/information-events/.

Education USA

National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Eligibility Center: Information can be accessed via the link: 2018-2019 Guide to International Standards for Athletics Eligibility. This guide will be updated by the NCAA Eligibility Center quarterly and contains valuable information for international student athletes. Pages 1-11 provides general useful information for all international students. Pages 36-41 provides information specific to Australia.

US College Fair and Linden Tours: Linden Tours is bringing 8 U.S. universities to Australia as part of a U.S. College Fair circuit. There will be two U.S. College Fairs coming up in Queensland in May. Please see details below:

Thursday 10 May, 5:30pm – 7:30pm at Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie), Centenary Library Lecture Theatre.

ANU
The Tuckwell Scholarship at the ANU
The Tuckwell Scholarship Program at the ANU is the most transformational undergraduate scholarship program in Australia. Now in its fifth year, the program currently supports 110 Tuckwell Scholars at various stages of their undergraduate degrees.

The Scholarships, founded in 2013 by philanthropists Graham and Louise Tuckwell, allow and encourage students to take full advantage of their time at university, including the many academic, social, cultural, sporting and leadership opportunities that come with life on campus at ANU.

Every year, 25 Tuckwell Scholarships are awarded to highly talented and motivated school leavers planning to study at ANU, to help them fulfil their potential and reinvest their knowledge, skills and experience in ways that positively benefit others. The program has a focus on giving back to Australia and is the only one of its kind that nurtures Scholars to fulfil their broader community ambitions over and above the pursuit of an undergraduate degree.

Applications are now open for 2019. More information is available from: https://tuckwell.anu.edu.au/scholarship.

A pathway to medicine at ANU
The Bachelor of Health Science offers a pathway to the postgraduate Doctor of Medicine and Surgery (MChD) at ANU without having to sit the GAMSAT. At the end of their second year in the Bachelor of Health Science, up to 30 students will receive an offer of entry to the Doctor of Medicine and Surgery (MChD), contingent upon their grade point average (GPA), an interview process and successful completion of the Bachelor of Health Science. Ten of the 30 places in the Doctor of Medicine and Surgery (MChD) program are reserved for rural and Indigenous students from the Bachelor of Health Science.

Program details: QLD OP: 6. Other prerequisites apply. For further details on admission, fees and program requirements please visit the ANU Programs & courses website.

ANU Brisbane Midyear Advisory Session
Date: Wednesday 25 July 2018
Time: 4–7pm
Venue: Queensland Terrace, State Library of Queensland, Stanley Place, South Brisbane QLD 4101
Website: http://www.anu.edu.au/study/events/anu-brisbane-midyear-advisory-session?utm_campaign=CA2018Issue2&utm_source=CareerAdvisors&utm_medium=EDM&mc_cid=fba802b899&mc_eid=2f7d317aed

Griffith University
Discover the new and exciting Parent and Student Advice Nights at our Nathan and Gold Coast campuses. These information evenings give parents and students the opportunity to speak with our expert staff about study options at Griffith University and subject selection. The Parent and Student Advice Nights are a substitution for the previously advertised Griffith Business School specific 'Griffith Business Discover Innovate Succeed information evenings'.

Event details
Years 9, 10 and 11 students, and their parents, are invited to attend the parent and student advice nights, giving them an opportunity to tour the campus and meet current Griffith University students, providing valuable insight about their experiences transitioning from school to university.

Nathan campus
Date: Tuesday 22 May
Time: 5pm-7pm
Venue: to be confirmed

Gold Coast campus
Date: Thursday 24 May
Time: 5pm-7pm
Venue: to be confirmed

Register at: https://www2.griffith.edu.au/parent-student-advice-nights.

UQ Experience Science - register now
Experience Science is a free event, providing students in Years 10-12 the opportunity to discover what studying Science is like at UQ. With programs occurring across Thursday 12 July - Tuesday 17 July, this event is facilitated by experts from UQ and industry, and provides hands-on, interactive Science workshops. More information is available from: http://www.science.uq.edu.au/expsci.

UQ Pharmacy Experience Day - save the date
Pharmacy Experience Day is an annual UQ showcase which invites students to discover where a Bachelor of Pharmacy can take them. Throughout the day, guests will take part in a range of hands-on laboratory activities, meet and quiz current students and participate on a guided tour through the world class facilities.

All members of the public are invited to attend the Pharmacy Experience Day, held on Sunday 19 August 2018.

UQ New Bachelor of Arts Program Planner
The Bachelor of Arts offers students unrivalled flexibility, but this often causes confusion among new students. UQ have launched a new Bachelor of Arts Program Planner as a resource for guidance officers, teachers and students.

Students interested in the Bachelor of Arts can use the program planner to plan and guide their studies, while ensuring their choice of majors and courses are compliant with the complex rules and requirements of the program.

This initiative will improve students' ability to plan the structure of their program, allowing them to save their selections for future reference and share their program planner with staff.

Further Program Planners for additional UQ programs will be released throughout 2018.

UMAT
UMAT is developed by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) on behalf of the UMAT Consortium universities. The test is used specifically to assist with the selection of students into the medicine, dentistry and health science degree programs at undergraduate level at the universities listed on this website: https://umat.acer.edu.au/. Registrations for UMAT 2018 are now open. Copies of the Information Booklet can be downloaded from the UMAT website. Please note, that before registering for the test students are required to carefully read the UMAT 2018 Information Booklet, which will only be available online from the UMAT website.

UMAT 2018 Key Dates:

Registrations opened first week in December 2017

Registrations close Friday 1 June 2018, 5pm AEST

Late registrations close Friday 15 June 2018, 5pm AEST

Applications for Special Testing Conditions close Friday 15 June 2018

UMAT test date Wednesday 25 July 2018

Results released Mid-September 2018

UMAT is only available once every year. If you do not register by the due date, you will have to wait until 2019 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.

The University of Queensland
Changes to the Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours)
In 2018, The University of Queensland will be introducing an additional entry requirement for prospective students applying for the Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours). This change will impact current Year 12 students applying for study in 2019.

This new entry requirement, a Situational Judgement Test (SJT), is an on-line, video-scenario based test with 12 sections and open-ended questions. The University recognises that attributes such as resilience, critical thinking and communication skills that are essential for veterinarians are not reflected in academic performance alone. The SJT will be used to assist in the selection of a student cohort best equipped for the rigours of the profession.

The test will be held between July and September 2018 with multiple tests dates. Students need to have access to a computer with reliable internet connection, a web-cam and hold photo identification. The test can be completed at home or at a library/community centre, or another suitable location. Students should allow 90 minutes to complete the test. The cost to complete the test is approximately $80. Further details about how and when to complete the SJT will be available soon via: https://future-students.uq.edu.au/study/program/Bachelor-of-Veterinary-Science-Honours-2378.

Where can I go for more information?
Visit the CASPer website and view the FAQs: https://takecasper.com/faq/.

Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
QUT event date claimers
We offer many opportunities for students to talk to QUT and make sure they have all the information they need to make decisions about their future. Events for your students' calendars include Subject Selection for STEM Careers (9 May) and Parent Information Seminar (15 May).

Students can gain assumed knowledge or prerequisites
Students who didn't select subjects to meet assumed knowledge or prerequisites for their preferred university courses can pick up this knowledge, while at school or during summer before they start university, by studying a QUT bridging course in Maths B, Chemistry or Physics.

University Open Days

Australian Catholic University (ACU)
28 July 2018 (Saturday) - Open Day Brisbane 9am-2pm

Bond University (BOND)
28 July 2018(Saturday) - Twilight Open Day Gold Coast

CQ University (CQU)
9 August 2018 (Thursday) - Brisbane Open Day, 3pm-6pm
11 August (Saturday) - Bundaberg and Mackay

Griffith University (GRIFFITH)
12 August 2018 - Open Day Gold Coast, Nathan and South Bank Campuses

James Cook University (JCU)
19 August 2018 (Sunday) - Townsville Campus
26 August 2018 (Sunday) - Cairns Campus

Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
29 July 2018 (Sunday) - Open Day Gardens Point (City) campus

Southern Cross University (SCU)
29 July 2018 - Gold Coast Open Day, 10am-2pm

The University of Queensland (UQ)
Sunday 5 August - St Lucia campus, 9am-3pm
Sunday 19 August - Gatton campus, 9am-3pm

University of Southern Queensland (USQ)
Sunday 19 August - USQ Toowoomba
Saturday 1 September - USQ Ipswich
Friday 7 September - USQ Springfield

KEY DATES:

Friday 11 and Saturday 12 May 2018
The National Careers and Employment EXPO (Brisbane Convention Centre).

Friday 1 June
UMAT Registrations close 5pm.

Wednesday 25 July
UMAT Exam

Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 July 2018
The 37th 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