eNews Archive Issue 15 - 17 May 2018

It was a great weekend, meeting like-minded people in girls’ schools and learning about the latest research about many issues concerning young women and girls. In fact, one of the keynote speakers was Peggy Orenstein, who spoke to our own parent body on Wednesday evening. Peggy’s work is sobering and reveals how difficult it is for girls and young women to navigate their way with confidence through adolescence and early adulthood.

There were many presenters at the conference and their research was littered with many statistics of interest to educators of girls. Over time, some of the information we gleaned from the conference will find its way into newsletter articles. In the meantime, here are just a few statistics which will be of interest.

57.5% of degree qualified people in Australia are women, yet female graduates earn on average 5.5% less than their male counterparts.

5.5% (11 in actual number) of CEOs of ASX 200 companies in Australia are women.

A most telling conclusion from the research was that if we continue the current trajectory in Australia, we will not reach parity in corporate gender equality until 2221.

This, of course, is great news for your daughters’ great great great great granddaughters. It is, however, a long time to wait.

If you think this is a staggering statistic, wait for this one: research in Australia has revealed that girls receive 27% less pocket money than their brothers.

This demonstrates that the gender bias in pay equity starts in the home, not corporate Australia.

We are all very excited about MAYO and I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible on Friday 25 May at the Cocktail Party and on Saturday 26 May.

I had the opportunity last week to represent the school at our stand at Beef Week in Rockhampton. It was lovely to catch up with many parents in our current boarding community. However, it was also an opportunity to chat with past and prospective parents, day parents who were in Rockhampton with business associated with the beef industry and Old Girls who sought out the St Margaret’s stand to say ‘hello’.

What Parents Want Survey – Independent Schools Queensland

St Margaret’s is one of more than 70 schools participating in the Independent Schools Queensland (ISQ) What Parents Want Survey.

Thank you to those parents who have responded to the longitudinal research since its launch two weeks ago. With independent schools catering to more than 120,000 students, we urge as many St Margaret’s parents to respond with what motivates and is important to you when choosing a school for your child/ren.

The survey questions are predominantly in a simple multiple-choice format and cover a diverse range of topics, including deciding factors for enrolment; the importance of academic programs, holistic education, class sizes, religious affiliation and diverse learning pathways; and the impact of academic results and the financial commitment to school choice.

The survey will close on 8 June. In the meantime, please participate in the survey if you have not already done so. Survey link: http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/4279373/What-Parents-Want-2018-Survey.

Ros Curtis 

The article spoke about parents being their child’s academic allies. I like this term. I think it symbolises the encouragement that parents give their children and recognises that education not only happens at school in a formal school setting, but also outside it. Parents guide, role model and teach their children from the day they are born.

Parents tend to be more involved as formal academic allies in the younger year levels. Parents are instrumental in guiding students with their homework, testing those spelling lists that come home, and reading to and with their children each day.

As a student grows older, parental involvement in the academic side of their child’s schooling drops off, but this is to be expected. As children move up through the year levels, they are encouraged to be more independent with their learning, to question more and take risks with their academic learning. Educational trends grow and change, and I’m sure that when parents look at what their children learn, but more importantly how they learn, they will note differences from their own experience.

We do have processes in place at St Margaret’s to keep parents up-to-date with their daughter’s education and we encourage parents to engage with this. All students have their assessment data uploaded to Continuous Reporting, so students and their parents can see their results from each piece of assessment and more importantly read the comments made by the teachers. We have parent-teacher interviews that occur twice a year. All this information is communicated through the eNews by the Assistant Head of Primary and the Dean of Studies.

There are many other ways parents can be involved in the school. Parents are encouraged to join the P&F meetings, support groups, volunteer at the MAYO Arts Festival, attend assemblies and events, be part of the audience at music and drama events, and cheer our girls on at the sidelines of sporting matches. Please keep an eye out for these opportunities in the eNews each week.

Karen Gorrie 

All are invited to this contemporary prayer book service, sharing in communion and enjoying what it means to be part of God’s Creation. Years 8 and 9 students assist and provide a scrumptious morning tea for us all to share after the service, so come along with all the family and bring some friends along too.

Confirmation

I invite any student from Year 8 and above, family member or staff member to consider taking the step of Confirmation if you have not done so before. On Sunday 17 June at 6pm, Bishop Jeremy Greaves will join us at St Margaret’s to hear the promises of candidates where they CONFIRM what was usually said on their behalf when they were baptised. This is a mature rite within the Church, and as such candidates must be no younger than 13 and already be baptised. It is not necessary to have been admitted to Communion.

Please contact me as soon as possible if you or your daughter (or other) are interested in being Confirmed. Groups are usually quite small and preparation sessions are determined once I have numbers. I will require baptism details.

I look forward to discussing with you, please contact me on 3862 0716 or email: ncolledge@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.

Upcoming Services

Sunday 20 May, 9am - Young Families’ Service

Tuesday 22 May, 8:30am - Year 5 Chapel in the Sisters’ Chapel

Wednesday 23 May, 6pm - Boarders’ Eucharist

Dadirri – Term 2 Prayer Spaces

Our School Chapel will again offer reflective activities designed for all faiths and none, from Monday 28 May – Friday 8 June.

Prayer for this Week

Holy Spirit, call us closer to our God. May we release ourselves from the things that hold us back. May we cast away the garments of restriction, self-servitude and denial.

Bring us to you in all our humility – raw and exposed, fragile and broken. We know you will raise us up and bring us into the light of your peace.

We come as we are, with all that we have. But we cast off the chains and shackles of our arrogance and come afresh – barefoot, grounded.

We are ready.

Amen.

With every blessing on you and your week ahead,

The Reverend Canon Nicki Colledge 

Our presence at this event allows us to connect with our very large community that have an interest in the beef industry. Over the course of the week, Ms Curtis and I had the opportunity to speak with many Old Girls, current and prospective parents. This connection is vital and establishes a deep sense of community amongst many different members of our community. On Wednesday evening, we hosted a Cocktail Function with Churchie which provided a further opportunity for our families to connect.

As Beef Week began on our Day/Boarder Weekend, many of our current girls were able to attend four days of Beef Week and be involved with their families. This not only provided them with the opportunity to experience all aspects of the beef industry, but also to be able to help their parents with their cattle. A very big thank you to all of the current, past and prospective families that came to visit us at Beef Week.

Lesa Fowler 

Each student will attend a SET Plan interview with myself, Ms Lesa Fowler, Head of Boarding or Mr John Walsh (previous Head of Business and Pathways). The interviews will take place in Weeks 7, 9 and 10 this term and will be approximately 15 minutes in duration. You will receive a letter this week to explain the SET Plan interview process.

The first step in the process begins this week as students are invited to sign-up for an interview time. The girls will need to identify their allocated teacher and their available interview times by accessing The POD on Thursday 17 May. They are able to sign-up for an interview with their allocated teacher on the Year 10 noticeboard between Friday 18 May – Tuesday 22 May. Parents are welcome to attend the interview.

Key dates for Years 11 and 12 subject selection

Sign-up for SET Plan interviews - Friday 18 May – Tuesday 22 May

SET Plan interviews – Weeks 7, 9 and 10

Subject Selection Night - Monday 6 August

Final subject selection due – Friday 10 August

The girls received the Year 11 2019 and Year 12 2020 Curriculum Handbook during the Transition Day last Friday 11 May. This curriculum handbook will also assist you to understand the new Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) system.

Year 10 Study Hall and Exams

In preparation for their exams, Year 10 students will have two Study Days on Thursday 31 May and Friday 1 June. On Thursday 31 May, they will also complete their Maths exam. In preparation for these study days, we will be working with the girls to plan their time. This will include making a list of specific subjects and subject matter to study, allocating chunks of time to different subjects and planning a study timetable for the end of term exams. Please encourage your daughters to stick to their study plan and continually review work during the term.

Jo Butterworth 

I have been around long enough to know that when these tests first started as the ‘Benchmark’ tests in Primary school, they were about providing funding to students who needed it most. If you had a student perform below a benchmark, as a school you were provided with money to use to assist in the student’s learning. However, this student-focused approach seems to have been eroded by the notion of competition amongst school and league tables published in the media.

Of course, as a school, we want to ensure our school is performing well, but this is not to the detriment of the girls and their mental health. For us at St Margaret’s, it is about quality literacy and numeracy programs that are student-centred and intentionally teach literacy and numeracy skills. In fact, on the weekend I was watching Netball at Downey Park and was talking to a parent of a Year 7 student who had started this year. She noted that her daughter was not at all worried about the upcoming NAPLAN test and this was a definite change from when her daughter sat Year 5 NAPLAN at her previous school. The mother noted that she could see through her daughters’ homework that she was practicing literacy and numeracy skills in a positive way that ultimately was preparing her for NAPLAN. But to her daughter this was just year 7 work. I walked away from this conversation thankful to all the teachers of Years 7 and 9 who have played a part in ensuring that NAPLAN is not something to fear, but it is a point in time test that gives the girls the opportunity to display their literacy and numeracy skills, and enable all Years 7 and 9 girls to come to school this week and take NAPLAN in their stride.

Finally, well done to the girls of Years 7 and 9. Thank you to you all for your commitment and positive attitude towards NAPLAN. Your focus and confidence with this task was much appreciated.

Nicole Devlin 

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 People, 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 you are 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 and 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 7even Habits of Highly Effective People)

Nikki Townsend 

Thank you to Mrs Kerry Rider, who every year finds another amazing gift for the girls to create. Thank you also to her support team Mrs Tracey Bruce who assisted Kerry at the beginning of the process and Ms Tanya Ryall who ably took over as teacher aide. Thank you also to Mrs Jo Wade who also supported Kerry and the girls.

The theme of love was certainly heightened by the performance of the Year 4 girls. Their singing was heartfelt and looking out to the audience, the girls certainly moved many to tears. Thank you to Ms Regina Brennan for her enthusiasm, teaching and encouragement of the students.

The celebration of women was further acknowledged on Saturday at Downey Park Netball. It was wonderful to see women acknowledged when the association conducted a Pink Day Fundraiser. The spectators were a wash of pink with our teams wearing pink ribbons in their hair to acknowledge the day. Thank you to Millie Campbell and her mother who cut 178 pink ribbons so each team member had a pink ribbon to wear. This generosity is what the day and weekend was about, women supporting women and giving thanks for the women in our lives.

Camp Week for Years 5 and 6

Next week, Years 5 and 6 head off to their respective camps. I know the girls are very excited. Many staff will be out attending the camps and I thank them in anticipation. I will be in Canberra with the Year 6 girls until Wednesday and then return to school on Thursday to help with the final preparations for the MAYO Arts Festival. If you have any enquiries or issues to discuss, please contact Mrs Cathy Cox in the Primary Office.

MAYO Arts Festival Update

The countdown is on for MAYO and I know that the excitement is building. Thank you to the many families who have already got behind the Festival and those who have volunteered to help on the day. Families can support the Festival by contributing donations. Thank you to those who have already done so or are planning to do so.

Donations

We are still accepting donations of lucky box prizes, soft drinks/water, lollies/chocolates and wine. The class with the most donations will be announced next week, so please send donations in by tomorrow. We also look forward to seeing all the decorated boxes with cakes next week.

Ride Bands and Barley Sugar Bonanza Pass (BSB)

Plan your day by buying ahead on Flexischools at a discounted rate. The BSB pass is new this year and allows the ticket holder to choose from lucky dip, sideshow games, putt putt golf, face and hair painting, decorate a Vanilla Pod cup cake and make a bracelet. Each of these activities will be $5 on the day, but if you buy a pass you will receive a bonus as the pass is 7 for $30. Also available in the Barley Sugar Garden is lob-a- choc and make a dream catcher.

Raffle tickets

Don’t forget to buy your raffle tickets. There are some great prizes. Please follow the instructions which appeared in the accompanying letter issued with the raffle tickets.

What Parents Want Survey – Independent Schools Queensland

St Margaret’s is one of more than 70 schools participating in the Independent Schools Queensland (ISQ) What Parents Want Survey.

Thank you to those parents who have responded to the longitudinal research since its launch two weeks ago. With independent schools catering to more than 120,000 students, we urge as many St Margaret’s parents to respond with what motivates and is important to you when choosing a school for your child/ren.

The survey questions are predominantly in a simple multiple-choice format and cover a diverse range of topics, including deciding factors for enrolment; the importance of academic programs, holistic education, class sizes, religious affiliation and diverse learning pathways; and the impact of academic results and the financial commitment to school choice.

The survey will close on 8 June. In the meantime, please participate in the survey if you have not already done so. Survey link: http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/4279373/What-Parents-Want-2018-Survey.

Ever wondered where to take your kids to church? Well, come along to the Sunday Service for Young Families, Sunday 20 May at 9am, School Chapel

Our next Sunday Service for ALL members of the School Community AND family and friends will be on Sunday 20 May. We will have entered what is called ‘Ordinary Time’ in the Church; however, on this day we will explore being anything BUT ordinary people!

All are invited to this contemporary prayer book service, sharing in communion and enjoying what it means to be part of God’s Creation. Years 8 and 9 students assist and provide a scrumptious morning tea for us all to share after the service, so come along with all the family and bring some friends along too!

Angela Drysdale 

Ensembles:

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). Musicians will receive a discount on the t-shirt and are asked to make the purchase directly through the School Supplies Shop.

Anglican Schools Music Festival

The Anglican Schools Music Festival will be held this Friday 18 May with students from Anglican Schools in South East Queensland coming together to perform in the magnificent QPAC Concert Hall. For those who have not yet purchased tickets, they are available via QPAC Ticketing (www.qpac.com.au or call 136 246) for $20 (plus GST).

Professional Women’s Network Event

Thank you to the Sculthorpe String Quartet for the wonderful music provided as guests arrived at the Professional Women’s Network Event held on Thursday morning. Thank you also to Xanthe Lowe-Brown for her very special performance on the guitar of Led Zepplin’s classic Stairway to Heaven. These musical contributions are very much appreciated at these events!

Music Support Group

The next Music Support Group meeting will be held on Tuesday 12 June 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 

Age Group Results

12 Years and Under - 7th

13 Years - 4th

14 Years - 6th

15 Years - 2nd

16 Years - 4th

17 Years - 5th

Congratulations to the following girls for recording the following outstanding individual results:

• Indiahna Frawley - 12yrs, 24th
• Isabella Harte - 13yrs, 1st
• Maicey Lynch - 13yrs, 7th
• Sophie Sorensen - 14yrs, 17th
• Chloe Fenwicke - 15yrs, 3rd
• Meg Mettam - 15yrs, 7th
• Ciana Jamieson - 16yrs, 3rd
• Bella Donaldson - 16yrs, 5th
• Lara Crouch - 17yrs, 1st

A huge thank you must go to our team of staff, Ms Clair Monnickendam, Ms O’Callaghan, Mrs Krynauw and Mr Mandla for their contribution; Mr Eric Brown and all coaches for their tireless effort and lastly, thanks to all families for the terrific support of the girls on the day and during the season.

Autumn Fixtures

On Thursday 10 May it rained goals and tries against Clayfield College with 5 out of the 5 Touch Football teams winning. Both the Open and Junior Soccer teams experienced success, with the Intermediate team drawing.

Special mention must go to the 9A Touch Football team for being the only undefeated team in all Autumn sports. We wish this team and all our Autumn sports teams the very best of luck for this week’s games against St Aidan’s at our home venues. For the latest weekly schedule, please click here (PDF 251.7KB).

Rescheduled Touch Football and Soccer games will occur on Tuesday 22 May against Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School and will be played at IGGS venues. All girls will be allowed to depart class at 2:20pm to travel to the venues via bus at 2:30pm. An expected return time is approximately 7:30pm.

Hockey Skills Day

All St Margaret’s students have an opportunity to learn from the best Hockey players in Australia and Queensland, as Triple Olympian and Gold Medallist, Angie Lambert (nee Skirving), as well as two Queensland Scorchers players provide expert coaching at our very own Hockey Skills Day this Sunday 20 May, 9:00am – 11:30am. To register to attend, please click here.

Athletics Launch

On Monday 14 May in the Philip Harris Sports Centre, students interested in participating in the Athletics season were treated to a barbeque lunch and participated in novelty races at the season launch. Special thanks to Captains, Amy Tran and Annabelle Warner, Coordinator, Mr Tom Smithers and the wonderful Athletics Support Group for providing the lunch.

Training for Athletics will commence on Monday 21 May and will continue as per the schedule below: 

If any parents are interested in joining the Athletics Support Group, please contact one of the current members:

President: Russell Proctor - lproctor@ozmail.com.au

Secretary: Vicki Fenwicke - fezandvic@bigpond.com.au

Treasurer: Rosie Caswell - rosie.caswell5@gmail.com

Congratulations to…

Bella Donaldson (Year 11) for placing 1st at the Mother’s Day Classic Fun Run on Sunday 13 May in the Under 18 age category

17 Years and  Over Cross Country Team for being awarded the ‘Team of the Week’ for their tremendous effort and application to training, improving their result from 9th in 2017 to 5th in 2018.

Helen Lobegeiger  

Last week, a design created by Year 8 student, Alexandria Ellard was presented to our Principal, Ms Curtis. Alexandria was one of the prize winners in the MAYO T-shirt design competition. Her completed design is a kaleidoscope based on a sketch she made of the Sisters’ Chapel. The lovely design will be printed on MAYO aprons and will be available to purchase at the Festival or at the School Supplies Shop.

Lisa Smith

We saw current events being questioned when the Year 9 girls fiercely debated that the Gold Coast should not have agreed to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games. In addition to these we saw an array of topics, ranging from the subject of economics and the legal system, to the value of school qualifications. Our debaters have most definitely been engaged in real world issues and have learnt the invaluable skill of evaluating all viewpoints of an argument.

In terms of results, our three Year 8 teams are all currently undefeated with all girls exuding potential and confidence for the remainder the season! The two Year 9 teams have collectively won 4 out of 6 of their debates – experiencing only a couple of narrow and unfortunate losses. The Year 10 team put up a great fight for their first-round debate losing by the smallest of margins, but then came back a few weeks later and convincingly won their second-round debate. The Year 11 team have done an amazing job at tackling their first year of Point of Information asking/answering and are undefeated. Finally, our two Year 12 teams have been thoroughly enjoying their last year of debating with some thought-provoking topics and have managed to win a collective 3 out of 6 of their debates.

These are all awesome achievements girls – great job and keep up the good work! We have thoroughly enjoyed working alongside our debaters and watching their discerning and ardent debates. We can’t wait to be involved in more of your training sessions and continue watching your debates. We are honoured as captains to lead such a motivated and talented group of girls and hope for continued success for the remainder of season.

Natasha Licina and Hannah O’Brien
Debating Captains 

Exchange Meeting

This week, our Student Counsellor, Ms Sharon Stone was invited to speak to the girls about building resilience both during Exchange and when transitioning back into school life after their Exchange experience. It was a very informative and interactive session and the girls got great value out of the presentation.

Correspondence from Students currently away on Exchange

We recently heard back from the following students:

Lily-Kate Charles – Nga Tawa, New Zealand

We are having a great time! Everyone is so lovely and very welcoming to us in the new school! The change in size is very drastic and a little weird to be honest, but it’s a great experience. We are going to Margot’s partner’s farm this weekend which is very exciting, but it will be very cold, as is every day here.

Rebecca Lauder – St Stephen’s, Hong Kong

We won the form 4 and 5 singing competition! Due to this my class, 4Y, performed in the final against the winners of the form 1, 2 and 3 competitions at the whole school assembly on Monday. We won the prize for the best stage composition (we had the funniest dance moves).

The weekend of the 14th and 15th, Kelly and I went to Mong Kok, a busy and crowded shopping district. We visited the markets where I bought presents for my friends and family (and myself). We travelled to Mong Kok via boat and the views of the city centre from the deck were spectacular.

The following Friday after school, Kelly and I took a walk into the Stanley village and saw the famous Murray House and the beautiful shoreline. We also stopped for a nutritious and extremely delicious snack. The next day, we went to dinner with Kelly’s whole family at a Japanese buffet. On the Sunday, instead of going back to the boarding house, I stayed at Jasmine’s. We went to dinner with her family and then walked to a café that served traditional Chinese desserts.

On Monday, I had my first Cantonese lesson with my class’s Chinese teacher. As I do not speak Cantonese, I cannot participate in these lessons so Miss Mo offered to teach me more about Cantonese and Chinese culture in my spare lesson. Cantonese is a very difficult language to understand, but after 40 minutes I managed to introduce myself and some of my hobbies. After school, Jasmine, her mother, grandmother and I went to dinner and then attend the 80th anniversary performance of St Stephen’s Preparatory School. The performance was amazing and 100 times better than any primary school concert I have ever seen. They even had their own ukulele, harp and handbell ensembles!

The form 4s had what they call a ‘service learning’ day on Friday. What that involved was organising entertainment for the elderly and then performing later that day. This was difficult for me because throughout the whole day Cantonese was spoken instead of English. I was in the group that organised arts and crafts and after I was introduced as an exchange student, I had some lovely conversations with the elderly about their travels while helping them with their art piece. The following Sunday, I had a wonderful day. It started with Kelly and I going to Causeway Bay for a short shopping trip. We also went to a well-known donut shop to sample some delicious treats. Afterwards, I went to Taikoo and went to the movies with Jasmine to watch the new Avengers movie. From there, I took a bus to Stanley and arrived about two hours before I needed to arrive at the boarding house. I used those two hours to walk through the beautiful Stanley village and look through the Stanley markets. It was just before sunset and the promenade looked so beautiful!

Yesterday, was a public holiday, so Kelly, Quinny (Kelly’s older sister) and I took advantage of our day off. We started the day by taking a 30-minute ferry ride to Lamma Island, one of the many islands off the Hong Kong coast, where we went for a lovely walk through the villages and markets. After journeying back to the mainland, we went to the planetarium, but as it was really busy, we decided to go to the history museum instead. The history museum had a massive permanent installation called, ‘The Hong Kong Story’, which was quite spectacular in its exhibits, especially the folklore section.

I have had an amazing experience so far! Thank you for allowing and aiding this wonderful journey.

Upcoming Events:

• 22 May – Whole School Assembly presentations by Charlotte Wala and Matilda Palmer who went to their Exchange in Term 4 2017, and Margot Lisle and Olivia Magnay who were away on Exchange in Term 1 this year.
• 22 May - Ms Vicki Strid will be speaking to the girls regarding the School’s expectations about their Maths work while on Exchange
• 31 May and 1 June - Visiting Exchange students go on a cultural excursion to Sydney
• 6 June - Visiting Exchange students have a ‘meet and greet’ morning tea with Ms Curtis, Principal and Ms Gorrie, Deputy Principal.

Angelin Achari 

Last year, we had three teams who competed in the Youth Theatresports Competition, with one team aptly titled ‘Two and a Half Twins’ making it all the way to the Grand Final. While they did not place in the final round, they made history as the first St Margaret’s team to ever make it into the Grand Finals. This year, we have an amazing senior team, ‘The Spice Girls’, featuring a group of passionate, creative and talented drama students from Years 10 and 12, who are hoping to reach the Grand Final once again.

You can come and support them in their first heat in our very own Eton Hall from 7pm on Wednesday 30 May. I know the girls would love to see a crowd of familiar faces and supporters and they will be guaranteed a night of laughs, featuring performers form a range of different Brisbane schools. Tickets are $7 for Concession and $10 for Adults, available at the door on the night. We hope to see you there!

Monica Mpofu

Year 12 Drama Student and Theatresports Team Member

Cakes and Sweets Stall

Pop on your apron and start baking homemade cakes and sweets. Please click here (PDF 1.2MB) for more information.

A reminder to purchase your tickets to the MAYO Arts Festival Gallery Cocktail Party supported by Cult Design

Date: Friday 25 May

Time: 6:30pm

Set within the Arts Centre Foyer, guests will mingle amongst the fine art on display, while enjoying fine food and refreshments. Cocktail Party tickets are $60 per person and include:

• Gourmet canapé menu
• One drink on arrival. A cash bar will be available for beverage purchases throughout the evening
• Access to art gallery exhibition showcasing emerging and established local and national artists. Artworks will be available for purchase on the night.

Please purchase your tickets 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.

A complete list of workshops on offer is available here (PDF 1.7MB).

New this year: Tapas on the Terraces

Why not plan ahead for a relaxing end to what promises to be a great day out. From 3pm, you can enjoy Tapas on the Terraces - new to the festival this year. Book a delicious share platter suitable for two people for just $40.

• Please click here (PDF 1.1MB) for more information.
• Purchase through Flexischools here.

Raffles

This week, all girls (one per family) were given an envelope containing 10 raffle tickets to buy/sell with the chance to win some amazing prizes, include a Whitsunday holiday, a Byron Bay getaway or a Day at the Races and a swag of other prizes.

To view the letter sent home with the raffle tickets, please click here (PDF 116.7KB).

Please click here (PDF 1.4MB) to view the list of amazing prizes.

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

Current crossing times: 7:45am – 8:30am and 3:00pm – 3:45pm

The current rate of pay is $29.61 per hour.

Commencement of work for the successful applicant is dependent on: 

• The favourable outcome of a health assessment.
• A Positive Notice Blue Card (you do not need to have a blue card to apply for the position).

Closing date for applications: ASAP 

Completed applications should be emailed to: employment@stmargarets.qld.edu.au 

The girls are 16 to 18 years old and are keen to learn about the lifestyles of Australian students and would do whatever it is you do. If you have training or practice for school activities, they would attend with you. The girls will come to school with you and follow your routine. There is no need to go to any great effort or expense to do out of the ordinary things, but rather spend time with the girls showing them what it is like to be a St Margaret’s girl.

If you and your family are interested in hosting a student, please contact Mr Chris Forster via email at: cforster@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.

Chris Forster 

A huge thank you to our wonderful corporate sponsors:

Major sponsor: Laureate Universities

Associate Sponsors: Pitcher Partners and McCullough Robertson

Special Table Sponsor: Programmed Property Services

Supporting Partner: Downer

We would also like to thank our generous raffle prize donors: Pitcher Partners, McKinney’s, Real Skin Clinic, Keri Craig-Lee, View Hotels and James Becker & Co.

All funds raised from the Professional Women’s Network events support the School through our Endowment Fund, which assists with bursaries and the future development of facilities at St Margaret’s.

Tickets to our next Professional Women’s Networking Breakfast are now on sale and selling fast!

Guest Speaker: Alison Quinn CEO - RetireAustralia

Alison Quinn is the Chief Executive Officer of RetireAustralia, the largest privately owned retirement village operator in Australia. As one of Australia’s most experienced property executives with an extensive track record of success, Alison has extensive development and investment experience in the seniors housing, property and constructions sector. A proud St Margaret’s Old Girl, Alison holds a degree in Commerce from the University of Queensland and is currently the President of the Retirement Living Council.

Join us for our third exciting breakfast in 2018 and learn how Alison has achieved outstanding success in her long and distinguished career in the property sector.

When: Thursday 23 August 2018

Where: Arts Centre Foyer

Tickets: Corporate tables $800 for 10, $60 adult and $40 students (Years 10-12/tertiary)

Tickets can be purchased via the Flexischools link under Quick Links on the St Margaret’s website www.stmargarets.qld.edu.au.

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, 7:00pm 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 Inaugural Mother Daughter High Tea. To view the date the date flyer, please click here (PDF 703.2KB).

Date: Sunday 12 August

Time: 3pm to 5pm

Old Girls' Events 2018

OGA Annual Brunch – Sunday 3 June - Tickets are on sale now via Flexischools.

The Annual Brunch is a wonderful opportunity to reflect and enjoy the company of friends and other past students. This year, guest Speakers Christine Murr ('17) and Mel Buttle ('99) will share their stories and insights from their journeys since graduation.

Buy tickets to the OGA Annual Brunch here or by calling the Development and Community Office on 07 3862 0768. 

Reunions

Tickets are on sale now via Flexischools. Please contact our office if you are a member of an Alumni listed below and haven’t received your invitation: 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

60+ Year Reunion – Classes prior to 1957 – Monday 30 July

Chapel Service and Morning Tea – Sunday 29 July

60+ Year Reunion – Monday 30 July

Lara Pickering 

The University of Queensland
Changes to the Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours) from 2019
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 test dates. Students need to have access to a computer with reliable internet connection, a web-cam and hold photo identification and can be completed at home or at a library/community centre or another suitable location. The cost to complete the test is approximately $80. Students should allow 90 minutes to complete the test.

Further details about how and when to complete the SJT will be available soon on 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/.

Changes to Doctor of Medicine program from 2021
The UQ Academic Board have approved changes to the selection process for UQ's Doctor of Medicine (MD) program that will impact current high school students. These changes will be progressively introduced over the coming years, allowing students ample time to prepare.

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.

ANU
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 visit the ANU Programs & courses website.

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 'GriffithBUSINESS 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 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, to be 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.

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.

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 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