eNews Archive Issue 17 - 31 May 2018

We had thousands through the gate on Saturday and a very large crowd at the Gallery opening. MAYO 2018 was a very successful event and we are very fortunate to have such a supportive, energetic and passionate school community. The support of our donors and sponsors and the generosity of our parents and staff with their time and expertise have ensured financial success. However, it is the very evident community engagement which is the real measure of the success. The sense of excitement and belonging as you walked around the school or sat and listened to the music performances was very heartwarming and, despite a little bit of rain, the spirit on the day remained undampened.

Parents and educators share a common goal in that we are united in wanting to guide our daughters (students) to becoming confident and capable women. The challenges of growing up and parenting in today’s world are different to those of previous generations. Particular challenges exist around the sexualisation of increasingly younger girls through to relational issues with friends and bullying in the new world of social media.

I was really struck by the number of books sold at the Peggy Orenstein presentation in mid-May. This indicated to me that many parents are looking for relevant resources to help them in their parenting. Without doubt, there is a huge number of informative and interesting books and articles available which provide real-world advice on helping your daughter grow into a confident and capable woman.

In addition to Peggy Orenstein’s book, Girls and Sex, some of the books for your Parenting Collection could include:

• The Myth of the Perfect Girl: Helping Our Daughters Find Authentic Success and Happiness in School and Life (Ana Homayoun)
• Mothering and Daughtering: Keeping Your Bond Strong Through the Teen Years (Eliza & Sil Reynolds)
• Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood (Lisa Damour)
• The Princess Problem: Guiding Our Girls Through the Princess-Obsessed Years (Rebecca C. Hains)
• Odd Girl Out: The Hidden Culture of Aggression in Girls (Rachel Simmons)
• Your Daughter’s Bedroom: Insights for Raising Confident Women (Joyce T McFadden)
• Dial Down the Drama: Reducing Conflict and Reconnecting with Your Teenage Daughter (Colleen O’Grady)

If you daughter has trouble sleeping, here is a tip which may help. Many of us know the power of writing a to-do list to help us manage our busy work days. However, a nightly to-do list can also be a way to cure sleeplessness, according to a new study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology. To test the power of a to-do list on our brains, a group of volunteers who were told to list everything they needed to remember to do the next day fell asleep more quickly, taking an average of about 15 minutes to fall asleep. By listing the tasks your daughter needs to do, a nightly to-do list may actually help her feel less stressed and sleepier. The researchers theorise that to-do lists help us relax into sleep mode by helping us offload our worries on to the written page. (ps news, Victoria Public Service, 18 January 2018)

Ros Curtis 

 It is important that, even in these busy times, students try to balance their academic commitments with time dedicated to themselves. This may include time with the family, such as sitting down to a daily meal together, doing sport or music, or taking time out to do something that interests them. There is no doubt, though, there are times the perceived ‘balance’ seems a little lopsided. This is completely normal.

So how can students continue to look after themselves without ‘losing’ time dedicated to their study and assessment work. Mindfulness exercises can help to bring focus and relax people, and can be done using very little time.

Many of us go through times when we seem to be on automatic pilot. Have you ever walked or driven from A to B and then not actually remembered the journey? Have you eaten a meal while doing something else, so you haven’t taken the time to taste what it is that you have eaten?

Mindfulness is the opposite of being in the state of automatic pilot. According to the Smiling Mind website (www.smilingmind.com.au) mindfulness is “paying attention to the present moment with openness, curiosity and without judgement”. There are two parts to this process. The first involves focusing the mind; the second is about the attitude you bring to paying attention. There are a lot of studies suggesting that mindfulness assists to build neural pathways, so is a good tool to use when problem solving, deep thinking and critical analysis is needed.

I was once taught a simple technique to use when I feel like things are getting a little out of control. It takes three minutes, and it helps me to refocus. It is not meditation and you don’t even need to have your eyes closed!

The process is as follows: For one minute, focus on a point on a wall or something that is not moving, and try to think about three things you can hear (for example, a voice in the distance, a car driving past, the sound of the ceiling fan). Then, for another minute, focus on three things you can feel (for example, the draft of the fan on your skin, your shoes on your feet, your sleeve on your arm). Finally, look around for one minute, and focus on three things you can see (for example, the fan moving above, the reflection of something in the window, a painting on the wall).

Taking just three minutes can help you to refocus when things such as study can become overwhelming.

Karen Gorrie

The Spaces this term are:

Being Brave – We all need to be brave sometimes. We need courage to face difficult situations. Visitors are invited to find the letter that begins their name and write or draw their hope or wish for courage. Perhaps write a prayer?

Mirrors – We don’t always recognise our true beauty, within and without. Take a look at yourself in the mirrors and read the words around the table and the frames. Recognise God’s handiwork! 

Refugee Backpacks – take some time to consider those in our world who are forced to leave their homes. Take a look at some of the items you might find inside a Refugee’s Backpack. What would you take? All are invited to write a prayer or words of support to place inside one of the backpacks.  

Calm Jars – take a moment to sit and rest. Gently shake a jar if you wish and watch the glitter slow down and settle. As you observe, allow yourself to also feel a sense of calm and being “settled”. 

Reconciliation Week 2018 – Don’t let History be a Mystery

Our earliest peoples used Message Sticks to communicate. As we consider Reconciliation, all are invited to take a stick and write their own message of hope for the continuing conversations across our diverse country.

Perhaps you might like to think about some reconciliation that is needed in your own life and write a prayer to build bridges with people who you have “separated” from. What do you need to do to reconcile? 

Prayer for the Week of Trinity Sunday:

God, whose fingers sculpt the sun and moon and curl the baby’s ear;

Spirit, brooding over chaos before the naming of day;

Saviour, sending us to earth’s ends with water and words:

Startle us with grace, love and communion of your unity in diversity,

That we may live to the praise of your majestic name.

Amen

(from “Revised Common Lectionary Prayers”, 2002: The North American Academy of Liturgy)

With every blessing on you and your week ahead,

The Rev’d Canon Nicki Colledge

It is often through our daily observations that we identify a need to provide extra support or care to the girls and then implement programs to deliver this help. Year 12 Housemother, Janet Caitens, observed some behaviour that was a little out of character for the Year 12 boarders recently. She sat them down and enquired as to the reason why these changes had occurred. The girls explained how the feeling of stress around assessment was becoming overwhelming. Janet consequently embarked on a research project around managing this type of stress, and this week will implement a program to help all girls in boarding deal with the stress of assessment.

Mission Australia’s latest Youth Survey indicates that, in 2016, the most prominent issues of personal concern for young people meeting the criteria for a probable serious mental health illness were coping with stress, school or study problems and depression.

The Managing Assessment and Exam Stress workshops to be held over the next two weeks across all year levels in the Boarding House have been devised as a direct response to this shared concern. The concept of the workshops is based on students providing support for each other, in acknowledgement that young people are most likely to call upon their peers first for support.

The workshops commenced with a mindfulness and empowerment exercise. This is followed by a ‘Facilitator in Role’ exercise, which is intended to initiate a conversation around what stress looks and feels like. The next segment in the workshop is significant in developing group support, as a discussion encouraging the sharing of existing knowledge will be held. Adding value to the knowledge and experiences the students have shared will be the reference to evidence-based sources which indicate strategies which have had a positive impact on supporting university students to manage academic stress. A take-home booklet outlining the skills and strategies shared in the workshop will provide every student with a tool-kit of resources to call upon as required.

Lesa Fowler 

The week ahead for Year 12

• Monday 4 June – QCS Writing Task practice (lessons 2A/B)
• Thursday 7 June - QCS Short Response and Multiple-Choice practice (all day)
• Friday 8 June – Study Day
  

This week for Year 10

• Thursday 31 May - Study and Maths exam (2A/B)
• Friday 1 June – Study Day

The girls need to plan the use of their time well – schedule learning sessions and schedule breaks. Secondly, they must make sure they have the materials they need to focus on their learning – this will vary according to the subject they are focusing on. Then they must persevere – it will be hard sometimes but this is when they are on the brink of real learning.

If a student is unwell and misses a piece of assessment as a consequence, please notify the school as soon as possible. Years 11 and 12 girls will require medical documentation to support their absence.  

Mrs Jo Butterworth

End of Semester 1 Reports

End of Semester Reports will be available on Parent Lounge by 5pm on Friday 29 June. Each student’s report will consist of a comment from her Head of Year, as well as a page for each subject. The final page of the report shows the Grade Point Average (GPA) graph which records the student’s overall level of achievement and tracks this from semester to semester.

Accessing Reports

You will need your login details to access reports through Parent Lounge via the POD. If you do not know your login, please contact School Support via schoolsupport@stmargarets.qld.edu.au or (07) 3862 0732.

Students Not Returning 

If your daughter is not returning next term, you will need to download her reports from Parent Lounge, as once she has left the school you will not be able to access these reports. If you have any issues please contact School Support.

Round 2 Parent Teacher Interviews

The second session of Parent Teacher Interviews for 2018 will be held on Monday 16 July from 10am-8pm. These interviews are scheduled to allow you to meet with teachers following the Semester 1 Report.

Staff value this opportunity to discuss your daughter’s learning with you. Students are encouraged to attend the interviews with their parents as this will assist them to increase their understanding of the learning process and their role in it.

Bookings

To access bookings for these interviews, please log into Parent Lounge and click on the link for Parent Teacher Interviews. Bookings open at 9am on Monday 18 June and close at 9.00am on Wednesday 11 July. Please note this closing date as no bookings can be taken after this.

Venue

To accommodate all parents, all interviews will be held in the Philip Harris Sports Centre. Maps of staff seating will be available on the day. It is suggested you arrive 5 to 10 minutes before your first interview to ensure you know where you need to go to allow for smooth transition between interviews.

Nicole Devlin 

There are many steps we can take to enhance our brain health such as physical exercise, mental exercise and good nutrition. The Brain Smart Organisation suggests the following foods may be beneficial as part of a healthy brain diet:

1. Blueberries

2. Nuts

3. Salmon

4. Broccoli

5. Bananas

6. Frozen Yogurt

7. Olive Oil

8. Brown Bread

9. Spinach

10. Tomatoes

Nikki Townsend

National Sorry Day  

On Friday 25 May, St Margaret’s was represented at a National Sorry Day Ceremony by Kydeesha Crawford, Sopheena Toovey, Tannisha Tran, Nadia Seriat, Tyeena Pang and Allysah Toua. This event was held at Kalinga Park to commemorate the lives and stories of the Stolen Generation and was organised by the Noonga Reconciliation Group. The ceremony was one of beauty, authenticity and truth, and our students were amazed by the incredible contributions from the elders and schools involved. There were many songs, dances, poems and stories shared, and it was a day filled with both sorrow and a belief that we can work towards hearing and acknowledging the voices of the First Peoples of Australia. As a teacher, I was so impressed with how our students represented our school and spent time after the ceremony to thank the elders and organisers of the event. It was a privilege to attend this beautiful ceremony and be a part of our local community.

Teagan Davidson

Red Shield Door Knock Appeal

On Sunday 27 May, 20 lucky Year 8 St Margaret’s girls took part in the Red Shield Appeal with Churchie.  On the day, we were partnered up with two Churchie boys and a senior. We went doorknocking in the neighbourhood to raise money for the Salvation Army.  The Salvation Army is a great charity as they assist members of the community who need help the most.  We are very thankful to have had this opportunity and will remember it forever.

Alexandra Cattanach (Year 8) 

While at school, they engage with experiences that develop the presentation and qualities of leadership. At camp, they experience activities that challenge their physical fortitude which contributes to the building of leadership qualities. I was impressed to hear that the girls tackled the experiences offered to them with enthusiasm and grit. Thank you to Year 5 teachers Tansy Cruttenden, Marguerite Erasmus, Evan Chia and Kelly Swan, as well as Suzy Edwards, for supporting the girls on this camp. Thank you also to Lauren Richards for planning and her preparation of this camp. 

While Year 5 girls and staff were in the Gold Coast hinterland, the Year 6 girls headed to chilly Canberra. It was once again a privilege to attend this camp (my fourteenth). The girls lapped up the long days of exploring new places and learning new things. Each day I was impressed by the girls’ interest and enthusiasm and their support and friendship for each other. 

The girls reported the most exciting activity was Questacon and the most lasting memory will be meeting Julie Bishop and the Prime Minister of Trinidad And Tobago. This was a great honour for the girls and one that happened because of the efforts of the Federal member, Trevor Evans. We thank him for providing his time and the opportunity for the girls to ask him questions and for organising their special meeting. I was unable to attend parliament house with the girls as I flew back to finalise the MAYO Arts Festival, but by all accounts, the girls embraced seeing their curriculum in action. They also ably represented the school and were a credit to their families and themselves. Well done, girls! Thank you to the teachers who accompanied the girls, Georgina Stevenson, Kate Porter, Kimberley Bachman and Mary Surtees. Thank you to Georgina for her planning and organisation. It is a huge effort to plan the trip and I know she has now commenced planning the 2019 and 2020 camps.

It was lucky that I spent most of last week in Canberra as I came home to an office full of MAYO donations. Seeing all the donations, I was overcome by the generosity of the primary families and filled with pride. These donations were used by our parents for the different parent-run stalls. Congratulations to the classes who collected the most donations – Pre-Prep and 2B from the early childhood classes and 4G and 6B from the Years 3 to 6 classes. Those classes will be rewarded with a movie and popcorn afternoon in the upcoming weeks.

I was again overwhelmed on Saturday when I saw the stalls, not only seeing all the preparation come to fruition but the way in which the stalls were thoughtfully decorated and the many parents who dutifully worked on the stalls throughout the festival. Thank you to all families for your donations and your support of the event, and to the staff for their support. A special thank you must go out to parents who were responsible for the organisation of the stalls. Thank you to:

Pre-Prep (Lucky Dip) – Rebecca Cronin

Prep (Lolly Stall) – Damian Mills and Melanesia Carson

Year 1 (Face Painting) – Jessica Goodrick

Year 2 (Decorate a Cupcake) – Antoinette Anquilina

Year 3 (Popcorn) – Samantha Coleman

Year 4 (Lob-a-choc) – Kate Bastian

Year 5 (Wine Wheel) – Fiona Gapes

Year 6 (Cake Stall) – Bridget Piggott and Julia Reynolds

The cake stall was once again well supported by the whole school, both in donations and sales, and it looked fabulous in its new location, M’s Café.  It was so wonderful to see the decorated boxes. Congratulations to Hilary Davis, Year 6 (1^st), and Ivy Love, Prep (2^nd).

Well done also to the performance groups and to Regina Brennan for her support of all these girls. Thanks also to the girls in the primary dance troupe who made their debut under the expertise and training of Phoebe Mawer.

All the soft drinks donated by primary parents were given to the Boarders Support Group stall. Key position holders of this group wanted me to convey to the primary parents their sincere thanks for their generosity. They were genuinely touched by the primary school parents supporting the boarders in our school. This act of giving, and the other acts of giving goods and time I witnessed in the lead up and on the day of Mayo, is affirmation that we are a strong community. In addition to this, by demonstrating generosity, parents also help their children to develop into happy, giving and sharing adults. The MAYO Arts Festival is a clear demonstration of the wonderful community that is our school. Thank you.

Angela Drysdale

Well done to all the girls on their performances and thank you to all our music staff for their efforts in preparing the girls for the event. 

Private Music Student Presentations Next Week

This week has been a fantastic one for our students undertaking private music lessons. All students in Years 2-12 who are enrolled in private music lessons have been giving presentations on their respective instruments to the St Margaret’s music teachers. The aim of these presentations is twofold. We hope to provide students with a goal to work towards to encourage consistent practice, and want to provide students/parents with relevant feedback on the student’s current progress. The feedback will be made available to students and parents at the end of the semester through our school reporting process. It has been wonderful to hear the buzz of students warming up and practising in preparation for their presentations throughout the week. Thank you to all students for your efforts in preparing for these presentations.

Boarders’ Music Concert

Congratulations to all the boarders who performed at the Boarders’ Music Concert held on Monday evening in The Loft. This was an excellent opportunity for our boarder musicians to perform to friends and family. Thank you to Dr Olin for organising the event and of course thank you to all students for their performances. We look forward to the next Boarders’ Music Concert in Term 4.

Private Music Students’ Recital

Thank you to all student who performed at the Private Music Students’ Recital held on Wednesday afternoon in the Arts Centre Foyer. These recitals are excellent opportunities for our musicians to perform within a warm, supportive environment. A wide range of performances were presented on a variety of instruments and all involved are to be congratulated on their composure and musicality.

Career Talk on Music Therapy

Next Monday 4 June, we have invited Old Girl Maggie Leung (’97) to come and speak to interested students about a career in music therapy. Maggie was featured last year in the Courier Mail with a special article about her career trajectory. After finishing her schooling at St Margaret’s, Maggie completed a Bachelor of Music at the Conservatorium of Music. She then studied postgraduate work in music therapy at the University of Queensland before completing an MBA in 2014. Maggie is now the team leader of allied health for oncology services at the Lady Cilento Hospital and is working with a variety of providers within the hospital to improve health outcomes of patients. Maggie will be speaking in The Loft during lunchtime on Monday 4 June. This will be a wonderful opportunity for students who are interested in a career that combines medical services and music.

Upcoming concert by Dr Noble

Dr Noble will be presenting a solo piano performance on Saturday June 16. This will be a wonderful opportunity to hear Dr Noble perform as well as celebrate his recently awarded PhD! Dr Noble will be presenting repertoire by Alberto Ginastera, Philip Glass, Agnes Obel and Nigel Sabin. The event will be held on 16 June in the Arts Centre Foyer starting at 5pm. The cost to attend is $10 adults, $5 students/children, $20 family, with all proceeds donated to the Archbishop’s PNG Earthquake Appeal. All are welcome to attend!

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Music Support Group

The next Music Support Group meeting will be on 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.

The final round of fixtures will see our teams come face to face with Somerville House at our home venues. We invite all friends of St Margaret’s to come along in the colours of brown, white and blue to show your support for our teams. To view the final fixture schedule please click here. (PDF 252.7KB)

Winter Sports

Our Winter sports are in full swing with trials and training underway. With the Autumn fixture season concluding on Friday 1 June, we will see fewer clashes with trainings so this will allow ALL girls to now fully commit to their chosen winter sports. Please note, all students are required to notify their sports coordinator if they will be absent from training. Download updated training schedule (PDF 72.9KB). 

Strength and Conditioning

Strength and conditioning sessions will be available to all girls in Years 9 – 12 commencing from Tuesday 5 June. Strength and conditioning plays a significant role in ensuring girls become more coordinated, stable and strong, making girls more resistant to injury as they advance through their sports. For more information and to register online for these sessions, please click here.

St Margaret’s Open Tennis Championships

The St Margaret’s Tennis Open Championships will be held this weekend commencing on Friday 1 June for our primary aged competitors and Saturday 2 June - Sunday 3 June for all secondary competitors.  The Championships are open to all students and will be played in four divisions; Primary (Years 4 – 6), Junior (Years 7 and 8), Intermediate (Years 9 and 10) and Senior (Years 11 and 12). Girls will be able to nominate in either singles, doubles or both! A Boarders Cup will also be awarded. For more information and to register click here (PDF 337KB) . 

Congratulations to…

• Victoria Franklin who captained the 16 – 19 Years Metropolitan North Football team to 4^th place at the State Championships. Victoria was a standout and was selected in the Queensland Secondary Sports Football team.

• the Open Touch Football Team who were awarded the ‘Team of the Week’ this week. This team has had mixed results throughout the season but have never given up, which resulted in a come-back in their game against Brisbane Girls Grammar to finish with a 4-4 draw.
  
  

Helen Lobegeiger

At this event, she will deliver a prepared speech as well as a speech on a short notice topic. We congratulate Paris on progressing to this stage of the competition and wish her all the best for the State Final.

Maria Chamberlain 

‘At St Margaret’s, there are many opportunities for both international students and local students to interact with each other. We may compete together as a team in sports; we may learn together as a study group; or we may also share a dorm in the Boarding House. There are many opportunities for us to get to know more about each other and strengthen our friendship. We can also learn from each other and help each other in study and in life.

Let me tell you a fascinating statistic about Australia’s society. Forty-nine per cent of Australians were born overseas or have at least one parent who was. This shows that Australia is a vibrant and diverse country. Now have a look at the people around you; we have different hair, different eyes and different skin colour. These differences haven’t separated us; on the contrary, they bring us closer because we can explore our culture and experiences with each other.

I still remember when I first came here, I didn’t know any international or local girls, but every St Margaret’s girl was so friendly which made me feel welcome. So, we encourage every St Margaret’s girl to be supportive and warm-hearted towards the people around us, no matter where they come from.’

We are grateful for the compassionate community that greets each of our international students as they begin their journey at St Margaret’s and throughout their time in Australia.

Emily Labinsky
International Pastoral Care Coordinator

JUNE/JULY SCHOOL HOLIDAY PROGRAM - BOOKINGS NOW OPEN! SECURE YOUR SPOT!

The school holidays are just around the corner and we can’t wait to show you the fun-filled and exciting activities we have planned in our June/July School Holiday Program. Further details of the program can be found here. Boys and girls, siblings, friends and family welcome! here (PDF 680.1KB)

Bookings for the St Margaret’s OSHC June/ July School Holiday Program opened on Monday 21 May. If you require care for the upcoming school holiday period, please return your booking form before 15 June 2018.

How do I book?

Complete the official booking form attached to the program. For further details, please email: oshc@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.

What is the cost?*

$60 per day. Incursions and excursions incur additional costs. These are compulsory for all students and therefore you are able to claim CCB/CCR for these.

 What are the hours of operation?

The service is open from 7:00am until 6pm in the OSHC Room (under the Primary School Office).

 How can I obtain more information?

If you would like further information regarding our OSHC Program or if you would like to make a booking, feel free to contact me on 0423 547 653 or email: oshc@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.

 Palu Ingram

The girls are keen to learn about the lifestyles of Australian students and would do whatever it is you and your family normally do. There would be no need to go to any great effort or expense to do out of the ordinary things.

If you and your family are keen to host a student, please email Trish Kirkpatrick: tkirkpatrick@stmargarets.qld.edu.au 

Trish Kirkpatrick
Head of Admissions and Community Relations

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 weekend was a spectacular celebration of the Arts encompassing a stunning three-dimensional art exhibition, creative workshops, student art displays and performing arts presentations coupled with delicious food and enticing artisan markets. The carnival rides were popular on Petrie Street as were the activities and stalls in the Barley Sugar Garden and Eton Courtyard.

Thank you to all involved including staff, volunteers, stallholders, parents, students and the many community members and visitors who joined us to make the festival such a memorable experience.

A very special acknowledgement to our festival sponsors, who each contributed enormously in helping us bring the festival to life. 

Thank you also to those businesses who donated food for the Gallery Cocktail Party including:

• seafood supplier Richards Brothers Seafoods located at Unit 7, 209 Robinson Road East, Geebung
• meat supplier Hillman Meat Company situated at two locations including 97 Jijaws Street, Sumner Park and 209 Moggill Road, Taringa
• Quality Food Services situated at 15 Babarra Street Stafford.

We look forward to the next MAYO Arts Festival in 2020!

Platinum

Luxury Private Charters & Exclusive Tour Agent

Gold

Silver

Bronze

Stall

Supporting Partners

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)

Fathers’ Dinner Tickets Now on Sale

Join us for the St Margaret’s Fathers’ Dinner with guest speaker and Young Past Student of Distinction Gwyneth Olsen ('00). Head Winemaker at Peppertree Wines, Briar Ridge Vineyard and Davis Premium Vineyards in the Hunter Valley.

We also have a ‘Live Auction’, with top prizes available, including a table of 10 to the Churchie Cricket Lunch, a 5-night stay at the Ala Moana Hotel in Honolulu and a 2.5 hour Golf Package for 4 people at Victoria Park Golf Complex.

This annual event is a great opportunity for all Fathers and male role models to come together and 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

This 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 save 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

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.

Flexischools ticket sales have now closed. Today is the last day to purchase last minute tickets by calling the Development and Community Office on 07 3862 0768.

Reunions

Tickets are on sale now via Fexischools. 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 

QTAC www.qtac.edu.au

How to apply to interstate tertiary institutions

You can apply for some institutions in Northern NSW and Tasmania through QTAC. See our participating institutions.

You can access websites for all Australian institutions through the tertiary admission centres listed below.  

You can apply for most interstate courses through state-based tertiary admissions centres. Current Year 12 students can apply from the start of August 2018:

• New South Wales – apply through UAC (opens 1 August)
• Northern Territory – apply though SATAC (opens 7 August)
• South Australia – apply through SATAC
• Tasmania – apply direct for University of Tasmania
• Victoria – apply through VTAC (opens 6 August)
• Western Australia – apply through TISC; apply direct for The University of Notre Dame Australia.

Application processes and fees vary, so visit the relevant state’s tertiary admissions centre or institution website for more information

The University of New England

Get into uni ahead of the pack

Benefits of UNE Early Entry Direct:

• Apply directly to UNE online
• No application fees
• Know earlier (November) that you have a place at UNE to relieve the pressure of waiting for results, and let you plan your big move
• No QTAC application required - Applying through UNE Early Entry does not prevent you from making another application through a tertiary admissions centre so it’s a great way to increase your chances of getting into the course you want.

Who can apply for Early Entry?

Early Entry is available for most UNE degrees, for;

• current Year 12 students

For most courses you are offered you will also have the option to accept the offer and defer for up to two years

Apply via https://earlyentry.une.edu.au/apex/f?p=118:1:::::: on or before Friday 28 September 2018 

Australian Catholic University

Apply for CAP now.

What is CAP?

ACU's Community Achiever Program (CAP) is designed to acknowledge commitment to our local communities. Regular volunteer work in your community – through a social justice organisation, sporting, performance, cultural or religious group – may be rewarded through our Community Achievers' Program with entry into an undergraduate degree.

A successful CAP application means you could receive an offer as early as August to study at ACU. Being part of this CAP group also offers unique opportunities to enhance your leadership and volunteering skills, while you study with us.

CAP entry is only available for Undergraduate bachelor level degrees at ACU.

Remember: the experience must have been voluntary, so ACU will not consider community involvement undertaken as part of your schoolwork, work experience or paid employment.

CAP applications to study in 2019

• Open - 10am Tuesday 1 May 2018
• Close - Midnight Tuesday 31 July 2018
• Offers will be released by the end of August 2018

Monash University

Audition preparation course – jazz and popular voice studies

This is a two day course for jazz instrumentalists, jazz voice and popular voice students. Students will explore the performance and ensemble processes helping them build the skills required to audition for entry to the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music. Students will learn what is expected during the auditions for our jazz and popular voice courses.

Event details

Date: Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 August 2018

Time: 10am – 3pm

Location: Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music, Clayton campus

Cost: $330

Register at shop.monash.edu/audition- course-jazz-studies-and-popular-voice.html

• Engineering prerequisites  

Did you know, engineering graduates are among the highest paid graduates in Australia, with a median starting salary of $64,000 pa? (2017 Graduate Outcomes Survey)

The Faculty of Engineering at Monash offers a flagship Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) degree enabling graduates to qualify as an engineer after just four years of study.

 If are interested in entering this course at Monash, it’s imperative to select appropriate subjects early on, to ensure you can satisfy the course prerequisites:

■■ English

■■ Higher Level Mathematics

■■ Physics or Chemistry

(all Australian Year 12 equivalent).

For more information, visit https://www.monash.edu/study/courses/find-a-course?query=engineering&f.Tabs%7CcourseTab=Undergraduate&f.InterestAreas%7CcourseInterestAreas=

The University of Sydney

Our undergraduate degrees are streamlined so you can choose your ideal course

To help you navigate our study areas and pathways, we have streamlined and simplified our degrees. If you know precisely where you want to head or want to explore different areas before deciding what to do, we have an undergraduate degree that will take you where you want to go.

We’ve also expanded access for you to study across disciplines by introducing a shared pool of over 100 majors and minors. This gives you the opportunity to explore a wide range of study areas within the following degrees:

• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Design Computing
• Bachelor of Economics
• Bachelor of Science
• Bachelor of Visual Arts
• combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies.

For example, if you enjoy studying science and history you can now pursue both areas of study by enrolling in a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science or a combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies degree.

Taken in combination with a three-year degree, the combined Bachelor of Advanced Studies not only allows you to design your own degree but also supercharges your undergraduate experience at Sydney.

As part of the combined degree you have the opportunity to:

• access at least one major outside your primary field of study
• complete a second major
• build on your expertise with advanced coursework and project work
• complete an Honours component
• enrich your experience in community, industry or entrepreneurship settings.

The future is in your hands. Find out more about the Sydney Undergraduate Experience.

Bond University Scholarships for Australian students

Scholarship applications for Year 12 Australian students will open on 1 June, 2018.

View each of the scholarships below to find out more about each scholarship, their eligibility criteria, value and how to apply. Download your copy of the 2018 Bond University Scholarship Brochure. Also review our 'top tips' for Year 12 scholarship applicants.

The University of Queensland

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.

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.

 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.

 University Open Days

KEY DATES:

Wednesday 25 July

UMAT Exam

Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 July 2018

Tertiary Studies Expo (TSXPO): 8am – 4pm, RICC Brisbane Showgrounds.

Midnight Tuesday 31 July 2018

ACU: Closing date CAP applications to study in 2019

Wednesday 1 August            

UAC (NSW Tertiary): Applications open; Early bird applications close Friday 28 September

Monday, 6 August 2018

VTAC (Victorian Tertiary): Applications open; Close of timely applications: Thursday, 27 September; Close of Scholarship applications: Friday, 12 October

Sunday 19 August 2018

UQ: Pharmacy Experience Day  9.30am  - 1pm  

Friday 28 September 2018 

UNE: Closing date Early Entry application 

Monday 17 December 2018 

OP Advice Night: UQ Centre, St Lucia campus 4.00pm – 7.00pm 

Liz Johnston