eNews Archive Issue 21 - 19 July 2018

In the last week of Term 2, I attended the Global Forum on Girls’ Education in Washington. There were many themes for discussion throughout the conference; these are all very relevant and very much at the forefront of the current agenda in girls’ education. There were delegates from all over the world and it appears that the same agenda or issues had some currency in all countries.

Major themes included female leadership, girls finding their voice, philanthropy in girls’ schools, crippling perfectionism; entrepreneurism; courage and risk taking; and, STEM.

One of the topics of great interest to me related to ways we can further develop a school culture where academic success does not automatically mean stress and anxiety. Billy Jean King, one of the guest presenters, reminded us that in many of our schools ‘pressure is a privilege’; it means you are clearly in the game. Girls need to be brave and the school culture needs to be one where student confidence is high and encourages going beyond the comfort zone to learn more.

To do this,

• we need to encourage students to prepare, but also be willing to improvise.
• we need to encourage an effective form of self-promotion (girls should be empowered, have a voice and be willing not to apologise for things that they do not need to apologise for).
• welcome a less prescribed career path.
• help girls to aim for being respected, rather than just being liked.
• help students know how to challenge and influence authority without being rude or inappropriate. This is possible with solid preparation and openness to new ideas and perspectives.
• encourage students each year as they move through the school to take more responsibility and more ownership of their own learning, seizing the opportunities available to them to grow more and learn more.

Stress and anxiety is often a reaction to the pursuit of perfectionism by many girls; being perfect is impossible and is not a worthy goal. We need to build the confidence of girls and young women so that they can deal with ambiguities, and to not see challenge in their learning as failure, as it is quite normal to be uncomfortable at the times we are learning the most.

Ros Curtis 

There are separate, tailored courses for parents with students in:

• Lower Primary (ages 4-8)
• Upper Primary (ages 9-11)
• Lower Secondary (ages 12-14)
• Upper Secondary (ages 15-18)

These courses are free. Please email Mrs Jodi Fisher-Grimshaw, Executive Assistant to the Deputy Principal, on JFisher-grimshaw@stmargarets.qld.edu.au or phone 3862 0771 for the website link and password.

Please note: The Anglican Schools Commission has entered into a financial agreement with INESS to provide this training to school parents for a period of five years including annual updates. School parents are asked to honour the agreement with INESS and not to share the login password with persons not directly associated with St Margaret’s.

Statement of Commitment:

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

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

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

Student Protection Officers:

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

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

All Student Protection documentation including all policies and procedures can be viewed on our internet page at: https://www.stmargarets.qld.edu.au/discover-st-margaret-s/student-protection.

Karen Gorrie 

Apparently, my musings had a profound effect on her. She showed me the copy and, as I read it, I was reasonably underwhelmed by my words, wondering just what was going on for me in my life at that time. This dear lady told me that it was “just the right thing for her to hear” at the time I wrote the piece in the newsletter, and she urged me to include the same the next chance I had at St Margaret’s … so here goes. Below is a musing and reflection from my earlier Chaplaincy days, perhaps there is something in there that, by God’s grace, strikes a chord with you also. Its title was as above, “God sets me free, to be me”.

It is amazing the power that some people can have over us, from our parents to our friends, from those who truly care about us to those who only want to stand in our way. As we journey on our own road of life, we will encounter both open highways and steep, rocky ascents. The people we meet on our travels could either help or hinder our progress.

There will be times when we encounter those who represent bumps or walls on our pathway, those who have the potential to slow us down and to make us lose faith in the purpose of our mission. That is, to grow and develop into the best we can be.

These are the people who perhaps ridicule elements of who we are – people who try and bring us down by knocking our talents, our sense of humour, our choices, and even our emotional responses to situations.

Yet God our Creator made each of us to be unique, special and, indeed, brilliant! We have been blessed with a range of interests, gifts and ways of expressing ourselves.

When we allow others to strip us of our dignity, we are forgetting the power of God’s love in our lives. When we grant others the power to erode the very essence of who we are, we are not honouring part of God’s marvellous creation – ourselves. God has given us a precious gift – the gift of ourselves, of US! When we know deeply and truly what it means to be a Child of God, then we also know that God has the power and the love to set us free to be our true selves. No one has the right to take that from us.

“O Lord, you have searched me out and known me … you knew my soul when I was formed in secret, and woven in the depths of the earth” Psalm 139.”

2018 comment: I cannot help, now, but to continue this line of reflection in how we respond to ALL of God’s children – refugees, oppressed, those socially or culturally different to ourselves … perhaps the topic of next week’s newsletter?

With every blessing on this week ahead, for you and yours and for all peoples of Creation,

The Reverend Canon Nicki Colledge 

This weekend we have our ‘Closed Weekend’ when the Boarding House comes together and everyone participates in an exciting program of events. Younger girls benefit from this community initiative as it encourages interaction between the year levels; older students can demonstrate their leadership skills and spend quality time with their boarding ‘sisters’. As the old adage states, ‘the more you put in, the more you get out’ and we have no doubt that this attitude will be adopted by every boarder this weekend. We look forward to witnessing the personal growth within individuals, the bonding between new and current girls and the general joy which the festivities will bring.

Dimity Harris 

Over the holidays, I read an article that referred to adolescent sleep deprivation as an epidemic that affects about 70% of Australian teenagers (Maltman, 2018). While the statistic is alarming, it is probably not a surprise to us as we think back to the early mornings and late nights that our daughters undertake to study and engage in extra-curricular activities. However, when you consider that sleep deprivation impacts your concentration and motivation, increases the chance of suffering depression, anxiety and low self-esteem and affects decision making and brain development, you would probably agree that it is worth considering the alternatives.

The top 4 reasons for lack of sleep are fear of missing out on the interactions available through technology, homework, poor time management and stress (Maltman, 2018). So, what better time than the first week of term to begin with some strategies to increase sleep. Perhaps, start by ensuring your daughters turn off any device 30 minutes to 1 hour before lights out, identifying specific times in the weekly schedule for study and revision and write these in a diary, and still making sure there is time-out during the week for enjoyable pursuits. Setting up effective sleep habits at the start of the term will go a long way to helping your daughters cope with the pressures along the way.

Year 10 SET Plan interviews

Part of the subject selection process for Year 10 students is the opportunity to engage in a SET plan interview to discuss proposed subject selections. Most of the girls completed their interview last term; however, due to some student absences and the international exchange program, interviews will continue over the next two weeks. Your daughters will be asked to nominate a time for the interview and you are most welcome to attend with them.

Also, a reminder that we will have a subject information night on Monday 6 August. On this night, I will provide information about the new Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) system, tertiary institutions will be present, and each Head of Faculty will be present to provide information about subject options.

Years 10 and 11 subject changes

Students considering a subject change in Years 10 and 11 can make an appointment with me to discuss their options. When considering a subject change, it is important to remember that all subjects increase in difficulty in the senior years so persistence and hard work are needed in all subjects to improve. To ensure your daughters do not miss valuable teaching and learning time please discuss any reasons for a change and contact me by the end of Week 1.

Jo Butterworth 

Along with the Curriculum Handbook as a guide, in Term 3 the Year 8 students will be addressed by each Head of Faculty during Year Level Assembly times. The curriculum details and requirements of each elective subject will be outlined. Students will have the opportunity to ask questions about the subjects they may be interested in pursuing next year. These talks have begun and it is important for your daughter to have looked at the curriculum handbooks to understand her options.

In addition to these information sessions, a Years 8 and 10 Subject Information Evening will be held on Monday 6 August. This event will incorporate a Subject Expo where parents and students can speak with staff about subject offerings.

Following the information evening, students will be required to select their subjects through an online process. More information about this process can be found in the Curriculum Handbooks.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss options for 2019, please feel free to contact either Jo Butterworth or myself.

Assessment Calendars
Many of our students are not only busy with school work and assessment but they also particpate in a variety of extra-curricular activities in and out of school. Trying to balance our commitments as adults sometimes can be difficult; however, we have had the life and learning experiences that have taught us how to balance our commitments and be organised. It is important to assist your daughters to continue to balance commitments and help her realise that as demands increase we need to be mindful of not trying to fit too much in.

All students will be able to access the Semester 2 assessment calendars through thier Year Level page on The POD from Monday 30 July. Academic Advisors and Form Teachers will encourgaed all girls to ensure they save or print their Assessment Calender to ensure they are aware of their assessment commitments for the rest of the year. However, it is important to note that due to the Continuous Reporting Process, assessment is held in the last weeks of school and all girls are required to attend school until the last day to complete all assessment.

Supervised Study Sessions
Supervised Study Sessions recommence next week on Monday 23 July and will run every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday until 13 September, from 5:00-7:30pm in the Eunice Resource Centre. These sessions are supervised by tutors from Durack College and have been a great support to the girls who attend. Bookings for the all sessions for the term can be done via FlexiSchools on the school website. While the study sessions are free of charge, if you would like you daughter to have dinner this can be purchased for $10 at the time of booking the session on Flexischools.

Nicole Devlin 

Similarly, the commencement of a new semester is an important time for students to determine what physical activity or sport they will commit to for the remainder of the year. Unfortunately, adolescence is often a time when participation in sports can decline due to a number of reasons. In her book, Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls, Dr Mary Pipher discusses how in early adolescence girls can lose their resiliency and optimism and become less inquisitive and inclined to take risks. She goes on to say how this trend can lead to girls becoming more deferential, self-critical and depressed. Sport is seen by many as an avenue for girls to express themselves with energy and confidence - thus enabling them to close the gap between what Dr Pipher describes as their true selves.

The third pillar, spiritual growth is a very personal journey; however, there are many opportunities for our students to work with others in the community with various activities throughout the remainder of the school year.

I look forward to meeting with parents again during the course of the semester at St Margaret’s events.

Nikki Townsend 

We welcome three new staff members to the Primary school community; Mr Steve Box who replaces Mrs Kelly Swan who has been appointed Assistant Head of Primary at St Aidan’s, Mrs Amy McNally as part time Prep Aide who replaces Ali Carter (nee Foote) who graduated as a teacher and begins her career path this term, and Ms Tracey Richards as the Administrative Assistant in the Primary Office, replacing Alex Kemp who left to pursue further study. I wish the staff who have left all the best on their new journey and extend a warm welcome to our new staff.

We also welcome twelve new students to the school. These girls included some students from overseas who will be St Margaret’s students for a shortened time as they undertake a study experience. Whilst their time at our school will be limited, it will have benefits for both them and our fulltime students. While the study experience will improve the student's English, our students will have the opportunity to learn about other cultures, first hand from these students. The relationships the girls will form will help contribute to our school mission of developing global citizens.

The term commenced for the girls with an Assembly to acknowledge NAIDOC week. NAIDOC Week celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC Week is celebrated by all Australians and is a great opportunity to learn more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Thank you to Miss Surtees and the SRC for presenting this Assembly and sharing with the girls about the significance of the week, and in particular, information about three important Aboriginal women which directly ties with this year’s theme Because of Her, We Can. Dr Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr, Evonne Goolagong Cawley and "Pat" O'Shane have all made significant contributions to Australian society. The girls were particularly interested to hear about Dr Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr who was responsible for the creation of the Dadirri prayer space. In 1988, Miriam presented a paper at a conference entitled Dadirri - Inner Deep Listening and Quiet Still Awareness. This explanation of the spiritual dimension of Aboriginal culture has since been utilised by people working in diverse settings and in private meditations all over the globe. This is familiar to our girls as it is a regular part of our faith education in the Chapel when the Reverend Canon Nicki Colledge creates a prayer space for all members of the school community to enjoy and experience.

We were also very grateful to Trevor Evans, our Federal Member for presenting Australia’s three flags to our Primary school. The SRC girls explained the meaning of both the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags.

The meanings of the three colours in the flag are:

• Black – represents the Aboriginal people of Australia.
• Yellow circle – represents the Sun, the giver of life and protector.
• Red – represents the red earth, the red ochre used in ceremonies and Aboriginal peoples’ spiritual relation to the land.

The meanings of the colours in the flag are:

• Green – represents the land
• Black – represents the Indigenous peoples
• Blue - represents the sea
• White – represents peace

The Dhari (traditional head-dress) represents Torres Strait Islander people and the five-pointed star represents the five island groups within the Torres Strait. The star is also a symbol for seafaring people as it is used in navigation.

This informative Assembly marks the beginning of a very busy term ahead with much to look forward to including Book Week, Years 5 and 6 Arts Spectacular, various incursions, excursions and classroom curriculum experiences. Each of these offer to the girls challenging, engaging and rigorous learning.

On Monday, the term commenced for the teachers who conducted parent/teacher interviews. I thank the parents who attended and the teachers for their commitment and preparation for these interviews. At the interviews, your child’s teachers would have shared your child’s progress and ways he/she can improve learning to experience personal success. Success means different things for different people, for example, greeting every day with optimism, having a goal and working towards it. It may mean knowing you have the potential or never giving up when things are tough. I recently came across an article which outlines ideas for success which were adapted from a text written at the beginning of the last century. Listed below are some of these ideas that are still relevant today as they obviously were at the beginning of the 1900’s. Clearly the ways to achieve success are timeless!!

• People succeed because they try hard to succeed. Hard work and patience are almost genius. Success is often more the result of determination and perseverance than a great talent. Determination and a sense of purpose can be far more important than ability.
• Success is the reward of those who put work before pleasure. We learn to do things by doing them. One of the great secrets of success is keeping at it, even when it’s tough. Successful people don’t let disappointment discourage them and they understand that sometimes they have to run back in order to take a longer leap forward.
• No opposition must be taken to heart. Our competitors often help us more than our friends. A head-wind is better than no wind. Whoever got anywhere in a dead calm?
• A fatal mistake is to imagine that success is some stroke of luck. This work is run with far too tight a rein for luck to interfere. Luck is bought with hard work and we always have to pay a cost for good luck.
• Everything good needs time. Don’t do work in a hurry. Go into detail; it pays in every way. Time means power for your work. Mediocrity is always in a rush; but whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing with care.
• Genius is nothing more nor less than doing well what anyone can do badly.
• Be orderly. Untidy work is never good work. Manage your work so it is tidy and well organised.
• Success in everything demands your whole heart, your whole intellect and most of your time.
• Be cheerful. Put obstacles out of the way. Leap over them. It is better to have the opportunity of victory, than never to struggle. Your mind might fail you and your body might get tired but make sure your heart never fails you because it is your own spirit that will lift you up to success.

Acknowledgement: Adapted from Amelia E Barr, British novelist, in How They Succeeded: Life Stories of Successful Men Told by Themselves, 1901. (Obtained from Principal’s Digests).

I wish the students, staff and parents great successes for Term 3.

Upcoming Events:

Friday 20 July - St Margaret’s Day

Tuesday 24 July - Strings Concert, 6:30pm in Eton Hall

Thursday 26 July - Andrews Cup Netball at MDNA

Friday 27 July - Primary Sports Photos - Newsflash to be forwarded early next week

Thursday 2 August - Debate/Public speaking with St Aidan’s at St Margaret’s, 4-5pm

Friday 3 August - Free Dress Day

Angela Drysdale  

The concert will be held in Eton Hall starting at 6:30pm, and will conclude at approximately 8:00pm. The cost of admission is $5 adults, free for students/children. Please join us for pre-concert refreshments provided by the Music Support Group in Eton Courtyard from 6:00pm. Please click here (PDF 215.1KB) to download information letter and rehearsal schedule.

Community Choir recommences next week

The St Margaret’s Community Choir will recommence next week on Thursday evening. Joining the Community Choir is a fantastic way of engaging with the broader St Margaret’s community. This year, the Community Choir will once again participate in our annual Classics in the Cathedral concert held in St John’s Cathedral and will also sing in the whole of school Choral Concert held in Eton Hall at the end of Term 3. The first rehearsal will be held next Thursday 26 July in the Arts Centre Foyer, 6:00-7:00pm. Please find attached a letter (PDF 217.5KB) with further details, and feel free to advertise the information to family and friends!

Music Tour

During the holidays, thirty-four music students and four staff travelled to Prague, Vienna and Salzburg for the trip of a lifetime. Students performed in spectacular venues and provided special performances at community church events with appreciative audiences in attendance. Some of the highlights included attending a workshop in the Dvorak Museum in Prague, performing in the Musikverein in Vienna, participating in masterclasses at the University of Music in Vienna, and travelling to Hallstatt outside of Salzburg for a performance in a spectacular location.

Probably the most memorable event for students was participating in the Summa Cum Laude Festival in Vienna, where students had the opportunity to meet other student musicians from around the world and hear them perform a wide variety of repertoire. The tour was truly enriching experience for our music students and one that we know they will treasure for many years to come.

Music Support Group

The next Music Support Group meeting will be held on 31 July 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 

One such race requiring a photo finish was the St Margaret’s Gift. The St Margaret’s Gift is held where the fastest runners within St Margaret’s compete against one another to become the ‘Gift’ winner. The 8 fastest girls who were identified from the 12 – 17 Years 100m races become handicapped according to speed and raced over approximately 100m. Congratulations to all girls with special mention to the following St Margaret’s Gift place getters:

• 1st Place – Amy Tran (17 Years)
• 2nd Place – Indiahna Frawley (12 Years)
• 3rd Place – Gabrielle Geldard (14 Years)

The final overall result of the carnival will be announced on assembly on Tuesday 24 July.

Winter Sports

Our Winter Sport competitive season gets underway on Friday 20 and Saturday 21 July against Brisbane State High School at our home grounds. We invite all friends, family and pets to come and support the ‘Brown, White and Blue’ this weekend. The weekly schedule for all Winter Sports is available to view via the link here (PDF 248.8KB) or from the Secondary Sport POD page.

QISSN

Congratulations to our representative Netball team who participated in QISSN which is the largest Secondary Schools Netball tournament in Queensland. The tournament was held from 1 – 7 July with the team comprising of students from Years 10 to Year 12. The girls displayed significant improvement over the course of the tournament to finish strongly in 29th place out of a total of 60 schools.

Thanks goes go to the Netball Support Group for providing a travel bag and water bottle to all tour girls, as well as financial assistance with the umpires, Gayle Coutts for her coaching expertise and Nicole Devlin for her managerial duties throughout the week. We are extremely proud of the effort put in by all girls and are looking forward to a great Netball season in 2018.

Hockey and Netball International Games

St Margaret’s Hockey and Netball welcomed two schools from the United Kingdom, Bradford Grammar School and Merchant Taylors’ School to our fields and courts on Tuesday 17 July. It was a brilliant afternoon with all hockey teams and the Open, Snr A, B and 9A Netball teams playing their first international games. All games were played in good spirit and was a valuable experience for not only providing our teams with match practice prior to the QGSSSA season, but also in forging ties with girls and schools across the globe.

Congratulations…

Sarah Stephenson (Year 7) who participated in the State Gymnastics Club Championships, winning a gold medal on every apparatus.

Helen Lobegeiger 

The course will very much be skills focused, with methods to paint facial features taught. Girls will also undertake a small portrait as part of the course. Bookings can only be made via Flexischools and are due before Friday 27 July. For more information, please click here (PDF 162.5KB) to view the flyer. 

Lisa Smith 

The Club is open to girls of all skill levels and age groups (Primary and Secondary students). Details of the Club are below:

• Meetings will be every Wednesday lunchtime in the ILC
• Robotics Club will commence in Week 2 of Term 3
• Any queries, please email Mr Chris Farrelly: cfarrelly@stmargarets.qld.edu.au

Chris Dunn 

The afternoon includes afternoon tea and a show and tell in the workshop with Graham. Please RSVP directly to grahamradcliffe@bigpond.com.

Address and contact details:

Phoenix Sculpture Garden, 59 Fahey Road, Mount Glorious

Mobile: 0410 030 870

Email: www.grahamradcliffe.com

Jenny Lishman 

Please click here (PDF 570.8KB) for further information. 

Paris is to be congratulated for progressing so far in the competition and commended for the time, effort and dedication she has given in preparing for Rostrum Voice of Youth and representing St Margaret’s in this prestigious public speaking competition for the past five years. 

Maria Chamberlain 

Our hope is to start a conversation that may lead to a parent/guardian network of business mentors that might offer advice, guidance and support and ignite a fire in the belly of our girls and show them that there are many ways to get from where they are to where they want to be.

We would like to start this conversation on Wednesday 1 August in M’s café at 5:30pm. If you would like to be involved in this business mentoring community (either a little or a lot), then we hope to see you there. If you are not able to make it but would still like to be involved, please send an email to mstein@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.

Hetal Raniga, Emily Labinsky and Mathew Stein 

Netball Support Group Trivia Night

The P&F – Netball Support Group will be hosting a Trivia Night in the Philip Harris Sports Centre on Saturday 4 August at 6:30pm. Come along for a night of entertainment, fabulous 80s music, trivia, great prizes and plenty of laughs.

BYO Food (bring a cheese platter or order a pizza!) Cash/EFTPOS bar.

Tickets are $25 per person on tables of 10-12. To book your table, please contact Megan Stanley on 0434 212 247 or email: meganstanley@live.com.au. RSVP by Wednesday 25 July.

Old Girls' Events 2018

Old Girls’ Day Chapel Service and Morning Tea

Old Girls' Day is a wonderful tradition where all past students, young and old, come together to celebrate the St Margaret's community values of spirit and faith.

The service will be followed by an opportunity to network with fellow past students, at a sumptuous morning tea to be held in the Arts Centre Foyer.

This event is FREE OF CHARGE; however, please RSVP via Flexischools for catering purposes.

Date: Sunday 29 July 2018

Time: 9:30am - 12noon

Venue: Chapel, St Margaret's Anglican Girls School

RSVP: Friday 20 July 2018 for catering purposes only

To view the formal invitation, please click here.

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 (Please note: This event is FREE OF CHARGE and available to all Old Girls’.  RSVP via Flexischools for catering purposes only.

60+ Year Reunion – Monday 30 July

Professional Women’s Network

Only 18 tickets remaining for our next Professional Women’s Networking Breakfast!

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)

Lara Pickering 

The University of Sydney
This event is a great opportunity for parents and students to come and find out more detailed information about the University of Sydney.

Event: The University of Sydney in Brisbane Information Session
Date: Wednesday 25 July
Venue: Next Hotel Brisbane, 72 Queen Street, Brisbane City
Time: 2-7pm
Sessions include: International student consultations, Scholarship Workshop and the Drop in Evening for parents and students.
Register here

ANU Admissions, Scholarships and Accommodation
Last month, ANU announced major changes to student admissions for 2020. We've been travelling around the country to tell you all about this new admissions process. We would like to invite you and your school community to attend the following event to be held in Brisbane on 31 July at 5.30pm. Click to Register.

The University of Queensland
Update to English Language Proficiency Policy
In April 2018, UQ updated the Policy relating to English Language Proficiency, after a review process that commenced in February 2017. The review process included consultation with various stakeholders and analysis of data. The recommendations were endorsed by the Vice Chancellor on 10 April 2018.

The outcome of this review resulted in a change to the existing Policy. The updated Policy for applicants applying to commence in 2019 states that Applicants with grades in the high school subject English for ESL Learners (or equivalent) must achieve an overall 'High Achievement' (or equivalent) or greater for entry into all UQ programs. The full Policy is available at this link 3.40.14 English Language Proficiency Admission.

UQ: Extension: Application for Music auditions
Please note that the application deadline for Bachelor of Music (Honours) auditions has been extended. Applicants wishing to audition for the program will be required to have all documentation submitted by no later than Wednesday 8 August. This is a revision from the application date printed in the QTAC guide.

UQ: Engineering and Computing Careers Evening
Do you want an exciting, fast-paced career, with qualifications that enable you to work around the world, as well as the skills to solve both local and global challenges? Find out how you can have all this and more with a career in Engineering or Computing.

Date: Thursday 23 August
Time: 6-8pm
Venue: GHD Auditorium 200, Advanced Engineering Building (#49)

ANU
ANU is changing how we do admissions, making it easier for students to apply to Australia's National University. Students wishing to commence at ANU in 2020 will apply directly to ANU in a single application that covers admissions, scholarships and accommodation.

Timeline:

• March to May 2019 - Students apply to ANU
• August 2019 - Early outcomes are released, conditional on meeting ATAR requirements, outcomes including admissions, scholarships and accommodation offers.

We will make early offers to students based on Year 11 results, conditional on achieving the required final OP/ATAR. This means students will know they have a place at ANU much earlier and they can start planning for their life at University. We'll be at the 2018 Tertiary Studies Expo in Brisbane on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 July from 10:00am to 4:00pm both days. Come along and ask us any questions you have about studying at ANU.

QTAC www.qtac.edu.au
QTAC applications for current Year 12 students open on 2 August. All applications are submitted online via the QTAC website. Some courses have earlier closing dates, but the general early closing date is 28 September 2018.

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.

Griffith University
2019 scholarship applications open soon! Each year, Griffith University provides more than 40 million dollars in direct financial support to help new and continuing students successfully complete their degrees. More than 600 scholarships are available to cover tuition, education and living expenses, and students can apply for multiple scholarships with just one application. Applications for 2019 open on 20 July 2018.

Explore scholarship options and apply online at: griffith.edu.au/scholarships.

The University of New England
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

• 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.

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 including 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 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.

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)
5 August 2018 (Sunday) St Lucia Campus, 9am-3pm
19 August 2018 (Sunday) Gatton Campus, 9am-3pm

University of Southern Queensland (USQ)
19 August 2018 (Sunday) USQ Toowoomba
1 September (Saturday) USQ Ipswich
7 September (Friday) USQ Springfield

University of the Sunshine Coast (USC)
Fraser Coast: Saturday 23 June
Sippy Downs: Sunday 22 July
Caboolture: Sunday 5 August

KEY DATES: 

Friday 20 July 2018
Griffith University: Scholarship applications open griffith.edu.au/scholarships

Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 July 2018
Tertiary Studies Expo (TSXPO), 8am-4pm, RICC Brisbane Showgrounds

Wednesday 25 July 2018
UMAT Exam

Tuesday 31 July 2018
ACU: Closing date CAP applications to study in 2019

Wednesday 1 August 2018
UAC (NSW Tertiary) Applications open
Early bird applications close Friday 28 September

Thursday 2 August 2018
QTAC (Qld 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 4-7pm

Tuesday 18 December 2018
QUT Real Decisions, Gardens Point campus

Elizabeth Johnston