eNews Archive Issue 4 - 16 February 2023

Girls’ schools are able to create learning environments and experiences that shape girls’ self-concept, helping them to overcome the gender biases and stereotypes that are rife in our society. In every lesson, every programme, and every opportunity – from leadership positions and girl-centric wellbeing programmes to single-sex physical education lessons and sporting activities – single-sex schools bolster girls’ confidence and self-esteem. In fact, every aspect of school life is designed and tailored for girls.

The Alliance notes in its publication The Girls’ School Edge that although 20^th century theories of the ‘pink brain, blue brain’ genre have been disproved by neuroscience, girls are still disadvantaged by a socialisation process that results in gender discrimination and both conscious and unconscious gender bias. Whether it is parents paying their sons more pocket money than their daughters, teachers discouraging girls from pursuing male dominated subjects and careers, or the sexualisation of girls and women by the media, by the time they are teenagers, girls’ self-confidence, self-worth, and self-efficacy have been eroded.

Supporters of co-educational schools often argue that the ‘real world’ is mixed gender and therefore schools should be co-educational too. However, the ‘real world’ is also one where girls (and women) are still not equal. Educating girls in a safe and supportive environment – where belief in their own unlimited potential is so successfully instilled – allows them to grow and aspire to be strong, bold, and fearless women who will demand inclusion, stand up for equality in all aspects of society, and believe anything is possible.

Ros Curtis

Our distinctive middy uniform was introduced during the time of Miss Juliet Lyon, who was Headmistress from 1907 to 1917. So, our proud St Margaret’s students have been wearing our uniform now for over 100 years!

Our uniform is important to us, and so it is equally important that the students display respect for the school by ensuring that their uniform is clean and worn correctly at all times.

We would also like to remind our students and their families about the rules around jewellery. Students may wear; a watch, a small religious medal on a chain, as long as it is not visible under the school uniform, one pair of small, plain gold or silver studs or the school pearl earrings, one per ear lobe, worn in the normal position on the lobe of the ear. Sleepers are not to be worn. No other visual piercings are permitted. Inappropriate jewellery will be confiscated and handed back to the student at the end of the day.

In terms of the Panama, students are to wear the Panama to and from school and during morning tea and lunch. If a student is dressed in their middy in public (e.g. shopping centres) the Panama must be worn. Panamas should be named, clean and in good condition. Students do not need to wear their Panama after dark.

We appreciate our students’ cooperation in ensuring that they are wearing their uniform correctly.

Karen Gorrie

Amid all this tumult it is very common to hear and ask the question, “where is God in all this pain?” When I hear this question, I am taken to a story that Nobel Laureate and Holocaust Survivor, Eli Wiesel, recounts from his time in Auschwitz. He speaks of a horrific incident that they were forced to witness, during which a member of the crowd yells, “where is God now?” Eli responds with a statement that says God is right there, with the victim, experiencing the injustice and the pain. God does not cause or condone suffering and pain, God walks beside us in the midst of it, never leaving us to face it alone, and always offering hope that life will always triumph over death.

Let us pray for all who suffer the devastation of earthquakes and the pain of grief:

Compassionate God, Giver of Life and Love,
hear our prayers and let our cries come unto you.
We weep with your people. We hear the cries of orphaned children and laments of bereaved parents.
We feel the desperation of those searching for loved ones. We behold the silence of vanished villages. We see the devastation.
We are overwhelmed by the enormity of it all.
Our hearts are hushed, our minds are numb.
Let not our hands be stopped, our voices dumb.
God of the universe,
Open our hearts to feel your compassion.
Comfort and heal the injured, the bereaved, the lost.
Strengthen aid workers and medical personnel.
Bolster the resolve of governments and those with power to help.
Open through this tragedy pathways to partnerships and peace.
In the name of Jesus we pray,
Amen.

Praying with Children:

Tearfund has some suggestions for how to pray in the face of such tragedy and offers a prayer with lego resource for praying with young children.  How to pray for the Turkey-Syria earthquake - Tearfund

Rev’d Jazz Dow

To provide students with voice and choice about the activities they want to pursue, this year we have launched interest-driven clubs led by our senior boarders. The process of allowing students to have input tends to generate more excitement and curiosity. We anticipate the number of clubs on offer will grow and our boarders can choose to join as many clubs as they wish. Below is a list of the current clubs on offer:

Art Club - some artworks will feature within the boarding house.

Baking Club - the students will be sharing their family recipes.

Yoga and Pilates Club - we have boarding staff who are qualified instructors.

Tea Club - the students share and exchange tea recipes.

Steak Club - some of our students are very proud Grazier farmers, there will be future BBQs sharing their home produce for this club to enjoy.

Styling Club - we have students who have an eye for design and making our boarding events spectacular.

Book Club - the students will create reading nooks within the boarding house and exchange their favourite books to read. Reading lights have also been provided for those who need.

Picnic Club - the students arrange a time and explore new parkland areas to enjoy good food and each other’s company.

World News Club - we are encouraging the girls to be up to date with the news, sharing important updates and events with the boarding community.

Gracemere Mataia

As parents, you can meet with Academic Advisors, Form Teachers and Year 12 subject teachers at the upcoming Parent Teacher Interviews to discuss your daughter’s goals and plans for learning. Form Teachers and Academic Advisors have been working with students to address their learning and look for ways to become more self-regulated learners. It is important to remember that young people who are self-starters, resilient and robust in terms of academic and social adjustment, are also likely to be on track for success in their learning journey.

Chemistry Exam Morning

Monday of Week 5 is a Year 12 Exam Morning for Chemistry. Chemistry students have been sent the relevant information for their exam to be held at 8:20am. All other Year 12 students should attend school from 9:50am.

Exam Block Timetables

Students in Years 11 and 12 will receive their Exam Block timetables early next week. This will help to inform their study schedule in the coming weeks. All students should already be factoring ongoing revision and study into their weekly schedule. As can be seen on the Assessment Planners, these block periods are quite full so it is likely that your daughter will have more than one exam on any given day. Adequate lead in time will assist her in feeling prepared for this.

Caitlin McCluskey

The framework provides our staff with a philosophical and pedagogical reference point for what we value most highly as a learning institution. Moreover, its renewal only six years after its implementation, speaks to our endeavour to lead with the best-practice approaches in education. The framework is not just for teachers, however. It can also be very instructive for students and parents as well.

Below are some key aspects of the Pillars in the new framework accompanied by some takeaway points for students to consider in their own learning.

Figure 1 - The Pillars of the St Margaret's Quality Teaching and Learning Framework

• Students must make meaningful and positive connections with their peers and teachers to ensure they produce a learning environment that is conducive to effective learning.
• At every stage of the learning process, students should be aware of the opportunities for feedback on their progress. Formal pieces of feedback, like drafts, are the obvious examples, however, the majority of effective feedback a student will receive is informal, often verbal, and in the classroom. And not just from their teacher!
• Everyone’s learning progression is different; students should resist comparing themselves to others in their class. A student’s learning is differentiated for them as an individual; analysis should focus on personal growth rather than another students’ achievement.
• Challenge is good. Struggling and feeling uncomfortable with new concepts and skills should be seen as an important characteristic of effective learning rather than a symptom of failure.
• Finally, effective learning can not happen if a student lacks motivation. The best learners are self-regulated in their learning. They are able to modify their behaviour independently to ensure they are employing strategies that are effective and efficient.

Chris Dunn

We were fortunate enough to be joined by Lara Pickering, our Director of Philanthropy and Stakeholder Engagement, who spoke to the group about the importance of Philanthropy and the motivations that different groups have for giving to worthy causes. Appropriate methods and language use to encourage communities and groups as part of their leadership journey were also topics on the agenda for discussion.

As students in Year 12 are no doubt considering the myriad of opportunities they will have for study and work in their post-school life, some time was also given to discussion regarding the benefits of their leadership experience in the area of service and philanthropy. Employers and universities are becoming increasingly interested in experience in the field of service and discussion of this particular outcome was of great interest.

Opportunities were also seized to collaborate with students from Churchie on projects that are not only social and fun, but have a component of giving to those in need as a community. I also wish to acknowledge Mr Clayton Kelly from Churchie for organising the boys to join us for a worthwhile endeavour.

Nikki Townsend

Our leadership program begins in Year 4 with the girls participating in service activities. Service by leadership is very important in our school, as it was built on a foundation of service by the Sisters of the Society of the Sacred Advent. As the students’ progress through the year levels, their service program changes to reflect their year level and capabilities. Students in Years 4 to 6 are issued with a passport which they will complete each year until the end of their Primary Years. The aim of this passport is for the girls to develop an understanding that attaining leadership positions are an outcome of completing our ‘Leadership through Service' passport - a passport that requires students to plan and give time to others. 

This week, the Year 6 girls were inducted as House Leaders of the Primary School and Charlie Bains and Lulu Robson were commissioned as the Primary School Captains. It is a big responsibility for the oldest students in the Primary School as the younger girls will look up to them for guidance and encouragement. The teachers will look to them to support the myriad of activities occurring in the Primary School.

The leaders will endeavour to uphold and demonstrate the school values by:

• exemplifying passion and spirit in house and everyday activities
• having the integrity to be honest in all endeavours
• having the courage to step outside one’s comfort zone and the strength of character to encourage and motivate others to do so as well
• demonstrating respect and inclusivity as students interact with others with consideration and compassion.

The induction was a wonderful celebration and a way not only to acknowledge the leadership of the Year 6 girls but also to mark the beginning of their final year in Primary School. Thank you to Annette Box for her organisation of the event and to the many parents who attended and celebrated with the girls. Congratulations to the girls - the staff and I look forward to working with our new leaders in the Primary School.

Angela Drysdale

However, it is not only the girls who benefit from this experience, with many families noting that the girls’ genuine respect and passion for their school was a significant ‘selling point’ that contributed to the choice of St Margaret’s as their preferred school. This significant task is a perfect example of how the students demonstrate the St Margaret’s Way through the school values and brings great pride to members of the school community who see them in action.

With Open Day 2023 just around the corner, we invite you to come into the school and witness your daughters engaging in not only these tours, but in a range of performances, activities, and classes across the primary school. It is a wonderful opportunity to see the school in operation, especially for families new to the school. For parents of girls in Years 5 and 6, you may also like to arrange (through negotiation with their class teacher) to take your daughter through the secondary school to see what awaits them as they prepare for their transition into Year 7 and beyond. Primary parents are also able to engage in a tour with secondary students to gain further insights into the many benefits that a senior education at St Margaret’s holds. We look forward to welcoming you and the wider school community to enjoy all that the school has to offer this Open Day, Saturday 4 March.

Annette Box

Please note students may wear the school middy for all other ensembles.

Music Support Group – Musical Donations

With the school musical Strictly Ballroom fast approaching, the Music Support Group will be running a series of raffles over the three performances to raise funds for the Music Department. They are seeking donations to place in hampers, such as champagne, dried fruit, nuts, confectionery, teas, small containers of fruit pastes, gourmet biscuits, crackers, chocolates, and other condiments or even a gift voucher would be appreciated. (Please avoid large tins of canned food, as these are difficult to pack into a hamper and are very heavy to transport, and please ensure that items do not require refrigeration.) If items can be delivered to Ms McLean in the Sister Helen Orchestra Room (SHOR) no later than Friday 3 March that would be very much appreciated. Thank you in advance for your support.

Music Support Group – Next Meeting

The next Music Support Group meeting will be held on Tuesday 21 February 2023 at 5:00pm in the ACF (please note this is a change of venue). We encourage parents from both Primary and Secondary schools to become involved.

Brad King

• Basketball (Autumn Sport) - (The POD - Secondary Basketball (stmargarets.qld.edu.au)
• Soccer (Autumn Sport) - (The POD - Secondary Football (stmargarets.qld.edu.au)
• Touch Football (Autumn Sport) - (The POD - Secondary Touch Football (stmargarets.qld.edu.au)
• Swimming - The POD - Secondary Swimming (stmargarets.qld.edu.au)
• Cross Country - The POD - Secondary Cross Country (stmargarets.qld.edu.au)
• Artistic Gymnastic – The POD - Secondary Artistic Gymnastics (stmargarets.qld.edu.au)
• Cricket - The POD - Secondary Cricket (stmargarets.qld.edu.au)
• AFL (Yr 10,11&12)) - The POD - Secondary AFL (stmargarets.qld.edu.au)
• Club Water Polo - The POD - Club Water Polo (stmargarets.qld.edu.au)
• Club Netball - The POD - Club Netball (stmargarets.qld.edu.au)

Autumn Sport Training Absentee

Please be reminded, if your daughter is unable to attend her Autumn Sport training for a legitimate reason it is expected that she will communicate directly with the coordinator of her respective sport. Communication should be via email. All Coordinator details can be found on the respective Autumn Sport POD Pages.

Lloyd Knight

Important Note:

Please ensure the daily limit is set high enough to cover the uniform items being purchased. We will not be able to complete the purchase if there are insufficient funds available on the Student Card and will no longer be calling parents to secure payment.

Please allow up to 24 hours for student card top ups, as depositing funds onto student cards may not be instantaneous and varies from bank to bank.

Order Online via Flexischools - Parents/students can place an order online via Flexischools (www.flexischools.com.au). Please click on 'Register' and follow the prompts. Payment can be made via credit card, paypal or direct debit. 

Delivery and Collection Details – Please allow a 24 hour turnaround time for all online orders:

Delivery

• Pre-Prep orders will be delivered to the Pre-Prep room
• Prep to Year 3 orders will be delivered to the Primary Reception, available for collection by the student or parent. 

  
  Collection

• Years 4 - 12 orders are available for collection at the Supplies Shop by the student or parent. 
• Mixed orders can be collected at the Supplies Shop by the senior student

We congratulate our parents listed below on their new and continuing positions for 2023:

President                     Genevieve Fraser

Vice President             Antoinette Aquilina

Secretary                     Philippa Lee

Treasurer                     Katrina Carrick

Committee Member     Andy Carrick

Committee Member     Lisa Brown

Committee Member     Kelli Martin

Committee Member     Melanesia Carson

Committee Member     Carolyn McMullen

Committee Member     Melissa Naidoo

Committee Member     Trevor Slogrove

Committee Member     Jeremy Peck

Committee Member     Chris Herrald

Committee Member     Karen Grant-Taylor

Committee Member     Leigh Tovey

We look forward to seeing you at the AGM which will be held on Monday 27 March at 6.30pm in the ACF, at which the positions will be ratified and the P&F Financial Audit Report will be presented.

Tickets are selling fast for our first Professional Women’s Network Breakfast with Sue Johnson, Group Executive, Queensland, Transurban.

Join us on Tuesday 21 March for the first instalment in our 2023 Professional Women's Network series with guest speaker Sue Johnson, Group Executive, Queensland, Transurban. These events are excellent opportunities for you to take a corporate table and host your colleagues or clients, attend with your daughter, hear from female leaders in industry and build connections within Brisbane’s business community.

Sue Johnson has had a successful career embracing the pace of technology change, innovation and business adoption, applying the substantial value they bring to better change people and communities. She has held a number of senior executive roles. Most recently, she was Transurban’s Group General Manager, Customer Operations and Human Resources, bringing more than 20 years of global customer and HR experience across multiple industries and organisations. Sue has completed the Stanford Graduate School of Business Executive Education, a Bachelor of Business, and a Bachelor of Science and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a member of the Premier’s Innovation Advisory Council, a member of the Advisory Council for the Committee for Brisbane and a member of the Advisory Panel for the Queensland Government’s Land Restoration Fund – a world’s first environmental initiative for the Queensland government.

Date: Tuesday 21 March 2023

Time: 6:45am arrival for 7:00am-8:45am. Enjoy barista coffee from a Wolff Coffee Roasters cart, before and after the event.                                       

Venue: Arts Centre Foyer, St Margaret's Anglican Girls School

Tickets: $85 adults, $40 students (Years 10 to 12/tertiary), $850 corporate table (10 seats)

Available online via https://www.trybooking.com/CEJFF

We thank our series sponsors, Major Sponsor: Pitcher Partners, Associate Sponsors: Programmed

Property Services and Wolff Coffee Roasters, and Supporting Sponsors: Downer, Clear Insurance,

Westpac, O’Reilly Shaw Lawyers, Uniform Link and Move Recruitment Solutions.

Past Student Awards

Nominations are closing at the end of next week for St Margaret’s Past Student Awards. If you know of an Old Girl deserving of recognition we encourage you to submit a nomination.

The Past Student Awards recognise the many achievements of St Margaret’s past students, both professionally and personally. We celebrate the diverse achievements of past students and provide an opportunity to share stories of success and increase connections between the school and past students to honour their legacy.

There are two award categories:

•           Distinguished Past Student (for alumnae who have passed their 20th reunion)

•           Young Past Student of Distinction (for alumnae in their 20th reunion year or younger) 

The link to nominate via the online form can be found here. Submissions close Friday 24 February 2023.

We look forward to announcing the winners and celebrating them at the Past Student Awards Dinner on Saturday 25 March 2023.

This is a wonderful evening to attend with your daughters where they will be inspired in hearing from our award winners.

Event Details

Date:   Saturday 25 March 2023

Time: Pre-dinner drinks and canapes at 6:30pm

Venue: Arts Centre Foyer, St Margaret's

Cost:   $90 Adults | $60 Students 
            Adult ticket includes canapes, two course meal and drinks package
           Student ticket includes canapes, two course meal and non-alcoholic drinks package

Tickets: Available online via https://www.trybooking.com/CEFBD until Thursday 16 March, 2023 (unless sold out prior)

SAVE THE DATE

Father Daughter Breakfast – Tickets on sale soon

Students in Years 7-12 and their fathers are warmly invited to join us for the 2023 Father Daughter Breakfast.

We understand that it is not possible for all girls to invite their fathers. Girls are welcome to invite a relative or family friend. Boarders are welcome to 'adopt a dad' for the event.

Tickets will be available to you to purchase online from 9.30am Tuesday 21 February, with a presale for Year 12 families on Monday 20 February 2023.

Date: Thursday 30 March

Time: 6:45am for a 7:00am start. Concludes at 8:00am

Venue: Circular Drive and Arts Centre Terraces

Further information on ticket sales will be provided to the community in the coming weeks.

Mothers' Luncheon

Save the date for the St Margaret's Mothers' Luncheon. This annual event is a wonderful opportunity for members of the St Margaret’s community to come together and connect.

Date:                Friday 12 May 2023

Time:              11.30am - 2.30pm

Venue:            Brisbane City Hall

Tickets will be available to purchase from Tuesday 28 February, with a presale for Year 12 families on Monday 21 February 2023.

We thank our event sponsors, KLM Solicitors and UMS.

Lara Pickering