eNews Archive Issue 13 - 5 May 2022

Those of you who attended Speech Night last year, will recall that Christine Wells ’91 was our guest speaker. On that evening and on 23 April, Christine inspired us with her story of changing careers, dogged persistence and determination and a disciplined pursuit of her passion. Christine is an award-winning, internationally bestselling author of 14 historical novels. Her books have been published by New York houses Penguin, HarperCollins, and Macmillan, as well as Penguin (Australia), with more than 250,000 copies sold worldwide and translations in nine languages. Her new novel, One Woman's War, A Novel of the Real Miss Moneypenny, will be released from HarperCollins (New York) in October 2022, and her next book, The Royal Windsor Orphan, will be published in 2023.

Christine was school captain in her final year at St Margaret’s. She then completed a Bachelor of Laws and became a solicitor specialising in corporate law at a city firm, while writing in her spare time. She was the first Australian to win the American Golden Heart Award for her debut novel, which was published by Penguin (New York).

Christine is also a writing teacher and mentor, helping people achieve their dreams of becoming published authors of commercial fiction. 

Please look out for her novels, knowing you are reading the work of a St Margaret’s Old Girl.

Grace Tobin ’05 inspired us with her story about the lessons learned from her time at St Margaret’s and how, even some less than favourable experiences, helped to shape her in positive ways for her career. She is an investigative reporter at the ABC's premier current affairs program, Four Corners. She previously worked as a reporter at 7:30 and as a producer at Nine's 60 Minutes, where she travelled the world extensively on overseas assignments.

Grace is a two-time Walkley Award winner for excellence in journalism. In 2019, she produced a joint investigation with Nine Newspapers on Crown Casino, which sparked two Royal Commissions and the Bergin Inquiry in NSW and triggered a clear-out of the board. In 2017, she was recognised for the 60 Minutes story on the death of Matthew Leveson, subsequently authoring the true crime book Deal with the Devil, a first-hand account of the Leveson family’s ordeal throughout the four-year police reinvestigation of the case.

Grace completed a Bachelor of Journalism (QUT) and the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism’s Summer Investigative Reporting course. Her journalism career began in regional Queensland as a crime and court reporter.

Her Past Student Award trophy now stands proudly next to her two Walkley Awards.

Ros Curtis

Please note, you are a close contact if:

• you have been with a person that has COVID-19 for more than four hours in a house or other accommodation, a care facility or similar, or
• you live with a person that has COVID-19 and have had more than four hours contact with them in the household setting.

It is lovely to be able to resume school operations to nearly normal, and to have our students involved in events in and around the school again. Last week it was lovely to see our Year 9 music students perform in the ‘Battle of the Bands’ at lunchtime. The girls showed such courage and skill to perform to many of the students from both the Primary and Secondary areas. The audience of girls were also so encouraging and enjoyed clapping along to some of their favourite songs.

Many of our students are getting involved in the extra-curricular activities on offer this term. There are many music, club and sporting activities that they are participating in. These are fantastic ways for students to learn new skills, make new friends, develop teamwork and be committed to the roles they play in these environments outside of the classroom. I do encourage our students to keep an eye out for what is on offer each term and consider signing up for an activity.

Karen Gorrie

On 10 June, we will celebrate our annual Confirmation service with Bishop Jeremy Greaves. Confirmation is a sacrament by which a person owns their baptismal vows for themselves and receives the gift of the Holy Spirit in empowering them on their journey in life, living out these baptismal promises. Any member of the school community (students, staff, or family members, 14 years and above) can be confirmed during this service. In next week’s eNews I will provide a form that you can use to indicate whether your daughter would like to be confirmed on 10 June. I will begin a lunch-time confirmation preparation group from week 5 of this term. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions at all.

Rev’d Jazz

*A sacrament is defined as an “outward and visible sign of an invisible grace”.

The girls returned brimming with stories of what they got up to. I spoke with a couple of the girls on their return and asked them to sum up their weekend.

Daisy and Phoebe travelled to Goondiwindi and when asked what the best thing about the weekend was they said: “The Goondiwindi show was fantastic – I haven’t been to a show in a long time and it was very community based. The rides were great fun, but a bit scary.” - Daisy

“My highlight was going water skiing. We taught the girls how to knee board and there was lots of laughter and stacks! It was fun to show my friends what life is like for me at home.” – Phoebe

It is not only about those who went on leave but also those boarders who chose to stay with us for the weekend. Several organised activities were on the agenda including walks to various areas around the neighbourhood and many minibus trips to Cold Rock Ice creamery. The girls had a wonderful time with lots of room to spread out and spend quality time with our boarding staff.

Angela Crowe

Year 10 SET planning

Following the subject selection evening, each Year 10 student will attend a SET planning meeting with an allocated staff member. Parents are more than welcome to attend these meetings either in person or via Teams. These meetings are the final step in the process to prepare and support our students in selecting their pathway and subjects for success in Years 11 and 12.

Year 11 and 12 Exam Block

Years 11 and 12 Exam Block timetables will be released on the POD tomorrow.

Caitlin McCluskey

The NAPLAN tests are an important way for us to ascertain the academic development of our girls in relation to their literacy and numeracy competencies. Furthermore, they also provide our teachers with longitudinal data to help inform future teaching practices.

For the tests, girls are reminded that they must bring:

• wired headphones (no Bluetooth earphones or AirPods)
• fully charged laptops
• pens/pencils

If any parents have any questions about the NAPLAN tests, please feel free to contact my office (07 3862 0703).

Trends in Education

On Tuesday 17 May, our first Trends in Education Seminar is occurring in the Arts Centre Foyer (4:00pm for 4:30pm start; 6:00pm finish). Our guest speaker is Dr Lorraine Hammond AM CF, who is the pre-eminent speaker on Explicit Instruction in the Classroom. It is sure to be an informative and insightful lecture, that will provide our teachers with strategies to incorporate into their pedagogical practice. Importantly, this seminar is open to all teachers in South-East Queensland. Any St Margaret’s parents who are interested are also very welcome to attend. Further information about this free seminar can be found on our website: https://bit.ly/3LnJZiv. Registrations close on Monday 9 May.

Chris Dunn

These ideas coupled with the notion of resilience is what we are encouraging our girls to really grasp; to understand that for any real learning to take place, there will be times when things feel ‘hard’ and making mistakes is part of the process. Having the ability to bounce back and move forward is most significant in the learning journey. This lesson is important for students to learn when at school, as there is a safe and supportive environment to assist them. If students feel confident with taking calculated risks while at school, they are more inclined to pursue creative endeavours in other aspects of their personal lives and careers. It is now well understood that creativity in the workplace is valued.

In 2010 an American Medical Association study stressed that the increased importance of creativity in the future comes from changes in the nature of work, global competition, pace of change and organisational structure. A recent study identified the consistent decline since 1990 in creativity scores of students on the Torrance test of creativity. At the same time, a 2010 American Management Association study identified creativity and innovation as one of the four critical skills needed for business success today and in the future. A study of CEOs identified creativity as the number one leadership competency of the future.

There is no doubt that we must equip the students of today with the skills to think divergently to be able to find and solve problems. The squiggly line it must be!

Satherly J (2022) Success isn’t a straight line. How Claudia Batten deals with failure. https://www.westpac.co.nz/rednews/success-isnt-a-straight-line-how-tech-entrepreneur-claudia-batten-deals-with-failures/

Nikki Townsend

Differentiation is based on the notion that differences in students are significant enough to make a major impact on what students need to learn, the pace at which they need to learn it, and the support they need from teachers to learn it well. It includes a focus on catering for gifted children.

Differentiation is defined as a “common-sense approach to addressing the needs of a wide variety of learners, promoting equity and excellence and focusing on best practice instruction in mixed ability classrooms.” (McLeod, B.) On the student free day this week, the staff commenced a professional learning journey working with an expert in this field, Bronwyn McLeod (ALDEA Education).

The professional development includes exploring the work of the theorists in this area as well as the characteristics of gifted children and comparing these to the characteristics of students in our class.  This program will then focus on our planning approach. Central to this approach is a concept, for example, change. This concept is then explored through a teacher developed overarching question and support questions. These questions are levelled in order to cater for different learners.  

A deeper understanding of differentiation will guide teachers in their teaching and learning, challenging them to consider questions such as: Why do we differentiate for learning? Who are our students? How do we plan for the best student achievement and outcomes? 

Angela Drysdale

Rosalind Wiseman, author of the bestseller Queen Bees and Wannabees on which the iconic film Mean Girls is based, notes how crucial friendships are for girls as they navigate adolescence, with the goal of educating parents to empower their daughters and themselves. She examines the often-toxic impact of cliques and popularity, the impact of perceived and imposed hierarchies and deconstructs effective ways that parents can communicate and adapt their style responsively to their daughter’s behaviour. Wiseman notes in the introduction that the book might be “painful to read” and “hit a nerve”, however this is exactly why it is a useful text. Equip yourself with the knowledge and skills to anticipate your daughter’s concerns and when you have finished the book, watch (or rewatch!) Mean Girls, to see so much of the book’s reality realised on screen in a comical and melodramatic (yet at times, frighteningly accurate) depiction. There may be scenes in the (PG-rated) film which you choose to watch with your daughter to initiate conversations about their friendships and their perceived place within them, with the ultimate goal of, as Wiseman says, creating girls who will become “healthy young women who will make our communities better”, a pursuit I know we can all support. Explore the updated third edition of the book here.

Annette Box

Classics in the Cathedral – Raffle Donations

The Music Support Group is seeking raffle prize donations from the school community for their annual Classics in the Cathedral raffle. Some examples of donations from previous years include QPAC vouchers, an Apple iPad and a 2-day Gold Coast getaway. If you are able to support the St Margaret’s Music Program in this way, please contact the President of the Music Support Group, Antoinette Aquilina, by emailing antoinetteaquilina@me.com. Your generosity and support is greatly appreciated!

Classics in the Cathedral - Volunteers

The Music Support Group are searching for volunteers to assist at Classics in the Cathedral on Friday 27 May. Volunteer positions available include assisting with food and drink service at the bar, checking tickets at the door and selling raffle tickets. Furthermore, the Music Support Group are looking for volunteers to provide food items to be sold at the bar. For further information about the help required and to sign up for a position, please visit the appropriate link below. Your support of the St Margaret’s Music program is greatly appreciated!

To volunteer to provide food: https://signup.com/go/MVhumVu

To volunteer to assist with the event: https://signup.com/go/eztbjpm

Open Mic Session

Congratulations to all students who performed at the Open Mic Session on Wednesday this week. It was a fantastic opportunity for students to showcase their musical talents to the broader school community. Thank you to those who performed and thank you to all those who attended for the wonderful support!

Practice-a-thon

Thank you to all those who have signed up to the inaugural St Margaret’s Practice-a-thon and thank you to the Music Support Group for instigating the fundraiser. We look forward to raising funds for St Margaret’s Music Program and hearing much musical practice over the next two weeks!Music Support Group

Music Support Group

Thank you to all those who attended the last Music Support Group meeting. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday 17 May at 5.00pm in M’s Cafe. Parents from both the Primary and Secondary Schools are welcome to attend.

Brad King

Sporting Achievement

It’s with great pleasure that we can recognise the outstanding sport performances and representation of St Margaret’s students at a national and international level. I would like to highlight and congratulate the following students on their recent success:

• Daisy Brown (Year 10) for her selection and participation in the Australian Junior Matilda’s (Soccer) camp.
• Millicent Watson (Year 9) for her selection in the U14 Queensland State Softball team. Milli was co-captain of her team that went on to win the national championships.
• Lucy Bourke (Year 11) for her selection in the Queensland Academy of Sport Senior Women’s Rugby Sevens squad.
• Georgia Montague (Year 11) for her selection in the Rowing Queensland Pathway squad.
• Bless Daly (Year 8) for her selection in the U15 Queensland Gold State Hockey team.
• Addison Houslip (Year 7) on her win at the Australian Super Sprint Triathlon Championships.
• Isabella Harte (Year 11) for her selection in the Athletics Australia U18/20 team that will contest the Oceania Championships.

We would like to continue to recognise the outstanding achievements and representation of students’ participating at a national level, outside of the school sport pathway. I look forward to continuing to hear from our community regarding such outstanding achievement. Please directly contact myself via lknight@stmargarets.qld.edu.au  

GO MAGGIES!

Lloyd Knight

Grace is a two-time Walkley Award winner for excellence in journalism. In 2019, she produced a joint investigation with Nine Newspapers on Crown Casino, which sparked two Royal Commissions and the Bergin Inquiry in NSW and triggered a clear-out of the board. In 2017, she was recognised for the 60 Minutes story on the death of Matthew Leveson, subsequently authoring the true crime book Deal with the Devil, a first-hand account of the Leveson family’s ordeal throughout the four-year police reinvestigation of the case.

Grace graduated from St Margaret’s in 2005. She completed a Bachelor of Journalism (QUT) and the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism’s Summer Investigative Reporting course. Her journalism career began in regional Queensland as a crime and court reporter.

St Margaret’s Fathers' Dinner – Event details

Date:    Friday 13 May 2022
Time:    6.30pm arrival for dinner 7.00pm - 10.30pm
Venue:  Queensland Cricketers Club, 411 Vulture St, East Brisbane
Dress:   ‘After 5’
Tickets:  $125 per person (Dinner only)
              $150 per person (Dinner + Heads and Tails Trivia Competition)
              $200 per person (Dinner + Heads and Tails + Cocktails on the Creek)

   Via Try Booking: https://www.trybooking.com/BYNEY
RSVP:   Bookings close Sunday 8 May 2022 (unless sold out prior) 

Please note: Fathers' Dinner tickets are non-refundable. Fathers' Dinner Ticket includes drink on arrival, 2 course dinner & 3-hour drinks package.

We thank our Major Sponsor, Adcock Prestige, and Supporting Sponsor, Morgans, for their support of the 2022 Fathers’ Dinner.

One weekend, two great events - parents are warmly invited to join us at the 2022 St Margaret's Fathers' Dinner AND a night of 'Cocktails on the Creek'.

Rowing Support Group 'Cocktails on the Creek'

Date:     Saturday 14 May 2022
Time:     7.00pm to 10.00pm
Venue:   St Margaret's Boat Shed, Sandgate Road, Albion
Dress:    Henley Style (Blazers and Boaters)
Tickets: $65 per person (includes drinks and finger food)
              $200 per person (Dinner + Heads and Tails + Cocktails on the Creek)
RSVP:   5pm Friday 13 May 2022 via Try Booking: https://www.trybooking.com/BYNEY

Please note: Cocktails on the Creek tickets are non-refundable after Friday 13 May 5pm. Included in ticket price is grazing platters & charcuterie boards, select beer, wine and soft drinks and signature cocktail or mocktail on arrival.

St Margaret's Rowing is proudly supported by Platinum Partner: Torque Toyota, Gold Partners: Riverside Marine, Barambah Organics, The Calile Hotel, Ethos Orthodontics and Hoppy’s Handwash Café, and Silver Partners: Henzell Real Estate and Fonzie Abbott.

St Margaret’s Mothers’ Luncheon Raffle

The Raffle is now live online and this year we have some amazing prizes by local supporters! The raffle is open to all members of the St Margaret’s community, you do not need to be in attendance to win.

Raffle prizes include a bar fridge stocked with French Champagne, a two-night stay at The Beach Ranch in Angourie Point, and a one-night stay in the Hotel X Penthouse Apartment, just to name a few!

You can purchase your raffle tickets and view the full listing of prizes online via Raffletix.

If you are attending the lunch, why not get in early and pre-purchase your raffle tickets.

Thank you to our generous prize donors: The Beach Ranch, Hotel X, Old School Phonics, M Body, Samantha Ogilvie, P&F, Pilates on Collingwood, Oscar Oscar, Bella & Lace, Small Blooms, Tigerlamb, V-Golf Virginia and Tulio.

P&F Meeting

The next P&F Association Meeting will be held on Monday 9 May 2021 from 6.30pm in the Arts Centre Foyer.

If you have an agenda item or suggestions, we encourage you to send these via email to Tom Reddacliff, President, P&F Association: P&F@stmargarets.qld.edu.au  

If you are unable to physically attend, you may wish to attend online via this Microsoft Teams link: Click here to join the meeting

Lara Pickering