eNews Archive Issue 13 - 6 May 2021

Whilst our students enjoyed an extra student free day this week, our staff took part in some professional development. Our teaching staff from both Primary and Secondary spent the day with presenter, Glen Pearsall on “Fast and Effective Feedback”. The staff found the sessions very rewarding and look forward to implementing some of their learnings in their classrooms.

This week, we are pleased to be opening our Senior Studies Centre for our Year 12 students. This is a space that will be open to these students to access during the day if they have an independent learning option, during lunch hours and before and after school. The hours for day students remain the same as those for the library. Boarders will be able to access the area for Boarder prep time. This new space includes a kitchen (including fridges and microwaves), a café style eating area, a room for quiet study with individual study carrels, and a group study area for students wishing to study together. We are pleased to offer this space to our students in Year 12, and I know our students in this year level have been eagerly awaiting its completion.

Schools recently received a letter from the Brisbane City Council asking us to remind our school communities to consider pedestrian and child safety when driving and parking near schools. Over the next school term, Council officers will be conducting patrols around the school to ensure safe parking. Parking fines may be issued in cases where illegal parking is observed. More information about parking rules can be found on the Council’s website at www.brisbane.qld.gov.au.

Karen Gorrie

The Global Exchange Program was cancelled for 2020/2021 with a view to resume once international borders re-open and our students can once again travel safely. We understand that this may take time, and Ms Curtis, Ms Gorrie and I have been in contact with our wonderful exchange partners in other parts of the world who are all keen to resume exchanges when it is safe to do so.

In 2021, we have been able to instead offer a Domestic Exchange Program, that is affording our current Year 10 students the chance to study in another Australian state. This program allows us to align with the fundamental principles of the Global Exchange Program, such as cultural immersion, student ambassadorship and reciprocal hosting.

This week, we welcome the first domestic exchange students from Ascham School, Edgecliff, Sydney. Term 3 will be a busier term with St Margaret’s Year 10 students travelling interstate and students visiting from Pymble Ladies’ College, Pymble, Sydney, NSW; St Catherine’s, Toorak, Melbourne, VIC; St Peter’s Girls’ School, Adelaide, SA and Methodist Ladies’ College, Claremont, WA.

Thank you to all Year 10 students for welcoming their newest class members and to our host families for their support of this program.

Nicole Devlin

A recent guest speaker at the Year 11 RVE master class spoke about when she takes time to pause and notice the world around her. During these times she remembers to take a breath, to be grateful and to give thanks to God. Many of us have different ways of pausing and resting, yet somehow, I think it is a forgotten art. It was not that long ago when we rested on Sunday, the Sabbath, a day of rest. Now our families have so many demands on them, and they are busy with the busyness of driving their children to different extra-curricular activities. This is our new normal. So, perhaps, ways of finding some rest and time to pause could be while you wait in the car. This could be an opportunity to give thanks, to be grateful for the world around us, and to be grateful for all we have been given. Next time we notice the sunrise, or the bright moon in the sky, may we be reminded to be grateful.

Another way to give thanks is to join us for our Family Services. Please see the list below for when they will be held. All are welcome.

11 May - Year 12 Family Service (PDF 142.4KB), 6pm

18 May - Year 8 Family Service (PDF 139.4KB), 6pm

8 June - Year 9 Family Service (PDF 117.3KB), 6pm

Pray for India

God of love and healing we lift our brothers and sister in India to you.

We pray for your protection,

We pray for your provision,

We pray for the nations of earth to have compassion.

We pray for the people who are in need.

We pray for the people who are scared.

We pray for medical staff and government.

We pray for those who are trying to get back to Australia.

We pray for the people who are mourning.

Compassionate God, draw close to those who seek your refuge today. Amen.

Susan Crothers-Robertson

Sandra Johnson

A student’s performance in their final year is only a point in time measured by their ability to sit an exam. If the desired ATAR score is not achieved at the end of the day, there are other options available to your child. It will not define their happiness. There will be many other pathways available to them to help them reach their goals. However, we all do indeed encourage our students to always try their best.

Years 11 and 12 Block Exam Timetables

Years 11 and 12 Block Exam timetables are now available on the POD.

Nikki Townsend

The teachers in each of these year levels have been preparing the girls throughout the year with quality literacy and numeracy teaching. The girls have been engaged in activities that are presented in a similar approach to the way they are presented in the tests. The tests are a mix of written responses and multiple-choice questions. The girls have also been focusing on writing persuasive and narrative texts, in preparation for the writing component of the test.

The research of John Hattie has identified teachers as having the most significant impact on student learning. We are fortunate in our school to have teachers who do make a difference to your daughter’s learning and who provide a curriculum program that ultimately contributes to your daughter’s results in the NAPLAN tests.

NAPLAN is considered a high stakes test but it is important to acknowledge that such testing is not the panacea for a country’s education system. As a school, we use NAPLAN data as a tool to review our teaching practices and enhance our student tracking for each cohort.

Each of the literacy and numeracy tests is conducted over 3 morning sessions over 3 days. Below is the timetable for the Years 7 and 9 students:

Tuesday 11 May

8:20-9:15am - Language Conventions Assessment

10:50-11:40am - Writing Assessments

Wednesday 12 May

8:20-9:35am - Reading Assessment

Thursday 13 May

8:20-9:30am - Numeracy Assessment

All students will require the following equipment for the tests:

• 2 x 2B or HB pencils (not pacers)
• eraser
• sharpener (preferably with a container for shavings)
• Years 7 and 9 only a blue or black pen – for the Writing test only (Tuesday)
• Years 7 and 9 only a school calculator – for the Numeracy test only (Thursday)

All equipment should be in a plastic zip-lock bag or plastic sleeve to bring into the tests.

The best support the girls can receive during this time is a good night’s sleep, a healthy and substantial breakfast, the necessary equipment (sharp pencils, erasers etc.) and drink bottle. We wish the girls well and know they will do their very best in the upcoming tests.

Caitlin McCluskey

These concepts are tangibly felt at St Margaret’s as girls collaborate, work together in teams, represent their school and contribute to community events including:

• The Red Shield Appeal Launch – Year 8 student representatives attended a breakfast in preparation for the annual Doorknock Appeal on Sunday 20 May. They reflected that “one word can change a life; be grateful for what we have; and we can make a difference”.
• The Ethics Olympiad – Year 10 students trained for this national event which will take place on Friday 14 May. The teams will analyse and discuss real-life, ethical issues and develop their critical thinking skills, international engagement, and an appreciation for diverse points of view.
• The St Margaret’s/Churchie Netball game – Year 12 St Margaret’s students won this annual event, demonstrated extreme skill and were supported by senior students in true Maggie’s style!
• St Margaret’s Plus – Mindfulness sessions will be commencing in Week 4 for Years 10-12 students. The students’ commitment to Yoga and Mindfulness strategies sessions during Weeks 4-8 will be recorded in their St Margaret’s Plus documentation. Students are invited to sign up on the POD.

Reference:

Bagi, S. (2020). Building resilience in challenging times. InAlliance,62, pp 10-15.

Nicole Walker

It goes without saying, all members of our school community value education and we offer a holistic education that addresses all areas of learning: social, spiritual, physical and cognitive. Embedded in these areas are seven general capabilities identified in the Australian Curriculum. Numeracy and Literacy are two of these general capabilities and are of significance for Primary education. At St Margaret’s, our commitment is reflected in the addition of a mathematics specialist teacher and a reading and writing coach. These teachers, in collaboration with the classroom teachers, have supported students in developing their literacy and numeracy skills. These skills will be tested next week in the National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN).

On 11, 12 and 13 May, the Years 3 and 5 students will participate in NAPLAN. Each of the literacy and numeracy tests is conducted over three morning sessions over the three days. On the first day, the students will complete the language conventions and writing component, day 2 the focus will be reading and day 3 will focus on numeracy.

The feedback provided to schools from the test results is useful when used to review curriculum and identify areas for further development. It is also important to note that this is one test at one point in time and teachers use this information, along with a broad range of other formative and summative assessment, in order to plan instruction and learning goals for students.

In preparation for these tests, parents are advised not to pump their child up as you do before a sporting event, but to just encourage your child to do her best. The most significant support your daughter can receive during this time is a good night’s sleep, a healthy and substantial breakfast, the necessary equipment (sharp pencils, erasers etc.) and a drink bottle.

We wish the girls well and know they will put in their very best effort.

Angela Drysdale

Extra-Curricular Music Photos

Students in Music Ensembles will have their photos taken on Monday 10 May in Eton Hall. Students are asked to bring their respective performance uniforms to school, along with their musical instrument. Please click here (PDF 144.7KB) to see the photo schedule.

Music Tour 2022

The Music Department is very excited to offer students the opportunity to join with other student musicians from around the Pacific region in the Rhapsody Rotorua Music Festival which will occur for one week in Rotorua, New Zealand during the June/July holidays in 2022. As part of the festival students will perform in a variety of community and professional settings, as well as participate in numerous music workshops facilitated by professional musicians. Many schools from across the Pacific are involved in the festival with students having the opportunity to interact and build friendships with other music students from the Pacific region. There will also be opportunities to build cultural awareness through special experiences organised by the Festival convenors, as well as experience some fun activities unique to the area. The tour will be open to Secondary students who are involved in the following ensembles: Sister Helen Wind Symphony, Exultate and Chamber Strings.

An information night has been organised for Wednesday 12 May 2021, 6:00pm in The Loft. Further details will be provided at the meeting and there will be the opportunity to ask questions pertaining to the tour. We understand that we are proposing this tour whilst still dealing with our current COVID environment. We are hopeful that by June 2022, travel opportunities to New Zealand will be more stable, particularly given that many more people will have had vaccinations by this time. All tour costs will be refundable should the tour become unviable due to further outbreaks. A draft itinerary is attached (PDF 931.4KB) for your perusal.

We ask that you please RSVP to music@stmargarets.qld.edu.au if you are interested in attending the information evening to assist in preparing for the event. We look forward to having many girls involved!

Music Support Group

The next Music Support Group meeting will be held on Tuesday 25 May 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

At the physical level, we can clearly see this. In the absence of regular cardiovascular exercise (a form of stress) the heart’s ability to efficiently pump blood will decrease. Likewise, in the absence of strength training and/or skill training we will have limited ability in these areas. Therefore, making the old adage ring true ‘use it or lose it’!

Balance is the key, by incorporating stress with intermittent rest will enable each and every one of us to achieve to the best of our abilities. So, I ask the student body how could they regularly push beyond their comfort zone in the sporting arena and then deliberately renew, as this must ultimately be the path to success!

QGSSSA Cross Country – 9 Days and Counting!!

With only 9 days to go, the Cross Country squad is putting the final touches on their preparation in the lead up to the QGSSSA Competition on Saturday 15 May. Over the past 15 weeks, the squad have run countless kilometres around the streets of Ascot and Clayfield, racing up Queens Road, destroying Bonney Avenue and dominating the repetitions at Oriel/Crosby Park every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday morning in an effort to achieve a great team result.

Details of the QGSSSA Cross Country Competition is as follows:

Date: Saturday 15 May

Venue: Rivermount College, Yatala. Entrance off Rivermount Drive, Yatala

Events:

8:30am 17 Years and over, 3000 metres

9:00am 12 Years and under, 3000 metres

9:30am 13 Years, 3000 metres

10:00am 14 Years, 3000 metres

10:30am 15 Years, 3000 metres

11:00am 16 Years, 3000 metres

Presentations: 11:20am

Please note, all squad members are expected to stay and enjoy a post-race celebration of cupcakes and presentation of awards from Head Coach, Eric Brown.

QGSSSA Cross Country Spectators – Years 7, 8 and 10

All Secondary students are required to attend two major inter-school sporting events as supporters. The QGSSSA Cross Country is the second major sporting event of the year and as there were no student spectators allowed at QGSSSA Swimming in Term 1, students from Year 7, Year 8 and Year 10 are requested to attend. Please click here (PDF 300.3KB) for further information.

Autumn Fixtures

Teams from all sports will experience several mid-week and Friday afternoon games over the next two weeks. Please ensure you check the draws found on each individual sport POD page. Round 6 on Friday 7 May will involved teams playing St Peters Lutheran College and Brisbane Girls Grammar School at away venues. Good luck to all teams for a super week of sport.

Helen Lobegeiger

Lisa Smith

Pre-Prep and Prep

Sports Uniform - fleecy top and pants or jumper, brown socks and joggers from home (compulsory)

Year 1

Sports Uniform - fleecy top and pants or jumper

Middy Uniform - jumper

Year 2

Sports Uniform - either fleecy top and pants or tracksuit jacket and pants or jumper

Middy Uniform - jumper

Years 3 to 9

Sports Uniform - tracksuit jacket and pants or jumper

Middy Uniform - jumper

Year 10 to Year 12

Sports Uniform - tracksuit top and pants or jumper

Middy Uniform - jumper, blazer (compulsory)

Tights and scarf are available for all year levels.

Sport

The following items are now back in stock and are available for purchase:

• Netball Dresses
• Netball Bike Pants
• Visors
• Touch Football Singlets

Trading Hours

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8:00am-2:00pm

Wednesday 10:am-5:00pm

Kielee Alcantara

Begin your morning with incredible views of the City, networking on St Margaret’s Arts Centre Terraces. You will then enjoy a sit-down breakfast by our talented catering team, and listen to our guest speaker, Nicole Hollows, discuss how she got ‘comfortable in high heels and safety boots’.

Nicole is an experienced Senior Executive, with a career spanning over 20 years in the resources sector. Nicole was the Chief Executive Officer of Sunwater, Managing Director of global resources firm AMCI Australia and Southeast Asia and Chief Executive Officer of Macarthur Coal Limited (which, under her leadership, grew from $700 million to $5 billion market capitalisation and was listed on the ASX Top 50 Companies Index).

Date: Wednesday 12 May 2021

Time: 7:00am arrival – 8:45am finish

Enjoy Barista Coffee from a Wolff Coffee Roasters cart, before and after the event

Location: St Margaret's Anglican Girls School, 11 Petrie Street, Ascot

Tickets: $80 Adult, $40 Student (Tertiary, Years 10-12)

Tickets are available for purchase via Flexischools. Alternatively, please contact the Development Office on developmentandcommunity@stmargarets.qld.edu.au or 07 3862 0767.

We sincerely thank our generous corporate sponsors:

Major Sponsor: Pitcher Partners

Associate Sponsors: Programmed Property Services, Wolff Coffee Roasters

Supporting Partners: Downer Group, NAB, Clear Insurance, O’Reilly Shaw Lawyers and Red Oak Teamwear

P&F General Meeting – Monday 10 May

The next P&F Association General Meeting will be held on Monday 10 May from 6:30pm. The P&F Association meet once a term to share views and ideas, and all parents are encouraged to join these meetings throughout the year.

This meeting will be held face to face in the Arts Centre Foyer and there will also be the ability to join the meeting remotely via MS Teams. A link will be communicated via the P&F POD Page and St Margaret’s website at the end of this week.

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.

Lindsay Khushal

Year 13 online Career Expo

The Year13 Expo will again be virtual from 17-19 May. The Expo is a free, 100% online careers exhibition. Hear about your dream career from experts in their industry and explore exhibitors across work, study and travel. Click here for more information and to register.

Bursaries for female students

The National Council of Women of Queensland has launched its 2021 bursary program for female students. Visit the website for more information and to download the application form. Applications close on 2 June 2021.

Get fit and pass the Australian Defence Force (ADF) fitness test

During the application process you’ll be assessed through (1) completion of a questionnaire relating to your medical history, (2) a physical examination, and (3) a Pre-entry Fitness Assessment (PFA). The Are you fit to join the Australian Defence Force brochure will assist you to start preparing for the ADF fitness assessment.

School subjects and how they relate to job options

An early step in career exploration is to develop a list of jobs you are interested in. One way to start is to think about the school subjects you most enjoy. Accessing the subject Bullseye Posters from the myfuture website will help you find jobs that are related to the subjects you like.

Virtual Work Experience with the CSIRO

Gain first-hand, relevant work experience in a scientific environment to shape your future by joining CSIRO's virtual work experience program. Virtual work experience allows Years 10, 11 or 12 students to undertake science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) projects. Click here to see if you are eligible and find out more.

Brisbane Careers and Employment Expo

All Years 10 and 11 students will attend the Brisbane Careers and Employment Expo on Friday 21 May. The event is being held on 21 and 22 May 2021 and is a leading careers, training and education event in Queensland. It offers the opportunity for students to connect with organisations for guidance, clarity and opportunities in relation to career options. Please click here for more details.

Durack College Associate Program

Durack College is excited to announce its newest initiative: The Durack College Associate Program. Durack College Associate members live outside the College but can call Durack ‘home’ while at university and enjoy the benefits of College life.

Becoming a Durack College Associate also provides social connections within the Durack College community. It is great for students who are commuting to university, new to Brisbane or living in accommodation where meeting like-minded women is difficult. Find out more here.

2021 Tertiary Studies Expo reminder

The annual Brisbane Tertiary Studies Expo (TSXPO), Australia's largest tertiary studies expo, offers a unique opportunity for anyone interested in starting, changing or upgrading their career. It will be held at the Royal International Convention Centre, Brisbane Showgrounds on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 July 2021 from 10am to 4pm.

Liz Johnston