eNews Archive Issue 17 - 11 June 2020

We now plan to set up a community holiday directory which will take a similar format to our current Team St Margaret’s Business Directory we launched earlier this year, which you can view here. To advertise on either directory, please supply a logo, around 75 words of text and contact details (phone, email and web address). You may also wish to supply an additional flyer or brochure (pdf format) for people to download. If you email these details to the Director of Marketing and Communications, Wendy Johnston: wjohnston@stmargarets.qld.edu.au, we will ensure the information is available on our website for our broader community. Please state your relationship to the school in your email (e.g. current family, supplier etc).

This is just one way which our community can support its members. If you do book a place advertised on the directory, please let them know that you are from St Margaret’s. Please click on the link to view the holiday directory.

This is just another reminder that the last day of Term 2 and the first day of Term 3 are no longer staff days. Students are required to attend school on these days. By turning these days into normal school days, we have now made up time lost at the end of Term 1 when schools closed due to COVID-19 restrictions and extended the Easter break.

Ros Curtis

Students in Year 9 in 2021 are able to take subjects in a major or minor strand, and students in Year 11 2021 should be choosing subjects according to what they enjoy and what they are good at; these are the ones that will put them in the best position to achieve well in years to come. We also have set criteria in terms of groups of subjects students should choose from – this is to give our students the best possible chance of achieving their potential and open up as many pathways as possible after Year 12 and beyond.

Students in Years 6, 8, and 10 have now all received online subject selection forms through their school emails. Their choices are due by Friday 12 June 2020.

Students in Year 7 will receive their online subject selection form early next term, and are to choose 2 of the following subjects to study in Year 8: Drama, Music and Visual Art.

Students in Year 8 are to choose 2 minors and 1 major subject they would like to study for the following 2 years.

Students in Year 10 are to choose their pathway for Years 11 and 12.

If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to contact me, or our Acting Dean of Studies and Acting Dean of Academic Performance.

Karen Gorrie

Jesus encouraged his followers not to worry too much about tomorrow. While we need to plan and organise things, that’s the way life works, perhaps the pandemic has taught us to enjoy the gift of the present moment and for now that is enough.

Susan Crothers-Robertson

The following all contribute to wellbeing and resilience:

Finding your strengths and using them: personal characteristics which allow us to perform well or at our personal best.

Mindfulness and meditation: increase empathy and compassion, improves immune functioning, increased happiness and optimism, and improved sleep.

Gratitude: allows us to recognise good in our life. Focusing on and appreciating the good in our lives constantly reminds us about the great things around us.

Lifestyle: sleep, exercise and diet.

Sandra Johnson

Year 12 Road Map to External Assessment

Next week, all Year 12 students will receive a calendar that will provide information for their final semester at school. The calendar will outline dates for events, assessments (both internal and external), the end of Term 3 external exam practice and details regarding the organisation and planning for the first week of the September Holidays. We will also send a copy home via email for all Year 12 parents.

Year 10 Subject Selection for 2021

As mentioned by Karen Gorrie, subject selections are due tomorrow for all Year 10 students. This week, I have met with Year 10 students who are finalising their decisions, and a few common themes have arisen out of these conversations. It is important to remember that it is not the subject that does the work for the ATAR, it is the student and the work they put in. It is better to be working in subjects that they enjoy and are good at, rather than being in subjects they find hard and demotivating. Remembering that the Year 11 and 12 years are a marathon and not a sprint. Each student needs to work and maintain a sustained effort in all their classes, and this is easier if they are subjects they enjoy and are good at. I have found in my conversations with the Year 10 students that this has been clouded by the concept of Inter Subject Scaling. Again, I have been advising all students to concentrate on the subjects that they enjoy and will achieve well in. For example, I would not choose all the maths and science subjects to study if they are subjects that I don’t enjoy or don’t achieve well in. It would be fine for me to choose some of these, but balancing them with other subjects that I enjoy and achieve well in would be better for me. Another example of this is, if I am a very talented artist and it is my passion and I am good at Maths, I would not choose Specialist Maths over Visual Art because Specialist Maths ‘scales’ better. If, however, I am very good at Maths and can achieve highly in that subject, I should choose Specialist Maths over Visual Art.

Selecting subjects for Years 11 and 12 is a very exciting and daunting time, please remember that we will continue to support you and your daughter through her senior schooling to ensure the subjects she chooses now are the best for her as she moves through Years 11 and 12.

Nicole Devlin

ICAS is designed to target students’ higher order thinking and problem-solving skills in a variety of subjects.

Each assessment celebrates students’ accomplishments by providing opportunities for recognition. Every student will receive a printed certificate and an online result report. Top performers will be eligible for medals and are invited to attend special award ceremonies to have their academic excellence publicly recognised.

You may wish to consider entering your child into ICAS this year:

• Science: 20 August
• English: 27 August
• Maths: 3 September

Please note, ICAS has cancelled the Writing assessment for 2020.

Each assessment costs $15.95 (including GST), and these can be paid for via Flexischools. The closing date for applications is 15 July 2020.

Tom McCormick

Students who do not get enough sleep show increased levels of aggressive behaviour, are less attentive and are much less active. Trying to catch up on sleep on weekends is not the answer and can still lead to severe sleep deprivation. Recent studies have shown than many children, especially teenagers, are missing out on vital REM sleep, which is particularly important for memory and learning. For more information regarding sleep, parents are encouraged to access the Parent Resource Tile, SchoolTV on the POD.

End of Term

Please note that the end of Term is next Friday 19 June 2020 at 3pm.

Nikki Townsend

Acknowledging these students provided a segue into sharing a book, called “Maybe”, which focuses on finding the potential you hold inside, but to do this you need to work. There is a lot of research about natural talent versus hard work and it is hard work that wins. However, it is not just any type of hard work. It is more than getting the work done. It is trying to get better at it. Hard work is about seeing every task as an opportunity to improve and build on feedback from others, for example, teachers and coaches. Dedicated work and feedback are the paths on the journey to better results.

Here are some tips for students to take on that journey:

• Approach each sporting practice and school task with the goal of getting much better at it.
• As you do the task, focus on what’s happening and why you’re doing it the way you are.
• After the task, ask your teacher for feedback.
• Make changes in your work as necessary.
• Practise the changes.
• Do these things all the time, not just now and then.
• Think about your future and the jobs you will be able to do, the life you want to lead.

I encourage you to talk to your child about these tips.

“What if you are only scratching the surface of what you can do and who you can be?”

“Maybe” by Kobi Yamada

Angela Drysdale

Brad King

All participants are to be congratulated on their efforts, which resulted in numerous top 10 placings and all teams placing in the top 3. Congratulations!

Individual Event:

12 Years: Priya Madders - 3rd; Charli Spies - 7th

13 Years: Annabel Bright - 1st; Matilda Lee - 2nd; Milla Roberts - 3rd; Millie Campbell - 5th; Ruby East - 6th; Lily Alford - 10th

14 Years: Brogan Tomich - 1st; Lucy Piggott - 6th

15 Years: Isabella Harte - 1st; Tayden Tomich - 2nd

16 Years: Skyla Tomich - 2nd; Sophie Sorenson - 4th; Taylor Duncan - 7th

17 Years: Chloe Fenwicke - 1st; Julia Elks - 5th

18 Years: Ciana Jamieson - 3rd

Team Event:

12 Years: Priya Madders, Charli Spies, Lucy Dee, Kate Greenwood – 1st

13 Years A: Ruby East, Milla Roberts, Matilda Lee, Annabel Bright – 1st

13 Years B: Lily Alford, Millie Campbell, Molly Robson, Eden Carey – 3rd

14 Years: Brogan Tomich, Sofia Fajardo Martinez, Sarah Sorenson, Lucy Piggott – 2nd

15 Years A: Tayden Tomich, Isabella Hart, Maicey Lynch, Sally Bambling – 1st

15 Years B: Emily Millar, Aimee Young, Kate Ryan, Jemima Rice – 2nd

16 Years: Skyla Tomich, Taylor Duncan, Sophie Sorenson, Lucinda Geldard – 1st

17 Years – Chloe Fenwicke, Julia Elks, Meg Mettam, Alice Boughey – 1st

Term 3 Sport Registrations

Term 3 winter sport is just around the corner and we can’t wait to get started!!  All girls MUST register their intention to participate by Friday 12 June. To register, click on the links below. Further information is available on the Secondary Sport POD page. 

Athletics: Athletics Registration Form

Hockey: Hockey Registration Form

Netball: Netball Registration Form

Rowing: Rowing Registration Form

Tennis: Tennis Registration Form

Volleyball: Volleyball Registration Form

Helen Lobegeiger

We would like to remind you of the following after school art opportunities for Secondary girls in Term 3. Every Monday afternoon, Art Workshop with Ms Smith; Tuesday afternoon, smART Club with Ms Apel; Wednesday afternoon, Digital Art Club with Ms Martens. All sessions run from 3:30pm-5:00pm in V103. There is no cost for these activities and girls do not have to be studying art to participate.

smART Holidays update

The school has decided not to offer the popular smART Holidays Program during the June/July holidays. Since it began eight years ago, this biannual art program has delighted hundreds of students and we look forward to offering another great week of making and creating during the Christmas holidays.

Making, viewing and talking about art delights the senses and feeds the souls of children, and pursuing these activities during the school holidays helps them rest, renew and invigorate. So, trips to the art gallery or drawing at the local creek or park, are activities which will pay dividends in the absence of smART Holidays!

Lisa Smith

Bookings for the St Margaret’s OSHC June/July School Holiday Program have opened. If you require care for the upcoming school holiday period, please return your booking form by 12 June 2020.

How do I book?

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

What is the cost?*

Fees: $65 per day*

Bookings close: 12 June 2020

*Incursions and excursions incur additional costs. These are compulsory for all students and therefore you are able to claim CCS.

What are the hours of operation?

The service is open from 7:00am until 6:00pm.

How can I obtain more information?

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

Palu Ingram

After starting her career in IT and Engineering, Robyn has carved out a highly successful career as a business leader in Asia, starting her company in Singapore, which now works with some of the world’s largest multinationals.

Having experienced the COVID-19 pandemic as a resident in Singapore, Robyn has had to adapt her business in lock down, while supporting clients all around Asia who are all in various situations, ranging from total lock down to freedom.

The recording of the session, hosted by Alison Quinn ('83), Non-Executive Director, CEO and Chair of St Margaret's School Council, can be accessed online via this link.

Robyn kindly shared her perspectives on lessons learnt in steering a business through, and adapting in, a time of crisis; the nexus between mental health and productivity for you and your own staff; and, the long-term impacts from COVID-19.

Queen’s Birthday Honours for past parent and former Chair of Foundation

We congratulate past parent and former Chair of the St Margaret's Foundation, Margot de Groot, for being awarded a Member in the General Division (AM), for significant service to the law, to professional legal bodies, and to women in business. Margot continues to be a strong supporter of and advocate for the school.

Lara Pickering

Queensland Conservatorium's Tertiary Preparation Workshop is now online

If you're in your final years of high school and applying for entry to a university music degree, the Queensland Conservatorium’s Tertiary Preparation Workshop Online Program can help you better prepare for the theoretical and practical requirements of the audition process.

You will have the opportunity to speak to senior academic staff from the Queensland Conservatorium and get degree overviews, audition tips, presentation and performance techniques and what to expect during your first year. For more information, visit: griffith.edu.au/arts-education-law/queensland-conservatorium/opportunities/open-conservatorium/tpw-online.

Lattitude Global Volunteering

A Digital Gap Year Information Package has been produced. You’ll find a video presentation, testimonials from returned students, a reflection activity, as well as links to our brochure, website, and social channels for students to connect and get in touch. To view the digital materials, please click here: Lattitude Digital Gap Year Info Pack.

Torrens University Interactive Online Workshop 22-25 June:

• Business
• Design
• Health
• Hospitality

Visit the Careers POD page for the latest information on:

• Apprenticeships and Traineeships
• Australian Defence Force
• Career Exploration
• Financial Assistance and Scholarships
• Gap Year Program News
• Interstate and International
• Open Days, Expos and Career Markets
• Private Provider Updates
• QTAC and Tertiary Entry
• Universities

Elizabeth Johnston