eNews Archive Issue 21 - 20 July 2023

Tomorrow is St Margaret’s Day, a very special day in our calendar each year. We will be marking the day with an assembly, house activities including house cakes and lunch, and with the annual St Margaret’s Day run. At the St Margaret’s Day assembly, we will announce the 2023/2024 patron of the school. I will announce the patron in next week’s newsletter.

Photography in the school

The taking, storing, distribution and publication of photographs also brings with it concerns about security and privacy.

St Margaret’s uses an online content management system called pixevety (with security and privacy at its heart) to both store photos and give parents secure access to view and download photographs dependent on the publication permissions provided by the parents for their child.

Every year, we remind current parents they can review the settings (for example, as students get older, if parents have initially chosen very strict settings, they may choose to relax those somewhat). We also introduce new parents to the platform and ask them to create an account and provide their explicit consent to the permission settings – if they choose not to, it is assumed they consent to the default settings that the school has set. See below for these settings.

St Margaret’s has also developed an Image Consent Policy to formalise our procedures in regard to photo permissions and school photography in general.

The policy also contains some information and cautionary advice around other parents taking, storing and distributing photos on behalf of other parents.

It is important to note that while informal arrangements may be in place between parents to take and share photographs, the school has no control nor can take any responsibility over the security of the storing and distributing of these photos, and parents entering into any agreements or allowing other parents to photograph their child do so at their own risk.

In addition, if parents are on campus taking photographs, the school may ask the parent to desist if the actions are disturbing any proceedings or impeding any official school photographer who is employed or contracted to capture images of the event.

The school runs any images taken by the school through the pixevety facial recognition tool and publishes those photos in accordance with the permissions in place.

The Image Consent Policy is available on the website under policies and is provided here (PDF 234.3KB) for your information. If you have concerns or queries around this general topic, or need assistance with the pixevety platform, please contact our Director of Marketing and Communications Ms Wendy Johnston via email in the first instance at wjohnston@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.

Karen Gorrie

Gratitude is defined as ‘affirming that there are good things in the world – gifts and benefits that we’ve received – and recognising that these sources of goodness come from outside ourselves’ (Zakrzewski, 2013).

Gratitude has physical, psychological and social benefits and it is also an element of our spiritual practices. There is emerging research that gratitude provides a potential bridge between students’ academic and social well-being. It has been found that grateful youth have higher results, experience more positive emotions and ultimately go on to live more meaningful lives. Research also suggests that practising gratitude at a young age promotes later development of self-control and self-regulation, both qualities that contribute to lifelong success. For egocentric, 6- and 7-year-old children, gratitude can be fostered but it doesn’t fully materialise until ages 10-14 when students develop the ability to empathise.

Teachers and parents have a significant role in encouraging children, at any age, to say why they are grateful.  Adults should model this (being grateful) again and again and encourage children to think more deeply in terms of why they’re grateful for someone or something. When a child or young adult expresses gratitude, it is recommended that the adult should encourage them to notice intentions (the thought behind the gift that they have received), appreciate costs (someone went out of their way or made sacrifices to help them) and recognise the benefits (someone provided them with a gift or a kind act that has personal value).   

Gratitude is found to have a close link with building resilience, people who practise gratitude, often face problems and challenges in their lives with resilience. They also have an ability to reframe problems as a possibility for growth. For some, resilience is innate. However, as it involves behaviours, thoughts, and actions, it can be taught and learnt, especially through practising being grateful. As a parent, you may wish to encourage your child to begin an evening ritual of recording in a gratitude journal. Engaging in this practice encourages gratitude and, in turn, helps to build resilience.

The key points for every evening are:

1. Record your daily tasks – tick when you achieve it – by doing this

• you feel grounded and in control
• it builds self-regulation (I have achieved, I am in control)

1. Appreciation

• Focus on things you appreciate about yourself – it builds self-worth

1. Gratitude

• Record three things that went well for you today and/or you are grateful for

1. What are you looking forward to most about tomorrow?

If you would like to read more about this area, a great but simple read is The Resilience Project Finding Happiness through Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness by Hugh Van Cuylenburg.

Gratitude does start with the adults in a child’s life. When an adult models gratitude, the adult is encouraging the child to do the same and together both will value others more and strengthen relationships. So can I just say, thank you for reading this article!

Angela Drysdale

NAIDOC Week Celebrations

This week we celebrated NAIDOC Week with a focus on this year’s theme: ‘For our Elders’. We were privileged to have Aunty Rev’d Dianne Langham join us for four days this week. Aunty Di is the Director of Reconciliation for the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle. She is also secretary of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Anglican Council and an Anglican priest in the Diocese of Newcastle. She has been ordained for over 21 years and was the first Aboriginal woman in the Newcastle Diocese to be ordained. She was a chaplain in Corrective Services NSW for 20 years and prior to that, a chaplain in Juvenile Justice. Aunty Di is a Boandik woman and part of the Stolen Generations history of this country, now living and working in the lands of the Awabakal and Wanaruah peoples.

Aunty Di spoke at our NAIDOC Assembly, ran RVE Masterclasses with Years 11 and 12 students and spent time talking with students. We also had the privilege of having Turrbal Elder, Songwoman Maroochy Barambah at our NAIDOC Assembly where she offered us a Welcome to Country. Songwoman Maroochy is a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne. She is an internationally-renowned opera singer and was the first Australian to perform at the United Nations in New York in 1993 in honour of the International Year for the World’s Indigenous People.

 

Rev’d Jazz Dow

Our celebrations started with an Assembly on Tuesday, followed by lunch time activities on Circular Drive. On Wednesday, boarders enjoyed an evening screening of Rabbit Proof Fence on Circular Drive. Our First Nations secondary students also spent time in the primary school sharing their knowledge and culture. This week is spearheaded by our First Nations students along with the RAP committee. As someone who gets an inside look into the daily lives of boarders beyond the school gate, I know the number of hours that our First Nations students (many of which are boarders) have dedicated in preparing for this event.

For me personally, one of the highlights of this week has been that several parents have been able to travel to St Margaret’s to watch their daughters perform and run the activities. Our visitors have travelled as far as the Torres Strait, nearly 2,500km from Brisbane, and have caught ferries and multiple flights to be with us. For some, due to the length of travel required, this is the first time they have returned to St Margaret’s since their daughter began their boarding journey with us. On behalf of the Boarding House, I’d like to thank these families for taking the time to be part of the festivities and for their generosity in sharing their culture and stories with us.

  

  

Hannah Calcino

In acknowledgement of the enormous effort our First Nations students have invested in sharing their culture with us and creating special events such as this week’s NAIDOC Week activities, we have created a new position of Student Co-Chair of the Reconciliation Action Plan Committee. This position will be announced at the NAIDOC Week assembly each year. We are so excited to have Charli Jones as our very first Student Co-Chair of the Reconciliation Action Plan Committee.

Year 12 2024 Parent Information Evening

In Week 4, we will be holding the Year 12 2024 Parent Information Evening. The purpose of this evening is to explain the QCE system in more detail and to provide more information regarding the girls’ final year of school. This event will be recorded for any parents unable to make the evening in person. Please keep an eye out on the POD for more information.

Caitlin McCluskey

A reminder that SSS operates on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings from 5:00pm to 7:30pm. Parents do have the option of purchasing dinner ($12.50) for their daughters from the boarding house at the time of booking. Bookings close at 9:00am on the day, unless the maximum number (25) is reached prior to this point, so I do recommend parents book in early to avoid missing out.

The purpose of these sessions is to provide girls with a quiet and well-resourced space that is conducive to productive homework and study time. Each SSS will be staffed by up to two tutors, who offer advice and guidance on how to plan effectively for upcoming assessments. The SSS tutor group is made up of ten young women who are currently studying at university and have much to offer our girls in the way of study skills.

For students attending SSS after an afternoon of sport, transport is available to and from Windsor Park. For those staying on after school to attend SSS, the Eunice Centre is open until 5pm prior to the commencement of the study sessions.

Parent Teacher Interviews

I would like to thank parents, carers, students and teachers on the collaborative and congenial way in which they engaged at Secondary Parent Teacher Interviews last week. The start of a new semester is always an opportune time for students to be introspective on the successes and challenges from their previous semester, and to consider practical steps they can take for improvement.

To this end, over the coming weeks all Years 7 to 12 students will be working with their Academic Advisors or Form Teachers to map out their Learning Pathsfor Semester 2 on Learning Analytics, which includes the development of three S.M.A.R.T. goals. Progression towards these goals will be evaluated by the students throughout the semester, and I would warmly welcome them becoming a source of discussion at the dinner table.

NAPLAN 2023

Last week, NAPLAN results were released to schools and, once again, St Margaret’s has performed exceptionally well in all areas when compared to the state average. The 2023 overall school results can be viewed here on the school’s website.

This year, student achievement will be reported to parents using proficiency standards for each assessment area at each year level. The standards are set at a challenging but reasonable expectation of what students know and can do at the time of testing. For further information on this new reporting system, a Parent Information Brochure is available here. 

The school will send individual reports home to students once they are received. 

Congratulations to all students on their efforts. I would also like to thank our dedicated teaching staff for their ongoing commitment to excellent education for our students.

Assessment Planners

Years 7 to 10 Semester 2 Assessment Planners were published this week on the respective Year Level POD Pages.

Chris Dunn

Interestingly, themes emerged among the applications for positions of student leadership this year. Applicants refer to the strong example set by the Sisters of the Society of the Sacred Advent (SSA). Since its inception, the SSA has been responsible for the establishment and nurturing of several schools and children's homes throughout Queensland. We are fortunate enough to be able to have on-going contact with the Sisters through special functions held at St Margaret's. Our students look to the Sisters for their example of servant leadership and the care and compassion with which they lead. Previous student leaders have also served as strong role models to our current student leaders.

From those examples and experiences, the current students have an enhanced understanding of leadership. Their personal observation helps them to understand that leadership entails duty, a sense of service, as well as involvement with younger students. As a consequence of watching those who have previously held leadership positions, the 2023 Senior cohort have noted the benefits of leading students in younger year levels. Discussions have highlighted the need to balance study commitments with leadership responsibilities and the demands of having to be a role model "all the time". Real women in positions of leadership have featured in a number of conversations during the leadership process.

 

The upcoming School Captain interview process allows the interview panel to learn more about the outstanding personal qualities of the students making application for School Captains. These students always show such confidence, energy, wisdom, along with other personal qualities, and so providing me with the assurance that there is great capacity in our student body. Our current student leaders show us that leadership is the ability to bring a group of people together and work toward a common goal. We watch them motivate and guide others, bringing the best qualities out of each person and using their talents for the betterment of the group.

Research has shown that kindness reduces stress hormones and when we see the happiness we have brought to another it releases chemicals in our brains that increase trust and reduce fear and anxiety. I reminded students to remember The St Margaret’s Way when they come to school each day and to reflect on these key tenets: ‘How do I want to feel every day when I come to school’ and ‘What am I doing to ensure others can also feel this way.’ 

NAPLAN 2023 

Last week NAPLAN results were released to schools. Once again St Margaret’s has performed well above the state averages in all areas. While we are yet to receive Individual Student Reports for parents, we expect them soon.

This year parents will be reported to in a different format. Achievement is now reported using four proficiency standards for each assessment area at each year level. The standards are set at a challenging but reasonable expectation of what students know and can do at the time of testing. For further information on this new reporting system, a Parent Information Brochure is available here. 2023 overall school results can be viewed on the school’s website here.

Thank you and congratulations to all of our community for their contributions to our girls’ academic results. 

Kate Frewin

The Year 6 students participated in our first-ever Canberra Immersion Day, in which their class teachers Mrs Stevenson, Mrs Calcutt, Mrs Cameron and Mr Chia walked the students through a range of practical activities to equip them with the essential knowledge to engage with the many places and people they encountered while in Canberra. It was evident this had been a success because the students were informed, inquisitive and insightful ambassadors while we were away. A special thank you to the class teachers for their work in the lead up and while down south, as well as to Mrs Singleton and Mrs Brennan who, along with me, also had the pleasure of joining the Year 6 students and class teachers in Canberra.

The Year 5 students engaged in a Leadership Activities Day at school the week before camp. This was designed to get them into the headspace required for their ‘Character Builders’ activities the next week. Mrs Drysdale conducted a session on public speaking and how to gain and maintain an audience’s attention, students participated in a Mindfulness session with an external provider and the Year 5 class teachers Mrs Briggs, Mrs Wilson, Mrs Anders and Mr Howard ran a range of sessions including using role plays to problem solve and confront dilemmas, documenting leadership hopes and goals for the camera, rock wall climbing and team building activities as well as a scavenger hunt. A pizza lunch, art and band sessions rounded out the day. Special thanks to Ms Rowe, Mrs Rider, Ms Stewart, Ms Cohen and Dr Syntageros who also contributed to the activities.

One of the sessions on the Year 5 day that I ran focused on the ‘Power of Stories’ when it comes to the students establishing their understanding of what leadership is and means to them as they begin to develop their identity and self-concept as a leader. Often when it comes to contemplating leadership roles the students are still at a crossroads as to whether leadership is something they would like to or feel they can pursue, so we consulted some familiar sources to assist. Students worked with known and loved books ranging from Oh, the Places You’ll Go! by Dr Seuss to The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper and The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein to identify themes, messages and morals about leadership that were present within picture books. As you begin to engage in conversations with your daughters about leadership opportunities and their transition to secondary school, I encourage you to consult your bookshelf, as there may be some great starting points for consideration lying within the illustrated pages.

Annette Box 

Feel free to bring along a picnic blanket/snacks to enjoy whilst listening to the performances. Plenty of chairs and stools will also be made available for audience members. Thank you to the Music Support Group who are organising food for purchase which will include hot dogs, fairy floss, popcorn and cold drinks (soft drinks/water/juices). We are also hoping to provide a coffee van for the event. This will be an exciting event for the students to be involved in and we look forward to having many in the audience to support the performances!

Concert Bands & Percussion Ensemble

11:30am           Chaseley Concert Band

11.40am           Jackson Wind Ensemble

11.50am           Elayne Jones Percussion Ensemble

12.00pm           Sister Helen Wind Symphony

12:10pm           COMBINED BAND PERFORMANCE

String Ensembles

12:30pm           Tutti Strings

12:40pm           Amati Strings

12:50pm           Stradivari Strings

1:00pm             Sculthorpe String Quartet

1:05pm             Chamber Strings

1:15pm             COMBINED STRINGS PERFORMANCE

Choirs, Rock Bands and Dance Groups

1:30pm             Serenata

1:40pm             Belle Voci

1:50pm             Chorale

2:00pm             Ballare

2:05pm             Encorah

2:15pm             Volare

2:25pm             Exultate

2:35pm             COMBINED CHORAL PERFORMANCE

2:45pm             Stage Band

2:55pm             Highly Strung

3:05pm             Monday Rock Band

3:15pm             Tuesday Rock Band

Classics in the Cathedral

The St Margaret’s Music Department is excited to announce that Classics in the Cathedral will be held in St John’s Anglican Cathedral on Tuesday 15 August. This is an evening of beautiful music, performed by St Margaret’s Music ensembles within a spectacular setting and is one of the school’s very special performance events. Tickets will go on sale from Monday 24 July and must be purchased online via TryBooking (https://www.trybooking.com/CIZXA). The cost for an adult ticket is $30 with no charge for children/students (all attending the concert however must be registered on TryBooking, including children/students). Please print your ticket or download on an electronic device (e.g. mobile phone) to present upon entrance at the concert. All tickets must be pre-purchased as tickets will not be available at the door. A letter with more details is attached. (PDF 450.9KB) We look forward to having many in attendance at this special event.

Music Support Group – Next Meeting

The next Music Support Group meeting will be held on Tuesday 8 August at 5:00pm in M’s Cafe. We encourage parents from both primary and secondary schools to become involved.

Brad King

We would greatly appreciate the support of our wider St Margaret's community with this initiative. If willing, please stock up on healthy, fresh, locally made pasta products for your growing athlete, busy family and staff lunches. 

Angelo’s Fresh Pasta Products is a family-owned company that has been producing authentic quality pasta in Brisbane since 1968. Angelo’s uses only the freshest and finest of ingredients, the best quality Durum Semolina and farm fresh eggs in all their products.

They have lots of products to choose from to suit your family:

•           Individual meals, ready to heat;

•           Family pasta meals, ready to heat;

•           Dry pasta for your pantry;

•           Frozen filled pasta; and

•           Pasta sauces.

Pasta orders can be made through the following link: St Margaret's 2023 Winter Pasta Drive Tickets | TryBooking Australia

Downey Park Netball

Last weekend, our students competed in the Downey Park Netball Association's Indigenous Round which commenced with a smoking ceremony and Welcome to Country. 

Pictured are our St Margaret's 1 and 3 teams, wearing their Indigenous bibs.

  

Sporting Achievement

It’s with great pleasure that we 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 achievements:

• Ella Hagenbach (Year 10) represented Queensland Gold at the 2023 Hockey Australia U18 Championships in Hobart. We congratulate Ella on her representation and look forward to seeing her take to the field within the QGSSSA Open Team this term.
• Lucy Bourke (Year 12) represented Queensland in the ASRU Rugby 7’s Australian Championships. Lucy was named captain of this team and her performances at the championships were recognised with her being named in the Australian Schoolgirls Merit Squad. Lucy is only weeks away from representing Australia at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago. We wish Lucy all the best and cannot wait to share her experiences.

• Tiffany-Rose Kimeklis (Year 12) has been selected to represent Australia’s Youth Women’s Futsal Team that shall compete in China later in the year. We wish Tiffany-Rose all the best and look forward to sharing her experiences.
• Nicole McNeil (Year 7) recently represented Queensland in gymnastics at the Border Challenge. Competing in the Level 7 category Nicole won the vault event and finished 3rd on the floor. Her Queensland team won the overall team gold medal. Congratulations Nicole.
• Madison Jones (Year 10) represented Queensland at the 2023 Australian Gymnastics Championships held on the Gold Coast. Madison competed in the WAG Level 10 Competition. Her Queensland team finished on the podium with the bronze medal. We congratulate Madison on her achievements.
• Charlotte Perry (Year 9) represented Queensland in water polo at the U14 East Coast Challenge in Melbourne over the holiday break. Charlotte’s team played some competitive matches and overall improved throughout the competition. We look forward to seeing Charlotte bring her skills back to the St Margaret’s water polo program in Term 4.

Sport Awards Evening – Representative Achievements

Within our St Margaret’s Sport Awards Evening we recognise and acknowledge the achievements of students who represent team Queensland and Australia within their respective School Sport and Club Sport Pathways.

Given club sport is external to St Margaret’s we do appreciate students and/or parents/guardians notifying the Activities Office of student representation at this level. Recognition is acknowledged of those students who are selected and compete within a representative Queensland or Australian team.

If your daughter has represented at this level, could you please share details with myself via email by Friday 8 September: lknight@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.

GO MAGGIES!

Lloyd Knight

Students will combine their drawing skills, creative thinking and newfound digital skills with Illustrator to create an expression of self.

Please email Mrs Shaw BShaw@stmargarets.qld.edu.au to secure a place.

  

SmART Club Term 3

SmART Club is back for another term and is open to ALL students from Years 7-12 (not just Art students).

When: Thursday afternoons between 3:30pm - 4:30pm, commences Week 3

Where: V103 with Mrs Hulme

Students will explore technical drawing – from fashion sketches to architectural buildings.

Please email Mrs Hulme lhulme@stmargarets.qld.edu.au to secure a place.

  

Our students had an incredible time exploring, learning, and having fun during their break from school. We embarked on three fantastic excursions to the bowling alley, the cinema, and Inflatable World! These outings provided our students with valuable opportunities to bond, develop their social skills, and enjoy exciting adventures together.

 

We took great pride in celebrating NAIDOC Week, where we embraced and honoured the rich Indigenous culture and history of our country. Our students actively participated in various activities that allowed them to delve into the beauty and significance of NAIDOC Week, as well as learn more about its significance.

 

We took the cooler weather as an opportunity to spend some time indoors and get creative with a wide range of craft activities. From origami to clay, our students had a fantastic time experimenting with different materials and techniques, unleashing their imagination, and creating unique works of art. Our students took full advantage of the chilly weather, participating in winter-themed games, building crafty snowmen, and enjoying warm treats.

 

We want to give a big shoutout to all our amazing students for bringing so much positivity and enthusiasm to the program! We are so proud of their willingness to try new things and embrace every opportunity. We would also like to express our gratitude to the dedicated staff who made the program such a great success. Their commitment, passion, and care provided our students with a safe and nurturing environment where they could explore, learn, and grow.

Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to sharing more of our exciting adventures and experiences with you in the future.

Jane has had the opportunity to be at the forefront of innovation and energy transition initiatives, providing customers with alternate, lower emission energy options. Prior to her current role, she led the development of LNG as an alternative fuel across Asia Pacific which provided her and the family an amazing cultural experience. She is passionate about customers and seeing people achieve their potential.

Event Details

Date: Thursday 24 August 2023
Time: 6.45am arrival for 7.00am - 8.45am
Location: Arts Centre Foyer, St Margaret's Anglican Girls' School, 11 Petrie Street, Ascot
Format: Sit down breakfast  
We also invite you to enjoy Barista Coffee from the Wolff Coffee Roasters cart, before and after the event!
Tickets: $85 Adult, $40 Student (Years 10-12/Tertiary).  
Corporate tables: $850 (10 seats), includes company logo displayed on table and acknowledgement during event.
To purchase tickets or a corporate table: Click here

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.

Lara Pickering