eNews Archive Issue 23 - 8 August 2019

Julieanne Alroe will share her story about developing her career in aviation, which culminated in being the CEO and Managing Director from Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC). Please join us as Julieanne discusses what motivated her throughout her career and the important lessons learned, which she considers essential in business today.

Whether it is attending with a friend, bringing your daughter along or your organisation purchasing a Corporate Table, we would love to see you there and supporting this important initiative.

Those who purchase Corporate Tables at these events use them to host clients or as a Professional Development opportunity for staff. The speakers are always fantastic, and it is quite a diverse audience in attendance at each event with 150-160 professionals from a range of companies.

With the winter holiday break behind us, Senior students are now beginning to take stock and prepare for 2020; what an exciting time! Many school leavers will continue their educational journey by enrolling in a tertiary course. Some will need accommodation whilst studying in Brisbane.

I thought I’d take this opportunity to let you know that applications are now open for Durack College for the 2020 academic year. If your daughter, or someone you know, is interested in enjoying their independence and freedom as young adults, while being surrounded by a range of support mechanisms which allows them to focus on their studies, then I urge you to consider Durack College.

Nestled in a quiet corner on the St Margaret’s campus, Durack College is a unique tertiary residence for young women offering accommodation and full board and combines this with its unique Student Success program, tailored to young under-graduate and post-graduate students.

Book a tour or find out more by visiting the website or contacting the College Director, Kelly Alford on kalford@durackcollege.com.au.

Ros Curtis 

Once this process is finalised (this takes a few weeks), I will be sending a memo to each girl in Years 8-11 detailing the subjects they are enrolled in for 2020. If they have any queries or changes they would like to make, I urge them to come and see me to make these changes. Again, if subjects are full, I can place them on a waitlist and they will be notified as soon as a position becomes available in that class.

I have had a few students concerned that they are yet undecided on what they want to do after school and so have worried whether they are choosing the correct subjects or not. My response to that is – please don’t worry! It is important to choose subjects that you like or that you are good at.

It is also important to aim high. Mrs Devlin, Mrs Butterworth and I enjoy sitting down with students, looking at their current GPA and helping them set some academic goals.

Most subjects at university have a prerequisite of English, and of course we have that covered in the timetable for each year level. Some specialist courses might also have other prerequisites required for entry, for example a particular science or music/art if heading into these specialist areas.

I encourage students to make an appointment to see Ms Johnston to find out this information if it applies to them. Their classroom teachers and Heads of Faculty are also on hand to answer any questions about subjects for 2020.

Karen Gorrie 

One writer suggests, “we have lost the art of blessing.” Perhaps the word blessing is out of fashion, or even out of date. Another word we use more readily is gratitude. It is a word that we use when describing the St Margaret’s Way. It is suggested that gratitude can impact in a positive way our emotional wellbeing. Last week, there was much gratitude given to the staff and students who offered to have their ponytails cut for the Ponytail Project, and also those who donated to such an important cause. With gratitude, we give thanks and bless the staff, students and families who gave so generously to the Ponytail Project.

Other ways we can be grateful, or show gratitude, is to be thankful for a new day, new beginnings. To be grateful that we have a warm bed to sleep in each night, and food on our table to eat. And if we choose, to ask God’s blessings on the day ahead or as we go to sleep at night. Those moments in our lives that we can so easily take for granted.

John O’Donohue suggests, “to believe in blessing is to believe our being here, our very presence in the world, is itself the first gift, the primal blessing”. It is with gratitude that we have been gifted this life, a blessing not only to ourselves, but to the world around us. May we use that gift wisely.

Reverend Susan Crothers-Robertson 

In Boarding, we encourage the girls to learn and practice important values and skills such as self-respect and other personal values and attitudes, social skills, tolerance and understanding, helpful and optimistic thinking and skills for getting things done. We cannot protect the girls from experiencing difficulties or tough times, but we can give them the skills to deal with difficult situations, take responsibility and move on in a positive manner. Accepting responsibility for their own actions is an important step in their development and shows their growing maturity.

Self-respect grows out of setting standards for behaviour. If your daughter has self-respect, she believes that she matters and should be treated respectfully by others. She’s also more likely to protect herself by avoiding risky behaviour and situations. Empathy, respect for others, kindness, fairness, honesty and cooperation are also linked to resilience. This includes showing care and concern for people who need support, accepting people’s differences, being friendly and not mistreating others.

The girls are faced with different situations daily in boarding and with self-respect and empathy they will become more resilient. We sometimes need to let them sort things out for themselves and learn the skills to deal with difficult situations. This, in the end, will make them more resilient and able to deal with situations independently. In Boarding, our goal is to help the girls on their journey to becoming more resilient, which will in turn prepare them well for when they leave school.

Lesa Fowler

On Tuesday, I emailed all Year 10s to let them know they are able to enter five (5) subjects online and one of these subjects must be English, Literature or English as an Additional Language. Only 5 subjects are required in the calculation of your daughter’s ATAR, so for this reason they can select and focus their studies on these 5 subjects over the next two years. Selecting 5 subjects will also provide your daughters with a line of study which works out to be 6 x 45minute lessons each week. However, if your daughter would like to select 6 subjects, I have asked them to email me with their selection.

Your daughter received an email from the sender ‘noreply@selectmysubjects.com.au’ to complete their subject selection online. Final subject selections are due by 4pm, Friday 9 August 2019. Please email or call if you would like to discuss your daughter’s selection.

Years 11 and 12 Exam Block
Year 11 students will have an Exam Day on Tuesday 20 August. On this day, the girls are only required to attend school for their exams and they must be in full school uniform if they are attending for the exam or to study.

Jo Butterworth

However, I realise that the best advice I provided happened when I let go, and let the girls take charge and make a decision and forge a pathway.

With all our experience as adults we sometimes see beyond the immediate excitement of the decisions made by our daughters and see the implications (often negative) that may happen. It is natural to want to protect; however, it is true that being over cautious can impede growth.

I am not saying that we should let our girls do what they want all the time, they are children and they do need the guiding hand of adults in some situations. However, psychologist Dr Sarah Hughes writes, “You have two ears and one mouth – when it comes to conversations with your teen, be guided by that ratio”.

Remember some of the best learning our daughters have is from us, and the values that we display in our everyday lives. I hope that everyday our girls see the role models in their lives being respectful and passionate about what they do, display integrity and courage in challenging situations and are kind. For it is the skills and behaviours our girls will learn along the way that will allow them to author their own ‘endless essay’.

Nicole Devlin 

As the student leadership process continues this week, one of the questions we will be asking the Year 11 girls who have applied for leadership positions is how they will deal with disappointment if they are not successful in being selected as a leader?

As adults, we are all well aware that life will have its fair share of disappointments and frustrations. At home, reacting to these stressful situations might start with shouting, hiding or feeling sorry for oneself. At school, and in the girl’s future careers, these types of behaviours could in fact harm their reputation.

We must remember that decisions will be made, but it is the individual’s final decision and choice on how they behave and react. Individuals are encouraged to do the following if they find themselves disappointed:

Have a positive mindset – realise that not all things will go your way all of the time, look for something positive.

Adjust your goal – if you are disappointed that you did not reach your goal, that does not mean the goal is unreachable in the future.

Record your thoughts – writing allows your negative feelings to be expressed and released.

Smile and support those who have been successful – this shows a lot more about your character if you can rise above your disappointment and continue to be the best person you can be.

“Disappointments are just God’s way of saying ‘I’ve got something better’. Be patient, Live Life and Have Faith.”

Anonymous

Nikki Townsend

Throughout the year, many of the students have achieved impressing sporting results, which raises the question, “why do some people achieve and not others?” 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 paths to better results. Here are some tips for students to take on that journey:

• Approach each sporting practice or 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. Practice the changes.
• Think about your future and the jobs you will be able to do, the life you want to lead.
• Do these things all the time, not just now and then.

Principals’ Digests Volume 23 Number 25.

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

Angela Drysdale 

Classics in the Cathedral uniform requirements
All students performing at Classics in the Cathedral next week are asked to ensure they have the correct performance uniform.

Primary Chorale: White church dress
Encorah, Stradivari/Chamber Strings, Wind Symphony, Stage Band, Elayne Jones Percussion Ensemble: Black Performance uniform
Exultate: Plum performance uniform

Rock Band Performances
Thank you to our Rock Bands who performed last week at the very special Ponytail Project fundraising event. The rock bands were able to perform a number of pieces and added to the wonderful school spirit in evidence throughout the day. Congratulations to all girls involved in organising and supporting this very worthwhile cause.

Music Support Group
The next Music Support Group meeting will be held on Tuesday 27 August 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 

Winter Fixtures
Each year, the fixtures against Moreton Bay College (MBC) always prove to be tough; however, St Margaret’s played some strong games and the girls should be proud of their efforts. The Tennis Senior A’s drew and the Senior C team remains undefeated, winning 36-9. The Senior A and Open Volleyball teams proved too strong for MBC, winning 3-0 and 3-2 respectively. Our Netball and Hockey teams were unable to secure a win. This week, we host St Peter’s Lutheran College at our home grounds. To view the overall game schedule, please click here (PDF 266.4KB).

Athletics
The Athletics squad will compete in the first of the Super Six Series Meets on Friday 9 August at the Athletics Centre, University of Queensland. These involve all QGSSSA member schools, providing squad members with vital experience in preparation for the QGSSSA Track and Field Championships on Thursday 19 September. The dates for all Super Six Series Meets are as follows:

• Friday 9 August
• Friday 16 August
• Friday 23 August
• Friday 30 August
• Friday 6 September
• Friday 13 September

All squad members are required to register their attendance through the Athletics POD page.

Sports Awards Evening – Save the Date
The annual Sports Awards Evening will be held on Friday 18 October from 6pm–9:30pm. The evening honours and celebrates students, coaches and staff in the following categories:

• Most Valuable Player/Athlete
• Rising Stars
• Summer, Winter and Autumn Team of the Year
• Coach of the Year
• Captain of the Year

More details will follow over the coming weeks.

Helen Lobegeiger 

Please click here (PDF 254.9KB) to view full details.

I would like to thank the members of the Visual Art team and enthusiastic students, all of whom have contributed postcards for the Friends of MAYO Long Lunch this weekend. 

Lisa Smith 

International Buddy Lunch
Last term, we had our International Buddy Lunch during lunch at school. International students were required to bring along local friends to enjoy some food together and engage with each other. We shared our cultural differences by drawing Venn diagrams. This helped us to understand each other, our similarities and differences. Everyone enjoyed the sushi and had so much fun sharing their cultures.

International Dinner
Last week, we held our last international dinner for the year. Many of the international girls attended and spent quality time with the teachers and students in other year levels. We went to a Japanese Hot Pot restaurant in the city. Everyone enjoyed the food and had fun playing games and chatting. It is always a good idea to catch up with each other at the beginning of term to share information about our holidays and to reconnect.

Student Representative Council (SRC) Diversity Day
The SRC celebrated Diversity Day during Week 7 last term. Students from different cultures brought in their favourite food and sang songs from their culture, sharing with the whole school during lunch time on Circular Drive. Students drew the flags of their home countries and wrote words in their language on the road around Circular Drive. Everyone had fun connecting with each other and sharing their cultures and family traditions.

August is Multicultural Queensland Month and there are a number of events organised throughout the state to showcase Queensland as a multicultural success story. People from across the state will join together to perform, share, taste, listen, learn and acknowledge that, while we may come from different cultures, we all love living in Queensland and we all belong. Watch out for some of Queensland landmarks lit in red, purple, yellow and green as part of the celebration and for more information about events, visit the website. It may also be a good excuse to talk as a family about the benefits of living in a multicultural country and share stories of your own cultural backgrounds.

Emily Labinsky 

Do you recall the British Art Historian, Sister Wendy? She was a nun who became internationally famous in the 1990’s for her TV documentaries on art. I remember being quite touched to learn that her love of art began as a child when her Aunt sent her postcards from all the exhibitions she visited. So, never underestimate the impact of teaching young people to look at art, or indeed, in the case of our Postcard Project, to own a postcard scaled original artwork!

All money raised is used to purchase more art to enhance the St Margaret’s environment.

Jenny Lishman 

The evening is open to all students and parents who are interested in running their own business. Please see the attached flyer (PDF 599.4KB) for details and contact Mr Stein: mstein@stmargarets.qld.edu.au if you would like to attend.

Mathew Stein 

Please click here (PDF 579.4KB) for more information.

Limited tickets are still available via Flexischools. Please click here to purchase your ticket.

We sincerely thank our corporate sponsors for their generous support of the Series.

Associate Sponsors: Pitcher Partners and McCullough Robertson.

Supporting Partners: Downer, NAB, Programmed Property Services, Clear Insurance and Red Oak.

2019 St Margaret’s School Raffle
Have you purchased your tickets in the 2019 St Margaret’s School Raffle?

First prize is a series of EMSCULPT Body Treatments, generously donated by The Derm Lab.

The world’s first FDA-approved device to sculpt the body. This non-invasive, non-surgical aesthetic treatment builds muscle and burns fat, making it efficient and effective for muscle development in areas such as in the abdomen and buttocks and takes very little time in comparison to rigorous exercises like cardio.

You can purchase your tickets here.

The St Margaret's Raffle will close at 2:30pm on Saturday 7 September. The Draw will take place at 3pm, Saturday 7 September 2019 at The Birdcage, Eagle Farm. Winners will be notified in person or by email or telephone.

2019 St Margaret’s Race Day
The 2019 St Margaret’s Race Day tickets are now on sale! This is always one of the most popular events on the P&F calendar, so be sure to purchase your tickets early to avid disappointment.

Date: Saturday 7 September 2019

Time: 11:30am to 5:00pm

Venue: The Birdcage, Eagle Farm Racecourse

RSVP: Friday 23 August (unless SOLD OUT prior)

Dress code: Racewear

Tickets: $180 per person (includes admission to The Birdcage, Eagle Farm Racecourse, canapés, lunch and a 5-hour drinks package)

To view the formal invitation, please click here (PDF 519.7KB).

Important Information: The Birdcage has two separate levels for this event. Regulations at Eagle Farm are such that patrons are not allowed to move between levels. It is therefore very important that you tell us who you would like to be grouped with. When you purchase your tickets on Flexischools you will be asked to nominate other parents, or a year level, so we may allocate you appropriately.

Please note that there is no difference between the levels with respect to the food and drinks on offer, and other facilities.

Save the Date: 2020 Women’s Luncheon
Date: Friday 13 March 2020

All women of St Margaret’s, past and present, are invited to join us in celebrating our 125 year anniversary.

Hosted by the P&F Association, our annual luncheon will be a wonderful opportunity for our current mothers, past mothers and grandmothers, past students and past staff members to come together and mark the occasion with a sumptuous 2-course dinner with drinks.

Please visit our Facebook page to register your interest and save the date in your diaries.

Lara Pickering 

Parents QTAC Information Session
QTAC will present an information session for parents on Thursday 15 August. This event will be held in The Loft from 5:30pm-6:30pm. All parents are welcome.

Griffith University
Open Day 11 August. More information is available here.

Griffith University - Queensland Conservatorium
Audition applications for Griffith University degrees – now open! Find out more or submit your application online at griffith.edu.au/conservatorium-auditions.

The University of Queensland
Looking for a UQ Scholarship? Discover more

UQ - LEAD Scholarships
Students who experience difficult circumstances or setbacks during their schooling can now apply for UQ's Leadership, Excellence and Diversity (LEAD) Scholarship. Discover more

UQ - The Liveris Academy Undergraduate Scholarship
The purpose of the Scholarship is to encourage and support outstanding students in the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) or in the integrated Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)/Master of Engineering program at The University of Queensland, who have the potential to lead solutions to some of the world's most pressing sustainability challenges. Discover more

Griffith University – International student scholarship
Find out more at griffith.edu.au/international/scholarships-finance/scholarships/international-student-school-leavers-scholarship.

UQ - INSPIA ('inspire') is a summit for Maori and Pacific Islander high school students which aims to inspire students to pursue higher education. Register now

Griffith University - Alternative admission pathway into Engineering
Griffith University is offering prospective students an alternative admission pathway into engineering through sitting the Aptitude for Engineering Assessment (AEA) this September. Information is available here.

QUT Scholarship opportunities
Scholarships make a big difference to the lives of our students, and there are many scholarships available. Explore QUT Excellence Scholarships (academic and creative industries), Sport Scholarships and Law Founders’ Scholarships, or check out the full range.

QUT Creative Industries course updates
Applications for creative industries courses with auditions or portfolios close at 5pm on Friday 20 September. Be aware that entry to double degrees with secondary education and visual arts, music or dance is based on OP/selection rank as well as audition/portfolio. The online course information has been updated with details about this process so students can start preparing.

QUT Meeting assumed knowledge and prerequisites
Students in Years 11 or 12 who have a university course in mind but didn't choose the prerequisite or assumed knowledge subjects at school can gain this knowledge through a bridging program before they start university. QUT offers bridging programs in Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics.

UQ College is offering University Prerequisite Courses in Mathematics B, Chemistry or Biology. Applications close 8 November 2019. Duration: Tuesday 19 November-19 December 2019. Cost: $1,500. For further information, please contact Robyn Tyler on 07 3346 1695. Discover more

QTAC Key Dates
QTAC’s admissions period runs from the beginning of August 2019 to the end of June 2021. The cost will be $44 which includes three changes of preferences.

1 August: Applications for 2020 open
28 September: Early closing date some courses. Scholarship Applications due.
October: Submit EAS and supporting documents
15 November: First offer round Year 12
14 December: OP’s released
23 December: QTAC Offer Round
7 January: Last day to change preference
15 January: Offer Round
24 January: Top-up round
31 January: Top-up Round

The University of Queensland
Students enrolling in the Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours) degree must complete a situational judgement test. Discover more

University Open Days

James Cook University: Townsville - 11 August, Cairns - 25 August, Virtual Open Day - 17 September

Griffith University: Gold Coast, Nathan and Southbank - Sunday 11 August

The University of Queensland: Gatton - Sunday 18 August 2019, 9:00am-3:00pm

UQ International High School Students Showcase:  for Years 11 and 12 International high school students - 2 October (Monday), 9:00am-3:30pm, UQ St Lucia campus

QUT International high school day: Gardens Point campus, Monday 21 October 2019 (pupil free day). Register here.

UNE
Year 12 students are invited to participate in our Early Entry Program for admission in 2020.

Griffith University
Griffith university has developed a website to assist you to decide on a study pathway: https://www.griffith.edu.au/study.

QTAC Year 12 Tertiary Applications
The Educational Access Scheme (EAS)  https://www.qtac.edu.au/applying/educational-access-scheme can help you if you have experienced circumstances that negatively affected your most recent studies.

Elizabeth Johnston