eNews Archive Issue 25 - 19 August 2021

Please be assured your responses are confidential:

• All responses are de-identified and no respondents will be identified to the school
• The data is reported back in aggregated form only

If you have any queries about the survey, please contact our Marketing Director Ms Wendy Johnston via email wjohnston@stmargarets.qld.edu.au or telephone (07) 3862 0837 or you may contact MMG directly:  Jason Enriquez on (02) 9369 1449.

While you are waiting for our parent survey to arrive there is the opportunity to participate in a survey conducted by Independent Schools Queensland (ISQ) who are asking for parents of children in independent schools to take approximately 15 minutes to complete a survey to tell them why they chose an independent school for their child.

St Margaret’s is a member of ISQ, and we find this information also quite useful.  The survey is called What Parents Want – An Independent Schools Queensland Survey. It is the longest-running survey in the country exploring how parents make this important decision. The survey asks why you chose to send your child to an independent school, how you came to that decision, and how your chosen school is different from the other schools.

Your responses will be anonymous, and a summary of the findings will be published on the ISQ website in early 2022. If you are interested in completing this survey please access it through this link or the ISQ website.

What Parents Want survey 2021 (isq.qld.edu.au)

Ros Curtis

Adrians is a Brisbane base firm, who fundamentally believe in helping family owned businesses build financial resilience across generations through planning and advise services. Through seeking out, developing, and evaluating smart technology they provide clarity, automation efficiencies and enable business owners to make better informed decisions.

This prestigious scholarship is valued at $4,000, also includes opportunities for work experience at Adrians over the December/January period.

An information session about this scholarship opportunity for students of Year 12 will be held at their Year Level Assembly, on Thursday 26^th August.

The deadline for applications is 3pm Friday 3^rd September 2021 and interviews will occur during the week beginning Monday 13^th September. The awardee will be announced at the prize reading assembly on Tuesday 5^th October and be presented their scholarship at Speech Night on Tuesday 12^th October.

Karen Gorrie

Brene Brown one of my favourite authors, suggests we should talk to ourselves as we would talk to someone we love. How easy it is to fall into the trap of being harsh on ourselves.

Jesus gave us a new commandment, love God, love others, and love ourselves. How can we love ourselves and be kind to ourselves? There is nothing wrong with giving ourselves a pep talk and encouraging ourselves to go a step further. However, we also need to take the time to congratulate ourselves when we have submitted work or achieved something whether that be small or large. Some people suggest we could even pat ourselves on the back and say well done. Or we could just take a moment, breath deeply and say well done.

Rev Susan Crothers-Robertson

On a positive note, the lockdown has enabled us to complete some jobs around the Boarding House. We did a big declutter of our sports equipment and moved the equipment into a more accessible spot for our Boarders to use. We have assessed the equipment of our Boarding Gym in Eton Hall. The gym has been the busiest it has ever been, and girls are really sharing and using this space for individual and group training. Eton Hall’s front yard (Petrie Park) is another sanctuary offering a newly renovated green space for the students to do cartwheels, do their art, play with Luna or just generally to be kids! The students are always out there to the last minute before dinner. We are now slowly working our way through to the next space to revamp.

Above all, we seem to do a great job of checking in with one another while building a cohesive attitude that we get through any season and we face this together. We are encouraging more, we are talking more, and we are creating and thriving a little more! It must have been a little revamp we just needed.

Gracemere Mataia

It is important for schools and parents to work together to promote academic integrity to ensure students understand what it means to produce their own work, work hard to earn their grades and be prepared for situations that may challenge their academic decision making.

In some instances this year I have had to talk to students about the work they have submitted for assessment. The reasons for these conversations have been because students have made poor decisions in regard to using another student's work, copying from the internet or submitting work that was not representative of the work they have demonstrated through the drafting process and class work. These discussions are difficult to have with students and consequences can range from redacting copied work, re-writing the assessment under timed conditions or in some extreme cases the assessment is awarded a zero or no result.

In Year 10 all students complete an Academic Integrity Course in Term 4 that has been written by the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority to develop their knowledge of academic integrity. By the end of this online course all students will be able to explain why academic integrity is important, identify acts of academic misconduct and understand how to avoid them, as well as understand how to make sure the work they submit is their own.

However, I am asking all parents to assist in this area and discuss with their daughter the decisions they make and what help they may need to ensure they are demonstrating academic integrity in the work they produce for assessment.

Nicole Devlin

Supervised Study

Supervised Study will run every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday until 9 September from 5.00-7.30pm in the Senior Library. Please note that if your daughter needs to stay for all or part of this time, she needs to be booked in. Students who have not been booked in to Supervised Study may not be able to stay. This service is being run to assist students, however due to the number of girls just ‘turning up’ we are not sufficiently staffed and this putting pressure on the tutors. Thank you to those parents who are booking their daughters in to the service.

These sessions are supervised by tutors from Durack College and have been a great support to the girls who attend. Bookings for the sessions can be done through FlexiSchools on the schools’ website. While the study session is free of charge if you would like you daughter to have dinner this can be purchased for $10 at the time of booking the session on Flexischools.  Bookings are essential and should be made in advance to ensure a place is available, Bookings close each day by 9am for that day.

Caitlin McCluskey

Today’s youth are the early settlers in a remarkable new world. Unfortunately, parents feel as though they are shut out of this world, often not knowing, nor understanding, what happens in this online environment.

It is up to parents to monitor, not just what their children do online, but also the length of time they spend online. Many of the online game’s children play have parental controls. However, many parents do not always choose to use them. Banning is not the answer. A better strategy is to give your daughter’s access, but be informed, set some rules, monitor and supervise. To ignore this responsibility could create significant psychological and social problems for their children in years to come.

Please encourage your daughter to find other interests. The school offers many co-curricular activities that she would benefit from being involved in.

Nikki Townsend

Developing an awareness of these world goals will assist our children to become global citizens.

Another activity we are offering in the upcoming weeks also combines science and global citizenship. The girls will have the opportunity to make a difference to the lives of other children by engaging in a program offered by SolarBuddy. This Australian charity is focused on gifting six million solar lights to children living in energy poverty, allowing them to work at night and therefore improving their educational outcomes.

By engaging in this program, our girls will create a solar light and discover how this innovative design solution can help create a more sustainable world. At a special event, they will hear firsthand from the creator and CEO of SolarBuddy, Simon Doble.

If you and your daughter would like to be involved in this program, please see the details on the POD or click here

Angela Drysdale

Head of Primary

Science Week Activities

This week the Primary School is excited to participate in Science Week.  Today students participated in the inaugural Science Spectacular where students in Year 5 and 6 created a range of experiments for the younger students to experience. MSPIRED and STEM project work was on display and a range of robotic demonstrations were enjoyed. On Monday 30 August students will be wowed by Street Science’s mind blowing, high-energy stage show.

Kate Frewin
Assistant Head of Primary - Curriculum (Preprep-Year6)

Classics in the Cathedral Video Performance

For those unable to attend this year’s Classics in the Cathedral, or for those who would like to re-watch any of the performances, a video recording of the concert had been made available on the St Margaret’s Music POD page for your viewing.

Music Ensemble Rehearsals

It is our intention to run all music rehearsals as per the normal schedule from Week 7. Any updates to rehearsal times will be placed on the respective ensemble POD pages.

Music Support Group

The next Music Support Group meeting will be on Tuesday 24 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

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COVI-19 Update

Queensland Health has announced the further easing of restrictions across Local Government Areas in South East Queensland as of 4pm Friday 20 August.  The easing of restrictions means that community sport and recreation can recommence from 4pm on Friday.  Whilst this is fantastic news for our sporting community many competitions will not recommence this weekend with details of the when our students will return to sport below.

QGSSSA Winter Fixtures

QGSSSA released a statement last week advising that Rounds 5 and 6 of QGSSSA Winter Fixtures will be deemed ‘abandoned rounds’ and will not be rescheduled.  As such we look forward to welcoming students back to Winter fixtures on Saturday August 28 against St Hilda’s dependent upon health directives and relevant restrictions. To read the full statement,  

(click here) (PDF 78.2KB)

QGSSSA Rhythmic Gymnastics

QGSSSA is pleased to announce that the Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships will be held on Wednesday 1 September. The venue and timing of this event will be confirmed over the coming week.

BSRA Rowing Update

The BSRA is planning to conduct the following for the Rowing community:

• Saturday 28 August - BSRA hosted regatta
• Sunday 5 September - Head of the River

  Spectators can not be confirmed at this point in time and BSRA will continue to monitor the government restrictions as they change over the next week and the decision will be communicated via the Rowing POD page.

  The end of Season Presentation will be held after the Head of the River Regatta on Sunday 5 September at the Boat Shed.  The nature of this event is yet to be determined and will be based on Covid safe regulations at the time.  

  (click here) (PDF 1.8MB)

  Club Netball

  Downey Park Netball Association has planned for the following:

• Saturday 28 August – All teams within the 11 years – 18 years age group will play off as per the current ladder placing.All non-competitive teams (19 – 23 teams) willplay their final game.
• Saturday 4 September – All teams within the 11 years – 18 years teams will either play in a grand final or for a final placing play off.

All details of the upcoming fixtures and the end of season presentation will be communicated via the Club Netball POD page.

Club Water Polo

Registrations for the 2021/22 Water Polo season are now open. St Margaret’s is inviting all girls from Year 5 to Year 11 to register to play in the Brisbane Water Polo Incorporated Junior 2021/22 Season for St Margaret’s.  For further information please visit the Water Polo POD page for season information and upcoming training and trial dates.

U.S.A College Sport Scholarship Information Session

An information session is available to all interested families in Year 9 – Year 12 who would like to learn more about sport scholarships in the U.S.A College System.  This event was previously advertised to be held at the Arts Centre Foyer and is now moving online on Tuesday 24 August at 6:30pm – 7:30pm. Please contact info@athletesagency.com.au to register your interest and ensure you are sent the seminar link.

Helen Lobegeiger

The Anglicare Homelessness Service provides holistic support via a range of services and accommodation to help women rebuild their self-worth to make sustainable changes in their lives. 

Currently, the Homelessness Services in Brisbane offer temporary accommodation and support for:

• Single adult women who are unaccompanied by their partner or child/children
• Single young women (aged 16-25 years) who are pregnant and/or parenting children under four years of age

Toiletries are always much needed items, and the Service welcomes support from St Margaret’s.

There will be boxes placed around the school for the girls to place the items needed.

From the donations, we will create care packs in large ziplock bags, filled with essential toiletry items to help women in homelessness living in Brisbane.  As we want to create a variety pack, please buy travel size items as appropriate. 

Below is a list of toiletries that are needed:

• Body wash or soap
• Shampoo & conditioner
• Body lotion/moisturiser
• Deodorant
• Toothpaste & toothbrush, dental floss, mouthwash
• Hairbrush, hair comb, hair ties
• Facial cleanser, moisturiser, sunscreen
• Cotton makeup removal pads
• Makeup removal wipes
• Pocket tissues, wet wipes, hand sanitiser
• Pawpaw ointment, Vaseline, or lip balm

Thank you for your support

Sharon Stone

Currently, the School Council is developing a new Master Plan for the school and there will be exciting plans for future projects including a new Performing Arts Building which will be the focus of the next Capital Campaign.

Our first project, the new Senior Study Centre, has been completed. This state-of-the-art flexible learning space is available exclusively for Year 12 students. Situated in the first-floor annexe of Community House and with easy access to the Eunice Science & Resource Centre through the Piazza, the facility is designed to allow students to engage in both independent and collaborative work.

I would like to sincerely thank those who donated to St Margaret’s Foundation Building Fund in the first half of 2021. Your contributions through the Foundation have assisted us with delivering this important project for our current and future senior students.

Donations to the Building Fund for the remainder of this year will support our next vital project; two new secondary classrooms with views of Circular Drive and the city. Built on the site that was the previous School Supplies Shop, these classrooms will be new and vibrant spaces in which high-quality teaching and learning can be delivered from 2022. Please see below the architect’s impressions of the new build.

Your philanthropic participation helps the school to deliver facilities that all students will benefit from and the opportunity for you to play your part in physically transforming the school’s learning environment.

If you would like to make a donation to the Building Fund, you may wish to do so online (https://foundation.stmargarets.qld.edu.au/donation-building-fund) or by contacting me over the phone on 07 3862 0884, or emailing foundation@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.

Thank you for your ongoing support of St Margaret’s.

Lara Pickering

JCU Virtual Open Day

Students are invited to join us at Virtual Open Day on Tuesday 14 September from 4:00pm-7:00pm. Explore JCU’s campuses and facilities, attend presentations, access course information, and chat to JCU staff and students, all from the comfort of your own home. Register now

JCU Early Offer Program

Students must list their JCU Early Offer course as their first preference in order to secure their place. Students will additionally receive an offer via QTAC. Learn more about Early Offers

RMIT

In the lead up to their virtual Open Day on Sunday 29 August, RMIT will be having online exciting events and expert talks. Register here

University of Sydney

With our virtual Open Day on Saturday 28 August, we have produced a variety of webinars related to a range of study areas, admission pathways and entry schemes. Discover more

Entry to Medicine 2022

This document outlines the possible entry methods into medicine courses throughout Australia in 2022. Click here to access this information.

QUT | Pathways to QUT

Wednesday 13 October 2021, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm. Online. Join us for a live webinar to help you find the best pathway to your preferred course.

UQ

Enhanced Studies Program (ESP) applications for students who will be in Year 12 in 2022 will open on 2 August 2021. Discover more

Open Days 2021 Planner

A comprehensive list of tertiary Open Days is available from this link:

Open Day Program 2021

QTAC admissions open

QTAC applications will open on Tuesday 3 August for admission to courses for 2022.  To create an account, you will need to nominate an email address - DO NOT USE YOUR SCHOOL EMAIL as it will be invalid once you leave school. Click here for more information.

Register to get your ATAR result

If you are a Year 12 student and you want to find out what your ATAR is, you must register with QTAC. You can register from Tuesday 3 August.

Queensland Conservatorium auditions have early closing dates

Auditions for students wishing to study the Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Acting, or Bachelor of Musical Theatre See the application and audition information

Liz Johnston