eNews Archive Issue 28 - 09 September 2021

Term’s notice of withdrawal

This is just another reminder to parents that if your child is not returning to St Margaret’s in 2022, we require one full school term’s written notice if you intend to withdraw you child from the school. Otherwise, you will be charged one school term’s fees in lieu of notice. Currently, we are working on the 2022 timetable and staffing, and it is important that we have accurate enrolment numbers. In some year levels, we have waitlists and we need to be able to contact those on the list who are hoping to secure a place at the school. To meet the requirement of a term’s notice, advice can be received up to the last Friday of the September school holidays. Advice may be emailed directly to me or to our admissions via  admissions@stmargarets.qld.edu.au

Parent Survey

We are into the second week of the release of our parent survey which would have been sent to you by MMG Education. We are hoping to have at least a 50 per cent response rate in order to canvas as many opinions as possible, and provide us with solid benchmarks (to compare against both future surveys we will conduct and the benchmarking that MMG can provide us against other similar schools).  Currently, 35 per cent of parents have responded, and I sincerely thank you if you have afforded us some of your time to complete this comprehensive survey.

This survey (across Prep to Year 12) gives you the opportunity to express confidentially your views of the ways in which we meet your needs and those of your daughter/s.  It will remain open until the Sunday 12 September, so I urge you to please avail yourself of this opportunity to have your say.

Thank you in advance for your participation in this important project.

Ros Curtis

This year we will again be booking tickets for Speech Night online through QPAC booking system. We are so pleased to be back to 100% capacity and with Years 5-12 joining us for this very special evening. Please note that families are asked to reserve no more than two tickets per family.

Bookings will open for Year 12 parents only this Friday 10 September 2021, and these families will receive an email this week with the details of how to make their booking.

Tickets for all other year levels will open to the rest of the school at 5pm on Tuesday 5 October 2021. The prize reading assembly occurs on this day.

Your daughters will receive their tickets at school (they will not be sitting with you) and therefore you do not need to book seats for them.

This year there is the added option of print@home which will make it much easier for families to access their tickets. Of course, families are still able to choose the option of QPAC box office collection; however, please be aware that the box office is a busy place just prior to the event so you may wish to opt for print@home.

We will continue to liaise with QPAC and will be sure to communicate with all parents as to any COVID restrictions that will be in place for the evening.

We look forward to seeing many students and families at our annual Speech Night and Prize Giving Ceremony.

Karen Gorrie

During this time, we are acutely aware that many of our students, staff and families have not been able to physically connect with their loved ones over this time. All these situations have certainly challenged us. In some ways, we seem to be moving faster, the pace is quickening. It is at these times we need to centre ourselves. I often say to the students, take a deep breath, its amazing how these deep breaths can calm our hearts, mind, and spirit. It is at these times we also need to find our Sabbath. It does not have to be the traditional Sunday, it could be any day, a half a day, or perhaps an hour. We need to be intentional about how we find our Sabbath, a moment, to pause, and breathe deeply.

Please find below, a poem about the Sabbath. May we find our Sabbath.

Mother Sabbath

A time...

one day a week,

one year in seven,

a moment of repose.

A place...

a temple, church, ashram, mosque,

beneath an ageless tree,

a mountain top where spirits abide,

a sacred site within.

A meeting...

of people

who pause awhile

to be in touch,

to laugh, to cry,

to pray as one;

to share the silence;

to feel alive,

to be renewed in one another.

- Noel Davis from Heart Gone Walkabout

Rev Susan Crothers-Robertson

Important in this process of growth, are our Housemothers and Senior Boarding Staff. They possess the ability to anticipate a challenge or success, see a need and respond to it, and look past a problem to its solutions. All Boarding Staff are teachers, coaches, advisors, mentors, parental figures, cheerleaders and someone who is there to catch the girls when they fall. Pastoral care has always been a huge focus in Boarding, creating a strong foundation of support. Our staff take on multiple roles to support each individual student.

Community is about the human factor and our boarding students belong to a community that is supportive, warm and caring. We strive to ensure that all girls are included and that parents understand that we endeavour to create the best ‘home away from home’. Closing in on Week 9 has been a true testimony to this, term 3 is quite the marathon, but we are all making sure we get your daughters to the finish line.

Gracemere Mataia

Research has found that the human brain learns academic material faster and better if time is spent “preparing and reviewing” in brief blocks of time spread out, rather than long study sessions. For example, you have a better chance at performing on an exam if you spend one hour a day for 20 days than if you spend 10 hours studying each day for two days before an exam. Therefore, we need to encourage all our students to plan ahead, that includes dividing material into ‘chunks’. To cover across the lead up to the exam and when studying, use time to develop and make study resources. But most importantly use study time to practice, recite and rewrite the content being covered. Below I have shared with you some specific strategies, I share with the girls about ‘preparation and review’ techniques and the differences so you can also discuss with your daughters if they need some extra guidance.

Next Term, I will be working with the Year 10 Academic Advisors and Students to complete an online Study Skills Program to equip the students with a toolkit of strategies they can draw on to assist them with their approach to their learning as they move into Year 11.

Nicole Devlin

End of Term Reflection

As the end of the term creeps closer, I encourage students to reflect on their own Term 3. Consider asking your daughter(s) the following: Were you able to achieve the goals you set at the beginning of the term? Why or why not? What are some things you did well, and what are some things you would change?

Self-reflection is important as it help us to develop our skills and review their effectiveness, rather than doing things the way we have always done them and expecting different or better outcomes. It is important to question, in a positive way, what we do and why and then to consider if there is a better or more efficient way of doing this in the future.

Caitlin McCluskey

How can teens be so clever, accomplished, and responsible—and reckless at the same time? Easily, according to two physicians at Children’s Hospital Boston and Harvard Medical School (HMS) who have been exploring the unique structure and chemistry of the adolescent brain. “The teenage brain is not just an adult brain with fewer miles on it,” says Frances E. Jensen, a professor of neurology. “It’s a paradoxical time of development. These are people with very sharp brains, but they’re not quite sure what to do with them.”

Research during the past 10 years, powered by technology such as functional magnetic resonance imaging, has revealed that young brains have both fast-growing synapses and sections that remain unconnected. This leaves teens easily influenced by their environment and more prone to impulsive behavior, even without the impact of souped-up hormones and any genetic or family predispositions.

Human and animal studies, Jensen and Urion note, have shown that the brain grows and changes continually in young people—and that it is only about 80 percent developed in adolescents. The largest part, the cortex, is divided into lobes that mature from back to front. The last section to connect is the frontal lobe, responsible for cognitive processes such as reasoning, planning, and judgment. Normally this mental merger is not completed until somewhere between ages 25 and 30—much later than these two neurologists were taught in medical school.

Teen brains, for example, are more susceptible than their adult counterparts to alcohol-induced toxicity. Studies also show that marijuana use blocks cell signaling in the brain. Jensen highlights, “We make the point that what you did on the weekend is still with you during that test on Thursday. You’ve been trying to study with a self-induced learning disability.”

For his part, Urion believes programs aimed at preventing risky adolescent behaviors would be more effective if they offered practical strategies for making in-the-moment decisions, rather than merely lecturing teens about the behaviors themselves. For this reason, the St Margaret’s pastoral care team are working towards providing students real life scenarios to where the girls can role play their responses.

By raising awareness of this paradoxical period in brain development, the neurologists hope to help young people cope with their challenges, as well as recognize their considerable strengths.

References:

http://harvardmagazine.com/2008/09/the-teen-brain.html

http://www.generationnext.com.au/2014/09/judgment-call-maturity-emotions-teenage-brain/

Nikki Townsend

Traditionally, National Child Protection Week commences on Father’s Day and I believe it acts as a reminder of the part significant males play in family life.

It was wonderful to launch Father’s Day celebrations with our primary school breakfast last Thursday. On this special morning, a carnival atmosphere permeated - the Spring sun shone, the men mingled, and the girls proudly gifted their ‘ties’. Thank you to Annette Box for organising and overseeing this event and to everyone else involved in making this event a great success: Kerry Rider, Maria Elisseos, teachers, administration staff and the kitchen staff.

Our celebrations included for the first time a bonding activity. Many adults took the opportunity to donate their money and time to create a SolarBuddy with their child. This activity also introduced our school community to this global community of change makers, particularly the CEO, Simon Doble. He shared his story of inspiration and courage as he set about to find a solution to eradicate energy poverty.

As a school, we are grateful that we were able to offer our families an opportunity to play a small part in this solution to a global problem. Providing these gifts of lights and letters will positively impact lives by increasing study hours after dark, offsetting carbon emissions and reducing kerosene expenditure. Also, by creating SolarBuddy to be distributed to families in developing countries, we are offering the children in these families a “fair go” as is the aim of National Child Protection Week.

Our school has committed to purchasing three hundred SolarBuddy's. If you would like your daughter to make one during a school workshop, please make your purchase through Flexischools. Further to this, if you would like to purchase multiple SolarBuddy's to engage in a corporate team building exercise, please call the Primary Office to arrange purchase and collection. We look forward to your continued support of this significant global solution.

Parent Survey

I would like to reiterate to our primary parents the importance to the school of you completing the survey those parents in Prep to Year 6 would have received from MMG Education. The survey is the opportunity for you to express confidentially your views of the ways in which we meet your needs and those of your daughter/s. Your responses will assist the St Margaret’s School Council and Senior Leadership Team to review the school’s operations and plans for the future. Please avail yourself of this opportunity to have your say. The survey will remain open until this Sunday 12 September.

Angela Drysdale

Music Dinner Decorators Needed

We need volunteers to decorate tables for the Music Dinner, Friday 15 October. This can be done in pairs or if you are new to the Music Program, and would like to help, we can team you up with a member of the Music Support Group to help guide you. The themed table decorations are a highlight for the girls as a surprise when they enter the hall. Please email Amber Edwards on amberlouisa@hotmail.com for details.

Practice-a-thon!

The Music Support Group is introducing an exciting new fundraising initiative – a Practice-a-thon! They will be seeking students willing to commit to a certain number of practice sessions over a two-week period (with dates strategically chosen in the lead up to Term 4 Performance Presentations and 2022 Ensemble auditions) with sponsors agreeing to pay for those sessions. There will be prizes for the most money raised with all donations received going to the Music Support Group to assist with the ongoing purchase of music instruments and other resources required by the St Margaret’s Music Program. Stay tuned for further details to be published next week!

Music Support Group

The next Music Support Group meeting will be on Tuesday 5 October 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

The Open First Eight rounded out a magnificent day of racing for the shed with a dominate victory 5.78 seconds ahead of the nearest competitor bringing home The BSRA Trophy for the shed. A replay of the racing can be found at: https://bsra.org.au/events/head-of-the-river-2021/

At a glance 82% of crews stepped onto the podium at the Head of the River with 90% of crews finishing in the top 4! St Margaret’s finished 181 points ahead of the nearest competing school with a total of 835 points.

The results of the shed can be attributed to the leadership of the 2021 Rowing Captains, Primrose Carrigan and Rosie Turnbull who united and inspired the shed throughout the season.

The ringing of the bell for crews that were victories on the day could be heard along the Brisbane River as it rang long into the night at the End of Season Rowing Presentation on Sunday night.

Congratulations to all Maggies Rowers on an outstanding season!

Club Netball Success

It all started back in January when over 230 St Margaret’s girls took to our new purpose-built Philip Harris Gym for Club Netball clinic and trials where we formed 23 teams ages 8-18 years. Teams trained weekly and took to the court each Saturday March to September at the Downey Park Netball courts. Each week the girls were encouraged by their Coaches, Team managers and well supported by our wonderful Netball Parents Support Group who ran fundraisers, raffles, and the annual trivial night. We missed a couple of rounds towards the end of the season with Covid restrictions but managed to get all teams back on court culminating in the final games and Grand final matches last Saturday 11 September. Five Maggies teams hit the court with great support resulting in 4 premierships and 1 runner up. Our NSG teams (5 -10) years also took to the court showing great growth in their skills and the love of the game over the season.

Rhythmic Gymnastics

On Wednesday 1 September, the St Margaret's Rhythmic Gymnastics team competed at the QGSSSA Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships. It was a fantastic display of poise and skill with many teams clinching a top 3 podium finish and the Year 7iii team placing 1st. Well done to all girls for their commitment, perseverance and performance.

Winter Fixtures

It was a super Saturday of fixtures against Ipswich Girls Grammar School on the weekend.  Hockey had a clean sweep with the Open team winning 6-0, Snr A’s 6-1 and the Junior team winning 12-0! Netball won 8 out of 11 matches with the Open, Senior A, Senior C, 10B and 7A teams remaining. Tennis won all but one grade with a convincing win by the Open team 36 – 7. Meanwhile our 10A and 7A Volleyball teams continue on their winning ways claiming victory 3 sets to 0. Congratulations to all teams on some great performances. The final round of fixtures occur on Saturday 11 September against Clayfield College at their home venues. For all game schedules visit the Secondary Sport POD page or the individual Sport pages.

QGSSSA Athletics

The athletics season is in the final stages with the last practice Meet being held on Friday 10 September at the University of Queensland Athletics track and several compulsory sessions before the big one - QGSSSA Championships on Thursday 16 September. The squad is over 100 athletes strong and is aiming to better the 2020 result. To support the team in this endeavour several key events will take place as detailed below:

• Final Practice MeetFriday 10 September @ University of Qld4.00pm – 8.00pm
• Compulsory TrainingSunday 12 September @ Nudgee College8.30am – 12.30pm
• Compulsory Training Monday 13 September @ Winsor Park 6.15am – 7.45am
• Optional TrainingTuesday 14 September @ Windsor Park3.45pm – 5.00pm
• Compulsory TrainingWednesday 15 September @ Windsor Park6.15am – 7.45am
• QGSSSA Send-offTuesday 14 September @ Circular Drive10.25am
• Pre-QGSSSA LunchTuesday 14 September @ ACF 1.10pm
• QGSSSA ChampionshipsThursday 16 September @ QSAC 6.15am – 3.30pm

For more detailed information, access the Athletics POD page.

Sports Awards Evening

This event is a highlight in the St Margaret’s sporting calendar, and I am pleased to announce that four-time Olympian in the sport of Water Polo, Bronwen Knox will be our special guest speaker. Bronwen will no doubt deliver an awe-inspiring speech sharing her personal journey from being a school-girl water polo player to an Olympian. This event will be held on Friday, 8 October with all award recipients being notified prior to the end of term.

St Margaret’s Sport looks forward to continuing to recognise and celebrate the sporting achievements of our students and staff in the below categories:

• Most Valuable Players/Athletes
• Rising Stars
• Autumn, Summer and Winter Team of the Year
• Captain of the Year
• Coach of the Year
• St Margaret’s Contribution to Sport Award
• A variety of special sporting awards for each individual sport

Nominations are currently open for Captain and Coach of the year through the Secondary Sport POD page.

Helen Lobegeiger

Lisa Smith

Completed and signed forms are to be returned to the School Supplies Shop, along with a deposit of $100. Plain white, fold down ankle socks (not St Margaret’s competition socks), clean brown school shoes and a white ribbon (for long hair) are to be worn with the Church Dress on Speech Night. Socks are available from the School Supplies Shop for $8.00, as is a white ribbon for $1.

Return date for all students except Year 6 is no later than Monday 25 October 2021. Year 6 students’ church dresses must be returned no later than Friday 26 November 2021.

All church dresses must be laundered, ironed and returned as per the ‘Hire Conditions’ for an amount of $70 to be refunded.

UNIFORM FITTING APPOINTMENTS – Online booking system

Bookings for October, November & December 2021 and January 2022 are available online now!

Book your appointment online via the school website.

https://www.stmargarets.qld.edu.au/admissions/supplies-shop/uniforms

We encourage families to book a fitting appointment as soon as possible to avoid missing your preferred day and time.  Appointment times are either 30 minutes or 60 minutes depending on your fitting type. Fitting types include: New Student, Existing Student, Boarder Only, Pre-Prep / Prep and School Blazer Fitting.

Year 11 Students

The Year 11 Term 4 booklist is now available on the St Margaret’s website for Year 11 students to order for the upcoming Term 4.

The link is as follows:

https://www.stmargarets.qld.edu.au/admissions/supplies-shop/books-and-stationery

Orders must be placed by Friday 5th September 2021 to ensure you have your textbooks and stationery by September 30^th in time for Term 4. Home delivery is free for all orders placed before Friday 5th September 2021. If you are going away during the holidays, you may nominate an alternative address eg:  a relative, neighbour or business address for their delivery to be sent to.

Only Boarders may have their book pack sent to St Margaret’s by completing the address on your order as (Students Name), St Margaret’s Boarding, 11 Petrie Street, Ascot Qld 4007

A friendly reminder the School Supply shop is now located in the Mayo building.

Kielee Alcantara

She has been at the forefront of change in Angel investment and start-up activity. As an experienced non-executive Director, Ruth has sat on several Boards and Advisory Panels. She is currently Chair of Alkira Software Pty Ltd and Mrs Clucks Pty Ltd and a past CEO of Alkira Software, as well a past Director of several other quasi-Government, university and private company Boards. She is a co-founder of Mrs Clucks, continues as a member of the Queensland Government’s Advance Queensland grant assessment committee and is a long-term member of Brisbane Angels.

Date: Wednesday 20 October 2021

Time: 6.45am for a 7.00am start. 8.45am finish

Venue: Arts Centre Foyer, St Margaret's Anglican Girls School

Tickets: $80 Adult, $40 Student (tertiary, Year 10 -12)

Book online via www.trybooking.com/BTQKR.

Nominations are open for St Margaret’s Past Student Awards!

If you know of a St Margaret’s Old Girl deserving of recognition, we encourage you to nominate them for a Past Student Award!

These annual awards recognise and celebrate the many achievements of our past students, both professionally and personally and provide an opportunity to share stories of success within our school community.

There are two award categories:

• Distinguished Past Student (for alumnae who have passed their 20th reunion)
• Young Past Student of Distinction (for alumnae in their 20th reunion year or younger)

To make a nomination for the 2022 Awards, please complete a nomination form (link to PDF) (PDF 1MB) and submit by Friday 25 March 2022 then join us for the Past Student Awards Cocktail Evening on Saturday 23 April 2022.

St Margaret’s Rowing Support Group – Thank you to our supporters

Our St Margaret’s rowers performed incredibly well at Head of the River on Sunday, with the St Margaret’s shed winning Year 8, Year 9, Senior and the Overall Aggregate Cup. They also won the Open Eight Head of the River Trophy which rounded off a fantastic day on the water for the students, with most producing their best performance for the season. 470 proud parents, family members, rowers and coaches attended the presentation at the shed on Sunday evening.

The success of the shed each season wouldn’t be possible without our wonderful sponsors. As a collective, our sponsors provided over $45,000 to support our students this year in cash, in kind support and goods. We sincerely thank our generous sponsors for their outstanding support and we look forward to continuing the relationship in 2022.

Thank you to our Platinum Partner, Torque Toyota; our Gold Partners, Riverside Marine, Barambah Organics, The Calile Hotel, Hoppy’s Handwash Café, Ethos Orthodontics and Red Earth Energy Storage; and our Silver Partners, Henzell Real Estate and Fonzie Abbott. We are so appreciative of your support.

Torque Toyota donate $150 to St Margaret’s Rowing Program for every car purchased. If you are purchasing a new car, just let them know that you are a St Margaret’s parent or friend. We would also be grateful if you could email the RSG President and STM parent, Peter Hudson (phudson@hconsult.co), to advise that you have taken up this offer.

Lara Pickering

Whitehouse Institute of Design | Foundation Portfolio Workshop, Online

Saturday 18 September 2021, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Find out more:

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/foundation-portfolio-workshop-tickets-168670190079

Whitehouse Institute of Design | Mastering Video Workshop, Online

Saturday 18 September 2021, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Find out more:

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/mastering-video-workshop-tickets-168667893209

Work Experience with Physio Labs

We like to support the local community. If a Year 10, 11 or 12 high school students are interested in becoming a Physiotherapist one day, we may be able to show them what it’s all about with a one week unpaid work experience placement. Learn more

There are a few conditions:

• The work experience will be for a maximum period of 1 week
• The work experience will be unpaid
• The work experience placement must be facilitated by the local school
• The school must cover the student’s indemnity/liability insurance for the duration of the placement
• The student must sign a Confidentiality Agreement
• Physio Labs cannot guarantee a work experience placement, as it will depend on staff availability and workloads.

ADF | Gap Year Virtual Information Session

Thursday 23 September 2021, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Find out more: https://www.defencejobs.gov.au/events/events-detail/d5x6l4w

Griffith University Experience Days.

During the September holidays, Year 11 and 12 students, can join our Experience Days to get a feel for life at Griffith University. Register now

JCU Virtual Open Day

Students are invited to join us at Virtual Open Day on Tuesday 14 September from 4-7 PM. 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

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.

Liz Johnston