eNews Archive Issue 32 - 18 October 2018

In 2018, the following St Margaret’s graduates were successful candidates for OGA Overseas Study Scholarships 2018-2019. It is interesting to see the range of interests for our Old Girls in their tertiary studies.

Lucy Shaw ‘09
Undergraduate - Bachelor of Engineering, Mechanical (Hons)
Lucy is currently studying at Harvard University, undertaking a Master of Public Administration (International Development) and Master of Business Administration through the Harvard Business School: Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

Shannan Dickinson ‘12
Undergraduate - Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (UQ) Clinical Diagnostic Radiology (RANZCOR)
Shannon received support from the OGA to pursue a Fellowship in Oncology Imaging at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre, New York.

Madeleine Greene ‘13
Undergraduate - Bachelor of Engineering and Bachelor of Commerce (UQ)
Madeleine plans to study at the University of Massachusetts towards her current degrees in Bachelor of Engineering (Hon, Civil) and Bachelor of Commerce (Finance).

Emma Peacock ‘15
Undergraduate - Bachelor of Business Management and Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) (UQ)
Emma has enrolled for a semester in a Bachelor of Business Management at the University of Bath.

Congratulations to these past students. The OGA, through providing these scholarships, offers another way for our past students to remain connected to their school and we are very appreciative of their support.

All Old Girls of the school are advised of the success of these past students as their names, photos and courses are published in the most recent edition of the Old Girls’ Association newsletter.

Applications for the OGA Overseas Scholarships 2019 – 2020 are now open and are due Friday 21 June 2019. Preference will be given to students studying at an overseas tertiary institution/university for one or more semesters. Candidates studying overseas but not at a university are also welcome to apply. Application forms may be found by following this link.

Please note applications can be received at any time but those received after the 21 June 2019 will not be considered.

Ros Curtis 

Shortly, I will be sending a memo to each girl in Years 8 and 11 detailing the subjects they are enrolled in for 2019. Year 9 girls received this memo in the final week of the school holidays. If students have any queries or changes they would like to make, I urge them to come and see me to make these changes. If subjects are full, I can place them on a waitlist and they will be notified as soon as a position comes 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. I enjoy sitting down with students, looking at their current GPA and helping them set some academic goals. This is also something that I urge them to do with their Academic Advisor or Form Teacher.

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 2019.

It is an exciting time for our education system with next year having our Year 11 cohort entering a new senior system. Ms Butterworth, the Heads of Faculty and Heads of Year have given the students in all year levels, particularly Year 10 and their families, lots of information on what the next two years will look like in terms of their academic courses. We continue to urge students to come and see us if they have any questions or concerns about their academic course of study.

Karen Gorrie 

Thank you to the Year 8 students who both assisted during the service and provided an abundance of morning tea! It was a wonderful morning that filled all our hearts with love. See you next year!

Reflection
A little while ago I sat with a woman who was grieving. Her pain was evident, the emotion rippled just under the surface and her eyes did not lie. It had been 4 months since her loss and she acknowledged that this must seem a long time to some people, but for her it was simply a blip in the landscape of time.

Grief will be felt, experienced and lived differently by each person. The journey of grief is unpredictable and raw emotion can be stirred in the most surprising moments. Loss of a loved one in death, loss of a relationship, loss of trust, loss of homeland… each of these can lead us to grieve.

‘Religion’ can seem far removed from us and our needs at times. It can even feel intrusive and bothersome. But for many, small quiet tendrils of hope, faith and light can emerge gradually through and from the darkness. Glimmers of peace and understanding can enter our hearts and we find ourselves open to the possibilities of faith and the spirit. The small quiet voice of God may whisper feelings of love and comfort… and we may not see or hear them for what they are.

In all of life’s moments, from joy to grief, the sacred touch of our Creator may be found… sometimes all we need is time and patience… and a willingness to be touched.

Should you be experiencing loss or grief of any kind, I encourage you to reach out. I am available to chat. I am also available for your wider family and for any service needs you might require. I am also available for hospital visits and/or nursing homes to sit with loved ones.

Prayer
God who meets us in the shadows and in the light, enliven our spirits to seek your face in the lives of those around us. Grant us a sense of purpose and courage to be bold in this world, a sense of compassion and kindness to be of service to the world. Build within us all a light that comes from you, a light that shows us the way, a light that enables the journeys of others. Through your Son’s name, Amen.

With every blessing on you and your week ahead,
The Reverend Canon Nicki Colledge 

It is often hard to measure the success of the boarding experience until you see how well our girls succeed as adults. This can be seen at university or work when deadlines are looming, they dig deep into the lessons they learnt in boarding and show the grit and determination which have helped to develop their character. They can show this in being given an opportunity to work overseas and they know that they can do it as they have lived outside of their comfort zones before. They know what it is like to live in an environment that is different, to accept others and understand different cultural backgrounds.

The enrichment opportunities that St Margaret’s offers provides our girls with the environment to develop their character. The girls are offered many extra-curricular activities, but to enhance this and ensure that the girls are prepared for life outside of Boarding, we do many extra activities to ensure the Year 12s, in particular, are prepared.

This term, our Year 12 Boarders will benefit from a course in Financial Literacy run by Ms Labinsky, have the opportunity to participate in a defensive driving course, undertake a barista course to help them with gaining employment and attend a session on writing the best possible application for employment. These activities help to further develop both their character and ability to thrive outside of school and Boarding. The outcome that we wish for every girl in Boarding is that they leave with a greater sense of gratitude, curiosity, grit, understanding others, self-control and independence that will enable them to develop their character further outside the caring walls of the Boarding House.

Lesa Fowler 

The girls will have the opportunity to experience all three formats of the test on the following days:

• Monday 5 November – Short Response practice test
• Monday 19 November (Exam Block) – Writing task practice test
• Monday 26 November – Multiple Choice practice test

The QCS Test contributes information for the calculation of Overall Positions (OPs) and Field Positions (FPs), which are used to select students for tertiary entrance. A student's individual QCS Test result is not used on its own in the calculation of their OP - instead, group results are used as part of the statistical scaling processes. A student's result on the QCS Test (from A to E) is reported on their Senior Statement or Statement of Results. QCS Test scores provide a measure of achievement across the curriculum and can be used as a basis for comparing different groups of students. The QCS Test makes it possible to compare the achievement of students in one subject in a school with the achievement of students in other subjects in the same school.

Last week in our QCS lesson I spoke to the Year 11s about the importance of the group result in the QCS test. We focussed on how we can begin to build towards a great result now by doing all the little things well – being persistent in QCS lessons to learn and practice questions, bringing the right equipment, completing the practice tests to identify areas of strength and weakness and encouraging each other to push yourself. Together the girls can achieve great things, so I look forward to your support over the next 11 months as we prepare for test.

Also, the Year 11 Exam Block schedule and Term 4 assessment planner can now be found on the Year 11 POD page.

Jo Butterworth 

It is important to know that as a school we are always working with the girls to ensure they are feeling supported and prepared for these times of the year. Some strategies we have in place to support them to deal with this pressure are:

• Support network – Class and Form teachers, Academic Advisors, Heads of Faculty, Heads of Year, Jo Butterworth and I are always available to support the girls through their learning path.
• Sense of control – Teaching programs are designed so the girls are aware of what to learn and ways to systematically revise.
• Positive attitude and outlook – Through the Teaching and Learning Program we assist the girls to see the bright side, to laugh at themselves and to appreciate the positives in life. People who are resilient to stressors have an optimistic attitude.
• Preparation – The more a young person prepares for a stressful situation, such as an exam, the easier it is to cope. Therefore, assistance is given to ensure the girls understand the preparation and planning they have put into studying towards a particular exam and how confident they feel about the material they are to be tested on.

Other strategies that can assist during this time include the use of effective study and learning habits at home. These could include:

• Having a quiet place to study without distractions.
• Encouraging your daughter to ask for help or ask their teacher for clarity if they are unsure of something, or if they feel confused.
• Ensure your daughter has a study plan early on so they have sufficient time to study.
• Encourage your daughter to take a short rest and move around in between each part of her study.
• Ensure your daughter is getting enough sleep and going to bed at a reasonable time. They need to avoid late night TV shows and movies.
• Motivate them to eat regularly and make time to have fun and exercise.
• Always encourage your child to relax before they go to bed after concentrating for long periods of time. Activities such as reading a short story may help them unwind and sleep better.
• Encourage them to go out for a walk, run or do some other exercise they enjoy such as relaxation.

End of the Year Reporting Process (Years 7-11)
End of Semester Reports will be available through Parent Lounge on Friday 7 December after 3pm. Please note also that all Continuous Reporting Information will be available from this date as well.

Each student’s report will consist of a comment from her Head of Year, as well as a page for each subject. The final page of the report is the Grade Point Average (GPA) graph which records the student’s overall level of achievement and tracks this from semester to semester.

For each subject, there is a list of the course content, marks for the criteria assessed, a table showing the distribution of achievement levels within the subject and an assessment of your daughter’s attitude to her learning. The academic results reflected in this report are based on the assessment completed throughout Semester 2.

Supervised Study Sessions
Supervised Study Sessions have resumed and are running on Monday and Thursday evenings from 5:00-7:30pm in the Library until Thursday 22 November. All bookings can be made via Flexischools. If you have questions about this program, please email ndevlin@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.

Nicole Devlin 

Powerful girls grow up feeling secure in themselves. They learn to take action, making positive choices about their own lives and doing positive things for others. They think critically about the world around them. They express their feelings and acknowledge the feelings and thoughts of others in caring ways. Powerful girls feel good about themselves and grow up with a ‘can-do’ attitude. Of course, strong girls may (like all of us) have times of insecurity and self-doubt, but these feelings aren’t paralysing because the girls have learned to work through their problems. Powerful girls will grow up to lead full, valuable lives.

Here are some of our experts’ ideas to help you raise powerful daughters:

Encourage your daughter to pursue a passion.
“Full engagement with an activity she loves will give her the opportunity to master challenges, which will boost her self-esteem and resilience and affirm intrinsic values rather than appearance,” says Rachel Simmons, author of Odd Girl Out. “Having a passion lets her go shoot baskets or play an instrument, for example, instead of being swept up in online drama.”

Identify the values most important to your family.
“Consider the ways you convey these values, especially by example. What are the moments in your daily life when you can model the values you want your daughter to learn?” asks Simmons. “What traits and strengths do you want your daughter to develop as she grows?” asks Meg White, M.A. “See if these qualities are reflected in how you parent.”

Encourage her to solve issues on her own rather than fixing things for her.
“When parents take over, girls don’t develop the coping skills they need to handle situations on their own. Ask your daughter to consider three strategies she might use to deal with a situation, and then ask her about the possible outcomes. Let her decide what she wants to do (within reason). Even if you disagree with her choice, you give your daughter a sense of control over her life and show her that she is responsible for her decisions,” says Simmons.

Encourage her to take physical risks.
“Girls who avoid risks have poorer self-esteem than girls who can and do face challenges,” says JoAnn Deak, Ph.D., author of Girls Will Be Girls. “Urge your daughter to go beyond her comfort zone - for example, encourage a girl who’s scared to ride her bike downhill to find just a small hill to conquer first.” Catherine Steiner-Adair, Ed.D., co-author of Full of Ourselves: A Wellness Program to Advance Girl Power, Health and Leadership, agrees. “It’s important to help even non-athletic girls develop some physical competence and confidence when they’re young. Whether it’s through team or individual sports, girls need to form a physical relationship with their body that builds confidence.”

Allow her to disagree with you and get angry.
“Raising a powerful girl means living with one. She must be able to stand up to you and be heard, so she can learn to do the same with classmates, teachers, a boyfriend, or future bosses,” says White. Lyn Mikel Brown, Ed.D., and Sharon Lamb, Ed.D., co-authors of Packaging Girlhood, writes, “Girls need guidance about how to stay clear in their disagreements, and they need support for not giving up their convictions to maintain a false harmony. Help girls to make considered choices about how to express their feelings, and to whom.” Steiner-Adair notes that “Not all girls will want to do this, especially shy girls, but you can still help them develop the skills.”

Address girl fighting when you see it.
“Talk with girls about relational violence (such as gossip, rumor-spreading and exclusion) as well as physical violence (hitting or fighting). But don’t assume all girls are mean, and avoid saying ‘girls will be girls’ when you witness girls engaging in exclusive cliques and clubs. Instead, affirm girls’ relational strengths and sense of fairness, help them identify and hold on to their strong feelings, like anger, and encourage them to practice more direct, positive ways to effect change in their relationships,” says Brown.

Acknowledge her struggles but keep a sense of perspective.
“We have to acknowledge the pain our daughters are experiencing, so they feel heard and accepted and empathized with. But we also need to put it into perspective, to stay calm and listen to what they are experiencing without projecting our own experiences onto theirs. Your daughter is having a different experience than you did, even if there are surface similarities,” says Cohen. “After all, she has something you didn’t have: you.”

Enjoy her!
“Having a powerful girl can be exciting and energizing. Find activities you both enjoy and do them regularly together. Maybe you both like cooking or having breakfast together, hiking or reading books,” says Katch. “Try to keep this connection as she gets older - if times ever get tough, you’ll appreciate this special bond you share!”

For this full article, including many other ideas on how best to support your daughter in becoming a powerful girl and thus a strong, independent woman please visit: http://www.pbs.org/parents/parenting/raising-girls/body-image-identity/raising-a-powerful-girl/

Nikki Townsend 

Student leadership activities link strongly with learning about citizenship and the processes involved in a democracy. They can assist all students to learn about and exercise the rights and responsibilities of participating in a community that values social justice. The Primary School Leadership Program endeavours to give students the opportunities to be resourceful and develop their own personal leadership capabilities. Our Leadership Program is based on the philosophy of ‘leadership by service’. Therefore, the most important aspect of leadership lies in serving others. Students in Years 4-6 formally prepare for leadership through our Leadership through Service Learning program. These students, during pastoral care lessons and their own time, prepare and perform activities in order to practise the skills of leadership.

What is a good student leader?
The development of student leadership skills involves opportunities which encourage students to:

• act in roles of responsibility with integrity and honesty
• foster a sense of vision and purpose
• work with others to determine and achieve collective goals
• take on responsibilities and use decision-making skills in order to carry a project through to a successful conclusion
• be active, reflective listeners who respond effectively
• earn the respect of others through their actions

Last week, I spoke with the Year 5 students about voting for the Primary School Captains for 2019. This was to clarify the differences between popularity and effective leadership. A popular student does not necessarily make a good leader and vice versa. There are three levels of leadership the current Year 5 girls can participate in. Level 1 is the Primary School Captain and the process for this is outlined below:

1. Year 5 girls are spoken to about the role of Primary School Captain.
2. All Year 5 girls nominate five (5) girls they would like to see as the Primary School Captains. Voting Slip – girls are nominated 1-5 (with one being first choice).
3. Votes from Year 5 are tallied and top candidates are identified.
4. The candidates are informed and have the morning session to prepare a speech and presentation.
5. Girls make their presentation to Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 on the same day as preparation.
6. Votes are tallied. (Votes are weighted Teachers and Year 5 - 3 points, Year 6 - 2 points and Years 3 and 4 - 1 point).
7. Results are then ratified by the Head of Primary and the Principal.

The Level 2 leadership position is that of House Leader. All current Year 5 students will be appointed as a House Leader in Year 6 with special responsibilities to be confirmed in 2019.

The third level of leadership in the Primary School includes sporting and cultural leaders. In the upcoming weeks, the Year 5 girls will be given a leadership application form. The girls will complete and submit these by the end of the school year. The leadership positions for sporting and cultural activities will be decided in the New Year when new girls will be given the same opportunity to apply for these positions. The number of positions available are limited and not all girls will be successful with their application for Level 3 leadership positions, as there are often numerous applicants for the same position. The girl’s previous experience in the activity, coupled with her leadership interview and previously demonstrated leadership qualities are all taken into consideration when selecting the girls for these positions.

All Year 5 girls wishing to be considered for any level of leadership have completed their ‘I Can’ Leadership accreditation as part of the development of the girls’ leadership capacity.

I know the Year 5 girls will make wonderful leaders and I look forward to working with them when they are the Year 6 leaders of the Primary School next year.

Open Classroom Invitation
2018 has been a typically busy and productive year, yet it seems incredible that we are in our final term.

As an acknowledgment of the learning that has occurred throughout the year, our teachers will be holding an ‘Open Classroom’ on Thursday 25 October from 3:20pm-4:30pm. This will be an opportunity for students to share the work they have been doing throughout the year, as well as allowing the girls to give parents a tour of their classroom. Should you wish to talk to the specialist teachers, they will be available in year level classrooms during the following times:

• 3:20pm-3:35pm - Year 5
• 3:35pm-3:50pm - Year 4
• 3:50pm-4:05pm - Year 6
• 4:05pm-4:20pm - Year 3
• 4:20pm-4:30pm - Years 1 and 2

Please be aware that this time will be an informal occasion for you and your daughter to share what she has been learning at school. Teachers will be available to talk about learning experiences and purposes of particular activities. However, please note, this is not a time for a ‘parent-teacher’ interview. If there is anything you wish to discuss, teachers are very happy to schedule a meeting at a mutually appropriate time.

We look forward to welcoming you to our classrooms.

Upcoming Events
Thursday 25 October: Primary Orientation Day
Friday 2 November: Free Dress Day
Thursday 8 November: Pre-Prep Orientation morning

Angela Drysdale 

This was the first year that the Australian Honours Program was offered and two of our students were successful in receiving a place in the program. Congratulations to Amira Ryan (Year 11) and Claudia Bosworth (Year 11) who both participated in the Australian Honours Ensemble Program on violin and cello respectively. Congratulations also to the following students who participated in the State Honours Ensemble Program: Hanwen (Hanna) Xing (Year 12, voice), Justine Solomon (Year 11, percussion), Amelia Stapley (Year 11, voice), Rose Biddulph (Year 11, voice), Man Kei (Keila) Lei (Year 11, violin), Sophie Gerlach-Zuch (Year 10, voice), Eloise Matyear (Year 10, percussion) and Ella Woods (Year 8, violin). This is a wonderful achievement. I know that all girls involved will have benefited greatly from their involvement in this program.

St Margaret’s/Churchie Music Afternoon
On Wednesday afternoon, one hundred and thirty-eight Churchie students travelled to St Margaret’s to participate in a combined St Margaret’s/Churchie music afternoon. The Churchie students joined with our St Margaret’s students to form Band, Choral and String ensembles. Each of the ensembles rehearsed throughout the afternoon and then followed with a short informal performance given to friends and family in Eton Hall. These events are much anticipated by our students and are wonderful opportunities, both musically and socially. Special thanks must go to the St Margaret’s Music Support Group who put on a sausage sizzle for students prior to the performance. This was a very big undertaking and was very much appreciated.

Music Dinner
Music Dinner will be held on Friday 9 November, 6-9:30pm in Eton Hall. The Annual Music Dinner is an occasion where students and parents celebrate the culmination of a wonderful year of music at St Margaret’s. This year’s theme is ‘The Golden Age of Hollywood’. Music Dinner is open to students in Years 6-12 who have been involved in the following Co-curricular ensembles for the whole year: Amati Strings, Beath String Quartet, Stradivari Strings, Chamber Strings, Sculthorpe String Quartet, Belle Voci, Primary Chorale, Elevarsi Voices, Encorah, Jackson Wind Ensemble, Sister Helen Wind Symphony, Flute Ensemble, Clarinet Ensemble, Saxophone Ensemble, Elayne Jones Percussion Ensemble, Regale Percussion Ensemble, Highly Strung, Senior Rock Band, Junior Rock Band and Stage Band. Tickets are available only via Flexischools (www.flexischools.com.au). For catering purposes, it is imperative you include any dietary requirements and that payments are made by 4pm, Sunday 4 November, as Flexischools will be unavailable after this time. Please be mindful there is a capped number, so book your tickets early! Please find attached a letter (PDF 243.8KB) from the President of the Music Support Group with further details.

Performance Presentations
A reminder to parents that all students from Year 2 upwards undertaking private music lessons will be giving performance presentations during Week 4. This is a new initiative introduced this year to provide students with a goal to work towards and provide the opportunity to receive feedback on their progress. Students will now have received their presentation times and be aware of their presentation requirements. Please check with your daughter’s private music teachers if you have any questions.

Music Support Group
The next Music Support Group meeting will be on 23 October at 5pm in the Primary Music Room (second floor of Chaseley). Parents from both the Primary and Secondary schools are welcome to attend. Please also note that the Music Support Group Annual General Meeting will be held on Tuesday 27 November at 5:00pm in the Primary Music Room.

Brad King 

A huge thank you must go to all families for their terrific support of the girls on the day and during the season. Thank you also to Mr Smithers for his Coordination of the team, Mr Eric Brown and all coaches for their tireless effort. Lastly, thank you also to the great contributions made by Ms O’Callaghan and Mrs Kerr.

Softball
All Years 7-9 students are currently trialling for a place in their year group team to contest the QGSSSA Softball Championship on Tuesday 30 October, Thursday 1 November, Monday 5 November and Wednesday 7 November. Each competition day commences at 3pm and concludes at 6pm with a total of three games being played of one hour in duration or 7 completed innings. A team bus will be used to transport the girls to and from the venue; however, if your daughter wishes to catch private transport home, notification to Desley Upton, Softball Coordinator is required.

Badminton
St Margaret’s will compete at the QGSSSA Badminton competition on Saturday 27 October and Saturday 3 November. Thirteen teams will take to the court from Year 7 through to the Open team. The competition takes place at three venues and the times and dates for each of the teams is varied. Below identifies where and when each of the teams will compete:

Saturday 27 October

Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School
Session 1: 8am-11am, Team Snr B
Session 2: 11am-2pm, Team Snr A
Session 3: 2-5pm, Team Open

Centenary State High School
Session 1: 9am-12pm, No Team
Session 2: 12-3pm, No Team

Brisbane State High School
Session 1: 8am-11am, Team 10C
Session 2: 11am-2pm, Team 10B
Session 3: 2-5pm, Team 10A

Saturday 3 November

Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School
Session 1: 8am-11am, Team 8C
Session 2: 11am-2pm, Team 8B
Session 3: 2-5pm, Team 8A

Centenary State High School
Session 1: 9am-12pm, No Team
Session 2: 12-3pm, Team 7A

Brisbane State High School
Session 1: 8am-11am, Team 9C
Session 2: 11am-2pm, Team 9B
Session 3: 2-5pm, Team 9A

Water Polo
The Water Polo season is back after a two-term hiatus with competition commencing last Saturday. St Margaret’s is represented by eight teams in the Brisbane Water Polo Competition this season. We also welcome new coaches to our Water Polo program this year and look forward to the teams building great relationships with one another, developing their skills and having some wins! Good luck to all teams for a season best!

The draw for Round 2 on Saturday 20 October is available via the Water Polo POD page or by clicking here (PDF 247.9KB).

Vicki Wilson Cup State Finals
The Vicki Wilson Cup Netball team consisting of girls from Years 10-12 competed in the State Finals on 13 and 14 October. The tournament was a mix of pace and finesse and after the preliminary rounds won 3 out of the 4 games. The final day of competition saw the girls making the play-off for 7th and 8th place. This match was a tough game against Fairholme College and ended with St Margaret’s placing 8th overall. Congratulations to all girls on being officially recognised as the eighth best in the State of Queensland! A huge thank you to coach, Gayle Coutts and Manager, Nicole Devlin.

Swimming
The St Margaret’s Swim Squad is ready to make a splash and is aiming to build on the 2018 performance and is looking forward to returning and new members joining the squad for this season. Information regarding this season and the training program is available via the Swimming POD page.

Hockey Support Group AGM
The Hockey Support Group invites all interested parents to attend their final Support Group Meeting on Thursday 25 October at 6pm in the Secondary Library.

Helen Lobegeiger 

smART Christmas Holidays
Looking for things for you and your girls to do in the Christmas holidays? The smART Christmas Holidays Program will be held from Monday 10 to Friday 14 December 2018, 9:30am-2:30pm.

This is the seventh year that St Margaret’s has run the successful smART Holidays program, which offers lots of creative and fun activities for girls in Years 5-8. With a focus on Christmas gifts, tutors will present activities featuring clay, painting, eco-dying and a Mirka Mora style doll.

We are thrilled to welcome the return of assistants Georgina Rankine, Lili Tarabay, Grace Dwyer and Jonny Forbes, in support of artists Fiona Kurnadi, Rachel Jones and Liz Stewart.

Remember that your daughter’s friends from other schools are welcome. Registration is open now on Flexischools, but please book early as numbers are strictly limited.

For the first time, our December program will include a three-day parallel program for adults. This is a result of many parents expressing a wish for a program like the children’s smART Holidays. If you are interested in working with artists on Monday 10 - Wednesday 12 December, please email me directly at: jlishman@stmargarets.qld.edu.au for enquiries and registrations.

Jenny LIshman

Applications for 2019 are open with limited places remaining. For further details, please click here (PDF 527.9KB).

Merryl Wheaton

Terisa Arnold 

Old Girls’ Association AGM
The Old Girls’ Association Annual General Meeting will be held on Tuesday 27 November from 7:00-9:00pm in the Mooloomburram Boardroom. Past students of St Margaret’s are warmly invited to attend to share their views and ideas.

Save the Date! P&F Mothers’ Luncheon 2019
The St Margaret’s Parents and Friends Association has established a strong tradition of giving back to the school through its social and fundraising activities. One of the flagship P&F events is the annual Mothers’ Luncheon.

Please save the date for the 2019 Mothers’ Luncheon:

When: Friday 1 March 2019
Where: Hotel Grand Chancellor, 23 Leichardt Street, Brisbane

Tickets will be on sale via Flexischools early 2019.

Lara Pickering 

ACU Know Your Options Information session for Year 12 students
ACU Brisbane Campus, 1100 Nudgee Road, Banyo
Saturday 15 December, 2-4pm REGISTER TO ATTEND

UCAT Changes to entry for Medicine, Dentistry and some clinical science courses at Australian and New Zealand universities
There will not be a UMAT Test in 2019. UMAT Admissions Test will be replaced by University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) in 2019.

2019 applicants to medicine, dentistry and certain clinical science courses at Australian and New Zealand universities will be required to sit the UCAT from 2019.

For more information about the new test, including testing dates and format, visit: https://www.ucatofficial.com/. You can find the official preparation materials at: https://www.ucatofficial.com/ucat-anz/preparation

University of the Sunshine Coast
Pathway Diplomas
A USC Pathway Diploma is a stand-alone qualification that gives you direct entry and up to one year's credit into selected bachelor's degrees. Please go to: https://www.usc.edu.au/pathwaydiplomas for more information.

Early Offer Guarantee
The Early Offer Guarantee is designed to give Year 12 students the opportunity to secure an offer into an undergraduate degree as early as November, before final results are known. Please go to: usc.edu.au/early-offer for more information.

UQ Enhanced Studies Program
High achieving Year 11 students are invited to apply for UQ's Enhanced Studies Program (ESP). ESP provides students with an opportunity to extend their studies by completing a university subject in Semester 1 of Year 12. Applications close on Wednesday 31 October. Apply now.

USA Sporting Scholarships
This event is perfect for talented athletes in Years 9-11 or Year 12s who are already going through the recruitment process and want some last-minute advice. Select this link to register for this event: Brisbane - October 22.

UQ College University Prerequisite Course - apply now
A four-week intensive program to assist any student that requires a prerequisite subject for their desired tertiary program in the QTAC January Major Offer Round. Courses in Mathematics B, Biology or Chemistry are delivered on the UQ St Lucia campus from Tuesday 20 November - Saturday 15 December. Discover more here.

Queensland Mathematics Summer School - register now
The Queensland Mathematics Summer School at UQ (QMSS) is a five-day program from Monday 21 - Friday 25 January 2019 for mathematically talented Year 10 students planning to study Year 11 Mathematical Methods and Specialist Mathematics in 2019. Discover more here.

UQ Economics Scholarships - apply now
The Year 12 Equity and Diversity Scholarship is a full fee waiver scholarship for a student with a keen interest in economics, but who has experienced disadvantage throughout high school. Applications for the UQ Economics Scholarships will close on Sunday 11 November. Discover more here

UQ Law Scholarship - apply now
The TC Beirne School of Law Scholarship is open to students enrolling in a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) or related dual program who can demonstrate academic merit and significant financial need. Applications for the TC Beirne School of Law Scholarship will close on Friday 22 February 2019. Discover more here

The Science Experience (Years 9 and 10, 2019)
Students in Years 9-10 in 2019 are invited to apply for the Conocophillips Science Experience. Applications close on Tuesday 30 October. Discover more here

Griffith University
2019 scholarship applications are open! Explore scholarship options and apply online at griffith.edu.au/scholarships.

QUT
Students considering QUT in 2019 should explore scholarships now. Opportunities include the Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarships for academic, sporting and creative excellence, and business scholarships with corporate partners, honours programs, academic excellence and Indigenous scholarships.

START QUT applications are now open and close 31 October
Year 11 students can apply now to study QUT units in 2019. https://www.qut.edu.au/study/study-options/start-qut

Australian Catholic University (ACU)
Elite Athlete and Performer Program (EAPP) applications – open now. Applications close on 4 December. Head here for more information.

Reminder: Non-Academic Requirements for Teaching Entrance (NARTE)
Teaching suitability assessments have been introduced to Queensland for all initial teacher education courses to assess if future students possess the desired qualities to become effective teachers. Further information is available at: https://www.qtac.edu.au/courses---institutions/teacher-entry

KEY DATES:

2018
October QTAC supporting documentation should be completed.

16 November: QTAC 1st round offer Year 12

15 December: OPs released

15 December: ACU Know your options information session, 2-4pm

17 December: OP Advice Night UQ Centre, St Lucia campus, 4-7pm

18 December: QUT Real Decisions, Gardens Point campus

20 December: QTAC offer round

2019

8 January: 4:30pm - last day to change preferences for 16 January offer round

16 January: QTAC offer round

25 January: QTAC ‘top up’ offer round

31 January: QTAC ‘top up’ offer round

5 February onwards: QTAC ongoing offer rounds

Other dates are available: https://www.qtac.edu.au/key-dates-fees

VTAC: Key Dates www.vtac.edu.au

UAC: https://www.uac.edu.au/key-dates

Elizabeth Johnston