eNews Archive Issue 32 - 20 October 2022

Consider this advice:

• Don’t force a piece to fit. Although persistence is generally a good thing, if you keep looking at those pieces, picking them up again and again, turning them around and they still don’t fit, remember, if something is meant to be, it will fall into place naturally.
• When things aren’t going so well, take a break. Everything will look different when you return. Walking away, having a good nap, and taking some time helps give you the perspective you need, and you can come back with renewed interest and insight.
• Remember to always look at the big picture. Getting hung up on the little pieces only leads to frustration.
• Perseverance pays off. Every important puzzle went together bit by bit, piece by piece.
• When one spot stops working, give some time and move to another section so you don’t lose momentum, but be sure to come back later.
• Variety is a good thing. It’s the different colours and patterns that make the puzzle interesting. Think about that when you meet different people, when you travel and when you are asked to learn a new skill.
• Working together with friends and family on a puzzle is enjoyable and makes everything go quickly.
• Establish the border first. Boundaries give a sense of security and order. Your values will help you set your boundaries.
• Don’t be afraid to try different combinations. Some matches are surprising.
• Take time to celebrate your successes – even little ones. Do your own happy dance at every possible moment.
• Anything worth doing takes time and effort. As we all know a large puzzle cannot be rushed.
• When you finally reach the last piece, don’t be sad. Rejoice in the masterpiece you’ve made and enjoy a well-deserved rest.

The Year 12s only have a few big pieces called study and external exams to go in their St Margaret’s jigsaw puzzle and we wish them well.

Ros Curtis

Student Protection Officers are persons designated as liaison people to whom students may refer if they are not feeling safe; or to whom they make complaints of harm, inappropriate behaviour or physical/sexual abuse. The St Margaret's Student Protection Officers are:

- Deputy Principal - Karen Gorrie

- Head of Boarding - Lesa Fowler

- Head of Primary School - Angela Drysdale

- Assistant Head of Primary – Curriculum (PP-6) – Kate Frewin

- Dean of Students - Nikki Townsend

- Dean of Studies – Caitlin McCluskey

- Guidance Counsellor - Sharon Stone

- Head of Year – Nicole Walker

All Student Protection documentation including all policies and procedures can be viewed on our internet page at https://www.stmargarets.qld.edu.au/discover-st-margaret-s/student-protection.

Our statement of commitment is as follows:

St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School supports the rights of children and young people and are committed to ensure the safety, welfare and wellbeing of students. St Margaret’s is therefore committed to responding to allegations of student harm resulting from the conduct or actions of any person including that of employees.

This commitment includes the provision of a safe and supportive living and learning environment for all students and requires all employees, volunteers and visitors to model and encourage behaviour that upholds the dignity and protection of students from harm.

In support of this commitment, St Margaret’s is dedicated to our Child and Youth Risk Management Strategy which includes having relevant policies, procedures and training in place to effectively address the safety and wellbeing of students in our care.

Karen Gorrie

One of the core Christian narratives that reminds us of this is the story of creation in Genesis. As you know there are thousands of narratives that attempt to explain how the world came to be. These are important stories about origins, purpose, and the meaning of life. They are not scientific accounts, they are stories. And, as we know stories convey meaning.

In the Christian narratives of creation, there is a pattern of God creating, and then God declaring that creation as good…

Light and night – God saw that it was good
Water and sky …  it was good
Trees and vegetation…  it was good
Stars and moon and sun… it was good
Birds of the air, fish of the sea … it was good
Animals of every kind … it was good.
Humanity – created in the likeness of God – God saw that it was very good.

Rev’d Jazz Dow

Our younger students created a surprise guard of honour for the Year 12s to tunnel through the school leading up to Circular Drive. We hosted a sunset barbeque dinner on the Terraces with the whole boarding house, which was a beautiful opportunity for the Year 12s to have dinner together for the final time. The Year 12s wished all of the boarders well, sharing with the girls they will leave behind with proud hearts and as proud ‘Maggies Boarders’. It was very rewarding to witness the close friendships and bonds the girls have with each other. The Year 12s will be very missed and have left an imprint with their younger peers to make the most of their years at St Margaret’s. We wish them well for their external exams.

Last week, I was fortunate to represent St Margaret’s at the Boarding Schools Expo in Mt Isa, alongside Hannah Calcino (Student Wellbeing Coordinator - Boarding). It was a wonderful experience meeting with families that are coming next year and connecting with current St Margaret’s families that live in this Gulf Country region of Queensland. A highlight was bumping into an old St Margaret’s boarder who returned to her community of Mt Isa to be a nurse for the rural communities. It was an amazing insight into how wide and great our St Margaret’s community is. 

Gracemere Mataia

Year 11

Shortly, Year 11 students will be receiving an email from me inviting them to book in an ATAR prediction meeting. I will meet with all ATAR eligible students in Term 4 of this year and all Portfolio Pathway students in Term 1 of next year. Appointment times will be available before, during and after school and parents are more than welcome to attend these meetings as well.

Year 10

Year 10 students are currently using their Academic Advising time to catch up on Cert II work whenever they’re not meeting with their Academic Advisor. All Cert II work must be completed by the end of this term. Those students studying Cert III in Agriculture will carry this over into next year, taking advantage of holiday time to fulfill their practical hours requirements.

Caitlin McCluskey

One area of strong agreeance was their advice on the importance of building strong, positive mentors as a student. As Ms Traves suggested, mentors need not be a close family friend or a teacher; indeed, sometimes it is best that they aren’t. They DO, however, need to be people who show you respect, kindness and honesty. They need to be people who can share their experience and insights willingly; people who you will listen to, and, most importantly, people who are interested in helping you to achieve your goals.

At St Margaret’s, our Years 11 and 12 girls are incredibly fortunate to be working with many mentors through the St Margaret’s Plus Mentoring Program run by Ms Danielle Guinea. Of the 2022 graduating cohort, 41 students took up the opportunity to connect with a mentor from the field in which they are aspiring to study or enter. This program has equipped these girls with invaluable insights and information, providing them with clarity and confidence as they leave our St Margaret’s gates and enter the next phase of their lives.

To our younger (Years 7 to 10) students, despite not yet being eligible for the St Margaret’s Plus Mentoring Program, I encourage you to engage in conversations with positive role models (your parents, teachers, Academic Advisors etc.) in your life about how to best succeed in your curricular and extracurricular aspirations. We are never too young to have good mentors, and never too old to gain wisdom.

Chris Dunn

The awards are presented to students each year in many Australian secondary schools in remembrance of the soldiers who died at the then South Vietnamese village of Long Tan in 1968. The students are selected based on the following attributes:

• Leadership
• Teamwork
• Co-operation
• Resourcefulness
• High Personal Values
• Problem Solving
• Communication Skills
• Involvement in Community

The school wishes the Class of 2022 the very best for their upcoming external assessment.

Nikki Townsend

Year 3 camp marks the beginning of our sequential, structured camp program. Each year’s program builds on the previous years by increasing the number of days and building on activities that require more self-regulation. The common thread for each year’s program is respect and responsibility which encompasses respect and responsibility for self, others and the natural world.

One of the most important goals for camp is for the girls to experience interactions with peers in a different setting and for a longer period. They test their social skills in an environment that is not home or school, learning to live with other students in cabins, sharing bathrooms and meals. Camp is also the perfect experience to challenge self-regulation.

Experts regard self-regulation as one of the most important skills to teach children. It is not one but a set of skills including the ability to control something – behaviour, thought, movement or feeling and impulse. Delay of gratification is the most significant self-regulation skill. It has been linked to long term outcomes for children, that is, children who wait longer are more sociable, achieve better grades now and in the future.

We teach self-regulation as part of cognitive learning and the social thinking program. This program teaches skills that contribute to self-regulation. Parents can also help by helping your child to:

1. Control an impulse in order to meet the higher goal (empathy, relationships, learning)
2. Use situations to teach strategies to help regulate impulses
3. Acknowledge the challenge of regulation (help children conquer hard things, don’t give up)
4. Make a choice and a plan - develop decision-making skills
5. Play games
6. Be flexible so the child is not too rigid

Be patient with your child as self-regulation skills develop over a lifetime.   

Angela Drysdale

The afternoon culminated in a sausage sizzle and an opportunity for some socialising and tunes on what was a lovely, sunny afternoon. This event is just one of many highlights on the Term 4 calendar for the Year 6 students as their primary school journey comes to an end. Opportunities to engage in mixed gender contexts are crucial for the single sex schooling experience and are continued into the secondary school at St Margaret’s through friendly netball games and debates, leadership forums, Sony Camp and at social events such as dances. While the all-girls schooling experience is proven to have significant benefits for girls, events such as the Year 6 Activities Day with Churchie help to develop social skills, camaraderie and ultimately, serve as another source of memory making for the girls. To access a gallery of images captured on the day, please access your Pixevety account by clicking this link.

Emily Brown (L) and Chloe Nheu (R) in action playing Ultimate Disc

St Margaret’s and Churchie students take directions from our Head of Faculty – HPE, Ms Helen Lobegeiger

Jasmine Moody takes on the inflatable obstacle course

Music Dinner

Music Dinner was held last Friday evening and was a wonderful celebration of the music students’ achievements throughout 2022. It was also a special opportunity to say thank you and farewell to our 2022 Music Seniors. Eton Hall was transformed with each table decorated according to the ‘Iconic Songs’ theme. Congratulations to the following students who were the recipients of the following Music Dinner Awards:

The Friends of Music Perpetual Trophy for Outstanding Achievement in Woodwind: Holly Marchant

The Friends of Music Perpetual Trophy for Outstanding Achievement in Percussion: Annette Chan

The Friends of Music Perpetual Trophy for Outstanding Achievement in Brass: Brianna Higgins

The Friends of Music Perpetual Trophy for Outstanding Achievement in Choral: Stephanie Licina (Equal), Eva Matyear (Equal)

The Friends of Music Perpetual Trophy for Outstanding Achievement in Strings: Ella Woods

Band Program Most Improved: Gemma Kirchner

Band Program Outstanding Commitment: Edith Barber

Band Program Rising Star: Jasmine Leung

Strings Program Most Improved: Hilary Davis

Strings Program Outstanding Commitment: Isabella Bluett

Strings Program Rising Star: Pendy Lin

Choral Program Most Improved: Sofie Gustafsson

Choral Program Outstanding Commitment: Harriet Buckley

Choral Program Rising Star: Ruby Reynolds Campbell

A very big thank you to Ms Antoinette Aquilina and the Music Support Group along with other parent helpers who went to enormous lengths to provide such a special evening for our music students. Thank you also to the music staff, and also the facilities and catering staff for their efforts in putting together such a wonderful night for the music students. This year the music staff formed a band to perform ‘Blame It On the Boogie’ for the Year 12 procession. A video of this performance has been placed on the St Margaret’s Music POD page.

Interhouse Solo Music Competition

We are very excited to announce a new interhouse competition that will occur during lunchtimes of Week 5 this term. It is called the Interhouse Solo Music Competition and is open to all students in Years 4-12 who are learning a musical instrument either here at school or outside of school. There has been plenty of opportunities for houses to show their sporting capabilities and now is the time for houses to demonstrate their musical prowess! These are the guidelines for the competition:

• This event is only open to students who take private music lessons, either at St Margaret's or outside of school.
• There will be three different age divisions in which you can compete: A Junior Division (students in Years 4-6), an Intermediate Division (students in Years 7-9), and a Senior Division (students in Years 10 and 11).
• There will be four categories in each division: Voice, Band, Strings and Piano/Guitar. You are welcome to nominate for more than one instrument.
• Maximum three minutes per performance (feel free to perform an excerpt of a piece to keep it within the time limit).
• There will be no accompaniment available for the performances.
• Each participant will get 1 point for their house, and there will be extra house points given to the winners of each section (eg. Junior Strings).

We are hoping all students who learn a musical instrument will show house spirit and get involved in this new initiative. To sign yourself up for a section, please fill in this Microsoft form. All entry forms will need to be completed by the evening of Wednesday 26 October. Performance slots will then be distributed on Friday 28 October. The winners of each section and the overall winning house will be announced in Week 6. May the most musical house win!

Auditions for 2023 Music Ensembles

Thank you to all students who auditioned this week for 2023 Music ensembles. Ensemble lists for 2023 will be placed within the next week on the String, Choral and Band POD pages.

Music Support Group

The next Music Support Group meeting will be the AGM and will be held on Tuesday 8 November at 5.00pm in M’s Cafe. Parents from both the Primary and Secondary Schools are welcome to attend.

Brad King

QGSSSA Junior Badminton

On Saturday 15 October, 49 students, across eight teams took part in the secondary QGSSSA Badminton Gala Day, this time for our junior teams. Our girls had a fantastic day, playing with their teammates and experiencing the sport of badminton.

For many of our junior players, this was their first-time experiencing badminton. A great feature of the QGSSSA competition is that all players are required to both play and umpire different games within the tournament. This insight into umpiring is a fantastic tool to teach students about the important and respected role umpires play within all sports, enabling students to experience the sport from a different perspective. It also helps to develop a greater knowledge of the game and foster a strong sense of community and collegiality across the QGSSSA schools.   

Of our junior squad, our Year 9B team was our best performing group, finishing third overall within their competition. Our Year 9As were also extremely competitive on the day.

The Gala Day was a great success with all students displaying plenty of spirit and thoroughly enjoying the experience. I would like to thank Badminton Coordinator Vicki Strid, our supporting staff and our fantastic coaches for all the work they and the students put into the season.

GO MAGGIES!

Lloyd Knight

The 2022 Regional Exhibition for Creative Generation Excellence in Visual Art opened on 14 October at the Brisbane Institute of Art. Isla McWilliam’s work titled, ' My Mother and Her Mother’, was selected and won the excellence in Creative Generation Award. Next year her work will be on display at GOMA. The work is a collection of found objects, textile and paper pockets. Isla's work can be viewed until 22 October between 10am and 3pm at the Brisbane Institute of Art. (Monday to Saturday). Well done, Isla!

Last week we received excellent news that Zsa Zsa Janosi's work was selected for the annual Subject Report for QCAA. Zsa Zsa’s work was selected due to the high-quality demonstration of the criteria across all her bodies of work. This is an outstanding achievement. Congratulations Zsa Zsa. 

Adrian Walker

Orders placed:

• by 30 November 2022 will be delivered by 21 December 2022,
• by 18 December 2022 will be delivered before 20 January 2023
• by 19 December will be sent ASAP, but there is no guarantee of delivery before school commences.

Boarders ONLY are able to have their book pack delivered to St Margaret’s for pickup on their return to school in January 2023 by confirming in the delivery address: Boarder – Deliver to St Margaret’s AGS.

UNIFORM OUTFITTING APPOINTMENTS – online booking system

Bookings for October, November & December 2022 and January 2023 are available online now!

Book your appointment online via the school website.

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 and Pre-Prep/Prep.

Date:       Friday 3 March 2023 (Term 1)

Venue:    Queensland Cricketers Club

RSVP:      9.30am Thursday 16 February, unless sold out prior.

Tables:    Maximum table capacity is 10 people. Seating requests can be made by nominating a Table    Captain or Year Group at the time of booking. Best efforts will be made to meet any requests.

Enquiries:  P&F@stmargarets.qld.edu.au

Tickets will go on sale from 9.30am Tuesday 25 October 2022 via https://www.trybooking.com/CCIXW  

Fathers with a daughter in Year 12 in 2023 will be given early access to purchase tickets from 9.30am Monday 24 October 2022.

This event is kindly supported by Morgans.

If your business is interested in supporting the Fathers’ Dinner or other upcoming P&F events, please contact us for a copy of the 2023 P&F Event Sponsorship Prospectus via email P&F@stmargarets.qld.edu.au. We would love to speak with you.

Nominations are open for the 2023 St Margaret’s Past Student Awards

If you know of a St Margaret’s Old Girl deserving of recognition, we encourage you to nominate her today! Perhaps your daughter is being mentored by a past student who has achieved great things.

The annual Past Student Awards recognise the many and diverse achievements of St Margaret’s Past Students, both professionally and personally, providing an opportunity to share stories of success with our current student community.

There are two award categories:

1. Distinguished Past Student Award - for alumnae who have celebrated their 20th reunion. Recognises significant contribution or achievements in the profession, community or volunteer work; and
2. Young Past Student of Distinction Award - for alumnae in their 20th reunion year or younger. Recognises significant contribution or achievements in the profession, community or volunteer work.

Nominations can be submitted by completing our Online Nomination Form. Please note, when competing the Form, if there are any details (i.e. alumni year, degree information or addresses) that you need assistance in completing, please leave these blank, and we here in the Development and Community Office are happy to fill in those gaps.  

Volunteering at St Margaret’s this term?

St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School acknowledges the important work that volunteers carry out within our school environment. Assistance, whether it is as a volunteer in the classroom, tuckshop, excursions, P&F activities or sporting carnivals, enhances the quality of our student’s teaching and learning experience. The safety and wellbeing of St Margaret’s students is paramount always.

As such, the School has a comprehensive process for recruiting, selecting and screening, inducting and training, recording and monitoring of volunteers to ensure the School complies with current legislative requirement in relation to working with children.

Parents who are volunteering on committees, with support groups or at school associated events are asked to complete St Margaret’s Volunteer Register Form via this link.

Lara Pickering