eNews Archive Issue 36 - 15 November 2018

As I reflect on 2018 for the students, it is clear that our programs work to equip them with the skills for the next phase of their lives. We have done our best to help every student take advantage of the opportunities that exist out there to prepare them for the world of work and tertiary education. We have done what is necessary, so students will understand about quality relationships with others and have the resilience to bounce back from the inevitable errors and obstacles ahead.

This week has been a week full of ‘rites of passage’ marking the Year 12 transition from school to the next phase of their life’s journey. We marked their final assembly on Monday, following it with a luncheon in their honour; their achievements were showcased at Speech Night on Tuesday evening; we organised a Year 12 only excursion on Wednesday to Wet‘n’Wild; hosted the final Boarders’ Dinner on Wednesday evening; celebrated at the Thanksgiving Service at St John’s Cathedral on Thursday and will say goodbye at the Valedictory Dinner that evening. Friday sees a last breakfast with families and a very brief ‘last call of the roll’ at an assembly.

These are wonderful, celebratory events focused on the Year 12s and this important milestone in their lives; this ‘sliding door’ moment. It is a time of appreciation – from the staff who have enjoyed teaching them and from the students for the quality of their education and the relationships that have been formed.

I wish all Year 12s well for the future – in the short term, a safe ‘schoolies’ experience, a restorative holiday and joy on receiving their OP and QTAC offers; in the longer term, a life lived well with much to celebrate. I hope they see the value in remaining connected to their School and enjoy their new status as ‘Old Girls’.

Ros Curtis 

In 1939, Sister Bernadine described the philosophy of St Margaret’s as ‘setting the feet of future generations on the right path.’ These words resonate strongly almost 80 years later, and indeed today the School’s origins stand strong with thanks to the legacy the Sisters of the Society of the Sacred Advent provided us. This year, Annie and I have had the pleasure of continuing this tradition, as your School Captains, modelling the path that is possible, a path of opportunities, a path to be remembered, a path to be proud of. I believe, being provided the gift of an education at St Margaret’s is not just about following a path, but rather blazing the trail of your own wonderous path, your own unique journey.

When I reflect on my time at St Margaret’s, over the past 7 years, one word that captures my path is flourishing. Interestingly, the father of positive psychology, Martin Seligman, created a model focused on just that – flourishing. His model is better known by the acronym PERMA – standing for Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning and Accomplishments. This evening, Annie and I would like to share with you an adaptation of this model, we have aptly called PATHS: Perseverance, Attitude, Ties, Helping, Success.

Perseverance is one of the driving forces behind my success and happiness at St Margaret’s. I believe it is important to discover activities outside of your comfort zone that require your full engagement, such as playing a new instrument or joining a team sport and persevering with it. Being immersed and absorbed in these activities has allowed me to learn, grow and nurture my personal happiness. I believe that my St Margaret’s journey has been shaped by my determination to engage through an array of extra-curricular activities. Persevering with playing the guitar has allowed me to perform in the Primary, Junior and Senior Rock Bands, Jazz Ensemble and Stage Band. We all need something in our lives that entirely absorbs us into the present moment, creating a ‘flow’ of blissful immersion into the task or activity. This type of ‘flow’ of engagement is necessary to stretch our intelligence, skills and emotional capabilities.

Maintaining a positive and grateful attitude towards school life is another key aspect that describes my St Margaret’s journey. Positive emotions such as acceptance, appreciation, courage and kindness underpin the St Margaret’s Way. Indeed, “at St Margaret’s we know that positivity and gratitude have an immense impact on our emotional wellbeing, thus creating an environment where we can all flourish.” This year, I encouraged students to demonstrate their appreciation and gratitude through organising a St Margaret’s Way Day. In collaboration with the St Margaret’s Marketing Department we created WAY notes – We Appreciate You notes for students to write why they appreciated fellow sisters and staff members. I placed WAY Points around the school for students to locate using a WAY finder and these notes were delivered the following week. The aim of this day was to help girls feel accepted and appreciated, as this is the way to flourishing.

Fostering relationships or ties with students, teachers, parents and the wider community is important to spread happiness and kindness. The sense of sisterhood at St Margaret’s is very special and this feeling of being part of a close-knit community is essential to flourishing. This year, Annie and I have aimed to create a sisterhood of girls who feel inspired, accepted and empowered by encouraging students to get to know girls in other year levels.

The Senior’s theme of Sisterhood has not only established ties and connections within the current student body, it has also bought into our consciousness the bond between all Maggies girls, both past and present. This bond provides current Maggie’s girls with a tie to others who continue to strive to excel in a variety of arenas, and enable us as students, to develop our individual vision as to what our education might enable us to do. 

 Xanthe Lowe-Brown

A major focus of the St Margaret’s culture is helping others and serving something larger than oneself. When we look to our history we can see that this sense of social justice and altruism is actually at the crux of who the Sisters were and who we aim to be today. They knew then, as we do now, that the way forward is through educating and empowering young women but that this education must be framed by our service to others. Across the grades, we all find a way to contribute to our wider community; whether this is through SONY Camp or the Ponytail Project, our birthing kits, our service groups such as Toc H, Oaktree and Philanthropy – all of these efforts centre around empowering and improving the lives of young women. It is inspiring to know that this is so much a part of our culture that it continues into life after school. We have so many role models to look to, from the class of ’29 graduate, Dame Patricia McKinnon, whose tireless dedication to the improvement of Children’s hospitals saw her awarded an Order of the British Empire, to Pip Harvey Ross, from 2010 whose NGO Many Shades continues to transform lives in Tanzania. These women, along with many others, teach us that in helping others our lives are also improved; for the service is twofold. When we help, we are helped. When we empower, we are empowered.

In the same way that we can learn about helping others from the women who have come before us, they also challenge us to redefine our understanding of success, which is the last element in our model this evening. Events such as Speech Night are designed to celebrate and recognise those who have worked hard and have achieved well throughout the year, whether that be academically, musically, culturally, on the sporting field, or those who have shown exceptional strength of character. However, what we forget is that these moments are in fact the culmination of considerable hard work and effort, and it is this quiet determination and strength that is the true success that we celebrate. It is important that as a society, we recognise and celebrate the success and achievements of young women. Whilst it is often associated with being the best at something or winning the competition, there are many other forms of success. It might be the achievement of a goal, perfecting a new sporting skill, correctly playing a scale or improving your GPA by a point. St Margaret’s recognises the importance of success on all of these levels, and by offering such a range of extra-curricular activities and opportunities to explore our passions, we learn that this success can play out in many fields. From this we can see that success and how it is defined differs for every girl, yet each one of them shares and contributes to the success of our sisterhood.

Through our leadership positions, Xanthe and I were inspired to follow the work of the Sisters to enable all girls to thrive and grow during their time as a Maggies girl. Our goal was to create an environment in which all girls felt valued and accepted, so that they were able to flourish and grow both as individuals, and as members of the wider community. We have been fortunate to work with dedicated and passionate staff, who inspire, guide and support the growth of each and every girl. It has been a privilege to lead such an incredible and diverse group of young women, who continually aspire to achieve their best and reach their potential. Throughout 2018 we have realised that the essence of Sisterhood in our school gives foundation to our nurturing and supportive environment which forms the stable pathway on which we set our futures but leave behind a direction for those who come after us.

Annabel Garland

Karen Gorrie 

If you are starting to think about what to buy for that person who has everything – that person could be any one of us – why not browse through the Anglican Overseas Aid catalogue?

The theme of the catalogue is “Rebuilding Lives”:

The catalogue helps to raise much-needed funds for life-giving work, while providing a stress-free, low waste option for Christmas giving that doesn’t involve buying more “stuff” than most people need. But most importantly, the catalogue and additional online resources point us to the true meaning of Christmas…

There are also free Advent resources to access.

The variety of gifts within the catalogue cover four key elements of the work of Anglican Overseas Aid with overseas communities, namely health care, solar lights, water and sanitation, safety and peace.

When you buy a gift, your purchase supports that area of work. You will then receive a card that you can give to a family member or friend for Christmas, either to accompany another present or as a standalone gift. Each card gives a short story and description of the area of work that has been supported and the impact it has on people’s lives.

The Anglican Overseas Aid catalogue can be accessed at www.anglicanoverseasaid.org.au or phone 1800 249 889.

Reflection – as requested, my opening prayer from Tuesday night’s Speech Night:

Lord God, gathered here this evening are your people.

We are fabulous and we are flawed. We celebrate together and we reflect on our year shared.

In a world of successes but also confusion, we are thankful for a few small hours to unite as one community.

For those seated here, for those watching from afar, we ask for your healing hand of hope upon us all, a spirit of courage and strength and, above all, may we know that your love for us is closer and deeper than breathing.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

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

Research has shown that when things get tough in the future the girls will often call upon skills they have developed in boarding. Boarding prepares them for a future where they will meet challenges and be able to take a deep breath and solve the issue. Each of the Year 12 Boarders have developed into strong, capable women they are today, and as a boarding community we have been fortunate to have these young women as part of our lives and our community.

Lesa Fowler 

At one of the Year 12 events, I was speaking to a parent who commented about the much-anticipated wait now until the final OP results are released on December 14. This Year 12 parent recognised the importance of these results for tertiary entrance but also recognised how much her daughter had grown and learnt during her time at St Margaret’s. When we spoke about her growth it wasn’t limited to the activities happening in a room with four walls. It was as a result of her daughter’s involvement in a range of cultural, sporting and academic pursuits that gave her the full depth and breadth of knowledge and skills that will be her toolbox for life beyond school.

Schools play such an important role in laying the foundation of a student’s development through educational experiences that recognise and nurture the dreams of each person. The Melbourne Declaration of 2008 identified two overarching goals for schooling in Australia:

Goal 1 - Australian schooling promotes equity and excellence

Goal 2 - All young Australians become successful learners, confident and creative individuals, and active and informed citizens.

The Year 12s have embraced and excelled in all aspects of the academic, sporting and cultural life and in doing so have developed into confident and creative individuals; individuals capable of planning for the future, and making informed decisions in life. That doesn’t mean they will always make the right decision but as young adults they know that they will continue to learn from experience. So, as we farewell the Year 12s of 2018 we can be confident that they have achieved the goals of the Melbourne Declaration and leave behind a positive legacy of strong school spirit and a commitment to the fullness of life at St Margaret’s.

Every element of life at school contributes to a quality education in preparation for a vastly changing and dynamic world. So, in the words of Nelson Mandela, always remember “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”.

Key dates coming up:

Monday 19 November – Monday 26 November: Year 11 exam block (includes QCS practice) - wear full school uniform.

Wednesday 21 November – Friday 23 November: Year 12 display of SAIs in the ILC.

14 December: Year 12 QCEs, Senior Statements and Statements of Results posted to students.

15 December: OP results released via Student Connect.

Jo Butterworth 

St Margaret’s has a long history in educating girls and without the pioneering attitudes of the Sisters of the Society of the Sacred Advent, the girls of St Margaret’s would not be able to see as far as they can or have. We are indeed very lucky as a school to have many positive role models for our girls to gain inspiration for their futures.

Albert Bandura, a noted psychologist and former president of the American Psychological Association, says, “Most human behaviour is learned observationally through modelling: from observing others one forms an idea of how new behaviours are performed, and on later occasions this coded information serves as a guide for action”.

It is clear that girls need role models to look up to, not only for everyday behaviour, but for career choices as well. Numerous studies have found that positive female role models are essential for female students, especially when choosing a career path that will be satisfying in today’s world.

As a school we celebrate these role models through many events such as Scholars’ Assemblies, St Margaret’s Day, the Old Girl’s Associations Notables Project and the Past Student Awards. The Past Student Awards are a relatively new initiative and have been held for the last 3 years and were established to:

• Recognise the many achievements of St Margaret’s Past Students, both professionally and personally.
• To celebrate the diverse achievements of Past Students and provide an opportunity to share stories of success.
• Increase connections between the School and Past Students to honour their legacy.

These awards are presented on a yearly basis and the nomination process for 2019 is open. Therefore, if you know a past student who should be recognised for their contributions or achievements in their profession, community or volunteer work, please follow the link below and add their story to our positive role models for our current student to look to for inspiration: https://www.stmargarets.qld.edu.au/community/past-students/past-student-awards.

Nicole Devlin 

As part of our Year 12 Final Assembly this week it was an honour to announce the 2018 recipients of the Australian Defence Force Long Tan Awards: Penelope Crothers (Year 12) and  Alice O’Driscoll (Year 10). These 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
• Cooperation
• Resourcefulness
• High Personal Values
• Problem Solving
• Communication Skills
• Involvement in Community

During the assembly, the following students were awarded their Diploma of Business and Diploma of Project Management. This is an outstanding achievement for these St Margaret’s students who have graduated from these courses, which have been offered ‘in house’ and facilitated by Barrington and Management Frontline.

Diploma of Business Certificates:
Annabel Arnott, Bonnie Attwooll, Madeleine Brady, Prudence Brosnan, Charli Curr, Georgia Curr, Christine Dawanincura, Olivia De Pasquale, Lara Doyle, Charlotte Fordyce, Andrea Gilligan, Elizabeth Gooden, Paris Hall, Olivia Johnson, Shimona King, Chelsea Lang, Phoebe Leach, Johanna Loban, Isabelle MacPherson, Isabella Mainwaring-Flynn, Luca Masnata, Philippa McNamee, Michelle Mpofu, Monica Mpofu, Charlotte Preston, Emma Roberts, Jasmine Rodrigues, Georgia Sprague, Annabelle Wagner, Olivia Warby, Isobel Waugh and Ziyao (Yuna) Yu.

Diploma of Project Management:
Annie Magoffin, Grace Solomon-Innes and Rosabelle Tully.

Finally, the term finishes on Thursday 29 November at 3pm and students will be engaged in learning and assessment until this date. We strongly urge parents to resist requests from their daughters to depart early. If an early departure is unavoidable due to extenuating circumstances, please advise the school, in writing, via studentleave@stmargarets.qld.edu.au as early as possible.

Nikki Townsend 

As we head into the Christmas season and we start our preparations for it, there is irony in that it is often fraught with many stresses as we strive to finish off many projects and then plan for celebrations. I therefore believe it is not an accident that World Kindness Day was celebrated this week on 13 November. I think to acknowledge this day is to remind us to stop and remember to be kind. As a society, we are kind to others, but it is always good to be reminded to be kind to others. This day is not a new day as it was first introduced in 1998 with it becoming part of Australian society in 2010.

Research has revealed that participating in regular small acts of kindness is beneficial to health, longevity and wellbeing. Making the decision to be a little kinder will bring more pleasure and direction to your life than ever before. As the girls prepare their ‘Service to Others’ projects, described in last week’s eNews, they are experiencing the benefits of altruism, as helping others has beneficial effects on each child. Alongside these projects it is also a custom for the Primary School to support children in Foster Care at Christmas. We would like to invite families to donate a new toy for a child in foster care (age range baby to teenagers). Toys can be bought to school unwrapped and taken to your child’s classroom, where they will be presented to the School at the Christmas Service on Thursday 29 November, 9-10am in the Philip Harris Sports Centre. Parents are welcome to attend.

For a child to perform random acts of kindness, they need to see the adults in their lives model them. By modelling them, you encourage your child to do the same and together you will value others more and strengthen your relationship.

On the flip side of performing acts of kindness is showing gratitude.

Gratitude is an element of our spiritual practices, but there is emerging research highlighting gratitude as a potential bridge between students’ academic and social well-being. It has found that grateful youth have higher GPAs, experience more positive emotions and ultimately go on to live more meaningful lives. Research also suggests that practising gratitude at a young age promotes later development of self-control and self-regulation, both qualities that contribute to lifelong success.

Gratitude is defined as ‘affirming that there are good things in the world – gifts and benefits that we’ve received – and reorganising that these sources of goodness come from outside ourselves’ (Zakrzewski, 2013). Expressing gratitude is a skill that can be taught both at home and at school. For egocentric 6 and 7 year-old children, gratitude can be fostered, but it doesn’t fully materialise until ages 10-14 when students develop the ability to empathise.

Teachers and parents; however, should encourage children from an early age to say why they are grateful. These adults need to model this again and again for children to think more deeply in terms of why they’re grateful for someone or something. When children express gratitude, teachers and parents should encourage them to notice intentions (the thought behind the gift that they have received), appreciate costs (someone went out of their way or made sacrifices to help them) and recognise the benefits (someone provided them with a gift or a kind act that has personal value).

I look forward to witnessing acts of kindness and demonstrations of gratitude and I will start the ball rolling by saying thank you to parents for entrusting the education of your daughter to us.

Harvest Market Stall
The Early Childhood students certainly gave Jan Power a run for her money at Wednesday Afternoon’s Harvest Market Stall, where they sold organic foods grown in Maggie’s garden. It was a bumper crop and to see the girls own all elements of the process at the market sale was simply delightful; rich, real-life learning at its best. I am pleased it was a market garden and not the Stock Exchange that the girls had control of, given the market-research prices derived by the students. Entrepreneurs in the making! 

Upcoming Events

Wednesday 21 November: Year 3 Helpers Thank You Morning Tea, 10am, Arts Centre Foyer

Thursday 22 November: 2019 CPR Morning Tea, 8:30am, Primary Atrium

Friday 23 November: Years P-4 Celebration, 1pm Philip Harris Sports Centre

Tuesday 27 November: Year 6 Final Chapel and Morning Tea, 8:30am

Wednesday 28 November: Primary Activities Day

Wednesday 28 November: Pre-Prep Chapel, 2pm

Thursday 29 November: Primary End of Term Assembly, 2pm

Thursday 29 November: Year 6 End of Year Party, 6pm

Angela Drysdale

From the Assistant Head of Primary

ICAS
Last week, we received the results of the 2018 Mathematics, Writing and English International Competitions and Assessment for schools. Congratulations to the following girls:

Mathematics High Distinction: Minuli Ilangamage

Mathematics Distinction: Zara Walsh

Writing High Distinction: Ella Yu

Writing Distinction: Imogen Wren, Georgia Smith, Abigail Middlemis, Isabela Coleman, Matilda O’Gorman, Alexandra Dew, Valletta Hutchins, Bronte Tavener, Zara Walsh, Emma Walley, Olivia King, Neve Mattsson, Margot Fraser, Emily Smith, Elise Selwa, Zara Fraser, Arabella Harris, Caitlin Williams, Rose Brown, Libby Timmins, Mokhyada Nanda, Grace Gillies.

English High Distinction: Grace Gillies

English Distinction: Minuli Ilangamage, Imogen Wren, Matilda O’Gorman, Alexandra Dew, Yun Lin, Zara Walsh, Cate Hughes, Zara Fraser, Arabella Harris, Caitlin Williams, Rose Brown, Lily Alford, Imogen Simpson.

Accelerated Reader
We would like to acknowledge the girls who have recently reached 2 million, 3 million, 5 million and 6 million words read, so far this year:

2 Million Words: Ellouise Tkaczyk, Rose Brown, Hilary Davis, Millie Campbell, Olivia King, Skye Clifford, Ruby George, Yinghong (Holly) Xu, Cate Hughes, Alice Baxby, Eloise Round, Poppy Jones, Maya Fletcher, Charlotte Rhode, Isabel Robinson.

3 Million Words: Brianna Higgins, Zara Fraser, Sara Wright, Caitlin Williams, Emily Smith, Brigid Sweeney, Lily Alford, Eloise Round.

4 Million Words: Emily Smith

5 Million Words: Arabella Harris

6 Million Words: Arabella Harris

Cathy Cox

Speech Night
Congratulations to our students on the fantastic musical performances given at Speech Night held last Tuesday evening. Speech Night provides a special opportunity for the girls to showcase their talents within the amazing setting of the QPAC Concert Hall. Special thanks must go to our conductors for their hard work in preparing the girls for the event.

Year 4 Strings Program
The Music Department is very excited to announce that the Year 3 Strings Program will be extended into Year 4 in 2019. As a result, students who have just completed Year 3 will continue with their string instruments into Year 4. There is now significant research available showing that learning a musical instrument benefits the development of the whole person. This extended program will allow Primary students to spend two years building music literacy through learning a string instrument. Special thanks must go to the Music Support Group and the P&F for their investment in new musical instruments required to support this initiative.

New Choral Program Structure
In 2019, the St Margaret’s Music Department will trial a new Choral Program structure. We believe that this new structure will provide the opportunity for positive change, with an intention to encourage further participation, whilst also providing opportunities to build excellence. A letter is attached (PDF 114.5KB) with more details.

Boarder Musicians’ Recital
Congratulations to the Boarders who performed at the Boarder Musicians’ Recital held in the Arts Centre Foyer last Sunday afternoon. This was a great opportunity for Boarders undertaking private music lessons to perform in front of a supportive audience. Thank you to all those who came along to support the girls!

Thank you to Flute Ensemble
Thank you to the Flute Ensemble for the performance given in the Barley Sugar Garden on Monday this week. The girls played a highly entertaining set of music for all those in attendance.

Auditions 2019
Auditions will be held in Week 7 for students wishing to participate in Music Ensembles in 2018. A sign-up sheet and audition music is available from the Sister Helen Orchestra Room. Audition times are as follows:

Monday 19 November

3:30-4:30pm Rock Band Auditions for guitar, bass guitar, keyboard and vocals (current Years 9-11), SHOR.

Tuesday 20 November

7:00-8:20am String Auditions (current Primary students), SHOR

7:00-8:20am Band Auditions (current Primary students), SHOR

Tuesday 20 November

10:25-10:50am String Auditions (current Secondary students), SHOR

3:30-4:30pm Primary Chorale Auditions (current Years 4 and 5), Primary Music Room

3:30-4:30pm Band Auditions (make up time)

3:30-5:30pm String Auditions (current Secondary students), SHOR

Wednesday 21 November

3:30-5:00pm Band Auditions for woodwind/brass (current Secondary girls), SHOR

3:30-5:00pm Band Auditions for percussion/drums (current Primary and Secondary girls), SHOR Percussion Room

Thursday 22 November

1:00pm String and band auditions for incoming Years 8-12 students

1:10-1:50pm Band Auditions for percussion/drums (make up time), SHOR Percussion Room

Friday 23 November

3:00pm String and Band auditions for incoming Year 7 students

2019 Private Music Tuition
If your daughter is currently undertaking private music tuition she will automatically be placed on her current teachers’ roll for 2019. Parents do not need to fill in a new application form. However, if your daughter is wanting to discontinue lessons in 2019, we ask that you please email directly to the Music Department at: music@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.

Music Support Group
The next Music Support Group meeting will be the Annual General Meeting to be held on Tuesday 27 November at 5:00pm in the Primary Music Room. We encourage parents from both the Primary and Secondary schools to become involved in this dedicated group of parents who consistently provide wonderful support to the St Margaret’s Music Program.

Brad King 

Our Tennis girls were treated to two hours of tennis on the Pat Rafter Arena at the Tennyson Tennis Centre on Sunday 11 November. This was an exciting and fabulous way to farewell the season with girls and parents coming together on the court for the final time in 2018. Thank you to the President of the Tennis Support Group, Matthew O’Brien and the Support Group for organising a great afternoon for our Tennis girls.

Swimming
I encourage all girls to get involved in the Swim Program this term, and in the holidays, to ensure they are ready for the swim season in Term 1. St Margaret’s has a terrific record in the pool having placed 3rd in the Aggregate and 2nd in the Percentages Cup in 2018. We are motivated to build on this performance and recognise our performance is due to all girls being committed and dedicated to the St Margaret’s Swim team.

Please note the holiday training schedule for your diaries:

Dates:

Monday 3 December - Friday 7 December 2018

Monday 10 December - Friday 14 December 2018

Monday 14 January - Friday 18 January 2019

Monday 21 January - Tuesday 22 January 2019

Times: 7am–8:15am

Venue: 50m Swimming Pool

Swimming Camp
All students are encouraged to attend Swim Camp on 23-25 January 2019 at The Southport School, Gold Coast. This camp is an integral part of the Swim Program and the success of St Margaret’s in the QGSSSA. If you wish to attend, please register via Flexischools. Further details on the camp can be requested through the Activities Office: activities@stmargarets.qld.edu.au or through the Swimming POD group page.

Cricket
Cricket has commenced for all our budding young cricketers with the first training session being held on Tuesday 6 November. St Margaret’s are the reigning premiers in the Division 1 competition and are looking to capitalise on this performance in the Open competition in 2019. Training will continue until the end of term with the competition commencing on Wednesday 6 February 2019. Any girls who have missed the sign-on please contact the Activities Office via email: activities@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.

Senior Softball
Sign-on for the 2019 Senior Softball season is now open and can be completed via the Softball group POD page by 3pm on Wednesday 28 November. Trials and training will commence during the first week of school in preparation for the first round of competition in Term 1, 2019.

Congratulations to:
Rowyna Vele (Year 11) for being selected in the Papua New Guinea national Netball training squad as a goal shooter.

Helen Lobegeiger 

The 2019 Art Captains, Lucy Bartlett and Chloe Bloomfield were our MCs for the evening. All students in the Year 12 Art class have provided leadership through their wonderful artwork and we will miss the 2018 seniors.

Lisa Smith 

We welcome guest artists Fiona Kurnadi and Rachel Jones back to the Summer program, supported by our regular young assistants Georgina Rankine, Lili Tarabay, Grace Dwyer and Jonny Forbes. Activities will include clay Christmas decorations, eco-dying, an acrylic painting on canvas, as well as a painted fabric doll in honour of Mirka Mora.

A reminder that the class is limited to 25 students, so you are encouraged to secure a place for your daughter on Flexischools at your earliest convenience.

For all enquiries, please contact Jenny Lishman on: jlishman@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.

Jenny Lishman 

Congratulations to the Years 2, 3 and 4 Speech and Drama students who entertained and delighted their audience last Wednesday as they took to the stage as forest animals, flowers, witches, reindeer and a range of other colourful characters in their end-of-year plays.

Our Speech and Drama students in Years 5 to 10 are busily rehearsing for their performances at the upcoming Eisteddfods. These performances will be held in the Independent Learning Centre (off Circular Drive) and parents of performers are most welcome to join us.

Year 5 Speech and Drama Eisteddfod: Monday 26 November, 11am to approx. 2:.45pm

Year 6 Speech and Drama Eisteddfod: Wednesday 28 November, 8:20am to approx. 12:50pm

Year 7 Speech and Drama Eisteddfod: Friday 23 November, 8:20am to approx. 11:15am

Year 8 Speech and Drama Eisteddfod: Tuesday 27 November, 8:20am to approx.12pm

Year 9 Speech and Drama Eisteddfod: Tuesday 27 November, 12:45pm to approx. 3:20pm

Year 10 Speech and Drama Eisteddfod: Monday 26 November, 8:30am to approx. 10am

For more information about these events, please contact mchamberlain@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.

Maria Chamberlain 

For Secondary students, the Sustainable School Shop offers a second-hand textbook trading system. Go to www.sustainbleschoolshop.com.au to register. Registration is free for all St. Margaret families.

Return of Church dresses
The return date for all students, except Year 6, is no later than Monday 19 November 2018. Year 6 students must return their church dress no later than Thursday 29 December 2018. All church dresses must be laundered, ironed and returned as per the ‘Hire Conditions’ for an amount of $70 to be refunded.

Blazers
Blazers will be compulsory in 2019 for Years 10, 11 and 12 students. Stock is now available.

Second hand uniforms
The Supplies Shop offers a selection of second hand uniforms when stock is available.

If you would like to sell your uniforms or bags to the School Supplies Shop, please note:

• Clothing must be in good condition, freshly laundered and ironed ready for sale.
• Middy uniforms with stains or damaged stitching e.g: hems, pleats and underarms will not be accepted.
• Other uniforms, including extra-curricular sports, with stains will not be accepted.
• Please clean bags and check all pockets. Old branding will not be accepted.
• Payment for items excluding consignment stock may take up to 2 weeks to process.
• Consignment stock (payment when item sold) includes blazers, leotards, art smocks and some extra-curricular sports uniforms.
• The Supplies Shop reserves the right to assess each item and all decisions made regarding uniform submissions are final.
• Items unable to be purchased by the Supplies Shop may be donated to the Global Exchange Program.

School Supplies Shop extended trading hours
Thursday 29 November 2018, 8am-2pm
Friday 30 November 2018, 10am-2pm

The School Supplies Shop closes on Friday 30 November 2018 and re-opens Monday 21 January 2019

A numbering system for ALL purchases will operate during the January 2019 trading hours. All parents and students wishing to purchase from the School Supplies Shop will be required to take a number and wait to be attended to.

Monday 21 January 2019, 9am-2pm

Tuesday 22 January 2019, 9am-2pm

Wednesday 23 January 2019, 9am-2pm

Thursday 24 January 2019, 9am-2pm

Friday 25 January 2019, 9am-2pm

Saturday 26 January 2019, CLOSED

Sunday 27 January 2019, CLOSED

Monday 28 January 2019, 9am-12 midday – All welcome

(Australia Day Public Holiday), 1pm-5pm – Boarders only

Normal Trading Hours Resume from Friday 1 February 2019

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8am-2pm

Wednesday 10am-5pm

Public Holidays Closed

Enquiries: St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School Supplies Shop

Phone: 07 3862 0776

Email: suppliesshop@stmargarets.qld.edu.au

Terisa Arnold 

Bookings for the St Margaret’s OSHC December/January School Holiday Program opened on Monday 5 November. If you require care for the upcoming school holiday period, please return your booking form before 23 November 2018.

How do I book?
Complete the official booking form attached to the program. For further details, please email: oshc@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.

What is the cost?*
$60 per day. Incursions and excursions incur additional costs. These are compulsory for all students and therefore you are able to claim CCS for these.

What are the hours of operation?
The service is open from 7am until 6pm in the OSHC Room (classroom beside the Primary School Office).

Service is closed 21 December 2018 - 13 January 2019.

How can I obtain more information?
If you would like further information regarding our OSHC Program or if you would like to make a booking, feel free to contact me on 0423 547 653 or email: oshc@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.

Palu Ingram 

Advertise your business in our 2019 Family Directory
This A5 full colour booklet is a frequent ‘go to’ reference for school parents throughout the year. Filled with valuable school information such as staff contact details, the 2019 school calendar, sports venue locations, bell times, parent contact details and much more.

Our advertising prices remain unchanged from last year with full colour ads starting from as low as $125.00, for an Eight Block, up to $1000 for a full page.

We have limited advertising space available on both the inside front and inside back covers, half page below the table of contents and, for the first time, on the back cover of the directory. If you are interested in securing one of these prime positions, please contact the Development Office to discuss.

For standard advertising options and pricing information, please click here (PDF 117KB).

For any enquiries please contact the Development and Community Office at St Margaret’s Anglican Girls’ School on Phone: 07 3862 0765 or via Email: developmentandcommunity@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.

P&F Association
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.

The P&F is comprised of an active group of parents within the school. The Association is responsible for organising an array of events, which not only benefit the students (through fundraising) but also lead to considerable camaraderie amongst parents and friends of St Margaret’s.

P&F Event Dates for 2019
Term 1
Friday 1 March - Mothers’ Luncheon
Thursday 4 April - Father Daughter Breakfast

Term 2
Friday 14 June - Fathers’ Dinner

Term 3
Sunday 25 August – Mother Daughter High Tea (Years P-6)
Saturday 7 September – St Margaret’s Race Day

Term 4
Sunday 13 October – Mother Daughter High Tea (Years 7-12)

General Meetings
The P&F invites the school community to share views and ideas, at the General Meetings, held in the Arts Centre Foyer from 6:30pm on the following dates:

• Monday 25 February 2019 – AGM and Welcome Drinks
• Monday 13 May 2019
• Monday 29 July 2019
• Monday 28 October 2019

2019 Milestone Reunion Dates
We are pleased to announce the dates for our 2019 Milestone reunions:

10 Year Reunion – Class of 2009 – Friday 26 July

20 Year Reunion – Class of 1999 – Friday 26 July

30 Year Reunion – Class of 1989 – Friday 26 July

40 Year Reunion – Class of 1979 – Saturday 27 July

50 Year Reunion – Class of 1969 – Saturday 27 July

60 Year Reunion – Class of 1959 – Saturday 27 July

Chapel Service and Morning Tea – Sunday 28 July

60+ Year Reunion – Monday 29 July

Professional Women’s Network
Our Professional Women’s Network events program for 2019 has been confirmed!

Please add these dates to your diary:

• Professional Women’s Network Event 1 – 21 March 2019
• Professional Women’s Network Event 2 – 15 May 2019
• Professional Women’s Network Event 3 – 20 August 2019
• Professional Women’s Network Event 1 – 17 October 2019

All funds raised from the Professional Women’s Network events support the School through our Endowment Fund, which assists with bursaries and the future development of facilities at St Margaret’s.

Lara Pickering 

Queensland Hotel and Hospitality School
The International Service Program (Certificate III in Hospitality) is designed to prepare individuals for careers working at luxurious five and six-star locations all over the world. Training is provided at TAFE Queensland’s South Bank campus. This qualification is offered ‘Fee Free’ to eligible 2018 Year 12 students. For more information, phone: 137 248 or visit: www.tafebrisbane.edu.au/QHHS.

UQ College: Transition to University with your best foot forward
Dates: Monday 4, Tuesday 5 and Wednesday 6 February 2019
Cost: $100 1 Session per day over 3 days, 4 hour session per day
Times: 8:30am–12:30pm or 1–5pm
Resources provided. Register now by emailing: info@uqcollege.edu.au.

QTAC How to respond to your offer: https://www.qtac.edu.au/applying/apply-here/offers

For detailed information, visit: https://www.qtac.edu.au/applying/apply-here/offers

QTAC Documentation: Key Dates https://www.qtac.edu.au/key-dates-fees

Griffith University VET Pathways
Griffith will continue to accept stand-alone Vocation Education and Training (VET) qualifications completed at high school, private providers and TAFE Institutes for admission in 2019 and 2020. Visit https://www.griffith.edu.au/apply/admission-pathways/vet for more information.

Australian National University: Introduction to Actuarial Science
The Australian National University (ANU) is running a special version of Introduction to Actuarial Science course for Years 11 and 12 students in Australia within Term 4 2018 to Term 1 2019. For more information click here.

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

Changes to entry for Medicine and Dentistry courses at Australian universities
UMAT Admissions Test will be replaced by University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) in 2019. For more information about the new test, including testing dates and format visit: https://www.ucatofficial.com/.

Preparing for UCAT
You can find the official preparation materials at: https://www.ucatofficial.com/ucat-anz/preparation.

Uncovering the UCAT Medview Crimson Education
Date: 28 November, Cost: FREE, but registrations essential. Click to register:bit.ly/UCATBrisbane.

A Day in the Life of a Doctor
Date: Saturday 17 November 2018, Time: 8:30am–4:30pm, Location: The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland. Registrations are essential: Click here to register.

Medicine Interview Taster: November 21
Interested? Register today! Places are strictly limited to 20 students in each city.

University of the Sunshine Coast
Pathway Diplomas: USC offers a selection of diplomas across Science and Technology, Business Innovation, Social and Human Services, and Creative Industries. Go to https://www.usc.edu.au/pathwaydiplomas for more information.

UQ College University Prerequisite Course - apply now
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. (Mathematics B, Biology or Chemistry) 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.

Scholarships
Make your university experience easier and more affordable with the support of a scholarship: https://scholarships.uq.edu.au/

Griffith University
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.

QUT STEM Camp 2019
60 students. 5 days. 10 real world problems to help solve. Held over the September school holidays, STEM Camp offered to 160 high-achieving Year 11 students.

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

ACU - Apply now for 2019 scholarships
Explore our scholarships

Reminder: Non-Academic Requirements for Teaching Entrance (NARTE)
Further information is available at: https://www.qtac.edu.au/courses---institutions/teacher-entry

KEY DATES: https://www.qtac.edu.au/key-dates-fees

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

For more information about interstate key dates:

• VTAC website www.vtac.edu.au
• UAC: https://www.uac.edu.au/key-dates

Elizabeth Johnston