eNews Archive Issue 4 - 21 February 2019

I thought it would be interesting to follow up my article last week on the St Margaret’s Parent Survey with some of the key findings of the survey, which involved over 3,600 parents with children in 115 independent schools, including St Margaret’s.

What Parents Want confirms parents are looking beyond test scores and prioritising schools that foster a much broader range of qualities and skills that prepare children for the future and develop their sense of personal and community responsibility. Parents clearly have high aspirations for their children and expect more than the ’one size fits all’ industrial model approach to education.

The key factors parents rely on to choose an independent school have remained remarkably consistent over the 12 years since the first survey was conducted in 2006. The most influential factor – preparing students to fulfil further potential later in life – has been the most important factor in each of the surveys.

Also ranking high are the quality of teachers, good discipline and the school seeming to be right for a child’s individual needs. For the first time, strong academic performance did not feature in the top 10 factors influencing school choice, although it is still important and ranked 11th. There could be two reasons for this. Firstly, that good educational outcomes are inherent in the most influential factor (prepare students to fulfil their potential later in life) and secondly, parents understand the diversity of pathways open to students which place less emphasis on academic results.

The importance of these surveys cannot be underestimated as schools need to understand what parents do want for their children and how they need to adjust their programming to reflect this.

This survey also tells us that parents, when choosing a school, value one-on-one school visits and school open days. Our Open Day is not too far away, so I take this opportunity to invite you all to the School’s Open Day on Saturday 9 March and encourage you to bring family and friends who may be considering enrolling their daughters at St Margaret’s. Hopefully though I will see many of you before that - either at the Madonna King evening or the Introduction to the New Senior Assessment evening (PDF 279.9KB).

It was lovely to welcome back to the school some of our OP 1-5 scholars for our assembly this week. They are an interesting group of young women, intending to complete a variety of university courses; some were unavoidably absent, already at interstate universities, travelling overseas or commencing their ‘gap’ year. The students at the assembly received good advice from the past students; advice is always better received from peers than adults. There were common themes in the advice given by the graduates of 2018; they spoke about the necessity of balance, of reducing stress, of organisation and preparation and, of course, of not being distracted. The Scholars Assembly last Tuesday is held, not just to celebrate the high achievement of the previous years’ seniors, but also to provide strong academic role models to younger students.

Ros Curtis

The report identified seven issues or problems that respondents were concerned about for our children. These were:

• Environment and climate change
• Parenting and Discipline
• Cost of Living
• Health and Ageing Population
• Education
• Drugs and Alcohol
• Obesity

One of the conclusions of the report addressed the deterioration in children’s physical and mental health. It addressed the need for governments at all levels to focus more intensively on programs to reduce childhood obesity, encourage physical activity, tackle bullying in schools, educate children with respect to drugs and alcohol, and provide the earliest possible intervention at the first signs of mental instability.

At St Margaret’s we are fortunate to have such programs, but we also value the connection with families to ensure that the education of our students' really is a partnership with their parents and carers. This is reflected in our mission and our values, as well as The St Margaret’s Way.

We also have several events that sit outside the teaching and learning area that we enjoy as a school. Each year level has dedicated Pastoral Care Days throughout the year. We also enjoy sports carnivals, camps and extra-curricular offerings in sport, arts, music and philanthropic activities. We value these days and activities and encourage families to support their daughter’s attendance and participation.

As part of this partnership with parents, we do welcome open contact between our families at the school. In the Primary school, the first point of contact for parents is with their classroom teachers. In the Secondary school, parents are welcome to contact Form teachers and Academic Advisors, as well as the Head of Year for each year level. We also have a Student Counsellor and Chaplain available for parents and students. Members of the Educational Leadership Team (ELT) also enjoy connecting with students and families.

Karen Gorrie 

Secondly, Years 4-6 are invited to be Admitted to Communion as part of the Years 4-6 Family Service on Wednesday 13 March at 6pm. The letter and form for Primaries can be found here (PDF 310.9KB). Again, baptism can be arranged; however, please contact me as soon as you can! Please keep the following girls in your prayers as they continue their preparation: Verity Walker, Ivy Macmillan, Michi Severa, Ellen Robinson and Georgiana Rombola.

Upcoming Services
Tuesday 26 February: Years 7 and 8 Family Service and Admission to Communion, 6:30pm
Thursday 28 February: Primary Chapel, 9:50am
Wednesday 6 March, ASH WEDNESDAY Service, Chapel, 7:30am, all are welcome
Monday 11 March: Mother Emma’s Day Service, Years 4 and 8 at St John’s Cathedral
Tuesday 12 March: Boarders’ Mid-Term Service, 6pm
Wednesday 13 March: Years 4-6 Family Service plus Admission to Communion, 6pm
Sunday 17 March: All Ages Sunday Church, MESSY CHURCH! 9:30am

Reflection
This week began the ‘preparation in earnest’ for the next Dadirri Prayer Spaces - open from 1-13 March in the School Chapel. The Year 11 cohort gathered for their first Religious and Values Education Masterclass on Wednesday and after watching portions of the film “The Letter Writer” were challenged to be actively involved in the upcoming Dadirri where the Chapel will be transformed into a ‘Letter Writing Hub’, complete with writing desks, comfy chairs, lamps and an endless supply of paper, pens and envelopes.

As I gather my own planning thoughts, and prepare to reveal all next week, I am conscious of what has contributed to this idea. Even in the most welcoming places, where friends seem to gather and laugh and where the atmosphere is light and friendly, some amongst us may still be harbouring struggles within.

Imagine what hope and encouragement could come from a few simple words from another? Imagine if those words were in print, to be kept forever and treasured?

Dadirri (meaning “inner deep listening and quiet still awareness”) is St Margaret’s place to become aware of others – their needs, their feelings, their sense of place. This term, all will be invited to listen and be aware … of not only their own selves, but explore words with which to share love, joy and grace with others - anonymously through writing.

May God, our Creative Spirit, bless the words that will emerge in the coming weeks. May hearts be overflowing with grace and gratitude.

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

Different activities develop different attributes and help build good habits and transferable skills for life. Debating develops the ability to convey points of view, analyse and thinking on your feet. Cultural and community activities are excellent for promoting adaptability and leadership, while physical activities promote sportsmanship, integrity, moral grit, resilience and team work.

We also encourage the girls to develop an understanding of the world they live in and to explore as many different perspectives as possible. The ability to look at the world through the eyes of others empowers the girls to be inquisitive thinkers. In Boarding, we try to underpin all activities with an attitude of participation and enjoyment and promote the positive attributes of enjoying new experiences outside of the Boarding House.

Lesa Fowler 

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the St Margaret’s Scholars’ assembly to celebrate the outstanding results achieved by our scholars of 2018. We congratulate these young women for receiving an Overall Position from 1 to 5.

You will see on the Order of Service a quote which reads: “Apply yourself both now and in the next life. Without effort, you cannot be prosperous. Though the land be good, you cannot have an abundant crop without cultivation”. This quote is very befitting of our scholars that join us today and those that were unable to be here because their effort and application to their academic studies throughout their school life played a critical part in cultivating an outstanding crop last year. That being 41% of our OP eligible Year 12s received an OP 1-5.

This group of young women offer us a perfect example of what hard work, determination and true sisterhood can achieve. They drew on everything they had learnt along the way to push their academic results and by the end of Semester 1 Year 12 our 30 scholars had achieved an average GPA of 13.2. They then went on to lead the charge in QCS to achieve the highest mean score for St Margaret’s since 2002.

Our 2018 scholars have shown us what the rich academic program of St Margaret’s can achieve and they set a wonderful example of where hard work and grit can take you. I have no doubt these wonderful scholars will continue to be just as determined to achieve their dreams in the future. Congratulations Scholars of 2018 on your OP and most of all your hard work.

2018 Scholars: Meg Armstrong, Lillith Bartlett, Charlotte Caro, Penelope Crothers, Lara Crouch, Katharine Fleming, Laura Gatenby, Kealey Griffiths, Paris Hall, Isabel Haqqani, Jiangwan (Serina) He, Natasha Licina, Xanthe Lowe-Brown, Katerina Marshall, Hannah O’Brien, Gabriella Reynolds Campbell, Jade Robertson, Isabelle Simpson, Georgia Sprague, Jordan Small, Madeline Thornton, Amy Tran, Yi Tung (Selina) Kwok, Man Wa (Mina) Tsang, Yan Wah (Scarlett) Wong, Genevieve Whitehead, Li (Tracy) Yang, Xinyi (Kathleen) Yu, Yuxi (Chloe) Su and Olivia Zappala.

Jo Butterworth 

At St Margaret’s there is an expectation that all students’ complete aspects of the school work at home. I believe that it is important for us to think about this type of work as an extension of the school day and the learning that has occurred. As educators, we spend our days talking to the students about ways to learn and take in information, in this information-rich world. Some research professes that homework takes away from student’s free time, therefore I think it is important to change our thinking about homework and see it more as home learning. Home learning needs to be linked with student quiet time, time to think, reflect and complete activities that are challenging and interesting.

While requirements may vary from time to time with subjects, as parents you can help your daughter develop sound study habits by establishing a predictable routine, encouraging effective use of time and helping them to be organised. It is important for students to develop good study habits. Students in Years 7 and 8 are encouraged to complete approximately one and a half hours of homework five times a week. Years 9 and 10 students should be aiming for two hours of homework five times a week, while students in Years 11 and 12 will be doing 2 to 3 hours of homework five or six times a week. Below are some suggestions that may assist with home learning and the process for your daughter.

Establish a predictable routine. If homework is done at the same time each night, getting started is usually less of an issue.

Establish a good working environment for students. Make sure they have a quiet area (away from distractions) that is well lit and with good ventilation. A table or a desk makes a good work space.

Encourage children to work reasonably quickly and efficiently. Have a set time limit which they should stick to. A little work each night is more productive than packing it all into one weekly session.

Encourage children to become organised by planning homework around their extra-curricular activities. The Assessment Calendars and diary will help students to organise themselves.

If your child has a problem, talk about the best way to find a solution. Perhaps between the two of you it can be worked out.

Be realistic and don’t expect to solve all home learning difficulties. When in doubt, talk to your daughter about discussing any problems with their teacher/s.

Nicole Devlin

Year 7 Camp
The Year 7 Camp is intended to support the students in developing friendships, getting to know each other (students and staff), as well as allowing the girls to learn more about themselves. Over the space of 3 days, they undertook activities such as indoor rock climbing, archery, canoeing, the giant swing, environmental studies and tent set-up and pack-up, all with a focus on building team work, resilience and pushing beyond individual boundaries. The students approached every activity with enthusiasm and a positive outlook and supported each other through any challenges they faced. It was a wonderful opportunity for all of them to get to know each other and build a culture of support, understanding and empathy within the cohort. Special thanks must go to the Form teachers; Mrs Dawson, Ms Argent, Mr Smithers, Ms Buckingham, Ms Johnston, Ms Burgman and Mrs Brown for their tireless efforts and enthusiasm throughout the camp.

Year 7 Camp Reflection

On Monday morning last week, the Year 7 cohort arrived early at school, a combination of nerves and excitement bubbling as we waited to board the bus destined for The Mapleton Centre. The bus trip was our first opportunity to make new friends and learn more about each other, and after the one-and-a-half-hour bus trip of singing, talking and even more singing, the group of energetic girls arrived at the much-anticipated camp site, nestled in the beautiful hinterland of the Sunshine Coast. We were all very thrilled and eager to see what the renowned St Margaret’s outdoor education program had to offer, and as we looked over the beautiful green surroundings, we realised that we had struck gold – three days hardly seemed long enough!

Once settled in, we had the opportunity to partake in all the different activities we had been hearing about in recent weeks. These included archery, canoeing, camping, bushwalks and, of course, the famous giant swing. Looking up at the looming swing, we collectively gasped and wondered out loud how we would find the courage to leap through the trees. The activities we took part in throughout camp involved commitment, teamwork and a lot of energy. It’s easy to say 2019 camp was a year to never forget as it encouraged all of the girls to meet new people, share a laugh, get to know our Form teachers, and most importantly, spread a smile. While many of the activities were very high-energy, thankfully we also took a peaceful bush walk and even managed to try some bush tucker that (depending on who you ask) was quite delicious. The guava cherries were a favourite, while sour plums lacked in popularity.

As the days passed, we all dealt with our own individual challenges (besides the swing), some of us feeling the pang of homesickness as the sun began to set, with others sleeping in the outdoors for the first time. However, with the encouragement and reassurance of our fellow team mates and teachers, it’s safe to say that we all overcame at least one fear or challenge at camp. We also all found our resilience in the heat of the moment (quite literally in some situations!) and managed to stay strong even when under pressure.

Overall, camp was an exciting, educational and enjoyable experience for our cohort and we couldn’t be more thankful to Mrs Dawson, our teachers, the Mapleton chefs, our parents and the camp instructors who made Year 7 Camp 2019 such a success.

Arabella Harris and Daisy Quin

Open Day
On Saturday 9 March, St Margaret’s will host the annual Open Day from 9:30am-12:30pm. This is a day where we showcase our school and community to potential students and their families, as well as opening our doors to the public. We welcome current school families and friends on the day.

We would appreciate your support in publicising the event to friends and colleagues who may be interested in seeking a St Margaret’s education for their daughter.

Open Day is a day where we require all of our students to be present at school, in full uniform and either participating in curricular, co-curricular or community activities. Students should arrive no later than 9:15 am for the activities.

If, due to extenuating circumstances, a student is unable to be at school on Open Day, we will require a written note or email requesting absence to: studentleave@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.

Nikki Townsend 

At the Induction, I spoke about how it is believed that some people are born with traits which help them become better leaders than others. However, the natural traits are only the beginning. It has been said great leaders don’t start out great as leadership is developed. For many girls, their leadership journey began in Year 5, but for all the girls their leadership will be developed by stepping up by helping and supporting others, stepping back by supporting others to step forward and demonstrate their leadership, and by encouraging others by inspiring positivity and gratitude. Through their leadership in the Primary school, the Year 6 girls will “demonstrate respect for, and appreciation of, ourselves by always acting with integrity, consideration and compassion.” (St Margaret’s Way).

The Induction on Monday was a wonderful celebration and way, not only to acknowledge the leadership of the Year 6 girls, but also to mark the beginning of their final year in Primary school. The staff and I look forward to working with the girls. Thank you to Miss Surtees for her organisation of the event and to the many parents who attended and celebrated with the girls.

At Assembly this week, the Primary Captains, Lucy Goodall and Cate Hughes introduced themselves and their leadership vision for the year:

“We are thrilled to have this privilege and are ready to take on the challenge, whatever that challenge may be. Throughout the coming year, we would like to try our best in encouraging others and ourselves. We would also like to bring out the best of this year by encouraging everyone to demonstrate The St Margaret’s Way during your school and personal life. Showing these values could influence you throughout your life and help you become a better leader. Remember great leaders don’t tell you what to do, they show you!”

Both girls will also lead the Student Representative Council and the members of SRC shared their role:

“The SRC will help organise assemblies and help with other school related activities. The SRC members are girls you may come to if you need advice or help with any issues. We may not be able to help you, but we can definitely point you in the right direction. This year, the SRC would love to hear more of your suggestions, so don’t forget to post these in your class suggestion box. The SRC may publicise special events or organise fundraisers during the year”.

In the Primary school we have level 3 leadership positions. These are limited in number and enable students the opportunity to assist with a range of extra-curricular and co-curricular activities. These students are required to support the staff and girls involved in the activity for the duration of the activity. If the students complete their duties in this role they will be rewarded with a certificate at the end of the year.

This year, we have a new leadership role, Activities Leaders. These leaders will support the girls at lunchtimes in their new play areas. The girls shared their roles:

“During lunch hours we will be providing fun games and activities to entertain Prep-Year 6. We will have a suggestion box in the Atrium, so you can request games and activities for us to set up. There will be games such as Giant Jenga, chess, foosball, table tennis and Connect-4 in the Atrium. Activities using balls and skipping ropes will be in the Undercroft. Every Friday, we will have a fun competition for all grades to enter. We will announce the winner who will receive a small prize. If you would like to participate, please see Tilly, Milly, Eadie or myself and show off your cool skills. We will all make sure that everyone is included at lunch and no-one is bored. If you need something to do at lunch times, there will be a time table of activities and where we will be setting games up”.

A noticeboard of the all the Year 6 leaders will be on display for Open Day.

Open Day Saturday 9 March
Open Day will be held on Saturday 9 March from 9:30am-12:30pm. This is a wonderful morning where the students have the opportunity to share their academic, cultural and sporting talents with family and friends. All students from Prep– Year 6 are expected to attend Open Day. Pre-Prep students are welcome to visit Prep and other parts of the school with their family during the morning.

If your child is unable to attend Open Day, please submit a leave request to Mrs Drysdale via email to: primaryreception@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.

Angela Drysdale

The Importance of Effort - .77 effect size
As educators, we are fortunate to be teaching at this particular time, where the ‘art’ of teaching is rapidly becoming the ‘science’ of teaching. Wind back 30 years and we see that teaching was not studied in a scientific manner. Now, however, we are fortunate to have people such as Dweck, Hattie and Marzano who have studied effect sizes, the impact of teacher and student interactions, teaching strategies, goal-setting, feedback, effort and much more.

If you were to ask a group of students why they were successful in a test or assignment, they would most likely reply with four general reasons: inherent ability, other people’s input, effort and luck. These self-beliefs about success have demonstrated clear impacts on motivation and achievement. Believing in the importance of effort is a powerful motivational tool and the only one of the four reasons mentioned that is actually linked to achievement. As a result, it is profoundly important to develop a growth mind-set; the belief that intelligence can be improved through practice, hard work and confidence in ability. Those with a fixed mind-set believe they are ‘smart’ and intelligence is basically static. This can create a fear of failure and a reluctance to try new and challenging situations as people become apprehensive if they do not succeed.

The unbeatable combination of perseverance and resilience is one to teach our children, when framing their attitude to learning. Our students and children need to regularly hear that dedicated effort can lead to improved achievement. They need to understand that success will come even in the face of perceived setbacks. These ‘setbacks’ encourage us to re-think, re-frame or re-direct our learning in order to reach the ultimate goal.

Essential to the process of re-thinking, re-framing and re-directing, is feedback - from the teacher, parents or peers; effect size .7.

The message from both parents and educators that needs to be embedded in our childrens’ psyche is:

• Seize and celebrate challenge
• Cultivate a passion for learning rather than a hunger for approval
• Persevere and persist
• Seek feedback

What a liberating and crucial message to send to our future leaders.

Cathy Cox
Assistant Head of Primary

Upcoming Events:

Wednesday 27 February - Friday 1 March: Year 4 Camp, Alexandra Park Conference Centre, Alexandra Headland

Thursday 28 February: Years 1 and 2 Excursion, Northey Street, Herston

Friday 1 March: P&F Mothers’ Luncheon, 11:30am-3pm

Wednesday 6 March: Ash Wednesday Service, 7:30am

Thursday 7 March: Madonna King - Fathers and Daughters: Helping teen girls and their dads build unbreakable bonds. 6:30-8pm, Arts Centre Foyer

Saturday 9 March: Open Day – Compulsory School Day, 9:30am-12:30pm

Primary drop-off and pick-up zone
Thank you to all the Primary parents who are endeavouring to maintain our drop-off and pick-up zone as a rolling zone. Whilst school does finish at 3:20pm, we have many parents who arrive at 3pm and park in our zone. Doing this, prohibits the free-flowing nature of what our zone should be.

Girls are dismissed and directed to the zone in Butler Street as close to 3:20pm as possible. However, we would ask you to swing by at 3:30pm and not 3:20pm (or earlier) so that the zone can continue to roll.

It is a huge help when parents use their visor name. This way, the teacher on duty is able to ready your child for collection. Please do not stop at the top of the zone – either in the morning during drop-off or in the afternoon at pick-up time. Continue to drive down the zone and your child will meet you there.

We implore parents not to allow their child to enter or exit the car on the street side of the vehicle. Buses, trucks and other cars are whizzing by and suddenly opening a car door is a definite hazard and potential cause of accidents.

Parents are asked to remain in their car. On rare occasions, parents may need to assist a child into her car seat, but where possible, please stay in the car.

Our drop-off and pick-up zone does work when all parents abide by the rules and processes.

In our Pre-Prep area, please be aware that you are not permitted to drive up to the chapel. The area beside the chapel is the parking area for the school buses and cars so there are vehicles constantly coming and going. Please use the Pre-Prep drop off spaces when delivering and collecting your child to and from Pre-Prep.

If you are dropping off your child in Lapraik Street, please be aware that there are no staff members on duty in that street. If you need to drop your child off on the opposite side of the road, please ensure that you cross with your child. Cars race along that street and with the sharp bends, drivers are not able to see people (large or small!!) crossing.

We are trying to instil road safety into our students and we encourage all parents to lead by example in teaching your child the correct thing to do when on or near roads. 

FREE Parenting Seminar at the University of Queensland for Brisbane parents
Parents are offered the opportunity to learn ways to manage the everyday stress associated with parenthood, as well as ways to improve wellbeing.

Please refer to the links below regarding the program, as well as associated research:

https://www.facebook.com/UQhealth/videos/10155895817147950/

https://www.uq.edu.au/news/node/121874

https://exp.psy.uq.edu.au/cmt/ (study website)

Elevarsi Voices (Choir for students in Years 6-8)
Elevarsi Voices is an all-comers choir for students in Years 6 - 8 and commenced rehearsals this week. It was wonderful to see so many in attendance. All girls in Years 6-8 are welcome to attend with no audition required. The choir will sing a variety of repertoire with a focus on more contemporary music. This choir aims to build a love of singing, as well as develop confidence and understanding of vocal technique. It is not too late for students to join the choir. If students are interested in joining, rehearsals are held on Monday afternoons from 3:30-4:30pm in the Sister Helen Orchestra Room.

Open Day
The St Margaret’s music ensembles are looking forward to performing at the upcoming Open Day on Saturday 9 March. Below is a draft performance schedule for the day:

Students are required to wear a performance uniform for some of our music ensembles. With Open Day fast approaching, students are encouraged to purchase the uniform as soon as possible from the School Supplies Shop. Performance uniform requirements for Open Day are as follows:

Choral Ensembles

Serenata, Belle Voci: School Middy

Primary Chorale: School Middy (but required to purchase a white church dress for future performances)

Exultate: Black pants with a plum coloured shirt and black jazz shoes

Band Ensembles

Chaseley Concert Band, Jackson Wind Ensemble, Regale Percussion Ensemble: School Middy

Sister Helen Wind Symphony, Stage Band, Saxophone/Clarinet/Flute/EJ Percussion Ensembles: Black performance uniform with black shoes (ballet flats)

String Ensembles

Tutti Strings, Amati Strings, Beath String Quartet: School Middy

Stradivari Strings, Chamber Strings, Sculthorpe String Quartet: Black performance uniform with black shoes (ballet flats)

Rock Bands

Highly Strung: School Middy

Secondary Rock Bands: Smart blue jeans, sneakers and ‘M Factor’ polo shirt

Old Girl News
Congratulations to Old Girl, Xenia Puskarz Thomas (’13) who was announced this week as scholarship recipient of the Melba Opera Trust. The Melba Opera Trust was established in 2008 to provide scholarships to develop Australia’s most promising young opera singers and repetiteurs. The trust supports the musicians through an artistic development program, mentoring and the provision of unique performance opportunities.

Xenia attained her Bachelor of Music with first class honours from Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University last year and was awarded the University Medal for Academic Achievement. Recent competition successes in 2018 included The Opera Foundation for young Australians’ Lady Fairfax New York Scholarship and Tinkler Encouragement Award at the IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition.

We sincerely congratulate Xenia on being recognised as one our nation’s most promising young opera singers!

Music Support Group
Thank you to the parents who attended our first Music Support Group meeting of the year. It was wonderful to see so many parents in attendance. The next meeting will be on Tuesday 5 March at 5pm in the Primary Music Room (second floor of Chaseley). Parents from both the Primary and Secondary Schools are welcome to attend.

Brad King 

Cricket
Our Open team braved the extreme heat last Wednesday 13 February to come away with a solid win against Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School (IGGS). The team displayed strong batting, completing the innings 3/64. IGGS was no match managing a total of 2/45.

This week sees both the Open and Division 1 teams travel to Brisbane State High’s playing fields for the third round of competition.

Softball
The Open Softball team, led by Captains Varsha De Silva and Laura Manly, had a convincing win against Somerville House on Saturday 16 February, winning 7-3. The fourth round of competition will see the team take on St Peter’s Lutheran College and St Hilda’s School.

Water Polo
All Water Polo teams had a great weekend in the pool against strong opposition. The 13Bs had a commanding win over Mt St Michael’s, while the U15Bs had a highly competitive match against St Peter’s Lutheran College with the score ending in a 6-6 draw. All girls are to be congratulated on their efforts in and out of the pool.

Results from Saturday 16 February are as follows:

U13B St Margaret’s 15-2 Mt St Michael’s

U13C Somerville House 9-4 St Margaret’s

U14C Brisbane Girls Grammar School 5-1 St Margaret’s

U15B St Margaret’s 6-6 St Peter’s Lutheran College

U16B Moreton Bay College 12-2 St Margaret’s

U16C Mermaids 15-2 St Margaret’s

The games schedule for Saturday 23 February is now available via the Water Polo POD page.

St Margaret’s and Clayfield College Invitational Swim Meet
On Friday 15 February, St Margaret’s with Clayfield College hosted an invitational Swim Meet where 7 schools attended. Our squad once again swam well indicating that we are on the right track for a great result at the QGSSSA Carnival on Wednesday 6 March. The Meet ran smoothly and effortlessly due to the wonderful support of parents and girls who helped with the home bake stall, time keeping and raffle ticket selling.

Congratulations…

• Tyeena Pang (Year 11) for being selected in the Metropolitan North 19 Years Softball team.
• Tahlia Thornton (Year 11) who placed first in the 50m Butterfly and 50m Breaststroke at the 2019 Queensland Sprint Championships.
• Sophie Martin (Year 8) who placed first in the Girls 13 Years 50m Breaststroke 2019 Queensland Sprint Championships.
• Stella Stuart (Year 7) who placed first in the Girls 12 Years 50m Breaststroke at the 2019 Queensland Sprint Championships.
• Isabella Martin (Year 9) who placed second in the Girls 14 Years Butterfly 2019 Queensland Sprint Championships.
• Hayley Forster (Year 10) who placed third in the Girls 15 Years 50m Backstroke at the 2019 Queensland Sprint Championships.
• Anna Lincoln (Year 7) who placed third in the Girls 11 Years 50m Butterfly event at the 2019 Queensland Sprint Championships.

Helen Lobegeiger 

An Information Evening will be held on Tuesday 5 March at 6:30pm in the Arts Centre Foyer.

If you are interested in attending this Information Evening, please RSVP via this link.

Further information about the tour can be found by clicking here. The password is April 2020 (please be aware that this password is case-sensitive). 

For any further questions, please contact Mr Dunn – HOF Science and Technology via email at: cdunn@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.

Chris Dunn 

Current crossing time: 7:45am - 8:30am and 3pm - 3:45pm.

The current rate of pay is $30.34 per hour.

Commencement of work for the successful applicant is dependent on:

• The favourable outcome of a health assessment.
• A Positive Notice Blue Card (you do not need to have a blue card to apply for the position).

Those interested are encouraged to apply without delay as the position is to commence ASAP.

Completed applications should be returned via email to: employment@stmargarets.qld.edu.au or they may be dropped into the Primary Office. For enquiries, please contact Kate Curran, Director of Human Resources on 3862 0702.

Hosted at St Margaret’s, the ‘Queensland Landscapes’ exhibition features prints from the recent Barcaldine series. The exhibition will officially be opened by Dr Natalie Wright, Senior Lecturer, QUT School of Design.

Date: Saturday 23 February 2019
Time: 3:30-5:30pm
Venue: Arts Centre Foyer, St Margaret's Anglican Girls School, 11 Petrie Street, Ascot QLD 4007
RSVP: Prior registration is not required

Light refreshments will be provided, and a cash bar will be available.

Framed and unframed artwork will also be available for purchase on the day.

St Margaret’s is coming to Hong Kong next week!
St Margaret's staff will be hosting an informal and social evening at The Garden Bar, Hilton Garden Inn Hotel, in Hong Kong. This will be a wonderful opportunity for all associated with St Margaret’s – past students, and current and future parents – to meet and speak with Nikki Townsend ('86), Dean of Students, and Angelin Achari, Admissions and Community Relations - International.

The event is complimentary and drinks and light refreshments will be provided on the evening.
Date: Tuesday 26 February 2019
Time: 6:30-8:30pm
Venue: The Garden Bar, Hilton Garden Inn Hotel, 2 Soy St, Mong Kok, Hong Kong
Dress: Smart casual
RSVP: Please RSVP by Friday 22 February by REGISTERING HERE.

Nikki and Angelin look forward to sharing the latest updates from the school with you and answering any questions you might have about St Margaret's in this relaxed setting.

Enquiries can be directed to Lara Pickering, Director of Philanthropy and Stakeholder Engagement Tel: + 61 7 3862 0884 or email: developmentandcommunity@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.

Interested in joining the Parents & Friends Association?
NOTICE is given that the Annual General Meeting of the St Margaret’s P & F Association Inc. is to be held on Monday 25 February 2019 in the Arts Centre Foyer at 6:30pm.

NOMINATION FOR POSITION
Any one member of the P & F shall be at liberty to nominate any other member to serve as an officer or other member of the Management Committee.

If you are interested in joining the P&F Association, all positions of the Management Committee will be declared vacant at the AGM and a new committee for 2019 will be elected.

Nominations can be made by downloading and completing this Nomination for Position form (PDF 152.9KB). All nomination forms must be returned to: P&F@stmargarets.qld.edu.au or via School Reception by Friday 16 February 2019.

2019 Mothers’ Luncheon
Don’t forget to buy your tickets to the 2019 Annual P&F Mothers' Luncheon!

Date: Friday 1 March 2019
Time: 11:30am arrival (for a 12noon start), finishing at 3pm
Venue: Hotel Grand Chancellor, 23 Leichardt Street, Brisbane
RSVP: Friday 22 February 2019 (unless SOLD OUT prior)
Tickets: $100 per person - Includes drink on arrival, two course lunch a drink, followed by a cash bar.
Tables: maximum table capacity is strictly 10.
To purchase your tickets, please click here.

Please be aware that your seat is only confirmed once you have purchased a ticket!

For all enquiries, please contact Angela Pratt on 0413 701 407 and Anthea Damman on 0403 846 258 or email: antheadamman@hotmail.com.

Care to Move are proud sponsors of the 2019 Mothers’ Luncheon. 

Tickets to our first Professional Women’s Networking Breakfast are now on sale!
Special guest speaker, Susan McDonald, Managing Director Super Butcher, will present at our first breakfast for 2019 and will share her insights from her career and lessons learned along the way.

Susan has over 20 years of experience in accountancy and business management and served as chief of staff to the Minister for Natural Resources and Mines in the Queensland Government. Susan is a director of Beef Australia, a Queensland divisional councillor of the Retail and General Industry Group of Australian Meat Industry Council (AMIC) and is treasurer of the Queensland RNA.

When: Thursday 21 March
Where: Arts Centre Foyer
Tickets: Corporate tables $800 for 10, $80 adult and $40 students (Years 10-12/tertiary)
Please click here (PDF 583.5KB) for more information.

Tickets are now on sale via Flexischools. Please click here to purchase your ticket. 

We sincerely thank our corporate sponsors for their generous support of the Series:
Associate Sponsors: Pitcher Partners and McCullough Robertson
Supporting Partners: Downer and Programmed Property Services

Do you know a St Margaret’s Old Girl who deserves recognition?
Nominations for the 2019 Past Students Awards are now open! There are two categories of Award: Distinguished Past Student and Young Past Student of Distinction.

These awards have been established to recognise the many achievements of St Margaret’s Past Students, both professionally and personally, and to celebrate the diverse achievements of our Old Girl community.

2019 nominations close on Monday 18 March 2019 at 5pm (AEST) and winners will be announced at the annual Past Student Awards Dinner.

Nomination forms can be found on the St Margaret’s website and the process of nomination is simple! Not to mention, your nomination is valid for two years.

If you know someone deserving of recognition, nominate them today. 

Lara Pickering

Below is additional information regarding our Brisbane information session. Please note this is a free-event for students and their parents. If any students are interested in attending this Information Evening, please register on Eventbrite via the link below: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/letz-live-gap-year-information-evening-brisbane-tickets-56000154971.

Venue: Somerville House, 17 Graham Street, South Brisbane, Qld 4101
Date: Tuesday 26 February 2019
Time: 6-7:30pm

Applications for placements in 2020 are scheduled to close on 8 March 2019.

Open Days
Most tertiary providers hold open days in July and August each year for future students. If you can't make the open day, don't panic. Many universities, private colleges and TAFE Queensland also hold campus tours and information sessions throughout the year. A full list of current dates for Queensland universities is on the POD page eNews article.

QUT Match My Skills
Looking for some inspiration on what to study? Follow the steps to discover a personalised list of courses that are perfect for you: https://match-my-skills.qut.edu.au/.

UCAT
Who should sit UCAT?
Any Year 12 student who is seeking entry into medicine, dentistry and health science degree programs in 2020. Please note that some pathways to medicine/dentistry/clinical sciences will not require the UCAT.

For more information about the new test, including price, testing dates, format and FAQs, visit: https://www.ucat.edu.au.

Preparing for UCAT
You can find the official preparation materials at: https://www.ucat.edu.au/ucat-anz/practice-tests.

MedEntry UCAT Preparation: https://www.medentry.edu.au/our-services.
University of Queensland: School Holidays, 7-8 April 2019
The Glennie School, Toowoomba: Weekend Course, 4-5 May 2019
Gold Coast Queensland Academies - Health Sciences Campus, Weekend Course, 11-12 May 2019
University of Queensland: Weekend Course, 29-30 June 2019

NIE UCAT preparation: https://www.nie.edu.au/ucat-courses/simulated-ucat-day-workshop.

Crimson Education UCAT preparation: https://www.crimsoneducation.org/sg/standardised-testing/ucat.

QUT Parent Information Seminar
Come along and here about the options available at QUT at the Gardens Point Campus.

Date: Wednesday 8 May 2019
Time - Campus Tour 5:15–5:45pm; Seminar: 6-7:30pm

TSXPO
The 38th annual Tertiary Studies Expo (TSXPO) will be held on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 July 2019.

KEY DATES - 2019

1 March: UCAT Registration opens

17 May, 11:59pm: UCAT Registration closes

24/25 May: The National Careers and Employment EXPO (Brisbane Convention Centre)

1 July: UCAT testing begins

 20/21 July: Tertiary Studies Expo (TSXPO) – Brisbane Showgrounds

31 July: UCAT testing finishes

Elizabeth Johnston