eNews Archive Issue 6 - 7 March 2019

What is bullying?
The national definition of bullying for schools, developed by educators across Australia, is:

Bullying is an ongoing and deliberate misuse of power in relationships through repeated verbal, physical and/or social behaviour that intends to cause physical, social and/or psychological harm. It can involve an individual or a group misusing their power, or perceived power, over one or more persons who feel unable to stop it from happening.

Bullying can happen in person or online, via various digital platforms and devices and it can be obvious (overt) or hidden (covert). Bullying behaviour is repeated or has the potential to be repeated over time (for example, through sharing of digital records).

Bullying of any form or for any reason can have immediate, medium and long-term effects on those involved, including bystanders. Single incidents and conflict or fights between equals, whether in person or online, are not defined as bullying.

Our school has participated in this national day of action since its inception. We have in place many policies which aim to protect our students and staff from bullying. Next week, I will outline resources from several sources that parents are able to access online.

Ros Curtis 

Students should ensure that their goals are S.M.A.R.T. goals.

Specific goals are easier to accomplish. Whilst many students may say they wish to achieve a certain grade for their subjects, it would be better to hone in on a particular skill in order for that to occur. For example, using criteria from a subject as the skill that they would like to improve would be beneficial.

Goals need to be Measureable. Checking in to see if targets have been met with feedback on improvement being sought and supplied will identify achievement and help encourage the student to continue to strive for more improvement.

Make sure the goal is Attainable. Almost any goal is attainable when a person plans their steps towards achieving that goal wisely. Reaching those milestones will provide positive affirmation and ensure they remain on track to achieve the ultimate goal.

Relevant goals ensure that improvement is sought for something that needs improvement.

Timebound goals provide a deadline for actions to occur to see movement towards improvement. Deadlines need to be given short timeframes to ensure step-by-step progress is made.

In summary, S.M.A.R.T. goals are:

• Specific
• Measurable
• Attainable
• Relevant
• Timebound

Karen Gorrie 

The main activity is for any visitor to the sapce to choose a name at random from the box and write an anonymous letter. This is then posted into the red letterbox.

Year 11 students are acting as ‘Posties’ each lunchtime to hand deliver letters across the school. You can hear them coming with their kazoos sounding blasts of arrival, you can see them with their smiles and red scarves.

I have toyed with bringing this concept to life for a couple of years now, and it is heartening to see just how all students and staff have so far embraced the experience. By the conclusion of next week ALL staff and students should have received (and hopefully written!) a letter of joy and hope. Through this activity, of generous hospitality, may all in our community feel loved, included and valuable.

Ash Wednesday and Lent
On Wednesday this week, a service for the Imposition of Ashes was held in the Chapel to mark the commencement of the Season of Lent. The ashes are a symbolic reminder of what we need to clean up in our lives, that we are “from dust and to dust we shall return”. Our Lenten journey is one of preparation for the events of Easter – the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Years 4-6 Family Service and Admission to Communion – Wednesday 13 March, 6pm
A reminder that we will celebrate the first of our Primary Family Services next Wednesday night. We will welcome those students in Years 4-6 who will be admitted to receive holy communion for the first time. All are invited to contribute to the retiring collection for The Bush Ministry Fund, assisting Anglican ministry and support in country and outback regions.

Upcoming Services
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
Wednesday 27 March: Pre Prep-3 Twilight Family Service, 6pm

Reflective Prayer for the Beginning of Lent
Loving God, how great and wonderful you are. You want us to journey with you, to be your hands and feet and hearts and minds, to bring your healing love to a hurting world. Be with us now as we look deeply within ourselves, as we seek your presence and your guidance, as we begin our Lenten Journey this day. Amen.

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

These messages were also included at the school assembly this week, where we celebrated International Women’s Day. Our role in Boarding is to ensure when the girls leave at the end of the year they will be empowered to take on a new journey with positivity and commitment. We hope that the skills they have learned in both Boarding and at school will help them to succeed in the future and they will use the strengths gained from their education at St Margaret’s to guide them in the next chapter of their lives.

Lesa Fowler 

In Year 9, the girls received a criteria sheet with their assessment and were awarded an A-E for each criterion. In the new QCE system, teachers will use a marking guide and each criterion will be allocated a mark. Both the marking guide and the criteria sheet describe the qualities of student work for each criterion. For your daughters, the feedback they will receive about their work will still sound and look the same. It will focus on how well they have demonstrated the criteria of the assessment.

For example, in Year 10 English the criteria for analysis is described as ‘discerning analysis of the effects of aesthetic features and stylistic devices in two texts’. In the current system, if a student response demonstrated this quality they would have been awarded an A. In the new QCE system, they will receive a mark of 8 out of 8. The combination of marks from each of the assessments will produce a maximum subject result of 100. Assessments may differ in their relative contribution to the overall 100 marks for the year. The marking guide will identify the total number of marks to be awarded. For example, an assessment worth 35% will be marked out of 35 while an assessment worth 25% will be marked out of 25.

The girls will still be able to conference with their teachers about their marks and teachers will be able to show you the marking guides at Parent-Teacher interviews later this year.

Jo Butterworth 

On these days, the Year 9 girls will complete their English Narrative Draft, Science Unit Test, Maths Round One Exam and History Exam and the Year 10 girls will complete their Chinese, Science and History Exams. Alongside these exams the girls will be provided with the time to practice good study and review habits. During the non-exam time they will have the chance to meet with teachers to ask questions and check for understanding as they go over concepts for their upcoming assessments. The timetable has been split into times when the girls can work with teachers and small groups, as well as quiet study time. Each student has been encouraged to devise a study plan for the two days to assist them to manage their time effectively.

We hope these days will provide the girls will valuable time and lessons about how to prepare for exams, as well as provide us with feedback to continue to support them on their journey.

Supervised Study Sessions
Supervised Study Sessions continues to be held each Monday to Thursday in the Library, from 5-7:30pm. As we are coming into the busy time for this program, can I please remind all parents who intend to use this service for their daughters to book them in via FlexiSchools. The program each night only has a capacity to enroll 25 girls and if your daughter turns up and is not booked in she will not be able to stay.

Nicole Devlin 

Camp reflection by Hanna Gustafsson:

Despite the threat of bush fires, cyclones and questionable amounts of rogue goannas, Year 10 camp turned out to be a stunning experience. Our humble canoeing group embraced camp life from the get-go with ‘yoga’ sessions by the river every morning as the sun rose (and a brief stint in a canoe, and then the water…) and star gazing on the jetties every night. Hours were spent chatting with our different canoe buddies each day and, after our afternoon siesta, we would all jump back in the canoes to either muck around on (and in) the water or go exploring through the everglades. Special mention goes to our camp instructor whose life-lessons and experiences were mind-blowing and made me want to get out there and really live. So, whilst I could have done with a shower and a meal that didn’t involve capsicum, I wouldn’t have traded it for the world.

Nikki Townsend 

The week commenced with our author in residence, Sarah Brennan addressing the girls at Assembly on “my career as an author, publisher and why I became one after working as a lawyer.” Sarah also conducted sessions with all year levels to further explore her role as an author.

Each week, the Prep to Year 2 students participate in a sustainability program. The Term 1 focus is “change through our school windows” with the girls observing the evolution of building the Sports Precinct. Careers Week provided the opportunity to listen to women who have a career in the building industry. Thank you to parents, Pam White (Engineer), Kristi Simpson (Architect) and Old Girl, Emily Wilks (’12) (Project Management), for sharing their career journey. Two of these speakers also conducted a question/answer session with Year 3.

First Officer, Megan Thompson from Virgin Australia shared her journey to become a pilot, before opening the floor to the Years 4 to 6 girls for questions. All our speakers were inspirational and contributed to breaking down possible gender bias by bringing real life success stories to our students.

“Ignoring the process of career development in childhood is similar to a gardener disregarding the quality of the soil in which the garden will be planted.”

Kashefpakdel, Rehill and Hughes, 2018:3

Angela Drysdale

Upcoming Events
Friday 8 March: Free Dress Day – proceeds going to Flood Relief
Saturday 9 March: Open Day – Compulsory School Day, 9:30am-12:30pm
Wednesday 13 March: Years 4-6 Family Service, 6pm
Friday 15 March: Pre-Prep – Year 3, Family Fun Night, Arts Centre Foyer, 6:30-8:30pm

Open Day
The St Margaret’s music ensembles are looking forward to performing at the upcoming Open Day on Saturday 9 March. Below is the confirmed 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

Music Support Group
The next Music Support Group meeting will be on Tuesday 30 April 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 

First Place

• Michaela Chong: 12 Years 50m Freestyle Div D
• Emma Fahy: 12 Years 50m Freestyle Dvi C
• Anna Lincoln: 12 Years 50m Freestyle Div B
• Portia Creevey: 12 Years 50m Backstroke
• Stella Stuart: 13 Years 50m Breaststroke
• Sophie Martin: 14 Years 100m Freestyle
• Tahlia Thornton: 16 Years 100m Backstroke/50m Backstroke
• 12 Years 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay
• 13 Years 4 x 50m Medley Relay

Whilst these are outstanding results, the entire swim team should be congratulated on their commitment, participation and performance throughout the season which culminated with the team finishing 3rd place in the Mollie Gould Aggregate Cup and 2nd in the Sheena Dyason Percentage Cup.

A big thank you to Head Coach, Kevin Sargent, Swimming Coordinator, Phoebe Mawer, assistant coaches, staff and families who supported St Margaret’s Swimming this season!

Autumn Fixtures
The 2019 Autumn Fixtures season will commence this Friday 8 March. Approximately 300 students will be involved in playing their first games of Basketball, Touch Football and Soccer against St Hilda’s School at their playing venues. This year, there are a record number of participants with 10 Basketball teams, 14 Touch Football teams and 3 Soccer Teams. The fixture schedule can be found on the individual Sport Pages or the Secondary Sport Page via the POD.

Important: It is an expectation that all girls will support teams before and/or after their individual game.

Cross Country Invitational Meet
The first Cross Country invitational meet will be held on Wednesday 13 March at the University of Queensland. All girls interested in being a part of the St Margaret’s Cross Country team are expected to attend and must register online to indicate their attendance. The link to the online registration form link has been posted on the Cross Country POD page. A bus will depart St Margaret’s promptly at 3:20pm to take all girls directly to the venue and will return at approximately 6:30pm.

Water Polo
The Water Polo season is coming to an end with the final games to be held on Saturday 16 March. A Water Polo break-up has been organised for all girls and coaches to attend on Wednesday 13 March at the 25m pool, from 3:30-5:30pm. Good luck to all teams in your final rounds of competition.

Congratulations…

Portia Creevey and Lucinda Kovac (Year 7) for being selected in the 12 Years City District Netball team.

Portia Creevey, Michaela Chong, Emma Fahy and Anna Lincoln (Year 7) for being selected in the 12 Years Metropolitan North Swimming team who will contest the Qld Swimming Championships on Monday 25–27 March.

Teneille Allen, Jaclyn Barclay, Tiffany Mackay, Olivia Peck, Evangeline Phillips, Emma Pickering, Abigail Shearer-Smith, Stella Stuart and Sienna Timms for being selected in the 12 Years Metropolitan North Swimming team who will contest the Qld Swimming Championships on the 28-30 March. 

Helen Lobegeiger 

Lisa Smith 

You can visit the QTIX website to purchase tickets here, and if you want to book for groups of 10 or more, please call The Roundhouse Theatre on: 07 3007 8600.

We look forward to seeing you at the show!

Annette Box
Director 

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. 

There were so many wonderful prizes donated by local businesses and we encourage you to support the generous businesses that support St Margaret’s. Their generosity to the school community ensures its projects and events are successful.

Thank you to Care to Move for proudly sponsoring our After-Party Cheese station, and to the following businesses for giving so generously to the 2019 Mothers’ Luncheon event:

• McKinney’s Jewellers
• Snowscene
• The Calile
• Verve Portraits
• Hotel Grand Chancellor
• QPAC
• The Triffid
• Libertine Perfumerie
• Realskin Clinic
• Chemist Warehouse Redcliffe
• Blue Bungalow
• Blow Inn
• Julie Whitehead
• Brisbane Racing Club
• Milo + Macy
• La Bella Vita
• Ascutz
• Cassidy & White
• The Derm Lab
• Martha’s Vineyard
• Libertine Restaurant
• Nat Sui
• Fritzenburger Wilston
• Cellarbrations Wilston
• Parade Homewares
• Victor Scot
• article
• Shanghai Suzy
• Hamilton Lashes
• Bar 150
• Artisan Aesthetic Clinics
• The Spa Philosophy
• St James Crabhouse Bar & Grill
• Medi-Spa Hamilton

I would also like to thank everyone that helped make this event such a success, particularly the P&F Event Organisers, Angela Pratt and Anthea Damman, who worked tirelessly to ensure that everyone had a truly wonderful time!

Next year marks the 125th Anniversary of the school, and planning has already begun.

Our 2020 Luncheon will be our largest lunch yet, with our past student community warmly invited to join us as we celebrate 125 years of St Margaret’s women. I would encourage you all to pencil in Friday 27 March 2020 in your diaries for this special event!

Less than 15 tickets left for the Professional Women’s Networking Breakfast!
Don’t miss special guest speaker, Susan McDonald, Managing Director Super Butcher.

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)

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

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

Make your legacy one that will change young lives
In 2015, the Eton Society was established to honour those members of our community who have made a bequest to St Margaret’s Foundation in their Will.

Members of the Eton Society meet annually for the Eton Society Morning Tea, hosted in April by Ms Ros Curtis, Principal. This event provides us with the opportunity to show appreciation to those who have chosen to give beyond their lifetime, while they are still living.

Being a member of the Eton Society enables you to keep updated about the School’s future – plans that will be enabled in part through the Bequest program, and to connect with other members of the School community who share the same passion and maintain an ongoing interest in what their legacy will help achieve.

If you are interested in learning more about, or are considering leaving a gift to St Margaret’s in your Will, please contact me on +61 7 3862 0884 or email foundation@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.

Lara Pickering

The Young Endeavour Youth Scheme
Join tall ship, Young Endeavour for an unforgettable adventure! Develop your confidence, teamwork and communication skills and make new friends. Applications are open at www.youngendeavour.gov.au. Voyage fees and conditions will apply to successful applicants, who must be aged 16-23 years on the day of departure of their selected voyage/s. Potential applicants should apply now for the best chance to be in the draw for a voyage.

Scholarships in Australia
No matter what you are intending to study and where, you will be sure to find some financial assistance on offer to help you pay for it. https://www.gooduniversitiesguide.com.au/scholarships

QTAC Year 12 Tertiary Applications
The Educational Access Scheme (EAS) can help you if you have experienced circumstances that negatively affected your most recent studies: https://www.qtac.edu.au/applying/educational-access-scheme. If you are eligible for EAS, you may get OP or rank adjustments that improve your chances of getting an offer.

How to apply
You can apply for EAS when you lodge your QTAC application. Or after lodging your QTAC application If you are not sure if EAS could help you, call QTAC on 1300 467 822 for assistance.

QUT New Double Degrees
Students can now expand their career options by studying the following double degree combinations at QUT:

• Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Justice
• Bachelor of Property Economics/Bachelor of Business
• Bachelor of Property Economics/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

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/.

Tertiary Open days
Most tertiary providers hold open days in July and August each year for future students. A full list of current dates for Queensland universities is on the POD page eNews article.

UCAT
Who should sit UCAT?
Any Year 12 students who are 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 and format 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

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 hear 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 opened
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