eNews Issue 28 - 7 September 2023

I thought I would take this opportunity to let you know that applications are now open for Durack College for the 2024 academic year. If your daughter, or someone you know, is interested in enjoying their independence and freedom as young adults, while being surrounded by a range of support mechanisms which allows them to focus on their studies, then I urge you to consider Durack College.

Nestled in a quiet corner on the St Margaret’s campus, Durack College is a unique tertiary residence for young women offering accommodation and full board and combines this with its unique Student Success program, tailored to young undergraduate and postgraduate students.

If you wish to book a tour or find out more, please visit the website or contact the College Director, Kelly Alford on kalford@durackcollege.com.au.

Final reminder - Year 12 parent survey

Thank you to all our Year 12 parents who have completed the survey through independent education consultants MMG. The survey will close this Sunday so I would urge any Year 12 parent yet to complete the survey to please take a moment to do so. St Margaret’s has  a philosophy of continuous improvement and we truly value your feedback. I reiterate that your responses go directly to MMG and remain confidential and deidentified. If you have not received the link from MMG, please contact our Director of Marketing and Communications, Wendy Johnston, via email wjohnston@stmargarets.qld.edu.au and she will be able to follow up with MMG on your behalf. 

New Archbishop-elect

St Margaret’s welcomes and offers our congratulations to our new Archbishop-elect, The Right Reverend Jeremy Greaves. Some of you will know Bishop Jeremy (the current Bishop of the Northern Region) who just recently celebrated confirmation with our students. His daughter Hannah recently worked in our Boarding House. There are many connections to our new Archbishop who will be officially installed at St John’s Cathedral on 16 December.

Ros Curtis

Resilience is the key to not only academic success but also personal growth and wellbeing. Resilience is the ability to bounce back from setbacks, adapt to change, and thrive despite challenges. It equips students with essential life skills, including problem-solving, emotional regulation, and perseverance. These skills are not only valuable during their school years but also throughout their lives.

There are a number of ways we can all help to build resilience in our students both inside and outside of the classroom:

1. Positive Relationships: Creating a supportive, inclusive, and empathetic school community is essential. When students feel connected to their peers and teachers, they are more likely to develop resilience.
2. Growth Mindset: Encouraging a growth mindset helps students view challenges as opportunities for growth. It is important that we emphasise that effort and learning from mistakes lead to success.
3. Emotional Intelligence: Teaching students to identify and manage their emotions can lead to better resilience. This self-awareness is foundational for handling stress and adversity.
4. Problem-Solving Skills: Developing critical thinking and problem-solving abilities can help to empower students to tackle challenges with confidence.
5. Mindfulness and Stress Management: Introducing mindfulness practices can be helpful for students to cope with stress and anxiety, promoting emotional wellbeing.
6. Responsibility and Independence: Gradually allowing students to take on responsibilities can support the development of a sense of independence and self-reliance.

Resilience is a shared responsibility. Parents, teachers, and the school community can work together to create an environment that fosters resilience.

Building resilience in our students is a vital aspect of their education. It equips them with the tools they need to navigate the challenges of life successfully. By nurturing resilience, we are not only preparing our students for academic success but also helping them become resilient, confident, and well-rounded individuals who can thrive in an ever-changing world.

Karen Gorrie

This week in my RVE classes, we have been watching an ABC Compass episode with Julia Baird on "Hunting Awe": https://iview.abc.net.au/show/compass. It is a powerful episode that follows Baird's chase for awe and her reflections on the power of such a chase. A few weeks ago, I wrote about this topic after hearing Baird speak at the Anglican Schools Australia Conference. 

After watching the episode, our classes participated in an "awe walk" around our school grounds. The students were invited to notice what they saw, to walk quietly and purposefully, to find a rhythm in their steps, and to reflect with gratitude on what they noticed. 

A sense of awe offers us perspective and strength. We experience the overview effect where we can notice that the smallest thing, everything, is part of a greater whole. Awe, and the hunting of it, is essential for our wellbeing and is proven to increase compassion, empathy and connection between humans and the earth. 

As we approach the final week of term, I invite you to think about how you can hunt awe in the spring break. For Baird, it was chasing bioluminescence, and early morning ocean swims. For others it was climbing infinitely tall trees or a mindful walk. Whatever it is that captivates you with awe, my hope is that you will find it and nurture it, and know that you are part of a great story, a story of love, connection and grace. 

Rev’d Jazz Dow

Earlier this week, a group of Year 3 girls and their teacher Ms Lucardia Moulton came to visit the boarding house. The girls are about to begin a novel study on the book ‘Alice Miranda’ by Jacqueline Harvey, a story about a young girl who starts attending a boarding school. To provide some context to the novel and build the students’ field of knowledge, the girls came for a tour. They visited key areas of the boarding house, including the Year 7 dorm and the dining hall. The Year 3s were lovely visitors to the boarding house and by the end of the tour, most exclaimed that when they got older, they’d like to come to boarding school too!

  

Hannah Calcino

Self-regulation is a powerful skill to develop with respect to their learning. It requires students to set goals, develop strategies and monitor the effectiveness of their strategies throughout. Learning self-regulation should start early and takes time and practise (like any skill!). By being intentional about their actions throughout each term or learning period and reflecting on their application and subsequent achievement on each task, students are able to evaluate the effectiveness of their strategies and make adjustments to their approach for the next learning period.

I encourage all students to consider this as they come to the end of Term 3. What were your strategies for this term? How successfully did you follow them? And did they result in an outcome you are happy with? Take the opportunity to discuss this with your Academic Advisor as they can help to tweak current strategies or introduce new ones to optimise your learning and achievement.

Caitlin McCluskey

These sessions are supervised by tutors from Durack College and Old Girls and have been a great support to the girls who attend. Bookings for all sessions for the term can be done through FlexiSchools on the schools’ website. While the study session is free of charge, if you would like your daughter to have dinner this can be purchased for $12.50 at the time of booking. Bookings are essential and should be made before 9:00 am on the day of each session.

Chris Dunn

Recent studies have shown that one in seven primary school children have significant mental health disorders, and one in four secondary school students have psychological problems. Every year, in the last five years, that number has increased. Mindfulness, is the practice of being in the moment, being present and being open to what you're focusing on. Mindfulness is all about building resilience. It is not a replacement for therapy or medication for mental health issues but will hopefully reduce the need for it later on.

Research has proven that mindfulness has endless benefits for children. This school taught activity is on the rise, and many experts are wanting it to be a compulsory component of the national curriculum. Not only does mindfulness calm a child’s mind, but it has also been proven to reduce anxiety and disruptive behaviour in schools.

Nikki Townsend

Whilst all our school values are relevant to primary education, respect and integrity are especially important during these years as this is when students are developing their moral character and identity. The staff find opportunities to share when they see these values in action and regularly talk to our students about them. Key messages the teachers share with the girls, which can be used to support and share at home, include:

Respecting self and others

Respect starts with respecting yourself as respect comes from within. Respect comes from others, if you give respect you get respect. Demonstration of respect for others comes from, following school rules, saying kind words, being grateful to those who help and guide, respect the boundaries of personal space.

Acting with Integrity

The attributes of integrity are to follow a set of values or principles, be honest, help others, lead by example, and take responsibility. We all know that living by integrity can be difficult at times especially for children while their moral compass is developing. It is the responsibility of the adults in a child’s life to teach them right from wrong, help them learn from the lessons that life presents when they compromise their integrity and most importantly take responsibility for their actions. The greatest gift an adult can give a child is to model and help students take responsibility for a mistake rather than support them in justifying their mistake. Taking responsibility is a hard lesson to learn but is one that a child takes into adulthood.

Respect and Integrity meets in Sportsmanship

Respect and integrity are two key values of sportsmanship. On Saturday I had the opportunity to see these values in action when two club netball teams played in the final. Congratulations to STM 18   and STM 21 who both qualified for the finals after a long season. Team STM 21 were placed second and Team STM 18 took out first place. Congratulations to Amelia Cleary, Charlie Bain, Ruby Burton, Maya Clift, Chloe Craig, Audrey Dean, Chloe Doyle, Tabitha Edwards, Ivy Gough, Lulu Robson and Coach Annabelle Redcliffe. Thank you to Camille Poupardin and Morgan Rowe for overseeing the primary club netball program.

   

Angela Drysdale

This term interviews in Years 5 and 6 will be student-led, which means that your daughter will attend the interview with you where she will lead the conversation. With the assistance of their teachers, students will prepare their Student Placements, these are documents that will assist students when they are discussing their achievements, strengths and challenges. The interview is an opportunity for girls to strengthen their student agency and voice and celebrate their achievements by taking ownership of their learning.

We look forward to working together during the upcoming Parent Teacher Interviews.

The Parent Portal is now open for bookings. For further information on how to book please see the parent letter that was posted on The POD this week.  

Kate Frewin

  

Soloists Recital

Congratulations to all students who performed at the third Soloists Recital for the year on Wednesday afternoon. It was a fantastic afternoon of music with a wide range of styles performed on a variety of different instruments. All girls should be exceptionally proud of their performances!

Music Dinner

The St Margaret’s annual Music Dinner is fast approaching with tickets now on sale. It will be held on Friday 6 October in Eton Hall from 6:00pm. Please note that ticket sales close 4:00pm Wednesday 13 September. The Music Captains have announced the theme for this year’s dinner to be 100 Years of Disney as Disney celebrates its 100-year anniversary, with students (and parents) encouraged to come dressed according to the theme. A letter with further details is attached. (PDF 454.7KB)

2024 Music Ensemble Auditions

Auditions for 2024 Music Ensembles will be held in Week 3 of Term 4 with audition excerpts available via the respective POD pages next week. Further details regarding audition times will be made available soon.

Speech Night

Please note that all students in Chamber Strings, Sister Helen Wind Symphony, Exultate and Tuesday Rock Band will be required to be in church dresses for Speech Night. Students in these ensembles will be able to organise church dress hire from Week 10 through the School Supplies Shop. Students are asked to complete the 2023 Church Dress Hire Form in advance (available on the POD).

Special Staff Performance

Three St Margaret’s staff members will be giving a special performance in the Arts Centre Foyer on Sunday 15 October at 2:00pm. Ms Helen Carvolth (upper strings teacher), Ms Alys Rayner (upper strings teacher) and Mr Alex McPherson (cello teacher) are all members of Riverbend Ensemble, a highly regarded chamber music ensemble, and will present repertoire by Mozart, Galzunov, Coleridge-Taylor and a special work composed by Ms Rayner. Tickets for this event are now available via Try Booking (with $10 from each ticket donated to the Asylum Seeker Support Hub). This will be a wonderful opportunity for our students to hear the St Margaret’s staff performing on their respective instruments.

Music Support Group Next Meeting

The next Music Support Group meeting will be the AGM and will be held on 24 October at 5:00pm in M’s Cafe. We encourage parents from both the primary and secondary schools to become involved.

Brad King

• Open Netball Team – Our Open Netball team has been fierce on court this season. Strong wins against Brisbane State High and Ipswich Girls Grammar places them in the box seat to challenge Moreton Bay for premiership. Their match will be played at 7:30am on Saturday at our Windsor Park courts.
• Junior A Tennis Team – Our Junior A Tennis team have shown enormous spirit all season. Their energetic and steely determination has seen them go undefeated this season. Their matches will be played from 4:00pm this Friday at the Churchie Tennis Centre.
• Year 10 B Netball Team – Our 10B’s only blemish has come from a draw in round 1 against St Peters. From this game on they have lit up the court and now put themselves in the position to play off for the premiership title. Their match will be played at 8:45am on Saturday at our Windsor Park courts.

We wish these teams and all our Maggies teams all the very best for their last round of Winter Sport!

Mr Lloyd Knight

Director of Sport

Sporting Achievement

It’s with great pleasure that we can recognise the outstanding sport performances and representation of St Margaret’s students at a national and international level. I would like to highlight and congratulate the following student on her recent achievements:

• Sophia Garufo (Year 12) – We congratulate Sophia on her selection within the Skate Australia team that shall compete at the 2023 World Artistic Championships to be held Ibague, Colombia during September. Sophia’s selection comes from her recent success at the National Championships where she was successful in winning the Junior Ladies Solo Dance. Skate Australia highlighted Sophia’s determination and a brilliantly crafted free dance routine. We wish Sophia all the very best.

Sports Awards Evening - Representative Achievements

Within our St Margaret’s Sport Awards Evening we recognise and acknowledge the achievements of students who represent team Queensland and Australia within their respective School Sport and Club Sport Pathways.

Given club sport is external to St Margaret’s we do appreciate students and/or parents/guardians notifying the Activities Office of student representation at this level. We would like to recognise and acknowledge those students who are selected and compete within a representative Queensland or Australian team.

If your daughter has represented at this level, please email me by this Friday, 8 September via: lknight@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.

GO MAGGIES!

Lloyd Knight

Year 11 Term 4 2023 Booklist

The Year 11 Term 4 2023 (Year 12 2024) booklist is now available. Lists can be accessed by clicking on this link St Margaret's AGS Year 11.4 (12 in 2024). Orders placed by 8 September will receive free home delivery ($9.95 after) and will be delivered prior to the commencement of Term 4. 

Orders placed after 9 September will be sent ASAP, however Sequel cannot guarantee delivery prior to the commencement of Term 4.

Boarders are able to have their book pack delivered to the St Margaret’s boarding house for pickup on return to school in Term 4. Boarders requiring their book pack delivered to the school must complete their delivery address as: Boarder – Deliver to St Margaret’s AGS.

Booklists for Pre-Prep to Year 11 2024 will be posted in early Term 4.

Blazer Fittings

Blazer fittings - Students entering Year 10 in 2024 should consider coming into the Supplies Shop to be fitted for their blazer prior to the end of Term 4 2023. This will ensure the best fit and will allow time for a custom make blazer for the students who require extra or shorter length through the body and arms. All orders will need to be placed by 24 November for a March 2024 delivery. Students can visit the Supplies Shop during our opening hours with a blazer fitting taking around 10 minutes per student. The cost of the blazer is $275 and is payable at the time of ordering.

Uniform Fitting Appointments - Online booking system

Bookings for October, November & December 2023 and January 2024 are available online. We encourage families to book a fitting appointment as soon as possible, as appointments are filling fast. Book your appointment here.

Appointment times are either 30mins or 60mins depending on your fitting type. Fitting types include New Student, Existing Student, Boarder Only and Pre-Prep/Prep.

• One appointment = one student fitting
  If you are booking for two or more students, please book separate fitting appointments for each student. These can be at the same time if times are available.

• All fittings will take place in the Supplies Shop, which is located onsite, just off Circular Drive through Gate 1, Petrie Street, Ascot.

Trading Hours (Term Time)

PUPIL FREE DAY, 15 SEPTEMBER 2023:  The School Supplies Shop will be open between the hours of 11 am and 2 pm.

Monday               8am – 2pm
Tuesday         8am – 2pm
Wednesday        10am – 5pm
Thursday          8am – 2pm
Friday                   8am – 2pm

Public Holidays Closed

We have fun-filled and exciting activities planned for our June/July School Holiday Program. Further details of the program can be found here (PDF 242.7KB). Boys and girls, siblings, friends and family welcome!

Please refer to the attached Information Guide for full booking terms and conditions. We are unable to accept bookings via email or text message. The OSHC registration and Debitsuccess form must be completed, signed and sent back to us to finalise your booking. Please read the information guide carefully as some information has changed. OSHC Registration and Debitsuccess can be completed via the My Family Lounge.

PLEASE COMPLETE YOUR VACATION CARE BOOKING FORM VIA THE MY FAMILY LOUNGE APP

We are very excited to inform you that St Margaret’s OSHC has subscribed to a fantastic online Booking and Waitlist management program called QK Enrol. This program will give you access to manage your own account information, where you will have the ability to make bookings requests and allows you to complete and submit an online enrolment form for your child. You can do this and much, much more all within a parent portal called ’My Family Lounge’.

How do I log in?

Please navigate to the link below and either sign in with your existing My Family Lounge account or Register for an account if you do not already have one. Please note all families who have previously submitted an enrolment form will have an account already set up; all you will need to do is click ‘forgotten password’ and use the email address you used to receive this form.

https://www.qkenhanced.com.au/Account/Embeddable/?databaseId=9385

When making a Vacation Care booking please select Casual bookings, not Permanent.

What is the cost?*

Fees: $68 per day*

Bookings close: 11 September 2023

*Incursions and excursions incur additional costs. These are compulsory for all students and therefore you are able to claim CCS.

What are the hours of operation?

The service is open from 7:00am until 6:00pm.

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

P&F Secondary Mother Daughter Luncheon - Raffle

Thanks to the generosity of our families, we have an amazing prize pool for our St Margaret’s Secondary Mother Daughter Luncheon Raffle. With over $4,500 in prizes available, enter for your chance to win: Three nights weekend accommodation in Mooloolaba, an Evercare Annual Membership, a Kailo Wellness Medispa Gift Voucher, a MECCA Gift Voucher and more!

Not attending the event? You do not need to attend the event to enter. Click on this link to purchase raffle tickets and to see all the amazing prizes on offer: https://www.raffletix.com.au?ref=hwyxh

Special thanks to our Major Sponsor KLM Solicitors and Maggie's Supporter Shingle Inn.

Thank you to our Prize Donors:  The Martin/Jansen Family, Evercare, Kailo Wellness Medispa, Alpha-H, The Lyons Family, The Fraser Family, Howard Smith Wharves, Sign Artist, Provincial Home Living, The Beikoff Family, Brighton Lane, Clear Insurance, Flowers from Moray, The Goodnight Co & The Body Refinery.

Past Student Awards Nominations are open

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

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

There are three award categories:

1. Distinguished Past Student Award - for alumnae who have celebrated their 20th reunion. Recognises significant contribution or achievements in the profession, community or volunteer work; and
2. Young Past Student of Distinction Award - for alumnae in their 20th reunion year or younger. Recognises significant contribution or achievements in the profession, community or volunteer work.
3. Spirit of Service Past Student Award – open to all alumnae. Recognises and celebrates outstanding service to the community by a Past Student of St Margaret’s.

Nominations can be submitted by completing our Online Nomination Form by Friday 10 November, 2023. Please note, when competing the Form, if there are any details (i.e. alumni year, degree information or addresses) that you need assistance in completing, please leave these blank, and we here in the Development and Community Office are happy to fill in those gaps.  

For more information please visit: https://paststudents.stmargarets.qld.edu.au/pages/past-student-awards

Parents are warmly invited to the P&F Association General Meeting and End of Year Celebration

2023 has been a busy year and we look forward to sharing with you a summary of what has been achieved and what we hope to deliver for our community in 2024 and beyond.

The P&F works to promote a spirit of cooperation between parents, staff, and students. During the school year your P&F deliver events and initiatives for the general well-being of all members of the school community. While fundraising is part of what we do most importantly we support connections that support your daughter at St Margarets and beyond.

The P&F Association meet once a term to share our views and ideas, and we encourage parents to join us at these meetings throughout the year. This provides an opportunity to hear from the school leadership, the Parents and Friends committee, Support Groups (including music, boarders and extracurricular sports) and to get involved in upcoming events.

Our final meeting of 2023 is an informal evening where we welcome new people (including those new to the school in 2024) and where we can all share our thoughts over some light refreshments.

Date: Monday 16 October 2023

Time: 6.30pm to 8.30pm

Location: Arts Centre Foyer, St Margaret's Anglican Girls School

RSVP: https://www.trybooking.com/CLKBW

 

Lara Pickering