St Margaret’s has been named 2019 Boarding School of the Year in the prestigious Australian Education Awards. Winners were announced at a glittering ceremony at Dockside in Sydney on Friday 16 August.
St Margaret’s was one of only eight schools chosen nationwide and the only Brisbane school finalist. It shares the win with Wesley College, Perth.
The Australian Education Awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of the country’s top performing schools, principals, department heads and teachers, defining excellence in the K-12 education sector. This year’s awards attracted over 640 nominations across the nation and St Margaret’s was honoured to have been named as finalist in two additional categories: Ms Ros Curtis, Principal of the Year (non-government) and Head of Primary School, Ms Angela Drysdale, Primary School Principal of the Year (non-government).
Head of Boarding Ms Lesa Fowler was on hand to accept the award saying it was a great recognition of all the hard work of everyone associated with St Margaret’s boarding.
“It starts right from the top with our School Council and Principal Ms Curtis who are committed to the boarding tradition at St Margaret’s.
“We have been a boarding school since our very beginnings almost 125 years ago and we remain steadfast in our commitment to educating boarders from rural and regional centres across QLD, NSW and the Northern Territory as well as overseas,” said Ms Fowler.
Boarding is at the heart of St Margaret’s – both figuratively and literally – with the boarding house centrally located within the school campus and an entire school community who appreciate, understand and support our boarders.
Principal Ros Curtis said: “We combine solid leadership with a deep sense of nurturing and care for our boarders.”
“Our team of specialist boarding staff include Head of Boarding Lesa Fowler, who has over 23 years’ experience in boarding and oversees Heads of Senior and Junior Houses, a pastoral care coordinator and housemothers.
“Our boarding staff hold the wellbeing of each student close to their hearts and implement a number of strategies and activities to ensure each student is happy, healthy and nurtured,” said Ms Curtis.
The community was delighted with the accolades, expressing their congratulations on social media, saying: “Wow! Congratulations Lesa and staff, a wonderful acknowledgement of all your hard work and dedication to the girls … Wonderful news St Margarets! The boarding house has a fabulous vibe. You walk in there and feel like you are coming home … Fantastic boarding house and school. Congratulations St Margaret’s ... Totally deserved, great boarding house - congrats St Margaret’s!”