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I wish you all a Merry Christmas, a restful holiday and a Happy New Year and I look forward to welcoming you all back here at school for the start of Term One, 2024 on Monday 22 January 2024.

Please note that the school closes over Christmas/New Year from 3pm, Wednesday 20 December 2023 to 8am Thursday 4 January 2024.

We are taking advantage of the absence of students over the holiday period to complete some work to improve the school campus. Projects begin on 24 November and will include:

• Continuation of The Forest landscaping project centre of Avoca, due for completion early Term 1
• Refurbishment of Avoca Amenities
• External restoration works on Sisters’ Chapel
• Several roofing repair/replacement works
• Commencing the installation of solar panels on Phillip Harris Gym
• Various minor refurbishment activities, including repair of the boarding dining room floor and laundry works
• Continue waterproofing efforts Arts Centre building
• Demolition of the tuckshop and surrounds in preparation for the construction of the Canopy Café.
• Temporary tuckshop set-up in Ms Café

Two very significant events will take place in 2024: our biennial MAYO Arts Festival and the 10^th anniversary of the Ponytail Project. We hope to make both events bigger and better than ever and have provided more details in this newsletter which I encourage you to read. The success of these events will very much depend on the support from our wonderful community, who, we know, will enthusiastically embrace them, as they have done in the past.

Ros Curtis

This week I was fortunate to attend the Year 6 Acknowledgement ceremony and be able to watch these wonderful girls finish their Primary school journey. It was lovely that the whole Primary School was there to watch and share this special ceremony with the girls. The Year 6s have been well prepared and are all ready to enter the Secondary school as Year 7 students, and we wish them well on their journey.

The Pre-Prep chapel service was on Wednesday morning, and with the theme of flourishing, the students presented the ceremony and sang some songs in line with this theme. It was a wonderful time of celebration for the students and their families.

I encourage all students to reflect on the year that has been, celebrate where they have been successful in reaching their goals and make new goals or revisions to current goals if necessary. It is strange to think now that in less than two months they will all be in the next year level at school, and as they progress through the year levels, they will have more experiences but also continue to build on their skills.

Holidays are a time to rest, recalibrate, and get ready for the next school year ahead. It is a time for spending time with family and friends. We are fortunate as a community to be grateful for so much, and it is lovely to reflect about this and find ways to give back to those less fortunate.

It has been wonderful to share another year with the St Margaret’s community and I wish you all a safe and enjoyable Christmas holiday. I look forward to seeing everyone again in 2024.

Karen Gorrie

2023 has been a year of flourishing. Together we have used our collective strengths and talents to achieve many things. As we move into the Christmas holidays, I pray that you can get some much-needed rest, and that your Christmas season is filled with the love of family, friends, and good food!

An Invitation

You are invited to the monthly Society of the Sacred Advent service in the Sisters’ Chapel at St Margaret’s, on Sunday 3 December at 4pm.

Christmas Service Times

St Mark’s Clayfield

Saturday 24 November             12:30 – 7:00pm Christmas Markets

5:00pm   Carol’s Excellent Adventure! All-Ages Christmas songs and fun. Free Sausage Sizzle to follow.

   6.45pm Official turning on Christmas Lights

Wednesday 21 December:        6:00pm Blue Christmas Service

Christmas Eve:                         6:00pm All-Ages/Family Christmas

                                                 8:30pm Contemplative and Traditional Service

Christmas Day:                         8:30am Christmas Eucharist

St Alban’s Wilston

Sunday 17 December:              6:00pm Lessons and Carols

Christmas Eve:                         8:00am Holy Communion

                                     5:00pm Crib Service

                                                11:30pm Midnight Mass

Christmas Day:                        8:00am Christmas Day Service

Rev’d Jazz Dow

2023 has seen the girls flourish and we hope that they all feel a great sense of achievement in all of their endeavours. We all look forward to seeing the girls back in January after a wonderful holiday at home.  We wish all families a very happy and Merry Christmas and a safe New Year. Thank you to all of the families for your ongoing support over the year.

Lesa Fowler

Thank you to the students who fill our classrooms and hallways, for your enthusiasm, hard work, and dedication to our school community. Thank you to our teachers for their dedication to their profession and the countless hours they spend preparing lessons, reflecting on lessons, supervising extracurricular activities, and caring for our students. Thank you to our support staff without whom the day-to-day school events (not to mention all the big events) simply would not happen. Thank you to the parents for your support of your child and of us.

The extended break over the summer is such an important time as it provides an opportunity to rest both our bodies and our brains. I know that these holidays, I will be prioritising time spent outdoors and with friends and family as well as some downtime working through my ever-growing reading list. I wish you all a restful and rejuvenating break.

Caitlin McCluskey

End of the Year Reporting Process (Years 7-11)

End of Semester Reports will be available to be accessed through Parent Lounge on Friday 1 December after 3:00pm. Please note also that all Continuous Reporting Information will be available from this date as well.

Each student’s report will consist of a comment from her Head of Year, as well as a summary for each subject. The final page of the report is the Grade Point Average (GPA) graph which records the student’s overall level of achievement and tracks this from semester to semester.

For each subject, there is a list of the course content, marks for the criteria assessed, a table showing the distribution of achievement levels within the subject, and an assessment of your daughter’s attitude to her learning. The academic results reflected in this report are based on the assessment completed throughout Semester 2.

Please note that Year 12 students do not receive a final End of Semester 2 report from the school as final results will be recorded on your daughters Queensland Certificate of Education that is sent from QCAA.

Chris Dunn

Student Achievements: To our students, we are proud of their hard work and successes this term. Their eagerness to learn, adaptability, and resilience continue to impress us. Whether it was in the classroom, or in various extracurricular activities, their enthusiasm and determination have been unwavering.

Staff Appreciation: Our staff members have gone above and beyond to create a nurturing, encouraging and inspiring learning environment. Their care, passion, creativity, and tireless efforts have made a profound impact on the educational journey of our students. Their dedication to student growth and development is truly commendable.

Parental Support: To our parents and guardians, your partnership and involvement in your child’s education have been vital. Your ongoing support, open communication, and active involvement in school activities have contributed significantly to the success story of our school community. Thank you for entrusting us with your daughter’s education and for being such great advocates for their growth.

As we look forward to welcoming new and existing students back to school in 2024, please have a blessed and well-deserved rest during the Christmas holidays, ready to return with renewed energy and enthusiasm for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

Nikki Townsend

The tradition of the nativity play continued with academy award performances from the Prep girls and Years 1 and 2 girls adding angelic voices and dance items. Thank you to the Prep teachers, Mary Komselis, Katie Lewis and Years 1, 2 teachers. Thank you to Regina Brennan for conducting the beautiful voices of this event and the Year 5 girls. Thank you to Annette Box for her dedication to ensure each of these events was successful. Thank you also to the many people who attended these events - the girls and staff are very grateful for your support.

Once again, the girls received great results in the final Andrews Cup sports (Basketball & Gymnastics) for the year. C Grade White placed 3^rd in Basketball and D1 & D2 Grade both placed 2^nd and B grade placed 3^rd in gymnastics.

Service-Learning projects are the focus of Term 4. The early childhood students have created small art pieces and cards for the residents of AVEO. Year 3 students have created and written letters of gratitude to members of our school community who supported girls in the primary school. Year 4 students have undertaken individual service projects. 

This week, Chapel services for students at either end of the primary school were held. Pre-Prep students shared their learning, and we farewelled the Year 6 girls. We saw the Year 6 girls’ leadership in action for the last time when their Service-Learning Project (Cornerstone) came to fruition on Activities Day. These girls researched, planned, and ran the day to raise money for One Horizon, the school we support in Nairobi, Kenya. A combination of money raised from this event, second-hand uniform sales and raffle money allowed the school to donate $2500 to this organisation.

Our last formal Assembly (Acknowledgement Assembly) for the year was held on Tuesday. At this Assembly we acknowledged girls who received sporting, music and academic achievements. Thank you to Kate Frewin for her organisation of this event. I also presented Head of Primary certificates to an exemplary Year 6 girl from each class. Congratulations to the following girls:

Ruby B – for consistent effort in class and showing empathy towards others;

Chloe D – for consistently approaching all aspects of St Margaret’s life with diligence, commitment and inclusivity;

Stella F – for always acting with integrity and demonstrating St Margaret’s spirit in all areas of school life;

Maya C – for her infectiously positive attitude and displaying courage towards her learning.

I will miss the Year 6 girls’ confidence, humour and enthusiasm and I know, as they move to the next stage of their life, they will take many primary school memories with them. We also used this Assembly as an opportunity to acknowledge and honour Kerry Rider who retired after 25 years teaching at St Margaret’s - a wonderful achievement.

As you prepare for the long summer break, it is important for learning to continue. Studies show that during the summer break, students tend to lose some of the important academic gains made during the school year and this is regarded as “summer loss”. On the primary POD page, I have listed ways to encourage reading, writing and other ideas for holiday learning. 

Thank you to the staff for all they have done this year. To the departing teachers, they go with our gratitude and best wishes. Thank you also to parents for allowing us to be part of each child’s educational journey. I know the children appreciate their teachers and parents.  

I wish everyone a safe and happy holiday and thank you for a great year.

Angela Drysdale

The girls spoke with creativity, confidence and authenticity. I have included an extract from Audrey’s impressive speech to give you a bit of an idea of some of the wonderful messages we got to hear from our six shortlisted candidates.

Sam Kerr, a member of the 2023 Matildas stated “I always try and make everyone feel welcome, and by being who I am, allow them to be who they are. I think that's the most beautiful part of sport, all these different people coming together to achieve something great.” I believe that this quote applies to the St Margaret’s community as well. I am a student who is passionate about leading and helping everyone grow. Everyone has their own story, culture and beliefs and that’s what makes us unique; different people coming together to achieve something great. Think about our theme for the year – Flourishing. Just like a flower, we start off small, grow through hard times, taller and stronger each day. Then finally, we bloom, all different hues, but together, a garden. Together, St Margaret’s. No one has a bigger part than anyone else, we are all equal. By encouraging the representation of our school values, I believe we can make the foundation of this school stronger. The school year is coming to a close, so remember to cherish what we have. I hope to be a leader who helps you fly upwards. Per Volar Sunata.

The future is certainly in safe hands! Have a safe and renewing holiday and we look forward to sharing 2024 with you.

Annette Box

Return of instruments hired over the Christmas holidays

If parents have completed a Holiday Instrument Hire Form, instruments are ready to be collected from SHOR. Please note that instruments hired over the Christmas holidays must be returned to the Music Department in Week 1, Term 1 2024, no later than Tuesday 23 January.

2024 Private Music Tuition

If your daughter is currently undertaking private music tuition, she will automatically be placed on her current teachers’ roll for 2024. Parents do not need to fill in a new application form. However, if your daughter wishes to discontinue lessons in 2024, we ask that you please email directly the Music Department at music@stmargarets.qld.edu.au prior to the end of the school year.

Music Support Group

The next Music Support Group meeting will be held on Tuesday 30 January 2024 at 5:00pm in M’s Café. We encourage parents from both primary and secondary schools to become involved.

Thank you and Merry Christmas

A very big thank you to all in the St Margaret’s Music Community for another fantastic year. It has been filled with many special musical experiences and I believe that the girls will end the school year with many wonderful memories of their involvement in the St Margaret’s Music Program. I wish you all a happy and safe Christmas break and look forward to seeing everyone in 2024, refreshed and ready for another school year!

Brad King

At St Margaret’s, within our non-compulsory sports program, 89% of students participate in school sport. This statistic is significant because it bucks the growing trend of decline in female youth sport participation witnessed Australia-wide. The 2023 AUSPLAY: National Sport and Physical Activity Participation Report indicates a significant 3% decline in sport or physical activity participation in female youth populations.

One of the top identified barriers and drivers for this decline is associated with the perception and reality that there ‘is not enough time or too many other commitments’ taking place in young adults’ lives. Here at St Margaret’s, we are particularly proud of our Year 12 cohort, of whom 78% took part in school sport, establishing a healthy balance with their increased academics and wellbeing pursuits… healthy bodies pave the way for healthy minds.

Similarly, at an age when burn-out and drop-off are most relevant our Year 9s contrast this with 94% of the cohort participating in school sport and together with the Year 7s, they identify as our most engaged year groups in school sport. Our boarders are also thriving in the opportunities seized at St Margaret’s, with 92% of boarders involved in school sport. Their enjoyment and thirst to challenge and learn provides a healthy environment for all to excel.

To foster such strong participation, our program continues to deliver holistic outcomes, incorporating both the physical and psycho-social needs of those who participate. Taking reference from the Positive Youth Development through Sport Framework (PYD) our program aims to instil a sense of competence, confidence, connection & character, which ultimately lends itself to the more intrinsic forms of motivation fun and social connection that fuel our program and align closely with the top motivations identified with the AUSPLAY report.

The AUSPLAY report identifies running, swimming and netball as three of the most popular sports participated in by youth females. These are all sports that form an integral part of the St Margaret’s sport program, with netball being our most popular with 33% of secondary students engaged within our QGSSSA Netball and Club Netball programs. To match contemporary trends our school has invested in our strength and conditioning space and program offering, with fitness/gym identifying as the number one non-sport-related activity for young females. Similarly, eSports is another program trending highly in participation and one that St Margaret’s continues to foster. Both new activities and traditional sports continue to develop the self-regulatory skills that form self-confidence, connection with others and character in application. These skills continue to transcend beyond life at school. 

I continue to be blown away by the participation and enjoyment of sport shared by our girls, staff and wider school community. As we move forward into 2024, we will continue to encourage the intrinsic forms of engagement, enjoyment, social connection and character development, just as much as we do the more extrinsic values of achievement, success and accolade. We will continue to encourage girls to give new things a go and support each other in the process. I would personally like to thank the captains, coaches, teachers and members of our parent community who have given their time and energy passionately to the betterment of sport at St Margaret’s. Thank you to everybody for making the St Margaret’s sport program a special place to be.

On behalf of the Sport and Activities Department, I wish our community a safe and merry festive season. We look forward to 2024 with eager anticipation.

Lloyd Knight

Australian Sports Commission. (2023). AUSPLAY: National Sport and Physical Activity Participation Report. In https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/research/ausplay/results.

Côté, J., & Mallett, C. J. (2012). Review of Junior Sport Framework: Draft Briefing Paper Topic: Positive Youth Development through Sport. In UniQuest. Australian Sports Commission.

Secondary Sport Selection Term 1 2024

St Margaret’s offers a holistic extracurricular program complete with 21 different sport programs. Each program aims to provide an enriching experience, developing a student’s sense of competence, confidence, connection and character.

Participation Guidelines

St Margaret’s recommends students participate in one to two sports at any given time within the school year.

Students should not participate any more than three sports at any given time within the school year without sought permission from the Director of Sport.

•           Students can only participate in one (1) seasonal sport in the Autumn and Winter seasons:

o                      Autumn Season - students must choose between Basketball, Soccer or Touch Football

o                      Winter Season - students must choose between Hockey, Netball, Tennis or Volleyball

•           Students can only participate in one of either Netball (QGSSSA and/or Club) or Rowing

•           Students who participate in Rowing cannot participate in Winter Season Sport

Program Communication

Information about St Margaret’s sport program is accessible via the POD. Students and parents are encouraged to join the Secondary Sport POD page to stay up to date with all the latest information. Students who sign up for a particular sport will be automatically added to the respective sports POD Page. The POD is accessible through the School App and notifications can be received via smart phone.

Sport Expectations

There's a way in which we strive to do things at St Margaret's; a way in which we seek to treat people throughout our community; and a way in which we aim to serve others. Underpinned by our school values, our St Margaret’s Way extends itself to the way in which we behave and perform in sport.

It is expected all students selected within St Margaret’s representative teams will attend all scheduled trainings and fixtured matches. If unable to do so, for legitimate reason, communication with the Sport Coordinator is expected. 

TERM 1 SIGN UP

• SENIOR AFL CLICK HERE- the senior AFL program caters towards students of Years 10, 11 & 12 and is played across term 1. Junior AFL caters towards students of Years 7, 8 & 9 and is played across term 4. Junior students will have the opportunity to sign up for AFL in semester 2.

Club Netball 2024 ‘Intention to Play’ Sign-up

Club Netball is one of the most popular sports offered to students at St Margaret’s. The ‘Intention to Play’ sign up for the 2024 season has now opened. Please ensure your ‘Intention to Play’ online form is submitted as soon as possible. Complete registration and payment for the club season will be required by Wednesday 14 February.

For more information, please see .

Lloyd Knight

Orders placed by midnight 30 November 2023 will receive free delivery. Orders received after this date will incur a $9.95 delivery fee. Orders placed after 22 December will be sent ASAP, but there is no guarantee of delivery before school re-commences on 22 January 2024.

Boarders ONLY are able to have their book packs delivered to St Margaret’s for collection on return to school in January 2024. Boarders are to confirm their delivery address as:-  Boarder – Delivery to St Margaret’s AGS Boarding House.

Uniform Fitting Appointments – Book online

Bookings for 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 online via the school website

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)

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

Public Holidays Closed

The Supplies Shops extended hours for November to December 2023 and January 2024 and hours are listed below:

We have fun-filled and exciting activities planned for our December/ January School Holiday Program. Further details of the program can be found here (PDF 283KB). 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.

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

What is the cost?*

Fees: $68 per day*

*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

The festival is named in honour of St Margaret’s Old Girl Daphne Mayo MBE (1908), who was a leading Australian female artist most prominently known for the sculptured tympanum above the entrance to Brisbane City Hall. Daphne carved the path for today’s St Margaret’s students’ education and learning of the three-dimensional artform and celebrating three-dimensional art is what sets the MAYO Arts Festival apart.

Next year’s one-day festival will be bigger and better with more rides, activities, food trucks and bars as well as artisan market stalls selling a diverse selection of ceramics, jewellery, homewares and textiles while our music, dance and drama students will perform on stage. We will also exhibit more student artwork than ever before, celebrating the creative expression of our students involved in the art program.

More details about the festival will be shared next year; however, in the meantime, you might like to consider how you can play a role in contributing a vibrant MAYO Arts Festival in 2024.

Get involved

Next year we hope to grow the number of market stalls at the event. We invite our community members, including parents, grandparents and Old Girls, as well as our current students, to complete a stallholder expression of interest form

We are also calling for expressions of interest from volunteers. The ways in which you can become involved include:

• As a primary class representative
• As a secondary year level ambassador
• Coordinating/staffing a stall/activity

To register your interest in becoming a volunteer for next year’s festival, please email preed@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.  

Finally, you might like to consider sponsorship of the event. For anyone interested in sponsorship opportunities, please email preed@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.

All proceeds from the MAYO Arts Festival will go towards enriching the art education experience of St Margaret’s students through the acquisition of new artwork and the maintenance and restoration of the school’s existing art collection.

In that first year, 21 students cut off their ponytails and raised almost $20,000. Momentum has gathered across the years, and in 2023, 110 students #rockedthechop and raised over $126,000, bringing the total amassed across the nine years to more than $700,000, not to mention the countless ponytails that have been donated to be made into wigs for grateful recipients. In that time, many girls have lined up twice, a few even three times to donate to the cause.

Funds have also been raised for the Minotti Trust to assist with the young family of beloved past student and staff member Amanda Minotti who sadly lost her life to the disease in 2016.

2024 will mark the tenth year of the Ponytail Project, and like all milestones, St Margaret’s wants to make its mark - by moving the fundraising needle to the million-dollar mark! It’s a bold target, so we are calling in the cavalry.

We are asking the wider community members of St Margaret’s to join us for the 10^th anniversary of this remarkable project. If you are an Old Girl or past or current parent and would like to help us reach our target, we are asking you to register your interest so we can keep you up to date with the 2024 event. And some of you might need to start growing your mane now!

None of us escape the impact of this insidious disease – whether through loved-ones or even ourselves one day – we all know someone. More than 32,000 Queenslanders are diagnosed with cancer each year and Cancer Council Queensland is dedicated to ensuring no Queenslander is left navigating cancer alone. Ponytails will again be donated to Real Fringe Hairbands to be fashioned into hairpieces and wigs for people suffering the effects of cancer treatment or alopecia.

Will you be there on Tuesday 30 July 2024 to help us make history? It will be the biggest Ponytail Project event to date and raise the most funds to help as many people as we can. In addition, if you know or any individuals or companies who would like to join us on this journey, put them in touch with us.

Can’t get to Brisbane? You can still be involved wherever you are by joining the fundraising page and getting your local hairdresser or a trusted friend to lop off your ponytail or consider holding your own event in a regional area or international city!

To register your interest, please click on this , which will ask for your name and contact details. Then, when the event plans are finalised and the fundraising page opens, we can communicate with you.

For further information, please contact: Wendy Johnston, Director of Marketing and Communications | wjohnston@stmargarets.qld.edu.au | Tel: (07) 3862 0837

Throughout the four days of performances, students demonstrated their developing skills in storytelling, mime, poetry recital, prose reading, impromptu speaking and drama. External adjudicators provided invaluable feedback to performers and commented on the very high standard of presentation.

In 2016, the Jacqueline Noyes Encouragement Award was introduced to the Year 5 Eisteddfod to honour Jacqui who passed away that year.

Jacqui made a significant contribution to the life of Speech and Drama at St Margaret’s. She taught Private Speech and Drama here for 21 years from 1980 to 2001. During that time, she inspired students with her love of literature and passion for performing. Jacqui later adjudicated our end-of-year Eisteddfods from 2009 to 2015, allowing many more students to benefit from her experience and expertise. 

As a teacher and adjudicator at St Margaret’s, Jacqui provided warm encouragement and inspiration to many Speech and Drama students. The Jacqueline Noyes Encouragement Award is now presented each year to a Year 5 student who the adjudicator believes demonstrates note-worthy potential through their Eisteddfod performances. Congratulations to Lily Williams who is the 2023 recipient of this Award.

Maria Chamberlain

Private Speech & Drama Coordinator

Our bursary program has continued to grow, with 21 students receiving financial support to access or complete their St Margaret’s education thanks to the generosity of those who donated to the Scholarship Fund.

Our Professional Women’s Network (PWN) Breakfast Series delivered four inspirational female leaders in their corporate fields, as guest speakers, and provided a forum for our corporate community to come together and connect. Profits made through sponsorship and tickets sales of the four breakfast events totalled just over $62,000, which has been donated to our Endowment Fund to help support several bursaries and scholarships for indigenous, regional, and rural girls, based on financial need.

If you are interested in sponsoring the 2024 PWN Series, we welcome your enquiry. The Prospectus and further information can be accessed via the webpage: /community/professional-womens-network.

In 2012, St Margaret's Foundation received a $500 donation to establish an Endowment Fund - it was a symbol of faith in the future of St Margaret's and the important role it has in educating young women. The purpose of the fund is to invest and build on the capital, so that ultimately the interest earned on the investment can be used to further the educational offerings to St Margaret's students. The long-term goal of this fund is to supply money in perpetuity, which can be used to support a variety of St Margaret's projects, including bursaries.

Today, thanks to the support of the Professional Women’s Network and support of our community, including those who have given the ultimate gift through leaving a donation in their Will, that $500 donation has grown into more than $550,000 which will be invested in a way that best serves the school and our students well into the future.

Under our ‘Every Girl, Every Opportunity’ annual giving campaign, we also continue our focus on the improvement of facilities for all students and we thank those of you who have donated to the Building Fund in support.

We are excited to be developing a new cafeteria, called The Canopy Café, and a beautiful outdoor adjoining greenspace which we have named, The Forest. Construction of The Forest is well underway, and the transformation of this new greenspace situated in the Avoca Courtyard, will be completed in the first half of 2024.

We have also been fortunate to welcome two new corporate partnerships to St Margaret’s, leading accounting and business advisory firm and communications technology company .

The partnerships reflect St Margaret’s commitment to developing innovative careers and employability programs for its students and helping its young women to identify and develop the necessary skills to participate, thrive and lead in their chosen careers. The partnerships also connect Pitcher Partners and Yabbr with outstanding students, allowing them to bring the brightest minds into their businesses through internships, as well as mentor and support the next generation of leaders through St Margaret’s school-based programs including Beyond the Panama, the Broadening Horizons Conference and the Aspiring Young Women’s Networking events. With the support of Yabbr, St Margaret’s will grow eSports as an extracurricular activity and boost the burgeoning Girls in Gaming initiative.

Finally, as many of you know, I will be departing St Margaret’s shortly on a year of maternity leave. During this time, Georgia Mitchell, Manager – Development and Community, will be acting in the Director role.

Thank you for your ongoing support of your school and helping us to achieve wonderful things for future generations of St Margaret’s girls in 2023.

On behalf of the Development and Community team, I wish you and your family a safe and happy Christmas and I look forward to seeing you seeing you all upon my return in January 2025.

Lara Pickering