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Our Giving Day is how we operate our annual giving program in the school and your participation with a donation of any size is always most appreciated. Again, this year, you will be able to provide a tax-deductible donation to the Building Fund or The Panama Fund (to support bursaries for students).

This year’s building fund donations will support the restoration of community house, a beautiful heritage listed building on our Ascot Campus and at one time in St Margaret’s history, the Sisters of the Society of the Sacred Advent ran the school in this house. It was the boarding house for the students, the home of the Sisters and the classrooms during the day. All in the one house! When they purchased the home, they called it St Margaret’s House and it became the heart of St Margaret’s, that is, the foundation from which our current school has been built. Appropriately, once restored, Community House will become a student wellbeing centre for our students; a faithful application of the Sisters’ philosophy to educate and care for the whole child. We hope to begin the necessary work (foundations, electricals, air conditioning) next semester.

I am particularly excited about the project, and encourage you to donate to your daughter’s house through the site If you wish to be a matching donor at $5000 or more (i.e., your funds are used to double the donations on the day), please contact Georgia Mitchell in the Development and Community office on gmitchell@stmargarets.qld.edu.au .

We also need volunteers on the day to ring members of our community to ask for donations. If you have an hour or two to spare, please sign up on the Volunteer Registration section of the Giving Day web site. Volunteers help us spread the word on the day by making phone calls to members of our community from the Operations Room in the Arts Centre Foyer. If you can spare time to volunteer, we would be grateful. The sign-up form can be accessed via this link: 

Thank you to our matching donors and those within our community who have already generously given in support of our annual giving. Our School council, Foundation and P&F are wonderful early supporters of our plans as matching donors, and now we call on other members of the community. Participation is the key to a successful Giving Day and all donations contribute to a collective which can be applied to improve the experience of all students.

Ros Curtis

Students in Year 9 in 2025 are able to take subjects in a major or minor strand, and students in Year 11 2025 should be choosing subjects according to their interests, what they are good at, and based on discussions that have come out of their SET plan interviews; these are the ones that will put them in the best position to achieve well in years to come. For those students moving into Year 11 2025, we also have set criteria in terms of groups of subjects students should choose from – this is to give our students the best possible chance of achieving their potential and open up as many pathways as possible after Year 12 and beyond.

On the day following their subject selection evening, all students in these year levels will receive an email with the information required for entering their subject preferences online. It is very important that this is done by 3pm on Friday 7 June as this is when the portal will be closed. For your records, please print a receipt of your subject selections. This is for your reference only - there is no need to submit this receipt to the school as we have an electronic copy of your preferences.

Karen Gorrie

Kai Kai
As a part of our National Reconciliation Week activities this year, students in Years 7 to 12 can attend a traditional celebration of food called a Kai Kai. The event will provide students the opportunity to learn from their First Nations’ peers, about cooking and eating traditional meals. The event will take place on Tuesday 28 May, 4:30pm-8:00pm. Tickets are available for purchase via Parent Lounge. Please note there are limited tickets available.

Traditional Aboriginal Games
St Margaret’s is proud to be hosting this year’s Traditional Aboriginal Games Festival in partnership with the Anglican Schools Commission, on Wednesday 29 May. Hundreds of students in Years 7 and 8 will attend the festival from Anglican Schools across Queensland, where they will play and , traditional Aboriginal games. St Margaret’s Year 7 students are learning these sports as a part of their HPE curriculum.

Years 7 and 8 Family Service
Once every year we invite the parents, family, and friends of students in the secondary school to join the school community for a Family Service. This year, Years 7 & 8 will gather for their Family Eucharist on Wednesday 29 May at 6.00pm in St Margaret’s Chapel.

Confirmation Service

Our annual Confirmation service will take place, with our Regional Bishop in attendance, on Monday 10 June, 6pm, in our school Chapel. If you or your daughter would like to be confirmed please complete

Please don’t hesitate to email me if you have questions about any of these events, jdow@stmargarets.qld.edu.au

Rev’d Jazz Dow

Sunday 12 May: To start our week we had bonfires lit on the school terraces for our boarders and staff to gather around and enjoy toasting marshmallows over the fire while gazing up at the stars. It was touching for the boarders who shared that they felt like they were home. 

Monday 13 May: During lunchtime, our boarders showcased whip cracking on Circular Drive for our school community to watch. It was very impressive of our boarders to share their skill and to hear the echo of a sharp crack noise throughout the school. Many were stunned at our Year 7 boarders who were involved in this activity. To also make it feel more homely we allowed our boarders to wear their winter pyjamas to dinner sittings and played music over dinner.

Tuesday 14 May: We handed out cards for our boarders to write a compliment to another. This was then shared on our breezeway noticeboards for all to see.

Wednesday 15 May: We organised a Kindness Scavenger Hunt for the boarders to participate in.

Thursday 16 May: For our boarder chapel service, the boarders will perform a song which was written by our boarder captains Annie Kidd and Sofia Nona. It will be a proud moment for the boarding community to sing loud and proud a song dedicated just for them. I am sure this song will be performed for many more events to come from our girls.

Friday 17 May: During lunch our boarders have the opportunity to invite one day girl upstairs to see their dorm and boarding area. The movie ‘Wild Child’ is also on the agenda for girls to enjoy in the evening.

This year, as a part of our activities, we are compiling a Maggies Boarder Cookbook. Featuring our boarders’ and their families, treasured recipes. We encourage our boarding families to share their family favourites along with a brief story about why they are special to them.

Saturday 18 May: Angela Crowe, our Head of Junior House and who features on page one of our ‘Maggies Boarder Cookbook’, will be baking her famous ‘melting moments’ with the boarders to kickstart the excitement of our cookbook.

Gracemere Mataia

As part of this conference, I will speak to the girls about the different pathway opportunities we offer in Years 11 and 12 and they will get the opportunity to ask Heads of Faculty questions about the various subjects we offer.

In addition to the Broadening Horizon Conference, we also have subject videos and the Year 11 and 12 Curriculum Handbook available via the Subject Selection tile on the Year 10 POD page. All students and parents are encouraged to have a look at the handbook and watch relevant videos prior to the Subject Selection Evening next week.

Following the Subject Selection Evening, Year 10 students will have a 30-minute SET Plan Meeting with a member of staff. Parents are encouraged to attend these meetings either via Teams/phone or in person. The schedule for the SET Plan Meetings will be released early in Week 6. We are looking forward to helping Year 10 students select the best subjects for their success in Years 11 and 12.

Caitlin McCluskey

A reminder that these events will all be livestreamed and that parents are asked to register their attendance (online or in-person) through the Microsoft Forms link that was emailed out last week.

Parents and girls are encouraged to read through the Curriculum Handbooks that have been posted on the POD before these nights.

Any questions about Subject Selection Evening can be directed to Megan Farnsworth (mfarnsworth@stmargarets.qld.edu.au).

Catching up on missed lessons and assessments

This week, in light of the many illnesses that are around at the moment, I sent an email to students to remind them of what they need to do if they miss a lesson or assessment due to illness or for any other reason. Below is a summary of my communication.

Missed Lessons

Students are responsible for seeking out what content and exercises they have missed in a lesson and endeavour to catch up as soon as is practicable. Often teachers will have information and homework for each lesson on their class OneNotes or POD pages, so students are encouraged to look in these areas first to save unnecessary emails back and forth.

Missed Assessments – for all Years 7 to 11 students who are unexpectedly absent on the day an exam is scheduled.

1. Student downloads and completes the Missed Exam form (from the Year Level POD page) as soon as practical.
2. Student emails completed Missed Exam form to the Head of Faculty with supporting documentation.
3. Students in Years 7 to 10 complete the exam in the library during Lessons 2A/2B on their first day back at school. Students in Years 11 and 12 will organise to resit exams with Dean of Academics, Ms McCluskey's, office.

Note: If a student has missed multiple exams, they will complete exams on consecutive days in the original order.

Chris Dunn

Kindness promotes inclusivity and empathy, essential qualities for fostering a sense of belonging amongst our students. By demonstrating kindness towards their peers, students create a supportive atmosphere where differences are celebrated rather than ostracized. This inclusive environment not only reduces instances of bullying and discrimination but also cultivates a culture of acceptance and understanding.

Kindness enhances student’s mental health and well-being. As we are all too aware, secondary school can be a challenging time for some students, as they juggle academic pressures, social expectations, and personal struggles. Acts of kindness, whether it's a friendly gesture, a supportive conversation, a simple compliment, or inviting someone to sit with them can significantly impact someone's day, fostering feelings of positivity and connectedness.

Kindness serves as a catalyst for personal growth and character development. When students engage in acts of kindness, they not only uplift others but also cultivate important values such as compassion, generosity, and gratitude. These qualities are essential for fostering positive relationships, enhancing leadership skills, and becoming responsible global citizens.

Kindness is not merely a virtue but a fundamental aspect of building a positive culture within our schools. By prioritizing kindness, students contribute to a community where everyone feels respected, supported, and empowered to thrive. We encourage staff and students to give each other “big ups” which show each other that they are appreciated and that they belong.

Nikki Townsend

The gift of song was also appreciated by everyone - thank you to Regina Brennan for supporting the girls in Bella Voci who shared their heartfelt song. Thank you also to Annette Box for her organisation of the morning and the teachers for contributing to this special event. And, of course, a very special thank you to everyone who attended. I know this was a wonderful way to start the festival to celebrate all the women who have a significant impact on the lives of others. I hope all these women had a special day last Sunday.  

Congratulations to the raffle prize winners:

1st Prize - Sloane Stokes

2nd - Stella Wright

3rd - Audrey Mills

Respect for ourselves guides our values, respect for others guides our manners

This saying has been added to every Manners Matters poster hanging in each classroom. This statement highlights that manners are linked to respect for others and is the most basic tenant of society.

As a school, we are doing our part to model and support the girls in developing manners. Our first rule is saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you’.  Other rules include ‘listen when others speak’, ‘don’t interrupt’ and ‘wait your turn’. 

We seek your support with your daughters in reinforcing and demonstrating to them good manners in all settings. Manners are also a platform for developing a grateful attitude. So, can I just say ‘thank you’ to everyone who attended the special women’s event and for working in partnership with us, so your daughter can become the best version of herself.

Andrews Cup Cross Country

Last week, the Andrews Cup Cross Country team headed to Toowoomba to compete. By all reports, the girls performed with commitment and grit with the team achieving overall third place in Aggregate and fifth in Percentage Cup. Congratulations to the age groups who were placed - 8 years (1st), 10 years (2nd), 11 years (3rd) and the Noel McBride elite relay team who placed 4th.   

We wish the Andrews Cup netball teams good luck when they compete in the upcoming weeks.

Angela Drysdale

The club is designed to spark creativity and entrepreneurship. Students learn design fundamentals and use the latest digital tools to bring their ideas to life while designing their own sun-safe junior swimwear.

Tailored for the young digital designers, students are guided through every step of the design and product launch, delving into creating mood boards, selecting fabrics and prints, understanding costing and sampling, and crafting an eye-catching brand.

Supporting our STEM program, Code Camp provides our girls another opportunity to become creators rather than mere consumers of technology. Harnessing their imagination and blending it with their growing technical expertise they are able to bring their visions to life in tangible ways. We look forward to you sharing their finished work.

Kate Frewin

Classics in the Cathedral Congratulations

Classics in the Cathedral was held on Tuesday evening this week and was once again a truly special evening. Approximately 140 students performed in the spectacular setting of St John’s Cathedral.

There were many beautiful and memorable performances from our school ensembles including choirs, string ensembles and concert bands. A special mention to our two Year 12 students Ava and Hilary who gave beautiful solo performances on the flute and double bass respectively. We were also very privileged to have Brianna Rankine (’14) as guest performer at the event who wowed the audience with her remarkable vocal capabilities.  

The evening concluded with a special performance of Voca Me which included all musicians and staff. Special thanks must go to all our music conductors/staff, stage crew and the Music Support Group for their outstanding efforts in ensuring the evening was a great success. Congratulations to all students on their wonderful performances! (We will look forward sharing some photos of the event with the school community soon).

Brad King

To signify our support of this voice St Margaret’s students will take part in several special events and ceremonies across the different QGSSSA host venues. In addition to these events all St Margaret’s players will wear a NAIDOC ribbon throughout play. The ribbons artwork was produced by Glen Ella, an Indigenous man from Yuin country and the story behind the artwork is:

The circular symbols represent meeting places, where Traditional Owners would gather to share knowledge. The modern interpretation of these symbols are schools. The pathways that connect the meeting places represent the journeys the Traditional Owners took and the different coloured areas represent the different Countries they travelled through. The modern interpretation of this is that it represents the different states and suburbs of what we now call Australia.

Australian Championships (Athletics & Swimming)

Congratulations to the St Margaret’s students who recently competed at the Australian Championships for their respective sports, Athletics and Swimming.

In the pool, Year 8 swimmers Mena B and Gloria F excelled, with Mena claiming Gold in the 13Yrs 100m Freestyle and Silver in the 13Yrs 50m Freestyle. While Gloria, claimed Gold in the 13Yrs 100m Breaststroke and Bronze in the 13Yrs 50m Breaststroke, 200m individual Medley and 400m Medley. Year 12 student Stella S also achieved a podium performance claiming Bronze in the 17Yrs 100m Breaststroke. Demonstrating St Margaret’s students’ talents in the pool, Year 8 student Clementine C, Year 9 student Sophie H and Year 11 student Cosette C all made respective national finals, finishing top 10 in the country.

Australian Championships representatives:

• Year 8 – Clementine C. Charlotte M.
• Year 9 – Mena B. Gloria F. Sophie H. Charlotte R. Tia K.
• Year 10 – Ruby G. Samara H.
• Year 11 – Cosette C.
• Year 12 – Stella S.

  On the track and in the field, Year 10 student Coco F excelled claiming the Gold medal in the Under 17 2000m steeplechase. Coco backed up this magnificent effort also competing in the final of the 1500m and 3000m. National finals success was also achieved by Year 8 Student Erin G in the Under 15 100m, 200m and relay events. While in the field, Year 10 student Ashley B and Year 11 student Lily H also achieved finals success with Ashley jumping in the high jump and Lily in the long jump and triple jump.

   Australian Championships representatives:

• Year 8 – Zara F. Erin G.
• Year 9 – Charlize H.
• Year 10 – Charlotte F. Ashely B. Coco F.
• Year 11 – Lily H. Leah C.

We wish to congratulate all students on their participation in these championships.

Sporting Achievement

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

• Congratulations to Year 10 students Lucy S. and Bless D. on their recent water polo success. Lucy will represent Australia at the U16 World Championships in Turkey in July, while Bless has been selected to represent Australia at the World Aquatics U18 World Championships in China in September. We wish Lucy and Bless all the very best.
• Congratulations to Year 10 student Ashley B. on her recent Athletics success. Following strong domestic season results at both the Australian Athletics Championships and Australian Little Athletics Championships, where Ashley claimed the Silver medal in the high jump, Ashley has been selected to represent Australia in the Australian Regional Team that will contest the upcoming Oceania Athletics Championships taking place in Fiji in June. We wish Ashley all the very best.

We would like to continue to recognise the outstanding achievements and representation of students’ participating at a national level, outside of the school sport pathway. I look forward to continuing to hear from our community regarding such outstanding achievement. Please email me at lknight@stmargarets.qld.edu.au

Latest Sport News and Information

For the latest sport news and information please check out the following Secondary School Sport POD Pages:

• QGSSSA Hockey -
• QGSSSA Netball -
• QGSSSA Tennis -
• QGSSSA Volleyball -

• Athletics -
• Rowing -
• Rhythmic Gymnastics -
• Club Netball -
• Club Swimming -

GO MAGGIES!

Lloyd Knight

Winter items

The School Supplies Shop has supply of the following winter uniform items in preparation for the cooler months.  We would encourage all families to call into the Supplies Shop as soon as possible to avoid missing out on your preferred size.

• Formal jumper – both poly/cotton and wool/nylon

• Pre/Prep fleecy tracksuit

• School tracksuit jacket and pants

• School Scarf

• Winter Tights – St Margaret’s Brown

Books and Stationery

The School Supplies Shop wishes to advise that Campion Education will be our Book and Stationery Supplier moving forward.   Any families needing to place a book order during the transition phase can contact the School Supplies Shop for assistance.  Further details will follow in the coming weeks.

Blazer Pocket Embroidery

Blazers that require pocket embroidery must be submitted by morning tea on a Wednesday and takes approximately two to three weeks to be returned to the Supplies Shop from collection. 

Student Card Purchases

Student Card fund top-ups

Please allow up to 24 hours for funds to clear when depositing funds onto student cards.

Flexischools daily limit

Please ensure the daily limit is set high enough to cover the cost of the uniform items being purchased. We will not be able to complete the purchase if there are insufficient funds available on the Student Card.

We have fun-filled and exciting activities planned for our June/July Holiday Program. Further details of the program can be found here (PDF 323.8KB). 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*

Bookings close: 7 June 2024

*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

Like all milestones, St Margaret’s wants to make its mark - by moving the overall fundraising needle to the million-dollar mark! It’s a bold target, so we are calling in the cavalry. We have raised more than $700,000, in nine years, so our goal is to raise close to $300,000 this year to reach our target.

To achieve this, we are calling for the involvement not only of students to cut their hair and donate, but also any other family members and alumni who’d like to #rockthechop – whether they live locally or outside of Brisbane.

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!

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!

We’d love to connect our boarding families keen to be involved from afar – perhaps to even host a morning tea on the day.  

If you are interested in becoming involved, we have set up an Expression of Interest form where you can indicate what type of involvement you are interested in, and if you are in another town, we could connect you with other’s keen to be involved.

Ready to join the cause? You can register to participate in this year's Ponytail Project .

If you have any enquiries, please email Wendy Johnston, Director of Marketing and Communications, on wjohnston@stmargarets.qld.edu.au or call (07) 3862 0837.

This year, a donation to the Building Fund will support the restoration of Community House – a beautiful heritage listed building on our Ascot Campus – the very first building the Sisters of the Society of the Sacred Advent (SSA) purchased for what would become one of Queensland’s leading schools. It is from these foundations that St Margaret’s flourished; sadly, however, this grand building has been underutilised since 2016.

Appropriately, once restored, Community House will become a student wellbeing centre for our students; a faithful application of the Sisters’ philosophy to educate and care for the whole child. The building will house the school psychologists and chaplain and become the centre of many student wellbeing activities. In addition, a dedicated space will honour the legacy of the SSA.

Giving Day will also raise funds for the Foundation’s bursary program. A donation to our Scholarship Fund will provide needs-based bursaries to support young women to access or complete a St Margaret’s education – an opportunity that some girls believed would never be possible.

Your donation, if received prior to or during our Giving Day on Wednesday 22 May, will be DOUBLED by our generous matching donors. Your $50 donation becomes $100, $150 becomes $300, and $500 becomes $1,000!

We sincerely thank our Matching Donors and those within our community who have already generously given in support of this campaign.

We are also looking for volunteers to help us spread the word on the day by making some phone calls to members of our community from the Operations Room in the Arts Centre Foyer. If you can spare an hour of your time to volunteer, we would be very grateful. Learn more about our priorities, make a donation or volunteer to assist us on the day via our Giving Day page: 

St Margaret’s Secondary Mother Daughter Luncheon – Raffle

Thanks to the generosity of our families and sponsors, we have an amazing prize pool for our St Margaret’s Secondary Mother Daughter Luncheon Raffle. With over $7,000 in prizes available, enter for your chance to win: A KAILO pampering package, dinner at Hervé's Restaurant and Bar or Hellenika, jewellery from Jimena Alejandra, 3-month wellness membership at Kieser Ascot, tutoring packages from Number Works n' Words, 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:

Special thanks to our Maggies Supporters: , ,

We would also like to thank our prize donors: KAILO Medispa, Jimena Alejandra, Kieser, Ascot Living, Herves Restaurant & Bar, Number Works 'n Words, P & F Association, Deep Grey Photography.

Professional Women’s Network Breakfast – Featuring Emma Covacevich (‘93), Chief Executive Partner of Clayton Utz

Tickets are available for the third Professional Women’s Network Breakfast on Tuesday 20 August, with Guest Speaker Emma Covacevich (’93). 

Emma is the Chief Executive Partner (CEP) of Clayton Utz - a leading Australian law firm, and recently celebrated 25 years with the firm.

Emma has deep expertise in the energy sector in Australia and New Zealand and has advised major energy companies and supported new entrants establish themselves in the Australian energy market.

Prior to being appointed CEP, Emma was the Deputy CEP from 2020 to 2023, a Clayton Utz Board Member from 2017 to 2022, and has been a Partner of the firm since 2007. Emma was on the Queensland Symphony Orchestra Board from 2017 until late last year and is a member of Chief Executive Women.

Event Details

Date:   Tuesday 20 August 2024
Time: 6.45am arrival for 7.00am - 8.45am
Location: Arts Centre Foyer, St Margaret's Anglican Girls School, 11 Petrie Street, Ascot
Format:          Sit down breakfast  
Tickets:          $85 Adult, $40 Student (Years 10-12/Tertiary). 
Corporate tables: $850 (10 seats), includes company logo displayed on table and acknowledgement during event.

To purchase tickets: 

We thank our series sponsors, Major Sponsor: , Supporting Sponsors: , , , and .

P&F Secondary Father Daughter Breakfast - Reminder

A friendly reminder that students in Years 7-12 and their fathers are warmly invited to join us for the P&F Secondary Father Daughter Breakfast.

We understand that it is not possible for all girls to invite their fathers. Girls are welcome to invite a relative or family friend. Boarders are welcome to 'adopt a dad' for the event.

Due to the popularity of this event, we are delighted to announce that we have been able to increase the number of tickets available in 2024.

Tickets are available to purchase online: 

Date:   Thursday 13 June 2024

Time:  6:45am for a 7:00am start. Concludes at 8:00am

Venue:  Circular Drive and Arts Centre Terraces

Cost:   $45 per adult /$35 per student (Years 7-12). This is a stand-up event, with a hot breakfast offering, fruit and yoghurt cups, tea, coffee and orange juice.

RSVP: 9.30am, Thursday 6 June 2024, unless sold out prior.

Enquiries:  p&f@stmargarets.qld.edu.au

Special thanks to our Maggies Supporter: James Stewart, Ambassador for .

Georgia Mitchell