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Leaving us at the end of Term 4 is Stephanie Gillan in the primary library who has been with us for four years. She is well known for her fabulous mad hatter millionaire’s morning teas in the library, among her other talents, and we wish her well. Jacinta Stewart (Art Technician) has worked closely with students in both primary and secondary art, and after three years, is off on a new adventure, returning to New York. After 16 years of dedicated service to the St Margaret’s community, particularly in the area of Early Childhood, Gina Pertile is retiring, and we wish her all the best for this next phase in life and thank her for her commitment to the school and her support of staff and students.

One of our secondary teachers, Kylie Nealon (English and History) is also leaving us at the end of the year, and we wish her well.

As you drive around the school in December/January you may see a lot of trades people’s vehicles. We are taking advantage of the absence of students over the holiday period to complete some work to improve further the school campus. Projects begin on 25 November and in next week’s newsletter I will list and provide a little detail about the major projects.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank the parents at the Year 10 Lunch, who supported the generously donated raffle on the day. At this lunch, over $3500 was raised and the proceeds go to our school charity, which each year is chosen by our student Philanthropy leaders.

Ros Curtis

There are beginning to be signs in the school that this year is coming to an end. I can imagine that as families, you can see that your daughters are becoming in need of a well-earned rest and are probably counting down until the holidays.

At school the staff are continuing to support the students right until the end of term. We are now embarking on our last pieces of assessment for the year and students must persist and work to their potential.

It is important though that they look after themselves and each other. They must ensure they are getting enough sleep, eat nutritious meals each day, and work at maintaining positive relationships with their family and friends around them.

I urge them to take the time to check in with their fellow classmates; it is amazing how a smile or a little bit of small talk (not in the middle of academic time though!) can really lift people when they are not feeling so great.

I wish all students well for their last pieces of assessment for the year.

Karen Gorrie

At these events, students reflected on how much they achieved and learned together over the year, shared a spirit of gratitude and passion for their education, the opportunities they have access to, and gifted to the audience a sense of hope for the future. Tomorrow we will gather for the Prep-Year 2 Nativity Play during which students will tell the story of Jesus’ birth through drama and song. It is a highlight of every year!

These events, and the students who lead them, are signs of hope – hope for a world where passion, respect, inclusivity, integrity, spirit and courage are celebrated and lived out. There is a beautiful song that says, “let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.” When we are overwhelmed at events on the global stage, I am reminded by the students around me, to focus on how I can work for peace in my daily life, how I can embody hope so that hope may be shared one person at a time across our beautiful and troubled world.

“Hope” is the thing with feathers -

That perches in the soul -

And sings the tune without the words -

And never stops - at all

Emily Dickinson

Rev’d Jazz Dow

This annual gathering holds a special place in our hearts as it symbolises the unity of our boarding community, providing an opportunity to rejoice in the accomplishments of the year and gather in the festive spirit together. The boarders do love to dress up and end the year on a high.

We extend our thank you to the senior leadership team for their unwavering guidance in leading St Margaret's, the Heads of Year, for their invaluable counsel shaping our year level cohorts, and the dedicated teachers at prep, who have invested their time in fostering the boarders’ academic growth.

It takes a village to care for the boarders and we are also very grateful for the support of: Michelle in the laundry department; Scott and the kitchen staff; the facilities and cleaning teams; our Health Centre staff, Erica and Crystal and weekend nurses; and Sandy, our Yalari Support Officer; our Garden Room team Pip and Tess and, last but not least all boarding staff supervisors.

Each department and the staff’s individual roles contributes to the care of the boarders and our heartfelt gratitude goes to them all. They have not only nurtured and cared for the boarders but have also helped achieve our goal in making this a true home away from home for them.

The Boarder Captains Tilly Charlton and Izzy Gordon highlighted this in their speech on the evening, stating how truly fortunate they are to have such a remarkable team of individuals who make their journey at St Margaret’s rich with support.

Gracemere Mataia

Release of 2024 Subject results and Senior Education Profiles to students from QCAA

Year 12 final subject results and Senior Education Profiles (SEPs) will be released to Year 12 students online from 9 am on Wednesday 11 December. All Year 12 students can access final subject results as well as their SEP in their learning account. Learning accounts are found in the Student Portal, accessed via the myQCE website at , all Year 12 students have access to their own student portal. I encourage all Year 12s to check they can access their QCAA Student Portal.

On 11 December each student will be able to view their SEP that will contain the following documents:

• Senior Statement

• Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE)

SEPs are issued as electronic documents stored in students’ learning accounts. These documents are official and can be downloaded as secure PDFs. Students can save their SEP on a computer or mobile device and provide it to third parties electronically or they can print it. Please note, QCAA no longer prints and posts SEPs to all Year 12 students. Students may print their own SEP or they may request a printed copy of their SEP from the QCAA in the Student Portal.

The SEP documents contain an embedded digital signature to confirm they are authentic, and they cannot be altered. If students print SEPs, scanning the unique QR code on the printed documents will direct users to the QCAA’s website to validate the information on the document. For more information see https://www.qcaa.qld.edu.au/senior/assessment/results/authenticating-a-certificate.

ATAR Release from QTAC

ATAR eligible students will be able to access their ATAR Score on Friday 13 December at 9am. ATARs will be available via the Queensland Tertiary ¸£ÀûÐÂÇøÒ»Çø¶þÇø Centre (QTAC) at www.qtac.edu.au/atar. All students have signed up to QTAC’s ATAR Portal to access their ATAR and again I encourage all Year 12’s to confirm they can access their QTAC Portal.

To assist Year 12 students past 13 December, please find a link below to an information booklet that has been put together to assist students with managing their QTAC Application post ATAR release. The document contains information about accepting, deferring or changing offers from QTAC, information about bridging courses and contact information for people who can assist at universities post accepting offers.

Download So you finished Year 12 (PDF 3.5MB)

Caitlin McCluskey

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the following Supervised Study Supervisors who have worked hard to support students with their homework and revision activities this year: Lili Tarabay, Isabella Bluett, Madeleine Krebs, Sienna Small, Eliza Quayle, Samantha Cooper, Georgie Herring, Jessica Norvill, Charlotte Kropp, Natasha Scally, Sarah Krebs and Annabel Reddacliff.

Chris Dunn

In addition to these important introductions, new students are given guided tours of the school by their student mentors, familiarising them with the school, facilities, and daily routines. This helps alleviate any anxieties about navigating their new surroundings and ensures that they feel confident and comfortable in their new environment. The tours are designed not only to acquaint students with the physical layout of the school but also to introduce them to its rich traditions, values, and community culture. By learning about the spaces where they will study, socialise, and grow, students gain a sense of ownership and connection to St Margaret's from the very beginning.

We also incorporate engaging activities during the orientation process to encourage peer interaction and teamwork. These activities are a vital part of welcoming new students, as they provide an informal setting for them to bond with classmates and begin forming friendships. Through collaborative games, icebreakers, and team-building exercises, students develop a sense of camaraderie, which eases their transition into the school community. At St Margaret's, we believe that this holistic approach to welcoming new students—through meaningful connections with staff, exploration of the school environment, and interactive group activities—lays a solid foundation for their future success.

End of Term – 21 November

Finally, the Term finishes on Thursday 21 November at 3:00pm with lots of celebrations happening on this day. We strongly urge parents to resist requests from their daughters to depart early. If an early departure is unavoidable due to extenuating circumstances, please advise the school, in writing, via studentleave@stmargarets.qld.edu.au as early as possible.

Nikki Townsend

This week Years 3, 4 and 5 students and staff celebrated with their end-of-year events. At each of these events, the girls showcased their musical talents and shared aspects of their learning from throughout the year. The girls in these year levels also received a certificate to acknowledge their personal growth as a learner. In Years 3 and 4, the focus was on the learner dispositions that the girls have developed and demonstrated such as confidence, courage, resilience, and persistence.  For each student, the teachers identified a learner disposition that they believed had been demonstrated by that student throughout the year and students were awarded with a certificate of acknowledgement.

Students in each Year 5 class shared aspects of their leadership preparation. The girls were awarded with a certificate to acknowledge the completion of their leadership preparation journey which begins in Year 4 when students are issued with a passport which they complete individually.   

Congratulations also to the students for their musical talents. Alongside the parents, I was so impressed by the girls’ performances. Thank you to Mr Jonny Ng, Dr Camille Syntageros, Ms Alys Rayner, to the many private string and band teachers and Mrs Brennan not only for this event but also each students’ musical growth throughout the year.

Part of the end of year traditions is also encouraging generosity, giving and service to others.

Year 6 leaders will be selling pre-loved stuffed toys, as part of the annual Cornerstone Project and their Economics and Business learning. The Year 6 students have spent many weeks preparing the toys, carefully refreshing and rejuvenating each one for sale. Students in Pre-Prep to Year 5 are encouraged to bring money if they would like to purchase a stuffed toy. Prices will range from $5 to $25, with cash-only payments accepted. Raffle tickets to win a giant bear will also be available to purchase. This final aspect of primary leadership provides the opportunity for Year 6 students to develop responsibility with a focus on contributing to the community rather than a focussing on oneself.

The school community is looking forward to the P-2 Nativity Play tomorrow, the Year 6 Chapel service and morning tea next Monday (18^th), Acknowledgement Assembly Tuesday (19^th) and the Pre-Prep final Chapel Service next Wednesday (20^th). I look forward to catching up with many parents at these events.

Angela Drysdale

The exercises are intended to not only revise concepts but learn and develop new skills with online videos and a range of exercises. The program allows students to work at their own level and pace. Khan Recommended Practice can be accessed using the credentials provided by your daughter’s teacher. We encourage you to utilise this wonderful learning tool over the break.

Primary Reporting

Students in Years 5 and 6 will receive their final grades and feedback for the year in the last weeks of school. Students and parents can access their feedback and results via Learning Analytics.

The Semester 2 Academic Reports will be available in Parent Lounge by 4:00 pm on Friday 29 November. We trust you will find these reports informative.

Kate Frewin

Years 3 and 4 Strings and Year 5 Band Celebration

Congratulations to our primary music students who provided many performances at the Years 3 and 4 Strings Celebrations, and at the Year 5 Band Celebration. These events were wonderful opportunities for our students to showcase the skills they have learned throughout the year on their respective instruments. Thank you to our Strings Coordinator, Mr Jonny Ng and Bands Coordinator, Dr Camille Syntageros for their efforts in preparing the students for these events.

Talkin’ Jazz Young Women’s Workshop

Last weekend, three St Margaret’s students participated in the Talkin’ Jazz Young Women’s Workshop which was held in collaboration with the Brisbane International Jazz Festival. This workshop provided Kate (Year 11), Nadia (Year 11) and Kelly (Year 11) with the fantastic opportunity to meet and play music with other young women interested in jazz music, guided by an expert team of mentors. Congratulations to these girls on their involvement!

2025 Private Music Tuition

If your daughter is currently undertaking private music tuition, she will automatically be placed on her current teachers’ roll for 2025. Parents do not need to fill in a new application form. However, if your daughter wishes to discontinue lessons in 2025, we ask that you please email directly the Music Department at music@stmargarets.qld.edu.au prior to the end of the school year.

Return of Hired Instruments

Please note that all hired instruments are to be returned to the Sister Helen Orchestra Room Music Department no later than 3:00pm on Friday this week (15 November) for cleaning and repairs. If students wish to hire an instrument over the Christmas holidays, they are still required to return their instrument by Friday 15 November for the music department to complete a full instrument audit. Students hiring an instrument over the holidays will be able to collect their instrument on Thursday 21 November (last day of term), provided the Holiday Instrument Hire Form has been completed (which may be found on the ).

Music Support Group

The next Music Support Group meeting will be the AGM and will be held on Tuesday 4 February 2025 at 5:00pm in the Circular Drive Classroom 01 (in front of the Arts Centre Foyer). We encourage parents from both Primary and Secondary schools to become involved.

Brad King

• Letitia W (Year 10) who recently represented Queensland at the School Sport Australia Cricket Championships. The Queensland team finished second overall, with Letitia taking several wickets throughout the Championships. 

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 me at lknight@stmargarets.qld.edu.au

Parent Support Group AGM Notice

The Swimming Support Group warmly invites interested community members to join them at their AGM at 6:30pm, Monday 18 November 2024 in the HPE Classrooms (above the swimming pool). For further information regarding the AGM and how to join the Support Group please review . New members are always welcome.

Latest Sport News and Information

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

• Club Water Polo –
• QGSSSA AFL (Junior) -
• QGSSSA Swimming –
• Strength & Conditioning -

Lloyd Knight

The students explored various techniques to bring their wreath designs to life, experimenting with colour blending, texture, and unique brushwork. Each wreath reflects a personal style and creative flair, capturing the joy and warmth of the season.

Great job, Year 8!

Emma Cameron - Secondary Visual Art Teacher

At St Margaret’s, the Private Speech and Drama Program offers a fun, supportive environment for students to gain skills in interpersonal communication, presentation, performance and public speaking. Enrolments for Private Speech and Drama lessons for 2025 are now open for students who will be in Years 2 to 12 next year.

If you would like further information about the Program, please contact the Coordinator on mchamberlain@stmargarets.qld.edu.au or phone 3862 0750 or refer to the Private Speech and Drama Handbook on the website or .

If you would like to enrol your daughter in Speech and Drama for 2025, please complete and return the Application for Tuition form by clicking .

Places in the Program are limited and are provided to continuing students and then to new students based on the order in which enrolment applications are received and according to availability of spaces in each year level. New enrolments are requested by Monday 18 November 2024.

Parents of current students – please remember to confirm or cancel your daughter’s place in the program for 2025 by completing and submitting the electronic form that was emailed to you by your daughter’s Speech and Drama teacher. Your consideration regarding this procedure is greatly appreciated. Accurate enrolment numbers are essential for ensuring successful timetabling, suitable staffing arrangements and a smooth start to the year for current and new students.

Lessons for 2025 will commence in week two of Term One. We are looking forward to another exciting year of cultivating confident, capable communicators.

Maria Chamberlain
Private Speech and Drama Coordinator

Blazer Fittings – Year 9 Cohort 2024

Students entering Year 10 in 2025 are required to be fitted for their blazer prior to the end of Term 4.  The cost of the blazer is $275 or $290 for a custom make and payment is required at the time of outfitting. Students can visit the Supplies Shop during opening hours with a blazer fitting taking around 10 minutes. All pre-ordered blazers will be available for collection in March 2025. 

Booklists 2025

Booklists for Pre-Prep to Year 11 2025 are now available online. To access the Campion Education Online Booklists please click on this link and follow the instructions. 

Please Note: Families are required to create an account by clicking on the "Parents Order Here" button located in the top right-hand corner of the Campion website. A four-character code is needed to access the 2025 resource lists; the code for St Margaret's is VKTP.

Orders are required to be submitted by 11 December to receive free delivery. Orders received after the cut-off date will be packed ASAP, however Campion Education cannot guarantee delivery of these orders prior to the commencement of Term 1, 2025.

Uniform Fitting Appointments – Online booking system

Outfitting appointments for November and December 2024 and January 2025 are available online and are filling fast. Book your appointment online via the school website

Extended Trading Hours

The School Supply Shop will close to the school community on 22 November, 2024. The Supply Shop will be open for Appointments ONLY between 25 November to 6 December, 2024. 

The Supply Shop will re-open on 15 January for appointments and for families without an appointment. Families without an appointment will need to take a number on arrival and will be served as soon as a staff member is available.  Our back to school waiting area will be situated in the classrooms next to Circular Drive, with access via Gate 1 on Petrie Street.

2024

25 Nov to 29 Nov                  Appointments only

2 Dec to 6 Dec                       Appointments only

2025

Customers without an appointment in January will be required to take a number and will be served as soon as a staff member is available.

Trading Hours (Term Time)

We have fun-filled and exciting activities planned for our Christmas/New Years Vacation Care Program. Further details of the program can be found here (PDF 810.5KB). 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?*

Early Bird Fees: $63

Early Bird Bookings close: 8^th November 2024

Fees: $68 per day*

Bookings close: 18^th November 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

Date:     Friday 7 March 2025

Venue:  Rivershed at Howard Smith Wharves

Cost:      $219 per person – includes a 2-course meal and 4-hour beverage package.

RSVP:     5.00pm Friday 21 February, unless sold out prior.

Tables:  Maximum table capacity is 10 people. Seating requests can be made by nominating a Table Captain or Year Group at the time of booking. Best efforts will be made to meet any requests.

Enquiries: P&F@stmargarets.qld.edu.au

Purchase your ticket online via

This event is proudly supported by Supporting Sponsor, Morgans.

2025 Mother Daughter Rooftop Soiree

The St Margaret’s P&F Association invites all girls in Years 7 to 12 and their mothers or significant women in their lives to the 2025 Secondary Mother Daughter Rooftop Soiree.

Join us for an unforgettable afternoon of fun, laughter, and bonding at a premier Brisbane rooftop destination! Enjoy delicious food, refreshing drinks, and fabulous entertainment, including a live DJ spinning your favourite tunes!

Date        Sunday 23 February 2025
Time       11:00am - 3:00pm
Venue     Lina Rooftop Bar, 74/80 Tribune St, South Brisbane

Tickets on sale via Try Booking:

Share the Christmas spirit with the P&F 2024 Bush and Beyond Christmas Raffle

Prizes include a $1000 RM Williams voucher, artisan gifts made by Maggie's families, local luxury food offerings and festive family experiences.

The raffle will be drawn on Tuesday 19 November with all proceeds donated to the St Margarets Foundation to help school families in need.

Tickets are available via Raffletix:

Advertise in the Online Business Directory

The St Margaret's Parents' and Friends' Association is delighted to once again be offering the opportunity for those in our community to advertise their business on the Online Business Directory, located on the St Margaret's website and linked directly from the POD.

It is a fantastic opportunity to ensure you reach our entire St Margaret’s community which includes current parents, students, staff, prospective parents and students, as well as all Old Girls (alumni).

The 2024 Business Directory can be viewed via this link:

Pricing for an advertisement in the 2025 Online Business Directory will be $500 per listing and this will include:

• Listing for the 2025 school year 
• Company Logo with hyperlink to your website
• Summary of your business – max 100 words
• Contact details
• Opportunity to offer special discount to St Margaret’s community
• The ability to update the advertisement at any time
• Links to the directory from the POD, as well as promotional posts for the Online Business Directory via St Margaret’s social media channels once per quarter
• An advertisement promoting the Online Business Directory will appear in St Margaret’s annual Flyer Magazine, distributed to over 8,000 contacts.
• Directory promoted to St Margaret's parent community twice annually via Electronic Direct Mail (EDM) distribution between 800 - 1,200).
• Businesses listed offered first right of refusal on P&F event sponsorship.

To list your business in the 2025 Business Directory, please register by Thursday 21 November 2024.

Georgia Mitchell