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Open Day is such a collective effort and I appreciate how everyone understands its importance and contributes so willingly. In assembly before Open Day, I asked the girls who had come to an Open Day prior to enrolling at the school; approximately three-quarters of the girls put their hand up. The P and F, the Foundation and the Old Girls’ Association were all in attendance and working hard. It is so pleasing to see the supportive work of key stakeholder groups.

There was a steady stream of people and a welcoming buzz in the air on the day. It is difficult to measure the immediate success of an Open Day, although one criterion - the engagement of staff, students and parents - was very evident. A boarder parent barbeque followed Open Day on the Terraces and it was wonderful to enjoy the hospitality of the Boarders Support Group and to catch up with so many boarder parents who were in Brisbane.

Congratulations to the P and F for a wonderful Mothers' Luncheon on Friday 3 March. A record 331 women filled the Marquee at Victoria Park Golf Club and I thank the P and F for the work they do to raise funds in support of the school.

Please mark in your diaries several community events coming up:

The School Musical - The Sound of Music - 16, 17 and 18 March

Father/Daughter Breakfast on 30 March, Eton Hall at 7:00am

Parent Teacher Interviews - Thursday 30 March and Friday 31 March

Past Student Awards Dinner – 21 April at 6:30pm in the Arts Centre Foyer. This dinner is open to Year 12 parents and their daughters as well as Old Girls of the school and their daughters.

The Day/Boarder Weekend Friday 28 April - Tuesday 2 May.

Day/Boarder Weekend is becoming an important tradition at St Margaret’s and for our secondary parents particularly, it is important to start making and/or finalising arrangements for this weekend between boarding and day families.

One of the goals of the school’s current Strategic Plan is Broadening Horizons and one of the strategies listed in the plan is ‘to provide opportunities for overseas, rural and city students to experience the cultural, geographic and economic diversity that is a unique strength of Australia’. To help achieve this strategy, St Margaret’s has added a student free day to the program to create a 4-day weekend on the Labour Day weekend. During this weekend, some of our day students will be given the opportunity to visit our boarding families and learn something about rural and regional centres. The additional day allows the students to have an extended day with boarding families and to learn more about life outside the very comfortable experience of a city.

Although the primary school students are unlikely to have this opportunity to visit boarding families, Tuesday 2 May is a pupil free day for the whole school PP – Year 12. Outside School Hours Care will be available on the day. I know some parents will enjoy the opportunity to take advantage of a 4-day weekend.

Ros Curtis 

Has your daughter made any learning goals for 2017? It would be worth discussing these with her and talking through what is going well and what she needs to develop further.

Goal-setting is an important step in striving for improvement. They provide direction and purpose. Students should ensure that their goals are S.M.A.R.T. goals.

Specific goals are easier to accomplish. Whilst many students may say they wish to achieve a certain grade for their subjects, it would be better to hone in on a particular skill in order for that to occur. For example, using criteria from a subject as the skill that they would like to improve would be beneficial.

Goals need to be Measureable. Checking in to see if targets have been met with feedback on improvement being sought and supplied, will identify achievement and help encourage the student to continue to strive for more improvement.

Make sure the goal is Attainable. Almost any goal is attainable when a person plans their steps towards achieving that goal wisely. Reaching those milestones will provide positive affirmation and ensure they remain on track to achieve the ultimate goal.

Relevant goals ensure that improvement is sought for something that needs improvement.

Timebound goals provide a deadline for actions to occur to see movement towards improvement. Deadlines need to be given short timeframes to ensure step-by-step progress is made.

In summary, S.M.A.R.T. goals are:

• Specific
• Measurable
• Attainable
• Relevant
• Timebound

Karen Gorrie 

Well come along to the Young Families’ Service at St Margaret’s School Chapel. Twice each term there is a Sunday 9am service open to all. Bring the neighbours, bring the family. Go out for brunch afterwards! A simple morning tea is provided after the service, and children’s activities are also offered to support the message of the day.

Prayer Space for Term 1 - Open to all until Monday 13 March
All members of the school community are welcome to come and take a quiet moment away from (but still within) the world. If you have never popped in, then please find a small moment to come and see what the fuss is all about!

I believe there is an experience and ‘space’ for everyone - if all you do is come and contemplate the teapot (a favourite amongst some members of staff) then perhaps you have allowed yourself a moment to quieten your soul.

So, what do we have this time?

“Holy Oddities” – a work in progress – because we are!! Embrace and rejoice in all our quirks and strangeness, celebrate our very being no matter who or what or why we are.

“Big Questions” – if you could pose a curly question to God or the Universe, what might it be? I suggested to some students the other day, “Hey God, what’s with big brown grasshoppers? They’re weird!”

“Garden of Gethsemane Help Station” – Just as Jesus asked for help in the Garden before his arrest, we too can pray for help. There is a tray of soil for paddlepop sticks of prayers.

“Green Space” – a bit ‘touchy-feely’ if you like … Contemplate our place in creation, that we have come from dust and to dust we shall return … build a stone cairn … take off your shoes … smell the fragrant herbs …

“Just Be” – literally do nothing if you like or ponder the teapot. Think about the everyday mundane things that we take for granted. Realise that in this moment we are blessed.

Upcoming Services:
Sunday 12 March: Young Families’ Service, 9am, Chapel
Wednesday 29 March: Boarders’ End of Term Eucharist, 6pm, School Chapel
Wednesday 19 April: Whole School Easter Service, 9:30am, Philip Harris Sports Centre, all welcome
Sunday 23 April: Young Families’ Service, 9am, School Chapel
Thursday 27 April: Years 9 and 10 Family Service, St Augustine’s, Hamilton

Reflection:
Thursday 9 March is Sister Emma’s Day, a day remembering the first Mother Superior of the Order of the Sisters of the Society of the Sacred Advent (SSA). These are the sisters who founded our school, along with many others throughout Queensland. Today, only St Margaret’s and St Aidan’s remain as Schools of the SSA.

At St John’s Cathedral today, our Years 4 and 8 students joined with some students from St Aidan’s for a combined SSA Schools Celebratory Service to mark 125 years of the Sisters in Australia. It was a beautiful service recognising both the unique and similar ways that our two schools have grown over the years under the leadership and guidance of the Sisters of the SSA.

My thanks to St Aidan’s, the Years 4 and 8 students and teachers, the Sculthorpe String Quartet and all students who had a role in the celebration. Mother Eunice prayed the following prayer for both school communities:

God our Creator,

you have blessed our Sisters in these past 125 years.

We pray for your continued blessings on our schools,

founded and built by many bold women

of the Society of the Sacred Advent.

Grant that St Aidan’s and St Margaret’s may continue to be

places of lively Spirit, courageous progress

and vigorous educational leaders of young women.

Bless all students, all teachers and staff members,

all families and past alumni.

We ask in your Son’s name, Amen.

With every blessing on you and your week ahead,

The Reverend Nicki Colledge 

We had 20 day girls enjoy a night in the Boarding House hosted by the Year 8 boarders. It was a night filled with fun and friendships and an opportunity for the day girls to understand what it is like to be a boarder. It is an important night for the day girls to gain an insight into where the boarders live, what their rooms look like, the routines of the Boarding House and perhaps to dispel some of the myths of boarding. These nights are significant for the girls as they gain a better understanding of a day in the life of a boarder at St Margaret’s.

Another very important event occurring at the end of April is the Day/Boarder Weekend. This weekend is an opportunity for the boarders to take a day girl home with them for the weekend. It is an experience that benefits both the day girls and boarders. It is a wonderful opportunity for the boarders to show the day girls where they live, what they do when they are home and to give them new experiences. Last year, the girls who participated shared many wonderful experiences. The Day/Boarder Weekend will be from 3pm, Friday 28 April to Tuesday 2 May. We encourage all girls to invite a day girl home for the weekend and ask that parents support us in this initiative.

Lesa Fowler 

We know that high expectations are important for our girls and we will be systematically reviewing many of our practices to ensure that they provide a foundation for learning success. Last week, I wrote about our review of the drafting/conferencing policy as part of a wider focus on high quality learning. Throughout the year, I will continue to outline other changes designed to strengthen our culture of learning. Currently we are undertaking a review of Academic Pockets and Progress Certificates to ensure they are challenging students to set goals and engage in focused endeavour.

This week, I would like to continue with the theme of effective learning and what it looks like in the context of a school. In our framework document, we have articulated that we aim to develop our students’ capacities to transfer their understandings to new and unfamiliar contexts. This means that we want them to be able to apply the concepts and skills explored and developed in classrooms to a range of diverse situations, both within, and external to, a formal educational context. For this to occur students need to become accountable for their own learning and have a sense of ownership of it. While the level of accountability and ownership varies according to the age of the student, these twin themes are vitally important if we want our girls to learn well.

This year I am using the concepts of accountability and ownership to refine our QCS preparation program. The Year 12 students are tracking their progress on practice test papers and being held accountable in terms of availing themselves of opportunities to improve. This takes the form of ensuring they catch up on work missed and attending tutorials which are targeted to their specific needs. On Thursday morning at 7:30am I ran a session for any girls who missed the visual literacy session held this term during class time. Other catch up sessions will be held before the end of the term.

The Short Response Practice Paper, which the girls sat on 30 January, was returned to them this week along with a reflection guide. They have been asked to identify the Common Curriculum Elements (CCEs) which they need to focus on. It is very important for them to take responsibility for their QCS journey - to own it and make good decisions about how to improve their outcomes. Based on these results, a significant number of girls have been asked to attend a tutorial in Week 10 of this term just before their next practice test. Details can be found below:

If you are the parent of a Year 12 girl who will be sitting the QCS tests in the final week of August, you may be interested in having a look at the papers. Encourage your girls to show you the tests they have completed. Model answers together with detailed marking guides for all past QCS papers from 2001 to 2016 can be found on the QCAA website. The girls have been encouraged to use these resources together with their QCS Success text:
.

Trends in Education
Our first Trends in Education Seminar for 2017 was held on Tuesday 7 March. It was a wonderful evening with many parents and teachers attending. Chris Farrelly’s insights into the implementation of STEM education as a transdisciplinary program were very thought provoking, stimulating a great deal of conversation at the end of the evening and since. I would like to thank Chris sincerely for sharing his expertise with us. 

Samantha Bolton 

Session 1 - Thursday 30 March, 1:00pm – 6:00pm

Session 2 - Friday 31 March, 9:00am – 5:00pm

Parents can book in to see their daughter’s subject teachers for 1 x eight-minute time slot per subject.

Bookings

To access these interviews, please log into Parent Lounge and click on the link for Parent Teacher Interviews. Bookings open at 9:00am on Friday 10 March. Please be aware of the closing date for the booking system of 9:00am on Monday 27 March as no further bookings can be made after this date and time.

After you have finished booking you will be able to view and print a schedule of your interview times.

Please note: If you need assistance with Parent Lounge access please email School Support: schoolsupport@stmargarets.qld.edu.au or if you have any questions about the booking system please contact Lisa Beeney on 3862 0826.

ICAS Competitions

The International Competitions and Assessment for Schools (ICAS) are conducted yearly by UNSW Global at the University of New South Wales. These competitions take place in schools throughout Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific region. These competitions are written to be challenging and assess skills the students may not have encountered.

This year, we would like to offer students in Years 7-12 the opportunity to nominate for these competitions. These competitions will be run under strict timed conditions on the following dates:

If you wish to enter your child in any or all competitions, please pay via Flexischools through the school website by Friday 28 April 2017. We are looking forward to organising this opportunity for students wishing to participate.

Nicole Devlin 

The day provided opportunities for staff to meet with current and future students, parents, extended families, past students and colleagues. One of the themes which emerged from my conversations on Open Day was the identification of our school as a professional and caring environment, led by a cohesive team of educators. St Margaret’s emphasises the value of developing strong social bonds, shared values and commitment to academic and personal goals. This requires ongoing commitment and cooperation from staff, students and parents. School events, such as Open Day, bring the community together and reinforce our shared purpose.

International Women’s Day Assembly

This week, the school celebrated International Women’s Day. The prefects were given the brief for the assembly, where they had to educate our students regarding local, national and global gender issues. Prefects, Hannah Witenden and Ella van den Berg-Leaney, delivered an excellent educational address and are commended on their effort, research and presentation.

The School Captains, Hannah Lane and Charlotte Traves, spoke to the school regarding the Senior’s theme for the year ‘Magnify’ Please see their address below:

Today, the 7 March 2017, marks exactly two months and one week since we all pledged our New Years’ resolutions and realised that we are now actually a lot closer to the year 2020 than we are to the year 2010.

And so, as the year - and this term - continues to fly by, we want to challenge you all to give that little bit extra in everything you do. We want to challenge you to go into each day with a purpose, and make every week count. We want to challenge you to unify, intensify and amplify your strengths, and constantly strive to improve.

It is through these three key aims that the seniors have come up with our theme for the year ahead. It is with great pleasure that we introduce to you our theme for 2017, ‘Magnify’.

Before we continue, you’re probably wondering what magnify means in our St Margaret’s community.

Dictionary.com defines the term ‘magnify’ as a verb meaning “to make something more exciting; to intensify” or “to enlarge”.

This epitomises what magnify means when we apply it to school life. Magnifying isn’t about creating a spirit and energy within the school that doesn’t already exist, it’s about magnifying - or intensifying and increasing - what we already have.

We all know that there is something about St Margaret’s that sets us apart. Whether it be the atmosphere at a No Fret Friday, the enthusiasm when the Deece Bloke music starts to play at assembly, the support in the grandstands at QG events, or the fun of an all-comers race at interhouse swimming.

As Maggies girls, we put the ‘Mag’ into the word ‘magnify’, but at the same time, we intensify, unify and amplify everything that it already means to be part of this St Margaret’s community.

We will intensify our spirit, unify our year levels and amplify our determination.

When you walk down the corridors, it is clear that there is a certain culture that resides within our halls, and this year, we are going to bring it to the surface.

Girls, let’s make 2017 the year that we refuse to underestimate ourselves. Let’s make 2017 the year of no excuses and of taking responsibility for our own progress - be it in academic, sporting or cultural goals. Let’s make 2017 the year that we dive into every opportunity and jump at chances to improve.

Our challenge to each and every one of you, regardless of if you are 10 or in Year 10, is to not let yourself settle for just ‘good enough’ or ‘that’ll do’, but to push that little bit further.

Girls, let’s make 2017 the year that we, as the St Margaret’s community, Magnify.

Develop an entrepreneurial Mindset - Ambitious U - School Holiday Program
Peer Power Australia, in conjunction with Bond University, are facilitating a program during the April school holidays titled 'Unleashing the Giant Within', a boot camp for your students' brain and future. The school holiday program, aimed at students in Years 9-12, will be held on Tuesday 11 - Wednesday 12 April 2017 in the Independent Learning Centre at St Margaret's. For full details and cost, please click here (PDF 711KB).

Nikki Townsend 

We were overwhelmed by the amount of feedback we received about the quality of the girls and their confidence in talking so knowledgably about the Primary School. Thank you to all the parents, grandparents and special guests who attended on the day.

Personal Best

Goal setting, particularly SMART goals, are a well-evidenced strategy to assist in setting, measuring and attaining goals, and are common place for students and in many professional organisations.

An important element often missing from conversations when setting goals centres around the notion of personal best, specifically for students. Goals that focus on ‘making the A team’, beating another student in a race, or achieving a higher grade than another may appear to meet all criteria for a SMART goal, but fail to address many critical factors, particularly the notion of personal best.

Firstly, any one person or student can never control what another student, colleague or competitor does or achieves. They can only control what they can do. Setting goals which centre around ‘beating’ others in any form have far too many variables (effort level of the other student/competitor, ability level of others, amount of training/study others may undertake, inherent strengths and weaknesses, attitude, persistence, determination, and social and emotional competencies, which are huge determinants of achievement across a range of pursuits). Goals which rely on only ‘winning’ the race, competition, academic prize etc. will, in many circumstances, lead to goals not being met, simply because they are fundamentally reliant on others. Such goals can also increase anxiety and often lead to students giving up in the face of failing to reach a goal. Yet, in the pursuit of that goal, they may well have achieved a great number of personal bests and improved many skills.

Goals which focus on personal best and are attentive to improving specific skills and/or knowledge provide a far greater platform for future success. Training goals which target improved times (based on personal best), assessment results which target improved ability to ‘recall’, ‘analyse’, ‘synthesise’ or ‘critique’ enable students to focus their energy and time on variables they can control. Setting a goal to win the ‘Chemistry Academic Prize’, for example, fails to address the strategies,underlying skills and dispositions required to achieve the goal. It also fails to acknowledge the other students vying for the same ‘prize’ - their dispositions, abilities, effort and social-emotion competences, study routines, time commitments to their study etc. What is achievable and limits outside variables is goal setting in relation to one’s own study habits, developing higher level thinking skills, setting personal best times and training schedules which enable those times to be met. Students then have control and ownership of the variables, which will enable those goals to be achieved, as opposed to goals which rely on competing with others.

We encourage parents to talk with their daughters about goal setting focused on personal best and strategies which the students themselves can control. Equally important is skilling students with the social and emotional competencies required when goals may not be reached. There is a direct correlation between social emotional competency (which includes resilience) and academic performance. How girls respond in the face of disappointment or failure in achieving a goal is as important as goal attainment itself.

Bullying. No Way.

For several years, we have acknowledged and participated in the ‘Bullying. No Way!’ campaign, and will again be raising awareness of this with the students in the Primary School on Friday 17 March. Collectively the students will be taking a stand against bullying, both involvement in it and as bystanders, by taking a pledge and wearing a wristband on the day. Bullying is not a one-off incident, but is ongoing and intentional. The Bullying No Way website provides some excellent advice and resources for your reference.

Continuous Reporting

The following assessment task results will be available on the afternoon of the dates outlined below for parents to access:

Year 5 English Assessment - Friday 10 March

Year 6 Art Assessment - Friday 10 March

Andrews Cup Swimming

Congratulations to the Andrews Cup Swimming team. The level of sportsmanship, determination, encouragement, humility and skill was testament to the students and their ongoing commitment to achieving their personal best in all endeavours. Congratulations to all girls on their fine efforts. Congratulations also to Evangeline Phillips who broke the record for the 11 Years 50m Butterfly. Many thanks to Miss Rowe, Mrs Fumar and Mr Chia for their support, coaching and organisation and Miss Richards for her help on the day.

The results for St Margaret’s were:

3rd in Percentage Cup

3rd in 11 Years

2nd in 10 Years

4th in Springfield Cup 

Upcoming Events

Trudi Edwards 

Musical

The girls in both the cast and orchestra have been working very hard in preparation for the upcoming performances of the school musical and are looking forward to presenting the show on 16/17/18 March. A reminder that tickets for the performances are available via the QTIX website. School musicals are events that require an extraordinary amount of work but they are also events that live in the memories of all involved forever. We look forward to it being a wonderful experience for everyone who takes part.

Importance of Practice

Recently I wrote of the importance of the girls developing a consistent practice routine and provided a few tips in regards to ways in which this might be encouraged. A few days ago, I watched an interesting TedEd talk related to this topic. It discusses the way in which the brain develops when consistent practice occurs and provides tips on maximising practice time, stating that the best outcomes will be achieved when practice is consistent, intensely focused and targets content or weaknesses that lie at the edge of one’s current abilities. I encourage you to watch this interesting video: .

Music Support Group
The next MSG meeting will be on Wednesday 26 April at 5:00pm in the Primary Music Room (second floor of Chaseley). Parents from both the primary and secondary schools are welcome to attend.

 Brad King 

Picture this: the sound of hammering as sets are erected and secured in place on the stage at La Boite Theatre; parents filing in with racks of costumes, laughing and joking about the late nights spent designing and sewing while casting discerning looks over the costumes as they set them in the dressing rooms; students filing through the doors of La Boite full of excitement as they cast their eyes upon their professional performance space for the first time; backstage crew organising props as they start to prepare for their seamless scene changes; and the sound of violins, cellos, flutes and trombones as they warm up in the orchestra pit.

This is Performance Week!

Now an interview with three of the stars of the show: 

Charlotte Lisle - Maria, Christine Murr - Captain Von Trapp and Emily Green - Mother Abbess 

What have you enjoyed most about the musical?

Charlotte: Honestly, I have just enjoyed being a part of it all. I thoroughly enjoy the excitement that all the girls carry as soon as they enter rehearsals. Being given the opportunity to lead a bunch of incredible actors, singers and dancers has been an absolute delight and it’ll be so sad when it’s all over.

Christine: I have enjoyed the atmosphere surrounding each rehearsal. All the girls are doing what they love and having fun with their friends, and it creates such a fun mood.

Emily: I have enjoyed getting to know all of the girls from different grades and the journey that the musical has taken us on.

What is your favourite song and why?
Charlotte: My favourite song would have to be ‘I Have Confidence’ because it is so much fun and lively. It is a song that the audience can identify and sing along with and being able to perform it with the children’s chorus is also a major positive.

Christine: My favourite song would have to be ‘How Can Love Survive’ because I love the comedy behind it. Whilst Susie and Maddie are singing, the three of us dance across the stage, interacting with each other in a humorous manner. It offers the musical a sense of comic relief, and, besides, we’re proud to say that we’re the reason the audience is laughing!

Emily: My favourite song would have to be ‘Maria’, as it is a fun-loving song that we were able to choreograph a dance to do with the chorus.

What do you like most about the character you are playing?
Charlotte: I love playing Maria because she is such an inspiring and outgoing character. She is willing to take risks and challenges that she is not necessarily comfortable with and rises to them. She goes through so many twists and turns and it’s a real privilege to bring that to the stage as she is a very well-loved character.

Christine: I love how the Captain has such a disciplined approach to the world around him. His sense of integrity is strong and he doesn’t sway to anyone’s demands; especially demands that go against his values and beliefs.

Emily: I love how strong Mother Abbess is, how she is able to help Maria onto her feet and make sure that she is living the best life she can.

What will you do when the musical is over?
Charlotte: I will focus on my school work for the last two weeks of term and then look forward to the next big agenda item, which for me will be rowing season.

Christine: Cry.

Emily: Well, the first thing I am going to do is sleep, but after that I am going to concentrate on finishing the term and prepping for auditions at the end of the year.

As you can see from the girls’ responses this is much more than the performances for the girls involved. The girls have been a delight to work with and the joy and commitment they bring to this production is inspiring.

Tickets are still available for each of the performances, although Saturday night is almost sold out.

Vicki Strid

Musical Producer 

Firstly, the combination of pitcher and catcher with Allison King playing in the position of catcher and her safe hands being able to hold onto the speedy pitching from the junior in the team, Tyeena Pang, was amazing. Secondly, the coach, Ms Desley Upton, and her enthusiasm and knowledge of the sport coupled with her ability to grow the girls’ confidence to believe in their own success was inspiring. This combination allowed the girls to win six of their nine matches throughout the season and finish the year at the top end of the table. Thank you to Allison King and Saffron Cassaniti, the Softball Captains, for their leadership, and Desley Upton for her commitment to the program.

Golf

St Margaret’s opened the Intercollegiate Schools Golf competition very well. Isabelle Simpson is one shot off the lead and the team of Katerina Marshall, Georgia Marshall and Isabelle Simpson are only two shots behind as a team and in second place.

Open Day

All sport captains showed wonderful leadership on Saturday during Open Day. The girls set up their respective displays, created mini skill games and spoke with potential students highlighting all the opportunities available at St Margaret’s. Along with this, the activities on offer were well attended and enjoyed by the guests. Thank you to all the staff and coaches involved who made the activities very successful.

Cricket

The Division One Cricket team played last Tuesday against Brisbane Girls Grammar School 2 and had a strong win. We wish them the best of luck in continuing their success as they head off to Rangakarra again to play Brisbane Girls Grammar School this week.

Autumn Fixtures

All teams will open the season at home against Moreton Bay College this week. We wish all the coaches and players the greatest success in their first round of competition. Windsor Park will have a barbeque and a small canteen operating thanks to the Touch Football Support Group. A draw has been posted onto the team apps with all the match times.

Venues:

Basketball - Boondall Sports Complex

Touch Football - Windsor Park

Soccer - Teralba Park, Mitchelton

Uniforms

A reminder to parents that all girls are required to travel in their representative uniform of the white shirt, sports skirt and brown shoes. They can change at the venues into their playing uniforms.

Nicky Barrie 

Years 7 and 8

ICAS Mathematics - students will elect to take part (see Dean of Studies article) in the international competition on or around 15 August 2017. Certificates will be awarded at various levels.

Maths Teams Challenge Competition - students will be invited to compete on behalf of the school in competitions at various times throughout the year at All Hallows’, Churchie and Ferny Grove.

Australian Problem Solving Mathematical Olympiad -  A team of 30 students to compete on behalf of the school in 6 rounds of mathematical problem solving. Selected from performance indicators.

Interschool Mathematics Teams Challenge - All students compete in teams at the end of the year to be crowned the champion team. A fun and collaborative experience which challenges and engages students mathematical thinking.

Years 9 and 10

ICAS Mathematics - students will elect to take part (see Dean of Studies article) in the international competition on 15 August 2017.

Maths Teams Challenge Competition - students will be invited to compete on behalf of the school in competitions. Various times throughout the year on the North and Southside of Brisbane.

Year 7 Mathematics Team Challenge at All Hallows' 2017

Australian Mathematics Trust - ‘enrich the teaching and learning of mathematics for students’

For the Mathematics Faculty to enter individual students into the 3 week competition (MYCA Challenge), we invite interested students to undertake the practice problem below and submit their solution to Mr Matt Pinnick, Assistant Head of Mathematics via email: mpinnick@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.

Please contact Matt Pinnick by 12 March 2017 to register your interest. Entry closes on 14 March 2017. 

Years 11 and 12

ICAS Mathematics - students will elect to take part (see Dean of Studies article) in the international competition on or around 15 August 2017.

Australian Mathematics Trust - ‘enrich the teaching and learning of mathematics for students’

The Australian Mathematics Competition is open to any student wishing to partake on 27 July 2017. Students should contact Matt Pinnick via email: mpinnick@stmargarets.qld.edu.au by 12 March.

Matt Pinnick

Bookings for the St Margaret’s OSHC April School Holiday Program opened Monday 27 February. If you require care for the upcoming school holiday period, please return your booking form before 24 March 2017.

How do I book?
Complete the official booking form attached to the program. For further details please email: oshc@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.

What is the cost?*
$60 per day. Incursions and excursions incur additional costs. These are compulsory for all students and therefore you are able to claim CCB/CCR for these.

What are the hours of operation?
The service is open from 7:00am until 6:00pm.
The service is closed from 14 April 2017 - 17 April 2017.

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

Please contact Nikki Anderson via email: nanderson@stmargarets.qld.edu.au or phone: 3862 0751 for more information. Parents of boarding students may like to request information via email.

Nikki Anderson 

To support the funding of the ambitious work, we commissioned sculptor Liam Hardy to also produce a limited edition of 25 maquettes. Only one maquette remains after the recent purchase of #24 by the Miers family. This is the final opportunity to own one of these iconic pieces, so please contact any of the FOM Committee (Sally Quayle, Cath Hudson, Anna Davidson or Lisa Smith) if you would like to purchase #25!

Jenny Lishman 

Old Girls’ Association

Nominations for the 2017 Past Student Awards close soon!

These awards have been established to:

• recognise the many achievements of St Margaret’s Past Students, both professionally and personally
• celebrate the diverse achievements of Past Students and
• provide an opportunity to share stories of success and increase connections between the School and Past Students to honour their legacy.

There are two award categories:

1. Distinguished Past Student - for alumnae who have passed their 20th reunion
2. Young Past Student of Distinction - for alumnae in their 20th reunion year or younger

2017 nominations close on Monday 13 March 2017 at 5pm (AEST) and winners will be announced at a dinner on Friday 21 April 2017.

Tickets for this event are now on sale via Flexischools.

Save the Date:

10 Year Reunion – Class of 2007 - Friday 21 July 2017

20 Year Reunion – Class of 1997 - Saturday 22 July 2017

30 Year Reunion – Class of 1987 - Friday 21 July 2017

40 Year Reunion – Class of 1977 - Saturday 22 July 2017

50 Year Reunion – Class of 1967 - Saturday 22 July 2017

60 Year Reunion – Class of 1957 - Saturday 22 July 2017

Chapel Service and Morning Tea - Sunday 23 July 2017

1938-1956 (60+) Year Reunion - Monday 24 July 2017

OGA Annual Brunch - Sunday 11 June 2017

AGM - Tuesday 28 November 2017

Parents and Friends Association

Raffle Prize Winners
Mothers’ Luncheon - Friday 3 March 2017

It was indeed a grand occasion last Friday, when 331 fabulous Mothers and friends of St Margaret’s gathered at Victoria Park Conference Centre for the Annual P&F Mothers’ Luncheon. This record sell-out event had everyone in great spirits, with Cassandra Harper Fashion models adding an element of flair and fun.

We encourage you to support the generous businesses that donated to the Mothers’ Luncheon Raffle. Thank you to Sevine Forster of RealSkin Clinic, Jan Logan, Cassandra Harper Fashion, Jane Bartlett of Chemist Warehouse Redcliffe, Jocelyn’s Provisions, Carmen Rigney of NAK and Lorraine Buchanan of Boston Salon.

An extended thank you to everyone who helped make this event such a success, including the P&F event organisers - Miranda Dunning and Anthea Damman.

We look forward to doing it again in 2018!

1st Prize: Donated by RealSkin Clinic, Valued $1060, IPL Hair Reduction Treatment Voucher & Signature Facial - Natalie Ewin

2nd Prize: Donated by Jan Logan Valued $985, Stunning 9ct gold “BARCELONA” Ring, Designed and produced by Jan Logan - Jeronia Muntaner

3rd Prize: Donated by Cassandra Harper an outfit of your choice from Cassandra Harper’s latest Collection and a personal styling session with Cassandra - Carolyn Lewis

4th Prize: Donated by Chemist Warehouse Redcliffe, Valued $350, Gorgeous girly hamper with fragrances, cosmetics etc. - Loretta Meppem

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LIMITED TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE, BUT ARE SELLING FAST!

Date: Thursday 30 March 2017

Time: 6:45am for a 7:00am start, finish 8:00am

Cost: $35 per adult, $25 per student (Years 7 to 12)

RSVP: Thursday 23 March 2017 (or unless SOLD OUT earlier)

Purchase your tickets on Flexischools today.

P&F Upcoming Event Dates 2017

Term 1
Thursday 30 March - Father Daughter Breakfast

Term 2
Saturday 27 May - Community Ball
Friday 9 June - Fathers’ Dinner

Term 3
Saturday 2 September - Race Day

P&F General Meetings

The P&F invites the school community to share their views and ideas at the General Meetings, held in the Arts Centre Foyer from 6:30pm on the following dates:

• Monday 8 May 2017
• Monday 31 July 2017
• Monday 30 October 2017

Luanne Wishart

Second round gap year opportunities are available in the Navy, Army and Air Force. The life skills and job training acquired during this gap year experience will be valuable regardless of what career the recruits ultimately undertake. Come along to an information session on Wednesday 22 March from 6:00pm, at Defence Force Recruiting Brisbane, Level 13, 295 Ann Street, Brisbane to find out more.

Women in Defence Information Session
This information session will provide an excellent opportunity to engage with a current serving female from the Australian Defence Force and discuss not only the recruiting process, but also life in the Australian Defence Force as a female. The information session will be able to provide valuable information to help assist you through the recruiting process and into a rewarding career in the Australian Defence Force.

When: Monday 27 March 2017
Time: 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Where: Defence Force Recruiting - Level 13, 295 Ann Street, Brisbane
RSVP: email: wid@dfr.com.au or visit:

ADF Careers Information Session
Australia’s Navy, Army and Air Force can give you experiences money can’t buy - a career that not only improves you personally, but means doing something worthwhile for your country.

There really is something for almost everyone - from fully paid university degrees and graduate entry schemes, rewarding trade and technical careers, exciting combat roles, through to support and administration positions.

With more than 250 jobs on offer, with a multitude of entry avenues, there has never been a better time to find out more. To learn more, attend an Australian Defence Force Careers Information Session.

Bond University
Are you an ambitious Year 11 or 12 high school student living on the Gold Coast, Brisbane or Northern NSW? Bond University’s Student for a Semester program gives high achieving Year 11 and 12 students the opportunity to gain an authentic university experience before they finish high school.

Student for a Semester students enrol in a Bond University subject, attend lectures and tutorials on campus, complete assignments and sit their subject exams. You’ll be mixing with uni students, meeting academics and getting involved in university life. You’re welcome to use the Main and Law Libraries and all of our on-campus sport and recreation facilities. You can socialise in the cafes and restaurants and join student clubs - exactly as you would if you were a full-time Bondy.

Make no mistake, this is a challenging program. You’ll have to find time for the extra classes and study on top of your school work - but if your parents and school agree that you are capable, then we highly recommend you apply.

You'll receive plenty of support from us, including your own Bond Student Mentor to help you enjoy every minute of your semester at Bond.

Applications for the May 2017 program opened online on Friday 3 March and close Friday 7 April. Download a copy of the May 2017 class timetable and read more about this program at: .

The University of Queensland
Special entry into the Bachelor of Dental Science for rural or remote students.
Rural areas of Australia often have limited access to educational opportunities and dental services. To assist in addressing this ongoing challenge, 8 per cent of Bachelor of Dental Sciences (Honours) places in UQ's annual intake are now designated to applicants who come from a rural background.

What classifies as rural is determined by the Australian Standard Geographical Classification Remoteness Area system (ASGC-RA), which also categorises various levels of remoteness, identified by their Remoteness Areas (RAs) rating. Students will need to live in a remote area for a set amount of time to be eligible.

This rural background sub quota for the Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours) will be available for students within the RA2 - RA5 category. This will include most Queensland regional cities, as well as rural areas near Ipswich and some parts of the Gold and Sunshine Coast hinterlands. Students can check the classification of their homes on the .

Approved rural background applicants must still meet all the entry requirements of the Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours) program, including sitting the UMAT exam. However, to assist with meeting the ranking requirements, rural background applicants will be competing against a smaller cohort of applicants (for a smaller number of places) where the standard UMAT cut offs may not apply.

Further information on the scheme and eligibility requirements can be found on the .

'Getting Ready for University' - Info Sessions for Year 10 parents, guardians and carers
As a parent or guardian you play a vital role in helping your children make the best choices about their future and Year 10 is the best time to start.

When teenagers select their senior subjects it is important that they select the right prerequisites for the university programs they are interested in.

Your child’s dream is our mission and these interactive group sessions are designed to give you the necessary information to assist your child in making an informed choice about their future. All our interactive sessions are hosted by recent UQ professional staff graduates and run for approximately one hour with plenty of time set aside for any questions you may have.

Topics include:

• Understanding the university language;
• Key differences between high school and university;
• Pathways into your child’s dream program;
• Scholarships; and
• QTAC, fees, accommodation and more!

Session Dates: week of 15-18 May 2017, St Lucia campus

It’s never too late to find out more about university and we would love to hear from you! Please email us or call 07 3346 9872.

Are you an Australian parent who is interested in your child's higher education?
Currently, research is being undertaken at UQ to understand the preferences and decision-making of Years 11 and 12 students studying in high school. If you are an Australian parent and keen on your child's higher education, you are invited to participate in this research project.

To be eligible to participate in the study, you must have a child studying in Years 11 or Year 12 in any high school in Queensland, and you, along with your child, must be willing to participate in the survey.

To take part in this research or for further information, please contact Asma Qureshi, Phone:            0402 334 231, Email: a.qureshi@business.uq.edu.au or Web: .

Gap Year 2018
Letzlive will be hosting an information evening on 27 March (venue TBC). Applications are now open for gap year opportunities in 2018. The closing date for applications is 7 April and LetzLive strongly advise early applications as the interview process will begin in the week following this closing date. Placements should be confirmed by early July 2017 and placements commence from 1 January 2018 and continue throughout the year. Further information is available at: .

Lattitude Global Volunteering
International Placements for 17 - 25 year olds
If you are looking to volunteer in an English speaking country with a culture similar to Australia, the UK may be the right place for you. You’ll have the opportunity to create an energetic and positive environment for young students, camp-goers, program participants and residents. Exercise your good communication skills and leadership qualities by becoming a role model for those who need it most. You’ll have the opportunity to meet other hardworking volunteers from all over the world, explore the British culture like a local, and gain a sense of independence during this longer placement. More information is available from: .

UMAT
Registrations for UMAT 2017 are open. Copies of the Information Booklet can be downloaded from the UMAT website at: . Please note that before registering for the test students are required to carefully read the UMAT 2017 Information Booklet, which will only be available online from the UMAT website.

The only identification documents accepted for UMAT 2017 are:

• Current passport
• Current photo-bearing driver's licence (full, probationary or learner's permit)
• Current photo-bearing Australian Keypass
• Current photo-bearing Australian Proof of Age Card

For further details, please refer to the UMAT website. Candidates without correct identification will not be permitted to sit UMAT2017 and will be turned away from the test centre. UMAT is only available once every year. If you do not register by 2 June 2017, you will have to wait until 2018 to sit the test.

UMAT Preparation
MedEntry: If you are interested in studying Medicine or a career in health that requires sitting the UMAT test, visit the MedEntry website for assistance in your preparation: . MedEntry is the only government accredited training organisation for UMAT preparation.

MedStart: is an organisation that assists students to prepare for UMAT. Courses are available in Brisbane. Check the MedStart website: for more details.

NIE UMAT Workshops Australia

Along with the 8 or 10 UMAT books our Premium, Platinum and Concession courses include the intensive one-day UMAT preparation and training workshop.

Our workshops are designed to cover every UMAT construct (previously known as UMAT sections), the various types of questions to be encountered and how to tackle them, and then to check where you are at with respect to UMAT-specific study, throwing a full-blown UMAT NIE practice test at you. How will you fare? How have you been going? Which UMAT style questions still need work?

Brisbane Workshops to be held at UQ, St Lucia 5 April, 28 June and 23 July.

UQ Guides

Copies of the UQ Australian Undergraduate Guide 2018 are now available from the Careers Corner in the Library. Individual Faculty Guides will be available later in the year.

QUT Guides

Copies of the QUT ‘Real Choices’ 2018 guide to undergraduate study is available via this link:

Griffith University

A hard copy of the 2017 Undergraduate Guide is available from the Careers section of the library. An electronic copy is available at:

KEY DATES:
Friday 27 and Saturday 28 May 2017
The National Careers and Employment EXPO (Brisbane Convention Centre).
All Year 10 students will attend this exciting event on the morning of Friday 27 May.

Friday 2 June
UMAT Registrations close 5pm

Wednesday 26 July
UMAT Exam

Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 July 2017
The 36th annual Tertiary Studies Expo (TSXPO), Australia's largest tertiary studies expo, offers a unique opportunity for anyone interested in starting, changing or upgrading their career! Featuring many local, interstate and overseas education providers, student services and support agencies. Don't miss this great opportunity to map out your future, all in the one location! 8am - 4pm, RICC Brisbane Showgrounds. A great opportunity for students to collect information from a huge number of exhibitors.

Elizabeth Johnston