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Ms Surtees is an invaluable member of our community here at St Margaret’s, having served the school in many different areas for the past 44 years. In 2021, we farewelled Ms Surtees as a beloved fulltime staff member, teacher, and leader in both the primary and secondary school. Her impact and influence as an educator across many generations is immeasurable. Personally, I can say that Ms Surtees has not only impacted our current generation in the school, having taught both Imogen and me but also many young women who have had the privilege of her teaching. However, Ms Surtees' time at St Margaret’s did not end at the announcement of her retirement. Ms Surtees is now our school’s archivist, keeping the history of the school alive and well. We were fortunate enough to meet with Ms Surtees in the archives office to hear more about her life experiences in preparation for today. It was such an honour to spend time with such a significant figure in the story of our school while also being surrounded by the rich history of St Margaret’s. 

Ms Surtees was born in Brisbane and was committed heavily to her education, studying her high school years at St Rita’s and finishing with a 990 TE Score – a stellar achievement that is equivalent to a 99.95 ATAR today. Ms Surtees began her teaching journey at St Margaret’s with a plan to stay at the school for just five years however, besides some time spent travelling and developing her love for culture and language, she has been at St Margaret’s ever since.

Ms Surtees has always had a passion for learning, with one of her core values being ‘to be a life-long learner’. She is open to anything new and grabs every opportunity with both hands - a key piece of advice that she shared with us. During our time with Ms Surtees, this passion and loyalty for the St Margaret’s community truly inspired us. Ms Surtees embodies so much of the school, bringing richness and value to everything she does.

St Margaret’s Day truly was a fabulous day of celebration for us. After the assembly, our students enjoyed celebratory cakes in their house groups, and then we all joined together on Circular Drive for the St Margaret’s Day run. More information about the run can be found in the Director of Sport section in this eNews.

Pick up and drop off

Finally, can I please ask families to be really mindful of our neighbours in the surrounding streets during pick up and drop off times. We have recently received reports from our neighbours that say their driveways are regularly being blocked by cars parking during this time, and even parking in zones with yellow lines. We ask parents to drive and park safely, and to keep driving through the zone if their daughter is not there, do a lap, and come back again so as not to block the surrounding streets.

Karen Gorrie

In the physical arena, there have been many opportunities for students; the Secondary Interhouse Athletics Carnival, the commencement of QGSSSA winter fixtures and the rowing season. In the primary school, many girls participated in the Andrews Cup netball competition. These sporting activities not only provide opportunities for students to develop their physical skills but also to develop socially and emotionally or, as referred to in research, ‘soft skills’. Soft skills have both physical and mental health benefits and when students participate in team sports they interact with other students, develop interpersonal skills, and learn from each other. In a nutshell, soft skills are a combination of people skills, communication skills, social and emotional intelligence, and character traits. The development of the right soft skills will enable a student to work well with others, be a team member and achieve their own personal goals. They will also help boost people’s confidence to interact socially with others, extend their social networks, communication, problem-solving skills and provide them with new skills and abilities. 

The St Margaret’s Day celebration was a wonderful conclusion to Week 2. Students developed spiritually as they participated in the Service honouring St Margaret, the patron of our school. Service to others is the foundation of our school’s ethos and the truck load of grocery donations for Anglicare was testament to this commitment. Next week, we will again see this commitment in action with the secondary school students finalising their fundraiser, Ponytail Project. With haircuts and crazy hair, the whole school will contribute money to the Cancer Council. Thank you to family and friends for your generous donations.    

The cognitive development of a student is addressed through our academic program. Music is part of this area of development and this Saturday, students who participate in the extracurricular music program will share their musical talents with the wider community at the Soaring Upwards Music Festival 11.30-3.30.  

Each of these experiences is a small snapshot of a big picture of holistic education.

Angela Drysdale

St Margaret’s Day 2023

It was a joy to celebrate St Margaret’s Day last Friday. I would like to thank everyone who made the service the beautiful success it was. We are privileged to have such a community that works together to make everything we do possible.

During the service we were privileged to have Dr Stephen Harrison from Anglican Southern QLD join us and address the assembly on the work of Anglicare. He shared the inspiring story of the women who were instrumental in starting Anglicare and drew a parallel with the work of the Sisters of the Society of the Sacred Advent and the legacy and call that they gift to us to remember those less fortunate than ourselves and offer compassion in our living.

In the last weeks of Term 2 and first weeks of Term 3, our students and families generously donated grocery items that will be distributed to families in need in partnership with Anglicare. Thank you for your generous donations.

Rev’d Jazz Dow

Last Tuesday evening, we had most of our current Year 11’s boarders stand up in front of the whole boarding cohort to put forward their case as to why they should be part of the Boarding Student Leadership team. For some students this is stepping outside their comfort zone, however they gave their speech their all. Each girl shared different reasons as to why she would be the right candidate for Boarding Leader. There was however a common theme that ran through each speech; ensuring others have a positive boarding journey just as each candidate did. It is very humbling to hear how their journeys have gone and how much they appreciate the experience of boarding.

The Year 10 to 12 boarders, as well as boarding staff, were given the opportunity to vote on the leaders later in the week and we look forward to the outcome. We know there may be some tears and disappointment from those who miss out. Those who are successful will do a wonderful job leading the boarding house in 2024.

Angela Crowe

This week I have also finished up my Year 12 Academic Progress meetings, checking in on how students are travelling, setting goals for final pieces of assessment and giving updated ATAR Predictions to ATAR eligible students. Any student who has not yet met with me is welcome to make a meeting to have this conversation.

Year 11

A reminder that next week is the Year 12 2024 Parent Information Evening. The evening will discuss relevant information regarding the QCE system and the year ahead. Ms Jansen and I will also discuss key events and times throughout the next year. An invitation for this event has been emailed to all parents and is also available on the Year 11 POD Page. It will be recorded for any parents who are unable to attend on the evening.

Caitlin McCluskey

Primary and secondary teachers from around South-East Queensland are most welcome to attend this free event, as are St Margaret’s parents.

For more details, or to register attend,  

Chris Dunn

As adults we are all well aware that life will have its fair share of disappointments and frustrations. At home, reacting to these stressful situations might start with shouting, hiding or feeling sorry for oneself. At school and in the girls’ future careers, these types of behaviours could in fact harm their reputation.

We must remember that decisions will be made but it is the individual’s final decision and choice on how they behave and react. Individuals are encouraged to do the following if they find themselves disappointed:

• Have a positive mindset – realise that not all things will go your way all of the time, look for something positive.
• Adjust your goal – if you are disappointed that you did not reach your goal, that does not mean the goal is unreachable in the future
• Record your thoughts – writing allows your negative feelings to be expressed and released
• Smile and support those who have been successful – this shows a lot more about your character if you can rise above your disappointment and continue to be the best person you can be.

“Disappointments are just God’s way of saying: “I’ve got something better Be patient, Live Life and Have Faith”. Anonymous

Ponytail Project

More than 100 students have volunteered to cut their ponytails at next Tuesday's Ponytail Project. Rogue Hair, Ascot who will be cutting the students and teachers hair. If you wish to get your daughter’s haircut after the day by Rogue Hair they are offering a shampoo, cut and blow dry for $60. Please book early as there are limited spaces.

Nikki Townsend

The World Economic Forum Future of Jobs Report outlines that by 2025, complex problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, people management and emotional intelligence will be among the most important skills required in the workplace. Public Speaking and Debating are just one of the opportunities St Margaret’s provides students to prepare them for their future careers. We are committed to ensuring we provide a range of opportunities to nurture and develop these skills.

Kate Frewin

Following the tournament, to gain an understanding of our students’ extraordinary proficiency in mathematics, we collected data on the completion of home learning tasks across some classes in Years 3 to 6. This revealed some interesting insights. In most cases, our highest-achieving mathematicians exceeded the home learning expectations set by their maths teachers. They dedicated significant time honing their skills, often completing, in some cases, three times more minutes on their online learning platforms (for example, IXL and Khan Academy) compared to their peers.

At St Margaret’s we firmly believe that every student has the potential to achieve mastery in mathematics, at every level of attainment. Mastery is not solely dependent on innate ability but a combination of passion, motivation and persistent effort. However, above all, practice plays a pivotal role in the journey to mastery - practice, practice and more practice.

Research has demonstrated that spaced practice, involving multiple exposures to a concept, has a significant impact on student achievement with an effect size ( ES) of .71 (over .4 has ES - John Hattie research). Our primary teachers incorporate spaced practice methods within daily warm-ups in mathematics lessons, fostering a routine of reinforcement and consolidation of skills. Equally as crucial to our student’s mathematical development are the Home Learning tasks set by the teachers to further enhance the girls’ skills and mathematical thinking. These tasks include IXL activities to consolidate classroom learning, and personalised Khan Academy tasks, which are tailored to each student’s needs based on their recent MAP Growth assessment.

We encourage all our students to embrace the challenge and engage in daily practice to enhance their mathematical skills. Your support in motivating your daughter to complete her Home Learning Tasks is invaluable to her development. Together, we can empower the girls to flourish and become capable and confident mathematicians.

Karen Andrews-Close

St Margaret's Reunion Weekend

Thank you to the Saxophone Ensemble and the Stage Band for providing entertaining music as Old Girls reconnected as part of the different years’ respective reunions. The music assisted in providing a wonderful atmosphere and was appreciated by all in attendance. Thank you to all the students who performed and thank you to their conductors Dr Camille Syntageros and Mr Sean Mackenzie.

Soaring Upwards 2023

The St Margaret's Music Department is very excited to present the Soaring Upwards Music Festival this coming Saturday 29 July from 11:30am – 3:30pm. This will be a fun, informal opportunity for students to perform repertoire they have been learning in their respective ensembles on a big stage with a professional sound crew. The draft program of performances is below with approximate times. Feel free to bring along a picnic blanket/snacks to enjoy whilst listening to the performances. Plenty of chairs and stools will also be made available for audience members. Thank you to the Music Support Group who are organising food for purchase which will include hot dogs, fairy floss, popcorn and cold drinks (soft drinks/water/juices). A coffee van will also be available. This will be an exciting event for the students to be involved in and look forward to having many in the audience to support the performances!

CONCERT BANDS & PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE

11:30am           Chaseley Concert Band

11.40am           Jackson Wind Ensemble

11.50am           Elayne Jones Percussion Ensemble

12.00pm           Sister Helen Wind Symphony

12:10pm           COMBINED BAND PERFORMANCE

STRING ENSEMBLES

12:30pm           Tutti Strings

12:40pm           Amati Strings

12:50pm           Stradivari Strings

1:00pm             Sculthorpe String Quartet

1:05pm             Chamber Strings

1:15pm             COMBINED STRINGS PERFORMANCE

CHOIRS, ROCK BANDS AND DANCE GROUPS

1:30pm             Serenata

1:40pm             Belle Voci

1:50pm             Chorale

2:00pm             Ballare

2:05pm             Encorah

2:15pm             Volare

2:25pm             Exultate

2:35pm             COMBINED CHORAL PERFORMANCE

2:45pm             Stage Band

2:55pm             Highly Strung

3:05pm             Monday Rock Band

3:15pm             Tuesday Rock Band

Classics in the Cathedral

The St Margaret’s Music Department is excited to announce that Classics in the Cathedral will be held in St John’s Anglican Cathedral on Tuesday 15 August. This is an evening of beautiful music, performed by St Margaret’s Music ensembles within a spectacular setting and is one of the school’s very special performance events. Tickets are now on sale and must be purchased online via TryBooking (). The cost for an adult ticket is $30 with no charge for children/students (all attending the concert however must be registered on TryBooking, including children/students). Please print your ticket or download on an electronic device (e.g. mobile phone) to present upon entrance at the concert. All tickets must be pre-purchased as tickets will not be available at the door. A letter with more details is attached. (PDF 450.9KB) We look forward to having many in attendance at this special event.

Music Support Group - Next Meeting

The next Music Support Group meeting will be held on Tuesday 8 August at 5:00pm in M’s Cafe. We encourage parents from both Primary and Secondary schools to become involved.

Brad King

With Circular Drive lined with cheering supporters, each race was hotly contested with some fast laps and plenty of spirit on show. We congratulate the following students on achieving line honours in their representative age races:

Parent Support Group

This QG Winter Season our P&F Association, in collaboration with our respective Sporting Parent Support Groups are facilitating the St Margaret’s Winter Sport Pasta Drive.

This combined fundraiser has been set up to support the pursuit of our Tennis, Hockey, Volleyball, Athletics and Rhythmic Gymnastics programs. Profit will be split between these sporting groups.

We would greatly appreciate the support of our wider St Margaret's community to support this initiative. If willing, please stock up on healthy, fresh, locally made pasta products for your growing athlete, busy family and staff lunches. 

Angelo’s Fresh Pasta Products is a family-owned company that has been producing authentic quality pasta in Brisbane since 1968. Angelo’s uses only the freshest and finest of ingredients, the best quality Durum Semolina and farm fresh eggs in all their products.

Lots of products to choose from to suit your family:

•           Individual meals, ready to heat;

•           Family pasta meals, ready to heat;

•           Dry pasta for your pantry;

•           Frozen filled pasta; and

•           Pasta sauces.

Pasta orders can be made through the following link:

Sporting Achievement

It’s with great pleasure that we can recognise the outstanding sport performances 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:

• Fin Hoger (Year 10) who had the opportunity to travel to the UK with the Wanderers Australia Junior Cricket Tour. Fin, who was named as captain, and her team had the opportunity to play 8 matches, winning 6, losing 1 and 1 washout. Her team also got the opportunity to visit both Lords and the Oval to cheer on the Women’s T20 Games.
• Bless Daly (Year 9) fresh off her international water polo debut has been selected to represent the U18 Queensland Team that shall contest the Australian Schools Invitational Waterpolo Championships in Woy Woy, NSW. We wish Bless all the very best.

Sport Awards Evening – Representative Achievements

At our St Margaret’s Sport Awards Evening we recognise and acknowledge the achievements of students who represent team Queensland and Australia within their respective school sport and club sport pathways.

Given club sport is external to St Margaret’s we do appreciate students and/or parents/guardians notifying the Activities Office of student representation at this level. Recognition is acknowledged of those students who are selected and compete within a representative Queensland or Australian team.

If your daughter has represented at this level, please email me by Friday 8th September, with the suitable details to assist - lknight@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.

GO MAGGIES!

Lloyd Knight

This new event on the St Margaret’s calendar is one not to miss – and will feature a guest speaker, live music and a photo booth!

When: 11am – 3pm, Sunday 10 September

Venue: Rivershed at Howard Smith Wharves.

Tickets: Tickets will go on sale soon. Keep an eye on your inbox for further information.

Reunions Wrap Up

It was a pleasure to welcome over 450 Old Girls and guests back to St Margaret’s for the annual Reunion Weekend on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 July.

The Saturday events included a 60-year Reunion Luncheon, school tours led by current boarders, and five simultaneous cocktail parties for the 10-50 Year Reunion cohorts.

The following day, the annual Old Girls' Day Chapel Service and morning tea, provided another chance for past students to reconnect. The VIP 60+ Year Reunion Luncheon saw over 80 guests treated to a special luncheon on the final day of the reunion celebrations on Sunday 23 July.

We extend our thanks to the dedicated team of staff from across the school, volunteers, the Old Girls’ Association, current boarders who provided school tours and the members of our Saxophone Ensemble and Stage band who performed for guests,

We also extend our sincere thanks to Old Girls who made a donation alongside their event ticket purchase - with over 60 donors contributing more than $4,600 to the St Margaret's Foundation Scholarship and Bursary Fund.

Lara Pickering