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Congratulations also go to our P&F for organising the inaugural Primary Mother/Daughter High Tea last Sunday. It was a happy (and sold out) event; thank you too to the volunteers who organised and assisted on the day.

St Margaret’s is an eSmart accredited school and we are participating in the Alannah & Madeline Foundation’s National eSmart Week (1-9 September) along with hundreds of other communities, to show our commitment to building an eSmart Australia. We know that the web is a great place to learn, be creative and stay connected. However, with one in five young Australians found to have been cyber bullied – and the many other challenges young people face online – it’s important we invest in giving our community the awareness and skills they need to be responsible digital citizens.

Ros Curtis

This is a reminder that an information session for students of Physics, Specialist Mathematics, Mathematical Methods, Maths B and C in Years 11 and 12 will be held on Friday 6 September, 9.50 to 10.25am. All students will receive an application pack via email at this time.

The deadline for applications has been extended to Monday 30 September. Interviews will be held on Thursday 10 and Friday 11 October and the awardee will be announced at the prize reading assembly on Monday 28 October and will be presented their scholarship at Speech Night on Tuesday 12 November.

Karen Gorrie

Big special church services are not created and led by one person, but rather a big team of people. I appreciate and I am grateful for the team of dedicated staff at St Margaret’s. St Margaret’s is a very caring and supportive community. I give thanks to God for the opportunity to serve the school community. I thank God for the generous hospitality so visible within the school community.

Next year we will be celebrating our 125th year. This special anniversary will give us an opportunity to give thanks to the Sisters of the Society of Sacred Advent, whose dedication and determination helped start St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School. The Sister’s devotion to prayer, worship and education of the whole child has meant that God is always at the centre of all we do.

Prayer helps us to place God at the centre of our community and is an important part of the school ethos. As a Christian school, which is Anglican, there are many opportunities to pray and give thanks. A few years ago, St Aidan’s and St Margaret’s produced a special Prayer Book which is used regularly at both the schools. However, it is time to update the Prayer Book. We would like to add new original short prayers the school community can use at various occasions including functions, events and special times in the life of the school. Staff, students and families are invited to submit an original prayer to be added to this Prayer Book. We may not be able to use all the prayers submitted; however, we would very much appreciate your contribution.

Please email your original prayers to scrothers-robertson@stmargarets.qld.edu.au

The Rev'd Susan Crothers-Robertson

Positive emotions need to pervade the whole boarding house from the girls to staff to parents. Barbara Fredrickson and others have shown through scientific studies that people who flourish have greater life possibilities than those who are “languishing” (going through the motions) or those who are dominated by negative feelings about life and feel they cannot cope. If you feel positive you see the world better, you appreciate things more (you actually “see” more that is going on around you), you live better in relationships, you are kinder, you help others more, you understand others better, you “learn more’ in every sense, in and out of class, you remember more, you are more likeable, you contribute to others more and you think more about what you do and how it affects others. It is hoped that all students will “engage” positively in all activities at school and in boarding.  For girls to flourish, all must feel “safe and secure” in their lives. This is critical and, therefore, one of the main goals of the boarding house.

Lesa Fowler

When the students apply for tertiary entrance, beside each course name are two numbers, separated by a comma, eg (17,63). The first number is the minimum Overall Position (OP) for Queensland Year 12 students. The second number is the minimum QTAC Selection Rank. Of course, students must also choose courses that meet the subject prerequisites for their tertiary preferences.

Next Tuesday and Wednesday, all Year 12 students who have not completed their Diploma will be working with our school provider, Barrington College, to complete the final units of their course. Students who have completed their Diploma will be completing a Senior First Aid course which provides another valuable qualification for their portfolio. All OP-ineligible students are expected to remain at school following their courses to study in the library.

On Monday, all Year 12s will be involved in an RVE Masterclass until 1.05pm and following this will be able to leave school. To ensure the girls completing the QCS test are able to perform to their best, please make sure they get adequate sleep on Monday and Tuesday night.

Jo Butterworth

As a school, St Margaret’s has performed well with our school means for all tests being significantly higher than the state and national means and being listed in the top 20 for Year 3, 5, 7 and 9. The girls at St Margaret’s should be very proud of the results they received and remember that NAPLAN is a point in time measurement of a student, not an outcome of all learning.

Individual student reports for students will be sent home in the coming weeks. If you do not receive your daughters NAPLAN report, please contact Rosie Parisi on 3862 0826. Information about these reports and other information about NAPLAN results can be found at the following link

Nicole Devlin

Heavy on the shoulders, negative thoughts can consume you, they can lower your energy levels, deplete the immune system, create long term negative attitudes, close you off from others and from considering new possibilities. Unfortunately, some individuals fall victim to the trap of alcohol and drug dependency to try to block their feelings.

If we want to find solutions and live a happy life we must focus on the positive in every situation. Life is what we make it and the power of attitude is the key. Our levels of health, happiness and success are based on how we respond to what happens. As adults we need to be mindful of how we role model this behaviour. Davey suggests the first five minutes of each day we should focus forward, find a positive in every event and switch our focus to avoid dwelling on problems. Here at St Margaret’s students are taught this, but ideally this should be practised at home with family before coming to school.

The more often you imagine yourself – pretend and practise – being happy, confident and successful and enjoying life, the more likely you are able to create this for yourself.

Nikki Townsend

Arts Spectacular was the culmination of cultural learning experiences with the Years 5 and 6 girls sharing their dramatic, artistic and musical talents. Thank you to the staff for helping the girls find their ‘power within’ so they could give their very best performance.

In the sporting arena, Andrews Cup athletics competition and Downey Park netball semi-finals occurred. This higher level of competition challenged team members both physically and mentally. Each student gave her personal best and demonstrated sportsmanship in the face of winning and losing.Well done to Team 11 for your determination and congratulations to Teams 12 and 13 who play in the Preliminary Finals this Saturday.

On Sunday, two teams competed in Opti-Minds, a competition of many teams, where the students plan independently of a teacher and work collaboratively to create a solution to a proposed problem. Congratulations to Team 1 – Science Engineering, Charlotte Perry, Elisa Castley (absent from the Challenge on Sunday due to a ballet competition), Claire Bastian, Sarah Lewis (absent from the Challenge on Sunday due to holidays), Mana Fua and Matilda O’Gorman who won their division and now will head to the State finals. After competing, many of these girls headed to school for high tea.This was a wonderful afternoon where the girls and their mothers shared in the delights on offer and practised their ‘manners matters’.Thank you to the P&F for organising this special occasion for the Primary School.

I will address social and emotional development next week when we focus on acknowledgement of both National Child Protection Week and National eSmart Week under our school theme ‘Child Safety is Everyone’s Business’.

Angela Drysdale 

Once again, our Year 2 students will perform with Exultate, and we will of course finish the evening with our combined choirs’ finale performance. This year we are also very excited to include a dance performance by Ballare, one of St Margaret’s dance groups. The concert will be held on Tuesday evening 17 September in Eton Hall starting at 6:30pm and finishing at approximately 8pm, with refreshments available in Eton Courtyard from 6:00pm. The cost is $5 for adults, no charge for students/children. Please click here (PDF 159.7KB) for a letter with more information.

Please note that a sausage sizzle, provided by the Music Support Group, will be available for choral students prior to the concert (after rehearsals), from 5pm on Tuesday 17 September in Eton Courtyard. For catering purposes, students are requested to write their name on the sign-up sheet in the Sister Helen Orchestra Room by Friday 13 September.

Commissioning – Thank you to Exultate and Assembly Band

Thank you to both Exultate and the Assembly Band for their musical contribution to the commissioning service for Reverend Susan Crothers-Robertson held last Tuesday. It was a special and important event in the life of our school with the musical contribution appreciated by all in attendance.

Years 5 & 6 Arts Spectacular

The Years 5 & 6 Arts Spectacular was held last Friday evening and was a wonderful celebration of our Primary students’ artistic endeavours. Congratulations to all students and staff who worked very hard to bring together such a spectacular performance. A special thank you and congratulations to our Primary Rock Band, Highly Strung, who provided music for both the opening and closing numbers!

Nundah Village Street Festival

Our Secondary Rock Bands and dance groups have been invited to perform at the Nundah Village Street Festival on Sunday 8 September. This is a wonderful opportunity for the girls to perform to a wider audience in our local community. The groups will be performing on the Main Stage from 1:15pm. (Station St near the intersection with Aspinall St). All are welcome to come along to support the performances!

Music Support Group Meeting

The next Music Support Group meeting will be on Tuesday 15 October 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

BSRA Head of the River

When: Saturday 31 August
Where: Wyaralong Dam
Supporters Bus: Departs Butler Street at 7.30am Arrives at Wyaralong Dam at approx. 9.00am. Returns to St Margaret’s approximately 2.30pm.

All girls wishing to catch the Supporters Bus must register online via the link supplied on the Secondary Sport POD page.

Winter Sports

Our winter sports came up against strong competition in Ipswich Girls Grammar School on Saturday 24 August. Our volleyball girls had their most successful round with three out of five teams winning. Our hockey and tennis players won 50% of matches and our netballers won 5 out of 12 matches. 

This Saturday, we are competing against our neighbours, Clayfield College, at their venues. The weekly schedule can be found via the Secondary Sport POD page or can be downloaded here (PDF 139.4KB).

Team of the Week

Congratulations to the First VIII crew who had two fantastic races at the final regatta leading up to the Head of the River resulting in this crew securing the ‘Team of the Week’ award. Well done to all crew members.

Summer Sport Reminders

The weather is starting to heat up therefore that means our summer sports are on the way. The following sports are available for girls to participate in during Term 4.

• Badminton
• Junior Softball (Year 7 – 9)
• Cricket (Year 7 – 11)
• Water Polo (Years 5 – 11)
• Swimming (Year 3 – 11)

Sign-on information is available via the Secondary Sport POD page.

Nitro Athletics

Two teams of athletes ranging from Year 7 to Year 12 have been selected to compete in a junior and senior division at the Queensland Athletics Nitro School Challenge on Saturday 31 August.This event provides valuable experience to compete at a high level with the possibility of qualifying for the National Nitro Schools Final in Perth during December. Good luck to the following team members: Kayla Newberry, Tshia Nielsen, Tayden Tomich, Maicey Lynch, Ryanne Coe, Ciana Jamieson, Bella Donaldson, Bianca Licina, Tyla Proctor, Samantha Cooper and Gabrielle Geldard.

Congratulations….

Isabella Harte (Year 8) who successfully defended her Australian title by winning the Under 16 years Girls 4km becoming the second only female in history to win the U14 and U16 titles in consecutive years. Isabella also won gold in the individual teams’ event and also the relay.

Sophie Martin (Year 8) who was selected in the Queensland swimming team that will compete at the State Teams Championships at the Australian Institute of Sport in Australia.

A special thank you to Ms Stone for her assistance on the trip. It was great to see a group of 16 connecting, sharing experiences and getting along so well.

Students Currently Away on their Exchange:

I recently heard from Priscilla Russell, Charlotte Russell and Georgina Winter who are currently away on their exchange at St Anne’s in South Africa:

We have reached the half-way mark of our time at St Anne’s. Our exchange experience has gone by so fast! After four weeks, we are confident to say that we have, for the most part, memorised everyone’s names, learnt our way around the campus, and revised our daily timetable.

Our third weekend was spent in the boarding house. Charlotte and Georgina had a sleepover in Macrorie House with their partners Zi and Jess. From what they have said, it sounded like a fun night, filled with dancing, board games and singing. On Sunday, Elizabeth Kettle visited us from St Mary’s, Kloof. She was joined by her exchange partner, Tash, and her family, who were visiting their niece at the school. We were invited to join them for a picnic on the front lawn, enjoying some South African delicacies whilst sharing stories of our time thus far on exchange.

The following Monday, we participated in STEPP, a program organised by St Anne’s, aimed to better educate under-privileged children. Once again, it was an extremely rewarding and enjoyable experience.

Last Tuesday, we went shark diving! We woke up bright and early on Tuesday morning, feeling anxious yet excited for the day ahead. Upon our arrival in Durban, we changed into a wetsuits, fins and snorkels, and out to sea we went! Eight kilometres off the coast, we arrived at the shark park. As shark fins began to circle the boat, we were filled with fear. Once we were in the water, all we could see was grey and silver figures, glistening on the sea floor. Soon enough, sharks began to swim around us. They came right up close, looked us in the eye, and continued to swim. As we lay on the surface, hand in hand, we were mesmerised by their calmness. What an incredible experience!  That Friday, we celebrated Jess’s (Charlotte’s exchange partner) 16^th birthday. We spent the afternoon in Macrorie House, eating lots of cake, pizza and iced tea, whilst socialising with girls from all boarding houses. Afterwards, we attended Chanel dancing practice. We learnt how to waltz, jive and fox trot.

Last weekend, Charlotte and I (Priscilla) headed to Umlanga Rocks in Durban. We spent most of our time there at the beach, swimming and tanning. Meanwhile, Georgina went to Gowrie Farm, an estate not far from school, with Mia Presbury and Zi (Georgina’s partner). Georgina told me she enjoyed playing golf, driving the golf cart and watching movies.  The next Monday, we spent the day at Pietermaritzburg Girls High School. All the girls seemed lovely. They were intrigued by our accents and enjoyed hearing about our life in Australia. Ultimately, the girls were extremely welcoming, and we thoroughly enjoyed the day. 

From that Thursday to the following Monday was half-term. All girls are able to go home and spend time with family and friends for a couple of days. Charlotte and I ventured to a game farm. We saw every animal in the big five (elephant, rhino, lion, buffalo and leopard)! We even saw a pride of lions hunting! Georgina travelled to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. She tells me it was such an incredible experience, which she will cherish forever.

Today, we are travelling to Nambeti Game Reserve, along with Charlotte Lowe, from Pymble Collage in Sydney, and Paige Nurkin, from North Carolina. We are looking forward to the game drives and spending time with fellow exchange girls.  

All in all, we have had so many adventures over the past four weeks and are eager to explore more of what South Africa has to offer!

From Priscilla on behalf of herself, Georgina and Charlotte

IMPORTANT DATES

Angelin Achari
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Bookings for the St Margaret’s OSHC September/October School Holiday Program has opened. If you require care for the upcoming school holiday period, please return your booking form by 16 September 2019.

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?*

Early Bird Fees: $60 per day

Early Bird Bookings close: 9 September 2019

Fees: $65 per day*

*Incursions and excursions incur additional costs. These are compulsory for all students and therefore you are able to claim CCS.

What are the hours of operation?

The service is open from 7:00am until 6:00pm in the OSHC Room (Level 1 Primary Atrium, St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School).

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

I’m thrilled to share that we have reached our first ($1m) milestone, and have raised $1,004,607 of our new $1.2m stretch goal for the new sports precinct.

Our Donor Wall, which will be permanently erected in the new sports precinct, will feature a design that is a little different to the traditional listing of names. The Donor Wall will feature the names of those who have supported the campaign, through donations of $1,000 or more, in a range of sizes associated with different levels of giving in a 'wordle' style design.

View the design concept for the Donor Wall. (PDF 376.9KB)

The Donor Wall is important, as it is not only a tangible way in which we can recognise our donors for their generosity, but it also sends a powerful message to our girls; that is, it takes a community to create something special.

Will you join us?

Lara Pickering

Director of Philanthropy and Stakeholder Engagement

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2019 Primary Mother Daughter High Tea wrap up

The P&F hosted the Primary Mother Daughter High Tea in Eton Hall on Sunday afternoon, attended by 226 mothers and daughters of the St Margaret’s primary school community. A wonderful afternoon was enjoyed by all; thank you to all those who attended, supported our raffle and especially to those students who gave up their time to help the service team on the day.

These events could not be a success without the support of our generous sponsors and prize donors. Thank you to Diversify for sponsoring the event, and to Samantha Ogilvie, Hello Gorgeous, Milo & Macy, Pilates Unlimited, White Grove House, Buckley Hair/Art Gallery, Rogue Hair, Upstart Girls Activewear, the Half Baked Cakery, Wolff Coffee Roasters, Dandelion & Driftwood and the St Margaret’s P&F Association for all donating prizes to our raffle.

Special thanks must also go out to Antoinette Aquilina who did an outstanding job coordinating this event.

St Margaret’s Race Day - Saturday 7 September 2019

The 2019 St Margaret’s Race Day tickets are now on sale! This is always one of the most popular events on the P&F calendar so be sure to purchase your tickets early to avid disappointment.

Date: Saturday 7 September 2019
Time: 11.30am to 5.00pm
Venue: The Birdcage, Eagle Farm Racecourse
RSVP (extended): COB Thursday 29 August (unless SOLD OUT prior)
Dress code: Racewear
Tickets: $180 per person, Includes admission to The Birdcage, Eagle Farm Racecourse, canapés, lunch and a 5-hour drinks package

To view the formal invitation, please click here (PDF 528.5KB).

Important Information:

The Birdcage has two separate levels for this event.

Regulations at Eagle Farm are such that patrons are not allowed to move between levels.

It is therefore very important that you tell us who you would like to be grouped with.

When you purchase your tickets on Flexischools you will be asked to nominate other parents, or a year level, so we may allocate you appropriately.

Please note that there is no difference between the levels with respect to the food and drinks on offer, and other facilities.

Professional Women’s Network Cocktail Event with guest speaker, Trish Jackson (’79)

Date: Thursday 17 October 2019

Time: 5:30pm start, 7.30pm finish

Venue: McCullough Robertson, Level 11, 66 Eagle Street, Brisbane

Tickets: Corporate groups $800 for 10, $80 adult and $40 students (Years 10-12/tertiary)

Surviving against all odds, Trish Jackson uses her disability to educate the next generation; the key to ending bullying and discrimination. Trish is one of 10,000 babies born with several birth defects because her mother was given a sample packet of the drug Thalidomide, a supposedly ‘safe’ drug, during her pregnancy.

After graduating, Trish’s second job was ironically in the health department in the pharmaceutical section – ironic for two reasons: she was the result of the greatest pharmaceutical disaster in the world and the government who had told her she ‘could not work’ ended up being her employer for over a decade.

Today she is a guest speaker and agent for change – she is still campaigning for compensation after 57 years for the harm caused by the drug Thalidomide.

Join us for our PWN Cocktail event as Trish will share how, in the face of adversity, she has chartered her own professional path and how corporate workplaces can create a more inclusive culture.

Tickets are available via Flexischools. Please click here to purchase your ticket. (link for Flexischools )

We sincerely thank our corporate sponsors for their generous support of the Series.

Associate Sponsors: Pitcher Partners and McCullough Robertson

Supporting Partners: Downer, NAB, Programmed Property Services, Clear Insurance and QBI (Queensland Brain Institute).

2019 St Margaret’s School Raffle

Have you purchased your tickets in the 2019 St Margaret’s School Raffle?

With over $11,000 worth of prizes available, there will be a prize to suit everyone! Below is a selection of the hottest items and experiences:

• The Beach Ranch, Angourie - A three night stay at The Beach Ranch, Angourie NSW. (Valued at $1,000).
• The Golden Hamper - French Rose, 2 Electric Toothbrushes, Dental Products and a Gift Voucher for dental services & total face rejuvenation (Valued at $1,000).
• Penfolds Bin 95 Grange Shiraz 2012 - The 2012 Grange is one of the best vintages to ever come under the label in recent times (Valued at $780).
• The Standard Market Company Hamper - A selection of non-perishable sweet and savoury products and a Gift Voucher for $300 (Valued at $500).
• Black Toyota Homewares Basket - Designer homewares gift basket with 3 bottles of Bollinger champagne (Valued at $500).

You can purchase your tickets here (link - )

The St Margaret's Raffle will close at 2.30pm on Saturday 7 September. Draw will take place at 3pm Saturday 7 September 2019 at The Birdcage, Eagle Farm. Winners will be notified in person or by email or telephone.

Griffith Scholarships in 2020 

Find out more and apply online at

Griffith University Early Start to Tertiary Studies (GUESTS)
Year 11 students can apply for the Griffith University Early Start to Tertiary Studies (GUESTS) program in October 2019. For more information, visit

Griffith University Growing Tall Poppies
Designed for female students in years 9 and 10, interested in STEM. Griffith University Gold Coast campus 2/3 October. Visit

Griffith Honours College
Griffith Honours College gives outstanding undergraduate students – those with an OP of 1-3. Apply by Monday 16 December. Visit for more information.

Queensland School of Film and Television's (QSFT). YOU ARE INVITED!
OPEN DAY on Saturday, 7th September 2019.Your journey starts !

Durack College
Applications for Durack College are now open for 2020. Durack College offers a boutique residential experience, with a personalised focus on educational success. We work hard to create a culture and environment based on academic excellence. The small but vibrant community of female learners is offered a tailored living environment, making the transition to new routines easier and more rewarding. There are only 25 residency places, allowing Durack College to be both a private sanctuary and a busy and exciting community.

The University of Queensland Scholarships

QUT Scholarship opportunities
Explore (academic and creative industries), and Law Founders’ Scholarships, or check out the full range.  

QUT Creative industries course updates
Applications for creative industries courses with auditions or portfolios close at 5pm on Friday 20 September. Discover more at the site.

QUT Meeting assumed knowledge and prerequisites
QUT offers a  in Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics.

UQ College is offering University Prerequisite Courses in Mathematics B, Chemistry or Biology.

QTAC Key Dates and Fees

The University of Queensland

The UQ situational judgement test for the Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours).

UNE
Year 12 students are invited to participate in our Early Entry Program for admission in 2020.

QTAC Year 12 Tertiary Applications
The Educational Access Scheme (EAS) 

Griffith University: Explore your Options

Monday 16 December – Thursday 19 December. More information is available

Upcoming Events at UQ

Sat, September 7, 2019 - 12:30pm–4:30pm St Lucia campus

Sun, September 8, 2019 - 10:00am–2:00pm Whitty Building, Mater Hospital Brisbane

Sun, September 8, 2019 - 10:00am–1:00pm Sir Llew Edwards Building (8 Sep)

Sat, September 14, 2019 - 1:00pm–4:00pm Advanced Engineering Building

Mon, September 30, 2019 - 9:00am–3:00pm St Lucia campus

Wed, October 2, 2019 - 9:00am–3:30pm St Lucia campus

Marine Science Experience Day Sat, October 12, 2019 - 12:30pm–4:30pm Room 216, Prentice Building (42)

Sat, October 19, 2019   2:00pm–5:00pm Sir Llew Edwards Building (19 Oct)

Mon, December 16, 2019 - 3:00pm–6:00pm UQ Centre, St Lucia campus

Liz Johnston