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As I searched for relevant quotes in preparation for the speech two struck me as they acknowledged that failure is often a necessary part of growth. I often see in our younger students particularly, that they may not wish to try something new and start something challenging as they identify the potential for failure and fear it. This is why the concept of the “Learning Pit” and resilience are so important.

Michael Dell, founder and CEO of Dell Incorporated one of the world’s leading sellers of personal computers said this:

‘[Now] it’s time for you to move on to what’s next. But you must not let anything deter you from taking those first steps. [D]on’t spend so much time trying to choose the perfect opportunity, that you miss the right opportunity. Recognize that there will be failures and acknowledge that there will be obstacles. But you will learn from your mistakes and the mistakes of others, for there is very little learning in success.’

J K Rowling, a British Novelist best known for the Harry Potter series said this:

‘You might never fail on the scale I did. But some failure in life is inevitable. It is impossible to live without failing at something unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all. In which case, you fail by default.’

These two quotes represent sage advice for the wise to follow. I hope you enjoyed reading them as much as I did finding them, to share with our students.

Ros Curtis

The St Margaret's Student Protection Officers are:

• - Deputy Principal - Karen Gorrie
• - Head of Boarding - Lesa Fowler
• - Head of Primary School - Angela Drysdale
• - Assistant Head of Primary – Curriculum (PP-6) – Kate Frewin
• - Dean of Students - Nikki Townsend
• - Dean of Studies – Caitlin McCluskey
• - Guidance Counsellor - Sharon Stone
• - Acting Head of Arts and Design – Nicole Walker

All Student Protection documentation including all policies and procedures can be viewed on our internet page at /discover-st-margaret-s/student-protection.

Our statement of commitment is as follows:

St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School supports the rights of children and young people and are committed to ensure the safety, welfare and wellbeing of students. St Margaret’s is therefore committed to responding to allegations of student harm resulting from the conduct or actions of any person including that of employees.

This commitment includes the provision of a safe and supportive living and learning environment for all students and requires all employees, volunteers and visitors to model and encourage behaviour that upholds the dignity and protection of students from harm.

In support of this commitment, St Margaret’s is dedicated to our Child and Youth Risk Management Strategy which includes having relevant policies, procedures and training in place to effectively address the safety and wellbeing of students in our care.

Karen Gorrie

This term, in Year 10 RVE, we are studying ‘altruism’, self-less giving to another without expecting anything in return, nor giving for a reason that promotes oneself over another. Over the term we will examine homelessness and poverty and its ethical dimensions.

For Year 12 parents and guardians, you have given your children a wonderful education, your altruism toward your children, your tireless concern for their wellbeing, is going to stand them in good stead for their upcoming exams and their life beyond school.

“With a love like that, it lights the whole sky”.

I share with you the words of a Sufi poet, Hafiz, who illustrates what altruism looks like in his poem

“The Sun Never Says”:

After

All this time

The Sun never says to the Earth,

"You owe me."

Look

What happens

With a love like that,

It lights the whole sky.”

Rev Jazz Dow

A special mention to Queena Jiang, who is our 2021 Valedictorian. Her speech was a special highlight for the Boarding House. She explains what a home away from home meant for a student who has not been able to go home for 2 years due to the Covid 19 pandemic. We are a proud Boarding Community and are proud of the impact we make to ensure our students make it the finish line. What a testimony of determination, courage, resilience and the support from all.

We farewell those in Boarding especially, who we have shared the same roof with for many years. The Year 12s were big sisters to the remaining students in Boarding; they now pass this leadership onwards. To the Year 12 cohort of 2021, life is a series of new horizons, new hopes, new days and changes. As you enter the next chapter of your lives and leave our Boarding home, please consider these three things… 

Make everyday count!

Dream it – Do it!

“Don’t wait for your ship to come in – row out to meet it!”

My best wishes with you all and your future plans and the pursuit of your dreams. In the wise words of Nelson Mandela, “may your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.” Do the things you never thought you could do. Go forth, learn and grow, be inspired by people, places and communities, seek out experiences to enrich your knowledge and your character. Dream incredible dreams, work extremely hard, live life to the fullest. Be curious, be agile, be strong, be sensitive but most importantly, be you! Be open to life and be free in your thinking and your decisions. I will leave you with some final words from the ever-insightful Winnie the Pooh, “you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think.”

Gracemere Mataia 

As one year level finishes, the next group of students (our Year 11s) begin the Unit 3 and 4 journey as they work towards completing learning and work that will contribute to their ATAR and QCE. It has been great to speak to many girls who have a renewed focus on their studies, and many have started with very productive learning behaviours.

Finally, this week I spoke to the current Year 10 students about Academic Integrity and their role in preparing themselves for Year 11 and 12. We also spent some time setting up each students QCAA Student portal through the My QCE website. This is a very informative portal that each student has access to that provides them with study tips and expectations for Year 11 and 12. This page can be accessed at the following link.

Nicole Devlin

English

Year 11 – Distinction

Ella Woods

Year 7 – High Distinction

Lauren Jarrett

Jessica Krook

Science

Year 7 – Distinction

Lauren Jarrett

Year 10 – Distinction

Ha-Vy Hoang

Year 7 – High Distinction

Jessica Krook

Mathematics

Year 7 – Distinction

Jessica Krook

Year 10 – Distinction

Minwen Xiong

Caitlin McCluskey

The awards are presented to students each year in many Australian Secondary Schools, in remembrance of the soldiers who died at the then South Vietnamese Village of Long Tan in 1968. The students are selected based on the following attributes:

• Leadership
• Teamwork
• Co-operation
• Resourcefulness
• High Personal Values
• Problem Solving
• Communication Skills
• Involvement in Community

The school wishes the class of 2021 the very best for their upcoming external assessment.

Nikki Townsend

An effective way to develop this learning is through providing authentic learning experiences. Authentic learning involves the alignment of learning experiences with real life experiences.  Authentic learning focuses on complex problems and solutions, case studies and role-playing. 

Many of the learning experiences offered to many year levels over the past week have been authentic.  Last week, Year 3 students headed to camp where each girl stepped out of their comfort zone by sleeping away from home, being responsible for self and belongings, and negotiating with peers in a new context. The girls had to transfer their social skills to a new and very different situation. Thank you to Nicole Jonathan and Kate Porter for their organisation and support and to Morgan Rowe and Melissa Faulkner for contributing also to the camp. I am grateful for each teacher’s commitment and generosity of time.  

The Year 4 girls turned their classroom into a museum when they applied their knowledge of early explorers.  The girls each successfully researched an explorer and then selected key information relevant to the creating of a museum exhibition criterion.   The girls applied the knowledge they collected from a museum visit to their own exhibit. The girls’ confidence as they shared important information about their explorer was very impressive.

A visit to the ‘goldfields’ was an authentic learning experience offered to the Year 5 girls this week.  A motley crew of miners ascended the bus and headed to Bahrs Scrub. The girls loved stepping back in time as they panned for gold and explored the environment of the past. They experienced ‘firsthand’ the hardships of living on the gold fields.

This week, the group of Year 6 girls who initiated and ran the fundraiser for Covid vaccine last year were reminded of its significance. The group featured both in person and on video at the University of Queensland Celebration of Giving function; this evening was in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the COVID-19 Vaccine project.  Professor Paul Young spoke once again about the girls’ involvement. Our primary school captain, Georgia Smith, confidently shared their journey with a very receptive and large audience. 

By giving our students the opportunity to learn through authentic, real life, relevant learning experiences, we are giving them the ability to apply their learning and to learn through doing. This contributes to the development of the learning dispositions required to be successful beyond school.  

Angela Drysdale

Thank you to the Sculthorpe String Quartet

Thank you to the Sculthorpe String Quartet who provided a wonderful performance at the recent On Earth Festival held at St Francis College last Saturday afternoon. The girls performed a 45-minute set that was appreciated by all in attendance. Thank you also to the quartet for their contribution to the recent Professional Women’s Networking Breakfast where they provided wonderful entertainment as guests arrived. Congratulations to Lily Song who gave a dazzling solo performance of Wieniawski’s Polonaise Brilliante No 2 on the violin, accompanied by Mr Ng as part of the morning’s proceedings.

Music Support Group

The next Music Support Group meeting will be our Annual General Meeting and will be held on Tuesday 9 November 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

Badminton

It was a great day on Saturday 16 October which concluded the QGSSSA Badminton season.  Teams from Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9 teams were in action all over Brisbane and Ipswich competing, learning and having fun.  Thanks to our coaching staff for their efforts this season it was great seeing the growth and enjoyment experienced by all girls.  

Success at the Queensland Athletics All Schools Championships

Last weekend a group of St Margaret’s athletes competed in the State Championships run by Queensland Athletics, with some outstanding performances.

The weather was warm, and the track was fast as the girls competed against some of the best athletes in the State.

Congratulations to Ryanne Coe, Tyla Proctor, Olivia Rees-Smith, Ella Brown, Aimee Young, Isabella Harte, Brogan Tomich and Georgia Hopwood on their excellent performances.

Tyla, Isabella and Georgia came away with medals, and Isabella picked up a World Junior Athletics Qualifying time of 09:19:60 putting her in close contention for a place on the Australian team in the future.

Girls born in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 are eligible to compete at the U10 – U14 QLD All Schools State Championships on October 30^th and 31^st. Registration closes October 25^th 9:00am. We advise that you only consider competing if you have been training externally since our QGSSSA season concluded. For more information, please contact Core Sports Coordinator, Mrs Susan Uhlmann – suhlmann@stmargarets.qld.edu.au

Water Polo

All teams are heading into the third round of the Brisbane Water Polo competition and for some it will only be their third game of water polo ever!  Despite this our girls, have been steadily improving from week to week with the U12A, 12B, 13C, 14B, 15C Blue, and 17B teams winning and the 14C and 15C Orange teams drawing their games 8-8 respectively. 

Access to the playing schedule for Saturday 23 October, can be found by visiting the Water Polo POD page or by visiting the BWPI fixtures and results page

Touch Football Open Trials

All girls who are currently in Years 8 – 11 are invited to register and attend trials that form the Open Touch Football squad for 2022.  Trials will be held on the below dates:

• Thursday 4 November
• Tuesday 9 November
• Thursday 11 November

Register through the Touch Football POD page.

Cricket Pre-Season Training

St Margaret’s Sport in partnership with Wilston-Norths Cricket Club will be holding a 4-week training clinic for all girls interested in learning and developing their Cricket skills in readiness for the QGSSSA season in Term 1.  Information on the weekly training sessions and how to register can be found on the Cricket POD page.  

Congratulations

Eadie McWilliam (Year 8) who competed in the 160km Qld Endurance Horse Riding event in the Lockyer placing 2^nd overall in a time of 10 hours and 30 minutes.

Helen Lobegeiger

We have been honoured to host another suite of impressive guest speakers this year, which also included Jenny Stevens (Chief Executive Officer and Clinical Director, Attune Hearing) and Nicole Hollows (Non-Executive Director and Chair Audit Risk Committee, Downer EDI Limited; Chair, Jameson Resources Limited; Former Chief Executive Officer, Sunwater and Managing Director/CEO, Macarthur Coal Limited).

We would like to sincerely thank our wonderful series sponsors for their support throughout 2021.

Major Sponsor: Pitcher Partners

Associate Sponsors: Programmed Property Services and Wolff Coffee Roasters

Supporting Partners: Downer, Clear Insurance, Red Oak, O’Reilly Shaw Lawyers, NAB and Westpac.

Thanks to the support of our corporate sponsors and profit from ticket sales, more than $38,000 was raised and donated to St Margaret’s Foundation Endowment Fund to assist in supporting needs-based bursaries for regional/rural and indigenous students here at the school.

P&F General Meeting

The P&F gives notice and warmly invites the school community to attend our final General Meeting of 2021.

This is an opportunity to share your views and ideas, so please join us.

At this General Meeting we will also be proposing an amendment to the P&F By-Laws.

Date: Monday 25 October 2021

Time: 6.30pm start, 8.00pm finish

Venue: M’s Cafe, St Margaret’s AGS

If you are unable to physically attend the meeting, you may wish to attend online via Microsoft Teams. Please find the link below.

Microsoft Teams meeting

Join on your computer or mobile app

Join with a video conferencing device

423271475@t.plcm.vc

Video Conference ID: 134 167 498 0

SAVE THE DATE for the 2022 Mothers’ Luncheon!

Hosted by St Margaret’s P&F Association

Date: Friday 11 March 2022

Tickets will go on sale early in 2022.

Lara Pickering

Friday 17 December 2021, 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm, Online

If you have questions after you know your ATAR, we’ll be hosting a live webinar to provide you with advice about admission pathways, offers explained, ordering your preferences and getting in to QUT. Find out more:

Sunday 19 December 2021, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm. Online

The right advice can set you on the right path. Discover what’s possible at UQ during our ATAR advice event. Attend this free online event to:

• chat one-on-one with staff and current students, and get a personalised plan for your future at UQ, whether your ATAR rank is what you were expecting or not
• watch dedicated seminars that will help you understand your options and get an insight into what life is really like at UQ
• explore our world-class facilities through virtual campus tours.

Find out more:

Students can start university in high school and explore a subject they’re interested in to gain credit and save money on their USC degree. There are courses available from a wide range of study areas, including an additional 17 subjects that students can study online or on campus.

Bond University has long held a reputation for producing graduates equipped with the knowledge and capabilities necessary to be highly successful in their future lives and work. In 2020, we launched new degrees in Digital, Entrepreneurial, Health and Legal Transformation.

The Bond University Medical Program is designed to equip graduates with the foundational knowledge, skills and attributes required to safely and effectively practise medicine in today’s complex healthcare environment. Applications must be made via QTAC, and applications open for the Medical Program on Thursday 13 January and close on Thursday 27 January 2022.

Saturday 6 November 2021, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm, Online

This online workshop is for aspiring designers and recommended as a starting point for those wishing to develop their illustration skills and create a portfolio for application to the Bachelor of Design program. In this 2-hour workshop, you will gain an understanding of how to illustrate with Marker and Paper, experiment with different multi-media materials and learn techniques for presenting your creative ideas.

Find out more:

Naomi Holley