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Our first Professional Women’s Network (PWN) breakfast will be held at the school in the Arts Centre Foyer on Tuesday 19 March (7.00am – 8.45am). All parents are welcomed to attend and to consider bringing their older daughter. We also encourage our parents to consider booking a corporate table to help build relationships with staff and clients within their business. It is a great way to support your daughter’s school and your business at the same time!  

Our guest speaker for the first PWN is Rhyll Gardner (’81). Rhyll is a non-executive director, chair, mentor and coach following a 40-year career as a financial services executive with St George, Westpac, Bank of Queensland and Suncorp in Brisbane and Sydney. During her executive career, she led teams of up to 1000 people across retail, business and corporate banking, product and marketing, strategy and M&A, risk and compliance, and business and corporate development. Her current board roles include Chair of Nucrush, Non-Executive Director of BankVic, Non-Executive Director of Identitii, Non-Executive Director of InterFinancial, and Non-Executive Director of Foodbank. Rhyll also chairs and mentors a peer advisory group for CEOs and business owners. To purchase tickets or a corporate table: 

On Thursday 21 March, we will hold our Past Student Awards event in the evening. This is a wonderful opportunity for our current students to hear from our alumni. It is a lovely celebratory dinner; in fact, it is one of my favourite events in the school calendar. I would encourage any parent to bring their daughter to be inspired by the achievements of our past students. This is just one of the occasions that we honour the achievements of our past students and put up in front of our current students those who donned the middy and walked the campus before them. We believe that this role modelling by our past students is especially important. As the saying goes, when it comes to choosing future careers, ‘if you can’t see it, you can’t be it!’ To purchase tickets:

Four past students will receive awards on the evening. Recipients of the Distinguished Past Student Award are Michelle May AM KC (’72) – Former Judge of The Family Court of Australia and Dr Alex Markwell (’95) – Emergency Physician at RBWH; Young Past Student of Distinction Award is Caitlin McConnel (’07) – Senior Associate Clayton Utz and sixth generation farmer; and the winner of the Spirit of Service Award is Trudi Mitchell (’87) – CEO of UNHCR Australia.

Ros Curtis

Secondary students are to turn off their mobile phones and place in their lockers for the duration of the school day. Students are no longer able to check their phones at all at any time in the school day, including break times.

All mobile phones brought to school by students in the Primary School must be turned off and placed in the allocated box at the beginning of the school day. This box will then be stored in the Primary School Office.

Additionally, any student (in both the Primary and the Secondary School) who wears a smart watch that is cellular enabled must deactivate this cellular capability during the school day (place in airplane mode).

Please be aware that any student found breaching the policy will incur disciplinary action. I urge everyone to read the Mobile Phone Policy found on the POD.

Concussion Policy

Commensurate with new regulations set out by the Australian Institute of Sport, we have updated our concussion policy. Any student who has been diagnosed with concussion must not engage in ANY physical activity for a period of 21 days after the concussion was sustained. It is the responsibility of parents to inform the school of a student’s diagnosed concussion, including concussion sustained in an external sporting contest, event or activity.

We have also added a ‘return to learn’ feature in the policy, recognising that it is common for concussed children or adolescents to have difficulty concentrating and paying attention in class. It is advised that the student and their family liaise with the Dean of Academics, Dean of Studies or Assistant Head of Primary – Curriculum (PP-6) in relation to arrangements that can be made in their return to learning.

The Concussion Policy can be found on the POD.

Karen Gorrie

At St Margaret’s, this year, as we did in past years, instead of saying “remember, you are dust,” we said, “remember you are stardust.” This was a reminder of our interconnectedness and that our very being has traces of the stars. We marked our foreheads with an ash and glitter cross symbolising our connectedness and commitment to loving our neighbour throughout Lent.

Since Ash Wednesday fell on Valentine’s Day this year, we read 1 Corinthians 13. 1-8 and reflected on what it means to live with love throughout Lent, wondering how we can show patience and kindness throughout the season of Lent.

As we enter this season, may you find space to remember you are loved, and that you are connected to a vibrant community called humanity.

A poem for the beginning of Lent:

The Desert Waits
(Ruth Burgess)

The desert waits,

ready for those who come,

who come obedient to the Spirit’s leading;

or who are driven,

because they will not come any other way.

The desert always waits,

ready to let us know who we are –

the place of self-discovery.

And whilst we fear, and rightly,

the loneliness and emptiness and harshness,

we forget the angels

whom we cannot see for our blindness,

but who come when God decides

that we need their help;

when we are ready

for what they can give us.

Rev’d Jazz Dow

At St Margaret’s we strive to create a safe and inclusive environment that mirrors a "home-like" experience, characterised by care, encouragement, friendliness, and warmth. Central to this ethos is the development of relationships built on trust, understanding, and clear communication with our students, boarding families, and the broader school community.

Our dedication to student welfare extends beyond the physical environment. One of the integral aspects of my role is coordinating activities that ensure our students are engaged, connected with friends, and provided with ample opportunities to explore their interests. As we find ourselves nearing the middle of the term, it brings me immense joy to share that the girls in our boarding house have been thoroughly enjoying a plethora of activities. From outdoor adventures to cultural explorations, there's something for everyone.

This past week was a testament to the joy and camaraderie within our walls. Despite the rain, our Year 7 students embarked on a thrilling camp adventure. Meanwhile, our girls savoured a leisurely weekend starting with a delightful trip to the Powerhouse Markets. The aroma of French crepes filled the air as they strolled, pausing to admire the furry companions they met along the way. Wrapping up the weekend with a rejuvenating bushwalk and swim at Enoggera Reservoir, laughter echoed amidst nature's embrace.

And just recently, we celebrated the Year 12 formal dinner with a theme close to our hearts: Galentine's Day. An ode to friendship, Galentine's Day celebrates the bonds of sisterhood and the beauty of platonic love. It was a night filled with laughter, shared memories, and the promise of everlasting friendship.

Adding a touch of cultural celebration to our week, we joyously embraced the Chinese Lunar New Year, heralding the Year of the Dragon. The dining hall and garden room were adorned with festive and traditional decorations, creating a vibrant atmosphere filled with excitement and anticipation. Our students enjoyed a festive meal in the dining hall, immersing themselves in the rich flavours and culinary delights of the occasion. Additionally, they indulged in a variety of sweets and treats, carefully selected to satisfy their tastes and preferences, making it a memorable celebration for all.

As we reflect on the past week's festivities, one thing is clear: our boarding house is more than just a residence; it's a sanctuary where bonds are forged, memories are made, and friendships blossom. As we move forward, we look forward to more enriching experiences, strong bonds, and a supportive environment that empowers each student to thrive.

Kelli Boucaut

At this forum, researchers from the University of Melbourne also spoke to school leaders about their evaluation into the effectiveness of the QCE system and how it meets needs of students, teachers and other stakeholders. School leaders were able to provide feedback to the University of Melbourne at the forum, but we have also been given a link for current and past students, parents and teachers to also provide feedback. You are able to give your feedback at the following link: . 

Exam Block Timetables

Students in Year 12 have already received their Exam Block timetables and Year 11 will receive theirs early next week. This will help to inform their study schedule in the coming weeks. All students should already be factoring ongoing revision and study into their weekly schedule. As can be seen on the Assessment Planners, these block periods are quite full, so it is possible that your daughter will have more than one exam on any given day. Adequate lead in time will assist her in feeling prepared for this.

“Take accountability for your learning: be assertive and don’t be afraid to ask questions” – Nicola D’Abreton, ’23.

Caitlin McCluskey

A copy of the letter I sent to parents, which outlines some of the functionality and accessibility of the portal, can be found here. (PDF 237.6KB) 

Secondary Parent Teacher Interviews

Yesterday, I wrote to parents regarding the Term 1 Secondary Parent Teacher Interviews, which are occurring on Monday 4 March (face-to-face interviews) and Thursday 7 March (Microsoft Teams interviews).

Further details about how to book interviews can be found in the letter; however, below is a reminder of key dates for parent bookings:

• Parent Bookings Open: Friday 16 February 9:00am
• Parent Bookings Close: Friday 1 March 9:00am

Chris Dunn

Aspiring student leaders should be looking to display and develop qualities such as:

• Integrity: Leaders must be true to themselves. Student leaders who behave consistently with the school’s value system inspire trust in their followers and are seen as honest.
• Autonomy: Leaders must be self-directed where appropriate. Individuals who can act without an authority figure telling them what to do each step of the way can make the decisions necessary to move their group along towards its goals. Student leaders need to see options, make choices and solve problems in order to direct themselves and others. With the self-confidence that arises with experience and self-knowledge, the leader has the strength to make choices that lead to accomplishing a vision.
• Relationships: Student leaders who help to create an environment in which all participants feel welcome, respected and valued are exercising their leadership well and can assist to maintain group unity and energy.

Heads of Year will be announcing at their Year level Assemblies in the upcoming weeks the students who have been successful in gaining a role for this semester. However, if your daughter is not successful, we encourage them to speak to their Head of Year to gain feedback. Please note there are many other opportunities that students can learn and demonstrate through their leadership in various extracurricular activities.

Nikki Townsend

One of the greatest opportunities is their appointment as House leaders, a Level 2 leadership position behind Level 1, the elected Primary School Captains. Level 3 leadership positions include sporting, cultural and other roles for which students are appointed.  

This week, the Year 6 girls were inducted as House Leaders of the primary school and the Primary Captains, Audrey Chen and Sarah Long, were commissioned. It is a big responsibility for the oldest students in the primary school as the younger girls will look up to them for guidance and encouragement. The teachers will look to them to support in the myriad of activities occurring in the primary school.

The induction was a wonderful celebration and a way not only to acknowledge the leadership of the Year 6 girls but to celebrate all the girls as leaders of the primary school.

The induction acknowledged the girls as a cohort and team, as they commence their final year of primary school.  Each girl received a house leader badge. This badge not only represents the honour of the position, but it is also a symbol - a symbol of the leadership attributes and commitment by the girls to uphold and demonstrate the school values by:-

• exemplifying passion and spirit in house and everyday activities
• having the integrity to be honest in all endeavours
• having the courage to step outside their comfort zone and the strength of character to encourage and motivate others to do so as well
• demonstrating respect and inclusivity in all interactions with others and doing so with consideration and compassion

Thank you to Annette Box for her organisation of the event and to the many parents who attended and celebrated with the girls. Congratulations to the girls, and I look forward to working with our new leaders in the primary school

Angela Drysdale

Servant leadership is very important at St Margaret’s, as our school was built on a foundation of service by the Sisters of the Society of the Sacred Advent. As the students’ progress through the year levels, their service program changes to reflect their year level and capabilities. Students are issued with a Leadership Passport, which they carry with them through to Year 6, and record and reflect upon their individual growth as a future leader. The passport also assists the girls to develop an understanding that attaining leadership positions are an outcome of completing our ‘Leadership through Service’ passport - a passport that requires students to plan and give time to others. The Gift of Giving Time, working with Character Builders towards an ‘I Can’ leadership approach and individual and group demonstrations of service both within the school and the community are features of their journey in Years 4 and 5.

In Year 6, the girls participate in the Cornerstone Project with their form class, in which they develop and facilitate a range of services and products to share with the other primary year levels.

This year, our annual Year 6 day with Churchie will take place in Term 2 and will be a half day of leadership development and workshops to assist the students as they fulfill their various roles, followed by a lunch with the Year 6 Churchie boys. As House Leaders, the girls are also responsible for organising activities in their House / Chapel time on a Friday, in which the girls work as a house group with students from Prep upwards. These sessions have proven to be a wonderful opportunity for the girls to run games and activities, to organise their houses for interhouse events, and to flex their ‘leadership muscles’. Equally, when they do go to chapel alongside their younger house members, they act as role models and support the girls with getting to and from the chapel, and showcase the value the school places on singing and on our faith. It has been most impressive to already see the girls stepping up as House Leaders, and now that they have officially been appointed to this role and are wearing their badges with pride, we look forward to their next phase of growth.

Annette Box

Approximately 140 students worked very hard in rehearsals and also enjoyed numerous activities led by our Music Captains, including learning a special dance that will feature in our end of year Music Dinner video and a swim in the pool (which was very much appreciated on such a warm day).

The Music Support Group provided a wonderful sausage sizzle as well as a special cake to encourage the students in their efforts. All in attendance very much appreciated the efforts of the Music Support Group.

Thank you to all girls who participated for their hard work throughout the day. Thank you also to our conductors Dr Syntageros, Ms Brennan, Ms Taylor, Mr Ng and Ms Raynor for leading the ensemble rehearsals. All music students are very excited to present performances at our approaching Open Day!

Staff News

The St Margaret’s Music Department is very pleased to welcome Ms Jenna Choi as a new flute teacher. Ms Choi has recently moved from Victoria to Queensland and comes to St Margaret’s with both extensive teaching and performing experience. We very much look forward to having her as a member of our St Margaret’s music community.

Performance Uniforms

Students are required to wear a performance uniform for some senior auditioned music ensembles. Students are encouraged to purchase the uniform as soon as possible at the School Supplies Shop in preparation for Open Day (9 March). Music ensemble uniform requirements are as follows:

Choral Ensembles:

Serenata, Belle Voci, Chorale, Encorah: School middy

Volare, Exultate: Black performance uniform with white ribbon and black shoes (ballet flats). (Volare and Exultate students may remain in their black performance uniform when performing in Encorah).

Band Ensembles:

Chaseley Concert Band, Jackson Wind Ensemble: School middy

Saxophone/Clarinet/Flute/Brass/Elayne Jones Percussion Ensembles and Stage Band: School middy

Sister Helen Wind Symphony: Black performance uniform with black shoes (ballet flats). (Sister Helen Wind Symphony students may remain in their black performance uniform when performing in Saxophone/Clarinet/Flute/Brass/Elayne Jones Percussion Ensembles and Stage Band).                                 

String Ensembles:

Tutti Strings, Amati Strings, Beath String Quartet, Stradivari Strings:  School middy

Chamber Strings, Sculthorpe String Quartet: Black performance uniform with white ribbon and black shoes (ballet flats). (Chamber Strings students may remain in their black performance uniform when performing in Stradivari Strings.)

Rock Bands:

Highly Strung: School middy

Secondary Rock Bands: Smart blue jeans, sneakers and ‘M Factor’ polo shirt, and hair tied back with school ribbon.

All performance uniform items are available for purchase through the School Supplies Shop.

Music Support Group

The next Music Support Group meeting will be held on Tuesday 5 March 2024 at 5:00pm in the Circular Drive Classroom 01 (in front of the Arts Centre Foyer). We encourage parents from both primary and secondary schools to become involved.

Brad King

Our dedicated sport staff and teacher coordinators are on hand to support with any questions you may have related to the program.

Representative Sport Pathway - Queensland Representative School Sport (Secondary)

We have hit the ground running with trials for a variety of representative sports facilitated through Queensland Representative School Sport (QRSS).

Queensland Representative School Sport facilitates competitive pathways in 21 sports for students between the ages of 12–19 years. Students from affiliated schools across all sectors of education have the opportunity to compete at district, regional, state and national levels of competition. The Department of Education facilitates these events in combination with Regional Committees (Metropolitan North) and affiliate schools.

In 2024, the Metropolitan North Region have introduced some changes to the process of nomination for the representative school sport pathway. Below is a simple step-by-step guide to help navigate aspiring student-athletes of St Margaret’s through this new process:

1.            GENERAL INFORMATION:

•              Aspiring student-athletes seeking to participate in the Representative Sport Pathway should join the

2.            Expression of Interest:

•              St Margaret’s will post an expression of interest form on the Representative School Sport (Secondary) POD page for the district/regional sport trial taking place. 

3.            SCHOOL ENDORSEMENT:

•              St Magaret’s will review all EOI nominations, ensuring student's competency achieves the standard set for their nominated sport.

•              St Margaret’s will review student’s competency based of the participation and performance achieved within the STM program or may request further information regarding external sport involvement.

•              St Margaret’s is regulated on the number of students we can nominate, and the competency standard required to participate in a District/Regional trial.  

4.            QRSS TRIAL REGISTION:

•              St Margaret’s endorsed students will then receive an email, containing a QR Code from St Margaret’s requesting their registration with QRSS to the trial. This QR Code Registration will include all information related to the District or Region trial, including all consent forms.

•              It is the responsibilities of a student's parent or guardian to complete this external QRSS registration to trial.

5.            PRINCIPAL APPROVAL:

•              Upon QRSS registration, St Margaret’s will be notified of student registration, with appropriate Principal approvals saught internally.

6.            ATTENDANCE AT TRIAL:

•              On the designated trial date, participating students attend the trial session. No paperwork is required to be taken.

•              Students who have not completed the QRSS registration will NOT be permitted to take part in the trial.

7.            TRIAL CONDUCT:

•              It is the responsibility of the convening district or regional school to facilitate the trial.

8.            NOTIFICATION OF SELECTION:

•              Successfully selected students will be notified by the convening district or regional school (this information will not come from St Margaret’s).

•              All further information will be provided by QRSS, with similar processes of registration required.

For further information regarding the Queensland Representative School Sport pathway, please contact Ms Rebecca Wilkinson via email activities@stmargarets.qld.edu.au or phone 07 3862 0802.

Additional information can be found on the following links:

Lloyd Knight

Commences Tuesday 6 February, 3:30pm - 5pm, Arts Centre Foyer, V104

What: We will create visually aesthetic landscape and portrait paintings. You can give them as gifts to your friends or family! Class accommodates for beginners to advanced painting students.Ms Cameron will take you through a step by step painting process and will help you along the way.

Where: Arts Centre, classroom V104

Who: Open to all secondary students in Years 7 to 12

Cost: Free. No need to register

Artwork of the Month

View the artwork of the month for February (PDF 300.4KB), awarded by the Visual Art Captains. 

Older students have also started to take initiative in guiding the younger students by demonstrating the “manners matter” framework in every aspect of the OSHC routine. The children enjoyed a range of activities this past week such as bracelet making, iron beads and riding bikes in the atrium. We look forward to another fun-filled week!

Palu Ingram

Like all milestones, St Margaret’s wants to make its mark - by moving the overall fundraising needle to the million-dollar mark! It’s a bold target, so we are calling in the cavalry. We have raised more than $700,000, in nine years, so our goal is to raise close to $300,000 this year to reach our target.

To achieve this, we are calling for the involvement not only of students to cut their hair and donate, but also any other family members and alumni who’d like to #rockthechop – whether they live locally or outside of Brisbane.

If you are an Old Girl or past or current parent and would like to help us reach our target, we are asking you to register your interest so we can keep you up to date with the 2024 event. And some of you might need to start growing your mane now!

Can’t get to Brisbane? You can still be involved wherever you are by joining the fundraising page and getting your local hairdresser or a trusted friend to lop off your ponytail or consider holding your own event in a regional area or international city!

We’d love to connect our boarding families keen to be involved from afar – perhaps to even host a morning tea on the day.  

If you are interested in becoming involved, we have set up an Expression of Interest form where you can indicate what type of involvement you are interested in, and if you are in another town, we could connect you with other’s keen to be involved.

Note, the actual donation page will be open soon. The EOI form will help us keep you in touch with all things Ponytail Project, including letting you know when you can jump on and sign up to either cut your hair or donate.

If you have any enquiries, please email Wendy Johnston, Director of Marketing and Communications, on wjohnston@stmargarets.qld.edu.au or call (07) 3862 0837.

There will also be a post-presentation Q&A.

We look forward to you joining us for this invaluable opportunity to hear from one of Australia’s leading voices in the area of cybersafety, and to ensure that you are best equipped to support and protect your daughter’s online safety. 

Monday 19 February

6pm - 7:30pm

Philip Harris Gym

Please RSVP at this by Friday 16 February. For any queries, please contact reception@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.

Join us for dinner with your daughter to hear from and celebrate four inspirational Ó£ÌÒ¸£ÀûÊÓƵ women who have made outstanding contributions to our society and achieved great success in their chosen field.

Event Details

Date:        Thursday 21 March 2024
Time:        Pre-dinner drinks and canapes at 6.30pm
                  Dinner at 7.00pm (including Awards presentation)
Venue:      Arts Centre Foyer, Ó£ÌÒ¸£ÀûÊÓƵ Anglican Girls School
Cost:         $95 Adults | $65 Students 
                  Adult ticket includes canapes, two course meal and drinks package
                  Student ticket includes canapes, two course meal and non-alcoholic drinks package
Tickets:     
RSVP:        Friday 8 March 2023
Enquiries: Development and Community Office, (07) 3862 0768 or           
                  oga&alumni@stmargarets.qld.edu.au

Professional Women’s Network Breakfast

Join us on Tuesday 19 March for our first Professional Women's Network Breakfast of 2024 with guest speaker Rhyll Gardner (’81). 

Rhyll is a non-executive director, chair, mentor and coach following a 40-year career as a

financial services executive with St George, Westpac, Bank of Queensland and Suncorp in Brisbane and Sydney. During her executive career, she led teams of up to 1000 people across retail, business and corporate banking, product and marketing, strategy and M&A, risk and compliance, and business and corporate development. Her current board roles include Chair of Nucrush, Non-Executive Director of BankVic, Non-Executive Director of Identitii, Non-Executive Director of InterFinancial, and Non-Executive Director of Foodbank. Rhyll also chairs and mentors a peer advisory group for CEOs and business owners. She is an avid supporter of the arts and is always drawn to opportunities to support young women.

Event Details

Date:                     Tuesday 19 March 2024
Time:                    6.45am arrival for 7.00am - 8.45am
Location:             Arts Centre Foyer, Ó£ÌÒ¸£ÀûÊÓƵ Anglican Girls' School, 11 Petrie Street, Ascot
Format:                Sit down breakfast  

Tickets:                $85 Adult, $40 Student (Years 10-12/Tertiary)
Corporate tables: $850 (10 seats), includes company logo displayed on table and acknowledgement during event.

To purchase tickets or a corporate table: 

We thank our series sponsors, Major Sponsor: Pitcher Partners, Supporting Sponsors: Wolff Coffee Roasters, Downer, Clear Insurance, Move Recruitment Solutions and O'Reilly Shaw Lawyers.

Aspiring Young Women’s Network Breakfast

Tickets are available for the first Aspiring Young Women's Network breakfast for 2024 with guest speaker Jimena Kotsomitis (’01).

Parents are welcome to attend these events with their daughters.

The Aspiring Young Women’s Network Breakfast (AYWN) Series provides an opportunity for secondary school students, from Years 9-12, to hear firsthand from alumni who have recently transitioned to university or their chosen career.

The journey of St Margaret’s alumni Jimena Alejandra Kotsomitis (‘01) from lawyer to creator of a lifestyle brand tells a story of perseverance, planning and pivoting.

After graduating from St Margaret’s, Jimena studied a dual degree of law/creative industries at QUT, then followed her dream to move to New York on turning 21. There she studied for and passed the NY Bar Exam and practised law in Manhattan as NBC’s in-house intellectual property associate. She returned home after three years, and big changes were afoot.

In 2016, she founded the label Jimena Alejandra in Brisbane. This contemporary jewellery and lifestyle brand is known for unique, handmade pieces that balance classic and maximalist codes. As founder and designer, Jimena’s goal is to evoke joy and optimism through colourful designs that champion the use of semi-precious gemstones.

Today, this former lawyer, now mother and entrepreneur, is passionate about inspiring and empowering young girls to take risks and to follow their dreams no matter how far-fetched they might seem.

Event Details

Date:                     Thursday 14 March 2024
Time:                    6.45am arrival for 7.00am - 8.10am
Location:             Arts Centre Foyer, Ó£ÌÒ¸£ÀûÊÓƵ Anglican Girls' School, 11 Petrie Street, Ascot
Format:                Sit down breakfast  

Tickets:                $38 Adult/Student (Years 10-12/Tertiary), includes continental style breakfast.

To purchase tickets: 

We thank our series sponsors: Pitcher Partners and St Margaret’s Old Girls’ Association.

P&F call for donations  – Wine Tree

Do you have a spare bottle of wine in your cellar that you can part ways with?

The P&F are calling for donations for a Wine Tree, which will be used as an auction prize at the 2024 Fathers’ Dinner on Friday 1 March.

If you would like to participate, please contact Trevor on 0411 602 279. Contributions can be delivered by an adult to the Development and Community Office, 18 Petrie Street, between 8.30am – 4pm, by Friday 24 February.

Funds raised from the event will allow the P&F to make a donation to the school for numerous exciting developments and refurbishment projects which continue our focus to provide exceptional school facilities that benefit all students.

Georgia Mitchell