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After all this celebration, it is now time for our Year 12 students to focus on their studies and their performance in their final exams. We wish them well. They are ready to begin the journey into the world of either full-time work or study and we are excited for them. Our first Year 12 student leaves us, having completed all their assessment, even before the start of the external exam period on 23 October. Our last student has her final exam on 14 November.

On behalf of the staff, I wish all graduating Year 12s every blessing for the future, and I hope that they will see the value of remaining connected to their school and enjoy the new status in 2024 as ‘Old Girls’.

In the leadership induction for our 2024 leaders last week, I challenged the current Year 11s to ensure their leadership focuses on these three things – the school’s mission, that is, to prepare confident, capable, and compassionate young women to contribute to society; the quality of experience of students and staff on a daily basis; and service to the community through participation and support. A focus on all three areas can only strengthen the St Margaret’s student experience in 2024. We wish our student leaders well as they take up the mantle of the graduating Year 12s. My wish for them is when they have finished their time as leaders, they have left a legacy, that is, have had an influence that outlasts their time as leaders.

Ros Curtis

We would like to begin with a story…

One day, a man walked past a camp of elephants. Looking closer, he was surprised to see that these mighty animals weren’t held in cages or kept in chains. Rather, the only thing stopping them from escaping?

A thin rope tied from one of their legs to a simple pole in the ground. Confused as to why they didn’t just use their strength to break the rope, he asked the trainer why they weren’t attempting to run away. To this, the trainer replied.

“As baby elephants, we use the same system. But, at that age, the rope is strong enough to stop them from escaping. They grow up like this, believing they can never break the rope, so even as adults they stay put.”

In other words, these powerful, magnificent and intelligent elephants didn’t believe they could free themselves, so they never tried.

Each one of us has limiting beliefs. Narratives that we tell ourselves, about ourselves. Things that we have heard or seen or learned to be true. It’s what stops us from applying for a job, auditioning for an ensemble, talking to someone in fear of embarrassment – actually working towards that goal because we think we’re not strong, smart, funny, worthy enough. “I am not them, and therefore I cannot.” The reasons why not, if allowed to accumulate, can seem infinite. ­­

These thoughts string together to become the rope that, like the elephants, tie us captive.

The average person has 60,000 thoughts a day. That is around 42 thoughts a second, almost 22 million thoughts a year. If we received a dollar for each thought, we would have a weekly income of up to half a million. The average adult brain consumes around 100 times what a typical smartphone requires daily, yet we still seem to underestimate the power of our thoughts.

There are some things that are thought about far too often. Who everyone else wants you to be, what you don’t have, old mistakes, what you fear. When these types of thoughts dominate our minds, they are the factors we consider when we assess our self-worth, form relationships, and make decisions around our future. More and more threads thickening this rope that tethers and keeps us stagnant.

If you think of “successful” people – and not the glamourised, glittery endpoint of success that is often perpetuated – but individuals who define achievement by doing rather than having, we pose that none of these people were born without doubt or fear. They just found a reason to overcome their limiting beliefs.

Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Peace Prize winner and advocate for girls’ education in her memoir wrote, “We were scared, but our fear was not as strong as our courage.”

We are fortunate, to attend a school that aims to foster courage and nurture it in our values. Courage, the ability to do something that frightens you, that allows us to free ourselves from these ropes – and soar upwards.

Courage is different for each of us.

It’s the sacrifice of a parent, who aspires for their child to have more and to see more than they ever could. Courage is choosing to risk something dear to you for the good of another. It is choosing the path less travelled. The path that is rocky and uncertain – because you just might make something incredible happen.

Not aspiring necessarily for the glamorous and the comfortable, but for the beautiful and the real. Courage comes in choosing the hard thing.

John F. Kennedy, in his 1962 address at Rice University concerning the USA’s efforts in space exploration said, “We choose to go to the moon and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.”

It isn’t always going to be easy, and it certainly won’t always be pretty, but perhaps that is the very point. Our world tends to view success as a sort of pristine, glass bubble of perfect people leading perfect lives. Untouchable, even perhaps, unattainable. But consider that reaching the lofty heights of the moon would not mean near as much without the struggle and endurance required to get there.

Facing the difficult things – the things that scare you the most – is where you will find your greatest achievements.

Those ropes are as weak as you are strong. Take strength in knowing that the only person in this entire world who can achieve your full potential, is you.

These emotions, while they often take us on tumultuous journeys, are a gift of being human. They allow us to be empathetic and compassionate, both of which are vital characteristics in the world as we know it. This week whilst we celebrate, we are mindful of places in the world where violence, exclusion and discrimination wreak havoc on people’s lives. We are particularly mindful of the conflict occurring in Israel and Palestine, let us pray for peace:

God of our longing,
Remember those who wait and hope for peace.
Hear our prayer and our lament for the people of Israel and Palestine.
With them, we share a common story, set in a common land.

Grant a will to forgive, to reconcile,
to make a just peace for the sake of the ancestors,
for the sake of the children.
Open ears, eyes and hearts and make a way toward justice
in our war-torn world.

God, all merciful, you dwell in all human hearts
And Holy is the place where you make your home.
Heal these broken places, where prophets preached,
Where Moses and Jesus and Muhammad kept faith in you.
Be a sure support for those who work toward reconciliation,
and make us all, steadfast in the way of peace.
Amen.

Rev’d Jazz Dow

I asked some of our boarder year level representatives why mental health was important and what they do to maintain positive mental health. Here’s what they had to say…

“By prioritizing mental health, we can foster happier, healthier, and more fulfilling lives for ourselves and those around us. Taking steps to prioritize your mental health is crucial for overall wellbeing. Building a strong support system through friendships and open communication with loved ones can provide emotional support when needed.” – Annabel

“Mental health matters because it significantly affects the lives of individuals. It is important to realise that many people face mental health challenges throughout their lifetime. By recognizing and empathizing with these challenges, we create a more supportive and inclusive society. To help my mental health I provide a safe and positive environment for myself, by engaging in activities and creating strong connections with my boarding friends. To maintain and help stress I take a moment to focus on the things that are most important.” – Isabel

Hannah Calcino

At the beginning of the week, I spoke to the girls about some strategies that can be used to make the most of study time as well as how to be prepared mentally for your external exams. In particular, I spoke about the relationship between our school uniforms and Psychological Priming. Psychological research has shown that what you wear can have a significant impact on your cognitive processes and behaviour. This phenomenon is often referred to as “enclothed cognition”. The concept suggests that the clothes you wear can influence your psychological state and your performance in certain tasks.

When you wear your uniform correctly, you’re essentially donning clothing associated with a serious, academic setting. This act can serve as a psychological cue that helps prime your mind for focused and academic tasks. The act can affect the following:

1. Mindset: Putting on your uniform signals to your brain that it’s time for a formal and structured activity. This can help you transition from a casual mindset to one more suited for academic work.
2. Minimisation of distractions: When you wear your uniform, you minimise potential distractions from your (and others) clothing choices, allowing you to direct your full attention to the exam questions.
3. Routine and Ritual: Establishing a routine of putting on your uniform before exams can create a ritualistic aspect to your preparation. Rituals can help reduce anxiety and boost confidence, making it easier to focus on the task at hand.

While I think this is particularly significant for our Year 12s entering their External Exam period, it is also important to recognise that the manner in which all students wear their uniform has a psychological impact on their engagement in class. When students wear their uniform incorrectly, including earrings, nail polish, makeup and false eyelashes, this can send a message to themselves and the students around them that they are not fully focused on their role as a school student.

Adam, H., & Galinski, A. D. (2012). Enclothes cognition. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 48(4), 918-925.

Caitlin McCluskey

Year 6 Step Up Day

On Monday 16 October we will be welcoming our current Year 6 St Margaret’s students who will be continuing at St Margaret’s in Year 7 to join us for Step Up Day. Students will get a taste of some of the subjects on offer in the secondary school. They will also have the opportunity to ask current Year 7 and 11 students about the transition from the St Margaret’s primary school to the secondary school.

Study Halls

Term 4 Study Hall days for Years 9 and 10 are as follows:

• Year 9 – Monday 13 November and Tuesday 14 November
• Year 10 – Friday 10 November and Monday 13 November

The Study Hall schedules will be released next week to students.

Chris Dunn

Please note that the media exposes us to the hype and pressure relating to the final weeks of secondary school. But, putting things into perspective for students and parents alike, can help prevent everyone getting overwhelmed. Although this final year is important, it will not be the most important year of your daughter’s life. It is crucial for parents to reinforce the mantra of ‘you are more than your ATAR’.

A student’s performance in their final year is only a point in time measured by their ability to sit an exam. If the desired ATAR score is not achieved at the end of the day, there are other options available to your child. It will not define their happiness. There will be many other pathways available to them to help them to reach their goals. Your daughters have been well prepared by St Margaret’s to face any challenge put before them.

Best wishes always Year 12s…Per Volar Sunata!

Nikki Townsend

Many factors impact on student results, self-reflection is one factor. It provides the potential for improved learning, increases a student’s self-regulation, and can help focus students’ attention on classroom processes by encouraging them to continually think about learning. Students are encouraged to reflect regularly on:

• What they are learning
• How they are learning
• What they are achieving
• How they view themselves as a learner

I would encourage you to discuss these elements of learning with your child when discussing her progress and ways she can improve learning to experience personal success. Success means different things for different people, for example greeting every day with optimism, having a goal, and working towards it. It may mean knowing you have the potential or never giving up when things are tough. 

I recently came across an article which outlines ideas for success which were adapted from a text written at the beginning of the last century. Listed below are some of these ideas that are still relevant today as they obviously were at the beginning of the 1900’s. Clearly the ways to achieve success are timeless!!

• People succeed because they try hard to succeed. Hard work and patience are almost genius. Success is often more the result of determination and perseverance than a great talent. Determination and a sense of purpose can be far more important than ability.
• Success is the reward of those who put work before pleasure. We learn to do things by doing them. One of the great secrets of success is keeping at it, even when it’s tough. Successful people don’t let disappointment discourage them and they understand that sometimes they have to run back in order to take a longer leap forward.
• No opposition must be taken to heart. Our competitors often help us more than our friends. A headwind is better than no wind. Whoever got anywhere in a dead calm?
• A fatal mistake is to imagine that success is some stroke of luck. This work is run with far too tight a rein for luck to interfere. Luck is bought with hard work, and we always have to pay a cost for good luck.
• Everything good needs time. Don’t do work in a hurry. Go into detail; it pays in every way. Time means power for your work. Mediocrity is always in a rush; but whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing with care.

  Genius is nothing more nor less than doing well what anyone can do badly.

• Be orderly. Untidy work is never good work. Manage your work so it is tidy and well organised.
• Success in everything demands your whole heart, your whole intellect and most of your time.
• Be cheerful. Put obstacles out of the way. Leap over them. It is better to have the opportunity of victory, than never to struggle. Your mind might fail you and your body might get tired but make sure your heart never fails you because it is your own spirit that will lift you up to success.

Acknowledgement: Adapted from Amelia E Barr, British novelist, in How They Succeeded: Life Stories of Successful Men Told by Themselves, 1901.

There will be opportunities in upcoming events this term for students to be recognised for their efforts to achieve personal success.  

Angela Drysdale

The relationship with Churchie commenced for our girls in Prep when we hosted the first official event and over the years several informal interactions have also taken place. The connection with the boys at Churchie is an important one and provides the girls with a connection to boys at a school with similar values and standards as St Margaret’s.

On Friday 6 October our girls were excited to board the bus and head to Churchie for a morning of activities. In house groups, they participated in a hip-hop dance class, a friendly netball match, team-building activities and an inflatable obstacle course, alongside the Churchie boys. The girls participated with energy, spirit and passion and were excellent ambassadors for St Margaret’s.

This shared experience allows the girls to establish friendships with the opposite sex and is crucial for continuing to develop healthy relationships with individuals beyond our school context. As the girls enter secondary school, more opportunities (both formal and informal) will exist for the girls to mix with boys and girls from a range of other schools, so building the capacity to meet and talk to a range of individuals is an essential part of completing their leadership growth and primary school journey.

There are many special events planned for this term which allow us to recognise the end of the primary school journey for our girls, one some have been on since Prep and Pre-Prep. Key dates are available on The POD and event invites will also be posted on The POD with all necessary details. We will provide the Year 6 girls with an overview of all activities and happenings in their final weeks to assist you with your planning. We look forward to welcoming friends and family to join us at one or all of these events.

Annette Box

Speech Night

Congratulations to our music students on the fantastic performances given at Speech Night held on Tuesday evening. Speech Night provides a special opportunity for the girls to showcase their talents within the amazing setting of the QPAC Concert Hall. Special thanks must go to our conductors for their hard work in preparing the girls for the event.

Student Congratulations

Congratulations to Charlotte (Year 8) who was recently awarded joint first place in the Australian Society of Music Educators Young Composers Competition (Junior Secondary Section). This is a state-wide competition with the compositions judged by professional composers. Charlotte studies composition with St Margaret’s teacher Ms Alys Rayner and wrote a composition for string quintet entitled Ancient Voyage. Next week, St Margaret’s string staff will perform the composition on assembly for everyone to hear. This is a wonderful achievement, Charlotte!

Congratulations also to Hilary (Year 11) who was selected from students around Australia to participate and perform in the Australian Youth Orchestra’s Young Symphonists Program. Hilary spent the second week of the school holidays in Bathurst rehearsing and performing repertoire including Rachmaninov’s Symphony No 2 and Britten’s Young Persons Guide to the Orchestra. A highlight for Hilary was being selected to perform Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition in a special quintet arrangement of the piece. Congratulations Hilary!

2024 Music Ensemble Auditions

Auditions for 2024 Music Ensembles will be held next week with audition excerpts available via the respective POD pages. Details regarding audition times are available on the POD. Sign-up sheets are located in SHOR.

Special Staff Performance

Three St Margaret’s staff members will be giving a special performance in the Arts Centre Foyer on Sunday 15 October at 2:00pm. Ms Helen Carvolth (upper strings teacher), Ms Alys Rayner (upper strings teacher) and Mr Alex McPherson (cello teacher) are all members of Riverbend Ensemble, a highly regarded chamber music ensemble, and will present repertoire by Mozart, Galzunov, Coleridge-Taylor and a special work composed by Ms Rayner. Tickets for this event are now available via (with $10 from each ticket donated to the Asylum Seeker Support Hub). This will be a wonderful opportunity for our students to hear the St Margaret’s staff performing on their respective instruments.

Music Support Group – Next Meeting

The next Music Support Group meeting will be the AGM and will be held on 24 October at 5:00pm in M’s Cafe. We encourage parents from both primary and secondary schools to become involved.

Brad King

Student-athletes recognised with a General Sport Award were notified over the school holidays and invited to attend the Sport Awards Evening. During Week 1 of Term 4, student-athletes receiving a Special Sport Award were announced at the Prize Reading Assembly and invited to attend the Sport Awards Evening to accept their award. We apologise for any confusion that this may have caused.

All award recipients, family and community members attending the event are asked RSVP via the invitation.

Wider members of our St Margaret’s community are also very welcome to attend this event and are encouraged to advise Rebecca Wilkinson via email activities@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.

We look forward to celebrating the year of St Margaret’s Sport.

Mr Lloyd Knight

Director of Sport

Q-Sport Women in Sport Breakfast

During the first week of this term, St Margaret’s was fortunate to be invited to attend the inaugural Q-Sports Women in Sport Breakfast which acknowledges and celebrates the achievements of women and girls in sport across the state.

It was an incredible opportunity for our St Margaret’s student-athletes to hear from the amazing Libby Trickett (OAM OLY) and sportswomen, Mikayla Hinkley (Brisbane Heat), Katia Dedekind (Paralympian) and Kate Davis (CEO of Netball Qld and Firebirds).

The event showcased the amazing talents of women in sport and strengthens the sense of role modelling; “You can’t be, what you can’t see”. Our girls really enjoyed the opportunity to hear from these incredible women. St Margaret’s was represented by the following Year 10 students, Kaleija, Kate, Abigail, Ella, Charli, Ebony, Cosette, Neve, Ella, Lucinda and supported by Ms Lobegeiger.

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 follow students on their recent achievements:

• I would like to congratulate Bless (Year 9) and Ella (Year 10) for their representation within the School Sport Queensland Hockey team that contested the 16 Years & Under National championships in Adelaide. The Queensland team were undefeated for the tournament and defeated New South Wales 5 – 3 in the final. 

We would like to continue to recognise the outstanding achievements and representation of students participating at a national level, outside of the school sport pathway. I look forward to continuing to hear from our community regarding such outstanding achievement. Please email me at lknight@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.

Lloyd Knight

Location: Arts Centre, v103

Time: 3:30pm - 4:30pm

Cost: FREE

There is no need to register.

Please find below some important information:

Date:               Monday 16 October 2023
Time:              6.30pm to 7.30pm (followed by light refreshments)
Location:        Arts Centre Foyer, Ó£ÌÒ¸£ÀûÊÓƵ Anglican Girls School
RSVP:            

There is also an option to join this meeting remotely via Microsoft Teams for those unable to attend the meeting in person. Please (Meeting ID: 465 565 582 212, Passcode: euQfaV)  or.

As Ó£ÌÒ¸£ÀûÊÓƵ takes steps toward becoming a more sustainable organisation, we ask you to bring your own device to view Meeting Papers. Please [] to access the Meeting Papers in the Files section of the P&F POD page.  

Past Student Awards Nominations are open

If you know of a St Margaret’s Old Girl deserving of recognition, we encourage you to nominate her today! Perhaps your daughter is being mentored by a past student who has achieved great things.

The annual Past Student Awards recognise the many and diverse achievements of St Margaret’s Past Students, both professionally and personally, providing an opportunity to share stories of success with our current student community.

There are three award categories:

1. Distinguished Past Student Award - for alumnae who have celebrated their 20th reunion. Recognises significant contribution or achievements in the profession, community or volunteer work; and
2. Young Past Student of Distinction Award - for alumnae in their 20th reunion year or younger. Recognises significant contribution or achievements in the profession, community or volunteer work.
3. Spirit of Service Past Student Award – open to all alumnae. Recognises and celebrates outstanding service to the community by a Past Student of St Margaret’s.

Nominations can be submitted by completing our  by Friday 10 November, 2023. Please note, when competing the Form, if there are any details (i.e., alumni year, degree information or addresses) that you need assistance in completing, please leave these blank, and we here in the Development and Community Office are happy to fill in those gaps.  

For more information please visit:

Lara Pickering