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One way to approach this is to acknowledge that not every thought is true; we need to be open to the reality that we often tell little lies to ourselves. It is easy to be burdened by the untruths that skew our perspectives about relationships with others and impact on our resilience.

Here’s a fun Easter activity (well, maybe not). Over the Easter break every time a family member, child and parent, verbalises an untruth, add another item of clothing. I’ll give you some examples; (Child) All my teachers think I am dumb (This is unlikely, and not the sort of language teachers use or believe in); (Adult) I wouldn’t have run into the back of the car if it hadn’t braked so suddenly (no, you were probably travelling a bit too close); (Child) My parents never listen to me (maybe on this occasion, but never? No). The negative generalisation is often the one to look for. As the items of clothing keep being added, one becomes more uncomfortable and burdened by the addition, and so it is, with negative self-talk. The point is to talk about how liberating it is, to let go of these burdensome untruths. The importance of this was summed up in a recent edition of the ASCD Education Up-date (February 2019) ‘We sometimes tell little lies to ourselves to avoid accepting the sadness, disappointment or embarrassment of the present moment. It takes courage to be honest, and the more honest we are with ourselves, the more courageous we become. Rather than let the little lies of negative self-talk distort and disguise us, we can embrace our daily lives as our most authentic and courageous selves’.

Have a lovely break with your family. Be safe and well.

Ros Curtis 

Thank you to all those who have been involved in these activities, as a participant, supporter, coach/conductor/staff member.

I hope that all are able to use the Easter break as a time to rest and recharge our batteries to be ready for the next term. Easter holidays are a great time for us all to reboot, to reassess where we are with our goals, and to be thankful and proud of what we have achieved so far.

I encourage our students to pick up a book and continue reading over the holidays. Our librarians in the Primary and Secondary libraries would be more than happy to recommend titles for them to borrow. Reading is one of the best forms of learning for children, through developing language skills, literacy, support their writing and help exercise their imagination. Reading can also aid relaxation and reduce stress and anxiety, increase empathy and promote good sleeping habits.

I wish all a happy Easter and safe travels to those who are either returning home or taking a holiday elsewhere.

Karen Gorrie 

I have always seen teaching as a vocation and I have been more than blessed to be able to combine it with my other vocation as a Priest. But after 25 years in school, 22 of these in roles of both lay and ordained ministry, it is perhaps time for new horizons. So, I invite you all to join me on some of this journey. Perhaps St Mark’s Anglican Church on the corner of Bonney Avenue and Bellevue Terrace, Clayfield, could offer you and your family a community of support and growth? Perhaps the 9:30am Sunday morning service would suit your family’s lifestyle and spiritual needs? I’d love to welcome you!

My new email will be: revnicki@stmarksclayfield.org and the parish will continue its partnership with the school, fostered over many years before.

I remain part of St Margaret’s in more ways than one. As a parent for another 5 years I look forward to small things like sitting in the audience for Speech Night! I plan on becoming part of the Music Support Group (probably about time). I welcome bumping into you all around the suburb and at school.

Among other things, I will be at St Margaret’s on Wednesday 24 April for the School’s ANZAC Day Service, and the Years 11 and 12 Family Service will be held at St Mark’s on Wednesday 15 May… so I thought I might take the service!

Thank you for your care of me, your love for me and for allowing me, in turn, to love and care for this community for so long. This will not end, as I keep you all and the school in my prayers.

I’d like to share with you a prayer attributed to Saint Theresa:

May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing that you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.
It is there for each and every one of us. Amen.

May you each know the love and joy of God this Holy Easter Season,
The Reverend Canon Nicki Colledge 

Over the years, Rev Nicki has provided wonderful words of wisdom for the girls to reflect upon. She has planted many ‘seeds’ for them to take away, think about and discuss with others. Rev Nicki has provided a moral compass to guide the girls and has always encouraged open and honest discussion about their beliefs.

Our final Chapel with Rev Nicki was a time for the girls to reflect on the lessons they have learnt during Chapel and to appreciate how lucky we have been to have such a vibrant woman lead us in our spiritual journey. As a community, we will certainly miss Rev Nicki, her sense of humour, her openness and acceptance. We are all so grateful to have had the opportunity to grow and learn from her. We wish Rev Nicki all the best in her future endeavours and know that she will always remain a part of our community.

Lesa Fowler 

Early educational reformer John Dewey said: "Failure is instructive. The person who really thinks learns as much from his failures as from his successes." Failure, followed by reflection are essential to learning and an opportunity for students to receive feedback on their strengths as well as their areas of improvement -- all for the purpose of getting better. So, as the term comes to an end encourage your daughters to reflect on what has been learnt from the successes and failures. Some handy guidelines that we can use to help our girls cope with this learning process include:

• Acknowledge that you don’t expect them to be perfect.
• Don’t rescue them from their mistakes but encourage them to take responsibility for their own actions.
• Encourage them to take responsibility for their mistakes and not blame others.
• Avoid pointing out their past mistakes. Instead, focus on the one at hand.
• Praise them for their ability to admit their mistakes.
• Help them look at the good side of getting things wrong.

As Einstein once said, “Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.”

Jo Butterworth 

It is important to note that holidays should provide opportunity for quiet, unstructured times. It is through activities that involve the girls having time for personal choice, solitude, reading for pleasure and informal activity, girls make sense of what happens to them at school, and of their continually changing perception of what life means and their place in it.

If you are fortunate to have time with your daughter during the holidays, make sure that you only organise some of the time...not all of it.

A warning however, relaxation should not include an overloaded diet of television, videos and computer games, as this is unlikely to produce a student who is ready to face school again in a suitable condition at the end of the break. Research is showing that high exposure to TV/video/computer does interfere with ideal development and the ability to relax.

Continuous Reporting
I have included below the instructions on how to access Parent Lounge through the POD and how to engage with Continuous Reporting. Some results have been released; however, if your daughter has completed assessment this week or late last week her results will not be released until Week 1 next term.

How to access Continuous Reporting (PDF 735.8KB)

Have a safe, happy and holy Easter.

Nicole Devlin 

It would be wonderful if every day they could turn off all devices for a while, maybe start with 10 minutes and try and build it up to an hour a day by the end of the holidays, and use this time to enjoy their own company.

Some quotes to consider: Francis Bacon said “Silence is the sleep that nourishes wisdom” and the Dalai Lama states, “Sometimes silence is the best answer”.

I wish you and your family a happy and Holy holiday.

Nikki Townsend 

The many competitions (Andrews Cup, Chess and Interhouse Swimming) each provided the opportunity for students to train and aim for personal best results, develop the opportunity to bounce back from disappointment, to win gracefully, to share in other’s success and be a team member. Thank you to Lauren Richards and Morgan Rowe for their preparation of the Interhouse Swimming Carnival and to the staff for their commitment throughout the day.

In the cultural arena, many students practised the skills of performing both as an individual and as members of a performance group. Greater intercultural understanding was the outcome of the visit from Konan Elementary school and the acknowledgement of Harmony Day.

Developing relationships with others was offered and tested during the first camp of the year. It presented a myriad of life experiences for all Year 4 girls as they learnt to get along with others, adapt to new situations and work together. The Year 6 leaders practised their leadership skills daily which were ably shared at our Assembly this week. Together, all these experiences have gifted your child opportunities to develop attributes that will help them on their journey of life.

I wish everyone a safe and Holy Easter break.

Angela Drysdale 

Primary Chorale Performance
Thank you to Primary Chorale for their performance last Sunday at Holy Trinity Church in Fortitude Valley. It was a wonderful community event within a beautiful setting. The weather was spectacular and all in attendance enjoyed a variety of repertoire performed by the girls. Thank you also to Ms Brennan for preparing the girls for the event.

Encorah 2019
As part of the St Margaret’s Choral Program restructure, Encorah will now be open to all students in Years 9-12. Encorah will commence rehearsals under the direction of Ms Stephanie Taylor from Thursday 2 May (Week 2, Term 2), 3:30-4:30pm in the Sister Helen Orchestra Room (SHOR). The choir will work on a large selection of styles including R'n'B, soul, pop, indie pop, a capella repertoire, Latin music and music theatre numbers just to name a few! There will also be some more traditional choral pieces in the mix as well. Ms Taylor has experience in arranging for vocal ensembles and is interested in bringing this expertise to the choir. Also, in 2020 there will be the opportunity for the choir to travel to France and Belgium to participate in the World Choir Games (further details below). We would love to have many girls involved in this choir!

Encorah Music Tour 2020 – Proposed Itinerary
We are exploring the opportunity of taking Encorah on tour next year to participate in the World Choir Games which will occur in Flanders, Belgium during the June/July holidays in 2020 (draft itinerary attached (PDF 1.9MB)). This event is the largest global choral festival in the world and brings together choirs from around the world. Students will have the opportunity to participate in the opening ceremony which brings together 20,000 choristers in a single venue. Prior to the World Choir Games, the girls will visit Paris where they will perform in spectacular venues such as Notre Dame Cathedral and La Madeleine Church. Students will also take a backstage tour of Palais Garnier, the Paris National Opera House. En route to Belgium, students will visit Villers-Bretonneux for a WW1 historical tour and also provide a performance at the Menin Gate Ceremony. The tour will then proceed to Flanders where the girls will participate in performances, workshops and competitions at the World Choir Games. This promises to be a truly unique experience, bringing together thousands of people with a love of choral music from all around the world. Further details may be found here: . A meeting will be held early in Term 2 to provide parents with more information.

Friends of St Margaret’s Music
The St Margaret’s Music Support Group is providing an opportunity for parents to support the School’s Music Program through donations via the Friends of St Margaret’s Music Program. The Music Support Group understands that some parents can assist through giving of their time at music events held throughout the year and donating items for raffles. For some parents, they may choose to assist through donation to further expand opportunities for music excellence at St Margaret’s. To become a Friend of St Margaret’s Music, donations of $500 (Gold) and $250 (Silver) are sought.

Gold Donors: As a Gold Donor, you will receive four tickets with priority reserved seating at ‘Classics in the Cathedral’ plus a school concert of your choice (Choral/Band/Strings Concerts). Your name (and donation year) will be added to the Friends of St Margaret’s Music honour board displayed in the Sister Helen Orchestra Room.

Silver Donors: As a Silver Donor, you will receive two tickets with priority reserved seating at ‘Classics in the Cathedral’ plus a school concert of your choice (Choral/Band/Strings Concerts). Your name (and donation year) will be added to the Friends of St Margaret’s Music honour board displayed in the Sister Helen Orchestra Room.

Should you wish to donate and become a Friend of St Margaret’s Music, please email music@stmargarets.qld.edu.au. A flyer with further details is attached here (PDF 2.5MB). Thank you for your support of the St Margaret’s Music Program!

Music Support Group
The next Music Support Group meeting will be on Tuesday 30 April 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 

Interhouse Cross Country Carnival
The Secondary School Interhouse Cross Country Carnival was a brilliant afternoon. The level of running ability is just incredible and the enthusiasm, effort and spirit shown typifies what it means to be a St Margaret’s girl. A huge thanks to the staff who assisted as course marshals and officials which made the carnival run smoothly and efficiently.

Congratulations to Kendall House on winning the overall trophy. Below is a list of place getters in each Year group:

12 Years: 1st Matilda Lee, 2nd Annabel Bright, 3rd Milla Roberts

13 Years: 1st Brogan Tomich, 2nd Sarah Sorensen, 3rd Sofia Fajardo Martinez

14 Years: 1st Emily Millar, 2nd Sally Bambling, 3rd Lucinda Bourke

15 Years: 1st Sophie Sorensen, 2nd Isla McWilliam, 3rd Caitlyn Morse

16 Years: 1st Meg Mettam, 2nd Chloe Ziegenfuss, 3rd Rosie Turnbull

17 Years: 1st Bella Donaldson, 2nd Ciana Jamieson, 3rd Louise Millar

Cross Country Holiday Training
A reminder that Cross Country will continue throughout the holidays every Monday, Wednesday and Friday (except Good Friday), commencing at 7am from Circular Drive.

Cross Country Camp
To complement your daughter’s experience within the Cross Country Program, an invitation is extended to all girls to attend the annual St Margaret’s Cross Country Camp. The Camp will be held at the Runaway Bay Super Sports Complex on the Gold Coast, from Saturday 27 to Sunday 28 April.

For more information, please see the POD Cross Country page.

Autumn Fixtures
On Friday 29 March the Autumn sports of Touch Football and Basketball competed in their fourth round of fixtures against Moreton Bay College (MBC). MBC is notorious for being a strong competitor; however, many of our teams experienced success. In Touch Football, 8 out of 14 teams won, in Basketball the Senior A and 7A teams were successful, whereas the Open team had a narrow loss 33-30.

Fixtures will recommence in Term 2 on Friday 26 April against St Peter’s Lutheran College at their home venues.

Congratulations to…

Indiahna Frawley (Year 8) for being selected as shadow in the Metropolitan North 13-15 Years Touch Football team.

Priscilla Russell (Year 10), Sophia Wightman (Year 10) and Sophie Gerber (Year 12) who competed at the 2019 Australian Rowing Championships. Priscilla placed 3rd in both the U17 Coxed Quad and the Parra mixed Coxed Four. Sophia placed 6th in the U17 Single Scull, 4th in the U17 Double Scull and 3rd in the U17 Quad Scull. Sophie placed 1st in the U19 Four, 2nd in the U19 Eight, 2nd in the Interstate Youth Eight and 1st in the B Final of the U19 Single Scull.

Brook Lane (Year 9) who competed at the Queensland State Aerobics Competition receiving one gold medal and a fourth place. Brook was selected in the Queensland team and will contest the National Championships in May.

Good luck to Isabella Harte (Year 8), Tayden Tomich (Year 8), Maicey Lynch (Year 9), Chloe Fenwicke (Year 10), Tyla Proctor (Year 10) and Bella Donaldson (Year 12) who are competing at the National Athletics Championships in Sydney from 1-7 April.

Helen Lobegeiger 

The girls were responsible for arranging and staging their chosen songs, and they all improved their performance skills immensely throughout the term. The final performances were an incredible showcase of the work and commitment all of the students showed throughout the entire rehearsal process, and the performers should all feel very proud of their achievements.

Angela Bowen
Music Subject Coordinator 

Pre Prep and Prep
Sports Uniform – Fleecy top and pants or jumper, brown socks and joggers from home (compulsory)

Year 1
Sports Uniform – Fleecy top and pants or jumper
Middy Uniform – Jumper

Year 2
Sports Uniform – Either fleecy top and pants or tracksuit jacket and pants or jumper
Middy Uniform – Jumper

Years 3 to 9
Sports Uniform – Tracksuit jacket and pants or jumper
Middy Uniform - Jumper

Years 10 to 12
Sports Uniform – Tracksuit top and pants or jumper
Middy Uniform – Jumper, blazer (compulsory)

Tights and scarf are available for all year levels.

Trading Hours for end of Term 1
Friday 5 April 2019: 8:00am-12midday

Shop reopens:
Tuesday 23 April 2019: 10:00am-3:00pm
Wednesday 24 April 2019: 8:00am-5:00pm
Thursday 25 April 2019: Closed (ANZAC Day)
Friday 26 April 2019: 8:00am-2:00pm

Normal Trading Hours
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 8:00am-2:00pm
Wednesday: 10:00am-5:00pm

Terisa Arnold 

Our hope is to start a partnership that may lead to a parent/guardian network of business mentors that might offer advice, guidance and support and ignite a fire in the belly of our girls and show them that there are many ways to get from where they are to where they want to be.

If you would like to be involved in this business mentoring community (either a little or a lot), then please send an email to mstein@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.

Hetal Raniga, Emily Labinsky, Meredith Morris and Mathew Stein 

The Past Student Awards Dinner is a wonderful opportunity to connect with fellow Old Girls and parents, and to hear from this year's amazing award recipients, while enjoying premium canapés, a sumptuous two-course dinner and drinks.

Tickets are on sale via Flexischools. Please to purchase your ticket.

About the Past Student Awards
Initiated in 2015, the Ó£ÌÒ¸£ÀûÊÓƵ Past Student Awards were established to recognise and celebrate the many and diverse achievements of Ó£ÌÒ¸£ÀûÊÓƵ past students and to honour their legacy.

Two awards will be presented on the night; the Distinguished Past Student Award (for alumnae who have passed their 20th reunion) and the Young Past Student of Distinction Award (for alumnae in their 20th reunion year or younger).

Tickets to the second Professional Women’s Networking Breakfast are now on sale!
Our special guest speakers, Penny (’92) and Peter Wolff, owners of Wolff Coffee, will share their 30 years of expertise in the industry with a coffee tasting experience for all our guests.

Penny Wolff, the creative and educative mastermind behind the Wolff Coffee brand, and her husband Peter, a Master Roaster and a coffee connoisseur instrumental in the evolution of coffee drinking in Brisbane, have crafted a niche in the realm of Specialty Coffee in Brisbane. Join us as Penny and Peter share their love of coffee and how entrepreneurship has become their way of life!

When: Wednesday 15 May 2019
Where: Arts Centre Foyer
Tickets: Corporate tables $800 for 10, $80 adult and $40 students (Years 10-12/tertiary)

Please click here (PDF 562KB) for more information.

Tickets are now on sale via Flexischools. Please to purchase your ticket. 

We sincerely thank our corporate sponsors for their generous support of the Series:
Associate Sponsors: Pitcher Partners and McCullough Robertson
Supporting Partners: Downer, NAB and Programmed Property Services

Year Level Parent Ambassadors
Thank you to the parents who have volunteered to be Year Level Parent Ambassadors. Your support will further strengthen the partnership between the school and families through this initiative.

We are still looking for volunteers to be Year Level Parent Ambassadors in Years 7 and 9.

What does a Year Level Parent Ambassador do?

A Year Level Parent Ambassador is one who is a liaison with other parents, working together to support the parents, students, Teachers and the Head of Year:

• Meet and support new parents of the school
• Develop a sense of community within the year level
• Help support P&F and school functions and fundraising events
• Encourage parents to attend P&F General Meetings and events
• Be a point of contact for parents who have queries about school activities and events

Year Level Parent Ambassadors may also meet as required with Heads of Year to plan and discuss current and upcoming activities. This meeting also provides the opportunity for representatives from each year level to get to know each other.

If you would like to be a Year Level Parent Ambassador for 2019, . Positions will be filled on a first come, first served basis.

Lara Pickering

Defence Force Gap Year Information Session – 11 April
If any students are interested in a Gap year for 2020, an information session will be held on 11 April. To register for any of our Information Sessions, visit: .

Female Air Force Simulator Experience Days – 10 and 11 April
We welcome female students in Years 11-12 to come to our Air Force Simulator Experience Day. Please note that students should be studying Physics or Science with a Physics component to be eligible for Aviation pathways. Email your details and session request to: wid@dfr.com.au.

STEM Activities Day - Tuesday 9 April
This event is open to all students in Years 10-12. RSVP via: cptqld@dfr.com.au with your full name, school and any dietary requirements. Please call 07 3016 2425 for any queries.

UNE
Year 12 students are invited to participate in our for admission in 2020. UNE's Early Entry application process is fully online, it’s free to apply and you can submit their Early Entry applications now.

ANU
Ready to begin your undergraduate studies at ANU in 2020?
You can start your application now by applying directly to ANU and receive an early conditional offer. Applications opened on 4 March 2019 and close 31 May 2019. For more information, go to .

QUT
START QUT gives you the best chance of finding a course you'll enjoy by trying out university subjects while you're in Year 12 or Semester 2 of Year 11. Applications for Semester 2 of the START QUT program are now open. High achieving (averaging at least ‘B’) students have until 16 May to apply. More information is available .

Griffith University
Griffith university has developed a website to assist you to decide on a study pathway: .

UQ: Experience Science is a free event which provides students in Years 10 -12 with the opportunity to discover what studying science is like at The University of Queensland (UQ). Programs will be held on 12 July (last week of the holidays) and in the first week of Term 3 (16, 17 and 18 July).

Scholarships in Australia
No matter what you are intending to study and where, you will be sure to find some financial assistance on offer to help you pay for it.

QTAC Year 12 Tertiary Applications
The Educational Access Scheme (EAS) can help you if you have experienced circumstances that negatively affected your most recent studies. If you are eligible for EAS, you may get OP or rank adjustments which improve your chances of getting an offer. Apply when you complete your QTAC application in August.

QUT Match My Skills
Looking for some inspiration on what to study?

Open Days
Most tertiary providers hold open days in July and August each year for future students.

UCAT
For any Year 12 students who are seeking entry into medicine, dentistry and health science degree programs in 2020. For more information about the new test, including price, testing dates, format and FAQs, please visit: .

Preparing for UCAT
You can find the official preparation materials at: .

MedEntry UCAT Preparation:

NIE UCAT preparation:

Crimson Education UCAT preparation:

QUT Parent Information Seminar
Come along and hear about the options available at QUT at the Gardens Point Campus.

Date: Wednesday 8 May 2019
Time: Campus tour: 5:15–5:45pm, Seminar: 6–7:30pm

TSXPO
The 38th annual Tertiary Studies Expo (TSXPO) will be held on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 July 2019.

KEY DATES: 2019

17 May, 11:59pm: UCAT Registration closes

24/25 May: The National Careers and Employment EXPO (Brisbane Convention Centre).

1 July: UCAT testing begins

 20/21 July: Tertiary Studies Expo (TSXPO) – Brisbane Showgrounds

31 July: UCAT testing finishes

Elizabeth Johnston