Ó£ÌÒ¸£ÀûÊÓƵ

Our Chaplain, Reverend Susan Crothers-Robertson is planning on retiring in 2022 after her long service leave. Although Susan has been with us only since second semester 2019, we have all appreciated her support for the community. Susan has offered to assist us from time to time in 2022 as needed and it is wonderful that she will be a regular visitor. The Reverend Jazz Dow, who joined us in August this year, will step into the leadership role of the School’s Chaplain in 2022. 

Also, leaving us after 33 years of loyal service is Ms Desley Upton. For much of this time, since 1999, Ms Upton has been the Head of HPE and she has co-ordinated or assisted with many sports, most recently Badminton, Volleyball and Softball.  With a keen interest in Health Education, Ms Upton has given back to the broader educational community by participating in panels for the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) and its predecessor. Many Old Girls ask after Ms Upton when they return to school as they nostalgically remember her lessons. We wish her well.

We congratulate Nicole Devlin who has secured a promotion to the role of Deputy Principal at St Hilda’s School on the Gold Coast. The good news for us at St Margaret’s is that Mrs Devlin will remain as the Old Girls’ Association President and we will see her often. In 2016, Mrs Devlin was appointed to the Dean of Studies, then in Term 4 2020 took on the role of Dean of Academics. We are sad to see Mrs Devlin leave St Margaret’s but wish her well in this next stage of her career.

Ms Lisa Smith, Visual Art Co-ordinator, is retiring at the end of her long service leave in Term 1. Ms Smith has been with St Margaret’s since 2007 and during that time has been a passionate advocate for Visual Art and integral to the introduction and development of the Mayo Festival. We will miss Ms Smith in her current role, but she plans to do supply teaching for the school on her return from leave.

Mrs Bronwyn Perry, our School Archivist, is retiring after being associated with St Margaret’s since 1982 when she was appointed as Teacher Librarian. From 2005, Bronwyn took the part-time role of School Archivist, assisting with past student reunions and culling and digitising the collection. We wish her well in retirement and are pleased to also announce that Mary Surtees will return to St Margaret’s in the role of School Archivist.

In our secondary school, Ms Tammy McGinley is leaving us to pursue further study; Ms Jane Martens is leaving to further her career; Mrs Maddie Bairstow is relocating to Tasmania; Mr Robert Dryden, Mrs Veronica Fortune, Ms Sasha Protopopoff, Mr Christopher Simmonds; Ms Kathryn Dennis, Mrs Melissa Faulkner, Ms Amy McNally, Mrs Tansy Cruttenden; Dr Dirk Wellham and Ms Hilde Apel’s contracts come to an end at the end of this year. We wish all departing staff all the best for their future endeavours and thank them for their service. Mrs Faye Ryan is taking 12 months leave and will return to St Margaret’s in 2023.

Ms Ysabella Dawson, Ms Meredith Morris, and Ms Kirsty Krynauw will be returning from maternity leave on a part-time basis. Ms Suzy Edwards is also returning to teach 3 days per week.  

Ros Curtis

All students can also take part in the instrumental music program and join one of the many ensembles and music groups here at school under the co-ordination of our Head of Performance Mr Brad King.

Both our Bands coordinator Dr Camille Syntageros and Strings coordinator Mr Jonny Ng spoke of the benefits of our students learning their instruments. Mr Ng said:

“Ó£ÌÒ¸£ÀûÊÓƵ a musical instrument is so good for the brain – neuroscientists cannot find another other activity that rivals music for brain development. Playing a musical instrument is like a whole body workout for the brain as it engages practically every area of the brain and enhances the brain both structurally and functionally. A peer reviewed study published in June 2019 in the Journal of Educational Psychology researched over 110 000 students in Canada found that students who were highly engaged in music, especially instrumental music, were on average academically over one year ahead of their peers not engaged in school music. Musical training at a young age can also protect the brain from dementia, age-related hearing loss, and reduce the likelihood of stroke later in life. But we don’t just do music to achieve academic excellence and grow the brain, it is a beautiful art form in its own right - it builds confidence, unleashes creativity, develops discipline and strengthens resilience, and gives you a sense of achievement which every one of these students should be feeling right now. Music gives us a greater sense of empathy and sensitivity to emotions, and the importance of connecting with others was made abundantly clear throughout this pandemic with music giving us the ability to connect in a unique way.”

There have been many performances our students have been involved in over the year, from Speech Night to the Soaring Upwards Festival and everything in between. Congratulations to our students on a year full of beautiful music!

Karen Gorrie

Orders often develop in response to a particular call to a certain place, for a certain purpose. This can be seen clearly in the origins of the SSA, which developed in response to an invitation to Anglican Sisters to come and minister to women and children in Brisbane in the late 19th century. Religious Orders embody a charism of risk taking and freedom from the institutional church, but there must still be order.

In November 2019 the Sisters of the Society of the Sacred Advent voted to amend the Constitution of the SSA and to begin to imagine what the SSA might look like in the 21st century. A transitional chapter was created to discuss and reimagine what the SSA will look like in the future. As part of the reimagining several quiet days are planned. You are welcome to join the next quiet day, God-Shaped Space. Please see brochure and contact details attached.

Rev Susan Crothers-Robertson

The Christmas spirit is in the air as we come together for daily activities or treating ourselves to baked goods. Not forgetting the planning of our very own Boarding Christmas concert and dinner, showcasing the students many talents, dressing up and feasting on a delicious buffet to end the year on a high!

The Boarding Staff are also ensuring our students put in their study time and best efforts for their last assessment and exams. It has been all go go go mixed with some fun in our everyday routines.

One by one the students will soon sign out for their ‘End of Term’ leave. It’s important for us all to remember how hard it is for the girls to be living away from home weeks on end, particularly through all the stresses of assessment deadlines and exams.

Boarders are brave, there’s no doubt about it, so it’s only natural for us to ensure they feel supported as they embrace their last hurdles of 2021 before they head on home. It’s been a spectacular year for us all; we seem to be going from strength to strength in terms of community spirit, the ‘sisterhood’ and day to day success.

On behalf of the Boarding Staff, we are very proud of the Maggies’ boarders and look forward to seeing them push through the last weeks of Term.

Gracemere Mataia

Release of 2021 Subject results and Senior Education Profiles to students from QCAA

Year 12 final subject results and Senior Education Profiles (SEPs) will be released to Year 12 students online from 9 am on Friday 17 December. All Year 12 students can access final subject results as well as their SEP in their learning account. Ó£ÌÒ¸£ÀûÊÓƵ accounts are found in the Student Portal, accessed via the myQCE website at , all Year 12 students have access to their own student portal. I encourage all Year 12’s to check they can access their QCAA Student Portal.

On December 17 each student will be able to view their SEP that will contain the following documents:

• Senior Statement
• Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE)

SEPs are issued as electronic documents stored in students’ learning accounts. These documents are official and can be downloaded as secure PDFs. Students can save their SEP on a computer or mobile device and provide it to third parties electronically or they can print it. Please note, QCAA no longer prints and posts SEPs to all Year 12 students. Students may print their own SEP or they may request a printed copy of their SEP from the QCAA in the Student Portal. The request application will close on 31 January 2022 and SEPs will be posted during March 2022. Printed copies are free. Please note, SEPs printed by the QCAA are no different to those that students can print for themselves.

The SEP documents contain an embedded digital signature to confirm they are authentic, and they cannot be altered. If students print SEPs, scanning the unique QR code on the printed documents will direct users to the QCAA’s website to validate the information on the document. For more information see .

ATAR Release from QTAC

ATAR eligible students will be able to access their ATAR Score on Friday 17 December at 9am. ATARs will be available via the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC) at All students have signed up to QTAC’s ATAR Portal to access their ATAR and again I encourage all Year 12’s to conform they can access their QTAC Portal.

To assist Year 12 students past 17 December, please find a link below to an information booklet that has been put together to assist students with managing their QTAC Application post ATAR release. The document contains information about the accepting, deferring or changing offers from QTAC, information about bridging course and contact information for people who can assist at Universities post accepting offers.

So you finished Year 12 (PDF 3MB)

Nicole Devlin 

It can be easy to get caught up in the excitement of holidays: perhaps of going away with family, returning home to family, or spending time with friends. However, while the end of the year is an exciting time of anticipation, it is also an opportunity to tie up loose ends (concepts), organise yourself (clear out your locker/desk space) and reflect on the year that has been. I encourage all students to make the most of their final week; in particular, to make the most of time in class. Use this time to discuss feedback or clarify knowledge with your teachers, to really focus on those last few concepts that you don’t quite understand.

So, over the next week instead of focussing your energy on what might happen ahead, stay committed to the present and finish your year at St Margaret’s well.

Caitlin McCluskey

New Students for 2022 – 18 November

We also look forward as a community to welcoming our new students from Years 8 to 12 for 2022 to St Margaret’s this Thursday 18 November. All new students to our school are assigned a student mentor/buddy. The student mentor program is an integral part of our student wellbeing framework. When a student feels connected and has a sense of belonging and know they are valued, they flourish. This program provides our current students with a great opportunity to lead and to be an ambassador for our wonderful school.

End of Term – 25 November

Finally, the term finishes on Thursday 25 November at 3:00pm with lots of celebrations happening on this day. We strongly urge parents to resist requests from their daughters to depart early. If an early departure is unavoidable due to extenuating circumstances, please advise the school, in writing, via studentleave@stmargarets.qld.edu.au as early as possible.

Nikki Townsend

The girls in these year levels also received a certificate to acknowledge their personal growth as a learner. In Years 3 and 4, the focus was on the learner dispositions that the girls have developed and demonstrated such as confidence, courage, resilience, and persistence. For each student, the teachers identified a learner disposition that they believed had been demonstrated by that student throughout the year and students were awarded with a certificate of acknowledgement. Students in each Year 5 class shared aspects of their leadership preparation. The girls were awarded with a certificate to acknowledge the completion of their leadership preparation journey which begins in Year 4 when students are issued with a passport which they complete individually.

Year 6 complete a Cornerstone Project where they plan and conduct a project that contributes to the wider community.

Next week the girls will run a Christmas Craft workshop on Wednesday 24 November to raise money for the Pyjama Foundation. All students are invited to participate in the workshop by decorating Christmas ornaments for $4, or decorating cards for $1. This leadership program provides the opportunity for students to develop responsibility with a focus on contributing to the community rather than a focussing on oneself. The outcome of our leadership program was evident on Year 6 camp. The girls demonstrated responsibility throughout the camp and were always mindful of the needs of others. On many occasions, the wider community sought out staff to commend the girls on their behaviour and manners. It was a pleasure to spend time with the girls.

Congratulations Year 6 girls.

Congratulations also to the students for their musical talents. Alongside the parents, I was so impressed by the girls’ performances. Thank you to Mr Jonny Ng, Dr Camille Syntageros, private music teachers and Mrs Brennan not only for this event but also each student’s musical growth throughout the year.

Year 3 

Year 4 

Year 5

The school community is looking forward to the P-2 Nativity Play tomorrow, the Year 6 Chapel service and morning tea next Tuesday, and the Pre Prep final Chapel Service next Wednesday. I look forward to catching up with parents at these events.

2022 Planning

The end of the year also brings planning for the new year. The teachers have finalised classes for 2022 and the teachers have been allocated to year levels. Next year, two additional classes will be added, one for Year 3 and one for Year 4, so we will welcome new staff.

Pre Prep          Mrs Belinda Knowles

Prep                 Ms Georgi Eadie, Ms Mary Komselis

Year 1              Ms Camille Poupardin, Mrs Sarah Singleton

Year 2              Ms Briar Bracey, Ms Tamryn Cronje

Year 3              Mrs Nicole Jonathan, Ms Kate Porter, Ms Katherine Lewis

Year 4              Miss Melissa Garbutt, Mrs Danielle Patterson, Ms Laurie Wilson

Year 5              Mrs Kylie Briggs, Mr Scott Barnsdale, Mrs Georgina Stevenson, Mr Clayton Howard

Year 6              Ms Kimberley Bachmann, Mr Evan Chia, Ms Louise Sands (3 days)/Mrs Sophie Cameron (2days), Mrs Brooke Calcutt

Angela Drysdale

Private Music Students’ Recital

Congratulations to all students who performed in the Private Music Students’ Recital on Wednesday afternoon. It was a fantastic afternoon of music with a wide range of styles performed on a variety of different instruments. All girls should be exceptionally proud of their performances!

Farewell Song from 2021 Music Captains

At the recent Music Dinner, our 2021 Music Captains (Akari Komoto and Ashleigh Witenden) presented a song that they wrote to say thank you for the many wonderful experiences gained through their time participating in the St Margaret’s Music Program. It is a beautiful song with a heartfelt message and is now available to be viewed via the St Margaret’s Music POD page.

2022 Date Claimer

Music Camp will be held at the end of Week 4 in Term 1 of 2022 from Friday afternoon 18 February through to Sunday afternoon 20 February at the Sunshine Coast Recreation Centre, Currimundi Beach. All girls in Years 7-12 who are involved in auditioned secondary music ensembles are invited and encouraged to attend. Further details will be provided at the start of the school year.

Instrument Donations

It is that time of year when some students may be deciding to upgrade instruments, or perhaps learn a different instrument for the coming year. If your household has an instrument that you know won’t be used for the foreseeable future, the St Margaret’s Music Department is gladly accepting donations of instruments. With the continued growth of the St Margaret’s Music Program, please know that the instrument will be put to good use. If you are interested in donating an instrument, please contact the Music Department at music@stmargarets.qld.edu.au

Return of Hired Instruments

Please note that all hired instruments are to be returned to the Sister Helen Orchestra Room Music Department no later than 3pm on Friday 19 November for cleaning and repairs. Should you wish to hire the instrument over the summer holidays, please contact the Music Department at music@stmargarets.qld.edu.au for further information.

2022 Private Music Tuition

If your daughter is currently undertaking private music tuition, she will automatically be placed on her current teachers’ roll for 2022. Parents do not need to fill in a new application form. However, if your daughter is wanting to discontinue lessons in 2022, we ask that you please email directly to the Music Department at music@stmargarets.qld.edu.au prior to the end of the school year.

Music Support Group

The next Music Support Group meeting will be held on Tuesday 1 February 2022 at 5:00pm in the Primary Music Room (second floor of Chaseley). We encourage parents from both the Primary and Secondary schools to become involved.

Brad King

All Schools Water Polo Competition       

On Monday 29 and Tuesday 30 November, St Margaret’s will be entering three teams into the inaugural All Schools Water Polo Carnival hosted by All Hallows’. The competition will be run across three divisions – 13 Years, 15 years and Open. Students selected to represent St Margaret’s will be communicated with and provided details of the draw. Good luck to all teams.

Term 1 Sports Registrations

Online registrations are now live for students to sign-up and register their interest in trialling for the sports listed below.

• AFL (Year 10 – 12 only)
• Artistic Gymnastics
• Basketball
• Cricket
• Cross Country
• Touch Football
• Soccer

All links to the online registration forms are found on the Secondary Sport POD page as well as the individual Sport POD pages. For each sport, detailed information about the dates, times and venues for trials is listed in the ‘Trial and Training Information Schedule’ document for each sport. All registrations will close on Friday 27 November. If you have any questions regarding the 2022 Sports Program, please email activites@stmargarets.qld.edu.au

Swimming Camp

All students from Year 7 – Year 12 in 2022 are encouraged to attend the annual Swim Camp on Wednesday January 19 – Friday January 2022. This camp is an integral part of the Swim Program. To learn more about this camp, please visit the and register via .

Congratulations…

Ashley Blackman (Year 7), Georgia Hopwood (Year 7), Ebony Okonkwo (Year 8), Milla Roberts (Year 9), Matilda Lee (Year 9), Isabella Harte (Year 10) and Tyla Proctor (Year 12) for being selected in the Queensland All Schools Athletics Merit Team.

Helen Lobegeiger

If you would like further information about the Program, please contact the Coordinator on mchamberlain@stmargarets.qld.edu.au or phone 3862 0750 or refer to the Private Speech and Drama Handbook on the website or Private Speech and Drama POD Page.

If you would like to enrol your daughter in Speech and Drama for 2022, please complete and return the Application for Tuition form by clicking . Places in the Program are limited and are provided to continuing students and then to new students based on the order in which enrolment applications are received and according to availability of spaces in each year level.

New enrolments are requested by Monday 22 November 2020.

Parents of current students – please remember to confirm or cancel your daughter’s place in the program for 2022 by completing and submitting the electronic form that was emailed to you by your daughter’s Speech and Drama teacher. Your consideration regarding this procedure is greatly appreciated. Accurate enrolment numbers are essential for ensuring successful timetabling, suitable staffing arrangements and a smooth start to the year for current and new students.

Lessons for 2022 will commence in week two of Term One. We are looking forward to another exciting year of cultivating confident, capable communicators.

Maria Chamberlain

Second Hand Books

A second hand textbook trading system is available through the Sustainable School Shop.  The subscription fee for this service has been paid by Ó£ÌÒ¸£ÀûÊÓƵ.  Go to  to register. The list of books and stationery outlines what is required by students in each year level.

YEAR 12 HOUSE SHIRTS

The year 12 house shirts have now been listed on flexi schools along with a size chart for ordering. The cost of the shirt is $45.  The final date for ordering is Friday 26^th November 2021.

Uniform Fitting Appointments

Bookings for October to December 2021 and January 2022 are available online now!

We would encourage all families to book an appointment as soon as possible to avoid missing your preferred day and time.

When booking your appointment please consider the following:

• Appointment times are either 30 minutes or 60 minutes depending on your appointment type.
• Available appointment types include:
  • New Student – for students who are about to start at St Margaret’s and require a full uniform fit out (60-minute fitting).
  • Existing Student – for existing students who require a uniform 'top up' (30-minute fitting).
  • Boarder Only - several times a year we offer Boarder Only fitting days for students who are or will be boarding at St Margaret’s. Their families have often travelled long distances and are only at the school on select days when the students are returning from or departing for school holidays (60-minute fitting).
  • Pre-Prep / Prep – for little ones who will be starting in Pre-Prep or Prep at St Margaret’s (30-minute fitting).
  • School Blazer Fitting – for any student who requires a new school blazer, compulsory for students in years 10, 11 and 12 (30-minute fitting).
• 1 appointment = 1 student fitting
  If you are booking for two or more students, please book separate fitting appointments for each child. These can be at the same time if times are available.

• All fittings will take place in the Supplies Shop which is located onsite, just off the Circular Drive through Gate 1, Petrie Street, Ascot.

Book your appointment online via the school website

EXTENDED TRADING HOURS **

2021 – ** APPOINTMENTS ONLY

Monday 29 Nov            8:00am – 2:00pm

Tuesday 30 Nov           8:00am – 2:00pm

Wednesday 1 Dec        11:00am – 5:00pm

Thursday 2 Dec            8:00am – 2:00pm

Friday 3 Dec                 8:00am – 2:00pm

Monday 6 Dec              8:00am – 2:00pm

Tuesday 7 Dec              8:00am – 2:00pm

Wednesday 8 Dec        11:00am – 5:00pm

Thursday 9 Dec            8:00am – 2:00pm

Friday 10 Dec               8:00am – 2:00pm

2022

Please note: Customers without an appointment in January will be required to take a number and will be served as soon as a staff member is available.

Wednesday 12 Jan        8:00am – 2:00pm

Thursday 13 Jan            1:00pm – 6:00pm

Friday 14 Jan                 8:00am – 2:00pm

Monday 17 Jan              8:00am – 2:00pm

Tuesday 18 Jan             8:00am – 2:00pm

Wednesday 19 Jan        8:00am – 2:00pm

Thursday 20 Jan            1:00pm – 6:00pm

Friday 21 Jan                 8:00am – 2:00pm

Saturday 22 Jan             9:00am – 11:00am

                                       1:00pm – 3:00pm – BOARDERS ONLY

Sunday 23 Jan               1:00pm – 3:00pm - BOARDERS ONLY

Monday 24 January    Regular trading hours resume

TRADING HOURS (Term Time)

Monday                        8:00am – 2:00pm

Tuesday                       8:00am – 2:00pm

Wednesday                  10:00am – 5:00pm

Thursday                      8:00am – 2:00pm

Friday                           8:00am – 2:00pm

Public Holidays Closed

PURCHASING LIMITS 

The global pandemic has resulted in supply chain disruption around the world and unfortunately, we are starting to feel the impact of this in our Supplies Shop. Overseas production and freight delays means we are currently experiencing difficulty in replenishing stock levels.

Due to these extenuating circumstances which are beyond our control, purchasing limits will be in place for all new and existing families throughout Nov 2021 to Feb 2022.

For in stock uniform items:

• Day students will only be permitted to purchase two of the same item, and
• Boarding students will only be permitted to purchase three of the same item (due to shared washing facilities).
• For uniform items that are out of stock at the time of fitting, parents will be able to order and pre-pay for these items with collection from the school scheduled from the 12th Jan 2022.

Kielee Alcantara

St Margaret’s Outside School Hours Care will be operating for the upcoming December/January Vacation Care.

Friday 26 November to Friday 17 December2021          7:00am – 6:00pm

Monday 20 December to Friday 7 January                      CLOSED

Monday 10 January to Friday 21 January 2022                7:00am – 6:00pm

Please refer to the attached Information Guide for full booking terms and conditions. We are unable to accept bookings via email or text message. The OSHC registration and Debitsuccess form must be completed, signed and sent back to us to finalise your booking. Please read the information guide carefully as some information has changed. OSHC Registration and Debitsuccess can be completed via the My Family Lounge.

PLEASE COMPLETE YOUR VACATION CARE BOOKING FORM VIA THE MY FAMILY LOUNGE APP

We are very excited to inform you that St Margaret’s OSHC has subscribed to a fantastic online Booking and Waitlist management program called QK Enrol. This program will give you access to manage your own account information, where you will have the ability to make bookings requests and allows you to complete and submit an online enrolment form for your child. You can do this and much, much more all within a parent portal called ’My Family Lounge’.

How do I log in?

Please navigate to the link below and either sign in with your existing My Family Lounge account or Register for an account if you do not already have one. Please note all families who have previously submitted an enrolment form will have an account already set up; all you will need to do is click ‘forgotten password’ and use the email address you used to receive this form.

When making a Vacation Care booking please select Casual bookings, not Permanent.

What is the cost?*

Early Bird Fees: $61 per day

Early Bird Bookings close: 12 November 2021

Fees: $66 per day*

Bookings close: 22 November 2021

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

What are the hours of operation?

The service is open from 7:00am until 6:00pm.

How can I obtain more information?

If you would like further information regarding our OSHC Program or if you would like to make a booking, feel free to contact me on 0423 547 653 or email: oshc@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.

Palu Ingram

Students from Years 10, 11 and 12 are also encouraged to attend. Immersing young women in an environment where they can build their networking capacity and be given the opportunity to foster relationships sits at the heart of St Margaret’s value in empowering young women through education.

We look forward to announcing another inspiring line up of guest speakers for our four 2022 PWN Breakfasts soon. If your business or company is interested in supporting this Series, you can download our 2022 Sponsorship Prospectus (PDF 3.2MB) to learn more about how you can get involved or contact me at lpickering@stmargarets.qld.edu.au.

St Margaret’s 2022 Mothers' Luncheon – Save the Date

The Ó£ÌÒ¸£ÀûÊÓƵ Mothers' Luncheon, hosted by the Parents and Friends Association, will be held on Friday 11 March 2022 at Brisbane City Hall.  Please note that tickets will go on sale in Term 1. 

2022 Roma Race Weekend: Friday 25 to Sunday 27 March 2022

In the interests of building on existing friendships between boarding parents and day parents within our school community, Brisbane-based parents may wish to join rural and regional boarding parents for 2022 Roma Race Weekend on the last weekend of March next year.

These two events will be held in Roma over Roma Race Weekend:

• Roma Ball: evening of Friday 25 March 2022
• Roma Picnic Races: during the day on Saturday 26 March 2022

Tickets for 2022 Roma Race Weekend will be available for online purchase on Australia Day, Wednesday 26 January 2022.

A link to purchase tickets to 2022 Roma Race Weekend will be included in E-news in late January next year.

To register your interest in attending Roma Race Weekend, please contact Jen Slatter (Year 8 and 10 parent) via email jenslatter777@gmail.com or phone 0404 466 804.

Lara Pickering

Is Your Resume Summer Ready?

Before you start applying for jobs, it’s a good idea to make sure that you have a resume ready to go and that it’s up to date and that’s going to appeal to potential employers – help you stand out from the crowd.

7 quick ways to wind down once school is over for 2021
Not everyone can walk away from the end of a school year and get your head straight into holiday mode. If you’re one of those who needs to work a little harder at stepping back from your responsibilities, here’s our suggestions for 7 quick ways to wind down once school is over for 2021.

UQ - Western Civilisation Summer School

Monday 17 January 2022, 3:00 pm - Wednesday 19 January 2022, 4:00 pm

The University of Queensland, Saint Lucia Campus

If you like reading, writing, or thinking about big ideas, this is the Summer School for you.

Few monsters have proven as popular as Frankenstein. He is the star of countless movies, comics, and TV series. Generations of audiences have been thrilled and terrified as he lurched across the screen. In the inaugural Western Civilisation Summer School, we invite you to come to UQ and discover the novel that started it all.

This two-and-a-half-day residential Summer School will introduce students to key themes in the text. It will explore the ethical questions that the text raises about humanity, the origins of life, and the limits of science. It will also provide opportunities to discuss the influences on Mary Shelley’s writing as well as how Frankenstein has influenced modern popular culture and debates.

Other activities include an evening of ghost stories, a trip to UQ’s Integrated Pathology Ó£ÌÒ¸£ÀûÊÓƵ Centre, an afternoon session on leadership and how to be a ‘change maker’, and a movie night themed around Frankenstein.

The Summer School is open to all students who will be entering year 11 or 12 in 2022.

Applications close 5 December 2021.

Find out more:

National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) 2022

Applications are still open for students who want to be a part of the National Youth Science Forum in 2022. The NYSF Year 12 Program offers an exciting range of in-person and digital science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) experiences for participants across Australia.
Applications close 30 November.

EA Software Engineering Virtual Experience Program
In this Virtual Experience Program, you’ll experience what life as a Software Engineer at EA would be like. You’ll utilize skills like critical thinking and problem solving while working with languages like Python and C++ to re-create and implement a new game along with so much more.

Canvas Art Award 2022

If you are a high school student with a knack for drawing, painting or using creative digital mediums, we invite you to creatively interpret the quote below into an illustrated scene: “Imagination should be used, not to escape reality but to create it.” – Colin Wilson How you interpret the quote is entirely up to you, however you must include a yellow umbrella somewhere in your scene.

iCanMed Summer Holiday Study Plan: How to Catch Up on UCAT Prep

Sunday 21 November 2021, 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm - Online

In this webinar, Ray, iCanMed’s education advisor, will share with you the techniques and timelines that are research-proven to help you best utilise your summer break for the most effective/efficient results with reference to the following points:

• Top tips on how to catch up on the prep that you have missed since April
• How to best organise your prep with the dos and don’ts of what gets you a UCAT score high enough to earn interview spots
• A summer holidays prep plan to get you up to scratch in terms of timeline and workload distribution
• An up-to-date mini mock test containing UCAT questions based on the 2021 exam
• Comprehensive teaching to help you learn how to solve questions correctly and prepare for the UCAT intelligently.

Find out more:

Whitehouse institue of Design - Foundation Portfolio Workshop

Saturday 20 November 2021, 9:00 am - 11:00 am - 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.

This workshop focuses on the following areas of skill development including:

• Illustration techniques
• Application of pencils, professional markers and felt-tip pens for professional rendering
• Brief analysis of trends and preparation of illustrations to compliment a Mood Board
• Exploring an individual design aesthetic
• Beginners portfolio development and learn how to present your work for application to the Bachelor of Design program.

Find out more:

Naomi Holley