From the Principal - OGA eNews Issue 4, 2024

The St Margaret’s theme for 2024 was Striving. The value of striving is more in the journey towards the goal rather than the goal itself. This theme was referred to at assemblies, chapels and in classrooms throughout the year and was promoted by the School Captains and Prefects. There were many examples of striving over a wide variety of activities this year.

Listed below are just twelve highlights, chosen from many in the 2024 school year and in no particular order.

1. Enrolments in both the primary and secondary departments are at an all-time high with 1,433 students.
2. Our 2023 graduates achieved outstanding results. 61.5% percent of seniors earned an ATAR 90 and above. One student (out of a possible 34 in the state) received the highest score of 99.95 and over 10% received 99 or above. Our median ATAR was 91.8. In the portfolio pathway, 29 diplomas were awarded, and 21 certificate courses were completed.
3. St Margaret’s received Excellence Awards in the Australian Education Excellence awards for the Best STEM Program; Boarding School of the Year; Primary School Teacher of the Year – Non-Government (Regina Brennan); and Secondary School Teacher of the Year – Non-Government (Collette Anderson).
4. Twenty members of staff across the Primary and Secondary schools received a National Excellence in Teaching Awards nomination in 2024.
5. Our Senior students led the whole student body and broader community to raise over $232,000 in the Ponytail Project. These funds support the Queensland Cancer Council and the Minotti Trust. In 2024, 241 students and 14 adults (Staff, Old Girls, and Parents) participated in this event. Over the past 10 years, St Margaret’s has raised over $945,000 for this worthy cause.
6. 46 of our Year 10 students participated in our Global Exchange Program this year, and we welcomed to our school community a corresponding number of overseas visitors. In 2024, a French and an American school were added to the suite of exchange schools. 
7. St Margaret’s continues to shine in eSports, having the reputation as a leading school for girls in gaming. A number of highly competitive and well attended Girls in Gaming tournaments have been held in the senior library. The Premier of Queensland, Steven Miles, even visited on the day the first one was held in June.
8. St Margaret’s had many successes in sport. In netball, we won the QISSN Championships – Senior Team Gold Medal. In rowing, we came second in both the aggregate and percentage cups at this years’ final regatta. In the Water Polo Queensland All Schools Championships, our senior team won gold and our middle years team won silver. In QG swimming, we placed second in the QGSSSA Swimming Championships and in Andrews Cup swimming we came third in the aggregate cup and held onto the Springfield Cup.
9. At this year’s Giving Day, we raised just over $430,000 thanks to the generous donations of so many in the community, including a growing number of Old Girls. These funds were directed to the Building Fund, specifically to assist in the restoration of Community House, and financial needs-based bursaries.
10. Mr Brad King, Head of Performance, was named as one of Australia’s most influential educators by The Educator. Mr King provides many opportunities for the students to perform, such as Classics in the Cathedral, Open Day, Live on the Drive, and this year, of course, was the MAYO Arts Festival, and our students played to one of the largest crowds ever.
11. St Margaret’s was awarded the 5-Staff Employer of Choice Award for the fourth year in a row.
12. The Forest (formerly Avoca Courtyard) opened for our students from Term 2. The work on the Canopy Café is still ongoing but will be complete at the end of Semester 1 2025. Other works are continuing in the school, specifically replacing the boarding lift, upgrading the Year 11 boarders’ bathroom and, of course, the renovation of Community House.

It has been another busy and productive year in the history of St Margaret’s and, of course, there were many more achievements or celebrations that I could have mentioned. As I write this, we are about to graduate another 162 Old Girls!

Time for a well-earned rest. Merry Christmas everyone, and if you do have a holiday, I hope it is both restful and joyous.

Per Volar Sunata

Ros Curtis AM
Principal