In this last OGA newsletter for the year, I thought I would write about several 2022 highlights. 

St Margaret’s commenced 2022 with an increase in enrolments. This meant we had to move quickly to ensure our campus could accommodate a growing student body.  Two new classrooms opened on Circular Drive, and they look as if they have always been there. Those of you who attended your reunions this year at the school would have had the opportunity to see them.

Once again, we can report very strong academic results. Last year’s seniors earned outstanding academic results under the new ATAR system. Of our ATAR eligible students, 63.5% received at ATAR of 90 or above.

It has been another year of enthusiastic participation by our students. For example, 100 students, six teachers and two dogs (Luna, our school dog, and Daisy, the Head of Primary, Mrs Angela Drysdale’s dog) raised just short of $100, 000 through the Ponytail Project.

Perhaps not so much a highlight, but during the floods, our rowing pontoon floated down the Brisbane River and the Windsor Park clubhouse was inundated and netball courts damaged. 

Nevertheless, there were many winning moments throughout the year. We won the Head of the River and the percentage cup this year in rowing. We also were successful winning at the Schoolgirls State Championship over the September holidays. Five of our Club Netball teams won their divisions premierships and St Margaret’s won the Queensland Independent Secondary Schools Netball (QISSN) grand final in Division 4.

We came second in the Aggregate Cup for QGSSSA Swimming. This was our goal and an improvement on last year’s performance. This meant we also came third in the Percentage Cup. For the second year in a row, St Margaret’s was first in the Aggregate Cup and won the Springfield Cup in Andrews Cup Swimming.

St Margaret’s sponsored and initiated our first eSports competition with three other QGSSSA schools and, for the first time, introduced eSports captains to our group of student leaders. 

We have celebrated the Arts this semester with a very successful MAYO Arts Festival.

2022 saw the return of the school’s Global Exchange Program with 26 Year 10 students visiting schools in South Africa, United States, Germany, and Canada.

Our new Chaplain, the Rev’d Jazz Dow, was commissioned at the school’s Easter Service.

The school also was the recipient of a number of industry awards and recognition.  St Margaret’s was named Employer of Choice for 2022 by The Educator for the second year in a row.  St Margaret’s was a finalist in the following Australia Educator Awards categories: Secondary School of the Year – Non-government; Boarding School of the Year; Best Remote Learning Program and School Principal of the year – Non-government.

In addition to this, 21 members of teaching staff were nominated by the community for the National Excellence in Teaching Awards.

Once again, St Margaret’s has been recognised for its innovation, named one of Australia’s most innovative schools for its introduction of the progressive Mentoring Program which is preparing students for their future careers.

The program gives Years 11 and 12 students the opportunity to be matched with appropriate mentors from the St Margaret’s Old Girls community in the field they are aspiring to study or enter into when they graduate. What sets the program apart is its disciplined structure and the fact its highly personalised to each student.

This year has seen the departure of another legendary staff member. After 20 years of service to swimming at St Margaret’s, Kevin Sargent left us for retirement.

I have not been able to cover all our achievements and endeavours over the year. However, I hope that this snapshot has provided a small insight to St Margaret’s in operation in 2022.

Per Volar Sunata

Ros Curtis
Principal