Principal's Message 2 A Message from the Board Chair 6 Meet our Board of Governors 8 The Strategic Future of QMC 10 Introducing our Head Prefects 12 Chaplaincy is Teamwork 14 Marion McCree Obituary 15 From the Parents' Association 16 From the Foundation Trust 17 From the Old Girls' Association 18 Old Girls Profile: Emily Chamberlin 20 From the Alumnae Office 22 Meet our new Deputy Principal 24 Is my Child Doing Too Much? 25 QMC Ranked Top 10 26 Meet our new Director International 27 Our inner-city Preschool 28 Poem: Instructions for Dancing 30 QMC Writers 31 Rubik's Cube Club 32 QMFem 33 Living in a Digital World 34 Athletics Day 36 Swimming Sports 40 Cross Country 42 A Summer of Sports 44 Cricket at the College 47 Spirit Week 48 Korowai 50 Te Whānau o Kuīni Mākareta 52 House Performing Arts 54 ArtsSportsLearningCommunity&Culture CONTENTS CONTENTS1
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE theNavigatingSTORM
“She stood in the storm, and when the wind did not blow her way, she adjusted her sails.”
Capturing and understanding data and understanding what it is telling us. Upskilling all staff in data analysis, understanding what student voice and outcomes are telling us about our learning programmes.
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Recently the Board of Governors has been reviewing how QMC can continue to offer our current and future families a modern quality education that remains futurefocused. Since 2019, we have had the QMC Learners (Diagram 1) as the central point for making decisions that focus on our learners. Over the past four years, educators have had an emphasis on the following: Quality Teaching
This quote by the late Elizabeth Edwards looks pretty apt for right now. As I sit in my office writing this article, I am watching the arrival of the latest ‘weather bomb’ of horizontal rain, gale-force winds, and snow, and I am rather pleased we have no actual sail outside. Indeed, the storms and gales we have been leaning into recently have been created more by people than nature and can mostly be mitigated by common sense, hard work, and a willingness to be open-minded about how we can do things differently. Having the Parents' Association and the Old Girls provide solutions for how we kept our students safe during that time typified the goals of QMC – past and present. The storm of protests in Wellington has passed, and the COVID-19 pandemic is well managed within the College, but we continue to take all the care we can to look after everyone who studies or works at QMC responsibly. I am so grateful to our community for continuing to mask up when they are at College.
Learning is our Priority Ensuring our learning model is understood by all. That the journey of learning, from surface to deep to transfer is applied in planning. That we understand the dispositions of learners - their prior knowledge, self efficacy and their willingness to engage in challenging learning, knowing that they will not always 'get it right'.
Wellbeing Greater emphasis on the ongoing care of our students by focusing on their holistic wellbeing.
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Holisticwellbeing Opportunitiesforall Futurefocused Lead selfandothers No
Engage
QMC LEARNERS Qualityteaching Learningisourpriority Students dispositions,apply learningwhotakerisksandshare highexpectations
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Teachers who understand the impact they have on all are taken up at all levels in skill competency for their futures barriers
learners Leadership opportunities
From 2023, our direction will move to future-focused learning and leadership, where the lens will be placed firmly on the students. The foundations for 2023 have begun already. With the support of the Board, we have engaged a full-time Director of Careers. With her skill set, plus initiatives from Old Girl Mira Karunanidhi, Alumnae Director Jane Ball, and the Engagement and Communications Team, we have some ambitious goals for careers, mentoring and leadership underway. Watch this space.
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As a college, we also remain mindful that QMC must continually look to the future and be adaptive to the changes in society and here, at 53 Hobson Street. know QMC is: Becoming more diverse and inclusive as a college Developing our international focus with new partners Questioning what we, and our values, stand for in a rapidly evolving society Questioning how we can prepare our learners to step out into the world by ensuring our educational proposition will equip them for their futures.
▶ Having the courage to have discussions to challenge us to be aspirational and make changes to our college.
So, as we have done successfully, we are adjusting our sails, and always keeping students at the centre of decision-making.
Jayne-Ann Young Principal
▶ Having a team of Governors, teachers and support staff with the resilience to guide us through this stormy COVID-19 period
He waka eke noa. A canoe which we are all in, with no exception.
IntegrityResilience,"Generosity,Respect,andCourage"
▶ Being generous with their time and skills in service to others
During this first half-year, I have been incredibly grateful to our Board, parents, staff, students and leadership team for;
▶ The integrity we see daily through offering to help others with kindness and honesty
Our Board Chair, Lynne Dovey, has mentioned in her article that over the past 18 months, the board has been working with the executive team and architects to prepare the college for learning as we know it today and in the future. Hybrid learning, collaborative spaces for innovation and the everchanging use of technology demand that we begin to rethink how we use space. It is fascinating to see how the architects take concepts, challenge our thinking and understanding about education in the future, and then come back to us with their solutions. Alongside the physical environment plans, the Foundation Trust, along with the Board, are developing our scholarship strategy designed to continue the legacy of support for QMC students.
▶ The respect shown to our teachers and support staff as they do the very best they can for our students, all the while having their own families and lives impacted daily
An essential part of our next focus will involve reviewing our service culture. Giving back has always been a core part of a QMC education; today, this has become even more important. A challenging discussion we are having with the students is how do we, as a whole College, want this to be, moving forward? It is a terrific central question for us all, and the students are already engaging with the staff with their views. Our QMC values (GRRIC) – Generosity, Resilience, Respect, Integrity and Courage provide us with guidance on how we should be moving forward.
At Board level our focus is very much on how well our students and staff are faring. We are grateful that staff members have pulled together to do what the college does best – provide students with a safe, positive and fun place to learn. The Board owes particular thanks to JayneAnn Young for leading the college during these unprecedented times. We also thank Anne Winnall for stepping in as Acting Principal during Term 1 to allow Jayne-Ann to take some muchdeserved leave. Other senior staff members have also willingly stepped up to fill gaps and the Board acknowledges and thanks them too. We are delighted that the college is maintaining its teaching schedule despite COVID, earlier Parliamentary protests and winter flu. During the protests Board members pitched in with staff to help drive the school minibus to and from Lambton Quay to pick up and drop off the girls from buses – thanks Alana Bicknell and Jane Ball. Although the majority of the Board’s focus is at the governance level, this is just one example of how the Board participates as a part of the very effective ‘Team QMC’. COVID presents a continuing challenge but I cannot stress enough that our consistent mask-wearing policy has really paid off. We have seen a number of changes in Board membership this year, with a fine group of talented new members joining in March; Claire Carruthers, Anna Lillis, Chris Redpath and Phuong Truong have filled the independent slots drawn from the parent community. They were selected to help complement the skill sets of existing members. Kathryn Sutherland, as the second Presbytery representative, has also joined us. We welcomed back Andrew Knight, former Board Chair, to take over chair of the Finance Committee for a short stint while the new Board members settle in. We farewelled Tim Power (co-Chair), John Young (chair of the Finance Committee) and Rachel Taulelei, all of whom made a significant contribution. Board membership is entirely voluntary and Board members give willingly and freely of their time and talents to serve on the Board. Many thanks to outgoing and incoming members.
Amanda Peake joined the college towards the end of 2021 as Director of Engagement and Communications. Amanda comes to us with considerable experience and expertise from similar schools in Australia.
A message from the Board Chair
It’s hard to believe that we are now more than halfway through the third year of the pandemic and into Term 3 of 2022. We are really proud of the way everyone has responded to the challenges that have arisen this year.
We have also seen some excellent appointments to the Senior Leadership Team, starting late last year with Amanda Peake, Holly Payne, Paul Sherris and most recently Fiona Crawford. Along with Jan Treeby, and working under Jayne-Ann Young’s leadership, this team now constitutes a very strong senior bench for the college. The Board takes a close interest in the selection process for these roles.
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Lynne Dovey Chair | Board of Governors
Nowhere was this seen better than during the Parliamentary protests which required daily communications to families for a period of time. We are thrilled to see Holly Payne step into a senior leadership role as Deputy Principal, Teaching and Learning; this is thoroughly deserved. Long-standing staff member Paul Sherris took up the newly created position of Director Finance and Operations (following a Board review to determine what skills and expertise we need in what has traditionally been the Bursar role, now expanded) and has already made a very positive impact. At the beginning of Term 3 we welcomed Fiona Crawford to the senior team. Fiona has picked up the Wellbeing Programme and pastoral portfolio. During Term 2 we wished Marianne Duston, and her husband John, all the best as they departed for Sydney. Marianne introduced the Wellbeing Programme to QMC and John was the college accountant and Business Studies teacher. A key focus for the Board in 2022 is planning for future campus development, which is vital for the longevity of the College. During 2021 we engaged a firm of architects experienced in school design to help us shape development over the next 10-15 years. The areas we are focusing on include an extension and upgrade of the library space to make it more versatile, consistent with a more modern learning environment. A second area is extension and modernisation of the Craven block over a longer time frame – and yes we will fix those leaks just as soon as we can, taking account of these plans. A third area of focus is performing arts where our ideas are at an early stage. We will share plans and ideas with you early next year. We would certainly
Theyourwelcomefeedback.Cravendevelopment especially will require a significant fundraising effort, much as the college community raised funds for the new gym some years ago. For this purpose we have established a new Marketing, Development and Fundraising sub-committee of the Board, chaired by Claire Carruthers. The committee is currently working on a fundraising strategy in conjunction with representatives of the QMC Foundation, the Old Girls’ Association and the Parents’ AAssociation.secondpriority is the development of a scholarships programme. QMC has offered scholarships for many years. The Board wants this programme to be extended to make it more intentional so that when a student qualifies for a scholarship they can be proud ambassadors for the college in their field –sport, music, arts, academic achievement or whatever it is – as well as their own achievement. The QMC Foundation will support this focus on scholarships in its fundraising effort over the next couple of years. As one of the
PresbyterianGalloway,PresbyteriantoJuneofwithofrepresentativesPresbyteryontheBoardGovernors,IkeepintouchthePresbyterianChurchAotearoaNewZealand.IntheBoardwaspleasedhosttheModeratoroftheChurch,RevHamishandtheDirectoroftheChurchSchools’ office, Rev Stephanie Wells. Topics for discussion included the modern learning environment, student and staff wellbeing and the role of the church in the 21st century in the twelve Presbyterian schools around the country. In early August the Principal and I attended the Presbyterian Schools' Conference which was jointly hosted by Iona College and Lindisfarne College in Hawke's Bay. The main theme was a focus on values and why they are important. In June I attended the Year 13 Ball along with the Principal and senior staff. It was a delight to meet so many girls and their parents and to enjoy some glitz and glamour in mid-winter too. Well done to the organisers. I write this as we go into Term 3 when we will welcome a large number of girls who are joining QMC, including several international students. It’s so good to have our borders open again. Things to look forward to in Terms 3 and 4 include a number of arts and music events in the school calendar, as well as various Parents’ Association events which Alana Bicknell talks about in her report. Finally, an achievement of note is that the senior choir, Voces Luce, will perform at the Finale of the Big Sing in Christchurch in late August. We wish them all the best, as we do all our students for exams and any other events in which they may be involved.
Dovey Board Chair Presbytery Representative Jane Ball Deputy Board Chair Old
Lynne Girls’ Association Carruthers Bicknell Parents’ Association Old Girls’ Association
During 2022 we have an especially large Board of 14 members. We have engineered this to ensure that we have continuity since five new Board members were appointed in March. Andy Knight, former Board Chair, has returned as chair of the Finance Committee for the year. Chris Redpath will take over this role from the start of 2023. We expect that one or two members will also finish their term at the end of 2022. What strengths does your professional background bring to the QMC Board?
Meet GovernorsBoardourof
Board Governor Alana
Board Governor
Representative Sarah Burke Board Governor Andrew Knight Board Governor Claire
Nominee
President Odette Frost Board Governor
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“In 2021 I won the Fundraising Institute of New Zealand’s (FINZ) Fundraising Leader of the Year Award. I lead creative teams that are future-focused, problem solvers and results driven by fostering an environment of support, innovation, a can-do attitude and no idea is a silly idea.” – Claire Carruthers
What do you enjoy most about the QMC Board experience?
What do you see as opportunities and/or strengths of QMC right now?
What do you hope to bring to the QMC Board?
Thu Phuong Truong Board Governor
Board Governor Anna Lillis Board Governor Kathryn Sutherland Board Governor Presbytery Representative Nicki Nicol Board Governor Sarah Taylor Board Governor Parents’ Association Representative Chris
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“The chance to work with exceptional people committed to the QMC community with a desire to create one of the best schools in New Zealand. It’s a chance to give back to the school that has given so much to me and my two daughters.” – Anna Lillis
“Given my academic background as an Associate Professor in Accounting at Victoria University of Wellington teaching financial accounting, financial statement analysis, finance, and research methodology at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, I hope to contribute to help to enhance the financial literacy skills of QMC girls.” – Thu Phuong Truong
Simon Law Redpath Governor
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“A relentless desire to grow our cultural awareness so that Te Tiriti can be honoured and enacted in practical and empowering ways.” – Kathryn Sutherland
THE STRATEGIC FUTURE of Queen Margaret College PURPOSE To empower young women to live, learn and lead adventurously VISION 'Live by the light of truth' VALUES Integrity, GenerosityResilience,CourageRespect, 10COMMUNITY
Continue to establish the coaching framework, focusing on teacher development, and to increase opportunities for student and teacher feedback.
To strengthen the understanding of and commitment to our shared purpose in a culturally responsive way.
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Our People Goal: Engage in Cultural Responsiveness (CR) training for all, to strengthen our shared understanding of, and commitment to, the Treaty of Waitangi and QMC tikanga in all that we do.
LearningAdventurous
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Increase understanding and use of the QMC Learning Model, integrating wellbeing and learning and developing teacher practice.
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To promote a culture that is safe, supportive, and positive for both staff and students, which is built on trust and collaborative relationships.
CommunityDynamic Partnerships&
Goal: Connect, communicate and collaborate effectively with our staff, students, parents and the broader community.
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Goal: Excellence in Learning and Wellbeing.
To extend opportunities to celebrate student and staff success.
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To engage in CR for all members of the school – Board, Exec, Staff, Students, Whānau.
To continue to develop and refine the THRIVE programme; to educate students about the six pillars of wellbeing and build the capacity of students to incorporate these aspects into their lives to enhance their wellbeing.
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ANNUAL ACTIONS Improve risk literacy throughout the community so that people can make safe decisions, independently. Further improve our health and safety systems, emergency procedures and COVID-19 response.
FuturesSustainable Goal: Ensure financial stability.
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Strengthen our EOTC framework to promote simple and safe adventurous learning.
ANNUAL ACTIONS Commit to connecting, collaborating and communicating with all members of the QMC community (students, alumnae, educators, parents, staff and friends) in a timely and purposeful manner. Enhance our engagement and communication with internal and external communities through strategic, targeted communication and collaboration to enhance meaningful and enduring connections, locally and globally.
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ANNUAL ACTIONS Increase revenue streams beyond fees. Decrease costs relating to non-core functions. Stem the flow of withdrawals. Increase enrolments across the college by 2.5% with the long-term goal of building a solid waitlist.
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Excellence Operationsin Goal: People in the QMC community can safely interact and learn.
Head Prefect, Lilly Taulelei, and Deputy Head Prefect, Pippa Nicol, met on Day 1 of Year 7. They soon became strong friends and teammates, a relationship that has lasted to this day.
Over the years, their connection with, and leadership of, the community has grown, forming a very tall and inspirational duo that will lead Queen Margaret College in 2022. It was a stroke of fate that led to Lilly and Pippa’s pairing as Head Prefects. At the end of 2021, Jayne-Ann Young announced the appointment of Naomi Sopoaga as Deputy Head Prefect for 2022, alongside Lilly. However, as with many things over the past two years, COVID-19 had other ideas.
“Even though ‘Grow As You Go’ doesn’t necessarily mean growing physically, it felt destined for Lilly and I, the tallest girls in school, and the tallest Head Prefects QMC has ever had, to lead the year with the theme of Growth,” she added.
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Lilly and Naomi attended a week-long virtual Leadership Conference at the beginning of January. They shared ideas and collaborated with hundreds of other student leaders from New Zealand and Australia to help prepare for the year ahead.
Over the summer holidays, Naomi flew to Europe and was unable to secure an MIQ spot to return to Aotearoa. With Naomi’s blessing, Pippa stepped up to the position, assuming the role of Deputy Head “BeingPrefect.selected as QMC’s Head Girl for 2022 can be described as nothing else but a blessing and a privilege. When Ms Young informed me of my selection, I was overwhelmed with emotion, knowing that, with this role, I would be able to create opportunities for growth within the school as well as inspire the students,” said Lilly. “Ēhara tāku toa I te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini”/ “My strength is not as an individual, but as a collective.” My plan for the role is to create a bridge between year groups, students, families and faculty, as to grow as a whānau we must function as a collective rather than individuals,” she added.
“When I found out the theme, I couldn’t think of anything more pertinent to be our theme for 2022. It highlights our school values of resilience and courage and feels relevant considering our position in the world right now with the ongoing effects of COVID-19,” said Pippa.
Pippa describes the moment she found out she would be Deputy Head Prefect, “When Ms Young called me in January, I was speechless. It was one of those bittersweet moments where I was disappointed for Naomi, who would have made an incredible Deputy Head Girl. I was also greatly appreciative of and super excited for the opportunity and honoured to become Deputy Head Girl. It is a privilege to be here at Queen Margaret College, and an even bigger privilege to be supporting Lilly in leading the school for 2022.”
In 2022, our Head Prefects were the inaugural recipients of new korowai (cloaks). This was an initiative by Year 11 student, Charlotte-Jane Mears who engaged the support of Jane Ball, Whaea Rāhera Meinders and Karmen Wallace to design and create two beautiful korowai. These were presented to Lilly and Pippa at the Head Prefect Commissioning Assembly and will be passed on to future Head Prefects. “The korowai is a symbol of leadership and an obligation to care for your people. I could think of nothing more fitting to be bestowed upon Pippa and me. It was an honour to be the inaugural recipients of the korowai and it will be a legacy that we are privileged to uphold,” said Lilly.
“This is when we came up with our theme for 2022, 'Grow As You Go'! We decided to base our theme around growth as we viewed it as a concept that can change with each person. Your goal for growth may be around your academics, your social life, your sports or more. A growth mindset is what we hoped to inspire so that both students and staff were able to complete 2022 as their best self, by their own definition,” said Lilly.
"Whether you grow two inches, learn a new language, or develop life skills, our QMC leaders cannot wait to see how everyone grows as they go, no matter how different it is from one another, in 2022!"
INTRODUCING OUR Head Prefects
Deputy
Nicol
“The
Taulelei,
From Head Prefect Lilly Principal Jayne Ann-Young, Head Prefect Pippa
Left to Right:
korowai is a symbol of leadership and an obligation to care for your people.”
▶ Used concepts from Food Technology to create kosher recipes that can be enjoyed in class, as well as taking part in Shabbat and Seder activities. Created mezuzah scrolls and made dreidels to play with.
One assembly on gratitude had students in each tutor group forwarding their own reasons for thankfulness, resulting in a giant Gratitude word cloud. At other times younger students have produced Mothering Sunday cards and made palm crosses for Palm Sunday. Whilst we remain Christian in central focus, assemblies also honour the faiths of others who are represented in our community; Ramadan and Eid, Purim and Passover, Holi and others are recognised.
▶ Researched and presented the representation of women in religions through art, literature and music in line with the Scholarship theme in Religious Studies this year of ‘Women and Religion’.
Deborah Wilson School Chaplain
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▶ Explored Abrahamic, Dharmic and indigenous spirituality through art, including some Maths and geometry.
Term 1 saw QMC welcome our first-ever hasCharacterChaplain’s/SpecialPrefect.EllaBustinmadeanexcellentstartin establishing and shaping this exciting new role From the outset of my time here as Chaplain, I have been eager to incorporate student participation and student voice into Chaplain’s assemblies. Our Presbyterian Christian foundation, with its emphasis on equality, education and community, lies at the heart of all that we do. It is therefore fitting that our students should exercise leadership in this area. Ella has played a crucial part in helping to shape the assemblies in both theme and content. The opening karakia and the closing Te Karakia O Te Atua are now a familiar feature of our weekly service. One of Ella’s first tasks was also to assemble and lead a team of student volunteers. These meet most weeks to discuss topics that are of interest to the student community, and to suggest ideas for assemblies. They are also an essential part of the Chaplain’s Friday assembly, in reading Bible passages and prayers. Some lively and fruitful discussions have also taken place on aspects of faith and practice. Anyone is welcome to join the Team meeting at 1pm most Mondays in C7. Chaplain’s assemblies throughout Terms 1 and 2 presented something of a challenge, since COVID restrictions upon gatherings entailed streaming the service live to tutor rooms, from the hub of the Centennial Room. However, this has given rise to new opportunities for students to participate in activities associated with the theme of the assembly.
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ADVENTUROUS LEARNING IN RELIGIOUS EDUCATION What is adventurous learning in Religious Education? We have come a long way since the days of Religious Instruction in the 20th century. The exploration of diverse beliefs and spirituality involves us in deep dives into Judaism, Islam, Dharmic faiths and indigenous culture, as well as non-theistic belief systems. We also investigate Christianity in a variety of ways, using a range of media and methods. This year our students have:
▶ Examined religious symbolism in stained glass windows and begun to create our own, inspired by a visit to the stunning Old St Paul’s Cathedral.
▶ Explored the life of Jesus as might be presented through the modern lens of social media and contemporary journalism. The possibilities for adventure in the study of religion, philosophy and ethics are endless and always enjoyed by our students.
"Marion McCree, a woman of energy, vision and humour, was remarkably generous with her time and her talents in the service of Queen Margaret College. Miss McCree's introduction of an electives programme encouraged senior girls to explore the community and help find their places in it, while many new sporting and cultural opportunities were provided to increase girls' self-confidence through an awareness of their own potential. Her modesty, her ability to see the humorous side of a situation, her sense of adventure and her ability to surprise have made associating with her pleasurable and stimulating".
Marion’s funeral was held at Old St Paul’s on 5th August 2022, at which I was honoured to represent Queen Margaret College. Marion’s service was taken by Ken Edgecombe, the previous Chaplain at QMC. Her funeral was arranged mainly by the senior staff she worked with here at QMC, during her nine years of leadership, with a special mention of Jude Campion, Denise Morgan and Pam Hanna, who all worked with Marion’s family overseas in arranging the funeral. These women had more than a professional relationship, and it was touching for all of us to see the regard and care they each had for Marion.
Marion McCree, 1936–2022
Jayne-Ann Young Principal
— Te Karere 1986 Our ninth Principal, Ms Marion McCree, passed away on 27th July 2022, four days shy of her 86th birthday.
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Marion McCree, Headmistress at Queen Margaret College 1977–1986.
Marion was a well-respected woman by her former staff and students. The QMC social media post about her passing gathered numerous comments about the high regard she was held in. Marion followed the legendary Nancy Black, and she led many changes in the school. Her legacy to the school was the introduction of electives for students and a more modern curriculum for the students in the late 1970s – mid-1980s. She knew her students; she had fun with her staff, had a love of the outdoors and loved music. Our choir, Voces Luce, sang ‘A Piece of Sky’ and also a sung blessing. They were magnificent, and their singing brought many of the Old Girls and staff present to tears. I am pleased to have known Marion, however briefly, and to have learned more about this remarkable woman, her life and her service to so many. Rest in peace.
First up was Samoan Language Week; a delicious lunch of sapa sui was provided to over 100 students, with many QMC staff also ordering lunch. Dan Pavihi led the charge in the kitchen with our Samoan whānau lending their expertise in the kitchen on the day.
Secondly, on 29th June, Matariki was celebrated with hangi offered for lunch to students and QMC staff but also parents and whānau outside of the school. The logistical challenge was always there, with over 250 lunches ordered, but with the generous help of Te Whānau o Kuīni Mākareta, the QMCPA Committee and Helpers Group it was an absolute success. A special thank you to the Wellington Functions Team at Te Wharewaka, who provided the delicious Hangi. Seeing students enjoy the hangi and come back for more was definitely a “cup filled” moment for all the helpers on the day. We were delighted to celebrate Cook Islands Language Week on Wednesday 3rd August. Our team of parents, alongside the mamas, nanas and aunties of Te Whānau o Kuīni Mākareta provided a delicious lunch for 110 students and QMC staff of Cook Islands’ mainese, doughnuts, and marinated chicken nibbles. In the hall, long tables were set up allowing students to come together with friends and share a meal. Additionally, the photo booth set up in the hall was a big hit with students of all ages, as were the traditional 'ei katu (flower crowns) that they got to wear.
The QMC New Parents’ Welcome Evening was hosted on Thursday 11th August and was a tremendous success. The annual event would normally occur at the beginning of Term 1; however, due to gathering restrictions, this was the first opportunity for us to come together and welcome the new parents into our community. There were more than 80 new parents in attendance, with key QMC staff, Jayne-Ann Young, Lynne Dovey Chair of QMC Board of Governors and representatives from the QMC Foundation Trust. It was delightful to hear from so many parents how happy and settled their daughters are. I would like to acknowledge the huge amount of effort from the QMCPA Committee;the evening’s success was very much a team effort. Coming up The annual QMCPA Quiz Night will be held on Saturday 17th September from 6.30pm10.00pm. We encourage all parents, friends, family, work colleagues and members of our QMC community to come along, making up a team of eight players,
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The Parents’ Association has always been about connecting our parent community and we are delighted to update you all on what has been a busy few months for the Parents’ Association Committee and Helpers Group. One of the Parents’ Association’s roles at QMC is to support the ongoing work the school and team undertake around opening up the school for prospective students and their families. This first half of the year was no different with the QMCPA being on hand to talk to prospective students and families over a cup of tea at two Open Mornings at the college. What is wonderful to see is how the Open Days have evolved and grown. Amanda Peake and her team have done an excellent job in creating an actionpacked morning of information, activities and insights for those considering Queen Margaret College as the education pathway for their daughters. In early May the Parents’ Association hosted a fun-filled movie evening with an exclusive screening of “Downton Abbey’ A New Era”. It was a great success, with many of our community bringing along friends and family and it was great to have two full cinemas – over 100 people in attendance. There were prizes for Best Hats in Show and also a special prize for one lucky attendee who looked like she had just stepped out of Downton Abbey. Thank you to all who attended, especially those who dressed up and joined in the spirit of the evening. This is the first movie night the QMCPA has held and certainly won’t be the last, The wider community vision of the Parents’ Association is to be engaged with areas of the school that can benefit from QMCPA’s ability to pull various logistics together and engage our committee and extensive helpers group. Te Whānau o Kuīni Mākareta engaged with the Parents’ Association to assist with putting on three offerings of kai – lunches for students. All were to celebrate three of the many cultures Te Whānau o Kuīni Mākareta represents.
From Parents'theAssociation Kia ora, e te whānau - parents, caregivers and families of Queen Margaret College.
The beginning of 2022 was not the year we anticipated. I feel like each QMCPA update starts with an acknowledgement of the challenging times we are all experiencing. How in a matter of months things can change.
Ngāqmcpapresident@qmc.school.nzmihi
Thesharing.Foundation Trust has made a commitment to fundraise for scholarships as part of the effort to ensure as many girls and young women as possible experience this incredible education that our students always have. We're a keen group, but we know we can't do this alone. In the next few months keep an eye out for opportunities to support this worthy effort as we launch the scholarship fundraising programme and look for other volunteers excited to support the work too.
Alana Bicknell QMCPA President environment where girls can really be themselves, and learn in the sort of environment that study after study has made clear represents the very best opportunity for them. That sort of excellence is worth
The Queen Margaret Foundation Trust is a dedicated group of community members, including parents, staff and Board of Governors’ members, looking to help the school in the best way we possibly can. The question for a while has been what that 'best way' really is. Between us, we have a lot of skill sets, contacts, and experience in various fields, but how best to apply those to support and further the mission of QMC?
Additionally, the annual QMC Golf Day will be hosted once again at Shandon Golf Club and is scheduled for Friday 28th October, so make sure to put it in your diaries. Registration details and sponsorship opportunities will be released in the coming weeks. Your continued and ongoing support means so much to us! Despite the disruption that the beginning of 2022 brought, we are looking forward to the rest of the year and are already in the throes of planning for a busy 2023 and our small committee always appreciates any support. If you wish to donate your time and/or services, or become involved with the activities of the QMCPA, please contact Alana at
Peter Mahoney Chair of the QMC Foundation Trust As a postscript, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Leila Davies for her time as Chair of the Trust, a role I've just stepped into myself. I'm grateful for her ongoing support, and thrilled she's continuing to remain on the Trust, in the role of Secretary, to carry on with our work. Thanks, Leila!
or as individuals (we can include you in a team). This is always a fun and friendly opportunity to come together in a relaxed setting. You don’t need to be a quiz expert; a sound general knowledge helps immensely. There are prizes galore to win and a silent auction, with some extra special offerings on offer. As always with any QMCPA event there will be delicious food and drink available.
The Board of Governors has recently committed to two things that have helped hone our purpose and plan:
1. Major fundraising to ensure the school continues to thrive and fulfil our mission of building inquisitive girls who step into the world prepared to make a change.
2. A well-developed scholarship system. Queen Margaret College is a rare thing: a progressive school, steeped in tradition that delivers a world-class education in an From Foundationthe Trust
An update on our events
Sometimes you may feel we are not active enough out in our community but please be assured we are very busy working behind the scenes to help support our future Old Girls. So, for at least the next 18 months we will continue with our work programme around wellbeing and we hope you will support us with this. The response and feedback we have had so far from teachers and students alike has made us conclude it is worth the time and effort. I keep saying this, but I really do believe that if we help our students now, they will only become greater Old Girls in the future. If you wish to contribute to our students' wellbeing, please get in touch with us: oldgirls@qmc.school.nz
One thing we have achieved this year is supporting the college with student wellbeing. With the everincreasing demand for support services to ensure wellness for all, especially in our community, the OGA has invested significantly in this area over the last 18 months. Whilst this may not be visible to the Old Girls’ community, it is an area where we, as Old Girls, can add real value to the college. With this in mind, the Association has established a dedicated Wellbeing Fund. You may wonder why we have done this and not focused especially on the needs of Old Girls. Well, the answer is simple; we want to support our current students so they in turn become great Old Girls and continue the legacy of those that have gone before. You may recall we mentioned this new fund at the end of last year and we are delighted to say that it is now up and running! Thanks to several wonderful and gratefully received donations we have already been able to repurpose two underutilised spaces around the campus and turn them into student and staff breakout places and provide a refresh to the old sick Earlierbay.this year, and at the request of Principal Jayne-Ann Young, the Association also funded the initial cost of an additional wellbeing specialist to supplement the pastoral care programme for Therestudents.isa very real need to support our young people. We are now asking Old Girls, or, in fact, anyone in our community, to support us with our fundraising efforts. Funds used will be invested into various wellbeing initiatives being planned by both the staff and students for the benefit of students and parents. No amount is too big or too small and because we are a registered charity any donations to the wellbeing fund over $5.00 are tax deductible! To donate, please get in touch for more information at oldgirls@qmc.school.nz
Association focus on wellbeing
Luce Veritatis Lynne Speight President | Old Girls' Association
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From the Old Girls' Association
Hello Old Girls… So far it has been another year of ups and downs as we recalibrate again in line with all the complications the pandemic has brought. The COVID protection framework, implemented by the college, is a significant piece of logistics aimed at keeping staff and students safe whilst continuing all the necessary learning. It also keeps our wider community safe! And, of course, we are not exempt from the restrictions this places on events for Old Girls or events the Association supports for current students. We are ever mindful that traditions are important, so we are always looking for new ways to honour these. If Old Girls would like to provide feedback on what and when we do things, we encourage you to get in touch via our email: oldgirls@qmc.school.nz
▶ We need to be looking after our nervous systems. We have two branches in this system; one is the parasympathetic system, and one is the sympathetic system. When we are sympathetic, we are in our stress response, which means we are pumping out cortisol (stress hormone). When we are in a stress response, we are not setting our bodies up to fight infection. Our immune system isn't functioning optimally.
To experience first-hand the benefits of her system, book online at detox-centreshelleygawith.com/ using the discount code QMC50. The discount expires on 31 October 2022.
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“Following a successful career in banking, I caught influenza and my body burnt out. I was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, which took years of being confined to my bed and working with specialists from around the world to get myself better. In the end, I changed professions and chose to study health in an attempt to understand this chronic illness I now suffered with. Gaining an understanding of how the human body worked inspired me to challenge our current healthcare system as I started working with clients one-on-one, bringing transformational detox technology to New Zealand. What I have learned in the current situation, from working with clients in the clinic and speaking at various conferences around the world about COVID, influenza and chronic fatigue are:
▶ Put your legs up the wall every night before bed; this sets you up to go to bed in a relaxed state, allowing your body to detoxify during the night.
Another common blood test that New Zealand children are not in the optimal range for is their thyroid health which has become increasingly evident since COVID. The thyroid is an important hormone which links to many areas of our body, but it's especially important for energy and metabolism. Most people store their toxic load in their thyroid. I talk about a person's thyroid as being like a sponge; they need to make sure we are rinsing it out daily. I recommend all of my clients having their thyroid tested especially if there is a family history.”
80% of our immune system is in our gut, so we need to be prioritising our gut health, something I knew nothing about in my banking days.
▶ It's important to think about the food we are eating. If we are eating foods causing us inflammation that creates a stress response in our bodies and keeps us in a sympathetic state. In my clinic, I teach clients several tests that they can do at home to work out what foods are causing them or their families problems. You can also do lab testing and blood work to find out which foods are causing you a problem.
Shelley has generously offered a 50% discount on her detox treatment.
A common thing I’m seeing in the clinic and with my corporate clients is that they do not have a benchmark for their bloodwork.
Most of my clients have no idea what their standard vitamin levels are when we first start working together. For example, New Zealanders are known for having very low levels of vitamin D. This has become increasingly common with a lack of overseas travel throughout the winter months.
Personally, at the beginning of 2020, my vitamin D was perfect. A year later, when I did my annual blood tests, my vitamin D was very low and I couldn't understand why until I realised I hadn't traveled to my usual conferences throughout the year. Instead of getting vitamin D through exposure to the sun, I was supplementing with vitamin D capsules. I'm seeing low levels of vitamin D in my clients as young as four years old.
Alumnae Relationships Director, Jane Ball.
▶ To get our bodies into a parasympathetic state we must practise breathing breaks (focused breathwork) when we first wake up and before bed. I like to get clients to do them at red lights in their cars or when walking.
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Alumna, Emily Chamberlin, attended QMC from 2006 until 2019. After a gap year, she joined the New Zealand Army in July of 2021.
Swapping the QMC stripes for a camo uniform OLD GIRLS PROFILE: EMILY CHAMBERLIN
Today, Emily is currently a soldier in the Corps of Royal New Zealand Military Police and will soon join the Royal New Zealand Logistics Regiment later in 2022. She marched out of basic training in Waiouru, in November 2021 and has been training in her respective corps since then. Hers has been a rather unique and interesting journey since graduating from QMC. While so many of our QMC graduates move on to study at university, there are others that have chosen different pathways and are thriving in the work they are doing. We wanted to know more about Emily’s career, and she kindly answered some of our questions: What motivated you to work for NZDF? There are two reasons, and the first is my mother. She is a career diplomat serving New Zealand her entire professional life. I really wanted to be like her but didn’t want to follow the exact same path. Still wanting to represent and serve the country I call my home, I always dreamed of joining the army. The second reason is a little cheesier and something I am thankful to QMC for. Growing up in a school with traditions, uniforms, and high standards helped me to develop discipline and positive routines. I wanted to carry that on in my future and thought that the Army would be a great place to make that happen. Is that something you planned on doing while you were at school? What did you want to do when you were 15? I have wanted to join the army for as long as I can remember. I remember during tutor time everyone was applying to university and they would ask me “Which university are you going to apply to?” And I would, without fail, respond with “The Army”. I never really saw myself continuing my studies because I felt like I was a very practical learner and always wanted to be moving. What does your average day look like now? My average day has changed a lot since graduating from basic training. During my four months in Waiouru there was a strict schedule of constant running, learning, and physical/mental challenges. Once out of basic and living in barracks my day has quietened down a bit. Since I’m still training my day usually consists of PT (Physical Training), weapons training, classroom learning and much more. No day is ever the same, which I love. When we knock off for the day, we are free to do whatever we please as long as we are ready to go the next morning. What has been your career highlight to date? Definitely graduating from basic training. I was really put to the test and there were times I thought I wouldn’t make it and wouldn’t be able to march out with my fellow recruits. The feeling of my Platoon Sergeant saying to us all, “You made it” was, and remains, the best feeling ever.
To be honest, women are still a minority within the Defence Force and there is no sugar-coating it. Sometimes you will feel like you don’t belong because the males are taller, often fitter and certain activities can come easier to them. But that is also a good thing! Being able to prove yourself (even though you shouldn’t have to) is a great feeling. For me, being a 5'1 female, it was tough to keep up in some activities, but, in a team, everyone has strengths and weaknesses and there is always a soldier by your side to help when you need Thereit.are some people that still think that women don’t belong in the army. To that I say: Everyone belongs in the army if they put in the mahi. Would you recommend this pathway to others? Why? I really do! Any branch of the Defence Force is a great pathway. Full of courses, qualifications, and lifelong friends. There are seemingly endless courses you could pursue, and those qualifications can also carry through to civilian life which is such a bonus. Who wouldn’t want a career full of camaraderie and a sense of purpose? What’s next for you? I plan to stay in the Defence Force for the majority of my adult life. The good thing about the army is that you can change service (army to navy or air force) as well as change your trade within the service. This way, once you feel fulfilled in your respective trade then you can change to a different one to start a new adventure! I have only been in for a short while, but I have enjoyed my time so far. I don’t feel like I will leave any time soon. What is your favourite memory from QMC? That’s a hard question; there have been quite a few. Mine would probably be leading my house in the whole house song during House Music in 2019. As a Junior School girl going to house meetings, I would always dream of standing where my past Berwick Prefects stood, so being able to make that dream a reality was a crazy feeling I’ll never forget.
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What are some misconceptions that young women might have about working in defence?
the programme. Participants will have the opportunity to meet their mentor/mentee and be provided with some additional resources to guide the mentoring relationship. Following the launch, participants are encouraged to meet up with their mentor/mentee periodically, as decided between the two parties. The timing, location and content of these meetings is entirely up to the mentor/mentee but some recommendations and ideas will be provided.
Young Old Girls’ Associate Governor Programme
From the Alumnae Office
Over the last 12 months I have been working with Old Girl Mira Karunanidhi (2017 graduating class) on a programme to link current students with recent QMC graduates, so we’re super excited to introduce you to MentorMatch; connecting the future with our past!
The philosophy behind the programme is that empowered women empower women. Having a mentor can be a nurturing experience, guiding you towards reaching your full potential. Mentees (Year 12 and 13 QMC students) will be paired up with mentors (Old Girls who are at university/higher education or young professionals in the workforce) based on career and personal interests.
Our very own Queen Margaret College Old Girls’ mentoring programme is aimed at strengthening connections between senior QMC girls and younger Old Girls who have recently graduated from QMC. The idea for the programme stemmed from Mira’s own experience with mentoring. She has been involved with mentoring throughout her time at university and work and has found it invaluable for her personal and professional growth. She serves as the Mentoring Liaison on the Asian Law Students’ Association Executive at Victoria University of Wellington and is a mentor to several younger law students. Mira had her first mentor in Year 13 through the PwC Accelerate Programme and, since then, she has been actively involved as a mentor and a mentee in the community. Her passion for mentoring and networking led to the idea of establishing a mentoring programme that bridges the gap between the recent generation of QMC girls and current senior students. What is mentoring? Mentoring is the process of advising and guiding another person to support their personal or career development. Mentors are individuals who have “been there, done that” and are a source of experience and knowledge for their mentees. A mentoring relationship is founded on mutual trust and respect and can be beneficial and rewarding to the growth of both parties. How will the mentoring programme work?
Mentors are not expected to take on the role of tutors but rather to provide personal and professional knowledge and insight to guide their mentees through the transition from senior students to higher MentorMatchQMCeducationeducation/alternativeandworkinglife.willbehostinganofficialLaunchtokickoff
The college Board of Governors, through the Alumnae Office, is implementing an Associate Governor programme
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If you are a senior student and are starting to think about life after college, then having a mentor can be truly life-changing. If you are unsure about what you want to do at university, if you want to enter the workforce right away, or are struggling to decide between several opportunities, then having a mentor who has been in a similar position to you before can be incredibly valuable. If you think you would like to become a mentor, and we really hope some of our newer Old Girls will step up here, please email mentor@qmc.school.nz for more information.
Associate Governors would have no voting rights and would not form part of any quorums.
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The Alumnae Office and Old Girls’ Association are always on the lookout for Old Girls whose contribution to their chosen field of work, community or academics is nomination worthy. Nominations can be made at any time to our email address. Successful nominations will have their name inscribed on the Honours Board hung proudly on the wall of the Atrium at Queen Margaret College. We would love to hear from you, please contact us via email at oldgirls@qmc.school.nz Jane Ball Alumnae Relationships Director
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Old Girls Honours Board
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The programme is intended as a learning and development opportunity.
To develop next-generation governors who have an opportunity to learn from the best. To develop and foster our new alumnae capability and talent to improve governance level in tomorrow’s boardrooms, and foster connectedness with past students. To help address the experience gap faced by skilled younger professionals seeking to move into senior corporate governance roles. To increase diversity of skill set and demographics across the board.
If this sounds like you, please get in touch with me, Jane Ball, including a brief note about yourself and why you would be interested in being considered for this programme. We will be appointing one Associate Governor every 12 months. Our database needs your help! With the ever-increasing cost of postage, we are looking to move as many Old Girls onto the digital QMCalling distribution list as possible. We know that lots of you prefer the hard copy and that is absolutely fine but if you would be happy to receive your magazine in electronic form please send me your email address. Growing our LinkedIn Alumnae community If you are on LinkedIn, please join our official QMC LinkedIn page. You can do this by adding the official Queen Margaret College page as your place of education on your profile. Planning a get together? If any Old Girls wish to organise reunion events you are most welcome to get in touch. We’d be happy to help pull together class lists, help with planning, and even host a lunch, morning or afternoon tea on campus for your group.
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To bring fresh perspectives and insights into the QMC boardroom and tap into the skill sets of a generation that does things differently!
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commencing at the beginning of 2023. This is a programme open to young, Wellington-based Old Girls who have graduated from QMC within the last decade. It’s an opportunity to participate in and contribute to QMC Board meetings over a 24-month term and to be mentored by highly skilled and experienced current board members. Why are we doing this?
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Fiona will make an outstanding addition to the Executive Team within the College, describing herself as having a fun, caring, enthusiastic personality with a great sense of humour.
for girls’ education was reinforced after two years as Assistant Principal at Naenae College, which is coeducational. She says that girls’ education is her ‘why’, due primarily to meeting female education activist Malala Yousafzai in 2019.
"She was so inspiring and through that experience, my 'Why' became crystal clear: to ensure I give my best to see young women receive the best education. With 130 million girls in the world who are excluded from education, and many more excluded from certain fields, I truly believe it is a great privilege to be in girls' education and, particularly, in Aotearoa, where we can make a difference."
With a passion for teaching Social Sciences, Fiona has also taught: Classical Studies, History, Social Studies, Junior Business Studies, Junior ProjectBased Learning, Junior Hard Materials Technology, Life Skills, Social Sciences and English, Senior Social Action Course and Tourism.
Fiona’s previous appointments include Assistant Principal at Naenae College and, prior to that, the Director of Future Focused Learning and Innovation at Samuel Marsden. Fiona joins the QMC team with a wealth of knowledge from her diverse school experiences and is eager to put her extensive training in wellbeing into practice. As Deputy Principal Wellbeing, Fiona is thrilled to lead the Thrive Programme and welcomes the opportunity to take a strategic and learning focused approach to Fiona’swellbeing.passion
ANNOUNCING CRAWFORDFIONA AS DEPUTY PRINCIPAL WELLBEING24COMMUNITY
Welcome to Queen Margaret College, Fiona.
Newly appointed Deputy Principal Wellbeing, Fiona Crawford, will join the college at the beginning of Term 3 and is eager to forge ahead with QMC's unique philosophy and practice of proactive wellbeing.
There is increasing pressure on parents, and consequently, kids, to tick the boxes of extracurricular activities that their child needs to do. We encourage you to pause and take a breath when thinking about this and try to remember how important downtime and time for fun are for your child. Go ahead; go on and untick those boxes. As parents, we are sure some of you have found yourselves asking the question, ‘Is my child doing too much?’, and of course, like every question around parenting, there is no exact answer for this, as every child is different. As a rough guide, here are some things to consider, taken straight from one of the best books about the adolescent brain, ‘Brainstorm’, by Dr Daniel J. Siegel. We think the first thing to consider should be –is your child having enough time in their day for the essentials like getting enough sleep? Staying up later is a natural outcome for many adolescents. The digital displays and electronic lights keep us all stimulated and awake for longer periods of time, which, in addition to the early start to the school day, prevents young people from getting enough sleep. According to the United States National Sleep Foundation, most teens need about eight and a half to nine and a quarter hours of sleep each night. This is the amount of sleep needed for optimal brain growth, optimal memory consolidation and for optimal mental functioning. Therefore, your child will have mental clarity when learning and effective abilities for problemsolving and handling their emotions. So, check in on how much uninterrupted sleep your child is Anothergetting.essential aspect of life that has been scientifically proven to keep your body healthy and your mind strong is downtime and play/fun time. Dr Siegel recommends that every day, we need to have some downtime to enable our minds to unwind and our brains to sort themselves out. This is true for adults also!
Is my child doing much?too
Our Wellbeing Team, Geneva and Megan, take a deep dive into the importance of downtime, laughter and uninterrupted sleep.
Geneva & Megan Wellbeing Coaches
Downtime means having no plans and nothing to accomplish. During this period the brain is allowed to recharge its batteries, and the mind is intentionally given a break. Dr Siegel also states that ‘laughing is a serious matter when it comes to brain matter'. We agree with him! When we are spontaneous and having fun, the brain grows. Engaging in play, hanging out or goofing around has been shown to be as good for adolescents, as it is for adults. So please give yourself and your child permission to do an activity with no rigid rules; a time when laughing and creating and goofing around are accepted and you are engaged and silly and having a great time, without judgement, and without a winner or loser.
We proudly offer the International Baccalaureate throughout our school and this requires all our students, from Years 1-13, to engage in global citizenship. International mindedness is central to the success of the programme and, in schools such as ours, with so many nationalities, this is essential. So too is having a future-ready programme that builds students’ inquiring mindset, fosters their desire to learn and prepares them to excel at their careers and lead meaningful lives. One of the aspects I believe underpins the International Baccalaureate philosophy is that students take six subjects for two years, providing depth and rigour in learning. This is further strengthened by the necessity of taking a second language, Maths, a science and a humanity, as well as English. Twelve of the top 20 schools and 30 of the top 50 were single-sex schools. You would expect this result if the ratio of single-sex and co-ed schools was similar; however, this is not even nearly the case. Only five percent of schools in New Zealand are single-sex. There is much debate about the benefits of single-sex education. We frequently hear that girls from girls schools may not know how to manage outside of a ‘protected environment’, that our workplaces are mixed gender and therefore our schools too should be mixed gender. Well, to be fair, the reality for women is that our world and workplaces, while mixed gender, are a long way from being genderequal. So why QMC?
QMC ranked Top 10
▶ Students are confident, leading to higher academic outcomes. In a single-sex environment, girls feel free to take risks academically and do not feel they have any limits on their achievements.
Jayne-Ann Young Principal
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Queen Margaret College has ranked in the top 10 New Zealand Schools for gaining entry to top universities and was the highest-ranking Wellington school, according to the latest Crimson Education ranking. This is exceptional, but what do the results really tell us? Firstly, it tells us that we are doing well. We are a proud school for girls offering a dual pathway, with two excellent qualification systems. What is interesting about the analysis by Crimson is that the outcome is not determined solely by a single denominator such as performance in external examinations. Instead, Crimson are using three criteria: Academic Performance Diversity, Equity & Process Extracurricular Activities
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▶ Students tend to pursue their interests regardless of what is stereotypically gender-related.
But what do the results really tell us?
▶ Our students are empowered, and the voice of women is not marginalised, but instead, sincerely listened to and acted on. Our modern mission is to give girls the motivation, self-belief and resilience to disrupt gender bias. To choose their pathway without barriers or bias.
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MARTINBECKY
Since first joining QMC two years ago, Becky has been a valued member of the Queen Margaret House team and we are extremely fortunate to have her stepping into the Director of International Students role. Welcome to your new role, Becky.
As the Director of International Students, Becky strives to develop mana-enhancing relationships with QMC students, working closely with young people to help them identify and develop their own strengths and navigate challenges. She is an ardent advocate for female empowerment, global education and cultural diversity. Her passion, energy and warmth allow her to build strong and lasting connections with her students.
At the end of Term 1
ANNOUNCING AS DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Becky is a practising member of Korowai Tupu, the Professional Association for Youth Work in New Zealand, and holds a first-class Management Degree from the University of Central Lancashire. She has a keen interest in professional development such as mental health, safeguarding and child protection.
Becky Martin transitioned from her previous role at QMC, as the Assistant Boarding House Manager at Queen Margaret House, into her new appointment as Director of International Students.
Queen Margaret College was thrilled to announce that Becky Martin had assumed the role of Director of International Students earlier this year. Becky has a varied background with a focus on pastoral care developing strong relationships. Her previous experience in youth work in her home country of the UK, indigenous youth in Australia and pastoral care of boarding students throughout New Zealand makes her an exceptional person for the role.
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Emily Domican Head of Preschool
The children returned from the summer holidays this year with stories of fun times and experiences at the beach. Their strong interest in the ocean and the creatures that live there prompted our first inquiry of the year, Sharing the Planet: Ocean Life. The children worked on group art projects, learned new songs, increased their Te Reo vocabulary, read lots of books and researched. A highlight of the ocean inquiry was the addition of two new friends to our Preschool whānau – Zig and Zag the goldfish. Zig and Zag are well looked after by the Preschool children who read them stories and construct different Lego houses for them to explore in their tank each week. Learning about ocean life inevitably led to how we can protect our oceans. The children learned how to identify items
The children learned about the meaning and significance of Matariki through song, dance, planting seeds, and listening to traditional stories. We continued the celebrations together at Preschool with a Pyjama Disco Day, dancing, cooking, eating and having fun.
2022 has been a wonderful year thus far for the Preschool, and we look forward to welcoming new faces and new experiences throughout the remainder of the year.
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OUR INNER-CITY PRESCHOOL
Celebrating the planet, different cultures and ocean life were highlights of this year’s inquiry-based learning. that can be recycled and brought in some recyclable rubbish to reuse, constructing and creating some amazing pieces of art. With developing knowledge on how we can reduce, reuse, and recycle, the children are becoming more aware of how we use resources and ways that they can help protect our planet. We are even implementing daily paper quotas! Celebrating the diverse mix of cultures we have at Preschool has been a special part of our programme this year. Integrating some of our communities’ cultural events and celebrations into the Preschool programme has provided children with the opportunity to learn more about their community as well as the world beyond New Zealand. So far this year we have celebrated Chinese New Year, Sinhala and Tamil New Year, St Patrick’s Day, St George’s Day, Songkran, and Eid Mubarak.
At the end of June the Preschool community prepared for another special celebration, Matariki 2022. In early June, after a long period of no excursions due to COVID-19 restrictions, we travelled by bus to Carter Observatory to watch a Matariki show at Space Place.
Oh!
But
Oh!
Like the time I read one of Nicola’s books Everything, I was in such a trance
Constantly
The one that cannot dance having that sentimental joy I’ll go and prance Guglia, 12
Maybe
Year
Those two or three days it took For me to get through that book What a joy I did have Now all her books are special
One of the first authors who I loved finally characters that looked like me Her words cradling me like a glove To have that sudden freedom again Away from the screens, When I could be indulging myself Back into that fantasy dream Her stories always left a mark bringing me away from reality
I
I
Often my priorities were left undone loved reading in secrecy I’d give to be that girl again
Everything,
What
From a girl who does not dance only jump around my bedroom and prance
They’re
Instructions for Dancing By Rogela
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SenthilrubanAaruchya
Year 8 student, Meredith Williams, was crowned the winner of the ‘Best Story: 9-12 Year-Olds’ for her short story titled, ‘Four Scenes in One Day’. She said she was incredibly surprised to read the Wellington Council website and read that she was the winner. “I thought my eyes weren’t working for a bit. I couldn’t believe it was my name,” Meredith said. “They are going to mail me a certificate and some book vouchers, which is the prize for winning my category,” she added Meredith intends to purchase some murder mysteries and historical fantasy novels with her vouchers as they are her favourite genres to read.
From top: Senthilruban,AaruchyaMeredith Williams, Emma Whitlow
Meredith Williams
Emma Whitlow
Year 9 student, Aaruchya Senthilruban, has participated in the oldest school writing competition in the world, the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition, for the past few years and achieved some fabulous results. She received a Gold Award in 2020 and followed that up with a Silver in 2021. To recognise her achievement, the Royal Commonwealth Society invited Aaruchya to attend the Commonwealth Day celebration in 2021; however, this was unfortunately cancelled due to rising COVID-19 case numbers at the Fortunately,time. to make up for last year’s ceremony, Aaruchya attended the 2022 ceremony in March at Government House and presented the Affirmations to the Commonwealth on the stage. This was a terrific experience as recognition of Aaruchya’s success in the writing competition over the past two years. As a bonus, Aaruchya was also able to hold the Queen's Baton, which is currently in New Zealand.
Another Year 8 student, Emma Whitlow, also entered the Absolutely Positively Wellington Short Story Competition with her poem, ‘Today’ and received a Highly Commended acknowledgement. Interestingly, there wasn’t a category for poetry. However, thanks in large part to Emma’s writing, a poetry category will be included in next year’s competition.
The many budding young writers at QMC continue to outdo themselves. Year after year, our remarkable students are acknowledged for their writing in all kinds of formats and competitions. Today we want to highlight the recent commendations received by three students in Years 8 and 9.
The Absolutely Positively Wellington Short Story Competition was launched in 2021 by Wellington Mayor, Andy Foster, and is open to young writers across the Wellington region. It asks them to explore a theme that is relatable to the city’s residents. This year’s theme was ‘The City of Wind’. It asked young people to look at the lovehate relationship people have with the forces of nature.
WWordsmithingonders QMC WRITERS
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Catching up with Jennie Lau, Science Teacher and Rubik’s Cube Maestro, about the newest addition to QMC’s club selection.
From left: Gaargi Sharma, Harriet Mak, Annika Tharshan, Sophie Fang
QMC’s Rubik’s Cube Club was officially launched in Term 1 2022 as the first ever Rubik’s Cube Club ever offered at the college. While solving a Rubik’s Cube is a neat party trick, it’s not just for fun. Rather, it helps to increase focus and attention while improving memory retention, an essential skill for learners throughout all ages. Additionally, it helps students to improve their brain’s cognitive skills, breaking multiple tasks into easy steps, requiring fast thinking, but, most importantly, they learn, have fun and enjoy the process.
Task 1 : Solving the designated colour Winners Time (Sec) 1st Sophie Fang 19.3 2nd Annika Tharshan 23.3 3rd Harriet Mak 50.0 CONSOLATION Gaargi Sharma 90.0 Task 2 : Solving all 6 faces Winners Time (Sec) 1st Annika Tharshan 83.0 2nd Sophie Fang 86.7 3rd Harriet Mak 105.0 RUBIK’S CUBE CLUB FAST HANDS, FAST MINDS Right: Sophie Fang 32LEARNING
Rubik’s Cube Club meets weekly on a Tuesday at 1.00 pm in C6. After coaching members on the algorithm and letting them learn through self-inquiry methods throughout the past two terms, they now have several ways to solve and achieve the goal of solving from a single side to all six sides of Rubik’s Cube.
Rubik’s Cube Club held its first competition in the final week of Term 2. It was encouraging and inspiring to see students who joined the club without any prior knowledge of how to play transformed into novice and, some, even advanced players.
The following are the results of the participants from the Year 7 Rubik’s Cube Competition.
Congratulations to the winners above who were willing to embrace the challenges and be resilient in achieving their goals!
In September of last year, QMFem was launched with our first meeting which, from then on, has taken place every Thursday at lunchtime. Our inaugural event was our first ‘Starting the Conversation’ evening. Naomi Ferguson, the first female Commissioner of the Inland Revenue Department, spoke to students, faculty and parents. She left the crowd inspired for our futures and empowered to formulate change. Shortly after this event, QMFem members read ‘Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls’ written by Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo, to a group of junior school students. The book includes a collection of short stories describing the inspiring stories of women who have broken gender barriers with their talent, vision and drive. The girls loved it; we highly recommend sharing this book with the young people in your life.
On Monday 11 April, we hosted our first debate. The motion was ‘THAT Gender Equality will never be obtained’. The debate was between the college’s Premier A and Premier B debate teams. The adjudicator was Old Girl Isobel Scherf, an experienced and accomplished debater. Both teams presented their thoroughly researched points convincingly and confidently, which led the adjudicator to a difficult decision. The debate was given to Premier A who were negating the motion. The audience was left thinking about where they stand on the argument, as well as being more educated on the topic. It has been a wonderful inaugural period following the launch of QMFem. We would like to thank all staff, students and members of the community who have given their time, support, and generosity. Without this support, these events could not have occurred. We are excited to continue working with our community to promote gender equality and inspire the future.
This year, Tuesday 8 March marked International Women’s Day. QMFem’s purpose for this year’s International Women’s Day was to leave the students, staff and community feeling empowered, inspired, and ready to create change. The day began with a livestream of the UN Women Aotearoa International Women’s Day Breakfast. The theme for this year was, “Gender Equity Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow”. Speakers, including Dame Cindy Kiro, Ranjna Patel and Sophie Handford, captivated the audience on how, without gender equity, we cannot achieve climate justice. At lunchtime, we hosted a bake sale where over $500 of donations for The Kiribati Women and Children’s Support Centre was raised. Kiribati has the highest rate of domestic violence in the Pacific, and all proceeds from the bake sale will be used to support the lives of these victims.
Minmini Karunanidhi & Eve Robertshawe QMFem Leaders
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It took roughly six weeks of hard work to produce a booklet that clearly described and illustrated how to perform various communicative functions. Divya needed to replicate the same information for users of different kinds of devices such as Apple and “TheAndroid.hardest part of the entire process was trying to imagine how an elderly person might interpret the information. Having grown up in the digital age, I was required to strip away so much knowledge that is commonplace in almost every young person. I needed to approach this with the understanding that many readers might not know what FaceTime is, or that they can make the font bigger on their emails with just a few Divyaclicks.”hasprinted 100 copies of her book which she plans to make available for the relatives of QMC families and Old Girls. As a next step, she says she would love to make a connection with a local retirement village.
WORLD
Living in a DIGITAL
“I definitely think it has the potential to help a lot of people become better with technology. I have shared it with some neighbours, and they had positive things to say. They were already relatively competent with technology but still benefitted from learning more about the customisable features on their devices. So, it’s not just for total beginners either,” Divya added. Copies of Divya’s book are available for the QMC community and can be collected from Reception, or by emailing: oldgirls@qmc.school.nz
Year 11 student, Divya Srinivasa, has created a comprehensive ‘How to' guide, designed specifically to support senior citizens with understanding, and use of, digital devices.
This was part of her Year 10 Community Project, but Divya’s determination to support the elderly community with an increasingly complex challenge has driven her to continue to promote her guide and spread awareness, even though her graded project has well and truly finished. Divya’s spark of inspiration was the result of a trip to India back in 2019.
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“My Mum was visiting my Grandad who is now in his 90s. Understandably, he wasn’t particularly technologically savvy. However, we noticed that he used a pad and pencil to write down the steps required to perform certain functions,” Divya said. “It dawned on me that there are so many guides that exist that tell you how to do things, but they are all online and that is a major barrier for so many people.”
Enrol at QMC If you, your friends or family, have daughters who seek to be confident collaborators, engineers of solutions and architects of their futures then we are here to help. We aim to support their journey and answer any questions they may have. To find out more, get in touch with our Enrolments Registrar, Shonagh MacLeod, email enrolments@qmc.school.nz or visit qmc.school.nz
Shonagh MacLeod Enrolments Registrar
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After no spectators were allowed at Athletics Day in 2021, COVID-19 restrictions meant that the event was stripped back even further in 2022. With the virus beginning to peak in the community in late February, students were required to register their interest if they wanted to compete. Although there was a significantly smaller group of competitors than usual, they certainly brought the traditional QMC spirit and noise with them. After all, there were house points on offer and records to be broken.
Samira Peake claimed the first school record with a time of 13.28 secs over 80m (Year 5). Year 6 student, Brooke Martin, claimed three new records for herself, 80m, 150m and 800m. Niamh Pearson’s time of 30.69 seconds over 200m was quick enough to claim the Year 7 record.
Athletics Day
Lucy Hannah set a new Junior 1500m record with a blistering time of 5:16.97 mins. Meanwhile, Lola Campbell broke the Intermediate record for the same event with 5:01.68 mins. Amelia Abernethy smashed the Intermediate 800m record with a time of 2:20.93 mins. Finally, Tia Pavihi’s enormous throw of 32.76m comfortably set a new Intermediate Discus record.
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Our Champions 1st 2nd 3rd Year 4 Anna Meek Chloe Harris 3rd = Emma Brodie & Victoria Yu Year 5 Samira Peake Phoebe Wu Sarah Crowley Year 6 Brooke Martin Dora Shen Sofia Olsen Year 7 Niamh Pearson Madeline Roberts Sarah Zhou Year 8 1st = Nellie Buckle & Clementine Fordham Duncan Grace Clayton Junior Champion Addison Jetly Greer Wilson Lucy Hannah Intermediate Champion Tia Pavihi Rosa Blair Anya Birmingham Senior Champion Pippa Nicol Mia Holden Holly Morgan Athletics Results 39SPORT
Just like Athletics Day, the current restrictions meant that Swimming Sports in 2022 was restricted to athletes that wanted to compete and challenge themselves. Normally a full-noise house event at the Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre was instead a small, but competitive, series of races down the road at Thorndon Pool. Due to the limited competitors this year, no heats were held. This meant that every race was essentially a timed final, so competitors needed to give their all in their one race for each event. However, no records could be broken in 2022 due to the difference in pool lengths (Thorndon is 33m long, as opposed to the Aquatic Centre which is 50m long). House points were very much on offer, however, and Lochleven was utterly dominant and stormed to victory for the third time in as many years. Berwick will be happy with their second-place finish after taking out Athletics Day. Braemar came in third, Glamis in fourth, while Stirling’s woes in the pool continued with their second fifth-place finish in a row.
Swimming SPORTS
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Our Champions 1st 2nd 3rd Year 4 Victoria You Beatrice Dixon Rafaella Abesamis Year 5 Chloe Xie Ashley Liu Zoe Ivic Year 6 Dora Shen Alyssa Gu Brooke Martin Year 7 Viktorie Fukac Claudia Barnes Niamh Pearson Year 8 Kitty Kilgariff FordhamClementineDuncan Samantha Baillie Junior Champion Marina Nadilo Karmen Zhou Ciara Hearns Intermediate Champion Anika PenehaAnderson- Madeline Kilgariff Ellen Li Senior Champion 1st = Annika Yeldon & Pippa Nicol Jade Morrison 41SPORT
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A challenging course was no match for our Junior School runners as they made the mad dash around Karori Park on Thursday 12 May for the annual college Cross Country. The weather was perfect for the occasion; the clouds provided ample cover and ensured that the students could give it their all without the sun beating down on Thethem.course was challenging, but that was expected with the undulating terrain of Karori Park and, with the fantastic support of our Year 10 students rallying the troops and cheering them on from the sidelines, the challenge was Theaccepted.opportunity to participate extended from Year 4 to Year 8 with distances ranging from a 1100-metre run for the Year 4 and 5 students to a 2000-metre stamina test for the Year 7 and 8 Itrunners.waswonderful to see so many students giving it their all. The top six runners from each year group secured themselves a spot in the Wellington Western Zone Cross Country on Tuesday 31 May. Special mentions go to Brooke Martin and Dora Chen who placed 1st and 2nd in the Year 6 Western Zone race and congratulations to all who participated. The sportsmanship on display was a pleasure to see.
Games were cancelled, sports days were running at half capacity and healthy team members were seriously dwindling. However, resilience is something that our QMC students are made of and, despite the bumps in the road, our QMC sports teams delivered terrific results across the board. At every opportunity they showed up and gave it their all.
A Summer of Sports COVID became a common cause of disruption and disappointment throughout the beginning of 2022 and our summer term.
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Rowing
following
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Dragon Boat Festival
An enormous amount of thanks goes out to our coaches, parents and supporters who put significant effort, time and energy into the rowing programme.
Our students put in a huge amount of mahi at the annual Dragon Boat Festival. It was fantastic to see this go ahead, with a slight change to a Friday evening regatta rather than the traditional Sunday event due to COVID. The team's dedication and spirit paid off with them placing third in the A Final. The weather was favourable, with great company and a bit of friendly competition to top it all off. Well done to everyone who competed. 2021/2022 was another interrupted rowing season due to the ongoing effects of COVID. The rowers are certainly building resilience! The crews did manage to compete at the North Island Champs in Karapiro and the National Club Champs and Maadi Cup in Twizel. QMC gained the results at Maadi Cup: Eight: placed 5th B Final Coxed Four: placed 8th A Final Coxed Quad: placed 1st B Final Coxed Four: placed 1st B
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Cricket Cricket continues to build momentum at the college. Our talented group of cricketers, ably led by Dhriti Girish, played in the Venus Cup at Trentham Park in March. The team gained some fantastic results and wonderful experiences as they begin to make a name for themselves in college cricket. We have seven students who are QMC Wellington Cricket Representatives, which is a credit to an amazing team and their fantastic coaches. ▶ Wellington U19: Dhriti Girish ▶ Wellington U17: Anya Birmingham, Anvi Verma ▶ Wellington U13 Gold: Annie McKirdy, Anvi Verma; Black: Addison Jetly; Red: Aaryana Ganesh Our other summer sports teams include floorball, futsal, touch rugby, volleyball and water polo, all of which have seen high student participation, excellent sportsmanship and all students giving their best. Well done everybody. Tennis Our talented contingent of tennis players continues to shine at QMC. Year 11 student, Maria Galatescu, has competed in several International Tennis Federation tournaments and won the Wellington Open Singles Tennis Championships. Maria’s competitive edge, combined with our other senior players, has made our Premier Tennis Team a force to be reckoned with, winning the Wellington Regional Competition. Our Junior Regional Team also won their College Sport Wellington league. It has been fantastic to see so many of our girls looking so sharp out on the court. The future is looking very bright. 46SPORT
Dhriti reflects on her busy summer season of cricket with the Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 here in Aotearoa.
Dhriti has experienced significant success throughout the past six months, the crowning glory being The Young Leaders Programme, an initiative she started that strives to increase female involvement in cricket, receiving the award for Best Female Engagement Strategy at this year's ANZ New Zealand Cricket Awards. The initiative was conceived in Year 10 for Dhriti’s Community Project, which is the culmination of the Middle Years Programme, and continues to grow year on year. Her immense dedication to the sport was honoured by Cricket Wellington with the Mana Wahine medallion.
In addition to captaining the QMC First XI cricket team, Dhriti also plays for Johnsonville Women’s Premier Team and was part of Cricket Wellington’s Winter Development Programme in 2021. Her prowess on the cricket pitch, both as a player and a leader, is remarkable.
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"I was humbled when Cricket Wellington recognised my work and rewarded me with a beautiful medallion which was specially made for the Australian and New Zealand teams when they played at the Basin Reserve during the World Cup. This medallion symbolises women of strength, courage, leadership, determination, tenacity and power."
Year 12 student, Dhriti Girish, is a force to be reckoned with both on and off the cricket pitch, with a strong overarm and dedication to boot, and she’s been making waves throughout Wellington’s cricket community.
As has often been the way in 2022, Spirit Week did not go to plan; however, the QMC Prefect Team took this in their stride, adapted and hosted a phenomenal Spirit Week… albeit slightly later in the year.
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Spirit Week 2022 was originally scheduled for the last week of February. However, timing was not on our side and after three days of Spirit Week activities the Parliamentary protests prompted the college to adapt to remote learning for the rest of the week. As a result, Spirit Week was postponed until Term 2, and it was well worth the wait. The week was awash with activities to unite and uplift the spirit throughout the college. Student spirit was on display as our QMC Prefects took on the Wellington College Prefects at the annual netball game. The crowd was buzzing with school pride and anticipation but, unfortunately, our QMC team couldn’t seal the deal in the final quarter, losing 31-36.
asGrowyou go
Mural Monday and Throwback Thursday were also great successes, centred around our theme for 2022, which is ‘Grow As You Go.’ The mural is a tree painted with students’ handprints as the leaves, to symbolise growth throughout the year groups. Throwback Thursday was our non-uniform day, which encouraged students to dress up as their childhood selves, representing their growth and change. And, of course, the week was topped off by a visit from Mr Whippy, a fan favourite year after year so a huge thank you goes out to the Parents’ Association for their support in sponsoring the Mr Whippy Spirittrucks.Week is a time for students to come together and connect with one another through their shared passion for the college. This year was no different and spirit levels were exceptionally high. The QMC v WC netball game was notably the event where the most spirit was on display; the college chants raised hairs and the echoing voices of QMC students could be heard around the school as they screamed encouragement at their peers on the court.
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Pippa Nicol Deputy Head Prefect
These korowai are great taonga of the college and shall be treasured for generations to come.
The idea to present our new leaders with korowai was initiated by Charlotte-Jane Mears, who was just Year 10 at the time. She realised that Te Whānau o Kuīni Mākareta is an increasingly important part of congratulating our new student leaders, but she believed that we could do better. Charlotte-Jane began a journey of research and discovery, engaging the support of Jane Ball, Whaea Rāhera Meinders, and two very special friends of QMC, Karmen and her daughter Shanara Wallace. Together, they were able to design and create the beautiful korowai that were presented to our Head Prefects, Lilly Taulelei and Pippa Nicol, on Tuesday 1 February.
ēnei
This year’s Head Prefect Commissioning Assembly was a little different than usual, and not just because we couldn’t all gather in the hall. 2022 was different because of a special taonga. Two precious korowai were presented to our Head Prefect, Lilly Taulelei, and Deputy Head Prefect, Pippa Nicol. He taonga ēnei na Karmen Wallace ki te whānau o QMC.
The blue korowai is based on the whakataukī “Ko te manu e kai ana te miro, nōnā te ngahere, ko te manu e kai ana te mātauranga, nōnā te ao”, which speaks of how, for the bird that consumes the miro berry, the forest is theirs. But the bird that consumes knowledge, the world is theirs. This represents the journey of students and the great value in this journey of theirs as they navigate and carve out their own place in this world.
Two precious korowai were presented to our Head Prefect, Lilly Taulelei, and Deputy Head Prefect, Pippa Nicol.
The white korowai is based on the whakataukī “He kōtuku rerenga tahi”, which talks of how a white heron’s flight is seen but once. The event of a white heron’s flight is so special and rare, in many ways it can be likened to a students time at school where they are encouraged to seize the moments and the opportunities that appear to them. In this korowai you can also find the light and dark blue which represent the wider whānau of QMC, including family, staff and alumnae. There are also white and yellow tufts around the top. The yellow represents our motto “Light of Truth” and pays homage to our Old Girls. The white feather represents the raukura of Te Ātiawa to pay tribute to and acknowledge the Mana Whenua of Te Ātiawa.
The gradient of colour from the base of the korowai moves from darkness to light which represents the learning journey from ignorance to knowledge, while the bottom stripe of blue and yellow reflects our college motto, “Light of Truth”.
He taonga na Karmen Wallace ki te whānau o QMC.
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Te Whānau o
Kuīni
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“To engage and build connections with each other, improving our knowledge and understanding of Māori and Pacific cultures, and to seek ways we can contribute positively to these communities”.
It’s been lovely to continue our rōpū in 2022, with the addition of some new students after the departure of Whaea Rā at the end of 2021. During her time at QMC Whaea Rā was instrumental in growing our group and cultural responsibilities; she has left a wonderful legacy for our rōpū and the wider QMC community. During Term 1 we were also delighted to appoint, formally for the first time, joint Cultural Captains, Kade Read and Tia Pavihi. It has been fantastic to witness them both grow and develop their leadership skills through the rōpū , and to support our new and younger students with their learning. We also welcomed back our amazing tutors from 2021, Shar, Henry and Dan, who are now also joined by Nani for 2022. Our focus for this year has been the ongoing celebration of our Māori and Pacific cultures, and encouraging students to embrace our weekly sessions. We are also fundraising for kapa haka uniforms and, with the loyal support of the Parents’ Association, have held several successful events; our thanks go to Alana Bicknell for championing this. During Term 2 we were incredibly lucky to have Lua
Mākareta
We are currently practising our Cook Island bracket in preparation for several events during Term 3 and we look forward to sharing those with the community in due course. I’d also like to express our grateful thanks to the parents and caregivers of our Te Whānau students; we always appreciate your support and everything you’ve done so far this year.
Jane Ball Kaiwhakahaere | Te Whānau o Kuīni Mākareta
Boath (Alumna class of 1985) visit us and speak about her journey at QMC. I think the girls were taken back when asked what Te Whānau looked like in her day; she commented that she “was it!”, as the first Samoan Head Girl, in 1989. Te Whānau were also invited to participate in the reopening of Parliament grounds towards the end of Term 2. This was a lovely celebration following the reinstatement of lawns and gardens, and the girls had a great time sharing kai and christening the restored children’s play area, especially the slide!
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Other performances of note were the Year 10 melodramas which, through witty writing and dramatic performances, had the crowd in stitches. Performing Arts Day doesn’t come together by itself. House Prefects are the driving forces in readying their respective Houses for an intense performance schedule. The energy and spirit, both on the day and in the leadup, inspired their peers to match the House Prefects and give it their all.
To everyone who contributed to making this year’s COVIDmodified format successful and fun, thank you and well done.
The Curtain Calls HOUSE PERFORMING ARTS DAY 2022 54CULTURE&ARTS
QMC’s 2022 House Prefects are all breathing a sigh of relief at the conclusion of House Performing Arts Day. As one of the most anticipated days in the school calendar, the last Friday of Term 2 saw the QMC corridors flooded in green, red, blue and yellow and abuzz with excitement. After two consecutive years of being joint winners, Lochleven once again enjoyed the glory of taking out top honours. Head of Faculty: Arts, Tim Jenkin, announced there was a mere one point in it. A brilliant small group performance likely helped Lochleven achieve their result, in addition to their whole house performance of 'Walk Me Home' by P!NK. Sterling and Berwick took out 2nd and 3rd respectively.
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Students in girls’ schools are happier and feel they belong
10 FACTS ABOUT GIRLS’ SCHOOLS Source: The Girls’ School Edge, A Comparison of Outcomes for Girls from SingleSex and Co-Education Schools Using PISA Data. Alliance of Girls Schools Australia, 102/239 Golden Four Drive, Bilinga QLD 4226, Australia, www.agsa.org.au 53179 104268
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Jayne-Ann Young Principal
"Let me be very clear; our goal at QMC is to ensure that every young person who attends our school learns quickly that they can be whoever or whatever they aspire to be. We nurture our students so that they leave as resilient, future focused leaders who have lifelong friendships and connections. Here, they lead their learning because the teachers raise the ceiling of expectations and our students stay curious, learn adventurously, engage in a dynamic community, live sustainably, and collaborate in purposeful partnerships. They are courageous young women that are ready to open the door to endless possibilities for life and extend their domain."
qmc.school.nzenrolments@qmc.school.nzqueenmargaretcollegequeenmargaretcollege
