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    • Dealing with stress and pressure
      • Year 11 student, Paige Mackenzie, shares her thoughts on managing and coping with stress A note from the Author: When I finished this op-ed, I realised how relevant it was given the year we’ve had so far. I know a lot of my classmates struggled to gain their bearings after lockdown, and this forced me to look at how people react to stress from both an external and an internal perspective. Going into lockdown, everyone seemed to take it in their stride, and it wasn’t until we got back to school that everything started to hit at once. The image below is a painting I did not too long ago, and this is something I do to refocus my thoughts in difficult times. I hope that those who read this are able to gain a sense of clarity, and that in the future they can recognise and find their own stress relief to help them get through any challenging times.   Pressure is something we all have right? It’s inevitable. Deadlines, exams, family issues – it can have a huge impact on your life, or it can be very little. It all depends on the task, and how impactful it is to your mental state. But does it really have to be? Do you control the amount of stress? Or does stress control you. I believe stress and pressure are personalised, and that everyone copes in different ways for different reasons. I think that the right amount of stress can be good for you if you are pushed in a way that fits your mindset. And finally, I think that pressure and stress can change (become less or more) if it involves a person or a possession in your life that is very important to you. It makes sense that pressure and stress would be different for everyone, as no human is the same. We all go through incredibly different things. There’s a particular response that people have called the three f’s or F3, and this is the Fight, Flight or Freeze response, an inbuilt system designed to protect us from danger. Everyone has a response; however, we all experience it differently, in a way that reflects our experiences.   Many people think that this response only kicks in when there is a physical danger, such as someone breaking into your house, or even if you see someone else being threatened. However, this is actually linked to stress and anxiety, meaning you can potentially act on this response, and not register it. For many people like myself, it’s not until you are under a physical threat that you suddenly figure out your own response. Fight means you fight, perhaps focusing more, flight is when you run or try to escape. My response is the freeze response. Not the most helpful of responses, but since this is an inbuilt response I can’t change it. This also means that if I’m under a certain amount of stress, like an exam, I could freeze. Writing this now, I freeze often, as I get stuck for words and thoughts. But it’s interesting because as I sit here frozen, I look around to gain inspiration or to gather my thoughts, and I can’t help noticing that some people are doing other work, and some aren’t doing work at all. Is this their coping mechanism? Perhaps they aren’t under any stress? Everyone’s minds work in very different ways and it would make sense that we would have different stress tolerances. For example, my friend Charlotte and I deal with stress in very different ways. She seems to respond better to physical aid, and someone that listens to her, whereas I prefer to get help from advice, and time to work it out alone. In small amounts, pressure can be very effective and motivating. We had a health class recently and we’ve been talking about stress and how people usually assume it to have negative effects. But lately, we’ve been forced to see the motivational side of the stress. I was in a team and we made a pie chart of ideas of how stress is beneficial. The third most mentioned was that stress makes you warier of dangers. This one isn’t as well known, but it’s interesting that people thought of it, and it links with my last point because I spoke about a physical reaction under danger or threat. It’s interesting that people can recognise and relate a physical danger and an amount of stress. The second idea that came up in the survey was practise dealing with stress, which is good if you know how to reduce it. Finally, the one that came across the most was productivity. For example this op-ed draft, at this point I’m not sure it looks remotely like an op-ed which is quite stressful, and I’ve been able to get a good workflow, and just enough motivation to keep going. This however is a pressure I’m putting on myself, and when it becomes external, for example, your parents wanting you to get an excellence, there is usually a fair bit of extra pressure. I personally think that the stress I put on myself is enough to motivate me, however, the pressure can get a bit overwhelming if the external pressure gets placed on top of it, and it would push me to a point where it just gets too much and that’s when mental breakdowns happen. Sometimes the pressure I put on myself is enough to tip it over. I watched a film recently in English. (If you’re interested it’s called “Remember the Titans”) The main theme was racial inequality, but a subtheme was teamwork. There was a character called Herman Boone and he was a football coach, and because he had darker skin everyone was against him being their coach. As the movie was about a team, it has already established a strong theme of teamwork. When Boone first started coaching the team, he was told that if they lost a game, he wouldn’t be allowed to coach. Coach Boone was the sole source of income for his family and if he lost the job his family and himself would have to move. Because of the added stakes, Coach Boone resolved to work harder and added a new word to the team – perfection. Because if the team was “perfect”, Coach Boone wouldn’t have to put his family in financial crisis.  His stress was increased because of the pressure of him bringing down his own family with the team. He was a good leader because he was able to channel that stress into focus and developed a perfect team. I also think that stress can be lessened if it’s taken off by someone you love. I had a math exam and just didn’t understand some of the things that were very important to get a good grade, and telling my parents lifted a huge weight off my shoulder. They were able to help and lowered their expectations so that if I had a low grade it was okay, because they knew that I had asked for help and done my best. Stress is a big, heavy weight that leaves people feeling low and exhausted. Recognising your own response to stress can help you to figure out your best way to deal with pressure. Turning it into a positive can be a very motivating experience, as can turning to the people you love, and who love you, for help. Don’t put up with something that is causing you mental turmoil, go see someone that can help you. By Paige Mackenzie, Year 11 The post Dealing with stress and pressure first appeared on Queen Margaret College.

    • QMC Parent Interviews – How to connect on Microsoft Teams
      • Queen Margaret College is looking forward to connecting with parents & caregivers for interviews over the coming days. Although the Junior School has conducted parent interviews remotely before, this is a first for Years 7 to 13. We understand that some you may not have used Microsoft Teams previously, or have questions about how it works. To answer some of those questions, QMC’s Deputy Principal of Operations, Paul Sherris, has prepared a step-by-step video tutorial. document.createElement('video');https://qmc.school.nz/wp-content/uploads/How-to-connect-to-parent-interviews.webm The post QMC Parent Interviews - How to connect on Microsoft Teams first appeared on Queen Margaret College.

    • Online Founders’ Service – 28 August
      • We welcome you to join us for our online Founders’ Service for 2020. Every year Queen Margaret and Scots Colleges come together to celebrate our shared founders and faith. This year we had planned to return to St John’s in the City, the community where the establishment of our colleges began. For the health and safety of our families and community, this year’s Founders Service was unable to run as planned. Instead we join together online at our respective campuses to celebrate. Although slightly paired back, students were able to share their talents with us we reflect on the heart of our schools. The Bible readings are Ephesians 2:13-14 and Colossians 2:2-3 The opening music is “Voi, che sapete” from Le Nozze di Figaro – Mozart The closing music is “Kei Tōku Ngākau Nei Koe” by Tiki TaaneThis Service the will begin at 12.15pm, and will be broadcasted on YouTube at this link. 

    • New Wellbeing Coach Joins Queen Margaret College
      • With Term 3 now underway, Queen Margaret College is delighted to welcome Geneva Atkinson to her new role as Wellbeing Coach. Geneva trained as a counsellor in Australia but recently relocated to Aotearoa with a hope of making it her permanent home. Her background is a mix of clinical work, private practice and wellbeing coaching. Geneva’s approach combines solution-focused, person-centred and positive psychology techniques with more traditional structures such as cognitive behavioural therapy. She strongly believes that given the right tools and a supportive environment, individuals can make significant and lasting positive changes to their lives. Geneva’s appointment links to Queen Margaret College’s focus on putting the wellbeing of students and staff at the heart of what we do, and equipping students for learning and life. Students are now able to make appointments to see Geneva using her online booking system on the parent portal, and she is available on weekdays from 8.30 – 3.30pm. Parents may also attend if requested by their daughter. To learn more about Geneva, have a read of the Q&A she was kind enough to complete for us below: Q) What are you looking forward to? What excites you about joining QMC? A) What excites me most about joining QMC is the obvious care that the Wellbeing Team have for the students. I value working with a passionate and enthusiastic team, and it’s clear the staff at QMC have the students’ wellbeing interests at heart. Q) What do you enjoy (or love!) about the work that you do?  A) I think for me, the part of my work that brings the most fulfilment is the privilege of witnessing so many unique journeys and stories. I learn so much from working in the capacity that I do. I am lucky to be trusted to listen to, and hold space, for each individual I work with, and I never take this for granted. Q) Can you tell us something people might not know or may not expect about you? A) Sure! Something that people are often surprised to find out is that I worked on a Tallship for seven years, and I’ve never quite forgotten what it’s like to be a (very tame) pirate… Q) What do you enjoy doing in your free time? A) In my free time I love to paint, hike, road trip and write… But most of the time (as an introvert), realistically I can be found curled up with snacks and reading something. Q) We hope you enjoyed your winter break in Aotearoa. Do you have any highlights? A) My first response to this question was to think of the positives that have come from the challenges of the last few months for me. I’d say discovering closer bonds with loved ones, delving deeper into self-care, and making do with less have all been highlights for me. But it feels tough pinpointing highlights when I am also so aware of the very real struggles that have been forefront for a lot of the NZ community.

    • Q and A with Lynne and Tim
      • We sat down and had a chat with Lynne and Tim, our new co-chairs of the Board, about their new roles and their vision for Queen Margaret College.   Why did you decide to take on the role of Chair? What motivates you? Lynne: I have a passion for education, especially education for girls and young women.  But it’s not just about education in the classroom, it’s about learning in general. The pandemic is indicative of what we can expect during the 21st century – lots of rapid change with many new challenges. I love it that QMC is focused on helping to prepare its students well for their lives ahead and I am happy I can contribute at a governance level to their dreams and aspirations. Tim: QMC has a strong functioning board with a broad range of skills and experience represented around the board table.  QMC has performed very well over the last 3 years. However, the events of the last two months have shown us that we never know what is around the corner.  I am delighted to take on the co-chair role with Lynne with all the challenges that schools face in this rapidly evolving world.   What are you looking forward to in your new role? Lynne: More interaction with the school community, getting to know the staff, the students and their parents better. Tim: Assisting QMC to make the most of opportunities that will emerge over the coming years helping QMC to strengthen its position as a leading school for young woman in Wellington and on the global stage.   How did you get involved with Queen Margaret College? Lynne: I am a direct Presbytery appointee to the Board of Governors. I am currently Parish Council Convenor at St Andrew’s on The Terrace which has long had a close connection with the school. Tim: For the last seven years I have been a parent of two daughters who have attended Queen Margaret College.  I was an independent appointment to the Board over 3 years ago.   As we all begin to emerge from recent events, many organisations are asking “What do we hold on to and what do we change?” What do you think QMC should hold on to or change? Lynne: The school community has really pulled together through the lockdown period. I’d like to see us build on that sense of the whole community acting together. The staff has a very real sense of achievement having delivered remote learning inside a week. The students understand now that there are different ways of learning.  We need to reflect on what just happened and how we managed it. The staff and the girls will know best what they need to change. Tim: I have been impressed at the way the QMC community has responded to the challenges of the last few months.  Everyone – students, parents, and QMC staff – has had to adjust to the different requirements of remote learning.  Valuable lessons have been learned.  And for all us of there will be no return to life as we knew it prior to lockdown. The resilience shown by a wide cross-section of the school community will hold us all in good stead.   You are the first co-Chairs in the history of the QMC Board. What are the benefits and how do you see this working? Lynne: Tim and I have worked together throughout our time on the Board and have complementary skills. It’s a pretty big job so we benefit from sharing the load. The benefit to the school is that together we bring a much range of experience and skills to the role. Tim: 2020 will be remembered as a time for developing new ways of working and operating. Lynne and I have worked together on the Board for the last three years and we both see considerable advantages in a co-chair model.  One of those advantages will be the impact of leveraging a broader base of experience, skills and perspectives. The post Q and A with Lynne and Tim appeared first on .

    • Q and A with Lynne and Tim
      • We sat down and had a chat with Lynne and Tim, our new co-chairs of the Board, about their new roles and their vision for Queen Margaret College.   Why did you decide to take on the role of Chair? What motivates you? Lynne: I have a passion for education, especially education for girls and young women.  But it’s not just about education in the classroom, it’s about learning in general. The pandemic is indicative of what we can expect during the 21st century – lots of rapid change with many new challenges. I love it that QMC is focused on helping to prepare its students well for their lives ahead and I am happy I can contribute at a governance level to their dreams and aspirations. Tim: QMC has a strong functioning board with a broad range of skills and experience represented around the board table.  QMC has performed very well over the last 3 years. However, the events of the last two months have shown us that we never know what is around the corner.  I am delighted to take on the co-chair role with Lynne with all the challenges that schools face in this rapidly evolving world.   What are you looking forward to in your new role? Lynne: More interaction with the school community, getting to know the staff, the students and their parents better. Tim: Assisting QMC to make the most of opportunities that will emerge over the coming years helping QMC to strengthen its position as a leading school for young woman in Wellington and on the global stage.   How did you get involved with Queen Margaret College? Lynne: I am a direct Presbytery appointee to the Board of Governors. I am currently Parish Council Convenor at St Andrew’s on The Terrace which has long had a close connection with the school. Tim: For the last seven years I have been a parent of two daughters who have attended Queen Margaret College.  I was an independent appointment to the Board over 3 years ago.   As we all begin to emerge from recent events, many organisations are asking “What do we hold on to and what do we change?” What do you think QMC should hold on to or change? Lynne: The school community has really pulled together through the lockdown period. I’d like to see us build on that sense of the whole community acting together. The staff has a very real sense of achievement having delivered remote learning inside a week. The students understand now that there are different ways of learning.  We need to reflect on what just happened and how we managed it. The staff and the girls will know best what they need to change. Tim: I have been impressed at the way the QMC community has responded to the challenges of the last few months.  Everyone – students, parents, and QMC staff – has had to adjust to the different requirements of remote learning.  Valuable lessons have been learned.  And for all us of there will be no return to life as we knew it prior to lockdown. The resilience shown by a wide cross-section of the school community will hold us all in good stead.   You are the first co-Chairs in the history of the QMC Board. What are the benefits and how do you see this working? Lynne: Tim and I have worked together throughout our time on the Board and have complementary skills. It’s a pretty big job so we benefit from sharing the load. The benefit to the school is that together we bring a much range of experience and skills to the role. Tim: 2020 will be remembered as a time for developing new ways of working and operating. Lynne and I have worked together on the Board for the last three years and we both see considerable advantages in a co-chair model.  One of those advantages will be the impact of leveraging a broader base of experience, skills and perspectives. The post Q and A with Lynne and Tim appeared first on .

    • 2020 Prefects and House Leaders
      • Congratulations to our Prefects and House Leaders for 2020. Head Prefect: Ella Wilson Deputy Head Prefect: Isabella Barber Berwick House Prefects: Rose Findlay and Lauren Pemberton Braemar House Prefects: Cassidy Hughes and Lucy Jeffries Glamis House Prefects: Jacqui Ormsby and Eve Porteous Lochleven House Prefects: Tallulah Nemet-Sargent and Rebecca Stevens Stirling House Prefects: Daisy Trang and Melanie Ngan Kee Middle School Prefect Prefect: Isobel Scherf Drama Prefect: Ava Flaws Cultural Prefect: Ajah Pritchard Hobson Prefect: Anna Jiang Junior School Prefect: Amelia Ware Music Prefect: Bethany Kaye-Blake Service Prefect: Isabella Eftimov Sports Prefect: Mollie Nicol Year 7 Prefect: ???????? Year 8 Prefect: ???????? Year 9 Prefect: ???????? Year 10 Prefect: ???????? Year 10 House Leaders Berwick: Tia Pavihi Braemar: Claire Ryan Glamis: Amalia Scherf Lochleven: Molly Ellis Stirling: Madeleine Kay Year 8 House Leaders Berwick: Sienna Aberdeen Braemar: Laura Withell Glamis: Amelia George Lochleven: Sum Sum Tsui Stirling: Greer Wilson Year 6 House Leaders Berwick: Caitlin Sweeney Braemar: Rosie Jones-Rawstorne Glamis: Nuala Pearson Lochleven: Charlotte McGivern Stirling: Natalie Chin   The post 2020 Prefects and House Leaders appeared first on .

    • 2020 Prefects and House Leaders
      • Congratulations to our Prefects and House Leaders for 2020. Head Prefect: Ella Wilson Deputy Head Prefect: Isabella Barber Berwick House Prefects: Rosa Findlay and Lauren Pemberton Braemar House Prefects: Cassidy Hughes and Lucy Jeffries Glamis House Prefects: Jacqui Ormsby and Eve Porteous Lochleven House Prefects: Tallulah Nemet-Sargent and Rebecca Stevens Stirling House Prefects: Daisy Trang and Melanie Ngan Kee Middle School Prefect Prefect: Isobel Scherf Drama Prefect: Ava Flaws Cultural Prefect: Ajah Pritchard-Lolo Hobson Prefect: Anna Jiang Junior School Prefect: Amelia Ware Music Prefect: Bethany Kaye-Blake Service Prefect: Isabella Eftimov Sports Prefect: Mollie Nicol Year 10 House Leaders Berwick: Tia Pavihi Braemar: Claire Ryan Glamis: Amalia Scherf Lochleven: Molly Ellis Stirling: Madeleine Kay Year 8 House Leaders Berwick: Sienna Aberdeen Braemar: Laura Withell Glamis: Amelia George Lochleven: Sum Sum Tsui Stirling: Greer Wilson Year 6 House Leaders Berwick: Caitlin Sweeney Braemar: Rosie Jones-Rawstorne Glamis: Nuala Pearson Lochleven: Charlotte McGiven Stirling: Natalie Chin   The post 2020 Prefects and House Leaders appeared first on .

    • 2020 Prefects and House Leaders
      • Congratulations to our Prefects and House Leaders for 2020. Head Prefect: Ella Wilson Deputy Head Prefect: Isabella Barber Berwick House Prefects: Rosa Findlay and Lauren Pemberton Braemar House Prefects: Cassidy Hughes and Lucy Jeffries Glamis House Prefects: Jacqui Ormsby and Eve Porteous Lochleven House Prefects: Tallulah Nemet-Sargent and Rebecca Stevens Stirling House Prefects: Daisy Trang and Melanie Ngan Kee Middle School Prefect Prefect: Isobel Scherf Drama Prefect: Ava Flaws Cultural Prefect: Ajah Pritchard-Lolo Hobson Prefect: Anna Jiang Junior School Prefect: Amelia Ware Music Prefect: Bethany Kaye-Blake Service Prefect: Isabella Eftimov Sports Prefect: Mollie Nicol Year 10 House Leaders Berwick: Tia Pavihi Braemar: Claire Ryan Glamis: Amalia Scherf Lochleven: Molly Ellis Stirling: Madeleine Kay Year 8 House Leaders Berwick: Sienna Aberdeen Braemar: Laura Withell Glamis: Amelia George Lochleven: Sum Sum Tsui Stirling: Greer Wilson Year 6 House Leaders Berwick: Caitlin Sweeney Braemar: Rosie Jones-Rawstorne Glamis: Nuala Pearson Lochleven: Charlotte McGiven Stirling: Natalie Chin   The post 2020 Prefects and House Leaders appeared first on .

    • Junior School creative writing competition winner: Arshiya Tuli
      • Year 5 student Arshiya Tuli was the winner of this year’s Junior School Creative Writing Competition. Judge Bryce Galloway, writer and Senior Lecturer at Massey School of Art, said her piece, “Death trap” had “an old world sense of myth”. “[“Death trap”] dynamically steps out of the third person descriptive narrative to address the reader directly in the third and 5th paragraphs and then back to the main story. Foregrounded the narrative twist a bit too much (also in title), but the shift from reward to death still provided good tension.” Read Arshiya’s “Death trap” below. There is a gift at top for anyone who be worthy of it. That was always how the tale was told. Many have tried to reach it, and many never found it, but be promised, it still lays, out in the darkness waiting for someone to find it once again. Her bones ached, as they had for many days, as she pushed through the endless fog and mist. The canyon was unforgiving. One noise, and many rocks would be summoned to kill her. Ebony was her name. Her eyes told her there was water nearby, but she knew that there wasn’t. Her eyes had been harassing her for many days, but this would be the last day they did. A path awaited her. A real one. One that she was sure had something to make her life even better. She could have everything she wanted. The path was nearly completely over her. She took a step back. Taking a deep breath, she climbed the path and ascended into the sky. Let’s take a break from Ebony’s story. Think to yourself, what would you expect was at the top of the tower. Money, maybe? But think more carefully. Is that really the only type of gift there is? Sometimes a gift can be your worst nightmare… As she climbed, there was only one drive that kept her going. The chance for an even better life. Maybe she could become a princess. She had been told that she was spoiled, but she believed that she was simply demanding. She was nearing the top… she couldn’t wait to see what riches awaited her. She stepped the last step. “Where is my gift?” she screaming “where is my gift?”  Just then, a spirit appeared. “Why do you come here?” she demanded. Without giving any time to answer, she said “I have been watching you” “you are selfish and greedy” “your gift is the gift of death” in a flash of a second, Ebony disappeared, never to be seen again. Of course, there have been many people who succeed in the task. But the thing is, never go after something you don’t need for selfish reasons. You never know how much it may cost you… The post Junior School creative writing competition winner: Arshiya Tuli appeared first on .

    • Junior School creative writing competition winner: Arshiya Tuli
      • Year 5 student Arshiya Tuli was the winner of this year’s Junior School Creative Writing Competition. Judge Bryce Galloway, writer and Senior Lecturer at Massey School of Art, said her piece, “Death trap” had “an old world sense of myth”. “[“Death trap”] dynamically steps out of the third person descriptive narrative to address the reader directly in the third and 5th paragraphs and then back to the main story. Foregrounded the narrative twist a bit too much (also in title), but the shift from reward to death still provided good tension.” Read Arshiya’s “Death trap” below. There is a gift at top for anyone who be worthy of it. That was always how the tale was told. Many have tried to reach it, and many never found it, but be promised, it still lays, out in the darkness waiting for someone to find it once again. Her bones ached, as they had for many days, as she pushed through the endless fog and mist. The canyon was unforgiving. One noise, and many rocks would be summoned to kill her. Ebony was her name. Her eyes told her there was water nearby, but she knew that there wasn’t. Her eyes had been harassing her for many days, but this would be the last day they did. A path awaited her. A real one. One that she was sure had something to make her life even better. She could have everything she wanted. The path was nearly completely over her. She took a step back. Taking a deep breath, she climbed the path and ascended into the sky. Let’s take a break from Ebony’s story. Think to yourself, what would you expect was at the top of the tower. Money, maybe? But think more carefully. Is that really the only type of gift there is? Sometimes a gift can be your worst nightmare… As she climbed, there was only one drive that kept her going. The chance for an even better life. Maybe she could become a princess. She had been told that she was spoiled, but she believed that she was simply demanding. She was nearing the top… she couldn’t wait to see what riches awaited her. She stepped the last step. “Where is my gift?” she screaming “where is my gift?”  Just then, a spirit appeared. “Why do you come here?” she demanded. Without giving any time to answer, she said “I have been watching you” “you are selfish and greedy” “your gift is the gift of death” in a flash of a second, Ebony disappeared, never to be seen again. Of course, there have been many people who succeed in the task. But the thing is, never go after something you don’t need for selfish reasons. You never know how much it may cost you… The post Junior School creative writing competition winner: Arshiya Tuli appeared first on .

    • Middle School Creative Writing competition winner: Hannah McCadden
      • Year 10 student Hannah McCadden was the winner of the 2019 Middle School Creative Writing competition. Her poem, “Planet Everything”, was described by judge Bryce Galloway, writer and Senior Lecturer at Massey School of Art, as having  “some very interesting and enigmatic vignettes in middle sections”. Read Hannah McCadden’s “Planet Everything” below. Enter a child’s mind For a day And find that Every person, Every being’s Heart beats Just like yours and mine. See your joy in snowy dandelions and wishing wells. Let your biggest worries Be scraped knees and sunburn. Let your adrenaline buzz Come from trust falls And hide and seek. Did you ever notice, That the white ink puddles floating above our heads get lonely. Damp cotton balls Will unravel themselves Until they could Just about rip Just to clutch hands, Because the blue sky above Is a deep, drowning hazard. Sometimes If you’re quiet enough At nighttime You can hear the moon Singing lullabies To bright eyed stars Whilst a tired sun snoozes. Build your pride On the things you cannot tell And the things that you can share. Know that every scribble Is a work of art That every spoken line Is poetry. The post Middle School Creative Writing competition winner: Hannah McCadden appeared first on .

    • Middle School Creative Writing competition winner: Hannah McCadden
      • Year 10 student Hannah McCadden was the winner of the 2019 Middle School Creative Writing competition. Her poem, “Planet Everything”, was described by judge Bryce Galloway, writer and Senior Lecturer at Massey School of Art, as having  “some very interesting and enigmatic vignettes in middle sections”. Read Hannah McCadden’s “Planet Everything” below. Enter a child’s mind For a day And find that Every person, Every being’s Heart beats Just like yours and mine. See your joy in snowy dandelions and wishing wells. Let your biggest worries Be scraped knees and sunburn. Let your adrenaline buzz Come from trust falls And hide and seek. Did you ever notice, That the white ink puddles floating above our heads get lonely. Damp cotton balls Will unravel themselves Until they could Just about rip Just to clutch hands, Because the blue sky above Is a deep, drowning hazard. Sometimes If you’re quiet enough At nighttime You can hear the moon Singing lullabies To bright eyed stars Whilst a tired sun snoozes. Build your pride On the things you cannot tell And the things that you can share. Know that every scribble Is a work of art That every spoken line Is poetry. The post Middle School Creative Writing competition winner: Hannah McCadden appeared first on .

    • Senior Creative Writing Competition Winner: Lucy Poole
      • This year we had two Senior Creative Writing Competition winners: Libby Witheford-Smith (Year 12) and Lucy Poole (Year 13). Lucy’s piece “Ruminations on the Train” was described by judge Bryce Galloway, writer and Senior Lecturer at Massey School of Art, as being “a generous, elegiac and focused meditation on an elderly passenger”. Read “Ruminations On the Train” below. An old woman sits on the train Moulded to her seat, gently palming the pages of her novel. Her face quivers and shifts with the rises and falls of each chapter Her lipstick bleeds into the creases of her mouth As she adopts a quiet smile infused with the knowing wisdom of age. Her breath, like her movements, is unhurried, Lagging and considered, Like a camera set to a slow shutter-speed Time to her has lost the pace and urgency of youth. The morning light captures her grey-blue eyes in its’ warmth, Eyes soft at the edges, tucked and gathered above the hollows of her cheeks Yet they remain unwaveringly alert. My mother says that wrinkles mark memories of time past Memories of elation and regret and mourning and hurt fused with all that comes between Cross-hatched, etched and interconnected on the canvas of the face Unrepeatable, like fingerprints. The train lurches and hurtles on towards Wellington Towards the demands of Monday morning Our lives have intersected for a moment in the whirligig of time, But now we part – she at her stop And I at mine. The post Senior Creative Writing Competition Winner: Lucy Poole appeared first on .

    • Senior Creative Writing Competition Winner: Lucy Poole
      • This year we had two Senior Creative Writing Competition winners: Libby Witheford-Smith (Year 12) and Lucy Poole (Year 13). Lucy’s piece “Ruminations on the Train” was described by judge Bryce Galloway, writer and Senior Lecturer at Massey School of Art, as being “a generous, elegiac and focused meditation on an elderly passenger”. Read “Ruminations On the Train” below. An old woman sits on the train Moulded to her seat, gently palming the pages of her novel. Her face quivers and shifts with the rises and falls of each chapter Her lipstick bleeds into the creases of her mouth As she adopts a quiet smile infused with the knowing wisdom of age. Her breath, like her movements, is unhurried, Lagging and considered, Like a camera set to a slow shutter-speed Time to her has lost the pace and urgency of youth. The morning light captures her grey-blue eyes in its’ warmth, Eyes soft at the edges, tucked and gathered above the hollows of her cheeks Yet they remain unwaveringly alert. My mother says that wrinkles mark memories of time past Memories of elation and regret and mourning and hurt fused with all that comes between Cross-hatched, etched and interconnected on the canvas of the face Unrepeatable, like fingerprints. The train lurches and hurtles on towards Wellington Towards the demands of Monday morning Our lives have intersected for a moment in the whirligig of time, But now we part – she at her stop And I at mine. The post Senior Creative Writing Competition Winner: Lucy Poole appeared first on .

    • Senior Creative Writing Competition winner: Libby Witheford-Smith
      • This year we had two winners of the Senior Creative Writing Competition, Libby Witheford-Smith (Year 12) and Lucy Poole (Year 13). Libby’s piece was described by  judge Bryce Galloway, writer and Senior Lecturer at Massey School of Art, as “Hard to grasp any concise meaning, but that doesn’t seem to be the point. Poetically evokes the sense of very present world, but one with an anciet history. Full of colourful pairings: “The church sings sour…” “…amuse the horizon.” I had fun reciting this in the voice of Don Van Vliet from Captain Beefheart.” Read Libby’s piece, “Father, vague and undiscerning” below. A hysteria, courted. Two sisters made of rock huddle closer on the edge of sight. Below them, the church sings out sour with a bell too old, too rusted for the mountainside, the sheet-white snow, new blood. This is no ordinarily small hour – the church is breathing. Sensations unfamiliar land themselves on hewn skylights. Now is a passing through of shaded spirits, the sparrowhawk their guide. Head beckoned, wings abridged, it calls for sirens – the half woman type, biting melody. Memory stirs once, twice, rests behind dirt-spotted eyelids. On nights where each inch of lung becomes gracefully sealed by the jaunting of jasmine and rough oak, the two of us would stand together and amuse the horizon. He spoke in a cherry wood tenor, a green language of flowers. As our low breaths of talk followed, a blue haze would rise, mercifully, the lazy valley underneath tempting jungle. Invoking some god in familiar senses he would pause, lose a layer of himself in a dimension of the updraft, give himself away: vacantly, unlawfully, transparently a father. Two sisters made of rock once tracked easy on our eyes. He made mythology uneasily ours, made stars grovel in a way most silver as mirth folded him inward. A sprite, the village would hum. One of them damned folk for sure and no laughs – river twisting through his veins instead of God’s traipsing redness. A blue haze rises over an illusion of jungle now, hoarseness traced around outcrops and harsh stanzas in a stranger’s bass. Distantly, a sparrowhawk shrieks; great biblical cry with a throat parted heavy for the morning. “Have a little faith,” he’d say. “It’s the only thing they can’t take from you, the only thing they can’t break – they just wring it into something new. Something else. Something different.” His words had spun twice above the mountainside, a shaded spirit at its loom. A sparrowhawk calls, and a casket (handmade, lily-white) scrapes aside the doorframe, encompasses what little sky there is. Twice more the church sings sour, pretending melody – remembering how they left soot-empty fingertips trailing among ashes, left blue spots on his moth-ridden shirt. I know, I know that their Christ had no place in that heart of his, in that unforgetting redness; he had told me, voice tinted with poppyseed, how his mother wept seven times the day he rose unto his own. Two sisters made of rock observe the grey dawn through stained glass of martyrs, watch as a lone spirit makes a parade out of expiry and scrapes aside the doorframe. “You got to have a little faith,” he’d say, turning to the twin mountains, turning from the narrow walls of communion, the expansion of breath unheard. “Got to be quiet enough to let others have a little of theirs, too.” From the pew, I listen. There is a humming and an aching and I believe him, and you believe him, and you believe him. The post Senior Creative Writing Competition winner: Libby Witheford-Smith appeared first on .

    • Senior Creative Writing Competition winner: Libby Witheford-Smith
      • This year we had two winners of the Senior Creative Writing Competition, Libby Witheford-Smith (Year 12) and Lucy Poole (Year 13). Libby’s piece was described by  judge Bryce Galloway, writer and Senior Lecturer at Massey School of Art, as “Hard to grasp any concise meaning, but that doesn’t seem to be the point. Poetically evokes the sense of very present world, but one with an anciet history. Full of colourful pairings: “The church sings sour…” “…amuse the horizon.” I had fun reciting this in the voice of Don Van Vliet from Captain Beefheart.” Read Libby’s piece, “Father, vague and undiscerning” below. A hysteria, courted. Two sisters made of rock huddle closer on the edge of sight. Below them, the church sings out sour with a bell too old, too rusted for the mountainside, the sheet-white snow, new blood. This is no ordinarily small hour – the church is breathing. Sensations unfamiliar land themselves on hewn skylights. Now is a passing through of shaded spirits, the sparrowhawk their guide. Head beckoned, wings abridged, it calls for sirens – the half woman type, biting melody. Memory stirs once, twice, rests behind dirt-spotted eyelids. On nights where each inch of lung becomes gracefully sealed by the jaunting of jasmine and rough oak, the two of us would stand together and amuse the horizon. He spoke in a cherry wood tenor, a green language of flowers. As our low breaths of talk followed, a blue haze would rise, mercifully, the lazy valley underneath tempting jungle. Invoking some god in familiar senses he would pause, lose a layer of himself in a dimension of the updraft, give himself away: vacantly, unlawfully, transparently a father. Two sisters made of rock once tracked easy on our eyes. He made mythology uneasily ours, made stars grovel in a way most silver as mirth folded him inward. A sprite, the village would hum. One of them damned folk for sure and no laughs – river twisting through his veins instead of God’s traipsing redness. A blue haze rises over an illusion of jungle now, hoarseness traced around outcrops and harsh stanzas in a stranger’s bass. Distantly, a sparrowhawk shrieks; great biblical cry with a throat parted heavy for the morning. “Have a little faith,” he’d say. “It’s the only thing they can’t take from you, the only thing they can’t break – they just wring it into something new. Something else. Something different.” His words had spun twice above the mountainside, a shaded spirit at its loom. A sparrowhawk calls, and a casket (handmade, lily-white) scrapes aside the doorframe, encompasses what little sky there is. Twice more the church sings sour, pretending melody – remembering how they left soot-empty fingertips trailing among ashes, left blue spots on his moth-ridden shirt. I know, I know that their Christ had no place in that heart of his, in that unforgetting redness; he had told me, voice tinted with poppyseed, how his mother wept seven times the day he rose unto his own. Two sisters made of rock observe the grey dawn through stained glass of martyrs, watch as a lone spirit makes a parade out of expiry and scrapes aside the doorframe. “You got to have a little faith,” he’d say, turning to the twin mountains, turning from the narrow walls of communion, the expansion of breath unheard. “Got to be quiet enough to let others have a little of theirs, too.” From the pew, I listen. There is a humming and an aching and I believe him, and you believe him, and you believe him. The post Senior Creative Writing Competition winner: Libby Witheford-Smith appeared first on .

    • Silver award for Big Sing finalists
      • The Chorale with Hilary Barry at the Big Sing Finale.The Queen Margaret Chorale had cause for celebration after being selected for the Big Sing National Finale for the first time in 12 years. The choir performed at the Finale at the end of August and were awarded a silver medal for their efforts. Chorale Musical Director Mark Stamper says he was so proud of the students’ efforts in the lead up to the Finale and at the performance. “I think they absolutely knocked it out of the park, it was incredible to be part of. The girls were also very proud of themselves which was amazing to see.” The Chorale performed at the regional competition in June and were awarded a prize for each number in their set: the Guy Jansen Cup for the “best performance of an art or classical song” for their rendition of the Czech folk song “Hoj! Hura Hoj!”, a certificate for “an excellent performance of a New Zealand Art Song” for their performance of “For Me to Dare” by David Childs and an adjudicator’s choice award for a “song in the Other Category” for “Ezekiel saw de Wheel”. The Chorale performed the same set for their first set at Nationals and added “Si Verias” and “Joshua” to their second. Year 11 Chorale member Ella Briggs says the event was “amazing”. “This year, we felt more confident than previous years, however, we were all still really nervous as there are lots of phenomenal choirs in New Zealand, which was evident once we got to Finale. “I felt relieved once we’d got into the Finale, as we all worked so hard this year, and we knew that we really deserved to be there.” As part of the experience the Chorale had the opportunity to perform for and watch other school choirs from around New Zealand, as well as perform at a Gala Concert emceed by Old Girl Hilary Barry and attend a party hosted by Big Sing. “A major highlight for me was spending time with Chorale,” Ella says. “We got to share our nerves, excitement and feelings, and I feel like I’ve become a lot closer to all of the girls and learnt a lot about them.” Finding out they had received a silver was another highlight for the group. “I’ll never forget the screams of excitement when our name was announced for a silver award,” Ella says. “Because we were already in the top 24 secondary schools’ choirs in New Zealand, receiving an award that acknowledged this and all of our hard work really cemented in our minds that we are a high-standard choir.” The post Silver award for Big Sing finalists appeared first on .

    • Silver award for Big Sing finalists
      • The Chorale with Hilary Barry at the Big Sing Finale.The Queen Margaret Chorale had cause for celebration after being selected for the Big Sing National Finale for the first time in 12 years. The choir performed at the Finale at the end of August and were awarded a silver medal for their efforts. Chorale Musical Director Mark Stamper says he was so proud of the students’ efforts in the lead up to the Finale and at the performance. “I think they absolutely knocked it out of the park, it was incredible to be part of. The girls were also very proud of themselves which was amazing to see.” The Chorale performed at the regional competition in June and were awarded a prize for each number in their set: the Guy Jansen Cup for the “best performance of an art or classical song” for their rendition of the Czech folk song “Hoj! Hura Hoj!”, a certificate for “an excellent performance of a New Zealand Art Song” for their performance of “For Me to Dare” by David Childs and an adjudicator’s choice award for a “song in the Other Category” for “Ezekiel saw de Wheel”. The Chorale performed the same set for their first set at Nationals and added “Si Verias” and “Joshua” to their second. Year 11 Chorale member Ella Briggs says the event was “amazing”. “This year, we felt more confident than previous years, however, we were all still really nervous as there are lots of phenomenal choirs in New Zealand, which was evident once we got to Finale. “I felt relieved once we’d got into the Finale, as we all worked so hard this year, and we knew that we really deserved to be there.” As part of the experience the Chorale had the opportunity to perform for and watch other school choirs from around New Zealand, as well as perform at a Gala Concert emceed by Old Girl Hilary Barry and attend a party hosted by Big Sing. “A major highlight for me was spending time with Chorale,” Ella says. “We got to share our nerves, excitement and feelings, and I feel like I’ve become a lot closer to all of the girls and learnt a lot about them.” Finding out they had received a silver was another highlight for the group. “I’ll never forget the screams of excitement when our name was announced for a silver award,” Ella says. “Because we were already in the top 24 secondary schools’ choirs in New Zealand, receiving an award that acknowledged this and all of our hard work really cemented in our minds that we are a high-standard choir.” The post Silver award for Big Sing finalists appeared first on .

    • Capturing the Centenary
      • Emma McAuliffe and Sharon Bulmer with Secrets of the Daughter of Troy.Two Queen Margaret College staff members have created a book that celebrates the College’s history. Communications co-ordinator Emma McAuliffe and graphic designer Sharon Bulmer wrote and illustrated Secrets of the Daughter of Troy, respectively. The children’s book follows the story of two junior students who speak to the Daughter of Troy statue on the College front lawn when facing a difficulty. The statue tells them the tale of Queen Margaret of Scotland and the Greek Daughters of Troy to inspire them to be resilient leaders against their odds. Emma says the idea for the story first came to her after being asked to write a short piece about the statue in late 2017. “From that short piece, I was asked to write a children’s book for the school’s upcoming Centenary. I had a few different ideas about how the story would work; however, the idea of the Daughter of Troy telling stories of the school always remained.” The children’s book was workshopped with school Principal Jayne-Ann Young, former Principal Ann Mildenhall and a Year 6 class shortly before Centenary Weekend. “Getting feedback from actual students was one of the best parts of the writing process for me,” Emma says. “It made me realise this was a story children would read and have read to them, and seeing them so engaged with the characters was very exciting for me.” Sharon started at QMC mid-2018 and was immediately drawn to the project. “I have always wanted to illustrate a children’s book and was so excited to have this opportunity at school.” The pair researched significantly to make sure their book would appeal to the Queen Margaret College audience. “I was really inspired by the tapestries of the time and the illustrations in Margaret’s Gospel Book,” Sharon says. “I have also always been a fan of folk art.” “Although the book is a work of fiction, there are many historical elements hidden in the text,” Emma says. “For example, the main characters Tilly and Alex are named for two of the real-life children of Queen Margaret.” Both were delighted to have the book launched at Centenary Weekend. “I’m so proud of what we created,” Sharon says. “It looks just how I imagined it would.” The storybook and the centenary art prints are available on our website. Click here to purchase your storybook. The post Capturing the Centenary appeared first on .

    • Capturing the Centenary
      • Emma McAuliffe and Sharon Bulmer with Secrets of the Daughter of Troy.Two Queen Margaret College staff members have created a book that celebrates the College’s history. Communications co-ordinator Emma McAuliffe and graphic designer Sharon Bulmer wrote and illustrated Secrets of the Daughter of Troy, respectively. The children’s book follows the story of two junior students who speak to the Daughter of Troy statue on the College front lawn when facing a difficulty. The statue tells them the tale of Queen Margaret of Scotland and the Greek Daughters of Troy to inspire them to be resilient leaders against their odds. Emma says the idea for the story first came to her after being asked to write a short piece about the statue in late 2017. “From that short piece, I was asked to write a children’s book for the school’s upcoming Centenary. I had a few different ideas about how the story would work; however, the idea of the Daughter of Troy telling stories of the school always remained.” The children’s book was workshopped with school Principal Jayne-Ann Young, former Principal Ann Mildenhall and a Year 6 class shortly before Centenary Weekend. “Getting feedback from actual students was one of the best parts of the writing process for me,” Emma says. “It made me realise this was a story children would read and have read to them, and seeing them so engaged with the characters was very exciting for me.” Sharon started at QMC mid-2018 and was immediately drawn to the project. “I have always wanted to illustrate a children’s book and was so excited to have this opportunity at school.” The pair researched significantly to make sure their book would appeal to the Queen Margaret College audience. “I was really inspired by the tapestries of the time and the illustrations in Margaret’s Gospel Book,” Sharon says. “I have also always been a fan of folk art.” “Although the book is a work of fiction, there are many historical elements hidden in the text,” Emma says. “For example, the main characters Tilly and Alex are named for two of the real-life children of Queen Margaret.” Both were delighted to have the book launched at Centenary Weekend. “I’m so proud of what we created,” Sharon says. “It looks just how I imagined it would.” The storybook and the centenary art prints are available on our website. Click here to purchase your storybook. The post Capturing the Centenary appeared first on .

    • Council aims for sustainable change
      • Some of the members of the QMC Student Council.The QMC Student Council has made looking after the environment a top priority in 2019. The Student Council features one student per year from Year 3–6 and two per year from Year 7–13. The group meets every Monday to discuss their initiatives and goals for QMC. They also meet with Principal Jayne-Ann Young regularly to let her know what they discuss and what they would like to see implemented. Riley Newell and Rakshaya Bava Ashok are the Year 13 representatives on the Student Council. They were interested in joining to help make a difference in their final year at school. “Student Council is an opportunity to give back and make changes for the better. It’s easier to make change as a group than as an individual,” Riley says. “I also wanted to see more connections between the year groups so we have a more holistic student body,” Rakshaya adds. Making QMC more environmentally friendly has been the main focus for the Student Council this year. “We’ve been looking at reducing the amount of packaging used in the Tuck Shop and trying to get students to have access to double-sided printing at every printer to reduce paper waste,” Riley explains. “We all look around for things we can make a difference to at school and then decide on what we can approach. We have to think tactically as it’s not just a matter of reducing waste from the Tuck Shop, it’s also things like health and safety around what packaging can be used. It’s definitely our Senior School focus for the rest of the year.” Other year groups are focusing on things that make a difference socially. “The younger year groups are working on other issues that matter to them. The Junior School is looking at having friendship benches in the playground,” Rakshaya says. Although the school year is nearly over, the pair hope the Student Council continues as a way for students to have a voice about things around QMC. “We want these projects to be long term projects so that students can continue having a council and having a voice, even after we’ve gone,” Rakshaya says. The post Council aims for sustainable change appeared first on .

    • Council aims for sustainable change
      • Some of the members of the QMC Student Council.The QMC Student Council has made looking after the environment a top priority in 2019. The Student Council features one student per year from Year 3–6 and two per year from Year 7–13. The group meets every Monday to discuss their initiatives and goals for QMC. They also meet with Principal Jayne-Ann Young regularly to let her know what they discuss and what they would like to see implemented. Riley Newell and Rakshaya Bava Ashok are the Year 13 representatives on the Student Council. They were interested in joining to help make a difference in their final year at school. “Student Council is an opportunity to give back and make changes for the better. It’s easier to make change as a group than as an individual,” Riley says. “I also wanted to see more connections between the year groups so we have a more holistic student body,” Rakshaya adds. Making QMC more environmentally friendly has been the main focus for the Student Council this year. “We’ve been looking at reducing the amount of packaging used in the Tuck Shop and trying to get students to have access to double-sided printing at every printer to reduce paper waste,” Riley explains. “We all look around for things we can make a difference to at school and then decide on what we can approach. We have to think tactically as it’s not just a matter of reducing waste from the Tuck Shop, it’s also things like health and safety around what packaging can be used. It’s definitely our Senior School focus for the rest of the year.” Other year groups are focusing on things that make a difference socially. “The younger year groups are working on other issues that matter to them. The Junior School is looking at having friendship benches in the playground,” Rakshaya says. Although the school year is nearly over, the pair hope the Student Council continues as a way for students to have a voice about things around QMC. “We want these projects to be long term projects so that students can continue having a council and having a voice, even after we’ve gone,” Rakshaya says. The post Council aims for sustainable change appeared first on .

    • Eco Runway highlights importance of sustainable clothing
      • Harriet Holmes, Paget Chung, Charlotte Lee and Tulsi Patel with their Eco Fashion garmentsQMC designs hit the runway in August as part of the Hutt Winter Fest Eco Fashion Runway Show. Year 12 materials technology students Paget Chung, Harriet Holmes, Charlotte Lee, Isabelle Osborne and Tulsi Patel teamed up for the Up-cycled Challenge, created to give designers a taste of a runway show. The event came as a follow-up to a half-year programme in materials technology focusing on sustainability in design and the impacts of the fashion industry on the environment. The half-year unit is called Junky Styling. In this unit, students took design inspiration from the sustainable fashion practices of fashion designer Melanie Child to create a contemporary garment from post-consumer waste clothing, using only denim, suits and shirts. Students were also required to carry out advanced pattern adaptations to an existing pattern to create a completely new, original design. The philosophy of Junky Styling is to take something discarded and create something new that’s of higher value than it was before. Paget, Harriet, Charlotte, Isabelle and Tulsi combined their individual Junky Styling garments to create complete outfits for the Up-cycled Challenge. Charlotte says the experience was “extremely exciting”. “It was a great experience finishing up our garments and putting them together in an outfit to be displayed in front of a large audience,” she says. “Although I was not able to attend the runway, I felt very proud of what we had made and presented. I also felt like, through this, we are taking steps towards making more sustainable fashion choices. By entering in a sustainable fashion section, we are showing that sustainable fashion doesn’t have to be boring and that you can still make a difference and have a voice through creativity.” Paget says seeing the designs on the runway was a real highlight for her. “I was very proud to see mine and my classmates’ garments being walked at the Hutt Winter Fest. It was also cool to see everyone’s garments turn out how we envisioned them to be, which definitely became surreal when shown as a collection and put together to create a full up-cycled outfit. I think being involved with the Eco Fashion Runway is a great opportunity for us and is hopefully the beginning of much more.” Charlotte says the process taught her how easy it was to make sustainable clothing. “I had already been making clothing at home. However, I had been using fabric on rolls and not pre-used garments. It was not as hard as I thought it would be, and as a result, I have been encouraged to make more sustainable garments in my own time. “Although this project for sustainability involved making a garment to contribute positively to the environment, you do not have to know how to sew. Anyone can take steps towards having a more sustainable wardrobe by buying from second-hand stores and sustainable companies. You can also do DIY projects like repurposing old garments such as T-shirts into cleaning cloths.” The post Eco Runway highlights importance of sustainable clothing appeared first on .

    • Eco Runway highlights importance of sustainable clothing
      • Harriet Holmes, Paget Chung, Charlotte Lee and Tulsi Patel with their Eco Fashion garmentsQMC designs hit the runway in August as part of the Hutt Winter Fest Eco Fashion Runway Show. Year 12 materials technology students Paget Chung, Harriet Holmes, Charlotte Lee, Isabelle Osborne and Tulsi Patel teamed up for the Up-cycled Challenge, created to give designers a taste of a runway show. The event came as a follow-up to a half-year programme in materials technology focusing on sustainability in design and the impacts of the fashion industry on the environment. The half-year unit is called Junky Styling. In this unit, students took design inspiration from the sustainable fashion practices of fashion designer Melanie Child to create a contemporary garment from post-consumer waste clothing, using only denim, suits and shirts. Students were also required to carry out advanced pattern adaptations to an existing pattern to create a completely new, original design. The philosophy of Junky Styling is to take something discarded and create something new that’s of higher value than it was before. Paget, Harriet, Charlotte, Isabelle and Tulsi combined their individual Junky Styling garments to create complete outfits for the Up-cycled Challenge. Charlotte says the experience was “extremely exciting”. “It was a great experience finishing up our garments and putting them together in an outfit to be displayed in front of a large audience,” she says. “Although I was not able to attend the runway, I felt very proud of what we had made and presented. I also felt like, through this, we are taking steps towards making more sustainable fashion choices. By entering in a sustainable fashion section, we are showing that sustainable fashion doesn’t have to be boring and that you can still make a difference and have a voice through creativity.” Paget says seeing the designs on the runway was a real highlight for her. “I was very proud to see mine and my classmates’ garments being walked at the Hutt Winter Fest. It was also cool to see everyone’s garments turn out how we envisioned them to be, which definitely became surreal when shown as a collection and put together to create a full up-cycled outfit. I think being involved with the Eco Fashion Runway is a great opportunity for us and is hopefully the beginning of much more.” Charlotte says the process taught her how easy it was to make sustainable clothing. “I had already been making clothing at home. However, I had been using fabric on rolls and not pre-used garments. It was not as hard as I thought it would be, and as a result, I have been encouraged to make more sustainable garments in my own time. “Although this project for sustainability involved making a garment to contribute positively to the environment, you do not have to know how to sew. Anyone can take steps towards having a more sustainable wardrobe by buying from second-hand stores and sustainable companies. You can also do DIY projects like repurposing old garments such as T-shirts into cleaning cloths.” The post Eco Runway highlights importance of sustainable clothing appeared first on .

    • Sheilah Winn
      • Back: Isabella Barber, Marie Katsanos, Ava Flaws, Eleanor Burns and Gregor Burns, centre: Kaia Holborow, front: Siobhan Murray and Karl PatchettAll the world’s a stage for a group of Queen Margaret College students who made the national final of the Shakespeare Globe Centre New Zealand University of Otago Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival in June. QMC entered two teams in the regional competition in April: a Year 10 team and a senior entry. The Year 10 team starred Pia Bryant and Jessica Brunt in an extract from As You Like It. The performance won the award for the Most Outstanding Connection between Two Characters. The senior entry, directed by Year 13 student Eleanor Burns, was a 15-minute piece of various scenes from Much Ado About Nothing and starred Isabella Barber, Marie Katsanos, Siobhan Murray, Kaia Holborow and Ava Flaws, as well as Scots College students Gregor Burns and Karl Patchett. This team was one of three Wellington teams out of 30 entries to be selected for the national finals. The piece won Outstanding Presentation from a Comedy Award and the NZADI Drama Cup for Outstanding Imagination and Commitment to the Text. Isabella Barber, who played the lead, Beatrice, won the Outstanding Performer Award and was selected for the National Shakespeare’s School Production (NSSP). First-time director Eleanor says she was “over the moon” the team was selected for the national competition. “I was super-proud of my group and pleasantly surprised that I had the vision and ability to stage manage and create a piece that the audience enjoyed.” She says the nationals had a “fun and invigorating atmosphere”. “My favourite part was seeing the creative ways other students and teachers brought scenes to life, giving me new ideas on ways scenes could be crafted. I had previously performed some of the scenes we saw, and I found it cool to see different ways they were performed this time.” After spending her time throughout school as an actor, Eleanor wanted to give directing a go to see theatre from a different perspective. “I thought it would be cool to try something new as I had never directed my own piece before,” she says. “Getting to work with each individual and watch them grow as an actor in their development of their character and in their confidence as a person was a highlight for me. I also enjoyed creating different pictures on stage to engage the audience.” Eleanor says the experience of directing has opened her eyes to future possibilities in the theatre. “I have always loved acting, and this experience has shown me that there is more to theatre than just acting. I really enjoyed directing this piece and hope I will do more in the future.” Isabella has since been selected as one of 24 NZ students to visit the Globe theatre in London to attend advanced workshops and perform at the theatre itself. The post Sheilah Winn appeared first on .

    • Passion leads to NZ Youth Award
      • General Manager of the Ministry of Youth Development Juanita Te Kani and the Minister for Youth Rt Hon Peeni Henare presenting Jaskiran Rahi with the NZ Youth AwardA Middle School student on a mission to empower girls has received a top award for her efforts. Jaskiran Kaur Rahi received a New Zealand Youth Award for her work with her organisation, Spirit & Soul. Jaskiran started Spirit & Soul last year after being the only girl at a coding holiday programme when she was younger. She felt uncomfortable in the situation and did not want other girls to feel the same way. Since then, she has held three events for girls her age. The most recent was a workshop in September where girls learnt selfdefence, first-aid and how to change a tyre. Jaskiran received a New Zealand Youth Award for Te Raukura – Inclusion for her events and work with Spirit & Soul. She was one of 14 young people from around the country to receive an award. Jaskiran says she did not know she had been nominated until she found out she won. “It was an extremely humbling experience, and I couldn’t believe it when I got the news. “The award was amazing recognition for the work I have done with Spirit & Soul over the last two years and has encouraged us to continue crafting more events to reach more young women.” Jaskiran says the experience was “absolutely amazing”. “It hadn’t sunk in that I had actually received the award until the day. Before the awards ceremony in the evening, the recipients had the opportunity to meet the Governor General, Dame Patsy Reddy, and attend a leadership workshop in the morning. “In the evening, we met some amazing people and had the chance to listen to some amazing speakers, including Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Kendall Flutey, founder of Banqer.” Jaskiran says she looks forward to Spirit & Soul bringing events to more girls in the future. “Receiving this award gives me and Spirit & Soul greater credibility in a world where a lot of people have trouble putting faith in young people. The award also comes with a financial grant that will really help Spirit & Soul reach more young women around the country. “We would like to run two or three more events within the next year, and in the future, we would like to take our events to other regions to ensure we are reaching as many young women as possible. “We also recently launched our website, which will help us reach a wider audience. We would like to develop our website further so we can publish content to further empower young women who cannot attend our events – and therefore reach as many people as possible.” The post Passion leads to NZ Youth Award appeared first on .

    • World Scholar’s Cup
      • Amy Lin, Olive Aldridge and Manon Petit at the global round of the World Scholar’s CupA trio of Year 9 students headed to Sydney in August after winning the regional round of the World Scholar’s Cup. Olive Aldridge, Manon Petit and Amy Lin made the Sydney Global Round of the competition after entering the regional event on a whim, just weeks before it took place. The World Scholar’s Cup is a global celebration of learning and leadership that sees students from around the world take part in competitive events in teams of three. Teams compete in various activities including debating, creative writing and answering multi-choice questions on a range of topics. Queen Margaret College entered four teams this year, with many individual and team successes. Manon, Amy and Olive took out first place in the junior division. Manon was awarded Top Debater and second place overall in the competition. Manon described the World Scholar’s Cup as a “casual academic competition where people don’t take each other seriously”. “It’s organised in a fun way and is described as a competitive community,” Manon says. “I got an email from Ms Kitiona with a list of opportunities, and I thought this one sounded cool. I was the only one from my year who responded, so Ms Kitiona suggested I ask my friends.” “We signed up for regionals at the last minute, so it was surprising to win the competition. None of us even got up to get our award at first,” Olive adds. After winning the regional competition, Amy, Manon and Olive headed to the five-day global round in Sydney where they eventually came 52nd out of 530 teams. Highlights of the event were meeting other young people from around the world and discovering new things about themselves. “In the junior division at regionals, there were 30 kids, while at the global, there were 3,000 so it was 100 times bigger,” Manon says. “You meet so many people who lead such different lives and think differently from you. “Because we were fundraising, even the journey of getting to the global round was fun. I walked dogs and cleaned cars, and these were good experiences to have.” “I can be a bit of an introvert, and the others dragged me to the World Scholar’s Cup Ball,” Amy says. “I didn’t even want to go, but I ended up having the most fun out of everyone. It doesn’t matter if you are an introvert or an extrovert, it’s all about having fun and you end up enjoying things you think you won’t,” Amy adds. The trio would recommend the World Scholar’s Cup to others at Queen Margaret College in a flash. “It would be fun to do with more QMC kids so we all have stories to tell and memories to share,” Amy says. “Everyone should participate. I felt nervous before the regionals round, but after taking part, I felt really comfortable with all the other people,” Olive says. “Being at these events makes you realise you aren’t alone. You meet incredible people and everyone goes out of their way to make you feel included,” Manon adds. The post World Scholar’s Cup appeared first on .

    • Global opportunities in business
      • Millie Wilcox (far right of the back row) in Buenos Aires with others in her business challengeOpportunities have expanded for a Year 13 student after attending a business challenge in Argentina in July. Millie Wilcox was one of eight New Zealand students chosen to spend a week in Buenos Aires as part of a Latin America Centre of Asia-Pacific Excellence (LA CAPE) and Young Enterprise Scheme (YES) joint business challenge. The challenge aims to encourage future contact between the two countries by exposing students to the business opportunities waiting for them in Latin America. Millie found out about the opportunity to take part in YES in her business and economics class. “I saw a post on their Facebook page about two days before the entry deadline, and I created a 90-second video. I then got a call and found out I was part of the free trip to Argentina. There was less than a month between this and leaving for Argentina,” she says. Millie and her group, made up of two students from New Zealand and one from Argentina, had to create a market entry strategy for a New Zealand business, Sharesies, into Argentina. “We had to do the first part of our assignments while still in New Zealand, which was to research the company we would be doing a market entry strategy plan for. My group was given Sharesies, which I was already familiar with because we had studied them in class.” Throughout the challenge, Millie had the opportunity to visit a variety of businesses and learn about Argentinean culture. “On the first day, we visited the New Zealand Embassy, and then in the following days, we visited nine businesses for about one or two hours at a time. We went to a unicorn start-up, which is a start-up that’s worth $1 billion. They had a ball pit in their office that was their meeting room. “We also visited a company that was technically only one person. We also went to two on the outskirts of Buenos Aires. It was amazing to meet such a range of businesses,” Millie says. “At the end of the trip, we had to write a two-page business plan for Sharesies and then put it to the judges. It was really awesome because everyone from the businesses and the New Zealand Embassy came to watch our presentations and support us. It was especially exciting because my team actually won.” Highlights for Millie included the culture and the atmosphere of the business conferences. “As well as visiting businesses, we did cultural activities every night, like tango lessons. We also did a language class every morning. The culture was also one of my favourite parts. We got so used to kissing people on the cheeks as greetings, and having mate tea was such a big part of every day. We spent the days passing tea between ourselves because it’s seen as a privilege and people want to share with you,” she says. “For me, the most interesting parts were the differences between New Zealand and Argentina. Argentina is a third-world country, and their inflation rate is so high. They don’t have plans for more than three months because their political climate is unstable and they have elections coming up. There’s such a huge amount of economic instability, which was so interesting as it’s such a different market.” Since the trip, Millie was selected for a “globalistas in action” conference at the end of August, run and funded again by YES and LA CAPE. She has also met with the CEO of Sharesies, who said she’d had contact with Argentina as a result of Millie’s group’s presentation.   The post Global opportunities in business appeared first on .

    • Flying high with Aspeq
      • Lucy Sladden (second right) and Bella Ashill (far right) with the Aspeq teamTwo Senior School students took to the sky in the July school holidays as part of an internship pilot programme with Aspeq. The week-long collaboration with the international assessment company came as part of a Queen Margaret College strategy to increase community partnerships and introduce students to the workforce. Bella Ashill (Year 12) and Lucy Sladden (Year 13) were chosen following a video application process. As part of the internship, Bella and Lucy were introduced to the day-today tasks of Aspeq staff, including security, facilities management, finance, business development, project management, IT, bank management and customer service. They were also treated to a flight in a small aircraft to visit the Christchurch air traffic control tower and the Christchurch engine centre. Lucy says her favourite part about the internship was the trip to Christchurch and learning the variety of jobs one can have in a particular industry. “We got to fly in a small plane and talk to and ask questions of professionals in the air traffic control tower and the engine centre. “I learnt there is a range of career opportunities in the industry. From IT to piloting, there is a role that could suit pretty much everyone. It was interesting to find out what Aspeq staff studied at university as there was a big range, and some people were now doing things completely irrelevant to their degree.” Bella says the pair learnt lots of interesting things, especially about flying. “I learnt a lot of cool things about all the different components that make up a business and how a  small company runs. It was really interesting to see all the different sections to Aspeq, like the question bank team, IT, customer service and projects managers. “I also learnt a lot about aviation and flying planes, as I got to fly one myself. To my surprise, when a plane is on the tarmac and taxiing for takeoff, you use the foot pedals to turn it left and right. The flight instructor, explained that it was like riding a bike. You can lean left and right, but then you can also turn left and right with the handle bars.” The internship also gave the duo insight into how they act in a work environment. “When I am around new people, I get really nervous and struggle to ask questions. However, during my week at Aspeq, I opened up and did not feel so frightened. I also learnt that I have a passion for organising things. That’s why I think air traffic control would be a really interesting option for me,” Bella says. “Now that I have a greater understanding of how I act in the work environment and what I potentially want to do in the future, I am slowly going to set my path in stone to ensure that I can do what I want when I leave school.” Both Lucy and Bella would recommend the internship, or others like it, to other QMC students. “It was super-interesting to see how a business runs because as students we have no idea what it’s actually like in a workforce. It was cool to see people at Aspeq collaborate on their projects” Lucy says. “I learnt so much, met a lot of amazing people and figured out what I am working towards in the future. I think that anyone who is struggling to find their passion should do something similar to this, due to the exposure you get to all the different aspects in a company,” Bella adds. The post Flying high with Aspeq appeared first on .

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