“I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things.” – Mother Teresa. This week is another where we can rightly celebrate the strength of community spirit at St Margaret’s College.

Our Inspiring Women’s Lunch was a sell-out, with 90 women attending to hear the motivational and inspirational stories of Theresa Gattung CNZM. Theresa commented on the lovely positive energy to the room as women made and strengthened connections with one another and the fabulous potential of our SMC community to empower other New Zealand women entrepreneurs. Ms Gattung has been back in touch to share her delight in the number of St Margaret’s women who have joined SheEO as activators since the event. If you want to know more about our support of this movement for radical generosity, please see the article included in this newsletter.

The spirit of our girls was certainly on display today in our much-anticipated annual House Day. Big sisters supported little sisters in the combined House Plays, art projects and sport challenges. Celebrating 100 years of the Houses at SMC this year, it was clear the spirit has not diminished over that time.

Later this evening we will host the Year 11 parents to the newly established annual Parent Drinks here in Christchurch, with the Junior School function to follow next week. If the Year 9 event is anything to go by, these will be anticipated occasions for parents to build their community connections in their daughter’s year level.

Tomorrow the school community is invited to support our ‘Footwear for Floods’ appeal with funds raised going to the Rural Support Trust. The girls and staff will be wearing gumboots with their regular school attire with a gold coin contribution at the start of the day, and a collection box for community donations at Maggie’s. With many of our regional families affected by the recent extreme wet weather, we look forward to offering our community support in this way.

In the words of Theresa Gattung, “There are different energies for different times, and the energy we're in now is a more collaborative one.” We can be proud of the energy of St Margaret’s, and the benefits that brings our girls and our community.