Our girls selected for national Shakespeare companies and Kowhai continue as reigning champions in House Debating while our Middle School girls prepare for the Junior Theatresports heats, Nga Kete Debating and upcoming arts awards assembly.

Continued Shakespeare Success
After huge success in the regional Shakespeare Festival, Ruby Anderson and Emily Stewart were selected to attend a week at the SGCNZ National Shakespeare School Production 2018. Ruby and Emily were two of the 46 students chosen from the 24 Regional and National SGCNZ University of Otago Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festivals, to spend a week in Dunedin during the recent school holidays doing workshops with high calibre tutors with the opportunity to perform in two of Shakespeare's best loved plays. Congratulations Ruby and Emily we know you will have shone on stage and during the rehearsal process!

Following on from the week in Dunedin, Ruby Anderson has been selected to attend Shakespeare Globe Centre New Zealand Youth Shakespeare Company for 2019. This is a company of 24 students from all over NZ selected to go to London in July 2019 to perform on the Globe stage and attend workshops led by world class tutors. Ruby follows in the footsteps of SMC alumni Tigerlily Perry - congratulations Ruby!

House Debating Final
Kowhai are the SMC House Debating champions for the third year in a row! We congratulate the strong Kowhai team of Year 10 girls Alexandra Lehman, Rosie Lester and Heather Laing, along with their coach Paige Carey. Kowhai beat Manuka’s team of Lucy Flint, Nikita Bloy and Bridget Smith (coached by Grace McMahon) negating the moot that we should have racial-blind casting for all film and television roles.

Christchurch Schools’ Music Festival
Congratulations to our Year 5-7 girls involved in the Music Festival last week, along with choir teacher Rachel Wilford who conducted the mass choirs this year, joined by Sarena Harrison stage managing. All the SMC girls that helped back stage were fantastic and there were many comments from teachers of other schools about how well they all conducted themselves. The choir sang beautifully and an extra shout out goes to Claudia Hundleby and Isabella Shatford playing violin in the Special Orchestra. Isabella was presented her medal for completing four years of participation in the representative groups for the festival.

NCEA Art Exhibition
Tuesday afternoon a good crowd gathered in the Old Girls’ Atrium for our annual display of Year 11-13 NCEA visual artworks. Stunning portfolios showcasing senior Painting, Printmaking, Photography and Design filled the atrium. Congratulations to all our artists and to Callum Arnold and his team of dedicated teachers.

Trinity College Speech and Drama Results 
Congratulations to  Elizabeth Cross and Eleanor McVicar who received a high distinction in their Grade 7 exams.  And Annabel Coates and Olivia Wilson who both also received high distinction for their Grade 8 exams. 

Junior Theatresports
This weekend our Junior Theatresports team will be competing at The Court Theatre as part of the school competition. The girls have been meeting weekly this year with teacher Katherine Tyson-McPhillips and Year 12‘s Kaitlin Burden to hone their skills. We wish Yani Rutherford, Chloe Taylor, Zoe Fulton, Lily Burt, Sammy Hood and Poppi Hamilton all the best for their heat on Sunday.

Nga Kete Debating Competition
The annual Nga Kete Debating Competition for Canterbury Year 9 and 10 girls will be held Tuesday 13 November, from 9am - 3pm. St Margaret’s is hosting for the third year in a row, because we keep winning! There are nine schools entered this year and 12 teams, so six debates will be going on around the school. Thanks to Jenni McLaughlin and Rosie McTaggart for their support of this event.

Middle School Arts Awards Assembly
Thursday 15 November we will present certificates, badges and Colours in the arts to our Year 7-10 girls in a special assembly to be celebrated during Period 7 in the Chapel. We will enjoy performances from our Middle School Dance Company, Junior Theatresports team and musicians, and there will be art on display in the Atrium.