Leading and learning
St. Margaret’s College has a rich history of empowering girls and a strong network of Old Girls globally.
As two Old Girls and current teachers at SMC, Year 7 and 8 Dean and mathematics teacher Nicole Lloyd and visual arts teacher Lucy Mackie are continuing this tradition by creating opportunities for the next generation of wāhine toa. Programmes introduced by Nicole and Lucy aim at upskilling girls in diverse areas and encouraging them to take on new challenges.
Lucy says, “The girls we see in our senior classes are confident in their decisions, well-rounded, and not afraid of a challenge. The special character of SMC means our girls feel connected to something bigger than themselves, whether that’s helping with Junior and Middle School arts clubs or helping coach sports teams.”
Building connections is part of a programme Nicole has introduced for Middle School girls, The SMC Challenge, which also encourages the adoption of new hobbies, learning new skills, and making a difference. The challenges develop accountability, organisational skills, creativity, and leadership and encourage the girls to motivate one another.
Nicole says, “The first year of the challenge is a learning year for our Year 7s, and by Year 8, the girls are making leaps to find their own individual strengths and passions and to be the best versions of themselves.”
The initiative complements a residential programme that Lucy has set up for Middle School students, Aspiring Filmmakers. This programme prepares girls for changes to the New Zealand curriculum to include film and photography while giving them the space and time to foster creativity and the ability to think critically.
While Nicole is focused on teaching Middle School students, Lucy teaches visual arts across St Margaret’s College’s Senior, Middle, and Junior schools.
Lucy says, “You change your hat when you go from teaching a Year 13 photography class to a Year 5 visual arts class, but the questions are the same; it’s a case of modifying the programme for the student’s age and stage.”
With one daughter at the SMC Pre-School and another in the Junior School, Lucy sees real benefits in her daughters learning from subject-specific teachers, as well as from Junior School trained teachers. The rōpū tuakana-teina (big sister-little sister) culture of the College also means a lot to Lucy.
“Our youngest girls look up to our senior girls as leaders, but there are also benefits for our older girls in spending time with our Junior girls. It’s a truly reciprocal relationship, which we see in our art and sports clubs and the wider life of the College.”
Nicole also sees the power of the big sister-little sister relationships through buddy and peer support programmes, and also as a coach of korfball and netball. She is currently preparing for the Korfball World Championships in October in Taiwan, the second time New Zealand has qualified, and Nicole will represent her country.
Nicole says, “Korfball is a growing sport, and since I have introduced it to SMC, we are seeing more and more girls playing, bringing their friends to practice. It’s a fast-paced sport; it requires everyone on the team to get involved. We have a great mix of competitive and social players.”
Looking for opportunities to help others is something Lucy has taken from her own time at SMC. She is currently training to become a tour guide at the Christchurch Art Gallery, and as well as imparting her knowledge to visitors to the gallery, she looks forward to bringing a new dimension to her classroom teaching as a result.
Lucy says, “SMC looks different from my time as a student, but it feels just the same; it has the same spirit.”