The Weekly Window - Friday 28th March 2025
Friday 28th March 2025
Dance Show, Head’s Letter, Gold DofE, Sports Review, and more!
Friday 28th March 2025
Welcome to the Weekly Window! As we reach the end of a busy and successful term at QM, take a look at this week’s highlights. See photos from Dance Through Time, read about the latest DofE practice hike, and catch up on sporting news, including the QM Invitational Netball Tournament, recent match reports, and a success story featuring Tennis Coach Jamie Costa.
We also look forward to the Spring Concert tonight—a wonderful way to close the term with music and celebration. Don’t forget to save the date for upcoming events next term.
As we head into the Easter break, we wish everyone a restful and enjoyable holiday!
Head’s Update – End of Term Reflections
In the final Head’s Update of the Easter term, Ms Dudley reflects on a term filled with achievements, community spirit, and memorable moments. From outstanding performances in Dance Through Time and the Chamber Choir’s Evensong at York Minster to impressive sporting successes in lacrosse and netball, QM girls have demonstrated their talents and dedication. Academic progress has been a key focus, with mock exams, university offers, and an inspiring Careers Afternoon broadening horizons. Ms Dudley also shares her efforts to raise QM’s profile both in the UK and internationally. As the term ends, she expresses gratitude to staff moving on and appreciation for the warmth and support of the QM community. Wishing everyone a restful and happy Spring break.
Dance Through Time
Last week, the Chapman Theatre was filled with energy and excitement as the QM Dance Show, Dance Through Time, took to the stage. Across two fantastic evenings, audiences were taken on a journey through dance history, from the courts of Louis XIV to the modern day, performed by our incredibly talented and hardworking students.
Huge congratulations to all the girls who took part, bringing each era to life with confidence and style. A special thank you to Mrs Leadley, Head of Dance, for putting together such a brilliant programme, as well as all the other staff involved in bringing the production to life.
Mrs Leadley commented: “The girls worked so well together to deliver a fast-moving show that took the audience on a journey of 'Dance Through Time'. They showed their versatility and creativity, and they were very dedicated to presenting as polished a show as possible.
A lot of fun was had along the way, too. I congratulate them all.”
Behind the scenes, a slight technical hitch just before the second show could have caused a few nerves, but thanks to QM’s above-and-beyond IT support and our amazing student backstage crew, everything was quickly back on track without any sign of disruption on stage.
Click below to see the full photo gallery!
Theatre Trip
“This Thursday, the Drama students and Scholars went to see ‘North by Northwest’ by Wise Children, adapted from the 1959 film of the same name. As described by the company, “Roger Thornhill, the reluctant hero of North by Northwest, when a mistimed phone call to his mother lands him smack bang in the middle of a Cold War conspiracy. Now he’s on the run, dodging spies, airplanes and a femme fatale who might not be all she seems.”
The play was absolutely brilliant and very classic of Wise Children, featuring Katy Owen, who played the professor and last year played Mother Superior in our favourite production of all time: ‘Blue Beard’. Emma Rice’s writing is so incredibly funny, and combined with her directing skills and the actors' “creative” dancing, it is most definitely a 10/10. The set is so incredibly detailed and will definitely make for an interesting essay answer when it comes to that time of year again! A big thank you to Mrs Griffin and Mrs Preistley for taking us!”
Thanks, Lilly Rose, for your submission, and Hannah for your photos!
https://queenmargarets.com/qm-...
Gold DofE Students Take on Navigation Challenge in Goathland
Seven of our Duke of Edinburgh’s Award students in the Lower Sixth Form recently took part in an eight-mile circular walk around Goathland, refining their navigation skills ahead of their expeditions next term.
The route included some amazing highlights, including the Mallyan Spout waterfall, the historic Wheeldale Roman Road, and a stepping stone crossing over the beck. The walk provided an excellent opportunity for students to test their map-reading and route-planning skills in a real-world setting.
A special thank you goes to Mr Figon for his support on the walk. Our Gold participants this year are Tabby C, Lucy C, Rosa H, Amanda L, Isha N, Sophie R, and Emma Y. We look forward to following their progress as they prepare for their upcoming expeditions.
Pictured above is their walk, as well as some tent-pitching practice outside Cloisters!
Fruit Trees for Our School
Recently, the Woodland Trust opened applications for schools to receive free fruit trees, and we were delighted to be successful in our application. Just before half term, our five trees arrived. The Gardening Club, along with Mrs Stewart, planted them around the vegetable garden area behind the Art Block, with the help of our dedicated gardening team, Neil and Rob.
Ms Dudley played a key role in the official planting, taking charge of our Blenheim Orange apple tree during a special event on Thursday lunchtime. We are now the proud owners of two apple trees, a cherry tree, a plum tree, and a pear tree. We look forward to seeing them grow and, in time, enjoying the fruit they will produce!
Head Girl and Prefect Team for 2025-26 Announced
We are delighted to announce the Head Girl and Prefect team for the academic year 2025-26. After careful consideration of the students' applications and interview performances, alongside the results of the vote, the school has selected a dedicated and talented group to lead in the next academic year.
- Head Girl - Isabel J
- Deputy Head Girl - Miwa U
- Deputy Head Girl - Inclusion - Yiting L
- Deputy Head Girl - Charity - Ishah N
- Deputy Head Girl - Wellbeing - Larissa G
Heads of House
- Garry House - Lucy C
- Duncan House - Larissa G
- QM Hall - Tabby C
- Pitlochry - Dilasha B
- School House - Sophie R
- St Aidan’s - Lilly-Rose W
Prefects
- Environment Prefect - Georgie D
- Sacristan - Georgie D
- Art Prefect - (To be confirmed)
- Dance Prefects - Niime K, Emma Y
- Drama Prefect - Lilly-Rose W
- Music Prefect and Head Chorister - Hannah B
- Scholars Prefect - (To be confirmed)
- Marketing Prefects - Sharon W, Renee T
- Sports Prefect - Maisie B
We are excited to see the leadership these students will bring to their roles, and we look forward to their contributions throughout the year.
Meet the current student leadership team
QM Invitational Netball Tournament
To round off the season, this week we were excited to host our Invitational Netball Tournament, featuring both our 1st and 2nd VII teams. The event brought together top schools from across the North of England, offering an afternoon of competitive, high-quality netball. With the sun shining, it made for the perfect setting, and our teams gave their all on the court. A huge thank you to all the schools that joined us, and congratulations to our two teams for their dedication and hard work throughout the day!
Sports Review
In the U14 semi-final of the York and District Kaboca League, QM Netball put in a strong performance against Manor School, with excellent teamwork and Elsie’s impressive shooting, but ultimately lost 16-13. The team should be proud of their progress this term. Meanwhile, at the U12 York & District Area Tournament, the girls enjoyed a successful day, securing wins against The Mount (4-2), All Saints (7-1), and Bootham (4-2), along with two draws against Fulford (1-1) and Manor Academy (1-1). Despite tough losses to Joseph Rowntree (3-2) and St Peter’s (9-1), they finished in third place, with Mimi O. earning Player of the Tournament for her resilience and outstanding performance throughout the day.
Good Luck to Our Girls
We would like to wish the best of luck to the following girls in their upcoming events:
Elsa S will be representing Scotland U20 in the Home Internationals Lacrosse competition in Inverclyde from 4th-6th April. Elsa will play matches against Wales at 15:10 on Friday, the Czech Republic at 15:10 on Saturday, and England at 14:10 on Sunday. We look forward to hearing about Elsa's success when she returns after Easter.
Isabel B will represent North England Lacrosse Regional Academy at the Annual Regional Academies Tournament on Sunday 13th April. Isabel will compete in 10s lacrosse in the morning and will experience her first 6s competition in the afternoon. Sixes is the format for the next Olympics, and it’s an exciting opportunity for Isabel to demonstrate her skills. Good luck, Isabel, and we can’t wait to hear all about it after Easter.
Izzy A will head to Hull on Wednesday 2nd April with her U16 Fulford Girls Football Team for the Final of the East Riding FA County Cup. Izzy and her team have had great success so far in the competition, and we wish them all the best in the final. Good luck to Izzy and the whole team – we hope you have a fantastic game!
Jamie Costa's Achievements and Charity Challenge
LTA Tennis Awards
We are delighted to share that Jamie Costa, one of QM's dedicated coaches, has been highly commended in the Coach of the Year category at the 2025 County LTA Tennis Awards. These awards celebrate the remarkable contributions of individuals in the tennis community across Britain, highlighting the achievements of over 25,000 volunteers, 6,900 coaches, and 1,000 officials. The awards also recognise the efforts of schools, clubs, and tournaments that help bring the sport closer to players and fans.
Jamie’s recognition is a well-deserved testament to his commitment and passion for coaching, and we are incredibly proud of his achievement.
Jamie’s Charity Marathon Challenge
In addition to his recent accolade, Jamie is preparing to take on an exciting challenge. He will be running the London and Leeds marathons to raise funds for Whizz Kidz, a charity that provides vital support to young wheelchair users. The charity helps children access the equipment, skills, and confidence needed to live more independent lives.
Jamie has witnessed firsthand the life-changing impact Whizz Kidz can have and he is excited to be raising money for such a worthy cause. Any donations would be greatly appreciated, and Jamie thanks everyone in advance for their support.
Musician of the Year: Save the Date
In the week following the Easter holidays, we will host our annual 'Young Musician of the Year' competition. Over 60 of our talented young musicians will compete across the Elementary and Intermediate classes throughout the day. We warmly invite the QM Family to join us for the Advanced Final, where our Grade 8+ musicians will perform before an independent adjudicator. The Advanced Final will take place at 18:00 on Wednesday 23rd April in St Margaret’s Chapel. Please save the date – a formal invitation will follow soon.
Pictured above is last year’s winner - and now a student at the Royal College of Music - Lucinda Addy.
Speech Day and Summer Ball
Speech Day, the highlight of the QM calendar, will be held on Saturday 5th July 2025. This will be followed by an elegant Summer Ball in the evening for Sixth Form, and we would be delighted if you could join us for both occasions. You should, by now have received your ‘save the date’ email - invitations will be sent out in due course.
Port Royal Schools’ Showjumping League
The final date in the Port Royal Schools’ Showjumping League is fast approaching. We’ve had a wonderful team of QM students taking part with great success so far! If you can make the event to support them, save the date!
HWBC Opening Times
Please find above the updated Health and Wellbeing Centre opening times after the Easter holiday.
Health and Wellbeing
Upcoming Dates
Monday, 21 April 2025
All Day: Week M
16:00 - 18:00: Boarders Return
16:00 - 18:00: Refreshments for Parents (Location: St Margaret's Chapel)
18:00 - 18:45: Supper (Location: Main Dining Room)
Tuesday, 22 April 2025
08:30: New School Term Service (Location: St Margaret's Chapel)
08:30: Term begins
17:00 - 17:45: Medical Careers Event (Optional for Years IV - LVI, Location: Thompson)
Wednesday, 23 April 2025
08:30: Assembly (Location: The Chapman Theatre)
08:30 - 12:45: Year IV C1 Devising Drama Examination (Preparation 08:30 - 12:00, Performance 12:15 - 12:45, Location: The Chapman Theatre)
09:00 - 17:00: Young Musician of the Year (Location: St Margaret's Chapel)
18:30 - 19:30: Young Musician of the Year - Advanced Final (Whole School Event, Location: St Margaret's Chapel)
19:30: Music Dinner (Location: Wenlock Library)
Thursday, 24 April 2025
09:00 - 16:50: A Level Textiles Examination (Location: Art Department)
09:00 - 16:50: GCSE Fine Art Examination (Location: Art Department)
12:15 - 13:00: Lunch (Various times for different year groups, Location: Main Dining Room)
13:00 - 13:30: Sixth Form Entertainment (Optional, Location: The Chapman Theatre)
16:00: Swimming Fixtures: Girls-U15A vs Bootham School, Girls-U14A vs Bootham School
19:00: Dance Party (Location: The Centenary Foyer and Chapman Theatre)
Friday, 25 April 2025
08:30: Tutor Time
09:00 - 16:50: A Level Graphics Examination (Location: Art Department)
09:00 - 16:50: A Level Textiles Examination (Location: Art Department)
13:00: Scholar's Talk (Virtual)
17:00: House Meetings (Various locations)
17:00 - 19:30: Pizza Night for Duncan and Hall
17:45: Supper (Various times and locations)
Saturday, 26 April 2025
13:30: Tennis Fixtures: Girls-U18A vs St Peter's School, York; Girls-U18B vs St Peter's School, York; Girls-U18C vs St Peter's School, York; Girls-U15A vs St Peter's School, York; Girls-U15B vs St Peter's School, York; Girls-U14A vs St Peter's School, York; Girls-U14B vs St Peter's School, York
19:00: Sixth Form – Spa Night
19:00: Warwick – Mega Movie Night
19:00: Winnie's - Benchball Tournament
Sunday, 27 April 2025
All Day: Queen Margaret's Fun Ride (Riding School)
10:30: Morning Prayer (Location: Escrick Church)
11:30 - 13:00: Brunch (Location: Main Dining Room)
13:30: All Years - Colour Run (On-site)
17:15 - 18:15: Supper (Location: Main Dining Room)