The Weekly Window - Friday 6th June 2025
Friday 6th June 2025
This week: DofE, Geography Trips, Riding & Lacrosse Success, Upcoming Events.
6th June 2025
Welcome to the Weekly Window. We celebrate the remarkable volunteering achievements of our Duke of Edinburgh participants, who have contributed hundreds of hours supporting communities locally and internationally. Our Geography students have been busy with fieldwork around York, while Maddie and India have earned selection for the England Lacrosse Regional Aspire programme. Congratulations also to our riders for their recent competition successes. Don’t miss the latest updates on upcoming trips, including the Naples tour, and save the dates for the exciting events in the final weeks of term.
Update from the Head
In celebration of Volunteers’ Week this week, I received the attached certificate from the Duke of Edinburgh Award yesterday which celebrates the contribution and impact of QM students’ volunteering activities over the past academic year.
QM DofE participants clocked up 767 hours between April 2024 and March 2025 with an estimated social value of £4908. Overall, DofE participants in 2024-25 across the country clocked up 5,225,285 hours of volunteering as part of their DofE with an estimated total value of £33.4m. Volunteering as part of the DofE award has a valued impact on those charities, organisations and individuals being supported. It develops in the DofE Award participants an appreciation of the value of service which will stay with them. But it’s more than just giving time; it’s about discovering passions and purpose, building confidence, and gaining skills.
QM girls have taken part in a fantastic range of volunteering activities over the last year:
Animal Rescue Centre in Hungary, Environment Volunteer at a Local Nature Reserve, Volunteer Lifeguard, Orphanage Assistant in Mexico, Local Library Volunteer, Girl Guide Assistant, Charity Fundraiser for St Leonards Hospice, Dance Coaching, Care Home Visitor and Activity arranger, Riding for the Disabled Volunteer, Working in a Barnardos Charity Shop, Helping to Coach younger Sports Teams at QM, QMM Charity Fundraising through the Coffee Cart and other events and Volunteering at many local Primary Schools.
Over the coming weeks, girls will be completing another aspect of the award with their Assessed Expeditions. There have been 44 QM students across Years III-UVI at varying stages of their Bronze Award during this year, of which 12 YIV girls will be going on their Assessed Expedition this weekend (fingers crossed the weather forecast improves!). Over the year, 8 YV, 4 LVI and 6 UVI students have completed their Bronze this year.
At Gold Level, 13 girls have been working towards the award across Year V-UVI of which 7 LVI girls are due to complete their Assessed Expedition at the end of this month. In UVI 2 girls have completed their Gold Awards and 3 are still on target to complete. Achieving the Gold Award is a significant achievement and a great addition to future CVs and applications.
The Duke of Edinburgh Award requires commitment, organisation, resilience and an openness to challenge and new learning. Congratulations to all girls who have achieved or are on the verge of completing their awards.
An enormous thank you to Ms Carrie Goddard for her hours of commitment and support as Duke of Edinburgh Coordinator. Ms Goddard is supported by a team of dedicated staff who give them time and support to practice and assessed expeditions, come rain or shine - a huge thank you to Mrs Sian Thomas, Mr William Grant, Mrs Claire Nadin, Mrs Tania Davidson and Mr Dominic Figon who have supported expeditions this term.
Geography Trip Week
This week has been a hive of activity for the Geography Department, with three different year groups out exploring our local area and beyond.
On Monday, Year IV students visited Dalby Forest for one of their compulsory fieldwork days. Working in the river, they collected data on width, depth and velocity – all of which will be examined as part of their Paper 3 next summer. Everyone worked enthusiastically despite a few wet feet. A huge thank you to Mr Grant for coming with us and getting fully involved.
Tuesday’s trip was with Year I. This term, the girls have been learning about why York is so vulnerable to flooding. They’ve researched the major flood events of 2000 and 2015, and their fieldwork focused on examining the existing flood defences while identifying other areas that may need further protection. The girls have worked diligently on their projects so far, and we’re looking forward to seeing the final results in the coming weeks. Thank you to Mrs Jones and Miss Sana for accompanying the group.
On Wednesday, Year II students spent the day in York studying the impact of tourism on the city. At various key locations across the city centre, the girls carried out pedestrian counts, environmental quality surveys and questionnaires. Their next lessons will focus on analysing the data. There were two separate questionnaires: one for visitors, asking where they had travelled from and which attractions they were visiting, and another for local residents, considering both the positive and negative impacts of tourism in York.
Maddie and India Selected for England Lacrosse Regional Aspire Programme
Congratulations to Maddie (III) and India (III), who have both been selected for the England Lacrosse Regional Aspire programme - a well-earned next step in their sporting development.
The girls attended an intensive camp week in April and learned just before half term that they had secured their place on the programme. They will now take part in a series of regional training camps over the summer, with the opportunity to represent their region in national tournaments in 2026.
The Regional Aspire programme is the next stage on England Lacrosse’s official talent pathway, sitting above county level and designed to identify and support future U20 and senior national players. It offers a structured, high-performance environment focused on technical, tactical, physical and psychological development. Sessions are led by experienced coaches and supported by Aspire Ambassadors, including current England internationals who provide insight into life as an elite athlete.
Participants receive holistic training and support across a wide range of areas - from game strategy and skills to strength and conditioning, physiotherapy, and nutrition. The programme is designed to build both ability and resilience in young players as they work towards the highest levels of the game.
We look forward to following Maddie and India’s progress through the summer and beyond.
Equestrian Round‑Up: Success at Belsay and Bramham in Sight
The half‑term break brought excellent results for QM riders, with two National Championships qualifications secured at the NSEA classes - held during the Belsay Horse Trials, an event proudly sponsored by Queen Margaret’s.
Lucinda (LVI) & Gortnalea Dun secured a National Championships qualification in the 90–95 cm show‑jumping.
Emily (LVI) & Flash matched the feat at 100–105 cm.
Emily then carried her good form into the British Eventing Under‑18 BE100 observation trial, finishing on a personal‑best dressage score of 26.5 and completing both show‑jumping and cross‑country phases clear and inside the time to place 4th in a competitive field.
The pair now turn their focus to this weekend’s Bramham Horse Trials:
Saturday, 12:30 pm – Emily rides for the 1 m Pony Club show‑jumping team
Sunday morning – Lucinda partners Lady in the Mini Major Relay, taking to the main arena.
We wish both riders a successful weekend and look forward to sharing further updates.
Naples Trip: Final Call
A final call for girls in Years II to LVI: there are now just two spaces remaining on the Naples trip, taking place in April 2026.
This is the only international trip planned for the next academic year and promises to be an unforgettable experience. Highlights include standing on the edge of Mount Vesuvius, exploring the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum, and learning to make pizza on a traditional Italian farm.
Full details were shared in a letter via email and the Parent Portal. If you are interested in joining, please contact Mrs Fiona Whittle at fwhittle@queenmargarets.com as soon as possible.
Once these final two places are filled, we will be unable to accept further sign-ups, so don’t miss out.
Parent/Daughter Tennis Tournament
Unfortunately, due to deteriorating conditions, the Parent/Daughter Tennis Tournament has now been postponed to Friday 4th July. We appreciate your understanding and hope this new date will offer better weather and give families ample notice to join in the fun.
This year’s event will feature both a Mother & Daughter and a Father & Daughter tournament, with categories for Junior (Years I–II), Middle (Years III–IV), and Senior (Years V–UVI). A presentation will follow the matches.
If you and your family would like to take part, please confirm your attendance by completing the Google form as soon as possible, and no later than Friday 27th June.
Please plan to arrive at 12:45 pm for a prompt 1:00 pm start. Don’t forget to bring your own picnic for the afternoon - light refreshments will also be provided. If you have any questions, please contact the Sports department. We look forward to welcoming many of you for a great afternoon of tennis.
Save the Dates: Exciting Events in the Final Week of Term
As the term draws to a close, there is a wonderful line-up of events for the whole school community to enjoy. Please be sure to save these important dates:
Thursday 3 July – Sports Day
Thursday 3 & Friday 4 July – Art Exhibition
Saturday 5 July – Speech Day and Prizegiving
Saturday 5 July – Leavers’ Ball (Sixth Form)
Invitations for many of these events have already been sent out, with the remaining details to follow shortly. We look forward to seeing you there to celebrate the achievements and talents of our girls.
Sports Review
This week’s LTA Youth League fixtures featured some notable performances. The U15A team continued their impressive run with convincing wins, including a 12-0 victory over St Peter’s and an 8-4 win against Malton. Meanwhile, the U13 teams faced tough challenges, with the U13A side narrowly missing out in a 0-12 defeat to St Peter’s, and the U13B team battling hard in a close 6-6 draw against Fulford, ultimately losing 1-10 in a doubles shootout. Congratulations to all players for their dedication and competitive spirit throughout the week.
Football Opportunity for Year III and Year IV Girls
Fulford FC is looking to welcome new players to their Under-16 girls’ team for the upcoming season. This is a great chance for Year 9 and Year 10 girls who enjoy football or are interested in getting involved in the sport.
To keep the team running, Fulford FC needs a few more players and would love to hear from anyone keen to join.
If you’re interested, please contact the team manager directly via email at: fulfordgirlsfc@gmail.com
Don’t miss this opportunity to play competitive football and develop your skills next season!
The Week Ahead
Saturday, 7 June 2025
10:00 Bronze Assessed Duke of Edinburgh Expedition (Year IV)
13:30–17:00 Parent Daughter Tennis Tournament (Queen Margaret’s)
19:00 Sixth Form – Canapés
19:00 Warwick – Smoothie Night
19:00 Winnie’s – Irish Night
Sunday, 8 June 2025
Until 16:00 Bronze Assessed Duke of Edinburgh Expedition (Year IV)
11:30–13:00 Brunch (Main Dining Room)
13:00 All Years – Water Park
17:15–18:15 Supper (Main Dining Room)
18:30 Evening Chapel Service or House Chapel (The Chapman Theatre)
Monday, 9 June 2025
All day A Level & GCSE Examinations (Sports Hall)
Week M
09:00–16:50 Years I–III Examinations (St Margaret’s Chapel)
Tuesday, 10 June 2025
All day A Level & GCSE Examinations (Sports Hall)
All day Week M
09:00–16:50 Years I–III Examinations (St Margaret’s Chapel)
14:30 Tennis Fixtures: Girls U15B vs Scarborough College
19:00 Boarders’ Assembly (The Chapman Theatre)
Wednesday, 11 June 2025
All day A Level & GCSE Examinations (Sports Hall)
Week M
08:30 Tutor Time
09:00–16:50 Years I–III Examinations (St Margaret’s Chapel)
12:00–17:00 Examination Contingency Afternoon
14:30 Tennis Fixtures: Girls U18A vs Ashville Harrogate
Thursday, 12 June 2025
All day A Level & GCSE Examinations (Sports Hall)
Week M
08:00–21:00 Classics Trip to Oxford (selected Years IV & LVI)
09:00–16:50 Years I–III Examinations (St Margaret’s Chapel)
Friday, 13 June 2025
All day A Level & GCSE Examinations (Sports Hall)
Week M
08:30 Morning Prayer (The Chapman Theatre)
09:00–16:50 Years I–III Examinations
13:00 Scholar’s Talk (Virtual)
17:00 House Meetings (Various locations)
17:45 Supper – Garry, QM Hall & St Aidan’s
18:00 Supper – Duncan, Pitlochry & School
Saturday, 14 June 2025
Lazy Weekend
12:30 Tennis Fixtures: Girls U15A, U14A, U13A & U12A vs Ashville Harrogate
13:00 Rounders Fixtures: Girls U14A & U12A vs Queen Mary’s School
14:00 Rounders Fixtures: Girls U15A & U13A vs Queen Mary’s School
19:00 Sixth Form – Fruit n Fizz Night
19:00 Warwick – Jewellery Making
19:00 Winnie’s – Kahoot Night
Sunday, 15 June 2025
Lazy Weekend
Week Q
11:30–13:00 Brunch (Main Dining Room)
13:00 York Activities
16:00 York Evensong (York Minster)
17:15–18:15 Supper (Time TBC, Main Dining Room)