Gala Fundraiser to Determine Future Head for a Day

By Alex W-W. (’25)

Every year at the Queen Margaret’s School Gala, there is a much-coveted auction for a unique opportunity: be the Head of School for a Day. The process, however, is a mystery to many. Head for a Day is awarded to the top bidding families at the Annual QMS Gala and can be bid on behalf of students of any Grade, including Senior School students. As QMS is a non-profit, all funds raised will go right back into the community, providing opportunities for facility improvements and funding various student enrichment endeavours.

On their special day, the Head for a Day recipient receives numerous special privileges. For example, it is up to them to decide what lunch is served in the cafeteria, what complimentary snacks are served, any uniform modifications (or lack thereof), and organize a fun activity of their choosing.

This year, there are a record-breaking three heads for a day. Hannah M. (’30), Arjun J. (’32), and Elsa L. (’35) have the honour, privilege and responsibility of running QMS for a day each. Most recently, on February 2nd Arjun J. (‘32) was Head for a Day, and brought back a much missed, and much beloved bygone QMS tradition – desert at lunchtime.

People from Grade 1 to Grade 12 were thrilled and grateful to Arjun for their cup of vanilla ice cream with sloppy joes and potato chips – the perfect mid-day pick-me-up. Arjun proclaimed that there will be an extra five-minute of recess in the junior school, a movie and snack of M&M for his Grade 4 class, a game of capture the flag, and most importantly, he raised $291.35 for the Hockey Fights Cancer Foundation by inviting all grades to wear sports clothing in lieu of uniform for a $2 fee.

Keeping up with the Head for a Day tradition, Arjun was also invited on a Grand Tour of the QMS campus on the golf cart. With the success of the 2024 Gala, we eagerly await the announcement of the future Head for a Day.