St. Margaret's School (Virginia)


St. Margaret's School is an independent, Episcopal, all-girls school located in the town of Tappahannock, Virginia, United States, on the banks of the Rappahannock River. The school is 45 miles northeast of the Richmond metro area, 100 miles southeast of the Washington metro area, and 75 miles northwest of the Hampton Roads metro area. St. Margaret's is governed by the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia. St. Margaret's opened in 1921 with 14 students and now has an enrollment of 107 girls. The student body includes international students from 18 different countries, and domestic boarding students from 17 states and Washington, D.C. Day students make up 20 percent of the student body.

The river

The Rappahannock River is studied thematically throughout the St. Margaret's School experience. The river is brought into the academic, social, and athletic programs across and beyond the curriculum. Each year the entire school takes time in September to celebrate the river during River Days. Each grade level takes a trip to a different part of the Rappahannock River to see how the river changes during different parts of its journey. The eighth grade travels to the headwaters in the Blue Ridge Mountains, freshmen go to Fredericksburg above the fall line, sophomores stay in Tappahannock, juniors go to the Chesapeake Bay, and seniors see the ocean at Virginia Beach. Other annual river-themed activities circulate throughout the school year include kayaking and swimming in the river, raising oysters in Ecology class, art projects, the Parent Council Rubber Duck Derby, and the commencement ceremony on the back lawn overlooking the river.

Buildings on the campus

Approximately two-thirds of the students participate in sports on varsity or junior varsity athletic teams.
Fall: Tennis, Field Hockey, Volleyball
Winter: Basketball, Swimming, Indoor Track
Spring: Soccer, Softball
The after-school physical education program educates students on the rules and skills associated with the sports offered at St. Margaret's School. To promote sportsmanship, school spirit, and teamwork, every student is a member of the Blue or Grey intramural team; throughout the year, these teams compete in both academic and athletic contests. Our goal for afternoon activities at St. Margaret’s is for girls to enjoy being active and support them in reaching their goals. Afternoon activities include club tennis, yoga, Pilates, Beachbody Fitness, 3-Mile Club, YMCA, and Outdoor Adventures.
St. Margaret's is a member of the League of Independent Schools which includes ten other independent schools. There are 22 coaches, all of whom have completed the NFHS Fundamentals of Coaching course and are certified in Heartsaver First Aid by the American Heart Association.

Arts

St. Margaret's Fine Arts program offers students the opportunity to participate in Music, Art, and Drama, and incorporates these opportunities into various facets of the school program: visual and performing arts classes, after-school activities, individual instruction, and student organizations.