The End of Chapter One for Junior House: Our Ducklings Take Flight

26 June 2026 - Junior

As the Summer Term draws to a close, it is hard to believe that our year together in Junior House has reached its conclusion. It seems only yesterday that eighty-eight excited ducklings arrived with trunks to unpack, and a year of new adventures stretching out before them. Now, they leave us as confident, capable young women, ready to spread their wings in their Senior Houses.

Looking back over the year, what strikes me most is not simply everything the girls have done, but who they have become. Junior House have embraced boarding life with enthusiasm, resilience, curiosity, and kindness. They have learned how to live alongside one another, how to celebrate each other’s successes, and how to navigate the occasional bumps in the road with increasing maturity and compassion. They have taken courageous steps outside their comfort zones and found confidence in trying something new. Most importantly, they have become valued members of the Wycombe Abbey community, contributing their warmth, humour, generosity, and infectious energy to School life each day.

The final weeks of term and all the events we have managed to weave in have been a fitting celebration of everything that makes Junior House so magical.

Dove Day was a particular highlight, bringing together pupils, families and staff to celebrate the vibrant Wycombe Abbey community. The girls all thought that the raft racing was brilliant, and I know the flag bearers loved being at the centre of all the action. It was wonderful to welcome so many Junior House families to our marquee for the very first time and I was so pleased to see everyone enjoying the day. We watched the girls perform their House Shout with such pride and spirit, and this moment perfectly captured the confidence and sense of belonging they have developed this year.

The celebrations continued at GlastonAbbey, where Junior House talent was on full display. Congratulations to Petra for her beautiful solo performance, and to Allegra, Jaya, Kiara, Noor, and Olanna, whose effortlessly cool rock band performance had the whole crowd cheering. Seeing the girls perform with such confidence in front of the School community was another reminder of just how much they have grown this year.

No Junior House week would be complete without a little mischief, and our surprise water fight certainly lived up to expectations! Armed with water pistols, buckets, and plenty of determination, the girls and staff threw themselves wholeheartedly into the fun. The garden was filled with shrieks of laughter as everyone embraced the chance to cool off and enjoy one last Closed Weekend together.

One of the year’s greatest adventures came with the UIII Wales Residential. Three days spent climbing, exploring, laughing, and throwing themselves wholeheartedly into wall-climbing, caving, kayaking, and everything else, gave the girls the chance to challenge themselves, support one another, and create final memories as Junior House that I know will stay with them for many years to come. Thank you to Mrs Harbour for organising such a fantastic few days away.

We spent our final evening together enjoying the much-anticipated House Innings. This term’s secret surprise had a last minute moderation, but we enjoyed keeping cool with a waterslide and water ballon fight followed by some well-earned ice creams and a cosy film night together. It has been a lovely way to round off the term, giving the girls one last opportunity to laugh together and enjoy each other’s company before the summer holidays.

Throughout this year, it has been an enormous privilege to serve as Housemistress of Junior House. To have been a listening ear during moments of uncertainty, a reassuring voice through the inevitable wobbles, and, most importantly, to have shared in so many moments of pure happiness has been an honour I will never take for granted. I will always love the headline events, but some of my favourite memories come from the quieter moments in between: evening conversations in dorms, birthday celebrations, games in the garden, spontaneous laughter echoing through the corridors, and watching friendships quietly blossom day by day.

A final note for the Junior House Class of 2026…

Thank you for your laughter, your curiosity, your boundless enthusiasm, and your willingness to embrace every opportunity that came your way. Thank you for filling Junior House with warmth and imagination because you have brought us so much joy. It has been such a privilege to watch you grow from nervous new arrivals into confident young members of the Wycombe Abbey community.

Although it is bittersweet to see you leave, I know you are ready. You leave Junior House with stronger friendships, greater independence, growing resilience, and the confidence to flourish in the years ahead. I will continue to champion you proudly from the sidelines as you embark on the next stage of your journey. Remember my final rule – please don’t ever become too cool to ignore me in the corridors!

You will always be my ducklings, and I will treasure the memories we have made together forever.

With every good wish for the adventures ahead,

Mrs Monteil and the Junior House Team