Autumn in Airlie

18 October 2024 - Airlie

As Long Leave approaches, the leaves on the trees here are turning beautiful shades of yellow, red and brown. I, along with our new girls, have been experiencing several firsts here at Wycombe. Our Airlie girls have settled into their routines, and we have been enjoying a wonderful range of activities over the last half term.  The evenings are full of a buzz around the House. Just the other night, I walked around to see a hive of activity with UIV House dance rehearsals in the drawing room, LIV creating their ‘Guy’ in the basement room, UV hard at work preparing for mocks in the study room and the LVI spending time with the LV up in the Mons ‘hang out space’ with Hot chocolate.

As the new Housemistress of Airlie, I have been learning the workings of the House and best of all getting to know the girls here, who have made me feel so welcome.  There is a wonderful House spirit and every member of the House is allowed to be themselves here.

We are also welcoming Miss Pemberton to the Airlie team as our new House Tutor. Many of our LIV girls will know her from Junior House but we now have the joy of seeing her in House every Friday evening for fruit smoothies and relaxing activities, such as Bananagrams, crochet, jigsaws and colouring in the Drawing Room.  

A further addition to the team is our Resident Tutor, Miss French. You can often find her in the Art department or helping the Airlie girls with a crafting activity. In addition to new staff, we have also welcomed new pupils to Airlie and their House mothers have done a wonderful job of showing them the ropes and helping them settle into the Airlie ways.

Our first Closed Weekend started off with a bang as the funfair came to Wycombe. Airlie girls enjoyed the rides and candyfloss was aplenty. Our Resident Tutors were on hand with face painting and the catering team put on an amazing lunch for all. The British weather didn’t fail to send us some rain to finish off what had been a lovely day of fun in the sunshine.

The weekly activities have seen some new arrivals and some well-loved traditions. Dr T continues to make Greek Salad on Tuesday which is an absolute favourite for all in House. We started the term with Wednesday wellbeing walks, taking our newly adopted House pet, Coco, around the lovely grounds of Wycombe Abbey and having chats along the way.  Toastie Thursdays are still a highlight of the week, and we have also been loving the Weekend Hampers which have included bagels, tapas and ice cream. I also recently discovered that Airlie have a very special birthday song that we sing during House Order whenever there is a birthday in House, which is most weeks!

An absolute standout moment this half term was seeing the Aurora Borealis from Midget Pitch…even if it did mean venturing out in pyjamas, slippers and dressing gowns. The girls made it back up to House to be tucked up in their beds just in time for lights out. They fell asleep under a sky lit up in pink and green and although the girls were beyond excited, I think the most excited person of all had to be Dr T. 

As we head into the Autumn Term break, the girls are happily chatting in their dorms and working away in the studies. We are quietly confident that, this year, we have built the winning ‘Guy’, or at least a worthy entry! We are looking ahead to the next half term with Bonfire night, House Dinner and all the Christmas festivities there is plenty of fun to be had before the year is out.  I, for one, am looking forward to learning more about the Wycombe traditions and creating lots of memories in the House.

Mrs Garcia