Summer in Airlie – part 2

27 June 2025 - Airlie

The second half of the Summer Term got off to a flying start. While our industrious Upper Fifth students knuckled down for their GCSE examinations, the rest of the House basked in the warmth of summer, interrupted only occasionally by a rain shower or two.

As the Lower Sixth prepare to bid farewell to Airlie and move on to Clarence House, we’re already getting ready to welcome our new UIII girls. They recently spent a delightful afternoon playing the beloved Airlie tradition of the ‘sock game’ and making friendship bracelets with Miss French – even Coco couldn’t resist joining in for a bit!

Of course, it wouldn’t be the Summer Term without a few Tennis “Funals”! The Airlie girls did us proud, securing a respectable fifth place, with many showcasing their impressive Tennis talents.

Dove Day was a first for me, and what an experience it was! After a lively morning decorating our House marquee, we headed to Chapel, followed by the much-anticipated return of the raft race across the LAC pond. Our team gave it their all and were narrowly pipped to the post in both races, finishing fifth overall. I couldn’t have been prouder of their spirit and determination. Parents and teachers were thoroughly entertained, especially when a few rival Houses took an unexpected dip! We were quietly relieved that Airlie stayed high and dry.

Post-race, we tucked into picnic lunches while enjoying performances from some of our talented girls singing their favourite songs. The weather held beautifully, with a warm breeze adding to the charm of the day. The afternoon brought more races and, of course, the ever-competitive tug-of-war. We triumphed over Cloister in the first round but were then soundly defeated by our Outhouse neighbours, Butler. The day concluded with the Dove Day Review Show, where we were once again treated to the talents of our dancers and choir.

The very next day brought the excitement of ‘Glastonabbey’—our very own musical extravaganza. Soloists and bands from Airlie took to the stage, including Roxy, Sophie, Sasha, Elise, Sofia, and Sia, all of whom dazzled us with their musical flair. Not even the rain could dampen our spirits. Mrs Little handed out pink ponchos, and the show went on as nothing could dampen out spirits that day.

One of our final events of the Summer was our House “inning”. We teamed up with our sister House, Campbell, for a friendly (and very soggy) water fight! I must admit, the Campbell teachers’ costumes were very impressive albeit slightly terrifying to see Maleficent and Cruella Deville lurking outside the DCS. After a good soaking, the girls enjoyed pizza and ice cream on the lawn before heading off to bed, tired but happy.

The final event of the year was Sports Day. Out Airlie girls may not have won the day but they certainly gave it their all, pulled together as a team and made us all extremely proud.

As always, the end of the year brings goodbyes, and this year we’re especially sad to be saying farewell to our Resident Tutor, Miss French. She has been a shining light in Airlie and will be deeply missed as she embarks on her next adventure—training to become a teacher.

Miss French shared these words about her time in Airlie:
“Airlie truly is the most exceptional home-away-from-home. As I prepare to begin an exciting new chapter—teacher training with a wonderful Year 3 class—I can’t help but reflect on how much I’ve loved being part of the (best) boarding House. From the community spirit of Waffle Wednesdays to the unforgettable charm bracelet the girls made me, every moment has been filled with laughter and love. I’ll never forget the chaos of the squirty cream catching competitions (yes, really!) or the joy of helping the girls prepare for piano exams—and the pride when the results came in. It’s been a privilege to be part of such a vibrant, supportive community, and I have no doubt the girls will continue to shine in every way.”

We also say goodbye to our lovely LVI students. Who have said the following about Airlie:

“I will miss my friends in the younger years the most as I leave Airlie. My favourite memory would be the nightly conversations in the dorms; for some reason, everything becomes ten times funnier after lights out.”

As we begin to pack up the House and tuck everything away, we look forward to a long summer and the promise of new beginnings in September. We’re excited to welcome new girls into the House, and Airlie itself is getting a bit of a makeover, with several rooms set to be renovated over the break.
I can hardly believe my first year here is already over and what an amazing year it has been. I cannot wait to do it all again in September.