WOODARD GIRLS
As the academic year draws to a close, it is an apt moment to reflect on the many experiences - significant, subtle, and occasionally perplexing - that have shaped it. The House began the year with characteristic energy through an impressively spirited speed‑dating event. The willingness of pupils to engage openly with new faces, to converse with good humour, and to embrace house life with such positivity set the tone for what became a warm, vibrant, and notably sociable year.
Some of the most memorable moments emerged from the events that brought the community together. The Christmas Party proved a particular triumph, with pupils embracing the theme wholeheartedly and striking exactly the right balance of enthusiasm and decorum. The annual Christmas tree decorating remains one of my most cherished traditions; there is something uniquely heartening about watching the house gather, baubles in hand, to create something festive, collaborative, and delightfully imperfect.
Our Off‑Chapel sessions have been another highlight, consistently reflecting the relaxed and convivial spirit of the House. They have been a source of many stories -some of which, I suspect, I was never strictly intended to hear. It has been a wonderfully idiosyncratic year, shaped by big personalities and strong friendships. I have been treated to earnest geopolitical debates, unexpectedly impassioned commentary on Gilmore Girls, and more information about Bulgarian supermarkets than I ever anticipated encountering in a professional context. I have refined my Belgian accent, attended an excellent 18th birthday celebration, and found myself within range of a considerable quantity of Tea—both the beverage and the gossip. It has, in short, been a thoroughly enjoyable year.
House song has, as always, proven to be a galvanising event for the girls. It was a moment of real pride to see girls come together from each of their old Houses, from day or boarding, IB or A-Level to raise their voices together and lead the school with confidence. From day one I remind the girls that they are the role-models and the leaders of this school and they certainly accepted that role and lived up to the expectations.
Justin Laleh Housemaster of Woodard Girls