Alexandra House 2013-2014

According to Merriam Webster, a boarding house is a place where students live during the school term. Whoever wrote this hasn’t lived in Alex house; we did much more than that! The 2013-2014 school year started on a strong note during orientation week when 19 new Alex girls eagerly awaited the year ahead. Integrated into the house with games, scavenger hunts, and goofy fashion shows, the girls already felt more comfortable when the remaining boarders swarmed the campus and moved in (once again) to our character-filled house.  Throughout the year, we laughed (in Big Little sisters), screamed (when the Warner’s announced the news of their baby) and cried (at the yearend party) and grew together as a family. Hallowe’en was marked with a week-long pumpkin decorating contest, where “pumpkin-pumpkins”, Mike Wazowski pumpkins, Smurf pumpkins and spider pumpkins adorned the front steps of the house. After singing Christmas songs and receiving our gifts from “Santa” (cough, Mr. MacLean), the Grade 12s brought the whole room to laughter with their imitations of their little sisters, complete with high voices and lovable quirks. Those who remained at school during Red Saturdays enjoyed late night activities such as Christmas cookie decorating and midnight Chick Flicks. Galvanized by the first place prize of Mini Eggs, the girls sprinted around campus on a mad hunt for clues in our Easter scavenger hunt. Eager to celebrate the Warner baby, the entire house put together a baby shower for the youngest Alexandrian.  A highlight of the year was our Great Gatsby themed open house. Flapper girls and suit-clad boys entered what we transformed into Gatsby’s house. Moving through the hallways, the white, black and gold streamers, chandeliers, New York skyline and eyes of Dr. Eckleberg transformed the usually white house into a Gatsby-style party venue. With cocktails served by the Grade 11s, decorations created by the Grade 12s and an array of baked treats donated by the day students, the night was a great success. Alex and Whittall bonded over barbequed foods and bowling, creating a strong and close inter-house team. Eager to have sundaes with the girls, the boys arrived at the Alex common room thirty minutes early chanting for ice cream. The grads exchanged gifts between houses for Secret Santa; with presents ranging from strange tasting egg nog, signed pictures, sardines and a tree, everyone got what was on their Christmas list.  The year wouldn’t be the same without our fantastic duty staff: Mrs. Sage, Mrs. Richardson, Mr. Warner and Mrs. Whitney. Thank you for putting up with our silliness, helping us and giving us advice (even Mr. Warner’s advice to go to Winnipeg).  Mrs. Mais and Mrs. Warner, thank you for being our mothers when we couldn’t be with our own.  Towards the end of the year, the incessant pounding and dark house (due to closed curtains) brought excitement for the future; soon our charming old house will be revamped and better than ever for hundreds more Alex girls to come.  I know it is a bittersweet feeling for everyone leaving the house at the end of the year. Alex house has been our home through the ups and the downs and although it sounds cliché, lifelong friendships have been forged in our beautiful white house. For everyone returning next year, continue to have fun and be the kind, classy, caring girls I know you all are And finally, in the famous words of Mrs. Mais, “Alex girls aren’t quick chicks”. Zoe Brandon, House Alexandra Captain ‘14