My House

MY HOUSE

GRAND OLD LADY OF AIGLON

Clairmont may be one of our oldest Houses, but what is it like today? Vittoria Margiotta (Clairmont, Year 13) tells all.

Interview Jo Caird Photography Joe McGorty

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OR ANYONE WHO LIKES TO BE at the centre of everything, Clairmont is perfect. We’re so lucky: from here, you can see almost the whole campus and in winter when you see all the Exeter girls and Delaware boys slipping down the hill to their houses far away. A lot of girls hang out on the terraces on the first and third floors when the weather is good – and that’s definitely not because we can see the Belvedere boys working out or the Delaware boys tanning! It’s just because of the sunshine, I guess. At lunch and break there’s often a bunch of people here from other houses; it’s great that we all mix in.

Talking of mixing, Clairmont parties are legendary – and we’ll use any excuse to have one. Last year’s Valentine’s dinner, which was supposed to be a cute, chilled supper for couples or pairs of friends, turned into a much bigger affair, with people singing and dancing everywhere – it was incredible!

We’re also a really tight house. I’ve been here since Year 9 – I remember being nervous at first because it was my first time away from home, but I felt included really quickly. When it’s time to go to classes, we move as one. And if someone is watching a movie in the common room, half an hour later there will be 40 people there, all joining in.

It’s a great family, and I’m proud to be captain. When I was younger, a girl called Somphors (Clairmont, 2019) was House captain and she had a real impact on me. She made her small community way better, and I knew I wanted to be in her shoes. Now it’s my job to lead. I welcome the girls and their parents and help them settle in, and if they have any problems they come to me first. I feel like a big sister.

One of the perks is having my own single room. Clairmont has some small rooms – I’ve had a couple Storied history Previously a hotel, Clairmont was Aiglon’s first permanent home, – bought in 1955 on 100 per cent philanthropy – and as well as subsequently being a boys’ House, it has also held the school library and admin offices. and if you’re sharing with a roommate you create boundaries, which is something I’ve found really useful in other aspects of my life. Usually the smaller rooms are assigned to younger girls and it helps you bond. The friends you make in Year 9 and 10 are going to last you all the way through school.

I’ve been described as a student version of our Houseparent Ms Lopez, which I really like. And I think we’re lucky to have her and Ms Harold. After five years here I feel like I have a special bond with these teachers; they’re effectively parents to me here. And I can see that it’s the same for a lot of other girls too. So we sit there and chat. And there’s always a box of cookies. Cookies are the answer to a lot of things. What are your memories of Clairmont? Let us know at communications@aiglon.ch

A lot of the girls hang out on the terraces when the weather is good, and at breaktime there’s a bunch of people here from other Houses

VITTORIA MARGIOTTA

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