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2010 Wrap-Up   Home Quotes The following are just a few of the comments from Agnes Irwin parents, faculty and students.   “Tonight was a home run!!! The volleyball game was so much fun!! The gym was filled to capacity and the atmosphere electric...the bonfire, the teams dancing, the enthusiasm from the crowd-incredible!! My daughter can't wait for Upper School sports...she said ‘the girls are role models for me!!’ Huge job well done!” -          Middle School Parent   “It was a fabulous evening!  Excitement was in the air and enthusiasm permeated the atmosphere – families, faculty and staff were one huge family enjoying each other’s company and cheering each other on.  Thanks to all who planned and thanks to all those who participated!” -          Lower School Teacher “Wasn’t that a hoot?????  I think we have some serious athletic talent out there!  I haven’t had that much fun in a long time!!!!! Thanks, Kathy and the PE staff for organizing such a great time!” -          AIS Department Chair    “…it was an amazing event for every part of our community. Many of the parents who were products of public schools agreed that girls would not have been able to perform the dances or generate the kind of abandoned enthusiasm in a co-ed environment. It was truly an amazing evening, and although we can’t have an Open House at the same time, it would be great for prospective parents and students to see the 'other side' of a fabulous education. An evening such as this does not just happen—thank you Kathy and the entire PE Department for generating this enthusiasm and excitement in the school. I was very proud of my colleagues last night but even more delighted that the parents left with the feeling that this was the right choice for their daughters! You had to be standing or sitting in the crowd to fully appreciate the buzz. What an evening!” -          Lower School Staff Member   “That was the best day I’ve ever had at Agnes Irwin!” -          Lower School Student Agnes Irwin Wraps Up an Exciting 2010  Anticipation turned into infectious energy on Thursday, November 11 as a huge crowd of students, parents, and friends gathered on The Agnes Irwin School campus to kick off the 6th annual , which included three days of excitement, enthusiasm and a celebration of AIS athletic prowess.      Standing room was almost impossible to come by as supporters filled the Laura Thomas Buck ’49 Pavilion to watch what turned out to be a very intense Faculty vs. Volleyball game. Decked out in their Dig Pink jerseys, AIS Volleyball took to the court to accept the challenge from a collective group of faculty members, ranging from Kindergarten teacher Melanie Slezak to Head of School Dr. Mary “Doc” Seppala, as her game day shirt stated. The student team was able to cinch wins in the first two games, but the Faculty team rallied during the final match to claim an exciting win, much to the animated crowd’s delight.         The excitement of the evening did not end with the conclusion of the Volleyball game. Post-game festivities included everyone moving to the Lower School field, where a bonfire burned proudly into the crisp, clear November night, creating a magical, community filled atmosphere. At the bonfire, Athletic Director Kathy Shortelle rallied up the lively crowd for a pep rally. Also included in the evening’s events were dances carefully crafted and choreographed by each team: Varsity and JV Volleyball, Soccer, Cross Country, Tennis and Field Hockey, with Varsity Volleyball taking the title.   The weather could not have been more inviting on Friday as the AIS community put the final touches on campus to welcome the visiting Episcopal Academy as well as the expanded Agnes Irwin community. At 12:30 p.m. sharp, students, staff, parents, grandparents, siblings, and alumnae lined the AIS soccer field to hear the Bel Cantos sing the National Anthem, which was quickly followed by a single gun shot to signal the beginning of the Cross Country race on the other side of the field. For all four of the day’s Athletic competitions - Cross Country, Tennis, Soccer, and Field Hockey - fans blew vuvuzuela horns, shouted into megaphones, waived #1 foam fingers, and participated in group cheers to support our student-athletes. All four events proved to be well matched showdowns, with Cross Country winning 27-29, and Tennis, Soccer 0-2, and Field Hockey (0-1) working hard against strong opponents. What was apparent in all four events was the tenacity and determination of the female athletes, which produced exciting competitions for the spectators to enjoy.      On Saturday, the Laura Thomas Buck ’49 Pavilion was filled with nostalgia and fond memories of excellence in AIS athletics as the 4th class was inducted into the AIS Athletic Hall of Fame. Emceed by Alumna and Board of Trustees Chair-Elect, Ann Laupheimer Sonnenfeld '77, inductees who were honored were Dot Laskey, Director of Athletics from 1951-1967, Joan Berguido Staples ’51, Elenita Jackson Parker ’68, Wendy Chamblin Gunselman ’69, Susan Knorr Gale ’71, Gail Evans Guthridge ’71, Eve Bullitt Pierce ’72, Janet Aldrich Trimble ’83, Mary Beth Noel Todd ’95 and the Inaugural AIS Varsity Squash Team, 1991-1995. The message from the evening rang true: Agnes Irwin has been a leader in girls’ athletics for many years. We will continue that tradition for years to come.   Thank you to all who made the 2010 events such a success. GO AIS!