The hostel has been lively, and despite lots of extra seasonal illness at the start of the week, the spirit around the place has been very positive. The year 9 boys are busy practicing for the annual inter house haka competition taking place on Feast Day next Friday. We will post some videos of the year 9 boys practicing on our boarding Facebook page during next week.
 
On Thursday night we began the evening with a tribe meal which brought together our 5 boarding tribes, arranged vertically with boys mixing and connecting from year 9-13. Some of the year 13 leaders helped with food service, which many of the boys appreciated. The boarders enjoyed an American Diner themed dinner with burgers, Chili dogs, curly fries and soda. The highlight of dinner however, was the surprise arrival on site of Mr Whippy, to provide the boys with ice cream for dessert.
 
Suitably full and satisfied, the boys then gathered in the gym for the inter tribe annual basketball competition. It was superb to see 50 plus boys taking part and many more supporting on the side-lines. There was an excellent atmosphere and tribe night, helps build extra connection in the hostel.
 
On our boarding Facebook page this week is a short video introducing new supervisor for 2022, Lleyton Phillips, so please have a look at that if you get the chance. More videos are to follow introducing all of our new staff.
 
It has been a busy week on the work and maintenance side in the hostel, with 4 new, more powerful toilet cisterns fitted in Durham, new latches placed on Jarrow locker doors to help with security and 10 Durham locker doors rehung and strengthened.
 
Next Tuesday renowned NZ graffiti artist Nick Tam (Ikarus) returns to work with a group of 10 boarders for the next 5 weeks and we look forward to welcoming Nick back and seeing some amazing end results. Follow progress on our Facebook page. 
 
We have a good number of boys staying in over the weekend to play a variety of sports for the College, which is brilliant and lots of the boarders are keen to watch and support the First XV rugby team take on Christ College at home on Saturday, in an eagerly anticipated fixture.
 
Stay warm this weekend and enjoy your weekend wherever you are. Best Wishes Dai and the boarding team.