As you read, boarders right across the school are enjoying the grand finale of their National Boarding Week celebrations – the hotly-contested Boarders Games! While more will follow next week (check out our social media channels), here is a snapshot of how they spent their evenings earlier this week.
Taste the World
Food is always guaranteed to make the boys happy, which is why our ‘Taste the World’ boarders’ tea is firm favourite. Designed to bring together the whole of our boarding community, it also celebrates the many different cultures of boys in our boarding houses.
Boys enjoy the opportunity to try foods that they might not normally eat and learn about cuisines from around the world.
Thanks to Chartwells, our marvellous catering team, a colourful array of food including sundried tomato and mozzarella arancini and marinated vegetable bruschetta from Italy, curried goat stew and sticky jerk salmon from the Caribbean, veggie bibimbap, Korean chicken and samosa chaat from Asia was on offer – all served as street food to allow boys to taste as great a variety as possible.
Emma Lickley, General Manager at Chartwells, who organised the event, explained, “It is important to promote different cultures and cuisines in the Dining Hall, and make the boarders feel special with ‘pop- up’ events such as this. For some of them, it may be new and exciting flavours that they are trying for the first time, so it’s good for them to experience this. The Dining Hall has a real community feel when the boarders are in for dinner, so anything else that can help enhance that experience such as with the chef’s theatre cooking, music, props, menu themes… really is important. I think it’s safe to say this year’s Taste the World was enjoyed as we had many boys coming back for seconds!”
Laser Tag
The long light summer’s evening was the perfect backdrop for our boarders to enjoy Laser Tag – a game chosen year after year by the boys. The game involves infrared light guns and giant inflatable obstacles for the boys to use as cover as they compete in houses. Lots of laughter and a serious (but healthy!) amount of competition was enjoyed by all.
Film Night
“The name’s Bond, James Bond”. No guesses for which movie the boarders enjoyed on Wednesday night!
Held in our Quarry Theatre in true cinema style, the boys were treated to ice cream and ‘pic ‘n’ mix’ sweets before settling down to enjoy the fabulous No Time to Die on the big screen.
National Boarding Week was created by the Boarding Schools Association to help raise awareness of the many benefits of boarding and celebrate the important role the boarding community plays in the wider ethos of the school. The timing of the week is just perfect coinciding with long summer evenings and, with most exams completed, it provides our boarders with the chance to unwind and breathe a sigh of relief – it has become an annual tradition and highlight in the boarding year.
