School House News

By Matthew Markham | Posted: Monday March 26, 2018

We may have had a very quiet week or so in the hostel but our boys have certainly been involved in plenty of activities off site.

Maadi Cup proved to be one of the better ones for Otago Boys in recent times with all crews racing well and being very competitive. The school made 10 A finals with the majority of these crews having at least one hostel boy in them. Jack Webber was the star performance for the hostel winning a bronze in the U16 double. Thomas Ryan just missed out on a medal coming 4th in the U17 double with Ben Mason. The rowing boys have worked very hard over the last few months and will be ready to have a decent break! It will also be good to have them around the hostel a bit more.

Our athletes represented School House with a great deal of pride at the South Island Athletics Secondary School Championships and like the rowers, had a very successful time of it. Well done boys!

Results are as follows:

Josh Potter 6th U16 1,500m

Shae Darwen 7th U16 3,000m

Symon Maguire 2nd U14 200m

Robert McIvor 1st U14 400m

Marika Parker 7th U19 discus

Michael Mason 2nd U19 100m

Relays

U14 2nd 4x100m Symon Maguire and Robert McIvor

U19 2nd 4x100m Michael Mason

Matt Gray was the sole hostel boy in the Otago Boys team that was runners up in the South Island Water Polo Championships. The boys had some commanding wins but lost in the final to a strong Christ College side. Well done Matt!

Last weekend Otago Boys won the South Island Secondary Touch Championships. Angus and Hamish Faulks, Olly Bugden and the injured Jackson Toms represented School House. The team played great rivals Christchurch Boys High School in the final coming out on top in a very even struggle 11-10. Great work men! 

Last weekend we had only 30 boys in the hostel due to the long weekend. Housemasters Pita Sinamoni and Junior Pole took the boys  on a bit of a tour of Dunedin, which included a walk up Flagstaff Hill and Signal Hill. The international boys especially, loved the opportunity to get out and see a bit more of the area that they live in, even if some of them found the hills somewhat demanding!

Cultural night practices have well and truly started with some of the houses looking sharp, others need to put in a bit of effort! Cultural night is on 12th April 6pm in the school auditorium, all are welcome.

Often in boarding we talk about a ‘home away from home’ and that the hostel is like a second family for the boys. It is of course, important not to forgot about the boys real families! With this in mind we are holding a special grandparents dinner on the 20th May in the School House dining hall to recognise the important role that many of the boys grandparents play in their lives. The idea is that the boys attend the dinner with their grandparents. I will send out an invite to this during the holidays but please pencil this into your diary.

Lastly, have a wonderful easter and I hope you enjoy having your son(s) at home and that the boys have a great break. It gives them a good chance to recharge the batteries for the final week and bit of school for the term.  

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