The Triwizard Tournament (aka Marching Band Competition)

Here's an event that took me completely by surprise. I was sitting in the clinic (very rare nowadays) when I started hearing our band practicing a new song. Our band ALWAYS plays the same song, so this was noteworthy enough to actually stand up and walk over to where Jack was working to draw his attention to the new song. To walk to Jack's side of the clinic I have to pass a row of windows that overlook the front gate of NPH and while I was walking by, the gate opened and it was revealed that our band had not, in fact, learned a new song, but rather an entirely different band was standing at our gates playing. The guard opened the gates wide and they marched up, all of our kids ran down to watch as the band made it's way to the school playground.

Within a few minutes, another marching band had arrived: different song, different outfits. This continued for about a half hour until we had a total of nine bands here from surrounding towns. Every time a new one came it was super exciting to see the differences in the bands: some had elaborate headdresses, others had huge drum lines or baton twirlers. It was the first time that I'd seen students from another school on our property, and it immediately made me think of the Triwizard Tournament in Harry Potter when all the visiting schools arrive.

It was clear what they had come for: a marching band smackdown.

But look how cute they are!

This band had some fancy drum moves. (Also note a quiet Fuego lurking in the distance...)

Our band comes out to show them what it's all about

Ok, so we need a little work (and we need to beef up the horn section a bit), but I was seriously proud of them! (There was no actual winner today. I think they do challenges like this throughout the year at all the schools, and then an annual winner is announced).