Welcome to the First Year Blog!
It has been wonderful to greet the First Year back to the School site this week, and it has been lovely to see the boys enjoying in-person lessons again and getting out on the 3G! While there have been new routines and requirements to get used to, we have been so impressed by the boys’ adaptability and willingness to work together. We hope that the boys enjoy renewing and re-forming the friendships that they have made over the next few weeks; there are lots of clubs and activities to get involved with, so there are plenty of chances for the boys to socialise together and enjoy each other’s company.
CLUBS AND TRANING
We already have some clubs up and running this week, and it’s been lovely to see the boys enjoying themselves with all sorts of things. Watch this space for more clubs as they open!
| Monday | Clarinet Ensemble – P3 (Rm. 35)
School Choir – P3 (Music Hall) Table tennis – 1:05 (Sports Hall) Library day – lunchtime Book Group – 1 :15 (Library) Rugby training – 1:05 |
| Tuesday | Chamber Choir – 8:15 (Music Hall) |
| Wednesday | Physics Club – 12:40 (P1)
Football training – 12:40 (Pavilion) Tennis training – 12:40 (Front Courts) |
| Thursday | Philosophy Circle – 1:15 (Rm. 20)
Golf – 1:05 (golf nets) |
| Friday | Tennis training – 1:05 (Front Courts) |
And a reminder of regular training times for School sports:
Cricket training – Saturday 11:00-12:30
Rugby/football training – Saturday 8:45-10:00
MENTOR INTERVIEWS WITH AADI K
The essence of great leadership
Is influence not authority
This week I interviewed our lovely Headmaster, Mr Knibbs.
What kind of personality do you work best with and why?
Well, I think to be headmaster you have to work with all personalities. I try to see the best in people and find things about them that will enable me to work well with them.
What type of work environment do you prefer?
I would definitely say on-site not online!
What are your strong points as a headmaster?
I think that is for other people to decide. But I hope boys, parents and colleagues think I’m approachable, kind and enthusiastic about Hampton.
What is your educational background?
I went to a state primary school, a grammar school in Essex and after that I went to Oxford to read for my History degree. After university I started working at Bolton School near Manchester as a History teacher and Football coach. The first time I saw Hampton was when my Bolton First XI football team came here to play.
What do you do to ensure that your teachers are motivated and happy at Hampton?
Well, I try to shield them as much as possible from anything that would distract them from teaching their pupils. I also try to make sure they have bright boys to teach each year and excellent facilities.
From your point of view, what is the relationship of a pupil and headteacher?
My aim is for every boy at Hampton to feel able to come and talk to me about anything they want, and to be confident about doing so.
If you could know the absolute truth to one question, what would you ask?
I would have one historical question because I’m a History teacher and a sport-related question:
Who killed the princes in the Tower of London?
Will Arsenal win the Champions League in my lifetime?
Which two items would you take with you if you were shipwrecked on a deserted island where all your food and water needs are taken care of?
I would take with me pictures of my wife and family because that would motivate me not to give up, and a solar powered kindle with all my books on it so I don’t get bored.
If you had a time machine, would you travel to the future or back in time and why?
I would go to the past because I’m a historian. There are lots of places I’d like to go and people who I would like to meet. But if I could go to one place, it would be the 1920s in Berlin because it was an amazing place. It was vibrant, creative and exciting.
Last but not least describe the purpose of this job to someone from another planet?
My job description would be: help young people and my colleagues to flourish, thrive and be happy.
FIRST YEAR OLYMPICS AND INTER-FORM CUP UPDATE
A final update on the scores for the First Year e-Hampton Olympics:
1st (Gold): 1J
2nd (Silver): 1B
3rd (Bronze): 1L
Joint 4th – 1F, 1H and 1W
5th – 1P
With these scores added to the Inter-Form Cup points, 1J are still in the lead, but 1B are closing!
FINALISTS FOR CREATIVE WRITING Awards
The English department have been really impressed with the quality of entries for the Hampton Creative Writing competition! The finalists in the First Year are named below:
Adam M (1B)
Joshua C (1B)
Alex W (1F)
Harry N (1H)
Isa H-S (1H)
Oliver B (1H)
Alfred H (1L)
Finley M (1L)
Well done to the finalists, and to all who entered! The winners and runners-up will be announced at the beginning of next term and presented with book vouchers. All the finalists’ stories will be published in this summer’s edition of Lion Print, Hampton’s creative arts magazine. Brilliant work, boys!
Drama Summer Show
Calling all aspiring actors! It’s time to audition for the much-anticipated Lower School Summer Show. This year’s production is The Terrible Infants – a collection of “deliciously dark” stories of naughty young people getting their just deserts. First Year auditions will take place on Tuesday 16 March from 4 to 5.30pm. There’s nothing to prepare, just turn up at the Drama Hall in the Garrick on Tuesday. Hope to see lots of you there!
More information can be found in the poster below:
CREATIVE WRITING WITH SRIYAN S
As part of their English studies this term, 1L have been studying ‘An Inspector Calls’. Sriyan S has written a wonderful diary entry from the point of view of one of the characters, Eva.
September 11, 1911 – Margate, by the seaside.
Dear diary,
I can’t believe it. Recently as you recall I’ve been pondering about Gerald and why Milwards would sack me last January. I need this time to reflect and find a way out. Personally I am repelled to want to relive being Eva Smith, Gerald was what gave me hope that Daisy Renton would be a better life. Now that he’s left me yet being the only person I call a friend, I’m empty and anxious. When Gerald talked with me at the county hotel I felt that he was a kind, friendly and of course aristocratic man as he respected what I had to say, and then gave me food like it was uncalled for to not. Upper-class no less. I couldn’t go on any longer without a job. Milwards was a good income and my reputation with Birling and Co had strayed me since, but after I didn’t know what I could do anymore. Now that I’m alone again, I need to find help for an opening for a new job.
The offer to stay at Morgan Terrace was what ticked me to admire this man’s kindness. It was a palace compared to the back room, and he let me fit in with some money! The fact that I could have this for a while made my body exult with praise. I lived there for a pleasant portion of time, though I knew the day I needed to go dawned on me. What would happen then? Is a job all I need? Last week Gerald needed to go somewhere, and I had to go too. I acted rationally, but I couldn’t help feeling afraid and depressed. I have little money to spare and I need a place to stay. After all, I can’t rely on one man forever, but I don’t see an opening anywhere. Now I feel Daisy Renton isn’t an enjoyable life either.
Despite my gratitude to Gerald, I feel dropped from how he gave me hope and took it back, giving me time to cherish but making the situation worse. Margate has let me contemplate my circumstances and I believe that I will need something to help and steer me the right way forward. My class is too low to get a job so soon so I hope my future is bright.
Britich Science Week
It has been great to see you all back in the labs this week, enjoying practicals in Chemistry, Physics and Biology. How we’ve all missed them! This week is British Science Week, a celebration of all things science, technology, engineering and maths and our First Years have certainly been busy celebrating science now that we’re all back on-site. 1F have been investigating solutions and their boiling points whilst 1P have been learning all about plant chromatography. Some super Science boys!
Music co-curricular
A message from the Director of Music, Mr Roland:
The Music Department will be running lots of year group bubble clubs, ensembles and choirs over the next few weeks! Please come over to the Garrick or speak to your music teacher to find out more. Most of the activities will run at the same time as last term. Clubs include rock bands, jazz bands, electronic dance music, orchestras, choirs, brass groups and more!
We hope to see many of you over in the Garrick soon!
Food Bank
From Monday 15 March, we will be resuming our collections in support of Feltham Food Bank who are supporting families in Bedfont, Hanworth, Feltham and surrounding areas during these challenging times.
Thanks to the generosity of our School community, we collected more than 150 crates of food and toiletries last year. A fantastic contribution! So, have a look in your cupboards, add something to your shopping list and try and do your bit to help.
The Food Bank would be grateful for the following items:
- UHT milk
- Tins of soup
- Tins of tuna
- Tins of meat (such as mince or hotdogs)
- Tins of vegetables
- Baked beans
- Tins of fruit
- Tins of rice pudding
- Small packets of basmati rice
- Small packets of pasta
- Toiletries (such as shampoo, shower gel, toothpaste)
Thank you in advance for your kind and generous support which is very much appreciated!
SPECIAL SHOUT OUTS!
We love to hear about what you have been getting up to outside of school. Please do send any information about any of your achievements through to Mrs Ziegler (h.ziegler@hamptonschool.org.uk).
FIRST YEAR 5 QUESTIONS
A few questions for you to have a go at yourself or challenge people at home if they know the answer. Merits are awarded for everyone who has a go! Just click on the link below and enter your answers and points for the Inter-Form Competition will be awarded to the form with the most entries every week.
- What is the capital city of Switzerland?
- How many keys are there on a piano?
- Elon Musk is the CEO of which global brand?
- Queen Elizabeth II is the longest reigning monarch of England, but who is the shortest?
- How many Grand Slam singles titles has Serena Williams won?
Why don’t you have a go and enter your answers here.
Remember to write your name in the form so you can be credited with merits!
We had an impressive 25 entries for the 5 questions last week, 1J are in the lead this week with eight submissions! Well done to the following boys (make sure to add your merits in the back of your homework diaries and to collect your merit certificates when you reach 10!):
1B: Adam M, Boris D, Jack Y
1H: Alex C, Arun S, Prabodha A,
1J: Freddie T, Fabio TP, Maxwell G, Caspar S, Joshua R, Daniel T, Ben B, Nathaniel C
1L: Agalyan S, Dawood A, Jaipaal G
1P: Raif D, Aditya K, Eugene K, Sebastian H-T
1W: Oliver A, Harry GW
1F: Leonid K, Charles H
And here are the answers to the last set of 5 questions:
- Which popular video game franchise has released games with the subtitles World At War and Black Ops? Call of Duty
- What is the name for a period of play in polo? A chukker
- What number is found in reference to their varieties on Heinz products? 57
- What language is spoken in Brazil? Portuguese
- Which planet has the most moons? Saturn
