Super Science, Terrific Tennis and the Hampton Ducks!

Welcome to the First Year Blog!

The boys have been getting stuck into revision this week; as a welcome distraction, Tuesday saw many First Years taking part in and attending the First Year Science Fair. The sheer variety and quality of the entrants was fantastic, and it was lovely to see many of the boys visiting the Fair to support their classmates. This week is Mental Health week, and the boys attended an insightful and interesting assembly on supporting their mental health through getting outside in nature.

On Thursday, they took part in a fascinating assembly on Mindfulness, led by Mr Nicholson (with a little help from David Attenborough!) during which they were able to try out some Mindfulness practices for themselves. Each boy will receive a packet of wildflower seeds this week; we hope that they enjoy planting them and getting outside in nature!

CLUBS AND TRAINING

Lots of clubs are up and running now; watch this space for more clubs and sports training as they open!

UPCOMING ASSESSMENTS

Lucas S-T (1P) has some wise words regarding the upcoming progress  assessments:

The Summer progress assessments (and remember that they are progress assessments not exams!) are coming soon and we have recently started the two weeks of no homework! Don’t let get this to your head though because this is meant so that you have time for revision and the only homework we’re getting is about revision! Don’t be worried at all about the assessments, though; just listen to all the advice from your form tutors. Don’t forget to revise too.

Good luck!

Science Fair

Hampton’s budding scientists showcased their talent at the annual Lower School Science Fair this week and First Year Hamptonians didn’t let us down.

Find out more about the fascinating projects in the video below:

Terrific Tennis

The U12 team have played three matches this term, comfortably beating The Harrodian School and Tiffin Boys in the Surrey League before losing out to a very strong Ada Lovelace team in the Year 7&8 National Tennis competition. The team below include Harrison Chalmers, Juan-Leonardo Scolari Hernandez, Daniel O’Sullivan Sanz, and Owen Parker pictured with their coaches Mr Saunders (U12 team manager) and Navneet Maan (Hampton Tennis Coach).

SPECIAL SHOUT OUTS!

Leonid K (1F) has recently had success in the Teddington Art Competition. The competition, run by the Teddington Society, was on the theme of ‘My Home in Teddington’, and challenged entrants to create a picture of the front of their home. Leonid’s entry won the 11+ age category; in addition to a prize of book vouchers, his drawing will be displayed in local shops in Teddington. Well done, Leonid – keep your eyes peeled for Leonid’s artwork in Teddington’s shops!

Aaditya T (1B) has taken his piano practice to another level, playing Allegro on piano blindfolded. Very impressive, Aaditya!

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).

THE HISTORY OF THE DUCK WITH KANISHK M

This week, Kanishk M gives a fascinating insight into the history of the duck!

For the last 25 years, a family of ducks have bred and raised chicks at Hampton, to commemorate this event, I have written about the history of their greatest time, when the terror ducks ruled the world.

8 million years ago, a massive bird was feeding on leaves, at 2m long and with a massive beak, it was intimidating. However, what set it apart was its diet, it was herbivorous and stood out against the carnivorous terror birds of the Americas. But that wasn’t all, unlike the terror birds, this bird, and its genus Gastornis were not terror birds, but terror ducks. That is right, 8 million years ago; the ancestor of the small and humble waterfowl (the group that includes ducks and their close relatives) was a large herbivore, grazing the plains. Gastornis were widespread, their oldest ranges are in Europe, but they are also found in the Americas, Asia and Australia. 

However, this was not to be forever, around 1.8 million years ago, just as the last terror bird went extinct, so too did the terror duck. Mostly due to the larger mammalian predators as well as shrinking habitats and more competition from mammals, they went extinct. 

Fortunately, their descendants were on the rise, the modern waterfowls. They began with the screamer, which walks in shallow ponds and evolved first, its feet are not webbed. This is mainly to do with its origins; they are the descendants of the last gastornithids, which were small and terrestrial. Then the magpie goose with semi webbed feet for less shallow ponds showed a new feature evolving, its semi-webbed feet allowed it to dive underwater and swim with efficiency, then came the duck. Ducks have fully webbed feet which has allowed them to swim and dive in deep ponds where they thrive. Major sections of their skeleton are identical to gastornis, a reminder to us that ducks once ruled the world.

We’ll keep you posted with news on the new Hampton ducklings!

CALLING ALL  LEGO ENTHUSIASTS

Mrs Moore in our Art Department is setting up a new lunchtime LEGO Club which will start in September 2021 and she is appealing for donations of LEGO bricks, boards, pieces or mini-figures. So, check your cupboards, under your beds, on top of your shelves for anything that has been forgotten about and the Art Department will happily give it a new lease of life at LEGO Club. More information will be available at the start of the new academic year.

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 f1or the Inter-Form Competition will be awarded to the form with the most entries every week.

1. In 1990 who created the World Wide Web?
2. What is the capital of New Zealand?
3. What part of a plant conducts photosynthesis?
4. In Greek mythology, what three animals make up a chimera?
5. In cricket, what kind of bowler bowls a googly?

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 38 entries for the 5 questions last week, 1B are in the lead this week with a record-breaking 17 submissions! Wow! 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: Sebastian W, Syn Foh N, Aditya K, Chris C, Jathun J, Mohammed A, Aaditya T, Anirudh S, Vibhush P, Dominic S, Adam M, Aditya K, William L, Jack Y, Boris D, Advait B, Joshua C

1H: Prabodha A, Arun S, Alex C

1J: Nathaniel C, Daniel T, Ameya M, Ben B, Joshua G, Joshua R, Casper S

1L: Matthew J, Agalyan S

1P: Eugene K, Arie B

1W: Leander KB

1F: Charles H, Felix B, Pranavan P, Leonid K, Fraser K, Jasper E

And here are the answers to last week’s 5 questions:

1. What is the most sold flavour of Walker’s crisps? Cheese & onion
2. Rafael Nadal has won all four majors at least once in his career – true or false? True
3. What day of the year is known by fans as Star Wars Day? May 4^th
4. Queen Elizabeth II’s grandfather was which monarch? George V
5. How many elements are in the periodic table? 118

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!