Welcome to the Third Year Blog!
No doubt fuelled by the sumptuous baked goods produced in Interform baking last week, the Third Year have enjoyed a busy week which has been packed full of activities. Hamptonians have been encouraged to try new lunchtime clubs in No Limits Week. This has seen boys in the Third Year sample three new clubs or activities in order to search for new passions and to push themselves out of their comfort zone. Great fun has been had by all and you can read more about some of the activities that have been sampled in this week’s blog.
We hope that everyone in Third Year enjoys a restful and relaxing half term break – it has most certainly been earned after such a busy start to 2022. Perhaps you can also extend the theme of No Limits Week to your half term, by trying a new activity and doing something different. Enjoy the break, look after yourselves and come back fresh and ready to take on what the rest of the spring term will have to offer!
Heads of Year Message
Well done to the U14A Football Team for their County Cup quarter-final victory at Whitgift on Monday. Good luck in the semi-finals! Enjoy reading the match report below, along with reports on U14 Rugby and J14 Rowing. We’re really pleased that so many Third Year pupils are enjoying their school sport.
No Limits Week
This week was “No Limits” week for First to Third Year.
We have been delighted to see so many boys stepping out of their usual routine to try something new. Cryptic Crossword Club was a huge hit with Third Years and Chess Club spilled out into the corridor on Thursday lunchtime. Art Club and Basketball Club also had bumper weeks for Third Year attendance. Well done to all the boys for their positive attitude towards the opportunities afforded by No Limits Week. Boys – if you enjoyed the club(s) you attended for the first time this week, be prepared to go again next half term!
Third Year Parents’ Evening
We hope that parents have all been able to make video call appointments for Third Year Parents’ Evening on Tuesday 22 February. Please contact Mr Gray (s.gray@hamptonschool.org.uk) for assistance if you have been unable to make the necessary appointments.
Study Skills Evening
A date for your diaries next half term: Study Skills Evening (for parents) will take place on Tuesday 15 March from 7pm. We will write to all parents after Parents’ Evening with further details, including how to sign up to attend the event. The capacity for this event will be 100, so we ask that only one person per household attends.
Covid testing & precautions
Face coverings are now only required to be worn by pupils (unless exempt) whilst they are on school coaches, although all members of the school community are welcome to wear one if they prefer.
Please continue with the programme of self-administered asymptomatic LFD testing at regular intervals (twice a week) at home. A reminder that boys must not attend the School site if:
- they have symptoms of Covid-19 (a raised temperature; a new persistent cough; a change in sense of taste or smell)
- they have received a positive Covid-19 test result
If you require more LFD tests, please request a test kit by emailing testing@hamptonschool.org.uk.
If your son tests positive, please complete the relevant Firefly form linked here.
Absences
For medical absences, please notify your son’s Form Tutors via email (cc’ing absence@hamptonschool.org.uk) on the morning of each day of absence by 8:45am.
For planned absences and appointments, please contact Heads of Year requesting the absence with as much notice as possible.
Boys – We wish you all a peaceful and restorative half term holiday, and we look forward to seeing you in a week’s time – refreshed and rejuvenated for next half term. Have a lovely week off!
Best wishes
Mr T Rigby & Miss V Smith
No Limits Week
This week at Hampton School it has been No Limits Week! Over the course of the week, we set the boys the challenge of trying out three clubs or activities that were different to their usual weekly Hampton schedule. It has provided boys with the opportunity to hunt down a new passion, push themselves out of their comfort zone and most importantly, have fun!
Here are some thoughts from some Third Years about what they’ve been up to this week:
Harresh J:
During No Limits week I have enjoyed trying some new activities. My week started when I did Model United Nations for the first time – it was very exciting and I enjoyed how political it was. It was also great to see how the experienced delegates built their responses when they were being questioned. Other than MUN, I also attended Basketball and it was great to be involved in the half-court game.
Joseph B:
My highlight of No Limits week was when I went to The Writers’ Room. In this club I wrote a 50-word story – this was a great challenge but I really enjoyed it. I think there was room to improve my story and so I would definitely like to go again.
Alex B:
The best part of No Limits Week was going along to clubs that my friends usually go to. It was great seeing them there and sharing their passions with them.
Gabriel McG:
I enjoyed trying different things this week. My favourite was the Cryptic Crossword Club – it was a very busy room full of problem solvers!
Jayden O:
I particularly enjoyed going to Board Games Club on Tuesday, as it was open throughout lunch and you got a free choice to choose from a large variety of games to play with your friends. It was also a club I had not really participated in regularly since I usually have training on Tuesday lunch!
Take a look at just some of the clubs our Lower School Hamptonians tried out this week:
Ph-abulous Physics
The week also saw the Insulation Experiment Challenge taking place in Physics, where the boys were tasked with bringing in materials from home in order to keep a beaker of hot water warm. Congratulations to Alex B and Lewis W from 3D whose material only allowed their beaker to decrease by 7 degrees in 15 minutes!
Hampton Head Update
The rowers enjoyed a successful day at the Hampton Fours and Eights Head on Saturday 12 February.
In the J14 Octuple Sculls event Hampton had four crews racing in a field of fourteen boats from nine different schools and clubs.
In an impressive display of power and technique, our top crew won the event. We narrowly beat the Mossbourne Rowing Academy and were a significant margin ahead of the other schools and clubs in the event.
Two of our B crews also won medals for their 2nd and 3rd place finishes in the B crew event.
We intend to build on this early success and will keep training and improving skills to do our best at the national level races later this season.
Sports Round up
U14A Football vs Whitgift by Samuel M
On Monday, Hampton made the journey to Whitgift School in Croydon for the Quarter Finals of County Cup. Hampton had a slow start to the game and found themselves 1-0 down after conceding an unfortunately early goal. The majority of the first half were waves of attacks from Whitgift. However, nearing half time, Hampton took control of the ball and Dexter B chipped the Whitgift keeper from outside the box, making it 1-1 going into half time. At the start of the second half, Hampton started much stronger but were unlucky to concede and go 2-1 down. Hampton didn’t let their heads drop and kept pushing for an equaliser. Angus H played a magnificent through-ball to Nick A, who made a great run into the Whitgift box and won a penalty for Hampton. We were all cheering as we knew that Nick A would place it in the back of the net. He stepped up striking the ball into the bottom right corner. The Whitgift keeper got fingertips to it but ultimately couldn’t save it. We were tied at 2-2. Hampton were now on a roll and held possession of the ball well.
With 20 minutes left, Hampton now had a corner and Ollie S took it, whipping the ball into the Whitgift box. Angus H got a head to the ball and directed the ball towards the goal, however a Whitgift defender blocked it. However, Nick A was on his toes and reacted first to head the ball into left side of the goal, making it 3-2 to Hampton. We were all jumping in excitement knowing that we had an advantage. For the next 10 minutes, there was a lot of end-to-end football with both teams attacking and defending. With two minutes to go and the score being 3-2, Arjun B had the ball between the Whitgift box and the halfway line. He lined up a shot on goal and stroked the ball. It floated into the top right corner. It was worth the wait for his first goal of the season. Rushing over to Arjun B, we all knew that we were moving on to the Semi Finals.
U14A Rugby vs St Benedict’s by Thomas D
This was predicted to be a close match since both teams had a similar playing record this year. Unfortunately, St Benedict’s scored two tries in quick succession that caught Hampton off guard, making the score 12-0. With heads low, Hampton tried to equalise the score in the first half but again St. Benedict’s scored another two tries which were also converted. At half time, the score was 26-0.
An encouraging pep talk from our captain Will S in the half time break brought us in to the second half with a renewed sense of determination and a desire to improve on the first half performance. This proved to be a much more positive half. From the go, Omar K took off on an amazing run down the wing and likely would have likely scored if it weren’t for the St Benedict’s parents confusing him, saying he stepped out of the pitch. However, not disheartened, a few minutes later, Hampton scored their first try in the corner with Jason DW diving onto the line, making the score 26-5. Heads high, and more focused, Hampton scored another try with some great passing down the wing to Ryan C, who finished it off. The score was now 26-10. Unfortunately, Hampton’s winning streak of tries came too late and with only five minutes left the better team on the day won. Hampton players Freddie L and Louis W had some great carries, gaining lots of ground and there were some amazing turnovers by Amulya T and Rajvir D, but sadly as a team we gave away too many penalties and were punished by St. Benedict’s. We’ve had some great some great games this season so let’s hope for some successes in the Rugby Sevens and hopefully everyone returns next year in U15s bigger, stronger and raring to go!
LGBT History Month
The Hampton Pride flag has been flying over School to celebrate the start of LGBT History Month! A reminder that the Pride Society meets on a Thursday at 12:35pm in the Quiet Room in the RS Tower today. Whether you identify as LGBTQ+ or simply wish to support as an Ally, you will be very welcome!
Connection Corner
A record-breaking number of entries for last week’s Connection Corner – 34 of you had a go at the tricky challenge. For those of you that guessed the connection as Royalty, nice try but not quite right. Well done to everyone who correctly guessed that the connection was Chess.
Merits go to Lewis W, Mitul A, Charlie C, Billy W, Leo R, Rayan J, Edward R, Monty S, Ben W, Samuel B, Aaryan D, Raphael T, Nathaniel C, Ed M, Oliver D, George B, Joshi RdM, James S, Pedro CM, Alasdair M, Thomas W-M, and Viren A. Bragging rights once again go to 3G, can any other form stop their winning streak?
It’s a tricky one this week, have a go over half term and see if you can spot the connection:
Oops! We could not locate your form.
In case you’re still perplexed, here are last week’s answers:
What type of building is a Motte-and-Bailey? Castle
To whom does “Elizabeth Regina” refer? The Queen
What honour has been bestowed upon David Attenborough, Ian McKellan and Chris Hoy? Knighted
Which Liverpudlian comedian joined The Doctor as her companion in the most recent series of Doctor Who? John Bishop
Connection: Chess Pieces
