Welcome to the Second Year Blog!
It has been a busy and exciting week for the Second Year at Hampton. The week kicked off with Open Day on Saturday and it was absolutely fantastic to see so many of you helping out around the School, whether in departments or doing tours, you all made us incredibly proud – well done! The co-curricular clubs are still keeping you busy, and we love hearing about the range of things you can get up to in a single lunchtime – read on to find out more about Java club and MUN!
I’d also like to say a big thank you to all of the Second Years who have contributed to our weekly blog so far. For anyone interested in writing an article, please send me an email or attend our weekly meeting on a Wednesday at 1.15pm in S2.
Tutor question of the week
Each week the pupils decide on a question to ask all the Second Year form tutors. This week’s question caused quite the debate and I’ve ended up feeling a bit sorry for Iron Man!
Which Marvel superhero would you most like to be?
- Spider-man – Miss Holt, Miss Tiller
- Iron Man
- Thor – Mr VA, Mrs Whitwam, Mrs Owen, Mr Sims
- Scarlet Witch – All of 2H and Miss Winstock, Mrs Richardson
Have you ever had a burning question you’ve always wanted to ask your form tutors?! If so, then please send your suggestions for next week’s Tutor Question Time to b.tiller@hamptonschool.org.uk.
Open Morning
Open Morning was held on Saturday and many pupils were asked to help out, either by giving tours or in specific departments. It was a fantastic day and enjoyed by everyone, let’s hear from some of our Second Years about what they got up to on Saturday.
Open Morning – Tours
On Saturday, our School had an Open Morning to show prospective students and their families the wonderful environment that we learn in. We entered through LEH waiting to meet the family we would be showing around the School. It ended up with me and Joshua touring three families between us on the yellow route. Starting in the Sixth Form Centre we first went into Chemistry where many experiments were set up. There was a test for hydrogen, where you could light a splint and put it in hydrogen. If it is hydrogen then the fire will go out with a pop. There were also experiments where they put different chemicals in fire causing them to change colour.
Then we went to Modern Languages, who offered croissants and pretzels if you asked in Spanish, French or German, Maths had different games and problems, Physics with more experiments and Computing had lots of cool robotics. After seeing some drama rehearsals in the Hammond Theatre and beautiful music in the Garrick we headed to the Sports Hall which had Badminton, Table Tennis, Basketball and Cricket Nets. It was wonderful to show our School on Saturday and I hope to do it again sometime.
By Shishir V (2J)
Last Saturday, Hamptonians came to School for the Open Day. The Open Day is an event that happens once a year that lets prospective boys and their families get a taste of what Hampton is all about. My friends and I led tours of our School, although some boys were working in a department which included holding millipedes, drumming, performing experiments and showcasing all of the wonderful things about Hampton. Tours have changed drastically for me now that I am a Second Year. I remember in First Year I would get lost a lot during tours and didn’t know very much about the School after only three weeks so couldn’t really answer all the questions that people asked me. This year, I didn’t get lost as I now know my way around very easily. I’ve now had a full year’s experience so I know all about what it’s like as a First Year. Unfortunately, most of our tours overran by 45 minutes or so because of how enthusiastic the boys and parents were to learn all about Hampton. I picked up a quick lunch and headed off to the LEH gate thinking to myself that many of the boys I’d just seen taking their first looks at Hampton life would be joining us next September.
By Mattie R (2F)
Open Morning – Music Department
Last Saturday, it was the Hampton School Open Morning and I was delighted to help out in the Music Department. I arrived at 8:45am and excitedly entered the Music Hall. We started the morning with some singing to warm up and then moved to playing the djembes. As the visitors started to come to the Garrick Building, we impressed with our brilliant djembe performance. We also encouraged the children and parents to join in and complete a group performance. We played the same rhythms in every djembe performance, so it did become quite tedious. It was all very fun, however I was quite tired after four hours of drumming and singing.
By Oliver Y (2P)
Chess Battle
It’s fantastic to hear that so many of you have been going along to lunchtime Chess Club. Let’s hear from Jai, who has recently competed in a match against Whitgift School:
Both teams were strong, and it was a formidable match. On each of the six boards, the pieces moved with purpose and precision. Knights advanced, bishops diagonally carved their paths, and queens surveyed the battlefield. The tension in the room was palpable as each move was made, and the spectators watched in silent anticipation. The games unfolded with quiet intensity. Over time, it became evident that Hampton School was gaining the upper hand on several boards. Their thoughtful strategies and coordinated tactics were gradually outmanoeuvring their opponents from Whitgift School. As the matches approached their conclusions, Hampton School maintained their strategic edge. The players remained focused and composed, their eyes fixed on the chessboards. In the end, Hampton School emerged as the victors in this chess match against Whitgift School. Their consistent and thoughtful play throughout the games secured their triumph.
As the weekend approaches, chess players in Hampton have been diligently sharpening our skills for the important rapid play tournament against other schools at Eton College. We have been engaging in rigorous practice sessions, studying classic games, and honing our opening strategies. Some of us are even using online chess platforms to play practice games against opponents from around the world, ensuring we are prepared for any style of play they might encounter on Sunday. The teams range from the A’s to the C’s. I will let you know how it goes on Sunday next week!
By Jai K (2J)
SUBJECT OF THE WEEK
The subject of the week is Design Engineering (DE)! So far in the term and especially this week, DE has been a very exciting subject and in one half of 2B, with Mr Zannettou, we are making wooden toys, with cool mechanisms in each one. There are wheels that make the toy move along, while a hidden mechanism moves an attachment in a certain way. The way they move are with special types of wheels called CAMs. These are wheels with holes off centre, which allows unique movements of certain aspects of the toy. An example that Mr Zannettou used was a helicopter, where a wheel would be directly adjacent to the wheel that would spin the rotors. As the helicopter moved, the first wheel would spin, and the wheel perpendicular to it would spin the other way, thus making the blades spin.
I am very excited to see how DE and especially this project play out, and I’m looking forward to the rest of the year!
By Joe B (2B)
Club of the week
Model United Nations
Model United Nations (MUN) is a great club for anybody who wants to have fun or practise their debating skills. It happens in the lecture theatre at 12:35pm on Tuesdays. We are assigned different countries and put through clauses about the given topic. For example, the topic now is Chemical and Biological warfare. Then people from each country come forward to explain their clause and get the different countries to vote on their side. If the majority vote for then it goes through however if the countries vote against it is rejected. It may seem confusing at first but once you get used to it its great fun!
By Siddhant S (2J)
Badminton and Table Tennis Club
It is the club of the week again because it is a place where you can grab a group of your friends and just play a game of badminton. Sometimes you find the courts completely full, but it is OK because you can even join some of your other friends in table tennis. They are both really good hobbies for you to adopt and they are really easy to learn, especially for a racket sport.
By Aiden F (2F)
Java Club
If you’re on the lookout for a club to join, consider becoming a part of the Java Minecraft Club! It takes place every Tuesday and individuals of all skill levels are welcome. Minecraft plugin development is a fascinating journey into the world of creativity. If you join the club, you’ll learn to craft custom modifications known as plugins, capable of enhancing various aspects of Minecraft Java Edition. These plugins have the power to transform gameplay, introduce exciting new features, and even create entirely unique gaming experiences.
But there’s more to it than just enhancing your Minecraft adventures. Learning to code plugins can be a rewarding experience that equips you with essential programming skills. You’ll gain hands-on experience with Java, a widely used programming language that can open doors to various career opportunities.
Don’t worry if you’re new to coding; many of our members, me included, started with little to no experience. With the support and resources available here, you’ll quickly find yourself on the path to coding your very first plugin. Whether you’re a beginner or already have some coding knowledge, you’re sure to have a great time and learn valuable skills at the club!
By Devam K (2B)
Take a look at the full list of all clubs, societies and other co-curricular activities on offer in the booklet below:
Little Shop of Horrors
Come along and see this year’s Senior Musical, the deviously delicious sci-fi smash hit musical, Little Shop Of Horrors! The meek floral assistant Seymour Krelborn stumbles across a new breed of plant he names “Audrey II”. This R&B-singing carnivore promises unending fame and fortune to the down and out Krelborn as long as he keeps feeding it, BLOOD. Over time, though, Seymour discovers Audrey II’s out of this world origins and intent towards global domination! Click on the link here to buy your tickets for what promises to be a great evening!
QUIZ OF THE WEEK
Well done to everyone who had a go at last week’s quiz. Big shout out to Form 2J with the most entries. Merits go to:
2J: Neil T, Henry S, Louis C, Siddhant S, Zihan C, Josh B, Shishir V, Joshua A
2L: Macsen B, Armaan V, Neev G, Konrad G
2W: Marcus P, Huw C, Isaac d Q
2B: Fred O, Alex G, Devam K
2H: James G
2F: Oscar F, Ben J, Aiden F, Daniel S, Eeston Z
2P: Arjun S, Oliver Y, Jonathan A
Take a look at this week’s questions – have a go yourself or challenge people at home and see if they know the answer. Points for the Interform Competition will be awarded to the form with the most entries over the term.
This week’s quiz questions come to you from Oliver Y (2P). Why don’t you have a go and enter your answers here.
Here are the answers from last week’s quiz:
- What is the world’s smallest mammal? Kitti’s hog nosed bat or the “Bumblebee Bat”
- Where was the first animated feature film made? Argentina
- Which country is made up of the most islands? Sweden
- How long is the Mississippi river? 3,766km
- What is the only letter that does not appear in any US state name? Q
