Welcome to the First Year Blog!
It has been so exciting to meet our new First Years in the last week! There is already a massive difference between the excited and nervous pupils we met on Wednesday morning and the current group that have just finished their first full week with us, and I know many of you already feel a lot more settled than you might have thought when you woke up on your first day last week. Having now had a full (minus an impromptu afternoon off) week of lessons, clubs, rehearsals and sport training sessions, you have done an amazing job getting used to the Hampton routines and made a very positive first impression on your teachers – well done and enjoy a very well-deserved weekend off!
I know you’ve had lots of welcomes already so I hope this is your final one for a while: welcome to the First Year Blog! Every Friday evening you will be able to read what the First Year has been up to that week – all written by the First Year pupils! Please do come along to G23 at 1.15pm on Thursday next week if you would like to contribute to next week’s blog, or send your contributions directly to me (Mr Fuldner) by Friday morning!
FIRST WEEK EXPERIENCES
Last week, the school formally welcomed the new First Years to Hampton. That day saw the First Years turn from primary schoolers to genuine Hamptonians. That day, the school spent almost a whole day of their summer break to cultivate the First Year seedlings. The First Years were given a bucket load of information to learn, but they had a good time making friends and learning the rules and ethos of the school.
Just a day after the fun and games of New Boys’ Day, the First Years then got to pick their favourite clubs at the Co-curricular Fair. From the fascination of chemistry club to the concentration and tactics of chess club, there were endless options for the fledgeling First Years to pick from. The Hampton clubs are not full of forms, extra fees, and endless signatures, you could just turn up and be part of the society. If you are not satisfied, then you could just leave.
Just this week, Thames Water made an unexpected half day break for Hamptonians due to them cutting off the water supply to the Hampton area. Just imagine the surprise and shock when the members of staff announced that the classes were to go home for the rest of the day. Luckily for us, Thames Water restored the supply on Wednesday afternoon, meaning that we could resume school.
By Cedric Y (1H)
My first week at Hampton will be a week I will always remember. Every day in the morning, I feel a feeling I never expected to feel ‘yay I am going to school.’ Every hour of this new experience has been phenomenal. Here is the summary of my first week at Hampton.
On the night before the first day it was hard to sleep, ‘Hampton, high school, new people’ were the only things I could hear in my head. I was so excited I could have burst into a million particles…
On the morning of the first day, I felt the proudest I have ever felt, putting on my uniform. My smile shone brighter than the sun as I knew my first day of school was just around the corner. A few photos were taken here and there as I knew that I would never be able to experience this moment ever again. I rushed my breakfast and threw my bag over my shoulder, but before I could get out of the door my mum wanted more photos. I felt like a celebrity. Hampton was huge and overwhelming, it made me feel like Harry Potter as he approached Hogwarts. My mum released my hand and I walked to the Main Hall where I was met by my form tutors and classmates. Talking to them, I felt like I already knew them. We headed to our form room and got to know each other a bit more. It was fun and time flew by. After a few bits of admin, it was already time to meet the Headmaster in the Hammond Theatre. His speech truly made me feel like I was not a child anymore but a man, even better a Hamptonian.
After the assembly it was time for my favourite bit. Lunch! I was so exhilarated as the aroma of lunch as it crept up my nostrils. Yet the queue could not have been any longer. When I eventually sat down to have my meal, I was excited to taste what was going to be the best lunch I had ever tasted; chicken noodles. After that we played a load of sport, what a great way to finish the day.
Lessons started the next day on Thursday. My first subject was biology, in fact it was the first time I had ever done biology. All the subjects that day were amazing and as soon as I returned home my first words were ‘I want to go to school.’ Over the next few days, it was a pleasure to go to school and every period was supremely interesting.
On my first day I realised what I had worked for, and I am happier than ever to be part of this new community, not really a community but this family. Because after all once a Hamptonian, always a Hamptonian.
Praestat Opes Sapientia
By Ethan S-W (1L)
On Wednesday 6 September, all of us First Year pupils walked through the coveted doors of the Hampton main entrance as we began the most exciting adventure we have ever experienced. After an opening talk from Headmaster Mr Knibbs, we were sent to our form rooms and with our friendly, kind and helpful form tutors. We participated in fun activities on New Boys’ Day such as a scavenger hunt, opening a master lock and best of all, the sports. Our first two official days were filled with laughter, fun, kindness and a lot of getting lost. The teachers, mentors and all of the older pupils have helped us settle in and you can ask anyone for help or directions and they will show you without making fun or being disrespectful. Our first full week as Hamptonians has been nothing short of amazing. It has only been a week and nearly every single one of us have learnt so many things. The school is quite big, much bigger than all of our primary schools and none of us are strangers to getting lost but after every day, we are using our maps less and less and soon we will know Hampton like it’s the back of our hands. All of us are making friends and I didn’t think I would be able to make friends as I am the only one coming from my primary school but I have made so many friends over the course of the last week and I realised that I was certainly not the only one extremely excited for our Avon Tyrell trip in a couple of weeks. I have already started attending clubs and I have enjoyed every second of them. I think I can speak for everyone and say that we have all enjoyed our first week here and I can’t wait to see what the next seven years holds for me and for everyone else at this incredible school.
By Rishi K (1L)
When I arrived at the school, my heart was pounding. I was met by very happy Sixth Form Mentors, who helped me to get to my new form room. Charles, one of the mentors, gave me some very useful tips that I will employ throughout my time as a Hamptonian. My Form Tutors were happy to help with all my questions about life at the school and how to prepare for lessons easily.
There were so many new people to meet, and many new subjects to take in when the first week of school arrived. By the end of the second week, I have made many new friends and there are many more friendships awaiting to be made. Thank you to everyone that supported me through my first couple of days.
By Alex Z (1P)
During my first week at Hampton, I have had a wonderful experience, ranging from the amazing teachers and form tutors to my friendly and funny classmates and Sixth Form mentors. The sport is amazing at school. Games is one of my favourite lessons of the week, the sport instructors always give us feedback on how to improve and are very encouraging. I wait to spend the next seven years here, at this wonderful school.
By Aman C (1F)
Take a look at a video of the first day along with some photos below:
Co-curricular Fair
Great to see so many of you come along to last Friday’s Co-curricular Fair. Clubs are now up and running, and Third Year Hamptonians are spoilt for choice! Take a look at the full list of all clubs, societies and other co-curricular activities on offer in the booklet below:
With over 130 clubs and societies on offer, the biggest challenge will be deciding which ones to join! Keep an eye out for notices from your Form Tutor for any changes to this year’s clubs.
SPECIAL SHOUT OUTS!
Charles B (1F) travelled to Sweden in July to play football in the Gothia Cup, also known as the World Youth Cup. Over 1800 teams aged U11-U18 from 70 countries across took part. His team was selected from schools across the south of England and together they were undefeated against six teams from Sweden, France and even Mongolia. It was an incredible opportunity to make new friends and play football against teams from all over the world. What an impressive achievement, Charles – well done!
We love to hear about what you have been getting up to outside of school and to celebrate your successes in the First Year Blog! Please do send any information about any of your achievements through to Mr Fuldner (d.fuldner@hamptonschool.org.uk).
THE HAMPTON HUNT
Each week I will set you a challenge where you need to find out a random fact, number or indeed anything else around the School – you won’t be able to do this from home! Points for the interform competition will be awarded to the Form with the most correct entries over the course of the term! You have until the end of Wednesday to complete the challenge; you will find out in next week’s blog if you’re correct, and you will be given a merit by your Form Tutor the following Monday. And who knows – you might get to know the School better in the process!
This week’s challenge:
What is the total number of chairs in all the Physics labs with a prime number?
