Welcome to the Third Year Blog!
Hello again.
We are now fully ensconced in the term. It feels comfortable. It feels right.
But what of the blog? Well, after last week’s football feast, the Third Year Blog is looking to redress the balance. The round ball game is all well and good, but there is plenty more going on in the School! We have reports from a cross country meet, a view on the experience of starting rowing in the Third Year (a truly life changing experience!) as well information on a School production and the Hampton Sports Chronicle. We are also taking the opportunity to introduce a key contributor to keeping our sports fields in pristine condition.
For all that, there is still a lot sport… The blog is on the hunt for stories about all the remarkable things our Third Year Hamptonians are getting up to that don’t involve scoring goals, or scoring points, or being timed. Provide the blog with your magnificence and the blog will share that magnificence!
Right, enough chat: let’s go.
Heads of Year Message
Stay in touch
We remind the boys on a weekly basis of the opportunities they have to come and meet with us. They are always welcome to pop along to our office for a chat, with a question or for some advice, but in particular we guarantee Third Year pupils that one of us will be in the office at the following morning break times:
Thursday – “Open door” at HOY Office if there is anything they would like to discuss.
Friday – Merit signing, also in HOY Office, for both academic and LION merits – chocolate available!
Parents, please feel free to contact your son’s Form Tutors by email or arrange a phone conversation if there is anything you need to relay or discuss. Similarly, if there are any comments or concerns you have at this stage of the term that you would like to raise with us, please do contact us both by email and we can arrange to speak as required.
No Limits Lessons Day
We have high hopes and expectations of all Third Year pupils when they take part in No Limits Lessons Day on Thursday next week. This should provide everyone with an opportunity to learn in new, exciting and interactive ways. Crucially, we ask that all pupils embrace this day and participate wholeheartedly, just as they did during Teambuilding at the start of term!
Uniform
Ahead of the arrival of more autumnal weather in the coming weeks, a reminder that boys are allowed to wear sensible hats, coats and gloves to keep warm on their journeys to and from school, but they must revert to full school uniform throughout the school day whilst on site. This means they must wear a school tie (properly tied) and school blazer, with a white shirt (tucked in and buttoned up), dark trousers, dark socks and smart black shoes (non-trainers). If they are cold, it is permissible to wear a vest under the shirt and/or a dark V-neck jumper. Coats should not be worn in school. Persistent failure to meet these uniform requirements is a conduct issue and can lead to sanctions and/or contacting parents.
It is also important to note that chewing gum is not allowed on the school site.
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, or complete the absence form via the parent portal. For planned absences and appointments, please contact Heads of Year requesting the absence with as much notice as possible.
Boys – Please let us, your Form Tutors or the relevant subject teachers know if you have any difficulties. Have a lovely weekend.
Best wishes
Mr T Rigby & Mrs M Bedford
Cross Country – Junior Haskell Cup
On Wednesday 27 September, members of the Second and Third Year Cross Country team travelled to Bradstone Brook (RGS Guildford’s sports fields) to compete in the Junior Haskell Cup. On this occasion they were without the First Years since they were away on a residential, they were unable to compete. The race was a 2.2km course made up of two 1.1km laps. This must be completed by four members of a team who had to high five the next runner in the changeover box with the fourth runner being the one who would ultimately cross the finish line.
The conditions were very good: the weather was mild and dry and the course was pretty flat. It was a very busy race with boys and girls and all three age groups running together. The field was strong with some excellent local runners who were fiercely supported by their teammates making for an exciting atmosphere. We were due to field three teams (two Third Year teams and one Second Year team) but unfortunately, while we lost one Third Year team due to an injury, thankfully everyone still had the chance to run and get some race experience. In the Third Year race for my team, Oliver K ran the first relay. He got us off to a really great start, while I then ran the second leg. I was followed by Harry W, and then finally we finished with Oliver M-H, who crossed the line in what we thought was eleventh place.
The three boys who ran without a full team because of injury were: Noah RdM, Ben W and James Ph. Again, they all put in great performances. The Second Year team ran an excellent race especially considering they were in a race with older boys and managed to finish not that far behind the Third Years. We are still awaiting the final, official times and results, but we all had a fantastic time. This was my first Cross Country experience and I look forward to many more. Thank you to Mr Ting and Mr Smith.
By Isaac M (3D)
Third Years Take to the Water
Rowing is a spectacular choice for games afternoon at Hampton. Every Thursday and Sunday, we go out on the river at the Boat Club, and learn to row! The first times that I rowed, I felt that I was extremely lucky to have this opportunity and the Boat Club at Hampton, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I will definitely continue rowing again in the future!
Every Monday and Friday, during lunchtime, we do a body circuit activity to get used to the tough conditions on the water and build up strength. On Wednesday afternoons, we are lucky to have the North Gym for training – as well as the Ergo Room. The training on Wednesdays is quite tiring, but very enjoyable at the same time; we learnt how to do many stretches, as well as the RAMP (Raise, Activate, Mobilise, Potentiate) warm up sequence.
This is all in preparation for the upcoming races – including the Hampton Head as well as the interschool races in eight months time! Thank you so much to all the rowing staff – I have definitely been enjoying it so far!
By Theo L (3A)
Louis the Arizona Desert Hawk
At the start of the new year, if you find yourself at the School early, you may see a large bird being carried out of the School. This is Louis, the Arizona Desert Hawk.
He is hired by the School to keep the geese, seagulls and pigeons away while the sports fields are being seeded and are at their most vulnerable. You could argue that he played a key role in the School’s ESFA Cup victory by helping provide immaculate surfaces for the teams to play on.
Louis only takes on certain contracts. Hampton School is one, as is West Ham football club. He also patrols Elstree Studios and Rochester Castle, so he is a versatile bird.
His role is to scare the other birds away. While he may look aggressive, all he does is scare them off – no bird is harmed. Indeed, it is worth saying that while Louis looks the part and is certainly enough to get the geese off the cricket squares, he has a brother who is drafted in if there is a problem with crows. Apparently, crows are a little more lively and Louis is too soft a soul to face them down.
So next time you look across the perfectly manicured fields, spare a thought for Louis (and pray that we don’t receive a crow infestation, for his sake).
Clubs Galore
Take a look at the full list of all clubs, societies and other co-curricular activities on offer in the booklet below:
Hampton Sports Chronicle
Great to see our budding sports journalists getting their match reports published in Hampton Sports Chronicle online. Well done to Tom S (3C), for producing a report of his first rugby match for the School. Take a look at HSC online here. If you fancy getting involved, email Mr Sharkey in the English department.
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!
Two truths and a lie
Last week, Mr Walsh told us a filthy lie. We just didn’t know which nonsense was actually nonsense. Let’s revisit his chat.
- Mr Walsh has travelled to 58 countries
- Mr Walsh is deeply afraid of spiders
- Mr Walsh is Diamond 2 on Rocket League
Mr Walsh is a very well-travelled man. As I understand it, there is every chance that he has now travelled to more than the 58 countries than he told us he had done by last week. If he hasn’t gone to any others in the brief intervening period, it may well be because his fear of spiders has prevented him making it as far as whichever countries are left. All of which means that the falsehood is that he is actually Diamond 3! (it is worth noting that the blog has almost no concept of what that means, but whatever it did mean, it was a lie.)
This week, Mrs Clarke, Tutor for 3D, finds herself on stage. There is a ‘pop’ theme throughout. But what is truth and what is just fizz?
- Mrs Clarke’s mother was famous singer Petula Clark (she removed the ‘e’ from her surname for her stage name)
- Mrs Clarke once sat next to 90s pop icon (!!) Peter Andre on a flight to Japan
- The first album Mrs Clarke bought was Jason Donovan’s ‘Ten Good Reasons’ (it is worth noting that the Blog does not believe anyone would willingly admit to this)
Which is the lie?
CONNECTION CORNER
A big shout out to everyone who had a go at this week’s Connection Corner! Well done those of you who answered all the questions correctly and guessed the connection as Ice Creams! Merits go to Krishang T, Olly P, William O’S, Kiran G, Manraj G, Arthur K, Darshan S, Ryan W, AJ C, Siddharth S, Jack H, Rafe M and Jake O’R.
Another tricky one this week, have a go over the weekend and see if you can spot the connection:
What was the name of the famous 80s TV detective played by Tom Selleck? Magnum PI
The Beatles were collectively known by what famous phrase? The Fab Four
What word do Americans commonly use to describe tornados? Twisters
What is the word for a large meal that is typically a celebratory one? Feast
Connection: Ice Creams (Magnum, Fab, Twister, Feast)
