Hampton@Home. March 2020

Welcome to the first edition of our Hampton@Home e-newsletter, which we hope will keep our School community connected as we (and society at large) navigate these uncharted waters.  There have been seismic changes to everyday life over the past fortnight and, as a Modern European historian, I have recalled the apocryphal words of Vladimir Ilyich Ulanov (aka Lenin): ‘There are decades where nothing happens, and there are weeks where decades happen.’  If indeed he said this, he will have been referring to the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution, but these words might equally apply to the contemporary global public health threat of COVID-19.

At Hampton, we shall continue to do all we can to support your son and you throughout the period of School site closure.  Hampton@Home will be sent out regularly and will aim to provide a mix of practical and entertaining content for Hamptonians and their families.  We shall offer fun, imaginative learning ideas, alongside tips and advice on caring for your mental and physical wellbeing.  All of this is courtesy of my wonderful Common Room colleagues, who are working extremely hard to share their wisdom, knowledge and enthusiasm with boys and parents.  You might already have seen – via our various School social media feeds ­– that they are being remarkably innovative and inventive in doing this.

I should like to take this opportunity to thank parents for your many kind messages of support and encouragement received since the government decision to close school sites across the country.  We might now be physically distant (two metres or more!) but every day this week has brought further proof that Hamptonians are displaying their trademark togetherness, creativity and good humour in adversity.  We are embarking upon the Easter break in circumstances that none of us could have foreseen at the start of term and it appears that we face an as yet undefined number of weeks apart.  But I know there will be many moments of joy, laughter and happiness for us to share as a School and that we shall also benefit from an unanticipated opportunity to pursue existing and new interests and passions.

With this last idea in mind, my leadership team colleagues have kindly organised for home delivery of a School ukulele for me.  I have undertaken to play it for the boys in assembly at some point after we return.  Mr Roland and his amazing Music Department colleagues will have never taken on a greater teaching challenge, but in the spirit of lifelong learning, I shall give it my very best shot!

We will reconvene on the School site as soon as it is safe to do so, and I’m sure that I speak for everyone – boys, parents, staff and governors – in saying it will be a very happy day indeed when it arrives!  In the meantime, I know that we at Hampton will retain our remarkably strong, warm and nurturing sense of community, albeit in a rather different form for a while.

As Mr Nicholson said in this morning’s inaugural e-assembly, Hampton has been around since 1557 and this means our School has lived through many difficult times, yet always thrived and flourished.  Keep in touch; stay safe and well; look after your families and loved ones.  If I can help personally at any stage, please do not hesitate to contact me and I shall respond as soon as I can.

With kind regards and best wishes