Welcome to the Third Year Blog!
Anyone who spends any amount of time in the School will realise that the natural state of many Third Year Hamptonians is running around, shirt untucked, chasing a ball of some kind. Of course, there is much to be said for that, as long as you’re on the 3G and not in a classroom (though the quantity of confiscated footballs you can see in the groaning cupboards of the various departmental offices tells you that the average Hamptonian has not successfully made that distinction as yet). Context is everything, young lions.
Now, don’t be mistaken, the Third Year Blog would be the last blog to suggest that chasing balls has no value. Chasing balls has been a key part of our civilisation for centuries.
But, there are other ways to entertain yourself and keep yourself busy if the ball chasing is not an option, and Hampton is the perfect place to find those other things. Just today at lunchtime for the Third Years in terms of not chasing balls, there was:
Junior Rock Band
Beekeeping Club
Italian Culture and Conversation Club
Breakdancing, Popping and Locking Club
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Club
Young Philosopher’s Club
Pickleball, Table Tennis and Badminton (I mean arguably there is some ball chasing involved here, but we’ll let it pass)
Dog Club (we can assume there is ball chasing here, but not from the Hamptonians)
Cross Country and Running Club
Illusion Lab
History Society
Maths Club (obvs)
Gardening Club
Junior Guitar Ensemble
Neurodiversity Club
As a wise man once said, LORDY BEANS, THAT IS A LOT OF CLUBS.
So, if you find yourself forlornly looking out of the window having inexplicably lost the desire to chase a ball (or having lost said ball to the teacher who saw you hammer it across F69 at your friend), then think instead about all the other things that you could potentially be doing. It is not an exaggeration to say that you will probably never in the rest of your life find yourself so well placed to find something new to do that you haven’t tried before, so try to make the most of it!
The full list of cocurricular activities can be found on Sharepoint (cleverly, they are in the section titled ‘Co-curricular Area’) and there will be copies going up in Form Rooms very soon, so have a look at what is on offer and try something new.
Having said all this, the truth remains that, ironically, all except one of today’s blog stories is entirely focused on chasing balls. Do with that what you will. Onward!
HEADS of year Message
Well done to the U14A Rugby team for registering their first win of the season in a hard-fought match against St. Benedict’s School. The team have been training well, and it is great to see a positive result reflecting that effort – good luck for the next fixture boys!
Co-curricular Activities
The full range of co-curricular activities have been up and running for several weeks now. One of the targets we set for Third Year pupils is to “get involved” in many different aspects of School life, and one of the best ways to do this is through the various co-curricular opportunities. It is not too late to try a new club, and we would encourage everyone to do this at least once more before the half term break. Details and timings of all clubs and co-curricular activities can be found here in the co-curricular booklet as well as co-curricular area of SharePoint here.
No Limits Lessons Day
No Limits Lessons Day has been enjoyed across the Third Year today. This has encouraged pupils to engage with their subjects in new and exciting ways. Embracing the spirit of trying something new, teachers were challenged to ‘do something different’ and came up with a range of innovative ways for Hamptonians to interact with their subjects.
We were pleased to see how whole-heartedly Third Year pupils embraced the opportunities presented on No Limits Lessons Day to experience new things and learn in a different way. Such lesson activities rely on a lot of trust and goodwill between teachers and pupils, so we were delighted that Third Year pupils upheld the best qualities of being a Hamptonian in making the most of the day – aiming for personal best while supporting those around you with kindness!
October Grade Cards
Parents will be able to access their child’s grade card from the end of the school day on Friday 17 October via the online Parent Portal. The link to this will also be sent to parents via SchoolPost that evening. Pupils should not worry unduly about their grade cards. Form Tutors will pick up on any academic concerns after the half term holiday, with the aim of offering support if required.
Absences
If your child will be absent from School for any reason, please complete the absence reporting form, which can be found on My School Portal, on every morning of absence. For absences other than illness (e.g. if a pupil has a medical appointment during School hours) notice of this should be given in advance wherever possible. For planned absences, please contact the Heads of Year requesting the absence with as much notice as possible.
Third Year pupils – 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 & Mr H Moore
Nature Captured
A big shout out to Ollie S (3J) who was one of the winners of the Geography summer photo competition.
The Geography department picked a shortlist of 30, from which the visitors at our Open Morning voted for their favourites. Take a look at Ollie’s stunning photo below:
Game on
U14A Rugby
On Tuesday, our rugby team played against St Benedict’s. We were coming off the back of a four-game losing streak from the beginning of the season, and we were missing some of our best players to injury, so we were feeling a bit beleaguered, especially given that St Benedict’s were winners of last year’s Middlesex rugby festival. However, we went into our game with a keen desire to at least get a few points on the board.
We started playing with a great intensity and bravery, as Ms Turner asked of us, and we ended up making the first try, which Aaron J touched down, before they scored very quickly after. Toby B then scored again for us, and Mr Beattie even described it at half time as a potential try of the season, before they scored again just before half time.
The entire first half was dramatically back and forth, with the only difference in points at half time being one conversion against us. Into the second half, we had huge optimism, and we played extremely hard, with two more tries each way, putting us behind by four points due to conversions with one and a half minutes left. However, we kept playing to the end, and the final action of the game was Will B scoring and then Aaron converting, so we won 22-19. It was beyond exciting and tense. Our scorers (in order) were Aaron, then Toby (me) set up by Will, then Toby (me) again, although this time created by Patrick, and finally Will to get the win. Everyone was celebrating like crazy, like we had won the Six Nations, which I had to admit, it did feel like: getting our first win of the season against St Benedict’s. They played extremely well and were very good-hearted and sportsmanlike after the final whistle, so hats off to them. It was a great game, and we will remember for a long time.
By Toby B (3D)
U14A Football
On a bright and sunny morning, Hampton travelled across London to face a strong Alleyn’s side in a highly anticipated rematch. Missing three key midfielders through injury, Hampton showed great character and determination from the outset. Building on confidence from their previous 5-1 ISFA Cup victory over The Heathland School, we started the game well and kept the ball nicely for the first 10 minutes. After that, Alleyn’s began to take control and scored some very well-taken goals.
We struggled to keep up with their pace and intensity as the game went on with the final score being 6-1 to Alleyn’s. It was a tough result, but there were still some good moments from us, and we’ll try to bounce back in the next match.
By Charles B (3F)
U14B Football
Hampton’s U14B team began their season with an unfortunate 3-2 loss to Bede’s school. However, bouncing back from the defeat with a 2-1 win against Alleyn’s School was what everyone needed. Hopes were high and the team were looking confident, as they set up for the start of the game. Hampton started pressing high, with Robert W applying pressure on the goalkeeper from the whistle. Alleyn’s pounced on every opportunity they could get, with their main weapon being the long ball over the top of Hampton’s backline. Eventually, Robert W was rewarded for his hard work pressing the ball, and with a brilliant pass from Stephane A, Robert planted the ball in the top right corner, after finding space inside the penalty box. The team celebrated the early victory, even though everyone knew that Hampton could have be winning by many more.
The first half was one of many nerves from both teams. Last year’s result ended in a 9-1 victory for Hampton, leading to the potential over-confidence from Hampton and worry from Alleyn’s school. However, despite the nerves, Hampton managed to hold on to the 1-0 lead after a huge opportunity for Alleyn’s not being converted.
The half-time whistle blew, and the players rushed in to Mr Daly, eager to hear how they could improve. The referee indicated for the players from both teams to head back onto the pitch, and the second half was underway.
Alleyn’s School started the second half strong, with opportunity after opportunity occurring for their striker. Our centre-back and captain Wilf W defended well throughout the game with brilliant blocks and balls played forward by Tomo S. Nearing the halfway mark of the second half, Finn T was substituted onto the pitch, a decision that boosted Hampton’s strength in the final third, leading to a goal scored by Wyatt M nearer to the end of the game. A brilliant through-ball from Finn resulted in the cool, calm and collected finish from Wyatt.
Eager to get the game restarted, Alleyn’s increased the intensity, with the Hampton backline being called into action again and again. Eventually, Alleyn’s got their reward for their performance, with a pass into their striker resulting in a one-on-one with goalkeeper Ollie S, where the ball slotted into the bottom corner. However, time was up and as Alleyn’s restarted the game, the final whistle blew, much to the relief of the Hampton Side.
After the game, Mr Daly described our performance as ‘strong and spirited’. The team faces The Winston Churchill school in the first round of ESFA on Thursday 2 October.
By Ollie S (3J)
You can find Ollie’s match report in Hampton Sports Chronicle online here. Take a look at some of the superb sports writing from Hampton’s budding journalists. If you fancy getting involved, email Mr Baker in the English department.
U14C Football
The car park at Alleyn’s football ground was fired up with the excitement of three football U14 teams. The C team match kicked off with a bang, with an excellent dribbling run from Noriki W, before he slotted the ball neatly into the bottom right, straight past the lunging goalkeeper. Hampton were 1-0 up, give or take one and half minutes into the match!
This was followed by a play towards Alleyn’s half, which ended with Kolawale shooting the ball with power into the back of the net. This incredible double put Hampton into the lead after just four minutes! From then on, the football was of high quality, calm tap ins on the rebound, and the likes of Kailan S and Chester F putting their names on the scoreboard. The defence had not much to do really, with Hampton possession so strong.
Unfortunately, our goalkeeper was struck in the head by the ball, while making an exceptional save. Despite his unbelievable block of the near tap-in, he was concussed, meaning he had to be substituted. Not to fear though, Rayan A was soon adjusting the slightly too small gloves and preparing his goalkeeping instincts for some action ahead.
Despite Rayan’s swap for Alex, the rest of the game was a breeze, with very few close calls, and some Hampton players adding a few goals to the score. Kailan S closely missed out on a hat- trick with the desperate goalkeeper’s dive just falling short of the ball, just for the ball to sail past the post by only a few millimetres. Some action occurred towards the end of the game although it failed to provide Hampton their seventh goal, before the final whistle was blown and Hampton headed off to celebrate their unbelievable victory. Final score: 6-0 to Hampton.
By George C (3J)
U14D Football
Last Thursday the U14Ds played out a riveting match against Winchester College. Full of action, the team played out a narrow loss, losing 2-1. Winchester were full of speed, putting goals past our defence. The attacking force from Hampton was aggressive, however the final product wasn’t quite there, and a late goal was salvaged. It was a valiant effort from the Hampton side and they are ready and raring to play their next game at home against Bradfield College.
By Emile S (3F)
Book review
Recently, the brand new (and last) book of the Skandar series came out. It is called Skandar and the Spirit War. As a keen reader and lover of the series, I bought it immediately. So here I am, telling you a bit about the series and how I ended up loving it.
It all started when I was in Year 6 and the author of the Skandar book series came to my school. I had no idea that an author was coming to our school and I was extremely excited that someone mildly famous was coming to my school (it was early 2023). I really wanted a copy of the signed book but you had to order it in advance. After the author talked about her book, we came back to class where signed copies of the book was given out to people who had ordered it. I was really surprised when I got handed one and found out that my parents had ordered one of the copies.
After I got home, I started reading the book straight away and instantly got hooked. I loved how the author used a Harry Potter kind of style with forbidden adventures and school life. Each time after that, I would instantly snatch a copy of the new Skandar books within a month of it being released. So here I am, having completed the series and journeyed through the ‘Unicorn’ world with Skandar and all the other characters.
So here is a bit about the books. Skandar is a normal 13-year-old boy hoping to pass the hatchery exam and get a Unicorn. But then the story took a dark turn when he is barred from taking the exam. Then a mysterious woman takes him to an island, where there were unicorns. There, he finds out that he and his unicorn are allied to a forbidden element and end up having to pretend to be ‘water allied’ to stay and train. The Weaver then strikes and takes the unicorn of the ruler of the island away. Skandar saves the island and is permitted to train as the only ‘spirit wielder’ legally. And like this, year after year, he saves the island up until the last book when he was imprisoned by an evil dictator, breaks out and starts a war.
By Ian L (3J)
Two truths and a lie
Last week, Third Year tutor Mrs Pickford-Scienti told us a filthy lie in amongst two shining truths. But could you work out which was which?
- Mrs Pickford Scienti LOVES a marmalade sandwich
- Mrs Pickford Scienti has five dresses with books on them
- Mrs Pickford Scienti is looking forward to playing Forza Horizon 6 (which is set in Tokyo) so much that she is learning Japanese
Mrs Pickford-Scienti tells us that she does have five dresses with books on them – the Third Year Blog suspects that the only untruth here is that the actual number is closer to double figures… She also is REALLY looking forward to Forza Horizon 6 and is learning Japanese in tribute (she is also going to Japan, so this may contribute to wanting to learn the language, but let’s not let that get in the way of a good ‘two truths and a lie’). This means that she doesn’t LOVE marmalade sandwiches. In fact, she would go as far as to say that she HATES them. Who would have thought that preserved fruit could provoke such ire?
This week we have Assistant Head of Third Year, Mr Green (not Music Administrator, Mr Green). He is another example of a figure of supposed authority who seems willing to lie on the internet. Below are his three outlandish claims.
- Mr Green has an irrational dislike of men wearing scarves indoors.
- Mr Green makes his own butter.
- Mr Green’s favourite colour is green.
Which is the lie? Find out next week…
Connection Corner
A big shout out to all the Third Year Hamptonians who had a go at last week’s Connection Corner. Lots of you guessed letters of the alphabet but the correct connection was Blood Types! Merits go to Will H, Toby B, Milan S, Zaki T, Callan B and Charlie F.
Another tricky one this week, see if you can spot the connection:
In case you’re still perplexed, here are last week’s answers:
What are the English letters that are equivalent to the Greek letters, alpha and beta? A and B
What type of insect can be a honey or a bumble? Bee
What qualification preceded GCSEs? O Levels and CSEs
What is the name of Italy’s premier football league? Serie A
Connection: Blood types (AB, B, O, A)
