Welcome to the First Year Blog!

It has been lovely to see the First Year boys back after their well-deserved half term break. We hope everyone had a lovely (and sunny) Jubilee Weekend! This week, First Year Hamptonians have been developing their debating and listening skills in the first of their Oracy lessons during PSHE. While their first attempts at mass debate were a little ‘chaotic’, it was great to see them progress and build on others’ views, as well as challenging each others’ ideas constructively – an important skill! The boys have also started to receive their assessment results from their various subjects this week. While many will be pleased with their results, there will inevitably be some boys who are disappointed with how they have done in some subjects. It is important to remember that these assessments are a learning experience, and we often learn best from things going wrong than going perfectly. If any boy is particularly concerned or upset, he can speak to his Form Tutors, School Counsellors, or any of the First Year team for guidance and support.

FIRST YEAR CLUBS

As we enter the final half term of the year, it’s your last chance to try something new from the wide range of clubs that that are on offer at Hampton. Here’s a reminder of ones that you might like to check out:

Monday Cricket training (U12A/B/C) (12:35, Pavilion)

Badminton & Table Tennis (12:35, Sports Hall)

Biology (12:35, B2)

Board Games (12:35, Library)

Tech (1:10, Control Lab)

Tuesday Art (12:35, AR2)

Dungeons & Dragons (12:35, Rm. 25A)

Chemistry (12:45, C9)

Backgammon (1:00, Rm. 3B)

History, Archives & Archaeology (13:10, Rm. 86)

Wednesday Athletics – hurdles/throws (12:35 field)

Boys’ Choir (12:35, Garrick)

The Writers’ Room (12:45, Rm. 53)

Geography (12:45, Rm. 74)

Croquet (1:00, outside Porters’ Lodge)

Book Club (1:00, Library)

Junior Philosophy (13:20, Rm. 21)

Thursday Athletics – speed/sprints (12:35 field)

Volleyball (12:35, Sports Hall)

Tennis (12:35, Tennis courts)

Golf (12:35, nets)

Junior Physics (12:35, P1)

French/German (12:35, Rm. 14/Rm. 14b)

Pride (12:35, Rm. 91)

Gardening (1:00, Geography garden)

Junior Drama (1:10, Drama Hall)

Friday Basketball (12:35, Sports Hall)

Golf (12:35, nets)

Cross country (12:35, Pavilion)

Climbing (12:35, Climbing Wall)

Current Affairs (1:20, Rm. 99)

Adventure Society Trip to Dorset

On the last day of half term, 30 First Years headed off for a weekend of water sports and climbing in Dorset. Daniel M (1B) tells us a little more about what they got up to:

We started the Adventure Society trip with a walk through the green fields of Dorset and saw the ruins of the once great Corfe Castle. We counted the steps down to the main road and there were over 300! The next day we started off with big canoeing, my team (the chipmunks) won the tower building on the island with the pottery all over the beach and I really enjoyed a game we played with the paddles. It was hard work but we arrived back to the site first and won the race for lunch! Afterwards we walked down the steep hill of dancing ledge and did climbing and abseiling off the sea cliff. Although I am scared of heights, I loved both and found them thrilling. The walk back up the hill was a hard one and we got a much needed shower when we got back.

The last day’s activity was the mud run. It was my favourite part of the whole trip. We basically went on a difficult obstacle course through lots of wet mud including mud slides and climbing on ropes over a pit of muddy water. Nobody escaped without being covered from head to toe in mud. I thought the trip was really fun and I am looking forward to the next Adventure Society Trip!

Take a look at the video below to see what our First Years got up to:

TUTEE OF THE WEEK

Each week, Tutors in the First Year team nominate a boy who they have been particularly impressed with and Mr Hill and Mrs Peattie will provide the boy with a football to use on the 3G for the week!

This week’s Tutee of the Week is Oliver K (1H). Oliver’s level-headed attitude and good humour has really impressed his teachers and Form Tutors. Well done, Oliver!

SPECIAL SHOUT OUTS!

Over the Jubilee Weekend, Luke T (1L) entered his street’s competition to bake the best Jubilee-themed cake for their street party celebrations, and won with his amazing crown cake! Fantastic job, Luke – it looks delicious!

We love to hear about what you have been getting up to outside of School. Please do send any information about any of your achievements through to Mrs Ziegler (h.ziegler@hamptonschool.org.uk).

FIRST YEAR 5 QUESTIONS

Well done to everyone who entered last week’s quiz! Merits go to:

1J: Josh M-J

1W: Oliver S, James P

1L: William O’S, Alexey M

1H: Henry W, Max 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.

  1. Alfred Pennyworth is the butler to which superhero?
  2. In cricket, what is the maximum number of wickets that can fall in a two-innings game?
  3. What is the only country with a coastline on both the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf?
  4. Which of the following is not a blood group – AB, O or T?
  5. Who was the last wife of Henry VIII?

Merits are awarded for everyone who has a go! Just click on the link below and enter your answers; points for the Interform Competition will be awarded to the form with the most entries every week.

Why don’t you have a go and enter your answers here. 

Remember to write your name in the form so you can be credited with merits!

Take a look at next week’s blog to find out the answers and here are the answers to last week’s 5 questions:

    1. In Greek mythology, who was the goddess of the rainbow? Iris
    2. What are Eagle, Intrepid, Antares, Falcon, Orion and Challenger? Lunar modules (to carry astronauts to the moon’s surface)
    3. Which South American football team has won the most World Cups? Brazil
    4. Which character does Hayden Christensen play in the Star Wars series? Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader
    5. Which stretch of water separates the Isle of Wight from mainland Britain? The Solent

HAVE A GREAT weekend!

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