Welcome to the Second Year Blog!
Lots going on this week and lots to look forward to too! Our Rugby players and Footballers have all been enjoying their matches and gaining valuable experiences and memories in the process, and our musicians have finally been entertaining audiences again! Next week, we have No Limits Week to look forward to; this will be a fantastic way to finish the half term!
Merits
Well done to the following boys for reaching their merit milestones this week!
Aaditya Tendulkar – 10
Agalyan Sathiyamoorthy – 70 (what a great achievement!)
ROCK CONCERT
Last Friday, we had the joy of the yearly Hampton Rock Concert taking place. After some time away due to Covid restrictions, it is finally back! It is a great event where Hamptonians can play some of their favourite songs and showcase their musical talent! There was a huge audience for this great concert and everyone really enjoyed it! Well done to Milo and Johnny for keeping the crowd entertained during the intermissions with some great humour. The younger performers also showed great confidence in going on stage to play and sing! Be sure to go to the next one and Happy Chinese New Year (there was a good Chinese lunch on Tuesday where the Dining Hall was decked out with lots of colourful Chinese decorations!) By Lucas (2P)
CHARACTER DAY
The English department will be running their annual Character Day on Friday 11 March. On this day you come in to School dressed as a character from your favourite book, poem or play! So, get your thinking caps on and get creative with your costumes!!
The event raises money for our Form Charities and if you have an English lesson on that day, you will be working with an author named Sarah Govett to plan your own dystopian stories.
Sarah is a popular author of The Territory series, which is “set in a future Britain where unflooded land is scarce due to environmental issues caused by global warming. Everyone must pass an exam at 15 to stay in The Territory or be exiled to the disease-ridden Wetlands.”
If you don’t have English on Fridays, not to worry, you can still see Sarah. She will be in The Writer’s Room from 12.35pm onwards on Friday 11 March, where she is happy to sell and sign books, and answer any questions or discuss your own creative writing ideas with her.
The English Department are also using Sarah’s visit to hold a Creative Writing Competition
- Entries must be based on the genre of dystopia
- Must not be more than 500 words
- Should be typed
- Deadline: Wednesday 20 April 2022
- Will need to be submitted to o.ellsworth@hamptonschool.org.uk
- Anyone from Second Year is welcome to enter
- If you have any questions, come and see Mr Ellsworth in the English Office
- Sarah Govett will be returning to judge and choose the best entries
- These will also be published in Lion Print, the School’s creative writing magazine
This is always a really fun day and the Second Year Team cannot wait to see all of your imaginative costumes!! Take a look at some of the previous costumes that have graced the corridors of Hampton:
NO LIMITS WEEK
Next week is No Limits Week! While many of you are already involved in a wide range of activities and clubs, the aim of the week is to give you the opportunity to move out of your comfort zone and to challenge yourselves with something new! Perhaps a fresh passion or interest will grow in an activity that you had not previously considered. You will be asked to try three clubs or activities during the week that you don’t usually attend. Your tutors will give you a No Limits Week card that the staff member running the activities will sign for you. Make sure that you check out the new posters in your Form rooms that display all the clubs and activities that will be running. We will be sharing how you get on in next week’s blog!
Don’t forget to check the Co-curricular Guide in advance, so you can plan your week.
CO-CURRICULAR TIMETABLE 2021-22
Lower School Art Exhibition
If you’ve walked through the Art Gallery space this week, you’ll have seen some impressive artistic creations in the Lower School Art Exhibition. From stunning sculptures to creative lino cuts, have a closer look when you’re next in the Art Department. Mrs Williams tells us more:
FOOTBALL
Well done to the U13As who played away in Taunton on Wednesday in their ESFA Quarter Final match!
ESFA Quarter Final: Hampton School 6 v Torquay Boys’ Grammar School 1
After a three hour plus coach ride to Devon, the Hampton U13As were slightly stiff but overall raring to go as they stepped out onto the 3G pitch of Devon FA, knowing a place in the ESFA semi-final was at stake. Kicking from right to left in the opening half, Hampton were kitted out in yellow, with their opponents Torquay Boys’ in blue. The game was underway.
Hampton started the stronger team in the opening exchanges, and could’ve gone in front if it wan’t for chances spurned from Rio Felonov-Tzanev and Caspar Strouts. However, the U13As continued to push resolutely forward, and did indeed draw first blood when a powerful half volley just inside the box from Marcus Solomon nestled into the bottom corner.
Not long after, and the lead was doubled for the boys in yellow, with Felonov-Tzanev twisting and turning on the edge of the box and rifling a weak footed shot home. After this early success Hampton continued to push forward and a great ball over the top from Balti Birts was controlled well by Solomon. His first shot was parried away but he didn’t miss on the second occasion, passing the ball into an empty net.
Torquay were down but not out, however, as they fought back with vengeance before half time. The electric pace of the Torquay striker proved too much to handle for Sooho Jin and Alessandro Cardinale on this particular occasion as he burst through and was brought down for a penalty to the opposition. The penalty in question was calmly converted, and it threw the hosts a lifeline coming into half time.
Hampton were unperturbed by this however, as they continued to play attractive passing football and control the game. Balti Birts chalked up a fourth for the U13As with a stunning strike, snapping up a loose pass from a Torquay midfielder and letting fly a long-range rocket which flew into the roof of the net,
A fifth soon followed, with substitute Omer Olcer doing well to control a beautiful over the top through ball from Felix Burt and finishing clinically underneath the keeper. And, in the dying embers of the game, the win was sealed. A speculative long-range effort from Burt tested the keeper, with sub Alex Watson anticipating the parry straight to his feet and running in to tap home. A thoroughly professional performance from Hampton, and a great win, seeing them move on to the semi-finals of the ESFA, of which the draw will be streamed on 7th February. Next up for the team is a tough fixture against Dulwich College in the semi-finals of ISFA on the 5th February. By Alex (2F)
RUGBY
U13 Rugby matches against Whitgift School
On Saturday the U13 rugby A and B teams went to play Whitgift school. The B team lost 50-5 but did not let this affect them. We went 7 tries down in the first half but did not give up. After our half time team talk with the coach we went back with strong mindsets and played to the best of our abilities, we made our first try with a brilliant interception from Stefan(2H) who found an opening and swiftly ran down the pitch to score on the try line. The A team did not quite manage to win their game losing 30-15 against a strong Whitgift side but they still tried their hardest. Next week we are up against St Benedict’s School let’s hope for a strong performance and an enjoyable time from the Hampton U13’s. By Namish (2W)
Geography
On Wednesday, some of our Geographers were finding out more about the different types of renewable energy that are becoming increasingly popular:
In Geography, we have been learning about energy issues. In class, we were put in groups and we had to create a poster about our chosen type of renewable energy, out of a choice of tidal, solar, wind, geothermal, and hydroelectric energy. We also had to include the advantages and disadvantages of that particular type of energy. However, we were only allowed to use pictures, numbers, symbols, and a maximum of five words. We were then told to go around the classroom, to different groups, to gather information about other groups and their chosen type of energy, to feed back to their own group. By Joshua (2J)
National Storytelling Week
This week, we have been celebrating National Storytelling Week and some of our teachers and pupils have been introducing us to their favourite books. Can you spot Agalyan (2L) in the video below, reading an extract from his favourite book Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince:
THE LAKOTA EMPIRE
In 1776, a powerful empire was born in North America. The Lakotas had reached the Black Hills, the most sacred place and most coveted buffalo hunting grounds in the western plains. Located in what is now South Dakota, control of the Black Hills, or Paha Sapa, marked the tribe as the dominant power in the American West. Just a few decades before, they were vying for power with the woodland nations, and losing. One of seven council fires, or nations, that made up the Sioux alliance. The Lakotas had lives in the forests and woodlands between the Great Lakes and the Missouri River for centuries. In the 1600s, European colonisers destabilised the region. While some tribes profited by trading furs with their new friends. The Lakota were just too far away. So, in the early 1700s they turned their attention west. The western prairies were less fertile and abundant than their homelands. The only easy access to food and water was immediately alongside the great rivers. Already claimed by the Arikaras.
To compete, the Lakotas became skilled hunters and formidable warriors on horseback. They conquered the Arikaras, forcing them to pay compensation of maize and squash. By 1850, they controlled some 500,000 square kilometres. But this success was not to last. Starting in 1849, the California gold rush brought hordes of settlers west, encroaching on Lakota territory and disturbing the buffalo herds. Lakota leaders correctly interpreted this as a signal that the US no longer intended to respect their claim to the land. In retaliation, they attacked wagon trains and government offices. As the conflicts grew, Chief Red Cloud negotiated in Washington DC. While back in Lakota territory, chiefs like Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse and others prepared for war. They mobilised almost all the Sioux nations against the US.
In 1876, gold settlers began mining in the black mountains and forcing natives away. This was the final straw. Crazy horse led Lakota forces to decisively defeat the Americans in the Battle of Little Bighorn. After this victory, the US started sending trains deep into Lakota territory, killing off the bison and forcing the Lakotas onto reservations, where US officials murdered Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse. While doing so they forbade the Lakota’s traditions like the Sun Dance in reservations. The Lakotas started a protest movement called the Ghost Dance. Alarmed by this resistance, the US Army massacred hundreds of Lakotas, mainly women and children, at wounded knee creek. Today, the Lakota continue to fight for their culture and land against a nation famous for not keeping its word. By Kanishk (2W)
PREMIER LEAGUE UPDATE
Monday was the transfer deadline day in the English Premier League, and there were some huge moves involving some notable names. Everton, who have had an underwhelming start to the season so far, recently signed Frank Lampard as their manager, to replace Raphael Benitez. Lampard brought in Man United midfielder Van De Beek on loan. Despite being a star for Ajax, in the last couple of years, Van De Beek has been given little game time and has had very few star performances. Everton fans will be hoping the change in manager and a new signing could help them climb up the table. It’s a big chance for Van de Beek, still only 24, to show what he can do, and Lampard will hope it pays off to put some goals and creativity into his midfield. Lampard also bought in another creative midfielder, Dele Alli from Spurs. A few years ago, Alli was shining and was one of the greatest prospects in English football at the time. However, a gradual decline and not much game time being given to him from manager Conte, meant Alli looked like an average footballer. Hopefully, for Everton fans, this midfield duo will turn around Everton’s poor form. However, the big news is that Christian Eriksen is returning to football and coming back to the Premier League. Eriksen suffered a shock cardiac arrest during Denmark vs Finland but luckily, he is now able to play again. He has joined Brentford and will be under fellow Danish manager Thomas Frank. Finally, Newcastle have had a couple good transfers in, namely Dan Burn (Brighton) and Matty Target (Aston Villa). After the takeover from the mega-rich Saudi owners, Newcastle supporters will be looking to get out of the relegation zone. Also, Aubameyang, who was not being started by Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal manager, due to disciplinary reasons, made a free move to Barcelona. He will be hoping to add a few goals for Barca, who have been quite average this season. By Ameya (2J)
Unsilenced: Celebrating Women Composers
You are warmly invited to join us on Friday 11 February at 4.30pm for a special concert to round off this busy half term. ‘Unsilenced’ is a concert honouring music written by women composers, most of whom have been unfairly neglected through history solely because of their gender.
We hope you are able to join us for this very special event involving a number of pianists, some guest instrumentalists and also some poetry written by women writers.
Tickets are free and can be reserved here.
WEEKLY QUESTIONS
Welcome to the Weekly Questions! Every week, we’ll post 10 general knowledge questions, and, if you have a go, you can be awarded a merit if you send your answers to Miss Kugele (r.kugele@hamptonschool.org.uk)! This week’s questions have been set by Ben and Akshat (2J)
- What does ‘COYS’ stand for in relation to the Premier League?
- Which PL team spent the most money in the January 2022 transfer window?
- Which team has had the most seasons in the PL?
- Who has won the most PL titles?
- Who has the most PL appearances?
- Who has scored the most goals in the PL?
- Who won the Golden Glove in the 2020-2021 season?
- Which two teams has been relegated from the PL the most times?
- Who scored to win the title for Manchester City in the 2011-2012 season?
- Who is the youngest player to ever appear in the Premier League?
Here are the answers last week’s questions:
- What is the capital of Brunei? Bandar Seri Begawan
- Tegucigalpa is the capital of which country? Honduras
- What are the colours on the flag of Mars? Red, Green, Blue
- What is the symbol on the flag of Papau New Guinea? A Bird of Paradise
- What is the capital of Burkina Faso? Ouagadougou
- What is the French flag called? Le Tricolore
- Canberra is the capital of which country? Australia
- What is the capital of North Korea? Pyongyang
- Albuquerque is the capital of which state of the US? New Mexico
- What is the 9th largest country in the world? Kazakhstan
Have a great weekend!
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