Welcome to the First Year Blog!
Welcome to the First Year Blog – your weekly look at all the wonderful things our newest Hamptonians have been up to!
It has been such a joy watching our First Years settle into Hampton life over these first few weeks. They’ve shown real courage and curiosity, from tackling the orientation map challenge to finally cracking the code on their tricky padlocks – small victories that mean a great deal when everything is new. On the sports fields, they’ve thrown themselves into football and rugby with real enthusiasm, and the Co-curricular Fair sparked so much excitement about what lies ahead. A special mention must be given to Harris the dog, who has already won plenty of hearts. And after having their photos taken and giving the lunches their seal of approval, it’s safe to say they’re feeling right at home.
It’s been a busy, brilliant start, and every week from here we’ll be handing the pen to First Year pupils themselves to tell you what they’ve been getting up to. Once a Hamptonian, always a Hamptonian.
Please do come along to Blog Club in G67 at break (10.55am) on Mondays with your laptop if you would like to contribute, or send your articles directly to me by Wednesday evening (ch.harrison@hamptonschool.org.uk). Everyone will receive a Lion Merit!
Finally, we have a few important events in the coming week that you will need to check your e-mails and SchoolPost for:
Avon Tyrrell: 1B, 1J, 1P and 1W will be going from Monday 21 September to Tuesday 22 September. 1F, 1H and 1L will be going from Wednesday 23 September to Thursday 24 September.
Berkhamsted School fixtures: Mr Towl has sent an e-mail with all of the details that you need for your fixtures on Saturday 12 September.
Open Morning: A reminder that Open Morning will be happening on Saturday 19 September. Details will follow on SchoolPost next week so please keep an eye on it! Those involved in Rugby fixtures on Open Morning will not be expected to help out, so follow any communication you will get from the Rugby Department soon.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
At first my nerves were holding me back as I looked at the humongous coach looming over me. My stomach did seven somersaults. Gulping, I had one last look at my mum and then took a deep breath and boarded the bus. There I was sitting all on my own until a First Year sidled up to me and asked if I minded sitting next to him. I naturally answered yes. From that moment the coach didn’t seem so hard or nerve wrecking. However, when I got off an even larger fear hit me. What if I wore the wrong uniform today?
What if I was going to do something wrong like go to the wrong class? I thought but as I was far from home there was no turning back so with nothing to lose, I walked in with confidence in my heart. I was the first one there, so I had time to settle down before people came. Trying to let myself be a bit cosy to my new form room I wondered if I should go down to the dining hall to get a drink but I never had the chance because my new form mates started to rush in from then and I was greeted kindly by my classmates and after that the first morning flew by. After period 4 and a quarter (we went early as first years), we went to lunch where the enticing, mouth-watering smell took charge of me. Before on open days, I had tried small bites of snacks, but this was next level. The eating eventually finished and we had to move on to our next periods after playing on the 3G and registration. As we came to our last three periods it was getting a bit tiring but there were plenty of reasons to try to stay awake because the lessons were filled with intriguing things that at the end of the day, I was reluctant to leave Hampton. Everything that I had worried about were all specks of dusts now and with friends to be with everything would work out in the end.
By Juwon K (1W)
Entering through the Hampton gates I began my journey as a Hamptonian. I could just feel the adrenaline in the air as I advanced through lots of boys in the same blazers in the new corridors. Meeting our Form Tutors and Sixth Form Mentors was the first part of my day, we could talk to them and get to know them making us feel extremely welcome. Time flew by, it was time for lunch we all came into the colossal Dining Hall which was so amazing even words could not describe my astonishing thoughts. Once we got our food I took just one bite. I knew this food was unbeatable. Afterwards, I headed to my next lesson which was PE so I headed to claim my sports bag. Once I turned back, I realised I had forgotten my way. This only meant one thing, I was lost and I knew it wouldn’t be my last time!
By Julian C (1W)
Clubs Aplenty
Clubs, clubs, clubs!
Great to see you all at this week’s Co-curricular Fair. Clubs are now up and running, and First Year Hamptonians are spoilt for choice! From Biology to Basketball, Speed Cubing, Geography and Dog Club, the biggest challenge will be deciding which club to join! Keep an eye out for notices from your Form Tutor for any changes to this year’s clubs.
TUTEE OF THE WEEK
Every week, the First Year Tutor team nominate a Hamptonian who they have been particularly impressed with and Mr Hill and Mr Fuldner present him with a certificate and a tasty treat to eat!
Congratulations to Rohit S (1L) on being our very first Tutee of the Week!
Rohit is a polite and resilient member of the form, and has proactively tackled the challenges of his first week – well done Rohit!
SPECIAL SHOUT OUTS!
We love to hear about what you have been getting up to outside of school and to celebrate your successes in the First Year Blog! Please do send any information about any of your achievements through to Mr Jimenez (c.harrison@hamptonschool.org.uk).
THE HAMPTON HUNT
Each week I will set you a challenge where you need to find out a random fact, number or indeed anything else around the School – you won’t be able to do this from home! You have until the end of Wednesday to complete the challenge; you will find out in next week’s blog if you’re correct, and you will be given a LION merit by your Form Tutor the following Monday. And who knows – you might get to know the School better in the process!
This week’s challenge is:
in Whose office can you find Harris, the hampton School dog?
