WELCOME TO THE FIRST YEAR BLOG!
Bravo for completing your first half term as Hamptonians! You have 21 terms until you leave so that means 1/42 is under your belts. You all deserve a jolly good lie-in on Monday!
42 is the lucky number this week with the lively, slick performance of 42nd Street by both Hampton and LEH senior pupils in the hotly-anticipated Senior School Musical. It was full of razzle dazzle! We are looking forward to seeing some First Years in the production of Bugsy Malone next term.
This week’s assembly was all about the form charities and do remember to vote today (Friday). There was also a collection for Feltham Food Bank today. On Tuesday we had the BBC’s Washington correspondent, Nick Bryant, speaking via livestream about the American election. It was a fascinating event.
We have School Council on the first day back after half term so give some thought over the holiday to what you think could improve school life and you can make your suggestions to your form reps. Have a super break!
South Downs Adventure
It was only last week that First Year Hamptonians made the short trip to the South Downs to explore the stunning landscape of the area and learn more about its geographical features. Take a look at some of the highlights:
Talk!
Sophus W (1P) and Toby S (1P) tell us all about the final Talk! of this half term:
This Wednesday, one of the most respected commentators on this year’s US election, Nick Bryant, gave a talk in the Hammond via livestream. Nick Bryant, an Australian and former BBC correspondent, has decades of journalistic experience. He has delved into American politics for a long time, authoring books such as “The Truth of Watergate,” a report on the famous scandal that reshaped the American government. He discussed about how Kamala Harris is currently closing in on Donald Trump shown by recent polls. He also discussed key factors such as Trump being allowed to vote while having the current charges he has on his back.
During his talk, Nick Bryant discussed the current state of America, focusing on how fractured the country has become over the past few years. He highlighted Donald Trump, but not as a unique anomaly, but as the culmination of growing extremism that seeped into the minds of the American people. While Bryant described Trump as kind and polite in person, he remarked that Trump “reverses his persona once the cameras are on.”
Overall, the Talk! broadened the knowledge of many, Hamptonians on the complexities on American politics and it was intriguing.
Football Update
Arjun J (1B) reports back on on a recent School football match he played in:
My life at Hampton has been incredible so far and I have loved the sport. This is my report on the match between the U12F team vs Kingston Grammar School U12Ds. When we were doing a team talk, my team told me to go right wing. We started the match very steadily and consistent, with a teammate scoring a brilliant goal very early in the game. There were many close goals for the opposition, but our goalkeeper was excellent, saving many crucial and game-changing goals. Before half time, the opposition scored making the game 1-1. While I was off, practising my moves, the opposition scored again, making the game 2-1! I was then called in to play as right wing and in the last 10 minutes, I scored a goal and we won the game!
Arun B (1H) tells us about a recent triumph for the E team:
On Saturday, I played a fixture against Forest School for the E Team. We arrived half an hour before the match for a warm-up. I played as a centre midfielder and within a few minutes I took the ball and scored. The goal boosted our confidence and we scored a couple more goals. Half time was approaching and the whistle blew to pause the game. Although Forest School had had some great opportunities we didn’t give up and our coach said that we were playing amazingly well. A couple more goals were scored and then one of our players went down in the penalty box, it was a penalty! Our striker took the penalty, and the ball was in the back of the net. Finally, the match had ended 6-0 and we were all elated after a long tiring match.
Half Term Reflections
The last seven weeks have flown by! Let’s hear from two of our First Years and what they have to say about their first half term at Hampton. First up, it’s Ojas (1P):
In the past six weeks, I have been uncovering some of Hampton’s many secrets. What I have found has blown my mind away and it will probably blow yours too! Each day unravelled a new area for me to explore.
The fabulous lunches – Bliss!
Three terrific trips -simply wow!
My creative and challenging clubs – engaging!
Trips to various schools for chess tournaments and football matches – exciting!
The much-awaited Bugsy Malone auditions – thrilling!
Merits have been streaming in a continuous flow for me – Blogs, Hampton Hunts, tests, Academic Merits and Lion Merits!
Amazing set of classmates and schoolmates and last but definitely not the least…
Our teachers! They have been fun and supportive!
Oh, what a start to this great school year.
Now it’s the turn of Yuvas M (1P):
Now we are at half term, I have realised how many different opportunities there are at a secondary school like Hampton. The diverse range of clubs, societies and sports on offer amaze me sometimes. I have tried to go to every club that interests me, but I didn’t know how hard this would be. There really is a club for everyone.
Also, the teachers are amazing, and you can pick their brains on anything about their subject. What is incredible is that we have already had three great trips! These were: Avon Tyrrell, South Downs for Geography; and Windsor Castle for History. Overall, this half term has been great and I look forward to the rest of the First Year.
Clubs of the Week
Climbing Club
By Arhaan K (1J)
In my time here at Hampton, I have enjoyed lots of clubs and the one I like the most is Climbing Club on a Monday as it is a fun thing to do by yourself or with your friends. I particularly like the challenge of climbing on specific-coloured steps. Do you want to know the best bit? There is no harness! You can climb freely up to a red line if you are in First Year.
Apart from just a regular climbing frame, there is also an acrobatic one that you can hang upside down. Fortunately, the ground is not fully concrete, so if you fall the softer ground will prevent you from getting seriously hurt. If you are interested, you might want to have a go on Mondays from 12.35pm.
Illusion Club
By Agastya J (1J)
Illusion Club, also on Mondays, is about making and designing different Illusions. At the moment, we are designing a fake brick wall that a car will drive through. At the end, our illusion will be the car looking like it is about to hit the wall but instead going right through. Once you have coloured in the front of the wall and you have cut it out, you shine a torch through the cut-out shape to perfectly align the bottom perfectly in line with the cut out top to make it as realistic as possible.
Even if you haven’t come before you are always welcome, and the teachers will guide you through the steps to make the perfect illusion. From the many clubs I have done in my short first half term at Hampton, it has been the best club I have gone to so far. Thank You for reading my article and I hope I have inspired you to have a go making some illusions at illusion club.
New Darts Club
Are you a regular at the oche and love the darts or do you want to try a fun social game.
This new club is open to everyone of all abilities. The first taster session was on Friday from 12.35pm until 1.10pm at The Clubhouse and will be run by Mr John and some Third Years after half term.
Perhaps you are a keen darts player or are just looking for a new hobby or a group of people to meet. Either way everyone is welcome!
Football Fever
Lucas F (1P) has been trying his hand at filming, and who should be one of his first subjects but the Hampton School First XI footballers. Find out more below:
On Saturday, I went to see the Hampton First XI football team play Marlborough College in an exhilarating cup game. We enjoyed watching the high calibre football match with many great Hampton goals including an acrobatic scissor kick! Being a goalkeeper myself, I was particularly excited to celebrate many great saves by Hampton’s shot stopping wall of the goal and I was pleased to be able to watch my Form’s mentor in the team. Today at School I bumped into the goalie, and I was happy that we could chat. I found it inspiring to see my school’s team show me the potential of football at Hampton. I should say, Hampton came on top with a 4-0 win and a great performance. If you would like, you can see some highlights in the short video I put together. I am already looking forward to the next game. Lots of luck to the team.
42nd Street
English teacher Mrs Wallace gives us her review of this year’s Senior School Musical:
On Tuesday, I had the privilege of seeing my first play, featuring Hampton pupils, 42nd Street, held at LEH. It was a brilliantly fun show from beginning to end with dazzling costumes, energetic dance routines and stunning singers; fabulously entertaining! The lively orchestra and professional set changes transformed the stage into the glitz and glamour of Broadway for the night, and the stars of the show were impressively talented. I can’t wait to see the next Hampton production!
The story followed Peggy Sawyer, a hopeful chorus girl from Allentown, who arrives in the big city with dreams of stardom. When she lands a spot in the chorus of a dazzling new Broadway show, her life takes a thrilling turn. But just before opening night, the lead actress is injured. Will Peggy seize the moment and become a star? It featured iconic songs like “You’re Getting to Be a Habit with Me,” “Dames,” “We’re in the Money,” “Lullaby of Broadway,” “Shuffle Off to Buffalo,” and “Forty-Second Street.”
Chemistry Week
As soon as we’re back from the half term break, Chemistry Week is upon us, with lots of talks and activities about you guessed it…all things Chemistry! Take a look at the poster below to find out what’s happening.
Talk!
Great to see so many of you at this week’s Talk! with Nick Bryant – a really insightful discussion on US Politics. Coming up after half term, and to tie in with Chemistry Week, we’re joined by Jeremy Wrathall, the founder of Cornish Lithium, a company dedicated to finding a reliable long-term source of Lithium for the UK. Cornish Lithium aims to maximise the potential of the industrial scale of Lithium that lies beneath the ground at existing brownfield sites in Cornwall.
There’s no need to book a ticket, just come along to the Hammond Theatre next Tuesday 5 November at 1pm.
Find out more here.
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 William J (1H) on being named this week’s Tutee of the Week.
William’s tutors report that he was ‘super engaged on the South Downs trip. Very interested, asking and answering lots of questions and showing lots of enthusiasm.’
SPECIAL SHOUTOUTS!
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 Mrs Whitwam (v.whitwam@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 merit by your Form Tutor the following Monday. And you will get to know the School better in the process.
Last week’s challenge: Find the heaviest element printed on the stone benches in the Quad? The correct answer is Oganesson!
Well done to Faaris M-C, Alexander C, Ashveer C, Edward G, Theo R, Armaan R, Noah , Felix R and Edward J for getting it right and entering your answer in last week’s blog! Make sure you collect a merit from your Form Tutor next week!
If you did know the answer but didn’t enter it into the blog last week, make sure you do so this week as it won’t count otherwise!
This week’s challenge:
How many different languages can you find that are written in red in the language cloud in the languages corridor?
Enter your answer here:
