Welcome to the First Year Blog!
Bravo for completing your first half term as Hamptonians! You’ve made a brilliant start to life at Hampton, and we hope you’re proud of everything you’ve achieved – from exciting trips and creative clubs to impressive contributions in lessons and beyond (as well as the blog!). You’ve tackled challenges with enthusiasm, curiosity and kindness, and now it’s time to enjoy a well-earned rest over the break.
This week has been full of energy and creativity, with the Senior School Musical Les Misérables dazzling audiences – congratulations to all involved! We’re already looking forward to seeing some of our talented First Years take to the stage next term in The Tempest.
Before you head off, a few reminders:
Form Charity voting is now open, so make sure you cast your votes for the local, national and international causes you’d like us to support.
School Council discussions will begin during the first week back, so take some time over the holiday to think about what could make Hampton even better and share your ideas with your Form Reps.
Enjoy your break – you’ve earned a term–endous rest!
SNAPSHOTS OF SUCCESS
Drum roll please! Mrs Whitwam reports back on this term’s Interform competition, and thanks to all of the First Years who entered. There were some truly artistic and lovely photos! Well done to everyone who took part in our first Interform competition. The judges have analysed every photo and considered the entirety of a Form’s submissions, and the results are below:
1st – James A (1J)
2nd – Alex B (1L)
3rd – Jack B (1B)
The judges also decided on some highly commended photos from Aydin D (1L), Hiu Yeung K (1P), George S (1J), Felix L-K (1L), Ted D (1L) below:
FROM SHY TO SHINING IN OUR FIRST HALF TERM
This week is particularly special; it is a week that celebrates our first half term. As young Hamptonians, we should be particularly proud of ourselves for the obstacles we’ve overcome and the milestones we have passed. Secondary School can be a big deal for many, but the way we have learnt, by following the Hampton motto, gives us a great starting point to our Hampton School career.
Another reason for our first half term being fun was the teachers, who kept education fun and enjoyable for us. As we advance from First Year to Sixth Form, we will remember our first memories, or moments that impacted a lot on our School career. We will remember Avon Tyrrell and our other two wonderful trips. We will remember all the clubs we signed up for. We will remember our first days when we were too shy to talk to each other. Before finishing, I would like to thank all my subject teachers who made the first half term the best.
By Owen S-W (1L)
My first ever half term at Hampton. In three words? Exhilarating, fun and welcoming. So far, at Hampton, I have loved it here. From the new 3G pitch where already new memories have been made to the three school trips we went on – Avon Tyrrell, South Downs and Windsor Castle, so much has gone on in this half term. Avon Tyrrell, the overnight trip, where we had a plethora of water and land adventures, and South Downs, a wonderful walking experience in one of the beautiful 15 different national parks, not to mention our history trip to Windsor Castle where we learnt so much about the history of the castle. Time has flown by – it felt like I joined the School yesterday! Clubs have been so enjoyable, although I really don’t know which clubs I should go to on some days, there are too many options! My teachers have been so welcoming and warm-hearted with lots of super fun practical work in Biology, Chemistry and Physics and interactive lessons in all of our subjects.
By Pesandu W (1W)
MEET THE FORM TUTORS – MR BARBER AND MS CZUMAJ
Ruben V (1F) interviewed Mr Barber, the Head of Classics, and Ms Czumaj, a Maths teacher – 1F’s fabulous Form Tutor team!
What did you think you would be when you were younger?
Mr Barber: I always wanted to be a rock star and definitely not a teacher!
Ms Czumaj: I had no idea but I wanted to do something maths related and not work in the City.
Mr Barber, how do you like being in a heavy metal band?
I really enjoy playing bass guitar. I get scared on stage but I like playing.
Ms Czumaj, how many digits of π can you name?
6 or 7…
If you could make any club you wanted, what would it be about?
Mr Barber: A Nintendo club. I would play Zelda.
Ms Czumaj: Something animal related: like chickens, guinea pigs, bunnies. I would play with them and build them homes.
Would you get rid of all AI if given the chance?
Mr Barber: No. I think that there are issues with it but in the right hands it is a good tool. I agree with the Hampton policy.
Ms Czumaj: No. I think it has good potential to speed up scientific discoveries. I also agree with the Hampton policy.
What is the cheekiest or funniest thing you did at school?
Mr Barber: In Sixth Form I went to a McDonald’s drive-through but not in a car. They refused to serve us even when we acted out driving a car.
Ms Czumaj: At the end of Year 11, my school dressed up as ninjas and had a water balloon fight. Also, once I dressed all in blue pretending to be a Smurf.
What do you love about your subject?
Mr Barber: I love how languages evolve and change over time.
Ms Czumaj: Solving problems correctly is exciting and satisfying. There is always more to learn
And Finally: cats or dogs?
Mr Barber: Dogs
Ms Czumaj: Dogs
SNAKES, SPIDERS AND SAFARI SURPRISES
This week was Biology Week at Hampton! For Biology Week, Safari Pete came into School with a collection of some of his wonderful animals to enlighten us with his priceless knowledge on the natural world! I was so excited! To begin with, we lined up outside the lecture theatre, waiting eagerly to be invited in. Soon, we walked into the theatre and were told that there were three animals, concealed somewhere around the room. First, we all spotted a green silhouette of a small animal, perched on top of one of the light panels just below the ceiling. Pete went up and retrieved a White’s Tree Frog from the lights. Then, we all saw the tail of what looked like a short garter snake at the back of the room. But when Pete picked it up, it was a quite long Taiwanese Beauty Snake (which I was privileged to hold!) Finally, none of us could clearly see the third animal, but when Safari Pete let us explore the seats of the Lecture Theatre, we found a colossal Tarantula on one of the chairs about halfway up the stairs. We all were shocked. Then he asked Lucas to go and retrieve the tarantula in his box. Tentatively, he walked towards it, cautiously put the box around it, and bravely scooped it up in its box, rapidly shutting the opening in the top. Well done, Lucas!
After all of that, we sat down at the front of the room as Safari Pete took out some of his incredible creatures: a barn owl, A scorpion, a Meerkat, which was put on our shoulders, a ferret, two albino lizards and for the final animal, we were all taken outside. Eagerly, we rushed out of the Lecture Theatre to outside of the School and we were greeted by the might of a large water monitor, the second-largest lizard on the planet. It was utterly incredible. Seeing some amazing creatures from all over the world and learning all about them was one of the best experiences I’ve had at Hampton so far. Thank you to Safari Pete for his time and thanks to the Biology department for organising such an amazing event.
By Aiden G (1J)
On Wednesday boys from all years could go to the Safari Pete’s talk. As I walked in, he told us there were three animals set free in the Lecture Theatre. We tried to spot them, and we spotted a frog and a snake. We pointed in the right direction of a creature, but it was actually a tarantula! After we found the frog, he told us it was a White Tree Frog. He then also bought out a Barn Owl, a Meerkat called Bear (personally my favourite animal in the world), two bred green chameleons, which were actually yellow and orange, called Mango and Tango but one after effect was that they were blind. Then he got his domestic ferret to show us, and his nickname was Mr Lickyface. Top Tip: you have to give a ferret a funny nickname! Lastly, we needed to go outside for the final animal which he picked up on the way in a huge box it took six or seven people to carry it. It turned out to be a friendly massive Monitor Lizard which would not stay still. It was great to interact with animals and do some quiz questions on that animal for a chance to stroke it or hold it. Safari Pete taught us loads of facts about the animals we all learned something new about at least one animal and some people were deemed geniuses by Safari Pete. Everyone went back to class thrilled and full of new facts it was a great way to spend lunchtime.
By Thomas D (1W)
REACHING NEW HEIGHTS AT CLIMBING CLUB
Usually, rock climbing is something you only get to experience on trips, but at Hampton, Climbing Club is on every Monday! To attend you only have to take off your tie, blazer, put on some trainers, and you are ready to go! It is very convenient, fun, and challenging.
Every week we are given the chance to rock climb, and we are also free to set ourselves our own challenges, like choosing to only climb on blue handles. Last week, I was set a challenge of climbing on only yellow handles and I found it very difficult and failed miserably. However, this week after a change of strategy and help from my friends, I was just about able to do it. I was very proud of myself and hopefully I can continue to improve in the following weeks. What I love about Climbing Club is that everyone supports each other and it is a brilliant opportunity to make new friends and have tremendous fun. Come and try it out!
By Miguel B (1B)
PLOTTING, PLANNING AND PENNING HISTORY
Every Thursday, I’ve go along to Junior Writers’ Room during lunchtime, which gives me the opportunity to develop my story writing skills. Throughout the last few weeks, I have been working on a story that will be entered in the Young Walter Scott Prize competition, which is a national competition for budding writers of historical fiction.
The process has been immensely enjoyable, as writing a historically accurate story requires research as well as planning, and doing this has deepened my understanding of that particular period. It was really great to write my very first piece at Hampton and I am eager to continue my writing journey in the future.
By Hiu Yeung K (1P)
BUZZING WITH KNOWLEDGE
In Beekeeping Club last week, we went out to the hive to see what was going on inside and learn about the parts of the hive. When we got to the hive, a bee landed on me and Finley gave the good idea of calling it ‘bay-bee Lenny’. As Mr Langton, Head of Biology (special thanks to him), opened the door to the hive, the bees came flying in and surrounded us and all I could hear was the sound buzzing. Mr Langton then opened the hive and showed us each part of the hive; where the queen lives, the frames and even took one out to show us the honey, honeycomb and bees. Then we passed the frame around so each of us got a close look of frame. After Mr Langton put the frame away, he told us a story about how one time he took out a frame, and the bees created a honeycomb version of the frame the exact same size! This is called a bee space. It is when bees create a space which is the exact space for bees to work back-to-back. We asked how they do that, and he answered by saying “they’re smart”. By then it was near the end of the club, so we came out, brushed off all the bees still clinging on and made our way back.
By Lenny M (1W)
NO LIMITS, NO BOREDOM, MORE BRILLIANCE
As a First Year I have just recently experienced my first ever No Limits Lessons Day. At the beginning of the day, I went to my Latin lesson, and we were moving over to the cultural aspect and studying myths, in particular Hercules labours after watching an insightful Ted Ed video which really did give me a starter test. However, this was only the beginning. Lessons ranged from Maths where we were analysing the tips and tricks in the Number Devil, and German, recreating a passport control to several countries. Safe to say I passed! All in all, I really look forward to the next No Limits Lessons Day. It was so fun!
By George U (1P)
LAST LOOKS AT LANDSCAPES AND LEGENDS
Last Monday the First Year, including me, went to the South Downs for our Geography trip. During the coach ride to the South Downs, we were quizzed about things that were on the road and the issues with the M25. After a 90-minute journey, we finally arrived. Straight after disembarking the coach, we had to climb up a small hill to have our first snack break. As we were enjoying our snacks, Mr Harrison told us briefly about the history of the South Downs, as well as things that are problems for the South Downs. As he quizzed us, he gave out lots of merits for the ones who got the answers right. After the short break, we got back up on our feet and continued walking. On the way, we saw cows, a quarry, a hostel, and many more interesting things. After lunch, we set off to the Devil’s Dyke. We learnt how it was formed and also the myth behind the name. We walked down the Devil’s Dyke to get on the coach back to Hampton. I found this trip very fun and interesting, and over 60 merits were given out!
By Nicholas M (1G)
We leapt excitedly to the coach, preparing for our long haul to Windsor Castle. After a few card games and a lot of chatting, we arrived buzzing at the great castle itself. We dropped off our bags and started walking to our first destination: Queen Mary’s giant dollhouse! Filled with incredibly detailed rooms and a foldable garden, we were awed by this amazing piece of art. Next came the rooms filled with weaponry and after that the ones filled with art. The biggest room in the place was packed with shields and coats of arms of the knights and lords that served the monarchy.
For me, the highlight of the day was our indoor lesson run by the staff there. We learnt about the history and layout of the castle, before acting it out with props in the very same room! There were battering rams and even a model trebuchet which the Windsor Castle tour guide demonstrated by firing at the model castle! Finally, after lunch, we went to St George’s Chapel, where we saw the resting place of Queen Elizabeth II. ‘What a whirlwind adventure!’ I thought, walking back to the coach.
By Dominic B (1F)
PURR-FECTLY COSY AND CUDDLY CAFÉ VISIT
Last weekend, my family and I went to a Cat Cafe – a new string of London establishments where rescue cats are homed while waiting to be adopted! This one was near Marylebone. I was extremely excited as I had never been to a Cat Café before! When we arrived, we ordered some delectable-looking, marshmallow-topped hot chocolates and waited for our turn with the kittens to begin. A few moments later, we were escorted downstairs, where a room of excited kittens awaited our arrival. Before we were allowed to enter, we were given a clear set of rules concerning our interaction with the furry felines. When we walked in, I was sweetly greeted by the soft brush on my hand of the fur of a beautiful black kitten. The room had a very home-like, cosy atmosphere, the wooden walls adorned with elegant, modern enrichment opportunities for the kittens. There were three small tables to allow room for food and beverages, and two sofas on each side of the room for the humans to sit. The floor was covered in fluffy rugs, cat toys, scratching posts and food/water bowls. It was a lovely room, and I think the kittens loved it too.
After a few moments, a small kitten, blanketed in delicate fur scurried over to an intriguing cat toy. It was a short post with a fake mouse hanging from the top and at the bottom, there were several balls of catnip which I soon learnt that the cats enjoyed watching, spiralling around the base of the toy. Then, when I spiralled the balls around, the kitten started trapping them in her claws, trying to eat them, and chasing them around the toy! It was quite amusing. After a few more minutes of play with the cats, I saw a black cat, staring up at the sky in the same position for the whole time we were in the room! Additionally, I picked up a feather which was tied to a bell to make the illusion to the cats that it was a scuttling mouse. I waved it around in a circle above another cat’s head and it stood up on its hind-legs and twirled rhythmically around like a pretty ballerina, yet also ferociously chasing the tasty-looking mouse like a ravenous, merciless beast. The kittens were so playful and endearing, but some of them were a little bit tired now after a fun hour of play. Lots of them were settling in for a well-deserved rest.
A Cat Café is an excellent way to spend your free time. If you fall in love with one of the cats, you can even adopt one of the many rescues! I highly recommend it for anyone who loves these beautiful creatures, or if you just want to get to know cats a little bit more.
By Aiden G (1J)
SPOOKS, SHELVES AND SHERLOCK SKILLS
This week, the Library Team brewed up something special for our First Years – a Halloween-themed book hunt that turned out to be far more popular than we ever imagined! The aim? To help our First Years get to know the Library better while having a bit of spooky fun. The challenge? Find a mystery Halloween book hidden somewhere in the Library using a series of literary and cryptic clues. The prize? Ghoulish goodies and the glory of solving the puzzle!
From Shakespearean riddles to clever wordplay, the clues had students thinking outside the box – and inside the shelves. Some of our favourites included:
- “Wherefore art thou?” – Leading pupils to search near Romeo and Juliet.
- “Where does a confused PLANE fly to?” – A tricky anagram pointing to the Nepal travel guides.
- “Just Keep Revising, initially!” – A clue that cleverly directed them to the J.K. Rowling section.
Not only did the boys rise to the challenge with enthusiasm, but they also picked up some valuable library skills along the way. Many now understand how to navigate the Dewey Decimal system and locate books by genre, author, and subject. One particularly memorable moment was when a group of our First Years instantly knew that polar bears have black skin and tracked down the hidden book in the Animal section – impressive knowledge and detective work!
Hear from Aiden G (1J) below:
To end our first half term at Hampton, the library hosted a fun Halloween event, where if you found a mystery Halloween book, hiding amongst others in a different hiding place every time somebody found it, they could take it to the library desk and be rewarded with a spooky treat! Thank you to the wonderful librarians who organised this fun Halloween game! First Year, I hope you’ve had a great first half term at Hampton and have a great break! Happy Halloween…
FORM CHARITY – VOTES NOW OPEN!
Following the pupil presentations in this week’s assembly, please take a moment to vote for the local, national, and international charities that you believe we should support this year. You can vote via the link that you received by e-mail.
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 Ren F (1L) on being named this week’s Tutee of the Week!
Ren has thrown himself into Hampton life, constantly recommending clubs, looking out for others but also recognising when others have embodied Hampton values as well – well done Ren!
SPECIAL SHOUT OUTS!
Last weekend, Yuvi U (1F) took part in three events of the Shotokan Connect Karate Championship: Kumite, Kata, and Jukuren. Yuvi had an outstanding day and achieved third place in all three events! Well done! Let’s hear from Yuvi:
I was nervous, waiting for my first event to start, Jukuren, an event where you demonstrate your Karate ability against a standing “punching bag”. This was fun and exciting because you can shout when you land a punch or kick!! In this event, I claimed my first medal of the day. My next event was Kata, which is where you follow a pattern of moves. The score depends on how well you perform your moves. They must be swift and powerful. Despite my best efforts, and getting remarkably close to a silver medal, I got another bronze medal, yet I was still happy with that. My final event was the most exciting and nerve–racking, Kumite (fighting), I am a brown belt, but I had to face a black belt!! The score was 1-1 after the normal amount of time. Unfortunately, I lost 1-0 in extra time but I was still happy with my results.
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 (v.jimenez@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 who knows – you might get to know the School better in the process!
Last week’s challenge: Find the heaviest chemical element printed on the stone benches in the Quad? The correct answer is Oganesson!
Well done to Andreas C, Miguel B, Ronak B, Hia Yeung K and Owen S-W 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!
This week’s challenge is:
How many different languages can you find that are written in red in the language cloud in the languages corridor?
And all that’s left to say…
