Welcome to the Second Year Blog!
We’ve returned to School for the final half term of the year and it’s already shaping up to be a characteristically busy and exciting one! Hamptonians came back to find out how they had done in their end-of-year assessments, with many reflecting thoughtfully on their performances. Additionally, the term has already seen its first adventure: a brilliant RS trip exploring Hounslow Mosque and All Saints Church, allowing pupils to experience two different places of worship and deepen their understanding of the religions they’ve been studying. With more trips and activities on the horizon, this half term promises to be full of energy, discovery, and celebration!
Merit Milestones
Fantastic to see Second Year Hamptonians are still getting their Merit certificates signed off – well done to the following:
Harry Morris – 20
Will Hauviller – 30
Zaki Tahir – 50 (amazing!)
Aman Popal – 50 (super!)
Ian Lu – 60 (tremendous!)
Liangxu Zhong – 80 (wow!)
Tutor Question of the Week
Each week the pupils decide on a question to ask all the Second Year Form Tutors.
This week’s question follows a fierce metaphysical debate within 2B. I’m not sure what the results reveal about the RS department…
Are you confident that chairs continue to exist when nobody is looking at them?
Yes – Mrs Owen, Mr Harrison, Miss Tiller, Mr Boyes, Mr Hood, 2L, 2W, 2H (although there was just one vote in it!)
No – Miss Holt, Mr Hill
Tutors’ reasoning ranged from ‘yes because I can sit on one with my eyes closed’ (Mr Harrison) to ‘Not only am I not confident that chairs continue to exist when nobody is looking at them, I am confident that they do not exist when nobody is looking at them. I see no compelling reason to think that the objects we experience (chairs, tables, etc.) are anything more than shapes in visual experience. To say these exist beyond our experience would be to posit some reality independent of our experience, but we have no evidence for this, given that our ‘evidence’ just is our experience.’ (Mr Hill).
Have you ever had a burning question you’ve always wanted to ask your Form Tutors?! If so, then please send your suggestions for a future Tutor Question Time to e.holt@hamptonschool.org.uk.
Interform Athletics
- 2W – 186
- 2J – 166
- 2H – 162
- 2F – 160
- 2L – 138
- 2B – 101
- 2P – 92
On the Friday during the week before half term. Everyone waiting for the holidays. It was Interform Athletics! I was nervous but very excited and had been waiting for this Interform with very high hopes on winning this year (like last year…). Our form organised a strong team with the help from the athletics department. I was put down for high jump, 3×100 relay and 100m sprint, my favourite events. It was nerve racking on the 100m line with the fastest people in the year and those 13 seconds during the race felt so long. I won with Ollie S close behind me by 0.2 seconds, ecstatic as I got first place and setting a new personal record.
Nearing the end of Interform, me and the relay team were getting ready, discussing handovers, different positions, and call outs. We started with a strong start pushing ahead but a mistake in the second handoff cost us a slight second resulting us in third place. Overall, our form did an amazing job winning lots of events racking up loads of points. As the teachers called out the scores, with our form hoping for first place, silence and a few whoops and cheers from the other forms as they are said. Our form cheering loudly as first place went to 2W; going home for the holidays with a great feeling of pride and contentment. Finishing the day, in my eyes… perfectly.
By Yule C (2W)
RS trip
The RS trip was great fun where we got to go to the largest and biggest mosque in the whole of west London, this was great as we not only got to learn about the religion and culture of Muslims but got to experience it firsthand. I learned things like having to take your shoes off before going in and also having to sit on the floor and not benches or chairs so that you can prostrate (kneeling with your face down on the ground) which is necessary for salah. The mosque was beautiful and the largest and busiest in the whole of West London! We also got to learn a few secrets about the mosque like there being a hidden door in the wall which surrounds the mihrab which leads to a staircase going to the minbar! Overall, the mosque was great fun and really helped to enhance my understanding of the religion.
Afterwards, we came back to School for lunch before walking to the local church – All Saints in Hampton. The vicar who taught us about the church and its cultures was called Donna. She really helped me to understand that a church is more than an area for you to worship God but actually a community that helps each other, whatever their background! I understood that the vicars wear different clothes for different occasions (some of us even got to try them on!) and that they can also just wear normal clothes. It really was a lot of fun going to the church and helped me to really understand more about the role of the church in the local community.
By Dillon G (2W)
On Wednesday, the Second Year enjoyed an exciting trip to Hounslow Mosque and All Saints Church in Hampton. Firstly, we drove in a coach to the Mosque in Hounslow where we then had to take our shoes off to show respect. Next we were given a talk about the religion of Islam and the five pillars by the Imam at the Mosque. During this the Imam explained to us the many different parts of Islam and how they work, including some extra detail around the topics we had been learning about in lessons.
After lunch we made our way through Hampton to visit All Saint’s Church. During this we were given a speech by the vicar there called Donna where she explained to us the religion of Christianity and showed us the different uniforms worn for special occasions, which was what I enjoyed the most. Overall, I thought the day was a great opportunity to explore the religions of Christianity and Islam giving me an amazing insight into what we had learnt during the year.
By Josh P (2W)
Assessment Reflections
On the last week before half term, many of us would recall vigorous last-minute revision and trepidation of the next test. Now looking back, we can all give a sigh of relief. On Monday, it was a big day. With three tests in a single day, it was hard. Maths, in my view, one of the most important and hardest subjects was up first. After, with a little revision time, was Physics. Fortunately, many of us felt the assessment went well, so we were not so anxious. Finally, in the afternoon was Latin. Latin was found to be hard with all the different endings, but we all pulled through without any casualties! On Tuesday it was Languages and DE. French was okay, although the grammar was exceptionally hard. After, we had games where we went to our sports. It was filled with fun and represents a break in our tightly packed exam schedule. In the afternoon was DE. It was hard with the designs for the lamps and metal figurine which many of us did not finish. Remembering the different manufacturing processes was exceptionally challenging for me.
On Wednesday was Geography and Biology. Geography was a challenge for me due to the new topic we just learnt the week before exam week. After, we had break, a revision slot and lunch to prepare for the Biology exam. Unfortunately, I allowed one of the questions in the exam to use up a large chunk of precious time even though it was only worth two marks. Of course, then we had Thursday, a nightmare for our hands; it was English and History! For English, we had to write an essay with five paragraphs with three quotes each. As most people would not be able to achieve this, our teacher told us that we may do three paragraphs with two quotes each. After English, we had a revision slot where we revised for History, RS or Chemistry. In the afternoon, for History, there was a lot of writing. First, there was a source question where we had to analyse a source and explain if it is reliable. Then, we had an essay where we chose a question to answer and analyse. Then finally, it was Friday! In the morning we had Chemistry. The multiple choice was a little bit tricky and some bits in Section B but I think our form pulled through. Then came RS, our last exam for the whole week! Although, I was annoyed with myself unfortunately because in the 10 marker I forgot to include any examples of theodicies. Then came 12.35pm; finally! The exams have finished! After lunch, we participated in the athletics interform where I did a few events myself. Even though our form did not win, we had loads of fun and it was a great end to the week.
By Ian L (2F)
The Lost World of Antarctica
Beneath the thick ice of East Antarctica, lies a hidden world – untouched for over 34 million years! This frozen expanse, approximately 10 million square kilometres wide has long concealed a forgotten landscape, but now with the help of cutting-edge satellite tools, researchers have now been able to explore a time when Antarctica teemed with life. They have identified ancient mountain peaks buried underneath miles of ice, and in addition to this, a large-scale transcontinental river system which dates back from all the way to the Eocene era (34-44 million years ago). To reveal these buried marvels, a team of geologists employed satellite data and ice-penetrating radar, uncovering a terrain once sculpted by rivers – marked by valleys and ridges. This prehistoric place would not have only been a bustling landscape, but also home to various wildlife, though it is said that specific creatures remain a mystery due to an insufficient fossil record. Lastly, this astonishing discovery just shows how many undiscovered and mind-blowing things there are left to explore in our fascinating world!
By Riyaan G (2B)
Pet of the Week
Every week we are meeting one of Second Year’s furry (or scaly!) friends. This week’s pet of the week is Jasper.
Here’s why Joe W (2J) thinks Jasper deserves to be pet of the week: He’s just so happy and funny! He makes me laugh every day.
Would you like to see your pet featured? Email e.holt@hamptonschool.org.uk with a picture of your pet, along with their name, age, and why you think they deserve to be featured. I can’t wait to meet them!
Summer Show
When Sir Charles Baskerville is found dead on his estate, with a look of terror still etched on his face, and the paw prints of a gigantic hound beside his body, the great detective Sherlock Holmes is summoned from Baker Street, with Dr Watson in tow, to unravel the mysteries surrounding his death, and investigate the ancient curse of the Hound of the Baskervilles…
There’s still plenty of time to get your tickets for the dazzling Summer Show The Hound of the Baskervilles. Book by clicking the link here. Performances are on the 17 and 18 June and start at 7.00pm. There are over 40 pupils from the First, Second and Third Year involved, so why not come along and support them in Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic.
QUIZ OF THE WEEK
Welcome to the Quiz of the Week! Every week, we’ll post five general knowledge questions. Take a look at this week’s questions, have a go yourself or challenge people at home and see if they know the answer. Points for the Interform Competition will be awarded to the form with the most entries over the term.
This week’s questions come from our Assistant Head, Mr Wilkinson! Why don’t you have a go at this week’s questions and enter your answers here.
Here are the answers to last week’s quiz:
- What is the longest river in Europe? The Volga River
- In which year was the first Nobel Prize in Physics awarded? 1901
- What is the name of the world’s deepest known part of the ocean? The Mariana Trench (specifically the Challenger Deep!)
- In Greek mythology, who was the only mortal Gorgon? Medusa
- Which Shakespeare play contains the line: “There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so”? Hamlet
Well done to Ian L, Henry S, Toby B, Mehrad M, Shaurya D, Charlie F, Reuben N, Nauvedya A, Maximilian P, Rayyan S, Liangxu Z, Ilakian D and Arjan C. Don’t forget to collect a Merit!
If you’re keen to write some general knowledge questions for the Blog, please email e.holt@hamptonschool.org.uk
