Welcome to the First Year Blog!
This week began with a moment of reflection as First Year Hamptonians walked solemnly and respectfully in silence to our Remembrance Assembly, with poppies pinned proudly to their blazers. It was a time to pause, remember, and honour those who gave so much.
Beyond remembrance, the blog is packed with pieces that will make you think, smile, and maybe even laugh. From an interview that gets to the root of Mr Hill’s Geography passion, to musical notes that strike a chord at recent concerts, and even a glimpse into epic battles at Warhammer Club – there’s something for everyone.
Don’t forget, the Interform Chess Competition is just around the corner, so start planning your moves now! And with next week’s No Limits Week and a homework holiday for our First Years, it’s the perfect chance to checkmate boredom and try out a new co-curricular club.
Enjoy the read and have a fantastic weekend!
LEST WE FORGET
‘Lest we forget.’
This week is a week of sorrow, but a week of celebration. It was a minute to take. To take for the fallen. To take for remembrance.
Every year, Hampton School recognise all the soldiers, pupils and old members of the common room who had passed away in previous wars. On Monday, we walked to assembly in absolute silence. The event consisted of a few poems read out by the Deputy Head and others, then the Chamber Choir singing a song about it. We explored how other countries celebrate it, from New Zealand’s traditional symbolic blank wall, to Canadians placing poppies on a soldiers’ tombs. Followed by the words ‘we will remember them,’ we stood. We thought of fellow Hamptonians of the past, ones that sacrificed their lives in the terrible conflicts of the past. After attending the assembly, I realised that many individuals these days seem to take freedom for granted. I think all the people who lost their lives in the war are role models as they had the loyalty and commitment to fight for their country, leaving behind a legacy that shall continue.
By Owen S-W (1L)
INTERFORM CHESS
Mrs Whitwam is delighted to announce that the First Year Chess Interform Competition is set for Friday 5 December in S11. It will be during lunchtime and spectators are welcome so long as they are silent!
Each Form needs to nominate a captain and two other players to compete. It may be wise for the boys to play some of their own matches in the Form room or the Library to establish which boys are best suited for the team; let me know the names when your team has been selected. Packed lunches will be provided for the finalists as it is likely to take up most of the lunch break.
MEET MR HILL!
Avirat P (1H) recently interviewed Mr Hill, one of our Heads of Year and a co-captain at the helm of First Year. Avirat has expertly written an account of Mr Hill’s answers. Let’s hear from him below:
Last week, I went to interview Mr Hill. It was a very fun, breathtaking but a bit nerve racking experience. As I made my way to the Geography Office my nerves were a drum drumming a beat. My heart had an adrenaline rush; like a sprinter getting ready for a 100-meter dash. As I opened the door a smartly dressed Mr Hill warmly welcomed me with a bright and cheerful smile. The feeling brought me a wave of enjoyment, and all my nerves plummeted down in an instant. We bothgreeted each other before we started the interview:
Q: Could you please tell me about yourself?
Mr Hill: Beyond the classroom, Mr Hill leads an active life, combining his love for sports with his passion for travel and cooking. “I like rowing and football,” he told me, reflecting his energetic personality. His adventurous spirit was particularly evident when the spoke of his travels. While he highly recommends Australia, his favourite destination is Greenland, where he was captivated by the sheer magnificence of the glaciers. This appreciation for the natural world is a passion that clearly extends into his geography teaching.
Q: What difference do you see between when you first joined Hampton, and now?
Mr Hill: Our lovely conversation also touched upon the evolution of education at Hampton. Mr Hill recalled a time when technology was less prominent in the classroom, with “lots of books and pencils” being the primary tools. Today, he notes the significant shift towards modern technology, with computers and laptops – a transformation and how well Hamptonians have adapted.
Q: Have you always been in Geography department? What has been your favourite thing you have done in Geography?
Mr Hill: An unwavering commitment to his field, Mr. Hill confirmed that he has always been a part of the Geography department. When asked about his favourite moments, he warmly reflected on the many School trips he has led. His favourite was an unforgettable excursion to Costa Rica. On the teaching side, he expressed his enjoyment of teaching geopolitics to the Sixth Form, highlighting the dynamic nature of his role.
Q: How were you as a child in Secondary School?
Mr Hill: Looking back at his school days, Mr Hill was proud and felt great with Geography being his favourite subject, though he enjoyed rowing in sports and also participated in few musicals.
Q: What do you do in your leisure time?
Mr Hill: “I really love to cook and read. A perfect balance of creativity and contemplative.”
Q: What advice would you give to the First Year?
Mr Hill: “Get involved in anything you can. Try your best in everything. Most importantly have FUN”. What powerful advice – simple but profound.
After a nice and pleasant talk, it was time to wrap up and the final question is a reminder to all Hamptonians to embrace each opportunity, work hard and enjoy the journey. I had a fun experience interviewing Mr Hill. I have got to know him better and I hope this will help all the current First Years.
CONCERT CURTAIN CALLS
On the Tuesday 4 November, I went to the Senior Keyboard Concert. It was wonderful and I immensely enjoyed listening to the Senior Hamptonians playing. All the performers were skilful and had extraordinary talent. There were all kinds of styles, like classical, romantic and pop. Although there was only one instrument, the piano, it was still spectacular. My favourite was a piece called “Leave me behind.” The musician who performed this wrote the song himself. He was singing the song and playing the piano at the same time. It was fun, and the concert was incredible.
The next week, I performed in the New Pupils’ Concert. I really enjoyed playing to my friends. I played the Super Mario theme tune on the piano. I was also wearing a Mario hat while playing, which achieved some laughs from the audience. The were all sorts of instruments, such as the sitar, the oboe and the trumpet. There was plenty of people performing, about 60 in total. This is my first time going to such a large School concert. It was fun to listen to all my friends play. At the end of the concert, I felt tired, but my mind was still buzzing. I’m really excited for the next concert!
By Mingyuan D (1P)
On Tuesday this week, we had the option to perform in the New Pupils’ Concert. You could either sing or play an instrument, and, if you needed, have a backing track or an accompanist. I played the drums to a backing track. We rehearsed at School till 7.00pm, when it was time for the concert. By the way, they gave us pizza, chips and raspberry mousse! Anyway, it was time for the concert. The first half was full of amazing performances. Then it was time for a short interval where we had cookies and juice. I was nervous as I was in the second half. When it was close to my turn, I went to the side of the Hammond ready to go on. I thought I was going to make a mistake, but I didn’t! I performed perfectly and everyone gave me an applause. I was so proud.
By Aahil U (1G)
This week, I was incredibly lucky to perform in and witness the outstanding New Pupils’ Concert. I haven’t the words to describe the truly remarkable standard of the new Hamptonians’ performances. I arrived in the Hammond Theatre before the concert, nervous but excited for the evening ahead. I then left my seat to go to the dressing room as the audience filed in, leaving my music book on my seat. On returning, I saw that my seat had flipped up, and my music had fallen into the darkness of underneath the seat! My heart pounded against my chest. I had to perform my piece from memory!
The concert kicked off with a bang. The phantasmagorical tunes and songs delighted my ears, the almost tangible notes lingering passionately in the atmosphere. Lost in the music, my nerves subsided, and it was suddenly my turn to wait in the wings. Not long now. When it was my turn, I took a deep breath and walked onto the stage. I played an Irish tune called ‘Patrick’s Reel’ on my viola. I took another deep breath and started. From the first to final note, I thoroughly enjoyed the piece and took a bow proudly. I did it!
I would like to thank Mr Oyarzabal, my accompanist; Miss Van Ments, my viola teacher; Mr Roland and Mr Daly for looking after all of the performers before the concert in the lecture theatre; Mr Ferrier for working tirelessly to make the concert a reality; the catering team for preparing delicious food for all the performers; and all the other amazing staff who helped everything run smoothly before and on the night. It was an amazing experience and one I will never forget.
By Alex B (1L)
Take a look at some of the photos from the evening here and hear from some of our First Years about their very first experience of performing on the Hammond Theatre stage:
HELPING HANDS
Last Saturday, I woke up to my alarm ringing at 6.30am, even earlier than it would on weekdays. Guess where I was going? Yes, I was returning to school at 7.45am on a Saturday. Now, you may wonder: why on earth would I be going back to school so early on a weekend? Well, in fact, I had volunteered to be one of the First Year helpers at the 10+ entrance exam, where some younger boys currently in Year 5 were taking the English and Maths tests.
I can recall that when I previously sat the entrance exam, I felt at ease when I was warmly welcomed and greeted by boys of a similar age at the entrance. Being a Hamptonian now, I am more than happy to welcome and greet future Hamptonians when they visit our community, probably for the first time, and to be the one accompanying them during the refreshment break and handing out snacks with drinks.
Best of luck to all the boys and I hope that they will experience all the wonderful things that Hampton has to offer!
By Hiu Yeung K (1P)
On a bright Saturday morning, we were all ready to welcome the prospective children and parents for the 10+ exams. As the first slot of exams were being prepared and we were allocating them to their rooms. They happily entered their rooms, greeted with a quiz and a spot the difference puzzle! There was a tingling feeling of excitement among the children. As the first set got underway, another group of children joined for their later slot. We were allocated rooms for us to help with in case anything was needed. The first slot had finished their English test and had their break. As we entered the room to hand out some snacks, we had noticed they had made friendships already! Once both tests had been completed, we took them out of the school to be welcomed again with their parents. Not eager to leave their new friends, they chatted along the way and waved their goodbyes, and all hoped to see each other in the coming years.
By Pesandu W (1W)
BEANS, BRAINS AND BRILLIANCE
Every Monday a group of us go to an extension maths class run by Mrs Frith, she is very kind and welcoming. Mrs Frith always supports us and if we struggle, she helps us patiently.
This week I almost arrived late because I thought we had English and accidentally missed out on registration for the first time ever, but let’s not focus on that! We were presented with different games involving beans and had to calculate who was guaranteed to win between two players. At one point I was so confused that I decided to replicate the game (with pencils) with my partner Andreas, which was fun. It was very interactive with everyone sharing their opinions and methods, and in the end, we came up with the answers as a class.
I had a blast, as did everyone else. The maths extension class was the highlight of my day, and I look forward to it next Monday.
By Miguel B (1B)
WARHAMMER CLUB: BATTLES, BRUSHES AND BIG IMAGINATIONS
Join the coolest new club, where we have EPIC battles between the mortal realm, soldiers, and aliens. Warhammer Club is where we build, paint and create armies. Everyone is welcome from beginners to seasoned pros. Having fun, meeting new friends and the only limit is your imagination so roll some dice, grab a brush, and get ready for an awesome adventure.
Time: Monday and Thursday lunchtimes
Location: F61 – Art Department
Don’t be shy, give it a try for No Limits Week next week!
By Armaan A (1B)
LADY MAYOR’S MARVELLOUS MARCH
The Lord Mayor’s Show is a tradition to mark the new Lord Mayor of London, or more appropriately for the first time ever, the Lady Mayor of London! This has been around for 810 years. I have had the great honour to participate in it and here is my blog about it:
What an experience it was, to march in the Lady Mayor’s Show on Saturday 8 November. Cheering crowds heard the 1st Claygate Scout and Guide band play our military march tunes as we marched. My trumpet was loud and clear, particularly around the Royal Courts of Justice, where the new Lady Mayor, Dame Susan Langley, took an oath. It was an amazing procession to be part of, ranging from ancient carriages and modern floats to tanks. Although a long day, the energy from the thousands on the Embankment and streets made this a truly remarkable proud moment to be part of an ancient tradition tracing its history back 800 years. Highlights were broadcast live on the BBC, and coverage of the show is now available on BBC iPlayer if the live broadcast was missed. The army float, about three floats in front of us, showed scenes of an air raid!
By Ruben V (1F)
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 (v.jimenez@hamptonschool.org.uk).
In addition to his usual chorister’s duty last Sunday, Zeno L-H (1P) sang at the Remembrance Day service at the castle grounds in Guildford!
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 Guy H (1H) on being named this week’s Tutee of the Week!
Guy is always consistently polite and helpful and makes the most of all the opportunities on offer at School – well done Guy!
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: Which component is the main component of eggshells? The answer could be found in the Chemistry department and is calcium carbonate!
A big shout out to the First Years who correctly found the answer to last week’s Hampton Hunt. Well done to Al M, Owen S-W, Jack M, Rowan F, Pesandu W, Miguel B, Ryan P, Mikaeel K, Yifan C, Armaan A, Zach B, Orlando G, Gilby R, Aiden G, Hiu Yeung K, Guy H, Julian H, Nicholas M, Ronak B, Andreas C, Aditya S, Eric L and Jacob B.
Make sure you collect a merit from your Form Tutor next week!
This week’s challenge is a twist on the popular game GeoGuessr:
where can you find these poppies that have been ‘planted’?
