Welcome to the Second Year Blog!
As the end of term draws near, life in the Second Year shows no signs of slowing down! This week has been packed with exciting events, from the opening rounds of the fiercely contested Interform Quiz – which has already sparked some brilliant teamwork and competitive spirit – to our much-anticipated Geography Trip to the beautiful River Cuckmere.
The trip gave pupils the chance to put their learning inside the classroom into practice as they explored the stunning landscape of the South Downs and the lower course of the River Cuckmere. Armed with sunhats, their packed lunches, and their booklets, they investigated the river’s velocity, depth, width, bedload and meander formation – all while enjoying glorious weather and breathtaking views! It was a fantastic opportunity to engage with real-world geography and see first-hand how physical processes shape the landscape; as well as how human intervention has changed the river over time. A full pupil-written blog on the Cuckmere trip will follow in next week’s edition, where some of our geographers will share their personal highlights and discoveries from the day.
Interform Chess also took place this lunchtime – here are the results:
1st – 2H
2nd – 2P
3rd – 2F
4th – 2W
5th – 2L
6th (joint) – 2B and 2J
From the tutor team, congratulations go to Mr Lee and Mr Harrison for winning their first round games (sadly Mr Worrall lost) to see the tutor team make the semi-final for perhaps the first time in Hampton history! Maybe we’ll win next year…
Green Week
2B were given scrap cardboard and masking tape only and had to create a sculpture in one double lesson based on a previous abstract painting. They worked in pairs to create an exciting eco piece using limited resources! Take a look at some of the things they created:
Political Partying with LEH!
On Wednesday, Second Year gathered to go to LEH to establish some new political parties! Together with LEH we got assigned to groups to research aspects on different political parties. Some decided to follow the example given whilst others started completely new ideas. Afterwards, we made a logo and wrote a manifesto for our party.
These party ideas were then handed in and will be marked and the winner will get a prize. This was an extremely fun activity that was a welcome change to the day-to-day lessons. This was one of two arranged activities to collaborate with LEH. The other one being the activities afternoon in First Year. Overall, this was a thoroughly enjoyed activity, especially the delicious cookies served at the break!
By Maximillian P (2J)
On Wednesday, Second Year Hamptonians had the opportunity to visit LEH for a team building exercise, which was to create a new political party. Before work began, we got to introduce ourselves with a game of ‘Two Truths and A Lie’ (strangely, a lot of people’s truths/lies were about crime). We then started working on our party. We decided to name our party ‘Forward Momentum’, because we only wanted to deliver changes to the UK that would move the country forward. Our main plan was to reduce the number of state schools in the UK so that the government could save more money to build more private schools, which would educate children much more effectively. This would, in turn, give them better job opportunities that would make them more money (this boosting our economy) and, because we would tax them for their income, we, as a government, would have much more money to enact our plan multiple times.
Another part of our plan was to consider charity. It was simple; we would gain more money from the plan stated above to donate to charities, who would also give bursaries, getting them into our private schools. It was a master plan; now we just wait and see if we win!
By Sujay (2L)
Meet Mr Hill!
We are delighted to formally introduce Mr Hill who recently joined us as one of 2H’s form tutors and teacher of RS and Philosophy! This week, tutees Bruno H-E and Dushyant P (2H) interviewed Mr Hill to get to know him a little better. Here’s what they found:
What’s a fun fact about you that most people don’t know?
I was on the GB team for karate and have competed internationally!
What book or movie has had the biggest impact on you?
It has to be Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason. It blew my mind when I first read it, and I’ve never been able to look at the world the same!
If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be and why?
Probably David Hume. If his essays are anything to go off, he would’ve been great fun at a party!
If you could instantly master any skill, what would it be?
I’d instantly master language-learning. I travel a lot, so knowing the language of the country I’m visiting would allow me to appreciate the culture on a much deeper level.
What do you think is the most important change schools should make in the future?
I think martial arts should be taught in schools – developing physical resilience is just as important as academic resilience!
Do you have a bucket list? What’s something on it you haven’t done yet?
I’d love to watch a UFC match in person.
Why did you choose to come to this school?
I was impressed by the pupils’ academic excellence. I’ve loved testing the Sixth Formers on some particularly difficult material in Philosophy Extension!
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Whatever you do, do it as intensely as possible.
What’s the most rewarding part of being a teacher?
Definitely when a pupil catches you out on something – as a philosophy teacher, it’s rewarding to see them go from ‘knowing’ the content to ‘doing’ philosophy!
If you weren’t a teacher, what job do you think you’d have?
Probably a tax barrister. I love public speaking, and tax law is a particularly complex, analytical area of the law.
Cryptic Clue
As a renowned devotee of the club, Michael C (2J)’s passion for cryptic crosswords has extended into creating his own for us to try and solve!
The answer to last week’s clue: ‘After end of year, needing to repay with summer activity’ (6) was…
‘Reason’!
Reason: ‘End of year’ means the last letter of the word ‘year’; the letter ‘r.’ ‘Needing to repay’ means ‘owing.’ Put the word ‘owing’ after the letter ‘r’ and you get ‘Rowing,’ a summer activity.
Can you guess this week’s?
Clue: Emit recess? (9)
Hint: ‘Recess’ is the definition
Come back next week to find out if you guessed correctly!
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 are themed around what we’ve been up to this week! 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 new name will the Marvel film ‘Thunderbolts*’ undertake upon its digital release? The New Avengers
- What does DC, the comic book company famous for creating characters such as Batman and Superman, stand for? Detective Comics
- What does JARVIS, Tony Stark’s AI companion, stand for? Just A Rather Very Intelligent System
- What is the full name of Poison Ivy? Pamela Lillian Isley
- Before he was green, what colour was The Hulk originally going to be? Grey
Well done to Shaurya D, Charlie F, Naivedya A. Mehrad M, Ilakian D, Toby B, Reuben N, Ian L, Ethan W and Sebastian M. 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
Have a great weekend!
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