Welcome to the Second Year Blog!
As the spring term comes to a close, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the fantastic moments of the past few months and look ahead to a well-earned Easter break! This week’s blog is packed with highlights, from the much-anticipated Spring Concert, which showcased Hampton’s incredible musical talent, to the competitive spirit of Interform events.
Many Second Year Hamptonians are kicking off the holidays with exciting school trips, including an early-morning departure for the Classicists who are visiting Hadrian’s Wall. Meanwhile, our U13 Rugby 7s team is competing at the Rosslyn Park National Schools Festival, and I can’t wait to hear how they get on!
Wishing everyone a wonderful Easter holiday (and don’t forget to get snapping for the Interform Photography Competition!) I look forward to seeing you all back, refreshed and ready for another action-packed summer term.
Whatever you’re up to over the break, I hope you have a fantastic time – and who knows? Maybe some of you will even share your stories in next term’s blog!
Merit Milestones
There were plenty of merit certificates awarded during the final week of term:
Alex Pheasant – 10
Atharv Joshi – 20
Finn McLaughlin- 20
Joseph Godekmerdan – 30
Charles Brain – 40
Rayyan Shah – 40
Josh Don Carolis – 40
George Wright – 40
Ben Fulford – 50 (he’s off to see Mr Knibbs!)
Reuben Nicholson – 60 (super!)
Maximilian Pruess – 70 (tremendous!)
Duncan Chan – 90 (stupendous!)
Spring Term Highlights
The Spring Concert was a truly unforgettable evening, showcasing the immense musical talent of pupils across various ensembles. From the opening brass fanfare to the soaring choral finales, the concert was a perfect celebration of music, collaboration, and passion. The evening began with a powerful performance by the Brass Band, setting the stage with their rendition of The Cider House Rules. The rich and resonant brass tones filled the auditorium, immediately captivating the audience and setting a high standard for the rest of the night.
Following this, I had the pleasure of playing in the Sinfonia group, where we performed Highland Games. The highlight of our piece was a stunning solo performance by Theo T, whose skill and expression added a beautiful depth to the music. Next, the Concert Orchestra took to the stage and delivered a hauntingly beautiful performance of Sicilienne, which was played with grace and sensitivity. This was followed by a collaborative performance with Roar, as they performed Skyfall, bringing a cinematic and dramatic touch to the evening. ROAR then continued with a lively and energetic rendition of Katy Perry’s Roar, which had the audience engaged with its uplifting and empowering lyrics.
The Percussion Ensemble followed with an electrifying performance of Shake It Off. Their rhythmic precision and dynamic playing brought an exciting contrast to the evening’s repertoire. The Consort of Voices then took the stage, delivering a mesmerizing performance of Radiance and The Call. Their harmonies were exquisite, and their emotive singing left a lasting impression on the audience. The Chamber Orchestra followed with a delightful performance of Heather Hill, showcasing their refined technique and expressive playing. Voices of Lions, one of Hampton’s most prestigious vocal ensembles, then performed What Was I Made For? and Time. Their rich harmonies and heartfelt delivery made for a deeply moving segment of the concert.
The Swing Band then lightened the mood with a vibrant and energetic performance of Struttin’ with Some Barbecue. The infectious rhythms and joyful energy had the audience tapping their feet along. The Chamber Choir concluded the portion of the concert that I was able to attend with two beautifully sung pieces: O Love and Let All the World. Their delicate balance and rich choral sound brought a sense of warmth and serenity to the performance.
By Liangxu Z (2H)
Take a look at some of the photos of the concert here.
My highlight of the spring term was the various interform competitions. I love competing against other forms with of course some great sportsmanship. It was great being part of rugby and basketball interform, in which we both came second place; very well deserved! But even in the competitions I didn’t participate in, it was great to support my form. I hope we will do well in other interform competitions and hopefully win the whole thing! But I wish all the best to all of the other forms!
By Akshaj G (2J)
Interform Photography
We are pleased to announce the Second Year Interform Photo Competition! The theme is ‘spring’. Please email your entries to Miss Tiller b.tiller@hamptonschool.org.uk. The deadline is Friday 25th April, so you have all of the end of term break to try and capture something beautiful!
So, what are you waiting for – get snapping!
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 Wiggle, Duncan C (2J)’s favourite fish – and he has 40 to choose from!
Here’s why Duncan thinks Wiggle deserves to be pet of the week:
This is my fish! He is an otocinclus catfish, his name is Wiggle, he is currently a year old. The reason why I think he should be pet of the week is because of his unique nature! He loves to stay on this specific piece of wood, for hours on end. He looks as if he contemplates life for about four hours, before heading back to his daily routine. Another reason he deserves to be on here is because he is a very hard-working fellow, his job is to clean and scrape a lot of the woodwork and glass clean of algae. He is also very cute and sometimes tickles my finger at feeding time, he is a part-time nail technician! He is a very friendly person and loves to sometimes cuddle with my amano shrimp, same for some of my snails, he is just an innocent boy. Wiggle is a bottom feeder, who are usually not the centre-piece fish, but he is my centre-piece fish. I love him and he will live an aspiring and successful fish life.
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!
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 ‘Play triads for section of school’ (5) was…
‘Tardis’!
Reason: Scramble the letters in ‘triads’ and you get ‘Tardis,’ a section of the school!
Can you solve this week’s fiendish clue?
Clue: Only Second year art hoards mistakes (6)
Hint: ‘Mistakes’ is the definition
Come back next term 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.
Here are the answers to last week’s quiz:
- Which element has the highest melting point of all metals? Tungsten
- What is the only continent that spans all four hemispheres? Africa
- In Greek mythology, who was condemned to hold up the sky for eternity? Atlas
- What is the name of the mineral that is the main component of the Earth’s outer core? Iron
- Which ocean is the deepest in the world? Pacific Ocean
Well done to Theo P, Kavith T, Toby B, Alex B, George W, Francisco C I, Josh D C, Ethan W, Mehrad M, Reuben N, LIangxu Z and Ilakian D. Don’t forget to collect a Merit.
Quiz of the Week is having a well-deserved rest over the holidays – lots of Easter eggs to get through!
