Volcano Cake, AI Avatars & Pick of the Penalties!

Welcome to the Third Year Blog!

We find ourselves at the penultimate Third Year Blog of 2025! What a day!

Of course, that is not the only reason that this weekend has significance. Tomorrow, 6 December, it is St Nicholas’ Day. St Nicholas is believed to have been part of the inspiration behind Father Christmas. He was a fourth century Greek bishop from Myra, which is now in modern-day Turkey. One story of St Nicholas was that he met a poor man who was on the brink of selling his own daughters into slavery as he couldn’t afford to keep them. That night, he anonymously threw three bags of gold down the chimney, which happened to land in the girls’ stockings, which were drying by the fire. I think you can see the link to the rosy cheeked, plump, chimney focused legend we are all familiar with. St Nicholas was also credited with resurrecting three youths who had been murdered and pickled in a barrel by an innkeeper, though this story doesn’t seem to have become part of the imagery of Father Christmas, which is probably for the best.

Speaking of today, it is not only special because it is the penultimate Third Year Blog of the Year. As you all know, it is also Krampusnacht. This is celebrated on 5 December every year across Germany, other European countries, and Australia – specifically because it is the night before St Nicholas’ Day. What happens on Krampusnacht? People dress up as the devil Krampus and chase naughty children through the streets. The children are told off by the Krampus and given bundles of ‘ruten,’ a cluster of twigs, so they don’t forget the Krampus after he leaves. The Third Year Blog campaigned hard for this approach to replace the usual School sanction system for the Third Year during December, but our pleas fell on deaf ears.

Today is also International Ninja Day. This sounds INCREDIBLY exciting, until you realise that it was created by a company called ‘Ninja Burger’ to celebrate the ‘Ninja like speed’ with which they serve their burgers. It is also National Bathtub party day, which can only be viewed as an indictment on our society as a whole.

What of tomorrow? Well, that is National Microwave Oven day. According to its website, ‘the celebration focuses on the microwave’s versatility and efficiency. People appreciate how it can cook a variety of foods quickly and evenly’. It is almost enough to make one wonder why it is Christmas Day that gets all the plaudits when National Microwave Oven day is sitting meekly and mildly just a couple of weeks before it. It is certainly something to reflect on and the Third Year Blog would implore all of you to take some time to appreciate and possibly thank your Microwave Oven for all it has done for you at some point today.

It is also National Gazpacho day. Gazpacho is a chilled (cold, not relaxed) tomato soup from Spain. One can’t help but think that a soup that needs a day to draw attention to it, needs to have a long hard look at itself.

You’ll notice that the purpose of all of these days is generally to ask us to think about and remember an otherwise forgotten part of our lives. In some instances, it feels more valid and important than in others (though the Third Year Blog is 100% serious about the importance of making sure your Microwave feels ‘seen’ tomorrow). It also prompts the Third Year Blog to think about the people in our School who don’t necessarily get the acknowledgement they deserve and could feasibly deserve a day dedicated to them…

We are talking about all the staff at the School who REALLY make things work – not the teachers (well, I mean, they ARE pretty important), but the people working in the kitchen, the cleaners, our wonderful receptionists, Mrs Espley, the Maintenance team, the Keepers, the Groundstaff… the list goes on. The reality is that without them, we would not all find ourselves with the wonderfully kept and looked after facilities that we all do. We wouldn’t all be eating the wonderful food we are. The School simply would not be able to run in the way that it does without all their hard work and their excellence – they are outstanding at what they do.

So, as a Third Year group, let’s make next week a week where we all take the time to thank the staff who really make the School tick. Take it upon yourself to say thank you and let them know that you understand how important what they do is and that you are thankful for what they do for you.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that you can just forget about National Pastry Day on Tuesday next week, or National Poinsettia day on Friday…

Anyway, enough of this – what went on in the world of the Third Year this week? So many things…

Heads of Year Message

Firstly, a big thank you to our Third Year pupil representatives who attended School Council and SNRG (School Nutrition Review Group) meetings at Year Group and whole school levels this term. This is an important part of the Hampton experience – creating a collaborative educational environment which can adapt to pupils’ evolving experiences and needs. It contributes significantly to the realisation of our school wide commitment to empowering pupil voice, so thank you to the many Third Year pupils who have given their time to attend these meetings. Here is a prompt on some of the other ways that you can have your say at school:

On a less positive note, we have repeatedly had to remind many Third Year pupils that mass gatherings in Form rooms at break or lunchtimes are not sensible, safe or permissible. Unfortunately, due to poor behaviour at lunchtime on Thursday, all Third Year pupils are banned from entering any but their own Form room until the end of term. This applies before school, after school, during morning break and throughout lunchtime. For those pupils that wish to meet with friends not in their own Form, we have suggested that you arrange to meet at one of the many lunchtime clubs available here. Make the most of the last week before the Christmas break: try a new club, enjoy the 3G, and finish the term on a high note!

Interform Competition

Read on for an update on the interform standings after last week’s Penalty Shootout competition. We are looking forward to the final interform event of this term on Wednesday 10 December when “general knowledge” will be put to the test as we host the interform Quiz in the Lecture Theatre. We hope that lots of Third Year pupils will come along either as players or as supporters.

Festive Events

Having enjoyed the Christmas Concerts on Thursday and Friday evenings this week, there is still plenty to look forward to between now and the end of term, including the School Carol Service on Tuesday 9 December at 7.45pm in St Mary’s Church in Hampton, and the Christmas lunch on Thursday 11 December. Whilst we are looking forward to the opportunities for festive merriment over the coming days, we hope that all pupils will recognise the need to maintain good behaviour and mutual respect for teachers and peers throughout.

Grade Cards

Parents will have access to their child’s end of term grade card from 4.30pm on Friday 12 December via the parent portal. Any follow-ups will be conducted by Form Tutors from the start of next term.

End of Term

The last day of term is Friday 12 December, which will be a mufti day in aid of our Form Charity partners. Also in aid of Form Charity, we would like to remind all Forms that any donations via the Solace shoebox appeal must be delivered to your Form Tutor by Wednesday 10 December. Term will end at midday on Friday 12 December. The school coach service home will run at 12.15pm on that day.

Third Years – Please remember to let us, your Form Tutors or the relevant subject teachers, know if you are having any difficulties.

Enjoy the weekend and keep going until the end of term before a well-deserved holiday.

Best wishes

Mr T Rigby & Mr H Moore

Pick of the Penalties!

The next event in the Interform challenge was the penalty shootout. We have a report from Chester F (3G), offering a viewpoint from Form 3G on how it all went.

Last Friday, on the 28 November, the Third Year took part in an Interform competition of a penalty shootout. It was really exciting to watch and to take a penalty myself! With a large crowd of eager Third Years and some younger pupils watching from the gate, the pressure was high, and all forms were yearning to earn points for the Williams Cup!

Stepping up to the spot as one of the first takers was Ioan P, a pupil of 3A. He struck the ball so skillfully and effortlessly, rabona-ing it ‘top bins’ and beating the great keeping skills of Oliver S. Rayan A, Finn T, Magnus O’L, Jayen L, Dan E, Francisco C I, Stephane A and I all took a penalty for 3G. We scored a total of three goals: not bad but not great! After all the set-pieces had been taken, we were left ranked in the middle of the table: not a bad effort from the boys at all! Overall, form 3D were the winners!

So, what were the overall results?

1^st : 3D – 5 penalties – 9pts
Joint 2^nd : 3B & 3J – 4 penalties – 8pts
Joint 4^th: 3E, 3F, 3G & 3H – 3 penalties – 6pts
8^th : 3A – 2 penalties – 2pts
9^th : 3C – 0 penalties – 1pt

There was one spectacular penalty, which deserves special mention, take a look at this fantastic spot kick from Ioan P (3A):

The Williams Cup

Of course, the penalty shootout is just part of the tapestry of events that make up what is, without doubt, the most prestigious Independent School Interform trophy in the country – The Williams Cup.

Taking the shootout scores into account, where does that leave the standings?

1^st – 3B – 30pts
2^nd – 3D – 28pts
Joint 3^rd – 3G & 3J – 26pts
5^th – 3E – 22 pts
6^th – 3F – 18pts
7^th – 3A – 14 pts
8^th – 3C – 13 pts
9^th – 3H – 12pts

TALK! AI Avatars

Last week, I went to a Talk! by Kyle Odefey in the Hammond Theatre. He explored how AI video platforms (like where he works, Synthesia), are transforming content creation on social media and other forms of online media. It was really interesting as he shared insights on how we make videos using AI avatars. For example, he talked about how at Synthesia they have lots of safety with permission from the person who they are making an AI avatar of and giving them a personal code so only they can use it. It also blocks you from making videos with offensive content. This is really good as it makes the environment feel safer.

He also shared insights on how we may interact with AI in the future where the AI responds to what you say and it is a one-on-one conversation. The Talk! was well presented with videos to make it more interesting. Overall, what I took away from the Talk! was not to trust everything on social media!

By James A (3F)

Volcano cake!

In Geography this term, we have been studying hazards and specifically volcanoes. Me, George W, Henry S, Joe W and George B spent a bit of our weekend creating a volcano cake as a joke.

Joe and Henry took the honour of melting down chocolate and the Georges worked on making a cake. Mainly George W though. Extra credit to him. In the end it became a mound of broken pieces of cake with melted chocolate on it. 

By George T (3A)

SOLACE SHOEBOX APPEAL

The 2025 Shoebox Appeal is now live! This Christmas, Form Charity is organising a Shoebox Appeal in aid of Solace Women’s Aid. Solace is a leading specialist charity in the UK supporting women and children experiencing domestic abuse. The lifesaving support that Solace provides to over 20,000 women, children and young people each year is so important.

Each pupil is asked to donate one item for their Form’s shoebox. Forms in the First to Fifth Year will be putting together shoeboxes for younger children. The items that Solace have suggested for the shoeboxes are as follows:

• Educational games
• Hair accessories (in particular products for Afro-textured hair)
• Sports equipment (e.g. balls)
• Puzzles
• Small Lego or building block sets
• Arts and craft sets
• Books, Stickers and stationary
• Soft toys/dolls

What are you waiting for, let’s get filling those shoeboxes!

Food Bank Collection

Please support our Feltham Food Bank Collection on Friday 12 December. They are particularly in need of tinned meat, coffee, washing pods and biscuits Please bring your donations to the front of School from 8.15am. Thank you!

Two Truths and a lie

Last week, Mrs White, Third Year Tutor and Head of Russian, was our selected moral disgrace. Which of these offerings was her lie?

• Mrs White spent her childhood in Germany
• Mrs White’s favourite sport is figure skating
• While Mrs White LOVES ‘borshch’ (the traditional Russian beetroot soup), she has no idea how to cook it

Well, Mrs White does indeed love ‘borshch’, but is unable to cook it for herself. She does love figure skating preferring it even over football, which the Third Year Blog understands is likely to prompt incredulity throughout the year group. What this means is that Mrs White did not spend her childhood in Germany.

This week, Mr John steps in to try to deceive us:

• Mr John has had afternoon tea with King Charles
• Mr John is a speedcuber – he can (consistently) solve a Rubik’s Cube in under 8 seconds
• Mr John has written a book focused on tank gunnery drills

Which is the lie??

Connection Corner

Well done to everyone who had a go at last week’s Connection Corner. It was a tricky one and stumped many of you. Merits go to all those who correctly guessed that adding a prefix of San made all the answers into a place name. Big shout out to Richard C, Rishi V, George T, Ethan S-W, Sujay N, Asher C, Toby B, Eliott P,  Ilakian D, Uzair SC, Rayyan S, Leon S, Reuben N, Caesar C, Charlie F, George W and Liangxu Z.

Another tricky one this week, have a go over the weekend and see if you can spot the connection:

In case you’re still perplexed, here are last week’s answers:

Have a great weekend!