Weekly Bulletin (11.5.12)
Let me start by again saying what a pleasure it was to see so many of you at Parents’ Evening on Tuesday. It was hard to believe that we were reflecting on the best part of the year gone. So much has been crammed into the past eight months – never a week goes by when we are not enjoying a trip or activity, or celebrating a number of impressive achievements. This week has been no exception.
The cricket season has squelched into action, and, on the few occasions that rain has not stopped play, conditions have been decidedly seamer-friendly. It has not been conducive to building a good batting average, which is why Cole Campbell’s excellent knock of 53 not out against Dulwich was particularly impressive. Well done, Cole! I also heard that the U12Cs lost a match against RGS Guildford by a single run this week! Nail-biting stuff, and I hope the boys enjoyed themselves despite just being on the wrong end of the result. Best of luck to our A and B cricketers in their matches against Tiffin tomorrow.
Our Futsal team were in action last weekend in the Southeast England Regional Finals. Despite losing some important players to cricket duty, the team played magnificently, winning four matches in a round-robin league format to top the group. The top two teams then met again in a final. Frustratingly, we lost to a team from Oxfordshire that we had already beaten earlier in the day. Whilst this was disappointing for the boys, they have done fantastically well. They are Hampton’s first ever Futsal team, and have set a very high standard for future sides to match. The squad consisted of Bruno Dimitroff, Alex Dewar, Fabio Rossi, Rian Larkin, Tom Flintham, George Johnston-Purvis and Gabriel Lewis. Their coach, Mr Partridge, could not praise the boys highly enough, and reserved special mention for Bruno’s heroics in goal and Alex’s intelligent and skilful play.
Back On the merit trail, congratulations to Jasper Hamilton-Hunt and Sam Park (30 merits), Jacob Riddleston (40 merits), Thomas Knollys (50 merits and a Headmaster’s certificate), Charlie Bowe (60 merits), and Owain Bates (an incredible 120 and 130 merits). Well done to all!
Mr J. Partridge
April 2012
Dear First Year Parents,
Despite meteorological evidence to the contrary, Summer Term has arrived. Welcome back! I hope you had a very good Easter holiday and that the boys are returning to School refreshed and ready to face the challenges ahead. We will certainly be keeping them busy over the coming weeks. A full list of School events can be found in the yellow calendars, of which your son will be receiving the usual two copies, and which is updated daily on the School website. However, I have taken the opportunity to highlight a few occasions of particular relevance or interest here.
Wednesday 25 April Term begins
Thursday 26 April Junior Maths Challenge (1.30pm-2.30pm)
Monday 30 April 1B and 1P RS trip to Central Gurdwara and West London Synagogue
Tuesday 1 May 1H, 1J and 1L RS trip to Central Gurdwara and West London Synagogue
Friday 4 May Mufti day
Monday 7 May School closed
Tuesday 8 May First Year Parents’ Evening
Monday 28 May Start of Exam Week
Friday 1 June End of Exam Week
Start of Half Term (4pm)
Monday 11 June Return from Half Term
Wednesday 20 June Lower School Concert, 450 Hall (7.30pm)
Thursday 21 June Physics trip to INTECH
Friday 22 June First Year Maths Morning
Saturday 23 June HSPA Summer Fair, 11am-2pm
Tuesday 26 June 1B and 1H Biology trip to Kew Gardens
Wednesday 27 June 1J, 1L and 1P Biology trip to Kew Gardens
Tuesday 3 July Founders’ Day Service, St. Mary’s Church, Hampton (9.45am)
Founders’ Day Activity Day/trip to Westminster Abbey (11am-4pm)
Lower School Evening, 450 Hall (7.30pm)
Thursday 5 July 1B and 1H day trip to Le Touquet (5am-8.30pm)
Friday 6 July Swimming Gala, Hampton Open Air Pool (9am- 30am) Term ends (12 noon)
As you can see, there are several trips to look forward to this term, run by the Biology, Physics, French and RS Departments. I am sure that all the trips will be interesting and enjoyable.
I am looking forward to seeing many of you at the First Year Parents’ Evening on Tuesday 8 May, which will give you the opportunity to speak directly to your son’s subject teachers about his progress in their classes, and to catch up with his Form Tutor. You should have received your appointments schedules for this in the post at the end of the Spring Term – please let me know if this is not the case.
As I outlined in a letter in March, the week before the May Half Term holiday will be Exam Week. It is important for the boys to revise thoroughly for these papers as they are an important preparation for the external examinations they will face in future years. To help them to prepare as effectively as possible, PHSE lessons before Easter were focused on revision and exam technique strategies, and this theme will continue over the next few weeks. I will discuss this topic in more depth in my speech at the Parents’ Evening. A copy of my original letter on the subject, and of the exam timetable, can still be found on the First Year page of the School website.
Another big occasion in the calendar is Founders’ Day, which this year takes place on Tuesday 3 July. The entire School will attend a service commemorating the School’s early benefactors at St. Mary’s Church in Hampton in the morning, whilst during the afternoon the boys have the option of a trip to Westminster Abbey or taking part in activities on the School fields. Mrs Owen (Head of Second Year) and I will also host Lower School Evening on the evening of Founders’ Day at 7.30pm in the 450 Hall, where we will give a review of the year. The Headmaster will present prizes to those pupils who have excelled in various academic and co-curricular spheres this year. Prize winners will be notified shortly before the evening, and tickets will become available at this time. I will provide more details about this nearer the time, but please note that the ceremony is not compulsory for boys who do not receive prizes.
And if all that wasn’t enough, the Summer Term also sees the awarding of coveted Founders’ Cup, presented to the First Year Form that has accrued most points in Inter-Form competitions across the Year. So far, only the Rugby competition has been held, and 1J have taken an early lead. However, with Football, Athletics, Drama and Swimming tournaments all scheduled for this term, there is still everything to play for. The trophy will be presented after the Swimming Gala, on the final day of term.
I trust that you have received your son’s Spring Term Grade Card over the Easter holidays and have been able to talk it through with him. I was again very impressed with the academic standards shown throughout the Year Group. It is obvious that the vast majority of the boys are doing well across the full academic spectrum. If you would like to discuss any issues arising from the Grade Card in more detail, please do contact your son’s Form Tutor.
Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any concerns or questions,
Yours faithfully,
Mr J.R. Partridge
Head of First Year