Good Friday morning, Prep School children, (Good Friday morning, Mrs Bennett – I hear you all say back!)
I hope you all had a productive day yesterday and are continuing to work hard for your mums and dads? I have been super impressed with the work that has been sent through to me. It lovely to see you all working so hard on your maths and English and also embracing the wonderful afternoon topic work that is being set. Do not forget that this topic work is just as important as your maths and English. It was designed by your teachers to give you a broad learning experience of different and exciting topics, whilst at the same time covering all of the areas and skills that we need to cover in school! And you all just thought it was fun!
Yesterday I reflected on things that I had learnt this week and I thought I would share a few of these with you!
1. I really enjoy routine! I like a daily timetable and I like to know what I am doing when. I have also learnt that Mr Bennett does not like routine as much as me! I have my day set out from my morning cup of tea to cooking dinner each night. I like break time to be at 10:15am and lunch at 12:30pm! My neighbours do think I’m strange standing on our gate each morning from 8:30am-8:45am saying ‘Morning, Mr Smith, how are you today!’ They find it even stranger when I ask them to tuck in their shirt or put their coats on! I think I have been in schools too long.
2. I could not do a desk based job. I love seeing people every day. I love the variety that teaching brings. I love hearing the sound of chattering in the corridors, teaching echoing through the hall ways, I embrace the challenges that school life brings, the way that the children smile at me each day and the fact that they are more than happy to come and talk to me about anything!
3. That I am so proud of all the NHS (and other key workers) at this time. Last night, at 8pm, I joined all of my neighbours in the national campaign ‘Clap for our Carers’. If I am honest, I didn’t think anyone would do it, well boy was I wrong! All we could hear for a good 5 minutes was constant clapping, whopping, cheering, banging of pots and pans, horns beeping from lorries. It made me realise that we are part of a wider community that we may not know or be able to see at this time but I am sincerely pleased to be part of.
4. I also learnt that my neighbour Jeff – 85 – can whoop and hit pots and pans louder than anyone else on my road!
5. And finally (and this is cheating a bit as I did already know this but . . . ) I have learnt and really appreciated this week what an amazing team I am part of. From the teachers at school, to the TA’s, the Pre-School key workers to the office staff and the other support staff in school to you of all at home. Your parents support at this time has been superb, your hard work and dedication to school and you friends has been overwhelming. I genuinely have never been so proud of our school family. Ironically not being allowed to be together, has in my opinion, brought us closer together. #HighclareSpirit #TeamHighclarePrep.
So each day I promised I would be sending you a life skill task to complete and also a joke, poem, picture, fact or reflection. Here we go for Friday 27th March 2020:
Life skill of the day: So yesterday you learnt to hoover – today can you have a go at polishing the surfaces in your house? Be careful of any precious ornaments and as Mr Bennett always tells me, “To polish properly, you need to lift things up to polish underneath them, don’t just polish around them” – mums and dads will be checking!
Life skill for the weekend: Do some gardening with your family! Don’t forget to ask an adult what is a weed or a flower if you aren’t sure!
Day of the year theme: ‘Spanish Paella Day’, ‘Quirky Country Music Song Titles Day’, World Theatre Day’ and one for your parents after a long week ‘International Whiskey Day’. Have fun with these themes today!
Thunk of the day: Remember, Thunks are unusual questions that are designed to make you think. There are no right or wrong answers -just your answer. The only rule is that you must be able to justify and explain your answer. You cannot just say the first thing that comes into your head. Really think about the question and discuss with your family!
Question: Is there more happiness or sadness in the world?
I had some great answers to yesterday’s question – you all thought really hard and sent me some fantastic answers along with a justification too. I did have to remind Mrs Griffiths to think about the question carefully and not just say the first thing that came into her head! She gave a super answer after that!
TOPS activity of the week from Miss Dalton (this won’t change until Monday 30th March!): Can you create a poster/card/picture for key workers, parents, neighbours, teachers etc that shares an uplifting message at this time? Please can you send any pictures of these to me and I will share with Miss Dalton. There is no rush to do this – I know you are all so busy. It is also optional, please don’t feel pressured.
If anyone has completed the above activity, or are going to do so this weekend, I would love to see what you are doing.
Joke of the day: Thank you Divania (Yr3W)
Q: What do you do with a baby astronaut?
A: You rocket!
Poem of the Day: Thank you to Eliana (Yr2P) for today’s poem – so thoughtful and poignant at this time.
As the sun shines on this beautiful spring day,
There are a few things which I’d like to say,
I can’t see you at school because it is closed,
But knowing friendships are there is what counts most.
The world around us is a beautiful place,
So many opportunities to have fun, laugh and play,
To protect us all we are staying at home,
But we can still FaceTime, skype or phone.
Spending time at home with our loved ones is so precious,
There’s lots to be thankful for during these extreme measures,
Little gestures for mom and dad to remind them we care,
Drawing pictures or playing games, and finding things we can share.
Our gardens are a gift to us, to enjoy at this time,
Listen to the birds chirping as the sun blazes in the sky,
The gentle breeze tickles the thin blades of grass,
And the leaves are getting greener, no more falling on paths.
We can take our work outside and enjoy the warmer weather
Invent a role play game and go on an adventure!
As the bees dance around the flowers, tickling their petals
I see beauty all around me – will you do so too when all this settles?
I value my family, my school and my friends,
Thankful we’re in touch with the messages we can send,
Keep safe all of Highclare, you’re in my thoughts and prayers,
Treasure your time at home now and most of all please TAKE CARE.
Sleeps til Santa: 272
Have a fantastic day, everyone,
Until Monday’s Mrs Bennett’s Bulletin, stay safe and enjoy the weekend from the comfort of your own house and the beauty of your garden.
Love
Mrs Bennett 😊
