Good morning, Prep School family,
Welcome to the last day of the term and to the final Bennett’s Bulletin for this academic year.
It was so, so lovely to see you all yesterday at the sports field, even in the rain! My cheeks were hurting at home time as I was smiling so much at seeing you all again. As I walked around the field, the laughter was infectious! I hope you thoroughly enjoyed it too. Thank you all for being so sensible and sticking to the rules. I am over the moon we got to see each other before we broke up and this will keep me happy now until September.
I also have to say a huge “Well Done” to Year 6 for your ‘Class of 2020’ assemblies/Hollywood productions! I watched them last night, sat on my sofa in my pj’s with a small (ok, very large) glass of wine and a box of tissues! You made me laugh and cry. I am so proud of you all and I am blessed to have been part of your educational journeys for the past 5 years. You are all so ready for the next stage of your schooling, but always remember us and come back to see us. Our door is always open – you will always be part of our Highclare Prep School family.
To my whole Prep School family – children, teachers and parents – I am sooooooo incredibly proud of everything that we have achieved together since March. I am so glad that I entered lockdown with you all and that we were each other’s strength in times of weakness, light in the darkness and sunshine in each other’s grey days. I am glad that we have found the many positives in such a horrible situation and that we worked so well together as a team. I couldn’t have got through it without you all. I am so privileged to work at such and amazing school and to have such a fantastic ‘school’ family around me. Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart.
I thought I would leave you with the words of a song from one of Mr Bennett’s favourite singers (I know – please don’t judge him on his musical taste!) – the legend that is Celine Dion. Children, you will probably have to Google her. Mr Bennett and I love a trip to America and we especially love Las Vegas. We were lucky enough to see Celine Dion in concert about 15 years ago in the Colosseum. I didn’t want to go. . .in fact, I had a bit of a strop, but I am so glad that I did. Her show was out of this world. So when I was looking for a song to accompany the Prize Giving, this song came straight to my mind – I have always wanted to use it but an opportunity had never really arisen. So when Miss Broder also suggested it, I know it had to be. . .
Deep within each heart
There lies a magic spark
That lights the fire of our imagination
And since the dawn of man
The strength of just “I can”
Has brought together people of all nations
There’s nothing ordinary
In the living of each day
There’s a special part
Every one of us will play
Feel the flame forever burn
Teaching lessons we must learn
To bring us closer to the power of the dream
As the world gives us its best
To stand apart from all the rest
It is the power of the dream that brings us here
Your mind will take you far
The rest is just pure heart
You’ll find your fate is all your own creation
And every boy and girl
As they come into this world
They bring the gift of hope and inspiration
Feel the flame forever burn
Teaching lessons we must learn
To bring us closer to the power of the dream
The world in lights and hope and peace
We pray that you will always be
It is the power of the dream that brings us here
There’s so much strength in all of us
Every woman child and man
It’s the moment that you think you can’t
You’ll discover that you can
Feel the flame forever burn
Teaching lessons we must learn
(To bring us closer to) the power of the dream
The world in lights and hope and peace
(We’ll pray that) it will always be
It is the power of the dream that brings us here
To realize the power of the dream
To realize the power of the dream
Life skill of the day: Learn to cartwheel! Not at school – health and safety!!
Day of the year themes: ‘Chocolate With Almonds Day’ and ‘Math 2.0 Day’ (I had to Google it as well –it’s a day celebrating the blending of technology and maths!)
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: Are finders, keepers?
TOPS activity of the week:
Create something! Anything! Use anything! Let’s see those pictures!
Quote of the Day: “Maybe when social distancing is a thing of the past, we’ll hug a little harder, hold on a little longer and remember that nothing matters more than the time we spend with people that we love” – Lori Deschene
Jump Back July calendar task (this month’s activities are based on developing resilience): Get the basics right – eat well, exercise and go to bed on time.
I have also attached this calendar for the rest of the month. See if you can keep this up in the holidays! Resilience isn’t just a skill for school. . .
Sleeps til Santa: 170
Have a wonderful Wednesday and an amazing summer holidays, keep safe and look after each other. I will miss you all and I look forward to seeing you all again in September.
Much love,
Mrs Bennett
