Mrs Bennett’s Bulletin, Tuesday 22 September 2020

Posted: 22nd September 2020

Good morning, Prep School family,

I hope this finds you all well and that you had a lovely week last week. I cannot believe a week has gone since my last Bulletin – this academic year is already whizzing by.

This week, I have been thinking about nature. I love this time of year. I like it as the nights draw in and the curtains get closed earlier. I like the fact it is getting colder in the mornings and the evenings. It will soon be time for fires, thick woolly jumpers and wellies! I like the smell of bonfires in the air and lazy Sunday afternoons on the sofa with a film and a roast dinner cooking.

One of my favourite parts of this time of year has to be the mornings. Over the last week as I drive to work, I get to witness the most amazing sunrises. The sun has been like a huge, burning ball of bright orange in the sky. It has been surrounded by a sky of reds, yellows, pinks and purples. The sun seems to remain low in the sky, rising as slowly as possible for all to watch. Last week, it was so beautiful, I had to pull over and just sit in my car and look for a few minutes. As if this was not good enough, these sunrises have also been accompanied by a low, sinking mist. The kind of mist that hovers just above the trees and houses, shrouding everything below in its blanket of cloud. I feel blessed each day to experience this joy on my drive to work.

I find nature a huge grounding influence. It makes me think of how small I actually am in this immense universe and it helps me to put my worries into perspective. It also helps to calm me and relax me. I love sitting and listening to the wind howling or the rain on my windows. I am grateful each day to experience theses autumnal sunrises and I will be sad when they vanish for another year but I will also be excited for winter and for next autumn when I can experience this all over again. Remember to be grateful for something each day. No matter what it is – big or small – gratitude helps us with positive emotions, improves our mental wellbeing, reduces stress and helps to develop an optimistic mind-set. Who thought I could get all of this from a simple sunrise?

Days of the year themes for the coming week:

Tuesday 22nd September – Business Woman’s Day, World Car Free Day, Doodle Day, White Chocolate Day (yummy!), Ice-cream Cone Day, Hobbit Day, Elephant Appreciation Day, World Rhino Day

Wednesday 23rd September – Educational Technology Day and International Day of Sign Language

Thursday 24th September – Remember Me Thursday and Cherries Jubilee Day

Friday 25th September – World Dream Day, Hug a Vegetarian Day, Fitness Day, Better Breakfast Day, Cooking Day, One-hit Wonder Day and Comic Book Day

Saturday 26th September – European Day of Languages, Lumberjack Day, Save Your Photos Day and Rabbit Day

Sunday 27th September – Rivers Day, Corn Beef Hash Day, Crush a Can Day and Ancestor Appreciation Day

Monday 28th September –Strawberry Cream Pie Day, Family Day, Good Neighbour Day and one for the dads. . . Drink Beer Day.

Did you also know that this week is also International Week of Happiness at Work!

Quote of the week: “Nothing in this world is forever, not even our problems.” Charlie Chaplin

Self-Care September calendar task (this month’s activities are based on looking after yourself):

Tuesday 22nd September:
Smile at a stranger – it will make you feel happy.

Wednesday 23rd September:
Let go of other people’s expectations of you today.
Thursday 24th September:
Ask a trusted friend to say what they like about you.

Friday 25th September:
Release yourself from self-criticism.
Saturday 26th September:
Find a new way to use one of your strengths or talents today.
Sunday 27th September:
Take your time. Make space to breathe and be still.

Monday 28th September:
Accept your mistakes as a way of making progress.

Sleeps til Santa: 94

Joke of the week: (in honour of Elephant Appreciation Day and World Rhino Day)

Q. Why doesn’t the elephant use the computer?
A. Because it is afraid of the mouse!

Q: What does Tarzan say when he sees a herd of elephants in the distance?
A: “Look, a herd of elephants in the distance”

Q: When does a Rhino go “mooooo”?
A: When it is learning a new language!

Q: What do you call a rhino in a phone booth?
A: Stuck!

Have an amazing week and if anyone has any better rhino jokes, please do let me know!

Love

Mrs Bennett

Highclare School is proud to announce its newest Sixth Form Scholarship

Our Sixth Form Pre-Med Scholarship is now live for applicants to Highclare Sixth Form from September 2024 onwards.

The scholarship provides a bespoke programme for students aiming to enter university in September 2026 with a research-science based degree.

For more information email admissions@highclareschool.co.uk