Good morning, Prep School family,
I hope you are well and that you had a good Monday. My Monday was ok. . . I have had better but I have also had worse! I think that after the madness of last week had calmed down, the reality that we are back to a stint of remote learning hit me hard. I just couldn’t muster much positivity which isn’t like me at all. I miss the routine and the normality of school. I miss seeing you all. Having said all of this, a new day is a new start. I will get up and fill my brain with positive thoughts and hopefully feel like myself again!
Did you all have a lovely weekend? Mine was quiet and relaxing. Mr Bennett and I took down our Christmas tree and decorations (I know they were late down – I was meant to do last Monday night but a certain announcement threw my plans into turmoil). The house seems so bare and empty now – a little bit like the book ‘A Squash and a Squeeze’. We then had a very lazy day around the house – sorting out cupboards, wardrobes and drawers followed by reading and watching films on the sofa, whilst eating up the remainder of the Christmas goodies. We went for several walks and saw my dad from a very safe distance. We had a take away on Saturday night and I cooked the most delicious roast dinner on Sunday. Nothing exciting, nothing extraordinary but a weekend that was perfect for recharging after a busy week.
This weekend made me remember that I am very lucky that I have a warm home to feel safe and secure in and that although not the same as usual, I can still see my family. Some people aren’t as blessed and for this, I am very grateful. Lockdown maybe rubbish on so many fronts, but it is very good at making me reflect and feel thankful.
I will finish on a positive and (for me) happy note. Whilst tidying out one of the cupboards, I found not one but two (massive) Easter eggs that I had squirrelled away from last year. They are still in date and ready to be eaten this week! Now every cloud has a silver lining and all that!
I’m going to leave this with you again, just so you know how important these points are!
Your teachers will be setting you daily lessons and tasks to complete. They will also be marking these and giving you feedback on them. You can still earn house points and the teachers will be collecting these for you. We will be checking up on children that we don’t hear from on a very regular basis to ensure that you are getting your work completed! All school expectations regarding presentation of work still apply and just because we aren’t in the room with you, it doesn’t mean that these things can decline! Teachers will ask you to do the work again if they think you can do better. Just to remind you all of what we expect from you:
1. Date, title or LO written and underlined
2. Margin in maths book
3. One digit in each square for maths
4. Use a ruler for all lines
5. Best handwriting using a sharp pencil or pen, if you have your pen licence (not a biro)
6. Spellings to be checked carefully
7. Full stops and capital letters for every sentence
Days of the year theme: Marzipan Day, Poetry At Work Day and Pharmacist Day.
Quote of the week: “Look at usual things with unusual eyes.” – Vico Magistretti
Happier January calendar task (this month’s activities are based on doing things that make us happier):
*Connect with someone near you – share a smile, a wave or have a chat (if it is safe to do so)
TOP’s weekly activity: Can you write a letter and send it to someone who might be feeling lonely or missing seeing you.
Life skill of the day: Water any houseplants that you may have.
Joke of the day: Thank you to Aarti – Yr3W
Knock, Knock,
Whose’ s there?
Avenue,
Avenue who?
Avenue learnt my name yet!
Fact of the Day: Thank you to Diya – Yr4P
Did you know that a collective name for a group of sloths is a bed? So you would say “Look at that bed of sloths in the trees!”
Sleeps til Santa: 346 days!
Three things I’m looking forward to today (thanks to Mrs Hinch for the inspiration): Can you try this each day? Remember, it focuses your mind on the positive and reminds us to show gratitude for things, no matter how small!
Today I am looking forward to: my drive home from work, being on gate duty and my new pyjamas!
Please feel free to send me jokes/facts or quotes for the Bulletin! Have a super day and stay very, very safe,
Love
Mrs Bennett
