Good morning, Prep School family,
It is Friday! It’s the end of the half term and we made it!
You should be very proud of yourselves for all the hard work and effort you have put into your school work but you should be more even more proud of the way you have emotionally dealt with this lockdown. It is more than ok for us all to have ‘off’ days and for us to feel upset, sad and worried about the future and our loved ones. It is a very turbulent time for everyone and it is really, really hard when you don’t know what to expect from one week to another. It is hard not seeing loved ones. It’s hard being restricted in what we can do and where we can go. It’s hard not being at school. Remote working is hard. Being stuck at home is hard. Life for some people is a struggle at the moment and that is ok.
It is also ok if you are liking lockdown. I know people who are very happy being at home all the time. They are happy working from home. They are happy that the shops and restaurants are closed. They are happy they don’t feel pressured into having to see friends or family. They like being with their family all of the time. This is ok too – you don’t need to feel guilty about enjoying these things.
What isn’t ok though is if you keep your feelings bottled up inside. If you do this, they bubble away and grow and usually feel worse than they are. The feelings sometimes make you feel anxious, sick or stop you from sleeping. You maybe worrying so much that you don’t want to eat your food or go outside to play. This isn’t ok. If you feel like this, you need to talk to someone. Talk to someone you trust. Your parents, a teacher, a friend, your grandparents. If you talk about how you are feeling and your worries, they usually shrink and any problems can usually be solved. This doesn’t work all of the time but by just talking, you have started to have control of your feelings and I promise, you will feel better for it. This goes for us adults too!
I know we aren’t at school now for a week but that doesn’t mean that we won’t be thinking about you and worrying about you. Part of a being a teacher is the fact that even though the school days ends at 3:25pm – we always take you home with us at the end of the day. Our pupils often come on holiday with us, to the supermarket, on walks, to the park, out for coffee with friends. . . you are always on our minds. You wouldn’t believe how much we think about you all – hoping you are happy and safe. Please know that we are always here for you all.
#HighclarePrepSchool #WellBeingWeek2021
Days of the year theme: Darwin Day, Lost Penny Day, Plum Pudding Day and No One Eats Alone Day.
Quote of the Day: “Look for something positive in each day, even if some days you need to look a little harder”
Friendly February calendar task (this month’s activities are based on friendship)
*Focus on being kind, rather than being right
TOP’s weekly activity: As it is Highclare ‘Well-Being Week’ – do something today for 30 minutes that makes you feel happy – it can be anything. . . please send me lots of photos!
Life skill of the day: Can you sit and listen to the sounds around you for 5 minutes without distraction?
Joke of the day:
Why can’t you give Elsa a balloon?
Because she will let it go!
Fact of the Day:
Snails take the longest naps with some lasting as long as three years.
Sleeps til Santa: 315 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: Tea and Talk, Friday night pizza and a lie in tomorrow (yes, I am already looking forward to it!)
Enjoy your day and stay safe and have a really lovely half term break,
Lots of love
Mrs Bennett
