Good morning, Prep School family,
Its Fri-yay! Well done for getting to the end of another week. There is light at the end of the tunnel, we only have a few more days to go of remote learning and soon we will all be back together in school. I am doing a very happy dance and whooping at the thought. March isn’t my favourite month of the year for many different personal reasons – I would go as far as saying it’s the worst month of the year by far, but I am really looking forward to it this year. To be back in school, to see you all each day, to be able to meet up with friends outside on the 29th – lots of positives. This year, March might be lucky and moved nearer the top of the list of favourite months!
So throughout lockdown, myself and the teachers have all been telling you all to take care of each other and look after your own well-being. That might be going for a walk, listening to music, riding your bike, reading a book, baking – whatever helps you relax and take your mind of remote learning and the lockdown. I have also been asking the teaching staff to look after themselves too – many of them have hobbies and pastimes that help them relax and wind down after a day at work. Sometimes it is really hard to find time for yourself. To take some time to focus solely on you and your well-being. We often think that we haven’t got time or our well-being isn’t important. How many times have you said, “I don’t have time to do………..”. Your well-being is the most important thing at the moment, especially. I always remember Mrs Singh and Miss Jordan telling us teachers a few years ago, in some training on well-being that you cannot pour from an empty cup. We cannot give our best selves if we aren’t looking after minds and bodies. This is so, so true.
So I thought I would share with you how I have managed to put aside 30 minutes each night to help me relax. One night, I was flicking through the hundreds of TV channels and there was literally nothing on to watch. I had already watched more episodes of Friends than I care to admit, I hadn’t got the concentration for a film and the news was just depressing. I wanted something relaxing and that I didn’t need to concentrate on. Eventually, I came across BBC Four. Until this year, I didn’t even know this channel existed. Now every Monday to Thursday at 7:30pm, it is my go to station for relaxation. On it is a programme from the 1980’s and early 1990’s called The Joy of Painting. It is half an hour of the American host, Bob Ross, painting landscapes in oil paints. I cannot tell you how relaxing it is! If you haven’t had the pleasure of seeing it – Bob Ross literally paints a landscape and talks you through his paint choices and techniques. He tells you how to create different colour skies, mountains, trees, cabins in the woods and so much more. His description of colour and his brush technique is slightly hypnotic and his voice is very soothing. I love watching the pictures unfold and I find it totally amazing how he can create such pictures in such a short space of time.
Now, I fully recognise here that we are going to have two camps of people (once you have all gone and watched an episode or two) – Bob lovers and Bob haters! Mr Bennett is not a Bob fan. He thinks that I have aged 50 years over the last few weeks and that I might need some serious medical intervention. I, on the other hand, cannot get enough. Please don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t have a piece of his art in my house-his paintings aren’t my style at all but he could come and paint in my house and talk me through his creation. I find it totally switches me off from the day and allows me 30 minutes to myself and to focus on nothing.
I will also admit that I am baffled by my Bob obsession as well but my brother did remind me this week that I used to rush home from school to watch Water Colour Challenge (remember that?!) when I was younger. . . we shall leave this here, I think I have already disclosed too much for a Friday!!
If you cannot wait until Monday to watch the next episode of The Joy of Painting, you can watch on BBC iPlayer this weekend. There were 403 episodes made over 11 years, so I cannot be the only Bob Ross fan out there . . .
Days of the year theme: Tell a Fairy Tale Day, Carpe Diem Day, Pistachio Day, Personal Chef Day and Levi Strauss Day.
Quote of the Day: “We cannot become what we want by remaining what we are.” – Max Depree
Friendly February calendar task (this month’s activities are based on friendship):
* Give positive comments to as many people as you can today
TOP’s weekly activity: Can you do some yoga daily? Try Cosmic Kids yoga or Yoga for Kids with Adriene.
Life skill of the day: Can you polish some shoes
Joke of the day:
Would February March?
No, but April May! (I know this one is awful!)
Fact of the Day: Did you know that the average trump leaves your body at 7 miles per hour! Parents, you can thank me later for this fact!
Sleeps til Santa: 301 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: HPW Merit Assembly, my KS2 Tea and Talk Club and my speciality chicken and rice for my dinner – yummy!
Have a fabulous Friday and a wonderful weekend, let’s hope the sun stays out for it!
Take care of each other and stay safe,
Love
Mrs Bennett
