Good morning, Prep School family,
I hope you are well and enjoying the week so far. Can you believe it is Thursday? Welcome to your (hopefully last) day of live, Zoom lessons! Remember, tomorrow is a day when all the teachers are back in school getting it ready for Monday, so all of your lessons will be set on the VLE as per usual and there won’t be any Zoom lessons. HPW children, we will be having our Merit Assembly at 9am on Friday as per usual and my ‘Tea and Talk’ club will also go ahead for KS2.
So it is World Book Day – I hope you have time today to enjoy some time reading and enjoying sharing books. I absolutely love to read. It is one of my most favourite past times and I find it super relaxing. The staff in both Prep Schools are often discussing which books are a great read and which ones to avoid. We all like to discuss our recommendations and swap books. I have to say that I read most of my books in the holidays – I do try in term time but by bedtime I am usually so tired that I try to read a page or two but I fall fast asleep within minutes and the book wakes me us as I drop it on my face! I love reading all genres of books from crime to romance to non-fiction. I usually read off my kindle as it is really convenient and I can read at night in the dark but there is nothing better than the feel, smell or touch of a real book. You cannot beat the feeling of turning the pages to find out what is going to happen next.
I loved Mrs Quigley’s assembly on Monday as she discussed the fact that books take us to many different places without leaving our homes – how true! Over the past year in lockdown, I have been to Australia in the early 1900’s, Africa and Germany during the WWII. I have visited a futuristic America, been to the Hundred Acre Wood and spent time at Hogwarts. I have had encounters with vampires and cowboys from the wild west. I have been to the Isle of Struay with Katie Morag and I was there when they built the Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. How lucky am I.
Where have books taken you this year? Where will a book take you today?
Enjoy reading and enjoy the books you have both at school and at home – not everyone is a lucky as we are. Some children and adults don’t have books and some can’t read. Can you imagine a world with no books? I feel blessed my world is full of books and I will continue to share my love of these with you as long as I am at Highclare! Don’t forget if you like books too, you can join my Story Club (KS1 HPP) or Book Club (KS2 HPW), whenever you like!
Happy World Book Day! Books are the best!
Days of the year theme: World Book Day, Grammar Day, Marching Band Day, Toy Solider Day and Pound Cake Day.
This week is also: Return Borrowed Books Week, School Breakfast Week, Read an E-Book Week, Dental Assistants Recognition Week, Pet Sitters Week and British Pie Week.
Quote of the Day: “Our life is shaped by our mind as we become what we think” – Buddha
Mindful March calendar task (this month’s activities are based on taking the time to pause, breathe and really take in what’s all around us):
*Notice how you speak to yourself – try to use only kind words
TOP’s weekly activity: This week, I would like you to expand your knowledge of forests around the world!
For example: What is the largest forest in the world? How many types of forests are there? What kinds of animals would you find in the Amazon forest? The Monteverde forest in Costa Rica? The Daintree Forest in Australia? Bwindi Forest in Uganda? What other forests are there in the world?
What kind of trees can you find in these forests?
Some people across the world live in these forests. What do you think life is like for them compared to the life that we live?
Can you create your own forest scene? Paint it, create it out of toys or cuddly toys, create it with things from outdoors, write about etc. What animals are there? Which country are you in? Would humans be able to live in your forest?
Life skill of the day: Sew a hem
Joke of the day:
What falls in winter but never gets hurt?
Snow!
Fact of the Day:
Some perfumes actually have whale poo in them. . . yuk!
Sleeps til Santa: 295 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: Story Club, seeing all the teachers in our staff meeting and eating the delicious samosas from Miss Ubhi.
Have a super day,
Stay safe and keep washing those hands!
Love
Mrs Bennett