Mrs Bennett’s Bulletin, Tuesday 21 September 2021

Posted: 21st September 2021

Good morning, Prep School family,

I hope this Bulletin finds you well and rested after a lovely weekend. The sun shone down on Nottingham and there was a feeling of summer back in the air! Lots of people out and about and lots of fun being had by all ages.

I had a super weekend. I spent time with my dad – catching up over coffee and cake. I went to a friend’s (outside) 40th birthday party and caught up with people who I hadn’t seen for years- it was very joyful but also a little bit strange. However, and I am not sure if this is good or bad, I didn’t feel like we hadn’t seen each other for so long due to the magical powers of social media. It did feel like a real celebration though and there was plenty of birthday cake on offer, so I was a happy bunny!

The 13th September marks what would have been Roald Dahl’s 105th birthday. He was a remarkable man, writing many children’s book and poems that have been enjoyed by both adults and pupils alike for generation after generation. I have scoured the internet for some fascinating facts about Roald Dahl and I thought I would share these with you!

1. Roald wrote many of his stories in a little shed at the bottom of his garden! Known as his ‘writing hut’, Roald sat in a battered old armchair and penned famous tales such as Matilda and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Have you read either of these?

2. He was a fighter pilot in World War II. During a flight in a Gloster Gladiator (fighter plane) in 1940 over Libya, Roald crash landed in the desert and survived – all because he’d been given the wrong directions. I bet he was glad that he didn’t have sat nav back then!

3. Roald wrote for around four hours every single day, from 10am – 12pm, and then 4pm – 6pm – that is dedication for you.

4. Roald never learned how to type! Instead, Roald preferred to do all his writing in an old red book in pencil. He didn’t like writing in pen, he found pencil flowed better!

5. When Roald Dahl died in 1990, he was buried with some of his favourite things. These included a power drill, chocolate, snooker cues and of course, his HB pencils for writing! This got me thinking about what I would be buried with. . . .

6. There are strange mementos still sitting in his writing hut. These include a huge ball made of old chocolate wrappers, and a piece of hip bone that he had to have removed! You can go and visit his home that is now a museum.

7. Roald was a spy! During World War II he passed intelligence to MI6 from Washington. I bet no one suspect this of Roald. . . do you think any of your teachers could be spies?

8. Roald invented over 250 new words. There’s even an official Oxford Roald Dahl Dictionary to help you tell your snozzcumbers from your snozzberries.

9. Many of Dahl’s characters were based on people he’d met in real life. The grandmother in The Witches is said to be based on Roald Dahl’s mother, and the little girl in The BFG was named after his granddaughter, Sophie. My brother often jokes that I am Ms Trunchbull from Matilda. . .he thinks this is funny. . . I don’t think it is! I did have a teacher at secondary school that was like The Trunchbull, he used to throw board rubbers at us if we weren’t listening!!!

10. Roald Dahl was born in Wales, but his parents were Norwegian. As a child, Roald spoke fluent Norwegian and English. He’s even named after the famous Norwegian polar explorer, Roald Amundson.

11. Writing wasn’t his strong point at school – according to his teachers, anyway! It just shows that even if you don’t think that you have a strength at school, keep going! Sometimes teachers can be wrong!

12. In 1971, a real man named Willy Wonka wrote to Roald Dahl. He was a postman from Nebraska, USA. Who would have thought!

13. Roald Dahl was a giant! Okay, not quite like the BFG, but he was 6 foot 6 inches tall! This earned him the nickname ‘Lofty’ when he served in the Royal Air Force. That is really, really tall – think basketball player size!

Do you know any facts about Roald Dahl that I haven’t shared – please share these! Has anyone been to the Roald Dahl museum? Please come and tell me all about it if you have!

Quote of the week: “And above all, watch with glittering eyes at the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always the most hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.” Roald Dahl

Well-being tasks for this week: These are all based on self-care. These are good for all ages.

Tuesday 21st September – Don’t compare yourself to others – you don’t know what they are feeling inside.

Wednesday 22nd September – Take your time. Make time and space to breathe and be still.

Thursday 23rd September – Let go of other’s expectations of you.

Friday 24th September – Accept yourself and remember how special and unique you are.

Saturday 25th September – Find a new way to use your strengths and talents

Sunday 26th September – Avoid saying ‘I should’ and then do nothing about it.

Monday 27th September – Free up some time by cancelling any unnecessary plans.

Jokes of the week:
The local school has been taken over by IKEA, the quality of the school is still excellent but the assembly takes ages….

What is a snake’s favourite subject at school? Hissssssss-tory!

Sleeps til Santa: 94 sleeps til Santa

Have an amazing week,

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