Mrs Bennett’s Bulletin, Tuesday 25 January 2022

Posted: 26th January 2022

Good morning, Prep School family,

 

I hope that this Bulletin finds you well and relaxed after a lovely weekend. Did you do anything exciting? Last week, I had a busy week and the weekend was also jam-packed! It has been a week of birthdays in our family, we have had five birthdays in 4 days! We celebrated my brother in law’s birthday (this was a BIG, multiple of ten birthday), my mother in law’s birthday (I dare not disclose this birthday number!), my father in law’s birthday (who was also celebrating a big multiple of ten birthday as it was postponed last year due to lockdown) and also two of my nieces who turned 8 and 4! As you can imagine, I wrapped many presents last week and also consumed plenty of cake. It was really lovely though to see all of our family and make many special memories.

 

Over the weekend, Mr Bennett and I had a quick road trip to Norfolk. We had somethings that we needed to sort out over there. We looked at the weather forecast and decided that it was going to be a beautiful weekend to go and have a couple of long walks on the beach, to blow the week’s cobwebs away. It was a beautiful weekend – the sky was bright blue and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. The sun was shining and as we drove along the A17, we were filled with excitement. . . however, when we got out of the car, it was absolutely freezing! I don’t just mean cold, I mean wind that cuts right through you and chills you to the bone. We were so, so, so, so, so cold that we didn’t go for a single walk (except to the shop), instead we resorted to sitting in front of a fire, with blankets, watching films and sleeping! It wasn’t the weekend that we had planned for but we did what we needed too and actually it was just brilliant. Mr Bennett and I never sit and relax for long periods of time, so it felt really indulgent but it was good fun! I did feel guilty for a time that we were not doing what we had thought and I had the nagging feeling that I should be doing something but actually, it was exactly what we needed and it made me remember that life does not always go the way we planned it or the way we hoped it would. That doesn’t mean that our new path is wrong or leading us away from our final destination, it just means we have a new route and new routes are exciting, liberating and happen for a reason. So my message to you this week is: Life is a journey, enjoy the ride. . .no matter where it takes you.

 

Quote of the week: “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” – Maya Angelou

 

Well-being tasks for this week: These tasks for are for a happier January. The best way to try to handle our difficult emotions and experiences is by focusing on what we can control. This month focus on small steps to try to boost happiness – for ourselves and others around us – to spread kindness and hopefully inspire others to do the same.

 

Tuesday 25 January – Decide to lift people up instead of dragging them down

 

Wednesday 26 January – Forgive

 

Thursday 27 January – Challenge your negative thoughts and look for the positive

 

Friday 28 January – Ask others about something they have done recently and enjoyed

 

Saturday 29 January – Say hello to a neighbour

 

Sunday 30 January – Can you smile at 10 people today – a smile could change a person’s day

 

Monday 31 January – Understand that people make mistakes, we are all human

 

Jokes of the week: 

 

Why should you always be wary of stairs? Because they are always up to something!

 

Sometimes, stairs get me down. . .

 

Sleeps til Santa: 333. . .

 

5 things that I am grateful for or looking forward to this week:

 

Can you try this simple exercise in gratitude and positivity?

  1. I am looking forward to seeing the sea again on Saturday
  2. I am looking forward to trying out a new coffee house
  3. I am looking forward to babysitting Arthur and Amelie
  4. I am grateful for thick socks
  5. I am grateful for central heating!

Have a great week and be kind to yourselves and each other,

 

Love from

 

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