Good morning, Prep School family,
I hope you are well and that you enjoyed the weekend? I had a lovely few days catching up with friends, spending a last Sunday with my family, going for some long walks and having a good clear out at home. Saturday morning was beautiful in Nottingham – it was very cold with plenty of frost on the ground but also the sun was shining and the sky was brilliantly blue. There was not a cloud in the sky. What a wonderful way to start the weekend!
However, my weekend was not all fun and games. I did spend quite a bit of time working, preparing for the week ahead as I am not in school, well let’s put it another way, I’m not at Highclare Prep School! This week, I am out on inspection. I have the huge privilege of being able to visit another school, to meet their wonderful pupils, staff and parents and to observe all of the fantastic things that they do. However, with this honour, also comes the weight of responsibility. I know that I have to ensure that all week I am on my best possible A game. I know that one ill-informed judgment on my behalf, one error or omission could have a huge impact upon the school and its future. When I think of inspection like this, I start to become a little overwhelmed and start questioning my life choices. I am pushing myself outside of my comfort zone and, if I let myself, I will retreat back into my comfort zone. We speak to the children daily about pushing themselves harder and harder. Too try things that make then challenge themselves, to stretch themselves out of their comfort zone into the unknown.
As you know, Winnie the Pooh is one of my favourite philosophers. He knows so much. I especially love that he is so humble in his wisdom. This weekend, I came across this quote:
“You can’t stay in your corner of the forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes”
It made me remember that it is my responsibility to take charge of my actions, to get out there and (metaphorically) play the game. I need to remind myself that I must get out of my corner of the forest and connect with others or take a little (and sometimes big) jump into the unknown. So often we wait for others to come to us, or wonder why we’re not part of a conversation, decision or an event. Pooh reminds us that the onus is on us to be part of what is happening around us.
It can be so easy to sit back and wait. It can be so easy to blame others who do not reach out to us. It can be easy to say we would have gone after our dream if the opportunity presented itself. It is not easy, however, to be like Pooh and realize that sometimes we have to be the one to make the effort.
Pooh’s advice reminded me that if we want to accomplish something, we must remember that it is my responsibility to make that effort and get out of said comfort zone – our comfortable corner of the forest. I have reflected a lot on this in the past few days but ultimately reached the same conclusion that I always do – how can we, as leaders, parents and teachers, expect the children to challenge themselves, if we are not leading by example? So this week, filled with excitement, nervous energy, trepidation and pride, I am going to leave my comfortable corner of the forest and experience many new things. There will be questions along the way, things that I am not sure about and times that I doubt myself and my experience but hopefully, I will come back next week filled with the satisfaction that I pushed myself as much as I could, that I achieved my goal and with the knowledge to know I can do it all over again in the coming months.
Quote of the week: “You are always a student, never a master. You have to keep moving forward.” – Conrad Hall
Well-being tasks for this week: These tasks are based on Friendly February. They are meant to inspire us to be friendly to others and give your relationships a boost. Have a go!
Tuesday 27 February – Call a fried to catch up with them and really listen to what they are saying
Wednesday 28 February – Give positive comments to as many people as possible today
Thursday 29 February – Acknowledge someone’s problems or pain rather than trying to fix it
Friday 1 March – Set an intention to live with awareness and kindness
Saturday 2 March – Notice three things you find beautiful in the outside world
Sunday 3 March – Start today by appreciating your body and that you are alive
Monday 4 March– Notice how you speak to yourself and choose to use kind words
Jokes of the week:
What do you call an illegally parked frog?
Toad!
What did one plate say to the other?
Dinner is on me!
Why do hummingbirds hum?
Because they don’t know the words!
What do sprinters eat before a race?
Nothing. They fast!
What happened when the world’s tongue-twister champion got arrested?
They gave him a tough sentence!
Conversation starters:
What do you look forward to when you wake up every day?
What is your favourite dessert?
5 things that I am grateful for or looking forward to this week:
Can you try this simple exercise in gratitude and positivity?
- I am looking forward to meeting lots of new people this week.
- I am looking forward to going to Norfolk for the weekend.
- I am looking forward to Highclare Prep School’s Book Week
- I am grateful for the wonders of modern communication ways.
- I am grateful for coffee!
Sleeps til Santa: 301 sleeps. . .
Have a wonderful week, everyone. Take care of yourself and each other,
With much love,
Mrs Bennett
