Newsletters

News from Mr Grady

Hello Everyone!

Well, whisper it if you like, but we are within sight of the half term break.  It is quite some achievement that we are, as a community, still open, still functioning and that education has happened whatever the interruptions for the last 8 weeks.

Well done to all of us. 

But let’s think about what to do over half term, that might help us unwind…

One of the things that I know will help me unwind, will be finding some time over the half term to settle down with something to read.  As some (most?) of you may know, I place on my door every week a notice of “what I’m reading this week,” sometimes it’s a book that I start but never finish, because I run out of time, or because it simply doesn’t keep my attention, sometimes it’s a book that I’ve read previously and am re-reading, because I enjoyed it so much, and often it’s because I want to share with everyone the excitement I gained from reading something, and want to pass that on.

Reading, in whatever form is one of the best and easiest ways in which to broaden one’s vocabulary, to develop empathy and to relax and be taken out of yourself for a bit into another world.  Whatever it is you’re reading:  Sports autobiography; magazine; fiction, recipe book; newspaper; online blog or graphic novel, the joy of losing oneself in a book or article really is something I hope all of you can experience.

As an English Teacher myself, people often assume that that when I talk about reading I mean “challenging myself” with sombre and forbidding volumes of classic novels, that will in some way “do me good.”  To which I say Ptchaw! Or some other derogatory phrase, that is appropriate for a school newsletter.

I’m not here to tell you what you should be reading, only that reading itself is an absolute delight if you can find that book or text that works for you!  Over the half term, be it online, through a reading device or, through an actual book. Can I suggest you see if escaping into a bit of reading helps with relaxation and a short period of calm?  As with last week’s positive thoughts at the end of each day, reading is habit forming, and so the more you give it a go, the more it simply becomes something that you do.  You might sometimes fall in and out with it, but over half term, give it a go!  I’m looking forward to settling down with something with a few jokes that doesn’t take itself too seriously, but that gets me out of the dark of Autumn.  I have a feeling that some sort of travel diary or book might be the way to go – I can’t get away, so why don’t I let someone else do all the faff of travelling, and just share the good bits?  That sounds perfect!

I look forward after half term to you sharing with me what reading you did, how much fun it was, and what you’d recommend!

Have a peaceful, safe and restful half term!
Mr Grady