Winter Break

Tips, Tricks & Things to Do in the Holidays

Christmas Film Playlist

from the Library

A Clickview Christmas film playlist that you can enjoy at home.

Watch now

Celebrate

from Nik Bailey, Creative Media

Fab and festive mocktails and hot drinks to warm you on winter days.

Recipes

Take Care of Yourself

from Nik Bailey, Creative Media

Some lovely ideas to practice self care this winter

Top 5 80’s Films from Donna-Marie Janson, Principal

Keeping up with the Mandalorians

from Zoe Evans, Media Studies

Catch up on Marvel and Star Wars news by watching Charlie on his YouTube channel, Emergency Awesome.

He's my 'go to' YouTuber for reviews, theories & news about The Mandalorian at the moment. Share your favourite YouTuber or current favourite video with a friend!

View channel

Thoughts from Emma Cotton, PA to Principal & CEO

Click here

3 Things to Feed your Soul

From Emma Hadder, Additional Support/Wellbeing

Reading - Matt Haig, The Midnight Library

Watching - His Dark Materials - BBC iPlayer

Dancing to Ca Plane Pour Moi by Plastic Bertrand

Stories to read at Christmas

from Amy Jewell, English

There’s no better time than winter to curl up with a good story. In Iceland, on Christmas Eve, it is customary to give each other books and spend the rest of the evening reading, a tradition known as Jolabokaflod (which translates roughly as Christmas book flood).

Here are some of the English departments’ suggestions for stories to read these holidays.

The Greatest Gift, Philip Stern. The short story that the classic film It’s a Wonderful Life is based on.

Celebrations: Rituals of Peace and Prayer, Dr Maya Angelou. A collection of poems offering hope and joy in the darkest of nights.
One Clear Ice-cold January Morning at the Beginning of the 21st Century, Roland Schimmelpfennig. An amazing and simply written beautiful short novel.
The Snow Queen, Hans Christian Anderson. The inspiration for Frozen, here is a sophisticated translation of Hans Christian Andersen's "Sneedronningen" by Jean Hersholt (not just for children!).
The Shipping News, Annie Proulx. The Pulitzer Prize winning novel that follows a New York reporter as he relocates to snowy Newfoundland.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, C. S. Lewis. The classic tale, set in a world where it is ‘always winter but never Christmas.’
Little Women, Louisa May Alcott. Another classic tale, which begins and ends at Christmas. You may have seen the most recent film adaptation (there have been seven so far) which came out last Christmas.
The Collected Ghost Stories, M.R. James. James created most of his ghost stories to amuse his friends on Christmas Eve. Read them if you dare!
The Hogfather, Terry Pratchett. On the Discworld, the Hogfather (a jolly fat man dressed in red, who gives out presents) has gone missing and Death must take his place and save the day. Thoughtful, clever and funny (like all of Pratchett’s books).
A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens. What list of Christmas stories would be complete without Dickens’ classic?

Kittens!

from the Daniela, Tutorial Coordinator

Try to have some fun in your break even if things don't go as planned...keep watching to the end!

Never Mind Mariah - 10 top Christmas bangers!

from Richard Gaskill, Photography

Enjoy, and have a great Christmas!

Bonus track

Now That’s what I call an Eclectic Playlist Vol. 1

from Lisa Watkin-Stevens, Vice Principal

Try a New Recipe

from Elaine French, Vice Principal

Other than walking, baking is my 'time out' but I rarely make time to do any and when I do I end up making the same things I always do. So this winter break I am going to try this out - maybe you could try too?

Recipe

Blow Away the Cobwebs and Dance

from Sheila Sword, Wellbeing Coordinator

Whenever I feel frazzled and need space and movement I do two things: walk (off road) or dance (music loud).

Best walk at present is Seven Sisters to Alfriston, either via Cuckmere Haven or across Excreat bridge. The windy walk following the Cuckmere river is peaceful and grounding. Then there is a lovely coffee kiosk in the church grounds at Alfriston. Head back along the road to litlington (great outdoor cafe there). Then up into Friston Forest and back down to Seven Sisters car park. Or you can catch the coast bus from Brighton to Eastbourne. OS Explorer map OL25 covers the area. Maybe see you out there!

So, dancing is great. Just to move uninhibited, whatever the music (especially after lots of sitting or standing). My three favourite tracks (at present) are below.

A Guide to Gratitude by George Marshall, Director of Student Engagement

The world (well perhaps societal constructs) has a wonderful way of making us believe we should feel a certain way at Christmas time. Don't believe the hype. Sometimes a Christmas Quiz and a mince pie doesn't have the impact that the world suggests it might. So what can you do?! Gratitude is a great way to focus on the good and improve your spirit over the Christmas period.

Have a social media cleanse - do the accounts you follow help you to focus on the positive? Take some time to find new accounts which will support your approach to gratitude and remove those that don't. Here are some accounts you could choose to follow on Instagram:

@selfcareisapriority
@positivelypresent
@littleearthlings
@thehappynewspaper

Create a gratitude diary and acknowledge three things that you are thankful for each day. Focus on feelings, thoughts and logistical factors rather than objects. For example, feeling supported...rather than having the latest XBOX!

Take a Gratitude Walk! Take time out in the day to go for a walk and on this walk notice what you are grateful for. For example, I am really grateful to live by the sea and to have so many opportunities to buy an ice cream.

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