We have had a request from the Wynberg Military Hospital to please be aware that St John's Road and Hospital Road are the roads used for the access of emergency vehicles to the Military Hospital. Please be aware of this when entering and exiting the school campus and do not park in the road blocking this emergency access route.
Dear Springfielders
A sincere welcome to the 2021 school year and to Springfield’s 150th year. I should also like to extend a warm welcome to all new families who join our community this year.
The long summer holiday was a welcome change of pace after a tumultuous 2020. Our energies are restored, and after a brief start with online schooling, it is good to be back at school. The girls might not admit this openly, but the buzz outside my office window of happy sounds and smiling eyes, suggests that they too are pleased to begin a new school year.
New years are great times to take stock and resolve to do better in our lives. For some they provide an opportunity to start afresh. This is not dissimilar to a birthday. After the celebrations, for some there is a pause when plans are made for what the next decades should bring.
Birthdays are also a time to be joyful and to give thanks. We celebrate each other’s birthdays to show how much we value the people in our lives and for much the same reason, 2021 will be a year in which we celebrate our School and what it has contributed to so many. For now, many of the bigger events that are planned will be placed on hold until we are all able to be together to enjoy these celebrations.
Last Friday, the new staff gathered to join an orientation programme. During the day, Ms Dunn told the story of Springfield’s beginning. She is a great storyteller and a sense of nostalgia stirred within me. The 6 women who left Ireland in the 1860s brought with them faith and a mission to educate. Knowing the history of our school enables us to draw on those Sisters' strength of purpose to ensure that these values remain at Springfield’s heart for the next 150 years.
New years bring new people to our school and I hope that all new pupils have felt welcome at this, their new school. In addition, we welcome new people to the School’s staff.
In non-teaching posts I should like to welcome:
Mrs Samantha Belcher - Music secretary
Mrs Rosa Krauss - Senior School Counsellor
Mrs Nicky Lewis - Senior School secretary
and Mr John Oertel - Grounds manager
In the Senior School classrooms we welcome:
Mr Ntokozo Biyela - Maths department
Ms Celeste Botha - Music department
Ms Dominique Ducray – Religious Education
Mr Ziyaad Ismail – Head of Hockey
Mr Mel Marx - Information Technology
Ms Cathy Munro - Sports department
and Mrs Melanie Wagner - Life Orientation and Sport
In 2021, greater emphasis will be placed on our house system. The houses will literally become a home for each Senior School girl, and, in this space, she will be supported, encouraged and challenged. House Coordinators have been appointed to lead this process and I am grateful to each person for the significant role that she will play.
Dominic house: Mrs Pippa Visser and Mrs Nicky Hughes
Maccy house: Mrs Nomthandazo Ndlebe and Mrs Kirsty Tromp
Thomas house: Ms Sara Boock and Mrs Kate Zimmermann
An additional internal appointment has been made and Ms Samantha Whitehorn will take on the responsibility of Subject Head for Mathematical Literacy at Springfield.
Around the globe, healthcare workers have been lauded as the superheroes of the pandemic and quite rightly so. Many people place teachers in this category too and again, I am in absolute agreement. Every teacher at Springfield is an excellent practitioner, dedicated to their profession and to the care and development of each pupil at our school. It is a matter of deep concern that it has become common practice amongst some parents to judge, criticise, compare and undermine teachers. This prejudice has been directed variously at the race, age or experience of the teacher. Not only does this go against the Constitution of our country, but it also attacks the fundamental beliefs of our School and will not be tolerated.
During our assemblies earlier this week, I wished all of the girls a rewarding 2021 and I extend this wish to all in our community. During this birthday year, we will elevate our motto, Veritas (Truth), and give it pride of place in all that we do. St Catherine of Siena reminds us about our personal truth when she tells us to "Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire."
PENNY MULLAN
Head of School
Mrs Samantha Belcher - Music secretary
Mrs Rosa Krauss - Senior School Counsellor
Mr John Oertel - Grounds manager
Mrs Nicky Lewis - Senior School secretary
Mr Ntokozo Biyela - Maths department
Ms Celeste Botha - Music department
Ms Dominique Ducray – Religious Education
Mr Ziyaad Ismail – Head of Hockey
Mr Mel Marx - Information Technology
Mrs Melanie Wagner - Life Orientation and Sport
Ms Cathy Munro - Sports department
Mrs Zoliswa Mangingxa
Pre-Primary Aftercare Assistant
Cyntike Mathyeke
Grade 5 Teacher
Amy Fernandez
Grade 3 Teacher
Zintle Ngcelwane
Nursery Class Teacher
Reyhana Kleinveldt
Grade 6 Teacher
Amy Petersen
Assistant to the Head of Department - Pre School
Jessica Wani
Nursery Assistant
Dear Parents and Guardians
WELCOME BACK to our 150th YEAR
It is with great pleasure that I greet you at the beginning of the 2021 school year. In just over a month’s time, on Sunday 7 March, Springfield celebrates 150 years of educating girls in Cape Town. Unfortunately, due to Covid, the actual physical celebration of the birthday might have to wait until later in the year, but we will certainly do what we can to mark this incredible milestone in the life of Springfield. There was great excitement on Monday as girls returned refreshed and eager to begin the new year. I am confident that, despite the challenges, it is going to be a very good year indeed - so let's work together to make it a special one for our girls!
There are some lovely photographs on the school’s social media sites of the first day on campus – happy children who love their school. One could not ask for more.
Our mascot for this celebratory year is a black-and-white dog named Dominic. There is a great deal of symbolism and heritage in the use of the dog, as it is written that, before he was born, St Dominic’s mother had a dream where she saw her son depicted as a dog with a flaming torch in its mouth, travelling the world and spreading the word of God. Many of the statues, paintings and photographs of St Dominic depict him with a dog. And the fact that Sister Caroline has a black-and-white collie who runs around our premises, just strengthened our resolve to use the dog as our mascot. Dom the dog will be present at many of our events during the course of this year.
We welcome the following new staff members to Springfield this year:
Ms Zintle Ngcelwana – Nursery class teacher
Miss Jessica Wani – Nursery assistant
Mrs Zoliswa Mangingxa – After-Care assistant
Mrs Amy Fernandez – Grade Three class teacher
Miss Danielle Carter – Foundation Phase Learnership student
Miss Michael-Jade Petersen – Foundation Phase Learnership student
Mrs Cyntike Mathyeke – Grade Five class teacher
Miss Kristen Arendse – Intermediate Phase Learnership student
Miss Bianca King – Intermediate Phase Learnership student
.
We wish them well and hope they all have long, happy times at Springfield. Photographs of our new staff members will be featured in this Newsletter and in the next.
Sadly, we have received a resignation letter from Mrs Fernandez, who will be leaving us at the end of this term. Mrs Fernandez was offered a position in the Foundation Phase at Bishops Prep, which is a wonderful opportunity for her and her two sons to be at that school. We wish them well. We have appointed Mrs Sarah Ausmeier to the Grade Three post, starting at the beginning of term two. Mrs Ausmeier comes to us from Rustenburg, where she has taught for five years. She is known to us as Sarah Holton, who was a Learnership student here before she went to Rustenburg.
In all my years as a teacher and as Head of a school, I have always loved the start of a new school year. There is something magical about the spirit of a new beginning amongst pupils, teachers and parents. The weather is perfect, the children look so lovely in their summer uniforms, and a spirit of happiness pervades all. This quote from Meister Eckhart epitomises the spirit at school this week: “And suddenly you know: it’s time to start something new and trust the magic of new beginnings”.
Of course, no one could say it better than Pooh Bear and Piglet!
I found this very beautiful reflection written by one of my favourite spiritual writers, Joyce Rupp:
My hope for you this New Year is:
That the single, most significant dimension of life is your relationship with the Source of Goodness who never ceases to sing love songs to your soul…
That you find meaning, purpose and vitality in what you do daily…
That you treasure your loved ones and let them know how dear they are to you…
That you make choices and decisions that reflect your truest self…
That you look in the mirror at least once a day and smile in happy amazement…
That you remember relationships are what count above all else - more than work or money, or all the material things we spend so much time tending…
That you live in an uncluttered manner, enjoying the freedom to be content…
That you keep your sense of humour when things don't go the way you want…
That you find adventure in each new day and marvel at the wonders of creation which constantly present themselves to you…
That you never give up on yourself when others turn away or do not understand…
That you are attentive to the health of your body, mind and spirit…
That you take risks and accept the growth-full challenges that come to you…
That you draw on your inner strength and resiliency when you are in need…
That you carry peace within yourself, allowing it to slip into the hearts of others so our planet becomes a place where violence, division and war are no more.
ALISON DUNN
Principal of the Junior School
Dear Springfield Community
On the first day back, our beautiful mascot St Dominic or affectionately named Dom, welcomed all the students back to school capturing a beautiful presence and sense of fun. As you entered the Avenue you too were greeted by a big sign on the PreSchool fence with a profound reminder that in our 150th year, we exist because Sisters Stood Strong through a history of struggle, joy, challenge and faith.
We will navigate through the chapters of our 150th celebration acknowledging the phenomenal legacy of the Dominican Sisters whose shoulders we stand on today. I encourage you to discover their names, their stories, their historical magnitude.
My wish for all Springfield families in the 150th year is to feel a sense of genuine welcome and deep belonging. May the year ahead be punctuated with blessing, discernment and growth. As Sr Kathy reminded us last year, we grew in courage through our vulnerability. May the humanness of our vulnerability allow us to journey in respect, compassion, kindness and truth.
Tomorrow, 4 February, is World Cancer Day. I’d like to honour all our Sisters and Springfield family members who have fought cancer in the most heroic ways. Some have sadly succumbed and we pray for their eternal rest. We continue to pray for those members of our community who need our healing prayers.
With blessing for a deeply meaningful 2021.
Gillian Stubbs
Domestic Flight Discounts via Springfield.pdf
The next Springfield Blood Donation clinic will be held on Monday, 22nd of February, at the Senior School Campus.
The clinic will be open from 11.00am-3.15pm and all medically fit donors who are over the age of 16 and weigh more than 50kg are welcome. All members of the Springfield community (family, friends, siblings) are welcome to donate and adult donors will be prioritised. COVID-prevention precautions will be taken, and donors will be able to book a time to donate, to avoid queues. On average, it takes 20 minutes to donate a pint of blood, and every pint is used to saved up to three lives.
You can be a hero in your lunch hour!
Dear Springfield Parents and Guardians
Please ensure that you have set up and logged in to the parent portal and App by the start of term 1 so as not to miss any important information.
If you have downloaded the Edana Parent Application and the application requests a six digit code, please enter: 264733.
Then use the Email Login option and enter the email address you supplied to the school to receive an One Time Pin(OTP) to enter.
Should you have any further queries or need assistance please contact Mr Hebrew-John Morgendal on helpdesk@springfieldconvent.co.za who will gladly assist with your queries.
Access control stickers are used at the entrance of the junior school gate to monitor access to the campus for security purposes. It is vital every vehicle has a white 2021 access sticker as we take every measure to ensure our students are safe at all times.
Each family receives one sticker, thereafter the cost is R10.00.
2021 Access control sticker
