Junior School

03 February 2021

Quote

“Let the children come to me, and do not stop them,

because the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these”.

Mark 10:14

Preschool News

Preschool News 3 Feb 2021.pdf

Birthday girl - Lily Hidden 🎂🎁

Pre School Pictures Continued...📷

Junior Primary

Dear Foundation Phase Parents

What a joy it is to be back at school and see the delight on all the little faces as they undertake to make 2021 an awesome academic year. Thank You for entrusting us to teach your daughter and we will make a determined effort to ensure that she learns within a loving, trusting and stimulating environment. This year we celebrate Springfield’s 150th Birthday and together will promote our rich Dominican tradition of truth, with our overall focus for 2021 being legacy, belonging and connection. Sisters Standing Strong, the banner welcoming us each morning captures the essence of our Dominican heritage.

The Grade Ones are no longer barefoot with extended periods of directed play. The rhythm of learning changes to adapt to their newfound level of maturity and readiness. They will now adapt quite naturally to a more formal and structured learning style. These girls are so ready and their two teachers are so excited to witness the many little miracles that will take place this year. Enjoy this mesmerizing journey with them. We are indeed blessed to have Mrs Beckett and Ms Davidse make an awesome team and will endeavour to make this such a special year.

The Grade Twos are delightful, having moved in rank and stature to a different status within Foundation Phase – no longer the babies in the department. The maturity that takes place in this year is phenomenal. Watch this space and witness the growth in maturity and confidence. Our two Grade teachers Mrs Payne and Mrs Daynes make a phenomenal team so I have no doubt that this is going to be a very good year.

The Grade Threes, also known as the Seniors within our department have really progressed and enter their last year within the phase. May they embrace every learning opportunity with great determination and passion. For the first time we are experimenting with a three way split in Grade 3 hoping to consolidate a curriculum filled year with a smaller teacher/pupil ratio. Mrs Murray, Mrs Brummer and Mrs Fernandez will provide an enchanting year of growth. This year they’ve climbed the stairs and sport open lid benches. Great excitement reigns! The Catholic girls will also make their First Confession in May and their First Holy Communion in early September, God willing.

Wishing every child and parent a real journey of adventure and learning.

Ms Stubbs

Foundation Phase Head

“Every child, every day is finding a way to feel connected,

every child, every day is being challenged by new learnings and experiences,

and every child, every day knows they have a champion they can turn to.”

First day in grade 1

Senior Primary

The Journey Continues

Welcome to the parents and pupils and all those who are new to the Springfield family. As we embark on the new academic year in the Senior Primary phase, we look forward to what the year invites. 2021 promises to be one of progress and change and much celebration as we mark our school’s 150th birthday. Although we began the term meeting and greeting our pupils across a screen, we had the opportunity to connect and engage in a constructive and positive way before physically starting on campus this week. You were invited to attend the Parent Teacher Meetings via the online arena on Tuesday evening and all relevant information about your grade would have been disseminated to you. The Edana Portal remains the main source of communication to the parent body. However, class teachers have set up Grade websites to communicate class matters pertaining to school work and daily notices.

As we navigate the new school year together, I thought it would be apt to reflect on the last few lines of the poem read at the inauguration of the US President, Joe Biden, by poet laureate Amanda Gorman.

The Hill We Climb

“We will rise from the sunbaked south.

We will rebuild, reconcile and recover.

And every known nook of our nation and

every corner called our country,

our people diverse and beautiful will emerge,

battered and beautiful.

When day comes we step out of the shade,

aflame and unafraid,

the new dawn blooms as we free it.

For there is always light,

if only we're brave enough to see it.

If only we're brave enough to be it.”

As a school community we can draw many parallels to the themes of hope and progress in this poem. We have shown that we have the grit to struggle and move forward. We know that progress does not happen all at once. It can be a slow and sometimes painful "climb" up the "hill" of justice, a climb that takes patience and humility. Change is hard work, but it is always possible.

Sisters Standing Strong - we are grateful to them for paving the way and holding the light of Dominic to ensure a better future for the girls at Springfield.

“The best view comes after the hardest climb.”– Unknown

As you embrace the journey with your daughter, there may be times that you feel overwhelmed by the mere juggle of life, my simple advice to you is to follow my mantra: “Day by Day and Bite Size Chunks.” Remember to laugh often, be inspired, make a positive difference, live in the moment. Most of all enjoy your children, harness their energy and positivity and have fun.

Have a fabulous year, and enjoy the ride.

Karen Smith

Head of Senior Primary

Counsellor's Corner

Welcome back everyone - what a treat to see your smiling happy girls again!

When COVID hit SA in March 2020, I never in a million years thought that we would be starting 2021 still wearing masks and following COVID regulations…….At times I catch myself moaning and groaning about all the frustrations we face and have to firmly remind myself that as educator and author Charles R Swindoll once said “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.” He taught us that attitude is everything and how each morning when we wake up, we have a choice as to which attitude we will embody that day.

I have thus included Dr Seuss’s wise words especially for your girls . They can choose what direction they steer themselves in this year - be it how they manage their academics, who they hang out with, how they respond to their teachers, what their attitude is to these tricky times we find ourselves living through - EVERYTHING is about choice and once we realise that, Today is your day!

Wishing you and your girls much strength in adjustmenting to the start of the school year. Should you or them need support, please don't hesitate to contact me at gcloete@springfieldconvent.co.za

Warm regards

Gabby Cloete

Outreach Projects

Tech tip

💻Tech Pearl of Wisdom for the week

Tech Tip #1

Welcome back to school, Hope 2021 has got off to a good start and that the year ahead will be safe, happy and successful.

This week is a double tip week:

Central charging station at home
Select a centralized location in your home where your children can check their devices in and out. Set a time when everything has to be returned for the night. By enforcing this rule, everyone starts the day with a fully-charged device and you are able to monitor your children’s access to social media, games and text messaging.
Let your child teach you
If there’s a device, program, website or app your child is using, have them show you how it works. Children enjoy the idea of teaching an adult and you can get insight into how and where they are spending their time online.

Kindest regards,

MERRILL VELENSKY

Junior School IT Teacher