A big thank you again to the families that have purchased birthday books for the preschool library and provided treats for their daughter’s class.

Dear Foundation Phase Parents/Guardians

I’m delighted to share with you that the PTA has approved some lovely projects within our Junior Primary playground areas. We are hoping to have the work done during the course of the next two months.

I will provide some pictures of all the creative ideas being realised in our playground at the start of Term 3.

Junior Primary has been magically brushed by the pregnant fairy. We have Mrs Ausmeier going on maternity leave from 1 September and Mrs Beckett from the start of Term 1 2022. We have a highly experienced Foundation Phase teacher relieving both teachers while they are on maternity leave as well as substituting for Mrs Murray while she enjoys a month of long leave after 20 years of loyal service to Springfield. Mrs Julie Eachus has agreed to fulfill all three substitution stints.

I came across the following Tedtalk and thought I’d share it with you. Some interesting insights on finding our purpose.

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/a7/1f/ef/a71fef870130e65e2ff90148ebd64b92.png

The Junior Primary continues to be a happy place full of laughter and smiles and I do hope and trust that your girls are enjoying a holistic and meaningful education. Prof Jonathan Jansen wrote an article a few years ago and it continues to challenge me in my day to day encounters with staff and children. Are we schooling or educating?

Access the article here Are you schooled or are you educated?

The question I’d like to ask you is, what do you want for your children?

With hope for tomorrow, we collectively ignite a passion for learning and imagining, one step at a time.

GILLIAN STUBBS

Head of Foundation Phase

As we barrel on towards the end of term and parents and learners feel the pressure of looming assessments and assignments, I thought it relevant and appropriate to highlight the importance of allowing your child to aim to be the best version of herself without making comparisons to others.

“Comparison is the thief of joy,” attributed to President Theodore Roosevelt and others, evokes a powerful sentiment to us all. If we compare ourselves to others, we may be left with feelings of inferiority or superiority, and neither creates an emotionally healthy sense of self. If your joy is gone, your strength is gone. Comparisons often result in anxiety and resentment. Resentment towards others and towards ourselves. Comparisons therefore deprive us of joy. When we constantly compare ourselves to others, we waste energy focusing on other peoples' lives rather than our own.

The Bible too tells us not to compare: “For we must not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” 2 Corinthians 10:2

God has not created us to be carbon copies of a certain standard. He created each one of us with a unique personality, abilities, and gifts as well as with unique circumstances.

Unfortunately, comparisons are deeply entrenched in our society. Our children are surrounded by adults who will invariably compare your child to other children they know. When we compare ourselves to others we make ourselves feel insufficient and less than. The added pressure and trap of Social Media does not help either! By constantly comparing our child to other children, we increase their anxiety and stress levels. Children want to please their parents and not being able to do so can make them anxious. It can lower their self-esteem when they start to believe that everybody is better than they are. They begin to feel incapable of being good at anything.

There is only one person you should be comparing yourself to and that person is you. You should be your only benchmark. Competition or comparison is not wrong. Comparison with others only convinces ourselves of mediocrity when we could be destined for great things. (Input from blogger - Gunjan Jain)

“There are also problems applying comparisons to education. Comparisons are not measurements. If we want to describe what makes a particular school great, or where it is falling short of greatness, we have to talk about a complex web of factors in the school and community--everything from teacher content knowledge to curricular offerings to community socio-economic information to what the stakeholders in the community value and expect from their school. When we do a comparison based on a simplified single measure, we encourage folks to pursue that single measured quality. It is not a good tool for describing the strengths and weaknesses of that school. You can do one or the other, but not both. Which goal do you want to achieve--do you want to compare schools, or do you want to help them improve?” (Peter Greene ed contributor Forbes.com)

How to avoid making comparisons:

● There is always something to be grateful for.

● Exchange a comparison for empathy.

● Learn from successful people rather than following them

● Recognise and celebrate your child’s inherent strengths and talents

● Encourage her to pursue her interests and to take pride in her efforts and achievements.

● Teach them to take pride in their efforts and not just their achievements.

● Encourage them to be intrinsically motivated and not rely on external validation

As Albert Einstein said, “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its life thinking it’s stupid.”

To conclude with a saying from explorers and travelers - Hike your own Hike. They use this theory to focus on their own goals and don’t care about others. We can therefore lay a strong foundation of self-worth and self-belief for our children to fall back on. Keep reinforcing your message to them

KAREN SMITH

Head of Senior Primary

As always, you are welcome to contact me at gcloete@springfieldconvent.co.za should you have concerns about your daughter.

Warm regards to you all

GABBY CLOETE

Junior School Counsellor