Since 2012, 11 October has been marked as the International Day of the Girl. It is a day that recognizes girls' rights and their unique challenges. Days such as this help to raise awareness for gender parity. This is fundamental to thriving societies as it has a positive impact on education, child mortality, health, productivity and earning.

The theme adopted for 2020's International Day of the Girl is "My voice, our equal future." A girl's voice is her power and girls’ schools are uniquely placed to create situations that help each girl to find and develop a voice that emanates from her core values. Megan Murphy, the Executive Director of the National Coalition of Girls’ Schools reminds us that "deep learning requires an atmosphere of respect that encourages students to engage in dialogue. Girls' schools are such places."

I have been following the stories of many of our Past Pupils on Facebook. They are change-makers and inspiring role models for our current generation. Vast numbers of girls across the globe are neither educated nor employed and too many are victims of physical or sexual violence. My wish for the Springfield girls is that they are being equipped to be true leaders who, in the pursuit of an equal future, will value the humanity of all who they lead.

“The question isn't

who is going to let me,

it's who is going to stop me?”

~ Ayn Rand

Covid news

The local media has been ablaze with the news of a cluster of Covid-19 cases all linked to a social gathering at ‘Tin Roof’. This has been a stark reminder of the impact that our social interaction has on the rate of transmission of the Coronavirus.

Springfield students are included in this cluster of infections and I ask that we hold them and their families in our prayers during their period of recovery.

In our last newsletter, I reported of the joy at having all the Senior School pupils back on campus. Just two weeks later, we find ourselves with large numbers of girls who are required to self-isolate along with an adapted academic programme to cater to all.

At times such as this, judgement comes easily to many, but this is not helpful. There are 84 unique young women who are about to embark on their final examinations. Nothing about their year has been normal and they have had to dig deep to identify any good that has come of this school year. They are prepared for these examinations and they deserve to do well. In honour of them and the year that they have been dealt, I ask that we come together as an entire Springfield community and stand behind these brilliant young people and do whatever it takes to contain the Coronavirus.

PENNY MULLAN

Head of School

One doughnut too many

Dear Parents and Guardians

A great deal of discernment went into my decision to write this today, as my sweet tooth is legend in this school, and for me it is never a case of “one doughnut too many;” however, I feel the need to write about the amount of refined sugar that seems to be “floating” around our school at the moment. While I am in full agreement that the choice of food for children is a parent’s decision and not the school’s, we are finding that the treats that are arriving for birthdays and other celebrations are such that choices are inadvertently being made for other parents’ children as well.

A teacher’s biggest nightmare is not naughty children, nor is it disinterested children, or absent children; a teacher’s biggest nightmare in a classroom is many children on a sugar rush! And this is being experienced more and more in our classrooms over the past few months.

Our children love to give; they have giving natures, which I know have been nurtured by you, their parents. I have experienced such joy from children on their birthdays, when they arrive at school with special treats for all their friends. It is definitely more the giving than the gift that is the attraction, so I would urge parents to be as discerning as possible when that birthday treat is chosen. Something small, made with heart, is equally fulfilling to give.

Please don’t think I want to take away any joy from our girls’ birthdays. This morning, having written most of this last night, I greeted three girls with birthdays today, all carrying wonderful treats for their friends. I had this feeling that I was letting down these girls by just speaking about this matter. Let’s keep that joy of giving, and yet be slightly more discerning.

Dear Springfield Community

Upon hearing the news of the Valedictory Mass and the Awards Ceremony having to be cancelled I reflected on a quote by Albert Camus, shared with me a while ago that really resonated with me through this truly difficult time. I was really looking forward to the sacred space provided by the Valedictory Mass and the message of hope that the presence of all the matrics, their parents, staff, Dominican Sisters, our parish priests and Fr Peter John would have provided. Fr Peter John responded to me upon hearing the news… "What a year. Not the one we would have asked for but the one we have been given. How to explore the mystery?” The mystery is beyond our simple comprehension and manifests itself in the mystery of God and what our ultimate purpose is? What is our purpose? How do we respond to this disappointment? How do we keep hope alive?