Dear Parents and Guardians

A warm welcome to Term 2 to all in the Springfield family. To those who celebrate Easter, I hope that it was a time filled with many blessings shared with family and friends.

School holidays are fun and care-free. They are also essential to the continued growth and development of children of all ages. The disruption of the normal term-time routine allows time to explore and to experience different spaces and people as well as time for introspection and general relaxation. Observing the energy around the campus yesterday, there was genuine joy at being back at school with the friends and colleagues who mean so much to all.

The second term is always a busy one. Pupils are settled into their new grades and classes and this allows for increased rigour in the classroom. The sports fields and other extra-mural spaces are becoming more vibrant again and, after a year of limited use of these facilities, the students are relishing the opportunity to return to these activities.

The routine of the school day is extremely important for young people; something that became so clear during last year’s period of lockdown. The American Benedictine nun, Sister Joan Chittister said, “It is what we do routinely, not what we do rarely, that delineates the character of a person.” She reminds us that, while the School’s daily routine revolves around lessons and content, these, and all other aspects of the curriculum, are the vehicles for the development of young people who are character-rich and ready to serve society.

I am very excited to share some long-awaited news with you. Springfield is now the proud owner of a brand new 14-seater bus! This vehicle is primarily to be used to transport pupils and, where possible, staff between the Wynberg station and the Springfield campus. This has been made possible by the Springfield PTA and I am immensely grateful to Chris Baff and Shaun Fowler for their research and commitment to a project that is now a reality. We hope to take delivery of the vehicle soon, so please monitor our social media pages for a sneak peak at our ‘new baby’.

Today marks the beginning of the Holy month of Ramadan. As a community, we wish all our Muslim students and staff many blessings during this holy month.

PENNY MULLAN

Head of School

I have reached the age…

In the last week of last term, which was the week before Holy Week, I was teaching a Grade Four class for Sacred Singing, and we were talking about Palm Sunday. One of the girls asked me if I could show them how to make palm crosses. This was my response to the request:

“Oh girls, I’m so sorry but this is our last lesson before Palm Sunday and we won’t have time to make palm crosses, but I’ll show you next year and then we’ll make them…… Oh dear, that can’t happen as I’m retiring at the end of the year, but I’ll show another teacher how to make them so that you can do that next year.” And then I proceeded to continue with my Power Point and moved on with Holy Week.

Well, that didn’t work! There was a stunned silence amongst the girls before hands went up, asking me: What is retirement? Why do you have to retire? Will you be leaving us? Who will take your place? Why… what… when… In that moment I realized two important things: firstly, that their minds were not going to be on anything I said regarding Holy Week for the rest of that lesson, and secondly, that I had presumed, mistakenly, that as we had told the parents about my retirement at the end of the year, the girls would know this, too. In this I was obviously wrong.

This gave me a great deal of thought during this past holiday. While I had tried, at that time during that lesson, to say things like I have reached the age…. It is time for a younger person…. I have spent over forty years in education…. This happens to everyone at some point in their lives… I don’t think I did justice to the very real questions and concerns the girls were raising. It brought me to the realization that every girl in the Junior School needs that explanation from me. So, my thoughts now are on how best to do this.

I would be more than happy if this became a discussion around your dinner tables at home.

I have been asked many times how I feel about retiring from a way of life to which I have devoted more than 40 years. My stock answer is…. I have reached the age, and for those who know me well and know my mind works in thoughts of liturgical music, I often give the words of a favourite hymn: It is well with my soul….

But I will really miss my Sacred Singing lessons with the girls!

ALISON DUNN

Principal of the Junior School

Dear Springfield Community

We are still basking in the glory of that Easter morning and celebrating the resurrection of Christ. I’m reminded of the quote by Pope John Paul II, “We are the Easter people and Alleluia is our song.” The resurrection gives us a glimpse of what living in hope means. As we commence the Second Term of 2021, may we be reminded of the beauty of living with hopeful hearts.

Today we commence the holy month of Ramadan and I’d like to wish all our Muslim families abundant blessings during this prayerful and sacrificial month. Please keep the Springfield community in your prayers as we keep you all in our prayers.

Our Ramadan around the world

With blessing

GILLIAN STUBBS

Head of RE

Parents have been sent a notice regarding access to the school shop for the purchase of uniform items. Due to the size of the shop, and physical distancing, access to the shop is by appointment only. Should you have any uniform queries, please contact Mrs Moore on 021-797 9637.

As The Shop @ Springfield is a relatively small space and does not allow for adequate social distancing, we will not be trading ‘as usual’. We will however have an appointment system in place via the Picktime app – see link below.