17 March 2021 NEWSLETTER 2021: SCS Newsletter

Junior School

17 March 2021

Quote

May God protect our people.

Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika. Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso.

God seën Suid-Afrika. God bless South Africa.

Mudzimu fhatutshedza Afurika. Hosi katekisa Afrika.

~From the Preamble to the Constitution of South Africa

Preschool News

Dear Preschool Parents

The girls thoroughly enjoyed their “teddy bears picnic” for the school’s 150^th birthday and loved the cake and ice lollies that the school provided as special treats on the day.

They were amazed that our teaching assistant, Amy Peterson, shared the same day with the school for her birthday too.

The Reception and Pre-Reception girls were pleased to have weekly assembly commence in the preschool hall with Miss Dunn and loved receiving their special birthday cards from her.

All of the preschool teachers received training in the “Lego - 6 bricks” program and have been implementing the skills in class with some very excited girls.

We are all learning about Easter until the end of term but will have a fun “green day” on 17 March for St Patrick’s Day, as the 6 Dominican Sisters who purchased this farm land and started Springfield Convent School in 1871, came from Ireland.

A reminder to please send in the money collected for the Lenten appeal and the Easter Eggs and non-perishable food for our community outreach.

Thank you for a wonderful first term, may you all have a safe, blessed and happy holiday.

School closes on Friday 26 March and reopens on Tuesday 13 April.

Pre School birthday celebrations ...

Pre School Pictures Continued...📷

Junior Primary

Dear Junior Primary Parents/Guardians

Today we acknowledge the Irish Dominican Sisters living at Rosary House and Springfield Convent and wish them a very Happy St Patrick’s Day. Sr Maria, who currently lives at Rosary House, was my High School English teacher and I recall her message to me in my matric farewell journal, stating that she wishes that I’ll be in heaven a half hour before the devil knows I’m dead!

I can’t believe that this is the last newsletter for Term 1 of 2021. Where has the time gone? As I walk around during the course of the day I encounter the girls on their way to various specialists’ subjects and I am just amazed how much they have grown in self confidence. The Grade 1’s appear to be fully transitioned into Junior Primary, special thanks to class teachers Mrs Beckett and Ms Davidse. A special word of thanks goes to our learnership students in Grade 1, namely Ms Carter and Ms Petersen. May the laughter, playfulness and lovely childlike banter continue throughout the following terms.

While Grade 2 is regarded as the ‘middle child’ in Junior Primary they are getting along famously and working so enthusiastically. They too have settled from a three way split in Grade 1 to a two way split in Grade 2. I’d like to extend a sincere thanks to Mrs Payne and Mrs Daynes who work so well together, even their names rhyme. Thanks goes to the Grade 2 learnership student, Mrs Wicomb for all her hard work.

Our ‘eldest child’, namely our Grade 3’s have certainly claimed their independent status. The teachers are really getting accustomed to the smaller teacher/pupil ratio as they work exceptionally hard preparing them for Senior Primary next year.

Mrs Murray, Mrs Brummer and Mrs Fernandez worked so well together and while we would like to wish Mrs Fernandez God’s richest blessings in her new role at Bishop’s, we are truly going to miss her. (A detailed letter will be communicated shortly to the Grade 3F class). Thanks to Mrs Murray and Mrs Brummer for welcoming her into the Springfield fold. I’d also like to extend my gratitude to our Grade 3 learnership student, Mrs Hufkie.

While we are very mindful that covid is still around and we have to ensure each other’s safety at all times, our scientists are predicting another surge. How this will translate into our day to day life during the course of Term 2, we can’t tell, but we will be ready to transition to an online platform should the need arise. Details around this will be communicated in due course.

I would like to request that you engage in conversation around Monday’s public holiday, Human Rights Day. In our day to day encounters with each other, may we be cognizant of the dignity of God that exists in each of us.

Gillian Stubbs

Head of Foundation Phase

Warm Fuzzy Awards

10 March 2021

Sienna Turner 1B, Layne Burchell 1D, Alessia Hufkie 2D, Kaia Nkomo 2P, Emma Henderson 3B, Ava-Joy Manyaya 3F & Samantha Mujori 3M

17 March 2021

Isabella Ferreira PInto 1B, Louisa Maughan-Brown 1D, Isabella .Janse van Rensburg 2D, Makaylah James 2P, Greer Cairns 3B, Hannah Wright 3F & Isabella-Rose Carr 3M

Senior Primary

Recharge and Reboot

It is common knowledge that Rest and Relaxation reduces stress and improves overall health. An active mind gets tired just like an active body. It is therefore important to quieten one’s thoughts and allow the mind time to rest in order to recharge and reboot. Equally important, is to restore our expended physical energy, by resting our bodies. Growing up is exhausting! Children grapple with fast developing bodies and the bombardment of much mental stimuli. Sufficient sleep and recreation is the perfect remedy to allow for the healing of their bodies and we welcome the much needed upcoming two week break.

It has been a busy term and thankfully one that never required the school to close and for classes to revert to the online arena. In the event that this may happen during the predicted third wave next term, our revised and reviewed e-learning plan is ready to be communicated to the school community should it be necessary. Class teachers will be sending out invites next week to attend the Parent Teacher Meetings between the 14 - 16 April next term. Please make every effort to attend as it is the perfect opportunity to discuss the progress of your daughter. Reports will be accessible via the Edana portal and will be released on Friday the 26th March.

To conclude, I trust that the rest will allow for all to reconnect with their inner selves - thoughts to be calmed and focus improved - moods to be lifted and happiness to prevail thus allowing for creativity to flow. I look forward to Teachers and Learners returning to school, refreshed and ready to embrace the new term with increased productivity.

Happy Holidays!

Karen Smith

Head of Senior Primary

Counsellor's Corner

Dear Parents

As mentioned in a previous newsletter, Janet Freemantle and I will be running a Positive Parenting Course in Term 2 of 2021.

Janet has a wealth of parenting experience - she is a mother of three, grandmother of many and has worked at the Parent Center, Child Welfare Society and was school counsellor to Springfield Junior and High School for 17 years.

We have known each other for decades and have a shared philosophy of parenting, and of counselling young people.

Our course is aimed at parents in our Pre-School and Foundation Phases (Grade 1-3) but parents of older primary school children are welcome to attend.

Details:

Monday evenings at SFC: 6.00pm - 7.30pm

Dates: 19th, 26th April, 3rd and 10th of May

Cost: R600 per person or R1000 per couple

Payment options and venue will be emailed to attendees once bookings have been confirmed.

Spaces are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment. Book by emailing me

gcloete@springfieldconvent.co.za

Have a fabulous holiday and safe and happy Easter!

With warm regards to you and your girls

Gabby Cloete

Outreach Projects

Its almost Easter!!

MARSHMALLOW EASTER EGGS - As part of our Easter Outreach programme, we are appealing to the girls to bring strips/box of marshmallow Easter eggs to school to be distributed to charities. These donations of Easter eggs bring so much joy to many children. All Grade 1 to 7 donations of marshmallow eggs must be taken to the classroom or the secretaries’ office up until Wednesday 24 March. The class with the winning amount of eggs donated, will be allowed a civvies day!

Tech tip

💻Tech Pearl of Wisdom for the week

Tech Tip #4

Social media can be a blessing and a curse...if we allow it to. Placing it in the hands of our school children continues to be a contentious issue. There are so many pros, as well, as life-changing cons. So, as parents and teachers it is our responsibility to keep informed about what is out there and what we choose to allow our children to be exposed to.

Tik Tok, Snapchat and YouTube are the commonly known apps that our children use. All these apps have age restrictions that exceed our students' age. See the website familyeducation - https://bit.ly/3tqonsG for a detailed list of the apps and the reason why it is potentially dangerous for our children. Some of these apps are not commonly known/used in South Africa, but it's worth knowing about it so that you will know what to keep an eye out for.

Keeping our children safe is our main priority, so being informed is always a step in the right direction.

Kindest regards,

Merrill Velensky .

Art

My Spirit Animal and I...

Music

Stravinsky Strings Rehearsal

Music Performers of the Week

12 March

Zara Ronne and Arabella Carr

(nominated by Ms Chiat - Vocal Teacher)

Zara and Arrabella voice Mar 2021.mp4

Juliet D'Arcy Evans

(nominated by Ms Coxson - Piano Teacher)

VID-20210312-WA0006.mp4

Music Concert

Springfield Convent Junior School Digital Concert T12021.mp4

SPORT

Nipper News

COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on the nipper season and the competition programme across the country. Nippers (lifesavers in training) have however found ways to keep training and now that the country is in level-1 some competitions have become possible again.

The first was the Strand / Llandudno Inter-club competition in Strand last weekend. Five U13/14 Springfield students (Isla Irving, Daniella Schlenk, Zara Welthagen, Abigale Jacobs & Sabien Hartgers) represented the Llandudno Surf Lifesaving Club (LSLC). After a grueling morning, with events like the long beach run, surf swim, malibu board race, taplin relay and the Iron nipper, LSLC were victorious and proudly received the trophy. A special mention goes to Isla Irving for coming first in the Iron Nipper event and first overall in the U13 girls category. Daniella Schlenk was the winner of the Spirit Award.

On the 21^st of March, the ‘Llandudno Surf 8 Man Classic’ will take place on Battery Beach in Durban. At least 9 teams, with 8 competitors each, from various coastal clubs will be competing. Each team must have a minimum of three girls. After a tough selection process, Isla Irving was selected to represent LSLC.

The 8 Man Classic is an exciting competition where a computerized system dictates what event each competitor takes part in. Competitors only find out what event they are in minutes before the event starts. Events include surf swim, board rescue, beach relay, board-run-board, long run and iron nipper. We wish Isla all the best in Durban this weekend!

Felicity Chase skated in the WP Championships for 2021. She won GOLD in the Short Programme and Tango Sections and was awarded SILVER for 14 Step Dance. On the second day of the competition, in the Pre-Novice category she came joint 1st in her Component programme and received a Silver Medal and won the Gold Medal in the Free Programme.