On Saturday, I attended an all-day Principal's function hosted by Students for a Better Future (SBF). SBF was established by the Andreas and Susan Streungmann Foundation whose vision it is "To develop well-rounded and goal-oriented individuals who will contribute positively to the future of South Africa and become citizens of the world."

Each year, SBF receives more than 3000 applications from Grade 6 pupils in the Western Cape. A rigorous selection process identifies approximately 50 children to be recipients of this sought-after scholarship to complete their schooling at one of SBF's partner High Schools.

Springfield is extremely fortunate to have been invited to partner with SBF and, even more so, to have some of these extraordinary students placed at our school.

Each participant at the SBF gathering was gifted with a copy of the New York Times bestseller How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi. We all have a responsibility to increase our racial literacy and Kendi teaches that being non-racist is akin to neutrality and this is not an option. If we are to become part of the solution, we must be antiracist. I look forward to the many learnings and awakenings that will come from reading this book.

Healthy partnerships have an additive effect and Saturday's gathering of colleagues, from several of Cape Town's finest schools, was an example of the power of people working together, in a collaborative way, to benefit others.

Last week our Matric class embarked on the process of writing their final examinations, a process that gets well underway towards the end of next week. As a community, let us all hold them in our daily thoughts and prayers that they may have the calm and the confidence to achieve in a manner that reflects their unique potential and the depth of their endeavour.

PENNY MULLAN

Head of School

“Great things never came from comfort zones”

During the course of last week, we finalised all the appointments for staffing for 2021. While there are not too many changes, we decided to use these appointments, as well as the learnings we have taken from the covid learning, to make some changes to our staffing structure for next year. Change is never easy. I always see change as a growth opportunity – as someone once said (author unknown): Change is inevitable; growth is optional!”

Once again I send you the changes that will be made in 2021:

Pre-Primary

Two new posts in Nursery:

Teacher - Ms Zintle Ngcelwane

Assistant: - Ms Jessica Wani

There will be some internal movement within the assistants in the Pre-Primary classes:

Assistant in place of Mrs Erica Thomas – Mrs Nicole da Silva

Assistant (part-time) in place of Nicole da Silva – Ms Amy Peterson

Ms Nicola Frieslaar will be the assistant with Ms Ngcelwane and Ms Wani will be the assistant with Mrs Fick.

After-Care

Mrs Andrea Stelling retires at the end of this year after many years of faithful service to our After-Care. We are in the process of the appointment of a new After-Care assistant.

Foundation Phase

New teacher employed - Mrs Amy Fernandez

New Learnership student employed - Ms Danielle Carter

We are also very pleased to have entered into an arrangement with an organisation called Teachers Plus, for one of their Foundation Phase students, Ms Michael-Jade Petersen, to join us next year.

We have made the decision that for 2021 there will be two Grade One classes and three Grade Three classes, so Mrs Amy Fernandez will be teaching Grade Three together with Mrs Tish Murray and Mrs Shelley Brummer.

Senior Primary

Two new teachers employed - Mrs Reyhana Kleinveldt and Mrs Cyntike Mathyeke.

New Learnership students employed - Ms Kristen Arendse and Ms Bianca King

Changes to class teachers in the Senior Primary (internal movement)

Grade Four 2021 – Mrs Ingrid Commins and Ms Catherine Monteith

Grade Five 2021 – Ms Nicola Robbins and Mrs Cyntike Mathyeke

Grade Six 2021 – Mrs Karen Smith and Mrs Reyhana Kleinveldt

Grade Seven 2021 – Mrs Rebecca Claassens and Ms Carla van Niekerk

There will also be more specialised subject teaching happening in Grades Five, Six and Seven next year, so the class teachers, together with our specialist teachers, will be teaching across both classes in their grades. This will enhance the depth of subject material offered to our senior girls.

After receiving this information last week, I am sure that many of you have been discussing these changes amongst yourselves and with your children. We ask you to view these changes in a positive light, and place your faith in us, who hold your children in our care. Please know that all decisions regarding new appointments, changes and re-structuring of classes and departments have happened after a great deal of thought and deliberation, always in the best interests of the children. We ask all parents to trust the experienced Management team in our school in the decisions we have made to best enhance our girls’ educational journey. We are looking forward to the 2021 academic year and pray that there may be stability and a return to ‘normal’ educational life for our girls next year.

Dear Springfield Community

Yesterday, 27 October, twenty six Grade 3 pupils received the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The Sacrament was administered by parish priests of Corpus Christi Catholic Church, Fr Manuel and Fr Jackson. While preparing the pupils for this meaningful Sacrament so many thoughts came to mind about what grounds us as people, namely our common humanity and knowledge of God’s loving mercy. Henri Nouwen wrote a beautiful account of the Return of the Prodigal Son. This book is recognised as one of his personal favourites. While Tish Murray and I spent Saturday facilitating a retreat for all the First Confession pupils, one common thread became apparent. Children have an absolute purity in understanding the forgiveness of God. As adults, being witness to this gift becomes a real light bulb moment. At what point in our lives do we become cynical and less trusting of this gift of mercy and compassion. God uses children to teach us so many lessons. For this simplistic truth, I am truly humbled and grateful.

Simultaneously Fr Manuel and Fr Jackson spent the afternoon in spiritual reflection with some of the parents of children making their First Confession. If only we spent more time being still and valued more the inner beauty it radiated? I am really grateful to the parents for modeling this faith experience with their children. I simply love this quote by Henri Nouwen “Forgiveness is the name of love practiced among people who love poorly. The hard truth is that all people love poorly. We need to forgive and be forgiven every day, every hour increasingly. That is the great work of love among the fellowship of the weak that is the human family.”

Confession is a real gift. Let’s pray that this God given gift is recognised more widely for its purpose of healing and reconciliation.

With gratitude

GILLIAN STUBBS