Springfield
Convent
School
Newsletter
Parking alert
St John's church have advised that as from tomorrow, 1 October until 18 November, their parking area will NOT be available for Springfield parents, staff or girls to use.
Head of School Message
Setting your pace
A marathon runner knows the importance of setting the perfect running pace. Setting out just a few seconds per kilometre too fast can be the difference between a race that is a pleasure or one where misery surely awaits. Planning is key and requires knowledge of self and of the race.
2020 has been an ultra-marathon, but one without a defined distance or duration. No route map was given nor was there any precedent upon which to base our plans and intentions. Pacing ourselves under these circumstances seems nigh unto impossible.
Our recent break, albeit a short one, allowed time for rest and reflection. And with this the realisation that setting and keeping to a healthy pace will be key to a fulfilling final term of 2020. In last week’s Southern Cross newspaper, Fr Ralph de Hahn wrote about Covid-19 and the importance of exercising holy patience as we traverse all the challenges that a pandemic throws our way. He suggests that this patience is not merely the ability to wait, but also the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting.
Our attitude and spirits lifted with the daily return of all Senior School pupils this term. In addition, the easing of conditions under alert level 1 will see the Matrics being celebrated in an almost 'normal' Valedictory Mass. The ability to retrieve our usual rhythms and routines is something we have longed for and it definitely puts a spring in my step.
Term 3 ended with a glamorous and fun-filled evening where our Class of 2020 got to wear their matric dance dresses (and matching masks). The joy was tangible, and I know that the Matrics will echo my thanks to Ms Boock, Ms Wakelin and the Grade 11 team for the hard work and sincere effort that went into preparing a memorable evening.
As a country we are doing well, ‘covidly’ speaking, but we all have a role to play in ensuring that we stay on this positive track. Many teenagers have a sense of unique invincibility and, with their "it will never happen to me" mindset, it makes it ever more important that our girls continually hear the same message about safety protocols from the home and school. Springfield has proven to be safe from Covid-19 and I am grateful for a community who respects our protocols and enforces these beyond our gates.
PENNY MULLAN
Head of School
Message from the Junior School Principal
Do you have a guardian angel?
“Behold, I send an angel before you to guard you on the way
and to bring you to the place that I have prepared.”
~Exodus 23:20On Friday of this week, 2 October, we celebrate the Feast of the Guardian Angels. I am sure a large number of us grew up saying that beautiful prayer Angel of God, my guardian dear…
This feast day, together with the feast of St Francis of Assisi on 4 October, formed a large part of my Assemblies this week. We started talking about God’s gift to us of a guardian angel to watch over us, and one of the younger children asked me, “Miss Dunn, do you have a guardian angel?” To which I replied that yes, God gives all of us that gift. The child’s response was that she thought (no doubt because of all the pictures we see) that only little children had guardian angels! I assured her that adults need them just as much!
With the older girls, this led us to a discussion around who our guardian angels actually are. Are they only, as we teach the little ones, the invisible angels always at our sides to help us and guard us, or are they indeed, significant people in our lives, who perform such duties for us every day – also given to us by God. I asked the girls to think about anyone in their lives whom they might call their “guardian angels”. I know I can certainly think of a number of people in my life who have fulfilled that role – and still do.
In the beautiful hymn On Eagle’s Wings, we sing the following words:
For to his angels he’s given a command
To guard you in all of your ways;
Upon their hands they will bear you up
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
There are many times in our lives when we follow the wrong path, or put ourselves in some form of danger; indeed, when we “dash our feet against stones.” I pray that we may always have angels in our lives to bear us up when we really need them.
ALISON DUNN
Junior School Principal
A message from the Head of RE
Dear Springfield Community
Welcome to the start of the 4th and final term of 2020. What a year? We have all learned an incredible amount about ourselves, our families, our communities and our world. Amidst the chaos we were given a chance to repair, restore, reflect and review our daily actions and priorities. General encounters seem kinder and more respectful.
I’d like to share some questions for self reflection in guiding your thoughts around random acts of kindness that can punctuate the rest of this term.
According to @David Geurin’s Blog
Kindness is more than being nice. It's great to do nice things for people, and that's certainly part of being kind. But true kindness goes deeper. It tests our character because it isn't always easy. Most everyone is kind to others when they feel like it, or when other people are nice to them.
Let’s reflect on these questions as we continue on our journey to building a school of belonging and presence.
Kindness heals, forgives, forgets past wrongs, and enables future progress.
Kindness leaves, in the hearts of those who receive it, the urge to pass it along, to expand it and improve upon it.
BE BLESSED AND BE A BLESSING
Gillian Stubbs
Head of RE/Ethos
The Shop @ Springfield
Uniform for Term Four
From Tuesday 29 September (the beginning of Term Four), all pupils will wear full summer uniform, with no deviation for bad weather other than the wearing of the school rain jacket.
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.
Junior School: On the days the girls have PE, they may come to school in their PE uniform. On the new timetables now in operation, PE is only once a week.
As The Shop @ Springfield is a relatively small space and does not allow for adequate social distancing, we will not be trading ‘as usual’ for the rest of this year. We will however have an appointment system in place via the Picktime app – see link below.
How this works – follow the link to the app. Request 1 of the 3 services offered. These vary in time allowed (15mins/30mins/45mins) according to how much shopping you need to do and how much assistance you are going to need. Please book accordingly.
Please be on time for your appointment so that the customer after you is not kept waiting.
No cash payments will be accepted. Please ensure that you can pay using Snapscan, credit/debit card via Yoco or do online banking on your phone while doing your shopping.
Please also note that only the student/s that require the uniform + 1 adult will be allowed into The Shop space at a time – all extra family member to please wait outside The Shop.
Access to The Shop is through the foyer at Centenary Hall for Covid screening. Please remember that masks must be worn in The Shop at all times.
If you only require a couple of new items and you know the sizes accurately, feel free to email me your order at schoolshop@springfieldconvent.co.za and I will then put your order together, will advise the amount to pay and you can do an eft and collect from the Junior school secretaries’ office - remember to bring payment confirmation with you on collection.
Link to Picktime - https://www.picktime.com/TheShopatSpringfield
I sincerely hope that this system will work and I will endeavour to give you the best possible service under the circumstances.
Regards,
Shirley Woodward
The Shop @ Springfield
Sports Update
One of the most frustrating aspects of the onset of the Covid 19 Pandemic has been our inability to provide extra mural sports to our girls. We are well aware of the frustrations that the Lockdown has caused in all sports - from professionals, to nationals, provincials, clubs, socially and at school level. We are all aware of the many benefits physical exercise can provide, but from talking to our girls, by far what they miss is the sense of camaraderie and team spirit that goes with playing a school sport.
Unfortunately, the current news regarding Sport in Term 4 is not good. Please see the letter published below from South African Schools Hockey. Other sporting bodies have reiterated this stance or remain silent.
The letter is self-explanatory regarding the fact that under the DBE is the final juristic authority regarding what is permitted in Schools and their extra mural curricular activity. What is not permitted as per previous announcements made by the Minister of Basic Education and the President on the latest level is School Sport and extra mural activities. There have been no further updates as yet.
The status quo thus currently remains until we hear otherwise. All School sports facilities are out of bounds until such time as the DBE gives permission for them to open. Schools will then have to apply for Certificates of Operation after complying with Covid regulations.
Quite a number of our girls have joined Water-polo clubs and are training with them, which is allowed under the current regulations. Hockey and Netball Clubs are also opening for training and our girls are enjoying Club Rowing training and Surfing through private institutions. We will continue to encourage our girls to find avenues to keep up their fitness levels through as many avenues as we can find until the laws change.
As soon as there are any changes, we will hit the ground sprinting hard and fast to bring sport in all its forms back to Springfield.
For now, we must be patient.
It's not forever, it's just for now.
Colleen Reed
Head of Senior Sport
Message from Cape Foto
Dear Parents,
With everything that has gone on over the past few months, you may have forgotten to order your daughter's school photos. No problem, if you would still like to view and/or purchase the 2020 individual and class photos, please see below.
New to Cape Foto Online? Visit www.capefoto.co.za:
Click ‘Create an Account / Login’ (top right of page)
Click ‘Create an Account’
Your unique code is SFS_2020
Fill in your details and click ‘Submit’
Check your inbox for your verification email (can take up to 2 hours)
We will finalize your account setup within 24 hours
Already have a Cape Foto account?
Email us at orders@capefoto.co.za with your daughter's name, grade and unique code (SFS_2020) and we will add her photos to your account within 24 hours.
Have any questions regarding your account?
Email us at orders@capefoto.co.za and we will respond within 24 hours.
How will I get my order?
You have the option to collect a completed order from the school, from our Home Office or we can courier your order. We will email you when the order is ready.
Cape Foto is a small family business and we greatly appreciate your support during these difficult times.
PLEASE PLACE YOUR ORDER BY END OCTOBER 2020
ANY QUERIES, PLEASE CONTACT CAPE FOTO DIRECTLY orders@capefoto.co.za
