“May there always be an angel by your side ”
~ A BlessingDear Parents
We had a fun and exciting end to Term 3 with a fairy “dress up” day in the Reception classes and a “spring bonnet” parade for the nursery and Pre Reception classes. The girls were thrilled to have Miss Dunn visit the classrooms to see their wonderful creations.
We started Term 4 celebrating “Heritage Day” by dressing “proudly South African” and learning all about our beautiful country.
We wish Tobela Gladile a very happy birthday and also send love and sympathy to her and Erica Thomas as they both suffered the loss of beloved family members during the holiday.
DIANE VILJOEN
Head Preschool
Dear Junior Primary Parents
Welcome back to the start of the new term. Spring is a season often associated with new beginnings, growth, change and beauty. This year has catapulted us to enormous opportunities to change our perspectives on so many levels. We hear so many commentators speak about a ‘new normal’. What is a ‘new normal’? Even this reality is constantly up for review and change. I’m often intrigued by the capacity of the human spirit to adapt to ever changing circumstances. While some enter the space with a calm demeanour, others show signs of great stress. It has magnified the challenge to meet people where they are and show compassion and kindness. The following quote guides us to “Use your voice for kindness, your ears for compassion, your hands for charity, your mind for truth, and your heart for love.”
We love seeing the girls back in school uniform. The school is gradually returned to a semblance of normality. Please anticipate that within the 4th and final term, things will change. We ask for great patience and support and that the changes will only try to serve to benefit the girls and staff.
Wishing you a very blessed 4th Term and looking forward to the journey ahead.
With gratitude
GILLIAN STUBBS
Head of Junior Primary
How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these.
~George Washington Carver
Term 3 ended with a sigh of relief for parents, pupils and teachers as most of us felt that we had reached our capacity in terms of the juggle and change that Covid invited. The short reprieve from the busyness of the term has hopefully recharged everyone sufficiently to embrace the last quarter of the year with renewed faith and energy. My leap from desk to duvet was the ideal remedy to achieve just that! The usual grapple for couch time and the remote control in my home was synchronously shared between my boys and I for once, as we devoured what Netflix had to offer with regard to two dynamic Docu-Dramas, namely The Social Dilemma and My Octopus Teacher.
As a society we are bombarded with a deluge of distractions, disrupting our thoughts, daily lives and good karma. In order to live in a mindful, meaningful and constructive way - how are we then able to block out this noise?
Step 1: The Social Dilemma, ends with interviewees exhorting viewers to “change the conversation” around technology. Some self-help suggestions include: turn off notifications; uninstall time-wasting apps; fact-check before you share sources; and follow people with different views than you. The girls have benefited from technology in the classroom as it has proved the following:
It has created a more engaged environment and has encouraged active participation in lessons
It has incorporated different learning styles
It has improved collaboration
It is preparing children for the future
Therefore, we will be continuing to facilitate learning at school this term using devices wisely, creatively, optimally and safely.
Step 2: My octopus teacher
It has been labeled "the love story that we need right now" by, The Cut. This story teaches us about a world of possibilities. Craig Foster, battles career exhaustion and depression which leads him to daily swims in the kelp forests in the ocean. He follows the life of an Octopus over 300 days. He finds new meaning and direction for his life by learning from her. Through the healing power of nature, he starts to make new connections with his family and finds a new meaning to life.
Being in nature, reduces anger, fear, and stress and increases pleasant feelings. Exposure to nature not only makes you feel better emotionally, it contributes to your physical wellbeing, reducing heart rate, muscle tension, and the production of stress hormones. Studies reveal that children are healthier, happier, and perhaps even smarter and more creative when they have a connection to nature. So, let us not be spectators of nature but rather immerse ourselves in it.
The recent earthquake which occurred about 1900km offshore from Cape Town- released its energy causing the ground to shake which was felt by many in the surrounding suburbs.This immediately fuelled some thought and analogy in me for the term ahead. Moving forward, let us rebuke 2020 as an Annus Horribilis. Let us create our own positive seismic shake up in learning and living.
Everything happens for a reason. That reason causes change. Sometimes it hurts. Sometimes it’s hard. But in the end, we find our way through. (Healing energy Tools)
All the best for the last stretch.
KAREN SMITH
Head of Senior Primary
Dear Springfield Families
Judging from the noise, happy faces and energy around the Junior School, it certainly appears that the start of Term 4 has been the easiest transition in this unsettling year.
If your daughter is struggling with adjusting, the following article from the Childmind Institute is a good read and provides some helpful tips.
https://childmind.org/article/why-do-kids-have-trouble-with-transitions/
As always, if you’d like me to help, please email me at gcloete@springfieldconvent.co.za and I will be in touch with you asap.
As a staff we are participating in diversity training through ARISE which is guiding us to engage in intentional anti-racist thought, action and reflection in our professional and personal lives.As a white parent, I have found the following article from the Huffington Post helpful when thinking about engaging in conversations about race with my children. I thought I would share it with you should you wish to do the same:
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/white-parents-talk-race-children-of-color_l_5f28e139c5b68fbfc88704e6
Our wonderful team of Grade 7 Peer Support (PS) monitors are in the process of organising our annual Springfield Junior Peer Support Mini Talent Shows. This will take on a different form to adhere to physical distancing policies. Each Grade will have their own talent show and our PS monitors are currently holding auditions to choose participants. We only have space for 8 Acts per Grade so please warn your daughter that an audition does not guarantee a performance. Auditions will be held during break times over the following couple of weeks. PS monitors will inform their Grade when and where these are.
The Talent shows take place on the 23rd and 27th of November in the Centenary Hall.
Wishing you all a safe, happy and (hopefully) downhill term ahead!
Warm regards
GABBY CLOETE
Junior School Counsellor
There’s an ongoing debate about the balance of parental monitoring and a child’s privacy, and it’s up to each parent to decide on an individual basis. Just as a parent helps their child learn to ride a bike or drive a car, they can also help their child learn how to safely use their cell phone.
Kids rarely make phone calls anymore — instead, they use messaging for most of their conversations. Looking over social media interactions, app use, and texts can offer insight into bullying, disparaging comments, signs of suicide from friends, or unsolicited sexting from friends or strangers. Does your child know how to handle these situations? Will your child tell you about it?
Keep in mind that many kids don’t use text messaging like their parents do. They prefer Snapchat or Instagram messaging, and now both social media apps make messages disappear after a certain amount of time. Staying up-to-date on what apps your child is using and how they can be used for messaging can help keep you informed about your child’s online activity.
Most cell phone carriers offer packages to help parents with monitoring, and a number of parental monitoring apps are also available with varying degrees of tracking. These apps can alert you when specific words are used in messages your child sends or receives and offer more privacy by allowing you to focus on certain messages rather than every communication.
Cell phones can be helpful for families when used correctly. Taking the time to set up ground rules can help teach your child responsibility and will offer peace of mind as you navigate the treacherous waters that can come with your child having a phone.
Kindest regards,
MERRILL VELENSKY
Junior School IT Teacher