Head of School Message
Head of School Message
Embedded Files
"The eye never forgets what the heart has seen"
~ African proverb
In the Senior School, the normal timetable schedule is peppered with 'alternate timetable days'. These are opportunities for our students to enjoy different experiences that enrich our curriculum. Variously this may take the form of workshops, guest speakers, themed assemblies, retreats etc. Yesterday was one such day that provided time to focus on, and celebrate, Africa Day.
Ms Melanie Wagner joined Springfield in January and she has been instrumental in organizing and co-ordinating these days of difference and I would like to express my gratitude to her for this valuable contribution.
Continuing our focus on Africa Day, the staff from both the Junior and Senior schools were treated to the poetry, wisdom and stories of Athol Williams. Athol is a son of Africa, of South Africa and of Cape Town. What a privilege to spend an hour listening to and learning from a man who knows his truth and is never compromising. His message to 'see people more deeply' resonated with all in the room.
In a world where there is often more focus on self than on others, I extend a challenge to all to look more closely and open our hearts to see everyone more deeply.
For Africa Day, and in the spirit of unity, I share Athol Williams' poem:
World Peace
If I draw a circle around me
and you draw a circle around you,
then I am 'us'
and you are 'them'
and so we use all our strength and skill
and ingenuity and resources to
kill each other.
If we draw a circle
around both of us,
then we are brothers
and there is only 'us'.
PENNY MULLAN
Head of School
Message from the Junior School Principal
Message from the Junior School Principal
“I’m building a cathedral!”
There is a wonderful story told of a Bishop in the Middle Ages who commissioned builders to build a new cathedral. As the building work progressed, the Bishop would, on many occasions, walk around and chat to the men doing their different jobs on the building site. He would ask them, “What are you doing?” and would get various replies such as “I’m making wooden window frames” or “I’m carving a stone pulpit” or many other such specialized work. One day, when walking through the building asking his question, he came upon a young boy who had the very menial task of moving stones from one place to another for the stone mason. This was neither interesting nor specialized work, but the Bishop paused and asked the boy the same question he had asked all the others, “What are you doing?” He was utterly dumb-struck when the boy stopped what he was doing, looked at him and said clearly, “I’m building a cathedral!”
How easy it is, as teachers and parents, to miss the big picture of what we are doing – to forget that each child is a cathedral being built, and no matter what small part we play in the education of the child, we are indeed “building a cathedral”. In Pre and Junior School especially, we see such development towards the cathedrals we build; from learning to use a pair of scissors, to climbing a rope ladder, to learning to read and write, and to wield a hockey stick and swim a length of the pool. All these achievements are the building blocks we use every day in the construction of the cathedral in each child here at Springfield. We also need to remember that just one building block, if neglected or omitted, can cause the building to collapse.
Thank you, parents, for giving us your precious cathedrals to build. And thank you, teachers, for ensuring those blocks are securely in place. Thank you, God, for breathing the life of the Holy Spirit into the precious souls of our cathedrals. Let’s always work together and achieve all the necessary building blocks for our children.
ALISON DUNN
Principal of the Junior School
A message from the Head of RE
A message from the Head of RE
Dear Springfield Community
Africa is embedded in my DNA. There is no doubt that I will continue to celebrate the richness of our diversity through the stories I choose to experience, read and share. Living within the most diverse community in the world, the recent celebration of the feast of Pentecost reminds me to acknowledge the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit. The people of Africa should glow in God’s grace as we commit to endeavour with purposeful conviction to live the fruits of the spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
While reading the words, there are fruits which challenge me to do more and there are fruits which we truly celebrate through my lived experiences encountering amazing role models along life’s journey.
May the celebration of Africa Day rekindle a beautiful memory of life lived through the lenses of our family and friends.
I am an African
Because she is the cradle of our birth
And nurtures an ancient wisdom
I am an African
Because she lives in the world’s shadow
And bursts with a radiant luminosity
I am an African
Because she is the land of tomorrow
And I recognise her gifts as sacred.
A verse of a prayer reflection, I am African by W. Visser
With blessings
GILLIAN STUBBS
Head of Religious Education
Archbishop Stephen Brislin has made the 2021 Archdiocesan Directory freely available to all! To get your copy please go to https://adct.org.za/download-your-free-copy-of-the-2021-archdiocesan-directory/
Music School
Music School
ABRSM Face to Face Exams
Last week the ABRSM announced that the highly anticipated face to face exams have been cancelled due to global COVID restrictions on travelling.
TRINITY Exams
So far, nothing of the sort has been announced by Trinity in terms of face to face exams.
Options for going forward:
Many teachers and pupils were specifically waiting for the in person grade exams, as these provide an assessment of technical work and supporting tests, whereas other options do not. Unless Trinity can offer an in person examination the following options are worth considering, of which students can choose as many as they wish:
1. Play an online ABRSM exam
There will be an online session every month until the end of the year, at the same cost as the face to face exam.
The next booking slot opens on 2 June, for the July exam.
2. Play for the Springfield Eisteddfod
This is highly recommended as it comes at no cost and will be an opportunity for the girls to perform in front of their peers.
Dates: 21-23 June 2021
Sign-up form below.
Deadline for sign-up: 28 May
3. Play in the Cape Town Eisteddfod
Deadline for entry: 15 June 2021
Deadline for uploading of video: 30 July 2021
There is a small cost involved
More information available on their website: https://www.capetowneisteddfod.com/music
If you have any questions, please contact us music@springfieldconvent.co.za
Woodwind ensemble Lunchtime concert May 2021.movWoodwind Ensemble: a snippet from the Lunchtime Concert held last week
Woodwind Ensemble: a snippet from the Lunchtime Concert held last week
The Shop @ Springfield
The Shop @ Springfield
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.
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.
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
Edana Parent Portal and Parent Portal App
Edana Parent Portal and Parent Portal App
Dear Springfield Parents and Guardians
As from the start of the second term 2021 Springfield’s official communication will be uploaded onto the Edana App. The app allows parents to access all the information needed regarding their daughters as well as general information, easily on mobile devices. Emails will no longer be the primary form of communication. This will ensure that parents have access to important information at all times. Please follow the step by step instructions below to download the app. Should you have any queries or need further assistance please contact helpdesk@springfieldconvent.co.za
Click here for the link to the Parent Portal, or
Search for “Edana Parent Portal” in either Google Play Store or Apple iStore.
Please use the unique Springfield Mobile App activation code: 264733 , tick the box when you have read the End User License Agreement and then click “Activate”.
Please then use the Email option and type in the email address you supplied to the school to receive the one time pin (OTP).
Term dates - 2021
Term dates - 2021
COVID19 - SUSPENSION OF CONTACT SPORT
COVID19 - SUSPENSION OF CONTACT SPORT
19 May 2021
Dear Springfield Community
COVID19 - SUSPENSION OF CONTACT SPORT
This morning, we received a media release from the Department of Basic Education which has been verified by ISASA. We are awaiting further clarification concerning this release.
In this media release, all close-contact sporting activities have been suspended with immediate effect. However, non-contact sport training in schools can continue provided that all physical distancing, hygiene and safety measures are observed and that there is no physical contact between participants during training.
The reason given for this suspension is the fact that, despite following the protocols as guided by the Directions on extramural activities and Standard Operating Procedures on the prevention, containment and management of COVID-19 in schools, contact sports events still contribute to the spread of the virus. Following the school sports activities related COVID-19 outbreaks in Gauteng and a general rise of cases in communities across the country, the Outbreak Response Team has advised that the risk is high when engaged in close-contact sports, especially with people who do not live together.
In light of the above, we have no alternative but to suspend all Netball, Hockey, Soccer and Squash matches and cross country competitions until further notice.
We are deeply aware of the need to provide our pupils with some sense of normality and are cognisant of the repercussions of having to once again curtail sporting activities but we also do not want to put any of our pupils at risk during this Covid19 Pandemic.
To this end, we will continue to provide Physical Education and Extra-Mural Sport training and practices on a non-contact basis.
The media release refers to the fact that the Department of Education will continue to monitor the situation. We accordingly encourage all of our pupils to continue with training so that when this suspension is lifted, players will be fully prepared to participate in matches.
We understand that some parents or guardians may wish to make a decision to withdraw their daughter from extramural sport. Should this be the case, we would appreciate your emailing our Heads of Sport, Colleen Reed (Senior School) snrsport@springfieldconvent.co.za or Lindy Hardiman jnrsport@springfieldconvent.co.za to advise us of your decision.
We will keep you updated as and when we receive any further information and will continue to act with the safety of all of our community in mind.
Yours sincerely
Colleen Reed and Lindy Hardiman
Important message from Wynberg Military Hospital
Important message from Wynberg Military Hospital
We have had a request from the Wynberg Military Hospital to please be aware that St John's Road and Hospital Road are the roads used for the access of emergency vehicles to the Military Hospital. Please be aware of this when entering and exiting the school campus and do not park in the road blocking this emergency access route.
Access control stickers are used at the entrance of the junior school gate to monitor access to the campus for security purposes. It is vital every vehicle has a white 2021 access sticker as we take every measure to ensure our students are safe at all times.
Each family receives one sticker, thereafter the cost is R10.00.
2021 Access control sticker
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