Junior School

Follow the North Star

The phrases - “a year like no other”, “these are unprecedented times”, “the new normal”, became familiar mantras synonymous with what we have experienced globally during the pandemic of 2020. Despite the trauma that Covid invited into our lives this year, we have learned resilience, conquered fear, remained positive, gained strength, endurance and courage - We have weathered the storm!

In order for us to have achieved this, we have had to hold onto hope. Hope is the belief things will work, especially when it seems otherwise. It helps you stay calm and peaceful when something less than desirable emerges. Hope believes you will get through it. Hope remembers the times you made it through. Hope teams with faith and believes in the impossible. In the Bible, hope is the confident expectation of what God has promised and its strength is in His faithfulness.

Christmas certainly inspires hope. The very first candle lit at the start of advent is the one of hope. So, even when things seem dark we can trust the everlasting light. The flicker of the flame also lights a deep sense of gratitude - as in the quote by M Beattie ~ ‘It reminds us to turn what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity...it makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates vision for tomorrow.”

The three wise men were guided by the Star of Bethlehem that welcomed the newborn King - Jesus. The Epiphany teaches us to trust our North Star. This is our inner voice that is guided by the Holy Spirit and will lead us to our Veritas.

“Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.” ~Voltaire.

There is much to be thankful for. Therefore, I would like to extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to the valued staff members in the phase who are leaving us.

Victoria Bennetts has proved to be a passionate, innovative and creative teacher - respected and loved by the girls in her care. Thank you for your dedication and commitment to the Springfield family. Mrs Bennetts leaves the classroom to take on a new venture in the educational field. We wish her well as she embraces the next chapter in her life.

Megan Wernars, was affectionately known as Ms “A” until she married in February this year. Mrs Wernars has decided to take on the challenge of embracing change and following her passion in education by pursuing a new position outside of the classroom next year. Thank you for igniting the fire for the love of learning in each child who has passed through your most capable hands these last four years.

Dayna Neethling, our most capable Learnership Student has spent the last two years being mentored by the Senior Primary teachers and has brought an incredible energy to the classes that she has helped to facilitate at Springfield. She will be completing her studies next year while taking on a Learnership position at Rondebosch Boys Preparatory School. Good luck for 2021, we will miss you.

We also bid farewell to the families in the senior phase who are leaving us at the end of the year. Many blessings and we trust that there will always be a part of Springfield nestled in your hearts - Floreat Springfield.

Grade 7 - In the words of Seuss: “You’re off to great places, Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way.”

A final vote of thanks to each and every parent and pupil for your incredible support and resilience that you have shown this year.

Hold onto the magic of Christmas and follow the North Star.

Happy Holidays

Karen Smith

Head of Senior Primary