“Let the little children come to me… for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven”
~Matthew 19:14This evening we celebrate one of the most magical events in our school calendar, the Junior Primary Affirmation Evening. I always end the evening with a special blessing, which I share with you here:
Children are a gift from God, a blessing from Him to us. As we close this special evening, we thank God, our heavenly Father and life-giver, for the gift of these children, and for the infinite joy they bring us every day.
We listen to God speaking to us in a blessing quoted from a song titled The Blessing:
“In the morning when you rise, I bless the sun, I bless the skies,
I bless your lips, I bless your eyes, my blessing goes with you.
In the night-time when you sleep, I bless you while a watch I keep,
As you lie in slumber deep, my blessing goes with you.
This is my prayer for you, there for you, ever true,
Each and every day for you, in everything you do.
And when you come to me, and hold me close to you,
I bless you… and you bless me too.
I bless you… and you bless me too.”
Let us pray:
Dear Jesus, our Brother and Friend, be with these children, their parents and their teachers. Keep them always in your loving care, close to you in every moment of their lives. May all in the Springfield family feel and embrace your blessing, and return it, with our love. Amen.
I would also like to share this beautiful Circle Prayer with you today
Alison Dunn
Junior School Principal
Although I predicted a win for South Africa by three points on Superbru, I didn’t believe it in my heart of hearts. England had played too well against the All Blacks in the semi’s for me to hold out any hope. As the final proved, the unpredictability of sport is its real fascination. At the trophy ceremony, I sneaked a look at my wife, Pippa, as she surreptitiously wiped away a tear when Siya Kolisi lifted the William Webb Ellis Trophy. By no stretch of the imagination, can she ever be described as an afficionado of sport, but even she realised the historic significance of this moment. It was then that I recalled to myself that well-known quote which Barack Obama had made at the 2004 Democratic Convention:
'There is not a liberal America and a conservative America — there is the United States of America. There is not a Black America and a White America and Latino America and Asian America — there’s the United States of America.’
I wish we could express a similar sentiment in South Africa. In these bleakest of times when Moodies downgrade is threatening us; constant revelations about corruption keep emerging; ongoing incidents of femicide continue to shock us and where there is a never-ending a shortage of inappropriate racial slurs, I live in the hope that this historic win could show us the way to unite us as South Africans.
The words of Siya Kolisi in his post-match interview should be displayed on billboards throughout the length and breadth of this country:
‘We have so many problems in our country. We have a team which comes from different backgrounds, different races but we came together with one goal and we wanted to achieve it.
Since I have been alive, I have never seen South Africa like this…. We appreciate all the support - people in the taverns, in the shebeens, farms, homeless people, people in rural areas.
We love you South Africa and we can achieve anything if we work together as one.'
I live for the day every Springfield girl can have the conviction to stand up in an assembly and say something similar straight from their hearts. Not carrying the baggage of the past, they have the advantage of youth on their side. In their relationships with one another, our girls have to be encouraged and mentored to be the change that we need in this country. There is no point in waiting for someone else to begin the change-in-thinking process – it begins with their own personal relationships with every person on this campus. Let’s make it work at Springfield and make this school the change we would like to see in South Africa.
We certainly cannot rely on our politicians – they seek approval of their electorate by exploiting differences. It has taken a humble young man from Zwide in the Eastern Cape to give us a different vision.
I played the video here to the girls in assembly on Monday. It should be compulsory viewing for every South African so that we can all ask ourselves: So what is our excuse?
Keith Richardson
Headmaster
We offer our heartfelt condolences to Miss Alison Dunn, on the sudden passing of her dear sister, Jenny Hastings. We pray that God may provide grace and healing to the family at this sad time.
May her dear soul enjoy eternal peace.
WEEKLY INFO LETTER – 6 NOVEMBER 2019
The PTA Cake Sale hosted by Grades 1, 2 and 3 on Friday raised an amount of R6839.70. Thank you for your support!
**DATES TO REMEMBER**
Wednesday 6 November: Junior Primary (Grade 1-3) Affirmation Evening will take place in the Centenary Hall at 18:30.
Friday 8 November: All Grad 1-3 (2020) Book and Waltons Stationery orders to be returned together with payment.
Friday 8 November: Junior Primary Fun Sports Day at 08:00.
Kind regards
Junior School Office
Back left to right: Mr Meehan, Sarah Smart, Jessica Paverd, Hannah Becker, Jocelyn White & Miss Dunn
Seated left to right: Nadia Jackson, Skye Micklethwaite, Holly Walsh & Madison Green
Gr 1 - Mrs Gilbert's class with their 'little sisters' backing our boys and sporting the 'green and gold'!
Mia (Gr 6) earned the Victor Ludorum, placing first in the 60cm show jumping recreational and championship classes at The Royal Horse Glenellen Lower Grade Festival and Sienna (Gr 4) placed first at the WC Equitation 10 & Under Championship at NRC on Saturday.
We are so proud of them and celebrate their hard work, commitment and dedication to their ponies. We done!
Maya Benzimra, along with Hayley Smith, Darcy Gliddon and Zandra Axten participated in the Peninsula Girls Rowing Club (PGRC) Challenge on Sunday. They rowed in mixed crews with Bishops and Rondebosch and did very well.
Thank you for the donated items handed in to the office for the Diving Charity Drive! We are delighted with the wetsuits, swimming costumes and old towels handed in. Please keep the donations coming in as you clean out your cupboards for summer. Deadline for donations: Friday, 15 November.
Dear Girls
Good luck for the upcoming exams. Remember that your results don’t define who you are:
your attitude, your resilience, your compassion, your daily progress, your sense of humour, your friendships, your kindness, your choices and your courage does.
You too can feel like a Springbok if you believe in yourself, if try your best and share the joy of working together and celebrating each other’s success!
Go for it!
Love Mrs Cloete
Tech tip #16 (a double feature...and a reminder of previous tips)
NB!!! Important message from Mrs V.
Results
Fixtures