Outreach
The Care Portfolio :
The 2020 Care Portfolio has thrown themselves into their tasks this term. They have handed out Care packages to members of our school community suffering with illness and gave each teacher a Smartie box and card thanking them for making their pupils "Smarties". It was a lovely gesture to celebrate the teachers on Teachers' Day on the 5th of October. Once exams are complete, the group will continue work on the Orientation booklet which is to be ready for the 2020 Grade 8s on the first day of school next year. They will also help to organise a Buddy picnic and games for the same day.
The Ubuntu Society :
The 2020 Ubuntu society has met twice, once to discuss topical issues and the second time to play Thirty Seconds, the latter as a means of de-stressing ahead of exams. Our annual Ubuntu evening will be held on the 13th of February 2020. Please save the date as the girls will be hard at work planning the event on their return next year.
Blood donation clinic:
Springfield will be hosting a blood donation clinic from, 12.30-3.15 on Tuesday, 4th February in the Senior School Study Hall (opposite Senior Reception). Mothers, fathers, siblings, friends - ALL members of the wider Springfield community are welcome to donate. Remember that every pint will save three people's lives. Donors must be age 16 or older, weigh more than 50kg, be medically fit, and have eaten a good breakfast before donating.
Ons Plek:
On the 19 December, the Outreach Portfolio planned a visit to Ons Plek. A few Springfield Girls offered their time in providing a fun and exciting day for the girls at the home. The Springfield Girls were welcomed with hugs and excitement as they had been looking forward to this visit. Since Christmas was around the corner at the time, the Outreach Portfolio planned a Christmas Party. The time spent comprised of making Christmas crackers with an element of “Secret Santa,”decorating Christmas Cookies, watching the animated version of “The Grinch,” and to end - Christmas decorations were made and displayed in the home. All the girls enjoyed the time spent together and are looking forward to the next visit.
Uncle Paul's Christmas Parties December 2019
Uncle Paul’s Christmas Parties is hosted annually by the Rotaract Club of Wynberg. The purpose of the parties is to raise funds for the community projects that will be taken on throughout the following year. Various Springfield girls supported the events in December by volunteering to help either behind the scenes with the setting up or getting dressed up as various characters and entertaining the children at the event. We had lots of fun and are looking forward to helping out again this year!
Interact Gift Wrapping
Springfield Interact’s annual Christmas Gift Wrapping event took place on the 21-24 December 2019. Each day, four enthusiastic Springfield Girl’s offered their time to hold a gift wrapping station at the Constantia Village Courtyard centre. The girls worked hard, especially on Christmas Eve - the day of shopping for last minute gifts. A fantastic total of R3000 was raised from the event. All the money donated is in aid of Outreach and Interact’s projects for the year; such as beach and river clean-ups, organising fun days for the underprivileged, volunteer at Uncle Paul’s Christmas Party and many more with the funding we have received. It’s safe to say that these girls who have volunteered are professional gift wrappers as they were gift wrapping machines.
For more information please contact Elizabeth Mehl
STARTING THE YEAR OFF WITH APPRECIATION
Sometimes I feel as if we are caught in a whirlwind of negativity, especially when it comes to the environment. The world is dying, the oceans are polluted, animals are dying,people are dying and because of human greed, we may not have a world to live in when we are older. And whilst this is all true and very very scary, we have also forgotten how to simply appreciate nature. I truly believe that if we started to appreciate nature more, we wouldn't have so many problems. You are unlikely to harm what you are grateful for and respect. When we cultivate a feeling of appreciation instead of panic or denial, we tackle a problem in a positive way that's inclusive and sustainable.
So that being said; take a walk in the garden, go for a hike, try surfing. Get out in nature and have fun! And afterwards take a moment to appreciate the beauty around us and all the gifts nature actually gives us.
Camryn Beaton
Head of Environment Club