School Information
Term Dates 2020
Term 1: (13 Jan Staff) 15 January – 20 March
Term 2: 6 April – 11 June
Term 3: 7 July – 18 September
Term 4: 29 September – 2 December ( 4 December Staff )
Public Holidays:
Term 2:
- 10 April (Good Friday)
- 13 April (Family Day)
- 27 April (Freedom Day)
- 1 May (Workers Day)
- 30 May (Ascension Day)
Term 3:
- 9 August (Women’s Day)
Cyber Wellness Workshop. The interactive workshop will address family cyber safety.
The talk is brought to you by Wolfpack Information Risk, presented by Renowned Cyber Security Specialist Craig Rosewarne.
DATE: 4 February 2020
TIME: 6:30 PM
VENUE: CENTENARY HALL
For further details and registering, please click on the link below
Information
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1VI2unPTtg6_iyVZa7cU5nso0ZpJOH8OCeDPGWblPtlM/edit?usp=sharing
Register/RSVP
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/150B4xDj6D_6rcftqkJHZfadRD619RxBhb4H4YR_ujB8/edit?usp=sharing
HEAD LICE ALERT!!
Head lice have been found in the senior classes and we urgently request, that you check your daughters’ hair for head lice, to help us contain it from spreading in the school. Please do the necessary treatments recommended by your doctor or pharmacy should you need to treat your daughter/family.
As you know these are highly contagious and it is imperative that we stop them spreading in the school. To this end we must ask you to keep your daughter/s at home until all traces of lice/nits have been eradicated.
To do this we recommend that you do the following:-
1. Wash hair thoroughly with a recommended shampoo.
2. Apply olive oil as a smothering agent for chemically resistant lice/nits.
3. Thoroughly clean your child’s/children’s bed linen, pillows, towels as well as furnishings and upholstery in your home.
4. Ensure that all brushes and combs are thoroughly cleaned.
5. Comb and remove all dead lice and nits.
6. Nit-pick – remove, or cut out, every single trace of lice or nits from your daughter’s hair.
Many thanks
Senior School Office
Dear Parents and Guardians
Attached please find a letter from Marinda Meder, Grade 10 Administrator re a Grade 10 Parent/Guardian Meeting to be held on Monday 27 January.
Regards
Senior School Office https://go.d6.co.za/aMgnU1
As part of the year rollover, could we ask you to please follow these instructions to reset communications on the D6 Connect app for this year:
1. Once in the app, click on the "Settings" gear at the top right corner of the app.
2. Click on "Logout"
3. On the next screen, enter your cellphone number and password. Then click "Login"
(If you have forgotten your password, click on "Forgot Password?" to reset it. An One Time Pin will be sent to your cellphone number.)
This should restore any D6 Connect communication issues.
If not, please contact helpdesk@springfieldconvent.co.za
Kind regards
Springfield Helpdesk
The Rotary Club has a six week exchange programme which is held at the end of the year where a student at the end of Grade 10, 11 and 12 can go overseas on exchange for six weeks. This is a family to family exchange where the student that goes overseas agrees to host an inbound student for six weeks. Springfield Convent was fortunate to have 8 pupils go on exchange at the end of 2019 to various parts of the world.
Exchange Program
My exchange experience in Milan
Last November I embarked on a life changing trip to Italy where I learnt many things about the Italian culture and lifestyle, and being independent. I stayed with my host family and exchange partner about 10 minutes away from Milan’s centre. The family was extremely kind and welcoming, and I felt very comfortable and at home.
Milan is a very busy city with lots to explore. Most days I would travel by myself, stuck in an impressive art gallery, museum, old Gothic church and crowded shop. I loved the freedom I was given and how safe I felt in the city.
I only went to school a few times. It was extremely different to Springfield as it is a co-ed, public, scientific high school with more than 150 learners in a grade. It was a little overwhelming but everyone made an effort to speak in English. I felt extremely privileged that my family took me travelling all around Italy. We went skiing which was insanely fun, challenging and beautiful. We also traveled to Rome, Sicily and Genoa. All these cities are different and special in their own way. It was interesting to see how the Italian culture would differ in certain regions.
Throughout exchange I learnt more about myself and being completely independent. I was forced to make my own plans, be confident in my choices and take charge. It also reminded me of how lucky we are to live in a city with so much diversity and space. It was an experience I will never forget and one I fully recommend every young student to partake in.
Mila Matthews
Flying off to an unfamiliar foreign country, all alone, definitely isn't for everyone, but for me it most was. Exchange to Germany has taught me so much about myself and allowed me to grow as an individual; I think I've grown more as a person in two months than I have the whole of last year. I learnt how to be independent, for example ... having to catch the bus or train to certain destinations or having to walk so many kilometres because I couldn't afford a bus ticket. I also learnt what it's like being the new kid in school, and how I had to start a new life over in Germany completely from scratch, so making new friends and getting to know complete strangers, but those strangers soon became some of the most amazing friends I have made, from places all over the world. One of the most important lessons i learnt was to truly appreciate my life and family back home, feeling homesick is most definitely a thing that a experienced often, exchange allowed me to appreciate all the little things in life, like a good home cooked meal or a hug from mom or dad, or even a simple smile from a friendly South African.
I got to help out a lot in the English department for the grade 5, 6s and matrics; this allowed me to gain a lot of self confidence as I had to present certain things to the classes.
Not only did I attend school but I also got to be a bit of a tourist around Germany, as my host family took me to visit some unfamiliar famous cities and places. I even joined athletics' club in the town I lived in
I am truly grateful that I got this incredible experience, a life time opportunity, an adventure that shall never be forgotten.
Jade Bailey
On the 13th of December 2019 I went to France for a month on exchange and stayed with a family in Rouen, Normandy.
I attended school for 2 weeks and was able to experience a different lifestyle to my own. One of the things I learnt about this experience was independence. I learnt responsibility and how to cope with stress and difficulties along the way. My host family didn’t speak English so I quickly learnt that I would need to be learning French in order to communicate which definitely scared me.
One of my favourite things I was able to do was travel to a variety of places in France and make a variety of new friends. This was one of the hardest but best experience of my life and I am so glad I was able to have this opportunity.
Megan Crowhurst
Exchange was an experience of learning about new people and cultures, full of laughter and some tears. I was in a small village called Pontevico in Northern Italy, about a two hour train ride from Milan. I was introduced to real Italian culture and way of life. I made some of the closest friends and made a new family that I will love and remember forever.
Some of the highlights of my experience included going to the mountains with friends, Christmas day and seeing beautiful Italian art and architecture. Christmas lunch was spent on the family farm and consisted of a five course meal, all homemade and all ingredients from the farm.
My 6 weeks of exchange was an eye opener into how different people around the world live. I would definitely recommend Rotary exchange.
Sophia van der Schijff
In December of 2019, I was fortunate to travel to Milan, Italy on Rotary Youth Exchange. I was lucky enough to have met my exchange sister, Suzy, when she came to stay with my family in July and August of 2019.
I left Cape Town on the 4th December, when the weather was a warm 25 degrees, and arrived in Milan on the 5th December to -4 degrees, which was a major shock to my system. I met her family when I arrived and they were very kind and excited to see me. They even brought their little dogs to welcome me! I first few days I got settled and became a part of the family. Suzy lives with her mom, dad and 13 year old sister Lisa, which was much like my own family.
While there I attended school, Isis Bernocchi Liceo Scientifico Science Applicator, with Suzy, which was very different in many ways. It made me realise how lucky I am to attend such a beautiful school like Springfield. The teachers and pupils welcomed me, but I found they had a different attitude towards school. The language was tricky in the beginning but as my time went on I began to understand enough to have basic conversations.
The family took me a few places around Italy, which included Rome, Verona, Trentino, Lake Como and centre of Milan. My favourite place was Rome and visiting the Colosseum, Sistine Chapel and walking around the small markets.
After Christmas we went skiing in Trentino, on the border with Switzerland. This was interesting as I am not the most coordinated person in the world.
This was an experienced that I will never forget, and I am grateful for the new friends that I have made. I would encourage those interested and able to go on Youth exchange as it is an experience that has changed my perspective on life, and taught me many lessons.
Morgan Barnard
Grade 12 2020
