Embedded Files
Academic
Academic
Timetable for May
As of this week, the senior school is following a new timetable for the month of May, one which takes into account some of the feedback we have received from both parents and pupils and some of the factors that will come into play when we eventually return to school.
The timetable for May features a rolling timetable so we that we will no longer skip lessons due to public holidays or consolidation days. This means that Day 1, for example, will not always be on a Monday and Day 10, a Friday and so on. It will mean that pupils will need to look at their own timetables more carefully to match the lessons with the "cycle day" rather than the day of the week.
A consolidation day is included each week. This will take place on Wednesdays, except for the week of 18-21 May, where we will miss Thursday to coincide with Ascension Day.
Space between lessons has also been factored in. This serves two purposes. From a distance learning perspective, it allows pupils and teachers to get themselves prepared for the next lesson or to attend to something at home. When we are physically back at school during this time it will allow for more time to facilitate movement between classes.
Many thanks to Mr Quinn for putting together the rolling timetable, and to you, for the feedback that made us consider putting these changes into action.
Work for Senior School Pupils
The distance learning programme at Springfield continues in this shortened week. The work planning grids for this week were shared with the pupils on Thursday before the long weekend and can be found here:
Next week’s planning grids will be shared with the pupils on Friday so that they have them on hand as the new week commences. Please remember that these work planning grids serves as the baseline for what should be completed in each subject over the duration of the week.
Work has been set on the understanding that it should be completed during the allocated lesson times with no “homework” set after school hours. Queries about the work set in a given subject should be sent to the subject teacher or the subject head, who will be able to use their specialised knowledge to provide an answer in the quickest possible time.
DAVID FICK
Head of Academics
Today in History
This week history was made in France in 1789. On the 5th May King Louis XVI called a meeting of the Estates-General at the Palace of Versailles. This was a significant event as the Estates-General was only called to meet in times of national crisis. It had not been convened for 175 years. To quote Dave Martin, "The importance of the calling and meeting of the Estates-General cannot be underestimated in the story of the French Revolution. Once it met it provided a forum for individuals to voice the ideas, complaints, prejudices and aspiration that had been building in France for years. What happened there triggered the early events of the Revolution." What followed in France was to change the world forever. Below a sketch by Charles Monnet (1732–1808) "Opening of the Estates-General in Versailles 5 May 1789"
GILL SUTTON
Life Orientation and Religious Education
Springfield Writing Competition
Congratulations to the featured writers who won certificates in our COVID19 Lockdown Writing Competition which closed on Monday. Thank you Ms Wyllie for organising the event which generated such inspiring writing.
ANDREW BENTLEY
Head of Cultural
Consumers Department
We really have been spoilt with glorious warm days in our lead up to bidding farewell to summer. But we will not escape the chills of winter so here is another tasty recipe that does not require much skill or time as it uses two canned products and family staples.
Cultural News
Cultural News
BLOOD DRIVE
For Anna Marx's 16th birthday, she gave three people the gift of life by donating blood at the Western Cape Blood Service Clinic at the Blue Route Mall. Due to the lock-down, WP Blood desperately needs blood donations. Their clinics at Blue Route and N1 City are still open, every precaution is taken to prevent the spread of COVID 19 and blood donation is considered an essential service so no permit is required. Please consider donating. For more information, see https://www.wcbs.org.za.
NICKY GOING
Head of English
"Whenever you are confronted with an opponent, conquer him with love" (Mahatma Gandhi). Our opponent at the moment is COVID 19. The truth in Gandhi's words are in the fact that the most effective responses to COVID 19 have been based on love. We flattened the curve by staying in lock-down for five weeks, out of love for our communities. It is an act of love when essential workers risk their own health to take care of the needs of others. Thousands of people are living off food parcels and donations given in a spirit of love. And it is only love for others and concern for their well-being that will get us through the rest of this pandemic.
Pastoral News
Pastoral News
PASTORAL TIPS FOR PARENTS:
Separate work from home: This feels almost impossible to do during lockdown, but encourage your daughter to have a dedicated work space that she can walk away from when she is finished working.
Take breaks: Know the break times and encourage your daughter to leave her studies at those times - tea is from 10h10 - 10h30 and Lunch is from 12h20 - 13h00. It's very easy for the day to just drag into one long work session, and that is neither productive nor healthy.
BRONWYN JANSEN
Deputy Principal
Sport
Sport
INCREASED SOCIAL DISTANCING DURING PHYSICAL EXERCISE
How wonderful it is to be able to go out into our beautiful environment and feel the freedom of doing some walking, jogging, cycling and taking our dogs out for their daily sniffs that we all (including our dogs!) have missed so much during the first weeks of lockdown.
However, please be aware that distancing rules change when you are out exercising!
The recommended physical distancing rules for shopping and normal exposure are 1.5-2m stay clear of others. Whilst we have rules and lines at the shops reminding us of this, out there on the road its different.
With any form of physical exercise, scientific research is showing that because of an increase in respiration and heavier breathing, droplets emanating from the mouth can travel further. In addition, external factors such as wind play an important part in the increased distance that Covid 19 droplets can potentially travel.
We therefore recommend that if you are out and about walking or running in an area where you need to practice physical distancing, you increase your distancing to 6m whilst running and walking. Try not to exercise behind people and rather be alongside, keeping your distance. If you are cycling, the recommended distance is 20m.
Stay clear of others, wear a mask at all times and enjoy your beautiful surroundings. Enjoy your exercise and be safe!
COLLEEN REED
Head of Sport
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