Springfield
Convent
School
Newsletter
Head of School Message
If we are to inspire girls today, we must honour the groundbreaking women of history.
On Sunday we commemorated the Women’s march of 1956. As those women marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria, to protest the introduction of additional Pass laws into the Urban Areas Act, they sang a freedom song. The song’s phrase “Wathint’ abafazi, wathint’ imbokodo” has come to represent the strength, courage and love that exists within every South African woman.
These women, along with many others in our history, have paved the way for a constitution whose laws, for women, are amongst the most progressive in the world. But attitudes are not always aligned with the law and too many women continue to be victims of violent and hideous acts.
In 2019 Forbes published its list of 100 most innovative leaders. Only one woman was included on that list! Reactions to this were widespread and speak volumes to the attitudes of those who would compile such a list, with little consideration of the validity of the applied criteria. It sends a message to women and girls that they aren't good enough to make the grade; a message that many women receive from as early as Preschool.
Schools for girls provide places where girls can be seen and heard and are celebrated for being brave. They are places where young women are not only told that they are capable of anything, but they can literally see the many roles that they can fulfil. Girls’ schools inspire leadership and female leadership has benefits for all.
The Australian feminist writer, G.D. Anderson published an essay in which she wrote:
“Feminism isn’t about making women stronger, women are already strong, it’s about changing the way the world perceives that strength.”
Stories of the strong women of history teach and inspire girls to stand up for themselves, to set boundaries, to invest in themselves and to know their worth.
These extraordinary women have significant stories to tell. Do you know their stories?
PENNY MULLAN
Head of School
School holidays
The table below outlines the revised Springfield calendar for the remainder of this year. In the most part it remains as it was originally, the only exceptions being:
While we await confirmation of the final National Senior Certificate examination timetable, the ending date for Term 4 is unknown.
Message from the Junior School Principal
“Here’s to strong women. May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them.”
~Maya Angelou
As we move through this Women’s Month of August, the above quote by Maya Angelou resonates, as I am reminded of the six strong Dominican women who left their Irish homeland in 1863 to travel to Cape Town to establish Catholic Dominican schools here in South Africa. Eight years after arriving, having already established St Mary’s and the Dominican School for the Deaf in the city bowl in Cape Town, they travelled to Wynberg in 1871 and bought our beautiful campus, Springfield, and established our school. Since that day in March 149 years ago, strong women have worked here and strong women have completed their schooling here. Each generation of Sisters, teachers and girls has followed in the footsteps of the previous generation, and we today are proud to be standing on the shoulders of the ones who came before us. Please take a few minutes to listen to this beautiful song, and remember all those on whose shoulders we stand:
The strong women who were educated here at Springfield span all corners of the earth today, making a difference in the lives of others and carrying out the mission of our founder, Dominic: to praise… to bless… to preach…, while always serving with the Dominican motto Veritas – Truth.
Let us continue to remember, especially during this Women’s month, to live this tradition and continue to raise strong women who will one day stand on our shoulders.
“I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things.”
~St Mother TeresaALISON DUNN
Junior School Principal
A message from the Head of RE
Dear Springfield Community
Tough times call for the courage to be kind. Staff, parents and pupils are navigating the year with real stress and challenge. A general emotional fatigue seems prevalent. During August, a month dedicated to Women, I’m reminded of the many courageous women in our lives who illuminate our path with acts of genuine courage, strength and kindness. I believe God places people in our lives to inspire us, to encourage us, to heal us, to sustain us, to teach us and to simply love us through their actions.
We think of Gemma in Grade 7 - a remarkable image of resilience and hope. Yesterday she commenced 28 days of chemo treatment. In order for me to fathom the enormity of this image, I have to acknowledge the grace of God surrounding Gemma and her family through the next few months in preparation for her bone marrow transplant.
We hold Sr Caroline in our prayers - a remarkable woman of courage, resilience and kindness. She too models this exemplary life of deep faith and rising each time to the challenges of compromised health.
I hold the Class of 2020 in my prayers - they have had to adapt to so many changing circumstances and remain positive through it all. They have my utmost respect. They will leave a legacy of unparalleled resilience.
There are so many other stories which prove the human capacity to heal, restore and live.
May we capture the essence of this courage and provide moral support to those in need of our intuitive response to being vulnerable in their need.
With gratitude and blessing
Ms Gillian Stubbs
Important Covid-19 notice.
29 July 2020.docxPTA News
Laptops4Learners
Last week the PTA launched the Laptops4Learners programme, in order to source computers that can be used by some of our girls who don’t currently have access to a device.
With distance learning being so important at the moment we want to try to make available IT equipment so none of our pupils are left behind. I’m pleased to say that after a fantastic response from the school community, we have a limited number of computers available to be loaned to girls who need them.
If you would like to apply for one please email Bronwyn Jansen bjansen@springfieldconvent.co.za for the Senior School or Steve Meehan smeehan@springfieldconvent.co.za for the Junior School. Also, if you have an unused device you would be willing to lend to a learner until the end of the academic year please send an email to SFCLaptops4Learners@gmail.com .
Chris Baff
PTA Chairperson
PPU News
Hi fellow Springers!
I matriculated from Springfield in 1991, having attended the school from the age of 3 (1978), where I built up a love for the school, the Dominican sisters and the values embodied in our motto ‘Veritas’. I attended the University of Cape Town and graduated as a Medical Doctor with my MBChB in 1997, whereafter I completed my internship and community service at Groote Schuur Hospital, GF Jooste Hospital and finally Red Cross Children’s hospital. I then worked at various hospitals in the United Kingdom, mainly in Emergency Medicine and Paediatric positions.
Upon my return to Cape Town in 2002, I decided to pursue something a little different and worked in Health Care administration, as the Hospital Manager at Melomed Gatesville Hospital. During that time I completed a course through UNISA in Accounting and Finance for Medical Professionals.
Whilst on Maternity leave I realized how much I missed Clinical medicine and in 2005 commenced my Specialist Anaesthetic training at Groote Schuur hospital, having had very little prior experience in this speciality. There I was privileged to meet and work with two fellow Springfielders, Karen Phillips (1988) and Franca Falanga (1969) and our shared schooling experience created a bond between us. I remember on the day of my interview the three of us meeting and singing the school song at the top of our voices. Being a mother, wife, running a household, working and studying a very demanding course, was often very overwhelming and that’s where I learnt to call on my resilience, faith and determination. I completed my specialist training in 2009 and have been in Private practice since 2010. I am also a non executive director of Melomed Private Hospitals, a 100% Black owned company, where the majority of management, staff and medical practitioners are members of the previously disadvantaged communities and I’m proud to be involved with a company where 80% of employees are from the female black grouping.
I am privileged to have a son aged 8 and a daughter aged 16, who is in Grade 11 at Springfield. I have been a member of the Past Pupils committee since 2017.
Springfield taught me to always persevere, to fight for and do what is morally correct and true and to never give up. The school was a safe haven for me, a place where I could grow and flourish and the values inculcated by in particular, Sr Caroline and Sr Pia have helped shape me into the woman I am today. Springfield has created a Sisterhood of strong women, independent thinkers whose bonds of friendship transcend distance and age. I am proud to call it my alma mater.
Ferhana Bhorat
Important notice from Cape Foto
Dear Parents,
With everything that has gone on over the past few months, you may have forgotten to order your daughter's school photos. No problem, if you would still like to view and/or purchase the 2020 individual and class photos, please see below.
New to Cape Foto Online? Visit www.capefoto.co.za:
Click ‘Create an Account / Login’ (top right of page)
Click ‘Create an Account’
Your unique code is SFS_2020
Fill in your details and click ‘Submit’
Check your inbox for your verification email (can take up to 2 hours)
We will finalize your account setup within 24 hours
Already have a Cape Foto account?
Email us at orders@capefoto.co.za with your daughter's name, grade and unique code (SFS_2020) and we will add her photos to your account within 24 hours.
Have any questions regarding your account?
Email us at orders@capefoto.co.za and we will respond within 24 hours.
How will I get my order?
You have the option to collect a completed order from the school, from our Home Office or we can courier your order. We will email you when the order is ready.
Cape Foto is a small family business and we greatly appreciate your support during these difficult times.
PLEASE PLACE YOUR ORDER BY MONDAY 31 AUGUST 2020
ANY QUERIES, PLEASE CONTACT CAPE FOTO DIRECTLY orders@capefoto.co.za
