It has been wonderful to have so many boys back at school even under such different circumstances. I find them amazingly resilient and resourceful and after the first tentative steps or hours back at school they are relaxing and enjoying being with their friends and teachers, having the more familiar routine of a school day as well as the space.

I am impressed with how many boys came back with appropriately cut, neat and tidy hair and the correct uniform. I know it would have been quite a scramble to get everything ready in time and I want to thank the parents in the 2nd Hand Uniform Shop who put in a great deal of time and extra days to ensure that parents could purchase uniform (one at a time!).

A number of boys have started arriving very early which is a problem. It means screening stations will have to be set up from 07h00, Form teachers have to be in their classrooms from then and your son will sit an hour or more in his Form room before the day begins. The need to screen and ensure careful supervision from the time of arrival means we cannot receive boys before 07h30. Please support us in this.

TRAFFIC

The morning drop-off is working well and thank you for adhering to the phased drop off times. It makes a huge difference in the screening process and prevents a long queue in the winter cold.

The afternoons are not going quite so smoothly though, and it is complicated by us not being able to have a full extra-mural programme. And the rain yesterday just made everything worse.

Can we ask though that:

- no-one stops in the middle of the road for their son to get in;
- boys exit and enter your car on the pavement side only;
- If there is no space in front of the school, you park further down Fir or Duke Roads and walk up or let your son know where you plan to be waiting.

There is also the parking lot at the bottom of Duke Road.

We are looking at how to improve the afternoon collection system but please do follow the normal
rules of the road and be considerate of the needs of all the drivers around the school.

HOLIDAYS AND TERM DATES

• Women’s Day weekend: Tuesday, 11 August will be a school holiday.
• 3rd Term: Tuesday 7 July – Friday 18 September.
• 4th Term: Tuesday, 29 September – Thursday 3 December.

Please note that both the end of year date and the 2021 opening date could be changed. This pandemic does make long term planning very difficult and a lot depends on matric exam dates and all that follows from that decision.

ABSENTEE SYSTEM

From Monday we will start recording attendance again on our database. Boys not yet returning to school will be marked Remote Learners. If your son has returned and for any reason is not at school, he will be recorded as absent. Please follow the normal procedure of emailing Mrs Kerven kkerven@bishops.org.za, Form teacher and Housemaster. While we recognize that boys must be kept home if they are sick or display any symptoms as per the regulations, they must not stay at home because it is raining and cold, or they would rather do Remote Learning on a particular day. Returning to school comes with a commitment so please discuss this with your son if necessary.

Please could you also inform us if anyone at home receives a positive diagnosis for Covid-19. The information will be kept private but we do need to keep updated on the virus in our community.

LUNCH BOX

Without hot lunch I know many of you will be packing in much more than before. Please could I ask you to ensure that it is healthy – no fizzy drinks, crisps or sweets. Rather nourishing sandwiches, raw vegetables, fruit, biltong and water, etc.

MANDELA DAY

Friday is Mandela Day. Please see our plans below for the day.

Our first week has gone well and hopefully the term will continue in this vein.

Look after yourself and your family. Keep warm and stay safe.

Aftercare

Please take note of the following important information:

• School rules and COVID 19 protocols apply at Aftercare.
  
• The facility will be thoroughly disinfected each day and strict hand washing and sanitising, mask wearing and social distancing must be adhered to at all times.
  
• No food preparation is permitted and boys must bring their own snacks and drinks.
  
• Only non-contact, supervised ball games will be permitted outside, as long as COVID protocols are adhered to.
  
• Parents and care-givers are not permitted on the premises. When fetching your child, please ring the bell at the gate or alternatively phone Verity Erlangsen on her cell phone (0832634460) and your son will be sent out to your car.
  
• Parents requiring Aftercare but indicated they did not on the "Return to School form", are asked to contact Verity prior to their son attending.

Mandela Day

Covid-19 has exacerbated the gap between the “haves” and the “have-nots”, rich and poor, empowered and disempowered. Nelson Mandela inspired us with his words and his actions. Each grade will be doing something specific on Friday:

Grade 3 – Cards of Hope for a number of children’s homes
Grade 4 – icing and decorating 500 biscuits
Grade 5 – making 500 sandwiches
Grade 6 – collating up to 200 workbooks
Grade 7 – packing ingredients for 20 000 food parcels (Rise Africa)
Other than for Grade 3 and 7, ingredients will be supplied by VUSA with the proceeds of the Rugby Quiz night. Our hygiene and safety protocols will be observed.

Time in class will also be spent learning more about Nelson Mandela, his life and times, his leadership and vision.

School Times - A Reminder

School times - Monday to Friday

Grade 3          08h15 – 13h45
Grades 4 - 7    08h15 – 14h00

Except for one afternoon per week when Grade 4 – 7s end later as follows:

Grade 4 – Monday 15h30
Grade 5 – Tuesday 15h30
Grade 6 – Wednesday 15h30
Grade 7 - Thursday 15h30

DROP OFF TIMES
Grade 3 (including Grade 3 alternate day supervision)
3(Fry) – 07h30; 3(Graney) – 07h45; 3(Hamman) – 08h00
Grade 4
4(De Sousa) – 07h30; 4(Gloak) – 07h45; 4(Goedhals) – 08h00
Grade 5
5(Louw) – 07h30; 5(Mathyeke) – 07h45; 5(Duck) – 08h00
Grade 6
6(Anderson) – 07h30; 6(Luzmore) – 07h45; 6(Siko) – 08h00
Grade 7
7(Drury) – 07h30; 7(Jordan) – 07h45; 7(Mitchell) – 08h00

Traffic Flow

Please be reminded of the traffic flow at drop off and collection times. If everyone follows this route it will go a long way to alleviate congestion around our school.

Second Hand Shop

Please take note of these revised opening hours. Please report to reception for hand sanitising and screening before proceeding to the Second Hand Shop. One customer will be allowed in at a time. Please observe the social distancing rules while queuing.

Dis-Chem

Dis-chem has launched a School-Days rewards program, which enables us to raise funds for our school as well as contribute to various charities. As a member, there are many partners involved, which you will benefit from in terms of discounts and rewards. It works much the same as My School card at Woolworths – except there is no card involved. Once you have registered and chosen Bishops as your beneficiary – you are automatically linked.

Please take 2 minutes to register yourself in order to make the most of partner discounts and help raise additional funds for charity as well as earn rebates for Bishops.

Click on the link to join www.schooldays.co.za