This week has seen three Carol Services in the Memorial Chapel over the last three nights: Two Prep services inspired by the most beautiful music provided by our Music Department and boys; the Pre-Prep service last night included Grade N for the first time. We had 276 boys in the sanctuary – choir, shepherds, angels, stars and so many more. The Chapel was packed to capacity with their parents, siblings and grandparents. Whenever I see this I marvel at the school and Old Boys in the early 1920s who chose to build a Chapel to seat 800 when the school was so very much smaller. Thank you to you all for supporting us at these services – they are real community events and a chance to be still for a while in such a busy period of the year. Thank you too for your enormous generosity in the donation of toys as well as the retiring collection, the latter totaling R21 000.

We wish all our Grade 4-7 boys and staff enjoyable camps next week. Every effort has been made to ensure their safety as well as making the camps a fitting end to the school year. Next Thursday sees our Prizegiving Ceremony in the Memorial Chapel and we hope you will be able to join us for this special occasion.

Yesterday was a month since Rowan Piorkowski’s admission to hospital and I am pleased to report that he has grown stronger and stronger this week. He was moved out of High Care earlier in the week and yesterday was able to walk around and eat solid food. Today Rowan will have more tests and hopefully be able to go home for a day or two before the next round of treatment. Please continue to keep Rowan and his family in your thoughts and prayers.

Best wishes

Kind regards

GREG BROWN
HEADMASTER

Grade 7 Leavers' Dinner

Venue: Kelvin Grove

Time: 18h30

Bramley Outing

Venue: Ratanga Junction

Time: 10h00 to 15h00

Moms and Sons Art Workshop

Time: 14h00 to 16h00

Monday 27 November 2017

Grade 3 (2018) Induction

Venue: Jagger Hall

Time: 07h30

Grade 3 Celebration and Tea

Venue: Jagger Hall

Time: 09h00

Grade 4, 5, 6 and 7s return from camp

Van der Bijl Christmas Dinner

Time: 18h30

Prize Giving and Tea

Venue: Memorial Chapel and Lawns

Time: 09h00 to 10h15

Toys
A huge thank you to everyone who donated toys at the Carol Services. They will go a long way to making children around Cape Town very happy this Christmas.

Shoes
Every year at this time we are approached by various schools in Khayelitsha asking for second-hand school shoes. If any boys have outgrown their 2017 shoes, please think about donating them to this worthy cause. They would like to help pupils start the year with a pair of shoes and are always so grateful for any contributions.

VUSA Thank you and Feedback

Many thanks to Prep parents for your support of this very worthwhile programme. Please click HERE to view the VUSA report for this year.

At 4:00am last Saturday morning I began the incredible journey of a lifetime. Armed with an 8kg backpack, warm clothing and the well-wishes, thoughts and prayers of many, I set off into the unknown mountains of the Eastern Cape. At 8:25am on Sunday morning, amidst the cheers of the crowd and the shouting of an overly energetic and Red Bull drunken announcer, I jogged over the finish line absolutely exhausted.

What began as a dream had, 28 hours and 25 minutes later, become a reality. I was a Sky Run Finisher, am a SkyRun finisher and boy does it feel good.

Words cannot express my appreciation for the part that you and your children have played in getting me to both the start and finish line. Your commitment to my journey, support of my nominated charity, EduNova, and your generosity of sponsorship and love have been overwhelming. With a week left before the opportunity to pledge a donation ends the money keeps coming in. The expected R30000 mark has been exceeded and we are nearing the R40000 mark now. It is beyond belief and my wildest expectations that, together, we would be able to raise this sum of money.

Next Term I will be doing a presentation to the school and talking a bit about my journey, the event and the impact that the money will have on the lives of the children with which EduNova work. There has been so much interest around the event amongst everybody that a feedback session is definitely needed.

For those parents who still wish to donate to the cause, (Now that I have actually completed it!) the link can be found below. The donation window will close on Monday the 27th November after which the final sum raised will be revealed and sent to EduNova.

https://www.givengain.com/activist/198545/projects/15543/

I want to thank you all again for the part that you have played in this journey. I really do believe that the journey and the achievement belongs to us all.

You too are all SkyRun finishers.

Much love,

Steve