Dear Parents
ABSENTEE PROCEDURE
We want to firm up our absentee notifications so if your son is absent on a particular day, please email kkerven@bishops.org.za as well as his Housemaster and Form teachers before school and give the reason.
We want to be sure that we are on the same page and that we have had a communication about every boy who is marked absent. In the case of a planned absence for a special event, please support us by applying for permission well in advance; if it is one day, to your son’s Housemaster but more than a day to me headmaster@bishops.org.za.
ENDING WELL
The last term is always an exciting term with a lot of out of the ordinary events that the boys and staff enjoy. But it is also a term when – probably because the end of the year is in sight – things can slip. I spoke to the boys this morning to ensure that they abide by the rules until the end of the term i.e. ensuring hair is at an acceptable length and tidy, the correct uniform is worn at all times, that they attend every occasion that they are expected to, and so on.
But more importantly, I want them to end well with each other. Often after a year together in the same class or team they can begin to be irritated by each other; they almost know each other too well and need a change that the new year will bring. I call it “the hothouse effect”. What can happen is that they insult each other, gang up, teasing turns nasty and so on. If they get tired of each other they can be less tolerant of each other so there’s a nasty comment and one thing leads to another. We emphasise the simple rule, “If you don’t have something nice to say about someone, don’t say anything.” I asked them to consider whether what they are going to say or tell another boy is going to make him happy. We want each boy to end the year well and happily, without unnecessary complication and unhappiness and will be working hard to ensure that this happens.
Best wishes
Kind regards
GREG BROWN
HEADMASTER
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