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FRIDAY 4 June 2021

Dear Parents

MUSIC SCHOLARSHIPS

I am very pleased to announce that the two College Music Scholarships have been awarded to Leo Cowan and Daniel Bursey. They faced stiff competition in the process and we congratulate them on this achievement.

COVID

This week we have had one positive Covid case amongst staff and we do have a few families isolating at present. We continue to observe our safety protocols at school, reminding the boys what is necessary on a regular basis and making the best of the current situation. But as South Africa enters its 3rd wave of Covid, we do want to remind you of the following:

  • The country is seeing an increase in Covid cases and there is expected to be a dramatic increase in two to three weeks’ time.
  • Birthday parties are not recommended, but if they do happen, they should take place outdoors with strict Covid precautions.
  • If you are lifting other boys, please ensure that the windows of the car are open and masks are worn.
  • We discourage sleepovers.

Doctors inform us that the incubation time for infections is 2-13 days with an average of 8 days. Infections can often happen before symptoms appear. This is a critical time and we encourage parents to be extra vigilant.

I also need to address some “housekeeping” issues in which we need your support.

Late for school
We seem to have an increasing number of boys late for school at present. Please ensure that your son is up in time and allow for traffic. It is very disruptive to the other boys in assemblies and class when late boys are entering while everything is already in motion. The boys who are late are themselves flustered and miss the time to settle, organise and meet their friends before school. If your son is late he may only enter via the front gate.

Sick boys
Boys who start to feel sick at school report to their teacher and he or she decides whether he should be sent to the office where Mrs Kerven assists him. If she thinks he needs to go home she will contact you, the parent. And with Covid and our very cautious approach, more boys are going home than usual. However, only Mrs Kerven contacts you. I have told the boys this week that they may not email you if they are feeling sick and ask you to fetch them. This needs to be a communication and decision between the school and parents.

Boys cycling to school
Please ensure that if your son is cycling to school his bicycle has reflectors on it as it is now very dark in the mornings. Something bright over his uniform will also be helpful.

TRANSFORMATION

The Focus Groups have started their engagement, both at the College and the Prep and we are excited to see what practical steps and ideas come from their work. The Transformation Committee met recently and will be communicating the progress made thus far in a separate newsletter.

The start of a new term is traditionally one where the staff have an opportunity for a professional development conference. Next term we will use the first day, Monday 19 July, as a staff conference day where we will be reporting back on progress made in the Focus Groups. Term will thus begin for the boys on Tuesday 20 July.

Please be careful and stay safe.

Kind regards

GREG BROWN
HEADMASTER

TAKE Note

Message from the Front Office

 

There has been an increase in the number of sports kit and other items being delivered to school by parents. We need to continue to teach the boys to take responsibility themselves and therefore strongly discourage this practise. It also becomes even more problematic under Covid restrictions.

We also request that you do not hand any items to the security guards as their prime function is the safety of the pedestrians and motorists and they cannot be expected to deal with bringing in lunches and forgotten items.

Many thanks for understanding.

PA Hamper Raffle

 

 

The PA are very excited to launch their fabulous Hamper Raffle. Please find all the information you need HERE.

Youth Day Cycle Challenge

 


After a great start to the rugby season, the suspension of contact sports has been a huge disappointment for the boys. The 1st, 2nd. And 3rd rugby teams ( as well as a few teams of staff), are thus redirecting their focus and have accepted a gruelling 24 hour, Youth Day Cycle Challenge, to raise funds for the VUSA Rugby and Learning Academy. Each boys’ Team will be captained by an OD Rugby International who will offer them encouragement and support.

Bishops has a strong rugby history and this will be celebrated via a live-streamed event which includes interviews with some of our OD Rugby Greats, 40 years of footage, competitions and even a quiz night. Please support our staff and boys as they slog it out for a really great cause. Visit the event page and click the button of the team you wish to support - https://www.vusarugbyacademy.com/vusa24.

Team Barbi

 


Hold onto your handlebars! Team Barbi has entered the race! Some of our female staff members have taken up the challenge to cycle for 24 hours as a team. They will be raising funds for the VUSA Rugby and Learning Academy in Langa. To support them please click on this link:
https://www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/team-graney

Sports Performance And Wellness Programme

 

 


Bishops created a programme that launched in 2020, SPW. The Sports Performance and Wellness programme aims to achieve a holistic development of the boys by addressing their conditioning, performance, wellness, rehab, and injury management. The programme focuses on developing gross motor skills and hand-eye coordination at the Pre-Prep, which progresses to a more specialised conditioning programme that targets high-performance sports development and promotes general wellness at the College. Click HERE to view in detail the management of the SPW.

My School Card and School-Days

 


Woolworths and Dischem both have initiatives that enable us to support up to 3 causes. In addition, the school also benefits with receiving cash back rewards.


My School Card
It is as easy as registering on the Woolworths website. Remember to link your My School card to your Woolworths card, and nominate Bishops as your beneficiary - every swipe feeds a child AND now enters you into a competition, while also helping to raise funds for the school. Swipe your My School Card along with your Woolworths card every time you shop. Enter here after you are registered and linked.


School-Days
The School-Days programme enables you to raise funds for our school simply by shopping at School-Days Earn Partners. Join School-Days and support our school. The programme also enables you to raise funds for our school simply by shopping at School-Days Earn Partners. Click on the link to register and join. For further information click HERE.
School’s registration link : Bishops Diocesan College Registration Link
View our Partners

Matric Dance Silent Auction Fund Raiser

 

 

 

The Matrics 2021 are hosting an online auction to raise funds for their matric dance in September. Any surplus funds raised will be donated to the Bursary fund and to charity.
Registration and bidding for the online auction is open and you are able to bid from 08h00 on Friday 4 June until 22h00 on Friday 18 June when the auction closes.
Please use the link below to register.
https://bishopsmatricdance.clickauction.co.za/

Invest in our Future Foundation

 



The Old Diocesans Union, in partnership with Citadel, launched an exciting new initiative earlier this week - The Invest in our Future Foundation. This new initiative will provide financial support to Bishops school leavers from 2022 to enable them to pursue a tertiary education. While there are bursaries and scholarships in place for Bishops learners at school, there has been no formalised programme in place to support them with their tertiary studies. The ODU and Citadel will be working to fill this gap and empower our school leavers to realise their dreams. Read more about The Invest in our Future Foundation and how you can get involved at https://www.odunion.com/pages/iioff. Watch the launch video HERE.

    BISHOPS PREPARATORY SCHOOL
Fir Road, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7700
Phone:+27 (21) 659 7222 | Fax: +27 (21) 659 7227