Dear Parents

An enormous thank you for supporting our Valentine Day initiative.  We have collected a huge pile of pet goodies to be distributed amongst the various shelters. You would have noticed your little chap bringing home a little piece of Spekboom. This is already planted in a little cardboard roll (by himself) and can just be planted, cardboard and all, into a spot in the garden. For those who are not aware of the benefits of Spekboom, may you be encouraged to nurture this one and as it grows, to snip and spread it far and wide in your gardens.  For more information, if you would like to read a bit more, see the information below.

Coronavirus

There have been no reported incidents of Coronavirus in South Africa but clearly it is dominating the headlines around the world in a similar way to the SARS threat some years ago.

It may well come to our shores and there is not much we can do about this as a Bishops community. However, we can look to limit this threat by wise decisions about where we travel for business or holidays and by emphasising good respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene; including covering coughs and sneezes, washing hands with soap and staying at home when sick. These are things which we should be doing anyway to limit the passing on of influenzas and colds to the community.

At present no exchanges or tours go to the parts of the world significantly affected by the virus and we will monitor this over the months ahead.

Should the situation change our response will be led by the Education and Health departments, and other medical professionals.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend

Kind regards

SHARLENE GROOM
HEADMISTRESS

This week we spent some time discussing the story of the good Samaritan and how through the story we are invited to consider how we may respond. Samaritans and those in Jerusalem were neighbours who never got along. There was visible and invisible hatred between them which was lived out very strongly.

Jesus tells a story to group of people wanting to know if loving God is enough. Jesus shares to following parable. One day there was a man from Jerusalem travelling on a road which the two cities shared. The man was attacked, beaten and robbed from all his possessions and was left half dead. Now a certain religious leader travelling along the road saw the man lying there but passes by on the other side and chose to ignore the man. A little while later another important figure travelling on the same road, a Levite, sees the man lying on the side of the road. He, like his predecessor, ignores the half dead man and passes by on the other side. It's strange that the two who passed by were from Jerusalem and we'd expect them to help. 

Because the road was a shared road for the two cities a Samaritan man journeying to his destination encounters the half dead man. His actions are slightly different to the first two. The Samaritan moves toward the man. I'm sure it's at this point as Jesus tells this story that those listening might have found it hard to accept. But the Samaritan gets off his donkey and moves toward the man. He not only looks but he did something radical. The Samaritan helped and offers his donkey to take him to an innkeeper (doctor). This left everyone listening to Jesus baffled but Jesus takes the action even further and explained that the Samaritan even offers to pay all the expenses. Now this is radical love! 

Radical love and radical generosity are an invitation extended to all of us as we consider our lives through this story. Not only does he (the Samaritan) perform a radical act of love and true neighbourliness but he breaks down every social, economic, religious and race divide that excludes people, through an act of genuine love. As we pondered on these the boys reimagined life for themselves and others through practical ways of living out this parable of Jesus.

Jeremy Smith

Bishops Youth Pastor

Find out the benefits of planting spekboom, an indigenous succulent, in your garden.

Whether you call it spekboom, elephant’s food or pork bush, this incredible plant with its bright green, circular leaves should be planted in every South African garden (and maybe even every garden around the world). Here’s why:

1. It improves the quality of the air we breathe and helps fight climate change

Spekboom (aka Portulacaria afra) is a succulent that helps fight air pollution. It has the ability to ‘sequester’ or capture four to ten tons of carbon per hectare! Essentially, it acts as a carbon sponge, absorbing carbon from the atmosphere and turning it into plant matter. Excess carbon in the atmosphere is responsible for global warming, so the more carbon we can remove from the air and return to the ground, the better.

2. Spekboom is a proudly South African plant

Spekboom is indigenous to the Eastern Cape where South African elephants consider the plant a delicacy.

 3. It’s water wise 

No time to water your garden? Spekboom is a water-wise plant that’s ideal for low-maintenance gardens.  This drought-resistant plant can survive on just 250-350mm of water a year!

4. Suitable for all seasons and weather conditions 

Spekboom has a photosynthetic mechanism which allows it to adapt to both rainforest-like conditions and semi-arid conditions, making it incredibly adaptable and suited to almost any garden.

5. It’s easy to grow

Spekboom is easily propagated, which is great news for budget gardeners. Simply cut or break off a piece of a spekboom, let it dry out for one or two days and then stick it in the ground. Give it a little water every few days and you’ll soon have a new spekboom plant of your own. Make sure you don’t give it too much water or it will rot.

6. Spekboom is a really versatile plant

Whether you are looking for a plant that can be turned into a hedge or a bonsai, or used as groundcover or a large bush, spekboom can do it all. It responds well to pruning and grows densely, making it an excellent, hardy screen or hedge. Some varieties grow low to the ground and others reach as high as 2 metres! 

7. You can even eat it

We’re not suggesting you chow down on a plate of spekboom, but it is edible and apparently has a light, citrussy flavour. If you ever find yourself hiking through the Karoo, you can suck on a leaf – they are traditionally used to treat exhaustion and dehydration.