Dear Parents

We are delighted to have our boys back and I can assure you, the boys are equally excited to be back.  We are extremely grateful to be able to accommodate all our boys although sometimes rainy days do make it a bit more of a challenge.  We have had to rethink things like assembly and chapel as the restrictions are quite clear on gatherings.  We therefore rely on the weather and try and use outdoor spaces the best we can.

As we head into the second half of the year and despite all the challenges, we do assure you of many exciting happenings in the weeks ahead.  Once again we have had to think differently and create new challenges within the restrictions we face.  We hope to fill each week with exciting happenings, wonderful discussions and amazing learning experiences. Safety of staff and boys is very important to us and we really endeavour to rise to the daily challenges we face.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend.  I do hope for some sunshine so that boys can get out and about.

Kind regards

SHARLENE GROOM
HEADM:PRE-PREP

Pizza Friday response due

A reminder that this is the cut off if you would like to sign your son up for Pizza.  The number of late requests is quite astounding and really makes it extremely difficult to place orders and get admin done.  Please we urge you to be respectful of our cut off dates and get your orders in on time. 

Dropping off items

While we totally understand the need to drop off items occasionally, this seems to be growing into a regular occurrence and becoming really tricky. It seems the same boys are leaving things to be dropped off during the day. If boys have left things like library bags or sports kit at home, please do not be tempted to drop these items off with security.  These are life lessons that boys need to learn and not having items on the odd occasion actually helps them learn to become more responsible.  If they forget items such as lunch or their homework folder, that is a totally different situation. 

We want to celebrate Mandela Day this year by “imitating” the Ladles of Love initiative by collecting tins of canned food – sixty-seven metres of them. Taking the average size can, this means 900 plus cans. With 275 pupils at the Pre- Prep we will need each boy to bring a few cans. So we will make this coming Friday a Civvies Day together with a donation of cans. We will physically lay them out and boys will pack the boxes for delivery to Ladles of Love. I am pushing the boys to take responsibility for this and therefore not giving you much warning. If your son can use his own pocket money to pay for at least one can, so much the better.

As a way of starting our 3^rd term together I think a collective prayer might hold us together as a school community

Let us pray,

Lord God, Creator of body, mind, and heart. At the beginning of this new school term, we pray and ask you to bless the boys, teachers, and staff of Bishops Diocesan College, Bishops Prep and Bishops Pre-Prep. We ask for unity that together we may grow in faith, hope, and love as we learn from each other. Expand the horizons of our minds, that we may grow in wisdom, understanding, and knowledge; deepen our commitment to seek truth, and deepen our faith to reach out to those in need.

Lord God, we remember, family, friends and those who may have lost a loved one during this time to the corona virus. We ask that you comfort them in their loss. Heal those who may be recovering and give us your peace during this anxious time.

Loving God, look upon the boys at our school. Let them enjoy their learning and take delight in new discoveries. Help them to persevere in their studies and give them the desire to learn all things well.  Look upon the teachers. Let them strive to share their knowledge with gentle patience and endeavour always to bring the truth to eager minds. Grant that the boys and teachers alike may follow Jesus Christ, the way, the truth, and the life, forever and ever. Amen

Rain jackets

A gentle reminder that rain jackets may be worn to and from school but not as a replacement for a tracksuit top. We have spoken to the boys so they are well aware of the reason why. We please ask that parents respect this rule and make sure that the boys do to. Please be reminded that boys need white takkies for sport - not coloured takkies.

Sport

Our extra mural programme is in full swing. We really try and accommodate activities when it is raining but occasionally we just cannot find suitable venues and with the restrictions on capacity, this is sometimes tricky.  We will try and accommodate where possible but with all this rain there may be occasions where we will be forced to cancel. We thank you for your understanding in this regard.

Cross Country

Last term we introduced a cross country challenge in the mornings.  We have recorded the number of rounds the boys ran and are very excited to announce the results from Term 2! The most rounds run by Grade 1 boys were Mrs Meredith's class. They ran a total of 584 rounds.  The most rounds run by Grade 2 boys were from Mrs Daames' class. They totalled 253 rounds (bear in mind the course was somewhat longer) The winning boys in each Grade, for running the most laps will be announced at school. and will be presented with some coloured socks which they may wear on cross country days.  This will indicate who the leader is and the challenge will be on to win the coloured socks this term!  We hope to see more boys participate in running this term.  Cross country is run before school (7.40am) on the field on the same day the Grade 1 and 2 boys wear whites for Gross motor. The winning class will be rewarded with a treat to be decided! Well done to all the boys who ran.