Dear Parents

This week has come and gone in a flurry of raindrops, gusts of wind and rays of sunshine.  The plants have been fooled into believing we are ready for summer but our wardrobes tell us a different story! Please could we ask that you ensure each boy has a jersey or something warm in his bag for days where it suddenly gets chilly. Similarly, please can we ask that you apply sunblock to these precious little faces and necks (please remember the tops of the ears) each morning for added protection. 

Thank you to those parents who have allowed their boys to swim despite the unsettled weather. Just to reassure you that our pool is heated and fully walled which stops the wind and diminishes the chill factor in the pool area. If boys get very cold, we do allow them to exit the pool and get dressed. 

During the final 2 weeks of the term we have some very exciting programmes organised for the boys.  On top of them visiting their new teachers and meeting all their new class members, we have a fun sports morning planned as well as a fun gala for grade 1 and 2 boys amongst many other exciting celebrations. All these activities are during school time as we are not permitted, due to Covid restrictions, to invite spectators.  The boys will therefore still enjoy the fun and be able to participate in all these wonderful events.

Wishing our intern, Mrs Micaela Booysen, a very happy birthday on Friday 6th.

I leave you with a short quote from L. R. Knost "Its not our job to toughen our children up to face a cruel and heartless world.  Its our job to raise children who will make the world a little less cruel and heartless."

Kind regards

SHARLENE GROOM
HEAD: PRE-PREP

Class Photographs

Our photographer will be on campus to capture our class photographs as well as sibling pics.  Please could we request that ALL BOYS (in grade 1 and 2) dress in KHAKI summer uniform for the class photograph. If they have sport during the morning or after school, we will allow them to change into their whites directly after the photograph has been taken. Thank you for your understanding. 

In keeping with our sustainability vision, the Bishops School Magazine 2020 will be available online early next year. Printed copies will also be available, though only by order.

To order a print copy of the Bishops 2020 magazine, please click here: Order here

Over the last few months, one of our parents raised concerns about the health implications of continued exposure to Wi-Fi and suggested a cabled solution as an alternative to Wi-Fi. A cabled solution is not suitable in a modern classroom situation where the layout of the classroom needs to be fluid, but the concerns did merit a thorough investigation into how Wi-Fi at our school is provisioned and managed. The school contacted EMF SA, an organisation very much opposed to excessive or unmanaged Wi-Fi/Cell access. It has taken some time to arrange this health audit to minimally disrupt teaching and to allow senior technical staff to become certified in this area. We obviously wanted to do as thorough an audit as possible. I am pleased to include the EMF SA findings from the report we received on Friday: “In conclusion, our professional opinion is that Bishops is following the A.L.A.R.A. Principle, [As Low As Reasonably Achievable]. There is every indication that the school is doing everything that they can to continue to provide the Wi-Fi necessary for the educational programme, in as safe an environment as allows.”

We will continue to monitor this to ensure we comply with international norms, local legislation and what is generally deemed to be safe for our boys.