Dear Parents and Guardians

As the third term draws to a close, I would like to thank you all for the past three months and for your support. This term is always a busy one with the conclusion of winter sports, the final school-based examination for Grade 12s, the handover of leadership to the Grade 11s and the many farewell functions that take place such as the Matric Dance. I wish you all a restful break if you are able to join your son(s) in the two weeks we are about to enjoy.

By all accounts the Mock Matric exams seem to have gone well and our Grade 12 boys are prepared for the final step in their school careers. We held a wonderful handover assembly this week in which we were able to pay tribute to the outgoing leader group and introduce the new leader group to the school. I will have an opportunity to thank the Grade 12s at their Prize Giving so, for now, wish to congratulate the incoming group on their appointment and wish them well for the following 12 months as they lead the school through what we hope is a significant time in our history. I would like to congratulate, in particular, Michael Mafunda on his appointment as Head of School and Alex Vintcent and Harry Morgan as Deputy Heads. I look forward to working with this team. The names of the incoming leaders appear below and we wish them all of the best for their term of office.

At the assembly I also wished our Jewish community well for Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year and a time of reflection and hope. I do hope that this has been a special time for our boys and their families. They will shortly be marking Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, and we wish them well for this day too.

We have spent some time reflecting on the public holiday we enjoyed this week, Heritage Day, and thinking of how our individual histories intertwine with each other in this complex yet wonderful nation of ours. I hope you enjoyed the moment.

Specific requests

We are aware of the issues surrounding drop-off and pick-up in Sandown Road with the construction of the new Water Polo pool. Please will parents be careful in this area. We have asked our guards to help boys cross the road and have also made application to the Council for a pedestrian crossing to be permanently sited opposite the Pre Prep. Until then, please follow the rules of the road, avoid making u-turns during peak times and avoid parking in the bicycle lane if possible. Help us keep our boys safe while this temporary measure is in place.

Our Marketing Manager does a wonderful job of celebrating the successes of our boys on our social media pages. She is instructed, by me, to gather this information from the various teachers-in-charge. Please would parents refrain from asking her directly to post images or text. We always try to be balanced in our reporting of what has transpired and, while we may not always get it right, she is in no position to respond to individual parent requests. In a similar vein, our staff may not send out bulk emails or text messages unless they are officially sanctioned by an appropriate authority in the school such as a member of the Executive or on behalf of the PA or Council. Individual requests from parents will not be entertained and I thank you for your understanding in this regard.

Final thoughts

We all have our own opinions on various matters, none more so than when it comes to the well-being of our own child. In my welcoming address to parents in Grade 8, I mentioned that we need to trust each other, and that, while we may not agree at all times, we simply must recognise that we, as parents and teachers, each have authority in certain areas. As parents, we are entrusted to fulfil that role as best we can, and, while the school can offer guidance or advice, parenting decisions are left up to parents and so they should be. In the same way, educational decisions must be left up to the experts – our teachers. Decision made in the educational space are made with the best intentions possible and with the well-being of the boy or the school in mind. That is the prerogative of the school and is what we are entrusted with to do - as long as our motivation for doing so is based on sound, educational principles. We must respect each other’s areas of influence and decision-making, working together to support our boys.

You will have received communication from Council regarding the independent report commissioned by them on bullying in the school. The school has not just waited for the report to be submitted to Council and has implemented many measures since the incidents of last year that predicated this investigation. We have prepared a comprehensive document on further measures to be undertaken both in the short and long terms which we will be sharing with parents as soon as Council has given their approval for the plan. I am fully aware that this process has taken some time, but institutional change does not happen overnight. It requires us to talk to the hearts and minds of our community, to change thinking in many areas and that is not a quick fix. I have been happy with the way in which our current pupil leader group has embraced this change and with what our incoming group has said in support of any action that makes our school more welcoming, inclusive and a place of safety for all our boys.

I wish you a good break with your boy(s).

The last assembly I did with the boys focussed on a Code of Honour and our school values. I attach it below for your reading.

Kind regards

Antony Reeler
Principal

Code of Honour

“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

1 Corinthians Chapter 13:

I use this text because it speaks to how we should behave towards each other. While it is a text from the Bible, it is equally applicable in all religions as it gives us a Code by which to live, based on love.

Similarly, we have a Code at Bishops. I am not referring to the Code of Conduct which lists desirable behaviour and consequences. I am referring to what I call an unwritten Code of Honour that uses Values as a basis for behaviour. Half of you would have been used to the Prep values as told through the acronym of the Mitre. At College, we overlap with two Prep values but have three more – chosen by our community of staff and boys. These are as follows:

Courage

The ability to be brave in the face of adversity, exhibiting not only physical courage but, more importantly, moral courage and courage of one’s convictions. Having the strength to stand up against injustice not only with opponents but also with friends and peers.

Humility

Having a modest view of one’s own performance. Recognising personal ability and privilege yet not being boastful, understanding that others may not be in the same position. “Not thinking less of oneself but thinking of oneself less.”

Integrity

The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles that are lived in everyday life. Doing what is right, according to personal, family and institutional beliefs whether or not anyone is watching.

Kindness

The quality of being friendly, generous and considerate. Treating others well, as they would like to be treated. Having a gentle, empathetic heart and a forgiving nature that recognizes others may fail yet remaining kind and understanding

Respect

Respect for self, for others, for the school facilities, the property of others and the environment. Lived respect allows for disagreement in an appropriate manner, recognizes the importance of good manners and how we treat each other. Respect is shown not only to those like us but also to those different from us in terms of appearance, beliefs and world outlook.

These are indeed noble sentiments by which to live.

But, just like opposites, ying and yang, each good Code of expected behaviour such as ours, has a Code that works against that behaviour, one that destroys and damages. I refer, one last time, to the Code of Silence. This code is not one of loyalty, it is based on fear – there is nothing admirable or good about it. It does not build up a united community, it creates distrust. It does not protect those who need protection the most – it protects cowards and bullies. This blind allegiance or loyalty towards someone who has done something wrong or hurt another must stop. We are not in a gang that relies on fear to survive. We are a school that is here to grow our people. To seek the goodness in each person, be they pupils, parents or staff. Who speak out against injustice. Who do not tolerate unkind behaviour. I said this is the last time as I will not utter those words. A Code of Silence, again and neither should you. They need to be eradicated from our vocabulary.

I would like us to live by a Code of Honour, a set of ethical guidelines for a community that promotes honesty, integrity, and mutual respect, often requiring us to uphold these principles, report violations, and hold each other accountable, typically focusing on our values.

One where young men stand up and stand together without fear to do what is good for their fellow man or for the school community. This is where our Values come in and this is what we should live by.

English Olympiad 2025

The 2025 English Olympiad with the theme of "Celebration" was written in March and the results have finally been received.

Congratulations to David Tripe who achieved a Gold Award for the Olympiad.
Silver awards were awarded to Cameron Macbeth, Michael Whitelaw, Matthew Griffin, Shankara Moodley, Noah Macnab and Grant Weich. Bronze awards were given to Derek Meyer, Aadil Dawood, Luca Pouroullis, Daniel von der Heyden, Ben Myburgh and Max Marshall-Smith.

Music Certificates

The Bishops music pupils did extremely well at the recent Kaapse Afrikaanse Eisteddfod, as well as in the Royal Schools of Music theory exam.

The following achieved a distinction (a mark over 87%) for their ABRSM grade 5 theory:

John Hewat
Dominic Kotze
Jasper Magrath
James Myhill
Zac Rosenberg

For the Kaapse Afrikaanse Eisteddfod, many of the certificates have been handed out in house assembly, but boys who achieved a Hoogste Lof (mark between 90 and 94%) and a Diploma (a mark of 95% and above) were presented at assembly.

Congratulations to:

In addition, silver medals were awarded to some boys – these will be handed out at a prize giving ceremony early next term.

Congratulations to:

Our ensembles also did exceptionally well.                   

Dramatic Arts Colours

We would like to congratulate Noah Edmunds on achieving his Full Colours for Drama.

Visual Art

Well done to these boys for the amazing results from the Cape Town Eisteddfod-Visual Arts:

Honours (76-84%)
Samuel Crookes
Luka Lehmann
Bonnar Richards
Michael Whitelaw

High Honours (85-89%)
Alexander Horrel
Naethan Mol
Matthew Owen

Diploma (90-100%)
Edward Cruise
Oliver Howie
John van der Watt
Sean Watson
Joshua Whitehorn

Service Ties - AV

We would like to congratulate the following Matrics on being awarded a Service Tie for Audio-Visual (AV), in recognition of their outstanding dedication and contributions to the school's AV team over the years:

Pablo Slaven
Edward Cruise
Tristan Swanich

Music Medals

On Saturday, 2 August, the Bishops Marimba Boys were part of an incredible historic moment, they joined marimba players from South Africa and Zimbabwe at the Grand West Arena to officially break the Guinness World Record for the largest marimba ensemble.

With a total of 1,177 participants performing a ten-minute synchronized medley of Waka Waka and Jerusalema, they became official record breakers! To celebrate, each participant, including our boys, will be receiving a Guinness World Records medallion.
A massive well done to our Marimba Boys for representing Bishops with such pride and for contributing to a moment of unity, joy, and musical excellence!
For this incredible achievement they each received a medal.

•  Wazir Amanjee
•  Milo Bonadei
•  Shyam Dahya
•  Dylan Davies
•  Aran Maharaj
•  Reynard-Gray Smit
•  Jai Aufrichtig
•  Joel George
•  Yanga Soyaya
•  Kaleb Pillay
•  Lilitha Mavume
•  David Brink
•  Yazeed Lalkhen

Western Province Water Polo Squad Selection
Congratulations to the following boys who have been selected for Western Province water Polo Squads.

U14 Squad
Robert Katz, Gus Moran, Oliver Muller, John Weir-Smith, Reserve: Dylan Latham

U15 Squad
Cuan Cadiz, James Dimitri-Kark, James Grout, Robert Kirsten, Andrew Sonqishe, Jamie Thomason, Troy Webb

U16 Squad
Harrison Ford, Jack Grout, James Hugo, Thomas Jenman, Christo Le Roux, Reserve: Ryan Dales

U19A TEAM
Luke Cartwright, Matthew Fenn, Michael Mafunda, James Malan, Timothy Young,

U19B Reserve: Noah Coleman

Cricket Awards

Two of our cricketers scored centuries recently and each received a signature bat.
Ibraheem Taliep scored 117* off 72 deliveries for the U15A team against Stellenberg.

Interhouse Climbing Results

On Wednesday, 17 September, our annual Interhouse Climbing competition took place at Bloc 11 in Diep River. Each team faced ten challenging bouldering problems, some of the toughest ever set in an interhouse event. Our boys rose to the occasion and performed admirably throughout the day.

Congratulations to Kidd House, who successfully defended their title and were crowned Interhouse Champions for 2025. Birt House claimed second place, with White House finishing in third.

A special mention goes to Naethan Mol (11K), who was named Climber of the Day after scoring an impressive 45 out of a possible 50 points. Derek Meyer (11O) followed closely with 43 points, while Tommy Winfield (11K) and Oliver Howie (11O) shared third place with 35 points each.

Colours

Congratulations to Naethan Mol (11K) and Derek Meyer (11O), who have been awarded Full Colours for Climbing. 

Fencing Champs

At the recent Fencing Champs, the following cups were awarded to the outgoing matric fencers.

Joshua Diggle won the best foilist cup and the best epeeist cup
Matthew Earle was awarded the Jeffery Bowl cup for service to the Fencing club.
The interhouse Fencing cup was won by Ogilvie. Well done to all the matric fencers.

Squash Colours

Thank you to all players for their commitment during the 2025 season. A special mention must be made of those awarded full and half colours.

Half Colours:
Yaqeen Omar
Joe Edwards
Edward Cruise

Full Colours:
Rohan Rossouw
Zuhayr Sirkot

Golf

Congratulations to the following golfers who have earned their colours.

Half Colours: 
Nicholas Axten (re-award)
Arman Patel
Darren Philipps

Full Colours:
Jack Buckham (re-award)
William Bassett

Golf news

Last week the 1st Team golfers were acknowledged for their successful season and awarded them with their medals from the WP Schools League Finals.

We also acknowledge the junior boys who represented the team in the finals, because the matrics and grade 11’s were not available:

Cole Hirsch
William Verhage
Tom Pearce

1st Team
Jack Buckham
William Bassett
Nicholas Axten
Darren Philipps
Arman Patel
James Arkcoll
Macen Lesbirel

Hockey

Congratulations to the following boys on achieving colours for the 2025 Hockey Season.

Half Colours:
Gordon Alexander
Ethan January
Cameron Macbeth
Harry Morgan
Troy Stockdale
Ryan Whiffler

Full Colours:
James Robb-Quinlan
Adam Diggle
Litha Mbiko
Luc Dicey
Callum Anderson

Inter house Hockey

Junior interhouse hockey, much like the seniors was a day filled with fun, healthy competition and good hockey. After pool stages four teams went through to the semi’s, Gray, Kidd, Ogilvie and Birt. After two good semi’s the final saw Birt and Gray fight it out. With a nil all score at half time the game was open to either team, but in the end, Gray came back firing to win the interhouse final 3 – 0.

The top four placings were as follows, 4th – Ogilvie, 3rd – Kidd, 2nd – Birt and 1st Gray. Well done to all those who participated but congratulations to Gray house on the win.

Recently, Super Sport Schools hosted the Hyundai Hockey Awards for South Africa. These awards are considered for players across South Africa who have been identified in various categories as stand outs. Callum Anderson was awarded Boys Young Player of the Year for 2025. Congratulations on this remarkable achievement!

Rugby

Congratulations to the following boys who have been awarded colours for rugby.

Half Colours:
Andrew Levett
Will Reid
Chris du Toit
Dan Coetzee
Fouke Wagener
Ethan Venter
Josh MacDonald
Jack Venter
Alex Laspatzis
Eljaron Geduld
Ben Koenig
Boytjie Fyfer
Cole Robyntjies
Noah Edmunds
Yazeed Salaam
Lulibo Nyawula

Full Colours:
Daniel van den Heever
Rynard Gordon
Uzoma Ngcwangu
Rieko Kidha 
Max Marr

Interhouse Rugby 7s

Under 14
After a hotly contested pool phase, School House and White House were worthy winners of their respective pools.
In a much-anticipated final, White house came out on top.

Under 15
White House and Gray house made it into the Final.
Congratulations to White House on winning the final.

Under 16
White House played against Founders House in the final. Congratulations to White House on winning the final.

Under 19
In the under 19 division, we had the three Boarding houses facing off against each other in a round robin fixture.
The results are as follows: 3rd Place- Founders 2nd Place- White house
Congratulations to School House on being crowned winners of the under 19 Division.

Soccer

Well done to these soccer boys who have earned their colours.

Half Colours:
Keegan Rinquest
Ashton Wyatt
Khanyi Usie Sixaba
Thami Siko
Reece van Wyk

Full Colours:
Nic Deckenbrock (re-award)
Troy Geyer
Deen Fortune

Soccer Interhouse Winners

Congratulations to Founders House for winning the Junior Soccer Interhouse, and to White House for winning the Senior Soccer Interhouse. Well done to all the houses for their spirit, effort, and participation.

Mountain Biking

Congratulations to the following boys who received colours for Mountain Biking.

Half Colours:
Sam Abrahams

Full Colours:
Joe Manicom

Gold President's Award

We are pleased to announce that Michael Ressell has achieved his Gold President's Award. Michael committed fully to the various components over 2 years and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. It was a worthwhile learning experience for him, congratulations.

First Aid Awards

A Service Tie is awarded to the following boys who have completed a Level One qualification and served on the team for at least two years:

John van der Watt
Edward Cruise
Hamaad Badroodien
David Brink
Reuben Futter
Damian Gorman
Olothando Kobus
Yazeed Lalkhen
Tristan Theys
Luke Traut

Half Colours are awarded to boys who have completed an advanced qualification and served on the team for three years or more:

Alexander Gordon
Alexander Beach
Matthew de Jager
Daniel Heyneke
Benji Koch
James Koen
Alex Tadross
Michael Whitelaw
Tommy Winfield

Full colours are awarded to two boys who have served for four years and led the First Aid Team for the 2024 and 2025 seasons:

Pablo Slaven
Yanga Soyaya

History Society Guest Speaker: Andrew Russell

On Monday, 8 September, the History Society was presented to by Andrew Russell, OD. Andrew addressed the society on a little explored area of Mandela's life: the final 14 months of his life.

The talk followed Mandela's time at his prison-house at Victor Verster and his relationship, in particular, with his guard, Jack Swart. The retelling was laced with primary sources, such as grocery notes written by Mandela, stories of seemingly trivial experiences (such as the need for firewood in the house and an incident of a mouse). In doing this, many at the talk came to see Mandela as what he was: a man who, like any other, had hopes, dreams and experienced daily challenges, big and small, significant and trivial.

What is easily lost in the retelling of the lives of great people like Nelson Mandela are the contributions of the "minor" characters in the story arc without whom the greats would not have reached their lofty heights in the ways that they did. Andrew filled in the details of the broad strokes of Mandela's life with stories of the ordinary people in between that helped shaped his legacy: Jack Swart, his house-guard at Victor Verster with whom Mandela grew a strong affinity; Gene Doyle, the famous sculpture who sculptured the three—secretly four—statues of Nelson Mandela, one being at the site of his release at Victor Verster Prison and another in Washington D.C.; Mark Peters, the photojournalist whose image of Mandela as he walked out of Victor Verster, fist raised, would be printed over a million times by the following Monday.

We are grateful to Andrew for having addressed us and for having brought to light these lesser-known aspect of South Africa's history. We look forward to his return. For any interested in furthering their knowledge of these years in Mandela's life and to read more by Andrew, his book "The Leadership We Need: Lessons for Today from Nelson Mandela" is available of purchase online. 

Law Society Guest Speaker: Tony Leon

On Monday, 15 September, Tony Leon addressed the Law Society as a guest speaker. He drew on his experiences in the political and diplomatic worlds—having been a negotiator at the political table in the 1994 and 2024 GNU negotiations and having served as the ambassador (for South Africa) to various South American countries between 2009 and 2012, respectively—to colourfully present some of the lessons he has learned, interwoven with anecdotes useful for life outside of the political arena.

A chief discussion point centred around his belief that "the only thing that is permanent is impermanence" (sic.). He used the examples of the fall of the apartheid regime in 1994, despite many beliefs during its reign that it would be a mainstay of the South African social and political landscape, as well as the eventual coming-out-of-majority-power of the ANC (in 2024) to make this point. He reflected on why it was that, in politics and in life in general, one settled for less. He reflected that it was because one was not sure what would happen if they did not accept it. Leaning on this, he made the reflection that sometimes, the choices one makes are not between good and terrible, but rather between good and less bad.

He rounded up his discussion on more topical issues, in particular that of the assassination of a recent controversial figure in the United States. He highlighted, firstly, that assassination is the most extreme form of censorship. Historically speaking, he expanded, assassinations have had the effect of driving some or other change as witnessed in the United States during the Civil Rights Movement and in South Africa at the closing of political apartheid. He pondered, finally, on what the effect might be, yet, of the most recent attack in the USA which, for him, has ramifications for South Africa too.

Reflecting on South Africa, and South Africans, he concluded that we surprise ourselves by rising above ourselves in our most critical moments despite the many things that (seemingly) divide us.

We thank Mr Leon for joining us and welcome his return, in future, to impart any more lessons learned, and anecdotes connected to his experiences.

Rosh Hashanah

Shana Tova to our Jewish Community!
Wishing you and your loved ones a sweet, healthy, and meaningful New Year. May your Rosh Hashanah bring renewal, joy, and peace to your heart and home.

Yom Kippur
Happy Yom Kippur, we hope that you and your family have an easy fast.

Happy Heritage Day to our Bishops community!
We celebrate the rich tapestry of cultures, traditions, and stories that make up our diverse South African heritage. May this day be a reminder of the strength we find in our unity and the pride we take in our roots. As we gather with loved ones to enjoy a braai or share family tradition, may you reflect on what heritage means to you and the generations before and after you.
We hope you enjoyed a meaningful Heritage Day, filled with love for our nation, gratitude, and the warmth of community.

Click here to enjoy a video from our leaders.

It is a massive honour to be elected as a leader of Bishops as these roles come with great responsibility and commitment.
The following boys have truly earned their positions, and we wish them all the best for their year ahead as they lead our boys with integrity and humility.

We are proud to announce our leadership team for 2026. Head of School: Michael Mafunda
Deputy Heads of School: Harry Morgan and Alex Vintcent

Founders
• Head of House: Alex Vintcent
• Deputy Head of House: Azania Mogale

School
• Head of House: Connor Clark
• Deputy Head of House: Leo Cowan

White
• Head of House: Harry Morgan
• Deputy Head of House: Matt Kriel

Gray
• Head of House: Josh Huntingford
• Deputy Head of House: Jeremy Liddle

Ogilvie
• Head of House: James Malan
• Deputy Head of House: James Koen

Kidd
• Head of House: Nicholas Axten
• Deputy Head of House: Matthew de Jager

Birt
• Head of House: Sam Bey
• Deputy Head of House: Troy Stockdale

Mallett
• Head of House: Boytjie Fyfer
• Deputy Head of House: Troy Haskel