Dear Parents and Guardians

This week’s newsletter is a short one as I am away in Gauteng supporting our rowing boys and our water polo teams. I spent Tuesday watching our 1st team water polo boys play very well to win the SACS Nite Series convincingly over old rivals Rondebosch, having played Bosch in a league fixture on Saturday and also coming out on top. Well done to our boys and their coaches!

The annual Quadrangular was hosted by SACS on Wednesday. It was a very hot day, but the school showed up impressively on track, field and as supporters. Well done to all the boys on their support and participation.

Next week I will be attending the regional conference of the International Boys Schools Coalition (IBSC) hosted by St Albans in Pretoria. These conferences, focussing on the education and support of boys in boys’ schools are always informative and uplifting and I hope to learn much from this experience.

Mr Trevor van Niekerk will be Acting Principal in my absence, including taking the assembly for our Founders Day on Friday 7 March, a day of fun, House activities and sporting contests against our ODs. The weekend thereafter sees our final summer sports fixtures before we enter the winter season and we wish our players well for the last match of the summer season.

Speed limit on campus and dogs

Please remember that there is a 20 km/h speed limit on campus and stick to that speed for the sake of the safety of our boys and staff.

Please also remember that if you have permission to walk your dog on campus, it must be on a leash and you need to pick up any mess made by your dog. This is again a plea to the community to look after this beautiful campus so that all who walk here can enjoy it.

Diocesan Family Day

Archbishop Thabo and Bishop Joshua have forwarded an invitation to the community of the Diocese of Cape Town to a Diocesan Family Day event at St George’s Grammar School starting at 09:30am on Sunday, 2 March followed by a picnic and a day of fun and fellowship.

Ramadan

The Islamic holy month of Ramadan is scheduled to begin this weekend with the sighting of the moon. In this time, all Muslims will observe strict fasting protocols during the daylight hours in a time of reflection and prayer. We wish our Muslim families well over the fast.

Calendar

Please pay careful attention to the school calendar for the start of Term II as there are a number of disruptions due to public holidays and the second week of the April school holiday. This will be difficult for our boys as their routine will be affected so we ask that parents do not request time off during this period as our boys will be preparing for their upcoming mid-year examinations.

Final thoughts

As Mr van Niekerk took assembly this Friday, I thought I would share last Friday’s assembly with you in which I spoke of how to make big dreams a reality for our boys. I hope you enjoy the read.

Safe travels to all our sports teams who are away and I wish you well for the next two weeks.

Kind regards

Antony Reeler
Principal

Big Dreams, small goals

We all have big dreams. Whether it is a full house of distinctions or getting into the A sports team. Mastering a difficult concerto or running the Two Oceans. Breaking 80 on the golf course which is my big dream at this stage of my failing golf career. Big dreams are wonderful things to have.

But big dreams will remain just that – dreams – unless we approach those dreams with a plan in mind to get there. The old phrase of how one eats an elephant by taking one bite at a time comes to mind. Similarly when a pigeon lands on a rock, its claws might dislodge a grain of sand that makes up part of that rock. Over enough time, the pigeon landing on the rock may cause that rock to vanish.

So big dreams often take time and we need to understand that. You dream may be to attend an Ivy league university – that will take time. Your dream may be to have a family, to run your own business – again that takes time. So what if you don’t have time? What if your big dreams are a little closer like the dream to make the 1st XV rugby team and run out onto the Piley in the platinum blue?

So big dreams often take time and we need to understand that. You dream may be to attend an Ivy league university – that will take time. Your dream may be to have a family, to run your own business – again that takes time. So what if you don’t have time? What if your big dreams are a little closer like the dream to make the 1st XV rugby team and run out onto the Piley in the platinum blue?

That is where a second phrase I heard comes in. “Big dreams are made up of little dreams and little dreams are made up of little goals.”

Take your big dream and break it down into smaller ones. My big dream is to play 1st XV but I cannot kick with both feet and cannot pass equally well to my left and right. So my little dream now, my small goal, is to get that right. My big dream may be to play a Rachmaninov concerto but I have to take each phrase, each run and get those small goals right so that they fit into my bigger goal.

The advantage of this approach is that it makes big dreams closer to reality and makes us feel as if those dreams can actually come true. As we conquer small dreams on the way, we get one step closer to the big dream. We have a sense of accomplishment, progress, purpose and what seemed out of reach is just a little bit closer, a little bit more possible.

So whenever you are faced with a major challenge, or a big dream, chase the little ones that make up that big dream. Start small, win the small battles and suddenly the big things are not so big anymore.

“Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid of standing still.”

“The man who removes a mountain begins by removing small stones”

Chinese proverbs

Distinction Tie

Congratulations to Aadil Dawood, who represented South Africa at the 2024 IISEEF (International Science and Engineering Fair) in Turkey this past December.

Aadil has been awarded a Distinction Tie for winning a Bronze Medal for his project on The Spectrometric Analysis of Urinary Metabolic By-products Formed as a Result of Exercise, which examined how exercise impacts the body at the molecular level.

The IISEEF event brought together 143 young scientists from 10 countries, showcasing a range of STEM projects. Aadil, along with his teammate Thiedu Du Preez, made significant contributions to the understanding of exercise physiology. Aadil shared:

"Winning a Bronze Medal at IISEEF was an incredible experience. Meeting people from different countries and sharing ideas was inspiring."

His research contributes to our understanding of exercise and physiology and highlights the talent and potential within South Africa’s young scientists.

Music Colours

Congratulations to the following boys who have been awarded Music Colours:

Half Colours:
Zuhayr Sirkot
John van der Watt

Full Colours:
Edward Cruise
Liam Chester
Daniel Bursey
Matthew de Jager

History Society

FW de Klerk Foundation Annual Conference

Earlier this term, the History Society was invited to the FW de Klerk Foundation Annual Conference, commemorating the 35th anniversary of FW de Klerk's speech which set in motion the events that would culminate in the formation of our democracy. Three members of the History Society—the chairperson, Viggo du Plessis, Michael Whitelaw and Jeremy Liddle—attended the conference at the President Hotel in Bantry Bay together with a member of staff. 

The theme of the conference this year was "South Africa's Position in The World Today”. To tackle this topic, a panel of four members was invited to present on South Africa's place in the world in relation to their fields of specialisation. German Ambassador to South Africa Andreas Peschke was invited to speak on South Africa's position from an international relations and political perspective; Magda Wierzycka, the CEO and founder of Sygnia Ltd, was invited to speak on South Africa's position from a business and ethical perspective; Dr Harlan Cloete, a research fellow at the University of the Free State, would speak on South Africa's position from a government administration and service delivery perspective, while Rugby World Cup winning coach Rassie Erasmus would speak on South Africa's position in the world in relation to nation-building and a sports perspective (his speech can be found here.

The full events live recording can be found here.

The afternoon culminated in a panel discussion featuring this eclectic but insightful and deeply knowledgeable group of speakers, hosted by Daniella Ellerbeck and Ismail Joosub. The afternoon would be topped off with the presentation of the FW de Klerk Goodwill Award to Rassie Erasmus for his role in uniting South Africans through rugby.  

All in all, this was a wonderful affair and one whose significance was not lost on all those in attendance. The Bishops boys, in particular, were especially delighted to reconnect with the Public Protector, Kholeka Gcaleka, with whom they connected last year as well as with Mrs Elita de Klerk who has ever been a supporter of the boys’ engagement in Foundation events for the past few years (pictures attached).  

For the boys and Mr Nzuza, this was an afternoon of insight and one which has left them all the richer for the knowledge they gained there. For them and the congregation, a key take-away—which was reflected in the panel of speakers chosen for the day's proceedings—was that “we must be co-workers in creating a shared future”, a charge which, this writer believes, was not easily lost on the boys of Bishops who, in their own way, want to make their mark in the world. We are grateful to the Foundation for its invitation to the Society and look forward to further engagements with them.
Key quotes and highlights from the afternoon: 

A reminder that “There are decades when nothing happens; and there are weeks when decades happen", a prescient reminder, in the opinion of this writer, considering the developments of the past two months. 

We are warned of the rise of populism which “requires winning the battle of people's attention, not the battle of ideas”.  

Water Polo

Well done to our Bishops 1st Team water polo boys, who showed heart, resilience, and sheer excellence, securing back-to-back victories in the SACS Nite Series with a 14-9 win over Rondebosch. It was a special evening where the energy was massive, and belief in our team never wavered from the Bishops supporters. After a convincing 9-4 win over Wynberg earlier in the semi-final, Bishops went into an early lead in the final and never looked back. They now travel with confidence to the Kes Water Polo Tournament this weekend where 16 of the top teams in the country assemble to compete for unarguably the most prestigious trophy in the school water polo calendar.

Cricket

The following cricketers received a signature bat for scoring centuries:
Shafeeq Brinkhuis scored 100 (70) for the U14A vs Reddam
Shafiek Joseph scored 103 (103) for the 2nd X1 against Rondebosch
Ibraheem Taliep scored 134 (85) U15A vs Eastbourne (UK)

The following boys received a mounted cricket ball for taking 5 wickets or more in a match:

Ethan Constable took 5 for 19 for the U15A team against St Charles
Daniel Grever took 5 for 12 for the U14B against Paarl Gim
Charlie Townshend took 5 for 2 runs for the U14A team against Reddam
Yakhani Siwundla 5 for 30 for the U15B team against Paarl Gim
Matthew Schultz took 5-33 for the 2nd X1 against Paarl Gim and 6-27 for the 2nd X1 against Wynberg Boys
Matthew Fox took 5-14 for the U14B team against Wynberg Boys
Sebastian du Toit took 5 for 17 (incl. a hattrick) for the FLYERS against Wynberg Boys
Ben McAdam took 5-31 for the U14B team against Paul Roos
Oliver French took 5-35 for the 2nd X1 against Paarl Boys
Fawaaz Davids took 5-25 for the 3rd X1 vs Paarl Boys
Alex Walker took 5-25 for the U15B team against Paarl Gim
Joze Louw took 5-73 for the U15A team against SACS

Mountain Biking

We congratulate Joe Manicom for coming 4th in the Inter Schools Senior Division Mountain Bike Race.

Congratulations to Matthew Ratcliffe for coming 1st in the Inter Schools Mountain Bike Race in the Junior section.

Bishops Band helps raise funds for charity

On Saturday, 8 February, Bishops students participated in a Cyclathon fundraiser organized by Rustenburg Girls at the V&A Waterfront. Javier Sinath, Matthew Couves, Michael Whitelaw, Matthew Griffin, Massimiliano Hunt, and Pablo Slaven all dedicated their efforts to the cycling event. Adding to the atmosphere, Leave it Blank—a band featuring Julian Pilkington, Edward Cruise, Oliver Frankel, and Liam Chester—delivered an electrifying performance, entertaining a packed amphitheatre.
Their collective efforts helped raise thousands for Habitat for Humanity South Africa—an organization dedicated to the long-term development and sustainability of South Africa’s low-income housing sector.

My School Card Rewards

For any parents that are not aware, Bishops is a member of the My School Card initiative, and while we enjoy the benefits of being a recipient, our membership also ensures that we contribute at large to the foundations that the My School card program supports.
We encourage all parents to own and use the My School card at participating partners.
Get a free card online http://www.myschool.co.za/ or simply phone 0860 100 445. You can also get a card at any Woolworths store.
Please ensure that you nominate Bishops as your beneficiary, and swipe every time you shop.

School-Days

Please also register for the Dis-Chem loyalty programme,  which is a cardless process.
Click on this link Bishops Diocesan College Registration Link and select your school as a beneficiary. Use the App to access other partners such at booking.com, Netflorist and more.
School-Days mobile App
www.schooldays.co.za            

Earlier this month, our VUSA U13s had an incredible experience at DHL Stadium, where they took part in a workshop with Damian Willemse, Johnny Sexton, and members of the Stormers squad. It was special to see Old Diocesans like Imad Khan (2021S) giving back to the game and inspiring the next generation. A huge thank you to John Dobson (1985K)  and Duncan Cruickshank (1985G) for including and inspiring our children—opportunities like this fuel their passion and belief in what’s possible!

For more information about the VUSA programme, please visit our website: www.vusarugbyacademy.com or contact Nikki Matthews at the Trust Office.