Dear Parents and Guardians
As this is the last newsletter for the year, I wish to record my grateful thanks to all those who contributed to what has, in my mind, been a very successful year. I am delighted how the school culture is changing, little by little as we reimagine what a boys school should be about and what modern masculinity means. In my interactions with boys this past term I have heard them mention kindness so often. This was brought to my attention by a Council member who remarked on how many times he had heard it and it struck home with me too.
We will continue to teach and encourage our school values of Courage, Humility, Integrity, Kindness and Respect as part of a bigger project we are launching next year titled “inspiring individuals; Growing Good Men” and, coupled with the recommendations and plan approved by Council to change school culture, I think we are in for an exciting and rewarding year ahead.
Close of year and start of 2026
We will close our school year for the boys with our annual Carol Service which takes place on Tuesday evening as per the invitation sent out. Parents are warmly invited to attend as we prepare for the Christmas period while closing off the year. Normally we would have a morning of House meetings followed by a Eucharist and then Assembly but this year we will incorporate an assembly into the Carol Service. Grades 8, 9 and 11 are expected to be there and it would be wonderful if parents accompanied them.
I am aware that some hairstyles are a little outrageous at the moment, but with holidays looming, that is fine. I do want to inform parents, however, that we will not be so lenient at the start of next year. Boys who do not conform to our Hair Policy will not be permitted to return to school until they do. This means that they start day one and then go home until their hair is acceptable to the school. They will also not represent the school in any sport.
I dislike fighting with boys about hair – it is such a simple thing to get right. They can have whatever hairstyle they like when they leave school so why not just comply now? I ask parents for their help in this regard. Read the Hair Policy and accompany your son to the hairdresser. When he tries to give instructions that you know will not be acceptable to the school – step in please. The hairstyle we see most often, that is not acceptable, is often referred to as the “llama” style – for obvious reasons. Our policy states very clearly there must not be an appreciable difference between the length of the sides and the length of the hair on top. We also frown on hair that is shaved almost to the skin on the sides while the top is longer so, please instruct your sons on what will be acceptable and what will not come day one of 2026!
Staff news
We bid farewell to Mr Greg Brown, Headmaster of our Prep School for the past 18 years. He retires after an impressive education career. Much loved and respected, Greg has been the Head for half the boys currently in College and we have made sure that in our various farewell functions, he has felt appreciated and valued.
We also bid farewell to our IT Director, Mrs Sally Bowes who has been at Bishops even longer. Responsible for the launch of the laptop programme and the IT backbone of the school, Sally has make Bishops the envy of many schools in terms of IT integration and infrastructure. She too heads off to a well-deserved retirement.
Our Head of isiXhosa, Mrs Aneen Kritzinger also retires and we thank her for building isiXhosa as a language in our school, piloting the Conversational arm that we introduced a few years ago. It is fitting that someone she has mentored closely takes over as Head of the subject.
Mr Chris Ekron leaves us to start a career in academia at CPUT and we thank him for his role in taking the SPW programme to new heights. We wish him well for this slight change in career course and also for his successful completion of his doctorate.
Mrs Lydia Barnett leaves us to return to the Northern Cape after being separated from her family for the past three years. Distance was always going to be a struggle for her and her family and we thank her for three highly energetic years where her love for the boys and for Bishops was so apparent.
In further staff news, Mr Warwick Richter has been appointed as the Head of Discipline, a role he takes on from the start of 2026. Retired House Directors, Mr Jean Nolte and Mr Leon Glanvill take on new roles. Mr Nolte will lead the Diocesan Scholar programme as well as our international Exchanges and pupil leadership. Mr Glanvill takes on a new portfolio of Service, including Mandela Day and we thank both for their service to our boarders and wish them well for this new challenge.
Building projects
While we wait with great anticipation for the completion of the Water Polo pool, I am delighted to announce that Council has approved the building of the second astro turf facility. This is subject to a period of consolidation for at least three years, during which we will undertake no significant capital projects while we rebuild our investments and capital funds. We are extremely fortunate to have an Investment Committee who do remarkable work in building up funds that allow us to improve our school campus and provide scholarships for deserving pupils. This has meant that we have redone the front entrance, built the Ubuntu Learning Centre, the Rowing Tank (with funding largely from the rowing fraternity), the Water Polo pool and now another astroturf. I coined a phrase the other day – “building fatigue” – and I think our staff and boys are tired of there always being construction around the campus. While this does benefit them and it is important that we keep our campus at the forefront of schools, we do need this period of consolidation. The astro will start around August next year and will be completed in time for the start of the 2027 hockey season.
Final thoughts
I have just come back from three wonderful days in the Cederberg, joining the boys and staff on Epic. While I mostly spent time talking to boys and hearing their stories, I did have a chance to do a climbing and abseiling session with one of the groups and I have a story to tell.
After abseiling, we had to walk down the mountain a short way, often over rocks and loose dirt, downhill. The boys did as boys do – haring off as fast as possible down what for them was a small hill. Not so small for someone who is 60 years old and has had surgery on both knees! Two boys did not join their mates and stayed with me on the way down, stopping where there was difficult terrain and just being there. This was unspoken, not a word was exchanged except to tell stories about their experiences thus far. No big fuss was made – they just noticed that someone perhaps needed them and they were there. I was deeply touched by this and will relay this story often to show just how kind our fellow human beings can be and to see it in two 16-year-old schoolboys was just wonderful. And then reflecting with the boys at the end of the day in what is called a Tribal Council, so many boys commented on how they valued another member of their group for the various qualities they displayed – often encouragement and often kindness. My latest experiences and my sense in the school have made me very positive for 2026 and I am looking forward to the new year.
I want to thank our amazing staff, both support staff and academic staff for all they have done this year and wish them a good rest.
I thank also the many volunteers who help on committees and in teams of parent helpers, Council members, the PA, House committees and just so many more – thank you!
We wish our Jewish families Happy Hanukkah, the eight-day festival of lights that begins on 4th December.
Finally, I wish all Bishops families a special break at the end of this year. May you have a Blessed Christmas and a new and exciting New Year with much happiness and joy.
God bless you all.
Kind regards
Antony Reeler
Principal
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