Dear Parents and Guardians

The first term is over half-way through and it has been wonderful to experience Bishops in all its glory as activities have taken place and boys have felt a greater sense of purpose. I have been overwhelmed with a feeling of gratitude for this respite from the pandemic which, while still with us, appears to have a far lower effect on our school and our world at large. I am cautiously optimistic that this will be the shape of things to come but am only too conscious of lessons learned these past two years including the many curve-balls that have been thrown at us in this ever-changing environment.
We have yet to hear about the continuation or not of the state of disaster and whether restrictions will be further eased or not. Mask-wearing remains compulsory, particularly indoors and we continue to promote vaccination and ventilation as effective means of protecting our community.

The easing of restrictions meant that we were able to hold a full-scale Open Day, entitled Experience Bishops where we were visited by around 500 Grade 7 boys and their parents. This was a very good day with many positive comments received by these potential College families and our Grade 11 Public Relations boys did us proud as they acted as hosts for the day.

I was able to attend an in-person conference for the first time as I, along with around 300 other delegates, attended the SAHISA annual conference in Gqeberha. This conference gathers the heads of independent schools around Southern Africa and is a wonderful opportunity for professional growth and networking.

Much of the programme centered around inclusion, diversity, equity and other important aspects schools are addressing. A strong emphasis was on race-based equity but attention was also given to issues around sexuality and gender. The conference theme of “Flourishing” also allowed for reflection from leaders of school who have had to navigate not only a pandemic but issues of transformation and recognized that leading schools in these times has been challenging indeed. I remain extremely grateful to those who have supported us and offered words of encouragement throughout the past two years.

My travels will continue this term as I head off to Gauteng to attend the three Water Polo tournaments and the SA Rowing Championships, followed by trips in the holidays to the Grey Festival to support our rugby teams who are taking part there.

There is no assembly this week due to my being away but I share with you a few thoughts I have had after reflection this past two weeks.

Interested and Interesting People 

The education of young people includes all the obvious things like curriculum and subject content, teaching thinking skills and creativity, entrepreneurship and also values, human qualities of character and lessons learned from successes and failures. But interested people also know about the world around them and are able to engage in conversation with some degree of awareness of current affairs.

Do our boys know things like what is happening in Europe at the moment in the Russia/Ukraine conflict and how economic responses to direct aggression can influence the outcome? Do they know about the impact of SWIFT on the economy of a country and how that can be used to challenge actions and force a peaceful outcome? Closer to home – are they aware of the latest increases in petrol prices and electricity tariffs and the possible implications thereof? Are they aware of the prices of basic foodstuffs and how this affects the poor in particular?

There are so many things going on now that may or may not influence the future of our young boys and I feel it is important that we encourage them to educate themselves on current affairs. So not only having a dinner conversation about the events of the day at school but also in the wider community and our world serves our boys well. Encourage your children to read widely and regularly from news sources, to be critical in their analysis of situations and not just accepting information on face value. To be aware, to be interested and to be interesting.

Final Thoughts

I wish you well for the last few weeks of term. Next week is a busy one at school with our annual Robert Gray Awards ceremony, our Founders Assembly at which the entire school from Grade N to 12 will be together in a symbolic unification to celebrate not only our founding but also a release from the grip of the pandemic and the Bishops Community Week which we urge you to support.

The following week will see us acknowledging Human Rights Day on the Friday before the actual day where we will be using the occasion to recognize Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the incredible influence he had on our country, particularly as an activist for human rights and the dignity of our people.

Add to this the opening of our musical Shrek, in collaboration with Herschel and a changeover from summer to winter sports and you can understand why I said there is a greater sense of purpose in the school as we return to so many activities and events.

Kind regards

Antony Reeler
Principal

Shrek The Musical

Make room for ogre-sized family fun as the greatest fairy tale never told comes to life in a whole new way in this Shrek-tacular Herschel and Bishops Musical production of the Oscar-winning movie Shrek! This Tony-award-winning fairy-tale adventure rewrites the ‘happily ever after’. At its heart, the message to love and accept others no matter who they are, where they come from or what they look like and - just as important - to learn to love yourself. 

“Once upon a time, there was a little Ogre named Shrek…” And thus begins the tale of an unlikely hero who finds himself on a life changing journey alongside a wisecracking donkey and a feisty princess who breaks the Disney mould. Throw in a short-tempered bad guy, a cookie with an attitude, and over a dozen other fairy tale misfits, and you've got the kind of mess that calls for a real hero. Luckily, there is one on hand… And his name is Shrek. 

The production runs from 16 – 20 March in the Herschel Theatre and tickets can be purchased at quicket.co.za.

Fencing

After a successful, All African Champs in Lagos, Nigeria, Daniel, and Aidan Richards ranked 6th and 9th in U17 epee respectively, comes the exciting news that they have both been selected to represent South Africa at the Junior World Championships in Dubai in April. We are all extremely proud of their achievements and we wish them everything of the best for the Championships. 

CANSA Shavathon

A very special mention to Ronaq Sayed in Gr12 (O) for him spearheading the CANSA Shav-a-thon fundraiser. The event held on Tuesday raised over R20 000 for CANSA research.

Life Saving

Kai Zander (Birt) will be competing in the South African Life Saving National Champs in Gqeberha from the 23rd to the 26th of March. We wish Kai every success for the competition. 

Selborne Sprints and Buffalo Regatta

On Tuesday the 15th of February the Open and U16 age groups of the Bishops Rowing Club (BRC), with the addition of the U15’s for the first time on Wednesday the 14th, descended to East London – The Buffalo River. Three gruelling days of competition against the top schools from around the country.

Bishops Rowing Club Results:
Selbourne Sprints:
u15 Oct: Bronze
u15 Scull: Bronze
u15 Double: 4th
u16 4-: 4th
u19 4+: Second

Buffalo Regatta:
u15 Oct: Bronze
u15 Double: Bronze
u16 4-: 4th
u19 2nd 4x+: Silver

Western Cape u15 Boys' Cricket Side Selection

Congratulations to Bishops' 14A cricketers, Litha Mbiko and Waco Bassick, on their selection to the Western Cape u15 boys' cricket side to compete in the National Schools' Sport Championship [NSSC] in Gauteng from 18th to the 21st March. 

Basketball

The Bishops 1st team basketball achieved their second victory in a row, by edging out Settlers High School 25-19! Well done team, hard work pays off.

Life Orientation classes and Sport Science testing:

Grade 8, 9 and 10 boys are put through a series of fitness tests in order to determine their baseline fitness levels. These include strength, speed, flexibility, and biometrics. From here, we can determine which areas of fitness athletes should focus on. Part of the focus of this area is also to prepare the boys for the Bishops Epic which they undertake at the end of grade 10.

Click here to view the SPW update

1st XV meets VUSA

On Wednesday afternoon the Bishops 1st XV travelled out to Langa and ran a coaching clinic for the VUSA boys and girls.

Sports is a beautiful way to connect people of different ages, races, cultures and socio-economic groups. Thank you so much, Bishops Rugby, for giving up your time and providing a fun filled afternoon for the VUSA children – we look forward to seeing you all again soon.  

It's just less than a week to go for the long-awaited Bishops Community Week.

The week kicks off on the 9th March with the OD AGM and finishes on Founder's Day (Friday, 11 March) with the highlight of the week, the Bishops Community Event Carnival.  This showstopper event includes sport, an afternoon carnival and a music festival.  Please see the music programme details below. Also keep a look out on social media for even more details of food stalls available and exciting carnival rides on offer.  For those of you who still need to buy tickers, click on THIS LINK.