Dear Parents and Guardians
The year gone past…
In this, the last newsletter for the year, I wish to begin by thanking all in the Bishops community, boys, staff, parents and ODs for another good year in the life of the school. We have had our challenges this year in the form of unexpected loadshedding and power outages that have caused many hours of analysis and planning, not only for our immediate needs but also as we seek a long-term, sustainable and environmentally friendly solution to our challenges, creating a solution that people in decades hence will appreciate and acknowledge as the right thing to have done. I remain eternally grateful to Mr Sean King and his extraordinary team of solution-finders as they battled their way through this challenge successfully, giving us a vision for the future that fits our desired outcomes. I thank many of you for your patience and understanding in dealing with a crisis that came out of the blue. One of the most valuable outcomes has been the consolidation of our electrical supply network that, being old, has needed significant work and upgrading as we sort out the over 90 distribution boards into a logical system that will be easier to manage.
The second challenge affecting our boys and staff in particular was the beginning of the construction of the New Learning Commons in the heart of the school. This project began mid-2023 and we are aiming for completion on 19 July 2024, with the opening forming part of the 175 celebrations. The more the project develops, the more excited I have become as this building will be a wonderful addition to our learning experience for our boys and a special resource for staff.
Other activities in the year included the appointment of staff, particularly the replacement of our Deputy Principal and the appointment of our new Deputy Head (Pastoral and Discipline) in theCollege. Our focus on school discipline ensured robust debate at various levels including parents and it became clear in those discussions the importance of parents and the school taking joint responsibility for the discipline of our boys, each playing their own part but always in support of each other.
Our first sponsorship deal in a while was concluded and we will be welcoming our new sponsor of sport, namely the sports of rugby, cricket, hockey, basketball, water polo and soccer, with the funds being used solely for the development of coaching in these sports. This will be officially launched early in the new year.
We undertook the OISESA survey and self-analysis under the watchful eye of the OISESA mentors who produced a glowing report that was very pleasing to read. This report will be published early in the new year as well.
Our catering operation saw the appointment of Feedem to replace Origin, and we are looking forward to continued good service in this area going forward. Following a robust tender process, our cleaning company, Bidvest, will be replaced by Crystal, who take over at the start of 2024.
Much of our effort has gone into planning ahead for 2024, our 175th year and the team, led by Mr Joc Wrensch, has been working tirelessly to create a programme that is varied and exciting, looking outwards at how Bishops serves its community and the greater Cape Town, acknowledging our role in society. The first of the 175 projects, the completion of the stained-glass windows in the Brooke Chapel, was launched last Friday and we appeal to parents to support this fund raiser, the only one of the 175 year. We are very proud of the designs and the way we will be able to recognize people through these iconic and beautiful pieces of art that symbolize all we stand for in one of our spiritual homes.
We were not unaffected by world issues and the Israel/Palestine conflict caused much robust debate and discussion. We remain committed to peaceful solutions to conflict and to the respect for human life, no matter the reason for conflict.
The taxi strike that affected Cape Town also affected our school, particularly our support staff who rely exclusively on public transport and we made many arrangements to help our staff at this difficult time.
Looking ahead…
The College is full to capacity and we have long waiting lists. The level of outstanding debt is low and these two figures are an indication of the faith people have in the educational offering at Bishops. I am very grateful for this continued support and belief in our school as the right place for so many boys to learn and grow.
Our 175 programme is set for the year and tries to capture the essence of who we are through activities that are academic, cultural, sporting and spiritual while also creating many opportunities for us to celebrate this milestone. 2024 promises to be a very exciting year!
Our school calendar for the year has been published and appears on our website. There are very few public holidays during the terms so we have worked our academic calendar to allow for decent breaks along the year. For the first time we will be having a two week break after the third term to enable staff and boys to rest with their families. We have resisted as much temptation as possible to arrange fixtures and events in the holidays to allow for family time while still providing opportunities for the boys. I remind parents NOT to make travel plans outside the holiday times please. This causes much disruption, particularly for the boys, and we need all our boys attending school as required on all school days.
Our term starts on Monday 15 January with the return of staff and new boarders. Tuesday 16 January sees the return of the new boys and their mentors and the full school year begins with our customary Eucharist on Wednesday 17 January.
Final thoughts
My grateful thanks go to all who have contributed to the success of the school this past year. We cannot do what we do, for our boys, without the help and support of the staff, parents and our wider community and we are most grateful to you all.
To those who celebrate Christmas, may the moment of the birth of Christ bring us renewed hope for the future and reaffirm our faith. To all who travel, be safe and come back rested and refreshed for the new year and to all Bishops people, enjoy the festive season and enjoy the much-needed time with family and friends.
God bless you all.
Kind regards
Antony Reeler
Principal
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