Dear Parents and Guardians

By now your son should have settled into a comfortable routine at school. I am aware that Grade 8s will be feeling tired and overwhelmed. This is completely normal as they adjust to high school life and they will get used to it, I promise!

The other Grades should be balancing their lives now with good work habits, healthy exercise and moments with family, friends or in self-reflection. When preparing my welcome for today’s Prize Giving, I glanced through the names of the many prize winners and looked also at our top-performing academics from Matric ’25. Most of them were heavily involved in cultural activities or sport – many at the highest level. I have always said that a busy boy is a successful and happy boy and stand by the belief that pursuing a variety of interests is far better than focussing on one.

I would like to congratulate all prize winners from this morning’s ceremony. It is a wonderful way to start the academic year and hopefully acts as an inspiration to our boys. Click here for the full list of prize winners.

Matric results update

As promised in the last newsletter I have an update from the WCED awards event and from research that came my way.

In the Western Cape, we were recognised as the top performing school in Mathematics, an award shared with Claremont High. We were placed 6th in the province overall, despite our A Level pupils not being included in the overall assessment and were thus the top boys-only school in the province.

Then further research showed that we were also the top boys’ school in the country in terms of number of distinctions per candidate. We were the top-ranked boys’ school in terms of percentage of distinctions in each subject for English, Accounting, History, Life Sciences, Physical Science, Economics and Mathematics. In Physical Science and Economics, we were placed second overall in the country and in Mathematics we were first. Take into account that we were also the top school in the country in the Mathematics Olympiad. These results speak volumes about the efforts of our boys, their teachers and the support they have had from home, and I am immensely proud of them all!

Experience Bishops

We held a very successful Open Day last Friday with almost 250 parents coming with their sons to visit the school. Our Grade 11 Public Relations group did us proud again, taking small groups of parents around and talking about their experience at Bishops. Feedback from many prospective parents has been very positive and we have had well over 300 applications for 156 places in Grade 8 next year. It is always a hard decision to make when it comes to offer of place, but we apply our Admissions criteria strictly, trying to ensure as fair a process as possible.

I often use admission and waiting lists as an indication of the state of the school and demand for Bishops is high. While we may face challenges along the way, people are looking at the Bishops model and wanting to be part thereof. I am grateful to the many boys and parents who speak highly of their experience at Bishops in social gatherings.

General conduct

I have been very pleased with the improvement in manners and respect at the school. I have been focussing on appearance and “gentlemanly” conduct and I have noticed small changes. While I may be criticised for wanting our boys to be gentlemen, I do believe there is a place for young men to dress well and act with dignity and respect for others. If this is acceptable behaviour for a gentleman, then I am happy.

I believe passionately in equality for men and women and this behaviour is not at the exclusion of women, or aimed at men as being in any way superior to women. It just asks our boys to behave well.

Last week I spoke about the old-fashioned phrase “a gentleman’s word is his bond” and explained that this applies equally to men and women. When we say we will do something, we honour that commitment, even if a better opportunity comes along. If we say we agree on something, it need not be in writing. Honour may be an archaic word but it describes exactly how I want our boys to be  - men of honour.

Final thoughts

I have resisted engaging in a public debate about the state of Bishops and our current ethos because it is not appropriate. I wish to assure parents that Bishops remains a proudly Christian school in the Anglican tradition, ensuring that we grow and change as demanded from us in the modern world. We have high standards that we expect from our boys, most of whom are fiercely proud of the school and loyal to what we represent. Our success is quite remarkable, if measured by academic results, and our sporting teams punch way above their weight with great success. The holistic, Bishops education is appropriate for a modern world, and we will continue to prepare our boys properly for a life as Good Men in today’s world.

Kind regards

Antony Reeler
Principal

There was no assembly this week due to Prize Giving, so I share my message from last week which spoke of the significance of words, three words in particular: integrity, passion and legacy. I hope you enjoy the read.

Words

Words matter – particularly if you are going into a profession like Law. But they matter to us too.  There are a few words in English, used often in schools, that l want to talk about today. Words used to describe a wonderful man at his memorial yesterday, Mr Abdul-Aziz (Cassa) Cassiem.

The first word is “integrity”. People use this word often, using it to describe one of their own values or a quality they admire in others. To have integrity means to adhere to moral ethics and principles, to have sound values and to be honest – it is one of our school values. But to me it means more than that – and this is where we sometimes get it wrong. To me, a person of integrity lives this out in two of the most difficult circumstances – on their own when no-one is watching and, in a crowd, where everyone is watching. It is easy to say you have integrity - it is hard to live with integrity.

You are on your own, walking past litter lying on the ground. Do you pick it up or not? You are in a group of three or four and the same scenario occurs – is this when you choose to pick it up, perhaps influencing others through your actions to also pick it up. You are on a class outing with 25 classmates. To pick up that litter will single you out – so do you, or don’t you?

It may be easier to have integrity when you are with one or two people. A little harder when you are on your own. And I think the hardest when we are in a group – such as cheerleading or in class. We don’t like standing out in our standing up for what is right, yet that is when our integrity is needed.

The second word is “passion”. To use this as a word is fine, as long as we know its real meaning. The word means “a powerful or compelling emotion or feeling” which is in itself what we are trying to describe. But – the origin of the word is from the Latin word “passio” and that means suffering or sacrifice. So when we use this word “passion”, it needs to tell the story of how we have suffered and what we have sacrificed. People who speak of their passion for sport should only do so if they have spent hours practising harder than anyone else. If they have suffered or sacrificed in their quest for excellence.

My final word is “legacy” – often used by people when they are about to leave a place and they question what their worth has been. The origin of the word means a bequest – usually financial – but it has a broader meaning. Leaving a legacy is something transmitted from an ancestor or from the past or something one does now that future generations will remember you for. People say they want to leave a legacy, they want to be legends. I have a simple way of doing this and it comes from Maya Angelou:

“Your legacy is never one thing. Your legacy is in every life you have touched, every person whose life was moved by you. It’s every person you have harmed or helped”

Perhaps her most famous quote about the legacy we leave is:

"People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel"

Words matter, words mean something. Be a person of true integrity and passion and leave your legacy as Angelou describes, in the memories people will have on how you made them feel.

Frank Reid Shield

The Frank Reid Shield is awarded each year to the house whose Grade 8s achieve the highest average in the New boy Heritage Test. This year’s winner is Ogilvie.

Music Certificates

Many music pupils played their Royal Schools of Music or Trinity Practical Examinations in September last year, and some wrote the Royal Schools of Music Grade 5 Theory Examination in October. The following boys did exceptionally well, achieving a distinction in their examinations. A distinction is awarded for a mark above 88%. Congratulations to the following pupils, who received certificates.

Trinity Practical Examinations
Gordon Alexander, Grade 4 Tuba
Franco Pharo, Grade 5 Drum Kit
Travis Turner, Grade 7 Singing, with a mark of 97%

Royal Schools of Music Grade 5 Theory Examination
Cuan Cadiz
Brent Cowden
Ben Honigwachs
John Nolte
Fardeen Parker
Cruz Sun, with a mark of 97%

Royal Schools of Music and Bishops Internal Practical Examinations
Zaeem Omar, Grade 4 Singing (Musical Theatre)
Matthew Fox, Grade 4 Singing
Rupert Andersson, Grade 5 Piano
Z’idan Hendrickse, Grade 5 Singing (Musical Theatre)
Jasper Magrath, Grade 6 Singing
Dominic Kotze, Grade 6 Clarinet
Zac Rosenberg, Grade 7 Singing
Yazeed Lalkhen, Grade 7 Clarinet
Travis Turner, Grade 7 Piano
Matthew De Jager, Grade 8 Singing
Leo Cowan, Grade 8 Singing

Water Polo

St Andrew’s Shield Champions

The Bishops 1st Team Water Polo side travelled to Makhanda for the prestigious St Andrew’s Shield Tournament, which featured twelve of South Africa’s top water polo schools.

During the pool stages, Bishops produced a series of strong performances. On Day 1, Bishops defeated Rondebosch 10–8 and Westville 10–6. On Day 2, Bishops beat St Andrew’s 20–7, lost to Clifton 7–11, and defeated St John’s 8–7. These results saw Bishops finish top of their pool and progress to the knockout rounds.

From the quarter-finals onwards, the team shifted into another gear. Bishops defeated Selborne 9–4 in the quarter-final and St Stithians 12–5 in the semi-final. In the final on Sunday morning, Bishops faced Rondebosch once again. After leading 4–2 in the first chukka, Bishops delivered a dominant second chukka, scoring five unanswered goals, four of which were scored consecutively by Matt Fenn. The victory was the result of an outstanding, focused team performance, with sharp attacking play and exceptional defensive organisation.

From the quarter-finals onwards, the team shifted into another gear. Bishops defeated Selborne 9–4 in the quarter-final and St Stithians 12–5 in the semi-final. In the final on Sunday morning, Bishops faced Rondebosch once again. After leading 4–2 in the first chukka, Bishops delivered a dominant second chukka, scoring five unanswered goals, four of which were scored consecutively by Matt Fenn. The victory was the result of an outstanding, focused team performance, with sharp attacking play and exceptional defensive organisation.

Water Polo 125-Game Honours

In water polo, teams play many matches, particularly during busy tournament periods. For this reason, we recognise players not at 100 matches, but at the significant milestone of 125 matches. We are very proud to announce that Matt Fenn, James Malan, and Tim Young each reached their 125th match this past weekend during the St Andrew’s Water Polo Tournament. In recognition of this achievement, each player will receive a 125-game embroidered First Team Water Polo cap as a lasting reminder of their dedication and commitment.

The 2nd and 3rd Teams competed in the Pearson 2nd Team Water Polo Tournament in Port Elizabeth.

We are thrilled to announce that our 2nd water polo team emerged victorious after four days of intense competition. The team played outstanding water polo and remained unbeaten throughout the tournament. After topping their pool, they advanced directly to the quarter-finals, where they defeated Michaelhouse convincingly with a 9–1 victory. In the semi-finals, they outplayed the Paul Roos team to secure their place in the final.

The final saw traditional rivals Bishops and Rondebosch face off in a nail-biting, high-paced encounter. Our 2nd team showcased exceptional teamwork and skill, ultimately winning 9–7 to claim the tournament title for the second-year running. Their excellence in the water was matched by exemplary sportsmanship. Special accolades go to James Ciolli, who was named Defender of the Tournament.

Our Bishops 3rd team also displayed remarkable determination throughout the pool-stage matches, finishing first in their pool. This achievement earned them a place in the playoffs, where they were narrowly defeated by the Rondebosch 2nd team. In the 5th/6th place playoff, they unfortunately went down to a strong St David’s team. Nevertheless, the Bishops 3rds finished the tournament as the highest-placed 3rd team, securing a commendable 6th position.

We commend the players from both teams for their outstanding team spirit and exemplary behaviour throughout the tour.

Bishops Community Movie Night

We are proud to be hosting our first‑ever Bishops Community Movie Night!
This is a wonderful opportunity to come together as a community and enjoy a memorable evening with friends and family, watching a movie under the stars. It’s also a chance to do something a little different — all in support of an extremely worthwhile cause.
Please join us this Saturday for a fun night out. Pack your picnic baskets and bring along your blankets. There will be food trucks on site as well as lawn games for the whole family to enjoy as well as incredible lucky draw prizes. Feel free to bring some lawn games of your own!

Gates open at 16:00, with the movie starting at sunset, approximately 19:30.
We are proud to be in partnership with Enable and Zimele, organisations that support amputees on their journey towards independent living.
Tickets are still available on Quicket and will also be sold at the top gate on arrival.
We look forward to sharing this special evening with our Bishops community.

Purchase tickets here: https://www.quicket.co.za/events/349496-bishops-movie-night-in-support-of-zimele-and-enable/#/
Movie: The Upside Watch Trailer
A heartfelt comedy about a recently paroled ex-convict (Kevin Hart) who strikes up an unlikely friendship with a paralyzed billionaire (Bryan Cranston). The film also stars Nicole Kidman, Julianna Margulies and Aja Naomi King.

https://youtu.be/c8UUdLS6-2U?si=VYGQaM5EdZUa4nlj

The video above speaks to something deeply familiar in South Africa. The need for safe spaces. For places where children are seen, supported and given room to grow.

At VUSA, rugby is often the entry point. It is what draws children in and gives them a sense of belonging but once they arrive, they are met with far more than a game. They step into structured afternoons that include academic support through programmes like Reading Eggs, Code4Kids and Matific, a reliable daily meal, caring coaches and teachers, and opportunities to play, learn and experience the world beyond what they know.

For 1,300 children, these programmes matter. They shape confidence, routine and motivation. They create space for learning, growth and hope.

As the financial year comes to an end, a reminder that donations to VUSA are eligible for a Section 18A tax certificate. Contributions can be made monthly or as a once-off, and every donation helps keep these safe spaces open.

For more information please visit www.vusarugbyacademy.com or contact Nikki Matthews at the Trust Office.