Dear Parents
I was fortunate to attend the SAHISA Conference in Gqeberha two weeks ago where the theme was “Flourishing”; the Conference focused on a number of the issues that are prominent in the current education discourse. A real stand out was the opportunity to connect with Heads from around the country, face-to-face, after a gap of more than two years. Schools included ranged from the paying, such as ours, to government subsidised and low-fee paying independent schools. The latter is growing as a significant part of the sector.
Presentations included an address by Professor Shabir Madi, a former member of the Presidential Advisory Council on Covid during the pandemic. He gave evidence on the recorded versus the estimated actual death rate from Covid; the survey conducted last year that indicated that more than 70% of the population had some form of Covid immunity, either from actual infection, vaccination or both; and he was cautiously optimistic that we are hopefully moving from a pandemic to an endemic stage in the evolution of the virus.
He spoke very strongly on what he believes are the two most important vehicles to either prevent or limit the effects of infection: vaccination and ventilation. Indoor ventilation we can manage but in the case of vaccination, we can only encourage. The school’s quick survey of our Grade 6-12 parents at the end of last year indicated that 80% plus of our boys had been vaccinated.
Inclusion, diversity and belonging in our schools was another important discussion point and sharing the experiences and processes of schools was very useful. One of the other current issues being discussed was that of sexual identity, something about which society is now much more open. Ron Adinall, who is the leading expert on this topic in Cape Town, having worked with many schools and families, addressed us on this. The issue is complex, real and not a fad. I think social media and the opinions bandied about are often not helpful as we need to learn how to support pupils who find themselves in this situation.
Mental health and the wellness of everyone in our school communities, as we look at the effect of living through a pandemic as well as now suddenly returning to a full and active school life, was also a theme of the Conference. There was a common understanding that this term, returning to each school’s full programme, has been very exciting and welcome, but it has also come with difficulties as people are more fatigued than usual and question the life balance that, in a strange way, was for many “better” under a curtailed programme over the last two years.
FOUNDERS DAY CEREMONY
This morning we held our Founders Day Ceremony, for the first time since 2010, as a whole school event with every boy from Grades N-12 attending. After so many limitations on our being together it was wonderful to all be together, to give thanks for and celebrate our school, acknowledging all those from Bishop Robert Gray to the present who have built and grown Bishops from its small and humble beginning to what it is today. A boy from each section of the school spoke about what Bishops means for him. Congratulations to Kaleb Pillay who spoke on behalf of the Prep. Well done too to the Wind Band who played together with the College Wind Band and acquitted themselves so well.
ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU COMMEMORATION WEEK
Next week sees the start of our Archbishop Desmond Tutu Commemoration week. We will launch it with a special assembly for our boys on Wednesday, 16 March. Purple will abound around the school and there will be activities in each grade to raise awareness around the Archbishop’s values and actions. The boys are learning a new hymn, No. 117 in the Anglican hymnal, “Praise to the Holiest in the height”, and we will sing this on Wednesday. It was one of Desmond Tutu’s favourite hymns and was the opening hymn at his funeral. Wednesday will also be a Civvies Day and we will be asking each grade to dress in a different colour to symbolize Archbishop Tutu’s famous statement that we are a “rainbow nation”. Each grade will also be asked to donate goods for specific schools and children’s homes (see below).
Have a good weekend.
Kind regards
GREG BROWN
HEADMASTER |
