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THURSDAY14 April 2022
Dear Parents

It is wonderful to have started the term seeing the boys return fresh, excited and engaging. I am particularly pleased to be back, having had to go off early last term. Chris Groom, assisted by Karen Dallas, managed the school during my absence and I am very grateful to them.

Last term was an extremely busy, and what one could call, a pre-Covid term. After two years of a different lifestyle, it was quite a shock to many. We are reviewing the first term calendar carefully to see where it could be improved, so that it is as manageable as possible for all concerned.

With the winter terms come our winter sports and activities. Clubs also resume and we have added an isiXhosa Club as well. The Drama Club, which started up last term, also continues. We look forward and really hope to enjoy a full winter programme of fixtures and events. If there is one thing we have learnt from Covid it is to enjoy and appreciate all these opportunities and make the most of them.

It is hard to believe that Lent is almost over and Easter is upon us. We held a short Easter service this morning with Mr Tsotso giving the message. The boys sang the two hymns absolutely magnificently – they seem to have their singing voices back and there is nothing better than hearing nearly 400 boys singing in unison. Mr Tsotso’s message to the boys was so apt and not one I have heard at Easter time before. He took the account of Simon of Cyrene who helps Jesus to carry the cross for a part of the way on His path to Calvary. He posted the questions to us: “What do we do when we see someone crying, sad or suffering in some way? Do we ignore them? Do we think less of them or just feel relieved that it is not us? Or do we help them, ask them if we can assist, empathise, help them to carry their cross, even in a very small way?” A message anyone can apply to daily life.

May you enjoy a Happy and Blessed Easter.

To all our Jewish families, Chag Pesach Sameach. May it be a special time with family and friends.

Enjoy the long weekend and safe travels to those of you going away.

Kind regards

GREG BROWN
HEADMASTER

DIARY Dates
Friday 15 April 2022 Public Holiday - Good Friday

Long weekend - no extra-murals
Monday 18 April 2022 Public Holiday - Family Day

Friday 22 April 2022

Skeeles 7s Rugby - U13

Time: 14h00 to 18h00

Venue: Lutgensvale

Saturday 23 April 2022

Skeeles 7s Rugby - U10 to U12

Time: 08h00 to 11h00

Venue: Various (see details under TAKE Note)

 

U9 Rugby Practice

Time:
08h00 to 11h00

TAKE Note

Skeeles 7s Rugby

The Skeeles 7s Weekend will be hosted as follows:

 

 

All rugby boys will be participating in these events. The age group specific schedules will be sent out via bulkmail.

Outreach Activity - Coding and Maths Clinic

 

Gareth Jordan will be running a Coding and Maths Clinic at the VUSA Academy in Langa.

Details are as follows:

What: Coding and Maths Clinic with Vusa
When: Wednesday afternoons  from 15h15 to 16h15 (see below)
Where: Langa, transport will be provided
Who is able to participate: Grade 5, 6 and 7 boys

Please note that space is limited to 10 boys only on a first come, first served basis.

The first clinic will run on Wednesday 20 April and will take place every Wednesday afternoon during the 2nd term (except for 27 April which is a public holiday).

Please click HERE to book your slot.

 

Outreach Activity - Easter Activity Morning

 

Details are as follows:

 

What: An Easter activity morning with learners from VUSA

When Saturday 23 April 2022 from 11h00 to 12h30

Where: Rossall Field and dining room

Who is able to participate: Grade 3 boys (parents are welcome to stay and participate)

What to bring: Pencil crayons and scissors.
Food: Hotdogs and juice will be provided. Tea &coffee will also be available

 

Please note that space is limited to 30 boys on a first come, first served basis.

 

Please click HERE to book your slot

NEWS
Archbishops Desmond Tutu Outreach

Many thanks to boys and parents for their generous donations during our Archbishop Desmond Tutu Week last term. The Easter eggs will be donated to the learners at St Paul's Primary in Bo Kaap, and both Easter eggs and food items will be donated to Zonnebloem Foster Home and to the Sinothando Children’s Home and the Zanokhanyo Children’s Home, both in Khayelitsha. The co-ordinators of the Khayelitsha children's homes came to collect the donations and spent some time talking to the boys explaining the work that that do and how we can continue to help and support.
Stairwell gets a facelift!
During the holidays, the stairwell in the Grade 3 and BSU area was enhanced with a bright and beautiful mural depicting the values of our Mitre.
OD News
The ODU is celebrating another Birthday today. We wanted to give something to every family across all campuses and so have set aside two hard copy magazines (Issue 7 and Issue 8 of The Old Diocesan Magazine) to go home with every learner. We also invited any ODs who were in The Mitre between 8 and 9:30 to pop in for a free cup of Bloom's coffee on us, made by the fabulous barista Zee. Dr Murray wrote a special Birthday Edition article for us looking at the very first time the ODU came into existence and who its first members were.
LINK TO ARTICLE: HERE
LINK TO ONLINE  MAGAZINE HERE:

Long Service

 

 



These three staff members have a combined 70 years of service to Bishops between them! Murray Anderson, Mark Erlangsen and Sue Johns were honoured with long service awards at the end of last term with 20 years, 25 years and another 25 years of service respectively.

    BISHOPS PREPARATORY SCHOOL
Fir Road, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7700
Phone:+27 (21) 659 7222 | Fax: +27 (21) 659 7227