STAFF NEWS
We welcome Lehahn Esterhuizen in Russel Drury’s place. He comes to us from Hillview Academy in Durbanville, previously having taught at Generations. He also has experience teaching in international schools in both Uganda and Kenya and has taught all ages, Prep to Matric. He holds a Bachelor of Sports Science with English as a major from Stellenbosch University, as well as an Honours degree in Educational Psychology. He will be teaching English and Drama and will head up the English Department. He is married with two young sons and we look forward to getting to know them as part of the Bishops community. Lehahn is no stranger to Bishops having attended the College and boarded in Founders.

Sadly, Mandy Gloak leaves us tomorrow. She is expecting her second child in September and had tendered her resignation for the end of August to spend time at home with her children for the next few years. However, a severe case of sciatica as a result of her pregnancy has made walking extremely difficult and painful and, while she pushed through the last term, her doctor has now insisted that she go off as soon as possible. Mandy has been at Bishops since 2018 teaching mainly Grade 4. She has been active in the sports department and for the last few years has managed Swimming very successfully. Mandy is a dynamic, positive and inspirational teacher and we will miss her enthusiasm, humour and collegiality. We wish her a peaceful next few weeks (as much as is possible with a young toddler at home) and much happiness for her and her family when their baby arrives and in the years ahead. We are very grateful for what Mandy has added to the Prep and we do hope that she will return to teaching at some stage during the next few years.

Laurelle Fry, after having had chemotherapy for a number of months, is undergoing an operation tomorrow and will be away for the next three weeks. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

HEAD OF PRE-PREP
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Taryn Bain to the position of Head of the Pre-Prep with effect from January 2024.

Taryn is currently Head of Camps Bay Pre-Primary and previous to this taught for a number of years at Greenfield Girls' Primary. During her time there she was Head of Department running the Foundation Phase for seven years and, in addition, served as 2IC to the Principal. She has also served as a member of both Governing Bodies.

Taryn is an inspiring teacher and leader; passionate about connecting with children, making them feel loved and respected and developing a healthy sense of independence in them at every level. She is committed to teacher development, guiding and supporting them both individually and as a team with a common vision. She is highly relational and her career shows her to be an innovator and very community-orientated.

Taryn is married to Craig and they have a sixteen year old daughter, Ella. We look forward to welcoming Taryn in the new year.

Best wishes

Rugby Practice

Time: 08h30 to 10h30
Venue: U10 - U13 Lutgensvale, U9 Sahara Field
All teams except U13A and U11A who are on tour to Beaufort West

Hockey vs SACS U10 - U13 (except U12A and U13A)

Time: 14h00
Venue: Woodlands

Interhouse Rugby U10 and U11

Time: 14h30
Venue: Lutgensvale

To celebrate Mandela Day we will be collecting tinned goods: meat, vegetable or fruit on Friday 28th July 2023. Boys can bring their cans to the library first thing in the morning when they arrive at school. From here we will start to line them up and make the annual “tinned can snake” around the school fields. Our annual aim is to make a snake of 67 metres in honour of Madiba’s 67 years of service – and our current record is a 92 metre snake! So let’s make 2023 a new record and get the 3 digit mark: 100 metres!

The items will be donated to Ikhaya Le Themba. This charity gives disadvantaged children a hope and a future by providing a safe space to play, nutritious food to eat and provides community leaders with personalised education and training.

Representatives from Ikhaya Le Themba will be visiting to speak in assembly about how and why they operate. We are proud to be honouring Madiba’s legacy through these organisations who are a beacon of light within their community.

Please note this is a collection only, and not a civvies day.