Dear Parents
MANNERS AND RESPECT
The ‘M’ of the Mitre stands for manners and we talk of the values of the Mitre. While manners cannot really be described as a value, good manners reflect the values of respect and empathy for others. We talk to the boys constantly about these values and also the importance of noticing each other and engaging (the Zulu greeting, “Sawubona”, “I see you”, says it all). We do not stand for that automatic and disconnected “sir” or “ma’am” that we see in some institutions, where respect is shown in an obligatory and functional way without the engagement, welcome and friendliness for which a greeting should stand.
Boys have to be reminded of manners and what they represent both at home and at school in every grade; they forget, are pre-occupied, rushing on without thinking and so forth. Bad manners in our boys are seldom deliberate, but good manners are. For the school it is a fourteen year journey and for you, even longer.
I was horrified to hear that a number of our boys had not greeted or thanked parents working in the Saturday tuckshop at rugby a few weeks ago. I took this problem to the boys at two assemblies, again unpacking how we should relate to one another, how one feels when one is ignored or disregarded versus the feeling of receiving a smile, a greeting, an acknowledgement and the simple thank you, expressing gratitude.
For us adults this is an endless task but not a thankless one. We will succeed in producing good men who care for others and show that care directly if we all work on developing the values of respect and empathy. Every expression of good manners, and equally the opposite, can be used as a teaching and learning moment. I also take compliments to the boys. I was so pleased to relay to the boys the feedback from our recent school evaluation mentor that she found our boys very welcoming, polite and helpful.
OISESA
Our recent evaluation by OISESA (across all three sections of the school) is largely complete and we await the mentor’s report. This is a compulsory evaluation for all independent schools that belong to the Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa, that occurs every six years. It is a valuable and positive experience and a good opportunity to look inwards and reflect as it involved parents, staff and boys (Grades 5-7). Thank you to all parents who participated in the survey – the feedback is very useful; largely positive as it was, but where not, also valuable. More surveys might follow to dig down into aspects of the feedback.
Our mentor thought that we were quite hard on ourselves in some areas of the self-study, but similarly she will no doubt have some recommendations around areas which we might not have picked up as needing attention. We await the report now and will communicate further with you in due course.
MYBISHOPSLIFE
As part of the OISESA process, we needed to check that all policies had been reviewed and remained relevant. We have put those that pertain directly to our boys in a very concrete way, on MyBishopsLife. Go to Information – Policies. Policies appearing there include our Code of Conduct, Hair, etc; i.e. those that you might need to consult from time to time.
Policies that appear on the school’s website are the broad, whole school policies, such as POPIA, Diversity and Transformation, Admissions. These are available to prospective parents as well, as they reflect our overall philosophy and practice. Again, go to Information – Policies.
It has been good to have a full week again at school, so do enjoy the weekend.
Kind regards
GREG BROWN
HEADMASTER |
