ASCENSION DAY SERVICE
We enjoyed a wonderful turnout from parents and grandparents last Thursday at our Service, so thank you. The choir provided a beautiful rendition of “Paaslied”.  The release of balloons by some of the boys, helium-filled and otherwise caused huge excitement. Of course, only the helium-filled one rose to the top height of the chapel ceiling, not needing a breeze to take it on its way, which Father Monwabisi Peter used to illustrate the ascension of Jesus in a simple but profound way.

BEGINNERS’ CONCERT
Last night 47 boys performed on a specific instrument for the first time on the Jagger Hall stage in front of a full audience of parents, siblings and staff. It was wonderful to see the enthusiasm and range of instruments – violin, piano, saxophone, cello, clarinet, flute and guitar.

Our weekly Wednesday morning music concerts also afford our boys the chance to perform in front of their peers and parents on a regular basis. For our boys music is part and parcel of life at the Prep, playing, watching and appreciating. A magnificent exposure for all.

DURBANVILLE EXCHANGE
This takes place next Friday and Saturday (24 and 25 May). All our boys will travel out on buses to join Durbanville Primary for a day that includes an assembly with our musicians participating, golf, chess, tennis, hockey and rugby including a number of other fun activities. Taking 381 boys out at the same time requires a great deal of organisation and the return journey even more, as buses will return at a few different times on the Friday, bearing in mind that many boys might return with their parents and not the bus, so accurate information is crucial. As the organisers are communicating with you, please do respond – we need information from every single family from Grades 3-7.  No casual return journey changes can be made by boys or by parents of boys’ friends. Any last minute changes can only be made between a boy's parent and the relevant teacher. We have done this before and it is a great experience, so please support the process.

WINTER UNIFORM
Autumn and winter do seem a bit confused, so we have allowed a bit of a drift into winter uniform over the last few weeks, but we are now officially into winter uniform. So tracksuits my be worn over khakis at school, but not for Monday Chapel Assembly which remains blazer and khakis, although the tracksuit can be worn after Chapel Assembly. We have changed the rain jacket rule, as your sons may have informed you, so in terms 2 and 3 the rain jacket may replace the tracksuit top and be worn with the tracksuit pants. It may also be worn with khakis.

Van der Bijl House Outing - Grades 3 - 7

Time: 17h30 – 20h00
Venue: Rush (Stadium on Main)
Dress Code: Civvies, however we recommend the boys wear their Prep PE shirt and the VdB / Prep cap (or one of the two) for easy identification during playtime.
Rush Socks: Please remind the boys to bring their Rush socks or bring R40 to buy new socks

Brooke House Outing - Grades 6 and 7

Time: 17h00 - 19h00
Venue: Let's go Bowling (Stadium on Main)
If you would like your sons to buy food at the venue, please provide them with cash to do so

Charlton House Outing - Grade 5

Time: 17:45-20:00
Venue: Freedom Adventure Park (Canal Walk, Century City)
Cost: R300 (includes 1 hour glow party and games, sticky socks and meal afterwards)

Ensemble Concert

Time: 19h00
Venue: Memorial Chapel

Bramley House Outing - Grades 6 and 7

Time: 17h00 to 19h00
Venue: Let's go Bowling (Stadium on Main)

 Details of the event:

• 11 June 2024
• 15h00 to 17h00
• Transport will be provided to the venue and parents can either collect from Total Ninja or back at school.
• There is no limit on the number of Grade 4s who can attend. (There will be 30 VUSA learners attending)
• The cost is R270.00 which includes 1 hour of play, socks, meal and a drink.

If you would like your son to attend, please register HERE and pay using this link: https://pos.snapscan.io/qr/PRqUFqgU

Congratulations to these wizards of words who have won the increasingly competitive Bee this year. Some of the challenging, final spell-off words included pneumonia, cinnamon, cappuccino, psychology, catastrophe, pterodactyl and vaccination!  Once again, the tricky, annual words that got most boys out were surprise, weird, tuna, pharaoh, multiplication and onomatopoeia. 

Congratulations to the Class Bees:
Gr3: Adrien Marsal, Aaron McAllister, Nicholas Hart
Gr4:  Daniel Hobbs, Zakariah Raja, David Brien, 
Gr5: Nic Reyburn, Nicholas Kalil, Ande Mogotlane
Gr6: Owen Vorwerg, Leatile Magoro, Thomas Cobbledick

"Words cast spells - that's why it's called spelling!" The Bee will buzz back in 2025!