HUMAN RIGHTS DAY
Everyone enjoys a long weekend and having tomorrow off work and school will not doubt be no exception. However, when we remember the circumstances of 21 March 1950, we have to react with horror at what happened at the Sharpeville police station on this day. Most of us were probably not alive at the time (I was less than a month old), but would have heard about Sharpeville from our parents and grandparents and, given our past, no doubt from many different perspectives.

After a number of anti-pass protests across the country, called for by the Pan African Congress, a few thousand people arrived at the Sharpeville police station, without their pass books, to demand that police arrest them for contravening the pass laws of the time. The police force of about 75 was greatly outnumbered and panicked, opening fire on the crowd, killing between 69 and 91 people and injuring more than 200. 29 children were included in these figures and many of the protesters had been shot in the back as they were fleeing. As the crowd turned and ran for cover, the police had continued shooting. This led to moral outrage from many quarters around the world and after further protests, the response from the government of the time was to double down in its oppression of the black members of South African society, declaring a State of Emergency, as well as declaring the PAC and ANC illegal organisations in terms of the Suppression of Communist Act.

21 March was made a public holiday in 1994 and named Human Rights Day, not only to commemorate Sharpeville, but also as a reminder of the human rights (denied for so long for so many) South Africa has enshrined in our Bill of Rights. Sadly though, we still have so far to go as a country in ensuring these rights for all. If one reads chapter 2 of our Bill of Rights, one cannot pretend that the right of all citizens to “sufficient food and water”, “adequate housing”, and “basic education” (in terms of quality) have been met. Huge numbers of South Africans are still denied these rights. Our prayer has to be that the government redoubles its efforts and that all of us, members of civil society, do all they can to reverse this situation.

PARENT-TEACHER MEETINGS
Hopefully you have all signed up for next week’s parent-teacher meetings. If not, please do so as soon as possible. Industry reports have been released on MyBishopsLife and it will be useful to discuss the feedback with your sons. To view a breakdown to date of your son’s Term 1 marks, please select Marks from the Academic menu on MyBishopsLife.

THANK YOU
As we approach the end of the term, we want to thank you for all your support this term; whether it is assisting with homework, showing up for concerts and fixtures, providing lifts to matches and other events – thank you. Your support is an essential part of what we offer at Bishops and your boys are very fortunate to have it.

Please note that this is the last newsletter of the term. Arrangements for the first week of the second term will be sent out.

Enjoy the long weekend. We wish all our fishing families well as they enjoy our annual Interhouse Fishing Competition on the Breede River.

This has been a long term (eleven weeks), so the boys and staff (and no doubt, yourselves) need a break. Please note that next term includes a number of long weekends as well as a full week’s break between 28 April and 2 May, so we would really appreciate it if you do not ask for extra days off for your children. With so many breaks, it does disrupt the term and we will be doing all we can to keep the boys focussed and on task.

Public Holiday - Human Rights Day

Interhouse Fishing

Time: Friday 21 March to Sunday 23 March 2025

SPW Testing - Grade 4 (Please click HERE for further information)

Time: 10h30 - 12h30

Grades 3 - 7 Parent Interviews

Time: 14h30
Venue: Classrooms

SPW Testing - Grade 6 (Please click HERE for further information)

Time: 08h00 - 10h00

SPW Testing - Grade 5 (Please click HERE for further information)

Time: 10h30 - 12h30

Grades 3 - 7 Parent Interviews

Time: 14h30
Venue: Classrooms

SPW Testing - Grade 7 (Please click HERE for further information)

Time: 08h00 - 09h30

Individual and Class Photographs

Boys to wear No 1s (except Grade 7s who should arrive in PE kit and pack their No 1s)

SPW Testing Grade 3 (Please click HERE for further information)

Time: 10h30 - 12h30

Holidays are the BEST time to kick back with a pile of books! Return any Library books next week in order to take a special double stack home for relaxing holiday reading! We've got you covered! 

Please click HERE for information on the Soccer Clinic
Please click HERE for information on the Hockey Clinic
Please click HERE for information on the Rugby Clinic
Please click HERE for information on the Study Skills Course.

In the first week of next term, the opening times will be as follows:

Monday 7 April: 07h15 - 08h30 and 12h15 to 14h00

Thursday 10 April: 07h15 - 08h30

Thereafter, normal opening hours will resume.

Back: Daniel le Cordeur (Inset), Samuel Yazdanpanahi, Ethan Lee Pan, Leo Constantinou, Jude Barton, Matthew Arkcoll (Inset)
Front: Oliver Ferrao, Xander Chu, AndréKuys, Oliver Vickers

Congratulations to these boys on being elected for the Junior Student Council 2025.

Million Word Club
The very first Spin the Wheel took place last Friday. The names of the passionate readers who have tracked and reached target of one million words were on screen to win the 2025 Book Club merchandise: a secret book!

Mascot Adventures!
2025 Reading Mascot, Snowy, had an extra fun week! He got to meet SA musician Booshle G. at the Reddam Rock festival, got signatures from some of the players at the Stormers vs Bulls rugby game and ended each night with cosy reading time! Thanks Aaron! Reading Rocks!

Back: Phoenix Jordan, Chris de Wet (announcer), Minggu Xiao, Oliver Ferrao (stage management)
Front Row: Harrison Whitfield, Toby Garratt, Aaron McAllister, James Johnson, Daniel Hobbs, Adam Shaik and Josh Brown