Dear Parents
This is the last newsletter of the year, but I will be writing a letter to you all next week.
These past few weeks have been filled with energy, pride, and meaningful moments across the Prep. Our Relay Sports Day on Friday, was a true celebration of spirit and talent. The boys delivered outstanding performances, with excitement and cheering echoing around the fields. Bramley claimed the Spirit Trophy for their unwavering enthusiasm, while Charlton emerged as the overall winners of the meeting. Well done to every boy who participated and represented his house with pride, and a big thank you to all parents who came along to support.
At the conclusion of the relay event, our boys lined Riverton Road and stood in five minutes of powerful silence, supporting Women for Change in their stand against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide. The response from both staff and boys was “loudly silent,” and we could not be prouder of our young men for the respect and solidarity they showed.
Our enrichment programme has also been a hive of activity, with much thought and preparation going into engaging the boys meaningfully as we approach the end of term. Learning continues to stay very much alive in these final days.
Another highlight was the Prep Carol Service. A warm thank you to Fr Monwabisi, Rev Bengani, the Music, Art and Drama departments, and all the boys who participated. It was a wonderful way to gather our community in a spirit of joy and celebration as we look toward the Christmas season.
Please take careful note of the calendar to ensure you do not miss any events and important information. As we move into various prize-givings and special assemblies, we kindly ask that boys do not arrive with fashion haircuts or unusual styles. Our hair policy remains in place, and we appreciate your support in maintaining these guidelines. The boys have been reminded of this as well.
FAREWELL
We say farewell to Zuks Ncube, currently a Grade 4 Form teacher, after two years, but after a number of years’ association with Bishops, both at College and Pre-Prep. We thank him for his contribution and his wonderful rapport with the boys. He leaves to head up the Ikigai Foundation – an organisation to bridge relations between South Africa and Japan – building a bright future through cultural exchanges, education and sports. He has a great future in education and I hope we will see him back in a school in the future.
Zweli Sodlala qualifies as teacher this year and so ends his internship at Bishops. He has been an excellent intern and we wish him much success as he takes up a teaching post at Cannon’s Creek next year.
Linda Dinan, our Prep ICT Manager, moves across to College next year to take over the position of IT Director for the whole school, so it is not really farewell, but rather congratulations on her well deserved promotion and a thank you for her years at the Prep and Pre-Prep: overseeing the implementation of the one-to-one iPad programme, and in recent years, our transition to the new data system, iSAMS, a formidable task, one she executed with real determination, attention to detail and patience. The school is fortunate to have Linda taking over. A teacher herself, Linda has a passion for integration of tech to enhance learning; she is process-driven and end-user focussed. We wish her well.
WELCOME
We will welcome Samantha Louw as a Grade 4 Form teacher at the start of the second term. She is currently teaching Grade 4 at Rustenburg Girls' Junior School and we look forward to what she will bring to our team. Sue Burgess will take the class for the first term; Sue is a very experienced teacher who know Bishops well, so the boys will have a good start to the year.
Gillian Gouws will take over as Prep ICT Manager and Edtech Integrator from 1 March. She comes from St Stithians where she works as their ICT Curriculum Integrator. With her great experience too in robotics and curriculum, we look forward to having the advantage of her experience and passion.
TERM 1 LEADERSHIP
With Lester Lalla arriving in the second term, Chris Groom will be Acting Headmaster for the first term. Mark Erlangsen has therefore been appointed as Acting Deputy Head for that period. His portfolio will include discipline and day-to-day school management. I wish them well and am very confident leaving the school in their hands, together with Karen Dallas and Taryn Bain.
I look forward to seeing you at the various end-of-year events over the next few days.
Best wishes
Kind regards
GREG BROWN
HEADMASTER |
