Thank you for your incredible support during the first week of term.

Before the boys returned, the entire Bishops academic staff was addressed by Tom Batty from the International Boys’ Schools Coalition on the latest research in boys’ education. It was an inspirational start to the year and reinforced our commitment to making meaningful connections with each boy, while identifying and nurturing the unique talents and passions that make him who he is.

One of our goals this year is to streamline communication through newsletters, where all important updates and upcoming events will be shared. This will help reduce bulk emails. Please note that class WhatsApp groups will be used only for emergency or last-minute communication (as happened this week with the change of water polo venues), where circumstances are beyond our control.

The school is delighted with our recent Matric results, and as a Prep, we are extremely proud that our top achievers all came through Bishops Prep: Grant Weich, Daniel van den Heever and Noah Macnab.

In the Cambridge International GCE A Level examinations, two of the three top achievers, Matthew Walker and James Thunstrom, were also former Prep boys. We celebrate not only their outstanding results, but the dedication, perseverance and character behind them.

In assembly on Monday, I reminded the boys that many of the most important things in life are free: saying good morning, good afternoon/goodbye and thank you; smiling; showing basic courtesy and respect. These small actions cost nothing but mean a great deal. Please help us encourage our boys to show them both at school and at home.

I also encouraged the boys to take care of their belongings and not to litter. I am pleased to report that the fields have been noticeably cleaner after breaks, and there has been far less lost property around this week.

I recently came across this quote from Novak Djokovic, one of the greatest athletes of all time:
“It is not what we gather but what we scatter that tells us what kind of life we have lived.” May this serve as a gentle reminder for all of us to be kind and generous in our interactions.

Time: 18h00 - 18h30
Venue: Gr 3 classrooms

The Grade 3 teachers will be available in the classroom for 30 minutes for parents who may have questions. This is not compulsory, it is intended specifically for queries related to day-to-day logistics or class-related matters. If you would like a quick chat with your son's teacher, please feel free to pop in before the Cocktail Party.

Introduction to myBishopslife for new parents Grades 4-7

Time: 18h00 - 18h30
Venue: Library

We warmly invite all Gr 4 – 7 new parents (and current parents who still consider themselves “new” are welcome too) to attend a presentation where you will be introduced to our parent portal, MyBishopsLife. MyBishopsLife offers parents a convenient way to stay up to date and to actively support their sons. The session will focus on our portals features and benefits. Please feel free to bring a device along to the session. We look forward to seeing you there.

Grade 3 and New Parents Cocktail Party

Time: 18h30
Venue: Jagger Hall Quad

Time: 07h30 - 08:30
Venue: Dining Room (next to Grade 3 Classrooms)

Civvies Day - Dog and Cat Food Collection

Venue: Library

Bishops College Entrance Exam for Grade 7

Time: 08h30 to 12h30

(In addition, Grade 7 SPW testing as part of the entrance process into College on Sports Scholarhips is compulsory for boys going to College in 2027. Woodlands Astro 15h45 to 17h30)

Max Mouthguard Fittings - Grade 3

Time: 12h30 to 14h30
Venue: Jagger Hall

An important request from the Music Department

If your son is doing music at Prep, please complete THIS FORM and return to Mrs Kerven at prepmusic@bishops.org.za by no later than Wednesday, 28 January 2026. (To reduce our carbon footprint, please email copies only, no hard copies will be accepted) As music lessons have commenced already, all signed agreement forms need to be returned as soon as possible.
If your son will NOT be continuing with music tuition next year, please let Mrs Fyvie know via email at nfyvie@bishops.org.za, at your earliest convenience.

• Please note that tuition fees for 2026 are R515.00 per hour.
• Instrument hiring fee remains at R800 per term.

Please diarise an important event for all Music Parents.
Thursday 29 January 17h30 – Music Parents Information Meeting (Jagger Hall) . Tea and coffee will be served.

Athletics

Week 1: Boys are timed and measured for track and field during school in the morning. Boys who have provisionally qualified for the championship events on Sports Day will be on lists outside the classrooms from this Monday.

Weeks 2 and 3: Boys can be retimed and measured during their age group practice days in an attempt to qualify for Sports Day championship events. These practices are voluntary and any boy is welcome to come along to prepare for Sports Day.

Week 4: Final preparation for Sports Day at the age group practices, all welcome and voluntary.

Week 5: Sports Day Tuesday 10 February

Other dates to note: Quadrangular Tuesday 24 Feb and Pentangular Tuesday 3 March

For new parents, the Prep social media sites are as follows: Facebook and Instagram.

We also upload photos from the sports events onto our Website Photo Gallery . Please visit this to see some photos from the recent Cricket Trials.

We are very proud of Grade 7 boys, Murray Prain and Thango Mkwananzi, who were part of the Cape Ballet Africa production of the Nutcracker production in December in Montecasino. They performed in the first week of the production, from 4 December until 8 December. They played the roles of party children in the Christmas party scene, and also the role of rats in the battle between the Rat King and rats, and the Nutcracker Prince and soldiers, in Act 1. They made great friends with the other children in the cast across all ages and experienced what it is like to perform to sold-out crowds on the professional stage. The production drew over 46 000 audience members over its run, which, according to Cape Ballet Africa, is a new record for a ballet season in South Africa.

Murray and Thango are currently scheduled to perform on the Thursday night (the 26th of February) and at the Sunday final performance on 1 March  (the 18h00 show). The Thursday night performances are with recorded music (which is still great – the whole of the Johannesburg run was with recorded music), but the Sunday night performance will be with the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra. Please try to support them.

Congratulations to Nathan Rehse (Grade 3) who received his South African Junior Colours for chess. He was selected to represent South Africa in the African Chess Championship where over 20 countries sent their best players to compete.

Nathan finished 2nd in U8 in the whole of Africa which is an incredible achievement!