It has been an extremely busy and full week for our teachers, parents and boys. Thank you to everyone who helped make it such a positive one.
It was wonderful to see so many parents attending the parent–teacher meetings. These meetings are a valuable opportunity to meet your son’s teacher, to understand expectations in the classroom, and to work together to ensure that teaching and learning can take place as effectively as possible.
Our first sports fixtures have also begun, with teams being selected. I know there were boys who were ecstatic at moving up a team, and others who were understandably disappointed at moving down. Team selection is never easy. Selection is an ongoing process, and every coach wants his players to succeed, grow and contribute.
I would also like to commend our boys on their behaviour and manners. It has been heartening to see boys assisting a peer who was injured during break, consoling a friend who was dismissed in a cricket match, or encouraging a teammate after a dropped catch. The camaraderie in water polo has been particularly special, and I have been impressed by the boys’ effort and commitment.
Thank you to those parents who have taken on the role of class representative. A school like ours relies heavily on parental support to provide our boys with the best possible experience. The role of a class rep should not be a difficult one: it is primarily to support the form teacher with practical matters such as lifts for outings, and not to act as a source of information for parents.
WhatsApp groups are not official school platforms for disseminating information. They may include au pairs who assist parents who have work commitments and may be unavailable when messages are sent. Please note that no boys, parents or teachers should be discussed on these groups. This is not helpful, and the school has official channels should you have any queries or concerns. Our school newsletter is the primary platform we use to inform parents about what is happening at school, and it is not the responsibility of class reps to summarise this information. As a school, we are working hard to use our newsletter more effectively and to avoid bombarding parents with multiple bulk emails during the week.
On Wednesday, we hosted Selborne, a well-known boys’ school from East London in the Eastern Cape. Thank you to the parents who opened their homes and hosted our visitors. These experiences are incredibly valuable, allowing our boys to connect with peers from other parts of the country. Many lasting friendships are formed through these experiences.
The construction of the new pool at College has impacted our water polo training schedule, and we are looking forward to the completion of this facility by the end of February so that the boys can return to the water polo pool and train in a more realistic game environment.
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” – Helen Keller
Together, we truly are stronger.

• Boys must wear no 1s
  
• Boys must be dropped at Prep at normal school time
  
• Boys will be walked to College for the start of the Open Day
  
• Boys will be walked back to Prep at the end of the Open Day at approx 12h15
  
• Boys who want to stay for the boarding tour must inform their class teacher. These boys will be walked back to Prep after the boarding tour at approximately 13h00.
  
• These arrangements apply regardless of whether you (parents) attend the Open Day or not.
  
• Normal afternoon extra-murals apply.

Bramley, Brooke, Charlton and Van der Bijl Grade 7 Leadership and Mentoring Workshops

Time: 16h30 - 17h30
Venues:
Bramley - 4S Classroom
Brooke - Maths Room
Charlton - 4B Classroom
VDB - 6S Classroom

Compulsory for all Grade 7 boys

Venue: Library

World Read Aloud Day

Bishops College Entrance Exam for Grade 7

Time: Normal school day

• 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 202 at the Woodlands Astro from 15h45 to 17h30.
• Grade 7 boys are excused from afternoon sport as this might adversely affect their SPW testing results
• Grade 7 boys may be fetched at the end of school by their parents and dropped at College at 15h45 or may go to aftercare and will be walked to College at 15h45.

Information was sent to Grade 7 parents from College yesterday in this regard, please ensure you received it.

Max Mouthguard Fittings - Grade 3

Time: 12h30 to 14h30
Venue: Jagger Hall

Sports Day

Time: 09h00
Venue: Lutgensvale

Boys to be dropped at chool at the usual time and will be walked to Lutgensvale.

Max Mouthguard Fittings - Grades 4 and 5

Time: 12h30 - 14h30
Venue: Jagger Hall

No afternoon sport (except for U9 and U10 boys involved in the gala)

Grade 4, 5 and 6 Camps

Further information will be communicated

Extra-murals details for Grades 3 and 7 will also be communicated

Bramley House
Time: 18h00 to 20h00
Venue: Prep Pool
Dress: Civvies (bring costumes and towels)
Bring and braai or picnic (bring plates, cutlery, braai tongs, salads)

Brooke House
Time: 18h00 to 20h00
Venue: Rossall and Pool
Dress: Civvies
Bring and braai or picnic

Charlton House
Time: 18h00 to 20h00
Venue: Stanmore Field (venue change due to many of the boys playing water polo at Reddam, and to avoid traffic and congestion.
Dress: Casual and relaxed. (Yellow to represent Charlton would be great, but not essential)
Picnic – please bring your own refreshments (no braais available) relax and chill on the grass or bring your own chairs. The boys will be welcome to use the cricket pitch, play soccer (goals will be set up) and use the cricket nets. Grade 7 boys will be walking around handing out ice-creams, so please help yourself.
Come and unwind, meet everyone, and enjoy a fun, easy evening together. We’d love to see you all there!

Van der Bijl House
Time: 18h00 to 20h00
Venue: Lutgensvale A Field
Dress: wear something blue
Please bring own food and drinks - braai stands and fire will be available.
Sitting arrangement in Family Groups, but feel free to roam around
Activities will include games on Lut for the boys and their siblings

Athletics

Week 4: Qualifying is now complete. Final preparation for Sports Day at the age group practices, all welcome and voluntary.
Week 5: Sports Day Tuesday 10 Feb
Upcoming events:
1. Quadrangular Tuesday 24 February
2. Pentangular Tuesday 3 March