Dear Parents

We hope you all had a short but wonderful holiday, filled with memorable moments and restful breaks. As we embark on this final leg of the year, we are excited to share what's in store for the next few weeks. This term, we have a lineup of celebrations and events that promise to make these weeks memorable for everyone. While they may seem few and far between on paper, the preparation for each of these occasions is quite intense and time-consuming. Our dedicated staff are working tirelessly to ensure that each event is a success. Please note that extra mural activities will commence on Monday 16 October. With the unpredictable Cape Town weather, we kindly request that all Grade 1 and 2 boys either wear a school jersey to school or bring a school jersey and a hat to school in their bag, every day. For those in Grade N and R, please ensure they have a polar fleece or school jersey, along with a hat for outdoor play. To clarify, a tracksuit top alone won't suffice as a jersey; it should be worn with the pants. Speaking of preparations, we've already had a chat with the Grade 1 and 2 boys about swimming. They must remember to bring their swimming costumes and be prepared to take a dip in the pool. Rest assured, if the water happens to be very chilly, we won't keep them in for too long although we do have our heating pumps and blankets on. Their well-being is our top priority. It's not just academically that our boys are growing; many are also rapidly losing teeth! Parents, please keep an eye on your son's lunch box too. If you notice that they consistently bring home empty lunch boxes, it might be time to adjust the contents. Growing bodies may need a little more nourishment to see them through the day. Lastly, we'd like to take a moment to wish Ms. Manyela a fabulous birthday this Saturday! We hope her day is extra special. As we head into the weekend, we wish you all a relaxing and enjoyable time with your families. We look forward to the exciting journey this final term has in store for us all. Stay tuned for updates, and here's to a fantastic end to 2023! 

Kind regards

SHARLENE GROOM
HEAD: PRE-PREP

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we embark on this new term at Bishops, we come before you with hearts full of gratitude. We thank you for the precious moments we've shared with our families and friends during the holiday, for the traveling mercies that brought us back to this place of learning, growth, and community.
Lord, in those moments of solitude and reflection, we found ourselves drawing closer to You. We yearned for time to stand still, to linger in Your presence and enjoy the peace, love, and wisdom that flow from You.
We acknowledge the incredible favour You have given to us, and we pray that this peace and love that we've received may not remain within us but extend to the far reaches of the world. We lift up to You all the regions torn by wars, suffering from injustices, discrimination, and violence. Our hearts ache for the pain that so many endure.
We ask Your divine intervention in these dire situations. Just as Christ was the voice of the voiceless, may we be instruments of Your grace and compassion. Empower us to be beacons of love, hope, and justice for all those who are hurting and oppressed.
In this new term, Father, use us as custodians and good stewards of Your creation. Help us to protect and cherish the world You've entrusted to us. May we reflect the boundless love You've shown us, sharing it with every person we encounter.
As we begin this term, we place it in Your hands. Guide our learning, our interactions, and our actions. Let Your wisdom be our compass, Your love our strength, and Your peace our anchor.
We ask all of this in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who taught us to love one another and to seek justice.
Amen.

We have loved welcoming the Grade N boys back to school after the holidays and hearing all their news. Our transport theme has been a big hit and we have loved exploring this topic through play with the boys. We are ready for our busy term before we head to Grade R! 

Our first week started off with great excitement; the boys were so thrilled to be back at school with their friends, and some still taking time to settle in after holiday fun!  We baked, we played, we drew, we raced, we shared all our holiday news with our classes and we are growing up so very fast!  This term we would like our boys to learn to tie shoelaces and to dress themselves using button up shirts to practice for next year’s uniform.  In class we will be practising too, so the challenge is on!