Dear Parents

Why Reading Matters 

We believe that reading is one of the greatest gifts we can give our boys. Between the ages of 4 and 8, reading plays a vital role in shaping their learning, creativity, and love of discovery. Reading aloud to your child builds vocabulary, sparks imagination, and strengthens concentration – while also creating precious moments of connection. Boys who see their parents’ enjoying books are far more likely to develop a lifelong passion for reading themselves. 

We warmly encourage you to set aside special time each day during our Readathon Week to read with and to your son. Whether it’s a favourite bedtime story, a fun picture book, or even a chapter from a longer novel, your involvement will make all the difference. 

• During the week, the boys will take part in a number of exciting activities, including: 
• Listening to visiting storytellers. 
• Creating animal masks or crowns and enjoying “animal print” day. 
• Bringing along a favourite animal soft toy to read to. 
• Dressing up as beloved book characters on our final day! 

Each Grade 1 and 2 boy will also receive a Readathon sheet to record the number of pages read each day, both at school and at home. Please sign this sheet daily and encourage your son to enjoy his reading time. We will also be sending home two books each day for you to share together, alongside your own family favourites. 
In addition, we invite families to donate any pre-loved children’s books in good condition. These will be shared with schools in need, spreading the gift of reading even further. 

We encourage you to join us in making this week special. Read with your son, let him see you reading, talk about stories, and help him discover that a book is indeed “a gift you can open again and again. Together, let’s make this week a celebration of books, imagination, and the joy of reading. Thank you for encouraging your sons to become confident, curious, and enthusiastic readers – skills that will last a lifetime. 

Kind regards

TARYN BAIN
HEAD: PRE-PREP

Hockey Tournament hosted by Rondebosch Boys Prep School at 13h30

Date:           1 September - Grade 2

                    2 September - Grade 1

Please note that there will be NO hockey practise on Wednesday (grade 1) and Thursday (grade 2) this week.

Readathon week

Grade 1 and 2: Readathon letter

Grade N and R: Readathon Letter Gr N & R

Family Chapel

Please join us for our Family Chapel service at 08h15 in the Memorial Chapel.

The Cycle Challenge is one of the biggest community events of the year at Bishops. For 24 hours, teams ride stationary bikes in relays under the marquee at Piley Rees, raising funds for the VUSA Rugby and Learning Academy in Langa. Alongside the cycling there’s food, music, entertainment, and a wonderful family atmosphere.   We do still have a few bikes available if parents would like to sign up a team.

Even if you don’t plan to ride, please pop in; we’ll be screening the Springbok vs All Blacks match, and there’ll be a kids’ zone, a pop-up bar, a magic show, and live music. It’s a fantastic day out while supporting VUSA’s work with children in Langa. 

View teams or sign up here

Please help the Pre-Prep Team, The Bumblewheels fundraise for VUSA.

Our team’s fundraising link is Live : Team Bumblewheels

Every rand raised helps VUSA give children in Langa access to quality education, sport, meals, and a safe space to grow.

Strength for Today, Hope for Tomorrow
As we move into the final stretch of Term 3, we are reminded of the words of the prophet Isaiah (40:28–31):
“The Lord is the everlasting God… He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak… but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles.”
These words are such an encouragement for our Pre-Prep community. Even our young boys can sometimes feel tired, stretched, or a little overwhelmed by school, sports, and friendships. As parents and teachers, we too know what it feels like when our strength runs low.
Isaiah’s reminder is simple but powerful: God never grows weary. His strength never runs out. And when we trust in Him, He promises to renew our strength — to help us rise, just like eagles who soar high on the wind.
At Bishops Pre-Prep, we want our boys to know that:

• It’s okay to feel tired or unsure sometimes.
• They don’t have to do everything in their own strength.
• God is always with them — to give courage, peace, and joy in every day.

This term, as we work and play together, may we encourage our boys (and ourselves as adults) to lean on God’s strength. Instead of trying to “push through” on our own, let us learn to pause, look upward, and find hope in Him.

A prayer for our community
Lord, thank you for every boy, staff member, and family at Bishops Pre-Prep. When we feel weary, renew our strength. When we are unsure, give us peace. Help us to finish this term with joy, courage, and hope — knowing that You are always with us. Amen.

Takeaway Thought for the Week
“When your strength runs out, God’s strength begins — and He will carry you on eagle’s wings.”

Woolworths change in reward system

You may have heard that Woolworths has launched a brand-new loyalty programme called MyDifference, which is replacing the familiar MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet programme.

While this exciting new initiative offers more benefits to you as a shopper, it also comes with one important change:
Kindly re-select Bishops Diocesan College as your cause in the Woolworths App, or your support won’t reach us.

Download the Woolworths App from your app store or google play store.

Sign up or log in if you already have the app.

Tap on 'Loyalty' and then ‘My Causes’ and choose Bishops Diocesan College as your preferred Cause. This is vital step that must be redone please. We look forward to gaining momentum with the progarmme, which will now be easier without the cards.

You will still receive all the great Woolworths perks like exclusive discounts, rewards and promotions plus your everyday shopping will continue to support Bishops and various charities at no extra cost to you.

NOTE: From 1 November 2025, the cards you have will no longer work, please take a few minutes to reregister and add Bishops as your beneficiary.

Our Grade N boys have loved learning about Space and Occupations over the past 2 weeks. There has been lots of opportunity to role play in the fantasy area, create spaceships in the block area, and think about what they might want to be when they grow up. Some options are "Astronaut", "My dad's boss", "Police Officer", "Taxi driver", "Gardener" and "Baker", showing a delightful variety in interests and dreams!

In our micro groups, the boys focused on patterning (pre-maths) and thoroughly enjoyed creating their own bracelets to take home. We also worked on a Happy Handwriter octopus activity, which helped strengthen fine motor skills in a fun and engaging way.

We are looking forward to Book Week next week! Please encourage your son to bring along his favourite book, as we will be sharing and enjoying lots of wonderful stories together.

5 4,3,2,1...blast off!!! Our Grade R boys have been having the best time with fantasy play at the helm, exploring our new Space Theme. From brave astronauts capturing space aliens, to creative space guns and alien scanners; and art creations that found the most inventive lunar mobiles and some astronaut suits that will order you a burger while you defend Planet Earth!  Well done, boys, your creativity knows no bounds!