Dear Parents

Growing Sportsmanship in our Boys 
We know that our boys are full of energy, enthusiasm, and big feelings. Whether before school, during break, or in lessons where competition is involved, many of our boys are learning to cope with the emotions that come with winning, losing, unfairness, boasting, and bragging. These moments can feel overwhelming at this age, and it’s natural for some boys to struggle as they navigate them. 

Why It’s Challenging at This Age 
Developing emotional regulation: Boys are still learning how to manage frustration, disappointment, and excitement. 
Fairness sensitivity: At this stage, children often see rules and outcomes in black-and-white terms, which makes perceived unfairness especially hard. 
Identity in competition: Winning can feel like proof of ability, while losing may feel personal. Helping boys separate their self-worth from outcomes is important.

What We’re Doing at School 
Inviting guest speakers to talk about sportsmanship and resilience. Mr Ncube and Mr Groom will be coming to speak to the boys this term.  
I am having weekly meetings with Grades 1 and 2 to discuss challenges and share strategies. 
Small group and individual sessions with boys who need extra support, helping them name their feelings and practice coping strategies. 

Ongoing conversations about respect, empathy, and teamwork across lessons and play. 
Our coaches are reminded about our shared responsibilities in ensuring the safety, well-being, and holistic development of the boys entrusted to our care. 
All coaching and interactions must align with our MITRE values.  
We are reinforcing that the boys’ own personal athletic progress is important as well as celebrating each other’s personal bests.  

How Parents Can Help at Home 
Play games with losing built in: Board games, card games, or simple races where losing is part of the fun help boys practice handling disappointment. 
Model calm reactions: Show boys how you handle setbacks gracefully, whether in sport, work, or daily life. 
Talk about feelings openly: Ask, “How did you feel when you lost?” and validate their emotions before guiding them toward perspective. 
Celebrate effort, not just outcome: Praise persistence, teamwork, and kindness more than winning. 
Encourage empathy: Remind boys to notice how others feel when they win or lose, building compassion alongside competition. 
We encourage parents to continue these conversations at home. Together, we can help our boys grow into young men who value fairness, resilience, and empathy as much as success. Sportsmanship is not just about the game—it’s about building character for life. 

Happy birthday to Mrs Stuart for 9 June. 

Kind regards

TARYN BAIN
HEAD: PRE-PREP

TAG will start from 08h00 till 09h00 for Gr 1 and 2 TAG boys.

TAG will start from 08h00 till 09h00 for Gr 1 and 2 TAG boys.

Monday 15 June

Tuesday 16 June

School Holiday

Youth Day

June/July Holiday Club

1. Please click HERE for further information on a Holiday Club offer from (29 June and 03 July) hosted by Mrs Kingwill.

2. Please click HERE for further information on a Holiday Club offer from (06 July until 10 July) hosted by Mrs Fernandez.

3. Please click HERE for further information on a Holiday Club offer from (13 July until 17 July) hosted by Ms Rheeder and Ms Maged.

Message from Revd. Khwezi Bengani

Pentecost: The Breath of God

This past Sunday the Church celebrated Pentecost, the day we remember the coming of the Holy Spirit.
In John’s Gospel, Jesus appears to His frightened disciples and says:

“Peace be with you.”
Then He does something powerful:

“He breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’”

Breath is a sign of life. Throughout Scripture, whenever God breathes, new life begins.

Pentecost reminds us that God still breathes peace, courage and hope into His people today.

For our boys, this is such an important message. There will be moments when they feel nervous, uncertain or afraid, but the Holy Spirit reminds us that we are never alone. God is with us in the classroom, on the playground, at home and in every new challenge we face.

May we continue raising boys who are kind, courageous and full of joy, boys who know they are deeply loved by God and empowered by His Spirit.

Every blessing,

On Thursday evening, VUSA hosted its Gala Dinner, More Than a Game, at MOYO Kirstenbosch, raising an incredible R370,000 in support of our Early Childhood Development programmes.
At the heart of the evening was a powerful fireside conversation hosted by Tank Lanning, which challenged guests to think more deeply about access, opportunity, and the sacrifices many young people and families make simply to access quality education and opportunity in South Africa. It was an honest and moving conversation that left a lasting impression on many in the room.

A sincere thank you to our title sponsor, Anchor Capital, to all the generous donors of auction and raffle prizes, and to every guest who attended and supported the evening. Thank you to the incredible Bishops Prep Marimbas for welcoming guests so beautifully, to Roger Eskinazi for his wonderful performance, and to DJ extraordinaire Luke Jacobs, auctioneer Stef Olivier, and our MC Wandile Nzuza for helping create such a memorable atmosphere.

Finally, thank you to Deidre Weich, Kim Steven, Daniela Wakeford and Tarah Snyders for creating such a warm and beautiful event at MOYO.

Please click to view the photo gallery and event video.

Last week, our theme was Numbers, and the boys had a wonderful time at Mrs van Zyl’s biscuit-decorating station, carefully adding the correct number of treats to each biscuit. They disappeared very quickly! We’ve also had fantastic energy in and outside the classroom — the boys were rocking and rolling to ‘Hosanna Rock’ after our Bible lesson. There was plenty of hard work at the ‘office’ corner. It’s been fantastic to see boys conquering the monkey bars and still happily playing with water, despite the cooler weather. Please remember to keep an extra set of clothes in your son’s bag for those splashy moments! This week, our theme is Wild Animals, and the boys have created some beautiful artwork. Please feel free to pop in on Monday morning to have a look — they are very proud of their creations!

As the weather has become colder and the mornings mistier, the boys have continued to enjoy their time playing and exploring in the garden. Over the past two weeks, we have been learning about reptiles, a theme the boys have thoroughly enjoyed. Many have eagerly shared their impressive knowledge and interesting facts with the class. The boys have been busy creating turtles, crocodiles, and colourful chameleons, while also reflecting on and sharing what makes each of them unique and special.
During Muscle Mania, we have been focusing on correct letter formation, while continuing our journey with Muggles and Crocky, who help us strengthen our fine motor skills through fun and challenging finger movements and activities. With just one month of the term remaining, we look forward to many more opportunities for learning, creativity, and fun together in Grade R.