Dear Parents

Over the past few days, our country has marked Freedom Day, and tomorrow we celebrate Workers’ Day. We reflected on Freedom Day with the boys and reminded them of the importance of unity, respect, and the values that guide us. Tomorrow, we join the nation in celebrating Workers' Day, honouring the dedication and commitment of all who contribute to building a better future for our children. 
It has been a special welcome for our new Headmaster, Mr Lalla into the Bishops Pre-Prep family. His presence has already brought a sense of warmth and vision to our school, and we look forward to the journey ahead under his leadership. 

I am sharing a short letter from him below, in which he offers his thoughts and hopes for our school community.

Message below from Mr Lalla

Dear Parents 

Thank you to those who arranged and attended last week's gathering. It was a pleasure to meet so many of you, and I look forward to the many future engagements we will share as a school community. Several parents asked about the quotation I referenced in my brief address, and I thought this would be an appropriate opportunity to share it more widely in our newsletter. In her seminal work, The Good High School, Sara Lawrence Lightfoot writes:

“The search for good schools is elusive and disappointing if, by goodness, we mean something close to perfection. The portraits of good schools reveal imperfections, uncertainties, and vulnerabilities. In fact, one could argue that a consciousness about imperfections, and the willingness to admit them and search for their origins and solutions, is one of the important ingredients of goodness in schools.” 

I believe strongly that Bishops is a good school. It is made up of delightful boys, a talented and dedicated staff, and involved, aspirational parents. Together, we must continue to build on the inherent goodness of our school and strive for its ongoing growth and improvement. 

Warm regards, Mr Lalla

Wishing our family a wonderful long weekend. Happy birthday to Nureen Maged for the 25 April. 

Kind regards

TARYN BAIN
HEAD: PRE-PREP

Kindly note that all boys arriving at school before 07:30 must report to Early Care. Consistency in following this process is essential, as we have observed an increasing number of early arrivals bypassing this procedure.

Ms Baninzi and our interns are on duty during Early Care, and we ask for your support in ensuring that their instructions are respected. We have also noticed boys arriving from the Mitre before 07:30 and proceeding directly to classrooms. This is not permitted and must be avoided as there is nobody to supervise them at that time. The teaching staff are only on duty from 7:30.

We appreciate your cooperation in helping us maintain a structured and safe start to the school day.

It is the Shop’s 25th birthday this year - previously the uniform and sports uniform was housed off-site. For convenience and better control of the brand, the decision was made in 2001 to open our own Shop on the campus.

Whilst the Shop must run as a viable entity, profit is not the primary objective. Service and convenience to parents, boys and staff is paramount. Every year, the Shop contributes financially towards the Bishops Bursaries and Scholarship Fund in a very meaningful way. We are very proud of our School Shop, and it is the envy of many other schools countrywide. We thank Jerome and Melony and their team for the excellent service they provide.

Please be reminded that there is a Suggestions/Complaints/Bouquets and Brickbats book in the shop for your valuable feedback and input to the School Shop.

For up-to-date information, please click on the School Shop tab, under Info on the website https://www.bishops.org.za

More Than a Game – VUSA’s Inaugural Gala Dinner brought to you by Anchor Capital.

Join us for an unforgettable evening of conversation, connection and celebration at Moyo, Kirstenbosch, as we present ‘More Than a Game’, a uniquely African-inspired experience set against one of Cape Town’s most iconic backdrops. The evening features a compelling fireside chat hosted by Tank Lanning, exploring the theme Access, Belonging and the Price of Opportunity. This honest and timely conversation goes beyond sport, asking what it really takes for young people in South Africa,  to thrive.

Your ticket includes welcome drinks, a three-course dinner, live auction and DJ, bringing together the Bishops community and friends for a premium, purpose-driven night out. Tickets are R950 per person, with tables of eight available for those who would like to share the evening with friends, colleagues or clients.

This is more than a dinner. More than a conversation. More than a game. Tickets are limited. Book now to secure your seat or table. https://www.quicket.co.za/events/367238-the-inaugural-vusa-gala-dinner/

St Cyprians, in partnership with the Cape Town Symphony Orchestra, would like to invite the Bishops Prep and Pre-Prep community to join us for a performance of Peter and the Wolf on 9 May. The CPO performance has been donated to the school and proceeds are going towards the St Cyprians Choir Tour to Spain and France in July.
Tickets can be booked  through Webtickets - https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/event.aspx?itemid=1591434577

Our boys have loved learning about people who help us this week - from community helpers to fire fighters, policemen, teachers, and doctors. We discussed who our community is at Bishops and the role Miss Manyela, Miss Baninzi and Mrs Tukwayo play in our lives. 

Last week we did some fun activities using water - we made lemonade, used droppers for oil and water prints, hammered cotton wool onto paper using dye and hammers, and practiced our cutting skills cutting out clouds and water drops.
We are loving the sunny autumn days and making the most of our time in the garden whilst we can. So much fun to be had and so much to learn!

In Grade R we have been learning about natural disasters and what causes them. The boys found this topic especially fascinating as anything involving danger and excitement certainly captures their attention! We explored floods, volcanoes, and wildfires, discovering how these events occur and the impact they can have.

We focused on the story of Noah and the Ark, discussing the great flood and its meaning, before the boys created their own artwork inspired by the story. There was also lots of excitement as we made hot lava for our volcano studies using the straw-blowing technique.. a messy but memorable activity!
To tie in with the “b” sound of the week, the boys created pictures using only black and blue, encouraging both creativity and careful observation.

This week, our focus shifted to the water cycle, helping the boys understand how rain is formed which was especially relevant after the rainy days we have recently experienced. They have been introduced to impressive new vocabulary such as evaporation, condensation, and precipitation, and proudly drew their own water cycles.
Outdoors, we have been enjoying the sunshine that has warmed these cooler days. The boys have loved engaging in creative and imaginative play like digging in the dirt, building pipe constructions in the sandpit, and taking part in collaborative games such as soccer and chess.

We look forward to another fun-filled week ahead!

The Grade 2 boys have thoroughly enjoyed learning about our theme, South Africa, and have explored it across a variety of subjects. They have shown great interest in learning about our country’s cultures, languages, and diversity, and have engaged in thoughtful discussions and activities in class. In Coding, we linked this to Life Skills by creating ScratchJr characters that greet one another in different South African languages. This allowed the boys to combine creativity with technology while developing an appreciation for the richness of our country.

This term has also brought great excitement as the boys have begun tackle rugby. They have embraced this new challenge with enthusiasm, showing courage, teamwork, and growing confidence as they develop their skills on the field.

In the classroom, we have been exploring different units of measurement, using practical, real-world examples to make learning meaningful. The boys have enjoyed measuring, comparing, and estimating, which has helped to strengthen their understanding and build confidence in applying these skills in everyday situations.

During assembly, Mrs Bain previously spoke about integrity, and we continue to encourage the boys to live this out in their daily interactions. Alongside this, the boys are reminded to practise their Mitre Manners, showing respect, responsibility, and kindness in all areas of school life.