Dear Parents
The term is running along with three weeks completed already. The rain is preventing much of the pupils’ running, but is still most welcome. Cross Country trials have been held and our A & B Cross Country Teams will complete with Gateway Inter Schools Cross Country this afternoon. We wish all our runners every success.
On Wednesday our tennis teams played their first match of the year against Lilfordia. The weather kindly held off and the matches were played with the results listed below.
The heavy downpours are causing concern though. Firstly, the potholes in the road immediately outside the school’s entrance and exit gates are making driving very dangerous, especially for cars travelling south down Bishop Gaul and wanting to turn into the school entrance. As a result a company has been contracted by Bishopslea to repair the road outside the gates along the stretch that endangers parents, pupils, staff either entering or leaving the school. Work should begin early next week, weather permitting.
Secondly there is always the danger of trees falling down or branches breaking off, as has happened.
This was most unfortunate but is a common phenomenon at this time of the year that needs to be taken into consideration by everyone. In Zimbabwe, the majority of our trees lose their leaves in Spring, and not in Autumn as happens elsewhere in the world. The trees do this so that they don’t lose moisture through the leaves during the hottest and driest time of the year, which is during September and October. Then as the rains are about to start the trees sprout their new foliage of leaves as if overnight. However, this new foliage is much heavier than what the branches have had to support for many months. Then when it rains, water covers the leaves, which significantly increases the weight. Further, when the wind blows the new foliage creates wind resistance with the result being that if trees have weak areas, those parts of the trees, or the whole trees themselves, will come down, as is happening all around Zimbabwe at the moment. As it is very difficult to identify the trees that have weaknesses, please be careful.
We are continually monitoring our trees and cutting down and trimming any problem areas that are identified. Testament to this is, literally, the mountain of wood at the back of the school that we are looking to sell. In fact, we had tree cutters in last weekend trimming branches that were identified as possibly being weak. Unfortunately, we can’t get it right all the time and there may be trees or branches that fall down during storms. All pupils and staff are inside during the storms. There is, of course, only one way to ensure that there will be no danger caused by falling branches or trees and that is to cut all the trees down, which is something no one wants.
Please would parents note that pupils are required to either be wearing full sports kit, including tracksuits shoes and hats, when being picked up to leave school, or full school uniform, including shoes, socks and hats.
Pupils whose sports kit gets wet during a sporting activity are required to change back into their dry school uniforms after the activity and before leaving school.
The PTA’s AGM and welcome back Cocktail Party will be held on Wednesday 22nd February. This serves as formal notification of the AGM as per the PTA’s constitution.
There will be five PTA Committee members staying on for another year after the AGM. However, this means that nominations are required for prospective committee members for 2017. Parents should please note that coming onto the PTA Committee is a commitment that does require time and effort over the year, attending Committee meetings, helping organise events and helping at the events. The PTA is assisted annually by the Grade 5 parents with each class having a nominated representative who sits on the PTA’s Committee as a liaison.
Parents nominated should have been a parent at Bishopslea for at least one year so that they have an understanding of the school. The PTA plays an integral and incredibly important role in the school and is hugely valued.
Earrings
Parents are reminded that the correct earrings allowed are plain studs or sleepers. No shiny stones or hoops larger than sleepers are allowed.
Tennis Results vs Lilfordia
Fillies A lost 3 – 8 1st Team won 12 – 4
Fillies B won 5 – 4 2nd Team won 8 – 5
Merit & Effort Badges
3H Merit: Rufaro Mudombi Effort: Sienna Pole
3O Merit: Caitlyn Sithole, Ashley Chifamba Effort: Tawananyasha Manamike
3C Merit: Zara Fick
4C Merit: Sophie Wilson, Samaah Hussein Effort: Eunice Tawamba
4T Merit: Amanda Manyanda, Christina Chikandi Effort: Emily Muzembe
4G Merit: Mieka Kelder
5M Merit: Rachael Nyamayaro Effort: Anje Van As
5W Merit: Nokutenda Mujuru Effort: Anashe Karadzandima
5S Merit: Ann Chapman
6B Merit: Angela Mawire, Veneka Charisika Effort: Gina Utsiwegota
6H Merit: Kira Patel Effort: Taonashe Tondhlana, Tanyaradzwa Masamba
6M Merit: Taliha Hussein
7F Merit: Caitlyn Hendrickse Effort: Maleeha Dawood-Mahomed, Divyani Patel
7O Merit: Tinodiwa Matemera Effort: Maariya Dawood-Mahomed, Angel Chinganga
Boarder Merits
1 – 3 Ruvarashe Kandawasvika
4 – 7 Delny Nyamurera
Class Captain & Vice Captain
3H Captain: Alaiya Esat Vice Captain: Tara Fachet
3O Captain: Makanaka Chagonda Vice Captain: Chipo Tagarisa
4C Captain: Leanne Chanakira Vice Captain: Mukundi Chandiwana
4T Captain: Kutenda Chinganga Vice Captain: Malaika Junaid
5M Captain: Ropafadzo Horonga Vice Captain: Tadana Mutangadura
5W Captain: Riya Mujuru Vice Captain: Kiara Dube
6B Captain: Teresa Kuveya Vice Captain: Nokuda Mhishi
6H Captain: Tanatsirwa Jambwa Vice Captain: Ruva Chambuka
Yours sincerely
R J Crook
HEADMASTER
