BISHOPS 2020 THE DIOCESAN COLLEGE, RONDEBOSCH College Address: 65 Campground Road, Rondebosch, 7700; Tel 021 659 1000 Prep Address: Fir Road, Rondebosch, 7700; Tel 021 659 7220 Pre-Prep Address: Sandown Road, Rondebosch, 7700; Tel 021 659 1037/47 Magazine Editors Ms N Freund ([email protected]), Mr CW Tucker ([email protected]) Website: www.bishops.org.za Founded in 1849 by the Bishop of Cape Town, as a Christian foundation Incorporated by Act of Parliament, 1891 Visitor His Grace the Archbishop of Cape Town, Thabo Cecil Makgoba College Council Chairman: Mr S Peile Members: Bishops G Counsell, Mr D Burton, Mrs T Moyo, Dr C Haw, Mr PM Apleni, Dr N Shaikh, Ms S Petersen, Mr Greg Deans, Mr M Seseli, Mr G Molyneux, Mr K Richardson, Ms L Davis Many thanks to all those members of the Bishops community who contributed photos, including Freddie Child-Villiers, Eric Ras, Steven Riches, Katherine Spindler and Craig Watson. CONTENTS Welcome from the Principal 4 Exchange 151 Clubs 210 Farewell to Guy Pearson 6 Outreach 152 Design and Technology 211 Getting to know Tony Reeler 8 13 Peaks Challenge 152 Music 212 Staff 10 Sport Pastoral Council News 14 Report from the House Reports 216 The Bishops Trust 18 Deputy Head Sport 156 Dulwich Exchange 223 The Vusa Academy 20 Athletics 158 Sport The Robert Gray Award 24 Avenue Mile 160 Sport during Covid-19 226 Sustainability 25 Climbing 161 Athletics 228 Cricket 161 Cricket 232 College 26 Fencing 163 Cross-country 237 Staff News 28 Golf 164 Hockey 237 Staff Farewells 32 Hockey 166 Rugby 237 A Glance at 2020’s Accolades 40 Road and Trail 167 Swimming 238 Homage to the Class of 2020 48 Rowing 167 Tennis 240 Spiritual Rugby 170 Water polo 241 Report from the Chaplain 58 Sailing 173 Salvete Valete 243 Academics Surfing 174 Report from the Water polo 175 Pre-Prep 244 Deputy Head Academics 62 Salvete Valete 178 Report from the Head Grade 12 Prize-Giving 65 of Department 246 Grades 11-8 Prize List 80 Prep 182 Staff News 248 Culture Welcome from the Headmaster 184 Academics Report from the Staff Farewells 186 Grade 2 252 Deputy Head Culture 88 Grade 7 Grade 1 253 Drama 90 Leavers’ Camp 190 Grade R 256 Music 96 Leavers’ Service 192 Grade N 257 Visual Arts 98 Academics Art 261 Societies 102 Report from the Readathon 263 Pastoral Deputy Head Academics 198 Sport 264 Report from the Head of Pastoral 114 Culture House Reports 116 Art 204 The OD Union 266 Epic 146 Bishops Got Talent 209 WELCOME FROM THE PRINCIPAL It is hard to imagine a stranger year than the one just continue to function, and function well. Our online passed, a year where expectations were shattered programme was superb and our teachers gave so much and hard lessons learnt as our school coped with the of themselves while also trying to manage their own devastating impact of Covid-19. personal circumstances. The creativity shown by various people in changing how we did things was remarkable, This was not just a disease that affected many people and initiatives such as Culture Unlocked may well be an physically, with loved ones taken from us, but one that ongoing feature at our school. Our support staff gave affected every single person emotionally as we battled everything they could to help the teaching programme to deal with the changes forced upon us by the new way function and are to be commended for their efforts. of living. Being forced apart was devastating for most people as being unable to connect with people, that Arriving as the 15th Principal of Bishops in the middle basic human need, was taken away from us. Sadly for of a pandemic was challenging but the encouragement some, the effect of being forced together in isolation and support from Council, the parents, the boys and the also took its toll. Yet in all of this, so much was learnt staff have been wonderful. that will change us forever – how we valued each other as fellow human beings, how we appreciated the small The Grade 12 class protest in June started a discussion freedoms we took for granted and how we learnt to and a process of transformation that will be their lasting adapt and change to that which we had previously legacy. While much had already been done over the thought was unchangeable. past few years to make Bishops a place of acceptance for all people, much still has to be done. We have had I must acknowledge Guy Pearson, the outgoing some small successes already as we try to create an Principal, for his leadership in the first few months of environment of belonging, and are looking forward to the pandemic and the way he managed the start of a the future where we redefine what it means to be a place new way of teaching and learning. He and Mareé left where all people are accepted, and indeed celebrated, Bishops under surreal conditions which, in itself, was as fellow human beings. We thank the Matrics for their truly special. We wish them many years of peaceful contribution this year, particularly as so many tried to retirement together. help others through feeding schemes or online tutoring options. Mostly, we thank them for the example they set I must pay tribute again to the staff – both teaching through their attitude to the challenges life presented. and support staff – who made sure we were able to WELCOME FROM THE PRINCIPAL We have also started trying to define masculinity and what it means to be a man in today’s world. That journey – which has so much overlap with the transformation process – will hopefully allow our boys to grow the goodness inside and to develop a new culture of manliness, redefined for current times. The pandemic will still be with us in 2021 but we shall be wiser and better equipped to deal with its challenges. Hopefully, most of our programmes will continue in some form or another, adapted where necessary to suit the changed world in which we now live. While the contents of this magazine may seem small, no bigger lessons were learnt by us all in this year gone past than being resilient and adaptable – two cornerstones for success. Let us hope for success for our departing Grade 12s in their future lives, and for a year filled with optimism and hope for us all. My thanks go to all who have made 2020 a success, however that might be defined. I thank Council, the PAs, the ODU, parents, boys, staff, and all those who are part of the Bishops community, and wish you a safe, healthy and peaceful 2021. Tony Reeler 5 FAREWELL TO GUY PEARSON Guy and Mareé Pearson arrived at Bishops at the end of a very good sportsman himself, he enjoyed the many a season that had seen varied and significant changes hours he spent wandering around our and other schools following the Bishops ‘2010 Conference’ held in 2002, watching the boys at all levels. These were opportunities and the New Wave Conference that took place later for him to chat to parents and staff, and to get to know in the decade. The school had also experienced other the boys better, as sport reveals so much at times. Guy changes, brought on by an increased engagement with was a competitive principal and he enjoyed seeing boys’ schools in other countries through the IBSC, but Bishops win! However, he was always encouraging also through engagement with the broader community, and balanced in his support, as he appreciated the which aimed to make the school more relevant in the lessons learnt in losing and the importance of good South African context. sportsmanship. Guy also made it a priority to attend cultural activities and loved the music concerts in Guy, who was raised in an Eastern Cape farming particular. He was especially proud of the Eisteddfod, community and who had many years of experience in and he enjoyed watching it develop and broaden. leadership both in co-ed and boys’ schools, was the right man to consolidate these changes and lead the In the few years before Guy arrived, significant change school through a time in which the world changed on occurred on a pastoral level in the College. Guy proved many fronts, but especially with growing social and to be a champion in taking these changes forward, environmental awareness. partly because he had such a good relationship with the senior boys, but also because it was something he Guy took over during the brief period in which Bishops believed in deeply. Guy’s time at Bishops saw improved had an Executive Principal and a Headmaster of the and safer relationships between junior and senior boys, College. However, soon after he arrived, the school as well as between staff and boys, as the idea of ‘mutual reverted to having the Principal as the Head of the and appropriate respect’ was bedded down in the fabric College. From the start, Guy’s warm and engaging of the school. The first decade of the 21st century saw personality made him popular with the boys, and the a drive in many communities in the world to celebrate fact that he knew most of their names within a few the great worth of diversity. This was a challenge for weeks made them feel noticed and special. an all-boys school and in many a talk in assembly Guy spoke to the importance of honouring difference and From the start Guy made attending the various events of respecting one another.