EDITION 17 30 May 2019
Calling Our Red Ants enjoyed a wonderful integrated morning with the Grade R girls at DGC!
Deputy Principal: Marketing The theme for our recent Clifton Club was the Cricket World Cup. The evening was a great success with all those who attended getting into the spirit of celebrating the highs and acknowledging the lows of another World Cup campaign steeped in hope; without rain, Duckworth Lewis miscalculations and needless runouts in the final over. It was most enjoyable and my thanks are extended to the ladies and gentlemen who made the evening possible. I get the sense we will be playing a few more rounds of bingo in the future. That was fun!
Last Friday we held our annual Clifton Golf Day at Royal Durban. This event is always successful in bringing a large part of our community together, and is discussed months ahead of the first tee-off time. From the high handicap hopefuls (like me) to the fine-tuned single digit handicap golfers, everyone gives of their best amid a spirit of Clifton camaraderie. (Unless you miss your 4ft birdie putt!). From the sand saves, to the well-paced lag putts, culminating in the final booming drives up the 18th fairway, well done to all who participated in perfect conditions! Thank you to all our sponsors for your support and to the Parents Committee for organising such a wonderful day with superb prizes. Annually, this is ‘par for the course’, of course!
On Sunday we celebrate the birthday of our Founder, Harry Stubbs. 2 June 2019 marks his 156th and it is the day before the official opening of the Heritage Centre, which is why the 3 June was chosen for this significant occasion. (See further information about Mr Stubbs later on in this edition) Hosting our South African counterparts from across the country is an important component to the healthy touring culture which is prevalent at Clifton. This weekend we welcome St David’s to Clifton for our annual Winter Derby, which includes fixtures for boys from U9 to the Open age group in the College. Having already travelled to St Andrew’s Bloemfontein and St Alban’s in Pretoria for other Winter Derby fixtures, we extend a big thank you to the parents who are hosting boys this Friday. Durban will certainly be warmer than the Free State and Gauteng! The fixtures over these weekends showcase wonderful days of sportsmanship and display all that is good and special about schoolboy sport. The games are played in a good spirit - hard and fair - including good camaraderie afterwards.
Lastly, I took families from Dubai and the UK on tours of the school recently. They were most impressed by the manners of the boys, as well as their willingness to engage with our visitors. During one walk around, a Prep boy dressed in his rugby kit was asked how his season was progressing. He replied that it had been tough: he had learnt to tackle, scrum, run a lot and have fun at the same time. When he was queried on the scores for matches he replied that he couldn’t remember that! Cleary scores were not that important to him….
Yours faithfully
BARRY MEZHER DEPUTY PRINICPAL: MARKETING
Meander... The ExCo team will be involved in the hosting of St David’s on Friday and Saturday. We look forward to welcoming our guests to the east coast for our traditional Winter Derby weekend, which involves a range of sporting activities that will be contested at the fantastic facilities our Prep and College boys are fortunate to enjoy in Durban.
Congratulates... Connor Buck (Grade 10) who has been selected for the SA National Open Water Swimming squad for the 2019/2020 season.
A fantastic achievement, Connor! Best wishes for the season.
The Clifton Tennis players who participated in the Tennis League. The final results are as follows: Division 1
Division 2
1
Clifton 1
Reddam 1
8
Westville 1
Glenwood 2
3
Westville 2
Ashton 1
4
Northwood 1 Northwood 2
5
Westville 3
Westville 4
6
Glenwood 1
‘Toti 1
7
Westridge 1
Clifton 4
8
Clifton 2
Clifton 3
Cameos The South African iPad Summit was run by Thinkahead and hosted at St Stithians this year. Thought Leaders, Mrs Sari Lantto from Finland and Mrs Rachel Smith from the Isle of Man presented keynotes for driving Effective Change Management in schools and discussed their continuing journeys to becoming 1:1 iPad schools. Clifton’s new Technology Integrator, Mr Bennett, attended along with our Preparatory and Foundation Phase Information Technology Educator, Mrs Boniaszczuk. The Summit topics included applications of the advances in Apple hardware, software and training, iPad options for Effective Inclusive Education, Augmented Reality for the Classroom, Strategies for Effective iPad Management in Schools and many more. Clifton will be working towards implementing the feedback from this summit to improve and extend our E-Learning program.
The boys in the Grade 4 Lifesaving Club enjoyed their beach session at Marine Lifesaving Club this week.
Well done to all players, coaches, staff and supporters for a wonderful afternoon/ evening of rugby on the Whitehead Oval this week. It is wonderful to witness the passion and dedication of the coaching staff and boys on occasions such as these. Of special mention is the friendly rivalry that is evident between the schools. A picture tells 1000 words...
The Prep rugby teams gave it their all during their matches against DPHS and thoroughly enjoyed the support from the senior Clifton gents!
On Sunday we celebrate the birthday of our Founder, Harry Stubbs. Harry Stubbs was born in Taunton, Somerset in 1863. He grew up in the town becoming a pupilteacher by the time he was 18. Harry went on to study teaching at Wesley College in Sheffield. Harry (and wife, Maggie with daughter, Dorothy) immigrated to Natal when he was recruited by a fellow ex-classmate, Ernest Barns, who had become Headmaster of Maritzburg College. Harry served as a master at College from 1903 until 1909. Harry was then recruited again, this time by exCollege colleague, Aubrey Langley, who had become Headmaster of Durban High School, to open a primary section which in 1910 became Durban Preparatory High School. Harry was forced to retire at the end of 1923 but decided to open for the following year a private boys’ preparatory school from his home in Lambert Road…and the rest, as they say, is history!
SUPPORTER@CLIFTON ladies and gents wear is available at the School Shop and online. It is wonderful to see so many of our parents donning their RED, BLACK and WHITE gear at the various fixtures! With the Winter Derby vs St David’s this weekend, make sure you have stocked up on your supporter wear! Ladies and gents golfers, beanies, caps, cushions, mugs, umbrellas, body warmers and more are in stock. Jackie Psannis will have a selection of supporter wear available for purchase at Riverside on Saturday. She will be located near the kiddies outdoor play area). You can also pick up new and pre-loved uniform items, gifts and sports kit at the shop. www.cliftonshop.co.za
Our grateful thanks to Prep families who donated items that will be distributed to Umduduzi Hospice Care for Children. #CliftonCares #GiveWithUs
A letter of thanks from the SA Bone Marrow Registry for our donation of R22 000 to their organization. DGC donated the same amount from income received via the MySchool Rewards Programme. Please keep swiping your MySchool Cards whenever you can!
A representative of SABMR flew up from Cape Town to personally deliver the letter of thanks, as well as a book called “An Uncommon Gift”. Below is one of the letters featured in the book, which tells the stories of individuals who have benefitted from receiving stem cell treatments made possible by donors.
Classifieds HOUSE SITTING AND BABY SITTING Please call Amy Mezher on 064 687 5934 or email: amymez6@gmail.com if you are looking for a reliable House Sitter or Baby Sitter. HOME OFFERED FOR AN UNLOVED ‘ORBITREK’
Mr Mezher is prepared to offer a permanent home to an unwanted Orbitrek exercise bike. Tel: 082 808 6880 LIFT CLUB BALLITO TO CLIFTON If you are interested in joining or creating a lift club for various mornings and potentially afternoons, please contact Cheryl Law on 083 286 2810.
The Grad e 2 boys enjoyed a walk aroundthe block wh ile ‘gettingto grips’ with road safety!
Old Boys Congratulations to Matthew Lewis (COB 2018) on his selection to the Western Australia Men's U21 Hockey Team. The 2019 U21 Australian Championship is taking place in Lismore, NSW in July and we wish Matt and his team everything of the best! This photo of Matt in action for the Clifton 1st XI was taken at Riverside last year.
Congratulations to Matthew Leisegang (COB 2007) on the birth of his son, Oscar.
Clifton Congrats to Mark Spencer (COB 2009) who has been selected for the Mens Water Polo team to participate at the 18th FINA World Aquatic Championships, Gwangju, South Korea, from 15 to 27 July 2019. (Inset) Gareth May (COB 2014) has been selected as a non-travelling reserve with Clifton Water Polo coach, Paul Martin, selected as coach for the SA team. Well done, gents!