EDITION 30 24 October 2019
Calling Friday saw the Matric Class of 2019 enjoying the Interfaith Service and Matric Valedictory Ceremony. While the entire school watched, each of the boys rung the Founders’ House bell twice, made their way through the building and ‘signed out’, signifying the end of their formal schooling at Clifton. Their focus now shifts entirely to their final examinations. Best wishes from the Clifton family, gents!
Preparatory School Principal Dear Clifton Parents I was fortunate to attend the Global Leadership Summit a fortnight ago. In my 20 years as Principal, I found this conference to have had the most profound effect on me, both professionally and personally. The speakers were relevant, authentic and most thought provoking indeed. A common thread throughout the conference was the necessity to have human relationships as a strategic imperative in any organisation. “… everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak….” was mentioned a few times and although it is self-explanatory it lends itself to our fourth term core value of cooperation. At Clifton we want to ensure that all our boys are transformed in their thinking about the society in which they live. In order for us to better understand, accept and respect those who are different from us, we need to learn to listen with our whole being. It is indeed true that most people do not listen to understand, but rather listen with the intent to reply. We would like to become active listeners and I believe we should emphasize:
Be attuned to and reflect feelings: Confirm the feelings that the other person may be experiencing.
Summarise and paraphrase where necessary: Make sure the person you are listening to knows that you have listened carefully by giving them feedback through summaries. Put biases, prejudices and problems aside: Make sure that all your own ideas and stereotypes are put aside when listening. Listen fully:
Listen with all your senses in a focused manner and give your undivided attention to the other person. Defer judgement: Seek first to understand and then to be understood. Keep calm: Keep your emotions in check at all times, and only prepare to respond when you have finished listening.
Stay in the moment: Engage by asking clarifying questions: Make sure that you fully understand by asking relevant questions.
Try not to be distracted by other things happening around you and other thoughts in your mind. Don’t interrupt:
Avoid thinking about a response while the other person is talking.
Show that you are listening: Use eye contact and appropriate body language. Active listening is an invaluable communication skill that requires critical thinking skills and emotional intelligence. Make some time to listen actively to your boys. It gives them a voice and says we truly care about what they believe and feel. Enjoy the weekend and let us unite behind the men in green and gold as they prepare for their semi-final encounter against Wales. Yours faithfully
VICTOR WHITE PREPARATORY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
The Board of Directors Dear Clifton family Following the announcement of Mr Goedeke’s departure to the Cape, the Board of Directors, in consultation with Mr Dave Knowles, have agreed that the positions of Executive Headmaster and College Principal will be merged going forward. This will allow Mr Knowles to be more connected to the management, teachers and boys of the College, which he is very qualified to do. His 11-year experience as Head of St Stithians Boys’ College, together with his time at Kearsney College, firmly position him as the preferred choice to take Clifton forward. The position of College Principal separate from an Executive Headmaster, was established at a time of exponential growth and significant capital investment, which has since normalized. To continue with two Heads in the College is no longer necessary. Mr Knowles has used the last two years to understand and unpack Clifton’s unique DNA, and the opportunities for this special place of learning and development. To assist in the operational management of the College, we will be advertising to recruit a new College Deputy Principal to assist Mr Knowles and the College management team. As Executive Headmaster, Mr Knowles will continue to have overall responsibility of the entire school, including the strategy and growth of Clifton into the future. To assist him in this transition, he will be further empowering management of both the College and Prep to assist with some of his current responsibilities, freeing him up to play a dynamic role during the transition and induction of the new College Deputy. On behalf of the Board of Directors, we wish Mr and Mrs Goedeke all the very best in their new chapter and thank Mr Goedeke for his immense contribution to Clifton over the last 14 years. Yours faithfully ROGER MAINGARD CHAIR: BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Meander Messrs Mezher and Ravenscroft will be at The Ridge and St John’s in Johannesburg with the Prep cricket tourists. On Saturday Mr Knowles will be at the basketball, water polo and cricket matches being played against Michaelhouse. Mr Bresler with be with his cricket team for their match. Mrs Achmad and Mr Boniaszczuk will be at Durban North College for the Grade 2 mini cricket matches for selected boys.
Congratulates The following water polo players on their selection to the various KZN teams: U13:
U16:
Oliver Ditz
Chad Uys
Owen Field
Jack Aylward
Reece Rezac
Cael Van Der Vyver
Ross Strauss
Riley Hardwick (Non-Travelling Reserve)
Jonathan Hoarau (Non-Travelling Reserve) Ethan Lyne (Non-Travelling Reserve)
U19: Aryton Psannis
U14:
Michael Bennet
Ben Ribbink
Simon Taylor
Jedd Poovan
Jayden Whiley
Adam Zoio
Noah Ditz
David Van Rooyen (Non-Travelling Reserve)
James Parry
U15: Duran Hall Joshua Saayman James Bentley Joel Jamieson Calvin Kidd Luka Patinios (Non-Travelling Reserve)
Branson Meaker (Grade 8) whose photograph Dancing on Light, was awarded at this year’s MonotoPhoto competition in Spain. “...The image showed a red lechwe (antelope) in full flight as it hares through a marsh, the resulting water splash and a hovering pied kingfisher. It was also among 18 pictures displayed at 10 Downing Street (residence of the UK prime minister) this week. Branson said being part of the WPY mix and visiting 10 Downing Street was a huge honour. “I have been trying for a few years now. After my brother Skye’s Vanishing Lions made the WPY top 100 in 2014, it inspired me." Last year, Skye, 17, won the WPC’s U18 category with his Lounging Leopard shot. That achievement opened various doors for Skye, including speaking alongside conservation icon Jane Goodall at the World Economic Forum in Davos, in January. “Skye taught me a few things and each time I missed out I didn’t lose faith,” said Branson.” - Sunday Tribune
Clifton congrats to Todd Howard and William Dowsett (2018) on their inclusion in the U20 Youth Men’s Water Polo team selected to participate at the FINA World Junior U20 Men Water Polo Championships from 12 – 20 December 2019 in Kuwait.
Adam Selikow and Luke Besnard (Grade 6) who represented Durban Central U12 Football in Johannesburg at the ELFA Tournament. Well done, lads and thank you for flying the Clifton flag!
Nicholas Taylor (Grade 3) who participated in the KZN Swimming Champs. Nicholas won a gold medal in the 50m and 100m freestyle as well as the 50m and 100m backstroke. He took bronze in the 50m butterfly. Nicholas was awarded the Top Swimmer of the Year in the U9 category. Well done, Nicholas!
Cameos From the Addington Family to the Clifton Family. Past Addington boys, led by Siya Khanyile, welcomed Story Lumbu and his proud mum to Clifton today. Story joins us next year in Grade 8 as the deserved recipient of the Gail Teunissen scholarship. Siya, who was the Addington Head Boy in 2007, is also on the Gail Teunissen Scholarship Honours Board.
The Clifton Prep Mentorship Program, Clifton Fellows in Fellowship, kicked off this morning! The Grade 6 boys were each assigned a Grade 2 boy from the same house that will be their mate/friend/big brother at school for the rest of the year. Hopefully this programme will continue in the years to come. The Grade 6 boys will be mentoring their mate through their journey to the Senior Preparatory. Who better to guide them than someone who has “been there and done that”? Today was a Muffin Morning (the literal ‘breaking of bread’) and "Ken Mekaar" finished off with the creation of a secret handshake used exclusively by the pair. The Grade 6 boys were super excited to meet their chum, and, after a little trepidation, the Grade 2 boys got stuck in. Thanks to all teachers involved. We look forward to seeing our wonderful Clifton Fellows helping to make even better Clifton Fellows for the future.
(Below) Clifton hosted a Foundation Phase 'Time2Read' workshop where teachers from all over KZN came to collaborate and learn about this successful reading and spelling programme. It was a beneficial afternoon for all, hosted in the Clifton Lecture Theatre.
For the last time the Grade 12 Dramatic Arts students took to the stage for their Matric Final Practical Examination. The boys presented a linked series of monologues and short scenes that displayed their thespian prowess and served as the culmination of 5 years of dramatic development.
The boys in Grade 1 bring very interesting “show and tell� on Fridays. We learnt all about gravity and air pressure when James Harding brought a leaf blower to school!
Robbie is home!!! And his friends were all there waiting to welcome him back. So glad to have you home again Robbie! Lovely to see all the yellow ribbons along Lambert Road!
Clifton College Prefects 2020
Congratulations to the incoming Clifton leadership team of 2020: (In alphabetical order) Michael Bensch, Ozwen Chetty, Udayan Chetty, Noah Ditz, Mathew Douglas, Matthew Doyle, Ryan Gatonby, Mathew Gourley, Nabeel Jeewa, Sahaan Juggernath, Ofentse Kgomo, Spencer Klue, Byron Kraus, Jacques Mahanga, Tinotenda Mazhindu, Skye Meaker, Korbin Monson, Noah Ngcobo, James Parry, William Pearse, Muhammed Peer, Blake Saayman, Gabriel Sjouerman, Matt Strous and Anthony Traicos.
Annually, on the third weekend of October, “Hats on for Hospice” is celebrated internationally as an initiative of the International Children’s Palliative Care Network (www.icpcn.org). The purpose of the event is to create awareness of the need for Hospice Care for Children; and if possible, raise much-needed funds for the organisations providing care and support to children with lifelimiting or life-threatening illnesses, and their families. ‘Hats off!’ to our Clifton Prep boys who wore hats today in support of “Hats on for Hospice”. There were some wonderfully creative head pieces on display and each boy donated R10 to the work of Umduduzi Hospice.
The Grade 1 Master Chef boys enjoyed making biscuit racing cars. They had even more fun eating them!