Calling
EDITION 8 7 March 2019
Boys getting creative with fabric painting!
Dear Parents
Deputy Principal: Marketing
One of the privileges of my job is to meet with many parents and many boys in the process of informing our Prep parents about the easy walk from the Prep School to College and introducing prospective parents from other schools to the unique Clifton ethos and life of a Grade 8 boy in our school. I am always struck by just how easy it is for boys to enter our community and just how comfortably they assimilate into our environment. It is special to see the Grade 8 boys, who but a matter of two months ago were somewhat apprehensive about the next step in their educational lives, take part in our school traditions as if they had never been apart from them. They are wonderfully confident, appropriately respectful, and entirely enthusiastic about life at Clifton. They understand our culture, they walk with pride and dignity and, above all else, they are happy members of our Clifton Family.
never more evident to me than when I talk of what we do here to those who have yet to discover the magic of this place. There are many aspects to the “Clifton Way”. One just has to look at the events that have taken place across the school in recent weeks to see how significant this “way” has become. Speaking from first-hand experience, the pre-dawn training sessions can test a parent’s stamina! Indeed, some boys test the limits to their staying power as well. They speak of “the way” during their day, sometimes from as early as 05h00 to long after 18h00 in the evening. Our boys symbolise “stickability” – a word used affectionately in the Clifton community.
To see our School in action at the major galas of the season was particularly gratifying. Our boys were a real force in the pool and an equal force as spectators outside of it. The war cries, chants and support were evidence of a school that expects the best from everyone and gives its full support to ensure that we attain this. As we move from the cricket to the rugby and hockey seasons, we can expect more of the same, and I look forward to strong competition and equally strong support. The College fixtures against Richards Bay and Michaelhouse promise to be an interesting and competitive opening to our season. In addition to the galas; our cricketers competing on the fields, our golfers striving for swing perfection on the various golf courses in Durban, our water polo players achieving success on countrywide tours, our basketballers shooting hoops in the hope of victory and our canoeists paddling towards the finish line, our boys deserve praise for the manner in which their arrows, from Clifton’s quiver, have hit their targets so far this term. Not all arrows look the same or follow the same flight path. Our Cliftonians have participated in History quizzes, enjoyed Grade excursions, rehearsed with great voice in the choirs, discussed current events in forums and empathised with Similarly, we drew numerous compliments from our ancient civilization during the Grade 5 Egyptian Day. Open Evening and Morning, and all reflected on the When these boys shoot, they hit the target. passion that our boys and their teachers have for Thank you to all who contributed to the success of Clifton. While we are justifiably proud of our the Open Morning, which was held this last facilities, it is always the people who make the Saturday. Families will soon be confirming their difference and Clifton is strong because of the son’s spaces for Grade R in 2020 and it was people who make up the Clifton Family. This is
fantastic to see our soon-to-be Red Ants settling in to their new home. These lads could be the Matric class of 2032 and proud recipients of the XIII Club tie. The feedback received from prospective families confirmed that our ethos is positively tangible and that our boy-driven academic, cultural and sport programmes remain sought after by Durbanites. Yours faithfully
BARRY MEZHER DEPUTY PRINCIPAL: MARKETING
Meander On Friday afternoon Messrs Mezher, Ravenscroft and White will be at the respective College and Prep School galas. Mr Bresler will be at the ISASA Intern Mentors Conference. On Saturday Messrs Ravenscroft and White will be at the Prep rugby trials on the Whitehead Oval while Mr Mezher will be at Riverside for the College rugby and hockey matches against Richards Bay and Michaelhouse respectively. Messrs Goedeke and Knowles will be at the IBSC Conference in Pretoria. Mrs Achmad and Mr Boniaszczuk will be at the “Think Tank” Conference all day Saturday.
Congratulates... The following boys who were selected for the KZN Youth orchestra 2019: Tiashan Moodley (Grade 10): Concert Master Lance Leslie-Smith (Grade 11): Trombone Andrew Ward (Grade 8): Trumpet Lance Leslie-Smith was also selected as a member of the KZN Wind Band and will tour to China in the July holidays. All those who gave blood during the Blood Donor Clinic. There were a total of 43 donors. Boys that donated per house were as follows: Sutcliffe 9
Haworth 8
Thiel 6
Stubbs 6
Mitchell 2
Whitehead 1
Well done, gents.
Riley Hardwick (Grade 10) who has been selected to the U18 KZN water polo Currie Cup team that is travelling to Gauteng to play in the Currie Cup tournament from 13 – 18 March.
The Grade R’s had fun during Show and Tell last week when they had to bring something starting with a ‘c’
This week the boys got to dress up as animals during play time. What fun!
ROMAN DAY As referred to by Mr Mezher in his message, the Grade 5 boys and their teachers dressed the part and celebrated Ancient Egypt in style on Tuesday, as part of their History curriculum. Hieroglyphic writing, pyramid building, a Kahoot quiz and an amazing race were all part of the day's activities, culminating in a feast fit for a pharaoh in the beautifully adorned Ken Mackenzie Hall.
A huge thank you to our talented moms and dads for putting the incredible feast and its venue together. Without a doubt, the day will be one of the highlights that our Grade 5 boys will always remember and cherish!
The FP lads and their dads enjoyed a wonderful breakfast together on campus. It is always so special for the boys to have their dads here at school with them.
Old Boys The COBWEB Basketball Club is up and running again this year. Any Old Boys or current students who are interested in joining are welcome to attend practices on Sunday afternoons at 2pm. The club got off the ground last year and they had a successful season, which included participating in the second division of the local league (the EBA). Fabrice Muhizi is the Chairman of the Club, and Dennis Diza and Lingate Moerane also serve on the Executive. The local league will begin earlier this year, so the players have already started practicing and the 1st team will be selected by the end of March. The Club would also like to extend an invitation to players who would prefer to play socially, as there is no obligation to play league matches. Clifton Prep and College boys are also encouraged to join, whether it be to learn more about the sport or to further develop their skills. Coaches will run structured practices focusing on the core skills necessary to improve your game.
2019 club fees: Juniors (students): R500 Seniors (old boys): R350 If you have any questions you are welcome to contact the Club Secretary, Donovan Fletcher: dfletcher@cliftonschool.co.za